Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter series.


Chapter 5
Geller Galore


OWL'S POST
Hogwarts Monthly: October

Dominique Weasley: Family or Foe?
by Ophelia H. Greengrass

Is the Potter-Weasley clan as tightly knit as people think? Dominique Weasley clearly does not believe so. An inner source reveals that the seventh year Ravenclaw holds ill feelings for her own family, even going as far as calling them "spoiled" and "envious".

Dominique or Dom, as called fondly by her friends, has always been noticeably detached from her extended family during her Hogwarts years. Rarely is she seen conversing with family members, including fellow Ravenclaws Rose Weasley and Albus Potter. In fact, rumor has it that Rose in particular always envied her older cousin.

Could this be the beginning of a major rift in the fame-ridden family?


"Son of a bitch!"

Effie seethed, eyes wide as saucers. She stared down at the newest issue of Owl's Post over breakfast. The owls had come with a subscription for each Hogwarts student and the buzz in the Great Hall was louder than it should have been. The atmosphere was no different from the release of the controversial first issue of the year, and Effie detested it.

What was even worse was the fact that the Ravenclaw wore an expression of genuine surprise and panic upon realizing that the headline on the issue was not the one she was expecting. In fact, Effie submitted the final copy herself and the headline had been about a recent interview conducted with their Potions professor on the school's need for fresher ingredients.

It was definitely not supposed to be about a conversation she had with her best friend almost two weeks ago; the same best friend who had not spoken to her for almost a month.

"Effie," Andy began slowly, staring blankly across her.

"I didn't do this," Effie whispered, feeling completely helpless. "Andy, I didn't write this."

"I know, I know," Andy quickly replied, grabbing her hand in support. "It's just…um, well…Dom's storming out."

"Dom," Effie whispered.

She leapt out of the bench and ran towards the Great Hall's doors. Dominique stomped out of the room, her flowing blonde hair swinging violently behind her head. Just as Effie arrived at the Entrance Hall, Dominique was nowhere to be found.

After yelling out a swear word, she felt a delicate hand on her shoulder. Effie whirled around only to see a cautious Andy staring back at her.

"Couldn't catch her?"

"Ran all the bloody way!" Effie exclaimed. "This is ridiculous! It's like someone's out to get me! I don't speak a word for six years and it's like I've got an enemy or something! Does that make any sense to you?"

"Life is like a box of chocolates," Andy said cryptically. "You never know what you're gonna get."

Effie gave him a look, not at all comforted by his words. "What are you even saying?"

"Muggle reference," Andy replied with a grin. "My favorite movie!"

"To hell with your Muggle references!" Effie spat a little too loud, earning her a few disgusted looks from passersby.

She huffed and pulled on Andy's arm, steering them away from the populated Great Hall's entrance.

"Come on before they start telling everyone I'm the next Voldemort or something," she mumbled, wary those students would take her words as Pureblood prejudice.

"Would make for a good headline though," Andy laughed but silenced at the look he was given by the shorter Ravenclaw. "Sorry, bad joke. I'll shut up now."


Effie dropped Andy off in the common room after breakfast. She refused to let him come with her, assuring him that she would be absolutely fine keeping her temper in check.

He was worried because Effie decided to confront Professor Callahan, Ravenclaw's Head of House who also happened to be Owl's Post's adult coordinator. All issues were required to go through him before they were published, and Effie was not the slightest surprised that he allowed the wrong article to be printed.

The professor was lazy, uncaring, and quite rude. When the club was new, Headmistress McGonagall could not find any professor willing to supervise it, and since Effie, a Ravenclaw, was the head and founder, she decided to force Professor Callahan into the position of adult coordinator since he was her Head of House. It was difficult at first, but Effie managed to get used to his constant complaining and lack of proper manners. It helped that since she had dropped Muggle Studies, she saw him much less.

Before walking into his office, Effie took a deep breath. She needed all the patience she could muster in order to get through the conversation she was about to have. One thing about Professor Callahan was the he hated being told off, and Effie was about to do just that.

As soon as she pushed open the doors, she spoke irately. "Professor, why–why is that rubbish printed on my paper's front page?"

"Manners, Ms. Greengrass," the young professor drawled, not lifting his eyes from the stack of papers on his desk. "Decent people knock."

"I–I just had the worst month of my stay in Hogwarts and my best friend hates me!" she managed to say out, stumbling in the process of attempting to sound intimidating. "Why is my headline about fresh Potions ingredients nowhere to be found?"

"Perhaps we've been blessed by Merlin."

"Professor!" Effie cried, pleading with her eyes to take her seriously.

Professor Callahan finally looked up, steely eyes boring into hers. "While I'm sure you're seething, your futile attempts to frighten me failed as soon as you started stuttering."

He revelled in her uncomfortable state, taunting her with his stare. His light brown hair was unkempt as per usual and he wore simple Muggle clothes rather than the prescribed attire for professors. He was no older than twenty-five. Dominique once commented he would look fit if he brooded less but Effie could never see past the nasty personality.

"I'm not trying to frighten you," Effie said snippily, hands growing damp in her nervousness. "I just want to know why you would change my paper's headline to some useless piece of gossip!"

He exhaled in frustration, looking as if he wanted nothing more but to make Effie disappear. "Someone came in here before I printed it and claimed you sent her to switch the headline with the one about Weasley. I'm insulted that you believe I possess even the slightest amount of care to sabotage that silly paper of yours."

"Who was it?" Effie asked in anticipation.

"I don't know!" he groaned. "One of your lot, I suppose? You think I remember all your names?"

"What–What's she look like then?" Effie desperately asked, growing more impatient.

"Short, frizzy hair, wore green robes, and a sneer on her face that made her look like a reptile," he said, most of his attention back on his paperwork.

Effie snorted at her stupidity. "How could I be so daft?"

Disappointed she did not even consider her in the first place, Effie left the classroom with a polite thanks to her professor and ran off to find Marriot Geller. She always knew that sneaky Slytherin was on to her.

Luckily for Effie, Marriot enjoyed hanging by the lake before lunch. After two years of working together, it was easy for Effie to remember where her club members stayed during their time of leisure.

The Slytherin was lounging on the grass with three of her housemates. All four girls chattered incessantly as Effie approached, keeping her cool. Only when she stopped at Marriot's feet did the Slytherin look up and acknowledge her.

"What do you want?" she snapped, twirling a lock of blonde hair.

"I'd like to speak with you privately," Effie said calmly, eyes flashing at the three girls around Marriot.

"If you've got something to say, you can say it to all of us," Marriot taunted her.

"I really would prefer–"

"What, scared of a bit of people, Effie?" Marriot cackled, getting up on her feet. "Come on, we're just four. I really don't want to ask my friends to leave me."

"And this is really none of their business," Effie said quietly, eyes narrowing. "This is between you and me, and I think you already know what I'm getting at."

"I'm impressed, Ef. If this were last year, you wouldn't even bother confronting me."

"There were no reasons for confrontation last year or the year before that," Effie growled.

"Or you've finally grown a spine this year." Marriot grinned. "I saw the change ever since you decided to print that article on James Potter. Who knew Effie Greengrass could play it dirty for once?"

"Or twice," one of Marriot's friends added in with a slimy grin. "Turning on her own best friend? That's one for the books."

Effie took a deep breath, glaring fiercely at Marriot.

"I didn't write it and you know it!" she hissed. "I don't know what your bloody problem is but tell me how the hell you got that information and why you would sabotage our paper like that!"

"I was doing it a favor!" Marriot spat. "The paper was going nowhere being led under you!"

They started to gain an audience. Students surrounded the pair as their voices rose. Marriot was practically spitting saliva at Effie's face as she spoke with such malice and hate. Effie could only hold her composure for so long.

"You and your spoiled Pureblood arse can't stand the thought of having to implement change into your system so people actually read our work! And you have the nerve to assume that we like that our paper is so bloody rubbish that Mr. Filch uses it for Mrs. Norris' droppings!"

Effie's voice broke. "What are you bloody talking about? I did try to make a change; that's why I published James Potter's article!"

"Oh, don't give me that crap, Effie!" Marriot yelled. "We all knew you regretted it as soon as Callahan released it! And then you think you can just release an ordinary second issue as if nothing happened! Because that's what you're bloody good at: running away from your responsibilities!"

Effie seethed at that. "You don't know a thing about me, Marriot. You have no idea what I've been through this past month!"

"I'm not talking about fixing your shit with Potter, you idiot. I'm talking about our paper!" she cried. "Your paper! As soon as you get the courage to print a headline that would actually give us readers, you smash it! You try to run away from it as soon as you realize that journalism–this particular type of journalism–earns you enemies and whole bloody lot of attention!

"You're a bloody coward, you are! Can't even make simple sacrifices for the paper you yourself started! We're journalists too, Effie, and we want our work to be read! You're nothing but a privileged little Pureblood who can't grow a spine if her life depended on it!"

Bang!

Blood rushed furiously through Effie's veins. Her ears seemingly stopped functioning as she stared blankly at Marriot's groaning figure on the grass. The crowd surrounding them backed away and three girls approached Marriot's body, attempting to help her.

Effie's eyes shifted down to stare at the wand in her hand, unable to remember when she pulled it out of her robes. The crowd around her began to laugh and her eyes immediately settled back on Marriot, who seemed to be able to sit up.

Yellowish goo poured uncontrollably from her nostrils. Her friends had long abandoned her figure, cringing in disgust. Effie could not feel her legs, her mind and body overwhelmed by the presence of a large crowd. She thought she heard someone calling her name, but the voice could not shake her out of her trance.

Suddenly the crowd began to disperse in haste. A newcomer marched straight into the space where Marriot cried as her nose spurted out goo and Effie stood before her with a wand in hand. The furious face of Professor Callahan came into Effie's line of sight and suddenly everything came clear to her again. She immediately stuffed her wand inside her robes.

"Don't even try, Greengrass," he spat in a worse mood than usual. "Someone already cared enough to barge in my office and tell me everything that happened while I was having a peaceful lunch."

He threw a dirty look at one of Marriot's friends. The girl squeaked and broke into a run the opposite way.

"She was provoked, Sir," a deep voice spoke out to Effie's left.

Her heart skipped when she saw James Potter standing amongst the crowd, arms crossed.

"Were you?" Professor Callahan locked eyes with Effie, eyebrows raised. "I didn't realize you out of all people would rise up to the bait."

"You don't know me, Sir," Effie said weakly, voice merely a whisper.

"Oh, believe me, I do," he chuckled. "Detention, nine o'clock tomorrow night, my office. Cheerio."

He turned to leave, ignoring Marriot's pathetic state on the grass.

"Sir, shouldn't you be giving Geller the same thing?" James spoke again, making Professor Callahan turn back.

Effie tried to give James a look to stop speaking. He refused to face her, eyes set on Callahan's.

"Well, I saw Geller blubbering like a baby on the floor with Greengrass' wand directly pointed at her."

"I told you, Sir, she provoked her." James stood his ground, awkwardly addressing the professor with some respect.

"Not the way I saw it." Callahan shrugged and turned on his heel.

"But–"

"Detention for you too, Potter, and I suggest you drop it before I make it double."

That effectively shut James up. The Gryffindor looked a bit embarrassed and briskly walked into the crowd before Effie could stop him. She tried to follow him but he was gone after a second. Disgruntled as she remembered a similar situation with Dominique earlier that morning, she wondered how Potter-Weasley kids could disappear so fast that way.

Now she felt even more horrible because not only did she owe James for releasing an unsuspecting article about him but now she also got him into detention for no malicious reason at all. Even worse, it was because he defended her.

Effie sighed in frustration. Fred Weasley was right. James Potter was strange.

Marriot Geller was still on the grass with the yellow goo all over her robes. The flow had not stopped and her useless friends could do nothing but squeal in disgust whenever Marriot asked for their help.

Feeling the guilt build in her stomach, Effie glumly walked towards the Slytherin and muttered the countercurse. Marriot's cries hushed as soon as the flow of goo stopped. Effie stuck her hand out to help her up. She blinked at the gesture then lifted her chin up to glare straight at Effie's face.

Marriot's hand came in a blur and the yellow goo from her nose was slapped across Effie's cheek.

"I quit your stupid paper!"

The Slytherin stood up on her own and stomped into the castle, leaving a trail of goo behind her.


The Ravenclaw common room buzzed as students chatted over their homework, passed Quaffles around in boredom, and gossipped by the couches. Effie sat in one corner, ducking as a Quaffle soared over her head. Andy, who sat next to her, caught it with ease and threw it back effortlessly.

"I still don't get why he spoke up like that," Andy said with a scoff. "You sure Potter doesn't have some ulterior motive?"

Effie ducked once again as the Quaffle returned. Andy caught it.

"What sort of motive could he have?" Effie laughed dryly. "He should hate me but he doesn't. Fred says it's normal."

"Oh, so you're talking to Fred Weasley now?" Andy snorted, throwing the Quaffle back.

"It was like once, Andy." Effie rolled her eyes, turning her attention back on her essay.

"I just don't want you to get hurt, Ef." He gave her a pointed look. "Their family's all wonky. Getting into their drama doesn't seem like the best idea."

"Then how–" Effie ducked at the last second as the Quaffle flew over her head and into Andy's hands. She gave him a dirty look and he returned it with a fake innocent grin. "Then how do you suggest we get Dom back? The only way I can fix this is to patch things up with James Potter first."

He threw the Quaffle back before replying.

"What about publish an article on Marriot–"

"No!" Effie groaned, ducking expertly as the Quaffle returned. "I'm not using my paper as a tool for any of this anymore! If anyone else wants to spread useless gossip, they can start their own bloody paper!"

"Alright, alright, bad idea," Andy mumbled disappointedly, throwing the Quaffle with more force.

The receiving end of his pass cried out in pain when Andy's forceful throw caused the Quaffle to hit him square on the head.

"Watch it, Jefferson," he growled.

"Sorry, Chang." Andy laughed.

Chang shot him a glare and whipped his arm forward with strength. Unfortunately the powerful throw that was meant to hit his teammate thumped an unsuspecting Effie instead, nearly knocking her off her stool.

"Bloody–!"

Unable to formulate words, she threw a scathing look at Chang, bent down to grab the Quaffle on the floor and thrusted it into Andy's chest.

"If you'll excuse me, I've got detention to serve," she said through gritted teeth.

Rolling her eyes at Andy's apologetic grin, she grabbed her bag and strode out of the common room.

She knew the way to Professor Callahan's office by heart, having gone there at least once a month the past two years. It was not her first detention, but she definitely was not the type to get many.

Knowing Callahan, he would task her to do his grading for him. She knew he loathed checking quizzes and Effie normally visited him to submit her issue for the month at night, allowing her to witness enough of his detentions to see his students with quills and answer sheets as they went through third year papers.

With the year she was having so far, she could probably consider this detention the least horrible thing amongst all the horrible things that happened to her yet. She would take grading Callahan's papers to getting slapped with yellow goo from Marriot Geller's nostrils any day. Not to mention she also lost her best friend and developed possible enemies.

Her mind drifted once more to the recent fight she had with a particular Slytherin. It seemed so out of character for her, but at the same time it was not. Impatient and hotheaded she always has been, but she always managed to stay collected and no one has ever pushed her to the point of fury in her first six years in Hogwarts. Until Marriot, that was.

Dejectedly, she pushed the door to Callahan's office open and stepped in. She blinked at the presence of James Potter sitting on one of the two seats available in front of Callahan's desk. She had almost forgotten that she was not going to be alone for this detention, and surprisingly she was thankful for the company, relieved she would not have to deal with the Muggle Studies professor alone.

"You're nearly late," Callahan commented, not lifting his eyes from his stack of papers.

Effie did not answer him, choosing to take her seat next to James quietly. As expected, he tasked them to grade his papers for him. They were provided quills, answer sheets, and two stacks of quizzes each. The two immediately began to work as soon as Callahan finished with his instructions.

At half past nine, the professor unexpectedly stood with a yawn, announcing he was off to bed. He assured them he would know if they did not finish their work and only allowed them to leave as soon as they were.

"Sleeps early, doesn't he?" James stated seconds after Callahan left.

Effie's hand halted, eyes unblinking. "I suppose."

"Grumpy man like him could use a few extra hours in bed," James grumbled.

She snorted. A moment of silence passed. Neither of the two moved to continue their task.

"Listen," he began, tone suddenly more serious. "I just wanted to–"

"I–You don't understand," she quickly interrupted, assuming he wanted a word with her about the article. "I didn't write that. I had no idea–"

"Hey, I know," James said gently, touching her arm instinctively.

They shared a blank look. James drew his arm back quickly.

"Anyone with half a brain would have realized that if they saw your face when you got the issue," he spluttered with a tinge of red in his cheeks.

"Unfortunately majority of Hogwarts' got no brains at all," Effie grumbled, looking down. "Everyone's going to believe whatever's on that article is true."

"Joke's on us because it is actually true," James chuckled.

Effie let out a hollow laugh.

"Dom hates me," she said. "Your entire family probably does too."

"Believe me, they couldn't care less," James replied with a snort. Then he gave her a meaningful look. "And I'll take care of Dom. It's gonna fine."

Effie blinked. "You would do that?"

"Yeah." He smiled. "I–I just wanted to thank you for trying to help me figure out who sent those photos. No one else really cared."

"I was also the one who published that article," Effie stated blankly.

"And you were the only one who cared enough to help me find out who sent the pictures. Besides Fred, I mean."

Effie merely stared. James visibly grew nervous, the same adorable way he bit his lip and ruffled his hair when he asked her if she knew who sent the photos in front of the Gryffindor common room.

"I don't have a lot of friends," he blurted out. "Zero, come to think of it. It's hard to find someone who doesn't already have expectations about you."

Effie opened her mouth to tell him she was exactly like the rest and he should not be telling this to her.

"This doesn't include Fred, of course," he added quickly before she could speak. "He's my best friend, but he's also family, you know? I grew up with him and he's under the same pressure too. I mean I haven't actually met anyone in Hogwarts who doesn't think they already know me."

"James," Effie desperately started before he could continue. "If you think I'm someone who didn't have expectations, you're wrong."

"Oh, no, I know," James said calmly. "Dom told me."

Effie blushed in shame.

"No one ever came close to being as genuine though," he continued, looking directly at her. "I really appreciate you trying to help me find out who it was who sent those pictures. And personally apologizing to me. Maybe it's because you spend so much time with Dom that it's easy for you to be around me without ogling, but I appreciate it nonetheless."

"Gossip doesn't interest me," Effie flatly said, a brief explanation to her lack of ogling.

He smiled. "Then we'll get along just fine."

James returned to the task at hand. Effie watched him work for a few seconds before collecting her thoughts and continuing with her own.

By half past ten, Effie and James finished. They neatly set the stacks on Callahan's desk and left his office. The pair walked together in silence until they had to part ways, required to take different staircases up to their respective towers. Effie meant to give him a quick goodbye but he spoke before she could say anything.

"You wouldn't mind coming with me to confront Lily, would you?"

Effie blinked in surprise.

"I think she's taken a liking to you in her own…er…weird way." He cleared his throat. "Yeah, so I was thinking maybe it would be easier to get her to talk if you're there. I mean, she basically told you everything about my cheating which was supposed to be…um…a sibling secret, by the way. So… yeah."

"I–Yeah, okay," Effie said, dazed.

His hazel eyes brightened.

"Right, okay, thanks a lot. I'll see you around, Effie," he said.

"I–Wait…um…" Effie spoke before he could leave. "Thanks for doing what you did by the lake yesterday. You didn't have to."

"No worries." He gave her a soft smile and small wave.

He swiftly walked the opposite direction. Effie watched him jog up the staircase and disappear in a darkened hallway. The same staircase suddenly moved to land on a different hallway, the rumbling sound echoing in the sleepy castle.

Effie thought about his strange request then suddenly remembered Fred's comment about James' reluctance to approach his sister alone. He claimed to have no real friends, so perhaps he felt Effie was the best he could get who was not a family member.

Chuckling at the bizarre night, she briefly wondered how that James Potter was the same one she used to see jinx Lysander Scamander in the hallway and taunt rival Quidditch players for no particular reason.

I know who he is and what he's done but people are capable of growing up, Effie, Dominique's angry tone echoed in Effie's head.

Her best friend saw it as growing up, but Effie wondered if it was deeper than that. Could there be something else in James Potter's past that influenced him into acting that way?

Effie shook her head, not allowing her train of thought to go further. He would tell her about it when he wanted to, and there was no reason to cook up stories in her head about it.

Straightening her back, she quickened her walk towards Ravenclaw Tower, anticipating much needed sleep.


It only took a day and a half for word on Effie and Marriot's little squabble to completely escalate. Over breakfast the next day, Effie watched Andy jog towards her as she ate, a grin plastered on his face and looking fresh from a morning shower, even donning ironed Ravenclaw robes. She narrowed her eyes at this.

"Why are your robes ironed?" she asked suspiciously.

"I can't look ragged when I give you the most hilarious gossip yet!" he said excitedly. "Everybody thinks you and Marriot had this epic duel by the lake! Now that Slytherin hag can't show her face in public because they think you made snakes come out of her eyes! People are bloody terrified of you now too, by the way."

Effie snorted, shaking her head. "Word travels impeccably accurate these days, doesn't it?"

"Hogwarts wouldn't function any other way."

Effie jumped at the unfamiliar high-pitched voice. Andy blinked bemusedly from his seat, staring up at something over her shoulder. Effie twisted around to see the newcomer only to be greeted by a tall copper-skinned girl, jet black hair neatly curled and brown eyes twinkling. Next to her stood the all too familiar Albus Potter, green eyes rather uncertain but his slim posture confidently straight.

Effie looked blankly at the girl, unsure of what to do or say. She had to check if she was actually looking and addressing her, even turning back to Andy who merely shrugged.

Both were too tall for her to stay seated. If she was going to willingly talk to a complete stranger, she would prefer she did not feel like a house elf. Effie slowly swung her legs up and over the bench and stood.

"Er, clearly you're here for something?" she said questioningly.

"If you're here for the full story, they were slugs not snakes," Andy cackled from his seat.

"And they came out of her ears," Effie added in humorously.

The two giggled uncontrollably while the unknown girl and Al watched in amusement. As soon as Effie calmed down, the girl offered a hand. She nervously shook it.

"Actually we were going to ask if we could join Owl's Post," she said.

"Al?" Effie said, looking at him in surprise.

"Mum's a journalist," he finally spoke up, giving Effie a charming smile. "I learned a thing or two."

"So you'd like to cover our sports section then?" Effie asked excitedly.

"It would be my pleasure." Al grinned.

"And sorry, you are?" Effie politely shifted her attention back on the girl.

"Kira Patil. I'd love to cover your column on magical creatures. Hagrid's been great but bowtruckle reproduction could only get so interesting," she laughed.

Effie chuckled, delighted at their interest. "Right, of course. You're in! Perfect timing too. I mean we sort of have a shortage on members but I'm sure you've heard…" She cleared her throat, embarrassed by her babbling. "Right, anyway I'd hope you actually can write–"

"We're both capable, I assure you," Kira said politely. "But we'll give you early copies of our articles before the next issue if you like."

"Yeah! Yes…er…that would be wonderful!"

Effie managed to awkwardly brief the two of the scheduled meetings and assured them she would explain everything further when they met again. Kira happily thanked her for accepting them and left, presumably to join her friends.

Al stood by and Effie turned to him. "I did not peg you as a writer."

"We only properly met like once," Al laughed.

A grin tugged on Effie's lips. "Yeah, and I suppose it was hardly a meeting fit for accurate first impressions."

"Hardly any meetings are fit for accurate first impressions," he said mysteriously, giving her a wink and walking off.

Effie watched him go.

"Am I supposed to swoon?" Andy snorted, looking at the Al's retreating back with suspicion.

Rolling her eyes, Effie sat back down on her seat, wondering what else the year had in store for her. She got more attention from the student body in a month of her seventh year in Hogwarts than the entirety of her first six years.

There was never any reason to start fights, interfere with drama, and practically beg for forgiveness from anyone in those six years. Effie yearned for the peace, but she managed to learn how to deal with the rumors and whispers for now, as long as it would bring Dominique back to her.


Author's Note:

Happy New Year! Here's 5000 words lmao.

Anyway I won't babble so this won't be any longer than it is. Thank you very much to my reviewers. You motivate me more and more everyday and I'm really dedicating time and effort into this story because of you all.

If you could drop another (or any newcomers willing), I'd like to know: How is James so far and why do you think he has the reputation of a bully, but in present time he's nothing of the sort? What do you think of his relationship with Effie so far? Overall review of the chapter? And lastly, any opinions on Professor Callahan (lmao, this one's sort of a joke but I'd still love to know because personally I love him)?

The format of the story will be two chapters per month. Every two chapters, there will be a headline and the chapters in between will be a normal chapter within the said month. Also massive thank you to QuoteOwl for Kira's character. We'll be seeing more of her.

-Finner

Next chapter: Lysander makes an appearance, Effie and James confront Lily, and James has realizations