It got to halfway through the morning, in Transfigoration when Alice got really worried. I mean, James had been nervous from the start but then as the morning progressed, each of Lily's friends began to worry. Professor McGonagall was giving a speech in animagi but barely anyone was listening. Everyone was scribbling furiously to each other in their books, apart from James, who was desperatly trying to ignore his.

'Mr Potter what an earth is the problem?' McGonagall rolled her eyes and strode over to his desk, where he was absent mindedly rolling his wand over in his hands. 'You're book has turned into a fireworks display and it is disrupting my lesson.'

'I'm sorry Professor,' he muttered back. 'Can I go and shove it in my dorm?'

'Yes, but hurry.' She snapped back, although her eyes were soft.

'Hey!' Sirius interrupted. 'How come James is allowed to go back to the common room but I'm not allowed to go outside and look at the puddles on the floor so I can sort out my hair?'

'Because Mr Black,' McGonagall turned around to him, sighing. 'How do I know you won't kidnap a fifth year girl from the room next door and end up in a broom closet somewhere?'

'Ha ha!' Alice wheezed. 'Ha burn!'

'Miss Prewett, if you could refrain from taunting Mr Black in my lessons. I'm sure he already gets it enough as a two dollar escort.'

Everyone gaped at the Professor.

James ran up to the Heads dorm, clutching his bag tightly. His knuckles went white. He couldn't breathe. What was going on with Marlene? He'd received a letter this morning which he'd read part of before feeling sick. He sat down. Head in hands, then stood up and continued running. Stopping was giving up, and he refused to sink to Marlene's level.

When he saw Lily, it almost broke him. She was sitting on the floor, surrounded by broken pottery, shreds of Marlene's letter, her hands splattered with blood. Her hair was messy and her face tear stained. He took a deep breath and walked over to her, embracing her in a hug.

'Oh Lily.' He whispered.

'I don't know what to do,' she breathed. 'Marlene.' Fresh tears spilled over her eyes. 'Why would she do that?'

'I don't know Lils. I don't know.' He rubbed her gently on the back.

'But, I just, I don't know.'

'I know I know.'

'But you don't James!' She flung her hands up in the air frantically. 'Marlene was always there! And now she's not and I just don't know what to do!' She rubbed her eyes. 'And then there's me and you.'

'What about us?' His voice went icy.

'We're friends because of Marlene.' Lily brushed her hair back behind her ear, her eyes panicked. 'Me and you. It's because of Marlene.'

'What's your point?' James stood up, throwing his hands in the air in frustration. 'So what if Marlene was the cause of our friendship?'

'What do you mean so what?' Lily stood up too, trying to face him, although she was at least a foot smaller. 'Maybe we wouldn't be friends now.'

'But we are, and I think we would be, you know it Lily. Because I have changed this year.'

'But was it because of Marlene?'

'Excuse me?' James saw red.

'I don't know. Maybe you would still be the same egotistical prat asking me out everything bloody minute because you could and let's face it, you wouldn't have changed. Marlene changed you because obviously you were too big headed to do it on your own. You're too much off a prat to do it on you're own and-'

'-I ASKED YOU OUT BECAUSE I LOVE YOU LILY!' He took a ragged breath. 'And now, I'm going to go, back to transfigoration because I don't know why I didn't see it before.' He strode off towards the door. 'I'm obviously wasting my time with you.' He slammed the door.

Lily sank to the ground, shaking. The blood on her hands barely seemed relevant any more. What had she done? What had she said? She was the prat, but was she right? Her mind spun as she groped blindedly for her wand.

'R-r-r-rep-paro.' She stuttered. Golden sparks shot out of her wand then faded slightly. 'R-reparo.'

It wouldn't mend. No matter how hard she tried, it just would not repair itself. Lily's voice trembled, everything shattered beyond repair inside herself. She curled up on the floor in a ball, shaking, crying.

How could James love her? James Potter? It was preposterous! Impossible! She just didn't know what to do. And she didn't love him back. Well, she kinda of loved him as a friend, but right now, she just couldn't take it. No more love. No more James. No more mind screwing over business. She just had to get help. And she knew what she had to do. She had to go home.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Well hello there! I know that this was a short chapter but I think I needed it to be. I was going to have a different plot but I've now changed it and tbh, think the dramaticyness worked out for the best, so yeah.

If you enjoyed this please check out my story of fictionpress, escaping Ogygia. I would just suggest skipping to like, chapter 3 because the first few are quite boring. s/3221653/1/Escaping-Ogygia

Bye! ;)