Lucy was curled up on her bed reading. She had always loved to read and every holiday she made a point of visiting a muggle bookstore & stocking up. At the moment, she was rereading The Lord of the Rings. It had been a firm favourite of hers since she had gotten it from her uncle on her ninth birthday.

"Hey Lucy! Oh, I love that book. Wizards fiction just isn't the same is it?" Lily's cheerful voice broke into her reverie. "No, it's not," Lucy smiled at Lily. Carefully marking her page, she put the book aside. "Any news? You're Head Girl now, so you have to dish the gossip!" They both started laughing.

"Well, I did catch our very own Marlene snogging a sixth year in a broom cupboard." Lucy raised her eyebrows in shock. Marlene had seemed genuinely upset earlier when Lucy had tactfully broken the news to her. Still, maybe the only way to get over a man is to get straight back on the horse.

"She's certainly free and easy with the loving!" Lily muttered, half-frowning. Lily was a hopeless romantic. She believed that everyone had one true soul mate. Lucy was more cynical about life in general. She lay down on the bed beside Lucy and sighed, lost in thought.

When she spoke, she stared at the ceiling. "What's it like?" she asked quietly. "To be best friends with boys?" Lucy frowned at the strange question, and thought about her answer.

"Well, in a way it's brilliant. No bitching, no worrying about what the real meaning is behind their words. Boys generally mean exactly what they say. It's easy to be friends with them."

Lily nodded. "But, do you not miss the girly nights, when you do each other up and talk about boys? I mean, girls understand each other."

"Mmmm. Well, you don't miss what you never had do you? I know that I could join in with all of you if I wanted to, it's just… I'm happy with what I have. Of course, it does have its downsides; the farting jokes and the whole macho thing just annoy me!"

Lucy laughed and groaned at the same time. "I can only imagine! You know though, I'm here any time you need to talk." Lucy smiled appreciatively. "I might hold you to that! But, you should hang out with us some day, you might be surprised at what you see."

"And, I might just hold you to that," Lily informed Lucy.

The two girls went silent, each thinking about different things. However, the silence was comfortable. They were the only two muggle-born Gryffindors in their year. There was an understanding between them.

They both knew the mixture of complete shock and excitement that accompanied Professor McGonagall's visit.

They both knew the hardship of leaving friends and family to live in a strange castle for most of the year.

They both knew the hurt and shame that came with the term mudblood.

This understanding provided a foundation of a friendship that, while it had its rows, was strong. The main reason why they hadn't been best friends was their own difference in friends. If circumstances had been different, Lucy had no doubt that she would have been very close with Lily Evans.

They managed to maintain a friendship, despite the difficulties. While they didn't speak that often, they each had the utmost trust in each other.

"I'm going to bed," Lily yawned widely. "I am absolutely exhausted." Lily would spend all day in bed if she could, snuggled up with a good book and lots of chocolate.

"Night, I'm going to sleep now myself." Drawing the curtains around her bed, Lucy smiled as she remembered Shane Pattin's earlier remark. She drifted off to sleep and dreamt of a certain pair of blue eyes.

This chapter is slightly odd! But I had to put something up... Apologies for the delay by the way but Im back at school and it's hard to have time to come on this and write.. The good news is, I know exactly where I'm going with this so Woop woop!! Thanks again to TopsyTurvee, CullenCrazy32, IHeartHP95, lord-darkwater258, Sporkface, sophiesayshi and ifyoujump. Hope you enjoy :)