A/N: So! Chapter three! This one is definitely filler, but I like it anyway. It shows more of the time line I thought out for this, and explains the reasons for Lily's messaging service. I'll be able toget the story moving if I get a few more votes from chapter two's poll. Willing to help me out?? Reviews and votes please!!! - Chrissa

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Gravity

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If you really must know, I liked him.

(That was past tense, if you hadn't noticed.)

But that was back in fourth year. It's kind of a long story, but the point is, he helped me. He sat next to me in Transfiguration, which is the only class I get less than an "E" in, and he helped me through it. I developed one of those cute little crushes that parents always laugh about. He even knew about it, because Natalie spilled to Remus, who told Sirius, who told him (It makes you hate having mutual friends). James even asked me out every once in awhile, but I could tell it was out of pity. I turned him down every time, mostly out of embarrassment. Maybe a little pride.

When fifth year rolled around, I still sort of liked him.

Then the mischief started.

Something must've happened over the summer that inflated his head. Every day some new and chaotic thing was happening at the hands of the self-proclaimed "Marauders." It didn't matter if you were friend or foe; everyone was a target. Over a few months, the pranks became less mischievous and more malicious. Right after O.W.L.s, they pulled one on this jerk of a Slytherin, Severus Snape. It was ridiculous how it started, and I'd had enough. He wasn't James anymore, he was Potter. Stupid, arrogant, conceited Potter. I asked him to leave Snape alone, and he said he would if I went out with him. That stung. Like he was teasing me or something. I told him I wouldn't date him if it was a choice between him and the Giant Squid. And I meant every word.

Sixth year was... quiet.

We didn't talk much. I think I remember him talking to me in Transfiguration, but I might be imagining things. I went from feeling guilty for yelling at him, to thinking he deserved it, to wishing he would talk to me, to just disliking him. By the end of the year, he was the bane of my existence.

This year, he seems to have forgotten all that. Or maybe that's just what he wants me to think. He's been extremely nice, and right after Christmas was when Gravity started messing with my head, making me think I liked him again.

I don't know. Maybe I'm just paranoid.

"Evans? Feeling all right?" Potter asked through my door. The sun had finally set, and I was sure I'd missed dinner. I hadn't moved from my plopped position on the bed for at least an hour. "Evans? Natalie wants to talk to you."

I heard someone jinx the lock on my door (which disturbed me slightly), and then light footsteps going toward my night stand. Candle light filled the room, and Natalie sat down beside me. I magicked the door shut, and I'm pretty sure it was in Potter's face. I grinned to myself at the thought.

"I finished your messaging thing," she said. I sat up.

"Really?" I asked hopefully.

She nodded, handing me a sandwich wrapped in a napkin. I ate it quickly, surprised at how hungry I actually was. "Can I see it?" I asked between bites.

"Nope."

"Why not?!"

She kicked off her shoes and pulled her legs onto the bed. "I'm curious how this will help you... You can see it after I get a better explanation."

I sighed, picking at the last bit of sandwich. "All right... Well, you see, I was in the kitchens, talking to Tally, and -"

"House elves aren't psychiatrists, Lily."

"Bugger off," I said in haughty response. "Anyway, she said it seemed like I was thinking too much, which you have to admit is true." She nodded in spite of herself. "When I asked her how I might stop all this thinking, she said if it were her, she'd work to forget."

Natalie pursed her lips in thought. "Okay, I understand that, but where does the message thing come in?"

I shrugged. "The only thing I have to work on right now is the dance, but Potter has to work on it too. He's one of the things I need to stop thinking about, but if I have to work with him, How can I -"

"You're rambling." She chuckled. "And I have lots of questions now... Like, why are you thinking about him at all?" I snorted, but the conversation had turned serious.

"I don't know why I am... He's everywhere, though. Hard to avoid."

"Do you want to stop thinking about him?" she asked quietly as I leaned against the pillows. I quirked a brow.

"Of course. Why wouldn't I?"

"Because," she said, focusing on something far away, "I think, if you can't get someone out of your head, then maybe... Maybe they're supposed to be there."

The notion was met with silence.

"Are you suggesting," I implored, after a moment or two, "that I still like Potter? It's been three years -"

"Three long years," she interrupted. "Things change, and I notice a lot, Lily. He likes you. He stares at you in class, and he talks about you to his friends..." I sighed.

"Vegetables and chocolate do not make a good couple," I muttered darkly.

She laughed loudly. "What?!" I smiled a little.

"Just a theory, that's all." I moved so I could lay on my stomach. "Anyway, if I want him out of my head, then I have to have as little contact with him as possible. Sending him messages instead of talking to him will help me plan the dance with him -"

"But without seeing him."

"Exactly."

She blinked. "But you'll still have contact with him."

I huffed, having noticed this flaw several hours ago. "I know, but I only have to make it through these two last months, then I'll never have to see him again."

"I suppose that makes sense..." She became extremely quiet again, and I was reminded of this afternoon.

"What was up with you in the library earlier?"

Her face became hard. "I told you. It's none of your business."

"Hey, I answered your questions." I feigned a pout.

She got off the bed and grabbed something off the nightstand. "Do you want your message gizmo or what?"

I laughed. "Nice change of subject."

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"You should've thought that part out."

"Keep quiet, Natalie Lorraine."

It was Sunday morning and we were on our way to breakfast, traipsing through an empty corridor.

"I'm just saying... Maybe you should've thought about how you were going to convince him to use this thing... I mean, what are you going to say? 'Here, James, use this to send me messages so I don't have to see your face!' Yeah, that would go over well."

We rounded a corner. "I thought you were the calm one," I told her simply, feeling a rush of adrenaline.

"Yeah, I thought so, too," I heard her mutter under her breath.

When we made it to the Great Hall, most of the school's population was eating, and the clink of silverware on dishes poured through the door. Natalie held me back by my shoulder. "How are you going to do this?"

"Simple." I took out the two scrolls of parchment she'd given me. They were identical, in shape and size, but they weren't the usual yellowish color of parchment. Natalie had bewitched them into the Gryffindor colors, one a dark red, the other a brassy gold. I unrolled the gold one. It was the length of a new quill, the width of two inkwells. Along the bottom in two rows of thirteen, she had put the alphabet. The rest of the scroll was blank. Tapping a letter with your finger would make it appear at the top of the scroll. You could tap out the message you wanted to tell, and to send it to the other person, you'd roll up the scroll and tap it with your wand. The scrolls would make a humming sound when they received messages. "I'll just hand him this one, tell him to wait, go sit down, and send him a message. He'll think it's the greatest thing since Zonko's."

Natalie pursed her lips slightly. "I don't think it'll work out that way."

"Of course it will, don't be stupid." I walked out of her grasp and into the Great Hall, hearing her footsteps rush after me.

When I reached Potter's usual part of the table, I wasn't met with the hearty welcome I was expecting. Sirius Black looked up from his breakfast curiously, and Peter Pettigrew tipped over his goblet. Remus Lupin was having a hurried argument with Potter, so I waited patiently until they realized I was there. Sirius coughed, making Potter look up. He was definitely startled. Natalie bit her lip.

"Evans! Er, good morning. Are you feeling better?" He ruffled his already messy morning hair, and Gravity started in on my heart. I ignored the feeling and put on a brave smile.

"Yes, I'm feeling much better, thank you." He smiled lightly, and took a sip from his goblet. I froze with the smile on my face.

"Well, Lily dear. We're all very glad to be... graced with your presence, but may I ask the occasion?" Sirius said sarcastically, putting on a forced grin. Potter grimaced apologetically.

I blinked, then remembered the scrolls in my hands. "Oh, yes. well, I just wanted to give you this." I handed him the gold one. "I think it'll help us while we plan the dance."

He quirked a brow curiously and unrolled the scroll. Now he looked confused. "The alphabet will help us?"

I laughed, a little too loudly, loosing my cool and earning a concerned look from Remus. Natalie cleared her throat and I continued. "No, um... Here, let me show you how it works."

I unrolled my own red scroll and tapped the first thing that popped into my head.

We still have to count those votes.

I rolled up the scroll and taped it with my wand. His droned a low pitched hum. He unrolled it, and after a second, he smiled. Tug.

"That's bloody brilliant. Now I don't have to hunt around for you." He took another sip of what looked like pumpkin juice. "Where'd you get these?"

I hadn't expected the question, but quick answers might make a quick getaway appear quickly-er... Wait, too many "quicks"...

My inner rambler confused myself and I furrowed a brow, but Natalie made up for it. "I made them for us before the holidays. We used them when we were at home," she lied smoothly.

I chuckled uneasily. "Quicker than owls."

He grinned again, but something caught his attention. "Well, now that you're here, when do you want to count those votes?"

I blinked several times. "Erm..."

"She'll get back to you after breakfast," Natalie chuckled, yanking on my shoulder. "Still a bit woozy from yesterday I suspect!" She chuckled again. "See you later!"

As we walked away, Natalie whispered hoarsely in my ear. "Lily Evans, you are smitten." I whirled around, sending her a hard stare.

"Natalie Dennis, you are ridiculous."

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A/N: PLEASE review so I don't have to write any more filler! It takes such a long time to write this way!!