Chapter 8

Christmas was approaching, but the mood of the Seventh years weren't high at all. With the NEWT's drawing close and closer, teachers were piling mounds of homework on them, and the Seventh years found that they had little time to even breathe. McGonagall was especially strict, but that was to be expected. With all the pressure, the social gatherings in the Common Room had died down and transformed into study groups.

Especially with the Potions assignment still over James and Lily's heads, there was no time for anything at all. The Marauders had stopped playing tricks all together, but Sirius still found time to slot a few in between classes, much to the annoyance of students trying to study and Professors. Sirius hadn't planned on studying for his NEWT's, but after a rather heated conversation with Brittany did he finally settle down.

He was lying on the bottom of the stairs as he half-heartedly glimpsed at the book Astounding Astronomy in front of him. As he flipped a page, he yawned loudly. Nobody else was in the Common Room, and it was already early in the morning. He proceeded to get up and finally return to his Dorm, but was brought back to the ground by an unexpected collision.

Brittany Davies had fallen on top of him as she was coming down from the stairs. Whether it was shock at finding someone in the Common Room this early, or finding that it was Black, Brittany had missed the last couple of steps and rolled on top him.

"Geroff me Black!" She panted heavily, as Sirius had placed all of his weight on top of her.

"Awww…my toes! You've probably broken them" Sirius groaned, as he wiggled his bare toes, still refusing to get off the girl. He found the position quite comfortable.

"I'm warning you Black…get off, or face the consequences." Brittany made feeble attempts to push him off, but realised how strong he actually was.

"Or you'll what, Brit?" Sirius leaned in closer, and they were face to face. Brittany gulped uncomfortably, her anger currently unforgotten. She tried to not meet his eyes, but found she could not.

Sirius gazed in to her blue orbs that always seemed to cold towards him while Brittany stared into his dark ones. She felt a flood of emotions wash through her…they were a mixture of passion, resentment and hate.

He was the one that had broken her heart those many years ago. Yet, here she was, facing him, her heart burning with feelings she couldn't understand. She'd always felt a passion towards him, a fiery uncontrollable temper when she saw him. She thought it was hate…hate because he'd deserted her, betrayed her. Now, she wasn't so sure.

Lily and Eva's words came rushing back to her mind. "You still love him Brit…as much as you won't admit it, you can't forget the things he's made you feel…is making you feel."

Brittany racked her mind for an answer…she truly didn't know what to do with the guy in front of her. She'd changed her whole self to forget about him, but all she was doing was getting more and more trapped. Sirius' eyes revealed little, they were almost pleading…they were asking her for acceptance, to just give him a chance.

They burned into her, and she didn't know how to respond. She'd dated so many guys, but she knew she never felt anything for them. She'd been wearing a mask of happiness and carefree. Inside, she was very alone, with only her friends as company. She truly didn't know what she felt for Sirius. He often made her forget all, uncover her true personality.

To be honest, she was scared. She'd already let him too close once and she didn't think she could face another heartbreak. She'd made a mistake once, and she needed to learn from that mistake. He was only using her to gain more respect for himself. She needed to escape him. Her only path was to not think at all.

With all her might, she pushed him off her and ran as fast as she could. Against her will, a stream of hot, bitter tears made their way down her cheeks as she roughly brushed them away. Her whole body hurt, and then a bang went off in her mind. She knew. She suddenly knew that for all these years, she'd still been very much in love with Sirius Black.

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Sirius stared dumbfounded on the floor in front of him. Brittany had burned a hole in his chest, a scar that could never mend itself. He didn't know what he felt with her…but he knew whatever it was, it was strong and was taking him whole. He'd never experienced this kind of hurt, and he had no clue how to tackle the problem.

Still lost, he made his way up to the dorms where Peter was snoring so loudly he was surprised the roof hadn't come off yet, and Remus was twitching uncomfortably and mumbling something.

He wondered if she'd be okay…if he should've chased after her. He'd been thinking more and more about the girl lately. Having absolutely no idea what to do about it and feeling as if everything then was a dream, he fell into a dazed sleep.

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When Lily stepped into her best friends' room, she was taken aback when all she saw was Brittany howling with tears. Eva was trying to comfort her, but seemed to be failing. When she was Lily, she was very much relieved.

"She's been like this since this morning. I don't even know what's happened!" Eva whispered urgently to Lily.

Brittany's face was wet with tears, and her hair was a mess. She was kneeling on the bed as more teardrops made their way down from her eyes that showed pain and confusion

"What happened Brit?" Lily gently asked.

"You were right, both of you…about him" She barely whispered, and her tears seemed to slow down a little.

Brittany sniffed as she gazed up at her friends. She knew how lucky she was to have them, but she wondered how they were going to help her with the problem at hand.

Lily and Eva exchanged surprised glances. They both had suspicions that Brittany's breakdown had something to do with Sirius Black, but now, they understood. Brittany had finally come out of denial and admitted her love for him…the love that had always been there for the past years.

"What're you going to do?" Eva asked, hugging Brittany fiercely.

Just as Lily and Eva were about to start celebrating that their friend had finally seen the light, Brittany surprised them.

"I'm going to forget about Sirius Black…I'm going to start dating Neil McPherson in Ravenclaw." Brittany said determinedly.

Lily and Eva were aghast. Why did she have to torture herself like this? They knew she was stubborn, but was she really this determined to not give Sirius Black a chance?

"But why Brit…why? You're only hurting yourself…and probably Black" Eva said exasperatedly.

"He's broken my heart once…I won't let him do it again. Once was an accident, by the second time, it'll be stupidity." And with that, she stalked off. "I'll be studying with Neil…I'll see you all later."

Leaving Eva and Lily back in the Common Room, they had no other choice but to study and make small conversation.

"So…anything interesting between you and Remus?" Lily looked up from the copy of The Spellbinding book of Spells Volume 3 she was reading and looked at Eva enquiringly.

As if on cue, Eva began to flush a deep shade of pink.

"Oh, were still friends. It's nothing."

"Seriously Eva…you should do something and let him know! I've seen him with you…you look so cute together! I'll bet my Galleons that he likes you as well."

"H seems a bit distant every time I'm with him. It's pretty confusing…like, there's a spark but then a moment later, and it's gone."

"Maybe he's just shy…?"

"I think it's something else…I really want to know. Maybe he'll tell me in due time."

"Well, good luck" Lily went up and embraced her friend, and they didn't need words to communicate what they were thinking. Eva smiled a devilish grin as they sat back down again.

"So, you and Potter…?"

Lily was horrified at hearing her friend's words.

"Gosh, no…I suppose were just friendlier with each other. It's the influence of Head Boy and Girl and the assignment." Lily sighed.

"Well Lily, you're not exactly young…I don't remember you ever having a boyfriend. Maybe it's time."

Lily blushed slightly. She knew she hadn't dated anyone for a number of reasons. She dedicated most of her time to her studies, and the remaining time was either spent with her friends or being annoyed by James Potter.

That had been occurring ever since second year. Another important reason was that few guys dared ask her out. It was as if an unspoken contract had been signed, and she was James Potter's property. Of course, once this had been 'set'…few guys even dared approach her! It was extremely annoying. This was yet another reason why she hated him.

"Nah…you know how it is, few guys even talk to me!"

"Well, I see that Hufflepuff guy…Diggory, Amos Diggory staring at you a lot in Charms. I think he likes you" Eva giggled.

Lily blushed a little harder. Amos was an extremely handsome guy, and he was very polished in his studies. Lily had thought that it was either Remus Lupin or him that would get the Head Boy badge. Lily scowled again as she remembered who actually got it…

Lily liked him quite a lot as well. Perhaps it wasn't in the romantic way, but she respected and admired him. He was Seeker in the Quidditch team, and was liked by many. It would be quite nice to have him as a boyfriend she thought. They hadn't really talked, and whenever they did, it was pretty awkward as they were both shy. Their discomfort was also caused a lot of the time by James Potter. He would come in and disrupt their conversation and send death glares at Amos. Lily wouldn't even bother to tell him off as she knew nothing she said would make him change.

Lily was brought back to reality by Eva waving her hands in front of her face and she blushed once again.

"Yeah, maybe he and I will end up as a happy couple." Lily smiled happily.

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In the Slytherin Common Room, things were much more complicated. Most of the Seventh years were in foul moods, and a few of them were particularly sour. With the coming up exams and their defeat to Gryffindor, times were the worst for them.

They were plotting revenge, and they would go to any lengths to get it. In a particularly dark and uninviting corner, Bellatrix Black, Regulus Black, Crabbe, Goyle, Severus Snape and Missy Redding were whispering feverishly.

They all wanted to plot the Gryffindors, but had no idea how to think up a plan that would not only fool the Marauders, but work effectively. None of them being particularly bright except Snape, he knew where their weak spot was.

"We have to aim for Potter!" Snape spat out the word like venom, before continuing to explain the plot he had devised.

"The guy is in love with Evans…all we have to do is break up their relationship. Then, they'll be dog eat dog, and we can watch them kill each other!" They Slytherins thought about this, and decided it was perfect plan and cackled evilly.

"So, how will it work Severus?" Bellatrix leaned in closer and made sure none of them were involved.

"We can use the Potions assignment. The Mudblood doesn't trust Potter fully, and if he slips up here, she'll be sure to blow at him." Missy Redding's eyes were wild as she thought how they would make the plan work flawlessly.

"She's right" Snape curved his lips into a malicious grin.

"So, details?" Regulus asked. He wanted to get to his brother more than anyone else.

"We'll have to make the Mudblood think that Potter's betrayed her trust. There's only one way. She can't drink the Love Potion. I'll have to replace it when they're not looking. That way, the Mudblood will think Potter's playing another prank on her…and she hate that. It'll work, I'm sure!" Snape said, his voice dark and dangerous. If it was one thing he wanted in his life, it was to see the Marauders' downfall.

The Slytherins' laughs rang around the Common Room and Bellatrix Black was banging her fist on the wooden bench from glee.

"Okay, down to business. We have to plan it out carefully. No mistakes permitted" Missy's eyes narrowed as she pictured James Potter and Lily Evans die a very painful death. She couldn't wait for it to happen.

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A/N: Hiallo agen pplz! I'm back…oh well, the chapter was shorter, and there was not that much Lily/James, but I hope it cleared up some other things

Anyways, thanx to alllllllllll my reviewers (blows kisses everywhere). Everyone review! Hope you all enjoyed the chapter

Waiting with crossed fingers at responses,

Purebliss90