A/N: Pre-warning. This chapter will make you hate Emma Warren. I was practically seething when I wrote it. But anywho …on with the chapter.
Lily didn't sleep. Not even for a second. If she wasn't crying, she was contemplating how to make things better, which just made her head hurt. Marlene and Alice had long since gone to bed, as she lay awake in her four-poster.
How was she supposed to fix this? She was being punished for talking to someone. She hadn't kissed him, and even if she HAD, what did it matter? She was single, as far as she was concerned, and she was allowed to talk to whomever she pleased.
Severus was not all bad. He made mistakes, yes, but she wasn't going to shun him for the rest of her life. And it was true she would never forgive him for what he said in 5th year…but why hate him? Hate was so unnecessary and pointless. She had hate for no one.
A soft knock was heard at the door, and Lily checked her watch. It was 3 AM. Who would be knocking now? She slipped out of bed and quietly opened the door.
"Hi Lily…" A very worn-looking Emma Warren stood in the doorway in her pajamas. The fact that Emma Warren was standing there speaking to Lily was a strange occurrence in and of itself, but at 3 in the morning? There was definitely something up.
"Hi Emma." Lily tilted her head to the side slightly "Um, what's up?" Emma looked very nervous, and Lily couldn't fathom why.
"Well, I saw what happened earlier – downstairs – and…I just wanted to know how you were doing." Lily stared at her complete and utter shock displayed in her face.
"Um, that was very…sweet of you. I'm fine. Thanks for asking."
Emma shuffled her feet. "Oh yeah? Well, that's really good….really really good…" Lily frowned.
"What do you need, Emma?" Emma lifted her eyes from her feet to Lily's face
"Are you and James, err, completely…over and done with?" Lily froze; she truly didn't have an answer to give.
"Um, I…" but Emma did not wait for Lily's answer
"It's just…See, I really like him. And I asked him, and he said that he was completely, in no way attached to anyone, and that he'd take me into Hogsmeade next weekend. But I just wouldn't feel right about it if I didn't ask you….So here I am."
Lily's breath seemed to disappear, and she felt as if the entire castle was spinning like a top. Completely, in no way attached to anyone? How could he say something like that? Lily looked at Emma, fully taking her in. Her blonde hair was very straight and very pretty, she had hazel eyes and she was about an inch shorter than Lily. Lily bit her lip
"Are you asking me if it's alright if you date James?" Emma blushed, and then nodded. Lily shook her head. "It doesn't matter what I think. Go for it." and before Emma could say another word, Lily was closing the door on her.
Lily was trying her hardest to stay calm. She walked over to the window, staring out at the inky black sky. She dreaded tomorrow. She dreaded classes. She dreaded seeing James and Sirius, and God forbid Severus, who had no idea any of this was even going on. And Emma, hanging off James' arm like some little backstabbing puppy.
How had things gotten this bad? How had they gone so wrong? It was like a movie of her life was playing, and all she could do was watch and let things happen. She had no control over any of it.
She made her way back over to her bed, crawling underneath the blankets. She pulled the blankets as high as they would go without covering her head. She glanced at her watch. 3:45. She closed her eyes, praying for sleep. And after a few restless tosses and turns, sleep came.