Company

Oh, God. A week before the party and I still didn't have anyone to go with for the most important ball of my life. Not that I cared that much for it, it's just that I thought it might be nice if I went with someone cool. Alice was automatically going with Frank (they are so nice and kind together that I would be tempted to make them company if it wasn't for my loath for interrupting couples), Marlene was going with Sirius (they make a great match, seriously), Emmeline was with Fabian (oh, god, they'll suck together, Meaning, Fabian can't look at anything without making a joke, it can be deadly) and I'm under the impression that Remus will pluck up the courage and ask Dorcas out. By note.

By Wednesday I was beginning to get anxious about this company issue, and even more nervous because Emme and Lene wouldn't stop talking about the ball, who would wear what and mostly, trying to match Fabian against Sirius.

"Will you stop it?" I yelled when they were starting to depreciate each other's boyfriend. Both turned to me, and my face went red by the sudden attention. I kept my face high and stood steadily, until my eyes caught the glimpse of someone I needed to talk to. "Will you? Ah!"

I rose angrily and walked towards the back that called my attention. It had been years since I didn't talk to him. As a matter of fact I pretended not to see him since that day on the fifth year, especially facing the kind of people he hung out with. Severus was always my best friend, no offence for Remus, of course, who was probably the only one who never disappointed me. I was a few steps from Sev when I begun to think about what to tell him. I was feeling like forgiving him, letting all aside, and maybe go as friends to the ball.

"HEY! Snape!" I heard a voice call him, and when I saw Avery coming down the aisle I ran to a secret passage on the wall to hide. In the process I could hear what they said:

"What is it this time, Avery?"

"Are you ready?"

"I'm not aware of what you're talking about."

"Don't play the fool with me, Bella said that you was in. You're one of us now, we can talk."

"As I recall I have listed myself to serve the Dark Lord, not for a tea party with you. Do you know the date of our next meeting?"

"Next trip to Hogsmeade at the Three Broomsticks. See you there."

"Sure."

The voices and steps faded away, and I felt the urge to get out and scream at him. I've always thought he wasn't capable of doing such atrocities the paper said as being done by that lord. I thought he was my friend, and that it didn't matter if you were muggleborn, or even a muggle. But he deceived me, lied to me. And at the same time listed to torture and kill the ones like me. I walked adrift on the hallway, loathing the perspective of meeting Emme, Lene and her boyfriend's again. I stopped abruptly halfway and saw Amos Diggory, from Hufflepuff, coming towards me, and only then did I realize I had tears in my eyes.

"Lily, my dear, what happened?" he asked kindly, and I was so stressed that I think I said a little too much.

"Oh, Amos, much. I'm sick of studying for the N.E.W.T's , sick of people asking me how the ball is going to be, I have just been upset and no one to go to the ball with."

"That's no such problem!" he beamed proudly. But don't overreact, he's always proud. "You go with me!"

I gave a twisted smile, and he must have taken it for a yes, because he smiled back. I was too upset to notice, anyway. Amos, naturally, spread the news all over the castle, and by the end of the evening I was feeling as if I was being interviewed by the muggle press.

"But are you really going with Amos?"

"Amos must've forced you, he's so proud!"

"Lily, what were you thinking? Now he's going to boast about that for the rest of his life!"

"Can we talk, please?" Remus appeared bored near me, casting everyone away from me and sitting in a fluffy chair by my side. "They're no annoying, aren't they?"

I smiled thankfully and went towards him, needing a helping hand for a change. I curled to Remus' chest, and he hugged me. "You've really gone mad, Lily." He patted my head and laughed. "I need either to sleep or to kill someone. I guess I'm stressed." He laughed even harder."Going out with Amos Diggory won't do any good to you. By the way, I'm sorry to have noticed, but you look upset. What happened?"

"I don't wanna bother you with this." I said, Avery and Severus' words echoing inside my head. Remus went from relaxed to serious in one second.

"I've always bothered you with mine. It's your turn now."

We stared at each other for a whole minute, and he looked so steadily that I confessed. "Severus has allied himself with that Lord."

"What?" he said surprised, which only increased my pain. "How did you find out?"

"I was going to talk with him when Avery appeared. I hid behind that Scottish tapestry passage you told me the other day and heard everything."

"This is very grave, Lily, and you must forgive me, Snape and I were never the best friends, but I think this was just expected."

"I know everyone expected this, I just didn't want to see it being thrown on my face. Amos arrived right when I started sobbing."

"Relax, everything will be just fine. But I think you should consider going back to James."

"Yes, I could."

"Hey?" Remus gazed looked confusedly and I started laughing. "I thought you were going to kill me for this."

"I'd never do such thing. I don't know, it's just that I was happier when James and I were together. He's stress-free, has nothing to think about."

"Oh, he worries with much." Remus revealed in a mysterious tone, which only increased my curiosity. "Anyway, the ball is going to be great, I hope you come by to say hi at least. I'm going with Dorcas, can you believe it?"

He was so glad it made me feel better. We hugged and I felt someone's gaze darting my back. Me and my abnormal life.