Chapter 12

Lily had just sat down at Gryffindor's table on Saturday morning when she was approached by a Ravenclaw girl whom she didn't know. She looked nice though, with dark brown hair and eyes.

"Um, excuse me. Are you Lily Evans?" she asked.

"Yeah, I am. Do you want something?" Lily replied.

"Can we go for a walk?"

Lily nodded and they walked outside into the courtyard.

"My name's Serena by the way." She paused. "I've noticed that you've been talking to Joe Law lately."

Lily nodded. "Yeah, I have."

"Well, I just thought that you might like to know that I like him and I liked him first. So hands off," she said harshly.

Lily was taken aback. "We've just been talking, it's nothing…"

Serena took a tight hold onto Lily's sleeve. She glared at her fiercely. "Don't touch him. He's mine. You don't even like him, do you? Do you?" she said again and shook Lily slightly.

Lily was surprised by the girl's strength. "No, I guess I don't. Not at all," she said as Serena gave her another death glare.

Serena let go of her sleeve. "Glad we got that sorted out. Nice to meet you, Lily," she said cheerfully and left Lily standing in the courtyard.

Nichloe came running out to meet Lily. "Is this where you've been? I've been looking for you." She grabbed Lily's arm. "Come on." She pulled Lily back into the castle.

"What…what are we doing?" Lily asked, still being pulled around by Nichloe through the corridors.

"Going for a walk. Maybe we can discuss our lives."

Lily pulled her arm away from Nichloe and stopped dead still. "What lives? I have no life. I have no friends, no purpose…sometimes I have to wonder if I was only put on this Earth to give Potter someone to annoy!" Lily whipped around and took off down the corridor.

"What am I? An acquaintance?" Nichloe called after her. Then she raced after her. "What about how you've been acting? You suddenly slap Potter just 'cause he says something about your red hair…"

Lily spun around and Nichloe ran into her. "How do you know about that?" she asked quietly.

Nichloe realized she shouldn't have said anything. "Know about what?" she asked innocently.

Lily stared at Nichloe with her green eyes. "How did you know that I slapped Potter?"

"Um, well, you see…"

"You're friends with him 'cause you're going out with his best mate, aren't you? Nichloe, how could you? I thought you were with me against him."

"That isn't the point Lily!"

Lily suddenly realized something. "You're the one who's been giving me those poems from him, aren't you?"

Nichloe was slightly confused. "How did you know they were from him and not that Joe guy?"

"Well, I took a risk in front of him right? And the next poem was about me taking a risk."

"Was it?"

"Don't act like you're stupid, Nichloe."

"I'm not! And these mood swings!"

"What mood swings?"

"Well, you slap Potter then you suddenly get him out of detention by lying to a teacher! What's gotten into you Lily?" Nichloe asked more quietly.

Lily collapsed onto the ground, her robes spilling out around her. She put her head in her hands. "I don't know," she said quietly, so quietly Nichloe almost didn't hear her.

Nichloe sat beside her on the cold stone floor. "Do you have any ideas?"

"I suppose…it's 'cause…well…I think I like Potter."

Nichloe searched her friend's face. It was deadly serious. "You do?"

Lily turned to the floor again. "Like I said. I think. I don't really know. I just wish he would get himself together and act like somebody normal."

"It's Potter, Lily," Nichloe said, smiling. "He'll never be normal."

Lily smiled sadly. "I know."

"So is this why…?"

"I guess I'm trying to impress him. But I don't think it's working."

"Lily," Nichloe said softly. "You impressed him before you were doing all this."

Lily met Nichloe's blue eyes. "I was?"

Nichloe nodded. "Now you're just confusing him."

"I am?"

Nichloe nodded again and the two friends laughed.

"I think I'm going to go talk to Potter," Lily said, getting up and brushing off her robes.

"He'll probably be up in the common room. Have you ever seen how fast he and Sirius eat?"

Lily grinned. "I'll see you later," she said, walking towards Gryffindor Tower.

.x.x.x.

James sat in an armchair. He felt a bit sad since he hadn't seen Lily at breakfast.

At that moment, Lily scrambled through the portrait hole.

James jumped to his feet. "Lily! I wanted to ask you something…"

"Yes, James?" Lily asked calmly.

James was silent for a moment. Lily had used his first name. "Um, I was wondering if you'd like to come to Hogsmeade this weekend with me."

Lily looked at James. "Yeah, I would James. That'd be nice."

James was stunned. "Yes?"

"Yes," Lily said smiling and she kissed James.

James put his arms around her and leaned in for more.

Nichloe came through the portrait hole just in time to see her best mate and James Potter kiss.

Sirius stood next to her and put his arm around her. "I suppose you had a part in this."

"Sort of," Nichloe replied, still watching the pair. "I helped her realize that she wanted to do this. Otherwise, it was her idea."

Lily and James broke apart.

"Does this mean you're my girlfriend now?" James asked, hardly daring to believe it.

Lily smiled shyly. "I guess so." She paused. "For now."

James grinned then understood her last comment. "Hey…"

Lily poked her tongue out and ran out through the portrait hole.

James took off after her. "Lily!"

.x.x.x.

Hello again! This is, yes, sadly the end. It's been good while it lasted though, hasn't it? I enjoyed writing it, that's for sure. Especially Lily's frustration in this chapter. That was good.

I hope all you, my faithful readers, enjoyed it as much I did. Please review, if you've been holding off until the end of the story to do so.

And for any of you readers out there unsure of how to pronounce Nichloe's name, it's Ni-chloe, like a combination of Nicole and Chloe. I quite like that name, so if I write another FanFic story where Lily has a friend, you might see her turn up again.

Keep reading my friends and virtual hugs for all!