The next day was rather awkward as I was doing everything in my power to avoid James Potter.

After a few hours of failing miserably, and being forced to listen to nearly a dozen apologies from him, I finally figured out the one place he couldn't get to me: my dorm.

I hid out in my dorm for most of the afternoon, studying and writing letters home to Auntie Joy, but importantly, to Petunia.

Even if I knew she probably wouldn't read them, I felt better writing them. I needed to get a lot off my chest and I couldn't think of anyone better than Petunia. She'd been there for me for my whole life, even if she had viciously abandoned me these past few years. I wasn't bothered by the fact that she'd most likely rip them to shreds and throw something at the poor owl I chose to deliver them, I needed to explain myself.

Dear Petunia,

I know that I'm the last person you want to hear from, but I really need to get some things off my chest.

First of all, I need to tell how much I love you and miss you. You're my big sister and I'll always look up to you, whether you want me to or not. I want to apologize for whatever I did to make you feel so terribly about me. I didn't choose to be a witch, it just happened. I wish that you could see that it hasn't changed me as a person. I also wish that you'd just come to your senses and talk to me. You don't realize how much I need you right now. I need you more than ever. You're three years my elder, which means you know a lot more about the things I'm experiencing.

There's this boy here at school who I absolutely despise, but deep down I have feelings for him. He's absolutely terrible. He's arrogant, annoying, and childish. But on the other hand, he's awfully good-looking, intelligent, and incredibly funny. He's so much fun to be around. But I can't like him. I can't! He's my sworn enemy and everyone knows that. I despise him. So why do I love him so much?

Look, Petunia, I know you probably don't give a rip what's written in this letter, and you most likely haven't even gotten this far, but I want to end this letter by telling you how much I truly need you. You're my big sister and I love you. I wish you'd reply to my letter and help me. I also wish that Mum was here.

I know that she wasn't the greatest mother, but I loved her. I never realized that until now. I guess the saying is right, 'You never know what you have until you lose it.' I know that Mum probably wouldn't have changed in the slightest, but I know that if she were still here, we'd still be talking and I'd be able to go to you with anything.

Again, I love you and miss you. Please, please reply to my letter.

Your loving sister,

Lily

I quickly wiped my eyes, which were now holding involuntary tears, and placed my quill next to my finished letter.

With one last read through, I folded it up and pushed it off to the side of my desk, along with my letter to Auntie Joy.

I paused for a moment before standing up, trying to regain my composure by wiping both eyes with the sleeve of my sweater and taking a deep breath. When I finally stood up, I noticed my reflection in the mirror.

My eyes were red and watery. My bottom lip was bright red from the pressure of me biting back tears. I looked like hell.

I can't go out there looking like this, I thought to myself. Then I noticed my wand where I left it on the desk. Smiling, I picked it up and cast a quick charm over my face. Instantly, any redness was gone. Perfect.

Tucking my wand into the back pocket of my corduroy pants, I walked out of my dorm and into the common room.

As I was walking down the stairs, I could hear whispering, but when I looked around there was no one there.

Hmm, that's odd. I assumed everyone would be at dinner, I thought suspiciously. Shrugging it off, I continued walking.

A moment later, I heard it again. This time, I stopped and did a complete 360. Again, I spotted no one.

Just then, I was jerked backwards, falling on to the couch with pressure on my shoulders. I opened my eyes and found Kyla and Wendy holding me down, with Kiki standing in front of me.

"What's the matter with you guys?! Are you crazy? You scared me half to death."

"Sorry," Kiki replied. "But it's time for an intervention."

"An intervention?"

"Yes, an intervention. We heard about what happened with James and we think you're crazy," Kiki answered.

Well, that was certainly blunt.

"You think I'm crazy?"

"Yes, we think you're crazy. So we think you owe someone an apology," Kiki said, nodding towards a very sullen looking James walking towards me.

I could feel my face turn red and my jaw drop.

"Look, Lily. I know you're mad about what happened yesterday, but I want us to be friends. I've apologized numerous times for what I did. I realize that I may have gone a little too far with the kiss, but I was running on pure emotion. I don't know why you won't forgive me. The day seemed to be going great and I got the hint that maybe you felt the same way, so I decided to go for it. Apparently it was a bad decision on my part."

I just looked at him. In the past twenty four hours, I'd heard numerous apologies from him, yet none really hit me. But this one did. It was like a slap in the face. It couldn't have been more obvious how much he really felt bad about it, even though he didn't really do anything wrong.

The look in his eye was of pure sadness. They were longing for my forgiveness. I could see that all he wanted was for me to say "it's okay." I'd never said it before, but now I felt as if I had to. I felt that I owed him an explanation for my stupid reaction to his simple sign of affection.

"James," I replied, causing his eyes to flick up and a slight smile to play on the corners of his mouth.

I knew he was relieved to at least hear his first name, rather than his last.

"You aren't the one who should be apologizing."

"I'm not?"

"No. I'm the one who should be."

"You should?"

"Yes, James. I never should have reacted the way I did. I'm still not certain why I did, either. But I can guess."

"You can?"

"Yes. I guess that it was because I had feelings for you, but I didn't want to have them. When you kissed me, I had to push away because I knew I'd enjoy it. And I didn't want to surrender to the emotions I had for you. It just wasn't supposed to happen. I wasn't supposed to like you, James. That's not the way I planned it..."

"That's just it, Lily. You can't plan love."

"I know. But you can avoid it."

"You can't avoid it forever, Lily."

"I can try," I said, as I pushed Wendy and Kyla off me shoulders and ran up to my dorm, not once looking back.

I ran as fast I could to my dorm and slammed the door behind me, casting a quick locking charm on it. A moment later, I could hear the girls reach the door and start banging on it angrily.

"What was that about, Lily?" Kiki yelled. "Lily! I know that you can hear me!"

But I ignored them.

Lying on my bed, I let everything out. I let out the tears I was holding back before and the ones that were created during the last few moments.

I know that the girls could hear me crying, and a few minutes later, they gave up. I could hear them muttering to each other as they retreated back to the common room, but I couldn't make out exactly what they were saying.

I stayed in bed all through dinner until my lovely dorm mates came back, when I had to unlock the door for them.

Fortunately, they asked no questions when they were greeted by my tear-stained face at the door, nor when I silently retreated back to my bed and closed the hangings.

I fell into a deep, dreamless sleep that night and awoke the next day to the sounds of an autumn breeze howling past the window.

Realizing that I had fallen asleep in the same clothes I'd worn the previous day, I got out of bed and changed into my uniform.

I did a few charms on my hair and face, and left my dorm looking fresh as a daisy.

I trotted down the stairs, through the common room and into the Entrance Hall, where I happily waltzed into the Great Hall.

I spotted the girls sitting together further down the Gryffindor table, so I walked down and plopped myself down next to them.

"Why are you so happy?" Kiki asked as I sat down.

"It just seems like a good day," I replied, grinning.

"Well, that's good," Wendy said.

"Yes, it is," I responded.

"So, you're not going to explain why you ran off yesterday and wouldn't open the door for us?" Kiki asked after a few moments of silence.

"No."

"Okay, that works."

"Let's just forget about it," I said.

"All right, I can do that," Kiki said, though I noticed a tad of uncertainty in her voice.

The rest of the day went on without a flaw.

The girls acted normal, and decided it was best to follow my instructions and forget about the whole James thing.

I avoided James successfully all day long, even if I did have all my classes with him.

And, on top of that, we found out that the professors had planned a Halloween costume ball for all the sixth and seventh years.

This was going to be one hell of a ball.