AN: I don't know if anyone's still reading this but… I'm sorry for the long delay in updating. I got busy with moving, and then that that pesky thing called "life" got in the way. Lame, I know… I'm going to be updating both this and Red Gold regularly from now on – I hate it when people don't finish their fics! Please r/r… it'll help me write faster ;)

Lily was sitting glumly in the Head's dorm, while the rest of her house celebrated their victory over Ravenclaw for the Quidditch cup. She'd been shouting herself hoarse just like the rest of them at the game but afterwards….

Even Dorcas had been reproachful when Lily had made that comment about Mary Mcdonald. It wasn't as though she was the only one, practically all of Gryffindor made fun of Mary's stuttering. And she was always trailing after Dorcas, Lily and Emmeline. Merlin knew even Emmeline sometimes got annoyed by her constant haranguing. And when she had run up to James after the game to give him a hug and a congratulatory kiss on the cheek, Lily had seen red. She hadn't intended to say anything out loud. It was just unfortunate that her mouth sometimes ran away with her. Sometimes. Try all the time.

Flashback:

Lily practically strangled Dorcas in excitement when Remus' jubilant voice announced that James Potter had caught the snitch. All around her, classmates were screaming and jumping, Emmeline and Peter throwing their scarves in the air, while James and Sirius released red and gold sparks from their wands as they circled the pitch on their brooms, still muddy and sweaty from the game.

As the commotion died down, Lily, Dorcas and surprisingly enough Emmeline, had headed to the boys' locker room to congratulate the marauders. James had been surrounded by excited fangirls from the minute he emerged, which irked Lily somewhat, but she didn't want to say anything. When little Mary Mcdonald, who had pretty much idolized her for years, squealed and gave him a kiss, Lily had bitten her lip, TRYING not to make a scene. The last thing she needed was for people to think that she had ANY interest in James bloody Potter. Not after all the humiliating rejections. And then of course, all the other girls seemed to think it was OK to kiss James on the cheek too. Even Emmeline had gotten a piece of the action. Which, of course, made Lily VERY upset with the little troublemaker who started it all.

So of course, later on, when Barty Crouch was suggesting they play a drinking game, Lily had been onboard, despite James' frown of disapproval. And of course when Mary had plonked her bum next to James, Lily had felt the need to make a sarcastic remark about how Mary stuttered so much, she probably wouldn't be able to talk after one butterbeer.

Lily had MEANT for it to be a slightly snide remark only heard by Barty. Unfortunately, she'd had one too many butterbeers herself and had blurted it out in front of everyone. Including Mary.

The silence had been deafening. Even Emmeline had been biting her lip as Dorcas looked at her with a mixture of shock and reproach. The worst reaction by far had been James'. He'd been silent, and glared at her for almost the whole night.

Somehow, the thought of James being disappointed in her was bothering Lily. So she'd decided to find him and try to explain. Unfortunately, he hadn't been too willing to listen.

Flashback:

'James, I… I didn't mean to….'

"It's not me you should be telling that to, Lily" James Potter's monotone caused Lily Evans' blood to chill. Even when she had insulted him and Sirius early in the year he hadn't looked so… disgusted. Lily was feeling terrible, and when she felt bad, she became defensive.

'It's not like everyone else doesn't make fun of her, anyway'

"Not you" Lily squirmed slightly under James' glare.

"You were the one who used to get mad at me for bullying Snape, remember? And now here you are, embarrassing a girl who doesn't really have any other friends, in front of the entire common room…"

'B-but... you and Black make fun of Peter'

"Peter's our friend. He knows we don't mean it, and he knows we'd die for him, just like he would for us" Lily had snorted at this. Somehow, she didn't quite have as much faith in Peter Pettigrew as James seemed to have. "All these girls look up to you, Lils, if you make fun of Mary, everyone else will too…"

'I had only meant to whisper it to Barty…' Lily looked at the floor. James Potter did wear some fascinating shoes…

At the mention of Barty Crouch, however, James had gone rigid.

"I'm sure you did. I'd better go talk to the poor girl, she's still out there trying to convince everyone how nice it was of you to be concerned about her"

And before she could say anything, James was gone.

Lily had run to her room, and had been sobbing into her pillow for the last hour. Of course, the fact that James wasn't coming after her was making her sob even more. Which was NOT FAIR.

Lily had lifted her head at the sound of the doorknob turning. Her face fell slightly, however, at the sight of Emmeline Vance's reassuring smile.

'Oh… I mean… hi Em'

"You… were hoping I was James weren't you…" Emmeline's gentle voice is strangely guarded as she plops herself on the bed beside the miserable redhead.

'I… just… he wasn't just mad at me this time. He was disappointed in me…' Lily broke into fresh sobs as Emmeline rubbed her back, somewhat distracted.

"He'll get over it… he always does"

'Em… you didn't see the look on his face. It was like he hated me'

"Lily…" Emmeline was speaking deliberately, almost as if she was steeling herself for an answer.

'Yeah?'

"You don't… like James, do you?"

'Of course not… I just… he's my best friend, you know?'

"I thought Dorcas and I were your best friends…"

'Oh…you are… but he's my best guy friend. Merlin knows after everything, we couldn't ever date…'

Emmeline seemed to visibly relax at this, a fact that somehow escaped Lily's notice.

'I guess because we're best friends, I hate the thought of ever disappointing him…'

"James is one of the most reasonable boys in the entire school. I know he'll get over it. "

Leaning over, Lily gives her friend a hug, both teenaged girls considerably cheered up at the thought of a black haired quidditch captain.