AN: I'm sorry I didn't update for so long. I'm just too lazy to type. Thanks again, to whoever reviewed.

Disclaimer: don't own anything. Except maybe Maggie. And a whopping thanks to jegan!

SEVENTH YEAR ROLLER COASTER

Chapter 3: love and heartbreak

"Hey Lils?" Asked James, "Can I talk to you?"

"Sure, James" she replied, "hang on…" she scratched out a final line on her essay, stood up, and followed him outside the portrait hole to the grounds. James stopped in the shade of a large oak tree besides the lake.

'Ok, you can do this' he thought to himself, 'deep breath, in… out, just tell her'

"James?" lily was looking at him curiously.

"Er- yeah, yeah, well, Lils, you know that we've been friends for a long time, and, well… um, I was sort of wondering… erm, I kind of, kind of like you, and, and I was wondering, if you- you felt the same way?"

But Lily's eyes had widened and filled with tears.

"Listen, James, I- I can't, I-"

"You mean you don't like me, that way?" he asked, crestfallen.

"No! I mean... I like you, but- but something's wrong, and I – I – oh James, I just can't!" she cried and ran back to the castle.

James sighed, and then followed her back up to the castle, though at a much slower pace.

Lily ran all the way up to the Head's room, which she and James barely used, preferring to sleep with their friends. She dashed through the portrait hole, muttering the password, rushed upstairs, and flung herself on her bed, crying violently.

"Why the hell do things have to be so darn complicated!" she said to herself. And that's when an owl came, tapping its beak sharply on the window. She stopped crying, went over to the window, and opened it, eyes scanning the letter.

Lily darling, (it read)

I've got some wonderful news for you. You're father and Hugh are coming for a visit to Hogwarts, and will stay for the rest of the year, (though your father will leave occasionally). We have taken permission from the board of governors, and they are only too happy to oblige, considering your father's reputation.

Hugh says that he would like to walk you to all your classes, and watch you learning magic. I thought I would tell you the news beforehand, even though they wanted to surprise you. Take care.

Love,

Mum

Lily gasped her father and Hugh were coming to Hogwarts- there was no way this could be happening, especially with the close friendship between her and James. She had to talk to her mother, face to face.

She rushed downstairs, to the fireplace, and began searching the mantelpiece frantically. Just then, James entered the portrait hole, hair more windswept and messy than ever.

"James! Do you have any floo powder?" she asked

"Yeah it's up in my room –"

"I'm borrowing it!" she rushed upstairs, leaving a very confused James in her wake.

'Did she forget what just happened?' he thought to himself. He crossed over to the mantelpiece, searching for some sign of her agitation, and found the letter. He picked it up, and read it once. Twice. And scowled. Lily came down the stairs.

"Lily, whose this Hugh guy-"

"Later, I'll explain later, let me just finish this" she said. She stuck her head in the fireplace, threw in a pinch of floo powder, shouting, "no.4, little whinging, surrey!"

Lily's head revolved until it came to a stop in the fireplace of a room filled with expensive- looking furniture. "Mom!" she yelled.

Mrs. Evans came rushing into the room. "Lily?!" she cried in disbelief, "Did you get my letter?"

"Yeah mum. That's exactly why I came. Why are they coming here?"

"To see you, of course"

"I don't want them coming here, mum." Snapped Lily

"Now listen here, young lady. "Said Mrs. Evans sternly, "you father and Hugh will be coming there. Hugh is a very nice boy, and deserves more than your biting comments. You will behave it when they come. I must go Lily. Take care. And remember- behave."

Lily let out a frustrated breath and drew her head out of the fire.

"Lils what's up?" James asked immediately, "and who's this Hugh guy?"

Lily collapsed tiredly into an armchair.

"Look, just call Remus, Sirius, and Maggie, would you?" she asked, "I've got something to tell you guys. James nodded and ran off, coming back with Remus, Sirius, and Maggie behind him.

"What's wrong?" asked Maggie.

"Guys, take a seat," said Lily wearily. They complied, staring at her all the while.

"Ok, I really don't know how to say this," she began, "but when I went home in the summer after sixth year, my parents told me that I'd be m-married to a boy named Hugh Dursley." She started crying softly. James looked at her, dumbfounded.

"You're w- what?" he asked hoarsely.

"They held an engagement party," said Lily, tears streaming silently down her face, "where all the rich families of the company, Grunnings, were invited. And, in front of them all, he proposed to me. I wasn't allowed a say in it"

Maggie rose and put her around Lily comfortingly.

"It'll be okay, Lily," she said soothingly.

"but it won't!" cried Lily, sobbing freely, "my father and Hugh, they're coming here, and- and if they find out I'm best friends with you three-" she pointed at James, Sirius, and Remus, "- there's no telling what they do! My father's really strict, and Hugh's a pervert!"

"You don't like him then?" asked James with relief.

"Like him?" she snapped, "of course I don't like him! Who would? Okay, he looks pretty good, but he's only half of the marauders" she smiled at them.

Sirius suddenly grinned.

"so, Lils, do we have your permission to prank them?' he asked, rubbing his hands together.

"Him" she corrected, "just Hugh" she smiled again, "god knows we need another guinea pig to prank on."

Everyone laughed, except James. James didn't like the sound of her father. If he wanted her married to Hugh, James had a feeling he'd make sure she did. James didn't like the situation at all.

AN: ok, that's all for now, this chapter's around a thousand words, it should be a decent length. I'll try to get in another couple of chapters today, or else you'll just have to wait until next week or maybe Monday. Please review, and tell me whether you liked it.

dolphin