Lily returned to her room, collapsed on her bed and sobbed. Yes, she and Severus hadn't been on the best of terms recently, but everyone knew they were friends, or at least had been until he uttered that filthy word. James obviously couldn't think very highly of her if he was willing to torment Sev like that, could he? She also cried for the things she had said, harsh and some of them raging lies. She wanted to be with James again so much, really the giant squid was no contest. But she just couldn't. Not like he was.

Later that night as Lily slept uneasily, James was lying wide awake in his dorm thinking about the red head. At first he had been angry with Snivellus for calling her … that … because it was wrong, she was just as amazing as anyone else, even more so, despite her blood status. However, now as he reflected on it he realised how much it must have hurt Lily to hear her friend say such a thing and he wished he was there to comfort her. But no, he had blown that chance by being a cocky idiot. He knew that he was. He knew that. The thing he didn't know was how to change it. And change it he was going to do. He would get her back.

In the early morning Lily could be found curled up in her usual chair by the fire in the Gryffindor common room. Unsurprisingly, she was accompanied by a fluffy white cat, who had snuggled up with her regardless of what had transpired between her and his owner and was now purring contentedly. Whilst looking down at the little animal Lily had promised herself that she would be civil. She would not treat James with the disdain she had shown him the previous day, but neither would she encourage his doubtless efforts to seduce her.

As the red headed student was beginning to consider getting dressed Alice flew down the stairs, scanning the room, before throwing herself at Lily, enveloping both her and Fluff in a warm hug. The cat made a noise of disapproval before jumping gracefully from Lily's knee and sauntering off towards the boys dormitory. Alice squeezed herself into the chair with Lily, who couldn't help smiling as her slightly chubby friend pulled faces as she contorted herself. Lily flicked her wand lazily and the chair grew a little more roomy allowing them both to sit comfortably.

"Whew!" Alice exclaimed.

Lily laughed, "So what brings you down here at this time in the morning and in such a manner?" She asked her eyes twinkling.

"You of course! Lily I heard what happened yesterday, if I had known earlier I would have told Frank straight away that I couldn't possibly be with him all afternoon!" Alice waved her hands and the sincerity of her words calmed Lily's raging emotions.

"Thanks, but it's fine honestly."

"Honestly, it's not is it?" Alice said knowingly, her eyebrows raising.

Lily laughed and looked for a long moment at her friend who smiled serenely back, "Not really, but there is nothing else to do, so I just have to forget about it and move on." Lily finally answered.

"Aww, Lily!" Alice threw her arms around Lily in a squishy hug, "You and James were getting along so well, I thought he'd changed!"

"He has, but not enough." Lily looked down at her hands curled in her lap, "I can't expect him to change who he is for me, that's wrong I just have to accept that we're not meant to be together." Tears began to stream down Lily's face.

It was this moment that Alice realised just how much Lily had cared for James.

"Lily, that's so not like you! You don't just give up. You're all fiery and determined and stubborn and strong and all that other stuff that makes you…you!" Alice's exasperated and shrill voice made Lily laugh and wipe at the tears that had begun to fall from her chin.

Alice knew her well. Lily was all of those things, but she was also a realist. Her relationship with James was not going to work out no matter how fiery, determined, stubborn or strong she tried to be. No matter, it made Lily feel better to have her best friend by her side, reassuring her.

"Come on, let's go have breakfast, and I promise you will feel better after a nice sausage or two and maybe a rasher of bacon and of course some of those beautiful scrambled eggs…"

"And that fried bread…oh the fried bread…"

Lily and Alice burst into fits of giggles as their minds filled with the breakfast to come.

"See, better already," Alice squeezed Lily's shoulder as they got up, knowing full well that it was not better, but letting Lily know she was there for her.

As Lily's mind wandered at breakfast, so did her eyes and she just happened to notice that James wasn't at breakfast. She spent ten minutes debating with herself whether he had slept in, was feeling guilty about yesterday or was just off causing trouble like usual. However, she did see Remus Lupin make his way slowly into the Great Hall, his face even paler than it had been recently. Lily followed his progress as he almost limped to the table and dropped down into his chair. He barely ate anything and she thought as he did eat his head drooped lower so that by the time he finished he was nearly slumped onto the tabletop.

Lily made up her mind then, that in the next few weeks she would find out what was wrong with Remus and find a way to help. Whilst consumed with this mystery she would surely forget about James and her heart would begin to mend.

Hope you guys all had a nice Easter!

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