Disclaimer: I don't understand why I'm supposed to write one of these on every chapter. Harry Potter is still not mine. Stop crushing my dreams, FanFiction staff.

Down that bottle like it's air, Lily Evans. It will make you feel better.

Lily Evans, don't you dare. What would your mother say?

Your mother isn't at Hogwarts.

What if something happens? You're not aware when you're drunk.

Nothing is going to happen.

If you're going to drink, at least do so responsibly!

Responsibility defeats the point of alcohol.

Lily Evans was sick of being responsible. She was sick of the burden of an angel and devil on either shoulder bickering about rights and wrongs. Why did she have to be responsible to stay away from a certain Slytherin who caused her so much strife? Why did she have to be responsible for her drunken friends? Why did she have to be responsible for passing her N.E.W.T.s? Why did she have to be responsible for all the students at Hogwarts as Head Girl? Why couldn't she just throw it all away?

Just one night wouldn't hurt, she thought. The stress had piled in shelves for the entire year. She resisted the Quidditch celebrations, spending each potentially eventful night in the library surrounded by mountains of books. After all, it was her seventh year. It was her last year at Hogwarts. Her last hoorah. She tilted her head back and took a long gulp of the Firewhiskey, memorizing the burning sensation for future reference. The alcohol stung her blood and, with a few more swigs in her low-tolerant body, swayed her posture. Lily lowered herself into a chair in the corner of the room, cradling her bottle like a baby, with her legs tucked underneath her. She made idle chatter with her peers who surrounded her in neighboring seats and continued to drink from her beloved bottle.

"Ought to be careful there, Evans," said Kingsley Shacklebolt, eyeing her bottle of Firewhiskey.

"Go getchya own, Kings," slurred Lily.

She felt at peace with the alcohol swimming in her blood. The warmth brought red to her cheeks, causing her to look like a tomato with her already red hair. She emptied the bottle with one last sip and tilted her head back against the comfortable chair. She could have been floating on a cloud as she sunk into the fabric. Maybe it would swallow her whole. Maybe then when she was gone would Severus come to his senses.

"Come off it, mate," said Sirius. "You already know what she wants and doesn't want. Don't waste your time and my perfectly good Firewhiskey."

James leaned into the bar, pouring another glass for Bilius Weasley, "I ought to say you're right."

"I can't say when I'm not right, because I'm always right. And you're much too sober for my liking right now, Prongs." Sirius poured his best friend a tall glass of dark Firewhiskey, "Get sloshed."

"Mission accepted," nodded James solemnly.

"Victoria Thomas looks awfully lonely over there, don't you think?"

"Absolutely."

James really, honestly, and truly meant to head over to Victoria Thomas. She was fit, and she was an easy talker. On nights like this one, he'd prefer to just listen to the sound of someone rambling. It was a lot simpler than having to lead a conversation. It was unusual that James be so solemn on the night of a victorious Quidditch match. Any Gryffindor would expect Captain James Potter to be the drunkest of the night, the luckiest bloke. He took a swallow from the firewhiskey in his hand. Maube he just needed a bit more alcohol in his system.

But in a seat to the left of Victoria Thomas was a red-headed girl curled up asleep with an empty bottle of Firewhiskey. Though it was May, it was unusually chilly. He grabbed a blanket from a nearby couch and draped it over Lily's figure. She did not stir, but she clutched the bottle closer to her chest and tucked her head into the blanket.

James sat on the couch across from her, alone and holding on to a forgotten glass of firewhiskey as he tuned into the conversations around him.

"Fudge looked awfully upset when Evans dragged MacDonald up to her dormitory."

"Daisy Hookum, you are an animal. CHUG, CHUG, CHUG!"

"OYE, you! You, over there. You're not even a Gryffindor. Get out of here!"

Author's Note: I apologize profusely for the unbelievably short chapters, but that's just the way I write. The last chapter is much longer than the previous ones, and it will be posted as soon as possible!