Chapter 5
"So I take it the plan to avoid James Potter has gone down the toilet with Moaning Myrtle?" Marlene asked,
"Why would you say that?"
"Lily you talked to Sirius, You socialised with James and it WASN'T necessary, all things your plan says not to do." Lily had to admit Marlene had a point, she was slipping, she wasn't going to let James get the better of her, "ok, you have a point, I've been slipping," she admitted, "from now on sticking to the plan, the plan always works,"
"Is that your Motto or something?" Marlene asked raising her eyebrow,
"I might make it my motto, I seem to use it a lot," Lily replied smiling,
"Lily? Finished your work already!" Professor Flitwick exclaimed standing in front of the desk, looking at the progress she had made on her work, "Yes professor, I was just helping Marlene with her work, she seems to be struggling," Flitwick beamed, then moved to someone else across the room, "I think you and Flitwick are perfect for each other," Marlene sighed leaning on the desk, "will I be expecting a wedding by the end of the week?"
"Only if you will be the maid of honour," Lily laughed,
Marlene put her hand to her chest, "It will be my pleasure... wait what?I'm struggling? hold it Mrs. Flitwick! I may not be brilliant at charms but I am not..."
Lily sighed, "Marlene just get on with your work, unless, you really are struggling."

"Lily," Marlene said, nudging her, "have you noticed James has been staring at you for most of this lesson?" Lily didn't turn around to see James sitting at the back of the room, she remained facing the front, she sighed, "Yes I have noticed, I think he's jealous of me and Flitwick, but he is NOT invited to the wedding,". Marlene turned around in her seat, then faced the front again, "Yeah he's still staring at you..." she said,
"I heard you the first time Marlene," lily replied.
Marlene turned around again and then back, "he's still..."
"Ok, ok I get it, he's staring at me," she interrupted, "will you get on with your work or do I really have to help you?"
"Lily, this may be harder than you thought, he is clearly going to be around you on a regular basis, in the class rooms, the common room etc..." Lily turned to face Marlene, "Marlene McKinnon if you think I'm going to get drenched in water or something worse by the likes of James potter you are very much mistaken!" she hissed quietly, as Flitwick was looking towards them, Marlene sighed, "This is going to be hard... but I'll help you, my name is on that piece of parchment you call a 'plan' so I guess I'm involved now,". Lily smiled at her,
"Marlene, this is why I love you."

"ok so when the lesson is over you grab your bag and run up to our dormitory then to your next lesson and so on and so forth," Marlene finished, they had been planning all lesson, how to just get out of the lesson quick enough so that James didn't have time to try and talk to her.
Lily nodded, "ok, got it,"
When Professor Flitwick Dismissed the class, Lily grabbed her bag and headed for the door way with Marlene in front dragging her from behind, "Excuse me, pardon me," Marlene mumbled to people while trying to push herself and Lily out of the class room.
They finally made their way out of the door way and began speed walking up the corridor, but still weaving their way in and out of people in front of them,
"You know I think all this exercise is going to be good for us," Lily panted once they reached the grand stair case, "Lily, we get enough exercise as it is, you know how big this school is," Marlene said panting as well, they walked slowly up the stairs,
"I think there are still some places I haven't been in Hogwarts yet," Lily replied,
"We could always go and explore..." Marlene suggested,
Lily laughed at this thought, "Yeah right we would need a map for that," Marlene looked serious, "it's not impossible Lily all we need is a tour guide..." "tour guide? Where are we going to find a tour guide in Hogwarts Marlene?" Lily laughed, "lily unlike us some people may have been around the whole school," "Marlene, that would mean asking the marauders, I'm not that desperate to have a tour of the school,". "What about Remus ?" Marlene suggested, "He may be a marauder, but you know he's not like James or Sirius," Lily thought for a second, she was right Remus wasn't like James and Sirius, he wouldn't mind giving us a tour of the school would he? He would know all the secret room and passages, he's been around the James, Sirius and Peter long enough to know these things, she shook her head, No, Remus May not be like the others but he is still a marauder, and it was still against the plan while Lily was walking up the stairs thinking her, she forgot about the trick step on the grand stair case, and her foot fell straight through,
"why do I always forget this bloody trick step!" she hissed trying to pull her foot out, Marlene kneeled beside her assisting her in getting her foot out of the gap, "You should really watch where you are going you know..." Marlene advised,
"Shut up and keep pulling!" Lily hissed,
"Erm... you need some help there?" came a voice from behind them,
Lily, startled, quickly turned round to see James kneeling down beside her,
"no I'm fine..." she said trying harder to pull her foot from the trick step,
James laughed a little, "You don't look fine,"
she glared at him, "Thank you for telling me how I look, no really I'm fine I can handle it..."
James frowned, running his hand through his messy hair, he moved to kneel in front of her instead,"here let me help..."
"No, no I'm fine..." Lily tried to argue,
"just let me help you ok?" he interrupted, Lily frowned but nodded, James wrapped his hands around her leg, "ok, this may hurt a little," he said, Lily nodded, "On the count of three, one... two... three," Lily winced as James pulled her foot from the step, when her foot was finally free, she grabbed hold of the banister by her side and pulled herself up, she took a deep breath, "well... thank you..." She stuttered, "but I really must be off, don't want to be late for class..."
"Lily, I think you should go to the hospital wing, your foot looks bad," he said, moving in front of her to stop her from walking, she shook her head, " my foot is fine, now if you will excuse me," she pushed past him, only to fall back against the banister, she looked down at her foot it was throbbing with pain and was badly swollen,
"Lily, I don't think you can walk on that foot, you might have broken it, let me help you over to the hospital wing..." Before she could argue he put his hands around the back of her legs and around her back, and lifted her up, "put me down! I'm fine!" Lily protested, trying to pry herself from James, but he held her firmly, he turned to Marlene, "Tell professor Slughorn Lily will be late for potions, I'm taking her to the hospital wing..."
"No you are bloody well not!" Lily argued, Marlene frowned but nodded.
James began walking down the stairs heading for the hospital wing, "This is abduction you know!" she hissed at him,
"You are always so dramatic," he sighed
"I mean it James! Just put me down I'm fine!"
A crooked grin formed on his face, Lily raised her eyebrow, "what?" she questioned,
"You called me James without any hesitation, I call that progress Lil red," she just rolled her eyes at him, which made him laugh.

James kicked open the doors to the Hospital Wing, Madam Pomfrey noticed them as soon as they walked in and rushed over to them, "What happened here?" she exclaimed, James moved over to a Hospital and sat Lily down on it, "Lily got her foot stuck in the trick step," James explained to her, she stopped looking surprised, "Ah the trick step, you aren't the first one Miss Evans, I wish people would be more careful," she sighed examining her foot, "your foot is definitely broken, I'll have to bandage that up and keep you over night, I'll give you a potion every couple of hours to mend the broken bones,"

"so I have to stay here? no lessons all day?" Lily questioned,
"Yes you have to stay here, and yes no lessons, you need to rest," she turned to James, "Thank you for bringing her here you can stay for a while if you like..."
"No! I mean he shouldn't miss his lessons because of me," Lily interrupted, she didn't want to be alone with James, she wanted to stick to the plan,
"well if you want to stay you are welcome to until the end of break," Madam Pomfrey said before leaving to check on a boy with fur growing on his arm across the room.
Lily gave a deep sigh lying back on the bed, James sat on a chair beside her, "you really are dramatic," he said,
Lily groaned, turning her head so she was face first into her pillow, "ifgm nefet drhamuic,"
"Erm what was that?"
"ifm nertf dramich," she mumbled again, James laughed, "still can't understand what you are saying,"
Lily flung her head up from her pillow, sitting up against her pillow, "I said... I am not dramatic!"
"Whatever you say Lil red," he sighed, smiling to himself leaning back against the chair,
"Why are you doing this?" she blurted, James frowned at her, "doing what?" He asked,
she sat up further so she could face him, "Being this whole other person, you have been being nice to me, you haven't got me back yet for the pumpkin juice I poured over your head!" James smiled, "you want me to get you back?" lily shrugged, leaning back against her pillow once more, "obviously not I just want to know when you are going to get me back, I would like to be prepared," James laughed, "I dont want to get you back Lily, It was only pumpkin juice, no big deal,". what? No big deal? Ok this is was definitely not James Potter, before thinking about what she was saying she blurted out, "who are you and what have you done with James Potter?" James laughed, running his hand though his hair, he stood up from his chair and started walking across the room, "where are you going?" lily questioned, James turned around, "unlike you, i unfortuatly need to go my lessons today," he said smiling, before leaving, he turned around for the last time, "Everyone is capable of change Lil Red." Lily's p.o.v. This is boring, you would think not having any lessons Would be a good thing, that you would find something to do to pass the time by, but no, instead i'm stuck in the hospital wing with a broken foot because of my own stupidy, Well done Lily, well done, you are able to get your foot stuck in the bloody trick step that we have been warned about since we were first years, and to make it even better, get yourself carried to the hospital wings by your knight in shining armour... James Potter will be the death of me, this everyone is capable of change thing? I've always believed that everyone is capable of change, some just do it more slowly, It was always possible that eventually James Potter would change, but I never stopped to think jus how possible it may be... Ok, forget that thought, think of something else... Actually... Where is Marlene? Probably still at quidditch practice (of course she will be late... James Potter is the captain). I need to talk to someone ! Some to socialise with? Is that too much to ask? All I have is the person growing fur opposite me- who doesnt seem to like socialising- and madam pomfrey, who is always rushing here, there and everywhere so she has no time to talk, so I guess i'm just going to limp back and forth from the window to my hospital bed, "arent you sopposed to be resting?" the boy across the room said, finally he speaks! "i've rested all day i havent left the bed, i think i can walk for a bit,". he smiled, "I guess...what happened to you again?" he asked, oh great lets share the story of my stupidity again! "I got my foot stuck in the trick step," I mumbled, He laughed slightly, I moved over to him and sat on the edge of his bed, "I know stupid right?" I said blushing with embarrassment, come on, just tell me how stupid I am, I can take it... Hopefully, "no actually, not stupid, i'd say you were unlucky," well I wasnt expecting that, but hes not wrong, "I guess..." I mumble shyly, "whats your name?" he said changing the subject, "Lily, yours?" he held his hand out for me to shake, " nice to meet you lily, im Dirk, Dirk Cresswell,". I shook his hand, "well Dirk, why are you in here? What happened to you?" he stopped smiling and frowned, crap, double crap, what did i say? "some slytherins, when I was coming from herbology, they thought it would be funny to try and hex me, but one of their spells backfired and did this," he pointed to his arm, "they found it funny all the same,". "I'm sorry,". I mumbled, He smiled slightly, " It's not your fault you didn't do this to me,". "do you know who did this to you?" I asked, Dirk thought to himself for a moment, "no, I didnt see their faces sorry," I patted him on the shoulder and smiled, "its fine,". he gave me a half hearted smile back, well I know a few things about this guy already, 1) his name is Dirk Cresswell. 2) he is a ravenclaw. And 3) he is a very bad lier. I'm not psychic, but I know when someone is lying... Dirk knew exactly who did that to him and he just won't tell me, I don't know if he feels ashamed or embarrassed for what happened but if he thinks I'm going to let this go... He has another thing coming.

"ok! I know i'm late i'm sorry don't kill me!" marlene panted, she had rushed into the hospital wing still in her quidditch robes, but they were no longer clean they were covered in dirt and grass stains, "calm down! It's fine, i had company," I nodded towards Dirk, who was too busy reading, "why were you late anyway?" she slumped down on my bed alongside me, "James, he's making the practices longer, that boy is obsessed with quidditch," she sighed, Marlene I think we all know that James Potter is obsessed with quidditch, you get a medal for stating the obvious, speaking of people obsessed with quidditch... "marlene," i said sweetly, She gave me a queer look, "yes?". "how are you and Sirius?" Marlene blushed, turning a dark shade of pink in the cheeks, "I haven't really talked to him since the tryouts,". really? He kissed you! Talk to him for merlins sake, "Marlene if a guy kisses you, I think you should at least talk to him! You like him don't you?" Marlene moved to sit on the side of the bed, staring down at the floor, "I don't know," she mumbled, "you don't know if you like him ?" I asked, "no, I don't know if I do, I'm too scared to talk to him... I don't want things to be awkward between us,". she flung herself back on the bed, putting her hands to her face, "I don't know what to do,". I lay beside her, I sighed, "you have been trying to avoid him haven't you?". "no...". "marlene...". "ok yes, I've been avoiding him,". Marlene sat up, she moved her hands from her face, her eyes were red and puffy, oh merlin, please don't be crying, I put my arms around her, she rested her head of my shoulder,I didn't mind that my jumper would be soaked with tears, I hate seeing Marlene like this, "Marlene, I know it's hard, and I know your scared but there are somethings you need to face up to, you need to stop avoiding Sirius and let him talk to you, If he keeps wanting to talk to you, he cares,". she lifted her head slightly, "you really think so? You think he cares about me?" "I know he does Marlene,". She wiped eyes with the bottom of her sleeve, "how?". The day of the tryouts. "Sirius Black!" I called out, "What are you doing?" Emma asked, "I have a plan," I said innocently, Emma rolled her eyes, "Merlin help us all."

Sirius made his way over to us, "Sirius, I need you to do something for me," Sirius frowned, "what can I do?" I leaned forward and whispered in his ear, "Marlene is nervous, and I know your the only one that can give her the confidence she needs,". "what am I sopposed to do then," he whispered back, I moved back slightly to face him, "do what you have always wanted to do,". sirius frowned, trying to figure out what that meant, when he stopped frowning and smiled, he understood, " can you do that?" "definitely.". Present. "I just know Marlene,". She stopped sniffiling on my shoulder and sat up right, "ok i'll stop avoiding him and talk to him,". I smiled, giving her a hug, "good,". "Visiting hours are over Miss Mckinnon," Madam Pomfrey said, just entering the hospital wing, Marlene pulled away and stood up, "I'm sorry Madam Pomfrey, i'll just be leaving, see you tomorrow Lily,". I waved at her before she left, "see you," I called back to her. When Marlene left, Madam Pomfrey moved over to my bed side and handed me a bottle of dark purple liquid, " drink this before you go to bed, i'll be back in the morning," with that she dissapeared out of the hospital wing, I examined the bottle of liquid before I drank it all, it tasted of something sweet,I couldnt quite put me finger on it, maybe from Honeydukes ? Before I went to bed I checked Dirk's bed, he was fast asleep, thank merlin he doesnt snore.