Much later

Lessons were finally over. Thank Merlin. All in all, quite a horrible day. Though, dinner had been quite enjoyable. I had written another list in my journal.

Lily Evans' Top Ten Things a Bloke Can Do

Give genuine compliments (ever girl loves compliments. Admit it)

Be a gentleman (open doors, carry books, whatever. Whoever said chivalry is dead is quite thick. And completely unromantic)

Sing (my God that's sexy. A bloke that sings. Cue melting)

Stick up for his girlfriend (however much a girl complains, she still loves it that her boyfriend wants to stick up for her)

Get just a little jealous (hot hot hot. Really. It shows he really loves you)

Spoil his girlfriend just a little (it shows he really appreciates her. And every girl loves being spoiled just a little)

Be a touch spontaneous (a little adventure is great. Not to the point that you never know where he's going to take you, but you know what I mean)

Be romantic (his buddies may josh him for it, but his girlfriend will definitely make up for it)

Be there for his girlfriend (every girl loves a bloke who's there when she needs him. Even if he has to sit through a sob session. A good bloke would do it)

Be James Potter (self-explanatory)

All in all, a rather good list. I rummaged in my rucksack to pull out my journal to do a bit of doodling but I couldn't find it. Oh shit. WHERE WAS IT??? I dumped the contents of my bag on my bed and searched through the pile of broken quills, ink bottles, spellbooks and notebooks but it was nowhere. NOWHERE. Shit. Shit shit shit shit shit shit shit. Shitty shit shit. Maybe I'd left it in the Great Hall!

I ran out of my dorm, into the common room, threw open the portrait hole and flew down the stairs to the Great Hall. I ran through the massive double doors and threw a quick glance around the empty hall. No journal. Shit. Shitty shit shit. I ran over to Gryffindor table and ran up and down it's length, looking under the benches and the table but still no journal.

No need to panic, Lily. It's around here somewhere. Marlene probably saw it laying around, picked it up and is up in the common room looking to give it to you.

Right, that was probably what happened. I rushed back up the stairs, threw the password at the Fat Lady and ran up to my dorm.

"Marlene!" I panted.

"Er, yea?"

"You have my journal right? I'm here now, you can return it. Thanks so much for grabbing it when I left it behind." I said, extending my hand for my journal.

"Um, Lily? I don't have your journal."

"What?" I said, turning pale.

"I don't have journal?" replied Marlene, looking up at me with a frightened look on her face.

"You… don't… have it?" I struggled to grasp what she was saying.

"No, I don't. But… one of the house elves probably picked it up when they were cleaning the Great Hall. It'll be on your night table by morning" she said quickly.

"Oh. Yea. Probably… Yeah, you're right. One of the house elves picked it up. They're so considerate. No need to worry then. Right, thanks!" I replied, relieved.

"No problem," she said. "But I'm going down to the library now, so I'll catch you later?"

"Er, yea. No problem. I'll just play my guitar or something to get my mind off of it. See you" I muttered distractedly, looking around my now cluttered room for my guitar. I heard the door close behind Marlene as she left. I fished my guitar out from under my bed, tuned it, and began to play.

I must've been in an odd mood that night. I kept playing random songs that all had something to do with relationships. Oh boo. I wish James would get out of my head. I sung the last few bars of Hey Jude and transitioned smoothly into I'd Rather Be With You. I love Joshua Radin. He writes such beautiful songs. I loved the finger picking pattern and the soft lyrics.

Sitting here on this lonely dock,
Watch the rain play off the ocean top.
All the things I feel I need to say,
I can't explain in any other way.

I launched into the chorus.

I need to be bold,
Need to jump in the cold water
To grow older with a boy like you.
Finally see you were naturally the one to make it so easy when you showed me the truth.
Yea, I'd rather be with you,
Say you want the same thing too.

As I strummed the instrumental break I thought about James. If he wasn't so bloody confusing and perfect all the time I probably wouldn't be singing this song right now. I mean honestly. If he just fancied me too. I looked up as I started into the second verse and stopped dead mid-song. Bloody hell.