Lily and James progressed, slowly, from enemies (at least on one part) to friends. The progression from casual friendship to confidant came quicker, taking instead of three years only a few months. To all who witnessed the development it became painfully obvious what would follow. To all except the parties involved.

James sat with his head in his hands, gazing out at the nearly empty Gryffindor Common Room.

"What's up, Prongs?" Sirius asked as he slid into the armchair beside James's. "Why so glum?"

James sighed. "We're past the holidays and Lily and I are still 'just friends'. I'm trying to be patient, I really am!"

"I know, James, but it'll take her a while. I mean, it was just a year ago that she hated your guts. Remember how she bewitched a saucepan to follow you around and smack you on the head every time you said something cocky or rude?"

"I remember," James smiled thinly, appreciating his best friend's attempt to cheer him up. "But I still wish I was dating her. And now she's gone cold all of a sudden, ignoring me and freezing up when I enter the room."

Sirius scratched his chin thoughtfully. "Did you do anything that might've offended her?" he asked.

"No, I've been good all year, remember? I haven't done anything cocky or rude."

"Perhaps she's scared to like you?"

"What?"

"You know. Scared to fancy you."

"Why would she be scared of that?"

Sirius shrugged. "Who knows? She's a girl and they're off their rockers, mate. They're completely psychotic."

James nodded fervently. "But I haven't a clue why… unless…"

Lily sat in class, glancing occasionally at Professor Slughorn. He was lecturing about the properties of alkinia combined with aleron and camoil. She jotted the occasional note even though her mind was not focused.

A scene kept replaying before her eyes. It made her squirm, watching and replaying it to watch again. She leaned back against her desk and tried to focus upon the lesson, unsuccessfully. After ten minutes of nervous fidgeting that earned her a dirty look from Professor Slughorn, she succumbed to the memory, allowing it to fill her consciousness.

It was their last night at the Potters. Snow had fallen upon the ground earlier that morning, covering the tracks they had made over the course of two weeks. The house-elves were busy packing care packages.

Everyone had arranged to meet in the sitting room at half past eight to spend one last night together. Remus, Sirius, Peter, Mary, and Marlene were all gathered around the fire that burned in the center of the room. Only James and Lavina were missing. Sirius had volunteered to search for James while Lily, taking pity on her friends, had agreed to find Lavina, even if she didn't want to.

Lily walked across the giant house she had grown accustomed to. She passed the rooms she had spent countless hours in, laughing or just relaxing. There, on her right, was the library that Mr. and Mrs. Potter frequented, their get-away, so to speak. Indeed, there they were sitting together.

Mrs. Potter's bright blonde hair was curled gently, barely reaching her shoulders. Her matronly figure was clad in a simple dress that fell to the floor, navy blue in color. Beside her sat Mr. Potter, dressed in a comfortable pair of tweed pants and a white shirt. They were both reading, leaning against each other and reading. Lily felt as though she was intruding by passing, seeing them sitting so calmly, so engaged in their own thoughts and yet engaged in each other. She watched as Mr. Potter absentmindedly stroked his wife's hand while turning the pages of his book with the other.

Watching them, seeing them act so lovingly toward each other convinced her that that was what she longed for in a relationship. However, hesitant to stay and watch them any longer, she walked further down the hall.

She passed some of the guest bedrooms James had told her about. There were so many of them! The hall went on for ages, so it seemed, before Lily managed to get to Lavina's room.

She knocked but didn't hear anyone reply. A moment later, she knocked again. She heard someone say "Come in" and so she did.

Lavina was sitting upon her bed, her hair extraordinarily messy. She was adjusting her sweater as Lily walked in. A pair of glasses that seemed oddly familiar to Lily lay forgotten on the nightstand beside the bed. The windows were open, letting in the cold air.

"I'm sorry, did I wake you?" Lily asked, her brain working slowly.

Lavina laughed. "Ooh no, chérie, I was not sleeping. I was, 'ow you say, 'aving a beet of fun? Oui, zat. I was 'aving a beet of fun."

Lily stared at Lavina.

"Oui, chérie, fun eez fun, no?"

"Er… yes… fun is fun…" she faltered. "Er… I'm uh… here to tell you that we're… er… meeting up in the sitting room…"

Lavina smiled haughtily. "I know."

Lily nodded at her before fleeing. She ran into the hallway, where she bumped into James.

He looked extremely disheveled, his hair more so than usual. His glasses were gone.

"Where are your glasses?" She asked, her voice oddly calm.

"I can't find them!" James said loudly. "I had them in my room but now they're gone."

Lily looked at him closely. "Did Sirius find you?"

"Er no? Was he meant to?"

"Yes. That's why I'm down here. Looking for Lavina. He's looking for you."

"Oh… well I haven't seen him."

"Why are you down here?"

James shrugged. "I went searching for my glasses."

"All the way down this hall?" Lily asked incredulously.

"Er yeah?"

She didn't say anything. Lavina had walked out of her room with a pair of black glasses dangling from one hand.

"James chérie, I 'ave your glasses," she spoke smugly, giving Lily a pitying look as James took them from her.

"Well now you've found them so if you'll excuse me," Lily walked away from them quickly, practically running. She didn't want to go to the sitting room with the others so she escaped to the place only she and one other person knew about. It didn't seem likely that that other person would show up seeing how he was… busy with someone else at the moment.

Lily felt the familiar bitter taste enter her mouth as she dwelt upon the events. Seeing James and Lavina acting that way had made her feel extremely unpleasant, though she had no reason to. He was, after all, only her friend. She should be happy he had a significant other. She was supposed to be excited for him, ready to hear about how much he loved her. And yet, why did the thought of James loving Lavina make her want to throw up the delicious breakfast of scrambled eggs on toast with pumpkin juice that she had scoffed down that morning? It was mystifying, this entire fiasco.

James sat across the room from Lily, watching her shake her head oddly. Something was up with her, though what it was he didn't know.

Author's Note: I'm doing my best to keep up with my stories but it's getting harder and harder as I'm getting more involved in school stuff again, though it hasn't even started yet! I'm working on two of my six college applications and a load of IB work and then tennis practice and an Extended Essay and it's just quite difficult. But I am trying, I promise! Expect another update in a couple more days on this one. My other story, Sleeping on the Job, is coming along but it's a lot harder to continue. Wish me luck and thanks for all the reviews!!!