I do not own Harry Potter. Please review! This is mainly just a time-filler, sorry it's so short.

To iloveharrypotter711, James doesn't know what she's really like and he knows that he kind of only used her and feels guilty.

"Now Lily you haven't got your usual 100%!" Slughorn's voice boomed around the dungeon.

"But still the highest in the class! 95%! And of course you are still coming to my party tomorrow?" he continued.

"Yes Professor, I wouldn't miss it for all the galleons in Gringotts," Lily answered in a bored voice. She got along really well with Professor Slughorn but she just wasn't in the mood for chatting, it was too early.

"Good, it is my birthday after all. And you will come too, won't you Mr. Potter and Mr. Black? ," he said. Then as they agreed, he said, "Just you though, no plus ones," and he winked at Lily.

…...

Lily tugged at her emerald dress robes nervously. She rapped quickly on the door three times.

"Ah, Lily! Come in," Slughorn welcomed her cheerfully as he answered the door.

Lily entered his office, which had obviously been enlarged magically. Sparkling silver and rich crimson hangings were draped over the ceiling and walls. The tables had a glittering cloth placed on them and were piled high with all kinds of treats. Some chairs looked like they had been carved from rubies and others from solid silver. The room was packed, not only with students but with various 'celebrities' such as Fergal Pickendale winner of Witch's Weekly poll for the most desirable wizard and the breakout singer of the year Celestina Warbeck.

Slughorn sure knew how to throw a party.

The room was packed, but once she entered, Sirius pulled her onto the dance floor.

"What are you doing?" Lily asked as they danced.

"Nothing," Sirius said innocently. A little too innocently.

"Sirius," Lily said, a warning note in her voice.

Sirius sighed. "I'm trying to get James to cop on," he admitted.

"What do you mean?" Lily asked, still confused.

"Just look," Sirius said. He spun her around. Lily saw James standing at a table laden with food. He looked dashing in deep blue robes. He was watching them, but as soon as he saw Lily looking, he tried to start up a conversation with Dirk Creswell who was standing near by.

"I still don't understand," Lily said.

Sirius said in an exasperated tone, "Just dance."

She danced at least seven songs with Sirius, laughing at his jokes and chatting.

She was in desperate need of some pumpkin juice and went searching. Somehow though, she ended up beside James.

"Hello," he said quietly.

"Hi, what's up?" Lily said cheerfully.

"Nothing really," he answered, avoiding her eyes.

"How's Chloe?" Lily really did not want to talk about Thistleface, but she couldn't think of any other way to get James talking.

"Yeah, she's grand. The dye went around three weeks ago. The person who did it was smart, it only lasted a week, not long enough to trace the curse," he snickered.

"Are you not annoyed?" Lily asked curiously, because if she didn't know any better, she'd say James was laughing at what had happened to Chloe's hair.

"Well, I'm supposed to be, but it was a good prank," James smirked.

"Why, I wonder, isn't the potions princess getting a hundred percent in her tests?" James teased, changing the subject.

"My mind was on other things," she said dismissively, hoping he didn't guess where her mind had really been.

Her brain was a mess. She knew she didn't like Chloe and felt annoyed whenever she was with James. But she didn't now why she was jealous. Wait, who said she was jealous? She was just annoyed James had dropped her for a evil cow like Chloe. I am jealous, aren't I?, Lily asked herself. But why?

"I better go and give Slughorn his present," Lily announced.

"What did you get him?" James questioned.

Lily smiled and said, "Crystallised pineapple, his favourite."

"A bit safe don't you think?"

"Well what do you get someone with loads of rich friends and contacts?"

James shrugged his shoulders, "A phonebook?"

After giving Slughorn his gift and receiving his thanks, Lily got pulled onto the dance floor again by Sirius, but he saw a Ravenclaw girl and Lily escaped and went back to James.

She tried to start up a conversation but James had gone quiet. Lily noticed he was looking at Sirius, who was chatting up the pretty, brunette Ravenclaw.

"We're not dating," Lily blurted out.

James looked at her like she was crazy. "Yes, I seem to remember you declining the many offers I made."

"No, I meant Sirius and I," Lily revised.

"Oh," was all that James said, but he seemed to brighten.

"And at the time you were extremely irritating which was my reason for declining said offers," Lily added.

"So if I asked you now, what would you say?" James asked interestedly.

"Presuming your not extremely irritating me?" Lily enquired grinning.

"Presuming," James alleged.

"Well, seeing as you're dating Chloe I guess we'll never know," Lily thought she saw first disappointment, then guilt pass over his face.

Lily made her way to the door, intending to leave, but a blond women crossed her path. She was around forty, and pretty. Her face was vaguely familar.

"You are Lily Evans, correct?" she asked briskly.

"Yes," Lily answered baffled.

"I am Chloe's mother. My daughter is happy with James and I want you to stay away from him," she stated.

Was she being serious? "Excuse me but I can be friends with anyone I want!" Lily said outraged. What this women was saying was way past the line.

Just then Slughorn came over, "Is everything okay Lily? Oh I see you've meet Ms. Thistleworth! She donates a large sum of gold monthly to St. Mungo's," he interrupted.

"Excuse me Professor, but I need to leave. I have homework to do," Lily said.

"Well, let me accompany you to the door at least," he politely said goodbye to Ms. Thistleworth and followed Lily to the door.

"Sorry about that. There was no way I couldn't invite her. It didn't work then?" he asked.

"What?"

"Your's and James' talk did not go too well I take it?" he reworded his original question.

Lily was shocked. "You planned everything?"

Slughorn just smiled knowingly. "My dear, the whole party was for your sake. There is a reason why I am the Head of Slytherin." he said as he held the door open for her.

There was also a reason why Slughorn was her favourite teacher.