Authors Note: Be prepared for a dynamite chapter where a hell of a lot happens. Also, thanks to all reviewers so far, including , Novellum Nerdium, Ellie, thewandofdestiny, theatrelove123, and live4dance.

September 25

1:04 AM

Mood: Overloaded

Have you ever looked back on a group of days and just thought… Wait a minute, what in the name of Merlin just happened? Well, that's been me this last week. Time passed in a big, fluffy blur where we were all starting to gather the right materials to study for NEWTs and then it finally became Saturday. The day of the first Quidditch match of the season: Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff.

Alice went to try-outs last week and got the newly opened Seeker position (Damn Caradoc Dearborn left last year. Rats) and apparently this years team looks a little something like this:

Captain:

James Potter (Well, THAT figures…)

Keeper:

Gideon Prewett

Chasers:

Frank Longbottom

Fabian Prewett

James Potter

Beaters:

Hanson Sullivan

Sirius Black

Seeker:

Alice Prewett

(No, for the last bloody time, she's NOT related to Gideon and Fabian. It just so happens that they share a last name. Kapice?)

Alice being the new team seeker, Marlene and I decided to get very decked-out in Gryffindor gear to cheer her on. I have absolutely no clue what the teams is going to do next year, when all of the seventh years are gone. Somehow, the team is entirely seventh year. Last years members besides Hanson graduated, not to mention that Gideon and Fabian decided to try out for the first time and they out flew the two others. I reckon James just likes his friends too much. He's only picked ones from seventh year. Except Hanson, of course, but he's only got one more year. Everyone knows he's the only choice for captain next year, so James is freaking out and trying to train him extra well.

He rants about it at every Prefect meeting.

Marlene naturally just had to get me dressed for the game, so she practically shoved me into a V-neck Gryffindor T-shirt and the pair of jeans that I always swore was too tight. I concealed myself a bit better though by putting on my Gryffindor scarf and dark red flats.

We strode out the Entrance Hall and down the path towards the Quidditch Pitch, laughing in memory of Alice spitting her food all over that man at Kitty's.

"I can't believe that our girl is out there playing Seeker this year. Always the shy ones, yeah?" I mused to Marlene.

"Yeah. She has a huge pair of shoes to fit into though. Caradoc was a good player," said Marlene, subconsciously running a hand down her spell-straightened hair.

"He was. Do you reckon she'll miss playing Chaser though?" I pondered.

"Maybe. But deep down, you know she's always liked coming out on top. She likes getting responsibilities and proving she can handle them. So I can see why she'd want to be the Seeker."

"True. I just can't believe this is our last year. So much is already changing… I mean, Alice is seeker, I'm Head Girl, and you're-" I began before I was interrupted.

"-Still dating the same number of boys, yeah," Marlene said with a laugh.

"But it's a different boy. Benjy's much more harmless that your usual guy. You've had a lot of rotten guys in the past. But he seems…sweet," I ended, carefully ignoring the warning sign inside of me that wondered whether he was man enough for her.

"Yeah, he's-" Marlene started, and then froze.

"Marlene?" I whispered.

What was wrong with her? Marlene's eyes were blazing like fire, her smile vanishing from her face, leaving a cold emptiness on the surface. I followed her gaze, and suddenly I knew why.

Benjy Fenwick, the boy we had just been talking about so positively, was standing behind the Quidditch stands, his lips locked in a passionate embrace with Dorcas Meadowes.

What the hell? That didn't make sense.

And then suddenly it sank in. Benjy was cheating on Marlene.

I practically growled as we approached the stands, and I was barely conscious that Marlene was no longer walking with me.

"Fifty points from Hufflepuff for that inappropriate display of affection and dishonesty," I said venomously.

Benjy seemed to hear my voice and gradually separated from Dorcas, turning around and growing steadily pale.

"Look, I meant to tell her, I was gonna talk to her about it after the match, I was gonna-" he started, stuttering to come up with the words to get him out of trouble.

Just as I was about to speak, a manicured hand pushed me gently out of the way. Marlene had walked forward rather suddenly, the dear-in-the-headlights look gone from her eyes as she snarled, coming out of shock.

"You were going to tell me what? What, Fenwick? 'Oh, hello Marlene, did I mention I've been dating Dorcas behind your back? By the way, we're through?' How dare you do this, HOW DARE YOU! You knew that I liked you because you were safe, you KNEW that I was tired of being used, and you went through with it anyway. You are disgusting," she spat, her wand starting to shoot sparks.

She was just itching to hex him, I could see it. However, there was a time to be a good Head Girl and take her wand, and there was a time to casually pretend not to notice.

So, I casually pretended not to notice. I also didn't notice when she raised her wand and shot a stinging jinx at him in fury.

However, I did notice when he tried to reciprocate.

"Expelliarmus," I said lazily. Fenwick looked pissed, to say the least, when his hawthorn wand landed neatly in my hand.

"You are such a scum bag," I watched in a bit of apprehension as Marlene put her wand to her throat. "Sonnorous," she whispered before yelling out to the entire crowd.

"ATTENTION! Hogwarts Students, this is Marlene McKinnon speaking. I'd just like it to be known that Benjamin Fenwick and I are no longer together, as he is apparently not as loyal as you 'Puffs like to think. Oh, and by the way, Fenwick has an un-descended testicle. Thank you, and have a nice match."

"Quietus," she ended. Maybe I should have taken her wand before she did anything rash. Too late. But would I be a good friend if I didn't let her have her moment?

I looked on in awe. She was bound to get a detention for that one from one of the teachers anyway, so I spoke loud enough for the now approaching professors to hear:

"Detention, Marlene. Eleven O'clock sharp, in the Great Hall tomorrow."

She smirked at me. I think we both knew that I wasn't going to make her do anything awful. From this distance, I could see Dumbledore nodding his head. He must have heard my detention plans, and I could have sworn he winked at me. Maybe it was a trick of the light. Although…

I think Dumbledore was always very supportive of friendships. He must know that I had no serious detention for Marlene. We'd probably just talk or something.

"You may have this after the match," I said coolly to Benjy in regards to his wand and grabbed Marlene's elbow before any more of a scene could be caused.

I dully noted that sparkling tears were falling from her eyes.

"Marlene, you are not in a sound mind to make judgments about this yet. Sleep on it, calm your hysteria, and then get back at him tomorrow. Let's go back to the castle, okay?" I said, not liking the look that was showing in Benjy's eyes.

The one thing about Hufflepuff is that they were supposed to be known for loyalty. But if anyone second-hands that, they generally get raging beyond control. I wanted to escape before Benjy got it in his mind to exact revenge on Marlene for verbally announcing his disloyalty.

However, being a creature of independence and stubbornness, Marlene quickly replied, "No, Lily. We're going to watch Alice kick butt and we are damn well going to enjoy it, Benjy or no Benjy."

I purse my lips but decide against arguing with her. As we walk up the stairs towards the Gryffindor section, I can hear all of the Hufflepuff's whispering adamantly. Then, someone in the Gryffindor section yells, "Yeah! You go Marlene! You show him who's boss!" I can't see who it is but I laugh awkwardly as Marlene does a small curtsy to the crowd.

We find our place besides Remus, Peter, and a girl called Melony who's the year below us. Melony gives Marlene a death squeezing hug and coos in sympathy. Remus bends his head over to whisper in my ear.

"So. That was…Interesting," he says with an amiable grin.

"Yeah. That's a safe word to use," I reply with a smirk. Lupin's eyes look sincere as he looks sideways at me.

"Will she be alright, do you think?"

I nod. "Yes. She does have a tendency to put up a front though. She can be totally happy about something on the outside, even if she's breaking on the inside. But I'm sure she'll be alright."

Melony has released Marlene and is finally done squeezing the life out of her.

"You'll be okay, sweetie! I promise. If you need anything at all, just come to the sixth year girls dorm. We're the second one on the left, deary."

I haven't heard anyone use the word 'sweetie' and 'deary' in the same breath since I last saw Mum. Marlene, oddly enough, seems to find it comforting though, as she dries her eyes.

I suddenly become conscious that by the time we're done with the initial crisis, the match has already started.

"And that's Jutson with the Quaffle- No! Potter steals it with a- well, what kind of play would you call that, Professor?"

I can hear Icarus, the Ravenclaw prefect and coincidentally the announcer ask McGonagall.

"Honestly, Mr. Crenshaw, you're the one who studies these things all of the time. It's a Shutter Steal. Surely, you knew that?"

"Right, right. Course I did. And, Ladies and Gentlemen, Potter has scored twenty points for Gryffindor since I've been... erm, 'conversing' with Professor McGonagall," Icarus continues, as I search the skies for Alice.

I see her hovering higher than the rest of the team, flying back and forth in constant watch for the snitch.

That's my girl.

Icarus continues to announce the movements on the field, and before I know it, I'm watching Potter shout at the team something incoherent, and he and the others are soaring together into the Hawkshead Attacking Formation.

I hate to admit it, but Potter looks great on a broom. He's a natural. He quickly reverse passes to Frank, who sends the Quaffle flying into the Hufflepuff hoop.

The Hufflepuff's and Slytherin's are booing from the opposite side of the stadium. Ravenclaw doesn't seem to care either way. And the Gryffindor's are going loud enough to drown them out.

And then, quite suddenly, the loud cheering dies away and a high pitched whistle raises the hair on my neck. Why? Why did everyone stop-

I am instantly aware that someone is falling quickly from the skies, broomstick no where in sight. I catch a glimpse of flashing black hair, and I don't even want to think, don't want to admit, can't even grasp-

Alice is falling. She's going to hit the ground, and she's going to die. And I didn't even notice, because I was staring at Potter like a school girl. Guilt floods through my veins as I look on in horror. These thoughts flash through my head in less than a second, and I'm gasping, screaming, can't someone hear? But someone else is yelling louder than I am. Louder than anyone is.

"ARESTO MOMENTUM!"

Frank Longbottom is streaking through the sky like a shooting star, knowing he won't get there in time, but yelling the spell all the same, with no wand to aid him.

We know it won't work. Wandless magic is rare, impossible even.

But it wasn't Frank who yelled the spell. It was Dumbledore. And as Alice is stopped before hitting the ground, he comes running out of the stands alongside Madame Pomfrey to check her over.

Frank arrives first. I can't hear what he's saying, but he's jumped off of his broom before it fully touched thr gound, and he's kneeling besides her, talking rapidly and loudly, although not loud enough.

Potter is in the sky shouting bloody murder at the Hufflepuff Seeker, ignoring the whistle that Hooch sends his way. The game is on a stand-by, but all hell is breaking loose regardless.

"What the hell just happened?" I shout at Lupin, who seems tense besides me. His hearing has always been strangely better than anyone else's. I'm lucky to be able to ask him.

"Hufflepuff Seeker Roderick Bedford apparently saw the snitch and dove for it. Alice saw it the same time and they collided. But Bedford got underneath her and then flew up. She seemed surprised and supposedly went flying off her broom. Bedford reckons he didn't realize she was above him, but James reckons it was intentional," Lupin shrugs.

No one knows for sure what happened, but I can't help but feel a slight smile. I wonder how Alice felt, opening her eyes from her fall to find that Frank was the first one leaning over her. I wish I knew what he was saying.

"What's Frank saying then?" I ask Remus curiously. He stares at me.

"Lily, I don't have superhuman powers just because I'm a-" he freezes momentarily. "A top-notch listener," he finishes quietly.

"Damn. I wish I knew," I reply and watch as Alice gets to her feet. The crowd cheers as she mounts her broom again, and the game resumes.

I don't know if it was Frank's concern or what, but Alice is up and kicking with a strange streak of luck.

She finds the snitch right off the bat and goes jetting up at a steep diagonal, following the golden ball with the eyes of an eagle.

"And Alice Prewett is up and obviously feeling more than just a little alright- she's seen the snitch!" Icarus yells. McGonagall cheers in the background and passes it off as a cough.

Alice is speeding faster and faster until she's just a blur with arms. Her fingers outstretch and then-

"AND ALICE PREWTT HAS CAUGHT THE SNITCH! GRYFFINDOR WINS!" Crenshaw screams over the yells of the Gryffindors.

Somewhere up in the sky, Potter appears to be doing a fist bump with Sirius, who's shoved his beater club out of the way as he flies down arm-and-shoulder with Potter.

The field is a mass of red and gold team players, all surrounding Alice and James as the yellow-and-black Hufflepuffs stalk off, trying to look regal despite the loss.

A rough hand taps my shoulder.

I spin around to find Benjy Fenwick with his hands in his pockets. Marlene is suddenly in an in-depth conversation with Melony, and they're grinning.

"Erm…Can I have my wand back, Evans?" He says, shuffling his feet.

"Yeah. I could show you other places to put it, too," I retort nastily and shove it into his fingers. "Do be more responsible in the future, Fenwick, and don't mess with the Head Girl's best friend. You'll bite off more than you can chew."

"Isn't that a fact." I hear a voice, coming up the stands from the pitch. I turn, hoping to see Alice but realizing that the voice was decidedly male.

James Potter is standing two rows down from me, getting patted on the back every few seconds and running a hand in his drenched hair.

"You look like you fell in a birdbath," I say with a half-smile. He's soaked to the bone with sweat.

"You look like you fell from Heaven," he jokingly replies, and steps the next few rows up until he's standing between Remus and I. Sirius and Alice are right behind him. They walk over to Marlene, and distantly I register them commenting dryly on Marlene's little announcement.

"Seems like your friends are occupied at the moment," James muses. "Remus and I will walk you back to the castle. You'd better not spoil our fun tonight, Miss Head Girl. We are going to party later than last time, and you can count on that."

"What's the difference? We've won every match for the past two years," I say pointedly. I try not to allow my mind to register that James has been on the team for the past two years.

"True. But we have extra partying to do, because I am determined to cheer Marlene up."

I waggle my eyebrows at him suggestively. He rolls his eyes.

"Not that kind of cheering up. She just…I don't know, she seems fine on the outside but-"

"-Not on the inside, right, yeah," I finish for him.

"Right."

I am suddenly aware that my feet have decided to go with James and Remus up to the castle. When did I tell them to do that? So much for 'your brain controls your body.' I am also aware that Remus is next to me, not saying a word.

"So, Remus, how's your Aunt? You said she wasn't feeling well," I supply conversationally.

Remus and James share an odd glance.

"Yeah, she's not doing very well. Mum says I might have to go and visit her in the hospital in a few days."

I reply sincerely, "I'm sorry to hear that."

The three of us slip into a slightly awkward silence as we enter the Entrance Hall.

"…Right. I'd better go and see how Alice and Marlene are feeling," I say, by means of and exit, and begin to walk up the stairs.

"Hey, Lily?" James whispers with a slight blush, grabbing my arm to prevent me from leaving.

"Yeah?" I respond.

"If you ever get…tired…of all of the drama…You can always hang out with me. I don't bite." He smiles almost uncertainly.

I can't decide if it's leaning towards another James-is-going-to-ask-me-out situation or not. I choose to have a bit more faith in our slowly developing friendship though, and I nod.

"Thank you, James. I won't forget that."

Turning and walking up the stairs without looking back, I feel as if two pairs of eyes are watching my back curiously. Shaking my head of all further thought, I run up the stairs and into the Gryffindor common room, only to find Sirius, Marlene, Peter, Alice, and the other Gryffindor's already there.

My jaw drops.

How in the name of Merlin is it that Gryffindor can whip a party together so fast?

I see my answer quickly. Sirius, Fabian, and Gideon all have their wands out and are enchanting music to come booming through the stone ceiling. Already the Gryffindors are gathered around Alice, listening to her version of the fall and the rebound.

Poor thing. She's not used to speaking in front of people, let alone admirers.

"Prewett! Prewett! What was it like, waking up to Frank Longbottom's dreamy blue eyes?" A fourth year asks.

She is so not equipped to answer that question.

"Uhhh…I dunno. Besides, it was Dumbledore who stopped my fall, right?" Alice says uncertainly. I vaguely notice Frank in the corner, seeming to appear nonchalant, although obviously listening in.

"Well, what about Bedford? Do you think he meant to knock you off?" Someone says eagerly.

"I don't know for sure. I don't have eyes pointed down anymore than he did pointed up. How should I know? I don't want to go starting rumors, anyhow. I'm okay regardless."

'Atta girl. She's good at asserting herself now. Her answers get better and better the further away the questions get from Longbottom.

I spin around to see James and Remus come through the portrait with looks of awe. Sirius runs over to James in glee.

"Oi, Prongs! Moony! You missed it! Pete and I had to start the party up all by ourselves. 'Course, no one's spiked the Pumpkin Juice yet. You could do that, right?"

Potter laughs. "Hell no. I'm Head Boy, remember? Not your local bartender."

Sirius whines like a puppy. "Head Boy my ass. You're supposed to be in charge of the alcohol!"

Peter raises a finger and finally joins in. "Yeah, we all remember what happened when you put Padfoot in charge of it."

Sirius glowers at Peter. "Stuff it, Wormtail. Everyone was extra fun that night."

"Extra drunk, more likely," James supplements.

"I'm all for not spiking it at all," Remus suggests. The three spin around to stare at him like he was an alien.

"Are you, or are you not, a Marauder?" Sirius says.

"Well I am, but-"

"Then lend us your brains as per the norm, and help me find a way to spike the pumpkin juice without allowing Sirius to do it, and without me having to touch any of it," James says deviously.

Remus slaps his palm for his forehead.

"Remind me again why I always listen to you two."

"Because we're the spice in your life, Moony!" Sirius exclaims, grabbing hold of Remus's hand and dancing him around the room. As soon as they return to normal albeit slightly dizzy stances, Lupin leans in close to the others.

"Alright, fine. Here's how you're going to do it…"

I realize at this point that the Pumpkin Juice is going to become virtually untouchable, but I neglect to pass the thought on to Marlene, thinking that she might just need to relax a bit more than usual tonight.

Eventually every single Gryffindor has returned from the pitch and the party is in full swing. People are grabbing partners right and left and dancing where the sofa used to be- that is until James 'Depulso'd' it out of the way.

Sirius has transfigured all of the firewood into colorful flashing lights and stuck them to the ceiling, Remus has explained to Peter the way to increase the alcohol content in a pre-made liquid without actually conjuring alcohol, which would have been impossible, but leave it to Lupin to find a way around that.

As everyone around me begins to dance, I go over to sit with Alice, only to realize that she's sitting alone with Frank and he's asking her to dance. She seems to be shocked, but agrees none the less.

I try Marlene, but she's already drunken so much of that damn 'Pumpkin Juice' that she's trying to kiss Hanson. She would so not be doing that one consciously.

The problem with magical alcohol versus non-magical alcohol: the rate at which you become intoxicated.

I quickly grab her arm and murmur an apology to Hanson before dragging her upstairs. She smells like a walking alcohol barista.

"Marlene. Go to bed. You are drunk and are going to have a nasty hangover in the morning."

" Whatcha talkin 'bout, ickle Lilykins? 'M fine. 'M always fine, Benjy 'err no Benjy eh?" She slurs.

I plop her down on her bed, transfigure her day clothes into a cost nightgown, and slide the covers over her.

"Sobrietus," I whisper gently, knowing that I'm not good enough at the spell to sober her entirely, but my small attempt should at least ease her hangover in the morning.

I walk back down the dorm stairs, stopping next to James, my only other friend who isn't out on the dance floor.

"Ummm….Hi," I said, feeling odd that he was truly the only one left to talk to.

"Hey, Lily. Looks like you found Marlene. Not that that was difficult though…She was being a bit loud," said James.

"I did. I thought that the point of this victory party was to solve her problem though, not contribute to it?"

James looks at me sheepishly. "You're right. I never should have helped spike the juice."

"Probably not, but it sure looks like Alice is having a better time."

She was still dancing with Frank, laughing boisterously at something he said.

"I haven't even had the time to talk to her about it. Could you hear them, on the pitch? Are they dating or something?" I ask Potter.

"No, not dating. I think Frank was just worried, that's all. Everyone was."

Boys are so oblivious. Did Potter not realize how bloody fast Longbottom went soaring down to check on her? Like, light speed.

"Maybe. But hey, listen, this party is great and all, but I think I'm going to go back to the Head dorms and get some rest. All of my friends are busy anyway," I tell James, turning to walk out.

"I'm not busy," Potter responds. "Or is it no longer your intention to form some baseline of friendship with me?"

"We agreed to be acquaintances. No more, and no less," I recall.

His eyes darken. "Right. Enjoy your night."

"Goodnight, Potter."

I exit the portrait hole and contemplate the look on his face. He seemed very put out.

I whisper the quick "Seposuit Odio Amandi" to my room picture and slip inside, noting briefly that it is almost one in the morning.

I hear the portrait open behind me, and whirl around.

"Look, Evans. Are you with me, or are you against me?" James has come up behind me much too closely for comfort, still seeming remotely livid.

"What do you mean?"

"You heard me," he says icily.

"I heard you, but I don't understand."

James sighs.

"I don't know how long it will take for you to get over the fact that I liked you enough to ask you out, but for whatever reason you've been bitter over it for years. Is it such a sin to like you? I have tried ever since last year to just make you get over it so we could be friends, but it seems like I'm failing one way or another."

I realize rapidly just how close he is in proximity to me. I suck in my breath and try not to notice how his green eyes have flecks of brown, and hues of gold.

"I am tired, Lily, I am tired of walking on eggshells with you, I am tired of seeing the look on your face everytime I joke with you, and I want you to tell me that you will be my friend, and really, truly try to stay civil with me, or tell me to leave you alone and never speak to you. I can do either option."

I freeze, caught off-guard by his sudden vehemence, his sudden seriousness. His ultimatum is shocking.

We both stand stock still, until he nods almost imperceptibly.

"Fine. If you're going to stand there and say bloody nothing, fine. You won't have to hear me whine anymore."

James moves to leave, and I surprise myself by gripping hold of his elbow.

"James, I'm sorry. I was just shocked is all. I… I want to be your friend."

He turns back around, hazel eyes slowly lighting back up.

"And do you mean that? Will you forgive me for the things I've mucked up on, and will you let go all of the random bursts of anger you throw at me? And stop judging me for who I was as a child?"

I dully notice that he is, in fact, not a child anymore at all. His jaw line is firm, and his gaze powerful. The glasses soften his now hardened features, as he towers above me at a staggering 6 feet to my small 5'3 frame.

"Yes. I will."

A smile finally dashes across his face, showing gleaming teeth.

"Great. To our friendship," he says, shaking my had as if to settle a deal.

"Goodnight, Lily. Sleep well."

I watch him walk off feeling aware that somewhere tonight, a boundary was crossed, and there is no turning back. Somehow, he's James now, and not Potter- and he's my friend, not my enemy.

Writing this all down hasn't made that feeling any easier. But now that it is well past one in the morning, I think I'll hit the hay.

'Night.

Author's Note: Well, what do you think? Was it everything you hoped and dreamed? Also, next chapter features a Marauder prank. If you have anything that you'd like to see happen soon, let me know and I may be able to squeeze it in. I have all of my chapters sorted out, but you never know where I can fit in any demands. Let me know!