Let me tell you a story about a boy and a girl,

A very different version than you've ever heard.

Okay, so I'm lying but all I'm trying to say,

This isn't about the one that got away.

The Dilemma

It was Wednesday and Lily and Riley were making their way to Double Potions. Since Saturday, Riley felt great. She was spending more time with Lily and Brandon and she was still managing to do well in school. However, she still hadn't spoke to Sirius or James and Remus was being even more distant than usual. Lily hadn't said anything at all about the 'plan' she had told her about in the Library on Saturday so Riley didn't bother to ask. She would just find a way to talk to the both of them somehow and she was determined to do it this week.

They entered the classroom and Riley set her bag on the table and pulled out her book. Lily was already scribbling notes down across the table from her and when Severus joined them, they began talking about today's lesson. Riley would sometimes join in but today she didn't. Sirius came in dumped his bag on the floor, sat down and put his back to her to talk to James at the table next to them.

"Listen, Padfoot, after Quidditch practice I need to go to the library. Do you mind coming with?"

"What's it for?" Sirius asked

"Eh-A-Arithmancy."

"You didn't pick Arithmancy."

"Exactly!" James said. "Exactly and that is why I need a book for it because I wish I'd took it when I had the chance so I'm going to teach myself."

"Fine," Sirius said. "You are one strange boy, Prongs. Why would you want to teach yourself something you don't need to know?"

James shrugged. "I guess I'm taking a book out of my dear Lily's book."

When Lily heard her name she looked over at him, gave him a dirty look, then went back to talking to Severus.

"Yeah," Sirius laughed. "But you still won't be able to get her."

"Haha," James said sarcastically and turned around to face the front of the classroom.

Riley done the same as Slughorn entered and started making them take down notes. When Riley realized that's all they were going to be doing for the double session, she ruled out the plan and even talking for the full class.

The first bell for the rest of the school rung while they sat there, copying down revision notes for their O.W.L's. Just when Riley was about to give on life itself, she noticed Lily sliding a note across to her.

She picked it up.

Library after dinner? By the looks of it, we'll need it for the homework Slughorn is bound to give us after this period!

She smiled and looked up at Lily and nodded. It was true. Slughorn was giving them two questions from each part of the subject to right down and do for homework. After another hour and a half, the bell rang and people were falling over one and other to get out of the classroom. At times like these, Riley was determined to drop Potions in 6th year.

Lily, Riley and Mary went to the Gryffindor common room and changed out of their robes and into casual clothing. They then went and sat next to the fire.

"I hate potions," Mary exclaimed. "Our O.W.L's aren't until May and he's having us revise when we still have to learn more! Old ba-"

"It wasn't that bad, Mary," Lily said, not looking impressed. "Professor Slughorn is a nice man."

"Okay."

Mary rolled her eyes at Lily who seemed to relax again.

"I don't think I'll do any questions tonight," Mary said.

"But there are two for each night until next week," Riley said.

"I'll do four tomorrow. I'm busy tonight."

Riley knew Mary had done that on purpose so they could ask her what. People seemed to be doing that a lot recently. She hated it, why couldn't they just come straight out with what they wanted to say? It was so stupid to do it that way and make people ask you what. It was also very attention seeking.

"Oh, what?" Lily asked.

Riley really didn't want to hear what Mary had to say so she stood up and excused herself and decided to visit Brandon. She knew she would probably have to visit the Ravenclaw Common Room which meant Claudia. When she got to the Ravenclaw portrait, she answered the riddle thanks to Brandon giving her the password when it changed.

She entered to find it partially empty. Some people gave her strange looks as she hoped for someone she knew to come forward.

"Riley?"

"Oh! Jamie! Do you know where Brandon is?"

Jamie was Brandon's younger cousin. If they didn't have the same last name, you would never of known. Jamie was a fourth year and from what Riley knew, living in Brandon's shadow. He was a reserve Beater for Ravenclaw and got a lot of Brandon's old things.

"Quidditch pitch. They'll be finishing up soon, I suppose. You Gryffindors are getting the pitch next I think," Jamie grinned.

"Thank you!"

Riley left the Common Room quicker than she had went in. The Quidditch Pitch, great. Brandon had been trying to get her to go down and see her fly for the past few weeks. It wasn't that she hated flying…Her Father was a very traditional man so to speak; Women don't play sports. She knew if she got on a broom and Claudia caught her, she'd be done for.

Riley stood in the Entrance Hall and waited on the team to walk up. The wind was fierce and she only had on a t-shirt and jeans. She decided to sit on the stairs and wait. It sounded quiet except a few chattering voices in the Great Hall. Behind her, she heard a bundle of people making their way down. It was the majority of Gryffindor team probably going to get an early dinner before practice. Leading them down was Iain Baird, the captain. Riley stood up and out of the way to let them by. Iain smiled at her and the rest of the team gave mumbled hello's. At the end of the group was Sirius and James. Sirius seemed to speed up and didn't look at her. James however slowed and said Hello.

All Riley done was smile at him. All she wanted to do at that moment was hug James and apologize to him for being angry that he favored Sirius. Of course he would, Sirius was like his brother and he had known him longer. However, James was like a brother to Riley. He walked by her, still walking slowly.

"James?"

He turned around. "Yes?"

"I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For getting angry at you for defending a friend. It was wrong."

"You're right. Apology accepted."

"Can I get a hug?" Riley asked, her voice shaking.

"Come here," James said and Riley went running at him.

"I really am sorry, James. I would of done the same if it was Lily. He's your best friend and I-I shouldn't of been angry a-at you f-for being a g-g-good friend."

"Calm down," James said. "Breathe, Riley!"

She laughed and pulled away, wiping her tears.

"You should go get some dinner," Riley said, "You know, so you don't practice on an empty stomach."

"Alright mum," James joked. "I'm kidding! We'll talk later, promise."

That's one thing fixed, Riley thought to herself and watched James go into the Hall for dinner. She didn't have to wait long for the Ravenclaw team to arrive but by that time people were making their way to dinner so she wouldn't get to spend much time with Brandon.

"Alright there?" Brandon asked, walking up to her.

"I'm fine," she smiled and gave him a hug. "I was waiting for practice to finish so we could go for a walk before dinner but…"

"We can go after," he replied and took her hand and they started to walk into the Great Hall.

"I can't, Lily and I have to go to the library for Potions homework. The workload Slughorn gave us was unbelievable."

"That's rubbish. Are you in anything tomorrow that you could-?"

"I can't miss any classes right now," Riley said as they stood at the doors of the Great Hall. "My O.W.L's are coming up."

"We'll do something after classes then, alright?"

"Okay," Riley said and gave him a quick kiss.

They both parted ways and Riley picked a space on the Gryffindor table far away from Sirius and James. She decided to have dinner while she waited for Lily and Mary to arrive which wasn't long. Lily sat down and was casting glances at James and Sirius. Riley watched her for a while and then looked over to Mary to see if she had noticed but she hadn't. Mary was too busy looking around the Great Hall. Lily then looked at Riley and she looked shocked that Riley was watching her.

"What?"

"You've been staring at James since you came in."

"I have not."

"Sure, Lils. Keep telling yourself that."

Riley winked and smiled at Lily who screwed up her face and went back to her dinner. The Gryffindor team then got up and left.

X

Riley and Lily were walking up and down the library, picking books to help them with potions. They didn't stay long for dinner as Mary left early to go and meet someone. On their way to the library, Riley found that that someone was Remus Lupin! She had to admit, she was upset Remus didn't tell her but she hadn't seen him in ages and if he liked Mary, then she was happy for him no matter how annoying Riley found Mary. Apparently they were going to watch the Quidditch practice and get to know each other better. All Riley could do was nod, she found it strange but everyone obviously had their own different ways of a first date perhaps.

"I think we've got enough books," Lily said. "We should get started."

"You don't plan on doing all the questions, do you?" Riley asked looking at the amount of books Lily was holding.

"Well…"

"No, Lily. We're doing this the recommended way. You are not doing 14 questions in one night. We've to write paragraphs for answers! You are on the wind down from now on." Riley told her and took some books off her. "I'm making you a study plan later."

Lily whined and sat down at the table while Riley put the books away. Lily looked around impatiently waiting for James and Sirius and then looked at the clock which read quarter to eight. They should be leaving the pitch and would be there for eight. Lily rehearsed how the plan would go one more time in her head and then smiled as Riley sat down.

"Everything alright?" Riley asked skeptically.

"Yep! So, how's things with Brandon?"

"Erm, fine, I guess," Riley said. "I've not saw him much lately. He's been getting a lot of homework recently."

"Oh, I see." Lily stated.

x

"Are you only doing this Arithmancy thing to impress Evans?"

Sirius and James were walking up towards the castle after Quidditch practice.

"Arithmancy? What are you on abo-oh! No, I'm not, Padfoot. I want to learn Arithmacy."

Sirius gave James a strange look but kept silent anyway. The rest of the walk to the library was in silence and when they entered, the two boys stopped and looked around as if lost. James spotted Evans in her usual spot with Riley, whose back was facing them.

"Let's go ask Evans where I can find the books I need."

"I'll just stay here," Sirius said, eyeing the table.

"Oh don't be a wuss, Padfoot. You don't need to acknowledge Riley in the slightest," James said and started to make his way. "It's not like she doesn't feel the same."

Lily looked up as the two boys made their way to the table and took a deep breath.

"Lily, my dear, I require your assistance," James said when they were in reach of the table.

"No, Potter."

"Please?" James said and bent down to Lily's height, putting on puppy dog eyes.

"Fine," Lily scoffed. "What is it?"

"I need Arithmancy books. I wish to learn it."

"I'm not even going to ask," Lily said and stood up. "They're over here."

"Prongs-" Sirius started but James and Lily were already gone.

Riley didn't bother looking up, she just kept on writing, the awkwardness becoming more obvious between the two. Sirius sighed and decided to sit down in Lily's empty seat, expecting Riley to acknowledge him-she didn't. He watched as she scribbled words down on the parchment as if they were going to run away if she didn't write them out quick enough. Her hair was pushed over her shoulder so her messy curls all lay on the desk. That was his favourite physical feature of her he noticed, her hair.

"POTTER, YOU ARE UNBELIEVABLE!"

Sirius and Riley both looked up at the same time and saw Lily's red hair fleeing from the Library with James following behind. For a brief moment, Sirius and Riley caught each others eyes before the two of them were chasing after Lily and James. Riley was leading the way down several corridors and saw James' quidditch robes run into a abandoned classroom, the door shutting behind him. When Riley opened the door, she ran into the classroom to find it empty. Sirius ran in behind her.

"Where are they?" Sirius asked.

"I don't know!" Riley said. "I saw James' robes run in here and-"

Behind them, the door slammed shut. Sirius went over to the door and tried to pull it open.

"It's locked."

"No shit, Sherlock," Riley muttered and went to get her wand from her pocket. She gasped when she felt there was nothing there. "I left my wand in the library!"

"I didn't take mine to practice," Sirius added.

"Great."

Riley went and sat on the window sill and Sirius sat by the door, neither of them attempting to start a conversation with each other. For a split second, Riley tore her gaze away from the window and met Sirius' eye. The two of them looked away abruptly with the same thought.

I won't be the first one to cave.

Hello! Remember me haha? I do apologise for this so badly! I had pre-lims and I have big important exams but recently I've had the urge to write so badly that I had to finish this chapter! I hope you don't hate me :3

I promise to start updating ASAP!

Abbey x