Lily was leaning against Pat's arm, sobbing.

"I can't believe he called me that. We're best friends! That was never supposed to happen. He always promised that I would fit in, that there wouldn't be any trouble, that nobody would ever call me that. And then he went back on his own word! He called me the word that nobody else has ever done here! Why him? Why did he do this to me? I-I-" she broke off sobbing.

She doubled over in her chair, holding onto her own sides, sobbing. Fat tears rolled down her cheeks as she gasped for air. Pat frowned hard and patted her friends back, sniffing every now and then. Mary stood near them listening to the whispered explanation from Mable. The Marauders were sitting over in the corner. James watched Lily cry with tears in his own eyes from her pain. Sirius wouldn't look at her as he sat twitching in his seat. Remus watched with a glassy expression and Peter lay snoring on the floor.

"I can't believe I messed up," James whispered as Lily let out a moan.

"I can. You shouldn't have even bothered to mess with him," Remus said, "This is what you get."

"Shut up, Moony. You're not helping," Sirius snapped.

Remus shrugged and Sirius glared at him. James moaned and buried his face in his arms.

"Its alright mate," Sirius said bracingly, "Loads of girls want you. Don't waste your time on her anymore."

"I don't want any of them. I want her." James's muffled voice reached their ears.

Lily let out a fresh sob as Mary offered her sympathies.

"Don't talk to her about it!" Pat yelled over Lily's fresh sobs.

"I-I don't want to hear his name! He-he isn't who I thought he was! I-I don't want any-anything to do with hi-him no matter wh-what." Lily sobbed loudly. James looked up at her, eyes bright.

"Did she just--?"

"Don't you make any moves on her, James." Remus said warningly.

"When's her birthday?" Sirius randomly asked.

"Tomorrow…" James trailed off with a grin.

Lily sobbed loudly again and Pat gave the girl a hug.

"Come on, Lils. Tomorrow's your birthday…you don't need to be thinking about him right now. He's not worth your time. Brace yourself, darling." Pat told her.

"We were supposed to hang out tomorrow," Lily was crying so hard only Pat could understand her.

"Oh, Lily. He doesn't matter. You can have a much better time without him!" Pat told her.

"I don't want my birthday without him. Before I met any of you Se-Severus was my best fri-friend. He told me every-everything! There weren't any secrets and it was the be-best friendship there ever was. I don't want to do anything without hi-him." Lily wailed.

Pat looked helplessly over into the corner. Sirius shook his head violently, Remus shuddered, James hid his face, and Peter continued his snoring. James shot the boy a dirty look but did nothing to wake him. Lily moved her crying to the dormitory when she finally realized that James was in the same room as her. She shot him the meanest look she could manage through puffy eyes then went crying up the staircase.

"Do you see what you did to her?" Pat's yelling went on for more then an hour. It was around ten thirty now and the boys were yawning and feeling more guilty by the second.

"Yes," James moaned, "We see. I shouldn't have done it. If it weren't for me they would still be friends. I get it Pat. Okay? I get it. Sirius gets it. Remus and Peter didn't do anything, but they get it. Just let us go to sleep okay? We feel horrible. I'm going to make it up to her tomorrow. Just be sure she's in the three broomsticks tomorrow at noon."

Pat gave him a dirty look,

"Why should I do anything for you? Its her birthday, her best friend betrayed her, and I don't even think I can get her down to Hogsmede."

"Just try, okay?" James pleaded.

"Fine," Pat sighed, "But I hope she slaps you."

Pat turned on her heel and marched up the staircase.

"I'd deserve it." James muttered.

They stood up and moved towards the boys dorms. Remus and Sirius had pulled Peter up the staircase and James was just about to go after them when a voice called,

"Potter! Where's Lily?"

He turned to see Mary running over to him.

"She's up in the dorm with Pat and all the others. Probably still crying her eyes out," he flinched.

"Okay. Thanks. You better get lost. She'll be coming down here in a moment." Mary said.

"Got it,"

She ran up the staircase and James went and hid behind one of the armchairs near the fire. A few moments later Lily appeared in her dressing gown. James watched as she shoved the portrait hole open.

"I'm sorry," were the first words out of Severus's mouth when Lily appeared.

"I'm not interested,"

"I'm sorry!"

"Save your breath. The only reason I'm out here is because Mary told me you were threatening to sleep out here." Lily said coldly.

"I was. I would have done. I never meant to call you a Mudblood. It just--"

"Slipped out? It's too late. I've made excuses for you for years. None of my friends can understand why I even talk to you. You and your precious little Death Eater friends-- you see? You don't even deny it! You don't even deny that's what you're all aiming to be! You can't wait to join You-Know-Who can you? You lied to me, Severus. You lied to me about not becoming one of them and that's the worst thing you ever could have done to me. You can call me names and all of that, but the fact you lied to me about being a good person is the worse." there wasn't a trace of pity in her voice. He opened his mouth to speak but she went on, "I can't pretend anymore, Sev. You've chosen your way, I've chosen mine."

"No- listen! Please, Lily. I didn't mean--"

"--to call me Mudblood? But you call everyone of my birth Mudblood, Severus. Why should I be any different? I'm not and we both know it," Lily replied with tears in her emerald eyes.

Severus was on the verge of speech but Lily let out a sob, gave him a contemptuous look, and ran back into the portrait hole. When it closed behind her she stumbled over to the armchair next to the fire, collapsed in it, and sobbed. James was hesitating behind her and he finally stood up. Lily had her head in her arms and didn't see him. He approached slowly and soundlessly.

"Evans?"

Lily's head snapped up. She glared at him through the tears streaming out of her eyes.

"Get away from me!" she sobbed, standing up, "This is all your fault!"

"I--"

Lily reached out and slapped his face. She turned on her heel and ran away from him sobbing harder then ever. James rubbed his cheek and watched soundlessly as her red hair whipped out of sight and the sound of her sobs went soundless.