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CHAPTER 12: Silence

As the week wore on Lily began feeling overwhelmed. She had more essays to write than ever before, plus the work she had to make from the week she'd been gone, and her friends were excited about the Hogsmeade visit coming up, and the Quidditch season was starting so she wanted to be caught up so she could go to the games and village, but then she was also finding it hard to talk to James since she'd returned. So far they'd said barely five words to each other.

"Hi."

"Hi."

"You're back."

"Yep." The end. Lily waited for him to say something more, but he never did. Even in Defense Against the Dark Arts they never uttered more than a 'hi'. Lily didn't know if she had scared James off, or if he was mad at her. Maybe if she'd sent him a letter while he was away or something they'd be talking. The kind of talking where actual sentences are exchanged between two people for more than a minute.

After another silent period in Defense Against the Dark Arts Lily sat with Ivy in the Library. She was just finishing up with all the make up work. Then she could take on the pile of work due in the next few days.

Ivy finished her essay for Charms first, the only thing she had to do that night.

"Did you guys talk today?" she asked Lily. Ivy had come to accept the fact that Lily had a crush on James, but only talked about it in hushed tones while Jamie was far away.

"No." Lily answered checking her potions book to make sure she was getting it right.

"At all?"

"He didn't even say hi." Lily whispered as Madam Pince put books away a row over.

"This isn't looking so good." Ivy said.

"I know."

"What are you going to do about it?"

"Maybe I'll just go back to hating him." Lily suggested sadly. "I mean it was far easier than liking him."

"But you can't give up. Maybe ask him to Hogsmeade. Or to Slughorn's party, he's having one for Halloween isn't he? And you see him when you do your Head duties. Talk to him then."

"I can't."

"Yes you can." Ivy disagreed.

"But what if I say something stupid? Or there are awkward silences?" Lily asked.

"Yes, because the last week hasn't been filled with awkward silences. Besides he likes you. And I it's impossible to look like a fool around a boy like James anyway."

"I have to work." Lily said ignoring Ivy.

"What ever. I'm done so I'll leave you to study. But at least consider asking him out."

"Good bye Ivy."

"Alright, alright." Ivy gathered up her things leaving Lily. After writing a few sentences Lily looked up to see Ivy talking to Sirius. Just the fact that Sirius was in the Library was surprising, but he was talking to Ivy too.

Ivy was shaking her head saying something that Lily couldn't hear or make out. Sirius rolled his eyes saying what looked like, 'no,' and something else. Ivy said something then Sirius nodded. Ivy waved before they each went their different ways.

Lily finished two essays after that before deciding to go back to the common room. It was late and she had missed dinner. It was only Wednesday. Lily looked at her watch. She had two minutes before curfew so she had to hurry.

When she walked in the common room her friends stopped talking abruptly. This wasn't nearly as weird as the fact that Ivy, Jamie and Mary were talking to Sirius, Remus and Peter.

"Hey." Lily said.

"Hey." They all echoed.

"What's going on?"

"Nothing." Ivy said.

"What were you talking about?" Lily asked slowly going further into the room.

"Oh, um." Jamie looked at everyone else.

"We were just talking about Halloween." Remus finished.

"Yeah, that's it." Mary agreed as Sirius leaned back in the sofa.

"Yeah, can you believe it's so soon?" Ivy asked.

"It's not that soon." Lily said.

"It's in three weeks. Just after end of term. And then right before Thanksgiving there's a Hogsmeade visit." Jamie told her.

"Really?" Lily asked. Everyone nodded. "Okay. Well I think I'm going to go to bed…"

"Good night!" they said quickly. Lily went up to the girl's dorm and went to bed. She thought it was odd that the two groups were talking to each other. Especially since they stopped as soon as Lily walked in, clearly signaling that they had been talking about her. Or maybe Lily was just being paranoid.

But then Lily walked into three more of those moments after that before Halloween. Something was clearly up. But Lily was finally caught up with her school work so wasn't letting it get to her. The feast was that night and the Great Hall was decorated with Jack-O-Lanterns and Slughorn was having a party.

"Lily!" Jamie called to her. "Sit down!" she patted the spot between her and James.

"Um, okay." Lily agreed hesitantly. She sat down.

"So did you find anyone to go to Slughorn's party with?" Jamie asked loudly.

"You know I haven't." Lily hissed trying to somehow communicate to Jamie to keep her voice down.

"Why not?" Jamie asked just as loud. James, Lily realized, was looking over at them curiously. "It's tonight! You have to go with someone!" Jamie seemed to pause as if waiting for something to happen. James looked away as Jamie looked at him. Lily frowned.

"Er, James!" Jamie said causing Lily's stomach to drop. "You'd go with Lily to Slughorn's party right?" Lily shook her head frantically, but Jamie didn't stop.

"Um, you don't have to." Lily said looking at James, "Really its okay. I-I-I…"

"Nonsense! James you'd love to right?" Jamie cut in, but James didn't look so sure.

"Er," he said.

"Oh, go on Prongs!" Sirius encouraged.

"Sure." James agreed.

"See! Now you don't have to go alone!" Jamie said smiling, then quickly turning her head to the other girls. Lily could have sworn she could see Jamie give one small nod. After eating James turned to Lily just before she left.

"When's the party?"

"Now I guess."

"Are you ready to go?"

Lily nodded. They left together arriving at Slughorn's office.

"Lily!" he cheered. "I see you brought James!"

"I did."

"Great! Come in come in!" he moved out of the way to let them pass. "There is food and plenty of people to talk to!" At that moment a wizard came up to him holding a cup. The man was smart looking with glasses and a quill stuck in his hat. He wore a suit, but wore it casually with the jacket unbuttoned and no tie.

"Oh Marcus my good man, have you met Lily?" Slughorn boomed.

"I can't say I have." Marcus said to the professor before turning to Lily and extending his hand "Hello Lily."

"Hello Marcus." Lily replied shaking his hand.

"Please call me Marc." Marcus smiled.

"Marcus here writes for the Daily Prophet." Slughorn informed her.

"Really?" Lily asked as Slughorn saw someone he just had to talk to.

"Yes, I usually write for more of the 'sport's section' if you will."

"Really?" James asked this time. Marc nodded. "James Potter." James said extending his hand. Marc shook his hand smiling.

"Are you a Quidditch player than James?"

"Yes I am."

"What do you play?" Marc asked.

"Chaser. And I'm currently the Gryffindor captain." James told him proudly.

"Really? I was Keeper and a Gryffindor as well. I do miss the good old days. How's the team this year?"

"Brilliant. It's only the beginning of the season but I have full confidence that we'll win the cup again this year."

"So then tell me, are you going to be taking it to a professional level then?" Marc asked taking a sip of his drink.

"It's mostly a dream. I really want to be an auror like my dad."

"I believe Slughorn's got an auror here tonight." Marc informed him. "I know Daniel from the Sweetwater All-Stars is here."

"Is he really? I hear the Falmouth Falcons wanted him."

"They did, but he wanted to stay loyal." Marc said.

"Sweetwater All-Stars is a U.S. team, they aren't well known in this area." James explained to Lily.

"But they're not a bad team." Marc added.

"No they're not. How does Slughorn know him?" James asked.

"Daniel came here. His parents lived in England when he was a boy. But he was born in the States and lived there a good nine years, so he was always a fan of his home's team."

"Wow." James said.

"Yes. I'm sorry, could you excuse me. I think my wife is looking for me."

"Oh sure, it was good meeting you Marc." James said.

"Same here. And hey, I hope I hear some good things about you."

"Alright," James agreed smiling. "Can you believe Slughorn knows a big Quidditch player?" He asked Lily.

"Nope. But then he knows a lot of famous people."

"Does he really?"

"Yeah. He's introduced me to a bunch of people: people who write for the daily prophet, aurors, Quidditch stars and people in the Ministry." Lily replied.

"I don't know I can't imagine what it would be like teaching those people and then they become big names and successful."

"It would be pretty amazing." Lily agreed. The rest of the night went by quickly for Lily. She chatted with a lot of Slughorn's old students and in between she had full sentence exchanges with James.

But when Monday rolled around and with it Defense Against the Dark Arts there was silence between them. Maybe it was even more awkward than before. It felt like they were each struggling for something to say, but unable to come up with anything other than 'hi'.

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