AN:/SORRY FOR THE WAIT!D: I've got exams in the next couple of weeks so I'm afraid the updates won't be as often for a while :'(

Lily linked arms with Hestia and Marlene as they walked along the corridors towards the library. Alice had left them in the common room, preferring to stay with Frank. She found herself unable to wipe the grin off of her face. Yes, it was tragically immature and clichéd, but she couldn't think of a time where she'd been happier than this.
It was like seeing him in a new light. In previous years James had been the bane of her life; a constant nagging annoyance that would just not go away. But now she had seen the real side to him. He was different and the same in all of the right ways.
He was James.

She could sense Marlene and Hestia staring at her, but Lily stared resolutely ahead.
Marlene pinched her arm slightly and Lily jumped, meeting the eyes of her friend.
"Tell us what happened!" Begged Marlene. "When you left us you were furious at him and then when we found you two you were all cuddly and acting like a couple!"
Lily grinned. She had to admit that if she were Marlene or Hestia, she'd be pretty confused too.
"I don't know, I was annoyed at him for not admitting that he had kissed me again, but we talked about it and I understand his reasons. It's fine."
Marlene rolled her eyes.
"You two are so dramatic." Hestia scoffed.
Lily stuck her tongue out and walked on ahead of them.
"So tell us Lil's," Said Marlene, and Lily could tell she was smirking. "Is he a good kisser?"

Lily laughed.
She turned slowly and grinned. "The best."
Marlene and Hestia jumped forwards and hugged her. They were busy squealing into her ears, and Lily snorted at how unlike her the whole thing was.

James sighed and turned the door to their room. He saw Remus, standing next to his bed looking like he was about to fall over.
"Remus!" Sirius shouted, rushing over to support the sick boy. "What the hell are you doing up?"
Remus allowed Sirius to usher him back to bed and pull the covers over him. All the while, James was standing still, his heart rate beating.
Why had Remus been out of bed?
Surely he hadn't been eavesdropping…but Lily and him had been right outside the door, and Lily was shouting at first. He must have heard. James stared at his friend, trying to gauge his expression. But Remus was staring hard at the ceiling, his eyes sticking out against his pale face.
Sirius sat down on his own bed and Peter joined him. Which left James to stand over Remus, he clenched the corners of his t-shirt with his hands.
"Moony?" He said quietly. Remus looked over and James saw the look in his eyes. Oh, he knew.
"Moony, don't feel bad, it's not your-"
"Not my fault?" Remus said with a surprising fierceness. "I think it is, James! She was put into the hospital wing because of me!"
James was aware of Sirius and Peter's confused looks. They didn't know a thing.
"Do you know how that makes me feel?" Remus continued. He paused, a hacking cough escaping his lungs. James breathed out. He ran a hand through his hair. "She did it because you mean a lot to her, Remus. Lily couldn't let Amos hurt you."
"So he hurt her instead!" Shouted Remus.
"She didn't know-"
But Remus wouldn't let him speak. "Do you know how embarrassed I am? Amos Diggory knows my secret! And I was letting Lily do all kinds of terrible things, without even knowing-"
"Exactly!" Said James. "You didn't know; you couldn't of known! Amos won't tell anyone mate, I promise."

"Someone care to inform me about what you arse's are arguing over?"
Sirius said. James glared over at him.
"It'll take too long to explain, it's finished now anyway."
"Finished?" Shouted Remus, his voice cracking. He winced, obviously in pain. "This has only just begun! If you think Diggory will just forget about this, you're insane!"
"Mate come on, Lily said-"
Remus raised a shaking hand. "Oh whatever James," He closed his eyes for a moment. "Why don't you just go find Lily, you clearly don't understand anything!" His sentence ended in a sort of deep growl, which shocked James. Remus was always so calm, never raising his voice. But James saw the fierceness locked in his eyes, and knew that his emotions were always exaggerated before a transformation.
"Fine." He said quietly. "I'll be back before you have to leave." With that James left the dorm, not having a clue where to go.

Lily, Marlene and Hestia settled down in the back of the library, where it was warmest. Even whilst finishing some transfiguration homework, Lily could not stop smiling. Eventually Marlene dropped her quill, giving her an annoyed look.
"What?" Lily laughed.
"You are being infuriating."
"Well sorry for smiling."
"Smile somewhere else. I've got an entire potions essay to do and my head is sore from the firewhiskey earlier, so leave."
"Merlin," Said Lily, standing up.
Marlene picked up her quill again. "Oh don't look at me like that, we all know I've just given you an excuse to see James and snog the face off him."
Lily rolled her eyes and slapped Marlene lightly on the shoulder.
"That's disgusting." She said, turning away.
"It's so true though." Hestia said.
Lily blushed and walked on out of the library.

Lily had no idea where to go or what to do. It was still freezing outside, and she had no coat with her. The common room would be deserted and all of her friends were busy. Lily was just thinking of visiting the Owlery when she noticed someone bustling around the corner of the hall. She winced, trying to turn around and pretend she hadn't seen him but it was too late.

"Lily dear!" Professor Slughorn boomed. Lily turned around and smiled at the robust teacher.
"Hello professor." She said, trying not to sound dreary.
"My, my, I haven't seen you at one of my get togethers for quite some time!"
"Oh, yes well I've been rather busy actually-"
"Ah no matter!" The red faced man said, grabbing a hold of Lily's arm. "I was actually thinking of hosting a little party on Tuesday night! Invitation only of course, but I'd be overjoyed if you would come? "
Before Lily could even think of possible ways to turn him down politely, Slughorn had nodded his head briskly and chuckled.
"I'll see you there then!" He grinned widely, and she shrugged his grip on her off.
"…I, uh…yeah, sure Professor." She sighed quietly. "I'll be there."
"8 o'clock my dear!" Slughorn shook her shoulders slightly before toddling off in the other direction.

Lily briskly turned around in the opposite direction and was about to round the corner when she heard loud footsteps returning to her side.
"Lily, I forgot to say," Slughorn panted, out of breath.
"I've got a couple of first years who are really having trouble with potions. I was wondering if you could perhaps give them a little helping hand?" He lent in closer and Lily could smell the fruity scent coming off his breath; crystallized pineapple, as always.
"You really are marvellous at the subject and I reckon they'd listen to you more." Lily almost groaned, but she couldn't be rude to the man. She'd have to let him down lightly…
"Well, sir…ah, why don't you get Severus to do it?"
Slughorn shook his head.
"Oh I have my dear, but he seemed unwilling to help at all. Said he was busy enough with his own studying."

Lily turned her head around and rolled her eyes. And she didn't have better things to do? Than teach whiny first years how to brew a potion properly?
"He could perhaps be persuaded if you were going to do it with him, I could-"
"No!" She shouted. "I, uh…I mean…fine. I'll do it."
Slughorn beamed.
"Brilliant! So shall we go?"
Lily raised an eyebrow. "Go where?"
"To the potions room! I can get a few first years together in no time. That is of course, you aren't doing anything?"
Lily sighed.
"Nope, that's fine."
She half-heartedly followed Slughorn's footsteps to the bottom of the school.

When they got there though, things went steeply downhill in no time.
"Oho! Severus!" Professor Slughorn shouted as they approached his classroom door. "Changed your mind then? I hoped you would!"
But Severus wasn't exactly listening very intently to the man. He was unabashedly staring at her. Lily glared at him and walked swiftly past into the classroom. She swore under her breath. Why the hell had she agreed to this; hours in the dungeons with Snivellus? And for how bloody long?

Lily kept her back to the door as she heard it being shut. Severus cleared his throat uncomfortably and she turned around.
"What?" She hissed.
"Nothing!" He said, his voice going up an octave.
"Where's Slughorn gone?" Said Lily, not liking the fact that she was alone down here with possibly the creepiest boy at Hogwarts.
"He's sending word to the first years who need tutoring." Lily rolled her eyes and turned her back on him again, but then felt paranoid at him staring at her, so she settled for sitting on a desk.
Severus sat down at the one beside hers.

"How are you?" He said. Lily groaned. What had she done to deserve this?
"Fine." She said quickly.
"How are your friends?"
Lily looked over at him. "You are so weird. They are also fine."
Normally, she would try to be civil to Snape, but right now, with thoughts of what she could be doing instead of this, Lily really couldn't be bothered to tolerate him.
"And Potter? How is he?" Lily glared at him, saw the snide smile he wasn't even trying to hide, and her anger rose.
"What do you think?" She said coldly.
"I don't know." He grinned, highlighting the lines under his eyes.
"You're an arsehole." She said, standing up. "I can't believe I was ever friends with you."
His smile faltered, but Snape was good at hiding any worries. Though Lily knew him well enough to notice.
"What?" She said sharply. "Don't like me saying that?"
Severus looked down.
"I hate you." She said with false cheerfulness.

There was a silence. Then Snape stood suddenly.
"Are you…dating him?" He said.
Lily smirked. "If I was, I wouldn't tell you."
Severus looked crushed. "You are…oh Merlin I can't believe this."
Lily raised her eyebrow.
"What's your problem?"
"Lily, this time last year you hated him! Not me!"
"Well clearly, things change!"
"And I thought you had standards."
"Excuse me!" Shouted Lily. "I have standards enough to know that I wouldn't touch you with a 10 foot pole!"
Severus stepped back, as if wounded. But Lily wasn't finished.
"Honestly! Do you ever wash? Everyone can smell you coming from miles away!"

Severus, to her annoyance, smirked.
"You sound like him, like Potter."
"Good." She said defensively. Before he could reply, the door burst open. Slughorn appeared with five anxious looking students.
"Everything alright? Shall we get started?"
The first years took their seats and Slughorn disappeared into his supply room.
Lily jumped when she heard a whisper, close to her ear.
"It won't last, you know." Severus backed away from her, and entered the supply room after Slughorn.
She was beyond furious. Unable to help herself, Lily raised her middle finger at his back. The first years giggled.