(Same disclaimer as other chapters)

Author's note: I wrote this chapter pretty quickly (don't have much time to write now) so this chapter might be really stupid lol. Please tell me if it is so I can change it! Thanks!

The World isn't Perfect--Ch. 6

"Why Severus, isn't this a pleasant surprise?!" came the high voice that became increasingly annoying every time Lily heard it.

"Jess...Jessica," Severus stammered in his usual way when he talked to Jessica.

Tara rolled her eyes in disgust. Jessica had been "accidentally" running into Severus while he was with Tara and Lily at least twice a day. Each time she sounded more surprised to see them than the last.

"Yes, Sevy," Jessica continued with a pout, "It is too bad we can't meet more often..."

Lily tuned out the rest of the conversation. What kind of stupid nickname was "Sevy" anyway?

When Jessica finally left, Severus turned to Lily and Tara looking dazed.

"She's beautiful, isn't she?" he said in a dreamy voice.

Lily rolled her eyes and said, exasperated, "If we don't hurry, I'll miss the train home!"

She was the only one of her friends that was going home for Christmas, which she was very put out about. So much would happen while she was gone.

They finally reached the train and Severus helped her with her bags. Lily gave them both a hug and got on the train.

She had already said her goodbyes to her Gryffindor friends and they hadn't argued when she said she didn't want them to come see her off. She felt slightly offended at this, but they told her it was because they were working on some secret project that they wouldn't tell her about and that Lily didn't really want to know about.

The train moved forward and she waved out the window at her friends. At least they had all promised to write so she wouldn't be too lonely.

***

It had only been a few days when she received her first owl from Tara. It sounded urgent.

Lil-

Disaster has struck! Jessica must be moving into phase two of her plan or something because she is hanging around with Severus constantly. I don't know what to do. She's always there practically hanging on his arm.

Also, another strange thing is happening. James and co. spend most of their time locked away working on some "project" and I heard Peter mention making signs. I wish you were here to help me Lil-write back soon!

Tara

The next came a few days later.

Lil-

Thanks for writing back even though you couldn't really help me. Jessica now is kissing both of Sev's cheeks like the french do in greeting. She's really getting on my nerves. Especially since James looks jealous every time Jessica talks to Severus.

By the way, his project is some kind of campagn against something I think...WB!

Tara

P.S. What d'you want for Christmas?

These were the only letters Lily got before Christmas, and they sent her into a bit of a panic. She also became mad at Severus and the Gryffindors for not sending her any owls, especially when she knew the stupid reasons why. The Gryfs were too busy with their stupid project and Severus was too busy with stupid stupid stupid Jessica.

Her anger subsided a little, however, when she got her presents on Christmas morning.

The present from Tara was a set of magical hair clips that put your hair up in ways that would never work with an ordinary hair clip. The Gryffindors sent her a box of goodies, again. How orignial, she thought. This time, however, there was something else included in the box. It was a note that said, "Good for information on one of our secret plans." She rolled her eyes at how much good one of those would do. They always had some kind of secret plan going.

Her last present was from Severus. She opened it up and was surprised to find a star locket inside. It had an attatched note:

Lily,

I had no idea on what to get you and Tara for Christmas, but luckily, Jessica helped me. She started always giving me hints on what "girls like for Christmas," and this was one of them. Tara has a matching necklace, and if you open it up, you can magically send messages to each other. Cool huh? I got some pins that work like that for Lucius and me. It was hard to think of what to get Jessica, though, since she always gave hints on what girls like, not her specifically. I just ended up getting her a couple chocolate frogs.

Well anyway, c-ya!

Severus

Lily almost died laughing after reading his letter. Jessica would be so mad and jealous! For once she was glad that guys were usually completely clueless.

***

After about a day of being back in school, Lily saw that things were even worse than she had imagined. They heard Jessica whine, "Sevy" about twenty times a day. It got to the point where Lily wanted to shoot her. But, she didn't dare do anything because Lily believed Jessica's threat, and who would believe her over Jessica?

Lily started spending more and more time in the Slytherin common room, and encouraged Severus to do the same. Sometimes, Tara even snuck Lily into the Ravenclaw common room even though Lily was sure they were breaking about a million rules. It helped them get away from her because Jessica was almost never in her own common room anymore. She spent her time roaming the halls looking for Severus.

Time passed slowly, but it did pass. Soon it was time for the last Quidditch game of the season. It would determine who would win the Quidditch cup. It was between Slytherin and Gryffindor. It was now that Lily finally saw what James and co.'s plan was all about.

***

"Stop the cheating, disqualify Severus Snape..." Tara read from a sign on the wall, sounding confused, "He's willing to hurt his own best friend to get on the team, and once he was on the real deception began. Sign this petition to get evil Snape off the team."

Lily just stared at the sign after Tara had read it. "So this is what they've been working on..." she muttered.

"What?" Tara asked. "Yes...you're right! It must have been them! I thought they had given up on that stupid accusation..."

"Its not stupid..." they were interrupted by Peter who had just walked up behind them. "Snape is evil! Death to cheaters and betrayers! Death to Slytherin! DIE DIE..."

"That's enough, Peter," James said, following him. 'I think she gets the point."

Rolling her eyes, Lily turned around to face James. "James Potter, you refuse to see sense. You pretend to be my friend, then turn around and do something to make my life miserable. If you do not take down this sign and others like it, I will...never speak to you again." She lifted her chin in a haughty manner and waited for a reply.

"Lily..." James said, pleadingly, "don't be like that. Its what we think is right. You must see that. We've been working on this plan for a long time and...well we can't just stop it now. Besides...Snape is evil. He's corrupted Jessica, and now he might try to turn you...we've got to stop this Lil..."

"HA!" she said outraged. "Now I know you're a fool. If anything, Jessica's corrupting him. James...you can't do this! This isn't right...it wasn't him! It was...it was..."

"Hello, Lily and Tara...and of course...boys..." Jessica said coming up to them.

"Goodbye, Jessica," Lily replied in a cold, tense voice.

"Well...I've never been so insulted in my life!" Jessica said sounding hurt,

Tara smiled slightly and said, "Get used to it."

Jessica's eyes widened threateningly, but she looked at James and changed her mind. Instead she just turned around slowly and glided off.

"Wow, that was a little uncalled for," James said sounding shocked.

"It was not...fine...I'll tell you James because I can't let this go any further. Jessica jinxed the broom. She told me herself. It was all her! She's evil! She's..."

James looked shocked. "Lily, Severus must be more of a monster than we guessed! He's put a memory spell on you! He's pinned it all on Jessica...why...that lil..."

"Its not a memory spell! I know what happened! Tara heard her too!"

He patted her shoulder looking sympathetic. "Its all right Lily, this is not your fault, its Severus'..."

Lily screamed with rage and stopped only briefly to rip the sign off the wall before stalking off to the Slytherin common room.

***

For the few days left before the game, Severus was not fit to live with. Lily had tried to rip off all the signs, but new ones just kept appearing.

"James is a pig who deserves to die!" he said about fifty times a day.

"Its what he believes happened, Severus..." she said slowly.

That never helped.

Once he got so mad, he stormed out of the room with Lucius on his heels, and the whole thing resulted in detention for both of them and the four Gryffindors. Lily didn't ask what happened.

***

When the Quidditch game finally arrived, Lily didn't know who to cheer for since she was pretty mad at people on both teams. She finally decided to go for her own house, however, and Tara joined her.

The game started as most Slytherin games did. Slytherin scored first, and Severus wasn't letting any Quaffles get through.

Lily watched the game only half heartedly. Her life was such a wreck. The only friend she felt she could count on now was Tara. She looked down at her feet for a while, and when she looked up again, the score was 150-0 Slytherin.

Lily's eyes went wide, though, because all three of the Gryffindor chasers had been allowed to get through and were each standing opposite a goal post passing the Quaffle back and forth as Severus whizzed back and forth as fast as he could. It wasn't fast enough, however, because Sirius got the Quaffle through.

Just then, Lily saw James on his broom grabbing at the golden snitch and then holding it up in the air in triumph. The Gryffindors had won.

"Despite Severus Snape's efforts, Slytherin wasn't good enough to defeat the wonderful team of Gryffindor. James Potter surely must be the best Quidditch player of all time..." the announcer said.

"I guess right always triumphs in the end," Peter said from behind her. He had a black eye and a swollen lip, but Lily thought that wasn't enough pain to make up for that comment.

***

Lily and Tara spent the next few weeks trying to convince Severus that it wasn't his fault that they had lost, and trying to keep the two groups away from each other. They were luckily pretty successful at the second one. What they weren't very successful at, though, was finding time to study for their tests.

Last day cramming was all the two girls found time to do. When Lily walked into her first test, Potions, she was terrified. She still managed to survive them, though, since she had worked hard the whole year except for the end.

She was still very surprised, however, when she found her name at the top of the scores list. Jessica apparently hadn't had time to study, or bribe her teachers as the case may be, and she finished at number 25. Tara was 11th and very proud of herself.

Severus was number one, again, which surprised everyone but himself. He hadn't even opened a book after losing the Quidditch game and had spent his time glowering at everyone. Lily had been sure he wouldn't do well, and of course she was wrong.

This helped cheer him up a lot, since he had beat James, and soon he was back to his usual self. Lily sighed. And guys said girls were moody.

***

The end of year feast was not anywhere as fun as usual if you were a Slytherin. Gryffindor won both cups. Lily was relatively happy though. She had a whole Jessica-free summer to look forward to. Maybe she'll get sick and die over the summer... Lily thought hopefully.

"Lily, what are you daydreaming about?" Severus asked a little impatiently. "Weren't you listening to our strategic plans on how to beat Gryffindor next year in both cups?"

"Uh...sorry Severus," she said.

"Its ok, you wouldn't understand it anyway. Girls can't play Quidditch," Lucius said from the other side of Severus.

"Yes they can!" she said hotly.

"Well..." he replied in a confident manner, "we don't have any girls on our team."

"I'd try out next year just to prove you wrong..." she said slowly, "but I can't because the only position open is Beater. I'll try out as soon as there's an opening for Seeker. I think I'd do best at that."

Lucius burst out laughing and looked at Severus waiting for him to laugh with him.

"Uh..." Severus said slowly, 'I wouldn't laugh if I were you, Luc, Lily usually can do anything she puts her mind to."

Lucius looked shocked. Lily shot a triumphant look at Lucius and started up a conversation with Severus about when the Seeker position would be open. They discovered it wouldn't be open for quite some time, which Lily was grateful for. This would give her some time to practice and buy a broom.

***

Lily and Tara sat on the Hogwarts Express discussing the last year and all the things that had happened. Lily came up with one conclusion.

"Its been awful!" she said in agony.

"Yea..." Tara said sadly, "Next year will be better, though, Lily. At least we won't have to worry about Quidditch tryouts." She sighed slightly, "I never thought Severus would be happy again after he didn't make the team."

"Well...he seemed happy enough today. Jessica promised to sit next to him on the train and visit him during the summer. We need to find a way to put a stop to this," Lily said thinking.

Tara sighed again and said with determination, "We can worry about that later. I'm not going to think about Jessica all summer. Maybe the problem of Jessica will be over by the time school starts again."

Lily nodded even though she didn't think that was very likely.