Be Here Now

Disclaimer: Since last time I updated, I have… NOT owned Harry Potter unfortunately.

A/N: Hey everyone! Happy Monday! If you could call it happy. Anyway, I've started a new fanfic (but I will not be abandoning this one!) that is Draco/Hermione. It's called Fate, but I might change the title later on. I'd be grateful if you checked that one out and told me what you think, if you like that pairing, that is. And my only reviewer…

Eclare LJ and Percabeeth: Thank you! And who says they haven't? ;) It's a good thing your screen is still intact, otherwise I would have felt very guilty. Enjoy this chapter!

Oh, and for my very first chapter dedication… This chapter is dedicated to Eclare LJ and Percabeeth. Thank you for being a constant reviewer! And… CHAPTER NINE!

x.o.x.o.x.

The Head Boy and Girl relax visibly.

"With all due respect, Professor, please don't scare us that way. We are in the middle of a war," points out Lily.

Dumbledore inclines his head. "No disrespect implied, Miss Evans. I quite agree. That didn't sound that good."

"Now can we hear the news?" James butts in.

Lily glares at him. "PMS," she coughs so only James can hear.

James glares back at her.

Dumbledore watches the exchange with amusement. "Halloween is coming up," he starts, "in two weeks. And I was thinking that we could hold a Halloween ball. You, of course, would have to make the arrangements. As is tradition, the Head Boy and Girl must go together."

Lily pulls a repulsive face. I'd be thrilled to go with him, because I love him, but honestly, Maya would be hanging around him all night, she thinks.

Dumbledore chuckles at her face. "Only the first dance, Miss Evans," he assures her. "Now get going; you have only fourteen days to plan!"

They take this as their cue to be dismissed, and Lily rises first. "Goodnight, Headmaster," she bids, going out the door.

James follows with a respectful nod toward Dumbledore.

x.o.x.o.x.

Lily nearly pulls her hair out. "Potter, why can't you work with anything here? You don't want a costume ball, a masquerade, any themed ball!"

James shrugs. "Basically the only thing I'd agree to is a Quidditch themed ball."

Lily scowls. Oh, how the roles have been switched, she thinks. Normally James had to beg for things; now it was Lily. Suddenly inspiration hits her. "A black and white ball!" she cries.

James mulls this over, staring out the large glass window above the fireplace, which turned into a portrait when asked. "Not as bad as your other ideas," he finally consents.

"Good! We finally have a theme," Lily groans.

"Finally!"

Both students turn at the familiar voice. James becomes enraged. "How the bloody hell did she get the password?" he explodes.

Lily purses her lips. "In case you have forgotten, she is my best friend," she retorts, glancing at Hilary.

"I want her out," growls James.

"This is also my dorm!" Lily yells, now getting angry herself.

Although Lily hadn't told her, Hilary can tell that Lily loves James, as much as she tried denying it. "I'll go," she says quietly.

"No!" Lily shrieks. "If Hilary has to go, Maya will never be allowed in here again," she spits at James.

"What? No!" James argues.

"If you want to make my best friend leave, then you can say bye-bye to shagging dates with your slut in here," Lily says triumphantly.

James is conflicted. "You can't do that!"

"Oh? Have you forgotten that your detentions with McGonagall and Filch are yet to be over?" Lily raises an eyebrow.

"I'll just go," Hilary says softly, not wanting to create a larger gap between the Head Boy and Girl.

Lily sighs as she watches Hilary's retreating back. "Plan the ball yourself if you're so brilliant. I'm going," she snaps at James, disappearing into her room, which is to the right of the fireplace.

x.o.x.o.x.

Lily gathers a fluffy lavender towel and bath oils. She steps back into the common room, completely ignoring James, walking over to the bathroom. She swings the door open and starts preparing a bath. Once it's ready, she steps in, soaking.

"Lils?"

Lily stays reclined with her arms on the edge of the tub, but she turns her head. She smiles. "Hello Hilary," she says softly, the cold marble of the tub sinking into her arm skin.

Hilary walks over and sits atop the toilet seat adorned in gold. "I'm sorry," she says.

Lily draws her eyebrows together. "Whatever for, Hilary?"

"You love James," Hilary states simply.

Lily jerks backward in surprise, hitting her spine on the stone tub. "What?" Her brilliant mind is working furiously to see how she found this out.

"I've known you for going on eight years now, Lily. I can tell. So I'm sorry for getting you into a fight with the love of your life," Hilary explains.

"I'm not going to deny the fact that I love him." Lily pauses. "But you don't have to be sorry. After all, I have no chance at all against Maya, and no matter who I love, you will always be my first and foremost priority, along with Alice and Marlene."

Hilary smiles a tiny smile. "Thank you," she whispers. "Not as much could be said for Naomi Riley," she adds bitterly.

Suddenly, the door bangs open and the infamous Head Boy barges in. "Here," he says, thrusting the parchment into Lily's (wet) arms.

"What the hell, Potter! Have you ever heard of privacy or water gets parchment wet?" Lily explodes, using the inside of her elbows to toss the parchment at Hilary, who silently withdraws her wand to dry the papers.

"Who knew you were in the bath?" retorts James, trying not to stare.

"If I had my wand, Potter, I swear you'd be dead and buried by now!" Lily threatens.

"But you don't, darling," James says casually, throwing it off.

Lily stares at him challengingly. "Get out, Potter," she says in a soft, dangerous voice.

Her voice is so dangerous, James bolts.

Lily sighs, sinking lower into the water. "Did you dry that, Hils?"

Hilary nods, waving the parchment.

"Thank you," sighs Lily.

x.o.x.o.x.

"Professor, might I suggest a Hogsmeade trip for fifth years and higher this weekend to provide time to shop for dresses and such?" Lily asks the headmaster. Unsurprisingly, James was absent, this time for Quidditch practice.

Dumbledore considers this. "That is a very reasonable suggestion, Miss Evans. I think that that could be arranged. Would curfew be ample time to complete shopping tasks?"

"If they have enough sense to go at a reasonable hour, yes, sir," replies Lily confidently.

"Alright then. I shall notify the rest of the staff, as well as the bartenders and shop owners of Hogsmeade. You may go. And Miss Evans?"

Lily pauses halfway to the door.

"You are an exceptional Head Girl. You are also an exceptional person. Don't let the love of your life escape your reach." With that, Dumbledore glances down at his parchments, gearing up for a night of paperwork.

Lily, surprised, exits the office, thinking over what Dumbledore had said. Before she gets very far from the gargoyle, however, Marlene comes racing up.

"Lily! Oh, Lily!" she calls.

Lily halts as Marlene nearly runs her over. "Frank problems and I received a letter from Dad!"

Groaning inwardly, Lily follows one of her best friends. She wants to retreat to her dorm and settle in with a good Shakespeare to read, but this came first.

x.o.x.o.x.

Inside the seventh year girls' dormitory, Alice is lying on the bed facedown, her shoulders shaking from suppressed sobs. Hilary is knelt beside her, whispering assurances.

"Al, what happened?" Lily queries gently, kneeling beside Hilary.

"I" – hiccup – "f-found F-Frank" – hiccup – "snogging another girl!" This ends with a wail.

"Oh, Alice," Lily sighs, giving her friend a tight hug. "Sh, it'll be alright, Allie. We've got your back. I know how you feel. Quiet now…"

Alice prepares herself to stop sobbing and hiccupping ridiculously. Finally, she lifts her head to stare into Lily's green eyes. "You know?"

"Yes. How terrible it is to see the man you love kissing another girl. But it must be a thousand times worse for you, after all you were going out," sympathizes Lily softly.

"But who?" Alice whispers, her brown eyes huge.

Lily bites her lip, looking away.

"I really loved him, Lily. Why did he do it?" Alice presses.

"And I truly love the person I speak of. I don't know why he did that to you, Alice. If you truly love him, you will find a way to make it work out. Because love always finds a way," Lily says quietly.

"Love always finds a way," repeats Alice in a whisper.

Lily, nodding, stands. As she brushes past Hilary and Marlene, both watching the exchange with immense curiosity, she whispers, "Going to find Frank."

At their nods, Lily exits the dorm.

x.o.x.o.x.

A/N: Sorry for not updating earlier! I've been piled with schoolwork. Reviews, again, are appreciated highly! Until chapter ten…

~TrueLoveis4ever