A/N: I'm going to make this quick again. This is a rather long chapter because there is just so much going on. I hope you love it!

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters or the recognizable aspects of the plot line.

Chapter 9: The Break-Up

Friday afternoon, the day before the ball, The Marauders were in their last class of the day, History of Magic. Sirius was sat at a table with Remus while James and Peter sat together at the table behind them. Even through the fighting, James and Sirius continued to be around each other and acted as civilly as can be expected for the sake of their friends. None of them were paying attention, which wasn't exactly abnormal for James, Sirius, and Peter, but even Remus wasn't listening. James and Peter had both fallen asleep so Remus took this opportunity to talk to Sirius.

"So did you ask Lilly to the ball?" Remus asked.

"Yeah, on Sunday. Did you ask Marlene?" Sirius returned.

"No".

"Oh? Why not?"

"We broke up on Wednesday".

"Why? And why didn't you tell us?"

"I broke up with her because you know perfectly well that I cannot stay in relationships. It's not safe for them and I figured that if I waited until after the dance it would be too late. I didn't tell you because there has been enough problems and drama around that I didn't think it was necessary to add my own".

"I'm sorry".

"For what?"

"For you having to break up with Marlene, and for creating all this drama that made you believe that you had to keep it from us".

"Well you shouldn't be. I knew I was going to have to break up with her soon anyway and as for the other thing, instead of being sorry you should be trying harder to fix it. I'm not trying to be mean, but it would be nice for things to go back to normal, preferably before the next full moon" he whispered the last part.

Sirius hesitated. He hadn't even realized how this fight might effect that aspect of their lives, but he was sure that James would agree to put their feud aside for one night so that they can be their for their friend. "You know we won't let anything get in the way of being there for you Moony" Sirius reassured him. "Hey, just a quick question. Why do you always break up with girls? I mean, I know the technical reasons, but you must know that some of them, Marlene for sure, wouldn't judge or hate you if you told her".

"I know Padfoot. I know that Marlene probably would have accepted me like you guys did back when you found out, but that's not the whole reason. Along with that and the fact the it's just not safe for them, it's also not fair to them. There is someone out there for each of them who is normal and safe and just all around better for them than me, so each time I break up with someone I ask myself the same question".

"What's that?"

"'Am I the best it's going to get for her?' and, so far, the answer has always been no".

Sirius stayed silent, thinking of everything that his friend has to go through. If it was him, he probably would have chucked himself off the astronomy tower by now, by Remus was so much braver than him and he respected him for that immensely.

Just then, the bell rang, interrupting Sirius' thoughts and dismissing the class. The four of them walked back to Gryffindor Tower, planning on spending their free period before dinner in their dorm. When they got there, their new routine ensued. James watched the map while Remus tutored Peter and Sirius stared silently at the ceiling, thinking about the upcoming ball.

The hour passed by fairly quickly and they all made their way down to dinner. When they got there, they ate in silence and ignored all the happy people around them. It was even more awkward than normal due to the impending ball. It was assumed by James that Sirius had asked Lily but he wasn't angry, like before, he was sad. If he really wanted things to go back to normal with us he would have dumped her and not gotten more serious with her. Now they're actually dating? So it's not just an occasional shag, they actually like each other and are physically trying to hurt me. Well, mission accomplished, I am officially hurt.

Sirius knew that James probably figured out that he had asked Lily, it was inevitable, but he wasn't expecting this reaction. He thought that James would get mad again and hit him again, that he was ready for, but not this. It was as if James was giving up, and that's when everything clicked inside of Sirius' head. He excused himself from the table, getting confused glances from all his friends, and walked briskly up to the dorms. James was giving up, because he thought that Lily was happy with me.

The next day, they were all getting ready for the ball, with the exception of James. He had decided that it would probably be better if he didn't attend and, for once, no one argued with him. When they were ready, Peter, Remus, and Sirius walked to the great hall. Sirius was meeting Lily there since she volunteered to help set up beforehand.

When they got there, Sirius saw Lily talking with her friends, with her back to him. Perfect opportunity to let everyone know we're together. . . ish. He walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her midsection before lifting her up and twirling her around and setting her back in her original position.

She giggled as soon as she felt his strong arms wrap around her and didn't care that her friends would be confused and shocked, they'd figure it out eventually.

"Sirius!" she squealed.

"Why hello my lovely Lily-Bean," Sirius greeted, "Ladies" he continued turning to her friends.

"Umm, care to explain?" Marlene interjected.

"Well, you see, Sirius may or may not have asked me to the ball, and I may or may not have said yes" Lily explained blushing, conveniently forgetting to mention that they had been shagging for a couple weeks and had completely broken James' heart. Where is James? Lily silently wondered as she started looking around the room.

"Oh no! We are going to need a little more information than that!" Bella demanded, finally getting over the initial shock.

"Alright, I'm going to leave you to do that," Sirius said and winked at Lily, "while I go to get something for you to drink". Then he left, but instead of going to the drinks, he turned around to listen to the conversation, unnoticed by the three girls.

Marlene and Bella turned and looked at Lily, both asking the obvious question.

"I-I really don't know how to explain this. It just. . . happened" Lily stumbled.

"Okay. Well then, why did you say yes?" Bella inquired.

Lily quickly looked around to make sure no one was listening, still not noticing Sirius, then turned back to her friends. "I-I think I'm falling in love with him" she blushed.

Neither girl could say anything, both speechless.

"Please say something" Lily begged.

"But how?" Bella choked out.

"You're You, and he's Him! That should never happen!" Marlene said dumbly, but no one cared. They got the point.

"Besides," Bella suggested, "this is your first date. There's no way you could already think you love him".

When silence ensued Marlene asked the obvious question. "This is your first date, right?"

Lily just looked down silently.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Bella exploded, completely forgetting the unspoken arrangement not to pressure each other.

Lily jumped out of surprise then turned on her. "There was nothing to tell before. Technically, this is our first date but we've been hanging out for a couple weeks now. I was going to tell you tonight, when I was ready!" She hissed the last part, making Marlene step away from her and bringing Bella back to reality.

"Right. I'm sorry. It's just, it's Sirius Black! I just, I'm surprised".

"I'm sorry too, I should have told you guys sooner" she smiled and everything was back to normal, no more screaming.

"So you love him?" Marlene questioned and Lily giggled, telling their story. Well, a revised version, she didn't really want to tell them the real way they got together, or what they had been doing for the past couple of weeks.

Sirius had stopped listening and ran to his friends as soon as Lily admitted that she might love him.

"Tell Lily I've gone to the bathroom if she asks" Sirius muttered to Remus and Peter before heading off towards the dorms, not letting either respond.

We got got to his room James was asleep. Sirius sighed in relief and started quickly but quietly writing a letter. When he was finished, he folded it and placed it on James' bedside table, with James' name facing the bed. He then went under his bead ad pulled out a half full bottle of fire whisky and downed it before turning and walking out of the room, down the stairs, and back to the great hall, as if nothing had just happened.

Remus had done what Sirius had asked and told Lily that he was in the bathroom and would be returning shortly when she had come up and asked them. She had decided to just wait for him with Remus and Peter, giving her the chance to ask where James was, but once she had finally worked up the courage to ask them, Sirius walked up.

"Sorry about that" Sirius slurred, already feeling the effects of the alcohol.

"That's alright" she replied, not noticing.

"Would you like to dance?"

"I would love to" she smiled at him but he just grabbed her arm and led them to the dance floor.

Once they were out there, he spun her around so that her back was to him and pulled her flush against his chest, her ass rubbing against his cock.

"Oh!" she exclaimed, not expecting the action but going along with it regardless.

"So when do you wanna get out of here? I think I hear the closest broom closet calling our name" he whispered horsely in her ear.

This time she could smell the alcohol on his breath. "I thought you said you weren't going to drink tonight".

"Yeah well I changed my mind so deal with it. Now back to my first question".

"If you think I'm going to leave here to shag you in a broom closet after one, disrespectful I might add, dance then you are sorely mistaken".

"So then after the next song?"

"Ugh! Why are you being like this? I'll be right back" she said before walking back to the drink table.

Sirius slapped her ass as she was walking away. "Don't be too long sweet cheeks. I don't like to be kept waiting" he called after her.

"How's lover-boy?" Marlene joked when Lily walked up to her.

Lily just glared at her friend. "Where's Bella?" she asked, signaling the end of any conversation about Sirius.

"Where do you think?" She then pointed to the dance floor where Bella was dancing rather seductively with some guy.

"Ah yes, how could I not just assume that". As she said it though, her eyes landed on Sirius. He was dancing with another girl and she was very noticeably stroking his cock through his trousers. He then leaned down and whispered something in her ear and when she nodded he lead them to the closet just outside the doors.

They came out about ten minutes later with him zipping his zipper back up and her wiping her mouth. Anyone could see them and anyone who did would know exactly what they were doing.

Marlene followed her friend's gaze and sighed when she saw what Lily was looking at. She then gasped audibly. Unnoticed by Lily, James was walking into the hall right behind Sirius.

Luckily for Sirius, James wasn't paying enough attention to notice him and the slut he was with walking right in front of him. James had his mind set on one thing, and that was ending whatever it was that was happening between Lily and Sirius. He got up on stage and grabbed the microphone. Just before he caught everyone's attention and started talking he saw Lily slap Sirius across the face and read her lips quick enough to make out that she said 'How could you?'. Good! He deserves it. But he's in for a lot more where that came from.

"Excuse me everyone!" James announced, finally getting Lily and everyone else's attention. "By now I'm sure many of you have noticed that Sirius Black and Lily Evans have come here as a couple," the blonde slut that had just sucked Sirius off blushed, she hadn't known that, "and I'm sure that he has acted like the perfect gentleman". At this Lily scoffed to herself. "But I've got news for you, this guy is a fraud! Yeah, I said it. Would you like to know what he did for me? Being the best friend that he is, he was nice enough to take out my girl, Lily Evans". By now Sirius had pushed his way to the front of the crowd and onto the stage as well, trying to pry the mic out of James' hand.

"James, please!"

"No! Don't touch me! Now, where was I? Oh, yes, he took her out on a date and that I wasn't mad about, you see, because I had told him to do it. As low as I now know it was, I asked him to take her on a date and be completely disrespectful and rude so that she would come back to me, realizing that I was so much better for her than other guys out there".

At this point everyone turned to look at Lily, trying to gauge her reaction. Due to her known way of dealing with anger when it came to James Potter, no one was expecting the reaction that they saw. She was looking straight at Sirius with the most hurt expression that anyone there had ever seen.

"S-Sirius?" she choked out, barely above a whisper, yet he and everyone else in the great hall heard.

He stayed silent just looking between her and James, almost as if he was deciding who to side with.

"Just tell me it's not true. Tell me that he's lying!" she screamed, still not angry though.

"He can't do that Lily, because it is true. I'm not lying" James said while smirking at Sirius.

"Tell me the truth Sirius! Right now! Look at me and tell me that what we had was nothing to you! Tell me that all I was to you was a job, a favor! Tell me-"

"You were just a job!" he cut her off. "All you were, was a job".

"I never want to see you again" she whispered hurtfully as she ran up to her dorm, Bella and Marlene following closely after.

"Well, that's all I wanted to say" James concluded before returning the mic to the stand and walking off the stage and back up to his own dorm room.

Sirius stood there, frozen to the spot, until Remus grabbed him and pulled him out of the great hall and away from everybody's scrutinizing glares.

"Come on," Remus said, "let's go to the kitchens. I don't think it's a good idea to go back to the dorm room just yet".

Remus, Sirius, and Peter made their way to the kitchens and sat in silence, no one knowing what to say.

Meanwhile, James made his way back to the dormitories. He was still seething angry and couldn't wait for Sirius to come back so he could yell at him even more.

When he walked in the room he laid down on his bed, staring at his bedside table. That's when he noticed the note that had Prongs written on the front it. He opened it up and read it and it said:

Prongs,

Lily truly is an angel, and she deserves the best, which is you. I'm sorry it took so long, but I'm finally doing what you asked me to do. I got a backwards way of showing it, but I care about you more than you know. You're my best friend.

I'm sorry,

Padfoot

James read the letter two more times before he finally folded it back up and fell asleep, not waiting for the others to come back to the room.

A/N: Well? Did you like it? I told you it was rather long but I just couldn't stop myself once I started. The next chapter is the last one and then my first story will be officially complete. I'm so excited!