Chapter 3

"I can't believe we're already at the end of the first week," Cassidy sighed.

"You're upset about that?" Lily responded.

"It's just gone so quickly, I don't want the whole year to just fly by, you know?"

"Yeah, I guess I do. You only get to be a sixth year-" Lily began.

"Fifth," Cassidy raised her hand.

"-Or fifth year once," she corrected.

"Exactly! The work is already tougher though," she moped.

"It gets easier," Lily shrugged.

"Really?" Cassidy asked hopefully.

"Not at all," Lily laughed. The two went their separate ways to their classes.

Lily had astronomy with Draco and the other Slytherins. There were no words to describe how much Lily disliked that class. She chose it because she thought it would be an easy, pass-the-time class. Then she found out that she actually had to do work. Their professor told them that throughout the year, they would be creating star charts, and maps of the planets. They had to calculate times of the year, and study moon stages. She had to do math in astronomy. She really wished she hadn't picked it, but she wasn't allowed to switch subjects. That class was a lot more effort-involving than she had signed on for.

"Well that was a colossal waste of time!" Lily complained to Malfoy as they walked out of the classroom.

"I swear I almost fell asleep," He agreed.

"Me too, I mean, why do I even need to know about the difference between astronomy and astrology?" Lily whined.

"Because 'astrology and astronomy were archaically one and the same discipline, and were only gradually recognized as separate in Western 17th century philosophy!'" Draco mocked their professor.

"Who the hell bloody cares woman?" Lily said aggressively.

"Ooh, careful there Scott," Draco half smiled, "you might start sounding like a Slytherin! The Weasels wouldn't want that,"

Lily rolled her eyes.

"When will you realise that they don't care that I'm a Slytherin?" she said.

"They might not, but everyone else does," he said.

"Why do I care?" she shrugged.

"Besides my family, yours is the most powerful. You have a reputation," he said in a good-nature way.

"Yeah, I have a reputation as an easy date," she corrected.

"What about your family's reputation? Don't you care about that?"

"Of course I do, but it's not like daddy's status in the wizarding world is going to plummet because I enjoy spending time with a couple of Gryffindors," she reasoned.

"They're Weasleys,"

"And they're just as pure-blooded as you and me,"

"Look, do what you want, but make sure you know who your real friends are," he said left her to her thoughts.

She thought as she walked inattentively towards the library. She paid no mind to where she was walking, because usually people parted like the red sea whenever she came their way. She was in the middle of a rather diverse train of thought when she walked into something that knocked her to the ground.

"Whoa, careful there Scott," she looked up to see Fred standing in front of her, hand outstretched to help her up. She took it and he drew her up from the ground.

"Hey Fred," she greeted, dusting off her robes and skirt.

"S'up Lily?" He flashed her a quick smile.

"Just came out of possibly the worst class ever," She explained.

"Oh come on, it couldn't be that bad,"

"It could totally be that bad. And it was!"

"Well, I have homework already," Fred stated.

"And why are you going to the library?" she asked, secretly suspecting him to be pulling a back-to-school prank.

"Because I have homework already," he smiled, "no pranking involved. Promise," he said placing his hand on his chest above his heart as they entered the library.

Lily saw Thayer sitting alone at a table, frantically writing on a piece of parchment. He looked up and saw her. He smiled and waved, but Lily just pretended not to notice.

"So why are you in the library? Homework?" Fred asked taking a seat at the far end of a table. Lily took a seat in next to him.

"Homework? Are you kidding? Oh Merlin, no. I have another sixth year doing it," she said, this time smiling at Thayer.

Fred looked down at the table with a slightly let down look on his face.

"What's wrong Freddie?" Lily asked.

"Nothing, it's just...sometimes I forget that you're a...a Slytherin," he said looking up at her.

There was a hint of detest edging on his voice as he spoke the last word. She was used to it from most of the Gryffindors, but not from her best friend. Coming from him that hit her harder than it should have.

"What's that supposed to mean?" she tried hiding how much it had hurt her.

"Nothing, I just forget that people will do anything for you to even say hello to them,"

"I didn't think you cared," she said, trying to hold on to her best friend. A slight smile returned to Fred's face.

"I don't," his smile fully returned, "you are one of my best friends. I could care less about what bloody house you're in. I didn't mean it to come out the way it did. I know you better than all those other prats that call themselves your friend. Besides, I hardly see a downside to being friends with someone that's beautiful and popular,"

Lily threw her arms around Fred and nuzzled her head into his shoulder. To her surprise, he slipped his arms around her waist and held her tightly.

When he did, she felt something she'd never felt before. Something powerful and consuming. It made her feel like everything was going to be okay, no matter what.

Lily had a single thought...

Is this what love feels like?