Chapter 7

By lunch time, Mason had boasted to everyone that he had a date with Lily. She had spent lunch with her newfound friend Tina Raven as they had their next class, Transfiguration, together. Tina obviously knew about Lily's 'date' with Mason, but she didn't approve; she was still team Fred.

"Lily, you shouldn't do this." Tina warned as they walked to the Transfiguration classroom.

"Do what?" Lily asked innocently.

"You know what." she said pointedly but Lily acted as though she hadn't heard, "you can't date Mason."

"Why the fuck not?" she snapped, "it's not like there's anything stopping me."

"If this is about Fred, then, it's stupid!" Tina said.

"Fred doesn't love me!" Lily shouted, causing the corridor to fall silent.

"Oh come on! We both know that's not true." Tina argued.

"He said so himself Tina," Lily said nearing calmness, "he looked me in the eye and said 'I don't love you' and then he walked away. So tell me now why I can't go out with Mason. He's been nice to this past week."

"Lil, not everyone that smiles at you is your friend." Tina said.

"I know that, but right now, you aren't exactly acting like a friend either." Lily finished and walked into the classroom.

All Fred heard about that Friday was Lily and Mason's impending date. It was either 'have you heard that Lily is going to Hogsmeade with Mason?' or 'I'm sorry about Lily and Mason.' or 'Finally she's with someone of her standards.' but the worst yet, was 'At least she's happy.' Fred wanted Lily to be happy, but he wanted her to be happy with anyone but Mason. Actually, no, he only wanted her to be happy with him. He knew it was selfish for him to want that, but it's not like he gave her up willingly. He wanted her so much more than before. He felt a pang in his stomach at the thought that she could be happy with anyone but him.

"Uh, Fred?" Seamus asked wearily.

"What do you want?" Fred replied unhappily.

"I just wanted to say, I'm sorry. I know I didn't support your relationship with Lily. I've been known to judge things too harshly before really giving them a chance, but I realize now, that I liked you both a lot better when you were together. I really am sorry." he finished with a nod and left to go to class.

Fred was overwhelmed by what just happened that he didn't even realize that he had his next class with Mason.

Fred sat at the desk next to Lee at the back of the classroom. He plonked his books onto the table and buried his face in his hands. He just wanted this lesson to be over. Mason walked in and sat in front of Fred. He leaned back to face Fred in a cocky way.

"I suppose you see my plan has worked, Weasley. I honestly couldn't have done it without you, thanks." he whispered, then smiled, as if he'd just won the house cup, and squashed his enemy in the process.

Fred felt anger bubbling in the pit of his stomach. It rapidly spread throughout the rest of his body. He was about to hex Mason, when Professor Flitwick walked in and addressed the class.

Lily and Tina were walking in the quad after their last class of the day. Lily needed to clear her head, and Tina was worried about what she might do if she was left alone.

"Look, Lil, I know you're upset, and I don't want it to seem like I'm trying to tell you how to live your life, but I really want you to consider why you're going to Hogsmeade with Mason tomorrow." Tina said in a careful tone.

"I know why I'm doing it." Lily said with a sigh.

"Trust me, I get that you're hurting, but..."

"Hurting doesn't even begin to explain how I feel. I was disowned by my family because I wanted to be with him. I have no family and barely any friends because I'm in love - was in love with him. He couldn't even take a few nasty comments." Lily said sitting one of the stone benches.

"So, you're doing this to get back at him?" Tina deduced.

"Not completely," Lily said, "I mean; part of me wants him back – a big part of me. Another part of me is saying 'I gave up everything I had, because Fred was all I needed, then he dumped me and I was left with nothing and I want my everything back,' Does that make any sense?" Lily asked.

"It does, but that still doesn't really explain, why Mason." Tina said.

"Well, the part of me I'm listening to is the coldest part," Lily said, "the part that wants him to feel pain, and regret leaving me. It's the part that wants revenge. I don't just want him to be sad, I want him to hurt."