Good news - I passed my driving test! I'm so happy. ANyway, aside from that, here is the next chapter. I couldn't decide which quotation to put in, so I put in both.

Oh, I have loved him
too much to feel
no hate for him. - Anon

I have decided
to stick with love.
Hate is too great
a burden to bear. - Anon

Awaking some time later, I groggily pushed back the fuzzy black warmth which was spread like a blanket over my brain. Even wrapped up in the duvet, my clothes were still damp, leaving an unpleasant clammy feeling on my skin. I had neglected to draw the curtains the night before, and as such, the pale light of the weak sun was seeping through my window.

Checking my watch, I was startled to find that the time was half-past nine. I panicked, as I realised that school had already started and that I was missing lessons – several detentions would be waiting for me if it was discovered. I pushed myself out of bed, only to sink back onto it as my vision swam before my eyes. My head felt dizzy, and all of my bones ached, as if they had all been stretched on a torture rack.

Taking a few deep breaths, I slowly got up once more, the world still spinning around my head. It took me a few moments to locate my broom in the corner, and my legs would hardly support me as I staggered down the staircase into the bar-restaurant of the Three Broomsticks. My stomach turned as I caught the smell of frying bacon, usually my favourite breakfast.

Mademoiselle Rosmerta stared at me in shock as I appeared, and I realized too late that I had forgotten to cast the enchantment. I dashed outside as fast as my shaking legs would carry me, and once round the back, sank into the snow, the world spinning too much for me to be able to walk much further.

By this time, I had realised that something more than fatigue was wrong with me. My head and ears felt stuffed with cotton wool, my head beating sickly in my temples, a coldness permeating my bones. Once the world had settled down somewhat, I hoisted myself unsteadily to my feet and mounted the broom.

After kicking off, I was soon soaring across a Scottish vista, clinging onto my broom for dear life, my thoughts focused on a warm shower and a dry change of clothes. And my bed... but I had to go to lessons, so sleep was out of the question, however much my exhausted body was craving it. I refused to lie in the Hospital Wing alone, wondering what my ex-friends were up to. I had to keep busy, and busy meant work.

After an age of freezing winds and aching limbs, I alighted on top of the North Tower, past caring whether I had been spotted. I began my descent down the stairs, into the inside of the castle. Upon reaching the seventh floor, my body had begun protesting so much that I sat down. The stone floor was comfortable and warm, and so I lay down, my eyes fluttering shut.

Just a few minutes of rest wouldn't hurt. I could rest for a moment, then return to the dorm and change, replacing the stolen broomstick on the way to my second lesson. Then I drifted down into the comforting warmth of sleep.

3rd Person Narrative

It would not have been apparent, except to perhaps her closest friends, that Lily Evans was concerned. She sat in her Transfiguration class, eyes fixed on Professor McGonagall, as if paying very close attention. However, the eyes were not blinking, and the purple bags underneath them implied a sleepless night. The only movement of her body was the agitated tremor of her right leg.

Her eyes, when they did move, darted to the door. This still (for the most part in any case) exterior was at odds with the restless interior. Thoughts were streaming through her mind like water through a weir.

"Where on earth can she be? She was here last night. What happens if she was cornered by some Slytherins? They wouldn't scruple to use unforgivable. Her bed not slept in – and the Marauders don't know where she is. She hasn't even turned up for class! Rose always turns up for class. And she wasn't in the Hospital Wing – I checked. Plus the Donaghue twins haven't seen her. She wasn't in the Kitchens, nor the Great Hall, so hasn't had breakfast. Maybe she drowned in the Lake – I can't believe I've said that to her. Sure it was a mean rumour, but knowing Rose she didn't mean any harm by it – it was most likely a spur of the moment decision. And I've been such a cow, more than a cow, a... a Slytherin! to her for the past two weeks."

She took a few deep breaths and tried to rationalise her thoughts.

"She's probably avoiding you, Lily. No need to let your imagination run away with you. She may be in the dorm right now, catching up on some work, and tell the teachers she went to get some Pepper-up potion from Nurse Roberts. There is nothing that could lead you to suspect that there's something wrong."

After the end of the lesson, Professor McGonagall called the Gryffindors back. They stood before her in a confused line, the boys and the girls.

It was Katie who spoke first.

"Is there something the matter, Professor?"

"I was merely wondering whether any of you had any idea as to where Miss Logan is this fine morning?" she asked, frostily.

Lily blanched.

"We... we don't."

"You don't?"

"Well... no." Lily paused, clearly not wanting to get Rose into trouble by saying that Rose hadn't gone to the dorm that night. Under the stern eye of Professor McGonagall, however, she had no choice.

"She didn't sleep in our dorm last night."

As one, the Marauders turned in shock to look at her.

"So where did she sleep then, Miss Evans?"

"I don't know." Whispered Lily. "No-one does."

"When was the last time you saw her?"

"Yes...yesterday. We had a huge fight, and then she ran off. I haven't seen her since." Lily choked on the last sentence.

"Please spare me the dramatics, Miss Evans. You are telling me that you have not since Miss Loganberry since yesterday, she did not sleep in the Gryffindor Tower last night, as still appears to be missing this morning. Did you not see fit to relay this information to me at some point earlier in the day. It is now the end of fourth lesson – almost lunchtime."

"I'm sorry. I didn't want to get her into trouble if she was skipping lessons."

James snorted derisively.

"Yeah right," muttered Sirius.

"You show moving concern, Miss Evans." said Professor McGonagall sarcastically.

Lily hung her head.

She was prevented from making any further remarks or questions by the interruption of Filch.

"Begging your pardon, Miss – I mean Professor (he corrected at the sight of her narrowing eye), but there's a girl. In the North Tower. I think she's a Gryffindor, ma'am, and thought I should come and tell you."

"A girl?"

"Yes ma'am. Asleep. Wouldn't wake up when I poked her, so I thought it was best to find you."

Lily's knuckles cracked as her hands clenched into alarmed fists..

Professor McGonagall stood up so suddenly that she went from sat down to standing, without a half-crouched position in between. She swept out of the room after Filch, the seventh year Gryffindors hastily following her up the endless journey to the seventh floor.

What awaited them there was a sight that seemed to be out of a Waterhouse painting. Rose Logan lay on the floor, the tangled red of her hair spread out underneath her head, like a pool of blood. A sheen of sweat lay across her forehead, and every so often a tremor would run through her body. Her face was pale against the hard grey of the floor, her eyes moving rapidly under their lids.

Lily's eyes were wide with horror, her teeth sunk deep into her lip. The reactions of the other Gryffindors were much the same. Katie, Megs and Alice grasping each others' hands tightly, as if to hold onto reality, whilst anxiety flickered across Sirius, James, Frank, Remus and Peter's faces.

Soon enough, Nurse Roberts, and her assistant, Miss Pomfrey arrived, and carted the body off to the Hospital Wing, the word "Pneumonia" ringing in the air. The Gryffindors sat down in the Great Hall to pick at their lunch.

The next few days were stressful, as no-one was allowed admittance to the Hospital Wing to see Rose, and no-one was told anything of her condition. The pinched look on Professor McGonagall's young face gave quite a lot of information about it.

Three days after the incident, the school was surprised by the sight of two Healers from St. Mungo's in the Great Hall, hastily spooning down some lunch. The Gryffindors, now a solid group, united in their face of their concern for their friend, were leaving lunch just as a stretcher bearing a body was moved into the magical ambulance which was used to transport patients to St Mungo's. The two Healers were carrying either end of the stretcher, Nurse Roberts following anxiously behind.

Lily gave a cry, and her legs collapsed beneath her as she was the first to catch sight of the face of the body. Or what could be seen of the face, covered as it was by a breathing tube which disappeared down Rose's throat. Her body was hidden by a shroud-like blanket, her lips blue, her eyes closed, looking for all the world like a corpse, except for the occasional jerk of her chest.

James was on the floor, his arms encircling a sobbing Lily. The stretcher was soon moved out of the Entrance Hall and into the waiting ambulance. The friends stayed there for a long time after the ambulance had moved off, the deadening silence only broken by Lily's sobs.

When they did move, it was to trudge the long way up to the Gryffindor Tower, worry etched in their faces. Uncaring of afternoon lessons, they sat in a silent huddle round the fire. By this time, Lily had stopped crying, her face now blotchy and red as she sat with her arms wrapped around herself.

Eventually, Katie, Alice and Megs drifted off to find solace for their comfort in work, whilst Remus, Peter and Frank followed a grim-looking Sirius out into the grounds. Only James remained, staring at the stricken Lily.

"It's all my fault." She announced suddenly, as if to find release in inculpation.

"No, Lily –"disagreed James.

"It is." She said grimly, but firmly. "You heard what I shouted at her yesterday. Don't deny it. If only I hadn't been such a bitch to her all this time." She spat out the b word.

James regarded her silently, searching for the right words to say.

"If only I hadn't blown up at her when I heard the rumours! It's not like they were that bad – they were actually quite funny! And Rose was right – I wouldn't have minded so much, it's just that I was so worried that you would think I was a lesbian, and I didn't want that."

James face went from anxious to nervous in under a second. He wet his lips.

"Worried what I would think? Why should that... I mean – What does it matter – Lily, do you... care about me?" He asked, hardly daring to breathe.

Lily met his eyes with a panicked face, and then, with an infinitesimal nod of her head, she answered in the affirmative.

James closed his eyes. "Do you think... not now. But... after Rose is better, and it's the appropriate time and everything, would you... like to go to Hogsmeade with me?"

"I'd... I'd like that very much. But after Rose is better – I'm not at all in the mood for... anything at the moment. So you think she will get better?"

"Of course!" He stood up and moved to sit next to her. "Of course she will. Or course. As bad as pneumonia looks, it isn't as serious as a head wound, or meningitis, or anything like that. And the facilities at St. Mungo's are brilliant. She'll be back in no time, and then you can make up with her, and everything will be fine. I promise. On my word as a Marauder."

Lily nodded.

"Thanks James."

Awww. I love Lily and James. Just wanted to thank everyone for their reviews - I really appreciate them all. Have a great Monday morning, EllieBaby xxx