Feeling a lot better Ramona is able to go to Hogsemede. As Ramona is leaving the common room she notices Lily is sitting on the window sill cuddling her knees, looking lonely.

Ramona sighs and decides to see if there is anything she can do. After getting Lily's attention, Lily quickly rubs a tear away.

"Ramona, hi. What do you need?"

Ramona sits on the sill facing Lily, "What ..."

"Am I unlikable?" asks Lily interrupting.

Ramona doesn't know what Lily is talking about, "No, why do you ask that?"

Lily shakes her head, "There just has to be something wrong with me. For people to hate me so much. Loath me, want to kill me. My sister hates me, my own sister. My ... best friend ... he ... wants to join a group that at best wants me to deny my muggle heritage or worse kill me. My only childhood friend that I thought would be there, he hasn't changed his friends, he is still in contact with Malfoy. I notice these things, if, if he wanted to change for me he could but he doesn't care to. He doesn't want me, no one does. You know Potter is the only person who has ever asked me out on a date ... not even he cares anymore."

After overhearing this James wants to run to Lily and grab her into a cuddle and take her pain away but James isn't sure if his attention will be appreciated. James cares, James cares too much. James hates that Lily can't make up her mind, Lily gets disappointed when he gives her attention or when he doesn't, he feels he can never win with Lily.

Lily deserves better than me anyway.

Ramona notices James struggling to interrupt or not, SAY SOMETHING thinks Ramona. Ramona tries to hint to James that he should say something, but James walks away with Lily being none the wiser of his presence behind her.

Moony howls in anger. Ramona sighs but doesn't flinch or show any other sign about the anguish she feels.

"Lily, do you want to be friends with Severus? If you're so upset, why don't you talk to him?"

Lily shakes her head, "No, I'm sad but the trust isn't there anymore. I won't feel safe being friends with him. It would be like a Jewish girl staying friends with a Nazi. It won't work, he loathes everything I represent."

"Voldemort hasn't mass murdered muggleborns Lily, it's hardly comparable."

Lily shakes her head, "That's a bit naive Ramona, just because they haven't massacred a lot of muggleborns doesn't mean it won't happen. What about the minister that was killed a few years ago just for being a muggleborn. The hatred is in everything Voldemort writes, It's obviously written in a way to divide people, just enough sanity over madness to convince people he is on their side when in reality he just wishes for power."

Ramona eyes widen in surprise, "Yes, you're right."

Lily eyes Ramona with a smirk, "You'll find Ramona, I am hardly ever wrong."

The date to Hogsemede includes a lunch in Three Broomsticks. After they have their meals they walk hand and hand around the shops and find themselves walking off to look at Moony's home.

After handing a box over to Ramona, Sirius grabs Ramona into a side hug.

Ramona giggles, "So what charm is it this time."

Rushing to find out Ramona rips the paper and opens the box. It's a rat charm, the rat is curled up asleep. Ramona can't help but smile, "NAW Wormtail looks so cute here."

"I love making these charms for you, it makes you so happy. Something you haven't been lately, I wish I knew what's happening so I can help you. Don't you trust me?"

After leaning more into the hug Ramona sighs. Before Ramona is going to say 'it isn't her secret to tell' Moony interrupts, stating that it's OK. Moony is OK with Padfoot knowing and Moony states her happiness of Ramona being so considerate of her privacy.

"Moony is upset because of a broken bond between her two pack members. Prongs and Emerald are meant to be together ... But now that bond is broken."

Sirius grabs Ramona more tightly, not really knowing what to say.

"Ramona and Severus, please stay, I wish to speak to you about your project," announces Professor Slughorn.

Ramona and Severus wait at the front of the classroom while everyone leaves. When the class is empty Professor Slughorn then claps his hands excitedly together.

"Now, what you two handed in was extraordinary! That Essay was better written than most Professional Potion brewer writer. The Potion is of top quality. Safe enough to use."

Severus smirks with pride, this is the most difficult potion he has done yet.

"You two can decide for yourselves what you wish to do, I believe it can get quite a bit of profit, if ..."

Severus sneers at his head of house in disgust, profit is the last thing Severus is thinking about, "It will go to Ramona, obviously."

After that Severus walks briskly out, Ramona runs after Snape.

"WAIT, Severus I don't need your pity. I don't want you to do that."

Snape turns briskly to Ramona and silently casts a privacy spell, "I didn't do that out of pity, he will not be profiting off my hard work. The potion is yours, outcasts like us need to help each other out sometimes."

Need to help each other out sometimes, Ramona feels she should refuse the potion then and there, for Severus is implying he wants a favor. The possibility of having an easier full moon is too tempting.

"Thanks Severus," replies Ramona, hoping she isn't going to regret this.