Author's Note: I have no idea if anyone is still waiting around for this fic but I did say that I will finish this fic. I know that it's been four years. In my defense, I've completed 3 college degrees in these 4 years and haven't had much time. Anyway a quick recap: Lily lends James her notes when she realises he's been quite busy, but James snaps at her before she could give him those notes. So naturally Lily withdraws herself from his company for the next whole week. Hestia had been psycho-analysing her relationship with Rufus, the Ravenclaw boy. Sirius and Marlene decide to continue their kiss and don't tell friendship after a little hiccup. I'll see you at the end of the chapter!

The animosity emanating from Lily towards James was quite evident. Nobody had really known what the whole thing was about, except about the fact that Lily had lent James her notes in front of the entire school and had done so in quite a temper. James had told the marauders what had happened but everyone else was in the dark about it. James had felt awful through the whole week. For the very first time he was glad for the copious amount of workload that was being dumped on the 6th years as it helped in keeping his mind off of Lily and her cool indifference towards him.

Monday morning came with the most wonderful news which made James hope that Lily might start warming up to the group again. Everyone was settled in their seats at the Great Hall trying to finish up with the essays that were due that day when they saw Frank walking towards them. Alice squealed and rushed to hug her boyfriend and everyone followed suit.

"Oh, I was missed alright. How's everyone been?" asked Frank attempting a smile, the hollows under his eyes betraying his attempt to look fine.

"We've missed you but Alice had practically gone nuts trying to starve herself to death—" began Sirius but got elbowed in his ribs by Marlene.

"I can see that," replied Frank as he gave Alice a once-over, "come on, let's get you something to eat." said Frank as he led her to the Gryffindor table.

When they had all settled down, everyone bombarded Frank with questions, that he tried answering one by one. Once worn out, he declared that he was going over to the Hufflepuff's table to greet the Head Girl and discuss their duties. Everyone protested but it went unheard.

"Oh no, we didn't warn him about Liam!" cried Alice, with a worried look on her face.

"Serves him right for leaving us hanging in the middle of our queries." said a very grumpy Sirius who once again got elbowed in the ribs by Marlene.

"What is it with you, McKinnon? If you want a piece of this fine body, you just have to ask, stop elbowing your way into feeling my abs." winked Sirius.

"I was actually trying to nudge your brains that I assumed were lodged in your ribs this morning." replied Marlene, rolling her eyes.

"Oh, come on now, McKinnon, you're just one question shy from having a piece of Sirius Black." said Sirius suggestively while the others groaned and decided it was best to leave for their classes now.

"Who should I have to ask, you or your boyfriend?" said Marlene as she stood up from her seat.

"Given how Potter's love life is already in shambles, I don't think he'd be too happy to part with his boyfriend, Marlene, you'll have to get in line." said Hestia wryly, as everyone except James and Lily snickered.

Monday meant potions with Ravenclaws first thing in the morning. Once everyone had moved out of the Great Hall, Hestia called after her boyfriend, Rufus. The talk with Lily had given her some food for thought. It was true that she did not have feelings for Rufus any longer but couldn't bring herself to rip the bandage off in one go. Rufus was a nice bloke. As much as she used to enjoy his company, she could not bring herself to even tolerate his presence. She understood that she was the most tacit person she knew. At moments she would feel like a burden when she was with Rufus because of how he would constantly raid his brains simply to pick a topic on which even she could have something to say. But Hestia would remain as quiet as she could be, leaving the weight of carrying the conversation on to him. Hestia was well aware of her own shortcomings in this relationship and how Rufus was trying to overcompensate for them. She had made up her mind. This was no way to be in a relationship especially now that she didn't even have feelings for him. He deserved better.

"Hey, what's up?" asked Rufus as he approached her near the Entrance Hall.

"I think we need to talk." replied Hestia, her tone warmer than usual.

"Uh, oh." smiled Rufus as he looked at her, with his head tilted.

"Why do you say that?"

"Can't say that I didn't see the "we need to talk" conversation coming."

"How did you—"

"You zone out, Hes, when you've lost interest in anything, you zone out. Only this time it's me and not the history of the wizarding war." said Rufus, quite affectionately which made Hestia tear up a little.

"I didn't mean to—" started Hestia but choked.

"It's okay, Hestia. It's not the end of the world. I'll survive I promise." said Rufus trying to comfort her.

"I'm really sorry, Rufus. I really did try to—"

"I know, just don't worry too much about it, okay? Come on, or we'll end up missing potions and having to stay back to help Slughorn make some stinking potion." said Rufus softly, as they started towards the potions' classroom.

James Looked over to where Lily was sitting. As far away from him as was physically possible for her. He sighed. Many girls over these past years had given the marauders their notes and sometimes even their homework sometimes simply to get them to talk to them or ask them out. Initially he enjoyed going out with a different girl every weekend but as his feelings for Lily kept on growing, so did his dislike for every girl that made eyes at him and offered her notes to him or to do his homework. He felt as if he had to take the girl out on a date if she shared her notes. Sirius, for the life of him, couldn't figure out what was wrong with James. Notes and the promise of a snog. For Sirius it was the bargain of the century. But to James it was more of a burden as time went on.

James hadn't even considered the idea that Lily would share her notes with him. He wished there was some cure to his irritated self. His mood swings were beyond his control at this point. He had regretted it the moment he at snapped at her. And when Lily had slammed her notes down at him, only then had he felt the inexplicable kindness of Lily. For once when receiving notes from a girl didn't feel like a burden to him. She probably knew he hadn't had any time to himself. She did it out of pure kindness. Even after he had snapped at her. Even when she was consumed with anger. Even then she had brought her notes for him because she knew he needed them, not because she wanted something in return. He knew he deserved every bit of her indifference at the moment but it was killing him on the inside nonetheless.

Remus watched out of the corner of his eyes when Hestia entered the classroom with Rufus, almost ten minutes late. As much as Remus knew himself to be a patient, unfazed by most emotions kind of a bloke, the pits of his stomach felt like the cauldron brewing his potion right now. Remus had been beside himself when Hestia had asked him out on a Hogsmede weekend. He had almost said yes before he realised that his life was a lot different than other guys. He couldn't simply give in to his emotions and say yes to a girl he likes. He could never make a decision purely relying on his own emotions. He always has to think about how the life of the other person would change for the worse first, before he could begin to think about how his would change for the better. The thought sent his stomach into knots. As much as he loved his friends, he has always been envious of them. Of how carefree they can be with their feelings in the case of James or even afford to play with other's feelings in the case of Sirius. He on the other hand lived under constraints of every kind. By his own nature he would never suspect nor judge anyone for their character or the decisions however his condition compelled him to. He had to observe anyone who got too close to him. He had to judge their actions, reactions, the jokes they made, how they treated people. He was compelled to put everything under the microscope for the sake of the other person's safety and his own. He had let go of many potential friends over the years and the marauders had stuck to his side through all of it. They had gone to the extent of even making his condition enjoyable when they had surprised him with their animagus form in their fourth year. For once he had allowed his emotions to take full swing. He would eventually disapprove of the idea of letting his friends become unregistered animagus for his sake, but at that moment he had simply allowed himself to be happy and be engulfed in the warmth of their friendship. It was the best day of his life.

Hestia had checked all of Remus' "tests" that he would mentally put someone to whenever he sensed them getting emotionally close to him. Her company was all that Remus used to look forward to all of last year. Drawling classes that seemed to went on forever felt way too short when Hestia was paired with him. Her wry humour laced with her prompt intellectual comments had Remus in fits of laughter to the point where he ended up losing 80 points from the Gryffindor points table. She was perfect. They would spend hours reading, academic or even leisure, without saying a word and it would be the highlight of his day. Spending time with her recharged his social battery.

He looked over at where Hestia stood with Rufus, brewing their potion. She looked upset. At that moment Rufus went over to Hestia and placed his hand at the small of her back. She nodded at something he said and smiled a little. Remus looked away. He could not look at her any longer without bile rising in his throat. Remus clenched the knife he was holding till his knuckles turned white, his breath heavy, the collar of his shirt feeling a tad too tight. He looked down at the beans he'd cut in an attempt to calm himself down. He felt like the smallest person in the room. Having a girl you fancy, tell you that she fancies you back is the biggest stroke of luck a bloke could have. But as Hestia would herself put it, you've got to White Fang your way through life sometimes. What good was it if he had to live like this?

Author's Note: If anyone is still around I'd love it if you could leave a review. I am by no means a writer, I write mostly because the stories in my head make my head start to rip apart at the seams, so I have to get them out. But I do enjoy writing and do it for the love of stories. If you can, do let me know how you liked it. I have promised before and I'll promise again, I have every intention of finishing this fic. I'll try to post regularly. Have a good day!