Lilith had managed to avoid Fred for most of winter break, but it wasn't exactly an easy task. She had decided to avoid her usual haunts, instead sticking to the Slytherin Common room, and always travelling with Cordelia or Pansy so he couldn't find her alone. Breakfast and supper were easy, Fred stuck at his table and she remained at hers, even though she could feel his eyes burning into her, but she had become a master of pretending he didn't exist, well, most of the time anyway.

But her days of having to avoid that awkward conversation she didn't want to partake in were coming to an end. As she sat at breakfast that Monday morning she could feel the dread as she slowly drank her tea. She didn't want to go to potions, and she didn't want to have to spend the morning stuck in that dungeon at the same desk as him.

It didn't help that Cordelia's favourite topic of conversation was now Fred Weasley.

"I just think it's awful. Not even a detention. Poor Ambrose. He'll be lucky if his nose was as nice as it was before."

Fortunately, Cordelia had believed Lilith's lies when she had seen her lip. She didn't want to have that conversation with her as well. "You need to stop talking about it. I can't have this discussion again."

"How are you not more furious?"

"Why do you care so much?" Lilith asks and Cordelia huffs in response.

"It's just Gryffindors isn't it. Always get away with everything. They could be murdering people and Dumbledore would be like, "oh that's a nice kill, ten points!"

Lilith smirks slightly as she continues to slowly drink her tea.

"It's a shame. Compared to our house there's have some of the better-looking ones. Well, apart from Cedric that is."

"Chambers and Montgomery aren't bad." Lilith says as she looks to the head of the table while shoving a slice of toast in her mouth and Cordelia grimaces.

"You're going to get fat."

"I don't care." She responds between chews.

"Ambrose wouldn't like it."

"Who cares about what he thinks?"

"Well, you should considering he's your boyfriend."

"He's not my boyfriend, I don't want a boyfriend. I have no interest in anyone." Biggest lie she had ever told.

"Wood was quite nice. Jordan's not terrible I suppose. The twins...which ones the one with longer hair?"

"George." She answers a little too quickly.

"How do you even tell them apart?"

"Fred has freckles on his neck." Again, too bloody quick. That was the first thing that sprung to mind, there were a million other things she could have said but she soon realises Cordelia is looking at her suspiciously.

"I sit next to him in potions." That was her excuse for noticing anyway and she was sticking to it. "When you have to look at his stupid face for four hours you notice things."

"I suppose." She sighs.

"I thought you were going out with Phlegm?"

"I am. Sort of. And come on, as if I would date any of them anyway. Jordan's half blood and those Weasleys - "

"What?"

Cordelia raises an eyebrow. "Their blood traitors. As if I would be seen dead with them."

"Merlin Cordelia just shut up. You sound like - "

"What?"

"An idiot." Lilith answers irritably as she stands from the table and heads out of the great hall.

"Can anyone tell me what the Draught of living death is?"

The class is quiet. Lilith is staring at the back of Lee Jordan's head, trying to focus on that instead of Fred who is sat next to her, arms folded, his eyes focused on Snape.

She was trying hard to just ignore him but even his presence next to her was overwhelming. She found it infuriating that a few months ago she had nothing to do with him except the occasional glance and now she couldn't bloody get him off her mind.

As Snape carries on, she sees the slip of paper slide across to her. She ignores it as she stares at the professor but then she feels Fred's finger poke her in the arm. Sighing she grabs the note.

Are you still mad at me?

She wasn't. But the more she had thought about it, the better it probably was that they weren't friends or anything else.

Lilith pushes the paper back, no writing on it, feeling like a bitch as she does it and she can see Fred's jaw clench slightly out of the corner of her eye. He picks up his quill and scribbles something else down and she lets out a huff of air and as she waits for him to push it back.

I reckon I can make it up to you.

Ok. She'll take the bait. She looks over and mouths how and he smiles as he glances over to Snape before pulling the paper bag out of his pocket and popping it on the desk.

She tries not to smile as she peers into the bag of Sugar mice and scribbles something down.

Do you really think you can win me over with sweets?

If it's working, then yes.

She actually allows a smile, but she quickly corrects herself. No, she wasn't going to give in.

He scrunches the paper aside and leans in slightly, and she's very aware of his body leaning against hers.

"Have you noticed Snape's looking particularly clean today? Do you reckon he's had his New Year's Day shower?"

"Shut up."

"His hair's looking very luxurious. Is he getting tips from you?"

"Mr Weasley!" Fred snaps his head away and looks towards the front of the class. "Something you would like to discuss with the entire class, Weasley?"

"No professor, we were just discussing...the...uh - "

"Draught of living Death?" Lilith says and Fred points a finger at her.

"That's the one."

There are a few laughs from the class but Snape seems less than impressed.

"Mr Weasley, can you tell me what the Draught of living death is?"

Fred blows out some air. "A potion, for...sleeping?"

"Well, seeing as you answered that correctly, you can be my test subject."

"Pardon me?"

Snape picks up a vial and walks over to the table, passing it to him which Fred begrudgingly accepts.

"Mr Weasley, if you would."

Fred side glances at Lilith nervously before answering. "I'm not thirsty to be honest." But the cold hard stare he receives forces Fred to down the potion.

"Well?"

"I feel fine." He shrugs then suddenly his eyes are fluttering close and he's falling back off his stool. Lilith jumps from her seat and grabs him from behind, practically having to fall with him so he doesn't smack his head against the floor. Why did she think he wouldn't weigh so bloody much.

"Help!"

George is suddenly besides her, grabbing Fred under his arm and helping to lay him on the floor. Snape, seemingly not caring anymore, starts to walk back to the front of the dungeon.

"Today you will be producing the Wiggenweld potion which is the cure to the draught of living death. And I suggest you all act quickly unless you want Mr Weasley to be asleep forever."

"Wouldn't be the end of the world would it?" Cordelia scoffs and the Slytherins laugh in response.

"Indeed, it wouldn't Ms Travers."

Lilith, who is still on the floor with him, can't help but stare at his unmoving chest, the panic in her slowly rising.

"Professor I don't think he's breathing at all?"

"That is the point." Snape sighs and looks over. "Perhaps it worked a little too well then, take him to Madame Pomfrey, I don't need a dead student on my hands.

"By myself?"

"You are his potions partner Miss Lestrange."

Lilith rolls her eyes as she stands up and pulls the wand from her pocket.

"Every year!" Madame Pomfrey says with complete annoyance as she heads over to the doors to help Lilith tug Fred through. "Did you get him here alright?"

"May have bumped his head a few times..."

"Draught of living death?"

"Yes Madame."

"Pop him down one of the beds dear."

Lilith does as she's told, laying Fred down as gently as possible on one of the empty beds and shoving her wand back into her pocket when she's done. As couldn't help but feel slightly sick as she looks down at his lifeless body and she takes a seat in the chair next to the bed.

"Honestly I've seen this boy more times in the past few months than I have in his past six years of school."

"Snape does this every year?" Lilith questions.

"Oh yes. Picks one student to send down to me, even though he could handle this himself. I'll go fetch the Antidote; you can head back to class if you want?"

"I'll wait. I'll feel a bit bad if it turns out he is dead."

Madame Pomfrey laughs a little as she heads towards her office and Lilith lets out a sigh as she stares at him.

"Can't stay out of trouble for ten bloody minutes, can you?" Lilith mumbles, noticing the bruising on his hand.

The nights of the yule ball had played in her head more than once. But it wasn't Ambrose she had been thinking of. It was Fred on top of Ambrose, his fists flying, the angry look on his face. As much as she should have been horrified, she would be lying if she didn't admit watching Fred do that was...well...even she didn't want to confess the feeling it had caused because that would be acknowledging she thought of Weasley in more ways than she would care to admit.

But she couldn't help but feel angry too. It was something she wanted to completely forget about and even now seeing Fred's still cut up hand was a reminder of that. It didn't help that people still were questioning about why Fred Weasley of all people would do such a thing. But at least her bruises had now turned to a dull yellow and the cut of her lip had almost faded.

She leans forward slightly and brushes the hair from his face before stopping herself. No, she wasn't doing that. No bloody lovey-dovey stuff with Fred Weasley, so why the bloody hell was she now holding his hand.

"Don't think I ever said thanks, did I?" She says quietly as she gently rubs his bruised knuckles, then she hears the footsteps and leans back into the seat, arms folded across her chest.

"Here we go then." Pomfrey says as she walks up and tilts Fred's head slightly as she pours a drop of antidote into his mouth. "Should start to work in Three...two.."

Fred suddenly bolts up, breathing in deeply, eyes wide as he realises where he is and looks between the two witches.

"And how are we Mr Weasley?" The healer asks and Fred seems to still be waking up.

"uhh - fine." He says as he rubs his eyes and yawns. "Tired."

"That will be after effect of the potion. You'll be perfectly fine to head back to class but please don't come back to my hospital wing for a least the rest of the school year?"

"No promises Madame." He says with a wink towards Lilith and she rolls her eyes as she stands from the chair.

As they walk along the corridor, she tries not to look over at Fred who is now whistling as they head back to potions. She doesn't recognise it and she want to tell him to shut up so she can concentrate on anything other than him.

Lilith had to tell him she didn't like him, but she knew he wouldn't be that accepting. Thanks for beating up my potential rapist Weasley, but it was nice knowing you.

"You know...we could skip. I mean as far as Snape is aware, I'm dead in the hospital wing. He'd probably prefer it if I didn't go back to class."

"And what exactly would we do instead?"

"I have a few ideas." He smirks and she scoffs as she continues down the corridor. "Come on Lestrange! We have a perfect opportunity here to get up to some mischief! Don't you want to have a little fun?"

"No."

"Aahh come on! What if we go prank Filch? Trelawney is quite easy as well; all you have to do is rearrange her tea leaves and suddenly everyone in our year is going to die."

"Fred look - "

He stops so she can speak, waiting patiently as he watches her. She hates that she feels bad about what she's going to say, considering it's him of all people.

"I've been thinking and..." It was hard to spit the words out. "I don't think we should be friends."

She sees the surprise on his face but then he starts nodding in agreement.

"9Well, that's good cause I don't want to be friends either."

"You don't? Ok, that's good." It didn't feel good, but there was a relief, even with the slight hurt.

But then he cracks a smile. "I was thinking more boyfriend to be perfectly honest."

Don't smile Lilith.

"Fred - "

"Lil - " He answers back with a grin. "But it's ok...I'll wait. I understand you're having a hard time coming to terms with your feelings for me. After all, I'm a bad boy Gryffindor and you're a perfect prefect Slytherin. What would the neighbours say!"

"I don't have feelings for you."

"Course not." He says with a smug nod. "oh, and by the way. You're welcome."

"What?"

"You're welcome." He repeats with a bigger smile and suddenly she's horrified. "It was weird actually; it was like I was dreaming but...not. I also remember you saying something about me being the hottest boy in school and how you couldn't wait to mount me."

"I did not say that!"

"Ah but you did say the first thing!"

She allows herself to smile then.

"but, like I said, you're welcome Lestrange."

"This is ridiculous, I can't believe Father is making me do this class."

Lilith looks up from her book to Draco who is staring bewildered as he reads through her notes. She had agreed to help Draco with his Arithmancy homework, but she didn't think he would be bloody moaning so much.

"Well, if you want to be a curse breaker you need it."

"Who would want a job as ridiculous as that?" He huffs.

"Well, what are you going to do?"

"I don't know. Probably work for the ministry like Father. Although, I don't suppose that would be terribly easy now that you're on their blacklist." Lilith chuckles a little and Draco smirks as he turns the page. "What about you?"

"I honestly don't know. When I turn eighteen, I inherit Lestrange Manor so, become a lady of leisure like your mother? Or I might just burn the place down."

Draco looks up from his book and she notices the confused stare he gives her.

"I'm joking."

"Do you think they will ever get out of Azkaban?"

Lilith didn't know how to tell Draco she hoped not.

"Who knows." She shrugs. "I wonder if the Fudges have told your parents, I haven't received the angry letter yet."

"I didn't tell them. You should probably tell Mother though."

"I might mention it next time she writes to me."

She wondered how she would word it. Dear aunt, no more dates with complete Psychos please.

"You can also tell her Weasley bloody fancies you. I'm sure father would be thrilled to hear that."

"That's nonsense."

Draco laughs. "Oh because I just go around punching people for girls I don't like. Besides, I've seen him staring at you. Image having them of all people fancy you."

Lilith had already heard the complaints about the Weasleys a thousand times from him and her uncle. The worse was in fourth year when they had bumped into them in Diagon Alley. Lucius hadn't shut up about it for days.

"Although, that was quite a good punch, you even saw Ambrose's nose break. Seeing as you wouldn't let me -"

"Draco you're about a hundred and ten pounds soaking wet. What were you going to do?"

"One fifteen." He mumbles "I would've killed him." Draco says as he glances at her and she smiles. As much of a brat as her little cousin could be, she did have a soft spot for him.

"So?"

"So?" She repeats. "What?"

"Do you like Weasley?"

"Don't be ridiculous."

Draco rolls his eyes and but then suddenly his head pokes up. "Do you hear that?"

Lilith did. She looks around the quiet library, and then as she hears it again she moves from her chair and kneels down to the ground, spotting the toad under one of the shelves.

"Hello Trevor."

"Longbottom's toad?" Draco says with disgust.

She remembers when the toad had spent a week in the Slytherin common room and had taken to a hidden spot next to the fireplace. Crab and Goyle would feed him flies every day until he eventually found his way out.

Lilith grabs him and stands back up. "How does he always bloody lose him?"

"Maybe we should send him back in pieces."

Lilith smacks the back of Draco's head and he glares at her as he rubs the spot.

"I suppose we should get you back to Neville, shouldn't we?"

The toad makes a low noise and Lilith places him on her stack of books. "You go back to the common room; I'll take him back to the Gryffindor tower."

"Can't I come with?"

"No. I don't need you causing any trouble."

As she makes her way to the Gryffindor common room, she almost loses Trevor a few times as he jumps out of her hands trying to escape, walking up the staircase she considers dumping the lump outside of the Fat lady and just heading back, but god knows where he would end up. She was surprised after four years the poor thing was still alive.

"What are you doing here? This isn't your common room."

Lilith, who has never actually spoken to the fat lady sighs.

"I have something that belongs to Longbottom."

The fat lady stares at the toad in her hands and huffs. "Well, I'm not letting you in! Unless you know the password that is."

"Well, I don't want to come in. Can't you just go get Neville?"

"I'm not an owl!"

"Fine." Lilith sighs. "Quidditch?"

"No." The fat lady says with a smug smile. "Guess again."

"Balderdash?"

"That was last weeks!"

If only Black could break back in and slash her up again. "Look, please can you go and get a Gryffindor, I don't really care who? I just want to get rid of this bloody toad."

"Only because I'm bored of this conversation." She says as she disappears from the portrait and Lilith sighs.

"That makes two of us."

Lilith is leaning against the wall when the portrait swings open and Angelina steps out, slight surprise on her face. Great. Exactly the person she wanted to see. Why couldn't it have just been that Dean kid, at least he was too scared to talk to her.

"Oh...what are you doing here?"

"I have...uh," She lifts Trevor who gives a polite croak as she holds him up. "Found him in the library."

"Oh! uh, thanks?" Angelina goes to grab him but hesitates.

"He's not slimy so don't worry about that."

Angelina picks him up, still grimacing as she does.

"Thanks." She sighs and cradles him in her arms. "I'll make sure Neville gets him."

"You don't have to mention I brought him up."

As she starts to descend the stairs, she hopes briefly that Angelina won't keep talking, but then she hears her name. No such luck.

"Yes?" She asks as she turns.

"Are you ok? After the whole - "

"Fine." Lilith cuts her off before Johnson can finish her sentence. "Like it never happened."

"Right" Angelina half laughs, and Lilith can tell she's holding something back.

"What is it?"

"Nothing really, it's just - " The chaser sighs as she looks down at the toad. "Do you like Fred?"

If one more person asked her that she was going to throw herself off the Astronomy tower.

"Me?" Lilith forces out a laugh, hoping it didn't sound too fake. "I can't even tell them apart half the time."

"I only ask because at the ball, with what he did I thought maybe he liked you too. But he won't talk about it."

"It's probably because it's engrained in Gryffindor DNA to be as chivalrous as possible, regardless of how stupid it is. Besides, I've seen him during quidditch, he's not exactly new to fighting."

"Suppose not. Just thought it was odd. When I told him he just seemed so...angry."

"Yeah, well thanks for doing that by the way." She can't help the spite in her tone as she says it, in all honesty she was still annoyed at Johnson for having opened her mouth in the first place, and she was starting to grow tired of this conversation. "Look what do you want Johnson? I don't fancy Fred if that's what you're worried about. I'm guessing you like him then?"

"Might do." Angelina shrugs.

"Well why don't you just ask him out instead of being insecure about it to me?" She didn't really enjoy the I'm a bitch routine, but it felt easier that way. "I'd rather go out with Mad eye than be seen dead with Fred Weasley of all people. I don't even like the loser."

As much as she didn't want to admit it, at least Angelina distracting him would keep him off her back and she wouldn't have to deal with the backlash. She was many things but if someone was taken she wouldn't go after them. At least maybe then whatever she was feeling towards might disintegrate if he left her alone.

"Well, he seems to like you."

Lilith was more than aware of that.

"Well bully for him. Look can I go? I only came up here to give Neville his stupid toad."

Angelina nods and Lilith finally makes her escape.