I sat around the lake with Marie, Remus, Alice, and Frank, who were all students in my house.

“It sure is nice out here,” Alice smiled, leaning on Frank’s lap.

He smiled and kissed her on the forehead. “Not as nice as you.”

I made fake gagging sounds and laughed a little. “How sickening.”

“Speaking of sickening love, where’s James?” Remus asked, who was holding Marie’s hand.

“Quidditch Pitch,” I grunted. “Where else?”

“Or… not so sickening.” Marie laughed. “You two have seemed to take your space in the past few weeks. Is everything all right?”

“Definitely,” I smiled, lying through my teeth. We were happy when we were together, but those times were rare.

“What’re your plans for the summer?” Frank questioned, deliberately changing the subject. “Going home?”

“Yes, are you going home?” Remus asked also, but I knew what he meant. He wasn’t asking me if I was going home- he was asking me if I was going to the home that Mr. Orson had left to James and I.

“Depends on what James wants to do,” I shrugged, answering Remus’ question instead of Franks’.

“Why is it up to James if you go home or not?” asked Alice.

“And don’t say ‘I don’t know,’” Marie commanded. “It seems like ever since you three have returned from… god knows where, you’re always constantly looking out for each other.”
“That’s what friends do,” I replied. “And it wasn’t ‘god-knows-where.’ We were taking care of a sick friend, nothing else. We cleaned house and did our homework. The end.”
“Mmhmm,” Marie replied skeptically. “That’s why James is more mature. That’s why, all of the sudden, Lily, you sleep in class. You don’t even sleep a full night without waking up in screams. That’s why whenever James says Remus’ name, he turns around with a worried expression on his face. I swear, you three act as if someone was trying to kill you!”

If only she knew how right she was.

****

“Eek, I’m so excited!” Marie squealed, jumping onto my bed. “The dance is tonight! What dress should I wear?”

She held up a red dress, then a black one, and I squinted. “Red. You don’t want to look depressing.”

She nodded and slipped it on. It was perfect.

“Awesome,” I smiled, and then my face fell a little. “Man, it sure is going to be sad to leave Hogwarts.”

Marie nodded. “I know. This place has been like a home to me.”

I bit my lip. “Yeah…ready to go?”

“Yep.”

We walked down to the Great Hall and Remus came up. “Hello, gorgeous. Ready to go in?” She nodded and Remus smiled. “Let’s enter then. See you inside, Lily.”

They left and walked to their door. I sighed when someone tapped me on the shoulders. I turned around, expecting James, but a Prefect boy met my grin.

“Lily Evans?”

I nodded.

He handed over a piece of parchment. “James Potter says to meet him in the Room of Requirements. He has a surprise for you.”

I took the paper and tucked it in my purse without reading it. “Thanks.”

****
James came out of the restroom and tapped his foot impatiently. Lily still hadn’t arrived at the dance; she was about half an hour late.

“Seen her yet?” James asked the Prefect boy by the door.

He shook his head no.

James groaned, and waited still.

****
I opened the door and darkness swarmed over me. “James?”

Nothing.

I closed the door and the aroma of roses and chocolate swarmed over me. I breathed it in and held it. Smiling, I called his name again.

Something moved on the other side of the room.

“James, come on, stop playing! What’s this surprise?”

****
After an hours worth of waiting, James retreated to his common room, a bad mood sternly shown on his face. He couldn’t believe that Lily had blown him off. Yes, they’d been having their issues, but she seemed genuinely interested in coming. It hurt to know that she bailed on him.

“I can’t believe you did this,” he sighed to himself, then punched the wall. Stone cracked into his skin but he didn’t care.

“Are you okay?” a small voice inquired from the other side of the corridor. A pretty girl with an athletic build was leaning up against the window. She stared at him with a mixed look of curiosity and concern.

James spun around. “Milo, you scared me. Yeah, I’m all right… just a little upset.”

“Want to talk about it?”

He nodded. “Yeah, all right. You shouldn’t be out this late, though. Sixth years aren’t allowed out past nine o’clock.”

“Are you going to turn me in?” she grinned, and he laughed a little.

“Nah, I have no room to talk. I did much worse in my sixth year. Want to go up to the common room?”

“Too noisy.”

“Want to go… to my room? Just to talk?”

She flashed a beautiful smile and pushed her blonde hair away from her face. “Perfect.”

****

An arm wrapped around my middle roughly and I winced. “Ouch, James, that hurt.”

Soft laughter filled my ear. “I’m not James.”

The voice was creepy and snake-like. “Then… then who are you?”

“I’m the person you got fired. I needed that position. It’s me, your favorite ex-Head Boy.”

I gasped. “N-no!”

“Yes, Lily. It’s me. Avery.”

His laughter filled the room again.