Chapter Ten

End of March

James

Well, then.

I could only say, "Oops."

We made a mistake, big time.

You see, we'd finally figured out what happened. It was easy, really. Evans spilled to Remus, who's furious. Apparently Evans got in HUGE trouble and her sister is refusing to talk to her.

I didn't mean for that to happen…and our dorm is split into two. There's Sirius, Peter and I, and then there's Remus. He's kind of upset, but he still hangs out with us. It's not like he has any other friends, right?

It's still totally unfair! I mean, we didn't mean to make Petunia hate Evans! And he agreed to the prank! So, it was clearly not only our fault! Even though he didn't write any of that letter, he still participated!

"James, Charms," Remus himself came walking up the stairs, grabbing an extra quill and a roll of parchment. He avoided my gaze, and I felt horrible. There must be some way to make this better…and that way is pranks! What else could be better, that's what you're good at!

"Remus, I didn't do my homework!" I suddenly 'realized', grabbing the supplies out of his hand and writing my name at the top. "What was it about?"

Remus looked at his supplies before gathering up another set. He looked like he was seriously considering not telling me the assignment, but then he sighed.

"Two feet on the differences between the Levitation Charm and the Hover Charm."

"What? There's a difference?" I said dramatically, resigning myself to a detention. It was worth it, to have Remus back.

"Yes, James…but I've got to go." Remus said, edging towards the door. He looked uncomfortable about helping me, and awkward talking to me.

I put my plan into action. "I know what to do! Look, Remus, you've got to help me. Ok, so when we go in, I'm going to drop my homework, and you have to make it look like Snape summoned it, ok? And then, it'll be blank, and I can go over to his desk and say he erased it!"

"No." Remus said, looking around nervously. "If I get caught..."

"Please?" I said.

"No. You're on your own. I won't do it."

Right.

•••••••

Lily

I rolled my eyes, tuning my friends out as they whispered heatedly about…something. I wasn't sure what, but it involved summer. I wouldn't be able to go…I was grounded for "abusing my magical abilities and tormenting my sister". I didn't even do anything!

"Class, class, settle down," my favorite professor said, waving his wand around. "Does everyone have their homework?"

"HERE YOU GO, PROFESSOR!" A loud, obnoxious voice yelled from outside the classroom. Potter and Remus ran into the room, and Potter tripped dramatically. I rolled my eyes again. It was yet another of his hare-brained schemes to get out of homework, but I wondered why Remus was involved.

Remus covertly levitated the paper—which I was sure was empty—to Severus' desk. Oh. So that's what he was doing. He should just own up, for Pete's sake! Now Severus would get a detention!

Gods, I couldn't watch this. This was so cruel! I began doodling on the edge of my Charms homework while Potter strode over to Severus' desk.

"Give me back my homework, Snape!"

Severus barely spared him a glance. "I didn't take your homework, Potter. Lupin over there levitated it over to my desk."

I smirked a bit as Potter looked shocked that someone discovered his obvious ploy. Professor Flitwick walked over to the boys, even though his head barely rose above the desk. "What's going on here, boys?"

Potter pointed a finger at Snape. "He summoned my homework to him!"

Professor Flitwick flicked his wand, and the scroll flew into his hand. He opened it and looked up at Potter. "This scroll is blank, Mr. Potter."

"He must have erased it!" Potter had the look of someone who was wildly grasping for straws. Remus was standing behind him, but looked very uneasy.

"Mr. Potter, no first year could have erased this! Especially wandless and wordlessly."

I smiled wider as Potter looked crushed. "But—I wrote five feet on the, um, the…uh…the similarities between the flying charm and the levitation charm!"

Alice giggled from next to me, and Potter shot her a murderous look. Sensing that the matter was nearly resolved, I blew on my homework and used my White Out (a muggle invention that I'd smuggled into school) to erase my doodles. I know I shouldn't be doodling in the first place, but what they don't know won't hurt them!

"Mr. Potter! That wasn't even the assignment, and you aren't the type to do extra credit. I'm afraid that I shall have to assign you a detention for failing to do the required homework, lying about your homework and falsely accusing Mr. Snape. Now, can you please explain to me how this got onto Mr. Snape's desk?"

Potter looked mutinous and I spoke up. Stupid, really, but I was getting tired of this, and since we had a Charms test on Friday (today was Thursday) I wanted all the practice I could get, but, at the same time, I didn't want to get Remus in trouble. But, he did deserve it. "Professor, Remus levitated it up on his desk."

"Is this true, Mr. Lupin?"

Remus looked trapped, and he glared at me. I shrugged; I was only doing what was right. Plus, I'd noticed he wasn't spending any time with Potter and Black lately…and he looked so sad, I just had to intervene. "Um…"

"No," Potter said loudly, causing Remus to give him a grateful look. "It was me, Professor, I swear."

Flitwick looked from Remus to Potter, and I looked away. Now that they were bound to be friends again, I didn't want to watch. "Are you sure, Mr. Potter?"

"Yes, Professor, Remus was just trying to stop me. He's been trying to get me to do my homework all week, sir." Potter hung his head in 'shame', and I felt a twinge of…something. That really was very decent of him, I was loathe to admit.

"Very well, Mr. Potter. You get a further hour of detention. I shall ask Professor McGonagall to assign you one." Flitwick said sternly, before shooing them to their seats. "Now, today we will be learning Alohamora. Now, repeat after me…"

••••••

James

I slid into my seat, patting the chair next to me. From the side, Sirius was shooting me curious looks, but I ignored him, taking out some parchment.

I'm sorry, Remus I wrote, sliding the sheet over to him. He sighed and shrugged.

I know. Just…it was mean, okay? Don't do anything like that again. Lily's in HUGE trouble, and she doesn't even know why. Thanks for covering for me, though.

We won't do it again, and anytime, Remus. Friends stick up for each other, right? Even when one of them is being a prat and the other is being a non-prat.

Remus grinned a little, and nodded to me. I smiled in satisfaction. All was well.

•*•*•*•*•*•*•

April

"On your mark…" Sirius whispered, looking at his watch.

"Get set…" I chimed in, quivering with anticipation.

"GO!"

Remus took a small knife and cut the rope that kept the bucket upright, causing the stuff inside to pour all over Snape, who had just exited the Slytherin common room.

Snape looked up in surprise, the goo dripping down his body and sinking into his skin. We'd bribed some third-years to buy us the potion at Zonko's, and it was working amazingly. Snape's face began to bubble and shift, and as we watched in satisfaction, his body began shortening, sinking down to the floor.

"Hey!" Snape snapped—or, more accurately, he squeaked. He was shorter then Flitwick now, teeny, and his voice was so high pitched that Sirius and I burst out laughing. "Whose there? I'm gonna—hic!—get you!"

"Go! Take a picture!" I reminded Sirius, who raised his camera and snapped a picture of dwarf-Snape for our Prank Memoirs Album. (I wasn't sure what memoirs meant, but Remus said it was a fancier way of saying memories).

"Whose there? You're going to get in trouble, I promise you!" Snape said angrily, his voice breaking in the middle.

"Not bloody likely, Snape!" I crowed, and before he could retort, the three of us were running to breakfast, laughing.

••••••

Lily

"I hate Fridays," groaned Aliya. "They taunt you."

"Why do you hate them? Fridays are the BEST!" Lizzie said excitedly, "Have you ever heard of that expression, what was it…oh yeah! TGIF?"

"What, Trash Goes In Fridays?" Aliya said cynically, glaring at her schedule with disgust. "Look at this! History of Magic, DADA, Flying Class, Potions and Herbology all in one day!"

"I like Potions," I protest rather feebly. It was true, though; our DADA teacher had gone and got himself cursed over Christmas Break (he's the Defense teacher, honestly!) and now all he did was read from the textbook and let us hex each other on occasion…and, he assigns us pages and pages of homework, on topics we hadn't even studied!

It was maddening.

Plus, in Herbology, we were squeezing pus out of some nasty plant. It was the kind of thing Alice enjoys, but me? Ugh.

Alice, of course, defended her favorite subject, but Aliya was having one of her cynical days where she's in a bad mood all day, so it was hopeless.

"…enjoy it?"

"Yes, Aliya! Herbology is fascinating!"

"No it's not! It's disgusting and pointless and stupid!"

"No it's not," defended Alice. "You're just in a bad mood."

"Am not! You're in a—is that Snape?"

I spun around at Severus' name, and promptly gasped and choked on laughter at the same time. Gods! What had happened? He was a dwarf! Potter and Co were chasing him into the Great Hall. Once Sev realized where he was, he paled and tried to dart away, but Potter stopped him.

The Great Hall burst out in laughter, and Severus blushed furiously, his normally pale pallor flooded with red. I glared at the culprits: who else? Let's think… "POTTER! BLACK!" I yelled, but I saw Remus laughing about it at the same time. "LUPIN!"

Remus looked at me, looking rather hurt. I gave him a Look.

"What did you three do?"

"Why does it matter, Lilykins?" Black called out jovially. "It's hilarious!"

"SHUT UP, POTTER!" Severus roared, before he flushed deeper red. The school roared at his squeak, and even I giggled. He waved his fist at Potter, before running out of the hall.

"And it'll wear off in, oh, a day or so," added Potter smugly.

I rolled my eyes. Has he forgotten that the entire school is listening? Not to mention the teachers, who just heard him admit he pranked Severus.

Alice and Lizzie giggled from next to me, and even grouchy Aliya cracked a smile. We watched in satisfaction as McGonagall swept down on him, and his grin slid off his face.

"Oh, really, Mr. Potter?" McGonagall inquired crisply. "And how would you know that?"

"Um…" Potter's eyes grew wide. "Because we know what potion he used!"

McGonagall tapped her foot. "Do explain."

"Well, we heard someone brewing a potion in, um…the bathroom! Yeah, and we listening in, thinking they were doing it for homework or something, you know? And we peeked in, and saw the bottle." Potter finished smugly, pleased with his story.

McGonagall was having none of it. "Detention, to all of you, and five points each will be taken from Gryffindor."

"But, Professor," pleaded Sirius, a horror-struck on his face.

"Do you wish to make it ten?"

"No, Professor," Remus pitched in, dragging Sirius out of his seat and out of the door. "Sorry, Professor."

I rolled my eyes. "Is he that stupid?"

"Apparently so," Aliya said. "Now, come one. We have HOM. Excellent. I didn't get enough sleep last night."

"Home?" I said dubiously as we finished our French toast (that's not even made in France. Really.) and walked out of the door. I had a chocolate frog in my pocket--I would give it to Sev if I saw him. Poor thing.

"Yeah, History Of Magic. HOM."

I sighed as we turned the corner and began walking up the stairs. "Okay, fall asleep. Just don't expect to borrow my notes afterward."

"Aw, Lils, come on," Aliya gave me her best pleading face.

I rolled my eyes again. "No."

"You wouldn't want your poor friend to fail HOM, would you?"

"No, Aliya. Take your own notes."

"Please?"

"No."

"Aww, Lils, I thought you cared about me!"

I was weakening, and she knew it. "No…"

"Please, Lily? Its not my fault, I just can't pay attention in that class!"

I groaned. "Fine."

"YES!"

••••••

James

"How does she do that?" I raged as I paced back and forth. We were missing History of Magic, but who cared? Binns never took roll.

"Do what?" Peter asked, having missed the prank and breakfast.

"I don't know, mate! It's weird! She just enjoys getting us in trouble," Sirius said grouchily, slumping against the wall.

"Who?" Peter asked.

"Is it just me, or do you see a pattern here?"

"Where?"

"I know! So, let's see; Halloween, she spilled to McGonagall."

"Who?"

"Then, when we pranked Jack Riney, she was there too!"

"When?"

"And in Charms, she got us in trouble!"

"WHO?"

"Yeah, and then when we did that thing, you know, she was there also!"

"What?"

"And today! How did she know it was us?"

"WHO??????" Peter shouted loudly, his face red.

"Calm down, mate," Sirius said, surprised. "Now, come one. We just have to prank her for this."

I opened my mouth but closed in when Peter threw his hands up in exasperation and stormed out of the room.

"What's his problem?" I asked, nonplussed.

Remus sighed and pinched the arch of his nose, before he walked out as well.

Sirius looked at me. "I don't know what's the matter with everyone!"

•*•*•*•*•*•*•

May

Lily

I was doing my best to ignore Potter and Black, but it was getting pretty hard.

I mean, do they have to do that in the common room? And before exams, no less! These were vital! If I failed, I would have to repeat first year.

The horror!

I'd been studying like crazy, trying to put the summer out of my head. About a week into finding out who did it to Petunia, we'd given up. I didn't really care anymore. I'd just explain what happened to Petunia—in person—and they'd have to believe me. I'm rubbish at lying.

"The main ingredient in the Shrinking Solution is…" prompted Alice, and I came back to Earth with a start.

"Lacewing flies," I replied automatically, my eyes scanning the common room for Prefects. Honestly, Potter and Black were whooping now, and yelling, and itwas so annoying.

"GO!" Potter and Black yelled, causing everyone to look their way in anticipation. I groaned. Another prank. If McGonagall found out, they'd lose the lead Gryffindor had in the House Cup! We had four hundred points, Ravenclaw had three hundred fifty, Slytherin had three hundred, and Hufflepuff had two hundred fifty. Well, not exactly those numbers, but close.

I looked around the common room, noticing it had gone silent. "What's going on?" I said, but my voice came out like a squeak. Glaring, I opened my mouth to reprimand them (if they dared to prank me like they did Severus......), but I was cut off.

"Activus!" the two demons chanted together, and I suddenly had a huge headache as the world seemed to spin and grow, and suddenly everything was huge.

I'd somehow gotten on my hands and knees, but when I tried to stand up, I couldn't. I stretched a hand out, and nearly fainted.

I was covered in fur.

"YOU IDIOTS! HOW COULD YOU DO SUCH A STUPID THING?? TURN ME BACK RIGHT NOW! I DEMAND IT!" I screamed at them, and suddenly the silent room burst into laughter as I squeaked frantically. Why wasn't my voice working! My voice wasn't working! I was squeaking!

"That's for ratting us out every time!" Potter came to me, picking me up. I squeaked at the indignantly, and bit him on the thumb. I was a RAT!! "OUCH! DAMNIT, EVANS!"

"Hey! James!" Black yelled over the laughter. "Turn her around this way—perfect! Pose, Evans!"

I attempted to turn myself around, but Potter picked me up from my tail as I swung dizzily in space. "Cheese!" Potter said, smiling hugely as I squeaked frantically, the bright flash of a camera momentarily blinding me.

Wait…camera!

Ooooh, I was going to kill him!

••••••

James

"Ready…" Sirius whispered, his black eyes glinting in anticipation.

"Set…" I said, opening the bag of Instant Rat Powder ('Someone ratting you out? Turn them into the rat they really are!') and pointing it at Evans.

"GO!" We shouted together, and I squeezed the bag, causing the gray powder to explode out of the bag. It showered over Evans, who sighed and turned, flippingher red hair over her shoulder as her green eyes sparked. The room grew quiet.

"What's going on?" Evans said, her voice squeaking slightly. She frowned and opened her mouth again…only to be silenced as the two of us yelled,

"Activus!"

Evans spun around once, shrinking and stretching as she landed on her arms and legs, before a sprouting of gray fur grew all over her.

I cracked up as she began squeaking frantically, her lithe body twisting as she screamed in outrage. I could only imagine what she was yelling now, her small ears flattening to her head.

"Look…at…her hair!" Sirius gasped from behind me, and I laughed harder as I saw the reddish-grey hair on top of her head.

Remembering the advertisement, I yelled, "That's for ratting us out every time!" I then walked over to her, squatting to pick her up…

…and the little rat bit me on the thumb! I swore and glared at her, noticing with a jolt that her small, beady eyes glinted with emerald. She crawled over my hand, her soft, warm body twisting and turning.

Then, Sirius yelled, "Hey! James! Turn her around this way—perfect! Pose, Evans!"

Evans squealed again and tried to turn around, to leap off my hand, or something, before I grabbed her tail and dangled her in the air. "Cheese!" I said, laughing as she squeaked and spun in the air.

I grinned for the camera, the flash lighting up her reddish hair before she froze, her tiny arms tensing.

I'd seen this look on human-Evans before, before she would blow. She would freeze, her eyes would glare and narrow, her arms and legs would tense, and her hair seemed to crackle.

I blanched and put her down on the couch, backing away slowly. I glanced back at Sirius and mouthed, "How much time?"

He got it and read the packet's instructions again, his eyebrows drawing together. "Five minutes," he said cautiously.

I wondered how far away I could get in five minutes.

••••••

Lily

Potter paled and set me down, before having a silent conversation with Black.

"Five minutes," Black answered an unspoken question, and Potter went paler. He ran a hand through his messy black hair and adjusted his wire-rimmed glasses. I assumed that meant how long it was until this wore off, and I leaped off the sofa. I wanted to be prepared to hex him as soon as it wore off…but I had no chance.

Potter, who had flinched when I'd jumped, backed up. "Sirius, she's in one of her revenge moods!"

"Oh, heck," Black said, his eyes darting around. "I'm outta here…"

Potter shuddered, before turning to the waiting crowd. Most people had gone back to what they were doing. "Adios, fans! Remember us! Even if Evans kills us, remember us! Goodbye, cruel world!"

Some second years laughed. "Drama king," one, a girl, said affectionately. "Hey, James, you better run. You're no match for a girl."

Potter's shoulders slumped and he glared at the twelve-year-old girl. She had long, shiny, wavy brown hair and light hazel eyes with green flecks in it. She looked a lot like Potter, minus the brown hair…and the fact that she was gorgeous. She must've been only twelve or thirteen, but she looked nearly fourteen. I felt childish in comparison. "Shut up, Madelyn."

"Love you too, little cousin."

"Little cousin?" Potter said angrily, as Madelyn winked at me and nodded to the clock ticking in one corner. She was distracting him so I could punish him…I liked this girl a lot. "You're only half a year older then me! We should be in the same year!"

"Yeah, but its because I'm smarter."

"Are not! If I was born earlier, we would be the same! It's cause I was born after September."

Madelyn laughed. "No, Jamsie…now, how are your little first year classes?"

"I'm not little!"

"It's okay, you'll always be little to me."

"Madelyn! Shut up."

"Nope."

I was laughing quietly, but suddenly had to hold back a scream as the world spun in reverse and I grew. Since I was expecting it, I didn't get a headache this time.

Aliya, who'd been laughing like everyone else, (the traitor) tossed me my wand, and I glared at my friends, resolving to ignore them, at least through dessert, for this insult. Then, I pointed my wand at Potter…what was that curse I'd heard before in DADA? Oh, yeah. The Curse of the Bogies.

"Hey, Jamsie? You might want to turn around," Madelyn said, flipping her hair over one shoulder as she smiled at me.

"Don't call me that—oh, um, hey, Evans," Potter said awkwardly, shuffling his feet.

"Lame, mate," Black snorted, before winking at me. "I'm outta here, remember?"

"No, you're not," I said, relieved to find my voice regularly pitched. "Petrificus Totalus."

Black froze, his eyes moving around frantically. I repeated the spell on Potter.

"Good one…Lily Evans, isn't it?" Madelyn said.

"Yes," I answered. "You're Madelyn, right?"

"Yeah, I'm Madelyn Potter. Related to him," she said, jerking one bright blue-painted fingernail towards Potter. "On my father's side. Are you muggleborn?"

"Yeah," I said suspiciously, unsure of why she cared.

"Relax, its just cause I've never seen you at any of our parties. I was sick this Christmas," Madelyn said, placating.

I shrugged and flashed her a smile. I liked Madelyn…but not the other Potter. Speaking of which…I whipped around to face him, glaring at him. My spell fizzled and died, but I don't think he realized. "Did you think that was funny, Potter?"

Potter looked uneasy. "Um..."

"Tell the truth!" I said angrily, wanting him to admit it. My hands itched to curse him and to hex the prat.

"It was hilarious!" Black said jovially, obviously not realizing I was just as mad at him then I was at Potter. My hair whipped Potter in the face ("Ow! What the heck, Evans!") as I turned to face the smirking boy.

If I couldn't hex Potter, I could hex him.

"Mucus Maximus!" I shouted, and Madelyn laughed as Black doubled over, sweat breaking out on his forehead. He pinched his nose shut, then blew out frantically into his sleeve. "See that, Potter?" I said meanly. "Are you ready for it? Mucus Maximus!"

Potter copied Black, and I laughed with Madelyn as Alice walked up to us. "Lils," she said hesitantly. "What curse is that?"

"The Curse of the Bogies!" Madelyn answered smugly. I nodded.

"Isn't it brilliant?"

"It's kind of…harsh, Lily," Alice said softly. "I think they've suffered enough. Look," she pointed to Potter, who was on the ground, moaning slightly. "If McGonagall comes in, you'll get in trouble."

"It'll be worth it!" Madelyn said, and I looked between the two. Alice was looking worried and she looked at me pleadingly, while the other was laughing at her cousin, and giving me a "don't be a coward" look.

What was I supposed to do? Alice and I were the reasonable ones in our group…when things got out of hand, we stopped Aliya and Lizzie before we would get in trouble. I woke us up every morning, and Alice made sure we did our homework and went to bed…

But, I didn't want to disappoint Madelyn either. She was older and cooler and I didn't want to seem like the ickle Firstie. Plus, I didn't want to make a bad impression on her.

"Oy! McGonagall alert!" Some sixth year climbed through the portrait hole, and my eyes flicked between the two again before I look apologetically at Madelyn and muttered the counter-curse twice.

"Miss Evans, are you alright?" McGonagall swept in the portrait hole, her lips pursed. "Human to animal transfiguration at your age! Which one of the seventh years did it?"

"It was a potion, Professor," Alice said quickly.

"They did it," Madelyn pointed to her cousin.

"I see." Professor McGonagall said tiredly. I could've sworn I heard her mutter, 'Of course, who else?' "Detention, my office, eight o'clock sharp. Don't be late."

"Yes, Professor," Potter said softly, sweat still shining on his forehead. Madelyn looked ecstatic, Alice uncertain, and me?

I just felt confused.

I was supposed to feel happy, to feel vindicated and vengeful…but I didn't. I felt ashamed as Potter struggled to his feet and gave me a disappointed look, along with Re—Lupin. What was the rule of thumb? You don't tell on your peers?

Well, technically, Madelyn told on them, and he was younger then her, so I technically didn't do anything.

But I still felt…

Bad.

••••••

James

I got up, with every intention of glaring at Evans and yelling at her, but one look at her face stopped me. She looked, well, confused. Usually, she'd have this angry look on her face…her red hair would seem to glow, and her emerald eyes would spark. Her short frame seemed to grow, and she'd give me this competitive, daring look that said quite plainly that she believed I was being immature and unreasonable and she was in the 'right'.

Now she had a musing look on her face, and indecision was clear. Sirius looked ready to lay into her for hexing us, but I just sighed. I guess she was entitled to hex us. We did turn her into a rat.

I don't know. I guess I was just tired of this. Summer was in a month, and then we would be second years. I was tired of all this drama.

Sirius was yelling at Evans who was shouting back. He turned to me. "Come on, mate! Back me up!"

"Yeah," Evans said scathingly. "Back him up…I should sit quietly while you attack me, turn me into a rat and humiliate me in front of everybody! Oh, but youhave a good reason; I "ratted you out". I never ratted you out! It's not my fault you keep admitting to it because you think you're so clever!"

I felt stung by her words though I didn't admit it. Was she right? I mentally filed that away, resolving to see if she was right. "Well, so?!"

"Be like that, then!" Evans shouted.

"Fine!" I shouted back at her.

"Fine!"

I turned on my heel and walked away.

•*•*•*•*•*•*•

June

Lily

Honestly, just because I was hanging out with Madelyn doesn't mean anything! I'm still their friend! Maybe they're just, I don't know, jealous!

It had all started after the incident last month, when I first met Madelyn. After Potter had stalked away, Alice, Aliya and Lizzie had come up to me, whispering.

"Hey, Lils," Aliya said, her eyes unreadable.

I smiled weakly at them. "Hey, guys."

Lizzie didn't even correct me. "Why'd you hex them?"

"Them? Cause they're jerks, that's why!" Madelyn pitched in, inspecting one fingernail. "You got a problem with that?"

"Madelyn," I pleaded. "Stop."

"Yeah, I have a problem!" Lizzie said. "It was a prank, Lily! Just tell McGonagall and they'll get in trouble. You didn't have to be so mean."

"Lizzie!"

"Look, the prank was pretty funny…and you do rat them out a lot," Aliya said slowly. I couldn't believe it!

"What? I don't rat them out! They shouldn't have pranked me! You think they're right?"

"No, Lils," Alice said, trying to be placating. I was not placated. "We just thought you overreacted."

"No she didn't," Madelyn said nonchalantly. "Just leave her alone."

"Who are you, anyway?" Lizzie said acidly.

"Madelyn Potter. Spelled with a 'y'."

"Well, Madeline Potter, shove off! You're not even her friend!"

"It's Madelyn!"

"Guys! Just, stop!" I shouted, but the four didn't listen and began to argue as if I wasn't even there.

Madelyn glared at Lizzie. "Let's ask her!"

"Yeah! Lily, who do you think is right?"

Four accusing pairs of eyes turned to me, and I felt trapped. Beads of sweat broke out on my forehead, and I gulped nervously.

"Well?"

"Come on, Lily!"

I felt as though the walls were closing in on me, and with a strangled shout I burst through them and out of the portrait hole.

Now, Alice, Lizzie and Aliya were mad at me. They claimed I was a 'traitor' for hanging out with Madelyn! What was I supposed to do?

"Hey, Lila," said a familiar brown-haired girl, swinging her newly layered hair around. "Like the new cut?" She fluttered her eyelashes at me teasingly, and we both laughed.

"Hey, Lynn," I said back. Madelyn wrinkled her perfect nose at the nickname. She called me 'Lila' after one of the members of the "hottest band in town," the HotFlyers. The lead singer, Lila, looked a lot like me, without green eyes and my shortness. I called Madelyn 'Lynn' because she hated the name, and told me it made her sound like an old lady. It worked for us, I guess.

"Hey, Lil, you should get a new haircut for the summer!" Madelyn said suddenly. That was Madelyn…glamorous and spontaneous. I shrugged. There was about two weeks until term ended, exams were through with, and I didn't need my parents permission anymore.

"What kind?" I said.

"Ooh, you should layer it here…cut it a bit shorter…oh! Here, you should cut this part like this, and go like that…" Madelyn said, playing with my hair. "You wanna?"

"Who would do it?"

"Oh, you know Miranda Selly? She's a sixth year…she's like, an amazing hair stylist. Actually, she's an amazing stylist, period, you know?"

I didn't 'know', but I didn't want to seem babyish, so I nodded my head. "Ok," I said, feeling a thrill of something go through me. "I'll cut my hair."

••••••

James

I yawned and looked outside at the lazy afternoon, watching the squid sleepily flop one tentacle against the water. The air was silent and still, and I felt tired. Itwas around three, and school had basically ended, so people were just lazing around. Sirius and Peter asleep, their snores echoing off the dorm walls. Remus was…visiting his mum, again.

I was lying in bed, tossing my pillow up and down. I was so bored.

"LILY!" The shout came from downstairs and I sat up, stretched, and swung out of bed, padding downstairs. Whatever was happening downstairs was a heck of a lot more interesting then watching Peter and Sirius imitating elephants.

My hair was ruffled and messy, and my glasses were askew, but I hardly noticed as I gaped at Evans. What had she done? She'd chopped all of her beaut—long hair off!

Her hair curled slightly to her shoulders, and her bangs swept across her face. Her green eyes sparkled, and as she turned her back on me, her hair swung like a curtain. She'd done something to it. It was cut all in different lengths, but somehow looked nice.

But what was more interesting was my cousin, who was standing next to her and looking proud. Evans' friends were the opposite, however…they were looking shocked and just a bit angry.

"Lily," Patil said, her eyes wide. "What did you do?"

"I got a haircut," Evans said.

Winters looked a bit hurt. "Why didn't you ask us?"

"I think it looks great," my cousin said snottily. I rolled my eyes. Teen drama! Ooh, the excitement! Not.

"Me too! Lils, I love the new look," Lizzie said quickly. "I would've gotten one too!"

Evans' face cracked into a hesitant smile and I groaned quietly and headed back up the stairs. No entertainment for me. Maybe I would dump water on Sirius…hmmm…not a bad idea…

••••••

Lily

Thank Gods that they accepted my haircut with minimal fuss. Whatever; it was the summer, and we'd all made up. Now we were standing on Platform 9 & 3/4, encased in clouds of steam.

"I'll write you every day," said Aliya, worried, her brown eyes wide. "And if the parents are too much, you can come over any time, ok? I'll call you."

"Call?" Lizzie said for the millionth time.

"With a phone," Aliya said, annoyed. "Anyway, here's my number…" she scribbled a number on a piece of paper and handed it to me. "This is my address…"

When Aliya was done, Alice and Lizzie wrote their addresses too. "Look, Lil," the latter said. "Ask your parents when they're in a good mood if you can come over. We'll have a four-way sleepover, kay?"

I smiled at them. They really were good friends. "Ok, and I'll write you all anytime I can!"

"ALIYA!" Aliya's mum, a pretty, older Indian woman, shouted from across the platform, and Aliya gave me a hug and hurried off.

Lizzie and Alice both hugged me as well, before they ran off to their parents. I watched them go, feeling sad. I didn't know if I would be able to see them over the summer.

"Hey, Lila," Madelyn said. She tapped me on the shoulder when I didn't respond, and I whirled around.

"Oh!" I said, a hand over my heart. "Hey, Mads."

"No Lynn? Ha, not like I'm complaining!" We both laughed. "Write me, ok? Maybe we can get together sometime," she said, and suddenly 'get together' sounded much cooler then 'come over'.

I grinned at her. "Of course!"

She gave me a hug, her hazel eyes laughing. "See ya, wouldn't want to be ya! Parent alert!"

I groaned and waved at her. "I'll write you! See you—I mean, see ya!"

I then turned to face my parents. This could be a long summer.

•••••••

James

We hopped down off the train and onto the platform, coughing a bit as steam whirled around us.

The four of us; Sirius, Remus, Peter and I all stared at one another…and then suddenly Sirius, not one for long silences, clapped me on the back. "I'll write," he said.

"Ditto," I said back. "Come over sometime."

"Will do," he said awkwardly. "That goes for you too, Remus…Peter."

They nodded, both with a look of wonder on their faces. I shook my head. Remus always seemed to wonder at our friendship. "Same here," I said, and Petergrinned.

"Me too!" He said excitedly, voice squeaking. He awkwardly clapped me on the back and ran off, yelling, "Mum! MUM! I'm right here! MUM! MUUUUM!"

We watched him go, Sirius and I sniggering slightly. I turned to Remus. "I promise, mate, I'll write every week or so. Come over whenever."

He smiled at me. "Okay, James. Have a good summer."

"You too," I said, punching him on the arm.

Then, our trio was down to two. I looked at Sirius, and he looked back at me.

"Bye, mate," he suddenly said. He winked at me. "Don't forget to come up with prank ideas…we need a good one to start up the year."

"Don't you forget either!" I said, and the he grinned at me.

"Bye, mate," he said again, before hurrying off into the steam.

"You said that twice!" I yelled at him, before I turned, laughing, into Mum's embrace. "Mum! Get off!"

Mum, who had appeared out of nowhere, smoothed down my hair. "Settle down, James, your father's waiting."

I knew better to roll my eyes…my father's probably at home, hiding all his prank items so I can't steal them. Yeah, right…I bet by the end of the summer I'll have found them all. He can't hide from me. "Sure, sure," I said, squirming out of her grip.

••••••

Lily

"Lily," said a cool voice and I turned around, smiling at Mum, who smiled back.

"Hey, Mum!" I said. I was pleased she wasn't glaring at me. Her letters had been frosty of late.

"Do you have all your things?" Mum asked me, but it didn't seem like her. It was like we were distant relatives.

"Yeah, they're right here," I said, hefting my trunk up.

Mum eyed my hair. "You cut your hair!"

"Yes," I said nervously. Would she be mad?

"Why?" She said, her face unreadable.

"Because…" I trailed off. "I don't know, Mum. I wanted a change for the summer, and my hair was really hot and heavy sometimes. Don't you like it?" I hoped that saying the last bit would make her say 'yes'. She would seem heartless if she said no, and anyway, I used to cut my hair each summer.

Mum eyed it again, reaching out to feel the layers as we made our way out of the station. "It makes you look thirteen."

I wondered why she looked so darn sad at that. I longed to be thirteen, to be cool and a teenager. I beamed with pride. "Thank you, Mum!"

She smiled again and I knew that no matter how mad she may be, she was still my mum.

__________________________________________________________________________

A/N: Hey all! I know I said I wouldn't take long on this, but I had some…personal problems that stood in the way. I spent most of the gap between the chapters self-medicating with chocolate and crying over the movie Titanic, which is my all-time favorite. Whew, that Leonardo DiCaprico is hooottt! Mmm.

So, I hope you like this chapter! I included Madelyn in this because when I was that age, this thirteen year old girl took a liking to me, and I was blown over by the older, cooler, prettier girl, and my friends got a bit mad at me. I know a couple of my friends have gone through that, when someone (even the same age as them) has befriended them, and they've had to choose between her and us. Not a pretty situation.

This chapter was mostly Lily, and I hoped you like it! This is the LAST chapter of this story! *tears* but I'll try to post the sequel soon! I'll post a notice up here and my profile, so check both!

Oh, yeah, I still need a title. PLEASE someone, help me with this!!! I hate coming up with titles!

Thanks to all my wonderful reviewers! This chapta's for you!