Outrunning Our Shadows

Disclaimer: All characters (but those I've invented) belong to JK Rowling and the respective publishing houses. No copyright infringement is intended, and no profit is being made on this story apart from the personal enjoyment I get in writing it.

Many thanks go to Lamina Court and crimsonthread who have pinch-betaed for this chapter, seeing as how I wanted to make sure that it was suitable for print. It wouldn't be the same without them!

Outrunning Our Shadows

Interlude

The day was October 31. The time was eleven o'clock in the morning. It had been fully 43 hours and 21 minutes since Rue and I lopsidedly agreed to go to the Halloween Feast. Since Amos asked and Lily agreed to the same thing. Since Rue kissed me, and I began feeling overprotective of my best friend. There were fully eight hours until the Halloween Feast began, and as I sat in Professor McGonagall's Transfiguration class, sandwiched between Rue and Sirius, I let my mind wander down fantastical pathways of what ifs and I'm an idiots. There seemed to be so many parts of both my relationship with Rue and Lily's …relationship?... with Amos that I didn't understand. Why did she agree? Why did I agree? Why, of all bloody people at this school, did she have to go to the Feast with him? This was becoming a cycle of thoughts that echoed in my head without answers. Highly distracting from the lesson, sorry Minnie. I covered my inattention by ducking my head and pretending to take notes, but spent any time with quill to parchment tracing question marks on the page underneath the date and header. Sigh.

Even as the class period passed like molasses, still the end came without resolution of my thoughts as assignments were handed down with brisk efficiency and students filed out to their next destinations. Still distracted, I gathered my materials and rose from my chair slowly, not in any rush to encounter Professor King and Defense Against the Dark Arts. Before I could meander to the door, however, I was waylaid by the one individual who had unwittingly made the last 43 hours an altogether disagreeable affair. I do not need this right now.

“James! James, wait up!” came the chirpy voice of Doris Crockford, who had decided, for each and every time I encountered her in the hall or the classroom since she talked Peter into going with her to the Feast, to openly and energetically express her gratitude for friendly association with my person. I could see her weaving her way through the desks and chairs, hair bouncing as she juggled her books to allow her a free hand.

I looked toward the door with longing, as if seeing an unreachable goal, and caught sight of Rue, standing just outside, grinning openly. Bloody wench, I mock-growled. Attention back on Doris, I inched away. Not another handshake.

I struggled to smile at the girl coming toward me, and barely refrained from rolling my eyes as Doris grabbed my hand in her now-familiar greeting. “Oh yes,” Doris began with ebullience, “wasn't class marvelous? You're just fantastic at Transfiguration, aren't you, James? Everyone says you're just the genius at it.” She was looking at me with a sort of awe on her face which made my insides squirm, and I wondered if I were to pat her on the head and give her an autograph, would she leave me alone? Instead, she just grinned cheekily and said, “Well, of course you are. Top marks all your years, I bet. Petey told me all about it. He said you'll be Head Boy next year. I'm so excited for you, James. Imagine, you, Head Boy!” Her eyes rounded, Doris looked like the first-years did upon first entering the Great Hall. I wanted out.

“Uh…” I thought of how best to diffuse her excitement and get out with some circulation left in my fingers, of which she had still not let go. I smiled down at her. “Yes, class today was quite, hm, thought-provoking. And, you know, Doris, I work hard for my marks, it's not as if they come without effort.” I tried to tone down the hero-worship. Laughing lightly, but inwardly planning to have a chat with Petey in the near future, I said, “If I got to be Head Boy, it would be a real honor. But we're not there yet,” I cautioned. “There is still much work to be done. And now,” I said, exaggeratedly looking at my watch, “I must get to Defense Against the Dark Arts. Bye, Doris.”

She gasped slightly, looking both sad and horrified. Letting go of my hand immediately to clasp to her chest, she cried, “Oh my! You shouldn't be late on my account, James.” More softly, she mumbled, “I shouldn't have kept you so long. Oh dear, Doris, you've bollixed it all up.” She walked quickly to the door, shaking her head slightly. I sighed, both glad to have Doris out of my hair for a while, and slightly frustrated at myself for making her feel down on herself. That girl, I thought, needs a hobby. I walked out of the class into the hallway, where I caught Doris's slight body scurrying down toward Charms. Nodding to Rue to walk down the corridor, I amended my thought. A hobby that doesn't include anything having to do with James Potter.

Snorting, I turned to Rue for a belated kiss of greeting. Since her voyage into that previously-uncharted territory 43 hours ago, it had become habit to steal short kisses whenever available. A taste of those lips coated with fruity lip balm was never to be passed up, and Rue seemed more than happy to oblige. Grinning now as we interlocked hands, I commented lightly, “You know, we should do something about her.”

“Do something about whom, James?” she asked, not seeing my thread of thought. When I jerked my head toward the Transfiguration room, indicating the previous encounter, Rue looked slightly confused. “McGonagall? Why? I know she's not the most generous when it comes to marks, but you've never wanted for good grades. Goodness, surely you haven't anything to complain about in that class.”

“Not McGonagall,” I said, a little exasperated. “Doris! She's been following me around like a devoted fan for days!” I know I came off as complaining, but I couldn't take it anymore. At Rue's startled look, I continued with a deep, calming breath, “I mean really, Rue, I feel like a hunted animal when she's around. I think it's great that she likes me, I mean, it's great that your friends approve of me and all, but since Hogsmeade, it's become a bit too much to take.”

Narrowing her eyes a bit, Rue said critically, “Doris is just trying to be nice, James. It's not as if you're the God of Hogwarts, you know, so you shouldn't act as if she's bowing down before you. She just wants you to know that she likes you. It's not that big of a deal.” She dropped my hand and crossed her arms across her chest.

Bugger. I frowned, wondering how I was going to get out of this mess, and knowing I was treading on thin ice. “It's not that at all,” I said in a placating tone, thinking quickly, “I just get…uncomfortable…when people talk to me about how I'll be so great in the future. I haven't gotten there yet, and I just don't like when people seem to count on me being Head Boy and all.” Seeing Rue's eyes soften slightly, I pressed on, remembering that I was also uncomfortable with Rue's “show-and-tell” in Hogsmeade. “My parents were Head Boy and Girl, and it's hard to always live up to their standards. No matter who talks about it,” I said, looking straight at her, “I'm not comfortable being given all these titles I haven't earned.”

That last part having struck a chord with her softer side, Rue sighed and clucked softly like girls tend to when feeling sorry for someone. “I didn't know that, James,” she said softly. “I hope I haven't done anything to make you uncomfortable.” At my raised eyebrow, she grimaced slightly, nodding. “Well, Hogsmeade…I'm sorry, James. You just don't know what it's like to finally be dating someone who treats you like a real person and who makes you feel special. I only wanted the world to know I was happy. I didn't mean to … oh, if I'd had known,” she finished, shaking her head in a similar fashion to Doris minutes earlier.

I nodded briefly, knowing that Rue would now be more careful in how she talked about our relationship. Relationship. Did she say we were dating? I blinked a few times. Unable to just let this reference slide, I wrapped my left arm around her shoulders and gave her a short squeeze. Feeling a smirk pulling at my lips, I drawled, “Is that what we're doing? Dating? Why, Miss Parry, whatever do you mean by that?”

Frown vanished, Rue gave me a brilliant smile and took those magnificent lips to meet mine briefly. “Of course, Mr. Potter,” she said, chuckling, “that is, of course,” and here she pouted to effect, “if you'll have me as a girlfriend.”

So she's asking me out, hm? Well, that saves time and worry for me. I murmured a sort of affirmative and took her lips in a fleeting but thorough lip-locking. When a niggling voice cutting through the pleasant buzzing which filled my head reminded me of my commitment to class, I ended the kiss, leaving Rue with a soft grin on her face. “I'll see you at lunch, alright?” I said, barely thinking straight.

Even as I was concentrating, I could scarcely hear Rue's voice through the cotton that seemed stuffed in my head. “And I'll have a talk with Doris. Bye!”

And it was in that frame of mind, with a dazed look and a zombie-like walk, that I entered the Defense classroom and sat next to Lily, who promptly hit my upside the head. Cotton gone from my ears and buzzing gone from my head, I grinned at Lily, who only rolled her eyes.

~~~~~

The nooning hour found me not in the Great Hall eating lunch with many of the other students, but rather reading in the room set aside for me as a Prefect. The small room was used mainly as a planning center for pranks and other mischief, and was my place to escape from the world of an academically conscious Prefect and “act my gender,” as Sirius would say. He takes the phrase “boys will be boys” to a whole new level, I thought, smirking slightly. The walls were bare but for a few memorable pictures from benchmark pranks through the years, and some of our more commonly used “reference” books were stacked in a bookshelf alongside the far wall. Instead of a loveseat as Lily's had, my room was furnished with five red armchairs in a circle around a low, broad table. There were no windows in my room, and torches were mounted on sconces on the walls, giving the room a warm fiery glow despite the lack of natural sunlight. The room suited me very well, and I enjoyed the atmosphere of relaxed creativity as a break from the pressures of being, and here my mental voice inserted intense sarcasm, the Great and Almighty James Harold Potter.

It was here, seated in one of the chairs with my feet propped up on the table, nose buried yet again in Quidditch Through The Ages, that Lily found me. As Prefects, we were excused from our last class to ensure that the Feast would go off without a hitch, and as neither Lily nor I had a class directly following lunch, we were free of engagements until last-minute setup. Rue had Charms following lunch; else, she and I would likely have spent some time alone. As it was, I was glad to look up from my enraptured reading of the transition from Quadpot to Quidditch and see Lily's head poking through the door. “Mind if I join you for a few minutes?” she asked politely, glancing at my book to see what I was interrupting.

I gestured to one of the free chairs. “Sit, sit. It's not as if I haven't read this book ten times. A shame they don't teach it as a course,” I said, mournfully. “That'd be brilliant.”

Lily laughed and sat down in the chair nearest mine, and followed my example by crossing her feet at the ankles on the table. Wiggling down in the chair to maximize comfort, she admonished lightly, “You're not going on about that essay that McGonagall assigned, are you? Merlin, James, that should take you no more than an hour to scratch out.”

I looked at her in amazement. Her green eyes were twinkling, and her head was cocked, red hair spilling over her shoulders, but the words were frighteningly similar to what I'd heard earlier from Rue. I laughed shortly at the coincidence after a moment, replying, “Between you and Rue, I'll never be able to complain about anything! You two make me out to be this … perfect person, never able to have a rough day.” It was true, after a fact, that, more with Rue than anyone, I felt like none of my faults were allowed to carry over into conversation. While I knew that Lily was intimately knowledgeable about all of my shortcomings, the coinciding overtones of her comment and Rue's caused the somewhat bitter reaction.

Even as I realized my mistake, I could see Lily begin to bridle. I belatedly remembered that she was still somewhat at odds with my relationship with Rue, and perhaps that comment was not the most prudent thing ever to pass my lips. One more for the day, I thought, chagrined. I closed my book without marking the page, and set it on the table. I raised my hands in a warding-off gesture in the face of Lily's look of distinct annoyance and prepared to backtrack.

Lily gave me no option, however, and took the words down the path that I had been meaning to avoid. The gall of the whole situation between Lily and I now was such that each was `seeing' a person with whom the other friend was disapproving. I was quite certain that she knew I wasn't fond of Mr. Hotshot Hufflepuff, and I had become aware, as thick as I was sometimes, that Lily had yet to really reconcile herself with Rue in the picture. Today, I had wanted to talk to Lily for Lily alone, to feel that alertness which suffused my bones whenever she was around; instead, by connecting her comments to Rue, I'd already bungled the entire conversation. When I looked at her to try and apologize, the look she gave me caused any disclaimers to catch in my throat, and I half-choked on them as I felt myself shrink under her fierce glare.

“Perfect person, Mr. Potter?” she quoted, mockingly. “Surely I could understand if Miss Parry has never seen you on a bad day, you having only known her for a short time, but really, James. You're not a god, so don't act like a martyr.” The tone of voice she used seemed to prick my ego at its tightest point, and I could almost feel the hot air fsssing out.

Sighing, and knowing that she was right, I folded my hands on my knees and said simply, “Three points to Miss Evans on that well-deserved rebuke.”

Lily hmphed in reply, but said nothing for a moment. When she did finally reply, her tone had changed again, and sounded almost suspicious. “You…don't…really think that I overlook your faults, right James?”

I gave her an odd look. “No,” I said slowly, “you know most of them pretty intimately.” I frowned slightly before looking at her critically, “We're not going to go into detail about all of my foibles now, are we? I don't think that'd be a very enjoyable conversation, at least not on my part.”

Lily smiled slightly, the edge of her lips curling up wryly. “There'd not be enough time, anyway.” Tilting her head, she brought one hand from where it was crossed on her chest up to her face to tap a finger on her temple in mock-contemplation. “On the other hand,” she said, thoughtfully, “there is one aspect, shall we say, of your life, in which I am vitally interested.”

I snorted. “Just one?” I asked, sitting back, letting her take the reins of the conversation.

“For now,” she agreed, nodding. Then, slowly and deliberately, she laid out her request. “I would like for you to explain to me exactly what you think you are doing with Rhuanned Parry.” Her eyes held mine, awaiting my reaction.

She got one. I could see her taking in the immediate tightening of my jaw, the roll of my eyes, and the slight but definite rush of heat to my face. I opted for an evasive answer. “What does Rue have to do with anything?” Adding, slightly accusing, “And why do you care so much?”

Defensive, Lily said, “We've always talked about our relationships before, James. Or, should I say, lack thereof. You have always talked to me about girls, asked me questions that I couldn't answer, and have listened to my stories about boys and dating. I thought we were in this together.”

I smirked, remembering some of those conversations. “I should win an award of Special Services for listening to all of your complaints. I've never met anyone pickier than you about guys.”

“Me?” she exclaimed. “Oh, come now James. I had to be there in fourth year, when you had that ridiculous crush on Tabitha Mott, last year's Head Girl. Don't talk to me about being a sympathizing audience.”

“Tabitha Longbottom, now,” I reminded her. “She and Frank got married right out of school, remember?”

“Of course I do,” she said blandly. “As I recall, you and Sirius shared at butterbeer toast at the Three Broomsticks in memory of her. With Frank around, you were never able to flirt with her again.”

Huffing, I said indignantly, “Excuse me, Missy! Two words for you: Forrest Bell. You were so sweet on him when he was here two years ago, and he was such a bloody prick, too!”

Jaw dropped at the light slam, she retorted, “That's not fair! He was cute! Even if he wasn't the greatest Seeker. He was always nice to me!” She had her arms crossed tightly across her chest, pouting slightly.

“He thought you were a little girl who liked following him around,” I said, condescendingly. Seeing her hurt look, I sighed, saying, “Don't worry about it. He always talked down about girls in the changing rooms. He's not worth getting upset over, Lil. And anyway, you should find someone who fits you perfectly, as picky as you are.” Seeing her look slightly mollified, I added the thought that had been niggling me for the last 43 hours. “But really, Lily. Amos Diggory? Are you completely against me?”

Lily laughed. “Look at yourself, you wanker. Rue Parry? You know she's not a good girlfriend for you.” At my slight look of surprise, since I hadn't thought that our relationship had gone public that quickly, she rolled her eyes. “Oh please. The halls were fairly buzzing. Rue told Bertha, and you know what that means.”

As much as I wanted to rail about her relationship with Amos, I couldn't ignore her disdainful tone of voice. “Honestly, what do you have against Rue? Is it such a horrible thing for a girl like her to like me?”

Instead of answering, Lily countered obstinately, “What do you have against Amos? Is it such a horrible thing for a guy like him to like me?”

Groaning, I offered a compromise. “Question for question. Will that suit?”

Nodding graciously, Lily accepted. “That's fair. I'll go first.” At my scowl, she grinned brightly. “First question. What made you decide to make Rue a formal girlfriend? Or date her at all, for that matter.”

“Easy enough,” I drawled. “First, she asked me out. Second, she asked me out. It was a simple decision. Pretty girl, fairly interesting, and she honestly wanted to get to know me better. I was flattered. It wasn't just like Casseopeia Sinistra, who acts like I'm some new toy she wants to play with.”

Lily seemed dissatisfied with that response. Leaning forward, she asked, “So you talk, then? Like you and I do? Does she accept all of you, or just the Quidditch-playing genius?”

I grinned at her compliment. “Don't forget,” I chided, “you didn't add that I was a studly piece of Quidditch-playing genius. Tutt tutt, though, Miss Evans. Question for question. My turn.” I ignored her hmph and rubbed my hands together in anticipation. “OK then. Why, Miss Evans, do you like Amos Diggory? S'far as I'm concerned, he's a prat who is a sore loser when it comes to Quidditch. What made you see otherwise?”

Lily looked thoughtful for a moment before answering, almost shyly. “You know, I think it's the fact that he wants nothing to do with you or the guys.”

Now it was my turn to hmph. I raised an eyebrow and indicated that she continue. Amused, she elaborated, “Not that he wants me to convert to Hufflepuff or anything, but he likes me despite my relationship with you four. It's not the best feeling,” she said, cocking her head to the side, “when a guy only asks you out or offers to carry your books so that he can get a chance to walk with James Potter or Sirius Black. Amos is different. He doesn't care about you guys, and he doesn't treat me like a sister,” she finished, as if that would answer my question fully.

“What's wrong with being protective of you?” I blurted. “I know that Remus and Sirius are more sheltering of you when it comes to guys, but I thought we were just looking out for you. Did you have to choose a guy who is such a prat in public? I mean, the swot wouldn't even shut it for ten minutes in the Library! Is that the better alternative to having people care and watch out for you?”

“Don't get huffy, James,” she admonished. “You know you and the guys are like my family. Especially, well, now. It's just that Amos doesn't want to be another `brother' to me. That's the difference. And that day in the Library, Amos was just feeling insecure. You know how loyal he is to his players, and he's proud to be a Hufflepuff. Maybe he felt insecure about being around two Gryffindors, especially with a game coming up. Either way, it shouldn't be a big deal.”

I nodded slowly, having been off in my own world of thought after her comment about Amos not wanting to be a `brother' figure to Lily. A comment that Rue had made sounded in my head: I don't want to be the sister, James. After a minute of silence, I said carefully, “So you like Amos because he treats you different than other guys do, and it makes you feel special. I like Rue because of the same thing. She's forthright about what she wants, and it's a nice change of pace from the games that some girls play. I think we can agree on that.” Lily nodded, looking a little more at ease with the situation. For my own amusement, I added, drawling, “Plus, she's a bloody fantastic kisser.”

Lily looked disgusted. “Ugh. James, I do not need to hear that.”

“Well,” I rejoined, “do you think I like hearing all about Amos and how he's the sweetest guy ever, and all that? Bloody Hell, Lily, we were never friends on the Pitch, let alone off of it! Am I supposed to be mates with him now, just because he's your new beau?” My stomach curdled in the thought of being friendly with the unpleasant Hufflepuff. Compared to him, I thought venomously, Doris is a walk in the park.

Affronted, Lily scoffed, “D'you think I enjoy being friendly with Rue? She's not exactly my favorite person, either, James. She was showing you off in Hogsmeade, and acting as if I was crowding your space, no matter how sweet she tried to come across. If I can be nice to Rue, I think you can put forth at least as much effort to try and be pleasant to Amos. I'm not asking you to invite him on a full-moon outing or make him a Marauder, but at least don't act like you want to hex the guy whenever he's around. Please?”

Feeling decidedly sullen, I ground out a “Fine” even as my mind was sneering rebelliously, But I'm not going to go easy on the wanker in Quidditch. I'm still going to pummel him, and ask Sirius to be good and accurate with those Bludgers. I grinned, thinking of untold destruction that would occur if Sirius had a clear shot.

Lily, thoughtful once more, interrupted my plottings. “Do you really like her, James? I mean, and not just because she's a good kisser?” When I looked at her quizzically, she clarified, “I know, I know, stupid question. But do you, James? Because I'm not jealous or anything, but I can't shake the feeling that Rue's just not right for you.”

I gave her a look which was carefully blank. “Do tell.”

She seemed a little nervous, wringing her hands slightly as she thought about her words. Pursing her lips, she said carefully, “It's just that you're so trusting. I worry about you getting involved in something just because it's nice right then, even if it's not good in the long run. You've got so much faith in those around you, and that's something that people really like about you, but I worry that you're going to get hurt.” She now looked me straight in the eye and forged ahead with what evidently was what was so `vitally important' to her. “You told me that she didn't like your pranks, thought they were rude and immature. And, yes, some of them are, but James!” she exclaimed. “It's who you are! If she can't accept you for all of your qualities and not just your marks and your Quidditch skills, then she really isn't any different from the other girls that flock to you, no matter how straightforward she is about her feelings.” Her eyes bore into mine, beseeching understanding.

“I hate to disappoint you,” I said, feeling rather uncomfortable, “but I'm not going to let you get in between my relationship with Rue. If I'm going to be an idiot, let me be an idiot. Rue's a great girl, and I am intrigued by her willingness to look past the Quidditch and my marks and want to get to know me. I know that she's not so fond of mischief, but, well…” and here my mind floundered, since Lily was one person that I couldn't lie to, and I struggled for something plausible,”…she's a Hufflepuff. They're all about loyalty, and pranks are a little too daring for her. That's why we're Gryffindors, I guess. But it shouldn't be your concern,” I said, firmly. “I appreciate your comments, but I'm not going to worry about it.”

Lily groaned, shook her head, and said a bit bemused, “You really are an idiot, James. But fine. I won't get involved. I…,” she paused, seemingly rethinking her words, “I just don't know what her intentions are, and I want to make sure that she's not like all the others. That's all.”

“Her intentions?” I asked, more than a bit alarmed. “What do you mean, her intentions? What does she have in store for me?” I had no clue where she was going with this, and wondered if Lily didn't have a good reason to get me away from the blonde Hufflepuff.

“Yes, James,” Lily said, affecting a bored look, “my name is Rhuanned Parry, and I am going to date you until I become popular enough to ask out the Slytherin Prefect Laurence Avery. I figure I'll work my way around the Houses. Does that sound good to you?” Snorting, she continued, “Honestly, James, I don't think she's that underhanded. I do, however, worry about the choices you make. I want you to be happy.”

I looked at her, a little surprised at the level of concern she had delegated to this issue. I was touched at her wanting to keep my safe, a little annoyed that she didn't think I could handle the situation on my own, and a little guilty that I had spent significant chunks of time in the last 43 hours thinking some of the very same thoughts that Lily was presenting to me. I knew that Rue wasn't the One for me, but at the same time, she was different from all of the other girls, and I was very glad to have her around. Turning to Lily, something occurred to me that would explain her gravity in this conversation.

“Are you afraid that I would choose her over you?”

It was blunt, it was straightforward, and it cut out all of the roundabout questions. I watched Lily react, a shocked sort of look which might have meant that either she truly was afraid of my devotion to her, or she couldn't believe that I would question it. Not really wanting either to be the truth, I pushed forward. “Because I wouldn't, you know. It would never be an issue.” She looked straight up at me, and I held her gaze tightly. “You are the most important female in my life at the present, you know.” Not really noticing how that sentence could be taken, I went off. “My mum would be, but she's dead, and I can't go talk to her about these sorts of things. I don't have any grandmothers or aunts, and even if I'd been dating Rue for over a year, she still hasn't been to me what you are. You and the guys are my family, Lily. I don't have anyone else.” Finding that I would be close to sharing with her all of my feelings as of late, I decided to wrap up my little speech. Grinning mischievously, I said, “You wanted to get rid of me, hm? Well, I won't have it.”

Lily looked stunned for a moment. Laughing a little to break the silence, she said, “You sure do know how to catch a girl off-guard, don't you?” Then smiling softly, she said quietly, “Same goes for me, mate. You four are all I've got left.”

Oh no. We're not going down this track of thought. We've not even yet gotten to any Amos-bashing yet! Aloud, I commented, “At least then neither of us are hangers-on. Now then,” I said briskly, “On to Amos.” Seeing Lily grimace, I added slyly, “unless there's something else you wanted to tell me about Rue being a closet Slytherin groupie?”

Lily flashed me a dirty look, and I grinned widely. Before I could organize my questions in a barrage, someone pounded on the door. Lily's face lit up, likely with the thought that she'd get out of my interrogation, but I sprinted out of my chair, and pushed her down in her own seat as I rushed to deal with the interruption.

Opening the door slightly, I saw Remus and Sirius standing outside, arms full of books and parchment. I stuck my head out, but kept the door open only as wide as was necessary. “Prongs!” Remus said, excited. “We've got this great new idea for…” he stopped trying to push himself through the door and looked at me accusingly, “why aren't you letting us in? You know we can't talk about this in the hallway.”

Sirius, who was similarly burdened with resource material for some prank or another, grinned lewdly. “Who've ya got in there, mate? Some pretty witch?” His eyes widened. “You've got Rue in there, haven't you? Let me in, please?” He looked pleadingly, attempting the puppy-dog look, but failing spectacularly.

“No,” I said staunchly. “Rue is not in here. Now sod off. You can't come in. Clear out.” There was no way I was letting Lily off the hook.

Sirius looked somewhat hurt, but Remus persisted, “Come on, now, James, be reasonable...we've got the entire afternoon free to plan this before the Feast tonight!” My arm strained to keep the door closed against his inhuman strength as he pushed to get in.

“No, no, and no. I don't care, I'll find out later, I'm sure it's wonderful. Seriously.” With that, I pulled my head back in the room, and slammed it in my friends' faces. With a quick locking charm, I leaned against the door and sighed.

A low chuckle was heard behind me. Turning, I saw Lily clap her hands slowly and deliberately. “Congratulations, James, that was smooth.”

Failing to come up with a clever retort, I bowed elaborately, sweeping my arm down and bending at the waist. Walking with my head high back to my seat, I took her applause with a smirk. “I am here to serve.”

“And to keep me penned in here, I'd wager,” she groused. “You know that Sirius is going to be camped out in the hallway, waiting to see who's in here with you.”

“Ah yes,” I said sagely. “His is a curiosity never to be fully satiated.” I looked at her, trying to get back in the mode of the conversation. “So, Amos.”

“What about him?” she asked, casually. She was now seated upright in her chair, feet on the ground, and hands playing with the masses of red hair that had been liberated from their braided confinement. “And don't tell me,” she said offhandedly, “that he's a wanker who doesn't deserve me, or that I should have more House loyalty, or any of that nonsense. Peter's already given me chapter and verse.”

Any valid argument I had laid out carefully in my mind went flying out of my head. Stuttering a bit, I just exclaimed, “He's all wrong for you!”

In a match for my earlier reaction to the same question, she turned to face me and stopped playing with her hair, and elegantly raised an eyebrow.

I fumbled for something plausible. “I'm not jealous or anything,” I disclaimed, “but do you honestly think that there would be anything there, between you two? I mean, you come from totally different backgrounds!” Please, I begged silently, explain to me why you would choose someone who I know couldn't make you as happy as I would want you to be. Tell me what made you make such an unhappy decision.

“It's not like I'm going to marry him, James,” she said, agitated. “And we're not even an official couple, so don't get your robes in a twist.” Sighing, she undid the hasty braid she had made, and looked back at me. “It's the same as with you and Rue. I know he's not the type of guy I'd end up with, but he treats me like I'm someone special, and it's a nice change of pace from the sisterly bonding that you and the guys offer. He really is a sweet guy, you know,” she said, and I cringed, “whether you like it or not. He offers to take me flying and wants me to take walks with him through the school, and I admit that I'm flattered, James. But don't worry too much,” she said, tone a little less faraway, “I won't be becoming Mrs. Amos Diggory anytime soon.”

Of course you won't, I thought fervently, there's so much wrong with him that you're bound to figure it out sooner or later. I mean, just look at him! My mind grated at the thought of Lily being happy, even for a while, in the company of a person so unlike what I pictured her to look for. It was just so wrong for them to be a couple!

As much as I hated it, though, I couldn't come up with an argument that was original from the claims that Lily had made about Rue. Even as we both knew that the other's date was wrong for them, neither of us had any desire to change our feelings about our own decisions. Bollix to that, I thought ruefully, we're both just stubborn. That's all.

Lily interrupted my internal commentary. “Speaking of couples,” she said with a lopsided grin, “Doris and Peter have been getting rather cozy lately, don't you think?”

I snorted, allowing the change of topic. “What couple? Doris is the one chasing him. He came into the dorm last night, raving about how she chased him from the Library during his DADA study session with Mihall O'Shaunessy. Something about, let me remember it properly, `Ohh, Petey, I've missed you! It's so strange, that I haven't seen you around since Hogsmeade….where have you been?'” I harped, affecting a shrill feminine voice. “It's all your fault, you know, making him take her with us on that infernal outing.”

Mock-outraged, Lily scoffed, “My fault? Surely not. It's Doris's fault for being the only unattached Hufflepuff!”

Laughing lightly, I nodded. “I know, but now Pete's been avoiding her like the plague, and it's really cutting into his social life. He even skived off lunch yesterday to get away from her! You've seen him running out of Transfiguration like a hippogriff's after him, haven't you?”

Grinning at our friend's unlucky circumstances, Lily and I eased out of the mood which had been present throughout the afternoon tête-à-tête. As we joked a bit more about our friends and their antics, a voice in my head noted that neither of us had grounds to be jealous, despite our misgivings. Still, I wanted nothing more than to strangle Amos Diggory slowly until he cried “Uncle,” and planned on glaring at him quite devotedly during the entire length of the Halloween Feast.

In a smaller, more secluded part of my mind, it registered that our talk had done little to curb the more-than-friendly feelings for Lily which were rising like a tide, inexorable and inevitable, and I lamented the fine mess that I was leading myself into with open eyes.

~~~~~~

A/N: As odd as it sounds, there was no music which seemed to fit for this chapter. I wanted it to see more like a real conversation and less like a poetic narrative. Did you mind the absence of Coldplay?

Another note: This story was originally published on Fanfiction.net, and was deleted today because of the use of songs in the chapters. Dozens of other high-quality stories were deleted as well. Several authors, including myself, Solarism, Y. Kuang, Silverspinner, Erak, and Missers, are leading a community that will set up a new MWPP archive over the summer. If you're interested in knowing more about it, check out the LJ community thegreatbreak or my personal journal.

Please be a responsible reader and review!