Chapter 3
The long anticipated Gryffindor vs Slutherin match had arrived. the previous week Liky was itching excitedly prepared to go all out to support her boyfriend—face paint, posters, war cried, the whole nine yards. But, now that the day had arrived Lily had other things on her mind.
All she could think about was Mary. It wasn't uncommon for Mary to be on her mind and Lily had never thought anything of it. They were best friends so it only made sense. But the thoughts Lily had been having seemed to be a lot less friendly since - well Lily didn't need to think about that
Things with Mary were good again but she couldn’t help but feel as though something was off. In all the physical affection the two which characterised their friendship Mary’s heart was not in it - never initiating and always being the first to pull away, while Lily was left wanting more feeling an emptiness were Mary’s touch had previously been. As much as this rough patch hurt lily, she needed to push it aside for the time being. Gryffindor was playing Slytherin and she needed to be the supportive girlfriend: she couldn’t lose focus of that.
The game was tense or at least it seemed to be, Lily had never bothered to properly learn the rules of quidditch. Even when James would ramble about it, she never really picked up on the rules and James spoke more to obsess over the sport than to actually explain anything well enough for Lily to understand. The crowd seemed sufficiently pleased in Gryffindor’s gameplay. With every outburst of the crowd Mary and Lily seemed to both be a bit too delayed in joining in. Perhaps the two people who knew nothing about quidditch sitting next to each other, but in all honesty Liky didn’t care if they looked a bit out of place, she was happy to be sitting next to Mary
Eventually the two decided that forcing themselves to join the crowds reactions was pointless and made them look like complete fools and so they sat and watched the game quietly trying their best to simulate understanding and interest. “James is playing really well,” Mary offered, although Lily knew she wasn’t sure of herself and was just making conversation.
“I hope so,” Lily smiled. “Honestly the only good thing to come out of quidditch matches is being able to wear dress up in house colours”
“Really,” Mary agreed, “i only came here to show off my makeup.”
Lily nodded, “It looks beautiful— you look beautiful. i just thought you should-“ The end of the sentence was cut off by the crowd bursting into cheers, chanting “potter”. Lily gathered that James had won the game—Caught the blugger or beat the snitch or whatever. she felt a wave of embarrassment that she hadn’t seen his winning play and so she rushed to the pitch with the crowd to congratulate him hoping to compensate for having missed his — whatever it was that he did.
—
The celebration party was in full swing with people from all houses spread across the gryffindor commonroom dancing, chatting and joking around. Even a few slytherin could be spotted: Dorcas Meadows say on the arm of a couch leaning to whisper into a blushing Marlene’s ear and Lily spotted one of the Slytherin players, Sirius's brother, stealing glances in her direction a few times.
Even lily was sufficiently plastered. She sat mindlessly listening to James recount the game for the umpteenth time until she was sick of hearing the story being told. She gave james a kiss on the cheek before she stubbles across the common room to where Mary was talking to a Hufflepuff friend of hers. “Hey Mary, can i talk to you—alone,” Lily asked.
In all honesty, she hadn’t really had anything to say to Mary she just didn’t want Mary’s friend, Emmeline, around. There was nothing wrong with Emmeline per se but Lily often found herself feeling as though something was off about her but she couldn’t figure out just what. Emmeline’s off-ness was especially apparent when she and Mary dated. Granted it was only about a week the previous year but, for lily, that week was torture. Whatever her subconscious had against Emmeline seemed to have bubbled up making Lily feel physically ill at the sight of Mary being with her. Lily didn’t know why she felt that way, she was just really protective of her friend. When Mary dated Sirius, Lily had to physically restrain herself from letting him know how much he didn’t deserve her every time he made a stupid joke or sat too close to her. But Emmeline especially triggered Lily's radar.
“What’s up?”
Lily realised she had been looking at mary, no, not looking — staring ”Nothing. Just missing you,” Lily shrugged.
“I’m right here”
“Not really,” Lily sighed as Mary looked at her quizzically. “Why don't you hug me any more.”
“What are you talking about we hug all the time”
“You never initiate them.” Mary pondered this for a moment unable to think of a response. “The last time you initiated anything was when we kissed. It’s kinda like it cursed us,” Lily continued to ramble vocalising her train of thought. “Maybe if we kissed again it would undo it,” she giggled
Mary tensed up. “You don't mean that”
“What if I did?” Lily looked at Mary and inched her licking her lips intentionally.
“Lily, you’re drunk and i-“
“I’m not that drunk”
“Lily,” Mary sighed, hurt flickering in her eyes “I cant do this. Not now. i just- I’m going to get James”
Mary left Lily sitting on the couch alone with her thoughts. Lily’s head was spinning. She knew she was acting dumb but she didnt realize she would hurt Mary's feelings. Lily regretted ever saying anything and mentally berated herself trying to figure out what possesed her to act so stupid.
Mary returned with James just as he said she would. “Please sort out your girlfriend.” Lily could heard the shakiness in Mary’s voice. She’d done that. She hurt mary. How could she have done that to her?
Lily woke up the next day in a bed which was familiar but not hers with her head pounding. She opened the curtains of james’s bed and immediately regretted as the sun shone on her face amplifying her headache.
She sighed in relief as she saw hangover drought which waited for her on the bedside table. As she chugged the fraught she found herself having flashbacks to the drinking she’d done the night before—and everything that followed
“Fuck”
“You’re awake,” James’s voice called dom peters bed.
“Fuck” Liky repeated, realizing she would have to speak to James.
“Quite chipper aren’t we”
“James,” Liky sighed “We need to talk”
“Cant say i didn’t see this one coming.” Lily couldn’t read James’s expression.
Lily scanned the room “I kicked the lads out. i figured we’d need to talk when we woke up”
James made his was across to sit cross legged facing lily on his bed.
Lily took a deep breath