The Ice Queen [s.b.]

↠curse me like there's no tomorrow, 1.9

When Annalee awakes and walks out of her common room, Lily is waiting for her.

"Listen, Lily, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have lashed out at you, you were just there. I was about to go-" Anna starts.

Lily cuts her off, "No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have automatically assumed it was your fault. It was all my fault you didn't do anything wrong. James feels bad too. Sirius was yelling at him for almost an hour after you left."

"I'm not sure what to say," she confesses.

"It's alright. And if you need time to forgive me, to be away from me, then let me know," Lily says nervously.

Anna shakes her head, "That's the last thing I need. You're my best friend. Of course I forgive you. I always will. You're like the sister I never had."

"Thank you, Lee. Do you want to go to breakfast?"

With a sly smile, Annalee says, "How do you feel about going to the kitchens for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and skipping school?"

Lily groans, "You're killing me, Lee. But fine. For you. What's on the agenda for the day?"

"To the kitchens!" Anna declares with a laugh. 

The two scurry down the stairs and into the kitchens.

"Thoughts: You and I open a newspaper together when the whole he-who-must-not-be-named thing is over," Lily suggests. 

"Yes, of course. But you should call him Voldemort. Would you want your child to call him anything other than his name?" Anna agrees, then disagrees.

"No. You're right. The fear of a name increase fear of the thing itself. I said that to Dumbledore one time, and he made me stop my monologue to 'ponder it'. And then he gave fifty points to Gryffindor," Lily laughs slightly, unaware of the fact that said Professor will repeat it to her own son years in the future.

"Dumbledore so favors Gryffindors, it's not even fair," Annalee complains and then stuffs a mini-cupcake into her mouth. "This is so good."

"I know. To both. If he favored Slytherin, James and Sirius would riot," Lily snorts.

"We're back to not saying his name again, by the way."

"Why? Cowering away from your feelings again, Lee? It's obvious you like him. Oh my god, gasp! Or maybe you wuv him! Ooooooh! My little girl is growing up. I hear wedding bells!" Lily squeals, actually saying 'gasp' out loud.

Anna covers her ears, "Lalalalalalala! I hate him. Not love him. But that's a nice thought. If we're talking about love, let's talk Potter."

"What about him?" Lily grumbles.

"Um, what?" Anna laughs. "Did you just say 'what about him'? I was about to poke fun at you and tease you that you like him back. But you... you actually do? Why don't you say yes and put the poor boy out of his misery?"

"Because he's Potter!" Lily protests, making Anna gasp.

"You- you just admitted it! Lily likes Potter! Lily likes Potter! Lily likes Potter!" Anna sing-songs.

"Ugh, shut up. I do not," Lily mumbles half-heartedly.

Anna sighs, "Praise my name forever, I'm changing the subject. Back to our newspaper."

"I think we should call it Equality News."

"I think that's stupid."

Lily swats her, "Rude. What do you think?"

"How about the L.A. Times?" Annalee asks.

"That's the name of a muggle newspaper, actually. How about the L.A. Gazette?"