Undeniable Love

Misunderstandings

Lily always loved Christmas time at Hogwarts, with all the decorations and trees. It was amazing.

As Lily walked into the Great Hall, she was definitely not let down. Ginormous conifers rose to the ceiling in all four corners, decorated with red, gold and silver bulbs and tinsel. Atop each tree was an eagle for Ravenclaw, a lion for Gryffindor, a snake for Slytherin and a badger for Hufflepuff. The Christmas Feast was tonight. And the dance was tomorrow. Lily still had no date, to say she was surprised James hadn't asked her yet was an understatement.

As Lily sat down at the Gryffindor table, she realized James was not yet there. She began to pile her plate with food, absentmindedly chewing on her nails.

"What's up Lils?" Marlene slid into the seat beside her, Sophia on the other side and Alice in front.

"Nothing." She poked at her food and said casually, "Where's James?"

Sophia sighed. "Is he all that's on your mind?"

"No...."

Sophia grabbed a green apple and took a big bite out of it. Then, she put it back in the basket.

"Ew! Soph! That is disgusting!" Alice squealed, wrinkling her nose in disgust.

Sophia smiled wickedly and grabbed Alice's apple, licked it, and set it back onto her plate. Alice glared at Sophia who smiled, flicking her blonde hair onto her shoulder.

Marlene smacked Sophia when she tried to take her apple too. Sophia grunted and ate her food. Suddenly, Sirius plopped down in front of Marlene. He smiled devilishly, taking an apple from the tray of them. He grabbed a green apple and shoved it in his mouth. Sophia snorted. The apple was the one she took the bite out of.

"Sirius? Have you seen James?" Lily asked hopefully.

"Oh yeah. He was talking to a first year who was lost. He is actually taking his duties seriously." Sirius made a face. "It absolutely sucks!"

Lily smiled. James had actually taken a change for the good. "Do you know what floor that was on?"

"Yeah. I think it was by your common room." Sirius said, eyeing his apple suspiciously, as Sophia was still giggling to herself.

Lily dropped her fork, and stood up. "I'll be back." And with those words, she swept out of the room.

***

James wasn't by their common room. Lily sighed and entered the common room alone.

She halted when the sound of voices floated into her ears. Lily cocked her head to the side in confusion. It sounded like James.....and a girl.

"-but James!" A squeaky voiced girl whined.

"No. I told you," his voice dropped to a whisper, and Lily could no longer hear their voices.

Lily crawled out of the portrait hole and inched closer to James and the girl. She peeked around the corner and saw a girl in Hufflepuff robes. She had long brown hair that flowed down to her elbows. Her eyes were icy blue, and she appeared to be a couple years younger than James. James' head was way to close to the other girl's for Lily's comfort.

Jealousy was a cold, metal hand gripping Lily's gut. She clenched her hands at her side and moved back around the corner, out of site. She breathed in deeply and moved to creep around the corner, but stopped short.

Tears pricked Lily's eyes. No. That couldn't be real. Lily was dreaming! She pinched herself. Nothing changed.

Lily peeked around the corner again, and her eyes landed on the same site: James, lips locked with the other girl. Tears streamed down Lily's cheeks. How could he? Lily wondered desperately.

She locked eyes with James, and then turned and ran out of the room.

She stopped in front of a blank wall.

"Lily! Lily! It's not what is looks like!" James' voice echoed through the halls.

No! I need to get away from James! I need to get away from James! I need to get away from James! Lily thought frantically.

Lily heard a scratching sound. She turned towards the sound. There was a door there. Lily, confused, swung the big door open and slipped inside. The door clicked shut behind her. She sucked in a breath. The room was filled with junk. Piles upon piles of it.

"LILY!" James yelled frantically outside of the door. "Where are you? Please! Just let me talk!"

Reality slammed into Lily like a brick wall. She was in here for a reason. Tears clouded her vision as she recalled the image of James kissing another girl. She slid down the wall and landed in a heap on the floor. A jumble of arms and legs. Lily felt hot tears in her mouth. They were bitter and salty. A reminder of her loss. Her fiery red hair hung in her face, a curtain of shame and resentment. She was done.

She stayed in that mysterious room for hours, crying and crying. Lily Evans was broken.

***

JAMES

James was horrified. Why? Why did everything good in his life have to end up crashing and burning. Why couldn't he be happy?

Tears spilled down his cheeks, as he searched every room in the castle for Lily. Veronica kissed him. He didn't kiss her back. He even told her that he liked Lily. Veronica didn't seem to care, and here James was. On a hopeless mission to get Lily back. But how was that possible? He barely had Lily in the first place. It took him nearly seven years to get her to go out with him! He couldn't wait that much longer this time.

"Lily! Please!" He cried.

No answer.

He slid down the wall, and put his head in his hands. How could he have been so stupid? Tears dropped freely from his chestnut colored eyes. He ripped his glasses away from his face and wiped fiercely at his tear stained cheeks.

He had messed up. And now he would pay for it. Dread and depression weighed down on James like a pile of bricks.

Why does it hurt this much? He thought.

Then the answer crashed down like a wave: James loved Lily. He was totally head over heels in love with her. And now, he had lost her.

He slammed his head into the wall behind him. The pain was intense and momentarily blocked out his sadness, but then it was back full force, knocking the wind out of him.

He breathed in raggedly. James Potter was in love with Lily Evans. He ran a hand through his hair. Stopped.

He heard something. Yes. He definitely heard something.

Crying. Yes. It was faint. But yes, it was there. But where was it coming from?

James wiped his eyes and stood up, pressing his glasses back on. Was he going crazy?

"Lily?" He whispered.

No answer.

Yes. He was going crazy. He was talking to a brick wall. Defeated, he spun on his heel and made his way back to their common room. How would he be able to face the world tomorrow?