Love Lives {Jily}

O N E

"I didn't love him."

Marlene smirks. "Of course you didn't, Lily darling."

"No, I did not. I honestly did not. It was just a random fling, I swear to Merlin." Lily groans, slumping back in her chair.

Out of the corner of her eye, she watches Marlene raise a perfectly arched eyebrow. The smirk vanishes for a second, replaced by surprise, but its back as fast as it went and Lily knows she's in for an unpleasant interrogation.

"Why in Merlin's name Lily, would you need to involve yourself in a random fling?" drawls Marlene, clearly disbelieving and Lily flinches slightly, both at the question and the tone. Marlene has a way of sounding like Bellatrix Black sometimes, with her Pureblood accent and probing questions, matched perfectly with the nonchalant smirk, both infuriating and unnerving.

Lily sighs, trying to stem the anger building up within her. Marlene might be her best friend, but sometimes the urge to use an Unforgivable on her is too tempting. Like maybe, right now. What did the pretty, big headed fool with a fan following of stupid boys know of love? Nothing. And yet, why Marlene kept pestering, questioning and poking around was beyond Lily.

"No answers? Thought as much." Marlene's smug voice cuts through her thoughts. Lily's had enough.

"For Morgana's sweet sake, can't I get into casual relationships and enjoy some regular—not to mention, great—sex without people telling me that I must have fallen in love with the damned guy?" she snaps, her hand inching towards the wand in her pocket, mind running over several hexes.

Lily Evans does not take teasing well.

Its a blessing the common room is empty. If others heard prudish, perfect Lily Evans talking about casual flings and sex like it was nothing, it would result in an uproar throughout the entire school.

Marlene however, continues to look amused. Lily wants to slap the look off her face. Sometimes she wonders why Marlene is her friend. Best friend. The imperturbable, smug, Pureblood bitch has less in common with Lily than a Flobberworm. Flobberworms don't smirk, Lily is sure. The urge to slap, hex and curse one's best friend into oblivion is surely, not normal?

"If that is all, what's gotten you this riled up? You should've let the damn thing pass with a mere shrug of shoulders." Marlene says after a while.

She leans in closer, and Lily uncomfortably notices an unmistakable glint in her eye. "Trust me, I know all there is to know of random flings with great sex."

Lily can't deny that.

Marlene McKinnon is the most promiscuous Gryffindor Hogwarts has ever seen, sleeping around with everybody, girls and guys alike. Her relationships don't last more than a week at most, always ending over something silly, something petty. Yet somehow, Marlene never looks remotely broken up after a break up, hooking up instantly with someone else. Lily often worries for her friend's future.

She doubts prostitutes retain any pride or prestige in the Wizarding World.

She chooses to keep her mouth shut, face passive and stony. A word right now would make Marlene deduce a million things about Lily's current emotions. Irritatingly enough, they would all be mostly true. Even more irritatingly, Lily would gain knowledge of these hidden emotions only when Marlene told her about them.

Marlene can be scary sometimes.

There's a long silence. Finally, Lily turns to look at Marlene, and notices the girl staring intently at her nails.