"So what's the plan?"
Lily turned over in her bed, trying to ignore Dorcas as she climbed on beside her. "I dunno," she replied sulkily. "It's too early; leave me alone."
Dorcas could not be disturbed by the cold morning greeting, making herself comfortable beneath the duvet. "Yes, but I know you haven't slept a wink thinking about it," she said knowingly, playing with Lily's hair on the pillow. "Come on, lets get dressed; I'll help you find James."
"He doesn't want to see me."
"Course he does; he loves you, doesn't he?"
"I wouldn't be so sure." Lily had been dwelling on the fact al night. I hate you. That's what he had said to her. I hate you.
Dorcas sighed heavily and Lily turned herself over revealing her puffy eyes. "Oh Lily, you really didn't sleep at all did you?"
A wave of emotion passed over Lily on seeing her friend's pitiful reaction and she felt herself breaking down without her consent. Dorcas pulled her into a hug as Lily hid her face in the pillow and sobbed quietly. Somehow she'd managed to hold off all night on the crying, too busy staring at the ceiling but seeing nothing but James' face the moment before he walked out on her.
"Aww, don't cry. What's the matter?" Dorcas added, rubbing her back gently.
Lily lifted her head from the pillow, looking at her friend incredulously. What was the matter? Like it wasn't obvious enough? "He hates me!"
"Shh, you'll wake the others."
"I don't care!"
Dorcas actually laughed a little and Lily hid her face again. She didn't take kindly to being ridiculed when her heart was breaking.
"Don't be so silly," Dorcas told her, trying and failing to make Lily look her in the eye again. "Look Lily," she huffed, giving up on pulling the pillow away. "People don't fall out of love just like that, all right? Have you been upsetting yourself all night thinking he doesn't want to see you again or something?" Lily's silence was enough to confirm Dorcas' suspicions. "I thought you didn't want James to love you anyway; why get yourself all worked up over it?" Again, Lily's silence spoke for her. Dorcas only hugged her tighter.
The majority of partygoers were sleeping off hangovers and it was no surprise that many of the sixth and seventh years didn't emerge from their dorms and common rooms until long after lunch. Lily wasn't sure if the Marauder's absence was hangover induced or due to the fact that they were purposely ignoring her. She sat with Dorcas and Emmeline by the fire until after three, contemplating what she might say to James if he finally came down, but mostly they lounged about in thoughtful silence with Lily feeling sorry for herself. Finally Emmeline declared that she couldn't take it anymore and insisted they at least go for a walk.
It was a bad idea.
"Lily!"
She cringed, turning her back on the caller as though stupidly thinking he would not recognise her this way. Dorcas and Emmeline shared worried looks but his heavy footsteps retreated all of a sudden and Lily turned to see John hurrying back around a corner as a new voice made itself heard.
"Miss Evans, my office if you please." Lily had never been more relieved to have McGonagall breathing down her neck. "Don't think I can't see you Mr Willis," she added shrilly. "Follow me." Lily had got to know the Professor well since her appointment as Prefect back in fifth year and more so as Head Girl. She was miffed about something – it was in the precise tone of her voice and the flare of her nostrils. She was in trouble and so was John. The teachers knew about the party – or at least the fight.
