I hadn't planned on going to the Hogsmead trip, it was the third week of April, and exams were next week. Yet I still found myself walking around the shops, desperately trying to distract myself from the fact that Severus had purposely run into me and tripped me on the way to breakfast this morning. Something had happened to him over winter break, and our friendship had quickly crumbled, leaving me all alone.

Taking a seat underneath a tall oak tree, I unwrapped the bar of dark chocolate I'd just purchased from Honeydukes, breaking off a square and letting it melt in my mouth. Very few people littered the park grounds, as most of my fellow students were shopping, and the townspeople working.

"What do we have here?"

I looked up to see Remus, smiling, Sirius, James, and Peter standing behind him. I offered him a small smile of my own, but it was obviously forced.

"What's got your knickers in a twist?" James asked, making himself comfortable, plopping down next to me. "You look awfully down."

"It's nothing, Potter." I supplied quickly, not really wanting to discuss my problems yet again. Sirius scoffed, rolling his eyes.

"Nothing, as if. You're obviously still upset, I thought I cheered you up, Elise." He spoke, and I shrugged.

"You cheered me up, I guess, although it's likely never to happen again seeing that I can't stand the sight of you. I just can't seem to be happy constantly, like some people." I said, and Sirius scowled.

"Why are you sad then? And since when can you not stand the sight of me? You know you absolutely think I'm pretty and perfect." Sirius asked, flapping a hand at his face and batting his eyelashes. I couldn't help but laugh at his silly attire, something I mentally scolded myself for.

"Pretty? Perfect? Nice choice of words, Black. Do you really want to know why I'm sad? I hate you, you guys hate me, why do you even care?" I laughed.

"Because Sirius fancies you, obviously." James said with an eye roll, and Peter snickered.

"It's true." Remus confirmed. By now Sirius was blushing a tomato red, and I found myself flushed as well.

"He doesn't like me, and even if he did, I wouldn't return the feelings." I said angrily, picking up my things and standing up. "You three need to stop mentioning how much we are made for each other, because we aren't! We're made to hate each other, if anything! He annoys me, I annoy him. That's the way it works, the way it always works. I'm not Lily Evans, and Black isn't James Potter. Actually that was a horrid example, ignore it.  It's just not like that, that as in we fancy each other and will ride off into the sunset and live happily ever after. So stop."

There it was again, the flash of hurt in Sirius's eyes, and for once second, I faltered. Mentally shaking my head, I kept the glare plastered on my face and turned on my heel, leaving quickly. I had exams to study for, I couldn't afford to spend time with those four idiots.

"Well, better luck next time, mate!" James said, ruffling Sirius's hair.

"I. Don't. Fancy. Her." Sirius seethed, but on the inside he was slowly crumbling. Cascade had said that she would hate him forever, that they were made to hate each other. Maybe he was just being crazy, he didn't really like her, it was just his friends getting to him.

"Mate, don't deny it." Remus scolded sternly. "I can tell by the look on your face. You may be in denial, you may not realize it, but you do fancy her, whether you like it or not. We support you, and I think she fancies you too, she just doesn't know it yet." He added in a softer tone.

"Whatever." Sirius said, but his gaze was downward. "I-never mind."

"What? What were you going to say?" Peter piped in.

"Nothing. Something stupid." Sirius shook his head. "I guess you lot are right. It must be karma, or something. I spend all this time breaking girl's hearts, and when I finally genuinely fancy someone, they break mine.

"At least you can admit you fancy her. And trust me, don't give up yet. There's something between you two, mate. So just give it a chance." James said helpfully.

"Yeah...I guess." Sirius mumbled.

---

I sat outside, watching students trying to feed the Giant Squid, James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter messing around, and Lily, chatting with Marlene. I sighed, bringing my knees up to my chin, holding my legs to my chest, pressed up against the willow tree that nobody ever sat at anymore.

I'd just finished my last exam, and now I relaxed, letting the wind blow through my hair. It was much to late to interfere by the time I noticed the four boys approaching Severus, who had his nose in a book, frantically studying for his next O.W.L, probably in Divination or something.

The words that the boys exchanged escaped me, and I zoned them out, reminding myself that it wasn't my place to stand up for Severus anymore, he didn't care anymore. So I wouldn't care anymore. It was only when Lily got involved did I actually bother to watch.

"You leave him alone, Potter!" She had said, her eyes blazing with fury. He'd shouted something stupid back at her, and she's retorted with something that caused everyone to laugh.

I made my way closer to them, only catching fragments of their conversation.

Then Severus spoke.

"I don't need help from a filthy mudblood like her!"

Lily's eyes began to water and hurt flashed across her face, but she set her jaw, eyes alit with rage.

"Fine then, you don't need my help. See you around, Snivellus." She spat, her tone harsh and cold. Lily then turned on her heel, ignoring James calling after her, until he spoke again to Severus.

"Apologize to Evans right now!" James yelled, his eyes blazing. Just like that, Lily was fired up again, rounding on the poor boy.

"You're just as bad as him, Potter!" She called. "Don't make him apologize!"

"What? I would never call you the m-word!" James said in defense.

"You're a gargoyle's nipple, an arrogant toe rag, and a bully, Potter. You. Make. Me. Sick!" Lily snapped, and stalked away.

As her old friend, I could see the hurt in her stance, the hurt she was hiding. I put aside my pride, I put aside the fact that she probably hated me, I put aside our fight, I put aside our ruined friendship, and I rushed after her.

"Lily! Lily, wait!" I shouted, running after her rapidly retreating form. She finally stopped trying to get away from me, and turned to face me, her face streaked red with tears.

"What, Elise? I thought you didn't want to be seen with me." She said coldly. I ignored the wave of guilt and pain that washed over me, and spoke.

"No, Lily, you didn't let me explain, I never said that. I just thought that it would be easier for you, I'm already disliked in Slytherin and the only reason that you were able to sit there without getting ridiculed was because of Severus. And even then, they made fun of you. Are you okay?" I said, my tone softening.

"No." Lily admitted thickly. "I'm not okay, okay? Ever since our fight, and now Severus has gone and made it worse. Don't try to explain yourself though, I understand if you don't want to be seen with a mudblood like me."

"Don't call yourself that, that's not true! I didn't come here to fight with you, Lily!" I exclaimed, grabbing her hands. "I still care about you, we were sisters. Sisters fight. I want to make sure you're okay."

"I can be okay without your help." Lily snapped, her temper flaring. "Sisters fight, I would know that for sure. But sisters don't fight like this, sisters don't shun or push the other away."

"You're literally describing your relationship with Petunia!" I fired back, loosing control over my temper as well. I instantly covered my mouth, backing away in horror.

"That's a lie! Petunia is just jealous, she would never push or shove me away!" Lily cried, but I could see the tears welling back up in her eyes, the pain as reality struck home. With that, Lily pivoted and took off down the hall. Guilt swelled inside of me, and I didn't even try and follow her.

Because, just like that, I'd realized that everything had really changed.

Any hopes of being friends again with Lily and Severus were gone.

Everything was different now.