A Reason in Madness

"There is always some madness in love. But, there is also some reason in madness."

Chapter Nine: The Religions of Hogwarts

"God, Ké, I really feel like I don't even know what's going on in my own life..." Lily and Keida were sitting on Lily's bed in the Head Girl's dorm painting each other's fingernails.

"Well, if you want to know what I think- and I personally don't care whether you do or not- I think that you like him," Keida said matter-of-factly.

Lily looked up from her friend's hand, accidentally running a line of light blue nail polish up her finger. "I know you just didn't say that."

"I did. And I mean it, too. You would not be this spaztic over him if you didn't," Keida replied. She looked her striped finger over before reaching over to the bedside table for the bottle of remover and a cotton ball.

"I rather like it on you. Maybe be should just paint you blue! Wait! I am not spaztic over Potter!"

"Ha! See?" she said triumphantly. "My point proven. James Potter's name was not mentioned once until you just said it!"

"But- no! I couldn't like him even if I wanted to! It's like...against my religion...or something..."

Keida fell over laughing, trying her hardest to keep her hands flat, so as to not mess up Lily's bedspread. "Against your religion? Well, James practices...like...Lilism or something!"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that the boy worships the ground you spit on!"

"He does not! I don't know what you're talking about. He even stopped asking me out after last year." She appeared totally unaware as to anything else outside of what she had said.

"Of course he has! How many times did you tell him no, for crying out loud? Not that he didn't deserve it at that point..."

"What d'you mean, 'at that point'?" Lily asked, looking at her friend accusingly.

"Well...he's not that bad anymore, Lil...and it's not like he's not good-looking or anything of that sort."

"Keida Brennit! You've fallen into a marauder's trap! I'm surprised at you!"

"Keida waved a now-dry hand absent-mindedly at Lily. "Oh, hush. He isn't bad at all this year, and you know it! You've just too bloody stubborn to allow yourself to think otherwise!"

"No! That's not true!" Lily began to get a look of desperation on her face. "I don't like him...I don't."

"Lily, it's okay to like someone."

"But...it's James Potter! I can't like him!"

Keida grinned cheekily at Lily. "I think it's too late."

*~¤~*

"Hello, my darling Lily flower."

Lily swished around, her hair creating a fan-effect from the 'swish.' James Potter was behind her. "Hi, James." She tried to hurry away.

But, to no avail. "Why the rush?" he questioned.

Along with that odd little laugh you get when you're nervous, she replied, "I dunno. Guess I'm just feeling a bit...quick today."

James gave her a strange look. "I don't get it."

"What don't you get, James?" I new voice asked. Looking band, the two saw Remus.

James looked thoughtful for a moment. "Huh. I don't really know. That's actually a very good question, Moo- hey!"

"Hi. Great; now your IQ has dropped to that of a cow," Remus remarked.

"Isn't there some religion that worships cows?" another new voice asked. Another turn, this time made by three. Sirius. "What are we talking about?"

"I'm impressed, Black. You actually made an intelligent comment," Lily said.

"Hey! That hurt!"

"Hi," said Remus once again.

"I hope it did." Lily grinned innocently at Sirius as she spoke.

"Ouch," grimaced James, Sirius, and Remus at once.