Lily knocked on Harmony's door early that next morning, not stopping until her disgruntled best friend pulled back the door to glare up at her.
"Good morning, sleepy head," Lily said cheerfully, wanting to lift Harmony's spirits a little.
"No, not good morning. If you were saying good afternoon or good evening, then I would agree with you. Harmony no likey waking up early in the morning, especially not after she cried so much that she had problems sleeping last night," Harmony told her as she stepped back so Lily could walk in her room.
Harmony wiped the sleep out of her eyes as she walked over to her bed and plopped down on it and covered her face with a pillow. Her hands fell to her slightly noticeable baby bump, subconsciously rubbing her belly gently.
Lily sighed softly and sat down on the bed beside Harmony. She hated seeing her best friend upset, but there was hardly anything left for her to say or do; it was as if Harmony could only be happy for a day or two at max before something else got to her.
It took her a few minutes to conjure up what to say this time. Reaching over, Lily took one of her best friends hands and held it lightly.
"Harmony, I know you're upset. You have every right to be. No one blames you for being mad or hurt or angry or sad; you've gone through a lot in the past few months. But you have to shake this funk. If he doesn't want to be with you, then that is his loss, not yours. He is the one who is giving up having a wonderful family with you and your son. I highly doubt you being this upset is healthy for the baby anyways," Lily said comfortingly.
Harmony sighed and sat back up to look at her friend.
"I can't help it. . I just feel like I've screwed things up over and over and over again," she said as she ran her fingers through her hair.
"We're teenagers, Harmony. Don't forget that. We're supposed to make mistakes and learn from them." Lily nudged her friend with her shoulder and gave her a soft smile. "At least we have each other to help correct them, or make each other feel better when we've done something that we regret. I don't know what I would do if I didn't have you as a friend."
"Thanks, Lily. I think you're the only one who is ever able to effectively cheer me up without doing something stupid and hurting yourself like James does. Speaking of James, how are things between the two of you?"
Lily's pale cheeks turned the color of her hair, and she tipped her chin down to avoid looking Harmony in the eyes. "What do you mean? There is nothing to talk about," she replied quickly.
"Don't give me that. I know there's something there. You haven't insulted him or punched him in the nose or slapped him since we've been here, and I know he's called his 'lily flower' at least a dozen times since you've been here."
"I. . .I'm just tolerating him for your sake. I know that he's your best guy friend, and I. . I didn't want there to be any unnecessary tension while we were here. That's all," Lily explained, still not looking her friend in the eyes. Harmony gave her friend a light push and rolled her eyes at her.
"Oh, I highly doubt that. You've never even pretended to tolerate him before now. You know, I think he's finally getting to you. You're finally seeing that he's not even half as bad as you made him out to be." Lily got up from Harmony's bed and walked over to the middle of the room before she turned around and looked at her friend.
"I don't know what's going on, Harmony. I like him. . I really do, but I just can't put myself out there like that. What if I'm just a conquest for him? What if he loses interest in me as soon as I finally agree to go out with him?" Lily paused for a moment, running her fingers through her hair. "I just couldn't handle it. . I couldn't . ." she explained.
Harmony got up off her bed and walked up behind her best friend, touching her shoulder gently.
"Lily, everyone knows that James is hopelessly in love with you. I know, the Maraduers know. . hell, all of Hogwarts can tell that the boy is head over heels for you. He hasn't even looked at another girl since he met you, sweetie," Harmony explained.
"I know. . but it's scary." Lily's voice was so soft that Harmony barely heard it.
"Yes, but you're the bravest and sweetest girl I know. You owe it to him and to yourself to see where things take you. I'm sure you two will fall in love and get married in no time. You're perfect for each other, Lils."
It was then and there that Harmony made a vow to herself that she was going to do everything in her power to make sure that her best friends got together. She might have lost her chance at happiness, but she was not going to let Lily and James miss their chance and lose theirs.
"You always know the right things to say, Harmony," Lily said with a smile as she turned around to face her friend.
"Not really. . only when it comes to you and James. I can't say the right thing to Sirius or Remus if it would save my life. I'm like a freaking zombie when I'm around either of them, and I always say the wrong thing. It's pretty horrible," Harmony explained, walking back over to her bed and laying down
She closed her eyes when her head hit the pillow and rubbed her pregnant belly gently. "I've already screwed up my son's life, and he hasn't even been born yet. I'm a terrible mother."
Lily plopped down on the bed beside her and popped her upside the head.
"I don't even want to hear those words coming out of your mouth ever again, missy. You are going to be a damn good mother, and don't deceive yourself otherwise. So, you might not have a man in your life, but that's no big deal. There are plenty of single mothers all over the world. No more being a negative Nancy. I won't have it."
Harmony rubbed her head where Lily hit her, trying to play it off, but she was listening to the words coming out of her friend's mouth.
"I'll try, Lily. I can't do much more than that right now. I'm still so. . torn apart about the whole thing, and I'm scared that I won't be able to give my son the life he'll need. . I'm so lost," she said softly, holding the tears back because she didn't want to cry any more that day.
"You've got us, all of us. Me, your parents, your brother, James. We'll all be behind you every step of the way."
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