The air was cool and crisp and a light wind rustled the leaves that were spread about the campus. Splashes of red and gold decorated the almost barren trees and the grass had long lost the green in its blades. The tree Lily Evans took residence under was no different than the ones she saw spread out before her. Their reflection rippled in the lake as a breeze ghosted over its surface. She focused on her distorted reflection while contemplating the events of the day.

Her personal alarm clock, Annie Pratt, shook her awake and the two idly chatted as they prepared for the next day of school. The brunette brushed her hair back into a low ponytail and slipped on her glasses as she waited for the slow rising red head to dress and ready herself. The two soon left the dormitory in search for their companions in the Great Hall.

The girls entered the dining room to find a tense atmosphere instead of the usual camaraderie present between their classmates. Silently, the two girls placed themselves with the marauders. The boys gave either a wave or a slight nod in acknowledgment of their presence. Annie and Lily exchanged a look. "What's with all the silence this morning, boys? Everything alright? Sirius, you're usually annoying the hell out of me by now and I'm shocked to hear myself say I'm kind of worried that you're, well, quiet." Sirius ignored Annie's attempt at humor and handed her a copy of the Daily Prophet.

"What's this?" Lily asked.

James answered by saying, "Two more muggles were killed last night." Annie and Lily traded nervous glances with one another. Both were muggle-born and the news didn't settle well with the two.

"It's horrible. Absolutely horrible. Is something not being done to stop this 'Voldemort'?" Lily received dirty looks from a few students who heard her speak the name.

James Potter sent a look their way before draping his arm across Lily's shoulders. "There's not much they can do, I don't think. My parents haven't said much, but I know that the ministry is starting to assemble the aurors. A war is headed our way is my guess."

Lily nodded her head, but for some reason couldn't shake the feeling that there was something missing. It didn't add up. Lily reread the article before deciding she was simply nervous about a History of Magic test later that day. That feeling didn't leave her though even as she finished classes that afternoon. James constantly told her she just needed a good night's sleep and Annie wholeheartedly agreed. "James is right, Lily. You were just up late last night studying."

The day wore on and by dinner time the sick feeling had been turned up notch. Worried now, James watched as McGonagall approached their bench. "Ms. Evans, would you be so kind as you follow me?" Remus made eye contact with Lily and raised his brow. The girl gave a shrug and followed the professor out the doors of the Great Hall.

Lily followed her head of house to Dumbledore's office where she waited patiently outside the door as her two elders spoke. After a short wait, the door opened and McGonagall exited the office. Lily jumped in her seat as the door closed with a click. Professor Dumbledore shared no words, but handed her an envelope with her name neatly printed on the front.

Lily wasted no time in ripping open the envelope and unfolded the parchment inside. A short and sterile note was all she found.

Miss Margaret Lillian Evans,

At a quarter past nine last night, Mrs. Laura Robin Evans and Mr. William Harold Evans were found murdered. We are trying our best to bring justice to your family's deaths. At the time we know nothing of the events that occurred within you home last night other than they were taken by the hands of Death Eaters. We at the ministry send our condolences to you during this time.

Signed,

Gerald Figman, Auror, 1st class

Lily looked from the parchment to Dumbledore and back down to the formal script she held in her hands. "I have arranged for you to return home for a few days, if that is what you wish." Dumbledore received only a small nod before the broken young girl asked for his permission to be excused from the office. With a gentle smile Dumbledore watched as Lily Evans left his office for the final time during her stay at Hogwarts.

Time passed and Lily found herself under an all too familiar beech tree. There was not but a sliver of the sun left in the sky which made the fall scenery glow before her eyes. Those eyes watched as clouds rolled in from behind the castle and hid the early evening sky. Leaves crunched and a body lowered itself gently beside Lily. Without question she knew who the figure was; she leaned her head into the crook of James neck. Sure enough, James pulled her exhausted form into his chest and kissed the crown of her head. For the first time that night, Lily let herself release the tears she didn't know she'd been holding in.

Once her tears subsided, it was completely dark. When James looked down he found that Lily was sound asleep. "You just have to make things difficult, don't you?" Shaking his head at himself, James stood up with Lily in his arms and made the trek back to Gryffindor tower.