Chapter 1

"I Forgot To Remember To Forget"

Everyone knows the story: the beautiful story of James and Lily Potter. The one where after years of pursuing and being rejected by Lily, James finally deflated that big head of his and Lily, well, nah she didn't hate him. It's the story Hagrid told Harry one afternoon over tea and rock-hard scones; the story turned into legend by Hogwarts students who adored James and idolized Lily. But if you could ask Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, or Peter Pettigrew, if you could read Mary Macdonald's diary or somehow talk to Frank and Alice Longbottom, if you could sit down with Professor Dumbledore's portrait and get him to remember the frightening but wonderful years the Marauders wandered the grounds of Hogwarts, then you would hear their story.

Theirs is a love story, but more than that theirs is a story of betrayal and forgiveness, of broken hearts and unexpected goldmines, of friendships that persist through lifetimes. Theirs is a story of some of the most harrowing times in wizarding history, but also a reminder that happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, when one only remembers to turn on the light.

Theirs is all that, and then a love story. Theirs is Sirius, Remus and Peter; Mary and Marlene; Frank and Alice; Severus; Teddy. Theirs is everything, and everything that could have been.

Because James and Lily didn't always walk the same path. She liked the Beatles; he liked Frankie and the Hippogriffs. Her favorite subject was Potions; he skipped classes to play Quidditch. She went to the Halloween after-party once in sixth year on a dare; he planned the after-party. But he laughed at everything, and she laughed too much. He was a rebel… and well she was a rebel too, in a more covert way. He was witty; she was sarcastic. She fell in love too easily; he fell in love too hard. And from the beginning to the end, they were always there for each other.

Theirs is the story of James Potter and Lily Evans.

(The Sorting)

…

The lion of courage

The badger of honor

The raven of wit

The serpent of desire.

Each house is noble,

Each house is distinct,

United are strong,

But divided are weak.

So stuff your brains full of knowledge,

And your hearts full of pluck,

Your bodies of spirit,

And your lives of luck.

Stand together, be wary

Of fighting within,

Remember my warning,

Now let the Sorting begin.

As the wrinkled Sorting Hat fell motionless once more, the entire hall burst into respectful applause. Lily Evans clapped with the rest of them, at the same time raising an eyebrow and knowing her sentiments were shared by many of the other students. Elsewhere in the Great Hall, people were being less discreet; murmurs and whispers punctuated the applause as students at all four tables turned to their neighbors to comment on the song.

"The old hat got some new material," said Sirius Black, glancing sideways at his friends.

"I'll say," replied James.

James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew, otherwise known as the Marauders, were sitting at the far end of the table nearest the doors. It was tradition as well as a survival technique that dictated their choice of seat. One could only stay to admire the handywork of a prank for so long before having to run away from a fuming McGonagall.

"But why now?" asked Peter. "I mean, for years all it sang about was the different houses. Its never given advice before, has it?"

"I read that the hat gave warnings before, from time to time, when it felt like the school was in danger," said Remus, looking rather apprehensive. "I reckon it's warning us about Voldemort."

"Hogwarts in danger?" Peter said skeptically; all the same, uneasiness tinged his words.

"Of course not." James was confident. "We've got Dumbledore, and there are protective enchantments all around the castle. Besides, haven't we always said the hat's a bit crazy? Imagine spending three hundred and sixty four days just sitting in an office and thinking up a new song. It's enough to drive anything mad and —"

But then Professor McGonagall's burning gaze swept across the Gryffindor table, causing even James Potter to fall silent. With one last sweeping stern look, the Transfiguration professor cleared her throat and called out the first name. The Sorting had begun.

"Ackerly, Michael!"

Out of the timid looking group of eleven year olds came strutting forward a tall boy with slick black hair; Professor McGonagall had barely to touch the hat to the boy's head before a deafening "SLYTHERIN!" was heard.

The Marauders clapped politely with the other Gryffindors as Michael Ackerly sauntered over to the table at the opposite side of the hall. Several Slytherins, including fifth year prefect Regulus Black, enthusiastically welcomed their new housemate, at which point Sirius pointedly looked away at the next sorting (Bones, Edward; "RAVENCLAW!").

Annabeth Jones was the first new Gryffindor to be crowned, and the entire table erupted in applause as the young girl shyly made her way to the table, looking very much like she wanted the ground to open and swallow her up just then. After sitting down next to her older sister, Hestia, and being kindly welcomed by Lily Evans, Marlene McKinnon, and many others, though, Annabeth's expression brightened up greatly.

Gradually the line of eleven year olds dwindled down, until "Yen, Hamish" was sorted into Ravenclaw and Professor Dumbledore got up to say a few words.

"Happy eating."

For a few seconds after the tables started groaning under the weight of all the pies, steaks, tarts and drinks that had magically appeared on them, all that could be heard was the clattering of silverware. James reached immediately for the dish of steak-and-kidney pie in front of him—Gideon Prewett beat it to him, though, and happily piled the largest serving onto his plate.

"Good to see you again, mate."

(Potions Partners)

After a lazy evening and good night's sleep full of happy memories of the welcoming-feast's food, it was time for the first day of classes. Many students woke up as late as possible and put on their robes wearily—why couldn't school just consist of meals and Quidditch matches?

The giddier students were mostly first years, some of who had waited years to start their first day of Hogwarts, ever since they'd watched an older sibling wave off from the scarlet train for the first time. A certain redhead sixth year was part of the excited group, however, as she woke up her more lethargic two roommates and pulled them to breakfast.

Alas, her enthusiasm was quickly doused soon after the first class had started.

Starting sixth year, Hogwarts students began preparation for the Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests (N.E.W.T.s), the outcomes of which would open wide or slam shut future career pathways. N.E.W.T.-level coursework was considerably more difficult and definitely more time-consuming than that of previous years, and Potions coursework even more so than others; one could therefore imagine Lily Evans' shock at seeing James Potter and Sirius Black rush into the dungeon classroom Monday morning, schoolbags in hand.

"Lily, are you okay?" whispered Mary, glancing sideways at her friend. "You look you swallowed a vomit flavored Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Bean."

"What? No, I'm fine," said Lily, snapping her attention back to the table where she and the other Gryffindor girls were sitting. Pause. "Did you know Potter and Black were taking N.E.W.T. Potions?"

"I heard them talking about it with McGonagall this morning," said Mary, shrugging. "I guess they needed another class to fill up the mandatory five."

"But Pettigrew isn't taking this class —"

Noticing Marlene peering curiously at her, Lily frowned and said again, "What?"

"Since when do you care so much about Potter's schedule?" asked the pretty brunette.

"I don't! I just —"

"All right then," said Professor Slughorn, bumbling through the door, his great walrus mustache quivering with every word he said. "Welcome to your first N.E.W.T. Potions class! There's a great deal of material to cover this term, so let's jump right in, shall we? If everyone could partner up around a cauldron?" Slughorn walked about the classroom, sorting out his students. "Miss Flume, nice to see you in this class; how is your father? Wonderful man, wonderful man—still never forgets to send me those pineapples every year! Gilbert, Manning, don't think just because it's a new year you two can sit together. Switch partners with McKinnon and Macdonald—there you go. Mr. Fawkner, Mr. Hamilton, lovely to have you gentlemen back for another year."

There was a great deal of hustle as students moved to their new seating arrangements, and the sound of feet shuffling and collapsible cauldrons clattering echoed off the cold dungeon walls. Watching everyone else walk about with purpose, calling out each other's names, Lily felt the pit of her stomach coil itself into a knot. For five years she'd shared a cauldron with Severus Snape, the Slytherin boy who'd been her best friend since before they'd even started Hogwarts. But after the incident of last year, when he had vehemently and very publicly called her the worst name imaginable, Lily had no desire to see, talk, and much less be Potions partners with him.

As Marlene and Mary left Lily to join their assigned partners, apologetic smiles though may have been given, that knot twisted itself into a firm bowtie. Silently, Lily sorted the rest of her supplies into her bag, and closed the zipper as slowly as possible. She sighed; worst come to worst, she could always ask Slughorn if she could work alone today. It wouldn't be that bad. It wasn't like she actually cared about those two Ravenclaw girls staring and giggling at her behind her back. She was above that. Lily Evans did not care.

It's better than being partnered with Severus, she thought.

At that very moment, Severus Snape felt lost as well. Standing alone, he watched Lily—vivacious, innocent, and quite the opposite of the pale Slytherin—flounder, and for a second his feet had moved unconsciously towards her. But then Avery called him over to a cauldron and the Slytherin boy hastily averted his eyes, hoping his housemate had not noticed where he'd been looking.

"Lily!" called Remus; the two Gryffindors caught each other's eyes. "Partners, yeah?"

Snape felt jealousy bubble up as he heard those words, but on the opposite side of the room, Remus John Lupin was Lily's favorite person in the whole entire world. The knots in her stomach came undone and Lily felt a hundred pounds lighter as she shouldered her bag and walked toward her fellow Gryffindor, a grateful smile beaming on her face. Of course! Remus wouldn't have a partner either, since Pettigrew wasn't taking Potions anymore. This was wonderful. This was brilliant. This was —

"Ohohoho," said Slughorn as he rushed in front of Lily on his way to the back of the room. "Potter, Black—I remember what happened the last time you two were partners," he said, wagging his finger at the two boys who'd grabbed a cauldron together near the back. The Potions professor looked around for a second before landing his eyes on Lily, who was still paused in the middle of the classroom.

"Lily," said Slughorn with a satisfied smile that sent the stomach knots looping back into the redheaded prefect's stomach, "You're my best student. Partner with Potter; see if you can't be a good influence on him. And that leaves Black with Lupin, so everyone is ready. All right, open your copies of Advanced Potion-Making to page ten. We'll be starting off with the Draught of Living Death. Now it's a bit complex, so I don't expect any of you to produce a perfect potion, but there is time enough for a decent attempt. Most of the ingredients you need should be in your kits, anything else you may take from the store cupboard. Off you go then!"

Lily swallowed and turned towards James, who was avoiding eye contact. Yes. The knots were definitely back.

(Monster Flambé)

Lily shoved her books into her bag, and then slammed the whole thing into a tree. "Urgh!"

"I know you're still not over what happened in Potions class, Lily, but do you mind not being over it as we walk to the castle?" asked Marlene. She looked warily at the shadows beginning to dance around the edge of the Forbidden Forest, which was where they had just finished their Care of Magical Creatures class. All Hogwarts students and their families had been assured of extra protective measures around the grounds this year, but after the troll attack last spring, many were still feeling wary.

"It's been about four hours," said Lily in a voice that would have been cheerful except for the blatant sarcasm. She picked up her bag, though, and squashed her books back in. "The answer, dear Marlene, would be: no, I'm still not over what happened in Potions class."

"What happened in Potions class?" asked Alice Grisham, a pixie-like fifth year Gryffindor. She and her best friend, Hestia Jones, joined the girls on their walk back to the castle. They were coming back from a lazy free period by the lake.

"Slughorn partnered Lily up with Potter," said Marlene—Lily was making wild gestures at the air and looked unlikely to answer for herself. "Apparently they didn't say a word to each other the entire lesson. Their cauldron was emitting these ghastly purple fumes by the end of it—Slughorn's reaction was priceless though."

"We added twice as many sloth brains and no asphodel root at all," moaned Lily. "The only reason Slughorn didn't give us a T was because it was the first day of N.E.W.T. classes."

"And also because the poor professor is in love with Lily."

"You're taking a bit too much pleasure in my pain, McKinnon."

Marlene raised a hand in apology but also let a laugh sneak through. "Alright, let's talk about a more pleasant matter. The fifth years had their first Defense class this morning, right?"

"Oh it was the most exciting first class of the year I've ever been in," said Hestia. "Professor Bones flew through all that syllabus and logistical dung in the first fifteen minutes and went straight to practical stuff."

"He made everyone go through an obstacle course , to test what we had actually learned with the previous Defense professors," added Alice. "First time in my life I actually enjoyed getting quizzed."

"And he's not like the other Defense teachers we've had," said Hestia. "He's not batty or pompous or anything; you can just tell he's faced the real thing before, not just Dark creatures or common criminals. He's an ex-auror, I heard."

"And ex-aurors aren't batty or pompous?" remarked Lily, remembering certain long nights at Slug Club dinners.

"You know what I mean, Lily," said Hestia, rolling her eyes in jest. "Alice, back me up."

Alice giggled and nodded to agree with her best friend. "She's right, Bones does seem like a proper Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. I heard even the first years had a practical class."

"Yeah, Annabeth was really excited about it during lunch," said Hestia. "We're Muggleborn and I'm not allowed to do magic outside of school, so the only magic she's ever seen is the accidental stuff we did as children. Coming here, seeing a real proper wizard—she nearly couldn't eat because of the excitement."

"You and your sister seem close," commented Lily.

"We were both homeschooled, because our magic would come out at the most inconvenient times," said Hestia, shrugging and smiling at once, "So we were each other's best friends." Then she laughed. "Our parents are still waiting for us to start pulling each other's hair and stealing each other's stuff, though, as sisters are ought to do."

Lily smiled, like she was supposed to do, but then chewed on her lower lip as she inwardly sighed about her and her own sister's relationship, mainly the part where Petunia hated everything about Lily's world and thought magic was a big freak show. It hadn't used to be that way. Petunia and she had been close before Lily had started Hogwarts... before Lily had met Severus.

Suddenly a piercing scream echoed from across the grounds. All four girls turned around quickly towards the source, hands reflexively grasping for their wands.

Another scream, higher pitched this time. Hestia's face darkened with the realization of whose voice it was. "Alice, my sister! The first years just finished Herbology, they're by the lake coast where the troll got in last time—"

"Hestia, don't worry, Professor Sprout will take care of the students," said Alice, trying to calm her friend down. But it was too late; Hestia had already started running.

"She always does that," muttered Alice, even while taking her wand out from under her robes. "Hestia, wait up!"

Lily and Marlene glanced at each other for only a second before taking off as well.

The Herbology gardens were some ways down the edge of the lake, but before the girls went down that far they saw a group of Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors trapped by the cliff face, staring in horror as something enormous stalked down more of their classmates. Lily gasped in shock as she followed their gaze towards the lakefront.

The monster looked like a huge spider, with dark red bristles all over its body and four beady eyes staring out of the middle of its head, if you could call it a head. But it wasn't a spider, not even an Acromantula. No—it moved to fast; was too big; and the gigantic clubs at the end of each of its five legs were definitely not of arachnid descent.

Lily spotted Annabeth at the same time Hestia did. The young Gryffindor was trembling in fear on the beach, caught between the cold lake and the approaching beast. She and several others had their wands out, but there was little the first years could do except shoot a few sparks.

"Annabeth!" Hestia cried out. She reached for her wand only to remember that she'd left it in her dorm that day, not wanting to carry around any extra luggage. "God damn it, Grisham let me borrow your wand!"

Hearing her sister, Annabeth looked up, her round blue eyes silently shouting "Save me!" even as she was too terrified to speak.

"Hestia," said Lily, taking in the situation, "You can't do much with a borrowed wand. Round up the students by the cliff and take them back up to the castle. Marlene and I will distract the monster."

"But my sister," repeated Hestia, "She's stuck over there with —"

"I know." Lily looked the older witch straight in the eye. "But you've got to trust me, Hestia. We'll save her."

For a moment it looked as if Hestia was going to protest, but then she nodded. Perhaps she realized this wasn't the time to argue, or maybe it was something's in Lily's eyes, but Hestia grabbed Alice's hand and ran, shouting "First years, with us! Don't worry, we're prefects!" (Well, Alice was; but who was checking for badges when there was a giant spider running amok?).

"Are you sure we can do this, Lily?" asked Marlene, looking wearily from the enormous monster to the comparatively flimsy wand in her hand.

Her only reply was "Distract it!"

Marlene sighed. She had a feeling she was going to regret this later, but what could she do? There were first years in danger, and her friend was already running towards lake. "Oy, four-eyes! Stupefy!"

A jet of red light flashed from Marlene's wand and hit the monster square on, but it seemingly had no effect except to make the beast angrier. Marlene gulped as the five-legged monstrosity started scuttling toward her at an alarming pace—well, she had distracted it. "Lily!"

"Petrificus Totalus!"

That spell seemed to have greater results, and the girls sighed in relief. They both ran over to where the younger Gryffindors were trembling in fear, although, as even eleven-year-old boys will, some were pretending that they hadn't been scared at all. Then one of them screamed. On the beach, pincers had started slowly chomping, and in a second the legs were waving again as well.

"Marlene, take them to the castle!" shouted Lily, shooting another Full Body-Bind Curse at the monster while also hurriedly rushing the terrified first years out of the lake. "And alert the professors!"

Even as Marlene followed Lily's instructions, though, the latter froze up. Why did I just say that? Lily scrambled with her thoughts. Marlene's the athletic one. She plays Quidditch; she's the one with all the fast reflexes and stuff. She dodges Bludgers on a daily basis, and I, well, I trip and do stupid things like this!

Still, with a last look to check that Marlene and the first years had gotten to safety, Lily turned bravely back to the monster, which had gotten back on its feet.

A spell, say a spell Lily. Any spell, just hurry!

"Confringo!"

Flames burst over her target's body, as use of the Blasting Curse would entail, but now Lily realized she shouldn't have said just any spell. A giant monster was still running towards her… but now it was on fire too. She tried another Stunning spell, but it didn't work. A Leg-Locker curse? No. Oh no. This was it. She was going to die right there, wasn't she? There was going to be a memorial conjured over this very spot, engraved with the words 'Here lies Lily Evans. Gryffindor, prefect and'—

Don't write a eulogy, think of another spell!

"Impedimenta!"

That's a good spell, thought Lily weakly. Her wand, however, was still hanging limply by her side.

Then the caster of the jinx held out his hand to Lily, and she was frozen again in shock. She'd expected Marlene to have come back to help her, or maybe a professor, but least of all she'd expected him.

"Stunning spells on three!" shouted another voice. "One!"

"C'mon, Evans," growled James.

Right. The monster flambé.

Lily nodded mutely as she followed James' lead and raised her wand. It would be better to ask questions later, thought Lily. Besides, he didn't much look like he was in a talking mood—he wasn't even looking at her.

"Two!"

Both James and Lily raised their wands.

"Three!"

"Stupefy!" Five streams of red light collided on the five-legged beast, and with a blood-curdling shriek it finally collapsed on the ground. Lily let out a sigh of relief, fighting the urge to drop to the ground herself.

"Nice going setting it on fire, Evans." Sirius grinned as he walked over to the monster. He'd been the one counting down. "Moony, help me set this thing out?"

"Yeah. You all right, Lily?" asked Remus as he appeared from behind a rock. He joined Sirius in dousing the stunned creature.

"I'm fine," she replied, blinking as Peter Pettigrew also emerged into the clearing.

"Are you sure?" James asked gruffly.

"Yes, I'm sure," she said, although she did feel a bit disoriented by the sudden appearance of the Marauders. "Just suffering from post-traumatic stress, that's all."

James stared blankly at her.

"I'm fine," Lily said again. She felt a blush creep up on her cheeks.

A sudden rush of footsteps made the five of them look up as Professor McGonagall swept into the clearing. She was followed by an unfamiliar male professor, who must have been Professor Bones, and Marlene, who looked rather apprehensive of the whole situation.

"Hullo Professor," said Peter after a brief silence. The sandy-haired Marauder waved cheerfully. "We caught the monster for you!"

"What on earth were you thinking?" said Professor McGonagall, ice burning in her voice. She stared down the six Gryffindors. "Mr. Black?"

Sirius readjusted himself in the hard wooden chair; a chair he was well used to. "I dunno, Professor," he said, "We heard screaming and thought we'd better go help."

"And what exactly were you all doing by the lake at that time? Supper had already started."

This one was easy to answer. "We were walking back from Care of Magical Creatures," said Peter. "Professor Kettleburn kept me after class to talk about my O.W.L. grade," said Peter, "the other boys were just waiting for me."

"And what about you two; Ms. McKinnon, Ms. Evans?"

"We had just left that class too," replied Marlene. "Lily left a book behind so we were a bit late."

"But why wouldn't you run for a professor instead of trying to face yourselves? You could have been killed," said McGonagall, pressing her lips into a thin frown.

"Well from afar it only looked like an enlarged spider," said Remus, "We didn't think it'd be that dangerous."

"Yeah!" added Sirius. "I mean, we beat it, didn't we?"

Professor McGonagall was neither amused by nor accepting of the Marauder's quips, and her gaze turned even icier, if that were possible. "You must know by now what Hogwarts' rules are, Mr. Black. A violation this serious—after repeated offenses—the consequences are more than detention; I have to cut prefect privileges, free periods, Quidditch."

"Quidditch?" cried out Marlene and James.

Then a small voice came out from the corner.

"Professor," said Lily, raising her hand like she was answering a question in class. "It wasn't their fault. I'm the one who ran after the monster. They just came to save me."

"You started this?" asked the professor, skeptic.

"Yes, Professor," said Lily, her conviction increasing with each word. "There were first years in trouble. And I thought I could handle it, because well, I mean I did get an 'O' on my Care of Magical Creatures O.W.L..." She ventured a smile.

McGonagall's furiousness would not be appeased, although there was a wryness to her voice now. "Well it would be more prudent to have the same achievement at N.E.W.T. level, Ms. Evans, the next time you try to battle a Quintaped!"

"That was a Quintaped?" exclaimed Remus, his eyes widening as he sat bolt right in his chair. "But they're Class Five-X monsters! How did one get into Hogwarts?"

"That's exactly what Professor Dumbledore and I would like to know, Mr. Lupin," said the professor, looking gravely through her spectacles at her students. She let them sit in silence for a while—the Marauders had been in her office far too many times for her to still believe that lecturing would work. "At the time, Professor Sprout was working with mandrakes in greenhouse two and would not have made it to the scene soon enough to save the first years," the elder witch finally said, conceding some ground, "So five points each for your bravery."

The sixth years sans Lily grinned at each other.

"However," Professor McGonagall continued, "Fifty points will be taken from Gryffindor for your sheer stupidity and utter disregard of emergency procedures!"

"But that means we've lost twenty points!" protested Sirius.

"Be grateful it is not more, Mr. Black," said McGonagall. "I could be taking fifty points each!"

Sirius gulped and shut his mouth. Three hundred points lost was not something he wanted to be responsible for on any day.

"Ms. Evans," McGonagall turned her gaze to the young prefect. "You'll be facing detention every Thursday night for the next month. I expected better from you."

Lily bowed her head. "I'm sorry, Professor."

"Professor," said Remus, taking advantage of the following silence to try again. "Quintapeds are only found on the Isle of Drear. If one got onto Hogwarts… that can only mean someone brought it here on purpose. There are rumors going around, about how some of the student's families agree with Voldemort —"

"The headmaster and myself are perfectly aware of that, Mr. Lupin," replied the teacher, "But if you and your friends could please try to refrain from accusing Slytherins over breakfast in the Great Hall, no matter how guilty you think they may be."

"Stand together, be wary of fighting within," quoted Remus, remembering the Sorting Hat's warning.

"I am glad some of you paid attention to the sorting." McGonagall's words were droll but her voice solemn. "Go—all of you," she said, "There are still a few minutes before supper is cleared."

There was a scraping of chairs across the worn wooden floor as the sixth-years exited the office, their joy at getting off with just losing twenty points dampened by the disconcerting weariness of their stern Transfiguration professor by the end of it. Lily, her long hair guarding her from the stares of the Marauders, was the last out.

(Star-Crossed)

The silence ended as soon as they were out of McGonagall's earshot.

Less than a few paces from her office door, James suddenly came to a standstill and said, "Evans, a word."

"Talk," came the reply—the owner of the voice kept walking. "I can hear you just fine."

"A word alone?" asked James, his voice low.

"No," said Lily. She knew she sounded unreasonable but she didn't care; all she wanted was to take a warm shower and go to sleep, and besides, there was another reason she didn't exactly want to be caught out alone with Potter.

"Padfoot," James looked over Lily's head to his friends behind her, "You and the others go ahead."

"No," repeated Lily, louder. "It's been a long day, Potter. I don't want to hear anything that you wouldn't say in front of your mates and Marlene."

But the other Gryffindors were already gone, and as James walked into an empty classroom, Lily found herself reluctantly following him. She sighed. Maybe she shouldn't have been so stubborn—and mean. She'd been stubborn and mean and he hadn't done anything to deserve it…yet, at least.

All thoughts of apologizing to James, however, flew out of Lily's head when she saw who was in classroom she'd walked into. In the corner were seventh year Ravenclaw Derek Fletcher and his rumored Hufflepuff girlfriend Jenny O'Hair. Lily cursed the person (Marlene) who had included the word rumored in their description of the couple, although whatever description she'd been given still wouldn't have prepared her for the sight of her ex-boyfriend furiously undoing the buttons of another girl's clothes.

"Derek?" The name girlishly slipped out of her mouth before she could stop it.

Thankfully he didn't hear her, although for some reason Lily felt even worse because of it. She panicked as she felt her eyes mist up. No, she would not deal with this right now—could not deal with this right now. Damn it, it was too much for one night!

"Fletcher, O'Hair!" Lily tried to shout, but her voice came out in a squeak. They didn't hear her again, and she floundered, not knowing what to do.

"Fletcher, O'Hair!" barked James—his voice they heard. "Out!"

Finally realizing they'd been caught, the two seventh years ruefully glared at the Marauder while stepping out. Neither spared a second for Lily, whose cheeks were now as red as her hair.

James glanced at Lily, and for a moment the brooding hostility he'd directed at Lily ever since school had started was replaced by a gentle worry. "I'm sorry, Evans," he said, cautiously taking a step toward her. "I didn't know they were in this room, honest."

"Save it, Potter," snapped Lily. "I'm going back to the Common Room."

"Hang on," said James loudly, anger flashing back into his eyes. "I'm trying to apologize to you."

"Well you didn't know who was in here so there's no need for you to apologize," replied Lily.

"Then maybe it's you who should apologize."

Beat.

Lily's eyes narrowed. Fighting with Potter—it was all too familiar ground that she didn't want to cover just then. So when the redhead spoke again, she was obviously trying to stay calm. "What did you want to talk about, Potter?"

James stepped back, Lily's sudden change of tone setting him off balance. He soon got a grip on himself, though, and said, darkly, "I don't owe you anything."

"What?" Lily asked, exasperation outweighing her confusion.

"You heard me," said James, venomously. "I don't care that you took the fall for us back there. You and me—we're over, Evans. I don't owe you anything anymore. Next time you need saving, don't expect me to do it."

"It was my fall to take, everything I told McGonagall was true," protested Lily. "And for the record I never asked you to save me from that Quintaped—you were the last person on earth I expected to save me. In case you haven't noticed, you've been ignoring me ever since we came back to school!"

"Because that's what you asked me to do in your damn letter!"

Beat.

It was Lily's turn to step back as James let the words hang in the air. This was the first time either of them had acknowledged what had happened that summer.

"You're acting like such a child," Lily finally said, a quiet fury in her voice. "Can't you put things in the past? You're right, there is nothing between us. So why can't you just leave me alone?"

"You think I haven't tried?" countered James, an incredulous look on his face. "Damn it, Evans—why are you so damn oblivious?"

"You're the one who kept bullying Severus," she pressed, choosing not to dwell on what James might have actually meant. "You're the one who keeps starting these fights."

"You're the one who showed up drunk on my doorstep!" shouted James. "Don't try to put this all on me, Evans. I'm sick and tired of being the punching bag for your fucking mood swings. The next time you want to play at Andromeda, don't expect me to be your Perseus and save you!"

Beat.

Both were paused for a moment, remembering a conversation under the night sky.

"I'm not playing damsel in distress, Potter," said Lily at last, fists clenched in whiteness. Through gritted teeth, she sighed and said, "I'm sorry, alright? I'm sorry for screwing everything up this summer. I made a mistake, and I'm sorry. That's what you wanted to hear in the first place, wasn't it?"

"You're impossible, Evans," said James, though his scoff lacked its usual arrogance.

"And you're—" Lily paused. "Never mind. If we're done here, I'd like to go back up to the Common Room now."

"You're going to leave no matter what I say anyway," said James, quieter. His dark hazel eyes pierced Lily's green.

Final beat.

"You're right," she said. And with that, Lily turned away from the sixteen-year-old boy with messy black hair and shoved open the door.