Prologue

It had been a long time for Selene Zandt. She hadn't been back to London in many years. It was different now. London was much quieter than the last time she had been there.

Ever since her final day at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry she hadn't gone a day without thinking about her best friend. They had kept in touch, a letter from time to time, but not a much as best friends should have.

Did she regret it? Of course she did. Especially now. Selene had only recently heard of what had happened. If only she had written more often, or even read the letters more thorough maybe she could've helped.

It didn't matter anymore. As she crossed the street to the site of the accident, Selene ran her fingers through her brown locks. There were so many ashes among Godric's Hollow. She tried not to look at the mess. She closed her eyes tight and crossed her arms tightly against her chest.

Five years ago when she graduated she and her best friend, Lily Evans, swore to remain friends forever. Now Lily and her husband were dead. Their baby boy was living with Lily's horrible sister. Selene had begged Dumbledore for Harry to live with her. Sirius had wanted the same thing but had also been denied. Dumbledore had insisted this was the best thing for the boy.

A small patch of grass was near the end of the sidewalk that Selene was walking on. She knew when she kept walking she'd find the grave. Dumbledore said it was there. Her tennis shoes made a crunching noise on the leaves.

Then, there it was. A small headstone with Lily Evans Potter engraved on it was coming into view. Selene collapsed in the grass before reaching the grave. Her short breaths turned into sobs as it all came flooding back to her.

My god Lily, I am so sorry. She thought over and over again.

The final year. That's when it all happened. When all of those awful secrets came out. When boy met girl, and both of their lives changed. Forever.

Sparks

Lily Evans tucked a strand of dark red hair behind her ear. She nervously chewed on her lip as she stared at her Transfiguration quiz. Professor McGonagall just had to give her pupils a pop quiz today!

Lily shook her head in frustration. Why can't I remember all of these formulas? Lily wondered to herself. She gave a small moan and shrugged. Oh well, I'll just have to ask Professor for some extra credit.

As Lily set down her quill and looked up she was immediately disgusted. Sirius Black, possibly the biggest flirt at Hogwarts, was at it again. This time he was whispering, no doubt "sweet nothings", in a short brunettes ear. The young girl was giggling softly as Sirius kept going.

Lily rolled her bottle green eyes. It never occurred to her why all of these girls were constantly swooning over Sirius. Lily was only a friend with Sirius. She had made it very clear to him that if he ever pulled a move on her there would be consequences.

When Lily looked to her left she was even more disgusted. If that was possible! Maybe Sirius isn't the biggest flirt at Hogwarts, Potter is certainly giving him a run for his money! Lily gave a small laugh. James Potter was certainly a huge flirt!

James was grinning from ear to ear at a one of the members of the Hufflepuff Quidditch team. Aretha Falin was a very pretty girl. Lily did notice that James did seem partial to blondes. Aretha was pretending to ignore James as he was stroking her cheek from behind her with one finger. Ever now and then she would giggle and playfully swat his hand away.

Lily shook her head and rolled her eyes again. Now in her 7th year at Hogwarts she would soon leave. She did wonder where she would end up after school. Lily sometimes wondered if she'd end up working with Sirius or James. This would make her wonder how they would be as serious working adults. If Sirius and James could ever be serious!

Professor McGonagall swept all of the papers up to her desk as she dismissed the class. James and Aretha walked out of the classroom hand in hand, while Sirius and the brunette were still talking in their desks. Lily quickly gathered her books and fled from the room.

Almost as soon as she was out a familiar face greeted her.

"Lily! I am so jealous of you! You have Transfiguration with the most adorable guys in this school!" The girl gushed.

Lily sighed and leaned against the cold, hard stonewall. "Don't tell me you've joined the forces of Potter and Black Admirers! Please, they're so disgusting! You should've seen Potter with Aretha Falin!"

Lily's friend got a dreamy look on her face. "But they're both so gorgeous! James has this air of confidence and he makes you feel so protected! Sirius is just so perfect!"

"Please! I'm trying to keep my breakfast down! Sirius is far from perfect! Selene, don't say anymore." Lily said.

Selene nodded. "You know, while we're on the subject of James..." She began as Lily and her started walking

Lily stopped suddenly. "Selene! I thought I said I didn't want to hear about them anymore!"

Selene turned and stood in front of her friend. "Lily, you may not want to hear it, but everybody knows that Sirius has been totally checking you out."

"Selene!" Lily cried, almost dropping her books.

Selene giggled and linked arms with Lily. "It's true!" She said in a singsong voice. "I bet if Mr. Hunk-a-burning-love Black likes you his best friend does too!"

Lily broke away from her friend. Her green eyes were flashing. "All right! That's it Selene! I will never fall for Potter or his stupid little minion! So don't even try me!"

Her friend sighed and shrugged. "Okay, okay, I'll stop. But if it's true, I officially hate you!"

As they continued to walk towards the dungeon for Potions Lily couldn't help but look behind her. Just as soon as she did she felt her heart leap up into her throat. James Potter wasn't looking at Aretha, who was talking to him. James Potter was staring at her!

Lily quickly linked arms with Selene. "Come on Selene. Let's get out of here!" She said nervously.

"Um...okay?" Selene answered a bit confused.

Lily practically dragged Selene down the hall. She shoved Selene into a closet, ignoring the looks from other students. She closed the door quickly staring at her friend.

"Lily Evans what is with you?" Selene cried.

"Selene, James Potter was, he was looking at me!" Lily hissed pointing outside of the door.

Selene got a mischievous look in her blue eyes. "Ooo la la!"

Lily glared at her. "It's not funny. You know how I feel about him. I want nothing to do with him. We are friends, not close friends, just friends. I do not want him checking…checking me out all of a sudden!"

Selene put up one hand in despair. "All right, all right! Why are you yelling at me about it? I had nothing to do with it!"

"I don't know." Lily put a hand to her head in frustration.

"Look, stop stressing. It's nothing, he was probably looking down the hall and some girl who was mindlessly flirting with him." Selene assured Lily.

Lily felt comfort flood over her. "Yes, you're right. Let's get to Potions then."

As the continued down the hall to the dungeons Lily couldn't help but get the nervous thought out of her mind. No! James Potter doesn't like me. Things like that just aren't possible.

1

James grinned at Aretha Falin. She was very cute, he thought to himself. She knew it to; she couldn't seem to help herself from flirting.

"Oh James! I just can't believe there are only six more months until we all go home! What if I don't see you the whole summer?" Aretha whined.

But James didn't hear her. Lily Evans was out of the classroom. He could not help himself from gazing at her. Her thin but muscular body was leaning casually against the hard stonewall. She looked so assure of herself, so confident. Something about that confidence was completely irresistible to James.

He knew he'd never have her. She was to smart, to good for him. She'd never want a person like him. Lily Evans didn't like James in that way.

He watched intently as she snapped at her friend. Even from the distance he could see the fire dancing in her green eyes. Those green eyes haunted him day and night, reminding him of her.

The trance like state suddenly broke when she looked directly at him. Aretha was also frustrated, stamping her foot childishly.

"James Potter! Are you listening to me?" She cried.

James quickly nodded. "Of course, I don't know dear."

Not sure of what he should do next James brushed a kiss on her cheek. "I'll talk to you later." He then walked away.

James walked along the hall until he found Sirius. As usual his best friend was snogging a girl. This time, she was a petite brunette. James coughed once to get Sirius's attention.

Sirius glanced up and glared shortly at James. "Sorry love, I have some business I need to attend to."

The girl gave a sad sigh. "Fine. And we were just getting to the good part."

Sirius chuckled and kissed the girl once more before going over to James. The girl winked and walked away down the hall.

"So what was so important that you had to interrupt my fun?" Sirius asked, a bit annoyed.

James grinned. Sirius could make him forget about anything. The two were always getting into trouble. They, and their two other friends, were the worst mischief-makers at the entire school.

"What do you say about a little fun of our own tonight." James said slyly.

Sirius smiled evilly. "If it involves blondes, brunettes, or any person of the female gender I'm very interested."

James laughed. "Oh you will enjoy it my friend. You will enjoy it!"