A/N Hi everybody this is my new story, a dark version of how James and Lily ended up together. The rating of this story is VERY important; it includes rape scenes and sexual abuse. I will of course put warnings at the start of each GRAPHIC scene, so that those of you who wish you read it anyway will be able to skip such scenes. But please, do not read this story if you are under 18 or feel you may be upset by such issues. Also, there is a slight break from canon. In order for this to work, I have decided that James and Lily first started to get along in 6th year :)

Thank you for reading :) please review and tell me what you think.

Lily Evans had had the summer from hell. Her shoulders ached as she dragged her trunk down the hallway, using her left arm as her right was still in bandages from the night before. Edmund hadn't allowed the teeth marks to be removed by magic.

It had all started 5 weeks ago, when she had arrived home to find police officers sat on her doorstep. Her perfect world had come to a sickening end as they spoke to her in soft voices, their words crashing over her like a tidal wave. Car crash…drunk driver…oak tree...too late…dead…

Petunia had wanted nothing to do with her. She had just gotten engaged, and even though their deaths had been nothing to do with magic, she blamed Lily. Petunia had been left the house, and immediately set about evicting Lily, removing her possessions from her room and unceremoniously dumping them in the front garden. Lily had gathered them before the neighbours could see, shrinking them discretely so they would fit in her pocket, thankful that she had already passed her 17th birthday. From there she had walked around the corner and apparated to Diagon Alley, before starting her wanderings. She didn't have a clue where to go, and had ended the day sat in a side road, huddled below one of her school robes. That was where Edmund had found her, cold and hungry. Vulnerable.

He had seemed kind, had taken her hand and pulled her from the floor, telling her of the house he had at the end of the alley, that she could stay there until school started up again. She could work for him in the bar downstairs to pay her way, and everything would work out. It may seem a surprise to many how easily Lily gave in to this stranger, but her heart was in tatters on the floor. She had lost her family; everyone who loved her was gone. As she walked to the tavern, she briefly thought of her friends at Hogwarts.

She had no doubt that Alice would have helped her, but she was spending the holidays with Frank Longbottom, her boyfriend since third year. They had finally persuaded her family that they were meant to be, and were jet setting off around the world before returning to Hogwarts for their final year. She wouldn't be contactable for at least the next 4 weeks, when they returned to Europe.

Rowan Baker was another story altogether. To say she had her own troubles to deal with would be an understatement. They were a pure blood family, and hated Lily with a passion. The one time Lily had gone to visit over Christmas in fourth year had been a disaster, she had practically been chased out the house by Rowans mother. Since then, Rowan had only returned for the summer holidays, and even then spent most of her time with her neighbours, James Potter and his family.

James potter. Just the thought of him made Lily sigh. He had grown up a lot in the last year, had stopped being such an arrogant toe-rag. They had started to get along, once Lily had made friends with Remus, and realised that the marauders weren't that bad in the end. They had helped her to loosen up a little, and in return, she had helped them actually REVISE for their end of 6th year exams.

Her friendship with James had been rocky at first, but had quickly grown in to something that she treasured. He had stopped asking her out constantly, and had instead focused on making her feel a million galleons every day of the year. His compliments had seemed shallow at first, but after a month, she truly felt like the beautiful woman he described. But he never progressed any further, he never asked her out again, but he never spent time with any other girl either. The bullying days of James Potter were over. If only she could say that about his pranks. Once a marauder, always a marauder.

But she couldn't ask James for help. Not after what had happened on the platform only a week before the car crash.

"So, you had better come round to mine for the big summer BBQ this year, Lily Flower. It won't be the same without you. Everyone will be there."

"I would love to James, but I will have to check with my parents."

"Ok Lils, well I guess this is goodbye for a little while, Sirius is waiting." She looked over his shoulder, seeing Black stood grinning by their trunks. He stuck his tongue out at her playfully, making her giggle slightly. "I love it when you laugh."

Blushing, lily turned her attention back to him. He was looking deeply in her eyes, suddenly seeming an awful lot closer to her. He really was gorgeous.

"You are very good at making me laugh."

He grinned his lopsided smile, his eyes twinkling as a piece of hair fell in his face. Without thinking, she reached up and brushed it back, her fingers lingering in his gorgeous messy hair. Before she knew it, his lips were descending on hers, meeting in a perfect first kiss, their touches light as her heart went haywire. James Potter was kissing her.

His lips were soft against hers, moving slowly and tenderly. It lasted only a second before he pulled back, his eyes drifting open again to meet hers.

"Wow. I guess I'd better go before I stay here all night. See you soon, love."

She simply nodded, too shocked by the tender passion in his kiss to reply. He smiled widely, kissing her on the forehead gently, before turning and walking away from her.

She had been so happy after that kiss. But, within half an hour, her heart had been broken once more.

Lily walked through the barrier, a smile still on her face. She pulled back, though, when she heard familiar voices around the corner.

"Oh come on Padfoot, you saw it, you owe me ten galleons!"

"I still don't see you how managed it, that girl hated you a year ago! Damn you and your tricks, Potter, is there no one you can't woo?"

Lily still remembered how her heart had shattered. No, at the end of the day, James Potter had not changed; it had all been just a game for him. No, she most definitely could not go to Potter for help.

Shaking her head, she bought herself back in to the present. Edmund had reached the door of his tavern, and Lily gagged slightly as she saw the sign on the door. "Bagshores Burlesque"

"Now then Lily, I need you to listen to me for the minute. Are you willing to work for me here? I will look after you; you will never have to worry about being an Orphan again. Here, you can be worshipped and adored like you have always wanted. Men will come from all around to see your beauty. I will never let anyone hurt you, I promise."

Faces flashed before Lily's eyes, her mother and father, petunia and her oaf of a fiancé, James Potter as he smirked at her, laughing at her for being so naive. The one person she wanted only saw her as a plaything. She would show him how beautiful she really was.

Smiling, Lily nodded her head. Her life started here.