AN: Hey, I'm new to writing so I'd really appreciate some reviews on the chapters I post (Presuming I actually learn how to use this site properl; D -Just Kidding!) Hehe, Enjoy chapter one!

Chapter One
Or
Of Hexes, Exams and holidays.

Fifth year at Hogwarts had just ended with an owl examination and the students rushed around the castle to finish any last minute packing, but to also enjoy the last few hours of freedom they had before having to catch the train back to London the next morning. Everybody enjoyed being at Hogwarts more than being at home; magic being the first obvious reason as to why they wanted to stay in the castle- using magic at home was forbidden to underage students. The other reason would be safety. All the students felt safer under the candlelit ceiling of Hogwarts because of the darkening atmosphere that was starting to engulf them all; rumours of a Dark Lord- Lord Voldemort- were arising and the dark arts was becoming more widely used, and students felt they had a sense of safety at school and felt they could learn how to protect themselves too.

Lily Evans was one of the students who decided to enjoy the last hours of being a Hogwarts fifth year and to enjoy the sunshine that had surrounded them. She rushed from the great hall after her exam and took her usual spot by the black lake, lying on her front and staring out admiringly over the breath-taking view that the Hogwarts grounds had to offer. However, her peaceful sight-seeing moment had been disrupted, by none other than the marauders.

They hurled themselves from the castle and sprinted down toward the black lake, immediately stripping off of their robes and diving into the lake in unison. Lily's eyes widened at the sight of the four practically naked boys and their bodies. She reluctantly admitted to herself that James Potter was actually attractive, but she hadn't realised that her jaw had dropped open at the tanned, toned, athletic body that was jumping onto the back of Sirius Black; another decent look guy.

"See something you like, Evans?" James Potter's voice roused Lily from her daydream and she immediately flushed crimson. However, after many years of practice, Lily managed to conjure up a reply.

"You wish, Potter." She called back with a roll of her eyes, her lips hitching up into a smile because of the look of disappointment on James' face. She felt like teasing him even more, just because she was bored and waiting for her best friends to arrive- they were packing, after not having listened to Lily's advice that they should pack the night before, they were missing out on the sun. "But now that you mention it, seeing Mr Black in only his boxers is something I do actually like." Lily teased, earning herself a cheeky wink from Sirius and a look of shock, pure shock, from James.

"Ah, Lily-Pad, I knew I'd crack you some day; it was only a matter of time before you fell for me." Sirius responded, climbing out the lake in an I-am-a-complete-sex-god fashion, causing several fifth year Ravenclaws to faint and a Hufflepuff to squeal. Lily's reply of disgust was blocked out by her friend arriving down at the lake.

"Lily, is it true? You've fallen for Sirius?!" Exclaimed Marlene; an extremely pretty girl with sandy blonde hair which fell just past her shoulders, plopping down next to Lily and staring at her with a mock shocked expression.

"Yes, Marls, it's true. I got a sight of them abs and my heart just stopped, I think I love him!" Lily shouted, holding a hand on her heart and feigning a look of pure desire. Sirius took this as is cue to turn on his winning charm, and he strut toward Lily and scooped her up making her wrap her legs around his waist. Lily squealed and smacked Sirius on the head.

"Put me down, now, Black; I wouldn't want to contract some sort of disease." The crowd roared with laughter, James especially enjoyed the look on Sirius' face, and Marlene was howling on the floor clutching her stomach because of her best friends wit.

"Now, Lily-Pad, don't break my heart-"Sirius was cut off by a shrill laughter from a demented looking boy with greasy, jet black hair. He immediately dropped Lily to the ground, luckily she landed on her feet and she walked back over to Marlene. "Ah, Snivellus, nice of you to drop in, miss me?" Sirius teased his enemy while the three remaining marauders approached him from behind, wands drawn knowing that a duel was on the horizon. James Potter, Sirius' wingman, joined in the teasing.

"Padfoot, did you see dear Sev here in that defence exam? His nose was touching the parchment, covering it with grease. Poor examiner, I wouldn't like to touch that, would you?" James added cruelly, causing an eruption of laughter from the fellow Gryffindor's that surrounded them- bar Lily. "Levicorpus!" shouted James, and Severus was hoisted up into the air by his ankle; yelling obscenities toward the popular pair. All the Gryffindor's were now howling with laughter, enjoying the sight of a stuck-up Slytherin at the mercy of a marauder prank, Lily however was seething; Severus was her friend.

"Who wants to see me take off Snivellus' trousers?" called James to the crowd, which all cheered, and Sirius was dancing on the spot yelling 'Do it, Prongs!' Severus was screaming even more obscenities toward James now, and his face was bright red; probably due to embarrassment more than the blood that would be rushing toward his head.

"Leave him alone, Potter." came Lily's icy cold voice from behind them, her wand was draw and James flashed her a lopsided, cheeky smile; deep down he was hoping that he wasn't going to be on the receiving end of one of her hexes. James let Snape go and he landed on a heap on the floor, cursing the marauders.

James hovered over Severus. "You're lucky Evans was here to help you, Sev." Then, with a charming smile toward the watching crowd, he headed back over to put on his robes along with Sirius, Remus and Peter.

"I don't need help from a Mudblood like her!" bellowed Snape, getting up from the ground and dusting off his robes. Lily's face fell. Her friend, her first magical friend had just said she had dirty blood, when he promised on their first meeting that it didn't matter, especially not to him. The black lake fell completely silent and you could tell everybody was holding their breath, all except James Potter, who was already on his way back over to Snape.

"Apologise to Evans!" He screamed, while Lily rolled her eyes. She hated the fact James Potter was trying to be the hero, saving her from the foul-mouthed snake.

"Give it a rest, Potter, I don't want his apology and even if I did, I could make him apologise myself. I don't need your help, and nor do I want it." And with that, she turned on her heel and stormed up to the castle, her cheeks heating from embarrassment and hurt; her eyes filling with tears.

James Potter stood in shock; he'd actually been trying to help Evans, to be nice to her! Sirius was laughing, Remus was shaking his head, and Peter was standing looking uncomfortable. They all knew that James liked Evans, they just didn't know to what extent.

"Ouch what a burn, Prongs!" called Sirius, shaking his head in a very dog like manner to rid it of excess water. James turned away from Snape, much to the shock of everybody who was still watching and allowed him to leave, fixing his glare on Sirius.

"Shut it, Padfoot."

"Stop acting so pathetic over Evans, then."

"You-"

"Guys, quit." Remus interjected, sensing that the pair would start a yelling match and completely ruin the rest of the day; both being that stubborn. Sirius huffed and walked away, his spirits easily lifted by a sexy sixth year that he walked with, flirting. James noticed Remus' concerning look, and Peter's what-the-hell-is-going-on face, and sighed.

"Sorry." He muttered, walking away from the pair, heading for Gryffindor tower. His thoughts were interrupted by a scream of pain, causing his head to snap up and his stomach to sink at the sight before him. Lily was lying on the floor, sobbing while three Slytherin's surrounded her with their wands drawn. Lily's own wand was laying a few metres away from her and she was pleading for them to stop. They'd bee torturing her; she had scratches up and down her forearms and Lucius Malfoy, a seventh year, was bleeding which clearly showed Lily had put up a fight. Lucius' bleeding nose didn't come anywhere near to Lily's injuries. She was shaking from head to toe and still writhing in pain from the cruciatus curse which had been used on her, multiple times by the looks of it. He acted immediately, drawing his wand and sending several hexes toward the group, being careful not to injure Lily anymore. As soon as they saw James, the bolted; not out of fear, but because of the fact they couldn't hurt Lily anymore.

He walked over to Lily and picked her up; ignoring her protests that she was fine and she didn't need help, summoning her wand as he did so. He hurried to the hospital wing as soon as he noticed Lily's drooping eyes and her moans of pain; he couldn't lose her, he wouldn't allow it. Madam Pomfrey, the school nurse shrieked when she saw James carrying Lily, but she soon snapped out of her shock when James said. "Cruciatus curse." Once James had lay Lily onto the bed so the nurse could tend to her injuries, she yelled for James to get out, but Lily grabbed weakly onto James' arm.

"James, stay. You're the only one… I'm safe…" Unconsciousness was taking her but she was determined to finish, even if she didn't make sense "Stay." She whispered before passing out.