Chapter 1

Lily Evans looked at James Potter, who was sitting across the table from her in the Great Hall. It was a couple of days until Christmas break, seventh year, and Lily couldn't think for a minute that this was actually the James Potter that she had been going to school with for the last 6 years. She was still completely shocked that he has been made Head Boy. (What was Dumbledore thinking?) But she had to admit that he was handling himself extremely... dignified. And Modestly. Who would have thought in a million years that Lily Evans would call James Potter modest?

Lily choked on her pumpkin juice.

Mary Macdonald, Lily's best friend began hitting her back. "You okay Lils?"

She nodded meekly, what was the world coming to? And here she was sitting with the Marauders, eating breakfast. Peacefully. Was this some sort of alternate universe?

"Oh. My. God." Bertha Jorkins plopped down next to Lily, grabbing the attention of many surrounding students. A couple of Ravenclaws even looked over from the next table to the younger girl.

The fifth year grabbed a muffin and continued. "You are not going to believe what I just heard in the loo."

"What?" Mary asked, placing the Daily Prophet down, the head line reading of the latest attack. Gossip, in these times just seemed to help people forget certain things.

"So I'm in the loo, clearly minding my own business-"

"Clearly." Sirius Black, ladies and gentlemen.

" – and I hear these sixth year Slytherins-"

"Ew."

"Black, we're trying to listen!"

"Sorry Macdonald."

"-talking about how, and get this, Dolohov-"

"Ew." This earned Sirius a hit from Mary and a small smile from Lily.

" -and Violetta Roiser," Bertha sent Sirius a pointed look. "broke up!"

"No way!" Dorcas Meadowes from the Ravenclaw table came over and sat next to Remus. "No freaking way!"

"Did I hear correctly? The beautiful Miss. Roiser is single and on the re-bound?" Joked Gideon Prewett, the Ravenclaw keeper, from the next table.

"This is definitely an alternate universe." Lily muttered under her breathe.

"I know!" Jorkins breathed to Dorcas. "Can you believe that? How long have they been dating for? Like, since I've been here I'm sure."

"I'd say that seems about right." Remus Lupin said, as he glanced over to the Slytherin table. There was Violetta, alone and reading. Actually there seemed to be a bit of perimeter around her, as if anyone got to close they would catch whatever contagious disease she was carrying. There was also Dolohov, with his usual cronies at the other end of the table. As Lily's eyes fell on Severus she shook her head slightly and looked back over to Violetta.

"And that's not even it!"

"God. There's more? Is that humanly possible?" James sarcastically questioned. Apparently he didn't find the gossip as interesting. He grabbed the paper from across the table.

A smiled played on Lily's lips as she looked at the prefect. Bertha shot him a look.

"Word is, she's pregnant and he wants nothing to do with her, which would be totally typical of Antonin, creep. Her parents can't even look at her; they called her a slut and booted her out. I hear she's completely crushed, won't even talk to anyone and apparently is trying to get out of the Slytherin dormitory."

"Can you blame her? You couldn't pay me a million Gallons to share a room with Bellatrix." Sirius said.

"Harsh.." Dorcas chuckled.

"And very true." Sirius sighed.

"So she got chucked out, no more inheritance or vacation home in Greece for her, the family never wants to see her again." Bertha continued.

Sirius looked over his shoulder at the girl. "Now, common. Let's be realistic about that. You heard this all from a bunch of sixth year, gossipy Slytherins. Look at the sources." He sent a pointed look back at the Bertha.

"This is extremely true, we shouldn't jump to insane conclusions." Remus said wisely.

"And, common. Think logically. All those losers care about is blood. As long as it's pure, I really don't think they'd have a problem with the whole thing." Sirius reasoned out.

He looked over at the girl again. Lily noticed that they definitely weren't the only ones looking. Word travelled at amazing speeds in Hogwarts and it appeared as though the entire school had heard about how Antonin Dolohov knocked up and then broke the beautiful Violetta Roiser's heart.

The small blonde girl was just plan gorgeous. Everyone always says how pretty she is, how she gets by on good looks. 'A smile worth a thousand homework assignments'. But she's also good at... uhm.. she's a really pretty girl.

"So what are you going to do?" Jorkins looked at Sirius.

"What are you talking about" She raised her eyebrows at him.

"Ooookay... whatever. Sure, nothing going on there, no history or anything. I have to get to Potions." As she walked away the group rose together and began to walk to DADA.

The boys quickly fell behind, not very interested in the far-out gossip.

"Can you believe we sat together?! Again?! During a complete meal?!" James whispered quickly to Sirius as the two fell even farther behind the group. His eyes found the back of Lily's head and his smile was contagious.

"Honestly? No." Sirius laughed.

"... she's got more substance than people think, she definitely has more than all of those Slytherins put together actually." Dorcas was continuing the discussion about Roiser and Dolohov.

"I wouldn't call us friends but me and Violetta have talked too, which is more then I can say for any of those other douches. She doesn't have that attitude about her. You know? The one that screams 'I'm-in-Slytherin-and-think-I'm-better-than-everyone-else-in-the-whole-world-and-I'm-going -to-talk-about-it-in-front-of-you-until-you-want-to-kill-me-because-my-blood-is-'pure'-and-did-I-also-mention-I'm-in-Slytherin-and-better-then-you?' attitude." Mary replied.

"Yeah, that is true." Lily considered Mary's point. She had never thought about it, but Violetta was they only, and yes only, Slytherin in their year who had never insulted her. "But it's not really our business anyways."

"You know what our business is?" Dorcas wiggled her eyebrows at Lily, "Whaaaaaat is going on with you and Potter, because personally I'm dying to know, and word on the street is that there is no word on the street. And this is Hogwarts. No one's business is just their own. Spill"

"What? There isn't anything going on." Lily look surprised at Meadowes.

"Yeah sure... that's what they all say." Dorcas laughed as they walked into their first class with Lily looking confused behind them.

"I'm not kidding Meadowes. There isn't anything." Lily stopped in front of Dorcas' desk as she slide into her usual spot. Lily needed to stop the rumour mill before it began.

"Yeah, okay, so is that why you guys can sit next to each other now? And talk? Civilly?"

"Friends do that do they not? Last time I checked you and me weren't an item."

"Oh Lily, our day well come," Dorcas winked at her as Sirius did a double check. "But that is neither here nor there."

"Wait a minute, I would definitely like that to be here." Sirius grinned.

"And you guys are friends now? Wow, that is an interesting development." Dorcas laughed over Sirius.

"Sit down Black. Just don't go spreading anything Meadowes. If I hear anything..." Lily gave her a look as she walked away.

"Aye Aye Miss. Evans." She saluted her as Lily walked over to sit next to Mary. The seats next to Dorcas quickly filled with boys. More and more boys continued to file into the class.

"Ravenclaws. Are. So. Hot." Mary whispered to Lily as she watched the boys sit down. Ravenclaw had 15 seventh years, 14 of which were boys, one of which was Dorcas.

"If I've said it once, I've said it a million times. Dorcas is sooo lucky. I mean look at his ass. It is perfect. Perfect! God.. I could stare all day." She was talking about Gideon Prewett as he sat next to Dorcas, laughing at something she said.

"I couldn't help but over-hear you talking about my amazing good looks. You know Macdonald, I've always said you and me would be good together." Sirius Black leaned forward to joke into Mary's ear.

"Oh god Black. Shut up." She giggled as a small smile played on her lips, and a small blush formed on her checks. Lily grinned and turned to listen to yet another new DADA teacher.

"So today class-" The professor was interrupted when the one and only Violetta Roiser walked into class. The class, which was chatting despite the beginning of class fell completely silent and watched her walk in.

"Sorry I am late."

"That's what she told Dolohov." Bellatrix Black spoke it, clear as day. It seemed to hang in the air. Lily let go of the breath she didn't know she was holding. Holy crap. This girl was pure evil. Violetta wasn't even fazed. Without replying she walked over and occupied the only free seat left, next to Remus Lupin.

Lily looked over to Bellatrix, who had a confident, victorious smile on her face. Many of her fellow Slytherins were grinning at each other.

"It's... fine." The professor tried to recover after the obviously inappropriate comment. "So today class we will be covering.."

Remus tried to casually glance over to the girl beside him. Great, he thought, he had almost failed Muggle Studies because she had sat next to him in that class. He could not concentrate beside her; it was kind of embarrassing for him. Remus Lupin did not get crushes. He wouldn't allow it. He saw her hands were shaking slightly as she held her quill. Her eyes were narrow. He didn't want to know what she was imagining she was doing to Bellatrix.

"So Lily," James fell into step beside the love of his life as they walked out of class. "I was wondering..."

"Yes James?" She was irritated, he knew that tone oh-so well.

"Dinner? Please? Once?"

"No!" She sped away, purposely not making eye contact with Dorcas Meadowes who just happened to be stopped talking to Emmeline Vance. God damn Potter and his timing. It wasn't exactly a new thing, to see James Potter ask out Lily Evans, but it was another when she blushed and ran away.

"Man it never gets old. Actually, that's a complete lie. I'm tired of seeing this rejection day after day. It can hurt a guy's spirit." Sirius fell into step beside James.

"Shut up Padfoot, nothing could ruin your spirit and you know it." Sirius laughed as James tried to joke back with him. But his humour couldn't reach his eyes. "So, how about Violetta though?" There was a pause and James continued. "You knew I was going to ask about it."

"Do we have to talk about it?" Sirius sighed back.

"No, I guess not." James replied. "Let's go eat." The two boys sped up to catch up to Remus and Peter who were walking slightly ahead.

Supper appeared to be the same as breakfast, except worse. Everyone was staring at Violetta Roiser. Lily didn't know how a person could handle that much negative attention. She herself would have snapped hours ago. As Lily walked into the Great Hall all she could hear were more and more outrageous rumours. It was getting pretty crazy. Apparently it was confirmed by her lack of a reaction in DADA that she actually was pregnant, not that anyone ever doubted it, you could clearly see her baby stomach from here. And apparently Dolohov didn't even think it was his. It was okay though, because Violetta was going to give the baby to the Malfoy's who had agreed to raise it. Apparently they were having a lot of trouble conceiving.

"Like really," She hit down her book bag as she sat down. "This is getting crazy."

"I know. I feel really bad for her, like, it's getting outrageous." Mary agreed with her and looked over at the girl who sat completely alone still reading, with the same perimeter. "Someone needs to do something."

"Er- like what?" Peter said from beside James.

Lily stood up. She wasn't completely sure what she was going to do. She didn't know the girl at all. Where her friends had a least spoken in a class to her, the most interaction Lily had with Violetta was one time she helped Lily pick up her books, in something like second year.

Lily marched over to the Slytherin table confidently, she was in Gryffindor and Head Girl; she could do this, easily. She took the long way, making a scene of passing by Snape and his friends, including Dolohov, Avery, Mulciber, and Bellatrix herself. Lily could feel the eyes of everyone in the Great Hall on her, and the chatter that had been happening died away, leaving a wake of silence. She walked along the wall and sat down next to Violetta. Violetta looked up from her book at Lily. She had a surprised expression on her face and Lily wasn't quite sure what do with herself either.

Lily picked up a muffin. "Hello." Awkward... look what she had gotten herself into. She put the muffin down, not trusting it to be safe to eat coming from this table. She picked it up again. "I hate blueberries." Lily put the muffin down again.

"You can't even be sure those are blueberries, this is the Slytherin table," Roiser looked her with a small smile on her face. "And it's in my designated area. I mean look at those first years," She pointed down the table. "They're actually sitting on each other to prevent themselves from getting to close. Can you believe that?"

"Not really. Want to come and sit with us? At our table?" Lily offered. "I've never gotten sick off of anything over there, except for James Potter's supposed charm, but if you're willing to risk that.."

Violetta laughed. Lily smiled back. "I heard a rumour that Gryffindor's bite." It was Lily's turn to laugh at that. Violetta lowered her voice. "Honestly Lily," The use of her first name surprised her. "I would love to come sit with you guys, but it's a pride thing. I need to stay here. Maybe another time."

Lily nodded. She didn't completely understand, but she got the general idea. A shadow passed over them and the two girls looked up. Antonin Dolohov stood hovering over them, with the others standing slightly behind.

He didn't look at Lily, but there was a look on his face, like he was disgusted to be in her presence. Lily easily mirrored the look on her face.

"Violetta."

"Yes?" Violetta barely asked, her voice not louder than a whisper. Lily wasn't even sure if Dolohov had heard her as she turned back around and continuing to sip on the soup in front of her. Lily didn't want to turn her back to the evilest people in school, but she also didn't want to keep looking up at them either. She could get up and walk away, but that would show weakness, and she sure as hell wasn't about to do that. After a look at Snape, she turned around.

"So this is the company you're planning on keeping now?"

Violetta's eyes were closed, as if she were trying to calm herself down.

Dolohov lowered his voice and continued with a harsh whisper. "It's bad enough that you insist on being here, disgusting us, while we try to enjoy our meals, but to allow her filth is-"

Violetta stood up, making a screeching noise with the sound of her chair on the floor. The other student's attention was immediately pulled back to the Slytherin table.

Lily couldn't help but wonder how she always seemed to get involved in things that had nothing to do with her all the time.

She stood beside Violetta and her hand moved into her robes and tightened on her wand.

"Wow Antonin, that was quick, giving up already? I cannot blame you, I am unimpressed with your battle tactic," Her voice wasn't more than a whisper, but Lily knew that Dolohov and his friends could hear it, crystal clear. "It is quite boring. I really would have thought you could come up with something more creative than my being pregnant. I mean getting dumped must have hurt your ego, but really.. this is just below you. Bellatrix maybe, but you..?"

Bellatrix stepped out from behind Dolohov, her anger clear. "You little slu-"

"Miss. Black, Miss. Roiser. Please refrain from making a scene in my Great Hall." Dumbledore was standing at the staff table. "Thank you." He finished after a silence. Bellatrix was standing so close to Violetta, Lily was sure if she moved her head to either direction their noses would touch. Her chest was heaving, apparently she was quite worked up. "Please continue on your way, I trust you were heading back to your common room Miss. Black?"

They turned to walk away.

"Wait. Before you go," Violleta made the group stop in their tracks, her voice now louder than before. Lily was sure this time everyone could hear. "When you started the rumour Bella, did you pull on personal experience? I heard some things about you and Lucius before your sister made an honest man of-"

Dumbledore summoned a protective shield charm in-between the two girls. If he had been a split second later, Violetta probably would have been in the hospital wing for a week.

"Miss. Roiser, my office. Miss. Black, join us." Dumbledore swept out of the Great Hall, his cloak flowing behind him.

Violetta flashed a smile at Lily before resetting her face to a solemn one, with regret. Lily couldn't help but grin as she walked back to her friends at the Gryffindor table.

"That was intense." James was sitting next to Lily in the Gryffindor common room. She was still in felt exhilarated about the happenings in the Great Hall, even though she wasn't directly involved, it had definitely been an adrenaline rush. She wasn't fazed that she was in fact sharing a couch with James Potter.

"I know. I can't believe.. she's pretty much my hero." Mary joked from the ground. She was sitting next to Black, playing chess on the floor.

James was looking at Lily. As exciting as the events were in the Great Hall, he still couldn't forget about his goal for the year. It was the same as usual, win Lily's heart. But the thing was, this year was his last year. After this, if she still hated him at graduation, he would lose her forever. He shuddered.

"You okay James?" Remus asked.

"Yeah, just... thinking." What he needed was a plan. Something fool-proof. Remus had started him on the right path, he was sure. Stop showing off and bragging about everything. It had proven to have some sort of positive effect; here she was, sitting with him. But now he needed to move past the friend stage. She said no to his date. He was dying, being this close to her, but not being able to hold her, touch her.

"So... Black. What was Bertha talking about this morning? You and Violetta have a history?" Mary attempted to causally question.

She had a crush on him okay! So what! She shot for the stars. So what if she might not have a chance with the famous womanizer Sirius Black! She wanted the best; her dad always said his baby wasn't going to settle. So what if she wanted to know about his history with the newly single best looking girl in their year. Cut her some slack, he was gorgeous.

"Er- nothing. No history there."

"Wow. I'm totally convinced. You mentioned you're planning on being an Auror, right? Well I totally think you'll, like, be the best at the lying part." She huffed away and up the girl's dormitory stairs.

"Wow, what's her problem?" Sirius asked from the floor. "We were in the middle of a game!"

No one was listening though. Remus had stopped reading his book when he heard Mary ask the question. Violetta's name had the power to pull him out of any book trance, but now he was back into it. Lily and James were playing a game. He had decided to teach her how to play the hand slapping game. He could no longer go without touching her. He was completely dumb-founded that she had never heard of it before. He placed his hands out in front of her palm up. She placed hers on his, almost touching, but not quite. It killed him, but he explained about how she had to move her hands before he could hit hers.

It was really unfair, him being an, quote, 'amazing quidditch player', and her, well, not. He had amazing reflexes. He finally let her win one, where she proceeded to do a victory lap around the common room before collapsing next to him on the couch. Her smile was infectious and he was grinning at her when her it suddenly faded.

"You Ass! You let me win!" She hit him on the shoulder, hard. It was amazing such a small girl could hit so hard.

"Ah! Watch it Evans! That's going to bruise." He rubbed his shoulder. She smiled at him.

"I'm going to bed. Goodnight." She got up and walked up to her dormitory.

"Do you believe that?! Was that flirting?! Dare I say it?" James was ecstatic.

"Common Prongs, I think we should go to bed too." Remus stood and led the Marauders up to bed.

"What an amazing day..." James whispered as he fell asleep.