A huge thank you to everybody who reviewed, story alerted and added the story to their favourites! In regards to my slightly awful grammar and proof reading, I have read over this chapter a number of times and I sincerely hope that nothing major is wrong. I am considering getting a Beta, I just have to sort some more important issues out first before I start my search. Also, I forgot to mention a little fun fact at the start of the last chapter: all the manor's named are actual places scattered around England. Needless to say, I had a great time finding homes for the characters!


"We do not see things as they are, we only see things as we are." - Anais Win

...

"He has requested that we ask her to join." Two Slytherin's met in their Common Room at sunrise.

"How polite of him." The leaner of the two spoke light-heartedly.

"You have to get her to the forest." The other spoke grimly and grew frustrated with his fellow Slytherin's inability to seem serious. "I'll do the rest."

"And how do you imagine I do that?" He seemed bored.

"Make something up. He has suggested you use Potter's cloak to disappear and leave her with me. The password is Owlpen."

"I know." The bored one sighed. "She will be there at the organised time but listen to me when I say that if she is hurt in anyway… well, you will pay for it." He got up from his seat and retreated back to his room. What a useless conversation.


Evelyn Bell surveyed her petite frame in the mirror. Finally she had learned how to manage her long layered dark brown hair. She had learned how to make her deep blue eyes stand out with the right amount of mascara and eyeliner without looking like a raccoon and when she twisted her hair up into a messy French bun her admittedly perfect porcelain skin glowed. Yes, Evelyn Bell, after six years, finally felt truly beautiful. People would tell her that she was always gorgeous but now she felt it. With one last look she fixed her heart pendant necklace from some Muggle store titled Tiffany & Co. She didn't know what it meant but she loved the necklace which she received from her father while he was on his travels. Her skirt was the perfect length for flirting and her top, well, that was just uniform and she couldn't do much about that.

"Are you done?" Evelyn looked over her shoulder in the mirror. Mary was standing there impatiently with her arms crossed.

"Yes, I am." She smiled and Mary relaxed her arms.

"Alright, let's go meet Lil's." Mary did one last check of the room making sure she had everything then followed Evelyn out the door.

When the three girls were together it could remind you of a Muggle make-up or hair colouring advertisement due to their distinctly different coloured hair and features. Mary had the perfect warm blonde hair which fell into deep waves achieving volumes you could only dream of and went just below her shoulders sitting perfectly around her oval face. Lily's hair stood out the most, the deep red colour with slight waves that became more defined when it rained. All three were the most popular Gryffindor girls and always had the boys in line. It was the other popular girls, however, in Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff like Georgia Brown and Penny Abbotts, that went for the boys. The Gryffindor girls were a little more reserved, preferring long term boyfriends over broom cupboard affairs. Mary was purely smitten with her boyfriend of three years, Ben Wood, but seventh year had found Lily and Evelyn single. Evelyn wanted a replacement for her previous boyfriend as soon as possible. It had been a messy break up over summer and she would rather just forget it all ever happened. Lily, she didn't know it yet but her future partner had already been chosen for her.

"Evans!" Evelyn rushed up to her friend and crushed her with a hug. "Can you believe how warm it is today?"

"Yeah and after today it'll cold for months. It always goes like this."

"Don't be such a downer. So, are we going to the lake or what?" Mary linked arms with Lily and Evelyn and they made their way down to the lake to sit on their favourite rock. It had been tradition since second year that on every sunny day the girls had free they would spend some hours down by the lake. Crushes and confessions had been whispered with courage and or humiliation on that rock. Their initials were even engraved into the stone on the side that faced out to the Great Lake. It was their spot. As soon as they reached the destination Evelyn laid out in her regular place foolishly trying to get a bit of colour. Mary and Lily sat next to her not even bothering to try.

"Lily, Lily, Lily. What are we going to do with you?" Evelyn sighed.

"What?" Lily looked down at her confused.

"You're going to leave us after this year! We can't go to any of your parties and…"

"Ev', I'm not going to leave you! Those boring things are only on once a month and do you really see me becoming one of those typical aristocrat wives?" Lily immediately thought of her mother and shuddered.

Evelyn mumbled something then Mary decided to change topic. "Don't kill me but what's it like living in such close quarters with Potter?" She asked mainly to stir Lily up and she got what she expected.

"I have nothing to do with him besides head duties and when I'm doing those it's downright torture." Lily stared unseeingly into the forest on the other side of the lake as she spoke. "He really thinks that he is so grand and mighty which makes living with him barely tolerable." There was no chance that Lily was going to tell her friends about her new desire for Potter to notice her.

"You know, I'm going to have to disagree with you on that one." Mary knew James quite well since her boyfriend used to share a dorm with him. "I think that's what you want to see. Sure, there could be a bit of pride in there but it's James Potter and he was practically raised to be proud."

"Mary, there is no point changing my view of him. As you said, he was raised to be proud and I was raised to hate him. Simple as that." Lily faced Mary and shrugged in a careless way.

"Maybe you should just consider being friends. It might make this year a little easier."

"No way." Lily shook her head, missing Evelyn's smile at how predictable she was.

"Just think about it." Mary ended the topic knowing she had reached the limit of Potter talk for the day.

Evelyn and Mary chatted about something as Lily stared up at the castle to where the Head Dormitory would be. She wondered if James was in there, or was he with his friends? Was he thinking about her, did he ever think about her anymore? Because if she thought about him more than he thought about her then something was terribly wrong. Her mind recalled something her Grandmother once told her about love - wait, this wasn't love! God, what was she thinking?


"Remus, what are you doing here?" The pale student looked up to the voice and was surprised. A tanned girl with straight pitch black hair, like James and Sirius', stood in front of him.

"Georgie, I could ask you the same thing." Remus put down his book. He was lying casually on his usual hospital wing bed, relaxing before nightfall.

"Well, I asked you first." She smiled and Remus felt something inside. He put it down as his body getting sick at the thought of becoming a werewolf yet again.

"Sick." He shrugged.

"Right."

"Brown, what can I do for you?" A very young nurse named Madam Pomfrey, as Remus had just learned earlier that day, addressed the student. Georgia side glanced at Remus then walked a few metres away so he couldn't hear. What Georgia didn't know was that Remus' senses right now were incredibly strong. So when he heard Georgia requesting a potion to complete a pregnancy test he was fully taken aback. Pomfrey fetched a clear potion and handed it to Georgia with some instructions and left the students again.

"Georgia?"

"What?" She said too quickly. Glancing down at the potion then at Remus again, she gently placed the tiny bottle in her bag.

"What… why aren't you taking that here in a safe environment?"

Georgia raised her perfectly shaped brows, "It's not for me." The vibe between them changed as Georgia grew cold and defensive. "Get better, Remus." He watched her walk out while so many thoughts ran through his head. Who would it be for? He listed all her friends in his mind and couldn't think of any that would get in that situation. They were still at school for Merlin's sake! Remus was mid thought when Sirius burst through the double doors, (dare I say it), like a boss.

Flicking his hair out of his eyes and clapping his hands together loudly he walked over to Remus. "Moony!" He shouted and jumped up onto the neighbouring bed making himself comfortable. He put his hands behind his head and faced his friend. "Are you all set?" Excitement was evident in Sirius' grey eyes.

"Totally."

"Bril'. It'll be great. The first one's back always are." Sirius talked more to himself than to Remus. "Hey, isn't it good that Prongsie is back to normal?"

"It's only been a couple of days and Prongsie will be back to his gloomy self as soon as he finds out that his little protégé, Fabius Watkins, won't be able to play on the dream team." It was like clockwork, even Sirius would admit it, because at the moment Remus stopped talking James burst through the double doors hitting them twice as hard as Sirius. Actually, James' entrance was a bit standard after Sirius'. The other two Marauders exchanged a look.

"Minnie must be going through menopause." James accused and there was a small cough from the corner desk. "Who are you?" He asked as if he owned the hospital wing.

"Excuse me!" The young nurse stood up, "I would be Madam Pomfrey, the new nurse. So unless you don't want me to help you, please, continue acting the way you are. Also, McGonagall went through menopause a long time ago." Pomfrey smirked before settling back down to her paper work. James turned to find Sirius' head buried in a pillow as his body violently shook.

"Sirius, get a grip of yourself. So, the story is I can't have Watkins on my team, therefore I don't have the dream team and therefore we lose to Ravenclaw."

"James, it won't be that bad." Remus reassured him.

"Are you going to catch the snitch, Moony?"

He scoffed, "Not a chance."

"Precisely." There was a moment of silence and a sort of seriousness came over the boys. "Tonight will be good." James said in a mediocre voice, his thoughts clearly somewhere else.

"Prongs." James faced Remus with a look of disappointment.

"Go try again. The James I know doesn't give up on the first round."

"I guess." James thought about it. "Alright, I'm off. See you later, Remus."

"Wait, I'll come with." Sirius rolled off the bed and joined James.


Lily, Mary and Evelyn slowly climbed up the hill towards the castle. It was about mid-afternoon and they were all growing hungry. Clouds loomed on the horizon with the threat of rain but it had been the perfect day out and Lily felt refreshed for the week ahead. They entered the castle and she spotted James already at the table with Sirius and Peter.

"I just need to ask Potter something. I'll come back and sit with you guys in a second."

"Why don't we all go sit with the boys? We're all friends." Mary suggested being the closest to the Marauders. Evelyn agreed and it became apparent that Lily had no choice but to sit with the boys for lunch. Perfect, one more hour spent with Potter. She reminded herself to stay civil and relaxed.

"Hey guys." Evelyn made their presence known as they sat next to the Marauders.

Sirius looked up, then down, then up again, "Bell."

"Yes?" Evelyn wasn't really a fan of Sirius. She saw him as just a player and once upon a time that was the truth.

"Looking good." Sirius shrugged and Evelyn felt all eyes fall on her then back to Sirius. Confused, she sat down next to Peter and scanned the food on offer. She watched as Mary sat next to her boyfriend, Ben, who was also sitting with the Marauders and suddenly she regretted the decision to sit with the boys. Who was she supposed to talk to? She could have a two minute conversation with Peter that would end awkwardly as they had nothing in common. Or she could talk to Sirius who had just made everything awkward straight off the bat. Or she could wait till Lily finished with James and talk to them, or not.

"Potter." Lily turned to face James. It felt weird sitting next to him and to be honest she couldn't even remember the last time they did sit together.

"Lily?" He put down his sandwich. Lily quickly wondered why James would make a sandwich when there was a lot better food on offer. "Yeah?" He brought her back.

"Oh yeah, um, I need you to do patrol with me tonight. Denis is sick."

"Can't."

"Why not!"

"I told you, Lily. I will do anything but these nights." His voice was low and final and Lily got the clear message that he did not want to discuss this any further. Still, she persisted because that's what Lily did.

"You're Head Boy." There goes civil.

"You're Head Girl, you can do it yourself or with another prefect." Lily raised her eyebrows at the head boy's response. James thought about what he said, "Actually –"

"No, that's fine. I can do it by myself."

"No, I'll find you someone. If not I'll…" James really didn't want to commit to patrol tonight.

"Potter, I'll do it myself like you suggested." She was mocking him now. For some reason Lily loved this. Pushing Potter to see just how far he'd go.

"You can't do it by yourself, Lily. It's too –"

"Dangerous? You didn't seem to worry about that a second ago."

"I wasn't thinking." James was getting frustrated now.

"Thanks for your help, Potter." Lily smirked and walked out of the Hall without eating or saying goodbye to her friends. Well, that cut the hour down significantly.

"What did you say to Lily?" Mary asked from across the table.

"Nothing." James shook his head in frustration and soon followed Lily's footsteps. The others just watched him leave, all wondering the same thing. How long will it take?

"Lily!" James ran after her. It wasn't hard to catch up, "Wait."

Lily was running out of breath from walking so fast but James seemed fine which annoyed her. "What do you want now?" He didn't answer as they both walked incredibly fast, trying to outdo each other. They turned the last corner and Lily ran straight into Snape.

"Ow!" She rubbed her forehead and cursed her bad luck at being caught between these two again.

"Are you okay, Lily?" Snape had a look of genuine concern.

"What are you doing up here?" James was straight to the point, Lily would be fine. There really was no reason for Snape to be up this way in the castle.

"What do you care, Potter?" Snape spat James' surname as he reached for Lily's hand. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." She stepped back away from Snape but ran into James behind her. He instantly placed his hands on her shoulders making all three of them pause and take in the scenario. Snape stood there seeing his enemy hold onto the girl he loved, giving him strength in the form of anger to do what he had been asked to do later that day. James held onto Lily which didn't give him the sense of victory that one would imagine it would. Instead he simply felt right. And Lily, though she would never admit it, she felt right too and for a quick second she allowed herself to imagine that this was how it was. Naturally, the pause was only short-lived.

"Potter, let go of me!"

"Did you invite him up here again!" James stepped away.

"Oh c'mon, Potter. Let's use some common sense now shall we?"

"Fuck off, Snivellus."

"Both of you should just go!" Lily walked passed Snape finally getting around the corner and opened the portrait.

Lily rushed for her room but James grabbed her arm before she could get away. She didn't realise he was so close behind her. It felt violent due to Lily's quick movement to get to her room but the touch reminded her of that night. The night that had been so uninteresting and pushed to the back of her mind till recently and it frustrated her that she thought of it so often.

"Lily, stop." She rolled her eyes. Lily, Lily, Lily.

"Stop saying my name like that, Potter!"

He let go of her arm, "I don't care how I say your name and we didn't get to finish our conversation. You know why I can't do patrol tonight. I know you do! You and Remus were Gryffindor prefects for two years, you can't say you don't know!"

Lily looked away. She knew only the most basic version and she knew that the three other Marauders went out as Animagi. She had figured that out herself but that was all she knew. "Well, I thought that maybe you could do both, since you're so brilliant and all."

"Very funny and if I could yeah, but I can't. My full attention goes to Remus. How about you just forget about patrols tonight?"

Lily thought about it. It would only be for a night, "Fine." Lily accepted James' suggestion as if it were a dare. Now there was an awkward silence. She looked at James, he was so handsome and she hated that it drove her mad that he didn't seem to notice her like he used to. It was like all she wanted was his full attention the same way he gave it to Remus and his other friends. He smiled at her in a sort of victory then moved to his bedroom. She followed and saw him lying on his bed horizontally, eyes shut. She stared at him for a minute or two not really knowing what she was doing.

"Evans," She jumped back, maybe his eyes weren't fully closed "can I help you?"

"No." She quickly turned into her room without shutting the door and fell onto her own bed in embarrassment. The idea of not doing patrol tonight bothered her. Dumbledore had given her this position because he trusted her. Merlin knew why he gave it to James but she wasn't going to let Dumbledore down. She would just do patrol alone. Besides, this was Hogwarts, how dangerous could it be? She heard James move and shuffle around his room from her bed. Lily moved so she could just see into his room. It seemed so untouchable, like it was so far away from her. Lily had contemplated snooping before but thought better of it. The last thing she wanted was to be caught by James in his room. She watched as he walked back and forth across the area she could see. Things were beginning to be thrown around and Lily wondered what he was doing. Soon he became verbal; swear words and frustrated sighs were loud and clear, then something was slammed. Lily wondered if she should ask what the matter was and just as she went to get off the bed James appeared at her door.

"Lily." He said with a firm voice.

"Yes?"

"Have you seen an old cloak, blanket sort of thing?" He gestured with his hands and Lily tilted her head in confusion.

"Sorry, I haven't."

"Have you or has anyone else been in my room?"

"No." James seemed stumped at this and his brow furrowed as Lily waited for the next question. It never came though. James left the heads room slamming the door behind him leaving an utterly lost, but slightly amused, Lily in his wake. Sighing, Lily rolled over onto her stomach and continued to think about the boy. She couldn't be friends with him like Mary had suggested. After everything they had been through it was impossible. But then where was all this interest in Potter coming from? He had been so horrible to her and she had been the same to him successfully for two years now. She hated Potter just like her family did, she knew she did, she had to.

"Sirius seemed… interested." Mary bumped hips with Evelyn who was walking beside her towards the Common Room.

"Oh please, if anything I'd be a crush to past the time or a fuck to pass the moment."

"Ouch. You two would make a good match then, right? You want to forget about Leon and Sirius just wants... Well who know's what Sirius wants." Mary teased, or at least Evelyn thought she was teasing.

"What if I want a relationship like yours and Ben's? Simple, carefree… everything! You are so lucky to have him." Mary smiled at Evelyn's words. She was proud at how true they were.

"Well maybe that's what Sirius needs and wants as well."

"What's with you today? Telling Lily to befriend Potter and me to consider Black! Summer made you crazy."

They reached the portrait at the same time as James who looked as if he had just run the perimeter of Hogwarts.

"Potter, where's Lily?" Evelyn asked.

"In the Head Dorm, you girls can go up there if you want. I'll be down here for a while." James offered, eager to get past the Fat Lady.

"Okay, thanks."

"Oh, password is Owlpen."

"Owlpen?" the girls asked together.

"OwlPen Manor, Remus' house." James shrugged as if it were general knowledge then climbed through the portrait hole.

"Lily!" Lily jumped at the sound of her name.

"I'm in here!" She called.

"Oh, hey." Mary walked into the room. Lily peaked behind her and saw Evelyn peering into James's room.

"Ev'" She warned. Mary turned around to see what was happening.

"Ahhh, James Potter's private room. Is he as much as a mess in there as he was back in the dorms?" Mary had spent countless hours in the Marauder's dormitory due to Ben and had unwillingly witnessed the messes that the boys had the ability to produce. She followed Evelyn into James' room casually, "Wow! He's messier! What the hell?"

"Mary." Lily sent her a look.

"Lily, you seriously haven't been in here yet?" Evelyn asked beginning to walk further into the room.

"Mary, he was looking for something and no, I haven't and I don't think you should be snooping." Lily couldn't believe she was making excuses for Potter's mess.

"He wouldn't care. Besides, he said he'd be down at the Common Room for a while." Mary shrugged.

"You ran into him?"

"How else do you think we got in here?" Evelyn called out from the depths of the unknown. "C'mon Lil's."

Lily walked over but just stood at the door, it just didn't feel right to go in and that felt stupid.

"Maybe we could find some Marauder stuff!" Excitement ran across Evelyn's face.

"Like what?" Lily watched as Evelyn picked up, unfolded, then set back down a blank yet tattered piece of parchment.

"You won't. Trust me, Ben and I have tried for years to figure out their secrets. Then again, I'm sure Ben knows plenty he just doesn't share." Mary said more to herself than to anyone else.

Lily wasn't interested in the Marauders though. Evelyn had found a photo album and flicked through it while Mary looked over her shoulder. Lily sighed and walked back into her own room. James' room would be like Pandora's Box and she was not going in.


Georgia Brown was like every other Ravenclaw, very academic and very social. Anyone would say that Georgia had a bright future ahead of her. Her parents had pushed her through school with weekly letters encouraging her to do well in her exams. Naturally, Georgia did just that, constantly receiving high marks. She could produce any potion Slughorn demanded of her. Transfigure anything McGonagallplaced in front of her and her defence against the Dark Arts was faultless and could almost match that of James Potter's. Georgia's OWLS were all Outstanding's and her parents had never been so proud. In her spare time Georgia turned to boys. They loved her and she loved them. She was selective but there were just so many good looking boys in her year and the few above that she couldn't help herself. Georgia also had her faults, like everyone else, but one fault had developed excessively over summer and that was stress. Coming up to returning to Hogwarts, Georgia's parents placed an extreme amount of pressure on her. With this, Georgia acted. They were in Provence, France a destination her family visited every year. Her older brother and mother loved Herbology so the whole family annually stayed in a farm house surrounded with lavenders and sunflowers.

He was cute with messy brown hair and deep dark eyes. He was a Muggle but this didn't faze Georgia, they had seen each other every summer since they were ten. Years later here they were again and he had suggested, in his gorgeous French accent, that they go for a walk in the lavender fields and have a picnic. She agreed of course. They talked about everything, he knew she was a witch so she gave her annual update on Hogwarts and he laughed at her stories. Everything was easy, the sun was shining down on her face and shoulders and her white summer dress moved slightly in the lavender scented breeze. He always made her feel so light, carefree and young.

They reached an old white brick shed with a rusted roof where they retreated from the heat inside. There was nothing in there besides a few old sundried bunches of lavenders which hung upside down from a wooden awning. He laid out the picnic blanket he was carrying and they sat. Eventually the talking slowed down and Georgia caught his eye and they kissed. It was sweet and simple then in no time the kiss grew into something more serious. Before Georgia knew it she was removing his shirt and he was guiding her to lie down without getting in the dust that covered the floor. Georgia, of course, didn't have her wand and he didn't have anything either but she decided to go on with it. Everything was too perfect to stop. It was the most amazing sex she had ever had, there in that shed.

Now Georgia was in a cold stone room. It was dark outside and she felt incredibly alone. The stress had returned and anxiety was beginning to take over. Constantly she told herself not to worry but her parents' voices rang in her ears like bells. After sometime of thinking about nothing at all Georgia dug through her bag and pulled out the small bottle of clear liquid and stared at it unseeingly, had she really sunk to this level? A knock at the door brought her out of her reverie.

"Georgia, are you done? I need to use the bathroom!" Georgia's roommate Betty called.

"Yeah sorry, I'm done." She quickly stuffed the potion back in her bag and flushed the toilet to pretend that she was actually in there for something.

"Sorry." Georgia smiled at Betty and kept walking out of the dorm. If she could help it, she would go without the medication for as long as possible.


Lily finished her homework and checked her watch. It was nowhere near time for patrol, she had considered not doing it again but finally decided to just do a quick run around earlier than normal. She pulled on a clean white cardigan and left the head rooms. The corridors were strangely empty. Dinner had finished some time ago and Lily now just assumed that everyone decided to stay in their common rooms due to the chill. She was only thirty minutes in when she heard someone behind her. She turned to see who it was and groaned inwardly.

"Severus." She acknowledged.

"Lily, are you on patrol?" She continued to walk and he fell into step with her.

"Yes." He seemed anxious about something but Lily couldn't figure it out. She noticed he had his bookbag which appeared rather bulky, "What's with the bag?"

"I was in the library. Listen, I think you ought to know that I saw some students outside." Lily looked at him for the first time that night. Her immediate thought was that it was a lie but Severus convinced her otherwise. "There were two of them running straight towards the forest."

"Well, the forest isn't particularly close, Severus. How do you know that that's where they were heading?"

Snape was quiet for a moment, "I just think that we should check it out."

"We?"

"I don't see Potter around to accompany you and it's too dangerous to go out alone."

"Potter is busy." That reminded Lily of something. "I don't think we should go out ourselves, perhaps a teacher would be more suitable? Or no one at all." The reason why James wasn't with her was the exact same reason why she shouldn't go outside.

"I know what you're thinking but these are students! Remus will be locked up some-"

"Hey! You don't need to talk about him, got it?" Lily stopped walking as they reached the Entrance Hall. She looked at the doors with her hands on her hips. It wouldn't take too long to get out, find the students and get back in. And as Snape said, Remus wouldn't actually be out on the grounds. "Fine, but only for half an hour and if we don't find them they get left behind and we'll report to a teacher."

James stared into the darkness of the Hogwarts grounds from his old dorm window. Night had fallen over the area like a curtain and even though it was full moon everything was black as thick clouds loomed across the moon. He ran his hand through his hair and thought about Moony down at the Shrieking Shack, already a werewolf and already in pain. It was soon time to go but something didn't feel right. James shook his head, what could go wrong? They had done this so many times now and nothing had ever happened. A few close calls, yes, but nothing sincerely horrible had occurred.

"Alright?" Sirius appeared next to James who turned his back to the window and faced the room. Everything had been turned over and looked through. The cloak was missing and that made James nervous. A feeling of dread stirred within him as he had run out of places to look. "I'm sure it'll pop up somewhere, mate." James could tell that Sirius was also worried about the loss of the heirloom but it wasn't his father's and as much as Sirius may have admired the cloak he still wouldn't see the situation the same way as James. "Ready?"

"Sure, let's go." James went to look over the map that sat on his old bed one more time.

"There's no time for that Prongs," Peter pulled James away from the map, "we have to go." The shorter Gryffindor threw a blanket over the map so no one would find it and led James out of the room along with Sirius. They had waited until a little later tonight, deciding to have dinner first then make sure that Pomfrey was fully preoccupied and not looking out a window at the Whomping Willow just in case. Without coming across another student the boys made their way to the Entrance Hall. Peter turned into a rat and scurried off to the willow. It was unusually cold out and James looked forward to turning into Prongs and to start running to warm up. It wasn't long until the cursed tree stopped moving and James and Sirius entered the passage way towards Remus.

Lily pulled her cardigan tighter to fight against the cold. Sitting down by the lake in the warm sun seemed like months ago. She didn't know how far they had walked into the forest but it felt like it was time to head back to the castle. She lit the tip of her wand and checked her watch, they had been out for an hour.

"Severus, it's time to go back." Lily turned around but he wasn't there. She had been in the lead for majority of the way but surely she would have noticed him leave. She swore that she had heard him following her. Had she been so caught up in her own thoughts, in her own world? Lily noticed that she had no idea where she was now. Her heart beat began to quicken and she swore at herself for being so stupid.

"Good Evening." Lily whipped around to face the cold male voice. The figure wore a long cloak and their face was shadowed by a hood.

"Who are you?" She tried to place the voice. Was this one of the students Severus mentioned?

"That's unimportant to you. I've come upon request."

"Request?" Lily almost wanted to laugh, it sounded so pathetic.

"Yes, the Dark –" the voice was cut off by a howl and the hairs on Lily's arms rose. "The Dark Lord has noticed that you do not… express the same beliefs as your parents."

"So?" She was putting the puzzle together now but how could someone from the outside get into Hogwarts?

"So, he requests that you join his group of followers like your family."

"Why would he want that?" Lily tested.

"You are a clever witch and a beautiful girl, why wouldn't he?"

Now Lily laughed coldly, "You can run back to your little Dark Lord and tell him that I, Lily Evans, will never join him."

"Don't be so stupid. Your whole family has joined the ranks of the Dark Lord! If you don't do it now on your free will you will be forced to join!" Frustration could be detected in the man's words.

"Well you'll have to force me or, alternatively, kill me." The man faltered here. Lily knew that no one would set a finger on her. She had won this bizarre conflict. "Now, if you are a student I suggest –" She began walking towards the person but stopped at his voice.

"Fool! You have no idea what you're doing and I wouldn't stay out here for too long, it could prove rather… deadly." Lily heard a strange sound and the man was gone. She hadn't been afraid of him but now that she was alone again she became somewhat frightened. The howl sounded again and this time it was closer.

"Shit." Lily swore to herself, she didn't know which way was out but decided to run in the opposite direction of the howling.

The clouds moved to reveal the moon allowing light to filter through the leaves and into the forest. James galloped to keep up with the werewolf who was more restless tonight than normal. Eventually Remus stopped and howled. James looked down at Sirius who had decided to lie down and was panting heavily. Peter also laid next Sirius. As Prongs, James could run a remarkable distance without faltering but tonight had been tough and the stag was growing weary. Abruptly, Remus became alert. Sirius lifted his shaggy dog head, he heard it too. James had missed it, however and Remus began to move slowly, sniffing out his prey. Sirius stood up and Peter climbed onto his back. James saw it now, a person in white running through the forest. Remus began to move faster and James jumped in front of him pushing the werewolf back with his antlers but he wouldn't stop moving forward.

Lily ran and ran, her breath was gone and only adrenaline kept her going. She began to hear what sounded like a dog barking. Then there was another howl from what she was now sure was a wolf. It was close, too close. Stories that her cousins had told her about people being torn apart by packs of wolves ran through her mind. She pulled her wand out from her jeans and sent back a curse that she hoped would slow them down.

A rush of pain ran through James causing his front legs to give way. Remus pushed him aside now and Sirius continued to, ineffectively, deter him from the person running. James shut his eyes in pain and clenched his muscles. Managing to stand back up again he noticed blood on his front right leg. Ignoring it he caught back up to Remus who had slowed down.

She had been going so fast and was getting away so well until she fell. Lily felt all chance leave her as she lay on the dirt again. The wolves had stopped barking and things had become too quiet. She lay silently with the tiniest strand of hope that she wouldn't be found.

James couldn't move anymore he had to change back into human form to fix the cut. He lagged behind and could see Sirius struggling more and more to contain Remus.

Lily heard leaves move behind her, then a howl that was so loud it made her heart stop. Without thinking, she screamed.

He heard her and felt himself go pale, if a stag could go pale that is. James changed back into a human and felt his heart beating out of his chest as he hid behind a tree.

"Expecto Patronum!" He cried as he dared to peer out. A silvery white stag ran in his place towards Remus. They had used a Patronus before the distract Remus as a werewolf. He was attracted the brightness as if it were a full moon and normally would chase it away.

A bright light came towards her and the werewolf. Lily lifted her head squinting, she recognised the light. It was the stag, the silvery white stag that saved her years ago. The Patronus distracted the wolf which followed the silver stag away. Lily then saw the dog, not wolf, she had heard. It was large and gave her a look that she didn't know dogs could give but it too ran off after the wolf. The bright stag disappeared and the next howl seemed far away. Lily let her head fall back onto the dirt. She had almost died but her mind was stuck on the stag, the Patronus. It was only moments until she heard the leaves around her move again. She thought it would be the anonymous man to give her another threat.

"Go away."

James gaped at her. "You stupid, stupid girl!" He could not contain his anger at the person lying on the ground in front of him.

Lily recognised this voice and perhaps it made her just as scared as the werewolf did. A million things ran through her mind now. The werewolf was Remus, why had she not realised that? Then if that was true the dog was one of the Marauders. Sirius, she guessed because now James Potter was standing above her. So did that make the stag…?

"What the FUCK are you doing?" He spat and she winced at his rage.

"Potter." Lily moved to get up. She hated being lower than James right now but even when she stood she still felt inferior.

"Don't you even start, just follow me." James began walking and Lily struggled to keep up. She didn't dare say anything until they were out of the forest.

"James," She grabbed his arm but recoiled when he hissed in pain. In the moonlight Lily realised she had his blood on her hand. "What happened?" Her eyebrows were furrowed in stress and confusion while her heartbeat failed to slow down.

"You happened!" Lily was still confused. "That curse you sent at Remus hit me. Thank you for that by the way, much appreciated."

"I'm…"

"Sorry? Yeah, me too." The lights of the castle fell onto them and Lily was frightened by James' expression. Her stomach had dropped at James' news. She had sent a particularly nasty curse.

"James, you need to go to the hospital wing for that."

"You would know. Where did you learn such a curse anyway, Snape?" James never looked at her while he spoke, he focused only on what was ahead of him.

His accusation was actually true but Lily said nothing about it. She ran to keep up with him, "That stag, it's –"

"What stag?"

So he was going to play this game. She decided not to push any further for now and entered the castle behind him. "Where are we going?"

James had opened a large picture of some landscape which Lily had once realised changed with the seasons. He pretended not to hear her and began climbing a spiralling staircase. Lily didn't ask again and continued followed him. Soon they went through another hole and were right in front of the portrait which opened to their rooms.

"Owlpen." James grumbled and climbed through with Lily close behind. He walked some way then turned to face Lily who timidly walked into the room not sure where she should stand.

"Why?" James sighed dragging a hand down his face and Lily relaxed the smallest bit.

She contemplated telling James the truth, telling him that she and Severus had gone out together then he disappeared but he wouldn't believe her. So she went back to where she left off before, "The stag is -"

"Why?" James wouldn't move off the topic. He crossed his arms and glared at Lily even though his voice had softened. James knew what she was getting at. He knew she would remember his Patronus from that horrible night.

"You wouldn't believe me." She looked down at her cardigan. It was covered in dirt, sweat and smears of James' blood. She looked at his arm which was no longer bleeding from what she could see. Perhaps he had done a spell somewhere along the way but eventually it would start again without proper care.

"Try me."

"I went to do patrol earlier than normal."

"I thought we agreed."

"Yeah well, I changed my mind." Lily looked up at James who was shaking his head. She felt like a little girl in trouble.

"You changed your mind? And what, didn't ask anyone for help?" his voice was becoming bitter again.

"Obviously not, Potter. Anyway, Severus told me there were students outside so we went out together. Then somewhere along the way he disappeared and this other guy turned up." Lily didn't care what he thought anymore but James grew interested. "He asked me to join Voldemort and his followers like my parents." James' eyebrows rose at this. "Then he left, then Remus and… and the stag which is –"

"What did you say?"

Lily groaned, "What do you think?" James only shrugged. "I said no, Merlin do you really believe that I would say yes?"

"I don't know what to believe anymore, Lily. I thought I trusted you."

Lily laughed coolly for a second time that night, "Trust? Potter, what would you know about trust?"

"A damn lot and that's what I honestly thought, that we trusted each other in our positions." His voice rose.

"You left!" Lily didn't know where it came from but now she was seething, "How could I trust you!" James looked as if he'd been slapped. "You just left! What was I supposed to do after that? Trust you completely with all my heart? God James, I haven't trusted you since then and never could!"

"What are you talking about?"

"What am I talking about? I am talking about when you played with me and made me feel worth something all before you just left! Like everybody else, everybody leaves, just like you."

Now he knew, "You think I led you on?"

"Please, I know you led me on. Taking advantage of a young girl." Lily lowered her voice.

"I was the same age as you! It seems to me that you have twisted that night around in your mind."

"Oh, I don't think so. Clearly you have just forgotten but I've been cursed with this night and can't get rid of it!" Lily moved around the room as she spoke pointing to herself.

"I haven't forgotten any of it. I, like you, think about it often and more so now that we share this bloody space!" James gestured around the room. Lily stopped moving, this was new. Her mind was doing some quick thinking when James spoke again but in a much softer voice. "I didn't lead you on," He felt horrible that Lily had developed that impression, "but then Snape..." He looked pained as he looked down at the floor then over to Lily. "Lily, we were too young."

Too young, the words rang in Lily's ears. The facial features on both of them had relaxed and now they appeared exhausted. "Too young." Lily whispered and nodded slightly becoming lost in her thoughts.

James smiled weakly but Lily missed it as she collapsed onto an armchair facing away from him. "But" She started, then when she faced him he was gone and his door was closed. She imagined that he didn't have the strength to be angry with her anymore or to fight so he simply retreated. Lily could only think of two things then and they were that James had not forgotten and the Patronus.