Disclaimer: (This is not the usual:"I don't own anything, J. does" thing)
This story belongs to everyone who reads it and likes it, and also to J.K.R for providing such a wonderful base(L/J) for youngsters to write about.
A/N: Please excuse me for the spelling mistakes I've made. In my urgency to publish, I forgot to recheck.
Lily found Marlene at the table talking animatedly with her boyfriend, Jack Wilson. Glaring at the fact that Marlene had not shown up because she was talking to her boyfriend, Lily walked over and sat beside Marlene. Jack acknowledged her with a nod but Marlene gave no sign of recognition. Both their foreheads were frowning in concentration. Lily cleared her throat.
"Oh hi, Lils. Didn't see you there." Marlene said.
"Marlene Cruz. You better tell me where you where at the Hogwarts express because I sure as heck didn't see you anywhere in the train unless you count the Slytherin compartment. And have you-" she began but was cut off by her best friend.
"Lily, listen to me. I was with Jack at the train. His uncle, who worked at the ministry, was found…. dead a few days ago. Rumour has it that it was the work of Voldemort, but the ministry is trying to hush it up. Evidence was found too but-"Marlene was hissing at a low tone.
"Dead? Jack, I'm so sorry. But Marlene," Lily said turning to her, "Why the hell would the ministry try to hush up a death inside itself?" she asked.
"They don't want to draw attention to the fact that Voldemort is growing stronger than the Ministry these days. Strong enough to kill an auror with good skills." she said.
"That Ministry is more dangerous to us than Voldemort himself these days." Lily said raging.
"True." agreed Marlene.
"What are you guys talking about?" Jack asked from the corner. He had remained thinking for a while, probably about his uncle.
"Voldemort." Lily said.
Jack winced."Don't say the name." he said.
"Fear of a name only increases fear of the thing itself." said Marlene.
"Hey! Sorry to drop the balls at such a serious situation, but that was supposed to be my dialogue." Lily said between amusement and rage.
Jack smiled, for the first time in weeks, thanked Lily, kissed Marlene and sat down near the Marauders, who, Lily noticed, included James too. After the sorting, Lily made sure all the Prefects took care of the first years and then went to wait for James near Dumbledore's office.
James came sooner than she expected. Seeing her face, he asked, "Anything wrong Lily?"
Lily didn't know why, but somehow she felt comfortable sharing this with James. She told him what she had heard from Marlene. To her astonishment, James was not surprised.
"I know" he said."My parents are aurors too and they told me. Bit of a horrible experience for Jack. He was his favorite uncle."
"How come Marlene didn't tell me?" Lily asked astonished at the fact that her own best friend would not tell her something like this.
"Because, Jack doesn't want it to be public. If letters went wayward, it would be trouble." he said wisely.
"I don't know why Voldemort's doing this, doesn't he care that he's ripping apart families?" she asked.
"Care? If he did, he wouldn't have been Voldemort at all. Come on Lily, we gotta see Dumbles." he smiled and led the way up. When Lily went up, she couldn't help but think how mature and caring James Potter had been.
Acknowledgements:
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