Okay here's chapter 4! Things are beginning to pick up a bit so hopefully the next chapters will be easier to write.

Disclaimer: all Rowlings

Days passed quickly. Soon, autumn had made it's swift, silent passage onto the castle. The leaves came to life in fiery colors of yellow, red, and orange; the air turned cooler and cooler with each passing day and the skies soon lost their blueish color, grey replacing it. With autumn came the results of the Quidditch team. Much to Lily and Alice's surprise, Mary had made the team, replacing the empty Chaser position. Mary had gloated about proving everyone wrong until it got so annoying that even quiet Remus had asked her to give it a rest.

Things had been getting stanger and stranger though no one had awknowledged it specifically. Lily Evans had noticed it far less than anybody else did, but that did not change the fact that James Potter seemed to have gotten over his infatuation with her. Sure he still talked to her and was cordial to her, but it wasn't the same adoration anybody was used to.

The teachers had been relentless with their homework. "They assign way too much than is humanly possible," Mary complained when Alice had made a remark about it at breakfast one morning, a week before Halloween.

"Well if some people didn't slack off as much," Alice said, shooting a reproving glance at Mary, "Then you wouldn't have as much."

Lily laughed, "Alice you're one to talk! You're just as bad as she is!" This of course got the three of them fighting. The laughing ended quickly however, when a snowy white bird landed in front of Alice with an irritated flutter of wings.

"Who are you?" Alice asked the bird nastily as if it could answer her. The bird stuck out his leg and Alice took the letter from it. With barely a sound the bird took off leaving behind a single white feather. She unfurled the letter without looking at the address on the front.

"Wait a second Alice," Mary stopped her. "It's not adressed to you." Mary took the letter and checked it all over.

"Checking it out will not make your name go away," Lily commented.

Mary shot her a look as she started to read. As Lily watched Mary, she could see a frown appear, then grow deeper and deeper as she made her way to the bottom of the letter. When she was done, Mary put the letter down, then picked it back up and reread it. She did this several times before Alice gently stopped her.

"That's not true," Mary whispered as she jerked her head towards the letter.

Looking over Alice's shoulder Lily read:

"Dear Mary,

I don't know how to start this or even if I want to tell you, but you've got a right to know. As you know and as you have seen, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is steadily becoming the greatest and most powerful sorcerer of all time. He will do everything to get what he wants. He doesn't care how many people he has killed or how many families he has ripped apart on his rise to power." Right here Lily could see water drops staining the paper and making the ink run, making it hard to read the writing. "And he has chosen to rip apart ours. Your father it seems has made a grave and terrible decision. If you read the Daily Prophet today, you saw that the Death Eaters, as they are now calling themselves, attacked the countryside late last night. Your father, who was at another wizard's house, met them. The Death Eaters killed the other wizard first. They were about to kill your father but he took the cowardly way out of the situation. He begged and pleaded not to be killed. It seems that the Death Eaters listened to him when he said he could help them. According to the wizard's nephew, who had ran and hid when the Death Eaters came, your father told them that he could give inside information. When the Death Eaters told him they already had enough inside information they raised their wands. Just as they were about to say an Unforgivable he sputtered out that he worked in the Auror department. This stopped the Death Eaters and they asked who he was. When he said that he was Alfred MacDonald they laughed and said they had never heard of such a name. They let him live however. 'One more insider can't hurt.' That was all the nephew heard before the Death Eaters took their business outside. That was all he needed to know. He contacted the Ministry of Magic immediately. Then they contacted me and told me all that had happened. As of right now, they are looking for the Death Eaters and your father. I'm so sorry Mary, but your mother was too shaken up to write to you. Please don't tell your cousins what has happened, I will write to them myself.
With love,
Mathilda"

Lily looked up at Mary then looked down again. She had to reread the letter several times before the impact of the words hit her. This was Alfred MacDonald. The man who had welcomed Lily to his house so many times during all of her breaks that it was as if she had lived there. He was the man who first taught her all about Quidditch, who taught her self-defense spells because it was his area of speciality. This man was Mary's father-

"I told you, it isn't true," Mary whispered again.

"Oh, Mary!" Alice went and hugged her friend. Lily joined in. The three were totally oblivious to the chatter and movement going on around them. Lily and Alice held Mary tight, as if letting her go would make her shatter.

"Miss MacDonald," a quiet, slightly gravelly voice intruded the three. When Lily looked up she saw Dumbledore stare down at them with his deep blue eyes. "Can I please talk to you in my office." It wasn't a question but it wasn't spoken like a statement either.

Mary looked up and stared like she had been jolted out of a dream she had. She nodded. Lily grabbed Mary's hand and squeezed tightly before she was led away.

Lily and Alice just stared at each other, both at a loss of words. "Mary's father-" Lily began at the same time Alice said, "I can't believe it." Both of them kept quiet until the end of breakfast and they were forced to get their stuff.

Walking to the Herbology greenhouses, Lily was in a state on numbness. Now something had happened to jolt Lord Voldemort into perspective. Lily knew she didn't want to be affected by it, but the revelation had opened dozens of new doors to her. She couldn't help but think of Sirius's family. Lily had thought that Bellatrix had just been making fun of the Hat's song at the sorting, but now she wasn't too sure.

"Evans you okay?" James came up beside her.

James was another thing that had been lingering on the edges of Lily's mind. He was slowly but surely changing. His annoying comments were coming less and less and he actually seemed to stop hitting on her every chance he got. This could have just been hopeful thinking on Lily's part though.

"What would make you think something was wrong with me Potter?" Lily asked.

"You just seem dejected. Someone turn you down?" he joked.

Lily knew he was joking and knew she shouldn't have exploded at him like she did but she couldn't help it.

"No, Potter! That's the last reason I would look dejected. I'm not like you and have to feed off of everyone's complements just to make myself feel better! My head is not as big as yours! Mary MacDonald's father has just agreed to help some Death Eaters, okay! If you found out your best friend's father was joining sides with the Death Eaters you would have a right to look however the hell you wanted to look! Back. Off."

James took her rant unflinchingly because she was wrong. His best friend's dad and mum had both sided with the Death Eaters. "Evans, my best friend's dad and mum have sided with Death Eaters," he said aloud. "You aren't the only person who has been affected by Voldemort," James hissed back.

That stopped Lily short for three reasons. One, she had forgotten all about Sirius's parents. Two, being told that she wasn't the only one affected by Voldemort made Lily think. She wasn't alone so she had to stop thinking this was all about her. Thirdly, James had called He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, Voldemort.

Her anger died out as suddenly as it had sprung. She turned away from him and walked faster to catch up with Alice.

On the morning of Halloween, Mary returned; it had been a whole week since she had left. Alice and Lily had been taken by surprise when they woke up late on Saturday to find Mary sitting on her bed.

"Mary!" they both hollered as soon as they saw her. They sprinted to Mary and enveloped her in a bear hug.

"Mary how have you been?" Alice asked as she pulled away.

Mary smiled a wan smile. "Eh, I've been better."

"Mary, you honestly have no idea how bad it has been without you. Alice is actually getting her homework done and we have been late for class nearly every day. Plus Potter has been begging me for your return! Oh god Mary, we've missed you!" Lily sputtered out.

This statement got Mary to laugh. She was laughing so hard that tears were running down her face. Then Lily saw that she was starting to cry and sob. Lily and Alice held her and couldn't help but cry with her. It made them ache inside to see composed, collected Mary lose it. It seemed awhile before they finally stopped. "I feel so hollow," Mary sniffed. She wiped her eyes and took a long shuddering breath.

"You just needed that," Alice whispered.

"We all needed that," Lily added. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Mary looked at the both of them and nodded. She took a deep breath and began, "Well, you know that Dumbledore wanted to talk to me in his office. When I took a seat he told me what had happened about my Dad in more detail. I got to ask him what I wanted and he answered as much as he could. Then he told me I could go home, that I should go home. When I arrived at the house my mom was in the kitchen taking care of Lisa. She looked up when I entered and ran over to me. She cried. Oh god, how she cried! I thought it would never end. That made me cry too until we were both just a bloody mess. Then Mathilda came in and we sobbed even harder. Thank god for her. She took us into her arms and held us like we were five. Once we had cried ourselves out she gave us a little speech. 'Your dad has made a grave decision,' Mathilda said. 'It is up to you guys to not let it bother you. You can do everything you can to catch your father.' But the thing is, is that I don't know if I want to catch him. I mean he's my dad and you don't do that to your father!" Mary wailed shrugging her hands in a hopeless manner.

"Shh," Lily soothed. "You don't have to want do anything. This whole situation... well it sucks."

"Yeah," Alice interjected. "It's no one's choice but your own."

"I know," Mary said. "But what happens if they find him? I'm not sure I trust myself to believe what I see. It's hard to wrap your head around it... but it just makes so mad!" Mary added getting up. She started pacing. "I mean it doesn't seem like my dad, but somehow I can picture it all happening. As we grew up, Dad would always tell us to not fight unless it was something we believed in. Then, if we believed in it, we should fight even if it costs us. He went back on his word! Did everything he told us not to do!" Mary sat down again as the other two soothed her.

"Sometimes people say that to make sure that someone will do the right thing even if they can't," Alice said wisely.

They sat in silence for awhile as only good friends can. At one point Alice's stomach growled.

"Are you hungry?" Mary asked.

Alice nodded sheepishly, "Yeah, I'm starved."

Lily got up and the other two followed. They were just in time for lunch as the students bustled around the Hall idly chatting about the upcoming night; it was Halloween after all and as was tradition, the Marauders always pulled a prank or two.

To keep Mary's mind off of her father, Lily and Alice talked about the classes they had had in the past week and how Lily had finallymanaged to master the animal to animal spell. Then Lily talked about Quidditch. "Potter has us running his plays over and over again and I think I can do them in my sleep!" she complained. This got Mary to laugh but the grin slowly faded. She looked down the table to where James was talking to Sirius. They were both grinning.

"Lils, do you hate James?" Mary asked suddenly.

Lily choked on her food and Alice thumped her hard on the back. "What do you mean?" she got out after she could breathe.

"Well I know you don't like him, but do you hate him?"

Lily stared at Mary.

"Are you okay?" she asked then instantly regretted saying that. "I didn't mean-"

"I'm perfectly okay," Mary snapped, cutting Lily off. "Don't treat me any different. Answer the question."

"No," Lily said studying Mary closely. "I don't hate him. But that doesn't mean I like him either. Why do you want to know?"

"I've just been curious lately because James doesn't seem as obsessed with you. I meant to tell you earlier but you know..." Mary trailed off frowning.

"You've noticed it too?" Alice asked quickly.

Mary nodded.

"Why is that a bad thing?" Lily laughed. Mary and Alice exchanged looks.

"What?" Lily demanded.

"Nothing," they both answered at the same time. Upon further inquiry Lily could gain nothing more from them so she sat back in a frustrated silence.

"Evans! Practice in ten!" James threw over his shoulder as he and Sirius passed the girls.

"Wait a second!" Sirius spun on his heel and turned back to the girls. "Mary! You're back! Thank Merlin! See that James- Mary's back," Sirius was talking excitedly.

James turned around and walked back over.

"The damn fool hasn't stopped talking about you since you left," Siruis said scornfully.

Mary looked at them in surprise. "What do you mean?" she asked slowly.

James blushed. "It's nothing. I was just admiring your Quiddtch skills," he muttered.

Once again Lily choked on her food. She had never, never seen James blush. This time it was Sirius who thumped her on the back. "Thanks," Lily finally got out when she could breathe.

Sirius winked, "Anything for you m'lady."

"I'm sorry about what happened with your dad," James offered.

Mary stared him down. "I don't need sympathy," she said coldly.

"No that's not what I meant!" James said quickly blushing again. "I meant don't worry about it, it's not something that you had any say in."

Lily rolled her eyes and studied Mary. She couldn't read anything in her impassive expression. Then she studied James. He seemed to see no one but Mary. She shook her head. I've got to stop imagining things, she scolded herself.

"Come on mate," Sirius interrupted the awkward silence that had descended. "You've got to get to your practice and I've got to find Moony."

James seemed to snap out of a revire he had been in and followed Sirius.

"Did anyone else think that was weird?" Alice asked. Lily shook her head while Mary remained silent.

"Come on Mary, we should go too." Lily and Mary got up and waved goodbye to Alice. Upon Mary's request, she wanted Alice and Lily to let life go on.

"Mary, you're really brave," Lily said hugging Mary. This got Mary to smile for real.

They went back to their dormitory to get their brooms then headed out to the pitch. It was an ideal day for Quiddtch. The sky was dotted with clouds providing protection from the sun, the earth seemed to stand still: no wind stirred it, and it was cool but not cold. The girls went to the changing rooms and got changed, then met the team in the locker room. When everybody was settled in their seats James came out of the captain's office pushing a chalkboard.

"These are all diagrams of our plays," James said while pulling out his wand. "Mary this is mostly for your benefit but it wouldn't kill everyone else to pay attention either." James let his eyes roam over his team. "Now this is a play called: Hyperdrive, courtesy of Jimmy..." James went on tapping the chalkboard when he wanted to enforce his point. He did this through each of the seven plays he had planned. "Okay everybody," he said when he was done. "Let's go."

The team followed him out into the pitch. "Okay Kyle, let the balls loose. Everyone in position!" James yelled.

Lily mounted her broom. She could feel the familiar, quiet hum of the broom as she was about to push off. When she kicked off and soared through the air she thought, There is nothing better than this feeling. She laughed as the speed of her broom made her eyes water.

"Evans! Are you here to fool around or here to practice?" James barked at her. Lily made a face. She was the only player on the team who James called by their last name. Lily flashed her eyes dangerously.

"Potter if I wanted to fool around I'd hang out with Sirius," Lily commented drily.

This got Mackenzie Prewett to laugh. While she was laughing she hadn't been paying any attention and barely escaped getting hit by a Bludger.

"Focus!" James roared.

Lily turned serious and regretted having made that comment about Sirius. James made her work harder than anyone else and he made her know it and feel it. Towards the end of practice he made her put the equipment away too. Mary looked on in sympathy but didn't do anything to stop James. At the end of practice Lily was absolutely furious. By the time she had made it to the locker room she had snapped at Kyle and Frank without meaning to but the boys knew her well enough to know when she was in a bad mood so they left her alone. Slowly the locker room emptied until it was just her and Mary left. James was still in his office. "Meet you at the castle Lils?" Mary asked sensing the death waves radiating from Lily. Lily nodded tightly.

Finally Mary left. "Potter what the hell are you playing at?" Lily demanded pounding on the captain's door. James came out.

"What do you mean Evans?" he asked innocently.

"You know very well what I mean!"

"Well you didn't have to make that comment," James replied matter-of-factly.

"Potter it was one comment! It's not like Sirius doesn't make fun of me either! It was a joke okay! A stupid joke! Don't take it so seriously!"

"It wasn't the least bit funny!"

"Ha! Mackenzie was laughing! And why can't I say that, huh? It's true and the whole bloody school knows it!"

"He's my best mate," James snarled. "I have to defend him. It's what friends do. If you ever gave me a chance to be one to you, you would know that!"

"Do not say that," Lily lowered her voice to a dangerously low whisper. "Over the past years you have been the most arrogant, pig-headed, vain, boastful, self-centered git I've ever met! Yet you will not change or leave me alone! You know that, so don't say I haven't let you be a friend to me. I have given you plenty of goddamn chances!"

"Do you want me to leave you alone?" James asked his voice as quiet as Lily's but it didn' t have the dangerous tone to it.

"Jesus! Did it really just get through to you that that's what I've wanted all along?" Lily raged. With that she stormed out of the locker room and marched up the castle breathing furiously and heavily. A cold wind whipped around her and dusk was beginning to settle down around the castle. As the light quickly faded Lily pushed open the door to her dormitory and showered and got ready for the feast not dwelling over her argument in the locker rooms.