((*))
"So how's your Head duties going?" Sirius asked the following week, as they shuffled around the Library looking for a book that was supposed to help with the paper McGonagall had assigned. As usual, the two had postponed the paper to the absolute last minute and now, two rolls of empty parchment in hand and a canister of midnight oil in their might, they descended into the library in a last ditch effort before they would, inevitably, return to the common room and beg Moony for help.
"Things are going pretty well." James grinned, thinking back on the past few weeks. Yes-Lily still insisted on calling him Potter, but she had done so with less spite in her voice. Now it seemed it was mere annoyance and even, on some rare occasion, content. Sirius gave a nod of approval and kept searching the stacks of books.
"So when you going to put phase two into action?" He asked, flipping the pages of the directory but not really looking at them.
His friend cocked his head and looked confused, "Phase two?"
"Shock and woo? What else?" Sirius smirked, looking at his friend as though he had forgotten Christmas. "You know, Operations Evans, or The Mrs. Potter Project? What you've wanted to do for years . . . Win Lily?"
James rolled his eyes, "No plan Padfoot."
"No plan?" Sirius answered quizzically, "Prongs, has she cursed you? I wouldn't put her past it…"
"No Padfoot," James interrupted, with a shake of his head. "The plan is no plan- this is going to go as natural as possible . . . " James watched his friend give him the all-knowing "yeah right" look.
In all honesty, the past few weeks had been rather blissful for James. Their next night of duty, Lily had asked him for his childhood stories, and it seemed to be the second of many conversations that would take place as they made their way around the school.
((*))
"So you heard about my Muggle sister, what's your story?" She had asked, hoping to not make obvious her newfound interest in the boy who she had, for so many years, tried to ignore. She couldn't understand why she had this new found interest in his existence, and had put it down to being the only way to make time pass as they did their tours . . . that had to have been the reason, the only reason at all . . .
"Well, my parent's were exactly expecting me. They'd tried for years to have kids but didn't get me till they were both 45," he said with his usual smirk and twinkling eyes.
"You mean your poor mother had to raise you in old age?" Lily said, trying to imagine James Potter as a child and sure that he was more than an armful of work. "Poor woman."
"Nah, Mum enjoyed it. I was the little kid she always wanted, just a few years late. She and dad thought that their riches had cursed both of them to be childless- See both of my parents had inherited loads of gold and my Mum actually had a dowry..."
A dowry? Perhaps they where traditionalists, or maybe it was a wizard custom that she'd have to recognize if she wanted to marry a wizard. Either way nothing could hold her back from response "You're not kidding when you said they were older-"
"Anyway, part of the Dowry was a house in Salisbury. So I spent most of my childhood there, but for vacations we'd spend summertime at Dad's family house in Godric's Hallow," Potter continued smiling.
She had paused for a minute, trying to process the information. Two houses, elderly parents, it was all coming together. The main reason Potter was a dolt, had to do with the fact he had probably been spoiled since first carried into a nursery. She wouldn't be surprised if he hadn'thad a few governesses growing up, but she held in her suspicions and once again surprised herself with another question.
"What was it like, growing up a wizard?" Lily asked, having always wondered how a magical childhood compared to her Muggle upbringing. Once she had asked Sev, but since his father was as amused as Tuney towards magic and his mother didn't care anymore, she doubted he even knew. Besides, he didn't like to talk about growing up or what happened at Spinner's End. All he ever told her about were his day's walking in the woods and avoiding sight. "After all, if they can't see you," he had once told her," you can't get yelled at…"
"Eh, it wasn't anything too different. We'd always go to Godric's Hallow in the summer and I'd play in a junior Quidditch League- that was a bit of fun. Primary School was the best though-Mum and Dad had me go to a Muggle school..."
"You were educated as a Muggle?" Lily asked shocked beyond belief. "I thought you were a pureblood?"
He had surprised her with this piece of knowledge. "So what? Being a pureblood doesn't mean I was born knowing how to read and write."
"So shouldn't you have been given a silver spoon and attended a wizarding primary school that told you how special and amazing you were?"
James laughed, "You don't believe that garbage do you? Really Evans, why would my blood make me any more special than you?"
"It wouldn't," Lily answered quickly. "I just know some pureblood's think that..."
He couldn't help but notice the ever-faint spark that came into her eyes when he answered, "My parents didn't agree with that. That's one of the reason's they sent me to the Muggle school, they didn't want me to be a bloodist. They think Ol' You-Know-Who is a crazy man that needs to be stopped. I made friends with a few muggles, had them around for my birthdays-we just had to do a memory charm before they went home." He smiled, remembering his youthful days, and then added in a serious voice, "My family and I don't see the big deal about blood purity. We don't see blood, we see people."
Apparently, defending her after the "Mudblood" comment in their fifth year hadn't made his opinions clear enough to her. He didn't mind. She'd then gone on to grill him about pets and other things as they had continued their tour of duty.
((*))
We're getting closer, James thought now, flipping through thick pages layered in dust, ever closer . . .
"Well, just make sure you still keep some focus on You-Know-Who," Sirius murmured, calling James back to reality. James notice as his friend's eyes slid towards a few Slytherins working at a table a few rows behind them. "Got a letter from Alphard this morning and he's certain ol' Reggie's enlisted."
"Your brother?" James asked flabbergasted, looking over the top of the books to the skinny, black haired boy. "Padfoot, he's only-"
"Sixteen? I know. Apparently you don't need to be of age to offer your allegiance," Sirius knitted his eyebrows. "Normally I wouldn't care, but Alphard says Mum's planning a large feast when he goes home for Christmas. I swear, I think the Healer's switched me and some pureblood baby at birth. Just think, somewhere in this castle, there's a Slytherin Muggleborn that's going thru an identity crisis."
"Wouldn't be surprised if you and Reggie didn't look so much a like," James agreed, lifting a copy of History and Art of Transfiguration in England up to pull out 'From tea cups to Trapdoors: Modern Arts of Transfiguration'.
"Identical on the outside and so twistedly different on the Inside," Sirius agreed, a barely veiled layer of disgust in his voice" Personally, I'm surprised You-Know-Who took him; Reggie isn't one for killing things. He must have got the coveted receptionists position." A smirk jumped on his face, "'Lord Thingy's Office, please hold... Yes, Who would you like to kill? Muggle Neighbor, someone will be there in the morning.'" He mused as he too pulled out an old looking book, now looking at James in seriousness.
"Heard from the resistance yet?" Sirius muttered in a hush whisper, as they carried the books towards the circulation desk.
James shook his head. "Still waiting to hear from the Prewett Brothers and Frank Longbottom. I hear there doing something, but it's supposedly hush hush. All I know is that they're doing something to show their disdain for Death and all his friends."
"Well at least they're doing something, I just hope Fabian and Gideon doesn't have all the fun before we get out."
A smile pulled on the corners of James' mouth. If anyone could stop You-Know-Who, it would be the two burley Gryffindor Beaters who had graduated the previous two years, Fabian and younger brother Gideon. "Good point Padfoot, very good point."
(((*)))
Severus Snape had surely had better days.
Or years. He remembered days when he could feel the sunshine on his face, and warmth rush to his pale, solemn cheeks. He could remember when he had his own personal sun, shining in his life.
And he could also remember when the sun decided to stop shining, leaving him with these dark, unforgiving days. Now all he knew was the numbing darkness that had claimed him when he cast away the sun forever. Nights that never ended and comfort that never came.
"Lucius Malfoy will meet us outside of Hogsmeade next month," Macnair murmured as they sat in the library, under the pretense of working on a Defense Against the Dark Arts assignment. "He says that he has a message to give us from the Dark Lord."
He could notice the younger Black boy's eyes shining at the thought of serving the Dark Lord so early and personally. Severus recognized his excitement, he had displayed it once himself. He still had that enthusiasm, but now it was the thirst for vengeance that kept him fervent. He looked forward to the day when he could help clean the world of Blood traitors and arrogant fools-personally hoping for the day when he'd be chosen, out of his loyalty and determination to the cause, to kill James Potter and Sirius Black.
He could see them several meters away, having their own conversation as they absent-mindedly flipped through Transfiguration books. Potter looked too happy, the smug look on his face more prominent. He had begun learning Occlumancy earlier that year when Lucius spoke of the Dark Lord perhaps requiring a spy. Although he doubt there was anything worthwhile to note in Potter's mind, he could always use the practice..."Occlumons," he whispered, looking at Potter, and quickly wishing he hadn't.
There she was, her usual inquisitive questions bombarding Potter as they walked. Normally when she spoke to him, she had an added tone of spite about her, but now the malice was absent. Her eyes were still guarded, but not as much as usual. It was as though she was interested in what he had to say . . .
"'They didn't want me to be a bloodist-'" Potter said, it was there when he saw it. It was there in the way he explained himself he saw what he had been dreading for years.
Years of calling him a toe rag, years of name calling, ignorance and what he thought was mutual disdain, Potter was doing it...
He retreated from Potters mind, pulling from Lily's ever-faint smile and reached for his wand. He could get him. He had more Slytherins with him, all of whom would be happy to attack Potter and Black. Regulus might not take to it well, but the blood that was pounding in his head could care less how Regulus felt about attacking his brother and his brother's friend.
He was just about to flick it, just about to cut him, cut him so deep that perhaps-if he was lucky-it would go beyond whatever magic Madam Pomfrey could do. If he was lucky, this could be his first great price and killing Potter would elevate him higher in the ranks of the Dark Lord. Yes, Potter was a pure blood, but he was against the Dark Lord all the same . . .
And just as he was about to make the small flick that would do so much, he saw Lily standing two shelves over, watching him. He set down his wand as she suddenly picked up the book she had been looking at and started heading for the doors.
"Where are you off too?" Macnair asked watching as Severus quickly gathered his things, "Meeting someone?" The burly Slytherin raising an eyebrow as though he imagined either a hexing or a snog to be only so far away in his future.
"Something like that-I'm going to try and get Potter and Black while they leave," he lied, rushing past the aisles and books, dropping his own books in the depository and fleeing from the library confines before any of his housemates could try and join him.
He quickly looked down the corridor to see which way she had went, still uncertain what exactly he would say. A mere technicality, that's all it would be. Turning to his left he soon began to see the outline of the tall figure that was Lily Evans.
"Deciding who to hex next Snape?" Lily asked, turning around as she heard the clumsy, fumbling footsteps of Severus as he tried following her. "What's holding you back? You usually let your emotions think and speak for you don't you think?" He had never expected her voice to be like this against him. He had never imagined that she would address him in the voice she usually reserved for Potter.
"You know damn well he's just pulling an act, don't you?" Severus growled, staring at her with hard eyes, "You know that he's just pretending to change hoping that it will get you."
She continued walking, turning her back on him, "That's ridiculous. Potter is still an insolent..."
"Don't. Lie. Lily," he continued, grabbing her wrist, as she turned around, her eyes livid.
"Let go of me Severus, " She ordered, red quickly matching her hair and cheeks. He didn't however, not being able to hold in his rage. "I've seen how you look at him when you're on duty. I know how you're just going to say your only spending time with him because you have to. But you don't have to lie Evans, you're starting to like that toe rag aren't you?"
"Bug off Snape-" she spat, weaseling her wrist out of his grasp.
"We were best friends Lily, and now you're chasing this idiot?" He started following her as she continued her way down the hallway. "What's it going to take to get you to see that he just wants to make you his?"
Lily zipped around her wand drawn and all compassion from her eyes vacant. "We were friends, now I could care less what you have to say. We've chosen different paths."
"And yours is leading you to the alter with Potter!" Snape spat.
Lily thinned her lips; "No one was holding you back from Hexing James-"
Sparks erupted from his wand at the sounds of Potter's name. "You are falling for the toe rag, you muggleborn filth . . . "
"You- don't you dare call me-'
"You can't wait to be his, can you?" He sneered, his usual snow white face now red and his jaw locked." 'The Blood Traitor and his Mudblood, story for the ages..."
"What did you just say?" an angry snarl sounded from behind him. There stood James, his wand held aloft, Sirius not far behind. His jaw locked, eyes flaring with anger, he tried to hold an even voice, "Apologize to Evans, Snape."
Lily looked mildly annoyed as she lowered his wand. Oh great, Potter, Black and Snape-I'm going have to find three different matchboxes when all of this is over... "Potter, don't-"
"Oh, go a head and call him James again Lily," Severus started, a mocking smile dancing in his eyes. " Potter's no longer Potter, oh no-Lily call's him James..." He turned from Lily and looked at James, "Go ahead," he sneered, looking at him with pure spite. "Clean up that muggle trash, toe rag. I hope her mud's enough for you're standard of filth."
"Snape, Ten points from Slytherin for your foul stench and language. Also, I'm going to recommend to your Head of House you get detention for your harassment of Head Girl Evans," James said levelly, his fists tight, " Return to your common room immediately."
Surprisingly to Lily he did turn but gave a last chilling word as he did, his beady black eyes now smoldering with hate. "You two better enjoy it while you can. You might be the Heads in here, but outside of the school, you don't have a prayer"
Disappearing down the dark hallway, he fell away into the shadows. "Want me to follow him?" Sirius asked, all to willing. "Just to make sure he does end up in the Dungeons?"
"That's alright Padfoot-"James said, his eyes still locked on the slimy locks of Snape's retreat.
"No, Let him go ahead," Lily encouraged, not looking at either of them, "Potter and I need to check on the Ravenclaw Wing and make sure everything's quieted down there."
James gave an inclining nod as Sirius disappeared down the same hallway as Snape had just done. A bounce in his usual sleuth like self, as though he had just found a gift hidden under the Christmas tree.
"You didn't have to do that," James said as he looked down the dark path Sirius had just disappeared down, "You know Padfoot's going to hex the living daylight out of him."
"Funny thing about Severus is he never has had the living daylight in him. I just hope that Sirius won't be disappointed," Lily countered, walking up the stairs with James, turning towards Gryffindor tower rather than Ravenclaw.
A silence lingered over them as they walked, turning up a set a stairs, "You didn't have to do that either," Lily started quietly, turning around to look at him. "I had everything under control there. He doesn't bother me anymore"
He rose to where they where on the same step, his natural height now towering over her, looking at her in what he hoped was a soft by firm gaze. "Do you want to know something?" He asked, then not waiting for her response, "While it might not have bothered you what the git was saying, it was bloody well bothering me."
"Potter, you don't need to..."
"We all need saving every now and then Evans," He said bluntly, "We're not indestructible, at any minute it could be the end-Just know I got your back ok?"
She gave him an appreciative smile. "Thank you," she nodded, trying not to meet his eyes. Potter had always been after her; she knew this, but his new tactic of being sensitive and was making her feel something funny, and she wasn't sure whether she liked it or not yet.
"I don't know how I was such a prat and had him as a friend all those years," she murmured, looking down at her shoes and then up at him again, "You know, I used to believe he was a double agent. I think I just let myself pretend that he was pretending to be into all that Dark stuff so the Slytherins would like him-but with me he was the real Sev." She turned away and started heading down a corridor as they reached the top of the stairs. "Pretty stupid eh?"
"Not stupid-you just like believing the best in people," he answered. You sometimes believe the worst in people, like me, but I used to give you reason enough. He thought, but for the most part, you try not to judge others. Then he noticed she had turned towards the Portrait of the Fat Lady. "No Ravenclaw duty tonight?" James asked, slightly confused.
"Oh that?" Lily asked, a sheepish grin present, stretching to her eyes, "Well, I didn't want a witness to my thank you Potter-"
"Now that's the Evan's I know and love . . . But you're usually not one to condemn violence- Why Padfoot..."
Taking his arm in hers as they entered the portrait hole, the lion in his chest purred. "Well, I couldn't deny Padfoot the fun. After all-he suggested I had a thing for you. I just hope he chased him with more than soap.. . "
An: I'll be perfectly honest, I didn't mean for this chapter to be so long! First off, thank you SarCoops for beating and helping out with this chapter. I know there might still be some words or commas that aren't right but we're trying our best. Second, thanks to those that are reading, adding and reviewing on this story. One of the great things about James and Lily, we all know how it's going to end, but it's getting there that's the adventure. As always, any questions, comments, concerns or anything else please review or PM. -KH.
D: All Characters Property of JK Rowling.