I dreamt of James Potter that night. I didn't really, but that's what one's supposed to say when they've just realised they've loved someone and then gone to sleep. It's breakfast in the Evans' household, and my father is still asleep on the couch, mum's still asleep in her bedroom, and James is still asleep in my room. I'm eating some sort of muggle cereal that tastes like chocolate. Apparently it's Vernon's, but I wouldn't want it to go stale... hehe. He's coming back in three days time, on New Year's. Him and Petunia have gone to Hawaii for two days. That's two days without them! But I still have to live with them for the end of the holidays.

An owl tapped on the window when I was in the middle of a mouthful. I recognised it as Sirius' owl, and opened the window for it. I gave it some owl feed, which it nibbled on as I read the letter.

Evans,

I can't believe I'm writing to you, but where's James? He said he'd be home by the morning, and home he's not. I know he was with you at your sister's blasted wedding, so if you have any idea where he is, please tell me now, or you'll be getting hexed at the first available opportunity.

Sirius (or, as you like to call me, Black).

I grabbed a pen and some muggle paper and started to write a reply back. Here's what it looked like when I'd finished.

Black.

James is at my house, because he got unbelievably drunk on some muggle beer, and I didn't trust him to apparate home on his own. And I really didn't trust myself to drag him across that town of snow you happen to call home. So stop worrying.

Evans.

I was happy with that. I got his owl to take the letter to him, and continued on with eating my cereal. Which was almost soggy. Excellent. I heard some scuffling as somebody made their way downstairs, and I waited for them to find their way into the kitchen.

"Where am I?" James asked.

"You're at my house," I said, not looking up from my cereal.

"Why am I at your house?"

"Because, as I just wrote to Sirius, you got unbelievably drunk on muggle beer last night, and I wasn't going to drag you across Godric's Hollow. Not in that amount of snow. Did you enjoy my bed?"

"In fact I did," he said. "It's very comfortable." He looked around, and pointed to the bowl of cereal I was eating. "What's that?"

I grabbed the box from beside me. "Cocoa Pepples," I said. "It's Dursley's."

"Um, okay," he said, raising an eyebrow.

"It actually tastes quite nice," I said. "Would you like some?"

"I'd prefer Pixie Dust Crunch," he said, turning his nose up at it.

"I'm sorry, but last I checked, muggles didn't eat Pixie Dust Crunch. It's this or nothing."

"I'll have some toast thanks."

I finished the bowl and got some toast in the toaster for James. I was waiting for it to cook when he cocked his head to the side and looked at me.

"Did you mean what you said last night?" he asked.

"What?" I asked.

"Last night, you said that you loved me. Did you mean it?"

"You remember that?" I asked. "I thought you'd be too drunk to remember."

"Nice try," he said. "But did you mean it?"

"When I said it I didn't," I admitted. "But then I realised that I did."

"Really?" he asked.

"Yes," I said, knowing I really did. Just then my dad woke up, with a grunting snore from the couch, and the toast popped out. I quickly buttered it for him, and pushed it across the bench while dad got his breakfast.

"Who's this?" Dad asked, pointing at James.

"This is James Potter," I said. "You met him at the reception last night."

"Oh," he said. "Hi," he said to James.

"Dad, you also met him the first time I caught the train to school... He was that boy from the station."

"Oh," Dad said again. Was he capable of saying anything else.

"You okay dad?" I asked.

"Hangover," he said.

"I could brew a potion for it if you like," I said.

"Hangover potions?" James asked. "Where have they been all my life?"

"In Advanced Potion Making, and if you ever opened your school books, you might know that."

"A potion sounds good right about now," dad said. I nodded and went upstairs to get my potions kit. Thankfully, I had everything I needed for the easiest and quickest one.

I dashed back downstairs with everything in my pewter cauldron, and then I placed it on the stove. I took everything out and opened the book to the recipe.

An hour later, the potion was ready, and I put some in a glass and gave it to dad. Then James wanted some too, so I gave some to him. Then I emptied the rest of it into a bottle that dad had lying around, so that if he ever needed it, he could have some.

"Just remember dad, you can only have five milligrams at a time."

"I won't remember that sweetie," he said.

"All right, I'll write it on the bottle."

**

"Welcome home!" I said to Petunia and Vernon, not really believing what I was saying.

"Thanks," Petunia said. "Now it's time for the unwrapping of all the gifts."

"I think mum put them up in your room. Would you like me to get them for you?"

"Thanks," Petunia said, and she went to go help Vernon get all the bags out of the car. I rolled my eyes, and did a quick spell to move things from upstairs into the lounge room. She'd never know, and if she did, she wouldn't tell Vernon. I delved deeper into the house.

"Oh, that was quick," Petunia said, looking at me.

"Yeah," I nodded. "I have to go buy something for school," I added. "I'll be back soon."

"It's a public holiday," Vernon said. "Shops are closed."

Not my shops. "Oh," I said. "Well then I'll just go over to Potter's house. We haven't finished that assignment yet. See you later."

I walked out of the house before my sister could call me back. I rushed down the street, trying to find an alley for me to disapparate in. I made a beeline for one, but just as I was almost there, I ran into somebody. None other than my 'boyfriend' TJ Michaels. Execellent.

"Hey Lily!" he said, excited to see me.

"Hey TJ," I said, feigning excitement, and feigning it well. "How's it going?"

"Good," he said. "You?"

"Great," I said. "I'm great. Listen, TJ, it's nice to see you, but I really have to be somewhere."

"Oh, where?"

"I have to – catch a bus, to a friend's house. We're working on an assignment together. It's due first day back."

"Where's your stuff?"

"It's at his house," I said. I had to say 'his', didn't I?

"A boys house?" he asked. "You know Evans, you amaze me. First you're home for Christmas, and then you're going over to boys houses for 'assignments'."

"You know TJ, it really isn't any of your business. The reason I'm home for Christmas in the first place is because of my sister's wedding!" I stalked off at this.

"Lily, I'm sorry," he said, chasing after me. "I didn't mean it like that. I know you had your sister's wedding. Shaun Polkiss was there. He's my best mate."

"Awesome," I said, not really caring. "Look, I'd better go, otherwise I'll miss my bus."

I set off again, but TJ Michaels still followed me. What did it take to lose this guy? "I'll come with you. I'd like to meet one of your friends."

"Fine!" I said, throwing my arms up in the air. "Come with me -"

CRACK.

No, I did not just disapparate. I looked over to the park to see Potter and Black standing there. I gave them a quizzical look and they just stared at me.

"What in Merlin's name are you two doing here?" I asked them, then covered my mouth with my hands.

"What in Merlin's name are you doing saying what in Merlin's in front of a muggle?" Black asked.

"You don't just apparate into the middle of a park!" I shouted. "Not in a muggle village anyway!"

"What on Earth is a muggle?" TJ asked.

"Never mind," I snapped. I turned to the two boys. "James, you're head boy, you should know better than that!"

"I know," James said. "But we didn't know where else to go."

"We need to get back to your house," Sirius said. "You have those vellietision things."

"Televisions," I said. "Yeah, come on."

I led them back to my house and rushed through the door, leaping for the TV. Petunia and Vernon were being lovebirds on the couch, and they were in the middle of going through their wedding presents. They snapped their heads up when they noticed I had come in with three boys.

Three boys? Damn it, TJ had followed us.

"Put it on the news!" Sirius demanded. I flicked to the first channel I could get to that had news, protesting that the news was never on at this time of the day.

"As you can see, this town has been completely destroyed," the newsreader was saying.

"Hold on," I said. "I recognise that town."

"Shh!" Sirius said, pointing to the screen. I watched the breaking news on the screen.

"This is believed to be the result of a surprise tornado, which also affected the riverside town of Rowena. It is unknown how many survived this freak of nature. Back to you Louise."

My mouth dropped open. "Rowena?" I asked. "As in Ravenclaw?"

"Yes," Sirius said. "The neighbouring town of Godric's Hollow."

"So this wasn't a tornado then?" I asked. Vernon and TJ looked dumbfounded at the exchange between the three wizards.

"That had something to do with... your lot?" Petunia asked.

"Death Eaters," Sirius snarled.

"My parents were still there," James said, his eyes going red. "I hate Death Eaters!"

"I bet you anything Bellatrix had something to do with it."

"Bellatrix is an annoying cow!" James spat. "My parents were there."

"What are we waiting for then?" Lily asked. "Off to Godric's Hollow?"

"Godric's Hollow is over the other side of the country!" TJ said. "You'd be lucky to get there before tomorrow night.

"Godric's Hollow it is," James said.

"Outside," I said, eyeing Vernon and TJ. Sirius and James nodded and dashed outside. I followed, and the three of us disapparated on the doorstep, not caring if anybody could see us.

"It looks horrible," I said as we arrived at the safe point. We could see the muggle news crews down in the village.

There was rubble everywhere, rooves had been blown off and there was evidence of magic everywhere. This was no tornado. I ran towards the pay phone that was located near the end of the path: it hadn't been damaged. I quickly shoved in some of the muggle coins I'd had on me, and dialled my home number.

"Hello?" Petunia said.

"Petunia, it's Lily. Tell me, is the news still on?"

"Yes," she said. "Why?"

"Is Godric's Hollow on?"

"No," she said. "Why?"

"No reason," I said, motioning with my free hand for Sirius and James to go ahead and petrify the crews. "I'll talk to you later Petunia."

"Lily, where are you?" she asked, but I hung up before she made me answer. I ran over to help the two boys, and then we wandered through the town, surveying the damage. Finally, we made it to the Potter household.

I cautiously opened the gate and went up to the front door. I paused with my hand on the doorknob, an idea coming into my mind. I took my wand out of my left hand, and into my right.

"What are you doing?" Sirius asked.

"Homenum Revelio," I said, pointing my wand towards the house.

"Well?" James asked.

"There's two people there," I said.

"Are they alive?" he asked.

"Of course they're alive!" I said. "If they weren't, the spell wouldn't have picked them up."

"Now, is there any way for you to tell if they're the Potter's, or if they're Death Eaters?" Sirius asked.

"The only way to find out is to go inside and see," I said. "You two stay here."

"No!" James said. "Let Pads go. As Pads."

"What do you mean as Pads?" Sirius asked, obviously thinking I didn't know what James was talking about.

"Actually James," I said. "That does sound like quite a good idea. They won't be able to tell will they?"

"I don't think so," James said. Sirius was looking between us, dumbfounded, his mouth wide open.

"Pads, off you go," I said, smiling.

"What in Merlin's name are you talking about Lily?" he asked.

"Oh, just go ahead," I laughed. "I've known for ages..."

Sirius glared at me before transforming into the big black dog he became. He dashed into the house, and I was left there with James. He had been a bit relieved once I'd told him that two people were alive inside the house, but there was still that look of worry in his eyes.

"I'm positive it's your parents, James," I said. "They're smart. They would've done what you two did: disapparated, and then apparated back."

"I hope so," James said, putting his back against the closed door and sliding down. I sat down next to him.

"You okay?" I asked.

"Yeah," he lied. "I'm fine."

I wasn't going to say anything.

Nothing at all.

OHMIGODOHMIGOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry, just had to get that out. When I checked my emails this morning, I had 20 emails from FanFiction, and 19 of them were because of this story.. YAY!!

Okay, so I really think this chapter is kind of cute. I don't really like the character of TJ... he bugs me. I suppose I could make him nice, but I really don't want to.

Anyway, you know the drill... Read and Review.

And sorry I didn't round to replying to the reviews... normally I do, but to make up for it, I'll mention you here.

RaindropsOnTheRooftop, bonbon sweet, cannotstopwriting, Hikari-and-Akari, prongster, Jessluvsharry, Rossete, oHmYgOdNoWaY, BettyCrocker.

Thanks sooo much.

Five reviews before the next chapter... I shall have to get started on writing it for you...

Love so much

Gabi xx