Oh dear, I'm sorry. Revision, exams... Holidays, trying to find a job and breaking up with my boyfriend... What a summer eh?

But whilst on holiday I wrote another four and a half chappys, so just gimme a chance to write them up...

Remember r'n'r please!

I want at least ten reviews before I post chapter eight!

Anyway, on to the story... I think the next few chappys should be slightly longer, but I'm not sure... Enjoy!

Confrontations?

The five teenagers left the Great Hall and walked to the stone gargoyle outside Dumbledore's office in silence. During breakfast the others had filled Peter in on the dream. His response had been fairly predictable; fearful.

In the silence each was contemplating the meaning of James and Lily's dream, wondering what the future held, for all of them. Lily looked determined, James serious. Sirius' face showed his emotions like an open book; anxiety, fear of the future, fear for the life of his best friend, someone almost like a brother to him. Remus was passive, his pallor a little off and a knot in his stomach for much the same reason as Sirius. Peter looked pale and drawn, fear lining his face and sweat making him seem more out of place than usual.

Remus cast an eye over the group. He noted Lily's silent resolution and smiled with realisation. He saw fear radiating off Peter and knew he feared more for his own life than James or Lily's. This did not annoy him; he knew Peter and knew that uncontrollable circumstances had made him that way. He just hoped Peter would prove strong enough not to be drawn to the dark side… He was in Gryffindor after all. A quick glance at Sirius made him smile too. Anyone could see that Sirius was ready to protect and defend James, and Remus and Peter, till the end and would rather die than see his friends hurt.

They reached the gargoyle and Lily stepped forward hesitantly. "I'm not sure we should do this…"

"It was your idea, Lily!" Sirius exclaimed.

"I know… "Cola Cubes,"" The gargoyle sprung to the side and the group crowded onto the lowest step. They glanced nervously at each other as the stairs began to revolve upwards to the Headmaster's office.

Remus broke the silence. "What do you think it means? The dream, I mean,"

James shrugged. "Isn't that why we're almost standing outside Dumbledore's office right about now?"

Sirius grinned. "I thought you were the smart one, Moony,"

Remus smiled and rolled his eyes. The slight awkwardness that had followed since breakfast had all but disappeared.

They reached the door and James knocked tentatively. The door swung open and revealed Dumbledore standing behind his desk, hands clasped and eyes twinkling, Fawkes perched on his shoulder and his crooked smile in place. This immediately made all five teenagers more at ease.

"What can I help you with?" The aged wizard asked, directing his gaze at each of his students in turn, noticing the different expressions and body language on each.

Sirius started. "James, he had a nightmare last night… He saw himself die, Professor,"

Dumbledore's expression changed. "Have a seat," he told them. "Now, from the beginning please,"

James and Lily retold the nightmare together, Sirius, Remus and Peter adding in a couple of forgotten details, falling completely silent as Lily recounted the end of the dream, Lily screaming for her child's life, the silent baby in the crib behind her, the not quite human ordering her to move, let him kill her child and she could live, the harsh voice sending the killing curse at her, the blinding flash of green light… And nothing.

James stepped in and told of the ruin of their house, the baby still there, alive, and Voldemort… gone?

As James finished there were tears in Lily's eyes, as were in Sirius'. James was trying hard to hide the fact he was actually crying (he fooled no one). Remus had turned paler than usual, Peter looked terrified and Dumbledore was grave.

"James, Lily, please remain seated. Sirius, Remus, Peter, would you kindly wait for your friends back in the Gryffindor common room," Dumbledore kindly but firmly ordered. Sirius looked ready to argue, but Remus took hold of his arm and guided him and Peter out of the room.

"That boy deserves much more than he will receive," Dumbledore murmured. James and Lily looked at each other. Dumbledore turned to them again.

xxx

Sirius was fuming. "Why couldn't we stay? We're as much a part of this as they are!"

"Sure, Sirius…" Remus replied, slightly amused.

Sirius glared at him. "Pete! You agree with me, don't you?"

Peter was silent.

"Oh, fine then! We'll just let James go off and get himself killed, shall we?" Sirius said dramatically.

"Sirius, that's not going to happen. You know that and I know that. And you know that Dumbledore had good reason to send us out. James'll tell us what he said anyway. Although it's none of our business what Dumbledore says to James and Lily," Remus said patiently.

Sirius ignored him.

"Sirius, please, grow up. You know we'll all do as much as we can to ensure that none of us dies a premature death…" The rest of his speech was cut off as Sirius flung himself at Remus and enveloped him into a hug.

"Thanks for always being there, Moony. You always know what to do and say, and I couldn't ask for a better mate. Same goes for you, Pete,"

Peter nodded, and Sirius let go of Remus. They settled themselves into chairs by the fire and waited in silence.

xxx

James and Lily left the office together, both in better spirits. They swore Dumbledore could work miracles.

However, Lily was still haunted by her dream. Every time she closed her eyes she heard the screams that emanated from her own mouth, the hard, coarse hiss from Voldemort, she could see the terror on her face, the confusion on the child's, the red eyes glowing at her… And finally the evil laugh as death sped towards her…

She sniffled in her attempt not to cry.

"Are you okay?" James stopped to look at her.

"Yeah, I'm fine," She sniffled again. "Thanks,"

He smiled. "It'll all be okay, you know that,"

"Yeah," she sighed. "It's just made me even more afraid of the future. You just never know what's going to happen… Usually this doesn't bother me, but I want to make a difference and actually live my life…" she paused. "I want to find the one, fall in love, get married, have a family… Is that pathetic?"

"No… I don't think so, anyhow. I want the same things… I know you think I'm a cocky, arrogant bastard and that I don't care, but I do. Quite a lot, actually."

"I don't think you're an arrogant bastard," Lily breathed softly. "Though, you are quite cocky still," she grinned.

"You don't?" he asked, hardly daring to believe it.

"No, not for a while now. I guess I think you've grown up,"

"Really? You noticed?"

"Yeah… Noticed what?"

"Oh," he paused. "Nothing," He started to walk again, silently cursing himself for being so stupid. He didn't notice Lily not follow him until…

"James?"

He slowed down but didn't stop.

"James?"

He stopped.

"What were you going to say, James?"

He shook his head slightly.

"James," she whispered. She walked to him and stood by him.

He looked away from her. Hurt, she blinked away her tears.

"Oh, Lily," James sighed.

She looked at him and emerald eyes met hazel.

"What were you going to say?" she asked him quietly.

Again he shook his head. But he opened his mouth to speak.

"I don't want to make you laugh at me. And I don't want to ruin this growing friendship we have,"

She smiled briefly. "Please tell me,"

"You'll laugh,"

"Why would I laugh?" she asked confused.

"I don't know,"

"I promise you on my life I will not laugh,"

He looked at her closely. "Why the seriousness?"

"You started it. And stop avoiding the question. Please,"

"Did not and am not,"

"You are. And now you're being childish and immature. Maybe you haven't changed…"

"I'm sorry… I think I've changed… In a good way. I just don't like exposing myself. Even to you, Lily,"

"It's okay," she murmured. "I'd just like to make sure…"

"Make sure of what?"

"I'll tell you if you tell me,"

"How do I know you'll keep your end of the bargain?"

"Do you trust me?"

"Should I?"

"Should you?"

"Yes," The word came out as a whisper.

"Good," Lily's reply was also a whisper. Unconsciously they both licked their lips but were too distracted by the other to notice.

"What were you going…"

"Shh!"

"Wha…?" James pulled Lily behind a nearby tapestry as Severus Snape walked around the corner. James' lip curled and Lily whispered "Sev,", but Snape neither saw nor heard them as he walked past, although he did look around suspiciously as if he was looking for something that should have been there but wasn't. James made sure Snape had gone before pushing Lily out from behind the tapestry,

"Why do you still fawn over him, Lily?"

"He is my friend! And I do not fawn!"

"Was, Lily, was."

Lily was silent.

"Lils, he's a slime ball! He was so harsh to you! He was ungrateful and just downright mean! What he said to you was unforgivable. All you did was be his friend. He doesn't deserve you, Lils, and neither do I."

She turned her gaze to him. "We were friends for so long. I don't expect you to understand,"

"But I do! And I know that if Sirius, or Remus, or Peter acted like that to me I wouldn't want to be their friend! Me and Sirius, we're like brothers, but if he ever insulted me or hurt me like Snape did to you that'd be it, Lily, because there is never an excuse to hurt and betray your friends,"

"That doesn't stop me from wanting to be his friend…"

"Of course it doesn't, but if he hurt you once he'll do it again,"

Lily felt her anger boiling. "What right have you to tell me who my friends are?"

"Because I don't like seeing you hurt…"

"Why are you being so nice to me?"

"Because you're amazing! You're beautiful, you're funny, you're elegant, you're good-natured and kind and generous, you're smart and loyal and sweet and caring and unprejudiced, but you're also fiery. You stick up for anyone no matter what… That is why I'm being nice to you. It's no less than what you deserve,"

"O…Kay,"

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean that. Well, I did, I just didn't mean for it to come out… It's kinda what I was going to say earlier though…" He ruffled his hair, looking a little dejected. "I told you I'd embarrass myself,"

She smiled. "I didn't know you cared," Then, more seriously, she said "I thought you only "wanted me" because I was the only one who didn't want you… I thought you were only after the chase…"

"You didn't have to tell me that,"

"I told you earlier I'd tell you if you told me. And I wanted to…"

There was a pause.

"Well, now you know I'm not just after the chase,"

"Do I?"

"Do you?" James mimicked Lily from earlier.

She narrowed her eyes slightly. "I don't know. To be honest there's no real, hard, solid proof,"

"You're a hard girl to please," So much for Lily being easy, Sirius, James thought to himself, grinning slightly.

"Maybe I just don't want to get hurt,"

"I'd never hurt you, Lils,"

"How do I know?"

"Because you should believe me when I say I'd rather die than see you hurt,"

She did. "I don't know what to say…"

"Then don't say anything…" James whispered, cupping his Quidditch calloused hands around Lily's face. Brushing his thumbs over Lily's lips, he whispered "You're so beautiful," before kissing her softly on the mouth. Slowly the passion in the kiss built and soon they were clung together, arms wrapped round the other and never wanting to let go.

From the shadows a pair of eyes watched the couple. The eyes glistened where unshed tears lingered. Deciding he had seen enough (he didn't particularly want to wait around to see if they'd start shagging or something in the corridor too), Snape turned and silently slid round the corner and back to the Slytherin common room, his heart shattered. He had lost his chance with Lily, but had it not been for James Potter he would still have some hope.

He decided to exact revenge.