Chapter Nine

As the weather become cooler once again, Felicity and Riana's relationship was under much strain. They were now fighting every time the two laid eyes on each other, no matter where they were or what they were doing. They were vile and ugly while fighting, and were sometimes on the verge of physical contact. The whole school knew about them, as they had many rows in the Great Hall during meal times. Lily made them sit on either side of her during class in order for them to avoid contact during lessons. It seemed as if their friendship had never taken place, all of what had been there between Felicity and Riana was forgotten. Lily didn't know how to solve this, she tried many times though. She tried to have them talk to each other (though not alone, as it would turn into another fight), but that didn't work as they turned to accuse Lily of not being on one of their sides. This turned into another whole thing; Felicity and Riana were now both competing to get Lily on their side, to turn against the other. Despite Lily's protests that they were her friends and she refused to take sides, Felicity and Riana still fought. Lily didn't want another reason for them to be fighting.

It had gotten out to the students in sixth year that Felicity and Riana were at war over Sirius. Sirius had been slightly surprised to find out that Riana was too under his spell.

"Hmm..." Sirius was saying one dinner, after watching yet another row between Felicity and Riana, which Lily had solved by placing a Silencing Charm on them and only took it off when they promised to not talk to each other. "I never really thought about Riana that way,"

Remus snorted into his pudding. "You sure? I am sure you have thought of every girl here that way."

Sirius frowned at Remus. Just then, Riana had come up to Sirius. She looked shyly at him and blushed. "Hi, Sirius." She said as she walked away, looking back at him. Sirius gave her a wink.

Remus scowled. "Now, don't you go and lead her on." He said warningly.

But Sirius smirked at James. "What can I do, Moony? When a girl looks at me, it's in my nature to lead her on."

James and Sirius guffawed along with Peter as Remus rolled his eyes.

James knew that there was nothing more Sirius liked than attention from good looking girls. Riana was pretty, as in a quite girl way, but totally opposite of Alice. Alice had huge dark lidded eyes and usually dark eye shadow, which made her look very sexy. But her sister, Riana, was not that sexy, no matter how similar she looked to Alice. When compared to Felicity, Riana was outdone. Felicity was easily the most desirable girl in all of Hogwarts, next to Lily, of course.

James smirked along with Sirius whenever Felicity or Riana flirted with Sirius. James thought it was harmless fun. It's not like this hasn't happened before. Many girls of Hogwarts have broken their friendship, dumped their boyfriends and what not to get just one date with Sirius. It was not until one morning, right after Quidditch practice that James realized that this recent fight over Sirius could be dangerous. James and Sirius had showered and had found Felicity waiting for them at the entrance of the showers.

"Hi, Sirius! Hi James," Felicity said, looking radiant.

"Hey Fel." Sirius said as he put his arm around Felicity, winking at James. They started walking towards the stairs that led down to the Great Hall.

They talked about Quidditch energetically, with Sirius touching Felicity's hair over her shoulder or doing some other flirtatious things, making Felicity glow even more. James knew that he was just playing with her, and felt a bit bad for her too because he though Felicity might deserve better than what Sirius was giving her. James cared for Felicity in a sisterly sort of way that he hasn't for any girl, as any girl was much too interested in James to be liked in a 'sisterly' way. he realized he didn't want Felicity to get hurt, even if Sirius chooses her over Riana. Felicity would still loose her best friend.

They reached the Great Hall and found Riana, waiting alone in the Entrance Hall. She took one look at Felicity and Sirius and her face fell. James gave her a small comforting smile as they walked by, with Sirius and Felicity not acknowledging her at all. Just after they entered the Great Hall, Sirius stopped.

"Go on," He said to Felicity and James. "I'll be there in a minute."

James shrugged at Felicity, who was looking slightly down at the thought of being separated from Sirius. But James grabbed her as she looked after Sirius, longingly, and stirred her towards the Gryffindor table.

Felicity sat down beside Lily and started eating. James looked after her, wondering if this was a great chance to sit by Lily, too. I mean, James thought in his head, Felicity is my friend too, I have every right to sit with her...and her attractive friend...

James took a deep breath and sat down across from Felicity, giving Lily a smile.

"Hello, Potter." Lily said, not looking up from her breakfast or retuning his smile. Ever since their meeting in the library, Lily has been considerably nicer to James, but they were still on last name terms and Lily still thought he was up to no good. But still, it was an improvement!

"Good morning, Evans." James said. James looked up and saw Remus looking at him from a few seats away. He winked at him as Remus rolled his eyes, smiling understandingly.

"James," Felicity said suddenly, her voice filled with determination and her eyes big. "Could you do me a favour? As a good friend?"

Lily snorted and received a glare from Felicity. "Sorry," she mumbled as she opened a book to read. Potter, a good friend? Lily thought as she read her book. Yeah, right.

James felt slightly disappointed to see the disinterest Lily was showing.

"Yeah, sure." James said, looking at Felicity, but glancing at Lily after. "Anything."

Felicity looked slightly nervous. James has never seen her so anxious. her usually playful features of her face were looking quite nervous. "Could you, maybe, ask – ask Sirius what he – he thinks about me –me?" Felicity asked, turning a deep shade of red.

Lily put her book down and looked at her friend, disbelievingly. "Fel!" she exclaimed. "Please tell me that you won't care or do anything if Sirius actually likes you!"

"Well," Felicity answered stiffly. "If Sirius does like me, what's it to you? Please don't tell me that you've taken a leaf out of Riana's book!"

Lily looked disgusted at the thought, which made James, for some reason, feel better. "I could never like that thick headed buffoon!" she exclaimed.

Felicity smiled. "Don't worry, I just want to know what Sirius thinks, I'm not asking him to marry me or anything."

Lily looked outraged. "Marriage?!"

Felicity blushed as James sniggered. "Well, it's not like I haven't thought about it –"

"Felicity Jones! You're only sixteen!" Lily cried.

"It was only a thought!" Felicity said, determinedly. "A private thought." She added, looking straight into James's eyes.

James held up his hands. "Don't worry, I won' tell Sirius."

Lily suddenly laughed. "I remember in our fourth year." She said laughing. "You had this weird crush on Potter and told me you had a dream that you ended up marrying him!"

Felicity's eyes were threatening to bulge out of their sockets as she watched Lily laugh hard. James was looking confusedly at Lily and Felicity.

"What?" he asked incredulously, looking at Lily. "Felicity had a crush on me?"

Felicity opened her mouth to retort, but her eyes had seen something behind Lily. Seeing the surprised look on her friend's face, Lily turned around to see what had made her quiet all of a sudden. Lily's eyes found Sirius and Riana entering the Great Hall. Sirius had his arm around Riana, looking very charming as he laughed with his hair falling around his face gracefully. Riana was glowing as she looked up at Sirius.

Lily and James both looked at each other, sensing danger. Lily looked at Felicity, who was rocking back and forth slightly in her seat, glaring in Sirius and Riana's direction as they sat down at the edge of the long table to eat their breakfast. Felicity held herself and looked down.

Just then, Lily heard Sirius distinctly say, "Look! There's James, Evans and Felicity!"

Lily's eyes lingered to where Sirius and Riana were sitting. The smile on Riana's face was now looking as if it was forced as Sirius grabbed his big plate full of breakfast. They were evidently making way towards Lily's direction. Felicity orcked even quicker as they approched.

"They're coming this way." Lily muttered under her breath.

Lily saw Felicity gulp and her stare become dangerous as she looked at Sirius and Riana, walking towards them.

James looked very uncomfortable, not sure whether to run for it or not.

"Hello!" Sirius said brightly as he sat down beside James and motions Riana to sit beside him. "What a wonderful morning!"

Lily saw Felicity and Riana look at each other. Riana gave Felicity a sarcastic smile which Felicity returned with a deadly stare. Sirius, on the other hand, was oblivious to all that was passing between Felicity and Riana as he gobbled up his breakfast, acting like a person in an eating contest.

"Sirius was just telling me about the Amortentia." Riana said, looking at Sirius brightly. "How we are all going to smell it next Potions lesson. You know, for that report we have to write Slughorn."

"Oh yeah?" Felicity said in a dangerous voice. "Sirius and I have to get together after lessons to finish up our Potions project, don't we Sirius?"

Sirius was too busy eating to reply. He gave a short nod.

But Riana looked troubled. "Um, I think you are mistaken, Felicity." She said, looking concerned. "Sirius was going to give me some flying lessons."

Felicity gave a humourless laugh which made Lily look at her, scared. "I don't think a few lessons will do you any good, seeing as your weight is hardly built for a broomstick."

Lily thought Felicity was stepping out of line, calling Riana fat. Riana was a bit on the plump side, but she was also very curvy in a good way.

Riana turned red and her smile was faltering. "Sirius was suggesting that with my reflexes, I might be a better Chaser than even you, Felicity."

Felicity smirked. "I highly doubt it, Riana. Plus, you would have to get on a broom, which is next to impossible."

Lily looked at Riana and saw that she was thinking hard of some way to make a meaner come back. But before she could say anything, Alice had appeared behind James. She covered his eyes.

"Guess who?" she asked in a very girly way. Felicity and Riana groaned at the same time and continued with their conversation.

But Lily was looking at Alice and James and saw James's lips twitch in a grimace for a second. "Oh, I don't know." He said in mock wonder. "But," James put his hands over Alice's and felt them. "These are really soft hands...and it can only be my Alice!"

Alice jumped to meet James's eyes and smiled excitedly. "Yes, it is!" she then murmured something in his ear that Lily couldn't hear. James suddenly jumped out of his seat and gave Alice a big smile as he placed an arm around her waist, pulling her closer.

"Er," James said as he turned to Lily, Felicity, Riana and Sirius. "Alice and I will go...meet you in Transfiguration."

Lily's eyes followed James and Alice, wondering what Alice had said in his ear...something that had made James jump in his seat. They were now practically running out of the Great Hall...

"Mind you, I can ride a broomstick if I really wanted to!" Riana's voice brought Lily back to her fighting friends. "I just think it's a waste of time!"

Lily hadn't noticed, but Felicity and Riana were both on their feet, breathing hard as they stared daggers at each other. Sirius was now looking up, a big smile on his face.

"And you think hiding in books is a great way to spend time?!" Felicity shouted.

Lily couldn't take much of this anymore and needed to get away, now. She hated when her friends fought and was getting very imaptient with them now. Lily gave Sirius a glare and swore at him as she grabbed her book bag and left, walking really fast towards the doors to the Entrance Hall. She went into the Entrance Hall and was overcome by the silence here. All the students were in the Great Hall now for breakfast. She could still hear the murmurs coming from the Great Hall, but it was a peaceful sort of murmur very.

Suddenly, Lily heard a giggle coming from behind the statue of Tambrey the Troubled and then a quick "Shh!" There was another small giggle followed by a groan.

Lily knew right away that it sounded like a couple making out behind the statue, as it was a famous place to make out before breakfast. Lily has taken points off of many students that were discovered behind it. Yet, they never learn to find newer and more private places to make out where the prefects can't find them. Plus, this was a convenient location; it was private (until a prefect comes your way), by the marble staircase that led to lessons and was right by the Great Hall, whne couples were in a hurry.

Lily quietly tip toed towards the statue. She then paused and then turned to where the couple was. It was James and Alice, both arms around each other and Alice's hands tangled in James's hair. James was kissing Alice's neck which made something inside Lily ting. She was thinking of what his lips felt like...soft maybe...what his tongue felt like...pressed against her skin...

Alice emitted another groan whihc made Lily jump out of her thoughts and look at the present situation.

"Oh, for goodness sakes!" She yelled, making both of them jump and let go of each other. "Get a room." She added, tiredly. She glanced at James's lips and saw they were red and very soft looking.

"Evans! How delightful to see you here, behind ol' Tam! Are you tempted?" James asked, letting go of Alice and stepping closer to Lily.

Lily glared at him. "Five points off of Gryffindor." She said as her last words and walked away.

James watched her go, feeling slightly disappointed. Suddenly Alice tugged at his arm. "Come on, Jamie." She whined, pulling him back in the corner. "She's gone; we still have a few minutes..."

"I, um, have to talk to Sirius." James said quickly. "I'll see you in Transfiguration, okay?" he gave her a quick kiss, ignoring her frown on her round face and walked back into the Great Hall and looked for Sirius.

It wasn't hard, as Felicity and Riana were now shouting at each other, attracting many spectaters. In the middle sat Sirius, smiling as brightly as ever. James rolled his eyes as he walked towards them. Many people in the Great Hall were now used to Felicity and Riana's fights, prefects even tried to break them up.

As James reached them, he saw a Slytherin prefect trying to break them up with no success as Felicity told him to do something very indecent. He looked at Sirius, who was eating his third helping of breakfast and watching Felicity and Riana as if they were an exciting Quidditch match.

Suddenly the warning bell rang as James appeared beside Sirius. There was a rush of students now finishing up their last bits of breakfast and going off to their classes. James nodded to Sirius as Felicity ran out of the Great Hall, clutching her bag.

Riana smiled at Sirius.

"Can we get rid of her?" James said in Sirius's ear.

Sirius looked annoyed at James. "Why?"

James rolled his eyes. He gave Riana a small smile and they walked out of the Great Hall, together. But in the Entrance Hall, Riana stopped. "I am sorry, I forgot my books in common room."

"That's okay," James said before Sirius could say anything. "We'll see you later, then." He grabbed Sirius's arm and dragged him away from saying anything else to Riana.

"Will you lay off them, please?" James said once they headed in the opposite direction from Riana. "They are really fighting."

Sirius shrugged indifferently. "It's up to them."

James looked narrowly at Sirius. "You are loving the attention, aren't you?"

Sirius smiled mischievously. "You would too."

James hid his smile. It was true; he would love the attention too, but not if it was hurting a friend...well, maybe...

They reached the Transfiguration class and found that Professor McGonagall was not there, as the door to the class room was closed and there was a cue hanging around the door. James spotted Lily right away. It was very easy to find Lily in a crowd, her red hair jumped out so vividly.

Lily was talking to Mary MacDonald and Remus, smiling and laughing at what Mary had just said. James found himself smiling as he looked at Lily, feeling very dreamy and thinking of ways he could get nearer her...

"Look, it Snveillus!" Sirius exclaimed excitedly, making James jump out of his stupor. He looked at Sirius and saw him looking in the opposite direction. James turned around and saw Snape, greasy haired and hooked nosed as ever, walking with Avery .

Snape was looking down and drinking orange juice as he listened to Avery talk. He looked up to see James's eyes on him

"It's been a long time since we've tortured him." Sirius said. James could feel the grin in his words. But James also knew that Sirius was looking for other ways to be excited, since neither Riana nor Felicity were in sight at the moment "It's time we show him where he is placed..." But James hasn't picked on Snape in a long while...it might be fun...

Without another word, James and Sirius walked up to Snape and Avery, blocking them from taking another step. James's hatred at Snape flared and he was now in full mood to bug him.

"Morning, Snivellus." James said in a mock polite voice. Sirius sniggered. "Tell me, what grease did you place in your hair today? I am planning to do something like that to my hair..."

Snape looked loathingly at James. "Fuck off, Potter." He said through gritted teeth.

James gave a loud booming laugh, noticing many people turn their eyes at them. "Now now, Snivelly, I was merely asking what you do to you hair, as it comes off on you very pleasantly. No need to get all hot -"

People around him sniggered, mainly the Gryffindors. James glanced in Lily's direction and saw her not paying an ounce of attention to what was going on, but was talking to Remus in a corner.

Snape gave James a glare and brushed passed him. "Oi!" Sirius cried as he followed Snape and pulled out his wand and pointed it at Snape's back. "We just want a word with you! Tripellegra!"

Snape suddenly tripped due to the jinx Sirius had casted upon him and spilled juice all over his pants. Many bystanders laughed loudly. James looked over to see Lily looking at Snape with a blank expression.

"Aw," James said in a mock sad voice as Snape got up with the help of Avery. "Look here everyone, Snape has wet himself!" Snape looked down to see that the front of his pants were wet with the orange juice. He looked up, his dark hair in front of his eyes and his teeth bare.

"Didn't mommy ever teach you how to go to the bathroom?" Sirius said in a cooing voice.

This had done it. After that remark, Snape had dug his hand in his robes and pulled out his wand. Wordlessly, he placed the Twitchy Ears jinx.

Lily looked worriedly at James as he got into another duel with Snape. It wasn't fair, as it was two against one! But when has James ever been fair with Severus? And that remark on his mother was not a good idea. Not that Lily was sticking for Snape, of course! She was thinking it was very unfair...

She turned around at Remus, looking apprehensive. "Remus, go on and stop all this!"

Remus looked troubled. "Um, you can, I am not bothering with this. It's James and Sirius's matter –"

Lily looked determinedly at Remus. "But they are breaking a school rule!"

Remus looked at James and then back at Lily then back at James. "Yeah, yeah they are." Without another word, he wrestled through the crowd, announcing that he was a prefect and he needed to stop all this.

"James, Snape, Sirius," Remus said in a weak trembling voice as he appeared before them. "I – I insist that you stop this! It is –"

Remus never finished the sentence as Avery had hit him with a spell. Remus fell on the ground, making many people gasp as Remus got back up and took his own wand out and send a cruse in Avery's direction. Remus had joined the duel.

Lily shook her head in disgust. She didn't want Remus to go ahead and duel! She had wanted him to step up to James and Sirius! But apparently he had been taking a leaf out of James's book of duelling in the corridors.

"Good on you, Moony!" James said as he dodged a cruse send his way be Snape, to whom Sirius send a hex.

Lily had never seen Remus like this; he was sending everything that came to his mind towards Avery, and Avery the same. But Remus was being too quick as he was doing a very good job of dodging cruses, while Avery got hit by all send by Remus.

Suddenly, Snape send a cruse that made James fall on the ground suddenly. People started gasping and swearing as they looked from Snape to James. Lily waited for James to get up, knowing that he was just playing with the crowd. He loves an audience. But several moments passes and someone yelled that he was laying in his own blood. Lily got worried and pushed through the crowd. she approched James and saw that deep wounds were appearing, as if a knife was cutting him. James started twitching. Lily went down to James's side where he was laying in a pool of his own blood, her shoes stepping in blood. His robes and white school shirt had stains of fresh blood. Sirius and Remus were swearing out loud as they looked at their friend. James was twitching uncontrollably and blood was pouring out of his wounds as more appeared. He was turning white very quickly.

"What the hell did you do to him?!" Lily cried hoarsely as she looked at Snape, who was looking triumphant, but nervous. Remus and Avery had stopped duelling to see what had happened to James. Lily felt scared as she looked at him, not sure of what to do. He was unconscious; his eyes were rolling into his head. She cried for help as Sirius tried to lift James up along with Remus, but James was moving too strongly and quickly for them.

"Out of the way, Miss Evans." said a dangerous, yet reassuring voice. Lily felt herself being shoved away from James and as she stood up, she saw McGonagall's pointed hat on McGonagall's head leaning down on James.

Professor McGonagall took out her wand and leaned even closer to James. She placed her wand on his chest where the deepest wound was, grabbing his body in order for him to stay still. She said some funny words that Lily doubt that she could ever pronounce and James stopped twitching, right away. He laid there, unconscious as he stopped bleeding.

McGonagall stood up and cleared the blood away. She then looked around at the students, all looking horrified. "To class, now!" she barked at them. The students didn't need to be told twice. They all took one last glance at James, looking worried, and rushing through the now open door of the Transfiguration class.

"Black, Snape, Lupin," she paused here and gave shudder, thinking how a prefect could get involved with this. "and Avery. I want you all to stay here while I take Potter to the hospital. Don't move." She said in a dangerous voice. "Miss Evans, follow me." She added in a softer voice as she bewitched James so that he was floating in air, as if lying on an invisible stretcher.

Lily followed Professor McGonagall as they went towards the hospital wing on the second floor, with James flying in front of them. They met Professor Slughorn when they were going up the stairs to the second floor.

"Minerva –" he started, looking appalled at James as they walked by. But McGonagall held up her hand to gesture that she was in a hurry. Professor Slughorn's eyes widened.

"Horace, please go to my class room right now. I am to be teaching the sixth years right now, but please make sure they don't get up to any mischief." McGonagall instructed in a very fast tone.

"Evans," McGonagall said, making Lily jump. "I want you to tell me what exactly had happened the best you can."

"Um," Lily started. "Potter and Snape were arguing about something and then Black got into it..." Lily went on explaining how she had asked Remus to stop them, receiving a look from McGonagall which clearly said why didn't she herself go and stop them, as she was a prefect too. But Lily went on, telling her about how Remus himself got into it as did Avery.

"...I didn't hear what Snape had sent Potter's way." Lily finished. "He fell down and started bleeding out of nowhere. He was also twitching." Lily shuddered thinking about the sight she had seen when she first saw James, laying in a pool of his own blood.

McGonagall looked worriedly at James. "Well, let's get James into the hospital. I will take you to Professor Dumbledore's office and bring the other boys there as well."

"Professor Dumbledore's office?" Lily asked, confused.

"He'll be wanting to know what happened!" she said, in a surprised voice.

Lily waited outside the hospital wing as McGonagall and the floating James went inside. Lily heard Madam Pomfrey gasp horrified at the sight of James and then a mumble of conversation followed which Lily could not hear. McGonagall came back after ten minutes.

"Is he going to be okay?" Lily asked as McGonagall appeared out of the hospital wing.

"Yes, he'll be fine. But Madam Pomfrey said he was hit by a Dark curse, if he was left alone for a long time – well –" McGonagall gave a shudder. "He'll be fine now, Poppy is excellent at what she does."

"A Dark curse?" Lily asked quietly. She knew exactly what had happened. Snape had used one of his inventions. How dare he! How could he hate James so much? Well, yes they hate each other, but that doesn't meant he wants to – to kill! And he used Dark magic at school! Lily knew that it was strictly forbidden at school. Any use of it would be a ticket to expulsion.

Lily followed Professor McGonagall silently in thought as they went up the grand staircase and passed many floors. Lily realized that she has never been in Dumbledore's office before and wondered what it looked like, after all, it was the headmaster`s office. It must be very luxurious. Come to think of it, Lily has never been alone with Professor Dumbledore, or really talked to him at all, which suddenly made Lily nervous.

They finally stopped on the sixth floor, Lily was panting as they entered the large empty corridor, while McGonagall was walking with great speed. They went down the corridor, passing classes in session. They turned a corner and walked down another empty corridor which ended with a large statue of a gargoyle.

Professor McGonagall passed all the rooms and paused in front of the large stone gargoyle. She looked up at it and said, "Chocolate Frogs."

Lily looked confusedly at McGonagall for a nanosecond, but realized that it was the password to allow the gargoyle to step aside and let them through to the spiral steps which were moving up like an escalator. Lily looked amazedly at the stairs

"You go up," McGonagall said, looking at her. "The headmaster will be in there. Tell him what has happened and that I am off sending a letter to the Potters and that the boys involved with this will be there in a few minutes."

Lily nodded and stepped onto the moving staircase and went up. She looked back to see the stone gargoyle to have resumed its place of guarding. She looked ahead to see a door on a small landing. The stairs stopped here and Lily got off. For a second, she wondered if she should knock, and decided to as this was the school`s headmaster`s office, one can't go barging in.

Lily knocked on the door politely. She heard a ruffle of a pair of wings and a small "Come in," sounded from behind the door.

Lily grasped the doorknob and turned it to open the door. She stepped into a brightly lit room with many portraits on the walls, all looking at her as if she was some sort of show. Lily suddenly felt self conscious of her and heard a small giggle coming from one of the portraits. There were bookshelves and many cabinets located around the room, filled with thick books and silver instruments. There was a table by the desk that was filled with silver instruments, making a small humming and buzzing noises that filled the air. Lily looked straight ahead to see Professor Dumbledore, sitting behind his desk, smiling. Beside him was a beautiful, brilliant red bird, sitting on the desk. Dumbledore was letting the bird nibble his fingers.

Lily looked at Dumbledore and saw him smiling brightly. His blue eyes were sparkling behind the half moon glasses and he looked simply delighted to see Lily.

"Miss Evans! Why do I have this sudden pleasure of your company?" Dumbledore asked.

Lily smiled nervously at Dumbledore. "Um, Professor McGonagall sent me." she said nervously under the headmaster's glare.

"Do sit down, then." Dumbledore said, gesturing to the empty chair in front of the desk.

Lily nodded and gulped as she walked across the office, noticing a large window looking out at the lake, with sun shine coming through it, and sat down across from Dumbledore, who was still smiling. The bird let out a musical cry which made Lily feel calm and at peace. The bird looked at Lily through its bright yellow eyes as if it was smiling at him. Lily felt herself smile back.

"This is Fawkes, Lily." Dumbledore said, smiling brightly at his brid. "He is a phoenix."

"He's beautiful." Lily said in a exhilerated voice.

Dumbledore smiled. His eyes were sprakling. "Yes, he is. Phoenix are such faithful pets. They are so magical and loyal, that one can never have such a staunch friend." There was a pause in which Lily and Dumbledore both looked at Fawkes the phoenix, admiringly. "Now, what is the matter? Does Professor McGonagall have a message for me?"

"There – There was a duel." Lily said, looking away from Fawkes and into Dumbledore's blue eyes. "Before lessons started..." she started to tell Dumbledore everything, who turned out to be a great listener and didn't interrupt at all, but looked intently at Lily.

Once Lily finished, Dumbledore looked worried. "Is Mr Potter okay?"

Lily nodded slowly. "Professor McGonagall said that he will be fine."

The door opened and in came Remus, Sirius, Snape and Avery, all looking glum and blanked face with Professor McGonagall behind them. Remus caught Lily's eye and gave her a small nervous smile. The four boys stood behind Lily's chair in a line. Snape had a lump on his head and Remus's robes were torn as were Avery's. Sirius's hair was messy and unkept, but still fell around his face.

"Did Miss Evans tell you what happened, Professor?" McGonagall asked, looking at Dumbledore.

"Yes, she did. I will be happy to deal with this matter, Minerva. You may leave. Oh, but wait, have you given Mr Lupin and Mr Black their punishments. "

McGonagall nodded, looking very angry. "Fifty points from Gryffindor along with fifty points from Slytherin. Detention for one week, every morning. They are to help Hagrid with his duties."

Dumbledore nodded in approval and Professor McGonagall left. Dumbledore looked at each of the boys, whom all had their heads hanging low. He observed each of them in silence, as if summing up what they had done. Lily wondered whether she should be here, or should ask to leave.

"Mr Lupin, Miss Evans told me that you had tried to stop the duel between Mr Potter, Mr Black and Mr Snape, but joined in yourself." Dumbledore said in a hard tone. "I had expected much more from you, being a prefect and a person of authority. Explain."

Remus looked up and opened his mouth, but no sound came out. It was Sirius who started talking. "Is James going to be okay?" He said in a very loud voice which was slightly trembling. His face looked troubled which Lily has never seen on his usually amused face. He gulped under Dumbledore's stare and looked down again.

Lily noticed that Snape shifted uncomfortably where he stood.

Dumbledore gave a small warm smile. "Yes, he will be fine. But why he was hurt, we must find out. Mr Lupin, can you please tell me what happened?"

Remus nodded, he looked right in to Dumbledore's eyes. "Well, there was a fight between James and Snape. They were talking at first, but then they started duelling. Lily told me to go stop them, but then Avery placed a hex on me and – and –"

Dumbledore nodded, smiling warmly. "Okay, thank you Remus. You may leave and go back to your lesson."

Remus left without another word. Dumbledore looked at Lily and nodded too. "You may also leave, Lily. Thank you for your time."

Lily gave Dumbledore a nod and then joined Remus as they went down the spiral moving stairs and through the guarding gargoyle as it moved aside for them.

"Wow, some day already." Remus said as Lily walked in step with him.

"Yeah, I know." She sighed heavily. "I am sorry about what I did, Remus." Lily said quickly, glancing at Remus.

Remus looked surprised. "For what?"

"For pushing you into the fight and now you're in trouble because of me!" Lily said exasperatedly.

Remus shook he head, smiling warmly as they came to the grand staircase. "Oh, Lils, it's okay."

Lily didn't say anything. She knew that Remus had a big heart and would forgive anyone for anything. But inside, she didn't think she deserved that apology. Remus needs to stand up to his friends sooner or later...and Lily knew that Remus just wasn't that type of person to stand up to their best friends, not matter how thick they are.

"So – So did you realize what Snape had hit James with?" Remus said into the silence.

Lily sighed. "Yeah, another one of his inventions, I am guessing?"

Remus nodded gravely. "Yeah. Sometimes he really gets to me, that Snape does." His faced turend twisted with anger. But he closed his eyes as if to collect himself and then smiled at Lily as they reached the third floor landing. "Want to go to the hospital wing and see if we can see James?"

Lily shrugged and nodded. They went down the next set of stairs that landed at the second floor and headed into the corridor, passing classes in session, filling the empty corridor with murmur.

They walked towards the hospital wing and entered. It was mostly empty, with the beds all made and clean. The sun shined through the windows, making the room very bright. There was one bed in the corner over which Madam Pomfrey was leaning over. Lily saw a pain of feet at the end of the bed, lying. Lily knew it was James and followed Remus as they made their way towards him.

Suddenly Remus tripped over his untied shoe lace, making Madam Pomfrey turn to look over them. She looked absolutely appalled to see them there as Remus got up. She kicked them out, saying James was in no state to have company for the next few days.


A/N: Sooo what do you think? :) thanks to all those of you who have reviewed, they really affected me and i felt touched! :D :D Please review, good or bad!