Hey again! Again I am so blessed and thankful for everyone that favourites and reviews my story, in particular thanks to The DA is dressed to the nines as always for being a continued source of encouragement, and Skylar Jones for also making me smile 
I truly appreciate each and every on of you. I really hope you enjoy this chapter, I put in a lot of effort this time xx

CHAPTER 10

JAMES

When I was a kid I wanted to be my dad, I thought he was the coolest person in the whole universe. I would try to dress like him, ate what he did, pretended to read the paper when he did in the morning. I would go to sleep and wish one day that I would turn out just as great as my dad and find someone as wonderful as my mum to make happy every single day and in return would make me my favourite things. Then when I was thirteen, Voldermort tried to have my dad killed for starting a 'muggles rights' group and Alastor Moody saved him at great risk to himself. From then on I wanted to be Moody and defeat evil, protect good people like my dad and make the world a better place where no one should have to be afraid to venture outside of their house. I've kept my hero worship for Moody for years, I've mucked around sure, but I've worked hard in and outside of my classes and I never allow the Slytherine's to terrorize anyone if I can help it. I never ever thought any other wizard could ever impress me as much, until now. Now I wanted to grow up to be just like Dumbledore, a kind, intelligent man with a million tricks up his sleeve. I have never been so in awe than when I he stood there, wand raised at Bellatrix, eyes burning with blue fire. I had a new hero, however I also had a new nightmare for I had seen a darkness and ferociousness to Professor Dumbledore I had never encountered before. Images flickered in my mind of Bellatrix staring defiantly at Dumbledore then fear over powering her defiance as binds wrapped around her body as she began to float towards to what I assumed was the castle with Dumbledore telling her coldly; "I'll deal with you later, I'm very disappointed in you."

My hand had gone numb, Lily was squeezing so tight and finally Dumbledore faced us; fire still in his eyes though not burning with fury as before, a hint of a smile on his lips.

"Mr Potter, Miss Evans, nice to see you again, unfortunate about the circumstances. I see you both look a little worse for wear and I assure you, you will get the chance to rest up soon, before I need you to please wait for me in my office, I'll explain everything to Professor McGonagall, perhaps Mr Longbottom would like to accompany you?"

My mouth had dropped as one by one Snape, Frank and Bella were gently floating downward towards us on the ground.

"Severus, I trust you can escort Miss Knox to safety?"

Snape nodded tersely then yanked Bella away with him, not taking his eyes off Lily until the very last moment.

With another flourish of his wand, a pretty pale blue glow hovered above us, almost impatiently.

"Follow the light and it will lead you to my office, the password is 'chocolate bullet'"

Numbly we followed the light all the way to his office and so here we were, anxiously awaiting Dumbledore's return, unsure of what was going to happen or what trouble, if any, we were in.

"We're going to get expelled," Lily moaned, placing her head in her hands.

"We can't," Frank cried, "My mum is going to kill me!"

I rolled my eyed. "Lonbottom, I'm sure even if we were going to be expelled, which we're not, your mum would be angry at the suddenness of it, then get over it."

Frank shook his head. "You obviously haven't met her, with that attitude, pray you never do."

"My sister won't ever let me forget it, not even worthy enough for the 'freaks'," Lily said, head still in her hands.

"Well my mum might rave on a bit but my dad is just going to disappointed I got expelled for doing nothing wrong, it'll be a waste of talent as far as he's concerned."

Lily's head snapped up. "He won't be mad? He won't ground you for life?"

I shrug. "I have no idea what grounding is but he isn't going to be thrilled I got kicked out but he isn't going to blame me when I didn't even do anything."

Frank sighed deeply. "You're lucky then."

I smiled a little. "Not lucky, my dad is just the coolest guy in the universe."

At that, the door burst open and Dumbledore glided in with Remus, Sirius, Carla, Alice, Fabian and Gideon Prewett, Marlene McKinnon, Benjy Fenwick, Edgar Bones and a few other Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff students I didn't really know the names of.

"Please, sit down," Dumbledore instructed as chairs and stools appeared for everyone to settle into.

"What an excursion!" Dumbledore began once we were all seated. "I can imagine you're all very tired and some of you very sore, I'll try not to keep you very long and then you can get some warm food and some much needed rest."

Benjy raised his hand tentatively.

"Yes Mr Fenwick?"

"We won't be going back to camp then?"

"Oh no dear boy, I believe both student and teachers alike have had quite enough. Your things are already on the way back to your dorms, consider the lost day as an early weekend. May I continue?"

Benjy blushed and nodded.

"Some of you may have began guessing," here he looked directly at me. "That this trip may have been more than it seems. You would be right, I admit it was not one of my more brilliant plans, uniting all houses to work as one, but can you blame an old man for hoping for peace?"

No one replied, so Dumbledore continued. "These are troubling times we are living in and I'm quite sure none of you are fully aware of just how dangerous things are going to become. I wish you were able to remain ignorant to the horrors of this world, however, that would only put you in even more peril than you are already in because you would not be prepared. You may ask why so few of you have been asked here and not the whole school well allow me to shed some light. First of all; you are nearing becoming of age and the end of your time at Hogwarts and I need you to be as prepared a possible before you leave, the seventh years have already had a similar talk when they were your age too. Second, some are not ready nor ever will be ready to shoulder the responsibilities and accept what is expected of them for the greater good, you have all proven yourself worthy and the best and brightest of your peers. Thirdly, I fear there are some in this school who are very aware of what is to come and have already chosen which side they wish to support. I believe these people have already begun preparing for what they hope will ultimately be a war of blood and loyalty, I would not allow you to become defenseless against them."

I shot my hand in the air.

"Ah, Mr Potter?"

"Why aren't you kicking the Slyth- I mean, those traitors out of this school?"

Dumbledore sighed and it was like he had aged another twenty years.

"I see potential in some to change, again forgive me for my hope, and I cannot show them that I am preparing to retaliate in anyway, not just yet. The best attck is surprise and secrecy to catch them off guard, which is why you cannot mention what I've said tonight to anyone, I regret to inform you that if you tried, you would find yourself forgetting what it is you were about to say."

"What do we need to do?" Fabian asked, standing up. "I'm in 100%."

We all murmured our agreement.

Dumbledore looked touched, almost to tears. "I need you to make a choice. I'm afraid it is not one to take lightly. There is surely a war coming and there will surely be casualties. The darkness is beginning to surround us, out number us and it will not be easy to discourage, however, the will to survive is strong and passion, love, friendship and self sacrifice, are all things the other side does not have or will ever understand. That is our advantage and what will eventually win this war given time. I need you to all think about this, the risk of what I'm asking you, weigh your options then beginning of your seventh year, we will have another chat and see how you're all feeling about it. I will not fault you if you choose not to take part. Until then, work hard in your classes, and perhaps help each other out outside classes too, look out for those whom are not as strong as you and always, always remember that you are all brave and talented beyond words and I am extremely proud of you."

"So we're not being expelled?" Lily asked dumbly.

"Not at all Miss Evans, I guess one might even call this a promotion."

"What if we want to join now?" Gideon asked bravely.

Dumbledore held up a hand gently. "Think hard on it, and get back to me next year. I think that's it for now, please rest up and thank you very much for you time."

Knowing a dismissal when we heard one we all filed out silently. In silence we headed to our separate houses except Frank who stayed with us, in silence we agreed we could eat later and in silence we sat in the deserted common room, letting everything sink in. How long did we stay unanimated and solemn I wasn't entirely sure, in fact it wasn't until Sirius piped up I was even aware the others were still next to me.

"So, what do you think?"

"I think I'm not allowed in here," Frank replied nervously.

Maybe it was Franks tone, maybe it was the sense on impeding doom or maybe it was all our nerves but we all laughed, hard and freely for a few minutes after this until when we stopped laughing the mood was lighter and we were all cuddled in closer to one another.

"Where is everyone?" Lily asked, sitting in the chair I was leaning my back against.

"Classes are still on for everyone else," Alice replied.

"Where is everyone from camp though?"

"Probably still packing up or eating," Carla replied this time.

"Well, wherever they are, I like the peace," Lily answered.

I really couldn't agree more. I didn't want the trip to end because that meant everything had to go back to normal. Lily would go back to ignoring or yelling at me, Sirius would go back to pretending he had no feelings and couldn't have his walls penetrated, Remus would go back to retreating with in himself and barely smiling and I would be reduced to a half life again, being someone I'm not.

"We should go to Hogsmeade tomorrow," Remus suggested randomly.

There was a beat of silence then everyone seemed to liven up.

"That sounds fun," said Alice while Frank nodded. "We could use the relaxation."

"I could do with some comfort food supplies," Carla added.

"We're kinda running low on supplies ourselves," Sirius told me with a wink.

"I just want a day without getting myself hurt," Lily said.

I smiled and replied last. "I'll go if Evans has a drink with me."

Everyone looked at Lily who seemed to be seriously considering it. "Oh why not, as long as you're buying, I'm in."

Peter burst into the common room at that moment and stopped dead when he saw us and I knew exactly what he was seeing, Sirius sitting with a girl without groping her, Remus with a grin planted firmly on his face, Lily looking relaxed mere cm's away from me and me smiling like a man who had won the lottery, like a man with everything he could ever dream of, and to be honest, I kind of felt it too.

LILY

"You did not!" I gasped as James and Sirius were telling us one of their tales of trouble they had gotten themselves in and out of.

"No, we did," Sirius told me seriously. "James had to keep his head down so they didn't know he was a guy and was making these horrible sounds, he'd even managed to give the illusion that he had a belly too so he really did look pregnant."

"And that's how you got out of using magic last summer?" Carla asked. "You didn't need a trial?"

"Trial is only if it's massively wrong, like against muggles and completely proven, all we did was try to make a couple new toys to give the Slytherine's for Christmas so when they came to check up on us I said I was trying to apparate my cousin Bellatrix to the hospital because she had some growth coming out of her and needed it removed and they bought it, hook, line and sinker."

James grinned broadly. "And the very lovely Bellatrix has quite a rep already so they didn't bother getting close enough to me to check. They did however call a Mungo's nurse for us."

I shook my head, smiling widely. "No! How did you get out of that one?"

James shrugged. "My mum happens to be a nurse and as luck should have it she was the one sent."

"Did she kill you?" I asked.

Even Sirius went pale. "You do not wanna piss off Mrs Potter, that's for sure."

James nodded in agreement. "I almost would have taken the trial she was that furious at our 'immaturity and ignorance'"

"Smart lady, I'll have to meet her," I replied jokingly.

"She'd love that," James replies. "This summer, you could come over if you wanted? Not as a date or anything, but you know, as friends, Sirius would be there and Carla can come too if it makes you feel more comfortable."

I smile at him warmly as he sweats and mumbles his way through the offer. "Potter, are you actually nervous?"

He offers me a small smile. "Previous experience has taught me the odds are not in my favour."

Sirius slings his arm around me and winks at James. "Throw the poor sod a bones Evans, if you reject him again I'll be the one who suffers, then I'll have to complain to Carla, who will complain to you, so the circle will come back to get you."

"How are you supposed to complain to Carla in the summer?" I asked suspiciously.

Sirius pulled out a piece of parchment. "I got the address, and we still have a few months of me bugging you before school ends as well."

I sigh hugely in a mock frustrated way. "Oh alright, if it means I save everyone the trouble then I'll come meet your parents Potter."

You would have thought I'd just told Potter he was the winner of a billion Galleons that's how happy he looked with what I'd said.

"It's not a date though," I remind him hastily, feeling my cheeks flush.

Big smile on his face James nods. "Oh I know Evans, just two good looking, sexually prime friends spending time together in a non romantic way."

I roll my eyes at him but my heart skips a beat. "Shut up Potter."

"Yeah James, I think it's better you quit while you're ahead," Remus tells James, shooting me a small smile.

"Why is Remus so different from you and Sirius?" I asked James curiously.

James grinned broadly and ruffled Remus's hair. "Moony here is one of a kind, what common sense me and Sirius lacks, he has in plenty. Besides, we need someone to pull us back sometimes, don't we?"

Remus smile was a bit strained. "Yeah, I'm one of a kind alright, I don't really think it's a good thing."

Sirius tapped his shoulder gently. "Oi, you're a great mate and there is nothing wrong with you except for your insistence of following rules."

This made Remus smile a bit and I found myself, not for the first time, wondering if perhaps there was any truth to Severus's claims.

Distracting me from my thought was Tyler Frost who was standing right in front of Carla, charming smile on his handsome face.

"Hey Carla, I was just wondering if you wanted to get a drink or something?"

Carla smiled, clearly flattered and glanced at Sirius before answering. "Would you mind maybe doing it later, maybe tomorrow?"

Tyler smiled brightly again. "Sure, whatever's good for you. I'll see you tonight at dinner."

"See you Tyler," Carla smiled, watching him with appreciation as he walked away.

"What was that?" Sirius asked stiffly.

"Tyler was just being friendly."

"I know exactly what he was trying to do, I meant why did you say you'd go out with him tomorrow, that's giving him false hope."

"How is it? It's just a friendly drink, I didn't think you would even care?"

"I don't," Sirius told her loftily. "I meant, you should have gone with him now, you didn't need to look at me before you answered, he's going to think there is something going on between us."

Carla's jaw actually dropped. "Excuse me?"

"Look, you're a great girl and hot as hell but I don't do girlfriends, so you should just be aware that we're not a couple and you can go give lover boy his precious drink."

"How about I give you yours!" Carla screamed throwing her butter beer in Sirius's face before stalking off.

James shook his head and clapped Sirius over the back of his head.

"What?" Sirius asked, still fuming.

I didn't wait to see wait James' answer was, I just excused myself and Alice and I hurried after her.

Half an hour later after we had split from the boys and Carla had gone and planted a big kiss right on Tyler Frost's lips we were sitting down in the court yard giggling and doing the thing girls knew how to do best; talk about boys.

"So, do you think Franks out looking for engagement rings?" Carla teased Alice.

"Do you think Sirius is?" Alice shot back.

"What are you talking about, did you not just witness his little show?" Carla demanded.

I smiled at Carla gently after exchanging a look with Alice. "He was clearly jealous, so he may have reacted badly, but it was all because I'm not sure Sirius was aware that he had a functional heart until now, or that anyone could ever get close enough to break it."

Carla scoffed and muttered something about ridiculous and impossible idiot under her breathe.

"You and James seem to be getting on better," Alice commented.

This cheered Carla up somewhat. "Yeah, going to meet his parents ooo!"

I rolled my eyes. "You're being ridiculous, we're just friends now ok? Let's move the subject away from the guys we all clearly don't want to talk about onto something else."

"I'll kill you!"

All three of our heads snapped towards the unmistakable voice of James Potter.

"Oh no," Alice murmured.

"This can't be good," I muttered as I pulled my best friends with me.

In the front of the Hogs Head Pub was Severus and James facing each wands raised, in the midst of an intense duel.

"I will not stop until you are dead," Severus hissed.

James replied by shooting a curse at Severus that knocked him dead off his feet, stalking up to Severus James pointed his wand under Severus's throat. "You will never kill me," he whispered passionately. "And you will never have her, drop your wand."

Severus reacted so quickly it was impossible to see him move, all I knew was next James was doubled over with his shoulder bleeding profusely.

"Any last words Potter?" Severus asked loudly, smug smile. "Not so smug now are you? Without your friends to back you up."

"That's enough!" I yelled, pushing past Severus to stand in front of James.

"You want to curse someone, curse me!"

Severus immediately dropped his wand. "Lily…"

"Just leave Severus, I can't even look at you."

Severus looked ready to reply then seemed to think better of it and turned quickly on his heel and slouched away.

Where the hell were Sirius and the rest?

As if in answer to my question, they all arrived looking a little torn and bloodied.

"Prongs! Are you ok? The filthy Slytherine's cornered us."

James ignored Sirius and instead was looking at me.

"Thank you."

"Don't," I spat at him. "Just don't ok? I thought you were changing and you obviously aren't. Why couldn't you just leave it be?"

"Lily…I'm sorry…he was saying stuff about you and I just…"

"Potter, shut up. I don't want your excuses. You disgust me, you and Severus both. Just do me a favour alright and leave me alone."

"But.."

"Leave. Me. Alone!" I screamed in his face.

The whole crowd went silent and the tension could be broken with a knife.

I turned away from James Potter and quickly left the scene behind me, trying to convince myself that the moisture in my eyes were not tears.