Hey guys sorry about the long hiatus! Some of you may have seen my message about why it took so long to get this out and what's been happening. Well, here it is. Chapter 10. It's not as exciting as it could be, but this chapter is to simply push the story forward. I now have a rough plan of where I want this story to end, and I can safely say we are over halfway.

I will absolutely try my hardest to get this story done before 2017. So hold on tight for the wild ride! Enjoy guys!

Chapter 10 – Traitor

After the shocking realisation that it was indeed Archie on the front of The Daily Prophet Lily didn't even know how to human anymore. That night when they Flooed home Lily simply lay awake in bed for hours, still troubled. She didn't know who to talk to or how to address it.

There's no way that could be Archie, I mean he was in a mask Lily thought to herself as she turned over and looked out of the window. The moon shone brightly through it, illuminating the room. She sighed deeply; I guess I'll just have to ask Archie myself.

No one else besides Hugo and herself had noticed that Archie looked as though he had made his way onto the front page. Her father of course was up in arms with all the recent media attention. Early one morning Lily was about to step into the kitchen when she spotted her father sitting at the table, bent over a piece of parchment with tears running down his face; she forgot her purpose entirely and quietly crept away, not wanting to admit she caught her father feeling so vulnerable.

All too soon it was time for them to return to Hogwarts and Lily really didn't want to go. She stood with her parents, ready to go through the process of Apparition to get back to Hogwarts.

"Dad can't we just fly our broomsticks or something?" Lily pleaded as she stood with her parents, Albus, James, Hugo and Rose ready to travel back.

Harry laughed and looked down at his daughter, "I'm afraid not. Here, I'll take James and Albus first, I'll come back for you," he said. Lily watched them vanish with the loud crack noise and waited patiently looking around her house. Ginny disappeared with Rose and Hugo with a loud crack also, leaving Lily alone. Their half-Kneazle came up and twisted herself around Lily's legs.

"I'll see you soon girl," Lily patted the animal absent-mindedly on the head, "just hang out until June okay?" She meowed in response and sulked off to another room. The loud crack made Lily jump as her father re-appeared, "Your mum had to hurry off to work, something to do with urgent reports needed."

"Okay," Lily mumbled, a lump rising in her throat. Harry noticed the expression change and bent down to eye level with Lily.

"I know you're struggling and that's okay darling," Harry said, "but I promise you will do great things. Just remember what I told you okay?"

Lily nodded and hugged her father; "how did I manage to snag the best father in the world?"

At this Harry laughed, "I doubt I'm the best – Ron is cooler than me."

Lily gripped Harry's arm tightly and after the tight tube sensation she breathed in the cool air. They were standing at the Hogwarts gate which was open, either side topped with a Winged Boar. She stared into her father's reassuring bright green eyes and hugged him again.

"Take care Lils, I'll see you soon okay. Write as much as you want to," Harry called as he disappeared once again with a loud crack. Lily trudged up to the castle, thanking the heavens that her trunk had already been delivered. She walked through the castle doors and was met with Hugo, Eileen and Archie who were grinning broadly, except Archie that is.

"Lily!" Eileen cried, pulling Lily into a tight hug, "have a good break?"

"It was fine," Lily shrugged, "how was Australia?"

"Oh my god, Australia was actually amazing. We stayed in this city called Geelong, in a place down in Victoria. It's so pretty! I saw Kangaroos and -,"

And off she went. Lily was only half-listening as Eileen rambled about Australian animals and places and people as they went into the Great Hall. Lily's attention was mostly focused on Archie. He walked while staring at his shoes – and was it Lily's imagination but did he look thinner? His cheekbones sticking out more than usual and great bags under his eyes giving him almost a corpse-like appearance. As they sat to eat Eileen continued to state how swimming at the beach on Christmas Day one of the weirdest things she had ever done.

"I mean it was sooooo hot, I took all these long pants and it just wasn't going to do," she said, "but anyway that's enough of me going on. Study sesh tomorrow in the library?"

"Sounds good," Hugo smiled.

"Yeah I'm going to need it," Lily added, "I'm basically failing every class there is."

"Every class?" Eileen quipped in.

"Pretty much."

"Charms?" Hugo asked.

"Yes."

"Defence?" Eileen pondered.

"Keep going."

"Herbology?" Hugo added.

"Much to Neville's disappointment."

"Potions?"

"Probably."

"Lily…" Eileen whispered, "I personally think we should study today. We need to get cracking on areas where you are not doing well missy!"

"Well let's go to the Room of Requirement," Hugo said.

"Yes! Let's!" Eileen said and she Hugo got up to leave.

"Coming Archie?" Hugo asked and Archie shook his head.

"You guys go ahead, I'll meet you there," Lily urged them to go forward. She wanted to use the chance to talk to Archie.

"I'll get your stuff! See you guys there!" Hugo waved and he and Eileen bustled out of the hall. Lily grinned and rolled her eyes in good humour as they left. Archie was playing with his stew, he hadn't touched anything.

"I know it was you," Lily whispered as she leant in toward Archie. At this Archie dropped his fork and stared at Lily for a moment before regaining himself.

"What on Earth are you talking about?" Archie demanded sounding a little too innocent.

"On the front page of the Christmas Prophet, there was a photo of those New Death Eaters – I saw you in the very front wearing one of those masks and chanting with the rest of them," Lily snapped, unable to hold in her anger. She was trying to remain neutral – after all Archie deserved the chance to explain himself.

"You have no proof of anything!" Archie whispered harshly, darting his eyes around as if someone was listening.

"Archie, you don't have to stay –," Lily started but Archie slammed his hand on the table, causing several students to look in their direction.

"How dare you accuse me of something with NO evidence! I hate you Lily Potter! Get away from me!" Archie stood up and marched out of the Great Hall. Lily stared at the plate of food in front of her. That was not how she wanted that to go. She stood up and marched out herself. She remembered Eileen and Hugo in the Room of Requirement and snorted in indifference, there was no way she was going to study now. At the very last second she walked into the grounds and toward Hagrid's hut.

She found him in his garden, shovelling snow off of his pumpkin patch, "Hagrid!" Lily called and he looked up, his mouth rising into a wide smile.

"Lily!" he pulled her into a rib-crushing hug and then the two of them took refuge inside the quaint little house. Hagrid bustled around the cabin pulling out some rock cakes and put a huge mug of steaming tea in front of Lily's nose.

"How're been?" Hagrid asked as he too sat down with a cup of tea and grabbed a rock cake.

"Eh, not exactly great Hagrid," Lily admitted truthfully, "I haven't managed to find my groove yet. I'm failing subjects, I'm getting into trouble. I don't know what's wrong with me."

"Yeh'll find it Lily," Hagrid dismissed her concern.

"EVERYONE keeps saying that but it's just not happening," Lily scowled as she sipped her tea.

"There's somethin' else, isn't there?" Hagrid's beetle black eyes met her own and they were full of warmth and concern.

"No," Lily lied, staring into her tea. At this Hagrid raised his eyebrows and remained silent, Lily looked at him again, "okay there is. I got into a fight with Archie and now he hates me."

Hagrid pondered this for a moment, as if he was choosing his words carefully, "It happens. Yeh need yer friends Lily. I won' ask what he did, but yeh need people in yeh life."

"I know Hagrid, it's just," Lily rubbed the back of her neck, "I don't know anymore. I'm just so stressed. If this is being an adult, this sucks."

At this Hagrid let out a booming laugh, "oh Lily, adulthood, yeh in for a nasty shock," he chucked to himself. Lily sat in silence for a while simply sitting her tea while turning thoughts over in her head.

"Yeh'll be fine Lily, I know everyone is sayin' it, but it's true," Hagrid said quietly, "it works out." Lily attempted to nod as she drained the last of her cup.

"I'll see you later Hagrid, I should go and study now," Lily said, waving goodbye to Hagrid and exiting the warm cabin. She trudged back up to the castle through the snow, the snowflakes representing her swirling thoughts. She wrapped her cloak around her shivering form and retreated to the warmth of the castle.

As she walked through the Entrance Hall she stepped through a pearly white figure and felt as though she had been plunged into an ice cold bucket of water. She turned hastily brushing at her robes. The ghost turned and stared at her, "I'm sorry ma'am," he pulled off most of his head and tipped it like a hat.

"Nearly Headless Nick right?" Lily asked him.

"I prefer Sir Nicholas if you don't mind," he replied autonomously, obviously this happened a lot.

"Sorry Sir, I'm Lily Potter," Lily said hastily attempting to change the subject. Nick smiled and nodded in recognition at the name.

"Aaah yes, Harry Potter's daughter! I've heard great things! Apparently you smashed everyone at the Quidditch match," Nick commented.

"I did apparently," Lily laughed awkwardly, "I'll see you around," she waved good-bye to Nick and headed up the staircase, thinking about getting an early night. Her tea gurgled in her stomach making her feel nauseous.

She ran into James as he passed, unusually alone. He took hold of her arm as she attempted to push past unnoticed, "hey – you okay? Aren't even going down to dinner?"

"I'm good James," Lily replied in a voice quite unlike her own, "just wanting an early night."

James was never the best at reading what was wrong, "okay Lily," he said and continued to walk down the stairs. Can't you tell when I'm upset? Lily thought to herself but shrugging it off she continued.

"Oh Lily!" James called.

"Yeah?" Lily turned, expecting him to pick up on her body language.

"New password is Hungarian Horntail"

"Cheers James," Lily mock saluted and continued up the stairs. She made it to the common room and crashed onto her bed. What was she doing? Feasting for attention? A new desire burnt within her. No, she was not going to be spoilt princess who wanted everyone to feel sorry for her. She stood up and grabbed her books. Predictably, Hugo had not been able to reach the girl's dormitories.

She exited the Common Room and ran down the Seventh Floor corridor. She was going to study with her friends; she was going to do well in Hogwarts. The blazing fire grew with every step she took. Hagrid was right; she needed her friends no matter what. You can't do it alone.

Lily walked into the Room of Requirement to find a pleasant light-coloured room with a table and some three chairs around it, two of them were occupied by Hugo and Eileen who looked up when she walked in.

"What took you so long?" Hugo demanded.

"Sorry, went and saw Hagrid," Lily shrugged and slapped down her books on the table.

"So you're committed to doing this?" Eileen asked.

Lily nodded, "I'm sick of failing – I'm going to do well. Let's do it."

"Finally you sound like my cousin," Hugo laughed as he flicked idly through his copy of A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration, Lily eyed the book.

"Somehow I think I'll be okay for Transfiguration. Zabini made us write out the whole thing – so I can remember that thing word for word," Lily said as she felt Eileen's jaw fall open.

"Well Miss Smarty Pants, they say if you can teach something it means you've fully learnt it. So teach away!" Eileen put her feet up on the table and rested her hands behind her head, a sheepish grin plastered on her face.

Lily smiled, thank goodness for her friends, but she needed to eventually make amends with her other friend whom she cared about very much. Why did she think it was a good idea to attack him like that? She'd make amends tomorrow – besides there was studying to be done. At least for tonight she pushed Archie out of her mind and hit the books, thinking about her future. There's no time like the present she thought to herself.