Chapter 11.

Thank you to all the lovely people who have left feedback especially those who have commented on Character development as this is something I have given a great deal of thought to.

It may seem that Lily is overpowered in these stories, however I read somewhere ( HP wiki I think) that Lily was talented enough that despite being Muggleborn, Voldemort tried to recruit her. So her talents will build up through the series.

The Plan.

The prank on Severus only reinforced the division between the Gryffindor boys and Lily. Lily glared at Sirius and James whenever she saw them and they sent tripping jinxes her way at every opportunity. She no longer talked to Remus or Peter when she saw them in the library. This did not stop her from sending a Chocolate frog and folded paper bird to Remus' bedside table when he was in the hospital the morning after the next full moon, he had assumed they came from Madam Pomfrey.

A shout rang through the corridor "Hey Guys!"

James ran quickly to catch up to Sirius, Remus and Peter, "What are we going to do today?" he asked running a hand through his hair.

"Well how about we take a walk in the forbidden forest, prank someone and eat.." Sirius rubbed his stomach in anticipation.

"Gentleman, we have a plan."

The four boys swaggered out of the castle and down past the lake, heading towards the forest. As they came past the Gamekeepers Hut they noticed the door had been left ajar to admit the breeze. Inside Lily was talking to Hagrid.

"Wonder what she is doing in there?" James asked.

"Having a chat at a guess, it's not like anyone else would talk to her," chuckled Sirius.

Remus looked guiltily down at his feet as he asked "Do you think perhaps we have taken it too far? We made is so she has no friends."

"Nah, the girl is a nightmare," scoffed James. "She's a know it all in class and she dobs us in at every opportunity."

Remus bit his lip.

"and anyway, you still talk to her."

"When has she ever dobbed us in?" Remus protested. "We haven't spoken in ages and I'm not really a close friend."

"Well she should know not to be friends with a Slytherin. Look at what they are trying to do to Sirius, we are just protecting our mate!" James deflected his friend and tried to ignore the gnawing feeling in the pit of his stomach.

"Hey look," Peter pointed at the lake, where a boy with brown hair was wandering by himself.

"It's Bertram Aubery, I think we have just found today's victim," Sirius said with relish, rubbing his hands together. "I have been reading up on a spell I want to try."

"If we sneak through the forest and come out near the beech tree, we will have some cover," Peter indicated to the outcrop of trees from the forrest jutted out onto the lawns towards their favourite resting place.

The boys slipped through the forest and watched Bertrum from behind the tree. He had a book in one hand and was practicing wand movements with the other.

"Typical Ravenclaw! Perfect for this spell," Sirius whispered. "It's supposed to make your head grow bigger, Engorgio Skullus," and he demonstrated the wand action.

Sirius stepped out from behind the tree and pointed his wand, just as Bertram turned around and glanced up. The book fell to the ground as he pointed his wand and yelled "Expelliarmus".

Sirius swore as his wand went spinning from his hand.

James who had been blocked from view ran to Sirius' side "Engorgio Skullus."

The spell hit Bertram right on his nose, and his head began to swell, the boy began to groan in pain. In a minute the weight of his head could no longer be supported by his neck and he fell to the ground. A red haired figure came flying out of the Gamekeepers hut and fell to her knees by his side.

"Hagrid, quick!" Lily called.

Hagrid came out of his Hut, scooped the boy up and carried him to the Hospital wing. As Hagrid disappeared, Lily rounded on the boys.

"What the heck were you thinking?" her eyes flashed in anger.

"Whatever we were thinking was none of your business Evans, so if you don't want to end up in the same condition I suggest you butt out of it!" countered Sirius as he collected his wand. He turned to face the other boys "See Remus, she is insufferable. She can't even take a little joke!"

"He was in agony and that is what you call a little joke!" Lily was rendered speechless and deciding against continuing the developing argument followed Hagrid . Remus watched as Lily stormed off towards the castle and couldn't help thinking that she might have had a point.

When they made it back to the castle Professor McGonagall gave Sirius and James double detentions for the prank and they turned to glare at Remus.

"See she dobbed us in!"

"You don't think it was Hagrid or Madam Pomfrey?" he tried but they weren't having a bar of it.

A further two weeks had passed following Lily and Severus' disagreement in the library. Severus was trying to wait patiently for Lily to realise her mistake and to come and apologise to him. Lily however was hurt that Severus had ceased talking to her, and was unaware that he was awaiting an apology. She still went to the library to do her homework every afternoon expecting Severus to join her and went away disappointed when he failed to arrive.

Another Saturday had come and gone and Severus was beganing to feel lonely. There was a hole where he could feel something was missing from his life, though he couldn't put his finger on what it was, surely it wasn't just Lily's prescence. He made his way to the Great Hall for lunch and caught a glimpse of Lily's hair as she made her way out of the castle and across the lawns. He followed and watched as she walked across the grounds, arms wrapped around herself, drinking in the solitude. She made her way to the Gamekeeper's hut and Severus was shocked when she knocked on the door. He was even more surprised when Hagrid admitted her to his house. What could she be doing? He wasn't aware she knew the man. Peering through the window Severus observed the pair drinking tea and talking quietly, he noted Lily's miserable expression and for a moment hoped it meant that she was finally coming to her senses. He pressed his ear to the glass of the window in hopes of overhearing their conversation.

"I'm worried Hagrid, I know the spell they are learning is dark, I am so scared that he will get drawn down that path, I've heard those types of spells are addictive and I can't bear to lose him! He's my only friend."

"Well, you can't make decisions fer other people. He has to decide fer himself."

"But," she tried to interject.

"No buts, he has to decide how he wants his life to go. An' you need to know, if it goes wrong, it ain't yer fault. You tried talkin' to him."

"Should I try again, it has been three weeks and I miss him," she sounded like she was going to cry. Hagrid took a large slurp of tea.

Lily missed him, she was worried, she cared. As these thoughts raced their way through Severus' mind he realised what he had been missing. It was Lily! She was his light, his hope, his escape. He thought carefully about how he was going to proceed, he couldn't give up Malfoy's lessons, the chance to pay the Gryffindor boys back for their transgressions was to good an opportunity to miss. Maybe if Lily saw the other side of them she wouldn't be so worried about a few little spells. Still, he now knew he had to fix things with Lily. He would apologise, but would keep his darker activities from her.

The next day Severus made his way to the library after classes. Lily was sitting at her usual desk surrounded by a pile of books.

"Hi Petal," his voice quavered.

"Hi Sev," she hesitated "Can I help you?" it was an oddly formal reply and he cringed.

"Um, I wanted to say I'm sorry," he gave a little smile, she didn't look angry so he continued. "I um, thought about what you said, and I know you were only worried, and I promise that I won't continue with that spell. I won't do it again."

His eyes raised to meet hers hopefully, her features blended into a smile as she stood up and gave him a hug.

"Oh Sev,"she sighed happily. "Did you want to write that transfiguration essay?" and just like that their argument was forgotten.

"I only have a little while as I am helping Mulciber with his homework."

"Sure," her smile was the reward for his lies.

After leaving Lily half an hour later, Severus walked the now familiar path to the dungeons. There a small group had once again gathered around Lucius Malfoy.

"Mulciber you are the best at the spell, so you will hide behind a suit of armour near the Great Hall. One of us will then initiate a duel between Sirius and a student of our choosing, in the midst of which you will fire the curse at our victim and then vacate the area, joining me in the Great Hall. I will provide your alibi, saying you were in the hall with me for lunch."

"So just who will be the fortunate soul we test the curse on," purred Narcissa.

"I thought the Mudblood, Evans that they all hate so very much."

"You won't get her to duel," Severus stated as he approached the group, he needed to ensure she was safe and wouldn't witness his involvement. "Fighting isn't in her nature, Aubery or Gudgeon, might do, they have been on the receiving end of Black and Potter's pranks and have been seen to throw jinxes in retaliation."

"What is their status? A Mudblood would provide a valuable lesson."

"I'm unsure."

"Well find out!" Malfoy snapped.

As the group dispersed Andromeda raised her head from the couch she had been lying on and quickly made her way to her dorm to retrieve a piece of parchment.

A short time later one of the schools barn owls tapped on the window of the Gryffindor boy's dormitory.

"Will someone stop that ruddy tapping!" Remus grumbled, his face buried in a text book.

Peter moved to the window, and relieved the bird of its burden, patting it briefly before it flew back to the owlery.

He glanced at the name emblazoned on the front. "It's for you Sirius," he held out the parchment.

The boy in question sat up from where he had been lying crosswise on his bed, staring at the pictures in a Quidditch magazine. He grabbed the letter from Peter, scanning it quickly.

"Hey it's from Andy!" the mood in the room changed immediately. The four boys mulled over the meaning of the letter.

"It's a pity she couldn't find out when it's going to happen," mused Remus who was playing with a translucent paper bird, charming it to fly.

"We should try to talk to Davy and Bert and make them aware of this too," James looked at the letter over Sirius' shoulder.

"Mmm, even though they don't like us they won't want to get caught up in this," Sirius agreed. "What if they change their target?"

"Simple, we don't duel anyone no matter what," Remus suggested. "Do you all agree?"

The three other boys responded in the affirmative.

It took a few days and some rigorous negotiation but the first year Gryffindor boys came to a peaceful agreement with Davy and Bert. Days passed and then weeks and still the Slytherin's plan hadn't been activated, eventually worry over an eminent attack faded.