Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any characters, J.K. Rowling does.
Lily had never been in a more tense, sombre situation. The common room was packed with silent people. She was the last to enter, having taken over shepherding the first years from Gwen Priggs, the seventh year prefect. Gwen had five sisters and three brothers, all older than her, and all at risk. Looking after first years was impossible for her. Looking around for somewhere to sit, Lily took in what each of her friends were doing. Dorcas sat shaking on the sofa with Mary and Remus either side. Mary was holding her hand and whispering something while Remus patted her on the back. Alice was stood next to a window, leaning on Frank. They weren't talking as both were as worried as the other. Sirius stood, hands in his pockets, facing the fire, not looking at anyone. She couldn't quite put her finger on it but their was something almost angry and impatient about his body language – as if he was being bored in class. James was completely different. He sat on the very edge of a chair, looking more intense than Lily had ever seen him. His stare obviously made Peter, sat in the opposite chair, uncomfortable - or he may have been fidgety - as he got up and joined Sirius at the fire. Lily took the opportunity to sit down. The tension was almost unbearable and just to move to a different position was a relief.
As Lily sat down, James blinked and looked her directly in the eye. It really was the most intense stare she had ever been subjected to. Without his usual grin, James looked a more impressive, foreboding figure. After a moment he broke the gaze and lowered his head into his hands, which, Lily noticed, were shaking. She had never seen James Potter truly scared before and had honestly thought it couldn't happen. The figure before her was so pathetic though that Lily was moved to go over to him. Without a moments hesitation, she went and sat on the arm of his chair. She put an arm around him and squeezed his shoulder. James looked up at her, confused, and Sirius even looked around from the fire. Before there was any chance to get embarrassed or say anything however, the portrait hole opened and Professor McGonagall entered. The tension in the room increased as everyone stared at her.
"Please can I talk to just seventh years first." Her voice sounded oddly loud and eyes couldn't help but be drawn to the parchment in her hand. "If everyone else will go to their dormitories, I will call you down by year group."
There was a flurry of movement as people dispersed. James and Sirius only moved after looks from Frank. Lily hung about by the door to the staircase, ensuring everyone went upstairs. She was just about to close the door behind her when Professor McGonagall called her. "Miss. Evans, would you please stay there. You too, Mr. Potter." She added to James, who was almost the mirror of Lily's position. "I'll need you to go and tell other years when to come down. Both of your family's are safe." Lily nodded, realising it had not even occurred to her to panic about her own family. James had to grab onto the door for support though, as the relief swept through him. After a moment, he successfully stopped himself from grinning and replied. "Yes, Professor."
Professor McGonagall turned to the pale faced seventh years in front of her. "Mr. Longbottom, I'm sorry to say that your father has been killed. Your mother is safe though and preparations will be made for you to go home tomorrow." Frank sat down heavily, head in his hands. Dry sobs shook his body. Lily crossed over to him at once to try and comfort him but he shook her hand off. She stood back, trying to hold back her own tears. She heard Professor McGonagall take a deep breath and continue. "Mr. Bones, all of your family are reported safe, as are yours Mr. Coughlan. Miss. Priggs, your brother Dylan is currently in St. Mungo's. No one else in your family was at the scene. You can go and visit tomorrow."
Gwen staggered backwards and then ran upstairs. Lily watched her go, feeling immense relief for her.
"Miss. McKinnon, none of your family were there. Neither were any of yours Miss. Kendal. Miss. Ralph, your family is safe too." The girls all hugged each other and then hurried upstairs. Edgar and Mike had sat down either side of Frank.
"Mr. Longbottom, if you go to Professor Dumbledore, he can get you home quickly. You should be with your mother now." Professor McGonagall said kindly. Frank, helped by his friends, got slowly to his feet and left the common room. Lily and James, after watching him go, departed to get the sixth years.
It was the worst thing in the world, waiting for Professor McGonagall to say something. Dorcas was so pale that she looked close to fainting. Everyone gathered around her, trying, in some way, to show their support. Professor McGonagall looked at them all. "I'm sorry Dorcas. Your parents were targeted in a separate attack."
Dorcas screamed and collapsed, she was caught by Remus, Peter and Mary. They carried her to a sofa and set her down gently. Alice stood frozen, staring at Professor McGonagall, who had gone quite white. She could bear it no longer.
"What about me? What about my family?" Alice cried out in a strained, cracked voice.
Professor McGonagall looked at her list. "Your family is safe Miss Macmillan."
Alice closed her eyes and breathed out. "Thank you." Very quietly, she went back upstairs and left the others to care for Dorcas.
"Is that it?" Sirius asked sharply. His face was stony. Lily was astonished by his harsh tone and looked at him curiously.
"For this year, yes, Mr. Black." Professor McGonagall replied. She turned to the group gathered around Dorcas. "Could you please take Miss. Meadows to the Hospital Wing? Professor Dumbledore is making arrangements for her to be with her remaining family."
Mary nodded and, together with Remus and Peter, lifted Dorcas up again and left the common room. Once they had gone, Sirius kicked a chair over before leaving the room. Lily and James went to get the fifth years.
It was possibly one of the worst days ever. Lily was certain she and James had the worst job ever, entering into the dormitories of pale, shaking people to take them to their fate. Eventually, the first years were brought down. One girl was already in tears. The crying only stopped when she ran out of energy, just after she found out her little brother had been mauled by a werewolf. One of the boys was told that his dad had been killed. It fell to James to try and comfort him. He knelt down to his level and wrapped the small boy in his arms – letting him kick, punch and scream as much as he wanted until his grief wore him out. After an hour, they were the only ones left in the room. Lily sat opposite James as they had done before the news had been broken.
"Are you all right?" Lily's voice sounded odd, breaking the silence of the room. James looked her in the eye. There was none of the usual spark of arrogance or mischief shining there. After what seemed like an age, James answered. "I'm worried about that little kid. I'm worried about Meadows. I'm worried about Frank and Alice. I'm bloody terrified about Padfoot and I just can't work out who I want to try and hurt first at the moment." He finished with a steel in his tone that didn't suit him.
Lily ignored the list of worries – she shared those and they didn't need explanation. The fear about Sirius though...
"Why are you scared about Black?"
James took a deep breath. "I think he might do something stupid. He'll feel responsible. His family is just... His family are big pure-bloods and support Voldemort basically. The thought that his family are doing this to his friends really kills him."
Lily nodded. "Potter, please tell him that he's not them. Tell him how he's chosen to be better than that and that his choice matters. He needs to know."
James nodded. "Thanks Lily. It'll mean a lot."
Lily blinked at being called her name by James. There was an undeniable, if tiny, shift in the tension of the room. They stared at each other for a long time before Lily broke the silence again.
"If it's okay, I'm going to go and check on Alice."
"Of course. I better go and see Padfoot. See you later." James levered himself out of the chair.
"See you later." Lily replied and hurried towards the girls dormitories, the worries about her friends over coming the unnamed, intense, feeling that had swept over her just moments before.
A/N: Sorry for the slow update guys! I've just started uni and so everything is a little bit hectic (and drunken!) Thanks for reviews and favs, hopefully you like this chapter even if it is a bit intense. Let me know anything to be improved upon or if you just really liked it :).