A/N: A (relatively) fast update! Someone congratulate me please? Okay so thank you to all of you who reviewed/favourited/followed. It means. The world. Really. It does. For this chapter though, I really need you guys to review because I need to know which direction the story esp the next chapter should go in!

Okay clearing some external dialogue things up:
Remus/Sirius/Marlene (I hope it isn't too confusing)

I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS CHAPTER BTW AND I HOPE YALL LOVE IT.

Disclaimer: HP-verse belongs to JK Rowling and not to me. Which is pretty damn upsetting if you ask me.

James fastened his cufflinks as he paced the living room, waiting for Lily to come down. "Are Sirius and Marlene at the Malfoy's already?"

"Yes. They've just reached. You and Lily ready?" Remus huffed uneasily.

"Just waiting for Lily. You okay, mate?"

"I'm nervous as fuck. After Sirius' attack, we don't know what we're up against. You guys might not even come out alive today!"

James gritted his teeth and turned slowly towards the camera embedded in the silver apple on the mantelpiece. "Thanks man! That's really what I needed to hear" James growled through clenched teeth.

"Yeah yeah. Dude, sorry. You'll be fine. You and Lily are the best spies I know. If anyone has got this, it's you guys…. I'm serious!" Remus added, noting James glare at the camera. "Okay…I'm gonna….go. Good luck. Okay? Okay. Bye." Remus' image folded back into the apple and the camera retracted, leaving James alone in his living room.

James fisted his hand in his mouth, biting down. "Fucking hell" he said mutedly against his hand.

"What's that?" Lily's voice had James turning to face her, and his jaw went slack around his fist.

Lily looked downright phenomenal. She had on a light blue off-shoulder top that hugged her chest and ended just before her waist, exposing a strip of her glorious skin. It was paired with a dark blue – like the night sky, James had thought - high-waisted skirt that clung to each of Lily's curves, accentuating them to limits that were reducing James' mind to mush. A slit ran up the material coming to a stop just short of her hip. Her dark red hair cascaded over one shoulder, and the corners of mouth twitched up at the strangled sound James emitted from behind his hand.

He dropped his hand, suddenly self-conscious, and ran the other through his hair, effectively mussing it up. "Damn!" he exclaimed, trying to tame his hair into decent shape again.

Lily laughed. "Leave it. It looks nicer like this."

He smiled easily at her, and felt like his heart might burst. All he really wanted to do was stride over to her and cover her exposed neck with slow kisses, wrapping his arms around her…

Keep things professional.

Her voice echoed back to him and instantly his smile became tight-lipped. "You look…." Astonishing. Wondrous. Extraordinary. "…nice."

She grinned at him, although it seemed just a little tight. "Thank you. You don't clean up too bad yourself, Agent Potter."

He raised his eyebrows and smiled in acknowledgement. "Your dress… doesn't leave much room for weapons."

Lily smirked at him. "Ah, but James, I am a lady of many talents." She raised a heel-clad foot and placed it on the table. Letting the material fall, Lily exposed multiple harnesses strapping an array of knives to her left thigh and calf.

James' mouth curved into a smirk and he let out a low whistle.

Lily lowered her leg and waggled her eyebrows at him. "And…." She crossed her arms behind her head. In one swift motion, she uncrossed them, and with the sound of slashing metal, she had a knife in either hand. She reveled at the stunned expression on James' face, and tucked the knives away. "And you?"

"The good old, stuck-in-my-pants." He turned as he said this, flipping up his tuxedo jacket, so that Lily could see the two revolvers tucked into his waistband.

"You should be careful. You could blow up your parts like that."

James mumbled a low, "What do you care", just loud enough for Lily to make out.

She cleared her throat, uncomfortable. "Ready?"

"As I'll ever be."

"Let's go then."

They could barely hear the doorbell ring over the noise of a full-blown party.

"Okay James. Lily. We've been over this. All you guys have to do is maintain your cover, mingle with the guests. Watch the stairs and exits. We don't want anyone going up while Sirius and Marlene are searching for the stone. Once you've made yourselves comfortable and have a good vantage point, say the cue for them and its go, go, go."

"Marlene. Sirius. Be on the ready. I've already disabled their camera system so you're good to go once James and Lily are settled in."

Remus took a deep breath, clearly on edge. If their lives hadn't been at stake, it would've been amusing.

Footsteps approached the door."All agents on standby".

The door swung open. "Action."

Narcissa Malfoy was clearly enjoying the party, because even the arrival of James and Lily couldn't wipe the genuine smile off her face. "Ah, the Potters."

James and Lily stepped in, with blessed anniversary greetings ready on their lips. Lily handed over a present wrapped in gold paper, leaning in to kiss Narcissa on the cheek.

She directed them to the ballroom as more guests arrived. As James walked past her, Narcissa caught his hand, and he turned back.

"Thank you. For coming." She added with a small smile.

James grasped her hand and smiled at her slightly befuddled. As he dropped Narcissa's hand, he grabbed Lily's, and intertwined his fingers with hers.

Lily smiled and nodded at the other guests as they entered the ballroom. "That was weird" she muttered, waving at Frank and Alice across the room. The way Narcissa had thanked James and been so warm with Lily had sent a ripple of confusion through her. She was beginning to think that Narcissa lived for the people around her. She wasn't a bad person. She was just loyal. And her loyalties lay with the wrong people. Her husband. And thus with Riddle.

Lily scanned the ballroom. It was huge. Malfoy Manor certainly was just that. A manor. And a magnificent one at that. The ceilings were high, with large chandeliers hanging from them. Lily recognized many faces, the Weasleys, the Longbottoms, Severus Snape, who had his eyes intently locked on her, Rita bloody Skeeter. Many guests twirled on the dance floor. From what Lily could see, the best place to watch the stairs would be from the dance floor. Waiters milled with the glamorous guests, carrying trays filled with hors d'oeuvres and glasses with glittering champagne.

Lily looked up at James and nodded at the Weasleys, who were standing talking to a very disgusted looking Lucius Malfoy. "Mingle first?"

James nodded in response and used their joined hands to steer Lily over to them.

"Lily! James! Wonderful to see you!" Arthur Weasley exclaimed as they approached. He looked a little tipsy, and as he leaned forward to hug Lily, she confirmed that he probably had one too many champagnes.

"Hello."

Molly Weasley embraced Lily and James, smiling warmly. Lucius just nodded politely, distaste colouring his features.

He looked at them. "James and Lily. The Potters."

Lily smiled at him, wearing a befuddled expression. Inside, she was on the alert. The way Lucius had said their names, he might as well have added air quotations.

"Yes," Lily said. "That's us. Happy Wedding Anniversary."

"Thank you."

Arthur Weasley broke in, gesticulating a little more than was necessary. "I was just telling Lucius here, there's a rumour that Tom Riddle has stolen something rather valuable."

James feigned surprise. "STOLEN?" he echoed

Lucius Malfoy shot him a dirty look. "Utter nonsense obviously. Riddle would never do something so low."

Lily clenched her teeth. "Well, you're certainly devoted. Do you work for him or something?"

"Yes. I do, in fact."

"Oh. I'm so sorry." She waved her hand dismissively at Arthur. "It probably is just a rumour. From what I've seen, Riddle seems to running quite an enterprise. He must be immensely wealthy. There would be no reason for something so obscure as theft."

Arthur leaned into Molly. "Fair point."

James chanced a glance at Lucius Malfoy, and was rewarded to see that he seemed confused, as if Lily had thrown him off.

"I'm off to find Narcissa." He said abruptly, stalking away, only stopping to whisper something to Snape, who glanced furtively at James and Lily.

Molly placed a hand on James arm gently. "Don't get on his bad side. Lucius, Snape, they both work for Riddle. They have no compassion, no remorse. I would know."

"What do you mean?" James asked, stepping closer.

Molly glanced at Arthur, who nodded reassuringly at her, urging her to continue. "I had two brothers once. They worked for a police force of some sort. They began investigating Riddle. And one day, they were killed."

Lily gasped, and her hand grasped James' tighter. "He murdered them?" James asked.

Molly nodded, brushing the tears away from her eyes. "No proof of course, but I know."

Arthur wrapped an arm around her shoulders, rubbing her arm. "Maybe we should leave, Molly." She nodded, and with rushed goodbyes, they left.

Lily tucked her face into James shoulder and heaved a sigh. "This is not okay."

James released her hand to wrap his arm around her. He brought his left hand up to cup her face. "It's not okay. But it will be." He lowered his head to look into her eyes. "We'll make it okay." She reached up to wrap her fingers around James hand, and they stayed like that until Snape interrupted them.

"Is everything okay? You seem distressed." He swallowed hard and looked like he wanted nothing more than to rip James' hands off Lily.

Lily twisted against James' side to face Snape. "Yes. Molly Weasley just told us some upsetting news."

Snape locked eyes with Lily. "Oh really? And what might that be?"

"I really don't think it's our right to share. It's a very personal matter." James supplied.

Snape looked distastefully at James and then back at Lily. "And how are you, young, newlyweds finding married life?"

Lily wrapped her arm around James waist. "Well, I, am particularly enjoying it," she said, looking up at James.

"Hmm…" Snape's eyes flicked to James momentarily. "You don't look it."

James waited a moment, before swooping down and kissing Lily, full on the mouth. His lips surged against hers and she brought her hand up to tangle in his hair, urging him closer. James broke away seconds later, and looked Snape directly in the eye.

"Funny. I rather think she does" he said, nodding at Lily, who was blushing, her kiss-swollen lips parted with her smile.

Snape looked like he'd been slapped.

"Severus, I'm sure you read the Skeeter article. I mean, I don't like the woman much, but she made some valid points." Lily supplied helpfully, giggling. She pulled herself closer to James, and he wrapped his arm tightly around her.

James swiped two glasses of champagne off a floating tray, handed one to Lily and offered one to Snape. "You want a drink, mate? You're looking a little peaky."

Snape resisted the urge to knock the champagne glass out of James' hand and stared at him angrily instead.

James shrugged and downed the glass. Snape stomped away, without another word.

Lily took a sip of the champagne. "Risky move there don't you think?"

James grinned at her. "Well, we wouldn't want him thinking we weren't truly married would we?"

Lily tipped her champagne glass at him and remarked lightly; "This champagne is lovely."

"Team Two, Go! Go!" Remus urged Marlene and Sirius.

Lily downed the rest of her champagne and put it on a floating tray. She turned to James. "Shall we dance?" He nodded. She was relieved. As much as it was a good vantage point for them, Lily was desperate to put some distance between her and James. There was practically no space between them. And she found far too much comfort in being pressed against him. He smelled so great, and Lily could barely take her mind off him. It didn't help at all how unbelievably good he looked in his tuxedo. The jacket clung to his shoulders and buttoned at his waist, emphasized the broadness of them. His pants were tailored to perfection and she couldn't help the thoughts that…NO she could help them and she would NOT allow her mind to go down that path. She'd never seen him dressed so formally before, and it was truly a sight to behold. Back at the house, when he had ruffled his hair, Lily felt her heart begin a tap routine that it still hadn't stopped.

By their joint hands, James led her onto the dance floor. He pulled her in front of him, then dropped her hand. Thank god. Then, he positioned his hands on her waist. Lily stepped closer and twined her hands behind his head. They started swaying gently to the music. For the love of….Maybe dancing hadn't been the best idea. They were now all contact, their bodies flush against one another's, and their breaths mingling and their eyes locked.

Lily leaned her head against James' shoulder, the top of her head pressed against his cheek. This wasn't much better, but at least she didn't have to look at him. Her olfactory senses were on overdrive though. "Can you see the stairs?"

"Not at all. Can you?"

"Angle us to the right slightly more." He did so. "Yep, I've got it."

They swayed as Lily watched the stairs. "What have we gotten ourselves into, James?" She didn't know what she meant, them or Riddle but either way her breath caught as she waited for his answer.

She felt James' sigh more that heard it. "I don't know. But we've got this. We'll figure it out."
He was silent for a minute. "I really hate that Snape fellow."

Lily smiled against his shoulder. "I sort of got the feeling." She shuddered. "He gives me bad vibes."

James tightened his grip on her momentarily. "How are you guys going?"

"This fucking house, is fucking huge." Sirius replied, huffing.

Marlene laughed softly, and they could hear the shuffling sounds of a search.

"Nothing yet guys."

James dipped his head. "Lucius Malfoy just left the room. Lily, watch for him."

Sure enough, Lucius Malfoy had slipped away from the crowd and was making his way to the stairs.

Lily leaned away and smiled at James. "Malfoy coming up at you. Take cover" she said serenely, even though her pulse was going wild.

"For fucks sake." Sirius exclaimed and they scuffled to hide.

Agonizing minutes passed, with no communication from Sirius and Marlene until Lucius Malfoy descended the stairs again. Lily released a long breath. "Thank god, he's down."

Sirius let out a stream of curse words as they resumed searching.

Lily and James continued dancing, each pointing out various people they should talk to later. James' hands skimmed her skin rhythmically, and he eventually pressed his hands against her back, playing with the edge of her top. "Let's talk about your dress."

She smiled quizzically at him. "My dress?" she asked, her fingers absent-mindedly playing with the hair at the nape of his neck.

"Yes." He fingered her shirt. "It seems impossible that you've hidden knives up here. There is no space."

Lily laughed. "And yet…" she laughed again as James' frown deepened. "It's sewn into the fabric. So that you can't see it – or feel it – from the outside."

Another couple danced close enough to overhear the conversation, and James tactically changed the subject. "I definitely think we should re-do the kitchen."

"How romantic" Lily commented drily, as the confused couple waltzed away. "Young, in love, slow-dancing, and talking about renovating their kitchen. That's the height of romance, if you ask me."

James' eyes flashed, like he was about to do something reckless. He pulled Lily closer, and dropped a kiss against her collarbone. "If you want the height of romance…." He made her sigh as he pressed kiss after kiss up her neck and along her jaw but stopped short of her mouth. Flames erupted in Lily's stomach, sending turbulent waves of emotion crashing over her. "I can give you the height of romance."

Lily blushed and tried desperately not to show how much she enjoyed his little feat, trying to calm the feelings and thoughts clouding her mind. "Oi. We're not supposed to be doing this."

James sighed. "I know. But it's immensely fun, don't you think?"

She pressed against his shoulder, peeking over the top as they swayed. She spotted Snape watching them again, his mouth a thin, hardly visible line. "Gee. Snape is staring again. Why do you think he's always watching us?"

"You really want to know what I think?"

"Yes, why?"

"I think he's in love with you."

Lily gaped and pulled away so she could stare at James. "That's absurd. He can't be in love with me. He doesn't even know me. All he does is stare."

James shrugged. "You asked me what I thought."

Lily tilted her head up haughtily. "I didn't think your opinion would be so…ludicrous."

James rolled his eyes and pulled her back into his arms. "As much as I don't like the slimeball…

Whatever James had been about to say was cut off by Marlene's voice. "We're out. No stone. But we found something else. We need you back at Remus' place. Stat."

"So you just found it? It wasn't hidden? Nothing?"

Sirius shot daggers at Lily. "How many times did I say that?"

"Sorry. It just seems very convenient that's all."

"Lucius Malfoy came into the study. He made a phone call. We couldn't hear much, and when we came out, this scribbled note was on the desk." Marlene clarified for the thousandth time.

James snickered. "You guys were hiding in the closet right? You literally came out of the closet."

Marlene and Lily bit their smiled back, but Sirius was not amused. "I'm gonna fucking punch you in your fucking face, James."

James laughed at him. "Okay, okay. Remus, what should we do?"

Remus wiped at his bottom lip with his thumb. "I don't like this. I don't like this at all."

Lily looked around at the group, huddled around the tiny piece of paper. "Where's Peter?"

Remus looked up at her and his brow furrowed. "He said he was stepping out for a while. But that was pretty long ago. He glanced at his watch and shook his head. "I'm sure he'll be back."

Sirius drummed his fingers on the table. "It could be a trap. It wouldn't be much of a surprise. We know that there's a mole."

Marlene hummed in agreement. "Lily and I narrowed down the location to either Malfoy Manor or Riddle Inc. This location is neither. In fact, it's not even in town."

James shook his head. "I say we don't go. It's probably a trap."

Lily nodded. "It might be. But…I say we go."

James head snapped around to look at her, but he looked away quickly. "Let's take a vote then. If it isn't a trap? We need to act quickly. Marls?"

Marlene squeezed her eyes shut and rubbed at her temples. "No. I vote we don't go."

"Sirius?"

The drumming of his fingers got faster until they stopped abruptly. "We go."

"Remus, you're the deciding vote."

"We…" Remus looked like his brains were going to burst out of his forehead. "….go".

A collective nervousness rippled between the five of them. "Okay, so we go."

"We go."

"Yeah"

"Okay who goes?"

James stood up straight. "Sirius and I obviously." Sirius nodded vehemently

"Obviously?" Lily echoed incredulously.

"Why? Just because you're the 'men'?" Marlene countered.

"I think Lene and I should go. We're just as capable." Lily huffed.

"STOP." Remus butted in as Sirius opened his mouth in rebuke.

Both genders fell silent.

"Either James and Lily go, or Sirius and Marlene go. If it is a trap, which it likely is, we don't need them to make the association between the four of you. For all intents and purposes, you don't know each other."

Lily turned her face into her shoulder and closed her eyes.

"James and I should go."

"NO" Marlene and Sirius both objected.

Lily held up a hand. "Listen. It makes the most sense. All Riddle's cronies already suspect us. They might not know for sure, but they are definitely suspicious. With either of us going, we risk blowing our respective covers. But ours is already half-blown. They'll be expecting James and I."

"Which is exactly why you shouldn't go."

"It's exactly why we should."

Remus snapped his fingers randomly as if he was trying to snap a fly away. "Okay, I've decided." He paused. "I hate this job."

He sighed and dropped his head onto the table. "James and Lily go" he mumbled against the surface.

"Bloody hell." Sirius muttered, clearly upset. Marlene blinked away tears and Remus' proclamation of "It feels like I'm sentencing my friends to death" was muffled by the wood of the table.

Lily rolled her eyes, even though the anxiety was suffocating her. "It feels nice that you're all expecting us to die. Warms my heart."

James grabbed the car keys off the table. "Ready?"

"As I'll ever be."

James arched his eyebrows. "Let's go."

"This is unnaturally dark."

"After you?"

"Naturally," Lily stepped into the room, an eerie feeling seeping into her bones.

There was a small, glowing light pulsing at the other side of the room. How convenient.

Lily walked towards it, her senses heightened.

"Lily."

She turned around to face James, who gestured for her to come back to him. She walked over, confused.

When she reached him, he wrapped his arms around her, hands sliding up her shirt. Lily almost swatted his hands away before she realized that he wasn't feeling her up, he was reaching for her knives. He kissed her just above her ear, whispering "We're surrounded."

Lily wrapped her arms around his waist, fisting her hands around each gun.

With an almighty shout, the men surrounding seemed to realize what they were doing and charged forward, surrounding them.

"NOW!" Lily yelled.

James pulled the knives out and threw them in one swift motion, impaling them in two of the men's foreheads. Lily squatted; one leg outstretched, and raised both arms, firing the guns at anyone she could see approaching. She could hear many yelling in pain, and falling behind, but by the time she had emptied both magazines, more men were approaching faster than she and James could keep back. Finally recovering from James and Lily's initial attack, the men began firing their guns. James ducked to avoid the bullets flying over and around him.

"James!" She tossed both revolvers at him and he caught them deftly, and popped in new magazines before he began shooting at the offenders. A bullet flew past her, grazing her side, and Lily grimaced with the pain. She flipped her skirt over, pulling and throwing knife after knife faster than she ever had before, the adrenaline rush overwhelming her.

James suddenly crouched beside her, reloading his guns as Lily continued to hurl knives at the offenders. "This is my last round of bullets."

Lily struck a man through the chest and hitched her skirt up higher. "And my last set of knives."

James turned to his left and fired at two opponents, the bullets embedding themselves in the men's chests. "Hand to hand combat?"

James heard the fast whiz of knives as Lily threw three past his face at the men behind him. "My favourite."

"Go."

James lunged at the man closest to them, twisted the rifle in his hands and knocked the man out with an elbow to the head. Another rushed him, and James used the rifle to conk him on the head.

Lily ducked the blows of the man she was up against and delivered a powered punch to his face. He stumbled backwards and Lily extended her leg in a quick sweeping motion, pulling the man's legs from under him. He fell backwards, his eyes rolling as his head thumped against the cement floor.

Lily heard James yell, and pivoted to look for him, but in that moment, someone grabbed her from behind and pressed a knife into her side. Her vision blurred with the pain. She blinked it away and scanned the room for James. He had his arms twisted at an odd angle behind his back by one assailant and another was punching him in the gut. Lily's heart jumped into her throat, and tears sprung into her eyes. James' eyes locked with hers and his eyes clouded with pain and worry as he realized that she'd been captured too. Lily felt flames of anger lash at her insides.

Lily felt a sharp pain and looked down to see that the man holding her had slashed her side with the knife, leaving a deep gash. Lily shook her head to clear her vision. Her eyes focused on the knife the man was wielding – it was one of her own. She felt keen anger flare in her gut. "That's". She brought a heeled foot up against the man's crotch. "My." He doubled over and Lily took the opportunity to flip him over her shoulder, body slamming him into the ground. "Knife." She grabbed the knife and hurled it across the room, stabbing the man assaulting James in the temple. "And that's my James."

The man she had slammed into the ground recovered quickly, yanking her foot so that she fell backwards, cracking her skull against the floor. She felt a rush of nausea and her vision went black. She blinked rapidly trying to regain sight. The man hovered over her, his hideous face horribly close to her own. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw James throw off his attacker and deliver a roundhouse kick to his head. Her attacker punched her across the face, splitting the skin across her cheekbone and her vision swam again. He raised his fist for another but Lily could see James start running across the room and before the man could bring his fist down, he was flying towards the wall, a James attached to his waist.

Lily struggled to her feet, grabbing a knife off the floor and spun in a circle, surveying the room for more advancing attackers.

Confirming there were no longer conscious ones left, she walked over to James, who was beating the living pulp out of the man who had attacked Lily.

"James." She placed a hand on James' shoulder, calming him. "Stop. He's out."

James' body went slack, and he stopped, hanging his head.

Lily squeezed his shoulder and James rose, turning to wrap his arms around her shoulders. She pressed against him, hands coming up against his back and she let the bloodied knife clatter to the ground. Lily sobbed into James' shoulder and they both shook, from strain and emotion.

James dropped his hands to her waist and lowered his forehead against hers, his eyes closed. Lily stroked a hand through his hair and down his cheekbone and jaw. He winced as her fingers skimmed a nasty bruise blooming on his cheek.

"I thought I was going to lose you."

James kissed Lily then, his teeth gnashing against hers. Her lips urged him on as he cupped her head, pulling her deeper into the kiss. She fisted her hands in his dress shirt, tugging him closer, closer as if no space was too much between them. This was it. There was no façade here. No excuse. They were bloodied, battered, raw and vulnerable and all they wanted was each other.

"Let's get out of here, yeah?"

A/N: DO YALL KNOW WHAT THEY DO NEXT? (THE NAKEY NAKEY DANCE) (THE SEX) HUHUHUHU (what am i? five?)

Okay so here's the (two)things:
1) do you guys want me to write the smut? I've never written smut before, but I'll give it a shot if you guys would like to read it. Or would you rather leave the story as a T-rated fic? I could also post the smut separately, but honestly, it all depends on you guys. Cause there's no point writing the smut if no one plans on reading it.

2) Did you like the chapter? It was SO much fun to write, so I especially want to know how you guys liked (or didn't like) it!

So, please let me know in a review or a PM okay? ((:

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