Hello Everyone!

Chapter 13 here. I don't really know what to say about it. You'll just have to read it and decide what you think. It took less time than expected because I wasted time on it instead of doing my real homework. But you know how I am, once I write a new chapter I just have to share it right away.

Disclaimer: These are still not my characters

I hope you enjoy!

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"Lily, go get Dumbledore."

"I'm not letting you down there by yourself, James, don't be ridiculous."

Yeah, like I'd let her come with me. For such a smart girl she can be incredibly daft sometimes.

"They won't be able to see me, Lily, invisible, remember? Just go get Dumbledore and meet me down there." I hoped that Dumbledore would make her stay behind.

She glared, but she didn't follow me down the front steps.

I went off into the night looking for them. We had been on our way through the charms corridor, so they should be around the west side of the castle. Merlin, it could take me another ten minutes to get that far around. What could they do in that time?

No telling, I suppose. It only takes a second to cast a spell.

Getting there faster by turning into a stag won't help. I wouldn't be able to keep the invisibility cloak on and I'd loose the ability to actually use my wand. I won't be any help to this person as an animal.

When I finally rounded the corner that brought them into view, I snuck behind a tree, then thought better of it. There would be more confusion if the spells appeared to be coming from thin air.

"Protego," I muttered at the shape in the middle. Immediately a violet curse deflected and hit someone else in the face.

This did not immediately get their attention, as they were all busily casting their own curses. When they had to dodge a few, they realized that something had gone wrong. I had missed my chance. I should have thrown in a few curses while they were oblivious.

"What's happened?" came the voice of Crabbe.

"Someone's here, dimwit, shut up so that we can find them." Possibly the most unattractive female voice in all of Britain. The voice of Bellatrix Black.

"And how to do you propose we do that, Bella? It's pitch black and this person is obviously invisible." Severus Snape. Unfortunately, that voice is burned into my brain.

"Don't use my name, Severus. It's dark enough that they can't see our faces."

"Ever so sorry, Bella, I'll be sure not to say your name again, Bella, we want to be sure that no one knows you're out here, Bella."

You know, even if he is a pain in the ass, at least he's an equal opportunity pain in the ass.

I wasn't sure what to do right then. With the body protected and myself hidden, all I really had to do was wait for Dumbledore to come out. It took a few minutes. Surprisingly, these idiots didn't know enough to get out of here before they were caught.

Or so I thought.

I found out their reasoning when Dumbledore finally did appear with Lily at his side. Unfortunately, he brought with him a burst of light, which illuminated his and Lily's presence. Another normally brilliant individual who had made and astoundingly idiotic decision. At least Lily isn't the only one who does that.

All the bloody maniacs around the body turned and looked at the disturbance that Dumbledore caused.

"MUDBLOOD!" Bellatrix screamed. While all the others trained their wands on Dumbledore, she had hers pointed straight at Lily.

I dove in front of the jet of red meant for Lily and felt it as it seemed to split my shoulder in two. Just as I hit the ground I heard heavy footsteps and turned my head, expecting to see them rushing at us with wands at the ready. Instead I saw them scattering.

I couldn't even see most of them anymore.

"James!" Lily was screaming, "James! Where are you?"

She was fumbling around in the darkness, trying to find me under my cloak. I couldn't move my upper body, but I managed to kick the cloak off of my leg so that she could see me.

She gasped when she spotted it, then shrieked in horror, "James?" She started clawing at my leg and managed to uncover the rest of me, but her face relaxed only slightly. "Oh, James, I told you not to come out here alone!"

"What was I supposed to do," I grunted, "Leave that other poor wretch out here? Abbott still can't talk right after what that lot did to him."

She had conjured a stretcher and was levitating me onto it when I noticed that Dumbledore was examining the other body.

Not frantically muttering spells.

Just examining.

My heart dropped to replace my stomach. This couldn't have happened, not here. Hogwarts was a safe place.

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I tossed and turned all night.

I didn't try to deny the reason. It was a pointless effort.

This was the first night in more than two weeks that I was alone in my bed. I had gotten used to having James's arms wrapped around me. Of course I would never admit it to him…but it was quite nice to wake up that way.

He was still in the hospital wing. I wanted to stay, but Madame Pomfrey wouldn't have it. She kicked me out at midnight, saying it was inappropriate to have students in the infirmary when they should be in their own beds. I was about to argue when James told me to come back here and get some sleep.

And I tried, I really did, but it didn't work and I was back in the hospital wing the moment I saw daylight outside my window.

He was sleeping quite peacefully. After Dumbledore had assured him that the other student was still alive, he had been able to shut his eyes.

I just sat, looking at him.

He had actually thrown himself in the way. I saw the cloak slip for that moment. I couldn't believe it.

But really, I could.

I stared into his face and saw the goodness there. He really was a wonderful person.

I realized that I was stroking his hair. I'm not sure when I started, but I couldn't stop now. I hadn't realized how much I wanted to touch him. This boy who would throw himself into harm's way for me.

It was wonderful too. The feel of his hair…it was soft and silky and thick. I laughed quietly at myself. If I don't want to take my hands off it I suppose I can't blame him anymore.

He stirred gently and opened his eyes. Then he smiled at me.

"Morning," he murmured.

I gave him a small smile. "You scared me."

"Sorry, Lily," he said, closing his eyes again, "The alternative was you being in this bed, and I couldn't let that happen."

I'd love to say that I don't know what possessed me, but I know perfectly well what it was. But it doesn't matter why I did it. The point is, I leaned down and kissed his cheek very softly.

But that wasn't enough.

So I kissed his other cheek.

That wasn't enough either.

I took his face into my hands and kissed it all over.

And then I kissed his lips, and let myself pour all my gratitude into him.

He didn't open his eyes when I lifted my head, instead he tried to hold me there with his hurt arm and moaned at the pain.

"Sorry," I murmured softly. I think he knew I only meant his arm.

"Don't be," he said, slowly opening his eyes. "I'd take the trade any day."

I blushed.

But at that moment Madame Pomfrey bustled in.

"Didn't I send you back to your dormitory, Miss Evans?"

"It's morning, now, Madame Pomfrey. I came to see how he was doing."

She looked me over for a moment, then decided to ignore my presence. Bustling over to James, she began checking his bandaged shoulder and clucking her displeasure that he was still wincing slightly at her touch.

She changed the bandage and then went to check on the other student who was much more severely injured. They hadn't yet figured out who this was.

According to Dumbledore, the mix of curses had actually counter-acted each other slightly, and it was this anomaly that saved the student's life. Strange, really, that this person was saved by being hit with too many curses.

James was staring at me.

"You need some breakfast, Lily."

"I'm fine."

"I'll be here when you get back. Go get something to soothe your stomach."

"No."

"I threw myself into a curse for you. You owe me a favor."

"This would be doing myself a favor, James, not you."

"It's my favor. I get to decide what it is."

"Ok, fine," I sighed. Why did he always have to be so…James? "I'll be back soon."

He smiled. "I'll be here."

I wandered down to the Great Hall and found the boys already at breakfast. It always struck me that being such early risers was an odd quirk in their character. No one would expect it of them.

Sirius saw me and waved me over.

"Miss Lily! How are you this morning?" His face fell slightly when he registered my expression. "What happened?"

"After breakfast, I want you all to come up to the hospital wing with me," I started. They sat open-mouthed through the whole story and remained speechless when I finished. Remus spoke first.

"Who was it this time?"

"We don't know yet."

Sirius grimaced. "They're making that their trademark, aren't they."

We sat in silence after that remark. No one could eat much besides a bit of dry toast. After everyone gave up on breakfast, we traipsed back up to the hospital wing.

"You brought the whole crew!" James grinned as we walked in.

Sirius looked him over and cracked a smile. "You look a right mess, Prongs."

"Aw, it's not so bad. Do you think the rumors will get the right place for the bandage?" James joked back.

"Maybe if you're lucky," Sirius grinned and nudged Peter in the ribs. "Wormtail here will probably spread the wrong rumor on purpose."

I settled into one of the chairs and listened to their banter for the rest of the morning.

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"Unfortunately, Mr. Potter, I cannot expel any student with only one witness to their crime. Even if that witness is myself, I'm afraid."

"But Professor Dumbledore, You, me, and Lily were all there. Surely we all saw two or three of the same people? I know that we all saw Bellatrix Black," I argued. There is absolutely no way that I'm going to just let them get off on this.

"I can suspend some students, and have done so. Bellatrix Black is among them."

I wanted to shake him for his grave calmness. I wanted anger from him, uncontrolled, hot-headed anger, and he refused to indulge in it.

And now he tells me that he has only suspended Bellatrix?

Really?

The only student that we can be certain to expel according to all the ridiculous rules, and he has only suspended her?

"Professor—"

He cut me off, knowing what my argument would be. "Miss Black has been allowed to stay at Hogwarts for the time being because she was helpful enough to inform me who masterminded these attacks."

I stared in shock.

"She gave you names?"

"Of a few previously unknown Death Eaters."

I tried to let this knowledge sink in.

I knew Bellatrix was all bad, essentially evil somehow, but I had always imagined her to have a firm loyalty to that core. I had never expected this of her.

"She gave you names," I repeated, trying to will myself to believe it.

"Yes."

I shook my head. "I can't let her anywhere near the muggle-borns of this school, Professor. You saw her. She attacked Lily right in front of you, as though she thought she would somehow get away with it."

"Well, Mr. Potter, it appears that she has," Dumbledore said, too lightly for my liking. He paused for a moment and then considered me as I was sitting up in my hospital bed, agitated beyond imagining that Madam Pomfrey had confined me here for another day. "Rules and regulations bind my hands…but I do believe that the Marauders are rather good at leaving no evidence…"

With that he turned and walked out of the hospital wing.

What?

Did he just give me permission?

Lily and the boys rushed in, having been told to wait outside until Dumbledore left.

"What happened?"

"What did he want?"
"Did they find out anything new?"

"Er," I said, trying to decide whether or not to attempt answering their jumble of questions, "He just…well, he just…gave me permission to hunt down those dogs and give them hell."

Sirius grinned. "Excellent."

The other three were nodding their agreement.

"Don't get too excited Padfoot," I said, catching his slightly sadistic mood, "We're not allowed to sign our work."

Lily looked at me funny. So I explained, "He complimented us on our talent for leaving no evidence, whenever the desire strikes us."

Sirius's mood hadn't dampened one bit. "Oh, don't worry, Prongs, this will be satisfying enough without stamping our names on it. Those damn bitches had it coming for years now."

"I can't believe that he actually gave us permission," Remus said, shaking his head in disbelief.

Peter started bouncing around saying, "We get to curse the Slytherins! We get to curse the Slytherins! We get to cur---"

Lily clamped a hand over his mouth and hissed, "Madam Pomfrey will hear!"

Oh, Peter, that boy never knows what he's doing. He just needs someone to look after him all the time, that's all. Between the three of us, we can usually manage it.

"Alright," Sirius said, turning to me and losing his grin, "where should we start?"

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I was in a broom cupboard with James Potter.

Something that I had actually imagined quite a bit lately, since my recent bout of…insanity.

At least that's what I keep telling myself it was.

Because if I actually wanted to kiss James Potter…well, that would be catastrophic.

I think.

But there we were, squashed into a broom cupboard, and I couldn't deny the fact that I was aware of every minute detail of his presence. His scent was a mixture of soap and fresh sweat, his lips were full, and his big, hazel eyes had just met mine.

"Lily," he started then stopped, seeming to have difficulty with the words.

A moment later he tried again. "You want to pretend it never happened."

It wasn't a question.

He didn't bother asking.

He thought he knew.

I thought I knew, for Merlin's sake, but now I'm not so sure.

I nodded anyway.

He nodded back, his face sad. "Okay, I can let you forget it," he said, the sadness seeping into his voice, "but, Lily, I'm never going to forget it. I promise."

I didn't have any answer to that.

Well, actually, I did have an answer, but it would have consisted of a different usage of my lips than forming words. And I couldn't do that again.

Could I?

Oh, where was that signal from Peter and Sirius? They shouldn't have left us alone in here so long, the Slytherins should have been heading this way by now. Merlin, why did I even agree to pair up with James in the first place? I knew that this would involve a broom cupboard when we drew up the plan. And I knew that it could potentially be…distracting. But I had agreed to it anyway. I hadn't been able to resist the allure of the idea.

Being alone with James became more and more alluring every time I turned around, it seemed.

I closed my eyes, unable to take the desperation on his face any longer. Because it wasn't just desperation, it was pain, too. I was hurting him.

Oh what was the point in denying it?

I was just about to lean up toward him when Sirius's voice sounded from James's pocket.

"They took the bait and they're headed your way, Prongs."

James pulled his strange mirror out of his pocket. "Alright, Padfoot, we're ready for them."

He opened the cupboard door and we peeked around the corner. Everything was set and I had already charmed it into invisibility. One flick of my wand and I could bring it down on them at the exact moment.

We waited---I was barely breathing---for them to round the corner. And when they were finally passing right under the buckets of burning powder James and I both flicked our wands to shower them in it.

There were five of them. They jumped at first, not knowing why they were suddenly covered in green powder. But then they forgot the why's and concentrated on the fact that they were feeling the fire on their skin.

It wouldn't actually hurt them, unfortunately, but it would make them feel as though they were burning for the next twenty-four hours. Remus had swiped all of the antidote from the hospital wing so that Madam Pomfrey couldn't give them any relief.

Cruel?

Yes.

But they did worse.

And I intend to match them sometime soon.

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I hope you liked it, especially since this time I can't procrastinate any more, so homework will have to come before updating. The next chapter won't be up for at least another week, sorry everyone.