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Guys I'm so sorry! It's been a long time and I haven't posted anything on the rounds! I wanted to include them in this chapter but it was getting too long. Anyway, please review!

Lily Evans

Rodolphus Lestrange is a Death Eater. The thought makes ice shoot through my veins and my head spin. I had been in danger in the one place I thought would always stay safe: Hogwarts. In the years before, this terrorist was rising, and more and more Aurors were standing up to fight him, the war was starting slowly. However, inside these walls which everyone calls their home, the only home where I can really do what I want, be me, the war was a distant thing, we only heard about it through the Daily Prophet and it was only a few missing people. Then the Slytherin purebloods, Alice likes to call them the DET (Death Eaters in Training) started actively calling Muggle-borns "mudbloods" and even harming those who stood up to them. The group grew larger, even Hufflepuffs like Evan Rosier joined, though quietly. The war didn't really come to Hogwarts until this year. Dumbledore's start of the year speech urged us to not let Voldemort trick us into going to his side and urging families to go into hiding. Then people in the ministry started disappearing, one by one... The first one was Edna Green after she published an article saying that muggle-borns were our equals... Families like who didn't want to fight with Voldemort have been murdered, like Elizabeth's. The group of Death Eaters are recruiting and no one is safe. Sighing, I lie down on my bed, thinking of my conversation with James Potter, the Head Boy, a few hours ago.

(2 days earlier)

Lily Evans was in the library studying with Severus Snape as they made small talk and occasionally helped each other with their essays. They worked in silence, not sure if they should break it. Lily and Severus's friendship had started again, but it was slow and hesitant. They were always unsure on what to talk about, which subjects to avoid. It just wasn't like before, when they told each other anything and everything. This frustrated Lily and made Severus desperate.

"Oi, Evans!" James Potter shouted

Lily Evans kept her head inside her book and didn't answer as Severus made a disgusted sound.

"Come on Evans, I need to talk to you." the Quidditch Captain said, tapping her lightly on her shoulder

"Get your hand off of her." Snape hissed as Lily pretended to be oblivious

"Shouldn't you let her talk? She's not some doll you can trail around you know." the Head Boy challenged, smirking

"Okay fine! I don't want to talk to you Potter!" Lily burst out as Snape smiled in satisfaction

"You don't even know what I want to say! I haven't done anything wrong!" James pleaded, glaring at Snape

"So you haven't done anything wrong! That's news to me, Potter! What about... hmm, setting the Nifflers in the Great Hall and landing me in St. Mungo's for a week? Wait, there's more! How about when you wrote those horrible messages in my room! Remember that?" the Head Girl shouted, earning a disapproving glare from Madam Pince. At this, Severus frowned and James realized gleefully that Lily have never told him about the messages.

"I know the prank was wrong, but I didn't write the messages!" James yelled over Lily's rant

"Alright that's it! GET OUT!" Madam Pince bellowed, pointing at Lily and James

Reluctantly, Lily picked up her books, bid goodbye to Severus and marched out, fuming as James followed her, not sure what to say.

"Evans, listen to me!" James said, growing angry

"You've already gotten me kicked out of the library, isn't that enough?" Lily huffed, walking away

"You got yourself kicked out of the library." James pointed out

"Have you not changed since 3rd year? Stop acting arrogant and stupid and start being responsible, you're Head Boy! How am I supposed to believe that you didn't put the messages in my room? Alice has proof! Is this all some sort of joke to you?" Lily said, breathing fast, her face getting redder by the minute. This moment reminded James eerily of those fights in 5th Year when he enjoyed getting her riled up to see how beautiful her emerald green eyes were when the glinted with anger. But now they were older, and James had changed, the furious glint in her eyes didn't interest him anymore.

"No, it isn't. I just wanted to be a good Head Boy and fix all of this, so we can actually work together. You're so stubborn, you think that I'm the exact same person as in 5th year when I've changed, tried to be the right person for you, though you didn't notice, you were too busy twisting my words and changing my actions to prove that I was the same person when you're the one that hasn't changed, you're still ready to blame me for whatever I do. I can't tell you what to do or who to believe, do what you want, I was just trying to do the right thing..." James said in a low voice, shaking his head in disapproval as he walked away, not looking back, leaving Lily stunned as she gaped in shock, not sure if she was supposed to be angry, sad or satisfied. She jerked her head quickly when she heard the library door creak open, revealing Severus Snape, carrying her books, looking uncertain.

"Here, you left some books in the library. Are you alright, what did he say?" he asked worriedly, giving her the books.

"Uh, no, he didn't say anything. Thanks for bringing my books, how mad was Madam Pince?" Lily hesitated, trying to change the subject. Severus saw right through it and frowned though didn't say anything.

(Present)

After that incident, Potter had avoided me like dragon dung. I guess I'm better off this way, now he won't bother me anymore. Wasn't that all I wanted? It'll be weird working together though, we have the rounds tonight... I gaze at myself in the mirror, trying to see if I had changed since 5th year. A rather short girl with fiery red waist-long hair and piercing green eyes usually ablaze with anger or excitement stares back at me. I'm a bit taller, and I have a few more freckles, but that's it. Am I the same person? Is that a good or a bad thing? Something needs to change, and right now. Unconsciously, I found my hands edging towards the scissors, clutching them firmly and holding them close to my hair.

Mary McDonald

It's safe to say that I've walked on in on Lily doing quite a few crazy things. Of course, now that she has her own room, it's different, but before our beds were right next to each other... In 1rst year I walked in on her anxiously trying to calm down the numerous objects in the room she had charmed, she had been in tears. I helped her by showing a new little charm my mother had told me about and we became friends. In 2nd year I walked in on her crying over a letter she had gotten from her awful sister, Petunia. I reassured her and we started to tell each other everything. In 3rd year I walked in on her throwing the furniture at James Potter, who was barely dodging them on his broom near the open widow, Lily had caught him spying on her. I didn't have the heart to tell her he had been doing that for six months before she had seen him. I don't know how he does it, he just seems to disappear... Nevertheless, I was the one to calm her down, and we got into our fight and when I defended James. In 4th year I walked in on her snogging a boy that would be her first boyfriend. I was the one who got them to together, and we started relying on each other for love advice. In 5th year I walked in on her sitting on the edge of the open window, looking down, not saying anything. I don't think I've ever been more scared... It was the day that Snape had called her a mudblood. I was the one who got her back on her feet, and we became closer than ever before. In 6th year, I walked in on her burning different Daily Prophet articles, almost creating a fire in the dormitory. I was the one who told her how to get those DETs back, and subtly started playing pranks on them. But in my seven years at Hogwarts, I have never walked in on Lily Evans cutting her fiery red hair.

"Lily! What are you doing to your hair?" I screamed, trying and failing to snatch the scissors out of her hand as she stared at herself in the mirror in content.

"How do I look?" She asked smiling

I can honestly say that at that moment, I thought she had gone mad... I still tried to answer her question as I evaluated the change. Lily's beautiful hair had been chopped short and unevenly, now going just beneath her chin. A few strands dropped on her face, hiding her brilliant green eyes. I took a deep breath, I could fix this.

"Okay, it's going to be fine your hair's going to be normal again if I cast the charm, bugger I don't remember it! What did Flitwick say? Merlin, I don't remember, I was talking to Marlene! He could have had us copy it down! Maybe I should get Marlene, but she's getting ready for the Quidditch tryouts... Remus would know but he's with James and I'm not supposed to speak to him, don't you know what to do?" I ranted, pacing around the room as Lily watched me, rolling her eyes.

"Mary, I want to keep it this way!" Lily said, exasperated. I stopped, gaping. Did Lily know what she looked like right now?

"I know you think it's awful, but I needed to change... Maybe you could help me make it look a bit better?" Lily suggests, smiling that adorable smile she knows I can't resist.

"Who told you you needed to change?" I say sharply, running a bunch of possible faces through my head, Snape stands out.

"No one." Lily says after a bit of hesitation, biting her lip. I don't believe her for second, but I decide to let it pass and concentrate on fixing her hair. I could even the hair out and cut off the few strands on her face. I took a deep breath, my mother cut everyone's hair in the family, including mine. She was a natural, I had seen her do it millions of times. I took a deep breath and grasped the scissors, scared I would ruin everything.

Snip.

Snip.

Snip.

I straighten myself up and take a step back from Lily, observing my work. I'm happy to say I've done a good job, her hair is even and though it looks different, it has a style, it's already growing on me. Lily looks delighted as she twirls around in the mirror in glee. I feel myself growing wary, what was happening to Lily? The last time I had seen her like this is when she drank my entire Firewhiskey stash thinking it was cold medicine. I shudder as I think of the horrible memory and I'm starting to think about where my Sobering Potion is, under my bed. It's really a shame, I was saving it for emergencies next week in The Ravenclaw Tower party I was invited to. Contrary to popular belief, the Ravenclaws know how to party… I'm looking up when I see Lily flop back on her bed and sigh.

"What's wrong Lils?" I ask, concerned

She opens her mouth and starts telling me the real reason why she chopped her hair, some story with James Potter in the library…

Severus Snape

"You're ready, we're flooing to Hogsmeade in ten minutes." announces Evan Rosier, passing my my chair in the common room.

"I told you, I'm not going, besides, Lucius was and still is a arrogant swot." I frown, shaking him off as I head for my dormitory, him trailing behind me. In all the Slytherins, I'm closest to Evan, I can understand him a bit more than the others. Unlike Bellatrix Black, or that awful Mulciber, he doesn't wear his allegiance to Voldemort on his sleeve, no, he likes the idea of being undercover. Nevertheless, he's more keen on going to these meetings which will "improve our relationship with the Dark Lord." As if he's actually going to show himself to students like us, it'll likely be Lucius Malfoy pushing us around, trying to prove his authority. Losing Rodolphus made me deeply uneasy, he was a great connection inside the castle. Nott tells me not to worry, the Dark Lord will break him out any day now.

"Come on, Snape, you have to come, Bellatrix said they'll set tasks for us now…" Rosier pleads, catching up to me.

"I've already told you, I'm not coming!" I say exasperated

"Of course you're coming Snape. You're not that much of a coward, are you?" Bellatrix says loftily as she saunters into the room

"I just don't want to go." I say, gnashing my teeth together as Bellatrix's smirk widens

"It's been like that ever since he became friends with that mudblood." Alecto Carrow informs, eager to get on Bellatrix's good side

"You're still friends with her! That won't look good on your record, you know." Rosier exclaimed, shooting me an incredulous look

I feel the room get hotter as everyone looks at me, with looks of concern, confusement or glares. I take a deep breath and smooth my expression, I can pull this off.

"Your information source sounds wrong, Alecto… Or did you make it up, you seem to be inventing a lot of things these days to improve your reputation." I say smoothly, saying the words slowly. I can tell I hit Alceto where it hurts, he still hasn't gotten over being caught lying about his exploits last year by none other than Bellatrix Black and Nicolai Mulciber. The others are starting to doubt him, I'm a very good actor, and Alecto isn't always honest. He flushes, and gets to his feet, trembling in rage.

"I know what I saw! In the train, you gave her the choker!" he shouts

I pretend this doesn't get to me, but it does. I had been searching for something for her to accept my apology, then, like a present from God, I had found a brilliant diamond choker in an empty compartment. I had given it to Lily, and for the first time since 5th Year, she had considered my apology. Then that awful toerag Potter had to ruin everything with his ghastly prank that landed her in St. Mungo's. I had been so worried… At least now she knew how he could be when you let your guard down. Being her friend again isn't the same as before, I know she doesn't trust me. I know she's worth leaving this whole mess with Voldemort, but in the end, she'll thank me, I'll prove I'm a better man than Potter, than all of them… I bring myself back into reality and say with a hint of irritation in my voice:

"Of course I did. That's how she ended up in St. Mungo's."

Everyone nods their empty heads in understandment but Bellatrix doesn't seem convinced. I can tell her sharp mind that can never lied to is thinking hard and I can already predict her answer. She'll hurt her or make me do it… I can't have that. Instead. I think quickly and see only one solution.

"I'll go to the meeting." I say in one gasp, staring straight at her, anticipating her reaction. She wrinkles her nose in distaste and sighs.

"Fine, we'll make a space for you." she snarls as she marches out of the room

We all follow her, talking lightly as we head to the fire in Rodolphus Lestrange's office. We chose this fire last year with Lestrange because it's not supervised so we can get right into the Hog's Head without being caught. Lestrange also helped us set up a secret passage between the Slytherin common room and his office, so we could get there safely. I don't know what we'll do when Dumbledore finds another DADA teacher. I guess we'll have to destroy the passage and find some other way to get in Hogsmeade…

"How come you changed your mind?" Rosier asks as Bellatrix prods the mirror, saying the password. I watch as it opens and lets us all in, leading us to a small passage with many tapestries.

"I dunno." I shrug, I don't feel like having a long conversation with him. We finally reach the office and line up one by one next to the fire, each grabbing a handful of Floo Powder, stepping into the fire and saying "Hog's Head". I go last, quietly saying the name of the unpopular inn and appearing next to my housemates moments later. We take a seat next to Malfoy, who's waiting for us at a table in the back. He casts a charm to not be heard and starts talking to us. My mind drifts for a bit, thinking about Lily's behavior in the library. Malfoy's order makes me alert, I'm listening again.

"The Dark Lord declares each and every one of you has to prove your loyalty to him. Meet me in the Room of Requirement in a week, you will be duelling. Your spellwork, attitude and use of curses will be noted and be brought to the Dark Lord, then he can see for himself who is the most trustworthy and powerful. This is only one of the tasks you will be set this year." Malfoy says seriously. Murmurs of appreciation and worry go around the table. The Carrow siblings look worried, they should be, their spellwork isn't great. Bellatrix looks excited, she can't wait to prove herself. Rosier looks alert, I can tell he'll spend the week researching curses to use. As for myself, I'm indifferent. I already know I won't have the right level of enthusiasm, but I refuse to look like a panting puppy, like some of my housemates. However, I can make up for that by using some of my own curses, that would definitely be impressive. I ponder as I get back to common room, like everyone else. There's no chance of Alecto of Amycus beating me, and I know I can defeat Rosier. Nott and Mulciber will be harder, but with some work, I can win. Dolohov and I are equally matched, there's no telling who will win. Bellatrix will be very difficult, if not impossible, to beat. I heard she's been practising wandless spells… With some work, I can do this.