Chapter 14!

And as promised, within twenty four hours, I am writing the next chapter! And this one is a long one! Thank you times a billion to all of you lovely reviewers!

Thank you's:

Pegasusbabi: Sorry! I hope this chapter will make up for leaving the cliff hanger! As for the veritaserum… well, we'll see what happens, won't we? Enjoy and thanks for reviewing!

Zippyfox: I'm so glad you liked the last chapter! And I hope you enjoy this one too! Thanks so much for your review and feedback!

Jatzluuvsharry: Aah! Sorry you feel that way about Lily! She wasn't supposed to be annoying… I guess it just came out that way, but read this next chapter and then see what you think. I'm not promising anything, but things are going to change…

Riduculouslyriddikulus: Wow, your name is hard to type! Thanks so much for reviewing! Anyway, I'm really glad you like the store and here's the next chapter!

Lady Knight 1512: Thanks so much for your awesome review! Your reviews are always great! Anyway, will definitely put an L/J scene in here. And well, we'll see what happens with the veritaserum… Hope this update is quick enough for you! Enjoy!

Ok, so here's the next chapter! Thanks so much to all of you who take the time to review my story and even to those who don't, but I'm hoping that you like the story anyway!

-----------------------Chapter 14: Truth------------------------

"She's drinking," James said anxiously.

They all watched as Scarlet slowly took a sip of her pumpkin juice and resumed talking to Trinity.

"And now to test it," Sirius said slyly to his mates. He quickly rose from his chair, amidst giggling and squealing from the girls on either side of the table. He suavely sauntered over to Scarlet, taking her hand and leading her over to a reclusive spot of the Hall.

"What are you up to, Sirius?" Scarlet looked at him unsurely.

"Nothing, nothing," he said.

"I just wanted to know what's wrong with Lily," he gave her a knowing look. "So what is it? Surely as best friends, you would know."

"No, no I don't," Scarlet answered after a moment's pause. "I… I never got to umm, talk to her. Yes, I didn't talk to her."

"Right," he said, looking puzzled. Scarlet looked relieved that he had taken it.

"Well, enjoy your breakfast, then," he gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and led her back to her seat. Then he strode back over to the Marauders and filled them in.

"But we know she was lying, and they're still hiding something," Remus said. "She and Trinity had that argument with her a while back, didn't they? It's not possible for the three of them not to have talked."

"Then the potion didn't work…" James said, utterly befuddled.

"She should have answered your question truthfully, Padfoot," Remus rubbed his forehead. "I don't get it."

"You're sure we put the right potion in?" Sirius asked.
"Well, what other potion is kept in a butterbeer bottle?" he replied, quite salty.

"Butterbeer?" Peter answered timidly. They all ignored him.

"And we're sure we put it in Scarlet's place?" James asked.

"Positive," Remus said. "They've sat in the same place for the last six and a half years."

"Unless…" James began then looked anxiously over at that section of the table.

"What?" Remus looked over tentatively.

"Unless something changed since that first day at Hogwarts," James put his head in his hands.

"Meaning…" Sirius motioned for him to continue.

"Meaning that their fight has changed them, and we're in bloody deep trouble," he said as comprehension dawned on their faces. "Think about it. They've sat in the same place for years, but now that they're fighting, who wants to sit together anymore? Look at where Trinity is sitting and where Lily is. There's a spot between."

"Merlin, we've done it now…" Sirius said hopelessly into his hands.

"Lily must have taken Scarlet's spot after the two of them moved down two seats to be separated."

"So that means…"

"Lily's got it,"

"Bloody hell…"

"And we're sure this time?" James looked over at Sirius.

"Abso-bloody-lutely,"

--------------------------Transfiguration-------------------------

"Sorry Professor!" Lily came bursting through the door.

"Miss Evans, this is quite the occasion, you being late and not someone else," she glanced over at the Marauders.

"Yes, well, I think I'll just –," Lily began inching towards her seat.

"I don't suppose you have an excuse, do you?" Professor McGonagall peered over her glasses.

"Um…"

"Here it comes…" James put his head in his hands.

"Answer me, Miss Evans," McGonagall watched her expectantly.

"I… I went to send a letter to my mum who…" she began as her face gained a pained, struggling countenance. "Who is… in the muggle hospital for… um… a minor heart… heart attack."

Lily Evans looked down as tears filled her eyes and the room was immediately filled with silence. "Miss Evans," Professor McGonagall took a step forward. "We're all terribly sorry. You really needn't have told us if you wanted to keep it private."

"Yes, Professor... I suppose not. Actually I don't feel too well," Lily looked uncertain.

"Why don't you pay the hospital wing a visit, Miss Evans," McGonagall looked caringly upon her student. "Miss Davis, kindly escort her there if you will."

"Yes, Professor," Trinity said as she stiffly got up from her seat. The pair walked out of the room and up the stairs to the hospital wing. The Marauders sat there in disbelief and horror for what they had done to poor Lily – James most of all.

Professor McGonagall cleared her throat, "Now, let's get on with the class, shall we?"

Outside in the corridor, Lily and Trinity were awkwardly walking along, neither of them saying a word to the other. Finally, Lily broke the silence, saying in a small voice, "Tri, I'm really sorry I got so mad at you and Scarlet…"

"It's all right, Lil," she said, a brief smile starting to form. Lily looked back at her and studied her face. Soon the pair was hugging and regaining that happy friendship they had begun six years earlier.

"So you're feeling okay now?" Trinity asked.

"Actually, no, I don't quite feel… right," Lily answered cautiously as the potion began to take hold of her now that a question had been asked. "I feel like I'm being forced…"

"Forced to do what?"

"Forced… to tell the truth,"

"Maybe you really do need to take a trip up to Madame Jordeau,"

"Yeah, maybe,"

--------------------in the hospital wing------------------

"Miss Evans, Miss Davis!" Madame Jordeau exclaimed. "What can I do for the both of you?"

"I don't feel too well," Lily immediately answered. "I think I drank a potion and it's getting stronger."

"A potion you say?"

"Yes, I said a potion," Lily answered candidly.

"Well, you see, dear, I didn't mean it literally," Madame Jordeau began. "Oh, well, never mind, let's get you a bed."

"Now, you just stay right there, and I'll fetch you a bit of antidote," the lively witch rushed off to her storage cabinet as Lily lay down on the sterile, white sheets.

"How're you doing, Lily?" Trinity asked as she pulled up a stool.

"Well, I'm not too good, but didn't I just tell you that?" Lily answered.

"Boy, that potion must have been strong," Trinity said. "To mess with a mind like yours."

"What did you drink recently, dear?" Madame Jordeau asked as she came bustling back in with a purple bottle.

"Well, I had my pumpkin juice at breakfast… and well, that was it," Lily answered truthfully.

"Sounds like you've got a touch of veritaserum in you," Madame Jordeau shook her head, frowning as she measured out the shimmery liquid. "Well, more than a touch, really, seeing the effects."

"When will the effects wear off, Madame Jordeau?" Trinity asked, nervously.

"Hard to say, but judging from the look of it, I'd say a day and a half at least," she answered, still shaking her head.

"How could veritaserum get into the pumpkin juice?" Trinity mused.

"Had to have been deliberate," Madame Jordeau held out the cup for Lily to take. "Otherwise we would have gotten other students in here, spewing out their deepest, darkest secrets."

"Then if it was deliberate…." Trinity began, her face becoming more and more furrowed. "Lily, you were sitting in Scarlet's usual spot, weren't you?"

"Yes," Lily answered automatically.

"That means it was meant for Scarlet," Trinity said slowly. "Now who would try to get Scarlet to spill her secrets?"

"Sirius Black or Aidan Callaway," Lily said.

"I'll bet it's that Callaway," Trinity said stonily. "He's been after Scarlet for a year now. He probably wanted to prove that he still had a chance, even with Sirius around."

"Well, she's drank her antidote, so it should be a day and a half, if all goes as planned," Madame Jordeau quickly got up to leave, patting Lily on the shoulder. "The potion should keep the effects of the veritaserum to a minimum and hopefully make her a bit sleepy so as to not spill any more secrets than necessary."

"Thanks a lot, Madame Jordeau," Trinity said for the both of them as Lily was starting to doze off from the potion.

"Anytime, dear," she said kindly and hurried off to tend to other business.

"Okay, well, see you later, Lils," Trinity said as she stood up. "The gang will be around later to see you, so rest up."

"Thanks, Tri," Lily said quietly. "I'm sorry I doubted you."

"Water under the bridge, Lils," Tri smiled softly at her friend.

--------------corridor on the way to the hospital wing during lunch------------

"Poor Lily," Scarlet said as she and Trinity walked up to the hospital wing.

"Yeah, we should get back at Callaway for this," Trinity gripped her wand a little harder than usual.

"All this stuff has been happening to her, and we haven't been all that supportive," Scarlet shook her head miserably. From around the corner they heard loud, raucous laughter and a voice saying, "You'll get her for sure, Aidan!"

Scarlet and Trinity froze. "Ready for a little sweet revenge?" Scarlet muttered quietly.

The two of them whipped out their wands and began blasting hexes on Aidan and his friends, shouting about getting him back.

Finally the pair had him trapped against a stone wall, his wand lying a good few yards away, and his friends all having fled ages ago. "So, you find it amusing, do you, to put veritaserum in our goblets?" Trinity jabbed her wand point into his chest. "Well, let me inform you, that you will not be 'getting her for sure', Callaway, because you gave it to the wrong person!"

"Hey, hey, now," Aidan tried to defend himself, putting his hands up. "My friends and I were just joking about how I'd get Brigette Bishop since Scarlet here wouldn't go out with me."

The two girls stepped back a bit. "So, you didn't put veritaserum in Scarlet's goblet?" Trinity asked timidly.

"Nope," he said cockily, glad to have their wands not pointing at him.

Coming down the hall, the Marauders stopped just before turning the corner, listening to the argument and waiting to step in if necessary.

"What do you think that git is trying to do now?" Sirius shoved his hand reflexively into the pocket of his robe, grabbing for his wand.

"Er… stealing Scarlet?" Peter offered. Sirius gave him a look.

"Hold on, the prat is talking," James said.

"But… if the lovely lady Scarlet would care to join me, I'd be happy to treat her to a drink or two," he smoothly slid away from the wall and pulled Scarlet towards the Ravenclaw portrait hole.

From around the corner, Sirius began to growl low and menacing. "If he takes her into that hole," he began under his breath. "I swear, I'll fix him good."

"Calm down Padfoot, we'll, er, rescue her on the count of three," James said steadily. "One… t – "

"Get your hands off of me, Callaway," Scarlet spat. "I don't want you, I don't need you, so bloody stay away from me."

"Come now, Scarlet," Aidan reached forward to grab her hands again.

Scarlet swiftly grabbed her wand and shouted, "Expelliarmus!" Knocked off his feet, Aidan struggled to get up again and Sirius peered around the corner to watch.

Scarlet swooped down on Aidan, thrusting her wand at his throat, her voice low and menacing, "Don't… Touch… Me."

"Well, I guess she doesn't need rescuing, mate," James patted Sirius on the shoulder.

Aiden scrambled to his feet, hurriedly climbing through the portrait hole.

"That's my girl!" Sirius came bounding out from behind the corner, picking Scarlet up in a huge hug and then setting her down.

"Sirius!" Scarlet look pleased at first, then her face darkened. "How dare you! You were the one who put the veritaserum into my goblet this morning, weren't you?"

"Erm…"

"Well?"

"It wasn't only me…"

"Great, the Marauders strike again!" Scarlet exclaimed exasperatedly.

"Remus!" Trinity folded her arms, waiting impatiently for him to come around the corner. Finally he sheepishly came out from behind the wall.

"Er, you rang?" he said cautiously.

"Come on – you four are coming with us to the hospital wing!" both Trinity and Scarlet dragged the boys over to the wing.

The four Marauders stood awkwardly behind Trinity and Scarlet as they gently shook Lily awake. "Hey Lils," they whispered.

"Scarlet! Trinity!" she exclaimed in delight and hugged them both, apologizing to Scarlet as she had done with Trinity before. Then the two girls stepped aside letting the Marauders come forward.

"Er… HI LILY," Sirius said loudly. "HOW ARE YOU?"

"Fine. I'm getting better," Lily looked at them weirdly. "And I just had some veritaserum, Black, I'm not deaf."

"Er, right, sorry," he answered.

"Hey, Lily, we kind of have something to confess…" Remus said quietly, kneeling at the side of her bed. "We, um, put the veritaserum in your drink this morning."

"Oh… why?"

"Well, we kind of wanted Scarlet to drink it so we could find out what she and Trinity were hiding," Sirius answered.

"And what are they hiding?"

"Er…" Scarlet looked away. "Well, you see… we… um…"

"We saw the letter from Petunia, Lils. Please don't be mad at us, it was an accident in the first place, really," Trinity pleaded, not eager to break the friendship they had just rekindled earlier that day. "And we didn't tell the boys… that's why they were so desperate to find out what was wrong with you."

"Oh, I see," she said softly. "Well, I suppose I forgive you, I mean, you forgave me, so it's only fitting. Plus, I'm sure you had good intentions…"

The three of them smiled at each other and hugged again, happy to keep their friendship.

"So what was wrong, Lils?" Remus asked.

"Noth… Nothi… I got a letter from my sister who was leaving me out of her wedding because she thinks I'm a freak and my mum just had a heart attack and my world was caving in and James kissed Madeline and I felt like Trinity and Scarlet were leaving me and…" she realized what she had just revealed and her face turned beet red.

Looks of shock were now plastered on all of the Marauders' faces.

"We're so sorry, Lily," Sirius said after a long while. "Really, we are."

"Thanks," she said quietly. "I didn't want anyone to know because… well, it's my business and I don't like to worry people with things they don't need to be worried about."

"And actually, Lily, I think this would be a good time for you and James to… er… talk," Remus said. "I think there are some things that need to be sorted out."

"Oh," Lily breathed as she remembered that James had been standing there, looking at her caringly the whole time.

"You do like him, don't you, Lils," Sirius gave her a knowing look.

"Um… Um…" Lily looked as if she was about to explode from the effort of keeping her mouth shut. "Yes, okay? I like James Potter!"

James's eyes met hers in a meaningful look, and then he began shuffling his feet with a small smile on his lips.

"Well, I guess we had better let you two talk," Trinity said. The group said their goodbyes and turned to leave, leaving James and Lily alone. He pulled up a stool and sat next to Lily.

"Hey, Lily," he said timidly.

"Hi James,"

"Really sorry about… well, you know, everything…"

"It's okay,"

"Look, that night… I didn't kiss Fadior, Peter was just being stupid and talking about things he doesn't know about,"

Lily looked shocked then horrified as she realized what she had done. "James," she exclaimed softly. "I'm… I'm so sorry! I should have listened to you… I'm… I'm such an idiot!"

"No, Lily Evans, you're not an idiot," he smiled at her, relieved that they were finally telling the truth. "You wouldn't be an idiot even if you tried."

"Well, I'd say I came pretty close,"

"Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades, m'dear,"

"Oh, you're the best, James Potter," she reached over and hugged him tightly.

"Why?"

"Because you've never once held something against me, no matter how rotten I was. And I'm sorry, really and truly sorry, James," Lily choked out as tears began to spill out of her emerald eyes.

"Well then, since we're exchanging apologies, I'm sorry, Lily Evans, that I wasn't there to support you when you needed it most,"

Lily laughed through her tears and hugged him tightly again. And suddenly she found herself kissing James.

"So I'm guessing you're little fling with the Giant Squid wasn't working out then?" he smiled cheekily.

"No, no, we talked and I told him my heart belonged to someone else,"

"And who would that be?" he asked playfully.

"Oh, don't get cheeky with me, James Potter," she laughed and kissed him again.

Suddenly a bright flash came from around the corner. They both turned to see Sirius's playful head poking out with a camera in hand. They could hear the rest of them laughing from behind the wall.

"Padfoot!" James yelled and sprinted off after his hysterical friend down the corridor.

"It's for Muggle Studies class!" Sirius yelled.

"Like heck it is!"

Lily sat there on the bed and laughed to herself, "It's good to be back."

------------------------------------------------------

A/N: There we go! They're finally back together! hears cheering in background Yes, yes, I know, this was a long awaited part of the story and it's finally here! Wow, I've waited so long to write this part! Well, hope all of you liked it! I feel like maybe this should be the end of the story. Maybe I'll write different one. I dunno. Would all of you tell me what you thought?

Did you like it? Was it a satisfying ending to a long fight?

Do you guys want more of what happens after this (as in continuing with the story)? I'm undecided… they idea just popped into my mind to end it here, but I'm not sure.

Claire Belle