Lily was looking at herself in the mirror, she'd received her formal invitation to the party, and it had stated fancy dress. That had thrown a spanner in the works. There was a party being held by the marauders in the room of requirements. And despite herself she was more than happy to attend. But she had to dress appropriately for both. And that had not been easy.

The dress she stood in now just about met the requirements. Just. It was fairly short, just about mid-thigh. It was made of a light floaty chiffon, in a light green, the slip underneath was a deeper olive green. It was tight around her bust, with a thick strapped halter neck, and then it just flowed down wards. Her ruby locks were magically lengthened and curled, Isabel and Gypsy had attacked her new locks and fastened flowers into it, weaving braids in, turning it into a beautiful creation that made Lily wonder if it was more hair or plant. She was wearing tiny golden sandals with a golden belt wrapped under her bust which was woven with a golden ivy design. Matching bracelets lined her arms, and a necklace sat around her neck.

She looked at herself and honestly for a second believed she could be a wood nymph, the girls had done a good job with her look, her makeup was lashings of golden glitter, green tints with perfectly framed eyes. and lips covered with sparkling golden glass.

"Well, get to it, or you'll be late," Isabels voice cut across, drawing Lily from her own reflexion. "Merlin we're good, don't ya think Gyp?"

Lily took a deep breath before pushing the door open, she felt like she was shaking, she was evidently going to be too dressed up for such a formal occasion. She was nervous, taking another deep breath however she forced herself to move forward.

The door pushed open and she was bathed in the golden light that illuminated the room, she stepped beyond the entrance and looked around. The first thing that caught her eye was Severus, he was across the room, she smiled as he looked up and towards her, the drink in his hand fell. Lily rushed forward, using her wand to clean up the glass that had shattered, and making the liquid that had fallen down him disappear as if nothing at all had happened.

"T-thanks… You look-"

"Lily!" Professor SLughorns voice cut across and Lily felt an arm around her shoulders and she was pulled away from Severus, she looked over her shoulder and smiled at him apologetically before allowing herself to be whisked away.

"So this is the girl you've been telling us about Horace?" A witch commented, Lily looked towards her, she had dark hair, and skin the colour of chocolate, she was stunning and emanated confidence as Lily stood there.

"Yes, Lily Evans, one of the most promising students to ever pass through Hogwarts, excels in every class, and with a talent in potions which is almost unrivalled," Horace declared proudly. "Taught her everything I know, muggle background, but with such a natural talent."

"We're always looking for talented potion makers," The woman told Lily with a smile, the blue scaled dress she wore shimmered pink, the tail of the dress picked itself up and flicked out, the scales looking like actual dragon scales. "I'm Fatima Mungo, Manger of St Mungo's."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Mungo," Lily said politely, eliciting a wide smile from the woman.

"Manners as well, Horace, I'll have to watch out for this one, she'd make a brilliant Healer one day by the sounds of it."

Lily eventually left to get herself a drink, she looked around the room and noticed a few familiar faces. Regulus Black, Sirius' little brother was there, looking smug as he stood by Lucius, Severus and Barty Crouch Jr, the Slytherin fifth year prefect. She noticed a few others, such as Kingsley Shacklebolt, and Isabel's older sister Grace. When she reached the drinks table she found herself a pumpkin juice and looked around, she felt out of place here, her friends certainly weren't available.

"If you grip any harder to that juice it's going to explode over you," A girls voice said form nearby and Lily looked up, smiling at the girl who had spoken. Sophia Bones was a fifth year as well, talented with potions, she was a prefect, and having something of a fling with Barty as Lily was aware.

"You're right," Lily laughed, placing the drink on the side and turning to the girl, she was dressed in a black dress with a small witches hat atop her head, she wore thick rimmed glasses over brown eyes. "Enjoying yourself Sophia?"

"You know how it is with these things, you mingle for half an hour and then you're bored," Sophia replied with a small shrug. "I know you've been invited to the Marauders party, why don't you head off to that? Sluggie is already showing off a very uncomfortable looking Snape."

"You mean just leave?" Lily asked sounding surprised, she liked Sophia, she was a stickler for rules.

But the girl shrugged with a small smirk on her face.

"We don't live on duty Evans, it's alright to break a few rules, plus it means when I turn up uninvited you can get me in."

Lily grinned and nodded before slipping out of the room, almost completely unnoticed. She was wandering along the quiet corridors, it was not late, but most people were apparently cozied up in their common rooms or one of the parties that she was sure were going on, the Marauders weren't the only ones, but they were the most sought after.

She reached the seventh floor, at last, now was the time to remember the way to the room of requirements, it was dark and it made everything look a little bit different. It didn't help that there wasn't actually a door, but she had to find the right wall. After a few minutes she stopped and frowned. Her hands were on her hips as she looked around. She heard footsteps and felt relief, someone who might actually know where they are going.

Only she wasn't quite that lucky.

"Mudblood," Lily frowned in the direction, as a tall boy appeared before her, well, he was hardly a boy anymore, as he walked up to her, she refused to step back though. He was not unattractive physically, in fact a model would seethe at his chiselled jaw and cheekbones, but she knew him. And there was nothing uglier than what was in him. "Looks like you're little protectors have left you out here all alone."

"You really do talk some rubbish, Lucius, now if you'll excuse m-" She stopped short however when he flung an arm out, and stopped her in her tracks, she'd barely moved a full step, but he wasn't about to let her get any further apparently. "What do you think you're doing?"

He did not answer however, he only looked down at her smugly, his eyes travelled down her body. She struggled not to squirm under his gaze, suddenly wanting nothing more than to be completely wrapped up in a jumper and jeans.

This was the problem that Lucius had, and it was a problem he greatly wanted rid of. Lily Evans, a very desirable girl, she had caught his attention one day after berating Severus for his pathetic crush on the redheaded Gryffindor. And all Severus had to say for himself was look at her. And Lucius laughed, determined that he was nothing but a fool. And he was, but he was not wrong. The girl stirred something in him physically, an itch that needed to be scratched. He had no interest in courting the girl, he would not sully himself by even entertaining the idea, but there was a definite … itch. One that was causing him discomfort at this very moment. She was quivering under his gaze and that only made his blood rush faster. She was fearful, she should be, they both knew he was the more powerful of the two, they both knew he was stronger, quicker and despite what they say about her talents, he was also the better with magic.

He raised a single hand and placed it at the back of her head, she flinched, and this almost made him smile. Almost. He gripped at her hair suddenly; hearingher whimper and seeing her face screw up in pain and fear. He had complete power. She was scared. She was at his mercy.

He lowered his head to hers, pressing his cheek against hers, he heard her whimper, felt her quiver.

"Lily…" He tensed, feeling it all fall apart, suddenly he was not in control. He backed away and left without another word, not even looking back to see who had caught him. He didn't care, because for a moment he had her, quivering beneath his fingertips, she was his, too scared to run, and he had all the power. But now that was over.

"You should tell someone, he was… I mean, I dunno, but you can't just not tell anyone," Lily looked at the person who had spoken, she was watching her through thick rimmed glasses, looking decidedly uncertain. "I can't force you to report it, but I think you should."

"He'll think I'm scared of him… I'm not… I can't be… I can't afford to be."

"Lily, you know that you're not thinking straight, stop trying to handle this yourself, I mean, he bloody well looked terrifying… Report it, and prove he doesn't scare you so much that you won't tell anyone."

"Sophia-"

"No, Lily, don't let him catch you out like that again."

Lily never went to the party, she did not see her friends, instead she found herself curled up in her bed, clutching a pillow close. She was shaking slightly as tears rolled down her cheeks. She was not scared, she would not be intimidated like that. But maybe Sophia was right, for too long had he thought he could terrify her, but he didn't… he did, but that didn't mean he held any power over her, she was strong.

So lost in these thoughts she nearly did not hear the tapping at the window, she looked at it, but in the darkness she could not make out what was on the other side, assuming it to be an owl she wandered across and undid the latch. She yelped when a body fell through the window, awkwardly clutching a broom. She looked down, and could have laughed, dressed in his best dress robes James was crumpled on the floor, grinning up at her.

"You didn't turn up," He explained as he somehow pulled himself to his feet, grinning the whole time. "So I thought I'd come and see how you are."

"And the broom?" Lily asked, her tone heavy with amusement, but James never answered because he was standing in front of her with a frown on his face. His hand reached up and brushed away form of the wetness form her cheek.

"You've been crying," he stated, looking truly concerned. Lily pulled her head away, but James simply stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her much smaller frame close to him. At first Lily was tense, but it was impossible to remain so as he whispered in her ear.

"If there's anything I can do to stop you crying, tell me and I'll make it all go away..."

And she relaxed into that protective embrace, feeling so at peace.