Hi it's me again :). Lily's pov for this chapter. For some reason she's the hardest character for me to write, but I enjoy the challenge. Happy reading!

-Cat

Chapter 21

The Things We Hide (Lily)

"You're serious? Me?"

"Who else?" Dumbledore gave Lily a small smile, blue eyes twinkling. He looked very out of place in the cottage kitchen. He was seated at the table in the light of the square windows, a cup of tea clasped in his veined hands. The light caught the steam, following the spiral in front of his face. He only took up a chair, but the venerable man seemed to occupy the entire room all at once with his presence.

"There has to be someone-I'm so busy already-what about Harry?"

"Of course, your first priority must always be your family," Dumbledore replied. "You would live at home and commute back and forth via the floo network."

"I can watch Harry during the day." Lily had almost forgotten that Remus was there, leaning against the door frame. The soft-grained wood blended neatly with his threadbare jumper. He had come down the stairs quietly after putting Harry down for a nap and had been listening silently up until now.

"But you're already working hard on the horcrux research, Remus, I couldn't ask you to-"

"And if I do happen to be busy," Remus continued over her, his lips twitching. "I'm sure something can be arranged. He'd love it there."

"He'd get into trouble there," Lily corrected. But a small part of her was beginning to cave. She could almost see it. Lesson plans formed in her head, ingredient lists and supplies needed to be bought. Explaining the tiny subtleties, giving advice, guiding problem-solving…

"But… what about Severus? It was always him, he is so gifted and-"

"So are you. And Severus did express interest in the job, but fears that with the current political climate he would not be widely… accepted. We are in need of a Potions Master. You would just be a temporary replacement, until the end of the term. You could make a decision then about the next school year. If you decide you would not like to continue, I will revisit the idea with Severus. Perhaps then…" Dumbledore did not continue. Lily wondered what his unsaid words were. Perhaps then he will be free to choose. Perhaps then this will all be over. But the realist inside of her battled with the optimist. Perhaps then we will have failed. Perhaps then none of this will matter.

"Lily?"

Lily blinked. Only one term. He was not asking much. She bit her lip. "But I've never taught before. I don't know how."

"There will be a definite learning curve," Dumbledore said with some amusement. "Students can be… trying. Judgmental and overly critical of themselves and you. But they are also kind and unique and endlessly surprising. If you care enough to work through the hardships, the moments of triumph far outweigh the difficulties."

Lily stared at the Headmaster, chewing her lower lip. This was a man who loved his work, who felt fulfilled by it. She had almost forgotten this side of the wizard amidst the war that never seemed to end. Dumbledore was always their powerful leader, their pillar of wisdom. It was strange to remember that despite the magnitude of his capacity and influence, all he wanted at the end of the day was to return to his students. For the first time, she wondered what profound magic drew him to teaching.

Professor Potter. James would love the idea. She glanced at Remus, who was watching her with an odd expression. After a moment, she identified it as longing. Remus would always be the professor at heart. With a small pang of sadness, she realized that this offer truly belonged to him. Not the position of Potions Master (Remus and potions were never a good combination), but Defense Against the Dark Arts. If the curse on the position prevailed, Dumbledore would need to hire another one next term. If only the world would let him have this one thing. One good thing.

"I'll do it," she said finally. "Just for the term, mind you. And I'll need some time to pull some things together."

"Of course. I can have the other professors cover your classes for now. Would next Monday be a good time for you to start?"

"Monday sounds good," Lily replied, with a sudden rush of nerves. She did a quick calculation. Today was Tuesday. Six days from now. Oh god, what have I agreed to?

"Excellent. Perhaps this Friday afternoon Professor McGonagall can give you the full faculty tour and description of duties. I'll let her know so that the two of you can set up a time. She will be a good mentor for you as well. Once your office has been set up, we'll connect the fireplace to the floor network."

"My office?"

"Horace's old quarters. I hope that is alright with you?"

"Yes, that's fine," Lily replied distantly. A small ache rose in her heart, but she knew it would be the best place. "Can I come sometime this week to go through it? I'll need to see what ingredients he had stored and perhaps scavenge old lesson plans…"

"That will not be a problem," Dumbledore said. He stood easily and rearranged his long eggshell blue robes. He gave her a gentle smile. "It is my pleasure to welcome you as a member of our staff, Professor Potter."

"Thank you, Albus," Lily said bashfully. The tall wizard made to leave, but there was a movement in her peripheral vision as Remus stepped away from the frame. In the light he looked more tired than usual, which was saying a lot.

"Wait, Albus. There's something I wanted to ask you about."

"What was that, Remus?"

Remus shot Lily a look that she immediately recognized as guilt. She narrowed her eyes. He slid a scarred hand into his pocket and drew something out. The hand trembled, but then steadied as he opened it. A oval locket sat in his palm. Without knowing why, Lily was overcome with a sense of apprehension. And a sudden need to check on Harry.

Dumbledore moved slowly, the locket that Remus held fixing his eyes in place. His warm presence turned grim. There was a long moment when Dumbledore simply studied it devoid of expression. Then, in a low voice, he asked, "When?"

"Last night."

Lily let out an involuntary, "What?" Remus looked extremely apologetic and opened his mouth to explain, but Dumbledore cut him off.

"You want to know how to destroy it," he said quietly. Remus nodded. All at once, Lily understood exactly what was in her kitchen. It seemed to make the light dim, like a cloud had covered the sun. A piece of Voldemort's soul was sitting innocuously in Remus' hand. She could not fathom how he stood so still.

"The only ways I could find so far were involved some very precarious magic. Morally gray magic, at that. Or items and substances nearly impossible to acquire. I didn't think we would find one so soon."

"You're sure it's...his?" Lily asked. She could not help her skepticism.

"I'm certain." Remus' voice was firm. His amber eyes rooted on the locket. Almost unwillingly, like the words were drawn out of his mouth with tweezers, he continued, "It feels like him."

"Where did you find it?" Dumbledore asked.

"It's a long story. Short version is that Sirius' brother Regulus figured out Voldemort's secret. He died retrieving this one and left it in the Black residence. The only reason we're hearing of it now is that Sirius recently received a letter from Regulus telling him where to look."

Dumbledore's expression showed surprise, but a small triumph lit his eyes. "So Regulus died fighting against the dark in the end. How curious. Perhaps, after everything, the love of his brother prevailed…" The Headmaster trailed away, looking thoughtful. His gaze returned to the horcrux. "The 'S' inscribed on the locket…"

"I believe this may have belonged to Salazar Slytherin himself, Albus," Remus said. His brow knit in deliberation. "When I… saw what I saw that night, there was a flash of the Hogwart's crest. I'm wondering… are there other possessions of the Hogwart's founders that would have caught Riddle's interest?"

"Perhaps," Dumbledore said slowly. "Either I or even Lily could look into the old records we have on the history of the school."

Remus looked like he would dearly love to do the research himself. But he could not expose himself. Not yet. His amber eyes met Lily's. I trust you.

"I can do that," Lily agreed. Remus nodded his thanks and slid the horcrux back into his pocket. She wrinkled her nose in distaste. "How long until we can get rid of it?"

"I would like to look further into different means of destroying it before we take any action," Dumbledore replied.

"Can we...put it somewhere in the meantime?" The idea of having a part of Voldemort anywhere near Harry made her nauseous.

Dumbledore gave her a sympathetic look. "I believe it would be best for it to remain here, where very few people have access to it. You could keep it in the cellar and ward the door. Alastor Moody has an excellent trunk for locking away dark things such as these. I could send the trunk over with him as soon as possible."

"That would be wonderful," she said. Remus agreed.

"I would very much like to not have it in my pocket," he said faintly. As Lily looked closer at him, she realized that he was paler than usual. It was possible that this was from staying up all night, but she was not so sure.

"Be careful, Remus," Dumbledore warned.

"I know," Remus replied. "But I can't lose it."

"You won't," Dumbledore said. "Just remember that you are still healing."

"I know," Remus said again. He ducked his head and scuffed the toe of his house shoes against the worn floorboards. It made him look smaller.

Dumbledore contemplated the young man for a moment, before saying, "I've been researching Tom Riddle's background on my own, Remus. I may be getting close to a second horcrux. If I should go investigate, would you join me?"

"Of course, Albus," Remus answered.

"Thank you," Dumbledore said softly. His expression was neutral, but Lily wondered if she had seen a flash of something unreadable in his eyes. He bid both of them farewell and disappeared into the living room.

"I'm sorry, Lily, for not saying anything before we left," Remus said to Lily quietly.

"It's okay," she replied. "Although James might be getting a piece of my mind later. Just, let me know next time you decide to run off after a horcrux." She was still shocked that the three of them had managed to find a horcrux so quickly. When she fell asleep before her husband came to bed, she had simply assumed that he and his friends were enjoying some much-needed brotherly bonding.

"And thank you for agreeing to research the Founders," Remus added.

"Remus, I want to be a part of this," she said firmly.

"We need you to be a part of this." His voice was convicted. "You could even bring some of the material home after school," he continued. "Merlin knows you'll be busy. If you need help grading or with Harry or anything, just say the word-"

"Thank you, Remus," she said. She inhaled deeply. Things were changing faster than she felt she could move. "Why do you think he was interested in the Founders?"

His eyebrows knit together. "I think...I think it was because of the school itself. You know how I always read Hogwarts, A History?"

"Yes." Her memory flashed to Remus lying half-dead in the hospital wing, her eyes on the pages of the book, her heart praying he would wake.

"I think that he found a home there, like all of us did, in a way. He was an orphan, you know. I doubt Voldemort has an understanding of what love is, but perhaps he understands belonging. Or at least the power behind the symbolism of things. He seems to be… sentimental about locations and objects that mean something to him. Places that hold power, whether in their memory or in actual magic. Maybe the Founders are the wrong direction, but it's the only lead I've got right now." He tried not to look discouraged as he said this, but Lily could read it in his eyes.

"Well, then we'll follow it," she said firmly.

"Yeah," he sighed.

"Remus?"

"Hm?"

"You don't think...you don't think he hid a horcrux in Hogwarts, do you?"

"Where do you think he would hide it?" Remus asked thoughtfully. "The Marauders probably explored every inch of that school. I can't think of a place…"

"Maybe he thought that no one would guess it?" Lily mused, unsure.

"Hogwarts has many mysteries," Remus murmured. "Maybe somewhere in its bones there's a piece of Voldemort's soul. How do you think he'd get it there in the first place? How long do you think it could stay hidden?"

"I don't know."

"Something else to think about, then. Maybe keep an eye out?" he suggested faintly.

"I suppose so." Needing to do something, she cleared away the empty mugs and put away the tin of tea. It was only after magically wiping down the counters and table that she realized that Remus was still standing there.

"Remus?"

His eyes were shut tightly, his left hand curled into a vibrating fist. His posture had completely changed from relaxed to tense. A breath hitched his shoulders.

"Remus?" she repeated, thinking about what Dumbledore said. Carefully, she reached out and touched his arm. His eyes snapped open. There was an infinitesimally small moment when the amber depths were filled with an overwhelming terror. Then the storm cleared and he blinked.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"I'm okay."

"Maybe...maybe we should just keep it in my desk drawer until Mad-Eye brings the trunk," she suggested. The corner of his mouth twitched wryly.

"That wasn't the horcrux," he said. Her disbelief must have shown on her face, because he added, "It was just me. It was happening before we even found the locket, Lily. I'm fine."

This was worrisome. "It's still happening?"

"It was a long night. Like Dumbledore said, I'm still healing," he shrugged. She gave him a penetrating stare. "I'll go put it in the office if it makes you feel better," he muttered. He avoided her gaze as he exited the room. She stared after him, wondering if James and Sirius knew.

But he returned with a relaxed expression, as if nothing had happened. No wonder he was fooling them all.

"Since Harry's asleep do you want to throw some spells around in the back? I want to cream James and Sirius in our next sparring round."

Lily chuckled and rolled her eyes. "Agreed." A dueling session might help her relax her jittering nerves. Monday would come quickly.

Slughorn's office was exactly as she remembered it. The house-elves had lit a fire when she arrived, which warmed the room considerably. Even though it was in the dungeons, there were tall lattice windows charmed into the wall, reflecting the view from several stories above. The couches looked as though the walrus-like professor could had just vacated them to prepare for a class. The only thing that had changed was that someone had packed away his personal belongings, leaving the shelves and the desk open for her.

She stood in silence for a few moments, remembering the professor. His flaws were always so apparent. He clearly favored some students over others, he was excessively opulent, and he made friends out of greedy utility. But somehow these were easy to excuse. This was the man who had made her feel welcome and included, even valued, at Hogwarts. Another person she cared for, fallen victim to Voldemort. A hard lump formed in her throat as she thought of Dorcas and Marlene.

A pop distracted her from her thoughts. Quickly blinking away the stinging in her eyes, she turned to see Della the house-elf bowing low.

"Hello, Della," Lily said.

"Della has volunteered to help Professor Potter get settled," Della said with an adoring smile. They had bonded on that harrowing Christmas night over many cups of tea. "Is there anything Della can do for miss?"

"Yes, thank you, Della. Do you mind clearing some of this dust? And if you find any papers lying around, maybe stack them…" Lily paused, glancing around. Her eyes landed on the desk. "There please. And if you have time, could you look for Slughorn's records for ordering ingredients?"

"Of course, it is Della's pleasure!"

"I'm going to check out the storeroom if you need me," Lily said.

There were actually two storerooms, a personal one for the potions professor, and one open for student use. Lily went to the class storeroom first, knowing that she would need this to be in order when she started. The regular inventory checklist was hanging by the door. The last ingredients checked out by students were dated before Christmas break. She unlocked the door with her new ring of keys (it took her four tries to find the right one). It smelled musty inside, a combination of earthy decay and preservatives.

She spent the next half hour double checking the inventory and making a list. On it were things that needed to be restocked because they were either used up or expired, as well as new ingredients to add. After Dumbledore's visit, she had contacted St. Mungo's to let them know that she would be moving to part time in her research. Then she began working furiously, planning lessons for the next week for all seven years of students. She bounced between excitement and the kind of nerves that made her sick to her stomach. Despite James' joking suggestions and distracting enthusiasm, she already had a list of potions that they would be working on.

Lily was just locking the storeroom when the door to the office opened. She looked up, expecting to see Dumbledore or McGonagall. It was neither. She froze, suddenly uncertain, as Severus tentatively entered. His eyes swept the room and landed on her.

"Lily," he said quietly.

"Severus," she returned the greeting. He shifted on his feet.

"Dumbledore told me," he explained. His face was open, almost like it was when they were children. "Congratulations."

"Thank you. This should be you."

"The choices I've made prevented that possibility."

"Why did you switch sides?" she asked suddenly.

Severus gave her an indecipherable stare. "It's personal."

The years of avoidance were thick in the air between them. Besides their encounter in the hospital wing after Remus' rescue and the order meeting after Christmas, their contact had been non-existent. Something changed irrevocably between the two of them that afternoon after their O.W.L.s. The end of their friendship was an old ache, but one that never really died.

"I'm proud of you Severus," she murmured before she could stop herself. He twitched. "What you're doing is brave."

"It's stupid," he said bitterly. She could almost see the walls coming back up, pushing her out. He looked away, conscious of how well she used to be able to read him. She could tell he was beginning to regret coming down to the dungeons. She did not know what to say next. He sighed. "I should go. The Dark Lord will notice if I'm gone for too long."

"The Dark Lord," she repeated softly, hating the way it made him sound like what he chose first, being a Death Eater. His lips thinned.

"You should keep an eye out for Lupin," he said suddenly. "And...and Harry. I have not heard his plans, but he's getting frustrated. He'll do something devastating. His spies are everywhere, Lily. It's only a matter of time before he finds them."

"He won't," she denied, fear clutching her heart.

"He will," Severus retorted. "He's too powerful, Lily. He can't be stopped. And he'll destroy anyone who gets in his way."

"Then why fight if you've already given up?" she demanded, her temper flaring.

"Because I-" he stopped abruptly, the skin around his eyes tight. His nostrils flared as he exhaled. "I don't know why I came here. Good-bye, Lily."

He spun around to the door, black robes billowing around him.

"Severus, wait. Don't leave like this."

He paused. His head turned so that she could only see his profile, hooked-nosed and pale. He seemed to be on the verge of something, a question he dared not ask. After a few seconds, he continued out the door, closing it gently behind him. Lily felt her heart break for him. It had been so long since they were sixteen. She thought that he had let go of the crush, moved on. How wrong she had been was unbalancing.

"Professor Potter?" Della's little voice squeaked. "I found the ingredient order records."

"Thank you, Della," she said numbly. She took them and decided to complete the orders from home, wishing dearly that James would be done with work soon. She needed his arms around her, reassuring her that she was not a terrible person. And Snape's warning about Remus and Harry was still a vice around her lungs. She needed to go home.

The Monday Lily started, she was so nervous that she was almost certain her intestines were going to wriggle right out of her mouth. They nearly did.

"You'll be brilliant," James said, kissing her as deeply as ever. She wished she had his confidence. She left before him and Sirius, after making sure that Remus had everything he needed to handle Harry for the day.

In the faculty lounge, her new colleagues were full of encouragement. Flitwick wished her a squeaky "Good Luck!" Professor Kaelie Coelus of Astronomy gave her some last minute advice on how to start a class. The Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Clive Camduin, shyly nodded from where he stood with his back to a wall. Strangely, it was Minerva's severe censure for dawdling that gave Lily the most confidence as she left the room.

Her first class was fifth year Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws, something for which she was beyond grateful. The fifth years were actually starting to take their classes seriously in the second semester, with O.W.L.s looming over them. And Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw rivalries were not as volatile as Gryffindor and Slytherin. The only issue she knew she would have with that class was that the Ravenclaws were slow to trust her ability to fully prepare them for their exams. She tried not to think that they might be right.

By the end of the day, she knew exactly which students she would need to watch. Her fourth class was a group of seventh year Gryffindor and Slytherin N.E.W.T. students (why these houses were paired together for classes Lily would never understand). Perhaps it was because these students were nearing the end of their career as students, or maybe the war was fuelling the fire between the two houses, but at once, the atmosphere of the room was openly hostile.

The rivalry seemed to center around Kingsley Shacklebolt and Hydrus Meliflua. Shacklebolt was a tall black Gryffindor student and Meliflua was a seedy-looking Slytherin. At the beginning of class, Shacklebolt was focused and quiet. Until Meliflua made a side comment that Lily did not hear and Shacklebolt nearly exploded. This had surprised Lily, because the boy had seemed measured and unruffled up until this point. The fight had ended with Meliflua drenched in the beginnings of a polyjuice potion, which covered the Slytherin student with a nasty sunburn. Shakily, Lily took points from both Gryffindor and Slytherin and sent Meliflua up to the hospital wing. Any confidence she had felt after her first three classes was punctured like a balloon.

"Ah, yes, you'll need to watch those two," Minerva counseled in the faculty room when Lily told her about it. "Shacklebolt appears very even-tempered, but Meliflua gets under his skin. The political climate does not help."

"What do I do if it happens again?" Lily asked, desperate for advice.

"Stop it before it starts," Minerva replied patiently. "It will take time, but eventually you'll learn the signs. And for heaven's sakes, do not let them sit near each other."

"Okay… anyone else I should watch for?"

"Well I don't like giving you any expectations before you've even met the students," Minerva began thoughtfully. "But I suppose there is one more pair. Third years, you'll have them later this week. You probably already know Meg Hapley. Her father, Nelson, is an auror. Very bright young girl, a privilege to have in my house. Exceptional chaser on the quidditch team. She and Delphina Rosier have never seen eye to eye."

"Thanks…"

"You're the authority, Lily," Minerva said firmly. "Make sure they know that."

When she returned home, Lily was exhausted. Sirius had the gall to laugh at her story about Shacklebolt and Meliflua, which he instantly regretted when he had bat-bogeys flapping all over his face only moments later. Remus was sympathetic, but encouraging. James just comforted her with his presence.

"Tomorrow is coming," he said gently with a kiss on the cheek. "And you get to wake up in the morning and try again."

Lily took McGonagall's advice the next day and sat Meg and Delphina far away from each other. Luckily, nothing disastrous happened (besides the typical potion-induced calamities). In fact, the day went quite smoothly. Despite the nerves still writhing in her belly as a new class walked in and the million and one things she had to remember, she was beginning to enjoy herself. Lesson plans were stressful, but she had a curriculum outline from Slughorn that was extremely helpful.

On Friday, a kind Hufflepuff fourth year named Cynthia, turned in her poison antidote at the end of her last class of the week and said, "I think you're doing a really good job so far, Professor Potter."

Lily felt a little glow in her chest as she graded the antidotes that afternoon in the faculty lounge.

Besides teaching, she was also learning to balance being a mother and a fighter for the Order of the Phoenix. So, she spent an hour pummeling her brains with original documents from the Founders' era. She felt like she was getting nowhere. She did not even know what exactly she was looking for, only that it would be a small object that was symbolically significant to either Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Gryffindor. After a week of dealing with rivalries, potion spills, and distrustful students, her brain felt like mush. She leaned back in her chair and rubbed her eyes tiredly. She did not notice Minerva until the woman stood right across from her.

"How was your first week?" she asked with a sharp, evaluating gaze.

"Not as bad as I thought it would be," Lily answered with a small smile. Minerva returned a rare one of her own. Her eyes scanned the documents that Lily had spread out in front of her.

"Interested in the founders?" she inquired with a raised brow.

"Um, yes," Lily replied, feeling incredibly awkward lying to the woman after everything she'd done for her this week. But Dumbledore had instructed them to keep their search for the horcruxes completely secret. Minerva's ability to detect less than candid responses seemed to work on adults too. Her lips thinned, but she did not press.

"Well, I'd better head up to the Great Hall to proctor dinner," she said.

"Oh my gosh, it's already dinner-time?" Lily gasped. "I should have been home an hour ago." She frantically reorganized her books and documents into a pile and haphazardly stuffed them into an empty box, which she shrunk and stuffed into her bag. Minerva laughed quietly.

"Good-night Lily."

"Good-night! And thank you so much for your help. I would've crashed and burned without it."

"It was my pleasure."

Lily hurriedly gathered her things and tossed them into her bag with the box of research materials. The faculty lounge was hidden behind a giant landscape on the seventh floor. She slipped out into the hallway lined with suits of armor and closed it carefully. She walked briskly in the direction of the stairs, wondering how many of the portraits and tapestries hid secret rooms. She thought back to her conversation with Remus. The vastness of Hogwarts was daunting. Voldemort could have used any one of these rooms as a hiding place.

I need to find a place where something could be well hidden, she thought to herself as she passed the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy. There was a sound like sand settling. She paused and looked to her right. A door had appeared in the wall that she was certain had been blank before. The Room of Requirement. She checked up and down the hallway, but it was empty, as most of the school was at dinner.

Cautiously, she approached the door. She brushed the knob with her fingers, then grasped it and turned it. It was not locked and swung easily inwards. Checking the hall once more, she stepped inside. And gasped.

It was a room like a cathedral, only bigger. Its ceilings were high and vaulted to account for mountainous piles of… rubbish. The piles formed a labyrinth of paths that twisted through the valleys and gorges. She stared at the nearest items. Broomsticks, books, notes, old chairs and desks, illegal Zonko's products. All of it secretly ensconced by generations of Hogwarts students. Her mouth dropped open in amazement at the castle's genius. Finding something here could take years.

"I mean, there had to be millions of things in there. Expulso! You don't think Voldemort would-Protego! Tarantellgra!- hide something there, do you?"

James leapt backwards, the tap-dancing hex popping in the grass where his feet had been seconds ago. It was dark and their dinner was digesting as they duelled. But even in the sable night, Lily was pleased to see in the flashing spells that James' forehead was wrinkled in concentration. He sent a silent jinx her way and she ducked behind the elm tree.

"Don't know," he grit out. "Moony?"

"Worth a look around," Remus said from his comfortable position on the patio, which was protected from the wintry night by a warming spell. Next to him, Sirius was curled in dog form, letting Harry pull at his ears.

"'A look around' could take a very long time," Lily panted, shooting tickling curses around the dark tree trunk.

"Good thing you're there all semester then. Although I hope it does not take that long," James said. "And you can't hide there forever Lils, it's not fair."

"I'm using my resources," she responded mildly. Another curse went flying by her head and into the hedges. She rolled out from behind the tree and hurled a volley of jelly-legs jinxes at James. He blocked the first two, but the third hit and he toppled backwards.

"Petrificus totalus!" she said, snapping her wand forward. James' arms and legs sprang together and he lay on the frozen grass, stiff as a board. Sirius pounced off the patio immediately and began licking James' face enthusiastically. Remus guffawed loudly at James' misfortune. After taking a few moments to enjoy the rare burst of laughter, Lily took pity on her husband and freed him.

"Blurgh! Gross, Padfoot, get off!" James brought his hands up and pushed the bear-like dog away. He rolled to his stomach and got to his feet, Sirius prancing around his legs. He scowled at Remus, who was still chuckling, and Harry, who was clapping his hands and chanting, "Pafu, Pafu!"

"Maybe next time you won't go so easy on me," Lily suggested smugly.

"Yeah," James replied, wiping his sleeve over his drool-soaked face. "You know what, the sooner we tell Dumbledore about our animagus forms, the better. Maybe he'll put a stop to your shenanigans."

Padfoot woofed happily.

"You're telling him?" Lily asked.

"Yep," James said. He exchanged a glance with Remus. "It's just weird, you know? There's never really a good time. We were thinking the order meeting this week. We always meet alone with him afterwards, so no one will be listening."

"You think Peter could spying as a rat," she concluded.

"It's possible." Sirius had transformed back to his human form. He sat on the grass with his long legs splayed out. "Most likely at Hogwarts, as the Ministry has enough spies to go around."

"We get memos from this Arwel Atkins bloke in the Minister's office almost daily about it," James continued. He was now brushing grass from his pants. "Pamphlets about the Imperius curse, how to tell if your co-worker is working for Voldemort. Honestly, Bagnold should leave that kind of thing to the aurors. All she's succeeding in doing is making everyone more paranoid. MLE runs from department to department instead of focusing on the world outside the government." He rubbed his face tiredly. "Anyway, Pettigrew would be more useful at Hogwarts."

"I could keep an eye out for him," Lily suggested. "But I'll only be able to watch the dungeon floors for the most part."

"Well…" Sirius drawled, wearing a funny expression. "There is one way you could keep an eye on the whole castle at once."

"What?" Lily eyed him, James, and Remus suspiciously. Even in the dim light spilling from the cottage windows, she could see their mischievous looks.

"In Filch's office, there's a drawer labeled 'Confiscated and Highly Dangerous,'" James confided with a proud grin. "You'll find a blank piece of parchment. If you can nick it when old Argus isn't looking, we'll explain the rest."

Lily could not help but roll her eyes. Of course the Marauders had a way to spy on the whole castle. How else would they get away with everything without getting caught?

"Well I'm going to bed," she announced. "It's freezing out here and I'm dead tired."

As the conversation had progressed, she could feel her last dregs of energy waning. She forced her aching legs to the patio and leaned down to pick up Harry.

"We've got him, Lils," Remus said, waving her off. "Besides, he needs to see Uncle Moony kick the snot out of his godfather."

Sirius stuck out his tongue at Remus childishly.

"Fine," she relinquished easily. "Don't keep him up too late. And Sirius, I swear, if he starts sticking his tongue out at people, the consequences for your own tongue will not be pleasant."

She did not linger long enough to hear Sirius' protests.

a/n: A lighter ending, because I'm in a good mood :) I want to get Lily more involved in this whole mess, so I'm excited to have her in Hogwarts and teaching Slughorn's classes. Although I don't know if Lily would want teaching to be her career, I do think that she would be willing to sacrifice some time and energy in the classroom if it helped with the war effort and honoring Slughorn's memory (as annoying as I found him).