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Lily and Severus walked through the grounds quietly. Neither of them felt the need to speak. After several minutes of walking in silence, Lily fell behind slightly and stooped down to make a snowball in her hands. As Severus turned to check she was ok, she threw the snowball right into his face. By the time they went back into the castle they had had several snowball fights, made snow angels, and had made a full size snow man.
Harry couldn't help but smile watching his mum with her best friend. It was obvious that Snape loved her. Yet it was also very clear that Lily just wanted to be friends. Each of them in their own way, valued each other deeply. He needed her and she needed him. They had missed one another.
Harry watched as his mother sat at one of the long tables in the kitchen, opposite her best friend. "What are we going to do about your birthday?" Snape asked.
"I don't know. I'll worry about that nearer the time." Lily replied.
"It's next week!" Severus laughed.
"I don't really want to do anything," Lily frowned.
"Right, ok." Snape grinned. Harry could see the clogs moving behind Snape's eyes. "Would you spend it with me?"
Lily looked at him, "if you want me to."
James sat in front of the fire in the common room. Kate walked over to him and kissed him on the cheek. James looked slightly awkward. "Can we talk?"
"Yeah, sure." Kate answered. James took her hand and led her out of the portrait hole. He pulled her into a deserted classroom. She tried to kiss him but he pulled away. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. I –" He looked sheepish, "I really need to talk to you."
"Ok…" Kate sat on a desk and waited.
"So, I've been thinking. I really like you but I just don't think this is working." James began.
"You're dumping me?" Kate asked.
"I'm sorry." James said before walking out the door. Harry followed his dad out of the empty classroom and back into the common room to find the other Marauders. James sat down in an arm chair. Sirius was sat in the chair next to him and Remus was sat in the one opposite reading his transfiguration textbook. Peter was lying across the floor, he looked up when James sat down. "Well, I did it."
"You ended it?" Sirius asked.
"Yep." James sighed, "I think that it was the right thing to do. I'm not in love with her."
"Yeah, because you're eleven." Remus said. The boys laughed.
"Yeah, maybe. But also I don't think it's safe."
"How do you mean?" Peter asked.
"Well, think about it… we're going to be spying on Slytherins, future dark wizards, Voldemort's followers. What if they hurt her?"
"Oh," all three boys were watching James now.
"I might not love her but I want her to be safe."
"Noble as ever," Sirius smiled.
The boys talked for hours about seemingly irrelevant things. They were waiting for the other Gryffindors to go to bed. Lily, Alice and Marlene walked into the common room. Mary and Kate walked slightly behind them. Kate didn't look at James. She just kept walking, straight up the stairs to the girl's dormitory with Mary. Lily, Alice and Marlene, however, walked up to James frowning. "Potter!" Lily was angry.
"Yes, Evans?" James replied.
"What the hell are you playing at?" Lily screamed.
"Erm, just sitting here with my friends…" James smiled.
"You know what I'm talking about. Don't play stupid!" Lily replied.
"Lily, come on," Alice said. "Calm down. James, I just don't get it. Could you explain? I thought you liked her."
"I can't explain."
"But…" Alice frowned. She wasn't used to James not talking to her. She pulled on his arm, pulling him out of the common room. She dragged him down the corridor and into an empty classroom. "Tell me, please."
"Wait," James put a silencing charm on the room so that they wouldn't be overheard. "You have to promise not to tell anyone, not Lily, not Kate, none of the Gryffindor girls. Noone can know."
"Why?" Alice didn't understand.
Harry watched as his father frowned. "Are you sure you want to know? I'm worried that if I tell you then… I'm not sure it's safe."
"James, just tell me!" Alice grimaced. She knew James was worried about something. It must be something serious.
"Right, well first there is the obvious… I don't want to keep a relationship going with her just for the sake of it."
"I don't get it…"
"Let me finish, Ali. I just don't love her. So that's my first reason."
"What's your second reason?" Ignoring his use of her nickname; it was really hard trying to keep angry with him.
"My dad has asked me to do something; something dangerous. It's bad enough that I am risking my own life and the life of my friends… But at least they have chosen it themselves. It's their choice. Ali, I don't want to risk her life. I might not love her but I do care."
"James, what's your dad asked you to do?" Alice looked terrified.
"I can't say."
"James…"
"Please, Alice. Just leave it. Believe me, it's safer if you don't know." James told her honestly.
James and Alice returned to the common room. Alice left the marauders, as she went to find her friends. When James could no longer hear the sound of Alice's feet on the stairs, he looked around the room, checking that they were alone before performing a silencing charm.
"I've been thinking. We need a way to keep ourselves safe. We need to know where the Slytherins are…"
"That's impossible James." Remus responded.
"I'm thinking we need a map!" James smiled at his friends.
"What?" Sirius said, sitting up.
"A map?" Peter asked.
"A map that we've enchanted to tell us where people are…" James continued. "Come on guys, who knows this castle better than we do?"
"That's going to take some serious magic," Remus frowned.
"Good job you've got a seriously good brain then," James smiled. "Look I'll draw the map…"
Sirius laughed, "I think we should include the secret passageways out of the castle. Just think, not only will this help us with the 'secret mission' but it will come in very handy with our more mischievous ventures."
"Ok, well if you guys start with the drawing in the next few days I'll help with the spells when I get back." Remus said, tiredly.
"Where are you going, Remus?" James asked, concern in his eyes.
"Home. My mum is ill again." Remus replied. James merely nodded slowly. Harry saw the confusion in his eyes. James didn't believe his friend.
Lily was sat in the kitchens with Severus again. She blew on her hot chocolate before taking a big gulp. "What are you talking about?"
"Well, don't you find it really strange that he always disappears once a month?"
"Who are you on about?" Lily asked.
"Lupin! Once a month, always on the full moon." Severus replied.
"Don't be ridiculous. That's a horrible thing to suggest." Lily said, shocked. "Remus' mum is sick, that's all."
So what do you think? Please review...
Next chapters...
the marauders spy on the Slytherins...
the planning of the marauders map...
Lily and James have a little confrontation...
Some duelling...