Note: GAH! Yes, I am a pathetic idiot who took ten years to update. Sorry, sorry, sorry!

History: So I own nothing. Rights to JKR.

Recap: Lily and James go into the forest, get separated, get separately kidnapped, separately escape, and then reunite. Then they're walking around and get ambushed by death eaters and... separated. But then they get reunited again... right before getting captured again. They get taken to Korcesh's ("The Foreigner") office in the Ministry where the dear dark lord (a.k.a. Santa Claus) shows up and talks a bit before ordering the death eaters to wait an hour till the building is clear, and then kill them. So yeah, their lives pretty much suck right now.

Chapter 25- "Good Morning"
(aka- "chapter 25 of this captivating tale of thrill, love, and adventure." (cheers, ljf)

"Fortune favors the brave." –Virgil

Fifty-three minutes, and words seemed superfluous.

They sat there in almost utter silence, except for their own breathing and the ticking of the clock on the wall. In fifty-three minutes, they were going to be dead. The death eaters had left the pair alone. Their wrists had been tied at first, but it had taken all of five minutes to get out of the ropes. It hadn't really mattered whether they were tied up or not. There was nothing in the room that could be used for an escape, and they were both wandless.

And in fifty-two minutes, they were going to be dead.

This thought resounded in James's head for several minutes, leaving room for nothing else. He was going to die. In less than an hour.

Presently, however, the power in those words began to dissipate. For a reason that James could not possibly determine—though he could only assume it was an irrational and senseless one—he did not feel like he was going to die. Perhaps it had always been some subconscious fancy of his that one could sense when the end had, at last, come, or perhaps this was an entirely new idea to his mind, but for the life of him, James could not shake it.

Now was simply not the time. He was not going to die today... not while he had anything to say about it.

Alright, so he really did not have anything to say about it, but still...

Lily's thoughts were occupied in a rather different manner.

Whether or not she was going to die had long ago passed through, for Lily was, as a general rule, sensible and quick-thinking, and she had accepted the fact that she could very well die very soon and there was very little that she could do about it. The room was locked, soundproof, and the only exit was guarded by God-knew-how-many death eaters. The odds weren't good. At best, they were minutely slim.

But while James's mind was filled with wonder and sudden certainty—for he knew today was not his death day, and no one would convince him otherwise—Lily's mind was far more troubled. The irony of the situation did not escape her. She was going to die in an office room in the Ministry of Magic; she was going to be murdered there, with James Sodding Potter.

She was simply confused.

She was going to die soon; she'd accepted it. But... what would happen to her next? She had wondered about the afterlife a few times before, but Lily's family had never been religious at all, and she had no popularly accepted view to compare with her own suppositions.

Still, Lily did believe in some sort of... retribution, some sort of afterlife. And though she had not extensively thought about where she might fit into the spectrum of "heaven" or "hell," she certainly was now. After all, there was not much else she could do.

Lily sighed and looked over at James, whose expression was blank.

If there was one person she had been completely unforgiving to, and if there was one person she had never properly apologized to, it was the tall eighteen-year-old boy with messy black hair and rather nice hazel eyes that sat next to her at this moment.

Ironic, no?

She broke the silence. "James," she began hesitantly, just above a whisper. "James, I..." But then Lily noticed that he did not seem to be able to hear her. In fact, he was getting to his feet.

"James?" Lily repeated, this time her tone one of confusion. He did not reply. "James!" she said again. He was crossing behind the desk that they had been leaning against, and as she too got to her feet, she saw him looking through the blinds out of the window.

"What're you doing, James?" she asked in wonder. He moved away from the window without a reply for the redhead, and swept past her towards the door. He pressed his ear against it for a moment, then shook his head and moved away from there.

"James," repeated Lily for what felt like the millionth time; the name was beginning to sound strange to her own ears. "James, what are you doing?" The Head Boy still maintained silence as he walked past Lily once more to behind the desk, where he opened all the drawers quickly.

"They're all empt... James, what are you doing?" He had climbed onto the surface of the desk and was examining the ceiling.

"I'm trying to keep us alive."

Lily folded her arms. "Through the ceiling?"

He got down from the desk. "Oh shut it."

For a moment, he stood still, thinking again, and then, he continued his examination of the room. He looked carefully at everything, feeling the wall with his fingers, knocking in certain places... Lily decided that the Head Boy must have gone insane.

"James," she said once more. "There's no way out... they made sure of that."

"I'm not going to die," was the only reply.

"Planning to knock the wall down, are you?"

"If I have to, why not?"

Lily looked at the clock. She sighed once again, and sat down on the edge of the office desk. "I have forty-seven minutes left to live," she said, more to herself than to James, "Forty-seven minutes, and I'm spending them arguing with James Potter."

James looked over his shoulder and said sarcastically: "If you're looking for a snog, the answer's an absolute 'no.'"

Lily shook her head, rolling her eyes, and allowing herself a bitter, wry smile. "I'm not going to fight with you, James."

James turned around again and made for the door; he listened at it once more and said: "For once in your life, yeah?"

"First and last time, I reckon," observed Lily, speaking as if half in a dream state. "And you can listen at doors and try to get out of this room as much as you like... you don't even have to listen to me if you don't want to, but I'm going to tell you something." She now focused her eyes on the blank wall directly ahead of her, and therefore did not notice James's pause of half a second from where he now stood, searching a cabinet along the eastern wall.

"I'm sorry, alright?" Lily continued simply. "Mostly I'm sorry for what I said earlier in the forest. You're probably one of the bravest—albeit one of the stupidest—people I know. I've been stubborn and harsh and completely relentless in judging you. I mean, you used to be such a selfish, bullying, completely egocentric and entirely unendurable little snot and all, but this year... even last year I noticed it, but I wouldn't let myself admit it... you haven't... well maybe you've just grown up a little, or maybe you fell out of love with yourself..." Lily smirked at the thought of the cocky fifteen year old James had been. "So sorry for thinking I was so much better than you are, and for always assuming... well, the worst possible thing about you. It wasn't fair to you, and I can't imagine what made me like that except that... James, I don't know what it is about you but something... something always makes me want to..." She searched her mind for words to articulate the thought: "...to sock you in the jaw, I guess. It's insane, I know, because when it comes down to it, I don't hate you. I don't even know if I dislike you, Potter. It's been animosity and arguing with us for so long, but you've never been quite like any other enemy—you're not like Olivia Malfoy or someone, 'cause no matter how much I yell and scream at you and... and get mad or whatever... and no matter how much I act like I can't stand to be in your very presence, I don't... I don't hate you, Potter."

Lily paused. Her insides ached with an overwhelming emotion she could not explain. Nevertheless, she felt surprisingly okay for someone who was facing imminent death.

James said nothing for a moment. He was standing next to the cabinet, perfectly still. At length, he broke the silence. "Give me your shoe," he said.

Lily was consciously forcing herself not to blink, because if she did, inexplicable tears would free themselves from her eyes. She exhaled half laughingly. "What?"

"Your shoe," repeated James quietly, not facing her. "Can I have it for a second? I'd use mine, but it's a bitch to get back on."

The redhead shook her head and, suppressing unwanted emotions as well as she could, slid off the desk. For a moment, she was a complete loss for words. "Yes, James," she breathed finally, utterly bewildered; "You can have my... my shoe." She bent down and pulled off her left trainer. She walked, or rather limped, over towards James, and as she did so, said: "There's one last thing I need to apologize for, even thought I doubt very much you were paying attention to any of that. I'm sorry it took me till the last... forty three minutes of my life to say sorry." She reached him, and he turned to take the shoe from her hand.

"Er... thanks..." James muttered awkwardly. Lily nodded impassively and turned back towards the desk. She did not watch as he hit the wall as hard as he could with her shoe, then paused to see if it had any effect on the Death Eaters outside.

She sat down on the desktop again, and, when James was satisfied that no one was coming, he came and set the shoe next to her. Then, he went and sat on the floor, leaning against the wall opposite Lily.

They sat there in silence for a long time. James was restless, jumpy, and thoughtful, and Lily was unemotional and quiet. Neither head student moved. The minutes slipped by pitilessly without conversation and without action.

And then, at approximately twelve twenty (leaving some ten minutes till the death eaters were to return), James got up very suddenly. Lily watched, eyebrows arched, as he crossed very quickly to the other side of the room, behind the desk on which Lily sat. He ended at the window again, peering through the blinds and looking very thoughtful.

"James, what're you...?"

"Shh!"

Confused, Lily slid around to the other side of the desk. James was muttering to himself as if he was trying to work something out in his head. Lily watched him for a minute or so. She was about to interrupt his train of thought with another inquiry, when a look of comprehension dawned on his face. He looked at Lily as if he had never quite seen her.

"James, are you alright?"

James shushed her again. He leaned close and whispered so quietly that it was difficult for Lily to hear him at all: "Scream."

"What?"

"Scream!"James breathed again. "Just scream, okay?"

"Why?"

"Lily."

"Alright, alright." Sighing, Lily shut her eyes and, mustering her voice to its greatest extent, let out a loud, high-pitched, cinema-worthy scream. James jumped back and covered his ears until she was done. Then, he held up his hand to indicate silence, and Lily, rolling her eyes, complied. A few seconds passed before James's expression relaxed.

"Can I talk now?"

"I think so."

"They can't hear us, James. Sound proof. It seems like we've covered this topic."

"I was just making sure."

"Why, exactly?"

"Because I've got an idea."

"An idea," Lily repeated blankly. "Okay..."

"Alright, I'm gonna need... your jacket. Give me your jacket."

"My ja... okay... but... why are you always demanding articles of my clothing?" She unzipped the black jacket she was wearing and pulled it off, handing it to James. He took it, ignoring her question. The clock on the wall read 12:24.

Beginning with the sleeves, James wound the jacket around his arm, from just above his wrist, to the middle of his upper-arm, tucking in the last bit of loose material so that it would stay secure. Lily raised her eyebrows, but said nothing. She simply watched as James took the blinds in his hands and listened to the resulting screeching sound when he tore them in two. It was not James screeching, as Lily had immediately suspected, but rather the tweed blinds. He stuffed the upper half of the blinds between the wall and the curtain rod, and the bottom was left dangling from where it was magically secured to the sill.

It then occurred to Lily why he needed her jacket.

"You're not going to...? Merlin, James. Be... be careful."

James acted as if he had not heard her at all. Hastily, he drew back his arms, intertwining his fingers and holding his fists high next to his ear farthest from the window. Lily winced and waited for the crash. It came, as James threw his arms forward and his elbows made contact with the glass window. Though she had been expecting it, Lily jumped slightly. Recovering, she hurried over to where James was knocking a few panes of glass out of the frame.

"You're bleeding," Lily observed, seeing that a shard of glass had cut through his upper sleeve where the jacket did not cover.

"Never mind it," James insisted dismissively. The faux starlight was now gone, and there was only indefinite, infinite darkness outside; the room seemed a bit colder as well. James unraveled the jacket from his arm and handed it back to Lily, not even watching to see whether she took it. Then, started examining the broken glass. A particularly large, jagged, and sharp piece was a very little bit bloodstained, and it was this portion that James, with great delicacy, removed.

He examined the glass for a moment longer, then set it down on the desk, looking very thoughtful. Lily watched as he began to murmur to himself again.

"Okay," he said at length, in a normal tone. "I'm going to stand just over there, and when the death eaters come in..."

"That's not going to work," said Lily at once, and it was not merely for argument's sake. "They'll expect something. They'll expect us to be desperate to escape."

"You're right," the other conceded. "I'll have to divert them somehow too."

Lily sent him a supercilious look. "There are two of us, you know."

"Well, right, but..."

"What do you need done?"

James still appeared hesitant. "It'll be pretty dangerous..."

"Stop being ridiculous."

"I'm serious. Even if you succeed as a diversion, you might get killed in the..."

"I said stop being ridiculous! I can bloody well handle it, and you know it."

"But..."

But whatever James had to say, Lily did not have the patience for it. So she slapped him. Recoiling at the startling interruption, James allowed Lily a moment to speak.

"You're saying I can't do this diversion because it's dangerous, but if I don't and you're caught, we're both dead anyway. It's not as if I'll be perfectly safe without doing this... whatever it is... so stop being protective and tell me what you need done."

James seemed to see the reason in this, or perhaps he was just a little frightened of Lily at the moment, and he gave in. "Alright. You should probably be here, or by the window anyway, because from the door, that's probably the first thing they'll spot. I reckon they'll open the door before they come in, so they'll see you and hopefully come further into the room. You'll need to be doing something that will catch their attention..." Lily raised her eyebrows. "Not that type of something..."

"Alright, alright. I'll... I'll be breaking the window more—it'll look like I'm trying to escape. But what if they notice you're offstage?"

"Got any better ideas?"

Lily thought. "Sadly, no."

"Alright then." They stood in silence then, looking at each other awkwardly and yet decidedly.

After a moment, Lily broke the silence with a somewhat uncomfortable: "We should get ready—they'll be here any minute."

James agreed with a short nod. Lily was turning to face the window, however, when he caught her arm and stopped her. She looked at him curiously, eyebrows raised, but then, much to Lily's unadulterated surprise (and probably James's as well), he bent down and kissed her.

It was not quite a normal kiss, because it was neither on the cheek nor on the lips, but rather on the corner of her mouth, so that Lily supposed that he could not make up his mind which to do and had ended up with a last-minute compromise. It was also very quick, but when he pulled away a moment later, Lily felt dazed nonetheless.

"Good luck," he said, as if nothing had happened at all.

"You as well," she murmured in reply, unable to maintain the steadiness that he had so expertly conveyed.

"Alright, then." He turned quickly and walked around the desk, across the room, and to the doorway, standing along the wall to the right of the door itself, so that it would open in front of him.

Lily, meanwhile, raised her hand so that it was over one of the sharp edges of a glass still secure in the window and very carefully lowered her palm so that the glass pierced her skin.

"What the hell are you doing?" James asked in surprise.

"I'm making it look realistic. Blood catches peoples' attention."

"But..."

"Shut up, James." Blood began to seep out of her palm, and Lily withdrew it from the pointed glass. She applied some pressure on her hand so that she bled a little more. Then, wincing ever so slightly, she rubbed her hands together, spreading the blood about and making it more noticeable.

"Remind me never to leave you alone with a razor blade," James muttered, shaking his head.

"Duly noted."

They waited for a minute or so in silence, and the waiting was the worst of all. Lily almost wished the death eaters would come in so that this could all end—one way or the other. Part of her realized that if this plan (such as it was) did work out, there were death eaters out in the corridor, and even if they did escape the room alive, there was still the rest of the floor to survive. She pushed these thoughts aside quickly. They would cross that bridge when they came to it.

All thoughts were interrupted when the doorknob creaked and Lily saw it begin to turn. Her eyes met with James for half a moment, exchanging "here goes nothing" sort of looks, and the door was pushed open a moment later. It flew open with such force that it (probably by specific design) hit against the back of the wall behind it, and James only just moved out of the way in time to avoid being hit and discovered. As a result, the door bounced forward again, just enough so that James could slip back behind its cover.

If Lily had been watching the scene, meanwhile, she would have seen that no one immediately entered through the doorway. If she had been watching, she would have seen that after a moment, a death eater did appear, wand raised and ready, as he looked prepared for just about anything that came. Lily was not watching. She was facing the window.

The second the door had opened, she had begun to hit the glass as if trying to break it, despite the fact that it was already broken. Her hands were genuinely bleeding now, and she wished she had used the jacket as James had. The first death eater (there were a few more standing further back) took another step into the room and shouted a vague order to move away from the window as well as a demand about where James was, but Lily comprehended neither.

She had an uncertain consciousness of screaming "No!" repeatedly in reply as she continued to break the glass, but it was not really an intentional effort.

"Step back!" the death eater (Harris, Lily noted) shouted again over her cries, and as he did so, a jet of bright orange light was sent from the tip of his wand towards the Head Girl, who was very nearly hit. She managed, however, to duck under the desk in front of her just before the curse made contact with her head.

Harris took another step into the room, making him visible to where James waited between the door and the wall. James seized the opportunity. Mustering his strength, he pushed the door forward. It did not hit Harris, as he was standing far enough into the room, but it did make contact with another death eater standing behind him, and James's adrenaline ruled strength combined with the unexpected nature of the attack allowed him to dominate the situation.

Exactly what transpired next was difficult to register, even for Lily, who was peering over the top of the desk; the whole thing happened so quickly. At the same moment James got the door closed, leveraging his weight against it, he jabbed the jagged glass into Harris's side, thrusting it upwards. Harris gasped in pain, but tried desperately to turn to face his assailant. James was too quick. He grabbed the wand from Harris's slackened grip, and pushed the death eater down.

Not missing a beat, James turned on the door, still holding it shut with one arm. There was the sound of hexes attempting to take it down from the outside, but the spells that Korcesh had undoubtedly placed on it for his own protection were now working against them. James did not have the same problem. In one movement, he released his own hold on the door and, with the wand pointed at the door, shouted, "Bombarda!"

The door flew backwards, pushing whatever stood in its way back with it, as well as part of the wall. James did not wait for the dust to clear. He sent a number of hexes towards where the door had fallen. He was about to call for Lily to "come on," when a cry of pain from somewhere behind him caused him to turn around hastily.

It was not Lily who had cried out, however, but Harris. As James turned to see what had happened, Harris, who had somehow gotten to his knees, fell to the floor once again in a heap. Lily was standing over him. It took a moment for James to register the fact that the death eater had been attempting to exact revenge on him, and that Lily had made use of another sharp edged windowpane. Blood poured out of the death eater's neck. Lily took the opportunity of James's momentary surprise to steal his line.

"Come on."

James nodded quickly and pushed forward out of the room, jumping over the fallen door and rubble, with Lily right behind him.

Most of the death eaters in the corridor seemed to have been involved in the would-be execution of Lily and James, but a few from other areas of the floor were now appearing around the end of the hall. James was rather in an attack first, ask questions later mood. He immediately shot two hexes at the death eaters with Harris's wand, and though the first one missed all together, the second hit one of the three presumable death eaters.

There was an immediate retaliation, and while with one arm James pushed Lily back against the wall, he used the other to perform a shield charm. He was a moment too late, and one of the hexes hit Lily square in the shoulder.

She gasped in pain, but when James turned to see if she was alright she shouted, "NO! The death eaters!"

James wheeled around and shot six or seven spells out of the wand at the advancing death eaters, but did not wait to see if he had hit any of them. Instead, guiding Lily carefully, he began to run in the opposite direction, back towards Korcesh's office. Lily kept up fairly well, despite her shoulder, which was growing numb, and they made it to the opposite end of the corridor without much difficulty. There were no death eaters here, though neither student could begin to speculate as to why.

The corridor curved to another area of the floor, but there was also a stairwell for those whose preference was not the lift, and it was the latter which Lily and James pursued. James was about to take the descending stair, but Lily stopped him.

"No! We're underground—we have to go up!"

This was, of course, logical, and they instead began to hurry upwards. They had barely taken three steps, however, before there were sounds from the lower stair. They looked down, and the movement of a few figures ascending the steps some two flights below was visible. James did not attack. The two students were far too busy sprinting upward.

Lily's shoulder was no longer numb, but it felt as if it was on fire, and the pain was spreading to her upper arm. She bit her lip and said nothing.

They came to a landing and there was door, bearing a large, black "1." It was locked. James did not particularly care, and the clambering footsteps below grew louder.

"Bombarda!"

The door blasted open, though the spell did less damage than it had upstairs. Lily and James waited only a moment so that they would not be hit by any rubble, before running into the open.

They were in a large, round room. It was stylishly furnished and rather showy, with several corridor branching off at various places about the circumference. They were standing there for only a moment, when a witch appeared from one of the corridors. She had curly blonde hair, and noticeably started when she saw Lily and James only a few feet away. James was on her long before she had time to draw her wand.

"Where is the Minister of Magic's office?" he demanded at once, wand raised and pointed at the witch's throat.

"E-excuse me?"

"The Minister of Magic."

Lily looked at the Head Boy with uncertainty. "James, what are you...?"

James completely ignored her. "Where is the Minister's office?" he asked fiercely.

The witch remained stoically silent.

"James..." began Lily again, but James interrupted her.

"Stupefy." The witch passed out. "Sorry," he added, a little guiltily.

Lily looked at him. "I don't think she was a death eater, Potter."

"I know she wasn't," James agreed. "But she'd slow us down. C'mon." He waved for Lily to follow him. She complied reluctantly as he led the way to the first of the corridors in the room. He did not immediately rush down the corridor, however, but somewhat hesitantly stepped over the threshold, as if waiting for something to happen. Nothing did.

"C'mon," he directed again. He moved to the next of the corridors, and repeated his odd behavior to the same results. Again, he hurried to the third corridor, and then to the fourth, and as they approached the fifth, Lily heard footsteps from the stairway.

"They're coming."

James said nothing. Instead, he stepped forward to cross the threshold of the fifth corridor. He stopped suddenly, however, and Lily sent him an anxious look.

"This is it."

"This is what?"

Again, James did not reply. In fact, he did the thing that seemed to make the least sense at the moment. He threw the death eater's wand he had procured several floors below across the room. Then, he hurried through the archway, followed by a thoroughly confused Lily. He was sprinting, and Lily struggled to keep up.

"How's your shoulder?" James asked, noticing that she clutched at it.

"Oh... fine," lied Lily; she tried to ignore the now sharp stinging that had spread through all of her arm, shoulder, and was beginning on her upper back.

"You sure?"

Lily chose to disregard this. "Where are we going? And why did you throw the wand away?"

"'Had to. You can't get down this corridor with a wand unless you're one of the Minister's personal guards. As I'm not one, and I don't think you are, I had to throw it."

"O-Oh." There was a pause; breathing was becoming difficult. "Where are we going now?"

James turned down one of the off-shooting corridors. "Well... I'm not entirely sure."

Lily stopped running. "What?"

"Just c'mon!" Reluctant, but seeing no other option, Lily again complied. "I've been here before," James explained at length. "That's how I knew the wand thing, but... well... it's been a while."

"How long?"

"Er... well... about... ten years... maybe."

"Nice."

"Yeah." James led Lily through a rather insignificant door on the left, which gave way yet another lengthy corridor. "There it is—that's the office." He pointed to the last door. "...If I remember correctly," he added uncertainly. "And I'm not really sure I do. At all."

Lily squinted through the dark. "James, there are a handful of wizards in black standing in front of it."

"Then I'm a little more certain of it."

Lily was not quite sure if she was missing something obvious, but she could not for the life of her figure out how James could be so certain that the Minister was there. She said nothing, however, partially because she thought she really might have been missing something, and partially because the pain in her shoulder and arm was growing worse by the second.

They were coming into earshot of the three wizards, who now seemed to notice that they were not alone in the corridor. "Stay back," one ordered, raising his wand. There was a shining badge on his chest that indicated he was a hit-wizard.

"Listen, my name is James Potter," James called to the wizards.

"That's fine, James Potter," the wizard retorted; "but you'll still stay back."

"We need to see..."

"What are you doing here? It's way after visiting hours."

"Trust me—we didn't come on our own free will. There are death eaters downstairs. We were taken here by force, alright? We need to see Albus Dumbledore."

Lily appeared as disbelieving as the other wizards.

"I don't know where you're getting your information, boy, but..."

"Don't give me that shit," snapped James, his voice incredibly confident. "He's here. He's been in conference with the Minister of Magic for hours, and he hasn't received any visitors, owls, or otherwise, has he? If he had, he would have known about what's happened at the school."

"James," Lily whispered, "how do you know...?"

"Listen," James went on, as if he had not heard Lily at all; "we're a couple of students. We wouldn't be able to take any of you on anyway. There really are death eaters downstairs, though, and we've got to see Dumbledore before they escape. Would just one of you go in there and get him. Tell him... tell him James Potter and Lily Evans are here. Please."

"Stent," muttered one of the other wizards, a tall, black man. "The security level was just raised..."

"We don't know if they're death eaters or not."

"No, but they're unarmed, or they wouldn't have been able to get here. I am going to get Albus Dumbledore."

"Kingsley," said another. "It's not..." But Kingsley had already turned and entered the room.

"You said the security level's been raised?" Lily asked, grasping tightly at her shoulder. "Are there aurors being called?" Neither of the remaining wizards replied. "Well you don't have to answer me, but you should call more wizards down there quickly, before everyone there escapes."

"We don't need your advice, girl," snapped the man addressed as Stent. "And if you are a death eater, you may be interested to hear that the Minister is in the process of evacuating the building. You won't get him."

Lily could not really blame the wizard for feeling a bit defensive, so she thought it best to keep some sort of silence. A minute or so passed and not without many anxious glances over the shoulder on the part of Lily and James, but no one disturbed the almost absolute silence in the corridor.

Kingsley returned presently, and beckoned Lily and James closer. They complied readily, and as he ushered them into the room, he spoke rapidly to his companions.

"Stent—alert Cross and Gael. Tell them to contact the rest of their teams immediately. Chester, get as many hit-wizards here as soon as possible. Donlevy's down the hall—he'll do security here with me. Raise security two levels. Inside, you two." He directed this last part towards the Head Boy and Girl.

Lily and James entered the room. It was not the Minister's office, but an antechamber.

"Oh," Lily added, turning quickly to Kingsley. "There's a blonde witch passed out in the chamber out there. It's a long story."

Kingsley nodded and shut the door behind the two students. They walked uncertainly further inside, but had only a moment to wait. Then, the door on the opposite wall opened, admitting the figure of Albus Dumbledore. Lily was torn between laughing and crying with relief (she ended up doing neither, as too much movement hurt her shoulder something terrible). Dumbledore's expression, however, was far more serious.

"Sit down," he said in a rapid, though not unkind tone, which in essence demanded obedience. The usual twinkle that lit his blue eyes had gone out entirely. Lily and James sat down on a bench along the wall at once. "What has happened at Hogwarts?" Dumbledore pressed seriously.

It seemed odd to be interrogated about that. The events in Hogsmeade and the Forbidden Forest seemed years old.

"Praedam was killed," James replied, almost immediately. "Silth did it. He was hired by Korcesh to steal something from Hogwarts."

"Gilbert Korcesh," Lily elaborated. "He's a death eater—he's been one all along. The... the attack on the Hogwarts Express and Hogsmeade back in September was a ploy to keep him at Hogwarts."

"We were sort of... taken by the death eaters," continued James. "We escaped but... they got us again and apparated us from the clearing in the forest to Korcesh's office downstairs. When the building was guaranteed clear, they were going to kill us, but we managed to escape and get here."

"You knew I was here?"

"Er... Korcesh told me."

"Korcesh?"

"I was in the village tonight," James elaborated smoothly; he was not particularly worried about the consequences of sneaking out of the castle at the moment. "I saw Praedam and Silth meet in the Three Broomsticks and followed them. They were at Hogwarts to steal something, only Silth had another job too. He was going to steal something for Korcesh—it didn't seem like there was any clear idea of what they were supposed to steal. Silth... well, he killed Praedam, and I went to get help, but I ran into Korcesh."

Dumbledore nodded in understanding. "Rosmerta must have summoned him. She had instructions to inform me immediately if she should see Praedam meet with anyone from the staff, but as I was gone, she must have notified the Ministry instead. But I interrupt... continue, James."

"There's not much more beyond what I've told you."

"Is the school secure?"

"It was when we were there last," said Lily uncertainly. "It was swarmed with aurors. How did no one contact you?"

Dumbledore sighed wearily. "I was in closed council. No one is to disturb the Minister of Magic when he is in closed council. Kingsley took a great risk in doing so. He thought it might be too late should we leave before I heard you speak. Now, were any students harmed at Hogwarts?"

"No," said Lily at once. "I don't think so."

Dumbledore's white eyebrows lifted, and for a moment, Lily thought she saw something of the old twinkle in his blue eyes. "The two of you are students," he noted.

"We're fine," Lily said at once.

"You're not," James pointed out. "She got hit in the shoulder with a curse downstairs and..."

Dumbledore's eyes fixed on Lily. "You do not look well," he stated, as if he had not really seen her till now. As he spoke, she began to feel dizzy. "I will get you medical attention immediately," Dumbledore went on very seriously. "You must both stay here, and stay safe. You have no wands, I presume..."

They shook their heads, and Dumbledore, shaking his own head, muttered something that sounded vaguely like "miraculous." "Very well," he continued, in a normal tone. "Stay here. I will return presently."

Dumbledore walked hastily out into the corridor, shutting the door behind him. Lily and James were left alone. Lily closed her eyes, wanting to shut out the growing pain. It was increasing by the minute, and she glanced down at the hole in her shirt. The skin visible through the tear was black.

"Are you alright?" James murmured.

She nodded, not able to bring herself to say anything more. Energy seemed to be draining from her with every moment that passed.

Dumbledore returned a moment later with the curly haired blonde witch of earlier, now fully recovered. She did not seem to bear any ill-will towards Lily and James, but rather approached the former at once and began to investigate her shoulder.

"How does it feel?" she asked hastily, kneeling down beside her.

"Bad," murmured the Head Girl, "like it's been stabbed."

"And has it felt like that all along?"

Lily shook her head. "No, it... it was numb at first, and then was burning before, and then it sort of ached..." She winced as the pain heightened.

"Is the pain spreading?"

She nodded.

"How far?"

"My whole arm and... p-part of my back."

"Okay," continued the witch. "Okay, this will need to be treated right now. I'll need some potions, though. Are the lower levels secure enough to get there?"

"It is unlikely," said Dumbledore simply.

"St. Mungo's will take too long... what about the Hogwarts potions store?"

Dumbledore looked at Lily and James questioningly. "There shouldn't be any reason you can't get in," the latter replied. "The death eaters didn't seem like they were planning on sticking around."

"I'll go," said the witch, getting up.

"No," said Dumbledore. "No, you will stay with Lily to help her should the situation call for it. I shall play errand boy." He gave a small bow. "What is it you require?"

The witch crossed to the desk near the door to the Minister's office and picked up a scrap of parchment and quill. She dipped the quill into an inkwell and began to scribble something on the parchment. When she was done, she handed the paper to Dumbledore. "Hopefully Horace will have all of that in stock."

"Very well."

Dumbledore folded the parchment between his long fingers and then left the room. The blonde-haired witch resumed her kneeling position near Lily, continuing to examine her shoulder.

"Try and sit back then... 'Lily', was it? Well, Lily, sit back. Breathe slowly—in and out, that's right. Stay with me, alright? The most important thing is to stay conscious and calm until the Headmaster returns with the things we need."

Lily simply nodded.

"My name is Beatrice Clag. I work for the Minister. You should be talking, Lily. Tell me about yourself—say anything that pops into your head, just keep talking."

"I'm L-Lily Evans," breathed Lily unsteadily. "I g-g-go to Hogwarts."

"What year are you, Lily?"

"I'm a... seventh year."

"That's lovely. Were you a prefect?"

"Y-yeah. And Head Girl."

"Oh, that's just fine. What house are you in?"

"Gryff—Gryffindor."

"Excellent house. My own, in fact. What's your favorite class, Lily?"

"It's... It's..."

"Your favorite class, Lily. What's your favorite class in school? Concentrate, now."

"C-Charms. It's Charms c-c-c-class."

"Are you getting cold?"

Lily shook her head.

"Good. Alright, keep talking. Tell me about Charms."

"It's... it's my... m-my favorite class," she exhaled with difficulty. "Professor Flit-Flitwick t-teach...teaches it. I usu—usually s-sit near m-my friend Al—Alice in that... class."

"Lovely. Tell me about Alice."

"She... she's Gryffindor. H-h-hate her b-boy...boyfriend... com-complete slag. But she's... she's ver... she's very sweet."

For a moment, Beatrice smiled a little. "What house is Alice's boyfriend in?"

"Huff... no, Raven—Ravenclaw."

"Confusion. Damn it. Alright, you—er... James?" James nodded. "James, keep talking to her. Do anything to keep her going... if she starts mixing up her facts, don't correct her; just keep her talking. If she says she's getting cold, then come and get me immediately. Do you understand? If she's getting cold, it's very important you get me. I'll be back in one second—I need to see the Minister. Hopefully it won't take long. Can you do this for me?"

"Yeah, of course."

"Lily," Beatrice continued. "James is going to talk to you. Talk to James. Tell James... tell James what you're going to do when you're finished with school." She got up and hastened into the Minister's office, and Lily began to speak in unsteady, breathless words.

"W-when I'm d-d-done with... when I'm d-d-done with... with school, w-with Hog—Hogwarts. I want... I want to... I want to work at..." She broke off, gasping for breath as if she had just finished running the length of several Quidditch pitches.

"Where do you want to work, Lily?" James asked. "Where?"

"At... at the M-M-Ministry. In IC."

"IC?"

"Inter—International Co... Cooperation."

"I see. Well... er..." James searched his head for a question, and Lily began to grow limp. "No! No! Lily, c'mon! Stay awake!" he called loudly, shaking her gently. "Er... what's... what's your... favorite... color?"

Despite her nearly unconscious state, Lily managed a breathy sort of laugh. "My favorite c-c-color? What—what kind of idiot question is... is that?"

"Just answer the damn question, Red."

"Green," Lily murmured. "I like green."

"Green's... nice. Not as good as red, but..."

"Red—Red's good too."

Her head began to loll unsteadily, and James propped it up against the wall. She groaned in pain. "Let me sleep," she whispered. "Please, just..."

"No, Lily, I can't. C'mon. Stay awake, now. Beatrice will be back soon. So... so what... who... er... are you... do you have a boyfriend now?"

Lily shook her head, moaning in pain. "E-E-Elijah and I b-broke up at the—the New Year." James already knew this, of course, but he nodded as if it was new information. "And... there's not anyone else? Secret love affairs or anything?"

"Not at... not at the mo—moment, no. Although..." She broke off, groaning and trying to rub her shoulder. "Oh, it hurts. Let me sleep, James. Let me stop it, please, I..."

"No, Lily," James stated firmly. "Keep going. Although what?"

"What?"

"You said 'although.'"

"Oh, I... I don't know, I..."

"Stay here, Lily. You've got this, alright. Where the hell is she?" He looked at the door through which Beatrice had exited, but it remained closed. "Alright, so... 'Although.' Er... what does that mean? Someone—someone you fancy?"

"I... what? No. I don't... I don't know."

"C'mon, Red. Who is it? Tell me all about it."

"I... I don't..."

"You're chicken, aren't you? Who is it? Is it... er... Peter?"

"Potter."

"Er... Snape?"

Lily smiled a little, shaking her head.

"That scrawny fourth year that follows you around?"

She giggled vaguely.

"Oh, I've got it—Slughorn. You've got a mad thing for Ol' Sluggy, don't you?"

She giggled again, and looked about to reply, when suddenly her expression changed to a pained one. "Oh, Merlin. When—when did it get so cold?"

James sobered up immediately. "You're cold? Oh, my God. Er..." He got to his feet and was halfway to the door to the Minister's office, when the door opened, admitting Beatrice. Seeing James up, she arched her thin, blond eyebrows questioningly.

"She said she was cold!"

Beatrice was at Lily's side a moment later, and James resumed his seat next to the redhead, who was now shivering.

"Lay her down," the witch instructed, and James helped her complete the task. Now outstretched on the small bench, Lily's eyes began to flutter. "Rub her arms," Beatrice ordered to James. "Do anything to keep them warm. Especially her left..."

James nodded and began to massage the Head Girl's arms. Her eyelids ceased their movement, but her breathing grew fainter. Beatrice bent over to listen to her heartbeat. "Still beating... alright, move over a bit, James. Thanks." She drew her wand and pressed it against Lily's chest. She muttered something, and after a moment, Lily's breathing grew a little more audible.

"Keep rubbing her arms," Beatrice commanded, inexplicably calm. James nodded and forced himself not to look at Lily's pale face. A moment later, the door to the outer corridor opened, and Dumbledore stepped inside. "Thank God," Beatrice whispered. "You have everything?"

Dumbledore nodded. "I do." He pulled out several vials of varying liquids from pockets in his great purple robes. Lastly, he provided two empty vials from an outer pocket. Beatrice took all of these and set them on the desk. She read the labels on each hastily, then picked up one of the larger ones, which contained a thick, syrupy amber liquid, and poured about half of the contents into one of the empty vials. She picked up another vial, the smallest one there and, uncorking it, smelled the frothy brown potion inside.

"Damn it. This is too aged... Slughorn didn't have any more of these?"

Dumbledore shook his head. "We thought that that might have been a problem, but it was the only of that potion he had prepared."

Beatrice nodded. She picked up a vial of inky black liquid, and poured the slightest amount into the vial with the amber potion. She waited, and the black liquid quickly seemed to disperse throughout the vial.

"Her breathing's slowing again," James said, rubbing Lily's arms more fervently.

Beatrice said nothing, but shook the black and amber mix a little, before carrying it over to where Lily lay, barely conscious. She poured a little bit of the liquid into her own hand and then, pushing the neckline of Lily's tee a little lower, rubbed a little bit over the Head Girl's heart. She repeated the action on the wound itself, and then all over her shoulder.

"Will you bring me the vial of purple potion from the desk, James?" Beatrice asked in a serious but composed tone, rubbing the liquid on the side of Lily's neck.

James quickly got up and brought back the appropriate potion. Beatrice took it and added a little of it to the other concoction. They simmered as they came in contact, but after a moment, calmed and began to mix. Beatrice shook the vial lightly, then, opening Lily's mouth with one hand, poured the potion down her throat with the other.

Dumbledore and James watched silently, for there was little else to do. At length, Lily opened her eyes again, and James thought that he saw a hint of color creep into her cheeks.

"The potions are beginning to work," Beatrice explained in a hushed tone. "Will one of you bring me the brown potion from the desk?"

James immediately located the half-empty vial she had used earlier. Beatrice took it and uncorked it. "Lily?" she murmured, gently slapping Lily's cheek. "How are you?"

"It hurts," the Head Girl muttered, trying to sit up.

"Not yet," Beatrice cut in, guiding her down again. "Drink this. It should help with the pain."

Lily lay back again, except for her head, which she kept high enough to drink from the potion vial. She winced as she swallowed the drink, which was hardly butterbeer, and then laid her head back.

"How is it?" Beatrice asked tentatively after short but tense silence.

"Better," replied Lily.

"Really?"

"Mhm."

"Then you two can take it from here," Beatrice said with a nod towards Dumbledore and James. "I've got to stay with Minister."

"No," said Dumbledore quickly. "No, I must speak with him first. Can Miss Evans apparate?"

"Absolutely not."

"Then will you be so kind as to stay with James and Lily just a few minutes longer?" His voice simultaneously communicated a politeness, but also a forcefulness that could not be denied.

"Well... alright," Beatrice replied reluctantly. "But please, Sir..."

"I will act as quickly as I possibly can."

"Thank-you."

Dumbledore crossed the room towards the door to the Minister's office, then disappeared inside. Beatrice looked down at Lily. "It should be alright if you sit up now."

Lily nodded and pushed herself so that she could lean against the wall.

"Is she healed?" James asked dubiously.

"No," admitted the other. "No, far from it. I've only given her a temporary antidote, but the note I sent with Dumbledore had some instructions, and Horace Slughorn will be preparing some more... permanent potions. But what she's got should slow the pain and the spread of the curse for a few hours."

"How do you know so much about potions?" Lily breathed, eyes wide. "Are you a healer?"

Beatrice smiled slightly. "Sort of. It's... it's part of my job to know a lot about a lot things."

Lily was about to inquire as to what exactly that job was, but James interrupted her. "You're his guard, aren't you? The Minister's... you're the sentinel."

This time, Beatrice really did smile. "You know about the sentinel? What... what did you say your name was?"

"James. James Potter."

"Well that would explain it. I wondered... I'm... er... I'm not used to be knocked out."

"Yeah. Er... sorry about that."

"Oh, I don't hold it against you. It's... it's more surprising than anything else." Beatrice focused her attention on Lily again. "How are you feeling now?"

"Better," the Head Girl said decidedly. "A lot better. Thanks for everything."

"Not at all... besides, I had a lovely time interrogating you. 'Learned lots." The vaguely uncomfortable silence that followed was fortunately interrupted by Dumbledore's reentrance. Beatrice straightened up immediately and gave the Headmaster a questioning look.

"You may go in now," he stated simply. She hurried past him, and he came to sit down on the small bench next to Lily. "How are you?"

"Better," said Lily, for what felt like the thousandth time.

"Good. The aurors are downstairs now—I received word while with the Minister from one of the aurors—a Mr. Cross, I believe, that they have not found any death eaters yet, however." James opened his mouth to protest this statement, but Dumbledore held up his hand to silence him. "No, no, dear boy, do not believe that I mean this as evidence against you—that you have related to us some falsehood. On the contrary, it was to be expected. Once you were safe, the death eaters would want to flee as soon as possible. And, I am afraid I erred in saying that no death eaters whatsoever had been recovered. What should have been said was simply that no living death eaters had been recovered. There was a wizard..."

"Harris," Lily interrupted causing both of her companions to turn their attention toward her.

"They have not yet identified him," Dumbledore said with a small nod. "But he was wounded with some sort of sharp object..."

"It was glass," James stated, not meeting the Professor's eye. "Two wounds—one in the side, the other in the neck. It was glass—two shards from the window."

"A death eater?"

Lily and James both nodded.

"He interrogated me in the clearing earlier... he was going to be our executioner."

"You escaped," Dumbledore murmured in something between a question and a statement.

"James hid behind the door," Lily agreed listlessly, gingerly rubbing her shoulder. "I made a diversion by the window... when the death eater—he went by 'Harris', but God knows if that's his real name—came far enough into the room, James managed to keep the other death eaters out of the room and disable Harris. Later, he tried to get James back, but I got him with another piece of glass from the window."

There was a strange look of understanding—empathy, really—in Dumbledore's blue eyes as he nodded. "I rather wish that I could return you to the school," he said, the words marked with sincerity. "However, I do not know that you are much safer there as here, and the Minister wishes you remain here until someone can extract your memories for the investigation. If you were to have any strong objections to remaining here, however..." he trailed off suggestively.

"It's alright," the two students stated in apathetic unison. James added: "Last time we didn't get our memories recorded in time, they were missing the next morning."

"I believe that is the Minster's mindset as well," Dumbledore agreed sagely. He watched the pair of them carefully for a moment, before continuing: "Now, if you have no other need at present, I am afraid I must leave you alone for a time. There is much I have to attend to."

"Yes, sir."

"Of course, Professor."

Dumbledore stood and exited to the outer corridor with a sweep of his great purple robes. With a sigh, Lily leaned back against the wall behind her, and shut her eyes.

"Not to sound repetitive or anything," James began, leaning forward and rubbing his eyes wearily; "but how are you feeling?"

"Not to sound repetitive or anything, but better."

"That's good."

"Mhm."

Silence settled for a short time. At length, Lily began to feel awake enough to start a proper strain of conversation. "When we first got here," she began, glad to be voicing the question that had irked her at the time; "how did you know that the Minister and Dumbledore were still here? How did you know that the Minister hadn't gone home and that Dumbledore wasn't summoned back to the castle?"

James did not meet Lily's eyes, but rather suddenly seemed to find his fingernail immensely fascinating. "Well, I... I suppose I guessed. I didn't really know but... I just... I was just sure I was right. And then when I saw her... when I saw Beatrice, I thought that she must be the sentinel, and that would prove the Minister was here."

"That's another thing," Lily added, straightening up a little. "What was all that 'sentinel' business about?"

"The sentinel is the Minister's personal guard. It's a witch or wizard assigned to eat, sleep, breath, and live for the Minister as long as he or she has the job... it's really strenuous. They live in the Minister's house and go everywhere with him... but no one is really supposed to know who exactly the sentinel at any given time is. It's supposed to be the last person you'd expect—not the big, bulky chaps, but the short, skinny ones, or the pretty little witch."

"How do you know all this?"

"My Mum was the sentinel for Minister Vance about thirty years ago. That's how she got to know my dad... he was an auror."

Lily nodded. "But how did you know Beatrice was the sentinel then?"

"Well," James began thoughtfully. "I thought if the Minister was here, then the sentinel must have been nearby... that's why I was quick to stupefy her. If I waited much longer I'm sure she would have had the both of us out. The sentinel's are more than averagely well-trained."

Lily raised her eyebrows. "James, that doesn't make sense... you knew the Minister was here because the sentinel was here, but you knew Beatrice was the sentinel because you thought the Minister was. One idea completely relies on the other..."

James thought about it for a minute. "You're right. It doesn't make sense. Good thing I didn't think about it that way at the time."

Lily stared incredulously at James. "You are the goddamned luckiest person I know."

James grinned a little. "Cheers."

They sat there for some time in silence. It was not an awkward silence. It was not an uncomfortable silence. It was not an annoyed, boring, tedious, tense, or anticipatory silence. It was just silence, and somehow, it felt alright. About an hour passed in this manner with little or no change, except for the occasional interruption into the room of Dumbledore or Beatrice, but both always seemed exceptionally busy, and no one spoke.

Towards the end of the hour, however, Beatrice entered the room from the Minister's office with a piteous expression.

"How are you all?" she asked, coming over to the Head Boy and Girl.

"Alright," the two deadpanned simultaneously.

"I'm glad. We've just received word from the aurors downstairs—the building's secure."

"That's good."

"It is. So you both are doing better? Can I get you anything? Water? Butterbeer?"

"Water would be wonderful," Lily muttered, but James shook his head gruffly, mumbling something that may have been "No, thank-you." Beatrice nodded and drew her wand. With a quick wave, a goblet of water appeared in her hands, and she passed it over to Lily, who took it gratefully. "And if you want to go to sleep now, Lily, it should be perfectly fine."

Lily nodded vaguely and took a drink of water. When Beatrice had left them alone again, and Lily held up the goblet and said: "Have some water, James."

James shook his head. "No, thanks, I'm fine."

This incensed Lily. What possible right did he have to be fine? "You're not fine. You're tired and you're probably hungry and thirsty, so have a drink."

James leaned back against the wall. "No thanks, Lily," he repeated. "I don't want any."

"James..."

"I don't want any."

"James, just..."

"I told you..."

"But, James..."

"I'm really not in the mood..."

"Drink the damn water, James!" ordered Lily, growing hysterical.

James looked at her at her and then grabbed the goblet hastily. Lily sighed and leaned forward, calming down a bit. He took a drink of the water.

"I'm sorry... here..." She held out her hand for the goblet, but James set it on the floor instead.

"Hey, it's okay." He pulled her back so that she could lean more comfortably against the wall. "You're alright, right? Everything's alright?"

"I'm sorry," Lily repeated. "This is just..." she half-laughed, "a really bad day."

"Well, I've had better," agreed the Head Boy.

"I'm so tired," she sighed. "I'm not usually like this, you know. It's just with everything that's happened, I..." Lily broke off and looked up at James. "How are you? You've... well, you've had as bad a day as I have."

"Yeah, it... it definitely wasn't my best."

Lily smiled weakly and shook her head. "Me either. But... um... in case I forget later on... thank you." James looked at her curiously. "For everything—saving my life a thousand and one times... getting us out of that room alive... putting up with me... everything. Especially the saving my life part..."

"Oh... well. You're welcome." And then, because he thought the mood might be getting too serious, he added: "I mean, everyone makes mistakes, right?"

Lily rolled her eyes feebly. "I would hit you if I had the energy, you git," she yawned. "Oh Merlin, I'm tired."

"Why don't you sleep? Dumbledore could be ages in there..."

"In here? No, thanks. Anyway, it's not that bad... I just like to..." she stifled a yawn... "just like to complain, is all..."

"Seriously, Red... you're dead. Anyone could tell."

"There's no where to sleep, I..."

"Just be quiet, okay?" He pulled her head over so that it rested on his shoulder, disregarding her half-hearted, half-asleep protests. Her eyelids fluttered as she tried to keep them open, causing James to grin. She was fighting a losing battle. Soon, she had drifted off to sleep. The Head Boy watched her thoughtfully.

She was a pretty sleeper. She wasn't drooling on his shirt or snoring loudly, anyway. It was amazing to him how someone whose hair was a mess, whose face was dirty, and who was so clearly exhausted could possibly still look... good. Lily managed it rather expertly.

He looked away to the wall opposite him. Out of the corner of his eye he could still see a bit of ginger that was Lily's hair. Lily Evans was asleep on his shoulder. The irony did not escape him.

He had begun the year arguing with her. He had begun the year not letting her speak two words without interrupting with a wisecrack. He had begun the year belittling and insulting her at every possible opportunity. And now she was asleep on his shoulder in the Ministry of Magic.

Well, there you go.

"James."

James woke with a start. He had been asleep—how long he did not know—but the weight on his right shoulder told him Lily was still unconscious. He straightened his glasses and saw Dumbledore standing over him, a subtle smile unable to hide itself beneath the headmaster's white beard.

"Good morning."

James's eyes widened. "How... how long have I been asleep?"

"That, I could not say with precision, but I would hazard to guess that it has not been long. Miss Clag was through here some half an hour ago, and you were both quite conscious then."

"Oh," was all James said. He glanced down at Lily. "Will we have to wake her up?"

Dumbledore looked sincerely regretful. "I am afraid so. The Ministry must have you memories."

"What d'you mean?"

"For examination. The Minister hopes to identify death eaters."

"Oh," James said again. "Alright... I guess it's okay." He sighed and looked down at Lily. "Red," he whispered. She stirred slightly. "Hey, Red. C'mon... wake up." He shook her shoulders a little awkwardly.

Lily groaned and opened her eyes. Seeing Dumbledore, she immediately started and sat up.

"Er... sorry, Professor," she murmured, biting her lip and blushing ever so slightly.

Dumbledore blinked innocently. "For what, Miss Evans?"

"Er..."

"Red," James interrupted before Lily's face turned into a tomato; "We have to give our memories to the Ministry for reviewing." While this accomplished the task of deterring the blush in Lily's cheeks from growing any darker, it also caused her to go paper white.

"Oh. Well. Alright." She looked uncertainly to Dumbledore. "All of them?"

James, too, turned to the Headmaster. He had not thought of it until now, but there were some parts of the evening—primarily what had transpired in the office before their escape—that he would feel rather uncomfortable handing over to nameless Ministry workers for examination.

Meanwhile, another barely recognizable smile flitted briefly across the Dumbledore's aged face. "I believe," he said evenly; "all the Minister requires is the memories that pertain to any death eaters they may identify and implicate."

"Oh," said Lily and James.

"Indeed," said Dumbledore.

"Well, er... in that case..." James got to his feet, and Lily imitated the suit.

Dumbledore nodded and led them out of the antechamber.

"Albus!"

Lily and James noticeably jumped at the uncharacteristically high pitched voice of Professor McGonagall. Dumbledore seemed quite unsurprised, however, and quite calmly set down the empty inkwell that he had used for a portkey on the table of the staff room into which they had unexpectedly arrived.

"Good evening, Minerva. Or perhaps it would be more appropriate to say 'good morning,' in which case you may take the latter greeting instead." Professor McGonagall stared, dumbfounded, at the headmaster, so he pressed on. "I trust that your response indicated that you received my owl..."

"Well, yes, but..."

"And there have been no further developments?"

"No, Headmaster, but..."

"Very well. Where is Horace?"

"He agreed to spend the night in the Slytherin Common Room."

"Then Filius is with Ravenclaw?"

"Yes, and Pallas is with the Hufflepuffs."

"And in the Gryffindor Common Room?"

"There's an auror. I have been trying to run things here for the last four hours, Sir." There was a definite note of resentment in her voice.

"Yes, of course," said Dumbledore, evidently intent on ignoring her irritation. "I thought as much. In any case, now we will go up to my office." And that was that.

It was considerably past two o'clock in the morning as Lily and James followed their Professors up to the Headmaster's office. While Dumbledore related the gist of the story to the deputy Headmistress, the two students walked in exhaustion-induced silence. They had spent the last hour or so in a square office, not unlike that which may have earlier served as their death chamber, recollecting various incidents throughout the evening and transferring them into a pensieve. They also provided the memories—which were now almost entirely intact—from the first forest encounter, as well as details on Praedam and Silth. And owl had been dispatched to Professor Grossman "requesting" her presence the following afternoon so that her memories may be examined and, if possible, repaired.

The Head Boy and Girl had been promised that this would be the end of their dealings with the Department of Magical Law Enforcement in regards to the events of the year, but neither really believed this to be true. It was not a fact that they took offense at, but one they indifferently.

The party reached Dumbledore's office and he conjured two chairs for Lily and James. McGonagall professed a desire to stand, and the headmaster himself sat in his usual seat across the desk.

"I will not keep you long," he stated simply. "I know that you must both be tired and want nothing more than to return to your dormitories. There is little that remains to be said, but I believe it should be said tonight. At the beginning of this school year, you both were sent here by Professor Grossman for disciplinary purposes." Neither student met his eye as he said this. "I told you then that there was a hard year ahead of us all. I told you that we were in difficult and stressful times. I believe I was right on both of those accounts. However, I also believe that I was not entirely clear in communicating my meaning. I am not, as you may have gathered from what I said nine months ago, disappointed in you. On the contrary, I am quite proud of the both of you—of everything you have accomplished this year."

There was a moment of silence, broken by Lily's listless voice: "'Accomplished,' Professor? What did we accomplish?"

Dumbledore smiled enigmatically. "More than you know, Miss Evans." He paused again, and then went on. "I am sure you are both quite tired. You may go to bed now."

Lily and James got to feet and began to make for the door, but Lily stopped. James glanced curiously over his shoulder. "You—you go ahead," she said. "There's one last thing I want to talk to Professor McGonagall about."

James nodded reluctantly and exited the office. Lily turned back towards Dumbledore and McGonagall.

"Yes, Miss Evans?"

"Professor," the Head Girl began slowly. "Professor, I was wondering if... I was wondering if you knew James and I were missing before Dumbledore sent you his owl."

Professor McGonagall appeared entirely thrown off by this question. "Well... yes. Yes, I did. The Heads of Houses took a quick census of their houses and it was discovered you were missing. There were aurors searching for you."

"We were the only ones missing?"

"No," admitted McGonagall. "No, there was one other."

Lily already knew who it was. "Severus Snape?"

"But how did you...?"

"Did you find Snape?"

"We did. He turned up later."

"What did he say?"

Professor McGonagall arched a thin eyebrow. "I really have no idea. It was Mr. Filch who found him wandering a corridor, and it would be no surprise to me if Argus sent him directly to the Slytherin Common Room without listening to a word he said."

"But as far as you know there was no message for you... nothing?"

McGonagall shook her head. "And may I enquire as to the meaning to this line of interrogation."

Lily turned to go. "I'm sure Professor Dumbledore would do a much better job explaining it." It had been a long night and somehow Lily did not feel afraid of getting into trouble for her mysterious nature. A sense of great disappointment filled the Head Girl as she descended the stair. She had been so sure...

She came to the bottom of the stairway and, as the griffin statue sealed the passage behind her, began to walk down the corridor towards the Gryffindor common room.

"Well, that's the gratitude I get for waiting around I guess." Lily looked about quickly to see James getting up from where he had apparently been sitting on the floor on the other side of the door to Dumbledore's office.

"Oh," she said, visibly surprised. "You waited."

James nodded as he caught up with her. "I did. 'Thought I'd make sure you didn't get jumped on the way to the GCR."

"Did you just call the common room the 'GCR?'"

"Mhm."

"You are so strange."

"Oh, you're welcome... really, no thanks were necessary for my being so unabashedly chivalrous."

"Fortunately."

James rolled his eyes, then yawned. "It has been a really long night. And we have classes tomorrow."

Lily sent him a look. "I don't know about you, but I'm not going to classes tomorrow. I'm not even sure about Tuesday yet."

"Lily Evans, you rebel."

"Are you kidding? I have to go to the hospital wing three times a day for a potion for my shoulder, and Madame Pomfrey's going to keep me there for an eternity in the morning anyway. I reckon I won't have a chance to be completely free until Wednesday."

"I don't believe I've ever known you till today, Red," James said with a mock sigh.

"I wouldn't doubt that."

They came to the portrait of The Fat Lady and simultaneously spouted the password ("Wrackspurt") to her. The Common Room was dark and quiet. Upon their entrance, a tall wizard who sat on one of the sofas immediately got to his feet.

"Who's there?"

"Lily Evans and James Potter," deadpanned the latter.

"How do I know you're telling the truth?"

James stepped forward, probably about to take serious action, but Lily intervened.

"Listen," she snapped, hands finding their usual spot on her hips; "I am Lily Evans and he is James Potter, and if you don't let us into our dormitories we are probably going to pass out right here, and you know what, after all we've gone through tonight, that seems incredibly unjust, so please just let us into our goddamned dormitories, or more than one of us may not live to see sunrise."

The auror did not seem to be afraid, so much as convinced. "All right—I suppose you're who you say you are. Dumbledore's owl did mention you would be arriving sometime in the next hour, and you knew the password."

He bowed slightly, and Lily and James walked towards the stairs. There, they paused.

"Well," said Lily, putting her hands in her pockets. "Good morning, I guess."

James grinned his signature crooked grin. "Good morning," he agreed.

Then, he departed up the stair towards the boys' dormitories, and she towards the girls'. And though Lily could not place what exactly it was, something seemed to be missing from the goodbye.

"Lily? Is that you?" whispered a voice from somewhere above her on the stair. Lily peered through the dark, only to see Redival Shelley approaching her.

"Oh... hello, Redival. Have you been up all this time?"

"No. I had Rachel conjure a bell that would ring once anyone came up the stair."

"Oh."

"Mhm. Do you know where James is?"

Lily considered lying, but decided against it. That would be rather childish, after all. "He's going to bed now, but he's really tired and..."

"Well that's fine for him, but I've been worried sick. I've simply got to speak to him." Redival hurried past Lily.

"If you say so," Lily said dully, continuing up the stairway herself. "Good morning, Redival." The Head Girl could hear Redival pause in her descent.

"Good morning? Don't you mean, 'goodnight?'"

But before Lily could answer, Redival had hurried on and reached the landing. The redhead resumed her walk upwards, but not before adding at a whisper: "Goodnight, Redival."

Note: Once upon a time, this was going to be the last chapter of the story, but once I got into the story more (especially that of the LJ love connection™) it became pretty obvious I needed more closure. Anyway, I'm SO sorry it took me so long to update. My life has been INSANE lately. There is a lot I don't like about this, but I do love one scene. Four words: "Give me your shoe." :-P. I love you all!

Oh, and should you leave me a review (which would be scrumtrilescent), I would be eternally grateful if you would help me out. There are just a couple of things I want to know, and since the story is almost over, I think it's an okay time to ask. So... if you find yourself lacking for words, feel free to tell me your: favorite character (canon or OC), favorite OC, favorite chapter, favorite aspect, favorite scene, and least favorite of all of the above. I am ever in your debt, but don't feel obligated to take the to answer the questions if you don't want to. Freestyle is great too :-P. Much love!

The fantabular anonymous reviewers: a.j. (thank you much for the lovely review! Hope you enjoy the rest of the story, and help yourself to virtual cookies!), Jackie (advice taken—much love!), Annie (thanks so much for R&Ring—love and cookies :-P), Jas (do they have computers in loonyville? If so, I hope you're reading this, and I hope you enjoyed it! Thanks so much! Piping hot (what does that expression mean, anyway?) virtual cookies await you for your patience and insanity :-D), klutzy tonks (L/J action is on its way—honest! Thank you so so much!), batty (yay for new readers! Thanks for the gorgeous review! I'm glad you like the story—yeah, I tend to be kinda critical for myself, but there are some chapters I like... like 2 or three :-P), tasz (hey, love—thanks for reviewing as always! I've got lots of virtual cookies; what kind do you want? Sugar? Chocolate chip? Cinnamon? Gingerbread?), CarynG (thank you! I'm glad you think I did well with Voldemort. He's really, really difficult. Anyway, thank you again! Much love and cookies!), and Karen (FORGIVE ME, DEAREST! PLEASE FORGIVE ME!) I cannot write the swirly marks, so I will call swirly-mark Sebastian. Thank you, Sebastian.

And, of course, love to the logged-in-already-replied-to-reviewers!

Cheers,

Jewels