Disclaimer: I got nuthin.

Note: yay… nother chapter… buuuhhh… Sorry it's been so long and it's so short. Life is just moving on. But I'll keep persisting.

Let me know in a review if you'd rather I kept going as I am or I tried to write a little bit more often. Things would go pretty slow but you'd get quicker updates.

Lily was pleased to see that James took the new mission seriously. Of course, he immediately invited his best mates, and they naturally accepted, though Lily saw a flicker of doubt in Remus' eye. Was it doubt? Or perhaps it was just determination. It was sometimes hard to tell with Moony.

Lily had been a bit more restrained in inviting her friends. She had her restraints about Sofia's seriousness, and her decision was set when Sofia pronounced Lily and James' conversation over that morning's head line (Ministry Crisis: Defector Claimed Imperious Curse.) as 'boring'. Lily was certain that Eleanor would be a useful addition, but had yet to run that by James. Alice and Frank, however, they had agreed would be much needed.

"Of course we will." Alice has told her, clasping her friend's fore arms.

"No, we won't." Frank said, placing his hands on Alice's shoulders.

The two women looked at him.

"I don't like the idea of you putting yourself at risk like that, Alice."

"No way are you going to stop me, Frank Longbottom."

Lily stood there awkwardly as they stared into each other's eyes.

"We'll all go through auror training." She put in. "Alice will be more than prepared. Besides, you will probably be together on most missions."

Frank had to acquiesce and Lily left them as Alice flung her arms around Frank. Snogging seemed to be in their near future, but Lily had other things to do.

Leaving the secret alcove behind the tapestry of a witch stirring a cauldron, Lily returned to the common room but did not stay long, as she and James left for rounds.

As they turned a corner somewhere on the fourth floor, something occurred to Lily.

"Hey, what were you going to tell me, when I told you about… you know…"

James didn't respond at first. After Lily's comment about friendship, he had wondered what to do. Telling her now would make things awkward between them and jeopardize their ability to work together.

"I just wanted to know… why you hated me all those years." James said, and then shut his mouth, embarrassed. He hadn't meant to say something that arrogant.

Lily was a little disappointed. She had hoped for something less... or maybe more… she didn't know. But instead she answered truthfully. "I don't know. I guess it's because you were an arrogant bully, but in all honesty, you're still quite arrogant, and I like you fine now." Lily winced at the clumsy wording of what she's just said, but carried on. "I guess I just wanted to hate you."

James wasn't sure how to react, so he filed it away to think about later and instead said "Oh. Er, I mean, thanks for telling me. I guess I should work on the arrogance."

Lily smiled "Well, admitting you have a problem is the first step. But honestly, a bit of self-certainty never hurt anybody."

James smiled. She really was amazing. He felt like his brain would explode if he kept this in much longer.

Lily wondered when she had started hating him. It may have been when they first met and he was mean to Severus. But he was right about Snape, Lilly reflected. He was a greasy little git. Admittedly, he had been immature. But weren't all thirteen year olds? Maybe she had been hard on him.

"Well, since we're having this heart to heart, why did you hate Sev—Snape?" James' face had darkened at the mention of Snape's first name.

James tried to think of something meaningful and epic sounding to say, but was blanking out. "I guess I was—jealous?" James said, uncertainly.

"Jealous of what? Snape has a horrible life. His parents argue all the time, and no one likes him." Lily stopped short. She wasn't sure why she said that.

James hadn't known about Snape's parents, but it didn't melt him in the least. Sirius had an unhappy life at home, but he had made his choice.

"Jealous of… your friendship I guess." James was careful not to mention crushes or romantic intentions. "Guess I don't have to worry about that anymore, eh?"

Lily looked a little troubled, so James quickly apologized. "No, it's fine." Lily assured him.

They wandered in silence for a moment. When they passed the hospital wing, Lily was reminded of Lupin, who was often sick.

"Why did Lupin seem so… uncertain about joining the… Care of Winged Magical Creatures Club?" She asked.

James smiled at her euphemism for the Order.

Remus was terrible at hiding his feelings from the other Marauders, and James and Sirius had guessed what was bothering their friend because he winced whenever he looked at them in the days leading up to the last full moon. He had acted similarly back in the days before they had known he was a werewolf. Around fifth year, when they had finally became animagi, he had stopped, but when he had started again, it was obvious what he was thinking; Moony thought he was dangerous, a weapon to be used for Voldemort.

James didn't think his friend would thank him for revealing his secret to Lily.

"Why don't you ask him?" James said, trying to sound as un-suspicious as possible. Lily was a smart girl, so she didn't fall for it, but he hadn't let anything on, either.

There was no time to talk now, as they had both heard the unmistakable sounds of snogging coming from behind a statue of an old warlock.

After busting up the pair of third year Ravenclaws, they descended some stairs and had to send some very nasty Slytherin fifth years back to their dorms after several shield charms, about forty points deducted, and a well-executed charm from James that pushed the naughty students backwards without harming them.

"Not the best technique, but effective." Lily commented.

"I probably shouldn't have attacked them, but they weren't listening. We're not supposed to use magic as punishment."

"We'll write up a report to McGonagall and see what she thinks about it."

James gave a relieved sigh. "I'm glad you were there."

"Same."