Hi pretty ones :D yet another intense yet short chapter for you which I'm not too sure everyone will like? I'm sorry it can't be all sunshine and puppy dogs all the time, but this is a war. Thanks for those that read and subscribe and really, massive thanks to those that take the time to review and make my day;

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JAMES

I stared down into Lily's eyes and waited for the hurt, the fear and the confusion to cross. Was she going to hate me for this? Surely she knew I wouldn't send her out to her death, that I had a plan to make sure she was covered. Surely she would understand that we couldn't just play it safe anymore, that as of now we were all fighting for the right to live. Right?

As always, she surprises me, and smiles at me.

"Is that all? Easy done, what else do you have planned?"

I almost let my mouth drop. I obviously underestimated Lily and her strength and dedication.

"You amaze me, every single day you give me another reason to love you,"

"Before you two start in with the puppy eyes and we all become a blur in your world, could we be let into the plan too?"

I turned to Remus, and grinned. "Right, of course. Ok, it's pretty simple, tonight we're not attacking if we can help it, we're going to be infiltrating enemy lines. Evans here is going to use her beauty and charm to lure the one and only Severus Snape to us. She's going to wait for him in their secret little play ground spot, I have a feeling he still goes there for his own pathetic reasons. Evans will then give the performance of her life, and cry into Snape's welcoming shoulder and tell him that she' scared and doesn't want to die and beg him to protect her, that she'll join the death eaters that she'll do anything. Knowing the slimey git like we do, he will fall for it and want to take Lily to a safe place, one of their personal hide outs, that's where we come in. Alice is going to use her special skills to create a tracker to put on Lily so that we can track her movements and follow her to where Snape takes her, the boys will all come with me and we're going to find the place, infiltrate with some muggle spy stuff, that the death eaters would never suspect and then we're going to get Lily out before Severus can call his precious friends."

The room goes silent and everyone is staring at me with identical wide eyes and slightly agape mouths.

"What if Severus doesn't go for it? What if he attacks Lily?" Violet asked in a small voice.

"We will be there to protect her," Gideon said gruffly. "I won't allow a single bruise to mar her skin,"

"But still, James, how can you just be so comfortable with Lily being in mortal danger?"

"Severus won't hurt me," Lily answers. "And this is war Vi, we can either live on our knees or risk dying standing proud, I know which option I'm comfortable with,"

Violets lips quivered but she didn't make any more protests.

Doubt slammed into my hard and I almost backed out right away. Was I crazy? As much as we would be there to protect Lily could I really risk that? Risk her? Maybe my brilliant idea wasn't so brilliant after all.

"When do we do this?" Frank asked in a tense voice.

I took a deep breath. You can do this James, you can do this, everything is going to work out fine, just believe in yourself.

"Tonight," I said softly but my voice carried. "We have about six hours to get prepared, eat up, work out, sleep, whatever. I want this to be the element of surprise, so there's no way they can get wind of our plan and strike back,"

"Excellent," Sirius grinned. "Well, if that's all, I have a pretty young thing I need to console and six hours to spare, so I'll be back soon,"

I waved him off. "Off you go then, everyone else can be on their way too,"

"Do you mind if we stay here?"Remus asked, rubbing Violet's back.

"Yeah that's fine, if you want to stay, stay, but rest up, don't drive yourself insane with stress ok?"

Everyone agreed and there was an excited buzz as I took Lily's hand and lead her away.

"You want something to eat love?"

Lily squeezed my hand. "I just want to lie down next to you and stay there where I know I'm safe and belong, is that ok?"

I pressed her hand to my lips. "That's more than ok Evans, your room or mine?"

Lily grinned. "Mine, yours is starting to smell like boy,"

"You do realise I am a boy, right?" I replied.

"Really? I was under the impression you were a man now,"

I grinned broadly. I liked that.

*

I lay with Lily in my arms, stroking her hair and watching the sun go down from her window. Seconds turned into minutes, minutes turned into hours and soon it was almost time to head back downstairs.

I felt too comfortable to move, in fact, if there was indeed a heaven this would be it right now, safe in the arms of the girl I loved more than anything, watching the world slowly pass us by.

I hated that it had to end, that we were cursed to be the strong ones, that we weren't going to experience the normal joys of growing up. Instead of figuring out date nights and parties we were going to be discussing tactics and figuring out the best way to incapacitate our enemies. Yep, this sure was a great time to be alive.

"Do you think there's a couple just like us watching the exact same sunset?" Lily asked quietly.

"Probably," I replied. "Though I doubt they're as good looking,"

Lily giggled quietly.

"We're going to have to go down and face the music soon," she said quietly.

"You know what to do?" I asked Lily, as we took advantage of the few minutes we had to be alone.

"Relax Potter, you act as if I've never done this before," Lily tells me bravely, but her hands are shaking.

"You haven't," I reply.

She shrugs. "Details, details,"

"Do you think I'm crazy? Is this a stupid idea?"

Lily ruffles my hair. "I think you're crazy, but this isn't a stupid idea,"

"Violet is right, so much could go wrong," I murmur, speaking out loud for the first time my doubts.

Lily presses her hand against my lips. "Shush, this is a good plan ok? So much could go wrong with anything in life, I could try to seduce you and lead you to the bathroom then slip over and cut my head open,"

I smirk and pull her closer to me so our hips are joining. "Would you?"

She swats at me jokingly. "Shut up, I'm trying to make a point,"

I tilt her head up and press my lips against hers, relishing in how soft they are, how every part of my body seems to be made to fit against hers.

"I love you James Potter," she whispered when we pulled apart.

"I love you more Lily Evans," I whisper back.

"It's going to be ok you know," she tells me.

"It is?"

"Of course it is, we're all way too young and way too hot to die tonight, I mean I'm still a virgin, fate can't honestly be that cruel right?"

"Hey Evans, we can delay the whole plan an hour and Jimmy here can take care of that for you," Sirius interrupted, lazing by the door frame, looks like alone time was over.

"Sirius…" I began in a warning tone.

"Right, sorry Prongs, how insensitive of me, Evans it will only take fifteen minutes max, that's hardly any time wasted at all," Sirius remarked with a cheeky grin.

Lily smiled up at me, "Are you sure he's on our side?"

I sighed. "I'll have to get back to you on that,"

"Come on then, let's go rally the troops!" she beamed punching her fist in the air in a very Sirius like motion.

I groaned. "I'm not the leader here, you know that right? I don't want to have to be responsible for everyone and create our own matching sweaters or anything."

Lily just laughed and pulled me along with her. The kitchen was already full again with everyone except Carla and Violet, I turned to Sirius, the question written on my face.

"Carla's with Violet at my place, they just need some…time to adjust to everything. Carla's an orphan so she's got a complex about being alone and Violet is worried she will get in the way and get Remus killed,"

I nodded, I guess that explained everything.

"Alright everyone, thanks for coming back and hearing me out, participating in my crazy plan and you know, being strong enough to want to make a difference. Has everyone eaten?"

Sirius grinned broadly just as the oven timer went off. "Dinner's ready!"

"You cooked dinner?" Lily asked incredulously.

"You can cook?" Frank added.

Sirius pulled the over open and miraculously tray after tray of party pies, pizzas and fries came out.

"Eat up everyone, a full stomach is very important!"

"He really does have mother hen mode," Lily whispered to me.

I grinned back. "Ladies first, he really does know how to cook, you'll want to get in while it lasts."

I smiled as i watched Lily get her elbows out and maneuver her way to the front. My smile faded as I sent a silent prayer that this wouldn't be the last dinner, for anyone.

LILY

"Alright, are you ready?" James whispered as he straightened my head band up. "You don't have to do this, I would never force this on you ok? Just say the word and I'll go meet Snivellous,"

I smiled warmly at him. "If you went then there would definitely be a body bag. It's ok, I want to do this, it's going to be fine, stop stressing,"

James stroked my cheek. "I just want to keep you safe, is that so bad?"

I pressed my hand against his cheek, feeling like this moment we were sharing was almost too intimate to be had surrounded by our friends.

"I'm very lucky to have you," I tell him and really, I am. No one else would put up with my constant mood swings, would continue to think the best of me when I give only reasons to think the worst.

James Potter was mine, he would always be mine and I don't ever want to wake up to a world with out him in it.

Its this realization that motivates me. I am going to fight, I'm going to get get dirty and I am willing to risk everything because he's James Potter is worth it.

"We all good?" Frank asked in a strangely formal voice.

I nod. "Yep, I'm going to apparate to the park now and we're going to test if the tracker works, if it does James is going to send a patronus my way,"

Frank nodded stiffly and clasped my shoulder before turning back to Alice and the rest of the group.

"Now remember Evans, if Snivelly gives you any trouble, we're right there to shut him up for good. Just relax and try to enjoy yourself as much as you can, we won't let anything happen to you ok? I'd die before I saw anyone hurt you," Sirius told me in a tone without any humour.

"Thank you Sirius," I murmured, touched by his little speech and his affection for me.

"Just wanted to make sure you knew," he replied gruffly.

I took a deep breath and tried my best to grin at the crowd around me. "Well, here goes nothing…"

I closed my eyes and when I opened them again I was in the park, it was getting dark and there was no one around. The play ground looked so eerie without any children's laughter, without the sunshine to illuminate it, with out anyone here and the wind swinging the equipment around I felt like I was intruding on a ghost party or something.

I bit back a scream as a shining Patronus burst through the bushes and ran around me. James was here. Somehow that thought gave me enough strength to go and sit by the swings me and Severus used to occupy.

God I hoped he actually showed up tonight, I wasn't sure I would have enough guts or courage to come back and do it another night.

Taking a deep breath I began to propel myself forward and swing higher and higher in the air. The closer I got to the sky, the freer I felt and when I closed my eyes on the way down and opened them just as I peaked I could almost pretend I was flying, that the ground was full of problems and darkness and I was flying above it all. With a spontaneous urge, I kicked back and threw one shoe off, just like I did when I was younger, and saw how far I could throw it.

It never reached the ground.

"We haven't done that in years,"

His voice almost shocked me off the swing, luckily my reflexes kicked in and I grabbed the chains just in time.

"S-Severus, hello,"

"Hello," he replied softly and perched on the swing next to me. "You shouldn't be here, it's not safe,"

Here goes nothing… "Where is safe Sev?" I asked and he noticeably flinched away from his nickname.

"What do you mean?" he asked, black eyes watching my every move, no doubt trying to find the lie.

"Zane is dead, my dad is dead, Mrs Potter is dead, who's next?"

Severus's eyes popped wide. "Zane Bluff?"

My act slipped for a second. "Yes, your fellow Slytherine, don't tell me you had no idea he was going to be killed,"

All the softness wiped clean from his face. "I don't like what you're implying, why don't you just say it straight,"

I closed my eyes and cursed myself for my little slip. I slowed my swing down and then when I had my feelings under control I placed my hand on top of Severus's.

"I don't want to die," I whispered. "I don't want to be another number in a body count and I don't want to live my life in constant fear,"

"Then you should cut all ties with Potter, he's a dead weight," he retorted bitterly.

"I am," I replied strongly. "That's why I came here. I want…no, I need you to help me, please. Only you can protect me, please Severus, I'll do anything, just promise you won't let me die, promise me you'll try to help me!"

I wasn't even aware how desperate I sounded and was acting until I noticed I was kneeling in front of Severus and had both hands clenched in his shirt, shaking him softly.

Severus stared at me shrewdly for more than a minute and I was sure we were found, that he was going to whip his wand out and end me right then and there. My only hope was that he wouldn't be able to hurt anyone else.

"Why?" he asked coldly. "Why the change now? I thought the great James Potter was more than capable of keeping you safe and taking on the world,"

"Pipe dreams," I whispered looking down. "You were right, his arrogance will end him. I don't…I can't sit around and watch him and his friends destroy themselves, I just want to be safe and I want to be able to grow old and not have to shun my own family. Please Severus, you're all i have left,"

I jumped as two cool hands closed over mine and held them tight. "I promise," he murmured. "I would never, ever let anything hurt you,"

For the first time I was disgusted in myself. What was I doing to this poor boy, using his affections for me against him? This was cruel and harsh and I was sickened with myself. Severus really had always tried to protect me, had never intentionally hurt me and how was I thanking him? But using him so I could set him up. Death eater or not, he wasn't entirely bad.

"We should run away," I found myself whispering. "Let's just go Severus, you don't need to be a Death eater, we can just leave and go somewhere safe, please, just come with me, let's just put all of this darkness behind us,"

Severus looked at me sadly for a moment and then turned away. "You don't know how badly I would like to do that…"

"But?" I prodded.

He kept his gaze at his shoes. "But this isn't a school club, you don't just leave, there's only one way you leave and it's not voluntary,"

My mouth dropped. "Oh Sev, what have you done?"

He shrugged. "I'm fine, I'm safe. We need to worry about you now, Come with me, I know a safe place we can go, I'll look after you Lily, I promise,"

I placed my hand in Severus's. "Thank you Severus, and I'm sorry,"

I genuinely meant it to.

For a split second his eyes darkened but then as soon as it came it was gone and he nodded at me, squeezing my hand slightly. "I'm sorry too, let's go, we don't have much time,"

"Where are we going?" I asked, voice betraying my nerves a bit.

"My safe house," he replied. "I'll make sure no one finds you,"

"What about Voldernort? He's going to want me killed,"

"No!" Severus hissed. "No one will hurt you, not while I'm around,"

God, how was I any better then the Death Eaters? They bruised body's, I destroyed hearts. Why couldn't the world just be black and white? I hated being in the gray about my feelings and with right and wrong.

He would kill James and many innocent muggles without hesitation. His idea of fun was the dark magic they used against the first years. He views all muggles as toys in his master's massacre.

A nasty voice in my head told me and I found the strength and anger to keep my cool.

"Let's go," I told him firmly and with a bit of a jerk the scenery changed.

I stumbled slightly and found myself in a small cottage. The first things I noticed were the floor was wooden and cold, the candles flickered dully around the room, it was in serious need of an interior designer and Severus and I were not the only ones in the room.

"Ah Severus, looks like you brought a snack for me," the Werewolf Fenrir Greyback said with a evil grin.

"Lily!" Severus said in a panicked voice. "I didn't know they were going to be here I promise, this isn't a set up, it's going to get sorted out, they're not going to hurt you, don't panic!"

Bellatrix started laughing. "Severus really, are you that naïve? Does the girl look surprised to you? Betrayed? Why don't you ask her what's going on?"

Severus looked at me with betrayed black eyes. "Lily?"

I took a deep breath. Shit.