January passed and the seasons turned. Lily started teaching Mary and Beth how to do the skin shield. The two little Hufflepuffs were excited as they had managed to produce gold sparks. When the full moon arrived, Lily had once again gone to sit outside Remus's door in the Shrieking Shack. She wasn't sure how much help it was, but it was all she could do for now.
"You seem a bit better compared with some of the other times," Sirius commented as Remus sat in bed eating his chocolate frog the next morning.
"Yeah the wolf seems to have changed somehow; it's not supposed to get easier, it's supposed to get worse as you get older, so I guess I've just been lucky."
"Nothing different happened then?"
Remus tipped his head to the side "Well," he looked around. "The last two times just as it…you know… starts I could swear that the door glows silver, and after that I hear music."
"Music?"
"Yeah, it's weird. Mum used to play music for me when I transformed at home. She always thought it made it a bit easier, I didn't believe it, not till now. Don't know who would set it up so I'm probably delusional."
"Could it be Pomfrey?" James suggested.
"Don't think so, she seemed surprised by the decrease in injuries too."
A perplexed silence fell across the group.
"Do you think that whoever left the calendar is doing it?" Peter asked a little shyly.
Remus' head snapped up, amber flecked eyes met pale blue ones "Calendar?"
"Yeah I'm sure we told you. Someone left us a calendar with the dates of the full moon and stuff written on it last year."
"So that's how you found out! If you told me I must have forgotten." Remus was now beginning to feel very angry at this unknown person for spilling his secret. "Who does that? What if you guys had turned on me? What if someone else had found the Calendar?"
"Remus!" James cut off his rant, reaching out to place a hand on his friend's shoulder. "We were never going to turn against you, the person probably knew you would need friends to get through this. Anyway, you wouldn't keep it hidden from us forever we share a room after all. I'd nearly figured it out anyhow. And they left the Calendar tucked away in my bed, not lying randomly around the Common Room or even out in the open in the dorm, it was literally tucked under the sheets, so there was no chance of anyone else finding it."
"Well excuse me if I'd like to know who else knows!" Remus snapped.
"Out!" Madam Pomfrey's voice boomed down the room. The matron drawn to the group by the increase in volume. "Out! He needs his rest, and you need to get to class." With that the conversation ended, they allowed themselves to be shooed from the ward.
Professor McGonagall stood at the front of the class.
"Now all who are going on the camp are to meet outside their Heads of House's office at half past eight on Monday morning. You are to have your luggage with you. Your sleeping bags and tents will be at the site when you arrive. An 'of age' sixth year will accompany you to the campsite and your Head of House will be staying in a village close by. Do we all understand?"
"I pity those who are going, don't you Ali?" Louisa snorted.
"Dirt and grime for five whole days, I couldn't imagine anything worse," her friend sniffed.
"Girls that is enough!" McGonagall snapped, irritated at the interruption. "Now are there any questions?"
"Which sixth year is coming? Why isn't a seventh year or teacher camping with us?" James called from the back of the room.
"For Gryffindor it will be Gideon Prewett. I am not aware of who it is for the other houses. The sixth years were asked to volunteer and then the Head of House selected the most suitable person from those that applied. The seventh years are all studying hard for their NEWTS and so cannot spare the time. I will be a mere ten minutes' walk from the campsite at night and will be with you throughout the day, however you'll have to forgive me, my old bones will not allow me to sleep on the ground anymore. Now if there are no further questions you may open your books to page 673."
Lily stood in the corridor with the rest of the Gryffindor Third years, waiting for Professor McGonagall to tell them how they were getting to the campsite.
"Maybe we are going to apparate," was Peter's suggestion.
"You can't apparate from within the castle," Lily said softly.
"Maybe portkey," put forward Remus, nodding to acknowledge Lily's comment.
"It will be via floo," Lily said.
"How do you know, it could be portkey!" declared Sirius.
Lily nodded "It could, though it would make more sense for us to meet outside if that were the case. Seeing as we're meeting here, McGonagall's floo could have been directly linked to a fireplace at the other end, so there would be no chance we could get lost on the way."
Professor McGonagall's stern face appeared around her door "Right you are Miss Evans. Now who hasn't used the floo before?"
Only Lily and Mary raised their hands.
"For those who have our destination is Godric's Hollow." The Professor motioned the girls over to her as the others started lining up in front of the floo. "It's a very simple process, all you have to do is grab a pinch of the powder, throw it into the fire and say very clearly- Godric's Hollow. When you see the fireplace at the other end, you step out. Be warned it can be a little disorientating as you spin about but Mr Prewett is already waiting for you in case you have troubles at the other end. My only other advice is hold on tight to your bags on the way and keep your elbows tucked in."
The students took their floo powder and stepped into the fireplace one at a time, disappearing into the swirling green flames.
Lily held her breath as she stepped in for her turn, the hot breeze felt like it was scorching compared to the chill of the office, "Godric's Hollow!" The world around her spun, and she felt her bag bash against the walls, then the world stopped, and she stumbled out on to the hearth. The room in front of her was large and set with a dozen tables.
"Welcome to The Royal Stag," greeted the grey-haired publican.
"Thanks," Lily's head was still spinning, and she thought she might be sick.
"Unless you want to wear Mary, I suggest you move," snickered James.
"Thanks Potter," Lily staggered forward to allow room.
"Hey Squirt," Gideon smiled at her, then he bent down to whisper in her ear "Marly told me you guys have a bet going."
She grinned and whispered back "Yep, that they will have to come to me or Mary for help before then end of the week." The smirk sliding across his face showed whose side he was on.
"Right," Gideon called out to get the teenagers attention "Grab your bags and follow me. The Professor will be along shortly."
The campsite consisted of an ablutions block, and several fire pits set out in a grassy clearing surrounded by trees at the edge of the forest. Lily looked around it with some satisfaction, noting the sleeping bags and tents thrown in a pile, she waved the others over.
Gideon spoke first "First of all you need to sort yourselves into pairs." This was done leaving Gideon and Lily without partners. "Now hand over your wands." There was some complaining by the boys, Gideon chuckled quietly when he saw Lily had her pouch around her neck.
"Alright now grab a tent and find yourself a site and get going."
Lily sorted through the tents and passed one labelled 'two-man', over to Mary and Sarah, before grabbing one that had single UECA, she wondered what that meant, written on the side for herself. The girls scoped out the area, eventually finding sites they were happy with. They were sheltered from the breeze but had a small enough clearance around the outside that it would be difficult for the boys to sneak up on them in the middle of the night. Lily suggested that they overlap the guy lines between the two tents, to prevent anyone walking between them. Mary agreed and in the space of half an hour both the tents were erected, and the girls had roughly shoved their bags inside.
"We're going to get some firewood," Lily announced after a brief discussion with Mary and Sarah. The three girls headed into the woods ignoring the boys who were standing staring at the poles and pegs in wonder.
When they came back with their arms fully laden, they burst into laughter. Gideon had finally managed to erect his tent, but Peter and Sirius were now running through the adjacent field chasing a large piece of canvas that had been caught in the breeze. Dumping the first load of kindling beside the fire pit in front of their tents, the girls advised Professor McGonagall, who had arrived while they were away, that they were returning to the forest for more firewood. After collecting what they felt would be enough wood to last the evening the girls entered their tents for the first time. Mary and Sarah's was a bit larger on the inside then it appeared on the outside, seeming to contain twice the area expected, whereas Lily's opened up into a small one bedroom apartment, complete with bathroom and kitchenette. Apparently UECA stood for: Undetectable Extension Charm Added. So much for muggle camping she laughed to herself. She wasted no time in inviting the girls and Gideon inside where they spent an enjoyable afternoon playing exploding snap, leaving the boys under the watchful eye of Professor McGonagall.
Around sunset McGonagall had headed back to the village and Lily carefully stacked the wood and kindling they had collected ready to light the fire. When all was ready she turned to look at Gideon.
"Matches?"
"What?"
"Did they give us some matches to light the fire?"
"I don't know? Do you need them?"
"Well, it's either that or we have to do it by rubbing two sticks together, which is a right pain and I'm not sure I can manage it."
"There is a box of supplies in my tent, go and have a look."
Lily riffled through the box and returned with the matches, she lay on her stomach beside the fire.
"Like playing in the dirt do you Evans?" James teased, Lily ignored the boy.
She struck a match and inserted it into the kindling, blowing on it gently until it caught alight. A few minutes later she had a fire going.
"Now we can cook," crowed Sirius.
"No, you can't" Lily said shaking her head, "You have to wait until….."
"No! We can cook now, what would you know?" Lily bit her lip and sized him up.
"I know that you can jolly well light your own fire and cook your own dinner. Good luck with that seeing as you have no firewood."
"But Evans," wheedled James.
"I don't think so!"
Mary and Sarah had collected the box of supplies and food. When the fire had settled to coals they cooked sausages by balancing the frying pan on a couple of flat rocks. After tea Lily filled a kettle and hung it over the fire on the irons, carefully moving the rocks to the side.
As the girls sat around their fire with Gideon, watching the boys still struggling to set up their tents, Lily couldn't help but ask "So how are you boys going over there? Need any help?"
"No!" snapped Sirius, the girls laughed at him.
"So, what are you planning to do then, sleep under the stars? Might be a little cool tonight."
"We like a little star gazing!" James stuck his chin out obstinately, "We'll pull out our sleeping bags after you cook us up some supper."
The girls laughed at his audacity, "I don't think so, you can just head into the forest and collect some firewood and make your own fire." With that Lily banked the fire as Mary and Sarah took care of the dishes.
"Goodnight Boys. Goodnight Gid!" The girls departed for their tents.
A rumble was heard through the campsite.
"W..w..what was that?" asked Peter
"Sorry just my stomach," admitted Remus rubbing his belly, "I think we're going to need to ask the girls for help in the morning."
"No! I'm not giving up that easy!" declared James mulishly. "Let's just get out our sleeping bags and sleep out here tonight!"
"Who knew Mary was so good at Divination," muttered Peter, flicking his sleeping bag to spread it out.
Gideon threw an apple to each of the boys, before heading to his own tent.
"I'm sure we can figure this out in the morning, and we won't need to ask for any help."
"We could always ask Gideon for help!" and with that comforting thought they settled down to try and sleep.
Because canvas wasn't all that good at keeping out sunlight Lily was up early the next morning. She checked that there was enough wood left over to get the fire started again before ducking back into her tent to get changed. Fifteen minutes later she was again lying on her stomach in the dirt gently blowing on the kindling, when the sunlight began to wake the boys.
"Playing in the mud again Evans?" Sirius sneered, clearly, he'd not had much sleep and his hunger pains did little to improve his temper.
Lily seemingly ignored him but when she blew again, she stirred up a cloud of smoke which drifted right into Sirius' face.
"I wouldn't stand just there," she advised, somewhat belatedly, as he began coughing. "Sorry about that." She began building up the fire.
"Morning Lily!" Gideon called cheerily as he emerged from his tent. Lily grinned and waved in return.
"What breakfast supplies do we have?"
"Bacon, eggs and beans. Would you mind cooking for me please?"
"Sure, but we'll need more firewood and some water from the stream."
As Mary and Sarah emerged, they readily agreed to fetch the water and then they all turned expectantly to the four drowsy boys who were now sitting up with bleary eyes and tousled hair. Sleeping bags tangled around them.
"Would you mind fetching some wood gentlemen?" Lily arched an eyebrow.
"I'm not going! You couldn't even be bothered cooking for us," Sirius huffed indignantly.
"I'm too hungry to argue. Lily would you mind making me breakfast too? I'll fetch some wood," Remus said from his position on the ground, Lily nodded good naturedly. Remus extracted himself from his sleeping bag and followed the girls.
Peter's stomach growled loudly, and it wasn't long before he followed Remus' example and headed after the girls. James and Sirius merely rolled over and presented their backs to Lily in a huff. It wasn't long until the rest of the group returned.
"Some tea first I think," Lily took the now filled kettle from Remus and hung it over the fire then began to add sticks until she was happy the fire would produce enough heat. When the kettle boiled she rested it on the flat rocks she had moved to the side of the fire the night before. Mary pulled out the cups. Lily, feeling sorry for the boys who hadn't eaten much the night before, indicated for cups to be set out for James and Sirius as well. While the others were drinking their tea, Lily prepared to make the breakfast. She began to search the boxes for the beans.
"Evans, what are you looking for?" Sirius called from the other side of the fire, the tea had helped to improve his mood somewhat.
"The beans," she called back.
He wandered over, picked up something, glanced quickly at the label and feeling very accomplished placed it into the hottest part of the fire. Lily spent what felt like an age looking for the beans, eventually giving up in order to tend to the rest of the breakfast.
"How long will those beans take?" asked Sirius, just as Lily was plating up the sausages.
"They'll be ready tomorrow as I couldn't find them."
"But I put them in there ages ago?"
"You what?" A quick glance into the fire showed the can in the middle of the fire with distended sides. "Get away from the fire now!" Lily yelled pulling her Aunt's wand from her pouch, "Protego Coercendi!" A silver sphere surrounded the fire just as the can exploded with a dull thud, splattering the inside of the shield with boiling hot beans. She slipped the wand back into the pouch quickly.
"Were you trying to give us all third-degree burns, you imbecile?" Sirius looked at her with his mouth agape, clearly, he had not known what the consequences of his actions would be. "I'm going to get firewood!" Lily ran into the forest before she could lose her temper.
"Sorry Gid!" Sirius clearly meant it. "What do we do about breakfast now that the chef has run off?"
"Well, I still know a thing or two?" Gideon set up the frying pan and quickly made breakfast.
"Looks like the girls were right," James swallowed "We don't know much about camping!"
"Mate we don't know anything about camping!" Peter grabbed a piece of bacon out of the pan. "Let's just ask for help and cut our losses on the bet."
"Agreed," Remus raised his hand.
"So we just need to wait for Lily to come back then," they all nodded.
Lily had run blindly into the forest in her anger, stopping only when she ran out of breath. She collapsed against a tree trunk. Her breathing steadied and she looked around, becoming abruptly aware that she had left the path at some unknown point and was in danger of becoming lost. Taking some deep steadying breaths, she headed back in the direction she thought she had come.
By nine o'clock the dishes were done, and the campers had prepared sandwiches ready to pack for lunch, Lily still had not returned and Gideon was beginning to worry.
"Stay here, I'm going to scout around," he told the others.
He walked a short way into the forest "Homenum Revelio," he could not detect a human presence anywhere nearby, so he walked back to camp.
"Alright, I need you guys to stay here, Professor McGongall should be back shortly to begin your lessons but I'm going to head back towards town and hope to meet her along the way. If Lily comes back before McGonagall or I do, send up the red flares." Mary nodded.
"What is it with that girl always running off?" grumbled Sirius.
"I think she was trying not to yell at you," Mary said.
"What?"
"Well, the beans exploding gave her a fright and she was kind of angry at you, but she realised that you actually didn't know that the can would blow up like that so instead of yelling at you she went for a walk. Unfortunately, she probably got lost."
James had a horrible feeling of déjà vu, it was just like second year again. He couldn't stand to think the same thing was going to happen in this forest so he made the decision to follow her, after all by the time McGonagall and Gideon got back, who knew what could have happened to her.
"I'm not waiting around for them to get here; I'm going to go look for her."
"James!" Peter tried to call him back, but he had run down the path and into the forest.
Lily had been walking for what felt like forever; over the last half hour she had come to accept that she was lost. There was nothing for it, she needed to keep walking, eventually she would have to make her way to the edge of the forest or find a path or something. A crunch of a twig sounded in front of her, and she paused. A dark head appeared from behind a tree and she could have hugged him.
"Potter," she cried in relief.
"Evans," he broke into a grin.
"I can't believe you came looking?"
"Well I couldn't leave you in here,"
"So, you know the way back?" she smiled in relief, but he stopped and looked around him, then ran his hand through his hair.
"Argh," she groaned "Ran straight in, too didn't you?"
"Yeah," he admitted sheepishly.
"Come on," she sighed "You came from that direction."
The trees ahead of them opened into a clearing.
"Sorry but, I don't have your quidditch endurance and I need a short break," Lily groaned as she sat down on a fallen log.
James chuckled "Well I am pretty fit," he puffed out his chest.
"Arrogant git," for the first time the words were said without anger.
James wandered around the clearing and Lily watched him bend over near the base of a tree on its far side.
"Lily! Come here," he called. She groaned as she got to her aching feet and stumbled over to him.
"What?"
He stood aside to reveal a picture of a lion on the base of the tree.
"Remember the verse? Together ye must find the key, walk the path beneath the tree, at my home you'll find the clue, the evening lights a guide for you."
Lily bent over, and touched the picture, there was a shimmer as the glamour charm on the base of the tree dissolved to reveal a tunnel. She looked at the boy beside her.
"Shall we?"
"This is insane," he grabbed her hand and led the way into the dark.
There were no steps just a roughly carved tunnel through which James had to walk hunched over. Soon the darkness closed in around them and the air grew still.
"I'm not normal claustrophobic…..," Lily began.
"But this tunnel is not helping," James finished for her, squeezing her hand. Then it happened, the tunnel opened up slightly and dancing shimmering lights appeared above them. The pair stopped to stare.
"I've never seen anything like it!" James whispered, peering up at the swirling rainbow.
"You should do this to the ceiling in the Great Hall," James looked at her in shock.
"You did not suggest a prank just now did you Evans?"
"I merely suggested a decorating idea, I don't know what you're talking about," she grinned, enjoying his look of shock. "Come on, they're leading this way." She pulled him along the tunnel.
They could see the key from where they stood; it was sitting on a pedestal at the other end of the hall they had just entered. Both had stopped immediately upon entering.
"So how many tests do you think there are?" James leaned over to Lily.
"Hopefully just one," she said with all the confidence she could muster. "Something that will test our courage. Let's go."
They began to walk across the room, suddenly James pulled Lily back towards him. The illusion in front of them disappeared, revealing a large trench that extended the width of the room and was five yards wide.
"Th..th…thanks." Lily looked down into the drop.
"Really, of all the impossible…." James looked like he was about to start swearing.
"Do you want to go first or second?" Lily offered.
"What?"
"Do you want to go first or second. Personally, I think you should go first." She reached under her shirt and pulled the wand from her pouch.
"You bought a wand!" As he said it he knew he shouldn't have been surprised, it was obviously how she had contained the bean explosion. "How did you get….."
"It doesn't matter how, I'll levitate you across, and then toss you the wand, and then you levitate me ok?"
James readily agreed. It was somewhat terrifying to be lifted into the air by the tiny witch, looking at her you would never believe she had the strength. It seemed that size, along with blood, wasn't a good indicator of magical power. James landed safely on the other side and gently caught the wand she threw to him, in outstretched hands. Lily stood trustingly as James pointed the wand at her and lifted her to his side. They turned to face the pillar.
"What do you think happens when we take the key?" Lily asked stopping James' hand which was reaching out.
"Do you think we should find something to replace it with?" Lily nodded, she pulled the bag from around her neck.
"How much do you think that key weighs?" she eyed it.
"No idea?"
Lily fished out a bar of soap, biting her lip as she did so.
She pointed her wand at it "Geminio," a second bar of soap appeared in her hand, she placed the first one carefully back in the pouch.
"The soap is that important?" James raised an eyebrow.
"Yes." Lily said without any further explanation she continued, "Grab or drop?"
"What?"
"Do you want to grab the key or drop the soap?"
"Oh I'll, uh, grab the key."
Lily was impressed by the speed with which he grabbed the key, there was a second where the lights above them dimmed but whatever trap was going to be triggered was forestalled when the soap landed. Not a second later the sconces on the wall returned to their full glory and a single beam of light fell onto the wall behind the pedestal, illuminating smooth stone. Lily reached up a hand and looked at James, he placed his own on top of hers and they leaned in, depressing the stone. The wall moved out of the way revealing a staircase up into daylight. As they emerged, they looked around blinking in the sunlight after the darkness of the tunnels. They could just make out the village in the distance through the trees. After a brief discussion they decided to walk towards the village to get their bearings then head back in the direction of the campsite.
"Lily? When we get back, would you mind helping us set up the tent?" James asked shyly, handing her the key and wand, which she slipped into her bag. "Please."
"No problem Potter," Lily grinned.
"Lily!" Gideon ran and picked her up as soon as he saw her "You had me worried!" He put her down and began to scold her immediately. She was strongly reminded of Molly.
"Miss Evans, what were you doing running off like that? Detention when you get back!"
"Yes Professor," Lily ducked her head, thinking that it was best that could be expected. "Potter, I believe you were told to stay in camp?"
"Yes Professor."
"You will join Miss Evans in detention," with a stern look at the pair she continued "Now, you need to get this campsite in order!" As they all chipped in it didn't take long to set up the rest of the tents.
That night Lily and Mary showed the others how to roast marshmallows (that had been provided by Gideon) on sticks as they sat around the fire. The next night Lily made bread in the fire which they smeared with honey as they looked at the stars while Mary told scary stories that had even the boys jumping at noises all night.
"Sirius, which one is your star?" Lily asked as they all lay around the campfire, having decided to sleep outside for the night.
"Can you see Orion's belt?" there was a murmur of agreement. "It's the really bright one below that."