A/N: See you back on February 1st.

Marlene:

Lily was changing, and it was a good change in Marlene's opinion. If they hadn't gone through everything that had happened in the last several weeks, Marlene wouldn't have believed Lily capable of any of this. But here they were.

Alice and Frank had thought Lily's idea superb. And Marlene had to admit, it had style, so Marlene found herself with Lily, in an inn, in the capital of Godric's Hollow.

"I don't know if we have enough to pay for something appropriate for a princess." Marlene looked at what was left of the money her parents had sent.

"I just need a dress, Mar," Lily shook her head. "We're not spending all we have on this. If he tells me to hit the road we have to have something leftover. Let's see if we can find a second-hand peddler or maybe just ask around for someone who might want to sell a dress."

Marlene nodded, "This is your dramatic entrance, I'll let you decide how you want to look." Marlene looked out the small window to their rented room. "I'm still not sure how we're going to get in, though."

"Let's get me a dress first, and then maybe we just try asking at the front gate. Worse case, we get a message carrier and tell James we're here and can't get in." Lily shrugged.

"Doesn't that sort of defeat your grand gesture?" Marlene teased.

Lily rolled her eyes, "I am not trying to make some grand gesture, I'm trying to make it so he and I can work through this and maybe have a happily ever after." Then she smirked at Marlene. "And in the process get my best friend her happily ever after."

Marlene sighed and swallowed the threatening grief, "Sirius might not even be alive, Lily."

"What if he is?"

"Then our oaths forbid us from marrying," Marlene shrugged, keeping an ice wall between her and her emotions on the matter.

Lily grabbed her hand, "If I'd known everything about what you were doing when you became my guardian, I would have never allowed it, Mar."

Marlene squeezed her hand, "I still would have done it, Lils. Your sister was a wild card after she assumed the throne, and we were all scared of what she might do to you. A guardian was the only way to ensure your safety, and I was honored to be the one Dad and the other concerned nobles thought was fit for the task."

Lily shook her head, "You don't get to marry, and you don't get to have a family,"

"I know I gave up a lot to be your guardian," Marlene smiled, "I know that I'm forbidden to marry and that I can't have children, and that I'm pledged to your protection until death, but Lily, I gave it all up because I love you. I want to protect you."

Lily moved to hug her fiercely and Marlene held tight to her best friend, to all she had left.

It was shortly after their conversation that Marlene and Lily hit the streets in search of a dress. Lily was sorting through what a peddler had in their cart when Marlene overheard an intriguing conversation.

"Ruth, darling! How have you been?"

"Well my friend, even though His Majesty is still coming up with busy work for me to do. He doesn't believe that I'll be fine on my own since the Queen Mother's passing."

Marlene tried to casually turn and observe the two women talking. Both were graying, but while one of them looked as though she owned the shop behind her as she swept the front step, the other held herself in the same way Marlene had been trained to.

"You should tell him to get married," the shop owner laughed, "that settled his father down rather quickly. You and Her Majesty showing up back then made quite an impression on all of us here."

Ruth smiled, "I'll be sure to mention it to him."

Marlene watched the women talk a moment longer before they parted ways, and as Ruth walked away, Marlene grabbed Lily and started following.

"What are you doing?" Lily hissed.

"That woman was the late Queen's guardian," Marlene gestured in front of them. "If I tail her long enough she'll confront us and then we might just have our ticket into the castle."

It only took about five minutes of following Ruth like a hound for her to finally choose to confront them.

"I assume you want something?" Her voice was bored, but Marlene saw how she was fully coiled to spring out and strike if necessary.

"On my oath, I mean you no harm," Marlene wanted to put this woman at ease as quickly as possible.

Ruth relaxed slightly, but there was sadness in her voice as she spoke. "My oath has passed, but I accept your offering of peace."

"My name is Marlene and this is Lily, we'd like to speak privately with you. It concerns His Majesty, King James."

Ruth pursed her lips before nodding, "Follow me."

Marlene and Lily walked quickly to keep up with Ruth as she wove through the streets of Godric's Hollow. A nervous part of Marlene realized that Ruth was backtracking at certain points, deliberately trying to make it so they couldn't find their way back easily.

It was working.

Finally, Ruth stopped in front of an old home and led them inside.

"Alright Marlene, what do you want to discuss that involves my King?" Ruth sat down in one of the large chairs and gestured for them to sit as well.

Marlene momentarily thought about commenting on Ruth's desire to confuse them but decided to dive right in instead.

"Ruth, may I present, Her Highness, Princess Lily of Privet."

Ruth bowed her head to Lily and Lily rolled her eyes at Marlene.

"We have a rather long story behind all this, but the short of it is that Lily needs into the palace so she can tell James she loves him back."

"Marly…" Lily protested.

"I'm not wrong," Marlene smirked.

Ruth raised her eyebrows and glanced over at Lily before looking back at Marlene.

"We have time, why don't you give me the long story? On your oath."

Marlene straightened but nodded as she began their tale. It took the better part of the morning to give Ruth the story. But once Marlene and Lily had finished telling her their saga, Marlene knew it had been the right call.

Ruth's face told Marlene that she would do everything in her power to get Lily and James back together.

"I'll take care of a dress for you, your Highness," Ruth stood, "His Majesty had me take some of his mother's dresses when she passed, and I know just the one to put you in. It might need some alterations, she was a bit shorter than you, but I have some ideas."

"When we leave we'll need you to lead us back," Marlene gave Ruth a pointed look. "You did quite well at spinning us around."

Ruth chuckled, "One can never be too careful, but you know that. Let's go grab your things and then move on to my home. We'll get her Highness' dress sorted and then we'll figure something out for you as well."

"This isn't your home?" Marlene frowned.

"Oh heavens no, His Majesty wouldn't hear of it. This is one of the safe houses we have about the city to get the royal family out in a hurry."

Ruth stood and gestured for them to follow her as she moved towards the door.

"I live at the palace."