"I see you've run into a familiar problem."

Lily shook herself and looked at Alice inquisitively. "What do you mean?"

"You know." Alice nodded to further down the Gryffindor table, where the Quidditch team sat eating breakfast together. "Him."

Lily didn't need further clarification. Him could only be one person. "What about him?"

The dark haired Ravenclaw girl sitting next to James Potter threw her head back and let out a peal of laughter.

"You know exactly what."

"I really don't."

"James is popular. Ridiculously popular, in fact."

Lily pressed her lips together.

"Don't worry, I was in the exact same situation you've now found yourself in when I was dating him."

"I'm not dating him."

Alice seemed not to hear her. "It's not easy, I know, to have to watch girls throw themselves at him. To be jealous is only natural."

"I'm not jealous."

A blonde Hufflepuff girl waved to James as she walked past him, her hand brushing his shoulder.

Lily's fists clenched.

"And I'm going to do you a favor," Alice continued. "I can tell you exactly which girls to watch out for, and which ones you can simply disregard."

"I don't care," Lily said a tad weakly, hoping her friend would ignore her again.

"Now listen closely," said Alice without missing a beat. "You see that dark haired one sitting next to him? That's May Harper, a Fifth Year who's been flirting with him non-stop for over a year, but James never gives her the time of day. You can dismiss her completely."

Lily made a note in the back of her head.

"You see the blonde girl who just waved to him? Clarabelle, Hufflepuff. James pretty much ignores her. The girl staring at him from further down the table over there? The one with the glasses? Kate Bingsley. She may as well not exist for all he cares."

Lily raised an eyebrow. "I feel like you're trying to make a point."

"I am. My point being, James doesn't care about any of those girls. He cares about you. And, quite briefly of course, me."

"Right."

"So don't let any of it bother you, Lily. There's nothing to worry about."

"Hm," was all Lily said in response.

She wanted to give no indication that she cared in the slightest about any of it. Though being in love with James Potter was no longer beneath her, jealousy certainly still was. The last thing she wanted to broadcast to others was the full extent to which she'd fallen for the sodding boy.

Despite herself, though, she felt better.

A red-headed girl came up behind James, then. She gave him a hug, said something in his ear, and he laughed. She said one more thing and squeezed his shoulder before walking off.

Alice winced and swore under her breath. "I forgot about her."

"Who?" said Lily, perhaps too quickly.

"The one girl who you actually might need to fight off. Rose Fawcett - she's the cousin of Amelia Fawcett, Frank's ex."

"That family," muttered Lily, watching the girl walk to the Slytherin table and sit.

"Indeed."

"So why do I have to fight- erm, why do you think I have to fight her?"

Alice hesitated. "She and James have, shall we say, a history."

"Right," said Lily. "But I'm sure that's not uncommon."

"Actually, the specific history they have is the kind that you can only ever share with one person."

Lily frowned and waited for her to elaborate.

"No? You're still not getting it?" Alice sighed. "Look, James should really be the one to tell you this, but he and Rose…"

Lily's eyes widened. "Hold on, are you talking about sex?"

"Thank you," said Alice, looking relieved. "Yes, I am."

"Potter's had sex?"

"Well, yeah," said Alice, frowning like it was obvious.

"With Rose Fawcett…" Lily looked at the expression on Alice's face and froze. "Wait, Alice, you- while you and Potter were together, did you… you didn't…?"

Alice looked down and opened her mouth.

"Ladies," said Sirius Black loudly, dropping down beside Lily. "It's the morning of a Quidditch game. You should look more excited!"

Later, Alice mouthed to Lily.

Lily nodded, and looked at Sirius. "Black. How are you?"

"Grand, thank you. Gryffindor is going to absolutely trollop Slytherin."

"You think so?" asked Alice.

Sirius gawped at her. "My dear Ms Prewett, could it ever be put to question? Of course we will." Then he looked at Lily and winked. "Your first time watching a Quidditch game while being one of James' play-things. How do you feel?"

"I am not one of Potter's play-things," Lily spat. "Nor do I much care about the game."

"Ah, you will," said Sirius dismissively. "All of you do, when the moment comes."

"All of who?" asked Lily. "What moment?"

"When the legion of girls at James' beck and call watch his Quidditch games, their hearts are in their mouths. Every push and every shove he takes up in the air elicits gasps from them. And Merlin forbid the moment a bludger strikes. You'll be close to passing out, Evans."

Lily's jaw dropped in offence, and she looked to Alice for solace.

"He's got a point," said Alice apologetically.

"Alice!"

"Face it, Evans," Sirius continued. "You're going to be one of those girls who goes running onto the field when James is injured, screaming his name like a maniac."

Lily shook her head resolutely. "No."

"Then you're going to sit with him all night in the Hospital Wing while he sleeps, and you'll be the first thing he sees when he wakes up."

"No," she said again.

"It's going to be adorable."

"It does sound quite cute," Alice admitted.

"Alice, stop agreeing with him!"

"Sorry, Lily. The two of you are just too romantic for your own good."

Fuming, Lily folded her arms. "Bugger the both of you."

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Watching Gryffindor absolutely trollop Slytherin was one of the most painful things Antonin Dolohov had ever had to endure. In the first hour of the game, Slytherin was down forty to one hundred and sixty. It was unheard of.

He signalled to Madam Hooch for a timeout and waited for his team to gather around him.

"What's wrong, Captain?" asked Travers once they were together.

Mulciber glared at Travers. "We're down by one hundred and twenty points. That's what's wrong."

"I was just asking him a question."

"Don't ask dumb questions."

"He has a point, though," said Wilkes. "What is wrong? Why are we losing so badly?"

Now that they were all there, looking at him, Dolohov didn't know what to say.

"Could one of the Gryffindors have snagged some Felix Felicis?" asked Rosier. "I know there's a batch going around after Potions last week."

"They must have," cursed Travers. "Bastards!"

"No," said Mulciber. "Potter's not the type."

"You in love with Potter, then?" sneered Travers. "He's too honourable, is that it?"

"Too prideful," Mulciber said. "He'd sooner forfeit the match than cheat."

"Sounds like you're in love with him," Travers sniggered.

"Do you want a go, Travers? Right now, I'll wring you out in front of the whole school." Mulciber pulled his wand out. "Go on!"

"Put that away," snapped Avery. "We need to focus. Dolohov, you called this timeout. Say something."

Dolohov looked away from them, to where the Gryffindor team was huddled on the far side of the pitch. "Something is wrong," he said eventually. "We're not this bad. I know we're not this bad."

"Thanks, captain," said Wilkes.

"You know what I mean."

"I don't think we're this bad either, captain," said Travers.

Dolohov ignored him. "I don't know what's going on, or how this is happening. All I know is I want to knock that smug expression right off of Potter's face."

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From the stands, Lily smirked at the look on James' face as Hooch blew her whistle and the Gryffindor team broke apart to resume play. Finally, after all these years, she had been broken. She enjoyed seeing him being arrogant.

"You know, Evans," said Sirius, "the developments of this year have been quite surreal. I never thought I'd watch a Quidditch game with you."

"Surreal is one way to put it," said Lily. "Unfortunate is another."

He looked at her, then turned to his other side.

"Oi, Moony," she heard him whisper. "Is she this mean to you when you hang out?"

"No."

"I thought not. Is she perhaps in a bad mood?"

"I think you're just annoying, Padfoot."

Lily gasped.

Alice nudged her, smirking. "That bludger came quite close to him just now, eh?"

"Really?" asked Lily, trying and failing to convincingly feign ignorance. "I didn't notice."

"Hm."

James was remarkably good at flying. As untrained as Lily's eyes were, she had still figured that out quite quickly. His weaving and rolling, quick turns and jarring speeds, were unmatched by any of the other specks in the sky. Granted, all she could really make out a lot of the time were specks in the sky.

"Here."

Lily paused her squinting up at the clouds to look at Sirius, who held a contraption out to her.

"Take my Omnioculars. You'll be able to actually see what's going on."

"I can already see what's going on," said Lily, making to turn away again.

"Yeah? Then what's going on?"

Lily paused and turned back. "Potter just scored, there was a timeout, and now he's flying around looking smug."

"That was two minutes ago."

"He still looks smug though."

"Can you see him?"

"I just know it."

"Take the Omnioculars, Evans."

She pressed her lips together and stared at him imperiously.

"For Merlin's sake," said Sirius. "Moony, give these to Evans, will you?"

Remus took the modified and charmed binoculars from Sirius and passed them over Sirius to Lily.

"Thank you, Remus," Lily said primly, taking them and holding them up to her eyes.

She heard Remus snigger. "Someone's not a fan of you, Padfoot."

"I'm picking up on that," Sirius muttered. "Stubborn about it, too. She and James are perfect for each other, you know."

Lily didn't let herself blush at hearing that. She was getting rather good at controlling the color of her cheeks now, due to how often the need to do so arose. At this point she was a master of it.

"You're blushing," Alice whispered.

Lily ignored her. Up in the sky, James did indeed still look smug. He was saying something to Frank by the Gryffindor hoops, and the two were sniggering.

"It's quite neat," Alice said, "that our boyfriends are good friends. Don't you think?"

Lily lowered the Omnioculars and fixed Alice with a stare.

"Before you say he's not my boyfriend," Alice continued with a roll of her eyes, "let me finish my point, and then we can go back to your pretend world where two people can kiss and love each other yet not be together."

"It's complicated," Lily muttered.

"Anyway, as I was saying..."

Lily lifted the Omnioculars again and went back to watching the game, while Alice began to outline how fascinating she found it that the boys with which her and Lily were involved were friends, and what it might signify on a deeper level about the two girls and how much they had in common and how compatible the-

The Quidditch game was far more interesting - a thought which Lily had never expected to run through her mind. She suspected Alice was bringing James up so often these days to try and prompt or steer Lily's mind towards, well… James. She knew she shouldn't be surprised, as even though Alice was no longer dating the Quidditch captain, the girl was still awfully loyal to him in some regards. Theirs was a peculiar friendship. So too, Lily supposed, was her own friendship with James.

"Are you enjoying my Omnioculars?"

Lily continued to ignore Sirius Black. Even if she did have the patience to deal with his seemingly infinite wellspring of energy, there would be no reason for her to do so. She did not need to get along with James' friends, and Lily would know that she had well and truly fallen from grace when she could say that she 'got along' with this particular friend of his. Besides, she already got along with Remus perfectly. And, as Alice was still pointing out in Lily's other ear, she got along with Frank, too.

"Just think, Lily, if you and James get together before Valentine's Day we can all go on a double date. Wouldn't that be nice?"

Lily pondered this - biting the bullet and going out with James on Valentine's Day, a week away… What was stopping her? At any rate, it would make all those other girls who insisted on trying to spark his interest go away. Hopefully.

"If you turn the dial on the right lens, you can zoom in further. And if you twist it back, it makes everything turn blue! Pretty cool, right? Did you do it? Did you make it all blue?"

The thought of other girls and James stirred the already restless horde of angry buffaloes in Lily's stomach. She couldn't bear to think of it - it was wrong.

"It can make everything green, as well. Keep twisting the dial… Have you done it yet? I can't tell. Let me know when you do it."

And the revelation that James had been having sex with these girls! It made Lily feel ill. Granted, she only knew of one girl so far. Or at least, Alice had only confirmed one girl so far. And Alice…

"Promise me you'll think about it, Lily. James has had to wait long enough, after all."

"There's also a kaleidoscope feature on the left lens, if you want to give that a go. Do you want to give that a go? Go on, give it a go."

She tuned them both out. She had come to this game to watch James, and watch James she would. He had scored the lion's share of Gryffindor's points thus far, and his cocky grin grew wider after each lightning-fast dash to the Slytherin hoops. Lily smiled once more at the look on his face.

James had the Quaffle tucked under his arm. She watched him dodge Evan Rosier's attempt to swipe it from him, bolt right past Mulciber, and bear down on the Slytherin hoops. His shot was clear. He wound his arm back, Quaffle in hand, and threw it clean through the far right hoop - he scored! James turned his broom back, his smirk brash, his fist pumping the air, and Lily gave a whoop of joy, grinning from ear to ear.

Dolohov rammed into James' broom from the side. James jerked upon collision, and his body was thrown from the broom. Dolohov sped onwards, leaving James falling, dropping, speeding towards the bone-shattering ground below.

The Omnioculars fell, dropped, sped to the ground and smashed, but Lily was already at the end of the aisle, and then she was sprinting down the stairs of the stands. Mind racing, body racing down those stairs, and still James fell. Lily's heart was pounding faster than it ever had, each break between beats shorter than the beat itself.

Please, please, please, please, please.

She had no trouble seeing his figure now. He had his wand out, trying to wave it. He didn't have enough time, he was too close to the ground, he was going to-

James yelled something and the air below him seemed to grow thicker to Lily's eyes, his descent slowed, not nearly enough but it slowed, and when he hit the ground he didn't splatter all over it, but rather fell hard, flat, and then he was still. It was like a pancake being thrown onto a pan.

Lily reached the pitch and ran across the grass, feeling like her heart might suddenly implode, for it couldn't keep up anymore. She was barely breathing.

The rest of the Gryffindor team had gotten to him first, and was huddled around him. Lily barged through. James was spread-eagled on the grass, his glasses fallen by his head, the lenses smashed. Lily wanted to fall down beside him. She was reminded of the London alley where she had seen him scream as a knife went through his hand. Seeing him in pain hurt her.

McGonagall barged through beside Lily and conjured a stretcher in all the time it might take one to blink. "Longbottom, help me get him on this."

"Right."

Lily watched Frank and McGonagall levitate James onto the stretcher, and shook herself once he was strapped on. "I'm coming with you."

McGonagall frowned at her. "He's going to the Hospital Wing, Ms Evans."

"Yeah, I know."

"Professor," Frank said, looking like he wanted to hurry this along, "I imagine she wants to be by his side until he wakes up, and I don't fancy trying to change her mind."

McGonagall looked at Lily incredulously.

Lily nodded, her face set. "I'm not leaving him."

"Right," said McGonagall, shaking her head. "As you wish, Ms Evans. Though you'll have to make your case to Madam Pomfrey. Now help me get this poor boy to the Hospital Wing."

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James felt his entire body ache, and cracked his eyes open. A blurry face looked down at him, smiling.

James smirked, rubbed his eyes. It hurt to move his arms, but he wanted to see her. "Alright, Evans?"

Antonin Dolohov's smile grew wider. "Not bad, thanks."

A fist.

Blinding light and a sickening crunch as Dolohov punched James on the nose, and James cried out in pain. Tears filled his eyes. He couldn't see again, couldn't think from the pain but felt blood trickle down to his lips, a little in his mouth. He tasted it and gritted his teeth. Rubbed his eyes again and opened them wide.

Dolohov had stepped back, watching him now with a satisfied smirk.

James pushed himself up in his bed, winced at a searing pain in his chest, abdomen, and the centre of his spine, and he fixed Dolohov with a look exuding the utmost hatred. "Dolohov."

"Alright, Potter?"

James wiped the blood from his face with the sleeve of his hospital gown. He looked at the blood and looked back at Dolohov. "You pushed me off my broom."

A nod. "I did."

"Have you been expelled yet?"

"No. And I won't be. I was already flying towards you while you had the Quaffle, you see, and by the time you had thrown it it was too late. I couldn't correct my course-"

"You had plenty of time," James snapped.

"Yes, the rest of the school seems to think so too. But Madam Hooch had to abide by the rules, and the rules technically don't see that kind of collision as a violation as long as it's accidental. Which it was, of course."

James snorted. "Of course. So you haven't gotten in any trouble?"

"Oh, McGonagall tried expelling me, don't you worry. However, she had very little grounds on which to do so. I haven't even gotten a detention."

"What do you want, Dolohov?" asked James finally. "Why are you here?"

"I'm here to make a point." Dolohov stepped closer to the bed, his satisfied expression becoming menacing. "I don't fancy being played for a fool. Somehow, you cheated."

James frowned. "What?"

"Play dumb, if you want. I don't care. Perhaps you are not even aware. It doesn't matter."

"Aware of what?"

"Someone sabotaged our game. Cheated, so that you would win."

James stared. "Dolohov… I'm brilliant at Quidditch. I don't need to cheat to win."

Dolohov punched James in the chest, and James grunted as pain lanced through his torso, as bones that already felt shattered pushed into each other and seemed to poke at his insides.

"Watch what you say, Potter. You are at my mercy, and I've charmed the room to be soundproof."

James entered into a coughing fit, and when he stopped he looked at Dolohov disbelievingly. "Are you trying to get expelled?"

"You won't tell any teachers about this," said Dolohov dismissively. "You're much too prideful. In the same vein, I don't think you had a personal hand in whatever foul play was conducted on our game. I respect you that much, at least. But someone cheated for you. That is indisputable, and I will get to the bottom of it."

"Dolohov," said James, grimacing through the pain, "maybe you're just awful at Quidditch."

Dolohov smiled coldly and placed a hand to James' sternum.

James waited for whatever torture Dolohov had planned next.

Then he screamed.

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"Oh, Lily, cheer up," said Alice. "Madam Pomfrey was never going to let you stay with James all night."

Lily glared at the dying fireplace, and sat up straighter in her armchair. "Well, she should have. I don't feel right about leaving him. I know he'll be fine by himself, but still, I should be there."

The Common Room was otherwise empty, and the two girls had been up for quite some time. Seeing Lily's stoic expression, Alice sighed and got to her feet. "You'll see him in the morning. Now, I'm going to bed. I don't suppose you're coming?"

Lily shook her head.

"You're going to fall asleep in your chair by the fireplace?"

Lily nodded.

"Okay, then. Goodnight."

"Night," Lily mumbled.

She continued staring into the fire as Alice's footsteps moved to the staircase. Her thoughts crashed into one another, each fighting to be foremost in her mind, and one of them won the race to be dwelled on.

"Alice?" called Lily, looking away from the fireplace at last.

Alice paused on the bottom of the stairs leading up to the girls' dormitories, and turned back. "Yeah?"

"Did you and James ever have sex?" Lily asked bluntly.

The girl's eyes widened momentarily, and she hesitated. "Look…"

"Just tell me."

Alice stared at her, and for a few seconds Lily thought she wouldn't answer, but then she simply said, "No. We didn't."

Lily surveyed her sternly. "Are you sure?"

"Lily!" Alice looked affronted. "Of course I'm sure! I wouldn't lie to you about it."

Lily relaxed then, and smiled apologetically. "Sorry. My mind's all over the place right now."

"Look," said Alice, looking like she wanted to put an end to this particular topic of conversation between them for good, "I think you should talk to James about this. Not because we did anything, but because he'll be able provide further insight and context that I'm not sure I can give you. At least not in the way you seem to be looking for."

"Right," said Lily. She paused then, and grimaced at her friend. "Sorry for being weird."

Alice smirked, rolled her eyes, and turned again to walk up the stairs. "I dated your soulmate, Lily. It would be weird if it wasn't weird."

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Frank frowned at Alice as they walked side by side one evening after classes. "You used that word, though? You called him her soulmate?"

"Yeah," said Alice obviously. "Do you not think they're soulmates?"

"I do, in a way," said Frank, frowning at the ground. "I'm just not sure how much stock I put into the idea of it."

"Of what?"

"Soulmates."

Alice was quiet for a few moments. "Oh," she said eventually.

It was cold out. The grass was dewy. There were no other students on the grounds with them, as with most of the snow gone no one had much incentive to brave the cold weather anymore, especially not for whatever mucky, powdery snow was left.

"What?" said Frank, when he reckoned she'd been quiet for too long.

"Nothing."

"Tell me."

Alice tilted her head. "I believe in soulmates. I think everyone has that one person who, in every way, is perfect for them."

Frank grimaced. "I mean, I get it. It sounds romantic at face value, but I just sort of just see it as depressing."

"Depressing?" Alice repeated confusedly.

"What if you never meet that one person? Or they're with someone else, so you never get a chance?"

"Then they're not your soulmate."

"So you're saying we have to meet our soulmate at some point?"

"What? How'd you get to that?"

"Think about it. If our soulmate, to you, is not someone we'll never meet, that means it is someone we will meet."

"Well, sure, if you use a double negative."

"But that's what you're getting at, isn't it? You're saying everyone meets their soulmate eventually."

"Well," Alice hesitated, "perhaps not everyone. Some people might die early, or simply get unlucky and never meet their soulmate."

"But for the most part?"

"For the most part, everyone has that person who is made just for them. And everyone gets a chance, at some point, to be with that person. It's about making the most of that chance."

Frank wrinkled his nose. "I don't know. I feel like this whole fairy tale idea of soulmates and people who are 'made for us' overshadows our free will to make choices. I don't see that as romantic at all."

Alice looked down. "Maybe not."

"But," he said, seeing her face and stopping to take her hand, leaning close to her, "I'm glad we didn't miss our chance."

Alice bit her lip, seeming like she was trying to fight back a smile. "You're dumb."

Frank grinned. "Maybe. Also we're going to Hogsmeade on Saturday. Valentine's Day and whatnot."

"Valentine's Day and whatnot," Alice repeated. "That's how you ask me out for our Valentine's Day date?"

"What did you want me to do, bring in a church choir?"

Alice harrumphed and started walking again. "I want roses, Longbottom."

"Of course."

"And chocolates!"

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Hogsmeade was all dressed up for the occasion. Red ribbons and pink banners littered the streets, and the flood of Hogwarts students on the special day added a most anxious, nervous ambience to the village. Young couples on tentative dates would hold sweaty hands, older couples determined to show how in love they were would traipse about the place most joyously, showing how ostensibly in love they were.

Among the students were four boys on a mission.

"Just tell a teacher, James. This is unnecessary."

"No, Moony. James isn't going to give Dolohov the satisfaction of knowing he ran to a teacher."

"But James was tortured!"

"Dolohov did not torture me."

"Really, James? Then what would you call the re-shattering of your barely healed breastbone?"

"Rough and tumble."

"Peter, help me talk some sense into these two."

"Actually, I kind of like the idea of roughing up some Slytherins on Valentine's Day. While everyone else is frolicking about, we'll be handling our business. What's the word for that? Juxtadition?"

"Juxtaposition."

"Yes, that. Thank you, Remus."

"No problem. I should have figured you'd side with them, anyway. It was two to one, and you sure like to pick your winning battles."

"It's called being clever."

"That's the spirit, Wormtail. Now, Moony, Padfoot, listen up. When we find them, Dolohov is mine. If he thinks I'm some Hufflepuff he can intimidate, he'll have another thing coming. Moony, I know you're still not keen on any of this, but if you come with us then you have to be resolved."

"Yes, yes, I'll help you. I just don't think fighting violence with violence will get us anywhere."

"Oh, save it for the Prefect meetings, Moony. Prongs is calling us to action!"

Near the edge of the village, by a precipice overlooking the Shrieking Shack, a group of Slytherins loitered about, as they were wont to do. Mulciber, Rosier, Wilkes, Avery, Travers, Snape, and Antonin Dolohov. They were laughing about something or other, and when the first, perfectly round snowball hit Travers square in the face, they all froze, frowned, and then whirled around to spot the perpetrator.

"Who's there?" called Rosier, his wand out.

The next snowball hit him on the side of the head, knocking him over.

"Oho," said Mulciber stretching his arms and pulling his wand out. "Whoever you are, you've picked the wrong people to mess with."

Naturally, he was hit by a snowball next. It caught him on the back, and he fell forward onto his face.

"Show yourself," commanded Dolohov.

"With pleasure." Appearing from out of nowhere, James Potter strode forward, face set, eyes alight with violent resolve. His chest was bandaged beneath his layers that protected against the cold, and though he didn't show it, every movement hurt. "Expelliarmus!"

Dolohov's wand flew from his hand, through the air, to James. James didn't even bother catching it. It landed in the snow, and James dropped his own wand beside it.

James wound back and punched Dolhov in the face. It was a glancing blow, and as Dolohov stumbled back, James followed him and punched again. This time, with a direct hit on Dolhov's nose, there was a loud crunch, and blood spurted into the air.

"Not so pleasant, is it?" James asked. Dolohov fell to the ground, clutching his face as James towered over him. Around them, the others fought. Mulciber, Rosier, and Wilkes had already been taken out. They lay in the snow, eyes closed peacefully. Travers and Peter, Avery and Sirius, Snape and Remus all dueled fiercely while James surveyed Dolohov with unfettered distaste. "I should break every bone in your body."

Dolohov laughed from his position on the ground. "I should have seen this coming."

"I'm surprised you didn't."

"I suppose, given how angry you are, you really didn't know that someone cheated for you."

"No one cheated," said James, his frown deepening. "You can't keep using that as an excuse. Your team is just bad."

"Your arrogance is still in one piece, I see. Glad to see at least some part of you is."

"Alright," said James. "Mercy be damned. I'm breaking your arms."

Dolohov laughed again. "You don't have it in you."

"Oh, I really do. Torture has that effect on people."

James took a hold of Dolohov's arm with one hand, placed his other against Dolohov's elbow.

"No, don't!" Dolohov scrambled on the ground, tried to pull James off with his free hand.

James adjusted his grip, his expression grim, and then paused, looked at Dolohov's arm, and wrenched-

"Alright. I've seen enough."

James froze, his friends and the Slytherins all froze, and they looked around.

Behind them was Professor Windstrum, flanked by three men James didn't recognize.

"You are all to return to the castle immediately. We will not have students brawling in the bloody village. I'll escort you all personally, just in case you can't go the whole walk without taking a swing at one another."

Slowly, James stepped back from Dolohov. His friends put their wands away, and the Slytherins nudged Mulciber, Rosier, and Wilkes awake.

"I really do forget that I teach children sometimes," Windstrum told his three companions dryly.

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"Has anyone seen Potter in Hogsmeade yet?" asked Lily.

Frank shrugged. "I saw them leaving the castle, but not since."

"I'm sure he's around," said Alice.

"Oh, undoubtedly," commented Marlene with a smirk. "On Valentine's Day? He'd never miss this opportunity, Lily. He'll be round here with some embarrassing way to ask you out in no time."

Lily almost found herself hoping he would do just that. She didn't voice this, though. She simply looked out the window of The Three Broomsticks and sipped her butterbeer wordlessly.

"He was in a right state when he was released from the Hospital Wing the other day," said Marlene. "Did any of you see him?"
Lily had. She'd been there when he first stepped into the Common Room on Monday night, and she'd taken in his appearance with wide eyes. He had been quite quiet, and when she asked why, he attributed it to his medication making him drowsy. In the week since then, he hadn't been around very much. Remus said he was in their dormitory a lot, snoozing.

"Yeah," said Frank. "Being pushed off your broomstick will do that to you."

"I bet he's seething," said Alice. "He'll be sulking and stewing on this so badly right now."

"James is a great sulker," Frank admitted. "And he won't let this one go any time soon."

"Maybe that's where he is," Marlene joked. "Off getting revenge on Dolohov."

They all snorted.

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Windstrum's office was nice. James sat in an armchair, and Windstrum surveyed him with his steepled fingers resting on a polished mahogany desk. Around them was a bookcase filled with books showing gleaming covers, a fishtank of crystal clear water inhabited by tropical fish, and various knick knacks and memorabilia from Windstrum's many travels around the world nestled in every nook. The hydra tooth in the corner of the room was particularly impressive to James.

"I'm disappointed in you," said Windstrum finally. "I am."

James raised an eyebrow.

"Not necessarily because you got into a fight - you're a student, these things happen, I know. I'm disappointed by the way you handled it."

"Professor," said James, "how long were you watching us?"

"Long enough to see you try to further injure Dolohov after he was beaten. Now, I'm sure you hold a grudge after that Quidditch match last week but James, come on. Breaking his arm?"

James' eyes narrowed. "I almost broke my spine after he pushed me off my broom."

"So, tit for tat," said Windstrum. "Is that it?"

"I suppose so."

Windstrum gestured widely. "Hence my disappointment. James, remember what side you're on. Remember what you're fighting against. If you're going to match your opponent for every stroke, you'll have to start using killing curses and the unforgivables just to keep up. Because that's what they do."

James knew he was in the wrong, of course. He had known it the moment he told Sirius that they would spent Valentine's Day hunting Dolohov down for revenge. Regardless, put in the same situation, he would do the same thing. He regretted it not one bit. He had been working on tempering his pride this past year, but there were some things that James would simply refuse to tolerate.

"I suppose I am biased by my own experience," said Windstrum. "I can't stand the infliction of pain unto others, no matter what. Three years ago I visited a village in the alps. Muggles were being terrorized by a chimera, as white as snow, that would sneak up on the village at nightfall and lay waste to them all. Two other villages had already been completely destroyed before I arrived."

"And this chimera gave you a fear of seeing anyone get hurt?"

"No. It was the people."

James frowned. "What?"

"I slayed the chimera with two friends I had met in Germany. They were talented wizards, and good men. When the Muggles saw our magic, despite it having saved their village, they were terrified. The night before we were to leave, while the three of us slept, they took our wands and locked us up."

James stared.

"I later found out that we were locked up for weeks, but I spent most of that time in a daze. They were superstitious people, you see, and we were the scariest thing they had ever seen - more so than the chimera. They poked and prodded and whipped, starved and drowned. One of us, Stermun his name was, used wandless magic quite unintentionally while they dunked his head in a bucket of water. A simple bubble-head charm. They killed him for that. My other friend died soon after - starvation."

"Merlin," James muttered.

Windstrum shook his head quickly. "Anyway. My point is that hurting others will get you nowhere. There never needs to be more pain put out there, James. Be compassionate. Be merciful."

Slowly, James nodded. Perhaps he did regret his actions now, if only a little. "Did you meet those three men from earlier during your travels as well?"

Windstrum brightened. "Yes, I did. Their names are Danylo, Artem, and Maksym. I met them in Ukraine a few years back, and they've always been sympathetic to our cause. I reached out to them for help as our numbers are spread very, very thin right now, and though we were still hashing out the details in Hogsmeade before you all got in the way, I'm thinking they're keen."

"Good," James said. "Because Dumbledore's looking for more people to join the cause, right?"

Windstrum looked at James knowingly. "Yes, he is."

"Well, if he's short on people, then I-"

"You're too young, James."

"But-"

"You're dismissed." Windstrum gestured to his door. "Please go spend your Valentine's Day like a normal teenager."

After a moment more of deciding whether or not he should push his luck, James stood and walked to the door. Before he left, he looked back at Windstrum quizzically.

"Professor, when you were in that village with the Muggles, and, er, you were locked up… how did you escape?"

Windstrum thought for a moment, then smirked, winked, and said, "Magic."

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Dear Lily,

We hope you are studying hard. Your lack of letters certainly indicates so, but that could also be attributed to other, less academic things. We hope that it is because you are studying hard.

Our holiday cruise starts next week, and as we've told you, we will still be away during your Easter break. Therefore, you had better keep in touch much more regularly than you currently do (which is very little, if we're being completely honest).

Just in case the point hasn't hit home yet, we are reprimanding you for not writing more, and demanding that you send us a letter immediately. We are very needy.

Also how is James? Your father didn't think I should ask, but he's rarely right about anything so I ignored him. Are you and James together yet? I would normally know this, you see, except you haven't written to us at all, so how could I?

Petunia is well. Vernon is, well, Vernon. How are you, Lily? We wouldn't know, because you haven't written. Has it sunk in yet?

Sincerely, and expectantly,

Mum

Lily rolled her eyes and smiled to herself at how amusing and passive aggressive her mother could be. The Common Room was quiet, as most others were still enjoying their afternoon in the village. Lily sat by the window, having walked back up with her friends an hour or so ago.

She took a roll of parchment out of her bag and started writing a response. She didn't notice James walk into the Common Room, but looked up when he slumped into the seat opposite her and smiled warmly. "Happy Valentine's day, Evans."

Lily raised an eyebrow. "A tad late in the day for that, isn't it, Potter?"

"Perhaps, but I've had urgent business to attend to all day. You're the first person I've wished! Do you feel special?"

"How could I not, when I'm around you?" Lily responded dryly.

James laughed. "A fantastic point, Evans. So, did you lot get up to much in Hogsmeade?"

"Not really. Pretty much the average Hogsmeade visit. Stopped by Honeydukes, shook my fist at students entering Zonko's, lounged about in The Three Broomsticks." Lily looked away from him and casually added, "Would have liked to see you there."

"Yeah," said James. "Unfortunate that we missed our chance."

Lily looked back at him. Missed their chance for what? What did he mean? Well, she knew exactly what he probably meant. Their chance for a… well, a date. But Lily allowed herself to search for a million other things that James could have been implying instead, just to torture herself.

James caught her eye and winked. "Next time."

Oh, that was much more difficult to find alternative interpretations for. He had a 'next time' in mind. He would soon ask her out once more. Lily bit her lip. "I guess we'll see."

"Hi, James." Rose Fawcett, the red-headed girl with whom, according to Alice, James Potter had lost his virginity, approached Lily and James' spot by the window. She smiled at James. "Happy Valentine's Day."

"Rose," greeted James, looking surprised. "Same to you. Er, how did you get into our Common Room?"

"Oh, I came with a friend," said Rose. She looked at Lily then, and faltered. "Oh, you're a Prefect, right? I'm not in trouble, am I?"

Lily wanted to open the window and shove dear Rose right through it. Never before had she detested someone so quickly upon meeting them, and with so little justification. It was most unlike Lily and she knew it, but she struggled to care.

"No," said Lily, folding her mum's letter and tucking it away, then standing. "I was just about to head off, anyway."

"Oh, really?" said James, looking disappointed.

"Yeah. I'm meeting, er, Marlene."

"Well, I have detention tonight. You should come visit."

Lily wanted to beam, not only at his words but at the look on Rose's face. "Maybe I will." She started walking. "Happy Valentine's Day, Potter."

"Happy Valentine's Day, Evans."

She left the Common Room and walked to the library. Rose Fawcett. Seventh Year. Slytherin. James, of all people, and with all the girls he had to choose from, had lost his virginity to a Slytherin girl. Now of course Lily held no grudge towards Slytherin. In fact, she discouraged any inter-house animosity at all - her best friend until this year was a Slytherin, after all! But despite herself, she couldn't help but wish James had stuck with his prejudice and stayed far, far away from Rose bleeding Fawcett.

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Tree. Bush. Root.

Panting, panting, galloping after his quarry.

Bush. Bush. Tree.

Slivers of light poking between the trees. Moonlight.

A bark, a squeak from the rat clinging onto his fur. A howl from up ahead.

A clearing.

James stopped galloping as he emerged into the clearing, a wide open space between all the trees and bushes, where the light from the full moon beamed down to scorch the roots and grass and dirt with illumination.

The werewolf was at the far end of the clearing, and had stopped. It stared up at the moon, not even panting.

James, on the other hand, was panting heavily as he relaxed his muscles, the chase over. Beside him, Sirius burst from the trees and skidded to a stop when he saw the werewolf. He prowled closer to James, and then sat on his haunches. He, too, was panting heavily. Peter, having clung onto James perilously for most of the night, scaled down his frame now and scurried along the ground and among the roots, though being careful not to get too close to the werewolf.

They all watched as the werewolf layed down and curled up. It would happen, every once in a while, and they were all thankful when it did. The werewolf would spend much of the night simply sleeping, or it would feel lazy and keep to itself. On these nights, Sirius and James wouldn't have to fear any injuries, and could simply enjoy being out of the castle, and on the following mornings Remus would be well rested rather than haggard, gaunt, and lethargic.

The werewolf closed its eyes. After a couple of minutes, James knew it was asleep.

Stretching, squeezing, the most peculiar sensation of transformation, and James was human. Beside him, Sirius transformed too.

"Nice night for it," James said. He sat down by a tree facing the werewolf and rested his back against it, keeping a watchful eye on the rising and falling chest of the beast. The clearing was large, and the werewolf all the way on the other side of it, but James was far too experienced at this game to let his guard down, ever.

Sirius dropped down beside him and stretched his legs out. "A really great night for it, I reckon. How long do you think he'll be out for?"

"Ideally? All night."

Sirius snorted. "Dreams are free."

"Yeah. We probably have half an hour, realistically. And that's at best."

"I agree. He's barely broken a sweat tonight."

"Werewolves can't sweat," James said automatically, remembering the research he and Sirius had done back in Second Year. "Remember?"

Sirius laughed. "Ah, that's right."

They were quiet, then. A comfortable silence. James treasured the friends with whom he could have these moments, as they were few and far between. The understanding that they didn't always have to be talking. Presence, while thinking of other things, was sometimes more than enough.

Lily had indeed visited him in detention on Valentine's Day. That had been fun. They'd talked plenty more since, but generally just between classes. The strangeness of being in a castle with someone for many months on end was that there would be plenty of run-ins and short bursts of conversation, but very few would be meaningful. He wondered why that was.

He supposed it was up to him to make them meaningful - the castle could only do so much. But that would mean he'd have to take that extra step, the step that he'd been avoiding all year.

Since the beginning of their Sixth Year, things had undeniably changed between him and Lily. Things had changed unthinkably quickly. He had scarcely believed what was happening when they had surprisingly become friends, and then on New Year's Eve, as unexpectedly and suddenly as the universe had exploded into existence, the two had kissed. They had kissed, and James still couldn't comprehend how he had come to that point. Then they came back to Hogwarts and kissed again, and then again. If even a slightly younger James could look in at what his life had become, he surely would faint, and insist on being taken to St Mungo's. James was now in a position where he was courting Lily Evans - properly courting her!

And that step, that extra, dreaded step, was to ask her out.

I'd sooner date the giant squid, and you're an arrogant toerag, many words and declarations of crushing, wounding rejection rang through James' mind, pounded on his temples, drumming into him that he would be foolish, ridiculously foolish, to ask her out. He shouldn't get ahead of himself, for every time he did, things came crashing down around his head.

When was the right time? When would his chance come? Or had it already passed?

The werewolf snorted and lifted its head.

"Peter, get back," Sirius shouted, jumping to his feet.

James scrambled up. Within moments, Sirius was a dog, and he a stag. Together they charged at the werewolf, antlers and barred teeth at the ready. Business as usual.

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"About two weeks ago," called out Patsy, the head chef in her shrill voice, "a teacher is telling Patsy off for letting a student try out the breakfast some minutes before breakfast. But Patsy didn't do any such thing!"

Slinky hung back behind some of the other House-elves. As was often the case, though, his big, pointy ears, even by House-elf standards, gave him away.

"Slinky! Patsy knows it was you!" Patsy pointed a spatula right at him. The other House-elves cleared away from him like clockwork, and Slinky looked around quickly, and then back at Patsy with a guilty expression. "Patsy saw you talking with the student!"

Slinky stood straighter, holding his chin up as high as it could go. This put the weight of his big head further back than where he stood, and he lost his balance and fell flat onto his back. He jumped right up again and stood even straighter than before. "It is Slinky's job to answer to every student and teacher! A student came here and Slinky followed her every order, like a good House-elf!"

The others all looked between Patsy and Slinky with their mouths wide open at the spectacle. Patsy's brows furrowed thunderously. "Well, Professor McGonagall is speaking with me today reminding me what we can and cannot allow students to do in the kitchens! They may eat and give us orders for food, but we must not let them eat a feast before the feast is being served! Is this clear, Slinky?"

Slinky hung his head. This put most of his weight before him, and he almost fell over again. "Yes, Patsy."

Patsy's nostrils flared. "Good."

The spectacle over, the other House-elves all set about getting back to work. "Typical Slinky," one of them muttered.

Slinky hung his head some more, and this time he did fall over.

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"This is our last apparition lesson," the Ministry official announced, holding his hands up. The chatter in the Great Hall died off. "Anyone who needs further lessons, or simply supervised practice, can pay for private sessions between now and your apparition test in two weeks. Other than that, good luck, and remember: Destination, Determination, and-"

"Deliberation," the students all droned, turning as they said it to the back of the Great Hall where, as was always the case, the official had apparated. He clearly thought it still impressed them. It barely had the first time he did it, and that was months ago.

They started filing out of the Great Hall, and the chatter picked back up. As the official was standing right in the way, he was swept up in the sea of Sixth Years, protesting and stammering all the way into the Entrance Hall.

"I can't wait for the apparition test," Marlene declared. "I'm going to absolutely crush it!"

Lily observed her amused. "You're always so bubbly these days. What's gotten into you?"

"Life, Lily. I've grown to realize just how blessed we all are by simply being here."

Marlene started skipping beside her, then. Really skipping. It was especially impressive when she kept it up as they began their ascent of the Entrance Hall's stairs.

Lily shook her head at her friend's antics, and took a second look at the letter in her hands.

Lily

Mother was constantly nagging me before she and Dad left for their cruise to write to you more often. Or at all. Hence this letter. Don't get used to it.

How are you? I am well. I presume you're well also.

Vernon and I have set a date for our wedding. It will be some time around the Christmas season, either December or January. Naturally, you're invited. Don't expect to be my maid of honor, though. Writing you a letter in the first place is charity enough.

Petunia

Lily wrinkled her nose at the letter, and nodded absent-mindedly at something Marlene was saying about how beautiful the sky looked through the window. She shouldn't have expected more from Petunia, she supposed. This much was more than she had expected in the first place.

That being the case, Lily counted herself lucky to have gotten the letter at all.

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"No," said James in answer to the Fifth Year girl's question. "Non-verbal spells are not required for Exceeds Expectations or even Outstanding at O.W.L level. It will go a long way towards impressing your examiner, though. Most Sixth Years can't even get the hang of it." The girl nodded, and went back to packing her stuff away. James looked at the rest of the Fifth Years. "Any other questions? No? Alright, that's all for today, then. We'll meet again next week. You don't have long before exams now, so really make these next few weeks count."

The students nodded and filed out of the classroom, each thanking him before they left.

"They're getting good," James said to Sirius, who sat atop the teacher's desk. "Almost as good as we were last year."

Sirius hopped off the desk. "Almost."

The two left the classroom and set off for the Great Hall, hoping to be in time for lunch.

"At any rate, they're better than Peter was," James added. "He could barely transfigure a matchbox last year, bless his soul. It's a wonder how he manages to be an Animagus."

"It's not really a wonder though, is it?" said Sirius. "With mates like us, anything's possible."

"Yes, you're quite right," said James. Then, "Do you reckon he'll pass the apparition test?"

Sirius hesitated. "We should probably help him out."

"We really should."

"In fact, it wouldn't hurt for him to sit in for one of your tutoring sessions. I suspect he still barely knows most of what you're covering."

"And barely might be generous," said James, grimacing. "I've sat down with him so many times, and he never seems to get it."

"I know what you mean. Trying to help him keep up with Remus and ourselves can be frustrating to say the least. There are times he surprises us though," said Sirius. "Every now and then he pulls a trick from out his arse. I'll give him that much credit."

"That's true. He can be full of surprises."

They neared the Entrance Hall, where the raucous chatter emanating from the Great Hall flowed out in waves.

"I will make sure he can apparate, though," Sirius said. "I'll take him out to the village. We can't have a Marauder without his license, where the hell is he supposed to maraud?"

"Good idea," said James. "Quite generous of you, too. I'm surprised."

"Oh, I'm full of generosity these days, Prongs."

"Is that right?"

"Quite."

"And what exactly is bringing about all this generosity, my dear Mr Padfoot?"

"Hm," said Sirius. "Life. Life and its many blessings have brought out the best in me, Prongs, old boy."

"Well, tell life that I-"

"Hi, James."

James looked around in annoyance and saw Rose Fawcett. "Oh. Hey, Rose."

"Hey," she said, smiling brightly and brushing her hair away from her face. "It's your birthday next week, right?"

"Yep. On Friday."

"Cool. So, are you throwing a party? You usually do, right?"

"Well," butted in Sirius, "first you'd have to actually be invited."

James elbowed him in the side and gave a look that he hoped said 'play nice'.

Rose took it in stride though, and widened her smile at James. "I'm sure that won't be a problem. I'm looking forward to it!"

Before Sirius could fling another barbed comment at her, she turned with a flick of her hair and walked back to the Slytherin table.

"I never liked her," said Sirius. "Just so you know."

"Really?" said James. "I could never have guessed."

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Naturally, James' birthday party was all Lily heard about in the days leading up to the event.

Sirius had treated the party like something exclusive that only those in James' inner circle would even know about, and seeing as Lily was inexplicably a part of that circle now, she had long since been in the loop. As was always the case though, and as Lily suspected Sirius had anticipated, word got out and spread like wildfire. James Potter's birthday party could never be some quiet event, and due to Sirius 'making sure' no one knew about it, everyone knew about it.

"That's what they want though, isn't it? James and Sirius, I mean," said Alice, sitting beside Lily on her bed and watching Marlene apply eyeliner with painstaking precision. "Everyone to be talking about them for days on end."

"Oh, I have no doubt," said Lily with a snort.

Both her and Alice were already dressed. Some girls were apparently wearing dresses to the party, which was laughable to Lily. She wore jeans, boots, and a nice white cardigan she'd bought during the Christmas break. Alice and Marlene were dressed similarly, though Marlene was insistent on applying more makeup.

"Just to make all the other girls feel ugly," she had said.

Their other two dormmates, Harriet and Nancy, who had their own group of friends outside of Gryffindor, had already left for the party. Marlene reckoned it was good to be relatively late.

"Make them all wait. Never give the people what they want," she had said.

When finally Marlene was ready, the three of them set off for the boathouse storing the boats used by First Years to reach the castle each year. It was an underground harbour of sorts that Lily hadn't revisited since her own First Year, and she had to admit, it was the perfect location for a party. They took the stairs from the courtyard by the Entrance Hall, and were joined as they went by various others dressed up for the occasion. When they stepped from marble stairs onto rocks and pebbles, heard the blasting music that had been muted to them moments before, and saw the crowd of exhilarated students dancing, chatting, and singing along, Lily knew they had reached.

An orb of light hung in the air above them all, pulsing and flashing every color of the rainbow. Sirius had been very excited when telling Lily about that one. The boathouse itself was further on, wooden and drab, and it surprised Lily not one bit that the students had instead chosen to party surrounded by cave walls, standing on rocks, and not being able to see very much at all, even with the illumination from Sirius' orb of light. A heating charm had also been cast, which Lily had talked Sirius through the finer points of, as they would otherwise have been freezing from the chill of the night coupled with their being underground.

"You made it!" Sirius approached them, beaming. He had a Dragon Barrel Brandy in hand, and his face was very red. "Hey everyone," he yelled. No one heard him. "Look who's here!"

"Hey, Sirius," greeted Alice. "Where's Frank?"

"He's right there." Sirius pointed vaguely at the crowd of students dancing.

"Right," said Alice. "Thanks."

She set off, presumably to look for him, and Sirius turned to Marlene and gave a formal nod of his head. "McKinnon."

"Black," she said tonelessly, before turning away and striding off, being quickly lost in the throng of students.

Lily looked at Sirius with a wry smile. "Your effect on women is undeniable, Black."

Sirius didn't seem to have heard her, and looked at her seriously. "Hey, we get along right?"

"Oh. Er, well… " Lily knew she needn't bother giving a serious answer, but she wanted to, and found that at this point, given all the unprecedented circumstances, she may as well fall from grace completely. She could get along with Sirius Black. "Yes. Yes we do."

"Good," said Sirius, looking relieved. "I want us to get along." He leaned in and whispered, "It's important to James, you see."

"What's important to me?"

Beside Lily stood James, and as always her heartbeat instantly quickened at the sight of him.

"James," exclaimed Sirius. "Fancy seeing you here!"

"Go drink some water, Padfoot."

"If that is what is what the birthday boy wishes, then by golly that's what he'll get!"

Sirius stormed off, a man on a mission, and Lily looked at James with a warm smile. "Happy birthday, Potter."

"Thank you," he said, returning her smile. "What did you get me?"

She bit her lip. "Close your eyes."

He didn't hesitate in closing them, giving Lily a few welcomed drops of courage. She leaned in, stood on her tip-toes, and gently kissed him on the cheek. She stepped back and he opened his eyes, lifted his fingers to his cheek.

"Thanks," he said, sounding a little breathless.

"Play your cards right, Potter," said Lily, feeling more and more emboldened, "and the next one will be much more involved than that-"

"Happy birthday, James!"

Rose Fawcett bounded up to him, wearing a gorgeous black dress that stopped short of her thighs, accompanied by heels with fancy straps, and she hugged him tight.

"Er, thanks," said James, looking uncomfortable.

Lily rubbed her neck and wrinkled her nose at the stones and rocks beneath her.

Rose stepped back from James, barely, with her hands still on his arms. "Do you want to know what I got you?"

"Erm…"

"Because I've already given it to you!"

He hesitated. "Was it the hug?"

"No, silly," she said, laughing and waving a hand. "It was the game."

"The… game?"

"The Quidditch game! Against Slytherin!"

Lily matched James' bewildered expression as he stared at the girl.

Rose rolled her eyes like James was being funny. "I spiked the Slytherin Quidditch team's breakfast with a confounding solution. Because of me, their reflexes were all slow during the game, so you could beat them!"

James' bewilderment slowly seemed to fade, and he looked at her with an empty expression.

"It wasn't very hard to do. I only had to go to the kitchens, and the House-elves were all too happy to help me. You showed me where to find the kitchens, remember? Last year?" Rose beamed at him. "I'll never forget that night."

"Because of you," James repeated quietly, "I beat them."

"Yep," said Rose, nodding happily.

"And you think this is a good thing?"

Rose tilted her head. "It… is, isn't it? I sabotaged my own house for you."

"You cheated," James spat.

"Yes," Rose said obviously. "And? James, are you upset by this? I did you a favor."

James gave a choked laugh. "Well, promise me something, Rose. Never do me a favor again."

"What?" Rose looked properly annoyed now. "You're mad because I cheated for you? Look, it even doesn't matter. It's just a game!"

Lily's eyes widened, and James' eyes bugged out of his head. "Just a- Just a game?"

Turning slowly, Lily edged away from the two. Spotting a boy with light brown hair not far from her, she moved away from them faster.

"Do you know me at all?" she heard James demanding from behind her. "I mean, at all, Fawcett?"

"Remus," Lily called.

The boy looked over, and smiled as she approached. "Lily. How are you?"

"Grand," she said, feeling relieved to be standing with him now. They were by the edge of the water, where it lapped at the rocks gently. "You?"

"Oh, I'm alright." He looked over to where the rest of the crowd gathered. There was a drinks table, a snacks table, blankets, couches, a disco ball lying on the ground, and the horde of rowdy teenagers amongst all of it, yelling and laughing with each other.

Lily only then realized how far away from the actual party the two of them were. She looked at Remus quizzically. "Not much of a party-goer?"

"Unfortunately not," he said with a small smile. "I know I come across as a huge wet blanket, but these sorts of things really aren't my idea of fun. Whenever I'm around this sort of atmosphere, I always find myself thinking about how much I'd rather be in my bed, snoozing, or reading a book or something. Even studying, as pathetic as that might sound."

"No, I get it. Believe me," said Lily. She looked back to where Rose and James were still talking heatedly. "People are exhausting."

Remus snorted. "I could not agree with you more."

From behind them they heard coughing. They turned to see Sirius, who had been even further from the party than themselves. "I just spewed," he said haggardly, "my entire guts up." He stumbled closer to them, breathing slowly.

"He's not usually this bad at holding his liquor," Remus told Lily. "It's because he started drinking mid-afternoon."

"More like mid-morning," said Sirius. He made a distasteful face, and turned to the water and spat something out.

"Gross," said Lily, grimacing.

"Padfoot, pull yourself together," said Remus. "You've got a party to host."

"Bugger this party," Sirius muttered, squatting down. "Bugger it all."

"Indeed," called James. They turned and watched him approach. Rose was nowhere to be seen. "This party is dumb. Sorry, Padfoot."

"Nope," said Sirius in a strained voice. "Agree wholeheartedly."

"What are we all gathering for?" came Frank's voice. He approached with Alice by his side, and both looked just as sober as this group felt. "What's happening?"

"I believe," said Remus, "that we're just about to leave."

"Marlene, Lily, and I just got here," said Alice, then looked around and wrinkled her nose, "but..."

"We should go," Frank agreed. "Sirius, your party is pretty average."

"I know," muttered Sirius. He heaved on the rocks, and they all groaned.

"Come on, let's get out of here," said Frank, looking disgusted. "I know a good spot."

"Brilliant," said James. "Someone fetch Marlene and Peter, quick. We're taking a shortcut to the second floor."

"I guess I'll do it," said Sirius, looking somehow even more disgruntled than before. "Hold on."

The group followed James to a section of the wall that folded away to a hidden staircase, and when Sirius returned with Marlene and Peter, and with neither Sirius or Marlene looking at or acknowledging the other, they all finally set off. Somehow, the group was all on the same page about the party. Marlene was especially vocal in voicing her disapproval.

When they reached the castle, Frank took the lead. Lily saw James hang back, and she matched his pace. The two reached the back end of the group, and followed along a few steps behind the others.

"So," Lily said, her curiosity finally becoming too much for her to fight off, "Rose Fawcett. What in the world happened there?"

James snorted. "A complete disaster, that's what."

"Alice told me you had sex," Lily blurted. James' head whipped to her, and she kept talking. "You and Rose, I mean. She told me you, er, lost your virginity to Rose."

James grimaced. "Brilliant."

"Tell me, Potter," Lily said, when it was clear he wasn't going to add to that.

"Tell you what?"

"The full story. Because clearly there are a lot of things that led up to you and Rose… doing anything together."

A sigh. "Well, you have a point there."

Lily didn't bother saying she knew that already. She waited for him to continue.

"It was last year," he began. "After one of your particularly stinging rejections, followed by one of our more memorable fights. You slapped me." Lily grinned at the memory, and James chuckled. "I look back on it fondly. But not so much on what happened afterwards. I was hurt, insecure, and, to be honest, lonely. Rose was a pretty redhead who, that same night, showed a hell of a lot of interest in me. I took her down to the kitchens, told a few jokes, and she loved it. Made me feel like I have a lot to offer a girl, which was something I guess I craved at that moment. I know saying 'one thing led to another' isn't saying much, but that's really what happened. We found an empty classroom. We fucked."

Lily smacked his arm. "James!"

"That's exactly what it was, Evans. Not an act of love. Barely an act of sex. I'll be honest, it was quite short."

Lily was beginning to regret having any role in making this conversation happen at all. She knew her face had to be as red as his Quidditch robes.

"Afterwards, we did it again. It was no more satisfying. We then tried chatting through the night and I found that we have zero chemistry, whatsoever. I sneaked back to Gryffindor tower before everyone woke up that morning, and she left for the Slytherin dorms. Every time I saw her thereafter, she would always act quite personal, because we have, as she likes to say, a history."

"A redhead named after a flower," said Lily in a teasing voice. "You certainly have a type."

"Oh, shut it," he said, shaking his head but smiling. "Anyway, she's the only girl I've had sex with."

"Not-" Lily cleared her throat. "Not even Alice?"

James rolled his eyes. "Don't act like she hasn't already told you."

"I want you to tell me."

"No, I did not sleep with your best friend, Evans. We talked about it, though. Considered it. In all honesty, Alice and I were surprisingly compatible."

Lily bit her lip, not knowing how to feel about that.

"But we didn't love each other. And Alice wanted her first to be with the boy she loves - Frank. I felt the same way, only I lost my chance for a meaningful first time."

Lily was quiet at that, searching for the right words. "Oh," she said eventually.

"We're here." Frank stopped in front of a portrait of a lady with a harp and looked at them all impressively.

James, Remus, and Sirius all made noises of understanding. Peter looked at them quickly and then made his own, unconvincing noise of understanding.

"Welcome," said Frank, nodding to the portrait, who nodded back, before swinging the portrait out to reveal a room on the other side, "to the Head Students' Office."

"Woah," said Lily, Alice, Marlene, and Frank.

They all clambered in, and Frank closed the door behind them. It was about the size of a teacher's office, large enough to accomodate them all comfortably but still small in its own way, and cozy.

"Good shout, Longbottom," said Sirius, dropping down to the ground comfortably. "Always wanted to come here."

"You knew about this office?" Frank asked him.

"Only by name," said Sirius, smirking.

"How very impressive, Black," said Marlene, rolling her eyes as she sat down too.

"Don't start," James warned. "It's my birthday."

"Happy birthday, James," the group chorused instantly.

"Yes, thank you-"

"Happy birthday to you," Sirius yelled.

"No."

"Happy birthday to you," Frank picked up.

"Oh, here we go."

"Happy birthday, dear James," the rest of them rejoined, grinning at his resigned expression. "Happy birthday to you!"

"Thank you," he said. "Now-"

"Hip hip," shouted Sirius.

"Hooray!"

"Okay."

"Hip hip."

"Hooray!"

"Are we done?"

"Hip hip."

"Guess not."

"Hooray!"

"Oh, bugger you all," said James finally, dropping down to the floor with a laugh. Lily sat against the wall opposite him, and Frank, Alice, Remus, and Peter promptly joined them.

"You know, Sirius," said Remus, "when you said the party was going to be exclusive in its guest list, I really thought it was just going to be like this. This is nice."

"We've already established the party was rubbish," said Sirius exasperatedly. "Can we move on?"

"There wasn't even any cake," James mumbled.

"What?" exclaimed Marlene. "Black, you didn't bring cake to a birthday party?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, McKinnon," Sirius snapped back. "I forgot that the most important things to bring to a party are drinks, music, and cake!"

"Will you two shut it?" said Frank. "You're like James and Lily were back in the day. Worse, in fact."

"Oh," said Remus gravely, "I don't know about that."

"Well," James said, offering Lily yet another smile that made her heart beat faster, "we've come a long way. Haven't we?"

A part of her, however small, had thought this might be the night she finally bit the bullet - finally got with James. Of course Rose ended up getting in the way, but it was fine. They had time, and they would have plenty more chances.

"We have indeed, Potter."

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

It had been a while since Caradoc had last visited this place. A maze, under the ground, of criss-crossing corridors and darkness. The headquarters of the Death Eaters. He hated coming here, never felt safe. They all thought he was a Death Eater, welcomed him, but at any moment something might go wrong. As he'd recently come to learn, happenstance had a habit of inconveniencing him.

"You were a spy this whole time!"

Caradoc rolled his eyes at the Death Eater bound to the chair in the middle of the dark room. "Yes, Mr Gibbon. I was a spy the whole time."

"You- You won't get away with this!"

"The way my luck's been going, you're probably right. But in any case, I've got a job to do." Caradoc hunkered down in front of the man until he was at eye level. "Emmett Fawley. What's he got planned?"

Gibbon frowned. "The… Minister of Magic?"

"He's not the Minister," said Caradoc forcefully. "Not yet, anyway. It's just between him and Sawyer Hughes now, and if everything goes right, Sawyer will get the job. But that's not why I'm here. I know Fawley is on your side."

Gibbon's eyes widened, and he looked scandalized. "Wait, he is?"

Caradoc sighed and massaged his temples. "Alright, clearly you're of no use. So what about Blithe?"

Now Gibbon's eyes widened not from scandal. Something else. Fear, perhaps. "How do you know that name?"

"I'm a Death Eater, aren't I?"

"Even so, only a select few of us have ever heard of him."

Caradoc looked at him doubtfully. "And you're one of those select few?"

"No," Gibbon admitted. "But I've heard of him, still. From someone outside the Ministry."

Now Caradoc's interest was piqued. A lead on Blithe, any lead on Blithe, was all he'd searched for over the past few months. "Who?"

Gibbon looked smug. "I won't tell-"

Caradoc closed his eyes and placed a hand on Gibbon's head. Though Legilimency was not his strongest skill, he was still good enough to draw on the thoughts of the likes of Gibbon.

"Phillip Kelsey, Department of Magical Artifacts," Caradoc recited. He opened his eyes. "Thank you, Gibbon. You've been a great help. Obliviate."

Gibbon's eyes unfocussed, and Caradoc untied him from the chair before leaving the room.

At last, he had a lead.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

Taureau Barkley watched from afar as the ground rumbled, slid open, and Caradoc Dearborn emerged. He'd been keeping tabs on the man for some weeks now. Caradoc Dearborn had bested him in a fight, and had promptly tampered with his memory. As a trained killer, such things simply did not sit right with Taureau Barkley.

He watched Dearborn walk, carefree, not knowing how easy it would be, how simple, for a killing curse to hit him from behind. Just like that, he would be dead.

There had been many chances. For a man who projected a constant readiness to fight, Dearborn had presented so, so many opportunities for Taureau Barkley to snuff him out with one flick of his wand. The only struggle for him was choosing which opportunity to take. He wasn't normally one to play with his food, but he wanted this kill to be as satisfying as possible. Losing that fight really didn't sit right with him.

Dearborn kept walking.

Was it now? Was now the moment where Taureau Barkley should strike? Or should he wait? Let Dearborn live another day?

Taureau raised his wand, his mind close to made up-

With a crack, Dearborn disapparated.

He lowered his wand.

"Not yet, then. But soon."

He would find Dearborn again. It was never particularly difficult for someone with his skills.

With a sigh, and an equally jarring crack, he too disapparated.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

"Please, please, please, please," muttered Sirius.

From a distance, Peter raised a hand. A thumbs up.

"Yes!"

They all cheered and ran to him, and James and Sirius lifted him into the air. Passersby on the Hogsmeade street cast them amused glances.

"Congratulations, Peter," said Alice, smiling warmly at him.

"I knew you could do it," Lily told him. "Well done, Peter!"

"Congrats, Pete," cheered Frank with a clap on Peter's back.

"Good work, mate," said Remus, beaming.

When Sirius and James put him down, Peter wound his arms behind his back and smiled at them all bashfully. "Thanks, guys."

"That means we all passed," Marlene announced. "We can all now legally apparate!"

"Travers failed," James pointed out.

"I meant all of us."

"Oh, right."

"Three Broomsticks," Frank declared. "What do you guys say?"

"If you're paying," said Alice, nudging him and smirking.

Frank looked at her for a few seconds before smiling widely. "Oh, what the hell? Sure. Butterbeers on me, guys."

The eight of them cheered again, and as one they made their way over to The Three Broomsticks, where a handful of other Sixth Years celebrated their successful apparition test results. The others set about selecting a table, and Lily hung back a bit. She pulled out a folded piece of parchment and gave it another read.

Lily,

Your father and I are about to board the ship, so this is the last letter I'll be able to send you until we get back - in a month! Exciting!

Now, remember to feed the cat when you're home for Easter break. Until then, the cat's with Mrs Jones at number Seven.

In answer to your previous letter, your father and I were in love long before we started dating. We're simply lucky that he finally got some courage together and asked me out, otherwise we might have missed our chance! Why do you ask? Does this have something to do with James, dear? My goodness, it does, doesn't it?

My highest advice to you on the matter, dear Lily, is to trust in your heart. I realize I could not give you more vague and seemingly unhelpful advice, but believe me, that's where you will find the sagest advice in the world. When your heart says it's time, it's time.

In other news, your father saw a dolphin yesterday. Cool, right?

Love you forever and always,

Mum

Lily folded the letter once more and tucked it away, before joining her friends at a table by the window. Sirius was in the middle of a story, and Lily tuned in too late to care so she tuned back out and looked around at the other tables. Professor Flitwick was at a nearby table, and he looked directly at Sirius with a frown. Lily tilted her head in confusion.

"And would you believe it," said Sirius, "he turns around and tells me-"

"Black!"

The others joined Lily in staring at Flitwick, who was marching over to their table with such fury compacted into his short, stout little frame that he was reminiscent of a bowling ball.

"And you too, McKinnon!"

Sirius and Marlene both blinked at him, looking nothing short of bamboozled.

"For months I've been trying to figure out why my classroom is sometimes mysteriously unlocked in the morning. I finally got around to placing a Fabula charm on the room yesterday. Do you know what that does?"

The two shook their heads slowly.

"It recreated for me, in shocking clarity I might add, everything that took place last night, and I imagine has been taking place for the last three months!"

Six heads turned to stare at Sirius and Marlene. Their expressions were identical, equally guilty, and they swallowed thickly.

"Now," Flitwick continued, "it's none of my business what you get up to in your own time. But please, for Merlin's sake, my classroom is a place of learning! Not some bed and breakfast type jungle for your love-making!"

With that, and a little swish of his cloak, Flitwick turned on his heel and left.

"Did- Did he just say love-making?" asked Frank.

Marlene and Sirius looked at each other, and then at anything but each other.

"Merlin," said Alice.

James looked like he was trying to hide a smile.

He knew. Lily shook her head to herself. Of course Sirius would have told him. More importantly, Sirius and Marlene… Clearly, they'd decided to seize their chance while it was still hanging around. She looked at James again, while the rest of her friends started growing loud, and demanding answers of the two guilty parties.

She'd come to this conclusion in the back of her mind some time ago, and over the last few weeks she'd grown absolutely certain of it. Where it had been the slightest bit daunting before, by now it was inevitable, perhaps even overdue. Looking at him, Lily knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that the time was upon them - their chance was right before their eyes.

The next time James Potter asked her out she would say, with no hesitation and no more need to wait, a definite, resounding yes.