Thankfully, the rest of November passed without incident, or at least as peacefully as was possible at Hogwarts. Lily appreciated it, but she could tell the Marauders were getting a little stir-crazy. She was fully expecting a prank, and the first of December did not disappoint.

When she walked into the hall with the rest of the sixth year Gryffindor girls and sat down with the five boys as usual, she immediately noticed the mischievous grins they all wore. But no amount of prying moved them to reveal the secret and even Frank didn't know, despite rooming with them. So she just had to wait and find out with everyone else.

Lily nearly jumped when she felt something wet and cold land on her head. The Great Hall was suddenly full of gasps and quiet shrieks as everyone felt it and looked to the ceiling. It normally showed what was happening outside but protected them from anything. Now, however, big flakes of snow were falling straight onto the students and teachers. It was heavy, and there would be at least an inch on the ground soon.

Shaking her head, Lily turned to the Marauders, who looked incredibly pleased with themselves.

"I have to say, I'm impressed," she said grudgingly, although with a smile on her face.

They grinned even bigger at that.

Lily glanced at the High Table, expecting to see McGonagall descending to the Gryffindor table. But most teachers looked appreciative instead of angry or displeased.

Dumbledore stood up, gesturing for quiet. "I believe, due to the sudden change in weather, that classes will have to be canceled today," he said, generating several cheers. "In fact . . ." He waved his wand and sleds appeared down all the tables. "Enjoy your day!"

There was a great hustle as everyone rose at once and tried to grab a sled. Students were running out to the staircases, where snow was already piling up due to wind blowing in from above.

The Marauders looked even more proud of their success now that classes were scratched.

"We weren't even planning for that to happen," Sirius commented, his smile taking up his whole face, and turned to Marlene. "Want to grab a sled?"

Lily's mouth dropped at the question and continued to gape as Marlene, Sirius's fellow beater, blushed. Marlene never blushed, never. The two got to their feet together, picked up a sled, and walked out of the hall.

Lily whirled around to face the remaining Marauders, who were trying to hide their beams.

"How long?" she demanded.

James shrugged and said, "Since about the beginning of the year, but we didn't hear about it until a few weeks ago."

"Did any of you know about Marlene?" Lily asked her dorm mates, but they shook their heads. Lily couldn't help but be relieved. At least she hadn't been oblivious due to being a terrible friend - everyone else had been just as in the dark as she.

"I say that we join everyone out in the hall," Alice suggested, cueing everyone to stand, grab sleds, and walk out into the snow-filled entrance.

Snowball fights were breaking out everywhere, and students had climbed several floors to get a staircase-turned-hill to themselves. Their group managed to get the biggest one because people were letting the Marauders through like royalty. Lily just rolled her eyes and laughed at it all.

The day passed much too quickly for Lily's liking. It had been a whirl of sledding, snowball fights, snowmen, cold, laughter, and holiday spirit. Eventually, though, everyone found their way back to the toasty fires and piping hot meals in the Common Room. Her lips were almost blue, cheeks pink, nose red and runny, and she was completely wiped out as she settled on the carpeted floor by the rest of her friends, directly in front of the blazing flames. Slowly, she found herself dozing off as the warmth and murmur of voices washed over her. Thankfully, Alice herself yawned and declared she was going to bed, allowing Lily to follow without being rude. She said goodnight, walked blearily up the stairs, changed, and tumbled into her bed, where she fell into a deep, peaceful sleep.

. . .

The next morning was a Saturday, which would have been nice if not for Lily's load of homework. Classes being canceled the previous day had helped, but she hadn't done any work yet. So, she reluctantly trudged down to the library with Marlene and Alice, the latter of whom she had dragged out of bed. Surprisingly, Marlene wanted to join them, despite her normally terrible work ethic. Therefore Lily wasn't very surprised when Marlene wanted to talk instead of study. But Lily was slightly startled about what she wanted to talk about: Sirius. So rather than completing assignments, she got the whole scoop on their new relationship. He had asked her out, and she had said yes. She also learned that Marlene had liked him for a quite while, in secret. And although she got absolutely nothing done that morning, Lily appreciated the time with her friends. She had to admit, she had missed Marlene and her cheerful, slightly gossipy personality. She made a mental promise to herself to catch up with the other girls as well.

To the Marauders' dismay, she used her lunchtime to complete her work instead of socializing. About halfway through, they tried to take all of her materials and play keep-away but gave up when she threatened to hex them. Smiling triumphantly, she returned to her work.

But she was interrupted once more when an owl swooped down and landed beside Mary. Owls seldom came during lunch. She watched fearfully as Mary opened the letter, afraid it would carry the worst news possible. Sure enough, Mary scanned the parchment and burst into sobs.

Lily, Marlene, Alice, and Dorcas rushed to her side, each of them silently reading it too.

Miss MacDonald,

We are sorry to inform you that unknown Death Eaters killed your brother, Magnus MacDonald, on his way home yesterday. Deepest condolences for your loss.

Alastor Moody

Auror Office, Ministry of Magic

Upon reaching the end of the note, Lily wrapped her arms around Mary. She finished before the others had, but they soon joined her in trying to comfort their friend. Mary just sobbed and sobbed, until Lily suggested taking her up to the dormitory. The others agreed and they led her up to the tower. They held her as she slowly stopped crying and fell asleep.

"I feel so terrible for her," Alice whispered. They all nodded, still watching their friend doze.

Marlene spoke up. "But I have to wonder if that will happen to me, you know? What will the rest of us go through before this is over?"

"We'll all going to go through it," Lily pointed out, her voice soft but not weak. "We can only face it."

They turned to her with small, grim smiles, tear tracks shining on their faces. Alice gripped her hand tightly and Lily reached her other to Marlene, who extended her own to Dorcas. The four of them sat in a connected line, finding comfort and peace despite their dark future. The festive cheer of the previous day had disappeared.

. . .

A few days passed during which Lily spent practically all of her time with Mary and the other girls, helping her through her loss. The five of them left on Thursday to go to Malcolm's funeral. They stayed at Mary's house for another day, then had a free day back at Hogwarts before rejoining the regular schedule.

Yet, it was not regular anymore. All of the sixth year Gryffindors, along with a few friends from other houses, no longer joked and laughed as they normally did. A cloud was forming over them, and they didn't know on whom it would storm next.

. . .

Two weeks later, Lily found herself sitting in front of the Common Room fire with the Marauders for the first time in weeks. They didn't talk, didn't joke or laugh, just sat there in peaceful, comfortable silence. She was glad for the restful moment when she didn't have to think about anything bad or anyone else. Eventually, though, it must have become too much for Sirius, because he broke the silence.

"What are everyone's Christmas plans?'

Peter answered first. "I'm going home to my mum. It'll just be the two of us for the holidays."

Lily frowned. "What about your father?"

"Oh, he moved out a while ago," Peter said dismissively.

"I'm sorry," she said, but Peter waved it away.

"I'm going home also. I won't have to come back early, either, because the full moon already passed," Remus said, quiet happiness on his face.

Lily turned to James and Sirius, the latter of whom answered.

"We're going back to the Potter home as usual. Mum makes a wicked Christmas dinner." They grinned at each other.

Lily couldn't help adoring how Sirius called Mrs. Potter "Mum". They really were like brothers.

"You all should come to the New Year's party, though," James added. "It's quite boring otherwise."

Lily kept quiet as Peter and Remus said they'd ask about it. She didn't want to admit she would be staying at Hogwarts. In fact, she flinched when James turned to her.

"Um, I'm staying here all holiday. Sorry." She winced at how pathetic she sounded.

"What?" Sirius exclaimed.

Remus frowned. "You shouldn't do that."

"No way, Lils. I'll ask Mum right now if you can come stay with us. No one should spend Christmas alone," James declared, standing and running up to the boys' dormitory.

Lily pretended that she didn't notice the knowing looks passed between Sirius, Remus, and Peter. But it no longer bothered her - it hadn't for a while. So she cast it aside as James returned and started writing furiously on a scrap of parchment, Sirius commenting quietly over his shoulder. Lily couldn't tell what they were saying, but she did notice glares being thrown at Sirius after several remarks. She didn't want to know what he was saying.

After less than two minutes, James was sealing the letter and handing it to his owl, who soared out the window.

"There. We'll see what she says, which is almost certainly yes, and you'll come to my house with me and Sirius," he said decisively.

Lily didn't know whether to laugh or roll her eyes at the pure Gryffindor-ness of his actions. But it was the first time in a while that she had felt any excitement about the holidays, so . . .

"Fine." She gave up. Could it really be so bad, anyway, to spend Christmas at the Potters'?

. . .

James honestly did his best to organize his trunk, but in the end, he just stuffed everything around the presents he was bringing. It was taking most of his self-control not to start shouting to everyone he knew that Lily Evans was going to his house! He found himself either grinning wildly everywhere he went or worrying over everything that could go wrong. What if his parents brought up the past few years? What if she thought he was super spoiled?

"Mate, calm down," Sirius said from across the room. "Whatever you're worrying about, just stop. Lily won't stop being your friend just because of a single relationship comment from your parents. She'll adore your mum, and she already knows your family's rich. So, stop it."

"But Padfoot –"

"No James. It'll be fine."

Even with Sirius's reassurance, James couldn't help but worry, although the thoughts were much quieter in his head. After jamming the textbooks he would need for assignments in, he latched the lid closed. Once Sirius was ready as well, he grabbed Eclipse's cage, his broomstick, and his trunk and led the way down to the Common Room. Lily wasn't there yet, so he spent the time going over everything he should have packed in his head. But he got all the way to the end and she still hadn't shown up.

The doubts filled his head again. What if she had changed her mind? Had all been some elaborate trick meant to get rid of him? Where was she?

When Lily finally appeared at the top of the staircase with her trunk and owl's cage, he breathed a sigh of relief. She was still coming.

Since their whole Gryffindor group was going home, they didn't have to worry about goodbyes just yet. In a big mob, they walked down the tower and out the front doors into the bracing wind. No snow had fallen, but the paths were slick with ice. At one point, some passing Hufflepuffs accidentally knocked into Lily, making her slip forward. James lunged and just barely caught her arm before she toppled over. For one uncomfortable moment, he held on while their eyes met. Then he let go and it ended, leaving them both flushing. He would've been pleased by her reaction if his cheeks weren't flaming also.

Right as they were about to get on the train, Mary very shyly asked Remus if he wanted to sit with her on the train, just the two of them. James was surprised when Remus accepted, just as quietly. He hadn't known Remus liked anyone. Since the remaining eight of them couldn't comfortably share a compartment, they split up into two groups. James wasn't sure where Peter went, but the other four shared a compartment, so he, Sirius, and Lily were left with one to themselves.

The train ride back to King's Cross Station went as smoothly as James could've possibly hoped for. The mood was light and festive, without any awkward moments. They shared multiple bags and boxes of candy while telling each other what they had gotten for their other friends and family.

Lily's gifts for Remus and Peter were incredibly thoughtful and kind. James was surprised by how well she knew them and felt a little ashamed of the very funny and lighthearted gifts he had gotten them. But when he and Sirius asked her about her present for his mum, she refused to tell them anything.

"It's a surprise. And I want her to be the first person to know what it is."

"Come on Lils!" Sirius pleaded, but Lily wouldn't budge. James had to admire the strength she had to turn down a puppy-dog-eyed-Sirius. He had pretty much perfected that look, being a dog once a month.

"Absolutely not. End of story." She didn't even acknowledge the rest of their complaints, and only when James and Sirius fell silent did she speak again. "Tell me how you two are brothers. You've brought it up a few times before, but never really told the whole story . . ."

Sirius jumped in at once, telling a highly dramatized story of how he came to live at James's house that summer. Lily listened to the whole thing, sympathy on her face, while James sat back and tuned out. His mind wandered to his Christmas present for her. When buying it, he had thought it was perfect, but now he wasn't sure. Was it too much? Too expensive, too personal?

"That was actually the day that he wrote you that letter," Sirius said, jolting James out of his thoughts. He debated whether or not to glare at Sirius, but Lily wasn't fazed at all.

"Really? I'm impressed he decided to do it on his own," she said teasingly, grinning at James. He smiled back, although uncertainly.

Sirius, curse him, continued. "And then he decided to stop bothering you at all. So you would stop hating him."

James did glare at Sirius that time.

Lily, though, laughed. "I'm not sure I ever really hated you, I just tried to. I was kind of terrible in fifth year too. All the fights we had? They were literally over nothing."

"To be fair, I was a prick too," James reminded her.

Lily waved it off. "Still! This year is so much better."

James tried to push down the crazy giddiness he felt, but it was too much to keep from grinning. At least, until Lily pulled out her schoolwork. Both he and Sirius groaned at the sight of it. She gave them stern looks, reminiscent of Professor McGonagall.

"I'd rather get it out of the way now, instead of having to do it when we're actually on holiday," she said.

Since they couldn't disagree with that, they pulled their own work out.

The serious, concentrated mood only lasted a few minutes before Sirius accidentally turned James's hair gray like an old man's. James tried to retaliate but his wand got caught on his robe sleeve and the spell hit Lily instead, turning her hair snow white. Then suddenly the three of them were all harmlessly hexing each other.

James wasn't sure how much time had passed, but before he knew it Lily looked out the window and announced they were almost to the station. She turned back around, and James realized what she looked like now. Her hair was now short, white, and streaked orange. Her eyes looked like fire, and her freckles were ten times bigger. Her nose had swelled, and her lips were half their usual size. Not that he ever paid attention to her mouth.

James burst out laughing, then saw Sirius and laughed harder. He was bald, and his scalp was lavender. His eyebrows were also gone, and his nose was a fraction of its original size. His pupils were slits like a cat's, but the creepy effect was lost by the fact that his eyes were royal purple.

"Shut up, Prongs. You look just as bad," Sirius scoffed, grinning broadly.

Lily conjured a mirror and they all took turns looking at themselves. James could only gape when he saw himself. His mottled green-brown hair alternated between shoulder-length and shorter strands. His eyes were puffy and solid lime green, and his glasses were square and covered with rainbows. His face was covered with huge red welts, though they didn't hurt at all.

They all looked at each other again and dissolved into laughter.

Eventually, Lily regained enough control to fix their faces. By the time she finished the train had arrived at the station. They grabbed their trunks and exited the train. James scanned the crowd for his parents, his gaze catching on his father's tall form. He pointed them out to Lily, letting Sirius go on ahead.

But before they could go far, screams broke out on the other end of the platform.

Suddenly spells were flying everywhere, both harmful and defensive. James tried to push Lily down, but she wasn't there. He frantically searched the crowd around him, but it was too chaotic. Bits of the stone columns had been blasted off and littered the ground, making people stumble. There were too many people for James to tell where the curses were coming from, so he fought his way to where his parents had been standing, throwing up shields every time a spell got too close. He just hoped Lily and Sirius would make it there too, and that his parents were fine. Thankfully, his mother grabbed him once he made it there and pulled him into a bubble of shield spells.

"Stay here unless you see Lily or Sirius. As soon as the three of you are here, we're getting out."

"What about Dad?" James had to shout to hear his own voice.

"He's staying to help control the situation. He'll be fine," his mum said, but James could hear the uncertainty in her voice.

Suddenly Lily appeared in front of him, panting and hair all across her face. Then he noticed the blood trickling down her cheek.

"What happened?" he demanded, turning her head to the side. "Oh Merlin, Lily –"

"James, I'm fine." She spoke evenly and calmly, but he didn't register it.

"You're going to be fine, alright? We'll get back to my house and mum can patch it up, it's going to be fine –" James no longer knew what he was saying, trying to reassure himself and make sure she was actually fine.

"James!" She forced him to look at her. "I'm fine. A spell barely grazed me; it doesn't even hurt. I'm okay."

Her words finally got through to him and he almost collapsed with relief. Instead, he pulled her into a hug that lasted about two seconds before someone in a dark robe ran towards them. James immediately let go and pulled out his wand. He fired a stunning spell right at them but was surprised when two red bolts of light hit the person. Lily had spun around and hit them at the same time he had. She turned back around and smiled at him, a little shyly he thought, and he noticed yet again just how beautiful she was. The urge to kiss her ended mercifully quickly because Sirius yelled at them from where he was also fighting a figure.

"A little help over here!" he shouted, sounding a little too annoyed for someone in a duel.

James's mum fired some jinx that James didn't recognize, and Sirius ran over. His mum grabbed the three of them and told Lily to hold on tightly. James took hold of her arm, just in case. Then his mother spun them all around, and they Disapparated.