A/N: Welcome back! Thank you fancy blood and SiriusBlackIsAwesome for your reviews! I'm glad you enjoyed the action scene - I was a bit nervous about it. Anyway, on with the story!

Disclaimer: I own this story and that's all. Sadly, I'm not J. K. Rowling.

Chapter Three

The first Hogsmeade weekend came just over two weeks later and met was great excitement despite the chaos from the first night. Alice and Frank appeared quite harassed on the morning, however, and Filch conducted numerous security checks on all students leaving the school. Lily waved her friends off, wisely choosing not to join them when she still relied on her crutches to move anywhere, and decided to go to the library to get some work done. She had plenty of undisturbed time after all.

It took her a while to reach Gryffindor Tower to collect her things; her injury made everything frustratingly slow. On her way back through the common room she was held up by little Daisy, who hurried over to meet her, blushing furiously. She had been sorted into Gryffindor and wore her Gryffindor scarf almost everywhere.

'Hello, Daisy.' Lily greeted kindly, looking down at the tiny first year.

'H-hi.' she replied, a little breathless. She was hiding something behind her back.

'Are you all right?' Lily asked, a little concerned at how Daisy was fidgeting.

'Yes, I'm fine.' Daisy assured her, smiling toothily. 'I just wanted to give you this.'

She thrust a thank you card into Lily's hands and then hurried off, leaving a very bemused sixth year behind. Shaking her head slightly, Lily left the common room and headed for the library. She had to rest for a moment about halfway into her journey before continuing. When she reached the library, she noted it wasn't particularly busy, an understandable feat considering it was the first Hogsmeade visit of term, but she did spot James working alone on a far table.

Deciding that she didn't want to sit alone, Lily sighed and made her way over to his table. If she was lucky, he might help her carry her books back to Gryffindor Tower later; levitating her things in front of her was more tiring than she had anticipated.

'Can I sit here?' she inquired, flinching at the rather furious expression he fixed her with. Regretting her decision, Lily started to back away.

'Fine.' he said shortly. 'Just don't talk to me.'

James' rather unwelcoming invitation made her hesitate, but she sat down anyway. She supposed he was still cross with her about the events of the first night back. Or about the incident before the summer holidays when Lily had gone a little overboard in describing exactly why she didn't like him. She still didn't but sitting next to James was better than sitting alone and there had been a few occasions, she could count them on her fingers, during her Hogwarts career when they had got on reasonably well.

They worked in silence for about an hour before their ultimatum was broken. Lily had just let out about the fifth frustrated sigh in regard to her newly started Transfiguration essay when James lashed out.

'I told you to be quiet, didn't I?' he hissed at her as Madame Pince swept past.

'You told me not to talk to you.' Lily corrected unapologetically; McGonagall's essay was unreasonably difficult. 'That's not the same thing.'

James let out an angry breath of air.

'Shut up, Evans.' he muttered. 'I'm trying to work.'

'So am I.' Lily pointed out, frowning at him. 'I'm sorry if not all of us are good enough at Transfiguration to turn into a bloody stag.'

'Keep your voice down!' he snapped, glaring at her.

'You know, I don't think this has got anything to do with me sighing.' Lily mused, watching him, her brow creasing further. 'You just want an excuse to be annoyed with me.'

'Yeah,' James scoffed. 'Because everything's about you, Evans.'

'No, not everything.' she responded mildly. 'Just this. So, what is it, Potter? Spit it out.'

He stared at her for a second before recovering himself.

'This is about you being a fucking idiot.' James informed her, his hazel eyes glinting menacingly. 'What the fuck were you thinking being bait for a bunch of Death Eaters? You're supposed to be smart! You could've died, for fuck's sake! Did you ever think about that?'

'You know, it never crossed my mind.' Lily admitted dryly. 'I've always thought myself immune to the Killing Curse. I'm actually immortal. I'm a vampire – that's why I'm always so pale.'

'Stop pissing about, Evans.' he snarled, looming over her. 'This is serious. You could've been killed, and you're talking about it like it's nothing.'

'I know the concept of caring about other people's alien to you, Potter,' Lily sneered, folding her arms. 'But some of us thought it might be better if a whole group of people survived and just one died rather than none of us surviving at all.'

'Yes, but, Evans,' James waved his arms in frustration, 'you can't just act like your life's dispensable.'

'I know my life's not dispensable.' Lily said slowly. 'I just don't understand why you – of all people – give a shit.'

'Why?' James laughed. 'Because I'm not a monster!'

'That's debatable.' Lily muttered under her breath. 'Well, I don't see anyone else making such a fuss.' she told him, returning her voice to an audible volume.

'It was such a stupid idea.' he seethed, ignoring her comment. 'I never thought you would be that thick, Evans.'

'You think I don't know it was a stupid idea? Of course it was!' She let out a bitter laugh. 'But, Jesus Christ, Potter, it was my only idea. We had to get everyone out of there fast or they'd find us all. There were only four of us that could use our wands, plus loads of first years, against trained terrorists.'

'Yes, but –'

'Besides, you can talk!' Lily interrupted, jabbing his shoulder accusingly with her finger. 'Who was it who decided to come and rescue me – as a fucking stag by the way!'

'They weren't going to kill a stag!'

'Yes, because you were such a realistic stag.'

'I looked like a stag! What more do you want?'

'And exactly how many stags have you seen rescue and lift people with their antlers?' Lily asked, raising her eyebrows.

'Don't pretend like you wouldn't have died if I didn't do that!' he spat indignantly, standing up to tower over her. Not one to appreciate this method of intimidation, Lily stood up too, hastily grabbing for her crutches to support her.

'Well, aren't you a fucking wonderful knight in shining armour.' Lily sneered, shifting a little back with her crutches so that she didn't have to crane her neck to look at him. 'If you were going to be so bitter about the whole thing, why the fuck did you bother saving me?'

'I…' James suddenly became unsure of himself, his entire posture growing defensive.

'Why did you save me?' she reiterated, her eyes narrowing. 'I know you'd never do anything nice without something in it for you.'

'Is that what you think of me?' he asked, anger flooding back into his circulatory system. 'IS IT?'

'Both of you enough!' Madame Pince stormed over to them, livid. 'This is a library. If you can't control yourselves, get out!'

The presence of a third party calmed the pair of them, and an embarrassed flush entered Lily's cheeks. She hastily moved to pack up her things. The obedience to members of staff that she had had as a third-year still manifested itself in her.

'Sorry, Madame Pince.' she mumbled, stuffing her stationery into her school back. 'I was just leaving…'

Levitating her things in front of her, Lily left the library, struggling to open the door using her good leg. She started off down the corridor, sighing as she realised, she'd have to work in her dormitory instead; if there was one thing Lily hated, it was writing without a desk to rest on.

But when she reached the end of the corridor, she glanced behind her to see James leaving the library. Spotting her, he jogged to catch her up, reaching out and plucking her school bag out of the air, hanging it over his shoulder.

'Potter…' she acknowledged. 'Thanks for carrying my bag…'

'Listen, Evans –'

'I'm sorry.' Lily interrupted, blushing. This situation was making her feel uncomfortable. 'I shouldn't have said half of what I said in there,' she jerked her head in the direction of the library. 'I should have been thanking you.' A small smile entered her face. 'I mean, you did save my life.'

'Anyone would've…' he replied modestly, not looking at her. 'I only did what anyone else would've done.

'No, no they wouldn't.' Lily said softly. Then she smiled wider. 'It was very Gryffindor of you.'

'I do try.' James joked, laughing lightly as Lily knocked lightly against him with one of her crutches. 'Sorry for getting us chucked out of the library.'

'Oh, I think that was a joint effort.' Lily said, chuckling appreciatively.

'C'mon.' James said suddenly, grinning at her. 'Let's go find somewhere to study.'

…

'How was Hogsmeade?' Lily asked at dinner, laughing as Mary shuddered dramatically.

'Dead.' she replied, and Dorcas scoffed.

'No, it wasn't.' Dorcas dismissed, shredding up her roll and sprinkling the pieces onto her soup. 'She's just miffed it was only Hogwarts students.'

'I thought it was kind of empty.' Hestia piped up from Dorcas' other side and Emmeline nodded in agreement beside her. 'I don't think I saw any locals apart from the shopkeepers.'

'See!' Mary gestured violently in Hestia's direction. 'And Merlin did Rosmerta looked stressed. Apparently, some Death Eaters stormed her pub the night they tried to ambush the train. She let them drink her dry and they didn't kill her.'

'I'll keep a bottle of firewhisky handy in future.' Lily jested and thought she saw Marlene's lips twitch upwards for a brief second. 'But the Death Eaters didn't actually attack Hogsmeade did they?'

'The station's supposed to be a bit beat up.' Dorcas replied. 'But other than that, they didn't do anything. Nothing reparo can't fix.'

'That's good.' Lily paused for a moment, taking a sip from her goblet. 'Did you all have fun at least?'

'I don't know.' Emmeline said, grinning evilly over in Marlene's direction. 'You'll have to ask Marlie.'

'Why? What happened?' Lily looked over at Marlene eagerly. Marlene's blank expression was tinged with her red cheeks.

'Let me tell you!' Mary gushed excitedly, sparing Marlene from any direct attention. 'Sirius Black – as in the Sirius Black –'

'We all know who he is, Mary.' Hestia said, rolling her eyes.

'Do we?' Lily frowned. 'I've never heard of him…'

'Shut up, Lily.' Mary said, pouting. 'Anyway, he bought Marlie a drink! And he flirted with her.'

'Good for you, Marlie.' Lily said, grinning over at her friend, who was now as red as tomato no matter how neutral she tried to appear. 'I've said for years you've got boys falling at your feet. Are you sure your mum didn't name you Marilyn McKinnon?'

Marlene glared at her and Lily laughed gaily.

…

But the laughter didn't last very long. As September rolled into October, the Daily Prophet published a rather miserable article about all the Death Eaters currently at large. The article had covered the first five pages of the newspaper and Lily, her stomach lurching uncomfortably, recognised the first image of a woman named Bellatrix Lestrange; she was the woman who had cursed her leg. She might have finally been without her crutches, but she still limped everywhere, the outline of her large bandage very visible beneath her black tights.

Lily crumpled up the newspaper, throwing it onto her plate and standing up. Swinging her bad over her shoulder, she left the Great Hall, angry at the world. It was frustrating to see so many Death Eaters were roaming around when the Ministry was publishing pamphlets on the successes of the Auror department. As far as Lily was concerned, they had barely done anything; they hadn't even arrived in time to protect the Hogwarts students from the ambush on the train and for legal reasons made clear to no one the teachers were not allowed to do such a thing until the authorities arrived.

At least that was what she had gained from Alice, when the rather stressed Head girl had stopped to convey some of the teachers' gossip to her when they passed in the corridor. Apparently, she had walked in on Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall arguing about the whole fiasco.

'Not so fast, Evans.' a gruff voice called, making her heart leap. Mulciber.

'Can I help you?' she asked irritably. Coming across one of Severus' possibly Death Eater friends was exactly what she wanted.

'Confident, are we?' he asked, chuckling with a leer to compliment his action. 'I wouldn't be when I could just kick –' Mulciber stuck out his foot, knocking it into her right leg. Lily staggered sideways, only just managing to steady herself. 'Keep an eye out, Evans. We'll be coming after Mudbloods like you. Things are changing around here.'

He left her alone and Lily hobbled over to the nearest wall. Leaning against it, she took a deep breath. Mulciber hadn't even kicked her particularly hard but her leg had seized up, completely forgetting the painkilling potion she had taken earlier.

'Jesus Christ…' she murmured, closing her eyes briefly.

It wasn't that she hadn't taken Severus' warning seriously, she wasn't stupid, but she had hoped there would a bigger interval, perhaps one that allowed for her leg to heal first. There was no denying that things were moving in the Wizarding World, speeding up even, and it was a bad time to be a Muggle-born. Especially a doomed one.

What did you think? Maybe it's the sadist in me but I really enjoyed writing that small scene at the end there between Lily and Mulciber. Don't mind me...

And what about Lily and James' first argument of the story? I've become a bit paranoid about the flow of speech recently. I'm reading a German book at the moment (Der Augensammler if anyone's interested) and it's struck me how the speech in that book has great sequence to it - it reads at a natural pace, a realistic one. It's got me thinking a bit too much though about the dialogue that I write. So what did you think about the argument? Did it flow naturally enough?

Make my day and leave a review! I hope you enjoyed reading this!

Anyway, I'll see you in the next chapter!