Lily walked around Hogsmeade aimlessly. It was the last Hogsmeade weekend before the summer break. Exams were over and students swarmed the tiny village to celebrate the end of another year. Lily walked around, eyes full of wonder, heart filled with nostalgia and a sense of pure luck. It had been six years at Hogwarts already, and all of it felt like a dream. Sometime she worried that this was all a beautiful dream and she would wake up in her room as an eight year old with strange abilities. She smiled inwardly, when she was young, she used to believe that she was a mutant. In this moment she was filled such intense happiness, fear and nostalgia that the only outlet for her was to spread her arms out and twirl in the middle of the road, basking in the summer's sun. She let out a breathless laugh, not caring about what people thought of her.
James Potter laughed, shoving Peter away as the latter teased him about Lily Evans. Remus walked beside the two, smiling at their antics. They would return for their last year now, he reflected and the past six years had been the best of his life. He had found friends who accepted all of him; he had never expected that to happen. His heart swelled with happiness.
"What dirty little joke are you playing in your mind, Moony?" James' voice broke into his reverie, Peter sniggered beside him.
"Dirty jokes and me?" Remus asked innocently, his lips twitching.
"Yes you." Peter said grinning.
Remus rolled his eyes. "I am the innocent one, remember."
James and Peter laughed.
"Please," James said, "Sometime you make all of us blush. You have a dirty little mind, Lupin."
"Don't call his mind little." Peter said, "He likes everything big."
James and Remus grinned. "Don't start with me, Pettigrew." Remus threatened.
James stopped walking suddenly and Remus bumped into him. Remus looked at where James was looking and saw Lily twirling in the sun, arms wide open, head thrown back, basking in the sun, laughing out of sheer happiness.
"Mate, you are whipped." Peter muttered looking at James' dazed expression.
Remus was also watching James; he knew that what James fancied Lily but James was looking at Lily as someone who had seen the most beautiful sight for the first time. His eyes widened when he realized that at seventeen, his friend had already found love.
"You should go talk to her." Remus said quietly.
"I shouldn't." James replied his eyes on Lily and a small smile on his face. "Our relationship is precarious. I don't want to tip the balance."
Remus nodded.
"Say," Peter said after a few minutes of silence. "When did Frank ask us to meet him?"
"2 o'clock. He wanted to spend some time alone with Alice." James replied.
"Look, who just showed up?" Remus muttered.
James and Peter looked up and saw Lucius Malfoy walking around with Bellatrix and Rodolphus Lestrange. Bellatrix went out of her way to bump into Lily, shoving her hard, but Lily held her ground. Fierce glares were exchanged between the two and Bellatrix whipped her wand out.
Lily had stopped twirling after a while, but she still stood with her head up and eyes closed. She never noticed Bellatrix's coming towards her. Her eyes flew open as she felt the hard shove; she teetered but was able to stand. She whipped around and was face to face with Bellatrix Lestrange. Lily glared at her, thrusting her chin out defiantly as Bellatrix glared back. Bellatrix whipped her wand out, training it at Lily who was holding her wand and staring at the witch with dispassion.
"Lily!" Remus said approaching her, "What are you doing here? We have been looking all over for you."
Lily's eyes flickered to Remus who pretended to not notice Bellatrix, when Lily didn't move he turned to face Bellatrix Lestrange, who was joined by Lucius Malfoy and her husband, just like James and Peter had joined Remus.
"Lestrange." Remus said politely, "My apologies, I didn't see you there. We should get going though, we have places to be. Lestrange, Malfoy."
Remus gave the two men a nod as he grabbed Lily's wrist and pulled her. He wound his other arm around James and steered them away.
"She didn't do anything to you, did she?" Peter asked taking his seat across from Lily and pushing a bottle of butterbeer to her. Lily shook her head, smiling gratefully at James and Remus who took their seats.
"What are they doing here though?" Remus wondered.
"Well, maybe they are here to meet Narcissa and Regulus Black." Lily replied.
"I hope it's just that." James muttered, running a hand through his hair.
"Come off it." Peter said, "This is Hogsmeade, they won't attack us here, not with Dumbledore living close by. You-know-who is scared of him."
"I am hoping that this fear is enough to keep them at bay." James said, darkly.
Before any of them could say anything, Sirius stormed to their table, Marlene in tow. Alice, Frank and surprisingly enough, Perseus Potter and Alexandra Spyropoulos followed behind.
"Sirius!" Remus exclaimed rising from his seat, "What happened?"
"Silencio." Sirius muttered, not bothering with a reply. He let out a loud frustrated yell, followed with profanities. Lily jumped, she had seen Sirius in a mood before, but never had she seen him lose control like this. He collapsed into his seat a while later, taking a large swig from the bottle of firewhiskey Percy had gotten for them.
"What happened?" Remus asked Marlene, after everyone was done with their greetings.
"Bellatrix." Marlene replied, making a face. "We ran into her as we were coming here. She said some really horrible stuff. Sirius replied in kind, we would have gotten in a fight had Frank and Percy not stepped in."
"So, much for our happy surprise." Percy muttered, running a hand in his hair, just like his cousin.
"Aww.. Perce." James said, punching his arm. "I am glad you are here. Let's not darken our moods because of someone like Bellatrix Lestrange."
Percy grinned, and Lily was surprised by how much the two cousins looked and behaved like each other.
"They act like twins." Alexandra said catching her eye. Lily blushed. "And Percy, it's okay. I think you boys should go. Hang out with each other for a bit."
"Are you sure?" Percy asked uncertainly.
"Yeah." Alexandra said, "I hope the girls would keep me company."
James looked at his friends, "Shall we?" He asked.
James turned from the door and smiled at Lily before walking out.
"He is rather taken with you, isn't he?" Alexandra observed, as Marlene choked on her drink and Alice covered her laugh.
"What?" Lily squeaked.
"James." Alexandra said, "He is really taken with you."
She looked at Lily once again, her violet eyes analysing her.
"He didn't tell you?" She asked.
"In more ways than one." Marlene giggled.
"She never believed him though." Alice added.
"I-" Lily started protesting but was cut short. There was a resounding blast somewhere and the streets were filled with screams.
"They didn't!" Alice exclaimed horrified as she jumped to her feet, "There are children here!"
"EVERYONE!" Madame Rosemerta screamed, "OUT OF THE BACK DOOR! GO TO THE CASTLE. RUN!"
Lily looked across the room, it was full of students of all age and right now it was absolute pandemonium.
"We need to go with the younger students." Alice said.
"You should do that." Alexandra responded. "Girls, go with the others. I will help out there. Take care and be safe."
Lily was heartened to see that a lot of the older students were helping out the younger ones. "Alright! Everyone listen up!" Michael Puff, the Headboy from Hufflepuff called. "Here is how we will move. Two senior prefects will go ahead. The rest of the older students, grab hold of a couple of younger ones and move. I would be covering the rear with Carmichael and Brown."
Lily, Alice and Marlene immediately caught hold of two younger students each and started moving towards the castle. They were almost at the castle gates when a stunner hit, a fourth year ahead of them.
"DON'T STOP!" Puff bellowed, "DODGE AND RUN!"
Lily turned around to see Puff, Carmichael and Brown duelling with four Death Eaters and from the looks of it, the three boys were going to lose.
"We have to help them." Alice said.
"We have to ensure that this lot gets to the school." Marlene reminded them, panting slightly, they were a few feet from the gates.
"Listen." Lily said, grabbing hold of the girl she was helping, a third year Slytherin. "Can you make it to the gate from here?"
The girl nodded, jumping slightly as a scream ripped through the air.
"Good. Run in. Tell someone!" Lily ordered, "Get a Professor. Okay?"
From the corner of her eye, Lily saw Marlene and Alice exchange quick words with the others and before they knew it the three of them were flying into a raging battle.
Carmichael was bleeding on the floor and Puff was screaming under the Cruciatus curse.
"STUPEFY!" Alice roared, aiming at the Death Eater torturing Puff and from that moment on the battle started again. The three girls soon realized that they were going to die if someone didn't come along. They were less skilled and didn't know as many spells as their opponents.
Some students stayed to help the girls as they ran back to the castle. The number of Death Eaters had also increased and while the students outnumbered the dark wizards, it was still the wizards who had the upper hand.
A cheer ran through the gates and Lily made the mistake of getting distracted, she turned only slightly to find the Professors and the Headmaster charging down the gates and that mistake was enough. She gasped in pain, as a knife sliced through her side. She looked at her rapidly staining shirt in shock before crumpling on the ground.
Lily wanted to groan as she felt something hot trickle down her side. There was a dull aching and she wondered how she got herself hurt. Her eyes flew open as she remembered it, bolting upright in a hurry. She gasped as her side stung.
"Lily!" Alice exclaimed, "Lie down! You took a nasty curse back there."
"Alice?" Lily asked frantically, "Oh! You are alright! What happened? Is everyone okay?"
"Yes. Everyone is fine. Don't worry." Alice said.
"But what happened? Is Carmichael okay?" Lily asked. "Last I remember, seeing the Professors join the fight."
"Ah! Ms. Evans!" Madam Pompfrey said. "You are awake. Good! Are you hungry?"
"Famished." Lily replied rubbing her stomach, suddenly realizing that she really was hungry.
Madam Pompfrey nodded and left to get some food.
"Alice, did Mary make it back in time?" Lily asked anxiously.
"Yes. She came back after lunch as she wanted to start packing. You know how she is." Alice replied.
"And the boys?" Lily asked.
"They are fine too. They suffered a couple of nasty hexes and cuts, but they made it out fine."
"Where is Marlene?" Lily asked.
"Probably stopping the boys from going after Snape." Alice said unhappily.
"They are at it again?" Lily asked, "He wasn't even there!"
"No, that's not it." Alice said, "And trust me, I want to wring the little bludger's neck myself."
"Alice, Come on!"
"Do you know the curse that hit you?" Alice asked.
"Cutting hex? A strong one at that."
"No. This was not a cutting hex." Alice replied. "When they brought in Carmichael and you… Well, they had to send Carmichael to St. Mungo's immediately. Your wounds refused to heal; no spell or potion healed them. They had to keep on giving you blood- replenishing potion, to stop you from bleeding to death. Even Professor Dumbledore was worried."
Lily stared at Alice.
"By dinner that night, news had spread about Carmichael and you." Alice said rubbing her nose angrily. "They had kicked all of us out and James was going ballistic. So, he sneaked in here and hid himself. He saw Dumbledore walk in looking livid, with Snape in tow. James watched Snape perform some spell at you and you started to heal."
"Severus helped us?" Lily asked, hope raising it's head in her heart. Maybe he was not too far gone.
Alice shook her head. "He created this curse. It was his spell and that's how he knew the cure. But the thing is- it is a dark curse. His spell stopped your bleeding, but James heard Snape say that the wound will never heal completely."
Lily nodded.
Alice nodded in response. "It will leave a long scar. Dumbledore however, ensured that Phoenix tears were used on your wounds. Carmichael is at St. Mungo's he lost too much blood, came within an inch of losing his life. No one knows how he is right now."
"This is horrible!" Lily exclaimed. "How could he create a curse like that?"
Alice shrugged, not saying anything. They watched Madam Pompfrey bustle in with a tray of food. Alice stood up as Lily was served with some food.
"I will go inform the others that you are awake. They would like to see you." She said before leaving.
Lily let her head fall in exhaustion as Madam Pompfrey cleared her tray away. She felt the soft rustle of someone's robes next to her but didn't bother to open her eyes. Calloused hands touched her hand and Lily smiled. The only person she knew with such calloused hands was Sirius.
"What would my best friend say when she catches you holding my hand?" Lily asked with a wide smile eyes still closed.
No one replied but his grip tightened on her hand.
"Sirius!" Lily said with a laugh cracking her eyes open. "What are- you!"
Lily gasped as she saw Severus Snape holding her hand, when had his hands become so strong and calloused?
"What are you doing here?" She asked, trying to wrench her hand free.
"I just wanted to see how you were." Severus said, "I saw Prewett step out, thought I would come see you."
Lily glared at him.
"How are you feeling?" Severus asked, cupping her cheek. "Does it hurt?"
"What do you care?" Lily asked slapping his hand away.
"Don't be like that." Severus coaxed.
Lily's gave him a hard glare.
"You created the spell that sliced me open! That curse is fatal! What were you thinking?" Lily hissed.
Severus paled.
"How do you know?" He asked hoarsely.
"Doesn't matter." Lily spat, "After all these year, I can't believe you would do something like this."
"It- it wasn't meant for you." Severus said hurriedly, Lily laughed humourlessly.
"Lily, please. You have to believe me. I would never hurt you like that, this curse was never supposed to hit you. You shouldn't even have been in the fight. What were you thinking?"
"Are you serious?" Lily asked flabbergasted, "I was trying to- and what do you mean the curse was not supposed to hit me? What? You mean you don't care if it hits anyone else? You don't care if someone else dies?"
Severus opened his mouth to say something but he closed it again. Lily watched him closely, her mind working curiously.
She gasped, "It was you." She stated.
Severus looked at her, "It was me?"
"Mary's attack. It was your curse. This curse precisely. Wasn't it? You-you let Avery and Mulciber test it out on a person!" Lily shrieked hysterically.
"Lily I- Please, you need to understand!" Severus said holding her hand again. "No one will hurt you again. Don't worry."
"What is that even supposed to mean?" Lily snapped, "So, you are okay with others being killed with this curse as long as I am spared? You don't care if Mary is attacked or Puff or Fenwick, as long as I live. Why? If you are going to butcher all muggleborns, why must I be any different?"
"Because you are not some muggleborn-"
"Then what am I?" Lily shouted.
Severus opened his mouth to say something, to tell her that she was special, that she was perfect, that she breathed magical.
"I think you should leave." Lily said with a tired sigh.
"Lily-"
"You heard the girl." Marlene said walking to Severus and pushing him back. "Leave."
"Mckinnon-" Severus snapped.
"If I were you." Mary said joining Marlene, Lily watched as the Marauders and Alice joined them too. "I would leave."
Severus stepped back giving all of them an angry glare before leaving the room in a huff.
"Prat!" Mary muttered before turning brightly to Lily. "Flower! You are awake!"
Lily was pinned under the weight of Alice, Marlene and Mary as they pulled her in a hug.
"You are suffocating the invalid." Sirius laughed.
"Lily." He said ruffling her hair, "Don't pull such a stunt ever again."
Lily cracked a smile as Remus stepped forward to hug her, followed by Peter. James gave her a half grin but didn't approach her.
She held her hand out for him with a small, hesitant smile. Alice moved, to allow James to step forward as the others settled in chairs around her bed.
"Are you alright?" James asked softly. Lily grinned at him.
"Thank you." Lily said softly.
"What for?" James asked.
"Sneaking out and checking on me at night."
James blushed, rubbing the back of his neck abashedly.
"Get a room, you two." Peter groaned.
"Peter!" Alice exclaimed, "Why did you do that?"
"Yeah!" Marlene whined, "I was about to wi- ahem - I mean they looked cute together."
"Why am I even friends with you?" James groaned his hand still in Lily's hand.
"Because you have a big heart and we would be lost without you." Remus said.
"Remus!" Lily exclaimed, "Don't say that, his ego would take up the entire room now."
"Not you too." James groaned. "What have I ever done to you?"
All of them gave James a look.
"Okay, Okay." James said, holding his hand up in surrender. "Plenty, I guess."
"Okay, all of you go back to your dormitories." Madam Pompfrey said, "Miss. Evans needs to rest."
"When will she be out?" James asked anxiously. "Will you allow her to attend the feast tonight?"
"Yes. If she isn't disturbed for the rest of the day, she may join you for the feast and subsequently return to her dormitory." Madam Pompfrey said.
"Great!" Sirius said clapping his hands once. "Hate to leave you here, Evans. But you heard the nurse! We will see you tonight."
"Don't worry about packing your stuff." Mary added, "We already packed everything for you."
Lily smiled till all of her friends were out of her sight. Then she fell back in her bed, eyes wet because of Severus. She couldn't understand, what went wrong with him. He wasn't always like that, was he? Sure, he was mean to Petunia but then Petunia was no saint either. And he had told her, he had promised her that her blood status would not matter. He told her it didn't matter. How could he become this-this person she didn't even recognize any more?
AN: And the sixth year ends. Now comes the year of Headboy and Headgirl and love! Excited! Keep your hats on!
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The Fishes
