CHAPTER FOUR

"Will the two of you hurry up? Honestly you boys, we're not going to a ball. Why are you taking so long to get ready?" cried Euphemia.

"James is trying to lay his hair down flat." screamed Sirius as he tried to find his socks.

"And Sirius is trying to make his hair look glossier." James retorted, glaring at Sirius.

Neither of the two were trying to do what the other claimed. They had woken up five minutes before Euphemia had started calling for them. Sirius couldn't find one black, clean pair of socks, and James couldn't find his glasses.

"We'll leave without you two if you're not here in ten minutes." warned Euphemia and left to check on Mr. Potter who wasn't particularly punctual either.

Normally James would've taken up on the offer of being left behind. As tempting as not attending another Ministry official's funeral was, meeting Lily was a million times more tempting. Sirius's mind was trailing along the same line of thought, but while James knew he wanted to see Lily, Sirius wasn't quite sure why he was excited to just meet Marlene. They had a strictly friends with benefit relationship and while Marlene was, in fact, a friend, she wasn't as close to Sirius as she was to her other friends. The thought of Marlene not considering Sirius a close friend bothered Sirius a bit but he shrugged off the thought and finally found his (or James's) black socks.

The two of them rushed downstairs with two minutes to spare, and jogged to the fireplace where Euphemia and Fleamont were waiting for them.

"About time." muttered Euphemia, as she offered the floo powder to James and Sirius.


As James and Sirius reached the venue they thought they must be awfully early as next to no one was there. Mrs. Longbottom was talking to Mr. McKinnon. Sirius quickly spotted Marlene standing next to a tall, lanky, but good looking guy, and instinctively walked towards her. James, watching Sirius move purposefully, followed him, unsuspectingly. As they reached the spot where Marlene was standing, James spotted a mane of red hair towards the entrance and saw Lily and Alice carrying huge vases of flowers. They looked like they were doing just fine but James could see Lily's hair getting stuck in the leaves. He left Sirius's side and walked towards Lily leisurely.

"Need help their Ginger lion?" smirked James, as he watched her carrying the vase. As always she couldn't look more in control and more poise. Her only trouble was her hair getting stuck in the leaves. Lily rolled her eyes at him.

"I'm fine, thank you." she replied, her composure never once leaving her. James, nonetheless, moved to take the vase from her but Lily resisted.

"I said I'm fine." persisted Lily, holding onto the vase tighter, although she had been wishing to get some help the second she'd picked the damned vase up.

"I never said you're not, I'm just helping. It's okay to let someone help." replied James, his brows furrowed as if deep in thought. Lily looked at him. He did have a sincere look on his face and she really could use some help.

"Just this time." sighed Lily, as she handed over the heavy vase to James.

"Of course." James replied, lightly shaking his head.

Lily's hair was still stuck in the small leaves. James held the vase down to her height so she could untangle her hair. When she was done, he stood up straight.

"So where to?" he asked. Lily looked around for Alice. She had already left apparently.

"The man at the door said to take it to Augusta." replied Lily.

"Oh okay, this way then." James nodded towards the spot where he was earlier headed with Sirius.

As they approached Augusta, Lily looked at the people crowding around her. She could recognise Marlene's father, James's mother. Marlene was standing in between Sirius and a guy Lily couldn't recognise. Frank had his arms around his mother who looked positively shaken. Looking at Augusta's pale face made Lily shudder at the thought of what might have happened to make her look so scared. Everyone around was whispering comforting words to her, while James and Lily stood in the background trying to figure out what had happened.

At first James thought it might just be a fresh wave of pain that usually gets to bereaving people on the funeral. But then he noticed the absentees. His father wasn't here neither was Marlene's mother. Both of them were aurors. He quickly put the vase down at the nearest table and was about to walk towards Sirius to ask what was up but Lily caught him by the wrists.

"What's going on?" she asked, not taking her eyes off of Augusta. James had half a mind to tell her not to worry but then he remembered that he had in fact told her to ask him anything she wanted to know.

"I don't know," he replied earnestly, "come on, let's ask Sirius.".

With this they walked towards where Sirius was standing with Marlene.

"What's going on, Pads?" James asked, as he nodded his hello to Marlene and the guy he couldn't recognise.

"They just won't say anything!" huffed Sirius, "But I think I heard someone say mass abductions." he finished quietly.

James looked around. That's why this place is so empty, he thought.

Just then Alice came rushing towards the group.

"Alice what is up?" James asked with urgency in his voice.

"Death Eaters have managed to abduct every other Auror that was coming here through the floo network. Your dad and Marlene's mother are among the few that got spared somehow. Nine Aurors of your dad's department are abducted. A letter was just received at your dad's office about the ransom." Alice finished. She sounded out of breath.

"What's happening now?" asked Sirius.

"Mr. Potter and Mrs. McKinnon have left for the Ministry. The rest of the people," said Alice, as she pointed towards the small crowd, "are waiting for any instructions."

"We can help." James offered without a second thought.

"I know, I offered too. But these are our parents, they won't let us help even over their dead bodies. They are way too stubborn. Mr. McKinnon said that they will help out the Aurors but not before they find a safe house for us."

Everyone was hanging on to every word Alice was saying until Mrs. Potter appeared.

"I'm assuming everyone knows what the situation is?" she asked, looking resignedly at Alice. The latter nodded. "Well in that case, I'm going to have to take you kids to a safe house. The Ministry is doing a sweep of the two safe houses that are closest to this place. Once we're in the clear we'll take you there." informed Euphemia. "And no ifs and buts about it." she quickly added sternly as she saw James and Sirius protesting.

"Evans might need to inform her parents that she might not make it home in time." James told his mother. She nodded solemnly.

"We might be able to find a telephone somewhere around here. Come with me." she beckoned Lily to join her. James quite instinctively followed his mother and Lily.


"You didn't have to come, James." remarked her mother, rolling her eyes.

"I just .. wanted to see a telephone." he replied, sheepishly. He did want to see a telephone, but that wasn't why he came with Lily and his mother. He couldn't bear the thought of letting Lily go anywhere alone after hearing what happened today. She's not alone with your mum, a little voice in his head reasoned. But it didn't matter whether she was alone or not, he didn't want to lose the sight of her today.

"We have nine Aurors abducted and you want to see a telephone?" asked Euphemia, incredulously.

James didn't reply. He looked over at Lily. Her brows were furrowed and she was twisting a stray strand of hair around her index finger. He wondered if she was scared. Nah, the last thing this girl could be was scared. She could be confused about everything maybe, he thought. What's there to be confused about?

They reached a dusty old office in a deserted corridor. Euphemia unlocked the door with her wand. As she opened the door, it creaked, sending the voice echoing down the corridor. The three of them walked into the office and lit their wands. Euphemia looked around and quickly spotted the telephone kept on a counter running along a wall. She pointed it and all three of them walked to it. Lily picked up the receiver and dialled the number to her house. James watched as she waited. What's happening? Why isn't she talking already? He moved to the left of Lily to get a better look at her. She looked like she was waiting for something to happen, her index finger tapping on the counter. Suddenly, she stood up straight and cleared her throat.

"Hello. Petunia? Is dad home?" asked Lily, hoping the answer to be affirmative.

Who's Petunia? James thought.

"Yeah, put him on the phone, will you? Hi dad. I just called to .. no yeah everything is fine, yeah, I just wanted to tell you I might have to stay longer than I originally planne .. uh I don't really know."

Lily quickly turned towards Euphemia and mouthed, "How long?". Euphemia looked a bit troubled.

"You might have to stay over tonight." whispered Euphemia, a worried frown on her face. Lily raised her eyebrows.

"Uh, I might end up staying over tonight. No no, everything's good, Alice might stay over with Frank and she asked me if I could too and I said yes. Yeah, I'll take care, you do too. Okay, bye. Love you too."

Lily put down the receiver of the telephone down and nervously turned towards Euphemia, expecting to be scolded for lying to her dad. But instead she nodded at Lily understandably. The three of them left the office and walked back to the main hall where everyone else was.


As soon as they reached the hall, James saw his father rushing over to them.

"Where have you guys been?" inquired Fleamont.

"Lily here needed to call her parents about the situation." answered Euphemia, in a business like tone. Fleamont nodded.

"Alright, Euphemia, take these two to our place. Apparate." ordered Fleamont. He then turned to James and Lily. "Take whatever you might need, clothes, toothpaste, brush, books from there and then apparate with her", he pointed to Euphemia, "to our safe house. Don't do anything stupid, James. Keep an eye on him for me, will you?" he asked Lily, and she nodded.

"Where are the rest?" asked James as he looked around the deserted hall, the vase still at the odd place James had kept it.

"They already left for the safe house." replied Fleamont, hurriedly, "Euphemia, a word?" he asked, and both of James's parents left to go talk in a corner.

"Why did your dad ask us to get clothes and toothbrush?" asked Lily, worried she might have to stay over longer than she told her dad.

"You never really know how long it could take to get the hostages out." James answered, simply.

Lily nodded.

"Why did you lie?" asked James.

"About what?"

"About this," he replied, pointing around aimlessly, "to your dad."

"Oh, that. I don't thi-"

"Come on you two, it's time to leave." Euphemia cut in, as she rushed over to them looking even more worried, if that was possible.

"What's wrong?" asked James, worriedly, noticing her expression almost immediately.

"Nothing. Come on, hold my hand." she offered her hands to the two of them. They took her hand. There was pop. In the very next second they found themselves outside the Potter Mansion. The three of them almost jogged to the main entrance and didn't stop until they were inside the house.

"Quickly go get whatever you two might need. James get Lily a fresh toothbrush and a towel, you'll find it in the cabinet next to your bookshelf. I've to get some things too. Meet me back here in ten minutes."

James and Lily nodded and left for James's room. When they entered the room, James quickly grabbed a small bag and put two toothbrushes in it, he went inside the bathroom, grabbed a couple of razors, shaving cream, toothpaste, soap, towels. He opened his cupboard, and looked at his t-shirts. He grabbed two t-shirts and then closed the cupboard. He turned around and saw Lily looking at him, not sure what to do. He realised she was wearing a dress. She'll need pyjamas if she had to change. He turned around, opened the cupboard and grabbed a couple of pyjamas. He looked around to see if Lily might need something else. He then quickly went over to his bookshelf and wondered what book Lily would want to read. He picked up Quidditch Through The Ages and shoved it in his bag. He'd kept two brushes, two soaps, two towels, two t-shirts, two pyjamas, one book, he counted in his head. What else could a girl need? A moment later he decided they had everything they might need.

"Okay let's go." he said, finally.

Lily and James went downstairs and saw Euphemia waiting for them already. They grabbed Euphemia's hand and apparated to what looked like an abandoned street. It looked like a muggle street to Lily as she could see a few cars parked outside the houses. Euphemia quickly started moving towards a narrow alley, and the two teenagers followed her. When they almost reached the other end of the alley, Euphemia pointed her wand at the bricks on the floor and muttered "Rabbit's Hole". The bricks rearranged themselves to form a staircase leading to a basement.

"Go downstairs, walk straight until you see an iron gate. Say Rabbit's Hole, and the gate will open. You'll find everyone else there. I'll leave you here." she informed them, as she patted Lily on the head and pulled James into a hug.

"Be safe. Keep dad safe." James said as he broke away from the hug.

"I will. Now be good you two. And Lily, really, keep an eye on him and Sirius." pleaded Euphemia. Lily nodded, almost smiling and James rolled his eyes.


The two of them started going down the stairs. Soon they reached the iron gate Euphemia had told them about. It opened when they said the password. As the gate opened they saw a small hall with a few chairs and couches lying about, a small fireplace, a centre table in front of a loveseat. James could see Marlene was sitting with the strange guy on a round table and Sirius was sitting across from them, nodding curtly occasionally. Frank and Alice were sitting together in front of the fireplace on the loveseat, whispering something among themselves.

As James and Lily entered the room, Sirius beckoned them over to the table. He looked mildly relieved. James and Lily walked over to the table. Lily sat down between Sirius and Marlene and James sat down between Sirius and the strange guy. Who is this guy? James wondered irritatingly.

"James, Lily this is Liam Bolte. He's the son of my mother's childhood friend. Liam, this is Lily Evans and James Potter, my friends." introduced Marlene.

Liam was a good looking fellow. He had dark brown hair, black eyes, a lean body. His gestures seemed as if they were flowing through water. His face almost always looked extremely attentive and patient. Tan lines were quite evident around his collar bones. When he smiled his lips would extend almost as if from one ear to the other. He had quite a sharp laugh that apparently seemed to be getting on Sirius's nerves.

"Hi." Lily and James, chorused.

"Hey. So you guys go to Hogwarts too?" asked Liam, in a confident voice.

"Yeah we do." Lily replied.

"Where do you go to school?" asked James, curiously.

"Ilvermony, it's in North Eastern America, very fancy apparently." answered a clearly very irritated Sirius, before Liam could even open his mouth.

Marlene laughed nervously while Liam smiled, resignation evident in his eyes.

"Yes, that's where." concurred Liam.

"Wow, cool." said James, not exactly knowing how to tackle this situation. Usually Remus was the one with tact in such situations, James mostly joined in with Sirius.

"Did you come here for the summers?" Lily asked, trying to diffuse the situation. James thanked her internally.

"And got this gorgeous tan in London? No, darling." smirked Liam. James could see why Sirius was practically itching with irritation. "My dad had to be transferred from the MACUSA to the Ministry to attend to some urgent matter. We were in Spain when he was asked to immediately leave for here. Apparently we'll have to stay for more than one month than was originally planned. I'll be transferred to Hogwarts for one term. They might extend it, I don't really know."

"Oh." That was all Lily could say.

"Your dad is an Auror?" asked James.

"Yeah. He's a special division Auror. Deals specifically in Dark Arts crime. He had a fast track department opened up in the MACUSA. Took the man three yea-"

"Does anyone want anything to eat or drink?" cut in Sirius, almost shouting, impatience and irritation etched onto every line on his face. Frank and Alice looked up from their place.

"I'm starving." confessed Marlene, rubbing her grumbling stomach.

"I'll get something to eat." said Frank getting up from his spot.

"From where?" Lily asked, confused.

"There's a storeroom in the basement with food and drinks."

"There's a basement in this basement?" asked Lily, incredulously.

"Yeep," Frank replied as he started moving towards the iron gate, "stay put. Don't do anything stupid."

"Yes mommy." responded Sirius, with a cheeky smile.

As soon as Frank left Alice took a chair and brought it to the table where the rest of them were sitting. She scooted in between James and Sirius. James shifted his chair a bit to his left. He was now sitting right in front of Lily.

"Did your mother tell you anything else?" asked Alice, looking at James, who simply shook his head.

James closed his eyes and raised his head towards the ceiling, his arms folded. He wondered what his parents were doing right now. Were they already face to face with the death eaters? Or were they negotiating through other means? The fact that all his friends were here with him, that Lily was here with him, did keep him distracted. He was supposed to look out for his friends, this alone made him not lose his composure, but having both of his parents out there, in open confrontation with Death Eaters, made him weary with tension. He sat up straight and opened his eyes and was greeted with Lily's emerald eyes fixed on him. James's stomach dropped. He wondered what it would like to see her eyes watching him every time he opened his own. Lily quickly looked away, but it was too late. James had already seen her watching him, with that unmistakable pensive expression of Lily's that he knew all too well.

"See something you like, Evans?" smirked James, his eyes twinkling.

Lily scoffed and rolled her eyes. James studied her as she sighed and rested her elbow on the table and her chin on the palm of her hand and looked around, bored. She looked breathtaking. She always looks breathtaking. She'd worn a black dress, sombre enough to be worn to a funeral. It hugged her curves smoothly and ended just above her knees. She had her hair down in the morning but now she'd tied them up in a ponytail. Her eyes appeared bigger when she tied her hair, noted James. She looked tired as she tried concentrating on what everyone was saying. Her eyes hopped from person to person lazily. He knew she didn't like gossiping. He wondered if she'll sit all straight and attentive if someone started talking about MACUSA or the Ministry. He smiled at the thought all the while not taking his eyes off her.

"See something you like, Potter?" jested Lily. James, however, wasn't phased.

"Oh Evans, you've no idea just how much." replied James, leaning back in his chair bringing his hands behind his head, gazing at her with a lazy crooked smile playing on his lips.

Lily shook her head lightly, trying to ignore the questioning glances she received from Liam.

"I can't sit in this suit any longer. I'm gonna go take a shower," announced James, "care to join me, Evans?" he added, almost as if he didn't care for an answer, which he was positive he wouldn't receive.

"In your dreams, Potter."

"Don't go there, Evans." smirked James, but before he could see Lily gaping at him, he quickly ran towards the bathroom for the fear of getting hexed by the witch in question.


James got out of the shower in less than ten minutes, drying his hair with his towel, dripping water everywhere. Looking at him made Lily want to take a shower. She too got up and walked towards the bathroom. Everyone was too absorbed in Liam and his school in North America that they didn't notice her leaving. She walked in the bathroom, locked the door, took off her clothes and stepped under the shower. As soon as the warm water hit her face she sighed. She didn't quite understand some of the things. How did the Death Eaters abduct people through the floo network? Should I ask Potter? No. He's been way too flirty today. I really shouldn't talk to him civilly, he doesn't deserve it. The moment I talk to him politely, he's ready to jump on any occasion to flirt with me. He did look good today though. Lily opened her eyes at this thought. She frowned as she reached for the knob to turn off the shower. He was a good looking guy, Lily had never denied that. Quite often some random group of girls would give her death stares right after Potter's failed attempt at flirting with her. She had overheard some Ravenclaw girls talking about her something along the lines of "Who does she think she is? He could do so much better than a ginger". Lily never particularly paid attention to such gossip, but she did feel good, just sometimes, when Potter would start flirting with her, oddly enough very much in the presence of those Ravenclaws. Now Lily would deny feeling good about Potter giving too much attention to her should one take out those annoying girls out of the equation. Nevertheless, on her bad days, Lily noticed how he wouldn't bug her. He wouldn't poke her about going out with him, quite unlike Sev- no don't go there.

She covered her face in her hands and took a deep breath. When she opened her eyes she looked around for a towel, and realised there wasn't one. Panicked, she then remembered Potter had packed two towels and groaned that she'll have to ask him for a towel. She opened the door, her body hiding behind the door, with her head stuck out from the small cavity where the door opened.

"Potter?" she called and everyone turned around to look at her. Water from her dripping hair was running all over her eyes, as she tried to keep them open.

"Yes Evans?" James asked innocently.

"Do you have a spare towel?"

"I do, as a matter of fact. And before you ask I have pyjamas and my quidditch jersey for you." he replied, smiling devilishly.

"I'd rather sit in a towel than wear anything with your name on it." scoffed Lily, her patience running thin.

"Honestly, Evans, I'd rather you sit in a towel too-"

"Just give me the damn clothes." thundered Lily, as she heard James chuckling in the background. He came over to the door and Lily pulled her head inside, sticking her hand out to grab the clothes. She felt James putting the clothes and the towel in her hand but didn't let go them before adding, "You sure you don't want me to join you?" humour evident in his voice.

"Shove off Potter." hissed Lily as she snatched the clothes from James, and quickly closed the door behind her.

She dried herself and wrapped her hair in the towel, and started dressing up. As soon as Lily wore the pyjamas she realised just how short she was compared to James. She rolled the ends of the pyjamas so she wouldn't trip over them. She then slid into James's quidditch jersey. She noticed the jersey was too small for James and realised that it was the jersey from their fourth year. He might have brought it for her specifically so it could fit her. She didn't know how to react to this thoughtfulness. He's being too thoughtful lately. The jersey still didn't fit her and reached just above the middle of her thigh. She sighed after looking down at herself, rolled her hair out of the towel. They were damp and no more dripping. She tossed them over her shoulders and opened the door. She gasped in surprise as she found James standing right outside the door and apparently waiting for her.

"Wow, you really are very small." he remarked, as he looked at the his jersey's neck hole almost hanging down from one of her shoulders. Too beautiful to handle, he thought. Before Lily could reply he held out his hand for the damp towel, which Lily gave to him, and disappeared.

Lily went over to sit with the rest of the people. Marlene and Liam were talking, Sirius was glowering at Liam, Alice was sleeping in the loveseat sofa where she and Frank were earlier sittin- wait where's Frank? Lily quickly looked around. She did a head count. Potter, Black, Marlene, Alice, me, Liam, no Frank. She looked around again, just to be sure.

"Black? Didn't Frank come back from the basement?" Lily inquired, worriedly, still looking around, hoping she is wrong. For some reason this didn't look right.

"No I don't think he did." replied Sirius, his voice suddenly growing very deep. He got up from his chair and walked over to where James was rummaging around in his bag. They talked a bit after which Sirius announced that they were going to look for Frank in the basement.

"I'm coming too." Lily quickly made to move.

"We'll be fine, Evans." Sirius rolled his eyes at her.

"I know, I'm still coming." replied Lily, definitively and started towards the iron gate.

The three of them moved towards the dark staircase leading further down. They lit their wands as they walked along the narrow corridor leading to another door. This one didn't need a password. Lily turned the knob of the door handle and opened the door. As they entered the room, their wands lit the room around them. It looked like a wine cellar. There were wooden boxes filled with some kind of bottles. On Lily's right she could see a huge metal cupboard. She reached out to open it. The handle was cold. As she opened the door of the metal cabinet she heard someone groan. She looked around and saw a body on the floor, lying in a foetus position. She quickly hurried over, vaguely aware of James following in her step, crouched down next to the body and brought her wand closer to the body's face to get a clear look. Her heart was thumping as she knew who might be but she needed to be sure. As the light hit the face of the body, she gasped. It was Frank.


A/N: So, for one, I owe an apology. I'm a week late. I had assignments to submit and I hope this never happens again. Also be assured I'll never leave this or any other fic incomplete. I hate it when writers do that. Two, thank you so much for the review Th34DerelictMuse. I read the 3rd chapter again after having read your review and I have to say, the 'head-hopping' makes everything look all over the place. Since I had already written this chapter I couldn't exactly put your notes to use in this chapter however I did try to edit it a bit accordingly,, I hope this chapter isn't too clustered with thoughts and head spaces. If it is, do let me know. Anyway thanks for reading you guys. Leave a review? Next update: 22nd March. Until then. Love ya guys.