A/N: ok! Here's chapter eight! Personally, I like this chapter a lotI hope you do too!

Disclaimer: ermpractically everything but the plot belongs to JK

Chapter Eight:

The Potters

The weeks passed slowly for James and Lily. For James, talks with Lily became the high points of his life. Matthew had been making frequent visits, and each time he visited, James grew more and more confused. Lily's life remained considerably normal and boring, highlighted by occasional civilized talks with James, and visits with Liz.

After weeks of preparation, and hussle and bustle around the castle, September 1st finally came. Lily didn't think that she had ever been more nervous and excited; and that was including her first day as a student at Hogwarts. She was rushing around making sure all her work was in order.

That evening, the staff was lined up and prepared, like drill sergeants, each knowing exactly what their task was to do. Finally, the students arrived. The staff, with the exception of Professor McGonagal, the Transfiguration professor and deputy headmistress, and Hagrid, the gamekeeper, was each seated at their designated table, as the students filed into the school, chattering away with each other. A few girls, Lily noticed, were pointing at James and giggling ferociously. Lily rolled her eyes as she saw James pulling his show-off grin. "You're so immature, Potter" Lily muttered at him.

"Takes one to know one." James smiled egoistically.

"Are you suggesting that I am immature?" Lily asked. "Why, Potter, I'm hurt." (A/N: aren't Lily and James so strangesometimes they argue with eachother, sometimes they have civilled conversations, sometimes one, meaning Lily, most commonly, doesn't even want to look at the others' facethey're so weird)

"You should be." James said, and both were silenced as the first years were led into the school by Hagrid.

The sorting ceremony then commenced, and Lily watched as each first year was sorted into their individual houses. Lily could remember when she had first tried on that sorting hat. She had been scared out of her mind and nearly fell off the stool, to the great amusement of James Potter, whom she had met on the train. Lily remembered her relief as she was sorted into Gryffindor, not as much relief for getting into Gryffindor as for getting her sorting over with. Lily smiled at the memories when she realized the sorting had finished. Lily listened to Dumbledore's brief speech about the rules, and helped herself to the food. She had missed Hogwarts food, it never ceased to amaze her how it always tasted utterly perfect. Once she had finished her food, she left the great hall along with the rest of the students and staff.

"Welcome, class, to Charms! I am Professor Evans. Now, in today's lesson we're going to-" Lily's jaw dropped. She had just begun her first lesson, and already something had gone wrong-and she had a sneaking suspicion that she knew who had caused this. "Class, if you would follow me down the hall just this way, please" Lily had a thin smile plastered on her face. She led the class down toward the Defense against the Dark Arts classroom, where a certain James Potter was lecturing some third year Gryffindors.

"Now, then, class" James began. "I believe this is a prime example of the dark arts." There were many apprehensive giggles from the class.

"Don't even start, professor, or I'll hex you." Lily smiled. "I believe you have something of mine, then?"

"Why ever would I have something of yours?" James said innocently.

"That's what I would like to know." Lily replied curtly

"I can assure you, I do not have anything that belongs to you."

Lily did not take the time to reply. She lifted her wand and shouted. "Accio lesson plan!" The lesson plan slipped out from inside James' desk, and although James dodged at it, managed to get into Lily's hands. She turned to her class. "You will be learning that spell next year. Now, then, let's get back to class, shall we?"

"Well, as I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted," James made sure to raise his voice for the end so that Lily would hear it. "I will be taking over for Professor Ferneligus this year. By the way, that pretty little fireball over there was your new Charms professor. This year, we'll be mostly reviewing dark creatures, unless there is some change of plan. Anyway, let's get into today's lesson: Erklings. Can anyone tell me what an Erkling is?" Several hands shot up.

"Miss-er, what was it? Oh, yes, Miss Patil?" He nodded toward a girl in the front row.

"Erklings are very dangerous dark creatures. They are known for entrancing children with their high pitched cackle, then eating them." The girl shuddered.

"Exactly. Erklings are closely related to elves. They originated in the Black Forest in Germany. Erkling killings have began to die down over the past few centuries, but we should still be on the safe side. Dark wizards are rumored to have Erklings on their side, which means if worst should come to worstwell, let's just continue the lesson on Erklings for now. You're still in third year, you won't be studying dark wizards until 6th year, at least, if I remember properly." James said, nervously. He honestly knew barely anything about magical creatures. Remus had brushed him up on some things, but James couldn't tell you the first thing about the little creatures unless it related to dark wizards and auror business. "Erm, soas Miss Patil pointed out, the Erkling lures it's prey with it's cackle, can anyone tell me"

Lily was feeling completely at home teaching Charms. She had pulled a McGonagal and began the class by telling her students how her class would be difficult and each and every student would need to focus and work hard in order to succeed in her class.

The students had nervously fiddled with their wands, attempting to perform a simple levitating charm. Only a select few were able to levitate their feathers successfully. "You," Lily began to lecture as she looked at each student with disappointment. "Are very behind. I don't know what Professor Hilton has been teaching you over the past years, but this will most certainly not be tolerated. Tonight, work on mastering a simply levitating charm and be prepared to demonstrate it in front everyone next class." The class groaned, and there were some whispered complaints about homework on the first day. "You are dismissed." Lily said, smiling thinly.

Emily Potter was back at the orphanage yet again. She had drove adoptive parents #14 out of their minds until they finally agreed to send her back. It hadn't been easy, either. These parents had been even harder to bend than the rest. They were both psychologists and explained that each and every attempt of hers to wreak havoc was a 'cry for help'. Emily rolled her eyes remembering the nut jobs. The second she had walked back into the orphanage doors their were groans from the staff, and murmurs of "I thought you were actually gone for good that time" and "It was too good to be true" from her fellow orphans.

She wasn't very popular at the orphanage, to say the least. She was somewhat of a rebel and hadn't a friend in the world. Not that she needed one. She found people to be tiresome and boring, and those of the orphanage to be even more boring than the average person; each and every one basking in misery over their lost parents or bragging about how their father or mother would come back any day to get them back. Emily knew her parents would never be back for her. She knew that her older brother had been alive and free for the past for thirteen years and never once had he come to get her. He was 22, what was his excuse?

Emily frowned scornfully. She began to pile her things into a suitcase; the same suitcase which she had been delivered to the orphanage with. As she began to place a small baby's bonnet into the suitcase, she couldn't help but unfold the bonnet, and reach into a tiny pocket to pull out a creased parchment. She had read it over at least five thousand times, each time expecting to read a different letter; to discover something that she hadn't read before. This time, she read the letter again.

Dear Emmy,

If you're reading this, you're in a muggle orphanage somewhere. If you still remember what happened, you probably hate me. You should. It's my fault. I know it is. The ministry of magic decided it would be better for you to go to an orphanage, instead of to live with me and Grandmother. You wouldn't want to live with Grandmother anyway. She feeds us too many vegetables. Do you remember? Do you remember the delicious foods Milly, our house elf, cooked us? Do you remember me? I hope you still remember. I hope I still remember. The ministry doesn't want you to be part of the magical world. They want you to forget. I don't know why. But, I don't want you to forget. You have to remember us. Remember not to blame Matthew, it wasn't his fault. Mum and Dad made him. Remember that it was my fault. If you're miserable, then it's my fault. I'll always love you, though. Do you remember the song Milly sang you when you wouldn't go to sleep? Do you remember how she always called you a little dumpling? I'm scared of being alone, Em. I don't like Grandmother. You're probably alone too. Please don't forgive me for doing this to you. I won't forgive myself, I promise. I love you, Emily.

Your brother,

James

Emily shuddered, and carefully put away the letter. No, She thought, No, I don't remember.

James had begun to get tired of discussing Erklings for four straight classes of 3rd years. Halfway through the Ravenclaw 3rd year class, he gave up. "That's it!" James sighed. "I give up. I don't know the first thing about Erklings. You can feel free to learn about them in Care of Magical Creatures. This is Defense Against the Dark Arts, and, gosh darnit, we are going to learn how to defend ourselves!" James let loose a boyish grin and began. "So, who knows what exactly an auror does?"

Lily flopped into a chair at lunch and sighed. Lily had never had more respect for McGonagal in her life. After four straight hours of classes with students, most of whom did not take her at all seriously, she was at her wits end. It had been difficult restraining herself from giving some of them a good punch in the face.

"Hi, Lil!" She was greeted by Anna, who was smiling brightly. She didn't have classes until night and was perfectly content, without the worries of mischievious students to plague her mind. "How's your first day going?"

"Oh, fine, I suppose. Besides the fact that half the students don't take their work at all seriously. You'd think each and every one of them was a James Potter clone."

"Not nearly as good looking, though." James said cockily as he sat down next to her. "Pass the salt."

"Get over yourself, Potter." Lily said, handing him the salt.

"Well, since you're so keen to know," James began sarcastically. "My day has been going brilliantly. That is, after I stopped talking about stupid Erklings. Honestly, you'd think Professor Ferniglus was teaching a Care of Magical Creatures class by the lesson plans he gave me. But, I decided to add my own little touch to the classes."

"Your own little touch?" Lily raised her eyebrows. "Knowing you, Potter, you changed the entire course of the lesson and began a spirited discussion on quidditch."

"Lily, Lily," James shook her head. "You don't know me at all. In fact, I hardly mentioned quidditch at all. Mostly, I talked about how to fight the dark arts. Which is what you're supposed to be learning in Defense Against the Dark Arts, hence the name."

Lily simply rolled her eyes, shook her head and went back to concentrating on her soup.

It was nearly October and the air had become cool and crisp. The students above first year spent nearly all the time they could manage to spare outside in the courtyards flying. Most did not have very much time to spare. Lily had been bearing down on the students especially hard, and the older students, who had endless amounts of work to do to prepare for their end-of-year testing, were hardly ever seen without a piles of parchment and books in their arms. James, who hadn't given his students a single bit of homework since the beginning of the year, lectured Lily on how she should go a bit easier on them quite frequently.

"Honestly, Potter. It's for their own good. They need to learn. Unlike you, I want my students to leave my class knowing more than they did when they came in, not less. And how will they ever pass the final exam Professor Fernigalus made for them if you aren't teaching any of the information on it."

"I'll just have to make my own test, won't I, then?" James replied curtly.

Lily shook her head. "Professor Fernigalus won't be too pleased when he comes back from vacation next year and sees his students have learned nothing at all."

"I resent that." James said, and got up from dinner. "I have to go." Then, under his breath, he whispered. "Matthew's meeting me in ten minutes."

Lily changed her expression automatically, but shook off her bad feelings as James left the Great Hall.

James opened the door cautiously, and looked around for signs of his brother. He heard footsteps behind him, but before he could turn, someone placed a wand up to his head. "Don't move." Said a familiar voice. James recognized the voice. It was Matthew. He mentally cursed his own naivete. He instinctively reached slowly for his pocket only to realize that he had left his wand in the Great Hall.

"Annie, stupid Potter left his wand at the table. I'm going to go return it, ok? I'll see you later." Lily said as she got up from the table.

"See you, Lil." Anna replied, and Lily zipped off. She knew she shouldn't interrupt James' visit with Matthew, and yet the she had a terrible feeling.

As she made her way towards the staff lounge, she heard voices in the corridor. She quickly hid behind a statue, not quite knowing why. She was a teacher now, and had full right to wander the corridors. And, yet, she had a gut sensation that whoever it was walking past her didn't care whether or not she had a right to be there.

As they grew nearer, the voices grew louder. "Why are you doing this?" Lily recognized the voice as James'. He sounded strange; even scared, perhaps. The other man had a wand to his head and looked exactly like an older, more ill-kept version of him.

"Keep walking." The man replied. "You know quite well why I'm doing this." Lily fought back her instinct to leap forward and try to help. She knew that if that man was Matthew, he was a well-trained Death Eater, and absolutely no match for her. He could kill her without a second thought if she wasn't prepared. Instead, she waited. Once she decided that they were well past her, she crept out and ran as quickly as she could to the Staff Lounge. She headed straight for James' room and grabbed two things, which, luckily for her, were both lying flat on his bureau; the Marauders Map and the Invisibility Cloak.

She pointed James' wand at the map and whispered "I solemnly swear that I'm up to no good." Lily couldn't hold back a small smile remembering the familiar password that James had invented. The map of Hogwarts had appeared before her eyes and she began to search for the dots labeled James Potter and Matthew Potter. She found them to be exiting Hogwarts. She quickly slipped on the invisibility cloak and ran as fast as she could toward the front entrance.

Knowing all the shortcuts, Lily managed to reach the Hogwarts exit in only a few minutes. She glanced at the map and saw that James and Matthew were entering the Forbidden Forest. She winced, but ran ahead. Soon, she was within eyesight of them. She walked a good deal behind them, so as not to be taken notice of. Even though she was wearing the cloak, there was no telling whether or not one of them would bump into her.

She continued to follow them for what seemed like hours. Finally, the two had come to a stop. She crept closer so that she could see and hear them clearly. "Master," Matthew bowed down before a tall, robed presence. "I have come with the boy."

Emily Potter had been out on the streets for weeks. She felt freer than she had ever been at the orphanage, but she was starving. She had discovered that the large sum of money she had been left with when she was abandoned at the orphanage could be of no use to her in the muggle world. She had to eat out of dumpsters, and steal food from cafés. Besides that problem, though, she was happier than ever. She could go where she wanted, and do whatever she felt like. She had no boundaries. She had thought about trying to find the wizarding world more than once. But, she hadn't any idea where to start. Little did she know, that the ugly-looking tavern that she passed nearly every day was actually the passage into Diagon Alley. Little did she know that the men in long robes that she had noticed looking at her once or twice were watching her, carefully surveying her every move. No, she did not know any of that. In truth, she had more boundaries than she ever had before. But, all she knew was that she was free. Was she ever more wrong.

It was late September when she was nibbling on a stolen slice of bread in a darkened alley. She had been beginning to feel as though she was being watched. "Stop being so paranoid." She commanded herself. She had always been a bit too cautious, always felt like there was something around the corner. She remembered how the girls at the orphanage used to tease her. "Emily thinks the entire world exists entirely for her." Sally Nickelson had once said when Emily had noticed that there was a cat perched on the sidewalk that had seemed to be staring at her intently. "She even thinks the stray cats are watching her." She had commented about the cat to one girl whom she had been particularly close to for a few months; of course, the girl was adopted, as they all were. "I'm not paranoid." Emily muttered back to herself.

Suddenly, she heard a loud noise. It sounded like a train. No, a bus. The bus was headed straight down the alley toward her. It would hit her any second. The two headlights flashed brightly before her eyes. This is it, She thought. I'm finally going to die. But, she did not die. The bus stopped abruptly and a man walked out.

"Welcome to the Knight Bus! Hop aboard!"

A/N: hmmcurious, are you? I should hope so. Well, I don't have many reviewers lately, but I'll take the time to thank the ones I do have!

Bella Black: thanks so much! And, yepit is kinda soap opera-ish, isn't it? Lolzhopefully, that's a good thing in your bookand I'm SO glad it's addicting, because otherwise, I wouldn't be getting any reviewsand that'd make me sadbut, I'm glad I achieved my goal! That makes me so happy to hear that! XD thanks!

Maddy Nicola Snape: you like? Thanks! I'm glad! And I will try to keep up the good workhopefully you enjoyed this chapterthanks so much!

MegHarts: yay! Well, you won't have to die from the suspense anymore, cuz the chapter is now up! And I'm glad you like it!

Hyper-Piper: Lizlet's just say, you'll see...very soonJames trust Matthewyesno? Well, I guess this chapter answered that questionand, yes, you're absolutely right, it *is* always good to know in L/J fics that they can't die until that Halloween nightbut, I have to tell you, it's very sad for L/J fic writers to write and KNOW that you're gonna have to kill them off at one pointit makes me so miserablebut yaanywayz, you're high off cheesecake? Wow! I didn't know that was possible! Lmaoanywayz, glad you liked it! Thanks so much! XD