Disclaimer: I own nothing that you recognize from any Harry Potter book. If you don't recognize it: Hey it's mine! 'Come what may' is copyrighted by the writers of 'Moulin Rouge!'

I've added a few sentences here and there, but nothing too noticeable…

Ok! So I'm a week late. Please don't kill me! You won't get any more story! ;)

OVER 100 REVIEWS! THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!

Now this used to be called: Why So Cool? Show Me The Coolness Ways, but I've decided to change it!

This chapter is a bit sad, but not as near as the last one. Brought a tear to my eye, the last one did. Anyways, enjoy this one! I like most of it, a bit of it could have been done better, I think… but that's what you get for writing parts of it during different moods. I hope you like it!

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Classes resumed, and students now eagerly awaited the upcoming Quidditch game: Gryffindor versus Slytherin. Gryffindor was practicing ever night they could, at any available time slot.

Peter, Lily, Ara, and Remus weren't on the team, so they spent more time together. They took it upon themselves to go through Donna's school, and personal items, seeing what they wanted to keep as memorabilia. The girls had taken her journal, things they had given her, ie. Charm bracelet, and they also split the pictures she had kept of them. The guys took some of the pictures of all eight of them, or of just her and a few of them. All these pictures were coincidentally from first to third year.

Once everything of Donna's was taken out of the school, and dorm, then given to second hand shops, it's safe to say that the sixth year girls' dorm felt rather empty. Each of them noticed it. To compensate for this, they put up a lot of the pictures of her around, on bedside tables, and chests. Donna wasn't really gone, she was still with them and having the pictures up reminded them of that. All the money made from miscellaneous things that were sold went to a fund that helped find a cure for werewolves, or at least something to help them with it. (A/N: Wolfsbane anyone?)

October continued to get chillier, and the leaves began to fall, masking the Forest floor. Halloween was coming up in a few weeks and everybody was looking forward to the feast and decorations. Oh yea, and some little trip for third years and above. Something along the lines of 'Hogsmeade Weekend', or other.

"Woo! Hogsmeade weekend coming up! Yea! Zonko's – here I come!" was the general comment heard from people. See? Not well known at all…

Remus and Jen were getting a lot more serious, (with Sirius himself being non-too pleased) while James and Lily tried their hardest not to hold hands, kiss, or sneak off together. They still did pranks of course, but they had to distance themselves. In other words, it sucked. Everybody in the school wondered whom these new pranksters were when the Marauders swore they weren't pulling certain ones, saying they wish they had, and sometimes getting hit with some pranks. James never swore that he didn't do/help with any of them. He told everyone that the Marauders didn't do them. Big difference.

One Friday, after their next Prefect meeting, Lily and James walked down to Dumbledore's office.

"Well Lily," James said as they approached the stone gargoyle, "Hurry up back when your done talking to Dumbledore about your ideas, ok?" He winked at her.

"Sure James. Hey, thanks for walking with me. I owe you one." She winked. "Cadbury." They gargoyle jumped aside, Lily took a deep breath and James squeezed her hand for luck.

"You can do it Lils." He smiled at her as she stepped through, murmuring words of encouragement to herself.

"You can do it Lily. It's Dumbledore, he's east to talk to…" She continued this until she reached the large wooden door that separated her from Dumbledore, "All you have to do is knock. C'mon… raise you hand…" The door opened before her, and there stood Professor Rah-Sün, the Ancient Runes teacher.

"Hello Lily. She said with a warm smile that lit up her almost black eyes. "Here to see the Headmaster?"

"Er, yes I am, Professor. Is he in?" She mentally slapped herself – obviously he's in! Why else would Rah-Sün be there?

"Yes Lily, dear. Please go in. I will see you Tuesday. Make sure you get that essay done. And make sure the boys do, too!" she said as she walked past Lily, and made her way down the stairs.

"I will Professor." Lily entered the Headmasters office, and took a seat on one of the plush armchairs. "Hello."

"Good evening Ms. Evans, is there something I can help you with?" Asked Dumbledore, smiling, and looking over his half-moon spectacles at her, his eyes twinkling.

"Er – yes. I have a, uh… um, problem. I don't think you can fix it, per se, but maybe help me through it? It would be good of you to know…" She said, staring at her hands that were placed on her lap, twisting together.

"If there is anything I can do, Ms. Evans, I will. Will you need any tea?" Lily shook her head. "No? Alright, please continue then." He told her clasping his hands and placing them upon his desk.

"Well, er… it started at the end of last year… around mid-June…" She continued on explaining everything she told James. She even told him how Donna's death, and the death of Donna's family made her see what needed to be done.

"Well Ms. Evans," Dumbledore began as she finished, and took a long, slow deep breath, "I must say that I am immensely proud of you. You've always been a very strong person, but I'm happy that you didn't try to fix it all on your own." Lily blushed. "Now does anyone else know of this?"

She blushed more and fidgeted in her seat, not looking him in the eyes. "Er… I kind of, um, yea. Yea I told someone." She said, picking at her fingernails. She suddenly felt stupid for telling anyone this. They could have been the one spying. Or worse, they could get hurt.

"Who, Ms. Evans?" He asked. "Who did you trust so well, as to tell them all of this?"

Lily did a double take, and began to lift her head. As she got to his eyes, she said, quietly mind you, "James Potter."

He gave her, what she could only assume to be a knowing grin. "Ah, I see. And has he – "

"No. He swore not even to tell Sirius… as, um… as long as I promised to see you after tonight's meeting. He even walked me here…" She told him. The last part she added for herself, as if it had just dawned on her. The feeling she got when walking with him this evening was not one of companionship, but of watchfulness. "He almost became protective…"

Dumbledore stayed silent as she thought about it. It is best to leave someone to their thoughts once they've realized something, and allow them to ponder it for a bit. 'It's not as if someone's going to jump out at me… kidnap me. We're in bloody Hogwarts. I can take care of myself, although it's sweet… Ugh, why can't I got out with him again?' Now she was getting off topic…

"Ms. Evans, I will look into this. Any letter you've gotten – may I see them? And please any more you get." Which was a demand more than a question. Fawkes flew down to his desk, and sang a few of his beautiful, haunting notes.

"Yes, Headmaster. Of course."

"Then you may leave, unless you need anything else? I will see you tomorrow at breakfast, then. Good night."

"Good night Professor." Lily stood up, pet Fawkes, and left his office as she thought about James. She stepped through the doorway, down the stairs, out the gargoyle door and jumped back.

"Hey." It was James. He was sitting on the floor by the gargoyle, waiting for her. "How'd it go?" he asked her, affection written all over his face.

"Hey, it went well. Didn't… didn't Professor Rah-Sün tell you to leave when she came down?" she asked him as he stood up, brushed off his robes, and began walking with her, glancing around.

"Nah… she smiled at me, asked me: 'Waiting for Ms. Evans?' I said yes, she mumbled something in Egyptian, and walked away. So I stayed here. Odd. But then again, I've always said that anyone who teaches here is odd." He looked at her face, and saw that she was thinking of something. Hard. "Is that ok? Me waiting for you…?"

Lily looked at him. "Yea… but why? Is it to give me company, or to look out for me?"

"Uh, both I guess. I don't want anyone to get you Lily." He said, grinning at her.

"Yea well… I'm not as delicate as my name you know that right? I could hold my own in a duel."

"I'm just making sure." He said quietly, slightly hurt. "It's just, er, just that… yea."

"Just what?" She asked, getting a little angry. Her letters never mentioned anything about getting her, or going after her while she was in Hogwarts. She wasn't weak, and she didn't need protecting. She wasn't like Petunia, who believed a lady's place is in the house, acting little, and weak. She would never be like that, and it infuriated her that someone would think of her in that way.

"Just that, well, you're a girl, and some people may think that they could take you… I don't want to give them that chance." He knew she wouldn't like that answer, but at least it was the truth. That had to count for something, didn't it? 'Great James. Just great. Why don't you tell her that you think she'll drop dead at the first sight of fright? That would go over just as well.'

"So with the Great James Potter here, they wouldn't take that chance? Wow – I feel so honoured. How many damsels in distress have you saved James? Do people know to back off when you're near?" she asked sardonically.

"Lily, let's not fight about this, ok? I have my reasons." This caught Lily off guard. What wasn't he telling her?

"And those would be…" But that didn't mean she wasn't still angry.

"I don't want to talk about it right now… not yet."

They got to the Portrait, and entered silently. They were barraged with questions and accusations (compliments of Sirius), but pushed them all aside, and each went up to their separate dorms.

"Well, that was odd." Sirius commented as neither said goodnight, and their doors could be heard closing.

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The weeks went by, and Lily and James never brought up the 'Knight in shining armor' thing, as Lily called it. They stopped their pranks as well. Quidditch practice, homework, and Prefectorial duties took up their time. Sure, Lily didn't do Quidditch, and James didn't do homework, but still – time kept them from pranking anyone... as was their silent excuse.

A few days before Halloween Lily went up to Sirius, for what seemed to both of them, the umpteenth time, and questioned him about James' attitude and ideas about girls.

"Sirius, please! It's driving me crazy!" Lily whined, holding onto Sirius' sleeve, and shaking it.

"No Lillian. It's James' story, not mine. If he wants to tell you, you'll know. Just try to understand that he has problems, just like everyone else." Sirius said, than went about trying to ignore her again. But to no avail – she wouldn't let go of his sleeve.

"But I want to understand why! Please Sirius! I'll love you forever!" She bargained with him for over ten minutes. She ended up: Loving him forever, being his best friend forever, and owing him an ice cream with: Chocolate fudge, chocolate sauce, chocolate chips, strawberries, sprinkles, cookie crumbs, whipped cream, and two cherries on top.

"Fine. I'll tell you, ok? This Hogsmeade weekend, you get me my ice cream, all right? Write it all down." She started writing down his order. "Yep, ok… don't forget the cookie crumbs. Good. Hey! Two cherries! Gotcha there! Thought you could jip me, eh?" He glanced over the list and approved it.

"Now you –" she poked his chest "tell me before the deal's off." She crossed her arms and stared down at the seated Sirius.

"Is there somewhere else we could go? It's a little private… the Common Room is a little open." He said looking around. "Is anyone in your dorm? Remus is getting some much needed rest."

"Uh, sure." She said, suppressing a grin. "The girls are… out… somewhere. All with James and Peter." The truth was that Jen was with Remus, Mel was out with Gus, and Ara was, well, studying with James and Peter. God knows they're terrorizing something, somewhere…

They went up and sat on Lily's bed, eating the rest of Jen's stash of éclairs.

"Wow, now I know why girls do this so often." Sirius said as he rolled onto his stomach, and swayed his legs in the air.

Lily laughed. "You're like, 12. Now, spill."

He got back to a sitting position and began. "Ok, Lily, but promise not to tell him I told you…"

"I promise, with my whole heart."

"Ok," He took a deep breath. "You know James lives with his dad, right?" She nodded, "Did you ever wonder why?"

Lily stared at him silently. "Uh… not really. Never crossed my mind. Maybe she left them? I don't know why."

"No, Mrs. Potter was a great mum. She died when James was 9. She had a rare form of Wizarding cancer. That's where magic couldn't cure it, and nothing Muggles could do would help. She decided to live out the remaining moments of her life in peace, and not undergo test after test. James, at 8 when she was diagnosed, saw that as weak. She didn't stand up for her right to live. I guess he was angry with her. Angry that she was leaving him when there was a possibility that she could be cured." He paused. "That's not all. When James was little, he had a sister. Martha Potter. Marty Potty he called her." He laughed silently to himself. "She was two years older than him, and died when James was 2 years old. Now, he doesn't really remember her too well, but in his subconscious he always knows that his sister wasn't able to stay alive. She was in a muggle car accident. The doctors tried to explain that she was hurt too bad, too young, and her body wasn't yet strong enough to deal with all her hurt. That's where, in my mind, this all started. Now add Donna into this. Someone your age died of an emotional and spiritual breakdown. Still that subconscious of his 2 and 8 year-old self sees that as weakness. Three women all die: One of an inner physical disease, his Mum. One dies of an outer physical hurt, Martha. And one dies of inner emotions, and spirit, Donna. Still, echoing in his subconscious is that women have died of any way possible, except standing up for themselves. He's worried about losing you. I don't know what triggered it, but that doesn't matter." He waved his hand dismissively.

Lily sat there, staring into space, guilt overriding her. If only she had known… "I never knew his sister and mum died. I didn't even know he had a sister…" She leaned back against one of the four posts, éclair wrappers crinkling. "Did Jen know?"

"Oh yea, of course. James, me, and her were best friends, always together. His mum always told us of his little 'Marty Potty' thing. When she died, he became more so gentle around her, now that I think about it. Hesitant to have her play on the Quidditch team… Mel too. You can't blame him, though. You know how he feels about you. Hell, most the school does." They both gave a small laugh.

Lily sighed. "I guess I'll go apologize to him. Help me look for him?" She asked, getting off the bed, brushing herself off.

"Nah, I think Remus should be awake by now. I'll actually go do my homework like you've told me to so many times." He said with a small smile.

"No!" Sirius looked at her shocked. "I mean, c'mon Sirius. I'll let you copy mine later. I don't want to wander about the castle all by my lonesome. Please?" She gave him her best puppy-dog face, grabbing her cloak.

"Ah Lil, don't do that…" Sirius said, looking away. He chanced a look at her to see that the face hadn't changed. "Fine. He's with Peter, Ara, and Jen, right?"

"To my knowledge." She said, now avoiding his eyes. "Let's go."

"Three cherries. You now owe me three cherries."

"Hey! I'm letting you copy my work!"

They entered the Common Room, and Sirius looked at the area of the boys' dorm questioningly.

"What are you looking at?"

"Remus is sleeping, right? By himself?" He asked as they went through the Portrait hole. He just had this feeling. Of course, being Sirius, he didn't realize it was his twin connection that made him think that.

"Uh, yea." Lily answered as she remembered what Jen had told her: Lily – don't let Sirius upstairs – no matter what. Remus and I need some time together… I'll see you at dinner!

They wandered the halls and headed outside. They went to the lake, and started to walk around it. They spotted James watching the Giant Squid swim around.

"James!" Lily yelled as she ran up to him. He stood up as she came running at him. Bad idea. Lily jumped on him, giving him a huge hug while they fell backwards. "Oh James, I'm so sorry! I really am! Really, don't be mad at me!" She said as he lay on his back, eyes wide in shock, arms slowly going around to her back.

"I, uh, forgive you?" He said, mouthing 'what?' to Sirius, as he came up to them.

"You were just trying to making sure I didn't get hurt. I love you so much for it." Then she did something that they had both wanted to do for a while. She kissed him, still straddling his stomach. James was surprised at first, but that passed quickly once he realized what was happening.

Now, it's safe to say that Sirius didn't care that they liked each other or anything. He left smiling, letting them be by themselves. "Wait a minute…" he turned back around, "Where's Ara, Peter, and Jen?" He asked once they stopped to gaze at each other.

James propped himself on his elbows. "Ara and Peter left me when I asked to be alone. Jen never came with us. I thought she was in her do-" Lily clamped a hand over his mouth, giving him the 'shut up!' look.

"She wasn't… hey! Remus!" He yelled, running towards the castle, full speed. They could hear him yelling "15 CHERRIES!!!" as he finally got out of hearing range.

"Fifteen cherries? Right… so Lily…" James looked at their position, "Are we going out now?" he asked, quirking an eyebrow.

Lily didn't answer him. She planted a small kiss on his lips, rolled off of him and lay beside him, resting her head on his chest. She spoke up after a few minutes of contemplation. "Let's just put it this way. If you're confident enough to 'protect' me, and all the dangers that doing such involves, which we still need to talk about, then I think you could hold your own for us. Are you up to the challenge?" She looked up at his face.

"Anything for you m'luv. Absolutely anything, I say. Come what may." They lay there for an hour, then headed up to dinner, arms wrapped around each other.

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Fluttering wings sounded throughout the sixth year girls' dorm. Scurrying feet scampered across the cold, hard floor. Webs being spun across the windowpane shielded out some of the morning sunlight. Little squeaks were now sounding with all those wings a flutter and feet a scampering.

Then came a voice. A voice of frustration. "OK! I can't bloody take it anymore! What the bloody hell are those sounds?!" Jen tore open her curtains. Then came her voice again, not one of anger, but of terror. High pitched terror. "Holy shit! Aaaaaaaah! I HATE YOU SIRIUS! I HATE YOU LIKE I HATE THOSE DAMNED SLYTHERINS!"

A series of shrieks could be heard from the other girls, as they no doubt investigated what Jen was freaking out about. "Kill them! Kill them all!" Ara screamed, going for her wand. "No spiders!" She started burning them as she hid in her bed, curtain wrapped close to her face.

"Someone give me a net! I'm going to get those damned bats OUT OF HERE! Aah! They got under my canopy!" Mel screamed, ducking as they swooped in and out.

"Someone kill the rats. I – hate – rodents… Burn. Them. All." Lily said, eyes wide in terror.

All in all, it sounded pretty hilarious to the four guys listening outside. The door swung open with a loud "HAPPY HALLOWEEN!" coming from the four guys. Four very soon to be dead guys. Lily took up her wand to kill off the rats when Peter started freaking out.

"No, no, no! Don't hurt the little wee things! They're precious!" He scooped a few up. "All right, c'mon the rest of you." He walked out of the room, mumbling and glaring daggers at Lily. Oddly enough, the rats followed him out.

"I hate rats."

"Aw, come on Lily, they're not that bad…" James said, going over to her, avoiding the droppings, and occasional swooping bat. "Happy Halloween." He kissed her on the head.

"Happy my ass." Came Jen's voice. "You guys are so going to get it for this. Ara," Ara looked at her, "we'll use Operation Booganumba Weal." She raised her eyebrows as she said its name.

"Booganumba Weal? But, but… it wasn't that bad…" Ara replied, hitting Sirius in she chest as she walked by him.

"Oh but it was, Ara. You're so going to regret doing this James." Lily added.

Mel laughed. "This one's going to be great. We already have the charms down, right?"

"How about we not speak of it in front of them." Jen said as if it was the most obvious thing, nodding her head to the guys.

"Uh, girls…" Remus started, but stopped when Jen hit him on the arm.

"Quiet Remus. You'll all pay."

"Especially for the rats." Lily said.

"Those were Peter's idea!" Sirius told them quickly. "We had nothing to do with them! Kick his ass if need be."

"Will do." Lily said, climbing on James' back so he could bring her to the bathroom without stepping on anything. "This better be clean by the time I get out of here, or else."

"Or else what?" Sirius asked. Stupid of him. I know.

"Or you'll all pay for the rats."

At breakfast, the Great Hall was decorated much the same way as the girls' dorm. Minus the rats of course, and plus the giant Jack-O-Lanterns that floated above the tables.

"Good morning everyone, and may I wish you all a very Happy Halloween." Dumbledore said.

"An extremely Happy Halloween to you too, Albus!" Sirius yelled from his seat, waving his hand high in the air. Ara covered his mouth with her hand, and used the other one to grab his flailing arm, giving him 'The Look'.

"I thank you Mr. Black. Now, tomorrow is November 1st, and the first Hogsmeade weekend. Normally we go Halloween day, but seeing as it's Friday, I thought we could have class today, and go tomorrow when all the shopkeepers would have more staff on. There have been complaints of some rather, how do I put this? Rowdy boys that need more watch than their normal day staff can accommodate." He looked at the Marauders. Ara still had her hand over Sirius' mouth. "Third years and above with their signed forms will be able to go. Enjoy your breakfast and do try to pay attention in class." He said, gazing at all the excited students.

"Alright guys, there's a Quidditch practice Sunday morning, so don't stay up too late eating Honeydukes chocolate, ok? We go against Slytherin next weekend." James told the team, who were, coincidentally enough, all seated near him.

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Weeeee!

Wasn't that fun? Next chapter – Hogsmeade and Quidditch! Two *very* essential things in a Harry Potter story!

And on to my thank you's!

I got so many reviews! :D:D:D

Thank you to everyone who reviewed earlier chapters as well! Thank you so much!! :D:D

Ok and now for the thanks for Chapter 15:

Katrina: OMG! You signed in!! I'm so proud. *wipes tear from eye* I'm sure Sirius won't be too happy about them… not so much not happy, but very watchful. She is his twin… so yea, and he's his good friend. I too was looking forward to the de-gnoming and Deathday scene. What I'm really mad they left out was the Valentines day thing, with Ginny's Valentine to Harry! I would have died laughing right then and there. Thank you so much for your review! I always love them!

Gooey Gooey Coca Beans: I prided myself on making a good sad chapter! Happy you liked it! Thanks for the review!!

lil miss moony: Thank you!! I love it! I really really really love it!! :D:D:D:D So many compliments at once! I can barely take it! But don't stop! ;)

Amber: I hope I fixed 14… I checked it on a few of my computers, and I told my friends how to check it, and it worked for them… so I'm thinking it's fixed! Sorry bout the inconvenience! And thanks for the compliment and congrats! Thank you!

loonyloopylisa: Thank you! I'm so happy so many people cried, or nearly cried! Sure it's not the best thing to make people cry, but it's what I was going for! Thank you so much! I hope you liked this chapter!

SirenaErmosa: Sorry bout chapter 14! I know it messed up! But I'm nearly positive it's fixed! No one has complained recently… Thanks!

Blue eyes: It will get happier now! I think… yes. Happy, funny, but also dark foreshadowing! Ooo… my *good* English teacher would love it! She loved foreshadowing! Anywho… thanks so much for your review!

Ninetales122: I know! It made me cry too! Thanks for the review!

Zoe Lefebvre: I was wondering where you went! I didn't get a review from you last time, and didn't want to post until I got one… but I conceded. Thank you!! :) Yes… just a little depressing, but much needed! Not everything is peaches and cream! I hope also enjoyed this chapter!

SlytherinQueen87: Thank you!! :) I really liked Donna as well, but ya know… Everyone dies. Circle of life. I like Jen and Remus – they compliment eachother. Wacky – calm. Girl – boy. Works well. ;);) See – opposites attract! And to get a little off topic – I don't like it when authors make him gay! My Remus baby isn't gay! And I hope Ewen McGregor plays him in POA! How hot would that be? He stole my heart in Moulin Rouge! But anyways… *ahem* Thanks so much!

Alright! Thanks so much everyone! 10 reviews just for this chapter! Not counting the other bunch I got for my other chapters recently! I really, really, really loved them all!! So what happens now? You do it again! :D Yay!

What do you think of it's new name? I like it… the other one was too long for me, although it did advertise it's silliness quite well… Ah well. It was really just an inside joke that I felt like naming it after! As many of the jokes in this story are! So thanks again, and tell me what you think in a review!

Catch y'all on the flip side!