Disclaimer: I own nothing that you recognize from any Harry Potter book. If you don't recognize it: Hey it's mine!

Hey guys – not too much updated here. Spelling, wording, and maybe a sentence or two added.

Alright: Glacia is Aubury's first name, as Nethphys is Rah-Sün's. (It's an Egyptian god!) Got that? Good!

Hope you guys like how this chapter is! So many different emotions running through it, I don't know where to begin! Funny, upsetting, sad, insightful (I think), and possibly a few others. Hope you guys all enjoy it!

*     *     *

Will everybody please act as if everything is normal today? Trust us – it will be well worth it in the end.

"Does that sound good?" Mel asked, posting their note all around the Common Room, while the other girls did the same.

"Sounds fine. Did you put the spell on the note? I don't want the guys reading this." Jen said, looking over at Lily.

"Done, and done." She replied with a smile, tacking up the last of the notes.

"Do we want to go down with them, or watch them enter the Hall?"

"Oooh… choices. I'd love to see their faces close up… but I don't really want to be seen beside them." Jen said. "They may put us as accomplices, and we'll get detentions. So… we'll watch them come in."

"How about as they walk past us, we get up and reach out for them. Hopefully grabbing them some how. Then we act like we thought they were coming to see us, and act all disappointed when they ignore us or whatever they'll do…" Lily said.

"I love it!" Jen exclaimed.

"Sounds great. Ara?" Mel said.

"Sure. Let's just get down there, ok?" Ara said sounding bored with everything.

"Oh come on Ara – even you can't not be excited for this." Lily said. "You got Sirius back more than we did the rest of the guys. Will he find the note in his pocket?"

"If you did the charm correctly. What's in the poem?" Mel asked Ara, as they got ready to leave for breakfast, packing up the rest of the tacks.

"Remember Snapey-poo?" Ara asked the other girls, referring to the infatuated Snape on the way to school, aboard the Hogwarts Express. "Let's just say that I took a leaf out of his book." The girls laughed on their way down to breakfast. They entered the Hall long before many students and teachers were up, thus getting the best seats.

"Let's eat now girls. If not, we're not eating when they get here. I can't laugh and eat at the same time." Jen said, piling eggs on her plate.

"Here, here." Lily said, buttering some toast.

"They'll sleep in late this morning cause: a) they're guys; b) it's Sunday; and c) they were out late last night." Jen confirmed as she watched more people enter the Hall. "So they're promised an audience."

Half an hour later, the Great Hall was almost filled with every student in the school. With rumors of something good to watch for breakfast, people stayed for the show to come.

At the moment people started thinking about leaving, and that it was all a hoax, the Marauders strolled on through the Great Hall doors.

Silence encompassed everyone. Laughter than followed (along with whistles and catcalls), taking over every student in there, and three Professors: Dumbledore, Gaizer, and Aubury.

The three boys looked around them in shock, slowing their walk to a stop right before all the tables.

"What the hell is going on?" Sirius asked, looking at himself and his friends. He didn't notice Lily point her wand towards them, and mutter a couple of inaudible words to remove the charm obscuring their vision of themselves. They looked above, below, and behind them. They looked on, and under their clothes. Clothes? What clothes? "Oh dear God!" Sirius screamed, earning themselves some more laughs, standing there in his boxers. Peter jumped behind him, blushing like a tomato.

McGonagall began walking towards them, lips tightly pursed, hands clenched at her side, and a vein pulsing in her temple.

"You boys have gone far enough. Showing up for-" But she was cut off by their sudden compliments and groveling.

"Minerva – how could you ever get anymore beautiful?"

"You are the missing piece of my heart."

"You complete me."

"Minnie… can you feel my love for you?"

She stood there shocked as the compliments kept on coming. Sirius took her hand.

"I've wanted to tell you this forever…" She ripped her hand away from him, and started backing up slowly, her face getting redder and redder. The boys followed. She turned on her heel and marched back up to the Head table. The boys followed.

As they walked past the Gryffindor table, the girls stood and reached out for them. But they wriggled away from them, not even sparing the girls a glance. The boys followed McGonagall. More laughter came from the girls' expressions, as they faked a pout, and watched them leave. The girls sulked back into their seats to laugh some more.

"Dumbledore, these boys have taken a love potion of sorts. They-"

"No potion could make me feel this way about you, Minerva my love." James said. One of the teachers snorted in attempt to hold back her laugh. They boys' heads turned and looked at her. "Petal?" James said wistfully.

"Petal…" The others said; dreamy looks plastered on their faces.

Rosebud, or Petal, the 70 year-old Divination teacher stopped laughing immediately, and looked at the boys. "Y-yes children?"

"Petal! I love your hair! I love it so much, I wrote a poem about its silveryness!" Sirius said, kneeling before the table where she sat. James followed him while Remus and Peter stayed with McGonagall. Peter was holding McGonagall's hand, but she was too stunned to notice.

Everybody was too shocked, amused, and interested to stop them. That included the teachers and Dumbledore.

Lily pointed her wand at Sirius only this time, and muttered 'sonorus.'

"Ahem." He began, and took out the folded parchment out from the pocket of his boxers.

"How do I love thee's hair?

Let me list all of them for thee.

It's shineths like a shiny thing shines in the sun.

It twinkles liketh a twinkling thing.

Possibly a star.

As you walk, it flows gently behind you like the mane of a horse." People burst out laughing. Her hair was about as loose as McGonagall's. Sirius was not sidetracked.

"To touch its silvery goodness would complete my world.

To run my fingers through its soft, gentle touch would sooth my soul.

I, Sirius Black, love thee, Petal Rosebud, and all your hairness." He stood, and bowed.

Lily muttered 'quietus.'

When everyone stood, cheered, clapped, and whistled: the spell on the boys broke.

Remus was on bended knee in front of McGonagall, holding onto the hems of her robes. He blinked a few times, looking at the whole of Hogwarts cheering them on. He stood up as fast as he could, and tried to smooth out his robes, 'Oh yea…' he thought, remembering his predicament. 'I'm not wearing any robes…' He settled on clasping his hand in front of him, and blushing.

James stood up from where he was kneeling, and looked around at the Hall. He spotted Lily as she winked at him. James was unable to do anything else, so he burst out laughing. 'So this is their boogie-noogie wheel thing…' he thought, laughing at the memory of them telling them of it on the train ride, back in September.

Peter quickly let go of McGonagall's hand, blushing like mad, and stuttering an apology. It seemed she didn't even hear him. He didn't know whether to hide behind McGonagall so that the students didn't see him in his boxers, or in front of her so he could hide from the teachers view. He, more or less, decided to stay put, and faint. A small thud was heard.

Sirius, being the worse off, stood up and bowed. Although he was red, he laughed along with James and grabbed his hand. He dragged him over to Remus, and grabbed Remus' hand. Remus grabbed Peter's hand, which was lying on the ground, and they bowed towards the students. They turned and then bowed to the teachers.

The applauding, cheering and whistling echoed off the walls, and shook some of the plates and goblets on the tables.

When they were about to step down, and join their table, McGonagall cleared her throat.

"It would be best if you three took Pettigrew to the Infirmary. Then you may go to your dorms, put on some robes," she took a deep breath. That wasn't a normal thing to tell your students, "Then bring some to Pettigrew. Only then may you have something to eat. After your meal, we will talk about your punishments."

The boys, with sheepish smiles on their pink faces, floated Peter past the tables. As they passed the girls, they looked at them. Each one of the girls blew kisses, and winked. Lisa, the third year they saw, was cheering high above everyone else, staring directly at Sirius. He glared at her and she, in all her maturity, stuck out her tongue.

They left the Great Hall, and kept quiet until all was quiet was around them. No cheering, or laughing could be heard. Remus was the first to say something.

"I thought I was a bit cold getting out of bed this morning."

"Gee, you think, Moony?" Sirius said sourly. "I can't believe… I…" he sighed. "Well, it was funny."

James laughed. "And they gave us fair warning." The other two boys looked at him, causing Peter to falter a bit, and scrape his knees on the ground. They didn't notice. "They told us of it twice. And I got warning from Lily that they had some good ideas logged away…"

"And when did they tell us of this monstrosity?" Sirius asked him. Remus noticed Peter, and righted him.

"On the train. Remember when we burst in?" James said. Realization dawned on their faces. "And when we were in their room, with the bug things? We should have been more prepared."

"James – that was back at Halloween!" Sirius said, using his hands to emphasize his point.

"All the more reason for us to be on our guards." Remus said. "What did you say Ara said to you on Valentines Day?"

"Uh… she needed a man?"

"Other than that."

"Nobody wants to be alone on Valentines Day?"

"Exactly. They didn't want it to affect our dates. Damn clever." Remus said, having fun with Peter, making him float high, low, left, right. Sometimes knocking into things. "Stupid git. Fainted right in front of the whole bloody school."

"Well, it's not like he can take that kind of thing. Not too… what's the word?" James said.

"Clever? Tough? Will powered? Sturdy?" Sirius listed.

"Magical?" Remus tried.

"Yea, one of those. In all honesty – I'm sort of surprised that he could become… you know." James said, as they neared the Hospital Wing, referring to their animagus transformations. "Even with all the help we gave him."

"Yes, not to good with magic. I heard that his Grandfather thought he might have been a squib." Sirius said, looking at Peter, and his scraped knees.

They entered the Wing, and put him down onto a bed. M. Vocher came out to see them. He stopped at the sight of them, then at Peter.

"Wild party last night, boys?" He asked them. Boxers, wandering around the halls, Peter passed out, and with scrapes, and bruises forming. They opened their mouths to reply. "Non – please don't. I 'ave de feeling dat I do not want to know, but may find out later…"

He let them leave without an explanation, and they set off while he conjured some hospital clothes for Peter.

~     *     ~

It had been two weeks since Booganumba Weal went into affect, and the boys were still being taunted by it. Sirius got the worst of it. Slytherins had taken to quoting 'his poem.' It's safe to say that by the second weekend, they were a little more than perturbed. Even McGonagall, who usually forgot these sorts of things, ignored them during class unless James was the only one who knew an answer. Rosebud, it seemed, had stopped talking of James' death for a short while, but was back at it during the past few school days.

They had taken to sleeping in on weekends, and eating breakfast when fewer people were there. All the pointing, sniggering, and reciting of poetry was really getting to them now. At first it was cute, and they laughed at it. Now they were each growing a nice aneurysm. Lily and Jen were being affected by it as well. They were questioned about the guys' loyalties, and if they felt threatened at all.

It was 11 o'clock on Saturday, and James was trying to wake up the other guys. This was getting ridiculous.

"Come on Sirius, get your ass up." He said, shaking him violently.

"Huh? Wha? Where's the fire?" Sirius mumbled, sitting up, eyes half open.

"Up your ass if you don't get up soon."

The three sleepy Marauders were sitting up in bed, watching James who stood in the middle of the dorm, in his day clothes.

"Alright guys, Dennis is already up and gone. Therefore it's time for a Marauder Meeting." James told them, pacing the floor none to different from a general addressing his troops.

"A whatta whatta?" Sirius asked, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

"We have been hiding from our peers." James said, ignoring Sirius' question. "We are the Marauders – we know no shame. Well, Peter seems to…" Peter put his head down, and the other two smiled, "Oh come on, you fainted! Anyways – we cannot avoid everyone forever. We either need to do a prank to come back or some sort of display… for… something. I'm not sure yet – but that's why I'm asking you! We need to band together to over ride the – taunting." His left eye twitched. "Or we just ignore it now. Not even look at them anymore. We might as well pull a prank while we're at it. Just for fun – never hurt anyone, really."

"You know, I'm hearing it in my dreams now." Sirius said. He put on the voice of a Slytherin. "To touch it's silvery goodness would complete my world." He scowled. The other boys had to bite their tongues to keep from laughing.

"Yes, well… all the more reason to put it all behind us, hm? Who's with me?" James asked. Remus and Peter replied with an 'Aye.' Sirius said nothing.

"Well… I have another one coming for me soon… so I may wait to do a prank with you guys until after that. But I'll do the ignoring thing." He told them. "I'm not really in the 'pranking kind of mood' right now."

"Ah yes – you and Ara do have something coming for you a bit off, don't you?" Remus said, smiling. "Do this with us, then again with Ara… well – we don't really know what Lisa will do… You might be banished for all we know."

"True. All right, I'm in. Aye."

Later that evening…

"I'm off for my date boys! Wish me luck!" Sirius said, applying some cologne.

"Good luck. Although I'm pretty sure she's 'seen' what your date will entail." James said jokingly.

Remus quickly turned his laugh into a cough. James smiled.

"Got something in my throat." Sirius left, eying them both evilly. "Poor guy… wonder if he'll ask her what his horoscope is for today." James burst out laughing as Remus said it in all seriousness.

Sirius went down the stairs and met Genie in the Common Room.

"Ready to go?" He asked her, giving her a white rose.

"That I am." She replied, taking his arm and waving to her friends.

They walked past Ara and Mel who sat on the couches, books on their laps, doing homework. He winked at them, leaving through the Portrait Hole.

"Insufferable git." Ara mumbled.

"Huh?" Mel asked, looking up from her History of Magic book.

"The Goblin Rebellion of 1763. They were all insufferable gits. No one should take on that many trolls at one time to prove something." Ara covered for herself, looking back down at her own work.

"I see." Mel said, smiling a bit. "Maybe you should talk to Sirius."

"About Goblin Rebellions?" Ara asked her, playing dumb.

"Apparently." Mel winked at her, going back to her work.

Jen ran down the stairs, a panicked look on her face as she searched the room for her friends.

"Mel! Ara, Quick! We need severe help!" She yelled as she ran towards them.

Everyone in the Common Room looked at her. Some people stopped talking. A couple of first years stopped playing chess, Pasty's hand hovering above the board with a knight in her hand, who was protesting loudly to being hung in the air. (A/N: Remember Pasty? I should add her more…)

"Oh my God, what happened?" Mel asked, standing up, her books and parchment falling to the floor. Ara put her work on the table. "Is it Lily?"

"Yes! She's sick or something."

"No I'm not. I'm perfectly alright." She said exasperatedly, coming down the stairs.

"Oh no you're not fine." Jen said, waggling her finger at her. People in the Common Room noticed that she was all right, and went back to their previous activities.

"Look, just because I have a heart-"

"Oh don't go calling me heartless!" Jen said, interrupting Lily. "They deserved it!"

"Look, let's go upstairs and talk about this." Mel said, being the mediator. Jen scoffed and walked up the stairs, followed by the others. Lily rolled her eyes and followed Jen. When they closed the dorm door behind them, Jen started.

"We will not apologize. Did they ever apologize to us? No."

Mel put up her hands to silence her. "First – tell us what this is about."

"Booganumba freakin' Weal; Lily's pitying them now. About time they get humiliated, I say." Jen said, sitting on her bed in a stubborn sort of way.

"And I say we apologize because we never meant for it to go on this long." Lily said.

"They can dish it out, but not take it-"

"They took it very well!"

"Not Peter."

"Who cares? They're acting civilly towards us! They hold no grudge, so I say we apologize for all the extra mocking they're receiving that we didn't intend." Lily said. She looked at the other two girls. "What do you say?"

"I'm not choosing between the two of you." Ara said, sitting on the floor, and leaning back on the foot of her bed.

Mel sighed. 'It's up to me…' "Well, I see both of your points and agree with them equally. I say, do what you want. Lily, apologize if you see the need. Jen, don't if you don't think it necessary." She smiled inwardly. 'Good answer.'

Jen groaned. "If we apologize we'll seem weak: little girls unable to hold ourselves against the boys. I'm not going to look weak."

"And neither am I." Lily said, frowning. "I have no intention to look like some child looking for acceptance. They were fine with the prank, and took it like men. They knew they deserved it, and got fair warning. But now, they're being ridiculed, and I feel bad. They never did anything to anyone that kept them in a torrent of mocking. I'm going to apologize – sorry if we don't agree on this Jennifer." Lily said, staring straight at Jen. "I'm not mad at you, but I'm tired of people coming up to James and I and interrupting out time together to ask how Rosebud is doing, or if I'm taking the news ok." Jen was about to say something, but Lily said one more thing. "And I know its affecting Remus and you as well."

"Just ignore the stupid Slytherins, Lil." Jen said in a defeated voice. "They're just jealous of you two, and are relishing in this small but of embarrassment on James' part."

"Harassment. I can ignore the Slytherins just fine. What I can't ignore is the silence that follows." The girls looked down. "I feel like he remembers that it's me who made all of it happen. I never know what to say, so I say nothing."

"It's not just you Lily." Ara said. "We all did it."

"But I'm the one who did it to James. You three put the spells on the others." She took a deep breath and looked at her friends. "Well, I had to get that out. I'm going to go talk to James right now." She smiled a small smile at them and left.

Over at the Ranch…

"You're still being interrupted too?" Remus asked James.

"Yea… I get so annoyed when they make fun of Lily. Can't hold onto Potter there, eh mudblood?" He seethed, while Remus' eyes grew wide. "I just want to rip out their throats or something. But I settle for some remark about them, or a colourfully worded way of telling them to leave. Then there's: So you honestly think his loyalties will lie with you? Oh I could kill them…" James told Remus. They had the dorm to themselves. Sirius was gone on his date, and Peter was at his extra help lessons.

"I know. They called her a mudblood? I'm surprised they are all still alive." Remus said. "They have no self esteem James. They've come up to Jen and I as well. It's always worse when they make fun of her. I know exactly how you feel. They poke fun at my sickness, but use it against her. I guess we know what really happens to Lupin when he goes to see his sick mum. I just want them to drop dead right then. Plop" he did a hand motion, showing him dropping something "– right on the ground." There was a knock at the door. "Come in."

Lily entered the room.

"Lily!" James said, getting off his bed, and going to her.

"James, can we talk?" She asked quietly.

James looked at Remus who nodded and left the room, giving Lily a meaningful smile. James closed the door, and took Lily by the hand. "What is it?" he asked as he guided her to his bed, and sat on it.

"James, I wanted to apologize for everything that's happened in the past couple of weeks. I never meant for any of this to ensue, and I'm sorry." She sounded really upset, and James couldn't help but hug her. "I mean… it was meant to be fun, and ironic cause we mentioned it on the train… but not like this."

"I know hun. I'm not upset by it or anything. We've just got to wait for it to end-"

"But it's my fault that you're picked on, and that McGonagall is hesitant to talk to you during class, and at meetings. And I know you blame me cause-"

"I don't blame you Lily! You have no control over other peoples' actions. I'm angry at how they treat you, more than how they treat me." He was stroking her hair, and staring directly into her green eyes.

Lily sighed and rested her head on his shoulder as he wrapped his arms around her. "You're too good to me."

James smiled and kissed the top of her head. "And you're too good for me, Lily." He said quietly.

Lily gave a small laugh, and looked up at him. She kissed him softly on the lips.

They lay on James' bed kissing and holding each other for well over an hour. Every kiss, embrace, and word spoken was filled with love and caring, every touch gentle. Just as they were about to fall asleep, a strange looking bird pecked at the window.

Lily groaned and nuzzled her head into James' chest. "Nooo…"

James laughed and got up slowly (peck, peck, peck), trying not to disturb Lily's position too much. He walked over to the window and opened it.

The bird dropped the letter on the floor in front of the window, and flew away, not even bothering to enter the room.

"Well, that was odd." James said with a smile as he picked it up off the floor. "Service these days, huh?"

Lily let out a short, quiet, sleepy laugh. "Who's it for?"

James looked at the seal on the envelope. "Uh… Lil?"

Lily sat up slowly, and saw James' face. "What? Who's it for, James?"

"You – but I… I don't know if you want it." He didn't move from the window where snow was blowing in softly.

Lily got up and went to him. She took the letter and immediately knew whom it was from. "Oh God…" she moaned. "What does he want now?" She opened the skull/snake seal and began to read its content written in red ink. At least she hoped it was ink:

Evans,

You are very hard to persuade. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Since you find no reason to join me, or even reply to my letters, I feel that I need to take some of those desperate measures.

            You know of the Gorman family, do you not?

Lily stopped reading and looked up at James who was watching her.

"What is it Lily?" He asked her, going behind her, and quickly scanning the letter.

As tears filled her eyes, she whispered out: "Mel…" and continued to read:

            I have taken the liberty to take their lives. Aren't you friends with their daughter? I suggest you go talk to her before she gets her Ministry letter.

            Or mine for that matter.

Lily screamed "No!" before running towards her dorm, hoping Mel would still be there.

"Lily!" James called after her, and following her path.

Jen met up with her on Lily's way up the stairs. She had tears coming down her face, and she quickly grabbed her friend into a hug.

"Oh God Lily. Mel's parents and brother are dead…" Jen cried into her shoulder.

"I know." Lily whispered. "I got a letter…" Jen let her go, and looked at the letter in her hand.

"From who?" She asked as James came up behind them. He looked at Lily for confirmation, and she nodded – to both of his questions.

It was Mel's family. And yes – you can tell her. "Who was Mel's from, first?" Lily asked Jen.

"The Ministry, but Lily-" Lily ran past her, and kept on going up the stairs. She burst into her dorm to see Mel crying onto Ara's shoulders, body shaking. Remus was stroking her blonde hair, and Sirius, obviously back from his date, was rubbing her back soothingly.

"Oh Mel…" She said as she knelt by her feet. "I am so sorry. I never thought he'd even do this…" she took her hand.

Mel looked at her, and sniffed. "This wasn't your fault Lily." She managed to croak out.

James and a now worried looking Jen were standing at the door. They had heard Mel's comment, and could see the guilt on Lily's face.

A bird landed on the windowsill, and dropped at letter onto the floor. The window still hung open from the previous delivery. James recognised the bird, and Lily the delivery method. They both groaned on the inside. James went to the window, closed it, and took the letter from the floor. Without checking whom it was for, he handed it to Mel reluctantly, looking away. He couldn't very well rip it up right there.

Mel looked confused, but took it all the same. She saw the seal and gasped. "I don't want to read it." She said, going white. "Someone burn it."

Remus, confused, took it from her and went downstairs. When he came back up, Lily was in his spot, holding Mel.

"Melissa, James and I have to go see Dumbledore for a minute, ok? I hate to leave you, but you have these guys." Lily said softly to her, looking into Mel's sad amber eyes. She just nodded her head slowly. Lily gave her a kiss on the side of her head, and left the room with James. She was crying lightly the whole way to the Headmasters office, and James held her close.

They met up with the gargoyle ("Acid Pops"), and made their way to see the Headmaster.

Dumbledore was sitting at his desk; he looked to be waiting for them. He always seemed to know what was going on his school. James and Lily shared a look. They obviously shared that same thought. But of course, he couldn't know everything. He'd have had a fit if he knew about the Marauders nighttime strolls with the werewolf on the very grounds of Hogwarts.

"I assume you two have come because of Voldemort?" he asked them. They nodded. He gestured to the chairs in front of his desk. They sat. "How is Miss Gorman?" he asked the two teenagers.

"Not so good, Professor." James said. "Quite a blow."

"As it should be. It is quite upsetting how many children are going and living with relatives by the end of the year." He looked at the letter held tightly in Lily's hand. "Now, what does he want this time?"

Lily stood up and let Dumbledore take the letter. "Sorry." She mumbled, as he had to smooth it out from being in her clenched hand.

"Not at all. Not at all." He responded, beginning to read. His face frowned as he read the start. You could tell when he reached the part about Mel's family. He took in the smallest of gasps, and you could see the hatred in his eyes. When he finished he folded the letter and put it to the side. He took off his half-moon spectacles, and rubbed his eyes. "Did Miss Gorman get her letter?"

"Yes sir." Lily replied.

"Did she read it?" He asked, putting his glasses back on.

"No sir. She told us to burn it after seeing the seal. Remus took care of it." Lily replied again.

Dumbledore visibly relaxed. "Do you two have any idea what he would have written her?"

They both stayed silent. Of course they both knew. He didn't write to the families of all his victims. James answered him.

"He would have told her it was Lily's fault. Probably make some snide remark about friendship, or something."

Dumbledore managed a small smile, and proud look. "Very good. Yes, I believe that was his exact intention."

"But it would be true. He killed them because of me." Lily said.

"Never think like that Lily." Dumbledore told her forcefully. It struck them as odd – he rarely used first names with students. "He wins this fight with you once you believe him. He killed for himself, and no one besides himself." He gave her a piercing stare until she nodded, tears silently falling from her eyes.

"What I want to know," James ventured slowly, "is why he wants Lily so much. How would he know anything about a little red-headed Gryffindor Muggle-born?"

Something close to realization and panic crossed Dumbledore's face. "I am not completely sure, James. I am looking into it but… you two must go right now. Get some rest and I will see to it that Miss Gorman gets a few days off." He said all of this while writing on some parchment and giving it to Fawkes. Fawkes flew out his window on Dumbledore's last few words. He watched him fly away around the castle, and continued to watch the night for a few minutes. When he turned, he was shocked into remembering that Lily and James were still there. "Off you go now. I am terribly sorry to be in such a hasty mood, but something has come to me attention. I will alert you, Lily, if I can confirm anything about Voldemort's objectives. Good night and remember that love and friendship is always better than depression and loneliness." He walked them to the door, and opened it for them. As they walked out, Fawkes flew back in through the window, trilling a few of his haunting notes upon arrival.

"Goodnight Professor." Lily said, trying not to sound curious.

"Goodnight Headmaster." James said, walking Lily down the steps, his hand guiding her by the small of her back.

When they reached the gargoyle they were surprised to see the doorway already opening. Aubury tore past them, and up the moving staircase. She seemed out of breath and unaware of their presence as she sprinted her way to Dumbledore's office. "That was odd." James said.

As they stepped through the doorway, they were both wondering what Dumbledore needed with her. When they turned to leave, they saw Rah-Sün striding down the hall. She barely seemed to notice that two students were out of bed well past curfew. She told the password to the gargoyle, stepped in, and made her was to Dumbledore as well.

"Well, that too, was odd." James said, trying to assess the situation.

"Wonder what he needed with them?" Lily asked, as they continued to walk.

James thought about it. "Well… Aubury left class once, remember? Rah-Sün was the one she was talking to."

Lily thought back. "And Peter mentioned something about some 'fire magic' and 'light' defeating a Dark Lord they seemed to think was Voldemort."

"Yes," James said, remembering Peter telling them about what he had heard. "And they're seen talking about things over dinner all the time. Serious things. With Dumbledore sometimes as well. When Peter was in the Hospital Wing, and when Aubury left, she met up with Rah-Sün. They talked about things in quiet, and hurried off. And Rah-Sün came from Dumbledore's office that night you first told him about the letters."

"Yes, but then again, lots of teachers are in his office for many different reasons. Still, we can't ignore it." Lily said.

They walked back up to the Tower, talking about the connections, and finding none that seemed correct. By the time they had reached the Common Room, they had decided to leave it alone. It obviously wouldn't concern them. But still, as they hugged and kissed goodnight, it plagued their mind about how Dumbledore acted.

~     *     ~

Back in Dumbledore's office, after Rah-Sün entered…"Good evening Albus, Glacia." Rah-Sün said taking a seat beside Aubury, in the chairs recently occupied by Lily and James. "You believe you may have found something, Albus?"

"Yes, I believe I have. In the scripts that you have decoded, Nephthys, it speaks of fire, correct?"

"Yes that is correct." Rah-Sün answered.

"I believe I may have found a clue, if not an answer to it."

"And what is it Albus?" Aubury asked.

"The question is not what, but who." Albus told them.

"Who? The ancient scripts are about a certain person, or persons?" Aubury asked, thoroughly confused.

"Tell me, Nephthys, what colour was the hair of the ancient Egyptians back when the prophecy was written?" Dumbledore asked her.

Aubury was even more so confused. "A-Albus-"

"Black." Rah-Sün answered. "They would only have black hair."

"So if they saw red hair-" Albus started to ask slowly.

"Then they may think it fire!" Rah-Sün said, eyes lighting up. "Brilliant Albus, whom do you suppose it could be? One of the Weasley clan? They all have red hair. An Irish wizard? Possibly one of the Finni-"

"Lily Evans." Albus stated simply, cutting off Rah-Sün from her guessing.

"Evans?" Aubury asked. "Why do you think Evans?"

"I have reason to believe that Voldemort knows of the scripts and has had someone decode them before we were given them from the Ministry." He waited a second for their collective gasp. "I would think an inside job – but that's not why we're here. He has been targeting her since last school year, before summer. Writing her, much like the late Donna Kensington. He sends her letters and now has killed Melissa Gorman's family in order to turn her friend against her. He takes pleasure in other people's pain, that much is obvious. By him targeting Lily only, I feel he may have a Seer on his side as well. Did you bring the translation?" He told them, than looked at Rah-Sün.

"Like you asked." She replied, taking it out of her pocket.

"Read it for us please."

"Alright." She smoothed out the parchment. All over it, words were crossed out, lines re-written, and notes were scribbled in the sides.

"Darkness fills the sky

Covering the light with stiffening black.

Light may succumb to dark,

Scattering across the world.

Yet some may shine brightly, still.

Once all hope faded to dark,

Light will shine once more from the

Fire that is inside and out, everlasting;

Hidden unbeknown, unsuspected in the dark.

A spark from the dieing flame will grow

Unheeded from its maker until it is ready.

This spark will ignite others in its cause

And all the light of the world will gather

To illuminate the sky.

What flame is extinguished,

Will like a Phoenix, burn anew.

A new age of life will go on,

Better than the last."

Rah-Sün took a breath. "That is as close of a translation that I could come up with. It still may need a bit of tweaking."

"Bloody ancients. Couldn't make it easier for us, could they?" Aubury said quietly.

Rah-Sün glared at her. "Those are my ancestors you're talking about Glacia."

"Sorry Nephthys." She didn't sound too sorry. "So you think that Evans' red hair could be the flame that it talks about? What about the spark?" Aubury asked.

"Relative, or more likely offspring." Dumbledore said, ignoring their squabble. "It has only come to my attention recently, just before you arrived. I was talking to Lily, and James Potter, earlier. It was Mr. Potter that brought it to my attention. We will have to watch her more closely. And please, tell no one of this – not even the other Professors."

They both promised, and left the Headmasters office.

Dumbledore paced his study for a few minutes in silence later that evening. He looked up at Fawkes, and sighed, rubbing his sleepy eyes.

"A spark from the dieing flame…"

*     *     *

Woo!! All right – I had no idea where to go with this chapter after Booganumba Weal, and decided that the plot would be a good place to start. So what did you think of the prank? Do you all remember chapter… 4 or 5? Not quite sure which one… you know, no one guessed it! I thought I might have been too obvious saying that they had already told them a few months prior… but hey – I guess not!

Anywho – thanks for reading, and here are my thanks for the last chapter!

Nessie: More Legolas stuff? Know what… the only LOTR thing I got was TTT soundtrack (oh yea…), and the Silmarillion, and Unfinished Tales. Well, that's more Tolkien than LOTR! Yea, just today (well, Friday!) I dyed my friends hair that exact same way. She's where I got the idea! I didn't mean she had dyed the tips of her hair black, but the bottom layer. Much like Avril Lavigne in her latest video, if you've seen it! I think we've got some ESP working between us, with all of our common things, eh? ;) Thanks for the review, as always!

SlytherinQueen87: Sorry about postponing the whole prank thing… but things kept on creeping up! Genie won't be a huge character I don't think… but there for more realism that not everyone that is mentioned is like… a big character! Whatever… I hope you liked the chapter, and thank you for always reviewing! I seem to have lost some of my faithful reviewers like yourself!

Choco1207: Lol – nope! Haven't written any others! Stickin' with this one or it won't get done! Alas – I do not believe in finishing projects! But that's why I need you guys to keep reviewing! I also want to know what's going to happen, though… Thanks for reviewing!!

Mira: Well, I didn't really count. You know where you count how many across, and down, then multiply? Yea, then I added the rest! Anywho! I'm glad you liked the poem. I think you're the only one who commented on it! Lol. Hope you liked this chapter, and thanks for your review!

I Have No Life: Yes well… I hope you enjoyed Booganumba Weal! Thanks for the 'review'!! Lol! God I'm in a laughing mood tonight…

Truechinook: I'm happy that they're getting longer as well! I don't like stories that make you wait two weeks for an update, than it's only about couple thousand words. Mine have to be in and around five thousand. Usually more! Like this one – not counting any of my blabbering – is 6136 words! Phew! I plan on going onto 7th year, and am entertaining the idea of an after Hogwarts story. They'd all be different stories tho… not that I'm complaining! Thank you for your wonderful review!

Lucky_719: Yea – Ara is kind of clueless, or maybe just in denial. I'm not sure yet. My holidays (all four days off – not consecutively) were ok! Why did yours suck? Thanks for the review!

Amber: Sorry! I can't apologize enough! I meant to have it in chapter 20 for heavens sake!! But alas – my imaginative brain kept on flowing… Hope you liked it, though! Thanks for the review! (tease am I?)

LoonyLoopyLisa: :) You'll be in it a bit more. Gotta do your thing, eh? And yea – good that you like the last name!! Ok… now you make me think of a good hex? Damn you. You see, being generous before was really my way of being lazy. *sighs* Thanks for the review!!

And thank you to: Oy Angelina(twice), and Cho-Look-Alike for reviewing other chapters!

Alright – I only have the first paragraph written to the next chapter – so it'll probably be a couple of weeks until the next one is up! I'll try for next weekend, but no promises. So sorry for that guys – but I won't bore you with stupid excuses! Wait! Here's some! Baby showers, and Christenings!! They're taking over my life! Ahhh… anywho! Please review this chapter – I got half of much for the last one! :(:(:(

Thanks for reading, and have a good week! (or two…)