A/N: My deepest apologies for the long wait for this chapter, but I unfortunately have neglected to write anything for quite a while.  I don't know how long I can keep myself writing but I'll try very hard to write the fourth chapter much much quicker.  Please review!       

~Chapter 3~

For the past few hours Lily had tossed and turned in her bed with impatience.  She couldn't figure out a single workable plan to make detention miserable for James. 

She looked impatiently at her watch. 

'Two more minutes till detention…with him.'

Lily grumbled to herself and turned to look out her bedroom window. 

'Less then an hour before sunset,' she thought to herself with regret.

She quickly glanced back at her clock on the table.

'Times up.  Let the games begin.'

Lily slid off her bed and walked slowly to her bedroom door.  She turned to look out the window once more with longing and then she closed the door behind her.  She headed for the stairs and then a then stopped.  A feeling of forgetfulness came over her and unintentionally Lily turned around and walked back into her room.  Her eyes scanned the room's contents until they landed on a flashlight and a bag of chips that were lying on top of her dresser.

'Guess it can't hurt to bring those along,' thought Lily as she scooped the items into her jacket pocket.

With this she turned once more and left the room in silence. 

*       *       *

James looked at himself in the mirror.  His untidy black hair fell in his eyes and his face was a mask of disdain. 

'Stupid detention.  It's all her fault!  It's not like I've never gotten in trouble, but to have to spend several hours with her…it's disgraceful.'

A voice sounded from inside the room shaking him from his thoughts.

"Hey James! Dude, you need to hurry up.  Detention is starting soon and if you're not there in time then you'll end up spending more time with Lily."

James shut off the bathroom light and walked towards his bed.  He gave Sirius a distasteful look.

"Yeah, that's the worst thing I could possibly ask for at this moment."

Sirius laughed.

"James I never really understand why you and Lily always fight."

James looked reproachfully at him. 

"What, so you are taking her side now!  Real nice now even my best friend doesn't agree with me."

"Agree to what exactly?  Because if you ask me I think that she would be more tolerable if she were on friendly terms with us instead of us being on each others enemies list.  I mean you've got to admit that she does have some good ideas.  Take the ant incident for example.  That was pretty creative," said Sirius smugly. 

"I can't believe my ears!  Are you really suggesting that we befriend that annoying girl?"

"I'm just saying it couldn't hurt if we were a little nicer to her.  Maybe then you two can sort things out and not fight like cats and dogs every time you see each other in the halls.  It kind of reminds me of a married couple."

"Oh this is ridiculous.  I'll deal with you later," said James annoyingly. 

He walked to his bedside table and grabbed his jacket and then swiftly strode out of the room slamming the door behind him.  As he reached the bottom of the stairs he heard Sirius's voice echo down the staircase.

"Good luck James.  Try not to fall in love with her!"

Laughter rang out and James's face flooded with rage as he ran out of the Gryffindor common room and into the sun lit halls trying desperately to escape those last few haunting words from his friend.

When James arrived outside of Hagrid's hut for detention he found that Lily was already waiting.  She starred at him as he crossed the field of grass to his destination all the while avoiding eye contact with her.  Sirius's words kept replaying themselves in his head and mixed emotions were wrapped around the entire thought.

"Nice of you to join us Mr. Potter," said a voice behind him. 

James turned around to face Professor Dumbledore. 

"Sorry I'm late Professor.  It won't happen again."

Dumbledore smiled, " I should hope not.  I don't expect you to be getting into trouble again so soon."

"Professor, excuse me, but what are we doing here exactly?" asked Lily curiously.

"Good question Miss Evans.  Sorry to disappoint you two, but your detention is not going to be any ordinary sort.  So give me a few moments to explain the situation.  Actually I think we should go inside to discuss this matter.  Follow me."

Dumbledore walked up to Hagrid's hut and knocked on the door.  A series of loud noises was heard inside the house along with a deep bark from Hagrid's dog, Fang.  Suddenly the door swung open and Hagrid looked with surprise at Dumbledore. 

"Sorry 'bout that sir.  Didn't expect ya to be finished with your conversation with them so soon.  I was just getting the equipment ready."

James and Lily looked at each other with bewildered expressions.

"What does he mean, equipment?  I thought we were having detention, not fighting a war," whispered James.

Lily shrugged her shoulders and quickly starred back up at Hagrid and Dumbledore trying to avoid speaking directly to James.  At the moment she was fighting an inner battle with herself.

'Deep breaths Lily! No use in getting mad at him right now, there's plenty of time for that later on.  Think happy thoughts!' 

Lily shook her head in distaste.

'Ok now I'm scaring myself.'

Dumbledore's voice pulled Lily out of her reverie and she redirected her attention to the event at hand.

 "Hagrid I hope you don't mind but I would like to explain the circumstances to Lily and James inside."

Hagrid nodded in agreement.

"I don' mind at all Professor.  Please come in."

Dumbledore walked into the house and Lily and James followed closely behind.  But just before Lily stepped into the house she stopped and glanced uneasily at the forbidden forest, which was uncomfortably close to her.  Something was different about the woods.  Something bad.