Still clutching hands, Sirius and Jessi appeared in front of the gates of Hogwarts.

"Whoa, Deja vu."

"SIRIUS, THIS IS NO TIME FOR JOKES!"

Sirius hid a smile that threatened to escape; even worried to death, Jessi still found time to yell at him.

Together, they ran up to the castle. As they ran past the seventh year Transfiguration classroom, twenty Gryffindors looked up; some of the more mischievous ones waved. Jessi grabbed Sirius' hand before he could wave back. Minerva gave her class an assignment and ran to catch up with the pair.

"What's wrong?"

"Someone attacked the girls' flat... it's horrible," said Sirius flatly, racing up the staircase with the women on his heels.

"Thank God we were all out."

Minerva's face was white. As they reached the hall where Dumbledore's office was, she said, "The password's been changed; Peppermint Humbug."

The wall was suddenly gone. Dumbledore was waiting, wearing his cloak.

"I know. Come on." Without another word, Dumbledore ran down the stairs. As Sirius followed him, he thought, ~ Man, Albus DOES keep in shape, for however old he is.~

As they arrived at the house, Dumbledore ran quickly inside, and saw Lily reaching for one of their shredded photo albums.

"Lily, don't!" But it was too late. Both Lily and the book vanished.

"Lily! Albus, what... she didn't..." stuttered James with a pale face.

Dumbledore barked, "Everyone out of the house, and DON'T TOUCH ANYTHING!"

Spurred into action by Albus' gruff tone, they ran outside.

"What happened to Lily?"

"A Portkey. There's nothing we can do but wait..."
~*~*~* Death Eater Hideout, Place Unknown*~*~*~

Lily blinked and let the book fall to the floor, hand immediately on her wand. She heard a soft cackle and spun, eyes instantly adjusting to the dark light of the corner. A man stood there, tall with jet black hair and blue butcher's eyes. Her eyes narrowed, but she kept her fear in check. Her friends being Aurors, she knew EXACTLY who this was: Tom Riddle, also known as Lord Voldemort.

"Lily Marie Evanssss."

She decided to be sarcastic and dropped a small curtsey, sneering in his face.

"Pleased to know I'm so well known in the Dark Circles," she snarled.

Voldemort started to circle; her sharp eyes saw that he was seemingly unarmed.

"No, no... Just to me. You see, I am, in fact, a Seer... and you seem to play a significant part in my future, my dear.... Mrs. Potter."

Lily's face registered no shock, no surprise... but inward her mind was reeling. ~He knows,~ stabbed and drove itself into her brain.

She mustered up her voice and surprisingly made it sound normal. "And just what do you intend to do about that, Mr. RIDDLE?"

Voldemort flinched slightly at his hated name. She watched him through narrowed eyes.

"Oh, nothing yet. Perhaps, though, a few days... expelliarmus... without your wand in this cell and a few 'sessions' with one of my Death Eaters will persuade you to be more lenient to my cause."

Lily gritted her teeth and suddenly plopped down on the floor of the cell, black cloak and robes spilling around her.

"Perhaps it will, perhaps it won't. Time will tell you, however... that I'm favoring the second. "

She started humming, and Voldemort Apparated out of the room. She started thinking, desperately, for a way out, and remembered something in her sixth year DADA classes. It was a long shot, but if she waited for the right time...

Lily went through three or four "sessions" over the next week. One of which, the worst and latest, was from Voldemort himself.

When a Death Eater entered, it was someone Lily vaguely recognized. She searched frantically in her mind for the name, and grasped it.

"Gabby Malfoy. Congratulations on your current marriage to Lucius."

"Too bad I can't extend the same to you and James," she said just as sarcastically.

"Yes, too bad."

"Oh, well, nice chatting with you, Evans, CRUCIO!"

Lily locked her knees and refused to collapse. She forced through clenched teeth, "Is that the best you can do, DEATH EATER?"

While Gabby was slightly confused, Lily roared, "ACCIO WAND!"

Her wand floated through the keyhole of the padlocked cell and landed in her grip. Even as Gabby was shooting the Crutatious Curse at her, she Disapparated.
James was sitting in his living room, hands gripping his hair, when there was a crash in the kitchen, and Sirius' startled voice cried out, "Lily!"

James jumped up, running into the kitchen. Sirius was already on his way out, a convulsing Lily in his arms.

"Crutacious Curse. Albus!"

Dumbledore ran in quickly and removed the curse. Lily sat up and took a few deep breaths.

"Lily, what happened?" asked Dumbledore urgently.

"Can't this wait, Albus?" asked James with a worried frown.

"No!" cried Lily.

They looked at her in surprise. Dumbledore smiled.

"If I wait, I could forget something important, something that could help!" Throwing a look at James, she began.

When she finished, she stood and said, "Now I am going to drop dead on my bed and sleep for the next day." She walked over to the stairs and paused, saying over her shoulder, "Oh, and Albus? Inform the Aurors that I'll be starting training on Monday."

Then she was gone. James ran up after her.

"Lily, you're going to be an Auror? But... I thought.... oh, Lil, you can't!"

He regretted the words the minute they were out of his mouth. She spun.

"EXCUSE me? I CAN'T? You may be my fiancé, James Potter, but you are not my keeper! You did not just face Voldemort and his Death Eaters! You have NO idea. I know you'll be worried here, but you'll be..."

James grabbed her shoulders and said softly, "On missions with you."

She stopped ranting and gaped at him. "Excuse me?" she whispered.

"Oh, get off it, Lily! Of course I'm going to do it with you. I...I need to get over my father. It's been so long. And they need all the help they can get. Besides," he smirked, "I can't let you one up me, can I?"

She hit him good naturedly, then collapsed in her bed with a groan. James puled the covers over her and gave her a kiss. "Love you, Lily."

"Love you too, honey," she yawned before dropping into sleep.

James smiled and closed the door softly. He went back downstairs.

"Well?" asked Albus.

"Tell the Aurors... Lily and I will BOTH be starting training on Monday." He gave a weak smile and also disappeared.

Sirius was staring after James in shock. Then he looked to Albus with a small smile on his face.

"I TOLD you Lily had him wrapped around her finger!"

Albus smiled back and rose, answering back, "And I told YOU, Sirius, that I'd known that since they walked into my office in their third year. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to get back to Hogwarts and inform the staff that Lily is back safe and sound... and inform the Aurors about the new recruits."

Sirius smiled and left, also, to tell Remus and the girls about Lily's safe return... and their new team-mates.