Hey! Here is another chapter! I hope to get out another chapter before Friday midnight! I hope you enjoy it! Please R/R. I don't own any of the characters, and they belong to J. K. Rowling!
That night when Lily came home she was met at the door by Remus and Sirius.
"James is in the library," Sirius told her.
"And?" She looked at both of them.
"Talk to him," Remus pressed.
"Why?" Lily asked. "He's the one who is wrong!"
"We know that but you know James, he won't budge!" Sirius said.
"Fine," said Lily and putting her stuff down she went into the library.
"Hello," she said at the door of the library. James turned and got up. He opened his mouth to speak but Lily walked forward and silenced him. "Let me talk. I appreciate your concern and realize that you have lost all your relatives to Voldemort but I am fine. I know how to fight and I won't die without one. I want to be involved and why let me be the only who can worry. I worry about you every time you go off."
"Lily I... I can't help but feel worried and concerned about you. I love you and I want you to live peacefully and without taxing yourself too much."
"We are at war James," Lily shook her head. "How can I live peacefully? This is what I want to do, and I want to be involved."
James moved to Lily and embraced her, "I wish we weren't in this war. I want nothing more to be with you forever and live without worries."
"That's a good dream James," Lily sighed. "Come on let's get something to eat and maybe go to bed early. And next time an attack comes, we can both worry about each other."
James smiled at her, "Let's go."
In the shadows near the library Remus and Sirius stood. They exclaimed sighs of relief. "Thank Merlin that is over," Sirius leaned on Remus' shoulder and they exchanged a grin.
** James decided at dinner that tomorrow he would have to make it up to Lily. He thought for a while on what he could do and decided a trip to Diagon Alley was in order so he dragged Sirius along.
"What do you want to get?" Sirius asked as they went from one store to another.
"I'm not sure," James sighed and he stopped to look in at a store.
Sirius took this time to look around Diagon Alley. Shoppers walked around quickly, trying to get their shopping done. It had been awhile since Sirius had seen anyone just browse around the Alley, taking their time and enjoying the walk up and down. Ever since Voldemort rose people were fearful of attacks everywhere and preferred the safety of their own house. Sirius looked at his least favorite store, Flourish and Blotts and stared as an attractive 19 years old girl watched out her arms filled with parcels.
"Hey James isn't that Katie Moon?" he nudged James.
"Who?" James asked.
"Over there, near the bookstore," Sirius pointed. "She was a Ravenclaw, in our year."
"Oh her," James looked. "Yeah that's she. She's the one you went out with for a year."
"Yes," Sirius gaped at her. She was alone and her eyes glanced around at the different stores. She was wearing a simple blue robe and her hair was tied up in a bun. "I'll be back." Sirius clapped James on the back. He ran across the street and slowed to a walk as he reached her. He cleared his throat. "Ms. Moon, may I help you carry your packages?"
She turned and looked at him, he smiled widely, "Sirius Black!" She gasped. He bowed slightly, "May I take some of your packages?" he asked again.
She laughed, "If you want."
Sirius had forgotten just how blue her eyes were. He smiled more wide and took most of the packages. He walked along with her. "Where are you headed?" he asked.
"I was just going home by the Floo Network," she told him. "I don't trust Apparition."
"Understandable," Sirius had read that two of her friends had gotten splinched the other day. "How about a drink in the Leaky Cauldron before you go home?"
"That sounds delightful," she laughed again.
Sirius had always loved her laugh. During their 7th year they had dated each other and when graduation had come they had promised to owl each other but with the death of Mr. Potter all thought of her went out the window. He had seen her at the funeral but considering that Mr. Potter had been like a father to him he was almost as upset as James.
They went to the Leaky Cauldron and Sirius quickly got them drinks. They sat down in the corner and talked. Sirius as he listened to her talk wondered how he could have forgotten about her, she was beautiful and very funny. He just listened as she talked about her job at the Daily Prophet and what articles she had written. James came into the Cauldron an hour later and seeing the two together he smiled and went back into the Alley deciding to visit the joke shop.
"Oh Sirius, I've had a wonderful time," Katie laughed and gave Sirius a kiss on the cheek. "I must be heading home though."
Sirius nodded, "May I owl you?"
"I was hoping you would ask," Katie smiled. "Yes, I'll be expecting one."
She left. Sirius just watched her go. He couldn't believe his luck in finding her in the Alley today. He watched her leave by the fire and for several minutes kept his eyes on the fire.
"Sirius time to come back to earth," he heard a laughing voice and turned his glaze away from the fire to the person next to him. It was James.
"I was just thinking," Sirius muttered.
"Of course you were, thinking about a 19-year-old Ravenclaw." James laughed again. "Ready to go home?"
"Yes let's go," Sirius got up.
"Lets hurry, I know you want to go home and write that owl!" James joked and Sirius hit him.
"How long were you listening?" asked Sirius.
"Long enough to know you are in love head over heels," James smiled at his friend and they disapparated.
** A few nights later Sirius who never went to bed until late was in the library when Arabella Figg's head appeared in the fireplace to tell them about an attack. Sirius wrote down the location. He stared at it, not believing what he had just written. No, it couldn't be. No, not them.
"Do you have it?" Arabella asked knowing whose neighborhood it was.
Sirius looked up, understanding passed between their eyes. "Yes." He nodded to her and ran upstairs to Remus' room. He knew his friend was not asleep but reading in bed. He knocked and entered.
"I'll meet you there," Remus told him and they both ran out of his room.
Sirius then went to wake up James. He knocked first incase they were still awake. When he didn't hear anything going on, he entered to find the room in complete darkness. He made his way toward the left side of the bed where he knew James slept. He leaned forward to whisper into his friend's ear to find himself looking red hair. Chuckling he straightened up and looked at them, they were both on the same side of the bed and Lily had her head on James' chest and both his arms were around her.
"James." Sirius leaned back down and whispered in his friend's ear. "James."
"What?" he said still asleep.
"Attack. Muggle world. Don't wake her." Sirius reported to James.
James was instantly awake. He carefully pushed Lily off of him but she woke up.
"What's wrong," she asked opening one eye.
"I have to go," James looked at Sirius and his eyes went to the door.
Taking the hint Sirius left. He waited outside the door for a moment before Lily and James both came out.
"Lily, its 2am why don't you go back to sleep," Sirius said in a hurry.
"I'm coming," she told him.
"But... um.." Sirius couldn't find the words.
"Lets go Padfoot," James told him and they both rushed down the stairs. Sirius hit his forehead. This wasn't going to be good.
He rushed down the stairs after him and grabbed the last broom. He got on and hurried the broom trying to catch up with them. At the gates James turned to him and asked for the location.
"Its Pleasant Lane," Sirius said. Lily's eyes went wide and she disapparated without waiting for the other two.
"What's with her?" James asked.
"I told you not to let come! Her parents live there!"
James swore and went after her leaving Sirius. He disapparated quickly and vanished.
Lily upon arriving ran up to her parent's house. The Dark Mark was hovering over it. She let out a cry and then ignoring the Auror members and a few Phoenix members fighting the remaining Death Eaters she made for the house.
At the door, which wasn't there anymore a man appeared. He gripped her by the arm and spoke to her softly, "I'm sorry Lily."
"My parents... my parents," she looked up at the Dark Mark again.
Remus put his arms around her and she started to cry into his chest. He let her. They stood there ignoring everything going on around them. Finally Remus spoke, "Lets go find the others."
James and Sirius had arrived to find Death Eaters trying to get into another house. They had quick duels with them and won. Looking around he spotted the Dark Mark above the Evans' house. He sighed, "Where's Lily?"
"Where's Remus?" Sirius asked. "I bet he found her." They walked toward the house. "There!" He pointed to Remus and Lily. Remus now had an arm around her and Lily was crying openly.
James rushed forward and wrapped his arms around her. One look from Remus told him what happened. James looked down at his wife who was crying into his chest. The other two Marauders just stood by, Sirius put a hand on Remus who was looking at Lily.
"Is there anything left to do?" Sirius asked.
"Clean things up," Remus shrugged looking around. "The attack is just about over. James take Lily home, and Sirius and I will stay to help."
Nodding to his friends James disapparated both of them home. He picked up Lily and carried her to the house. Ignoring Rosy and the other house elves who had come to see if they needed help James carried her upstairs to their bedroom. He placed her on the bed and then busied himself getting ready for bed. He got in and Lily moved toward him as soon as he got in. He hugged her and let her cry herself to sleep. He lay there knowing how she felt, lost and sad. To have your parents attacked by the man and his followers that you fight everyday and not even know... that was tough. Lily had been so close with her parents and to lose them at the same time. James looked at her and hugged her tight.
**
The wake was two days later. As the older sister Petunia thought it her duty to take care of her parent's funeral. In truth though Lily knew it was because Petunia didn't want Lily anywhere near her and probably thought her responsible.
It was a solemn day. The Marauders formed a protective shell around Lily as they walked into the wake. They all knew what Petunia was like and Lily was torn apart by her parent's murder. James had his arm around Lily and looked around at everyone, almost daring anyone to say anything to her. When they went up to visit the caskets Petunia and her husband Vernon glared at her.
"You murderer," Petunia hissed at Lily.
"She didn't kill anyone," James told her as calmly as he could.
"You and your kind killed her," Petunia lost control and yelled. She started to cry. Vernon stepped forward and comforted her.
"You don't think she is upset over their death? Voldemort killed him, not Lily," James hissed back keeping his voice low. "He could kill you too and you wouldn't know what hit you. We try and protect people."
"Then why didn't you protect my parents?" asked Petunia still crying.
Lily was crying openly, "We didn't know! We had no idea! You don't think if we knew we would have done something? I loved them Petunia! I'd give up my own life to bring them back!"
"Too bad it wouldn't work," Petunia yelled back.
"Enough of this," James placed himself between the sisters. "Lily being a witch had nothing to do with their deaths. If she wasn't a witch there is a chance they could have died. Muggles die every day without the knowledge of Voldemort. He attacks Muggles for fun. If they had been killed they would have been one of the thousand people killed mysteriously. But your parents knew about Voldemort, they knew about our war." James leaned in and spoke to Petunia. "I could have given your parents my protection, but they didn't want it. Don't blame Lily, don't blame anyone but Voldemort." He led Lily away from Petunia and Vernon and the Marauders followed all giving Petunia and Vernon evil looks.
For the next few hours they stood in silence around Lily. A few of Lily's aunts and uncles came up to them and spoke to Lily. She stayed as close as she could to James, glad that they were all there.
A woman that James knew was Lily's favorite aunt came up to them. Sirius and Remus stepped aside and her aunt threw her arms around her niece.
"Oh Lily I'm so sorry," she said. Lily didn't speak but a new set of tears came and she started to cry again. "What was the argument with your sister?"
"She called me a murderer," Lily spoke now still crying.
"What? Why?" her aunt looked back at Petunia wondering what was going on between the sisters.
"I'm a witch! A wizard killed Mom and Dad." Lily cried.
"What?"
"Can we talk more quietly?" James suggested. "Lily is a witch, my friends here Sirius, Remus, Peter and I are wizards. The boarding school Lily went to was Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As Lily said the man who killed her parents was a wizard, a bad one. We are at war in the wizarding world. I offered the Evans' my protection but they didn't want it. They were killed because they were Lily's parents and Lily along with my friends fight the Dark Wizard. But they also could have been killed because of me. My family has always fought the Dark Arts. I believe and though I have not told Lily this that Voldemort might be trying to get me. He will attack those close to me or Lily. I don't know how he found out about where her parents lived though."
"Is Petunia?"
"No that is why the argument came up. Petunia thinks Lily is a freak," James informed her.
"Oh Lily," Her aunt hugged her tightly.
That night when Lily came home she was met at the door by Remus and Sirius.
"James is in the library," Sirius told her.
"And?" She looked at both of them.
"Talk to him," Remus pressed.
"Why?" Lily asked. "He's the one who is wrong!"
"We know that but you know James, he won't budge!" Sirius said.
"Fine," said Lily and putting her stuff down she went into the library.
"Hello," she said at the door of the library. James turned and got up. He opened his mouth to speak but Lily walked forward and silenced him. "Let me talk. I appreciate your concern and realize that you have lost all your relatives to Voldemort but I am fine. I know how to fight and I won't die without one. I want to be involved and why let me be the only who can worry. I worry about you every time you go off."
"Lily I... I can't help but feel worried and concerned about you. I love you and I want you to live peacefully and without taxing yourself too much."
"We are at war James," Lily shook her head. "How can I live peacefully? This is what I want to do, and I want to be involved."
James moved to Lily and embraced her, "I wish we weren't in this war. I want nothing more to be with you forever and live without worries."
"That's a good dream James," Lily sighed. "Come on let's get something to eat and maybe go to bed early. And next time an attack comes, we can both worry about each other."
James smiled at her, "Let's go."
In the shadows near the library Remus and Sirius stood. They exclaimed sighs of relief. "Thank Merlin that is over," Sirius leaned on Remus' shoulder and they exchanged a grin.
** James decided at dinner that tomorrow he would have to make it up to Lily. He thought for a while on what he could do and decided a trip to Diagon Alley was in order so he dragged Sirius along.
"What do you want to get?" Sirius asked as they went from one store to another.
"I'm not sure," James sighed and he stopped to look in at a store.
Sirius took this time to look around Diagon Alley. Shoppers walked around quickly, trying to get their shopping done. It had been awhile since Sirius had seen anyone just browse around the Alley, taking their time and enjoying the walk up and down. Ever since Voldemort rose people were fearful of attacks everywhere and preferred the safety of their own house. Sirius looked at his least favorite store, Flourish and Blotts and stared as an attractive 19 years old girl watched out her arms filled with parcels.
"Hey James isn't that Katie Moon?" he nudged James.
"Who?" James asked.
"Over there, near the bookstore," Sirius pointed. "She was a Ravenclaw, in our year."
"Oh her," James looked. "Yeah that's she. She's the one you went out with for a year."
"Yes," Sirius gaped at her. She was alone and her eyes glanced around at the different stores. She was wearing a simple blue robe and her hair was tied up in a bun. "I'll be back." Sirius clapped James on the back. He ran across the street and slowed to a walk as he reached her. He cleared his throat. "Ms. Moon, may I help you carry your packages?"
She turned and looked at him, he smiled widely, "Sirius Black!" She gasped. He bowed slightly, "May I take some of your packages?" he asked again.
She laughed, "If you want."
Sirius had forgotten just how blue her eyes were. He smiled more wide and took most of the packages. He walked along with her. "Where are you headed?" he asked.
"I was just going home by the Floo Network," she told him. "I don't trust Apparition."
"Understandable," Sirius had read that two of her friends had gotten splinched the other day. "How about a drink in the Leaky Cauldron before you go home?"
"That sounds delightful," she laughed again.
Sirius had always loved her laugh. During their 7th year they had dated each other and when graduation had come they had promised to owl each other but with the death of Mr. Potter all thought of her went out the window. He had seen her at the funeral but considering that Mr. Potter had been like a father to him he was almost as upset as James.
They went to the Leaky Cauldron and Sirius quickly got them drinks. They sat down in the corner and talked. Sirius as he listened to her talk wondered how he could have forgotten about her, she was beautiful and very funny. He just listened as she talked about her job at the Daily Prophet and what articles she had written. James came into the Cauldron an hour later and seeing the two together he smiled and went back into the Alley deciding to visit the joke shop.
"Oh Sirius, I've had a wonderful time," Katie laughed and gave Sirius a kiss on the cheek. "I must be heading home though."
Sirius nodded, "May I owl you?"
"I was hoping you would ask," Katie smiled. "Yes, I'll be expecting one."
She left. Sirius just watched her go. He couldn't believe his luck in finding her in the Alley today. He watched her leave by the fire and for several minutes kept his eyes on the fire.
"Sirius time to come back to earth," he heard a laughing voice and turned his glaze away from the fire to the person next to him. It was James.
"I was just thinking," Sirius muttered.
"Of course you were, thinking about a 19-year-old Ravenclaw." James laughed again. "Ready to go home?"
"Yes let's go," Sirius got up.
"Lets hurry, I know you want to go home and write that owl!" James joked and Sirius hit him.
"How long were you listening?" asked Sirius.
"Long enough to know you are in love head over heels," James smiled at his friend and they disapparated.
** A few nights later Sirius who never went to bed until late was in the library when Arabella Figg's head appeared in the fireplace to tell them about an attack. Sirius wrote down the location. He stared at it, not believing what he had just written. No, it couldn't be. No, not them.
"Do you have it?" Arabella asked knowing whose neighborhood it was.
Sirius looked up, understanding passed between their eyes. "Yes." He nodded to her and ran upstairs to Remus' room. He knew his friend was not asleep but reading in bed. He knocked and entered.
"I'll meet you there," Remus told him and they both ran out of his room.
Sirius then went to wake up James. He knocked first incase they were still awake. When he didn't hear anything going on, he entered to find the room in complete darkness. He made his way toward the left side of the bed where he knew James slept. He leaned forward to whisper into his friend's ear to find himself looking red hair. Chuckling he straightened up and looked at them, they were both on the same side of the bed and Lily had her head on James' chest and both his arms were around her.
"James." Sirius leaned back down and whispered in his friend's ear. "James."
"What?" he said still asleep.
"Attack. Muggle world. Don't wake her." Sirius reported to James.
James was instantly awake. He carefully pushed Lily off of him but she woke up.
"What's wrong," she asked opening one eye.
"I have to go," James looked at Sirius and his eyes went to the door.
Taking the hint Sirius left. He waited outside the door for a moment before Lily and James both came out.
"Lily, its 2am why don't you go back to sleep," Sirius said in a hurry.
"I'm coming," she told him.
"But... um.." Sirius couldn't find the words.
"Lets go Padfoot," James told him and they both rushed down the stairs. Sirius hit his forehead. This wasn't going to be good.
He rushed down the stairs after him and grabbed the last broom. He got on and hurried the broom trying to catch up with them. At the gates James turned to him and asked for the location.
"Its Pleasant Lane," Sirius said. Lily's eyes went wide and she disapparated without waiting for the other two.
"What's with her?" James asked.
"I told you not to let come! Her parents live there!"
James swore and went after her leaving Sirius. He disapparated quickly and vanished.
Lily upon arriving ran up to her parent's house. The Dark Mark was hovering over it. She let out a cry and then ignoring the Auror members and a few Phoenix members fighting the remaining Death Eaters she made for the house.
At the door, which wasn't there anymore a man appeared. He gripped her by the arm and spoke to her softly, "I'm sorry Lily."
"My parents... my parents," she looked up at the Dark Mark again.
Remus put his arms around her and she started to cry into his chest. He let her. They stood there ignoring everything going on around them. Finally Remus spoke, "Lets go find the others."
James and Sirius had arrived to find Death Eaters trying to get into another house. They had quick duels with them and won. Looking around he spotted the Dark Mark above the Evans' house. He sighed, "Where's Lily?"
"Where's Remus?" Sirius asked. "I bet he found her." They walked toward the house. "There!" He pointed to Remus and Lily. Remus now had an arm around her and Lily was crying openly.
James rushed forward and wrapped his arms around her. One look from Remus told him what happened. James looked down at his wife who was crying into his chest. The other two Marauders just stood by, Sirius put a hand on Remus who was looking at Lily.
"Is there anything left to do?" Sirius asked.
"Clean things up," Remus shrugged looking around. "The attack is just about over. James take Lily home, and Sirius and I will stay to help."
Nodding to his friends James disapparated both of them home. He picked up Lily and carried her to the house. Ignoring Rosy and the other house elves who had come to see if they needed help James carried her upstairs to their bedroom. He placed her on the bed and then busied himself getting ready for bed. He got in and Lily moved toward him as soon as he got in. He hugged her and let her cry herself to sleep. He lay there knowing how she felt, lost and sad. To have your parents attacked by the man and his followers that you fight everyday and not even know... that was tough. Lily had been so close with her parents and to lose them at the same time. James looked at her and hugged her tight.
**
The wake was two days later. As the older sister Petunia thought it her duty to take care of her parent's funeral. In truth though Lily knew it was because Petunia didn't want Lily anywhere near her and probably thought her responsible.
It was a solemn day. The Marauders formed a protective shell around Lily as they walked into the wake. They all knew what Petunia was like and Lily was torn apart by her parent's murder. James had his arm around Lily and looked around at everyone, almost daring anyone to say anything to her. When they went up to visit the caskets Petunia and her husband Vernon glared at her.
"You murderer," Petunia hissed at Lily.
"She didn't kill anyone," James told her as calmly as he could.
"You and your kind killed her," Petunia lost control and yelled. She started to cry. Vernon stepped forward and comforted her.
"You don't think she is upset over their death? Voldemort killed him, not Lily," James hissed back keeping his voice low. "He could kill you too and you wouldn't know what hit you. We try and protect people."
"Then why didn't you protect my parents?" asked Petunia still crying.
Lily was crying openly, "We didn't know! We had no idea! You don't think if we knew we would have done something? I loved them Petunia! I'd give up my own life to bring them back!"
"Too bad it wouldn't work," Petunia yelled back.
"Enough of this," James placed himself between the sisters. "Lily being a witch had nothing to do with their deaths. If she wasn't a witch there is a chance they could have died. Muggles die every day without the knowledge of Voldemort. He attacks Muggles for fun. If they had been killed they would have been one of the thousand people killed mysteriously. But your parents knew about Voldemort, they knew about our war." James leaned in and spoke to Petunia. "I could have given your parents my protection, but they didn't want it. Don't blame Lily, don't blame anyone but Voldemort." He led Lily away from Petunia and Vernon and the Marauders followed all giving Petunia and Vernon evil looks.
For the next few hours they stood in silence around Lily. A few of Lily's aunts and uncles came up to them and spoke to Lily. She stayed as close as she could to James, glad that they were all there.
A woman that James knew was Lily's favorite aunt came up to them. Sirius and Remus stepped aside and her aunt threw her arms around her niece.
"Oh Lily I'm so sorry," she said. Lily didn't speak but a new set of tears came and she started to cry again. "What was the argument with your sister?"
"She called me a murderer," Lily spoke now still crying.
"What? Why?" her aunt looked back at Petunia wondering what was going on between the sisters.
"I'm a witch! A wizard killed Mom and Dad." Lily cried.
"What?"
"Can we talk more quietly?" James suggested. "Lily is a witch, my friends here Sirius, Remus, Peter and I are wizards. The boarding school Lily went to was Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As Lily said the man who killed her parents was a wizard, a bad one. We are at war in the wizarding world. I offered the Evans' my protection but they didn't want it. They were killed because they were Lily's parents and Lily along with my friends fight the Dark Wizard. But they also could have been killed because of me. My family has always fought the Dark Arts. I believe and though I have not told Lily this that Voldemort might be trying to get me. He will attack those close to me or Lily. I don't know how he found out about where her parents lived though."
"Is Petunia?"
"No that is why the argument came up. Petunia thinks Lily is a freak," James informed her.
"Oh Lily," Her aunt hugged her tightly.
