Chapter 7:

The four had come near the end of February, so they really had about a week before the first arrest to observe the people of the town.  The girls in the aforementioned circle had come together and begun having their fits to avoid suspicion.  (A/N: More in next chapter about this.)

On the coldest day of that week, Harry and Ginny were sitting by the fire, talking.  Actually, it was more like a therapy   session for Harry, that slowly turned into a shouting session.

"You don't understand, Ginny!  You still have you family and a future!"

"Well, keep this up and you won't!"

"It's a fifty-fifty chance!"

"Then look on the bright side!"

"You didn't hear the stupid Prophecy!"

"And you did?"  Ginny stopped abruptly at the look on Harry's face.  "Oh my gosh, you did.  I am so sorry.  I had no idea.  Why didn't you tell someone, anyone?"  Silence.  Ginny broke down crying.  "I knew there had to be something other than Sirius.  Everyone could tell.  We didn't want to ask you-"

"Let me put it this way.  There are three people that know the contents of the Prophecy.  One is not generally trusted and currently out of a job.  The other blames himself for everything, and the other is me.  I will do my best to keep it that way."

Ginny gave Harry a huge hug, and they stayed that way for several minutes.  Then again, four people knowing might not be so bad.

*~*~*

"Lily, why do you think that that fortune-teller woman said you were in love?"

"I don't know," she answered gruffly.

"Who do you think it could be?"

"I don't KNOW, Potter!  Besides, Harry and Ginny didn't seem to believe her about them, or at least not Harry.  He obviously knows something about Divination that we don't.  I trust him more."

"But you've known me for six years."

"A) It was not versus you, and B) if by chance it was you I was talking about, he has not pulled pranks on me and annoyed me for six of those years."

"Oh, I'm hurt, Lily."

"I'm sorry, Potter."

"Ooh, is the great Lily Evans stooping to apologies?"

"No, but I am stooping to-" there was a pause as she scooped a snowball, "throw a snowball at you."  There was a split-second pause as after the initial splat, then the woods were filled with shrieking and laughter as they engaged in an all-out snowball fight.

This went on for about ten minutes before they collapsed onto the snow. 

"Why don't you do fun stuff like this more often, Lily?"

"And who says that I don't?"

"If you really did, you would laugh like this more, smile your pretty smile more, and not be nearly as tense and uptight all the time."

"Do you really think so, James?"
"Did mine ears deceive me or did you just call me by my birth name?  I wasn't sure you knew what it was."

"Come on.  We ought to get back.  I wonder how Harry and Ginny are.  When we left they were getting rather cozy."  She ran off, leaving James behind.  That was too close.  I need to rid myself of any feelings for that kid.

James waited for about a minute in shock.  Had Lily actually been nice to him?

When they got back to the house, they saw that both Harry and Ginny's eyes were red from crying.  "Are you two okay?"  Lily asked sympathetically.  "Do you need anything?"

"No, we're fine.  Just some stuff going on back home.  Harry?"

"Yeah, since you seem to have to."

"Well, Harry just lost his godfather last summer.  He had already lost his parents as a baby and been living with his abusive aunt and uncle.  Now his main life line to his parents has been cut, with the exception of one school friend who was previously one of our teachers, therefore mildly intimidating to talk to, and the Potions teacher that his father continually hexed in school will put more emphasis on his father's arrogance.  And, if he dies, there is pretty much no hope for the world, Muggles most likely included."

"Tough life, kid.  I know we can't get specifics, but if you need help, me and Lily would love to," James said.

Lily was touched by the compassion on James's face.  "Maybe if you're this sweet all the time, James, people might tend to like you better."

"Meaning you?"

"Possibly."

Harry and Ginny shared a smile, knowing that the answer really should be "Yes."

A/N: Oh my gosh, I am such a bum.  Sorry for being lazy and not updating, but I have been preoccupied and have writer's block, so sorry.