Hola peoples! Can you believe that the third Harry Potter movie is coming out in 18 days? But, uh, who's counting, right? I'm soooo excited to see it, even if they are completely different from the books. I just hope that they don't mess anything up. I know it might sound weird coming from a hard-core Harry Potter fan, but I sort of wish that they didn't make the movies. Don't get me wrong—Daniel Radcliffe is a great Harry (and he's pretty cute!)—but I just hate how everything isn't how I pictured it. Maybe that's selfish. Does anyone else feel that way? Let me know in a review!

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Chapter 29

Moody's Hints

The weekend slid by, and with it came the first of May. Summer was starting to look closer from this side of Easter Break, and Lily couldn't wait to be free from homework.

But Monday came, as always, and Lily and the Marauders headed to Moody's class not expecting much. Surprisingly, Moody passed out practice test papers, and asked everyone to take it seriously.

"All right, all right." Professor Moody said, as the clock ticked closer to the end of class. "Pass your papers up to the front." Lily threw down her quill and passed her practice test forward. "Also, I've got some progress reports here, so you can see how much you have to study for my real test." He chuckled, as he moved down the rows handing people small pieces of parchment with varying degrees of disappointment. "Once you have your grade, just pack up."

When he arrived to Lily, he smiled. "Here you are, Lily. I can tell that you've been working hard. Congratulations." Lily thanked him, and looked at the paper anxiously.

Lily Evans, first period, Monday

-A

Smiling contently, Lily packed up her things, and headed for the door along with the other students.

"Lily," Belle said, pulling her aside. "Look at my grade! He gave me a D!"

"It's a D plus, actually." Lily said comfortingly. "And it's only a progress report. You can still bring it up."

"I'm going to talk to him." Belle said determinedly. Then she added softly, "Will you come with me? Please?"

"You're not scared of him, are you?" Lily laughed as Moody walked up to his desk.

"Of course not! Don't be silly!" Belle scoffed, but looked at Lily pleadingly. "Just come with me?"

"You know I will. Come on then, before the bell rings." Lily said, giving Belle a slight poke in the back.

"Perfect." Belle said uneasily, as she marched up towards Moody who was seated at his desk.

"Hardly seem to need me, do you?" Lily muttered to herself, as Belle approached the desk.

"Yes, Figg?" Moody growled from behind his desk. Belle took a settling breath.

"I wanted to-"

"Talk about your grade?" Moody interrupted. "I heard you talking to Evans. The only reason it looks that bad is because you don't do some of the homework. You could really succeed in this subject if you put more effort into it. You're another one who might want to consider a career as an Auror."

"Really, sir?" Belle said in astonishment. "You think so?"

"If you work at it, yeah." Moody said. "Now get to class." He said, just as the bell sounded.

Lily turned to leave, but Moody barked at her and James to stop.

"James--Lily. Stay. I have to talk to you about something." He called. Lily stopped in her tracks and headed back towards Moody's desk with James at her side.

"What about sir? We're both passing your class…" James said.

"It's not about my class." Moody snarled. His blue eye was going berserk in its socket, as it searched the emptying room. "It's about the Stone of Rialle."

Lily gasped softly. What new information could Mad-Eye Moody possibly have for them?

"Outside sources have told me that Voldemort's getting closer to Hogwarts. I'm sure you've seen it in the Prophet." Moody said gruffly. "And I'm sure that you know why he's headed here."

"Because the Stone's here. We know… you told us." Lily said.

"For sure." Moody said. "They're coming for it-- and soon."

"But Professor, where is the Stone?" James asked him.

"Dumbledore thinks I shouldn't tell you, so I won't because I trust his judgment. But I do think that you should be on your toes. He could arrive here any day now." Moody replied. "And Dumbledore doesn't think that we should get dementors."

"Well, dementors are the Dark Side's natural allies." Lily said smartly. She looked at the professor's solid face and added, "What should we do when he gets to Hogwarts?"

"Protect it with your lives." Moody said as though this were the most obvious thing.

"Protect the Stone?" James repeated. "You- a teacher- are telling us that we should risk our lives to save that stone?"

"Yes." Moody said. "You do of course realize that there will be no life worth living if Voldemort gets that Stone?"

"Well, yes, but--"

"I know that you were going to try to protect it, anyway." Moody said. Lily and James exchanged guilty glances. "Dumbledore tells me that you both are those kind of people. So, I'm giving you permission to go for it. And I'm giving you help: If Voldemort gets in the castle, come up to my office. There you'll find something that might be useful. Take it, and go up to the owlery."

"The owlery?" Lily repeated. "Why? What's in there?"

"You'll understand when the time comes. I don't want to tell you any more, in case something happens--"

"Like what?"

"Like spies, Potter." Moody said softly. "Now off to class with the two of you. And remember-- constant vigilance!"

"Wait a minute--spies?" Lily repeated. "What do you mean by that?"

"Get to class, Evans." Moody laughed huskily.

"Hold on, Moody- you don't seriously think that there's Death Eaters here at Hogwarts? Who are you trying to fool?" James said derisively.

"Listen, I've told you too much already." Moody said. "Now I admire your ambition, but you're really pushing me, here. Get to class. Both of you."

"Moody-"

"James, let's just go." Lily said, cutting him off and grabbing his elbow. She steered him out of the classroom with a nod of thanks to Professor Moody. When the door was securely closed, she looked at James. "What are you thinking? You can't say those things to a teacher!"

But James shrugged her away. "Can you believe that guy? He gives us a hint, then leaves us hanging!"

"He's worried." Lily said a little softer. "All the teachers are."

"You think so?" James questioned.

"Yes! Haven't you seen their faces when Voldemort is mentioned? And don't you read the papers? Muggles are being attacked right and left! Not to mention your dad--"

"Okay, so they honestly think that Voldemort's headed here?" James asked her quietly. Then Lily realized how rude it was to refer to his father.

"Certainly. I saw him in the Forest, didn't I?" Lily said coolly.

"You're taking this awfully well." James said with surprise. "I'd think that you'd be a little more afraid."

"I'm sure that we've faced the worst down behind that mirror." She replied, shrugging. "But Moody's right this time: we should be on our toes."

"I guess so." James said uneasily.

"What's wrong? Don't you agree?"

"Well, no." James replied. "But now I know that he's capable of… murder."

Lily grew silent. She couldn't think of anything to say. Even with all of her dangerous encounters this year, why didn't she think that death could be knocking? She remembered that at the beginning of her seventh year, she had been terrified-- why wasn't she now, when death really was nearby and possibly lurking in the Forbidden Forest at this moment?

"We should get to class." Lily said, walking away down the corridor. The hallway suddenly felt a great deal colder, and Lily found that she was hugging herself.

"Scared?" James called after her. It froze in the air and hovered in Lily's mind. Lily Evans? Scared?

"No." She snapped, and she straightened up and walked down the corridor with her head held high. But in her mind she kept thinking, I'm scared out of my mind, James! You-Know-Who is going to kill you and me, just like he killed your father…