With three of six tests complete, Sirius, Lily and James were more on edge than usual. What was coming next?

"I don't like this," Lily said watching the sun set on the far away horizon. "It's too quiet."

"Something's about to happen," Sirius agreed, watching the night's blackness absorb the previously clear blue sky. The darkness was moving too mast to be natural and as Sirius pointed this out, all heads tilted up to watch black absorb blue.

"I don't like black," Lily whispered, thinking back to a dark dream, The grassy meadow became dark stone, the blue sky, damp dungeon walls as Lily watched horrorstruck. She was honestly and truly living her nightmare come to life. Or was she? This was her world and she was awake and strong. She could manipulate this dream any way she wanted… couldn't she?

"In a circle, all facing out," Lily murmured facing her back to Alaura's and drawing her wand. James stood to one side, Liandra to her other as Lily waited for the scene to set itself.

"Do not move," Lily whispered. They knew better than to argue with Lily, especially in this situation, and therefore watched as old rusted shackles appeared on the walls and six armed figures sprouted from the floor. Lily was rooted to the spot, forced to watch as her friends were peeled away from the circle one by one. She was then grasped roughly and she struggled hard against her captors but it was no use. The chained her to the wall as had been done in the frightful nightmare at Halloween.

We're done for. We failed you Tanice, I'm sorry. The screaming began as Liandra and Alaura realized what those hooded figures intended to do.

I never thought of you as a quitter, Lily, Tanith's voice sounded in her head.

I'm not, Lily thought tiredly.

Then why aren't you trying?

We've already failed.

Have you? Or is this just what you fear? The scene was moving in slow motion. One figure lifted his wand and pointed it at Sirius.

I didn't want to fail.

You were afraid of it. Lily had to give Tanith credit, if it really was her. She seemed to know Lily better than Lily knew herself.

So what if I was? Knowing that I was afraid of failing doesn't help now.

It doesn't?

Right. Right?

What if you had to overcome your fear to get out? The light bulb came on in Lily's head. If she could only… what? What could she really do?

"Lily!" James called across the chamber. "What is this?"

"Fear," Lily returned, softer.

"We haven't failed, Lil. We only have if you let this happen!" Liandra yelled hysterically as the wand was pointed at Remus. Lily looked to Sirius and noticed that his chest was slowly rising and falling. Sirius, unlike in her dream, was breathing.

Am I really afraid of failing? Lily asked herself, or am I afraid of dark dungeons with shackles that are figments of my imagination?

"Lily!"

We haven't failed. Not until we all give up.

"Lily!"

And I'm no quitter. There was a flash of blinding white light and when Lily woke up, she was lying in the grassy meadow again, the crystal path to her left.

What in Merlin's name…? Lily thought as her test came back to her. They hadn't failed at all, in fact, they had passed.

"I hope I never get caught up in another on of your tests, Lil," Alaura groaned sitting up. Lily only smiled, thanking whatever God was watching over them that every one was safe.

"You were afraid of failing," James said quietly, approaching Lily.

"I'm always afraid of failing, but with so much more at stake…"

"It got magnified."

"Exactly."

"Two tests left," he whispered giving her a hand up and following Sirius and Alaura further down the path.

"And we'll all be here. Every step of the way."