Severus Snape and Luscious Malfoy didn't' even attempt to hide their laughter. Lily however, knowing what they had done, walked over to the two laughing boys.

"Don't think you're going to get away with that!" Lily said to the two boys.

"Get away with what?" Snape asked.

"Don't play stupid. You know what I'm talking about." Lily said in an angry tone.

"O.k. fine. What are you going to do about it?" Malfoy asked.

"Whoever said [U]I[/U] would do anything about it?" Lily asked.

"Well, if you know I did it." Snape started.

"Do you think I'm the only one who knows?" Lily asked.

"Well ,yeah." Snape said.

"Lily snorted. "Yea right! The four of them will get back at you. And they [U]don't[/U] get even! They will get you back worse."

With that Lily turned on her heel, and walked off. The two boys just stared after her. Then looked at each other with fear on their faces.

The two boys however did not have to worry about the Marauder's for long. After all, there were too girls in Slytherin that despised him just as much. There names would have to be the infamous Riley and her Best Friend Sesha. They had witnessed the whole thing, and were already coming up with an idea to get the two Slytherin boys back. Just what that would be however depended on how they would react to the next situation at hand.

The Marauder's were not sure how that had happened to them, but when they saw Riley and Sesha glaring with identical evil expressions on their faces and Snape and Malfoy, and Lily walking away from them, they knew immediately who had done it. They also knew that they would not be the only ones getting back at the two boys.

~*~

Lily was proud of herself. She knew that Riley and Sesha knew, and saw their faces, knowing they were both coming up with an equal horrid plan to do to them. She couldn't wait to see what all would happen.

Riley had plenty of plans in her head but she needed more then just Sesha. She needed someone that was a master at pranks. Someone that would get more then even, someone that would get revenge. And that someone was Sirius Black!

The Marauder's all went up to their dormitory to reverse the potion affects. They also wanted to discuss what to do about their pranksteree's.(is that a word?)

"Do you guys no who did it?" James asked.

"Well, it was kind of obvious. Since when would Snape just get up and sing?" Sirius asked.

"Maybe to become as popular as you Sirius" Peter piped in.

"Yea right!" the other marauder's said together.

"Look Pete. Snape would never be able to be like Sirius, and I highly doubt he would want to." Remus explained.

"Oh. Well, he was copying him." Peter tried to defend himself.

"That was a diversion for his accomplice to poor the potion into our drinks." James told Peter.

"Oh. Who was his accomplice?" Peter asked.

"That we're not sure about." Sirius said. "But I bet I know someone that does."

Sirius couldn't wait for classes to be over. He knew Riley would know who helped Snape. Sesha too. They were both in Slytherin. And if they didn't already know, they would be able to find out. Sirius knew that Snape liked one of them. (He was never sure which one. They both talked about it when he was around) And if worse came to worse, they would be able to flirt it out of him. Even if he didn't want to have to ask them to do that.

~With Snape and Malfoy~

"Do you think they will figure it out? I mean, it isn't that easy to track us is it?" Snape asked.

"Don't be stupid Severus. Of course they will know. Lily will definitely tell them. And if not her, then Riley and Sesha. You know them. They are very acquainted with the Gryffindor's. They are a disgrace to us Slytherin's." Malfoy said.

"No, wait. They may be a disgrace. But they are just human. We could use them to our advantage..." Snape then led Malfoy to the boy's dormitory's to talk out their plan.

The next couple days Sesha and Riley noticed the strangest behavior from Snape. First of all, his hair seemed to be a bit different. It took them a couple days to figure it out, then it came to them.

~*~

Severus Snape was having the most difficult week of his life. Malfoy insisted that it was Snape that would have to change. That he, being Malfoy could get any girl, and that he could get her easily. It was Snape that would have to work at it.

"Oh my gosh! Sesha, have you noticed what I have noticed?" Riley asked her.

"Yes, Snape is becoming, normal. But how? How has he changed?" Sesha asked.

"I'm not really sure. I haven't been able to figure it out." Riley and Sesha both became quiet. Trying to figure out what had changed.

"Did he used to wear glasses, and now wears contacts?" Sesha asked.

"No, did he get new robes?" Riley replied.

"Yes. But I don't think that really matters." Sesha tried to think. "Oh my gosh! I think I got it!"

"What? What?" Riley asked.

"His hair! It's not so greasy. It looks like he brushed it, and it has volume!" Sesha said.

"You are right. I can't believe it! Why do you think the change?" Riley asked.

"I'm not sure. But I kind of like him that way." Sesha blushed, but Riley couldn't help but agree.

The Marauder's also couldn't help but notice this change in Snape. They also couldn't believe the attention he was getting from some of the 6th years. Especially Lily. She seemed to forget that she was mad at him. Here is an example of why:

One day in Potions Lily couldn't help herself but go up to Severus and ask:

"Hey Severus! What's new with you? You seem different." Lily even started to blush.

"I haven't really changed. Just trying some new hair styles" Snape couldn't believe this was working so well.

"Oh, well it suites you. I might even have to ask you out." Lily blushed so red, that you would think she was a cherry.

"Oh, come now. There are other guy's that have stronger feelings for you then me." At this he looked over to James, who looked ready to kill.

"Oh, but my heart is lost to you." Lily looked ready to cry.

"Oh, no it isn't. You just think that because of all these changes I'm going through." with that Snape walked away from Lily to Sesha and Riley.

Lily had seemed to come out of her trance, realized what she did, and fainted.

James and Sirius couldn't help but laugh. Sure, they didn't like Snape, but when Lily was making a fool of herself in front of him, who couldn't laugh? They still decided that Lily was their friend, and would need reviving if she was to learn anything that day. They walked over to her, picked her up, and tried to revive her by lightly slapping her on the cheek. It didn't work. They slapped a little harder. Still nothing. Finally the only thing left to do was to splash water on her face. James muttered some words under his breath and water came out of his want onto Lily's face. That did the trick.

Lily started sputtering, and looked around her. She seemed to have remembered what had happened, because all of a sudden, her face became bright red once again, she quickly stood up, took her seat, and hid her face in a book. (And if ur curious, it was right side up.) The marauder's just laughed.

"Okay class, I'm sure that was all really exciting, but we need to calm down and get to work." The potion's professor said. The class became quiet and they continued with the class.

The next couple weeks were as ordinary and usual as they could be at Hogwarts. December was in the air and everyone was walking around with a cloak on or just over there arms just in case. It was December 21st when Lily got the letter.

[I]Dear Miss Evans;

We are sorry to inform you that your mother has died of depression due to the fact of the death of your father Anthony Evans about three days ago. We know that it may seem as a big shock that your mother could die so soon of depression. We believe it is due to the fact of how your father died. He was murdered by a wizard that you may have heard of. The Dark Lord, Lord Voldemort. We ask that you stay at Hogwarts over Christmas break, and when the affairs are in order for the funerals, we will be contacting you. Your sister Petunia and your older brother Chad, and younger brother's Jake and Jeremy are doing well. Jeremy misses you, and will probably need you to care for him. He seems to be staying away from the others.

Happy Holiday's Alton Harper [/I]

Lily couldn't believe it. She didn't know what to say. She just walked to her dormitory and sat on her bed. James wasn't sure what had happened, but noticed she left the parchment she was reading on the couch.

James cautiously opened the letter and started reading. The rest of the marauder's watching closely. When he finished he just kind of sat there as if not sure what he should do. He was just thinking of going up to the common room to comfort her when another owl came into the common room. This time with a letter to James.

[I]Mr. Potter

We need to have a meeting with the prefects and Head boy and girl. We need to discuss some important business that has come up.

Headmistress Professor McGonagall. [/I]

James wasn't sure if Lily had also gotten a letter, but his question was answered when she came down the stairs with her prefect badge on and her robes done all nice. He could tell however that she had been crying. He just simply walked up the stairs linked his arm around hers and they walked to Professor Dumbledore's office together.

When they arrived at Professor Dumbledore's office everyone else was already there. They took a seat next to each other and waited for someone to speak. It was Professor McGonagall who spoke first.

"We have decided to have a New Year's Dance if you didn't already know." She said. "And we need to decide what the theme will be."

"I got an idea!" James exclaimed.

"What is it?" McGonagall asked.

"Why not do something like, every couple dresses alike as someone from the past. Like Godric Gryffindor and his wife and couples like that."

"That is a good idea. Perhaps we should set up a time frame though." McGonagall suggested.

"That would be fine" James said.

They talked for a little while more and then the meeting was adjurned.

~*~

James wasn't sure what he would say to Lily. He knew he'd have to say something on the way back to the common room; he couldn't stand the silence any longer. It was bad enough on the way to the meeting. He decided he might as well tell her he had read the letter and there was no point in denying that he had read it.

"Lily" He said in a soft voice. It took her a minute or two to answer

"Yes, James?" Her voice was quiet and sad.

"I read the letter." This time Lily didn't answer. James looked over and saw the tears in her face. He decided just to continue, "I can't say I know what you are going through, but I can say I am here as a shoulder to cry on." Again Lily didn't reply. James wasn't sure what else to say, so he just grabbed Lily by the hand and held it comfortingly. (don't know if that is a word but it is now)

James didn't realize it for a while, and then he figured out, that Lily wasn't headed to the common room. She was headed for a place in the castle he had never been before. He wasn't sure what she was going to do, but he followed anyway.

It took about another fifteen minutes of walking for Lily to finally stop. She looked around for a moment then, seeming satisfied, opened a door that James hadn't noticed until then. She walked in, letting go of James hand. She didn't seem to wait for him, but he decided to follow anyway.

The room was breath taking. James didn't want to move or make any sounds. It had paintings of white birds everywhere. They were in mid flight or nesting or sitting on the ground or sleeping. The background was a sky blue that added perfectly to the white. There was a bed, a couch, and a dresser. He even noticed a door in there. He figured it led to another part of this "house." He noticed other doors too, but they were hard to see. They all blended into the wall, and the door handle was just like a bracelet that just sat there, but was painted with the wall. You couldn't notice the hinges at all. James just stood there staring, then he remembered, Lily.

He looked over to her and saw that she was sitting on the couch. He didn't know what else to do so he went and sat down beside her. They sat in silence yet even longer. Then our of no where she broke down.

"James why did this have to happen to me? My family? We didn't do anything wrong. And to top it all off, they were muggles. How could he have known about them? How could he know he could do that? Tell me James. Tell me!" Lily just sat there with her head in her hands. James wasn't sure what to say. He just took Lily and held her, and then decided the only thing to say was this:

"Lily. We all go through trials in our life. Some seem ridiculous and pointless. As if there is no point to it. Then as we grow older we see the point behind it. We understand that it had to happen. I know it is hard, although I don't know how it must feel. I've never lost someone. But you must know that your parents loved you and you loved them, and still do."

"But what about Petunia? She hates me! How will I face her? She will hate me even more. She will blame me for this. And she'll probably convince the other's too."

"Lily, please. How could Petunia blame you for this?" James knew that he shouldn't be asking questions, but he wanted to understand.

"Because, well I don't know. Ever since I got my letter, she's called me "freak" and she ignores me, and does anything to make my life a living Hell. I just want her to understand me, she doesn't have to love me, but this just makes it all harder."

"Lily, I think she shuns you away because she is scared of change. She doesn't understand what it is like. She is one of those people that doesn't like change."

"What about Jeremy? He is only ten. How will I explain this to him?"

"Lily all I can say is follow your heart."

Lily was glad to have James there. She needed someone to lean on. Someone to understand her. She was glad that person was James. They both just sat there on the couch. Lily crying on James lap, and James putting his hand through her hair, and rubbing her back.

Lily and James walked back to the common room together, linked by the arm, and Lily's head resting on his shoulder. It was late at night, about one in the morning and was surprised to see two figures skirt pass. Knowing as Prefects they needed to check it out, they followed. They only had to follow for a few moments before the two shadows stopped. Lily and James walked over silently and noticed it was Sirius and Riley. They seem to be having a heated discussion about something. The two didn't want to interrupt after all it was there two friends, but they had no choice. James cleared his through and Lily tapped her foot, worries of her home life forgotten.

Sirius and Riley looked up. They both smiled and seemed to be surprised to be caught, especially by these two. They decided they had better explain.

"It's not what you think" Sirius started.

"And what do you think we think happened?" James asked with an evil glint in his eye.

"Don't act stupid James, it isn't becoming of you." Sirius instantly replied.

"Me? Act stupid? Never!" James laughed.

"Anyway. What were you doing?" Lily asked, looking at Riley.

"Oh. We were talking about Sesha." Riley replied.

"Why in the world would you be talking about her at one in the morning?" Lily asked.

"Because I need help, and Sirius is the only one I can think of to help me." Riley started to blush.

"Omigosh! What happened?" Lily asked.

"I'll give you one guess" Sirius sneered.

"Snape" all four said at once.

"Share with all!" James said.

"Yes, do tell" Lily added.