Disclaimer: Most of it's not mine, and if it's yours I apologise for stealing it... unless you're J K Rowling, the theft was completely unintentional. If you are her... um, I'm sorry?

Chapter Twelve

One of the first things Lily asked Madam Pomfrey the next morning was about the glumbumbles. Madam Pomfrey immediately reassured her, saying that the treacle could be bought, although expensively, and there were more important issues at hand.

They were let out of the hospital wing at sunset that same day. Lily and James didn't have a chance to enjoy it, though, because they were summoned at once to Dumbledore's office. Inside were both the headmaster and Professor McGonagall. They both looked unusually grave. Lily and James seated themselves, and waited for one of their teachers to talk. Dumbledore did first, after a moment of silence.

"If you haven't already guessed, we're here to talk about recent activities involving yourselves. Firstly, let's establish the main facts… both the snow-in and the magical moss incident were created and caused by Voldemort. He is responsible for both, as I have recently ascertained. I have also some speculations as to why. Your head of house, Professor McGonagall, knows of your surmises, and she agrees with much of what you've thought." Dumbledore paused, to let this sink in, and both James and Lily nodded. So he continued, "At first, I thought the snow was to keep myself and the other teachers at Hogwarts inside the castle, to prevent us from interfering. Apparently, now, that was just a cover. I strongly suspect that it was to bring you two together. Now we come to the question, what is Voldemort trying to achieve here?

"As Lily suggested, there are two main ideas. One is to get you together, and the other is to tear you apart. We'll start with the evidence for the former theory. Let's go by this theory, for the moment. Voldemort knew you two were enemies. The knowledge of your new friendship, only a few days before your detention, was not apparent to him. He brought you together for longer than we had originally planned, hoping, no doubt, that your enmity would progress into stronger hatred at this enforced company. He evidently hasn't done research enough, always a key fault in many students these days… but I digress. Perhaps you would like to hear of the Indian aspects of witchcraft later?"

Lily and James politely assented, suppressing smiles. This was, of course, extremely serious, and they understood it, but they were both teenagers. Dumbledore's habitual digression wasn't their only source of amusement; McGonagall was flinching every time Dumbledore said 'Voldemort.'

"So, annoyed when his ploy failed, and you showed a contrary increase of attachment towards each other." James and Lily studiously avoided one another's eyes, Lily blushed, and Dumbledore's own twinkled. He continued, "Voldemort thought up another plan. Despite being evil, he is rather intelligent." Lily suddenly realised that she had blushed. Damn it, the charm must have worn off! It was amazing how her attention wandered when she not only knew of the importance of this discussion, but also wanted to hear it. "He may here have used a ploy of your idea, Lily, reverse psychology, or even reverse, reverse, reverse psychology. Either way, you stumbled onto his plan."

James and Lily once again nodded to show that they understood. Professor McGonagall's face was impassive; she had evidently heard this before. James wondered whether she had decided which course was the correct one.

"And now for the other theory," Dumbledore went on. "It is possible Voldemort wants you two together, and the way he has done that is obvious, whether he used plain tactics or any number of psychologies. Either way, it worked." Again, the two blushed, as if on cue. Dumbledore's eyes regained their customary twinkle for a moment, before they dulled once more.

"So now we come to the reasoning. Why? If he wants you apart, it may be for a host of reasons. He wants to avoid the possible strongest witch and wizard of your generation from marrying and consequently becoming stronger. It is also possible that he fears any children that may come about from the union, with good reason. There are other reasons, of course, but those seem the most likely. Possibly, you'll both work for the ministry, and make great changes as a team… but the first seem the most likely. And now, what reasons are there to want you together?"

Lily and James looked at each other. Why would Voldemort want them together?

"Maybe," James said slowly, thinking as he spoke, "It would be easier to… dispose of us if we were together. He could kill us more easily if we were married, and if we were that close, the death of one could force the other to suicide." He seemed to forget that he was talking about himself. "And again, we come to the children… if he or she was that powerful, Voldemort might want to raise it himself, as a successor, or even as a… a partner?" He finished and looked around, seeking the opinions of the others. Dumbledore nodded slowly, his face very grave. Professor McGonagall was biting her lips, but she too looked grave. Lily was white, and she sat rigid in her seat. She appeared to be thinking over everything that had been said, and then she nodded.

"I think it makes sense," she told everyone in general. Slowly, Dumbledore and McGonagall nodded. Then McGonagall said,

"I can think of no other reasons. We seem to have covered all of them. Do you have any suggestions, Albus?"

"Yes. I think that you should continue however you want to. Don't make any decisions because of this Voldemort. Do what you will, but let any choices be made by yourselves, without outside influences. And if you decide to… get married, I suggest you go to somebody to check for any… curses or bewitching you may have unwittingly been put under, or put yourselves under."

"I think that's a good idea." Lily said, gaining more colour in her cheeks. "Thank you, professor."

"Yes, thanks. It helped, a lot…" The headmaster and the Head of Gryffindor smiled at the two Head students. Lily and James took their leave. They were close to the Gryffindor tower when Lily stopped James.

"If you want to talk, maybe it would be better to come to the Head Girl bathroom."

"Good idea," James said, shaking off his thoughtful expression and smiling for the first time since they had left the office. Lily and James took a right turn and then continued on the bathroom. They didn't talk again until Lily had closed the door afterwards.

"I must change that password!" she said aloud, shaking her head ruefully.

"It's still the offensive one about me?" James asked, a small smile on his lips.

Lily grinned and ducked her head, leading the way to the sofas. She and James settled into one of them, and James put his arm around her shoulders. Lily rested her head on his shoulder, and sighed deeply. "It's too much, somehow," she said tiredly. James pulled her closer to him, and put his head on top of hers, answering without words.

They sat there in silence for a while, thinking over their own thoughts, mulling over the problem at hand.

At last, James said decisively, "I think Dumbledore's right. Let's continue as if none of this happened, just… go with the flow."

"Yes. It could have just been a coincidence, or something."

"Yeah."

Time flew, and it was soon the week before Lily's birthday. Lily and James got together once more in Lily's bathroom/sitting room, at James's request.

"So what is it?" Lily asked him.

"Well, remember the last prank? That we did together?"

"How could I forget it?" Lily asked with a smile.

"Exactly! And we've got our NEWTs soon, so we'll probably get loads of homework in the next two terms, not to mention all the studying we ought to be doing. We won't have time to plan pranks, so I think we should go out with a bang on your birthday!"

"Okay… do you have any ideas?"

James grinned. "Of course I've got ideas! There's always the Slytherins, or there are our friends. But I think, this last one, it should be something that the whole school sees, and something that will be our style, without actually proving us guilty."

"Hmm… something big, definitely. And something that rings of us… well, that's easy. Transfiguration and charms, combined, they'll be so strong that only the teachers can take them off! Hopefully."