Disclaimer: nothing is mine.

Chapter Six – Damsel in Distress

James entered the Great Hall with Sirius to see Lily sitting alone near the middle for the table. They headed over to her only to find her eyes closed, one bruised and her lip cut as she rested her head in her hands.

"What happened to you?" Sirius gasped as he caught sight of her face from across the table.

Lily opened her eyes, the black one only half way and looked up at him, "Oh, hey Sirius, I didn't hear you coming."

James sat down next to Sirius and his eyes widened, "What's with the war mark, Evans?"

"I ran into Malfoy and some forth year called Regulus after I left you guys in the common room. They're in the hospital wing right now."

"How come them and not you?"

"Give me credit Potter," Lily scowled. "After they hexed me I cursed them into turtles with fairy dust coming out every time they open their little mouths."

James and Sirius looked impressed at this, but Sirius soon turned his attention back to Lily's face. "How come you didn't get Pomfrey to fix your face?"

Lily shrugged, "No need, it attracts to much attention. Clover will fix me up once she gets here."

"Why do you do everything you can to avoid telling on Malfoy?" James asked as he pulled out his wand.

"I get tried of telling the same story. Boy your slow, Potter, we went through this yesterday."

"Yeah and it still doesn't make sense to me," James pointed his wand at Lily's face, "Curatio."

Instantly the bruise around Lily's eye and her cut lip healed and her face returned to normal. Lily blinked and stared at James. Her hand reached up and she touched her lip and then the skin around her eye.

"Thanks," she said surprised.

"No point waiting for Clover when I could do it, it would only have given more people time to see you face," James said. He turned to his breakfast as Lily continued to stare at him.

Sirius saw her expression and grinned, "Eat Lily, you look like you haven't seen food in weeks."

Lily blinked again, "Oh, I'm not hungry." She got up and walked towards the doors to the Entrance Hall. When she'd left Sirius turned to James, his face half sad, half angry.

"It was Regulus."

"Oh God, I hadn't realised," James looked at Sirius in horror.

"It was my own God damn brother that attacked her," Sirius said grimly.

Lily turned into one of the dungeon corridors late at night. She'd been helping Professor Valank in the Potions room, brewing a potion that he'd need for his first years. She didn't particularly like being down in Slytherin territory this late alone, but what could she do?

Halfway down the corridor one of the tapestries lining the halls flapped open and the boy that had been with Malfoy that morning stepped out in front of Lily. He grinned when he saw Lily and moved toward her.

"So Mudblood, we meet again," Regulus said.

"Yea, except this time my back's not turned," Lily raised her wand and aimed at Regulus, "Expelliarmus."

But Regulus was ready, "Protego." Lily's spell deflected and headed back towards her. Her wand flew form her hand and scattered to the floor.

"Petrificus Totalus," Regulus cried and Lily's body froze. She watched, her eyes barely moving, as Regulus moved closer and closer. "You know," he whispered in her ear, "You're exceptionally beautiful for a Mudblood."

He then grabbed Lily's shoulder and crushed his lips against hers. Lily's brain cried out for her arms and legs to work and stop him, but they wouldn't move and Regulus continued his exploit. His hands moved over her and warm bile rose in disgust in Lily's throat.

The Regulus was pulled off her and Lily saw him fall to the ground, blood blossoming over his robes. She couldn't see anything for a moment and then suddenly Lily was free. She quickly back up away from the fallen boy. She kept going until she hit a very solid something. Biting her lip she turned to find herself looking at Sirius Black. He smiled down at her as she threw her arms around him in a quick hug.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you," she said. "But what were doing down here so late?"

"I came to have a chat with my dear brother," Sirius grimaced.

"I didn't know you had a brother Sirius, what's he like?"

Sirius stared at her sadly, "You've already met him," he said looking down at the boy on the floor. He kicked one foot and out and connected with the boy's stomach. "Get up Regulus you sick sod."

Regulus groaned and slowly sat up. He glared at his older brother and got to his feet. "You're a disappointment to our parents, Sirius. They don't want you to come back after this year and who could blame them – look at you; associating and saving Mudbloods. I -"

Regulus couldn't say anything anymore about why Sirius was such a disappointment to his family due to the fact he was lying back on the floor, a brilliant red mark on his cheek. Sirius shook his hand and looked at Lily.

"Sorry you had to see that. I think that was a good enough chat, let's go," Sirius turned and walked down the corridor, grabbing Lily's hand and dragging her with him. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, fine now thank to you."

"Anything for a friend," Sirius grinned.

"Friend?"

"Yes, friend. You're one of the only girls I can talk to and there wouldn't be any underlying sexual tension," Sirius said seriously. "Plus, you're important to James which makes you important to me."

Sirius continued walking and Lily followed him slowly back to the common room. As they entered through the portrait hole Lily was surprised to find only Remus and James still up. She glanced up at the clock and gaped as she realised it was two in the morning.

James stood up," Hey Padfoot, did you talk to your brother-"

He trailed off as he caught sight of Lily behind Sirius. He ran a hand through his hair nervously, "What's up Evans? Out of be so late?"

"I caught Regulus tormenting her again. He petrified her and by the looks of things was set to have his way with her," Sirius spoke for her.

"He did what?" James cried, "God, Lily are you alright?"

"I'm fine Potter, I'm going to bed," Lily pushed past the boys and moved toward the stairs. She didn't see James watching her or the grin Sirius shot at Remus or the smirk Remus returned as he caught Sirius' thought.

Lily collapsed on to her bed and groaned. Why am I always in trouble whenever I see the Marauders? God, I must have damsel in distress written all over my face, she thought. Then her thoughts drifted elsewhere. Regulus Black, brother of Sirius. She'd known that his family had Dark Arts written all over them but how could Sirius be so good when his brother was so bad and a Slytherin. Something had to have happened to make him change his mind.

Please review? Breaks my heart to think no one reads my story... it seriously does.

LittleAquarianPrincess