A/N: I am so sorry for such a late up-date, I've had so much to do. I think I've bitten off more then I can chew. I've got four stories (All Harry Potter), one of them being a HUGE story (A Wrinkle in Time), this one (which I'd like to up-date every other day), a parody (Up-date the same as this one), a collection of stories one (like one shot things about the Marauders) and I've got to write an actual, non-fanfitcion, story and post it on Fiction Press to see if it's worth continuing, because I'm going to use it for English. sigh lol.

I'm not sure how much 1 Gallon is to the dollar, but let's just say 1 Gallon is 2 dollars.

Anyone want to be a BETA for a story? It is a James/Lily one, but it'd help if you had somewhat knowledge of Lord of the Rings. I think I'm doing ok with the grammar and all, but it'd be a big help. :)

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I need something else
Would someone please just give me
Hit me, knock me out
And let me go back to sleep
I can laugh
All I want inside I still am empty
So deep that it didn't even bleed and catch me I...

I'll be just fine
Pretending I'm not
I'm far from lonely
And it's all that I've got

The Used- "All that I've got"

--

Chapter: All that I've got

"So it's settled then?" Asked Sirius, "We're going to buy the shop?"

James nodded, "I owled Mr. Zucchini, this morning. He say's everything it's already for us to move in."

"This is wonderful," Said Priscy smiling, "I can't wait."

"Hang on," Said Lily "What about the payment? 50 Gallons a month."

"I can take care of that," Said James, "I'm sure my parent's wouldn't mind."

"No," Said Lily, "This shop is ours, we're responsible for it." She looked around, "There's 8 of us, so," She scrunched up her eyebrows, "That's about 8 Gallons a month for the rent, but we'll need furniture and everything else of course, so I would say about 10 Gallons a person, each month." She said, "But, after a few months the shop will be able to sustain itself."

"I agree with Lily," Said Sirius, "All in favor say Aye."

"Aye," Said seven voices. Everyone turned to look at Sabrina.

"Bri?" Asked Priscilla, "Is something the matter?"

Sabrina looked away, eyes tearful. "I won't be able to do the shop with you guys," She said "Drago and I are moving to Italy." She looked at them, "We have to get away from my parents."

Priscilla walked to her friend and comforted her, "Now, now, it's alright hun. We'll still be able to keep in touch. Don't you worry about a thing. By, the time you come back, everything will be alright, and we'll have the shop already for your visit."

"Yeah," Said Sirius "You'll see, everything will work out just fine."

Lily nodded, feeling slightly guilty that she didn't know much about Sabrina. Of course, they shared the same dorm for the past seven years, but since day one it was always Sabrina and Priscilla, and Lily and Arya. Lily never resented Sabrina or Priscy, but she never quite let them into her life.

If there was one word to describe Priscilla it was Diva. She was always in the spotlight and loved to make friends with everyone. She was also very beautiful, but unlike most girls, she rarely dated, and preferred spending time with the people she loved. Lily never quite understood how Priscy and Sabrina worked, but they knew each other almost better then Arya and she did.

Lily glanced at Sabrina from the corner of her eye and studied her. Sabrina was defiantly a dark beauty. Unlike Priscilla, she had a tight group of friends but never saw the need to meet more people. She was also in a three year relationship, and quite the envy of most girls. Bri is also a very powerful witch, and was Lily's only main contender for Head Girl. They were both very smart, but being Pure-Blood, Sabrina had the upper edge in most situations. Lily, however, won over the position, by desire and choice. Sabrina did not want the Head Girl badge.

Lily blinked and looked away. The rain splattered against the window pane, leaving an empty feeling to the room. As much as she loved the rain, it always made her feel lonely and small.

"Lily?" Said a distant voice. She snapped out of her trance and turned around to face James.

"Yes?" She asked, confused and slightly embarrassed that she hadn't been paying attention.

"We still want the 10 Gallons per person deal;" He said "Do you agree?"

She absently nodded, "Alright, sound's fine James."

"Are you alright?" He asked concerned, "Do you need to visit Pomfrey?" She shook her head and sighed sadly, glancing at the window.

"I know what she needs," Said Sabrina smiling "A slumber party."

Sirius cheered "I love those things, when is it?" Lily looked at him with a raised eyebrow, while Remus and Peter snickered.

"That's for girls, Padfoot," Said James amusedly "Not you."

Sirius rolled his eyes, "Fine then, have your bloody sleep over. It's not like I wanted to come anyway."

--

James unrolled a note in his hand and glanced at it for the hundredth time.

'Mr. Potter, please meet us on the 5th floor, in the room behind the portrait of Gwendolyn the Heroin. The password is 'Figwit'

He looked up from where he was standing and sighed. Gwendolyn the Heroin looked down at him and raised an eyebrow. She was wearing a white gown, looking nothing like a Heroin, or for that matter, not looking like anyone who had fought in a war. She had long soft curled light brown hair and bright gray eyes. The painting was fabulous. Whoever painted it must have loved deeply.

"Come here to admire my beauty?" She asked amusedly "Or do you have the password."

"I have the password," Said James, timidly, "But, I'm not sure I want to go in."

"James Potter, is it?" She asked "Marauder, and the one who captured Ms. Evans heart?"

James blushed and nodded. "Yes, that's me."

"Call me Gwyen," She said sitting down on a patch of bight green grass. Behind her, in the background stood silver tress, a sparkling waterfall, and a pool of blue water. She picked up a white flower and James watched it sparkle in the sun. She looked up at him. "Something troubling you?"

He nodded and sat down, leaning against the opposite wall. "I'm not sure if I want to do this or not." He bit his lip, "I love Lily, and I keep thinking if I continue this, I'll lose her again." He looked at Gwyen, "I don't want to lose her."

"Do I look like a Heroin?" She asked simply, "Hell, do I look like someone who's been in a war?"

James shook his head, "No, you don't."

"I've fought in two Wizarding Wars and countless smaller ones on three continents. I led thousands of men into battle with everything from horses and swords to wands and magic." She stared at him "I've seen the headwaters of the Nile, and tribes of natives no white man had ever seen before. I've won and lost a dozen fortunes, killed many men and loved only one man with a passion no one could understand. Now tell me, boy, what're you doing?"

"I'm fighting," He said in a small voice, "I'm fighting for good." He sighed "I don't know if it's worth it or not!"

"The end will be worth all of it."

"How do I know that's true?" He asked. "How can I believe that will be true?"

"Sometimes the things that may or may not be true are the things a man needs to believe in the most." She said wisely "That people are basically good; that honor, courage, and virtue mean everything; that power and money, money and power mean nothing; that good always triumphs over evil; and I want you to remember this, that love...true love never dies. You remember that, boy. You remember that. Doesn't matter if it's true or not. You see, a man should believe in those things, because those are the things worth believing in." She stood up, straightened her beautiful gown, and looked at James. "The password?"

James looked down at the piece of parchment in his hand and twirled his wand in his fingers. As for courage and will,' His mind said, 'We cannot measure how much of each lies within us, we can only trust it will be sufficient enough to carry through trials which may lie ahead.'... 'True love never dies'... 'Those are the things worth believing in.'

"Figwit"

--

"Ah, Mr. Potter," Dumbledore said, "You have gotten our emergency letter and have arrived." He pointed to an open seat and ushered James to sit into it. James looked around for familiar faces and saw only one, Mad-Eye Moody, who gave James a curt nod. James looked around for Laurel, but did not see her. 'That's odd,' He thought 'Normally she would be with the order. Then again this is an emergency meeting. Maybe she'll arrive late, as I did.' He took a seat and felt vaguely alone without his mentor sitting beside him, whispering spells and ways of defense.

"Since, this is your first official meeting with us, James," Said Dumbledore, "I will introduce everyone." He looked around at the 15, most trusted Order members. Starting on the right he said, "This is Frank Longbottom and his lovely wife Alice." Two people waved at James, they wore identical cheery smiles. "Made-Eye, you know him of course, ah yes, Dedalus Diggle, Caradoc Dearborn, Benjy Fenwick, Edgar Bones, Elphias Dodge, Sturgis Podmore, Emmeline Vance, Julia Adams and," he looked kindly at the identical twins, who were on James' right, "Gideon and Fabian Prewett."

James nodded and said a warm hello to all of them. He had seen some of them before, out on the battle field. He looked at Dumbledore, and tried to keep the worry out of his voice, "Where is Laurel?"

Some Order members glanced at Dumbledore, some bowed their heads and Frank Longbottom wrapped an arm around his tearful wife. Dumbledore looked at James gravely, "The purpose of this meeting was to inform the Order of a loss within our ranks." James' throat tightened and his hand jumped to his hair nervously. He hoped, prayed and pleaded silently that the worst was not coming. He looked at the door and wished Laurel would come bounding into the room, apologizing for being late. The door didn't open. "As you know, Christmas Eve is tomorrow, and the whole McKinnon family was preparing for a feast. Last night, at approximately 11:50, Lord Voldemort arrived at the McKinnon's home." He sighed deeply "None survived."

James sat expression less as Dumbledore continued. James could hardly hear him talking. He leaned back into his chair and placed his head in his hands.

("We have lost two students here as a result of the attack; Leslie a 7th year Ravenclaw, and Jessica a 1st year Gryffindor.")

James let his emotions get the best of him and he felt a tear slip down his cheek. A hand clasped him on the shoulder and he turned to look into Fabian Prewett's steel gray eyes. He handed James a black wand, "It was her's," He said trying to keep his voice steady, "She would have wanted you to have it."

James carefully took the wand and nodded, looking at Fabian, whispering "Thank you."

Gideon looked at James and whispered, "We're in the same boat as you, James." He looked at Fabian, who nodded, "She was our mentor for sometime." His identical eyes to Fabian sparkled, "She could never keep her temper with us, though, and transferred us over to Mad-Eye."

James managed an amused grin, before thanking the twins once again, and turning towards Dumbledore who was looking at him with a concerned expression. James finally noted that he was still crying and slightly shaking. He wiped his eyes and held steady.

"As I've said before, an announcement about Leslie and Jessica's deaths will be made the day, the students get back from their winter break." He looked at the Order members, ""It's not easy to live life sometimes and face the world with a smile on your face while you're crying inside. It takes a lot of courage to reach down inside yourself, hold on to the strength that's still there, and know that tomorrow is a new day, with new possibilities." He looked at James, "But if you can hold on long enough to see this through, you'll come out a new person, stronger, with more understanding and a new pride in yourself from knowing that you made it. So I leave you with this thought.

Some people come into our lives and quickly go." He said wisely, "Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts and we are never, ever the same."

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A/N: Well, how was it? Read and Review please! :) Yeah, it was kinda short but oh well. At least I got up.