James stayed all night. He told me what had happened. Harold and Lucy Potter had just brought Cleo home from a friends house, they were decorating the house, when Death Eaters arrived. Cleo had been 10 years old, when she was brutally gang raped in front of her parents, tortured and killed. The same to her mother, her father felt nothing as the crucio curse was put on him, he was killed while we were having breakfast. The Minister of Magic found them. James and Cleo were very close, despite the age gap. James had given her the stag when her first came to Hogwarts, not knowing that was his animagus form. She'd carried it everywhere. She'd been holding it the entire time the Death Eaters were there.

I held James as he cried, I watched him as he threw things, I stopped him when my window became a new friend. He finally fell asleep in my arms in the early hours of the morning. He was still asleep when i woke. I left him a note and regretfully left for breakfast. I was late and the only seat left was next to the Marauders. They were discussing James when I sat down.

'He's asleep.'

All three boys looked at me.

'And how do you know that?'

'There's no need to snap Sirius.'

'You stay awake all night worrying then.'

'I did. I was petrified he might jump out of my window, or seriously hurt himself when he was throwing things around my room!'

Silence.

'No offence Lily, but what was he doing with you?'

I was tempted to tell the whole truth, but resisted.

'his parents and sister were killed yesterday. As you know I lost my parents in July, so I know what he's going through.'

Again, silence.

Then a sniff.

'Sirius?'

'They were practically my parent. They gave me everything a kid needs from when I about 6. I was always a disappointment to my real parents.'

'Follow me.'

All four of us got up and went to the Head tower.

'stay here a minute.'

I went into my room and found James awake and obviously waiting for me. I sat on the bed and in an instant James was on top of me, the glint back in his eyes.

'Thank you for last night and. . . urm. . . sorry about throwing your stuff around.'

'No worries. You needed to do something.'

James leaned in and caught me in a passionate kiss. Before it got any further, I had to stop.

'James. . . stop. . .they're. . . outside.'

James stopped.

'Who?'

'your friends.'

'Shit!'

He rolled off me and tried to make himself more presentable.

'James, they're your best friends, not the Minister.'

He gave up and went into the common room. He told them everything, still holding the stuffed stag. I tried to leave to give them some space, but James wanted me to stay.

The others left and James led me back to my room. I didn't object, he needed to take his mind off things for a while. We laid in each others arms for a while, but soon I started to feel sick, like I'd eaten too much. I knew I hadn't as I'd lost my appetite, but within seconds I was throwing up the small breakfast I had had that morning.

James came over with a glass of water and my dressing gown.

'Lil? What's wrong?'

'No idea. Stomach bug or shock.'

He continued to rub my back. We went for a walk later that day and met up with the other Marauders. Mara and TJ were getting their homework done before they left for home.

I felt better after lunch, but over the next couple of weeks, I was constantly throwing up my breakfast. Something that didn't miss James. He was slowliy recovering and everyone was stating for Christmas except my best mates. This was easier for him as the Marauders were his family in every way except blood.

On Christmas eve, I refused to eat breakfast, but I still threw up anything left in my stomach. Somehow the Marauders got into the Head Tower.

'Lily?'

I heard Remus calling for me. I was about to reply, but I emptied my stomach instead. They found me by the noise.

'Evan, what is wrong with you? You can't keep your breakfast down, even if you don't eat.'

I could have sworn I heard a bit of concern in Sirius' voice. I could tell James was trying very hard not to come over and look after me, but it would blow our cover.

'I just have a bug.'

'what! That lasts 3 weeks, every morning?'

'Black! Leave it!' I warned him, giving him my famous, icy glare.

'Or morning sickness.'

I snapped my head around and stared at the quietest Marauder: Peter.

'It's not possible.'

'Ooooh, is Miss Evan still a virgin?'

Again I glared, my head saying 'No as I slept with your best mate in the bed behind you only last night.' Instead, I blushed and didn't say anything. James came to my rescue.

'Padfoot, there's nothing wrong in being a virgin. At least she has morals.'

Remus and Peter laughed, but stopped when I threw up again.

'Right, that's it.'

I felt strong arms picking me up and walking out of the tower. I opened my eyes and realised it was James.

'J-Potter! What are you doing?'

'Taking you to the hospital wing.'

I groaned, but settled into his arms. When we got there, Madam Pomfrey thought they had hexed me. I was put on a bed and the nurse refused to look at me unless boys left. They did, but extremely reluctantly.

The nurse put screens around the bed and even put a silencing charm around us. I was very confused.

'Madam Pomfrey, what are you doing?'

The older woman sighed and sat on the edge of the bed.

'My dear, I've been watching you. You have no stomach bug.'

I was even more confused.

'What is it then?'

As an answer, the nurse pulled up my jumper revealing my stomach, which I noticed was no longer flat! She waved her wand and muttered something I didn't hear. Then an image appeared, floating above my stomach. An image only an ultra-sound could produce. . .then it hit me!