~~One Week Before School~~

Lily let out a frustrated grunt. She was trying to lock her very full trunk. She was leaving for Diagon Alley in an hour. Her mom had allowed her to stay at the Leaky Cauldron for her last week of vacation. Jess and Mags were going to be staying as well. She finally clicked the lock down and dragged her trunk down the stairs, well pushed it down. She went into the kitchen to get a drink when the phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Lily! You can't avoid me forever. You promised me th-"

Lily hung up the phone and sighed. She hadn't spoken to Remus since what happened at Diagon Alley. He had sent her numerous letters and now Lily supposed she had found her number and tried using a muggle phone. She still wanted to help him but now he needed to prove to her he still wanted her to and that he deserved it after ditching her.She poured herself a glass of lemonade and then went to get her mother to leave.

~~After a Long Car Ride~~

Lily stepped into the Leaky Cauldron dragging her trunk behind her. She greeted the Tom (a younger one) and he handed her a key to room five. He magiced (word??) Lily's trunk to her room and she headed upstairs.

Lily started feeling really tired. She walked up the stairs to her door and unlocked it. Her legs felt like they were about to buckle under. She got to her bed and passed out. She hadn't noticed her ring glowing. After the last time she passed out because of it she turned the ring so the rose was on the inside of her hand to avoid looking into it.

Lily woke up to a pounding on her door. She could hear frantic voices. She climbed out of bed feeling a little lightheaded. Slowly, she crossed the room and opened the door.

"Can you guys lower your voices please? I have a headache." Lily said quietly.

Jess, Mags, Remus, Sirius, and James were standing outside her door.

"Lily! Oh my gosh! We were knocking on your door for almost an hour! What the heck were you doing?" Jess exclaimed.

"Jess calm down. I was sleeping."

"What? Sleeping? Come on Lily you can't be serious."

"Yes Maggie I am. Now if you'll excuse me I'm not feeling well." Lily said in a whisper than slowly shut the door.

The five people stared at the door that had just been shut in their face.

"There is definitely something going on that she's not telling us." Jess said.

The other four nodded and headed towards their rooms. Except Remus. He knocked lightly on Lily's door. No answer. He opened the door. Lily was sitting on her window seat looking out over Diagon Alley. He knew she had heard him when he closed the door. He stood there waiting for her to say something. Finally she did.

"I need help Remus."

"How did you know it was me?"

"You'd be there only one who could tell I was lying." She simply said.

He smiled and crossed the room. He sat down across from her. His facial expression changed.

"What's going on Lily?"

Lily still hadn't looked at Remus. She then turned and looked him directly in the eye.

"Where were you that Saturday?"

"Lily I'm really sorry about that. I went with James and Sirius. I just lost track of time. I totally freaked when I saw you storm out of the Leaky Cauldron. You can ask them."

Lily smiled at this and turned back to looking out the window.

"What are you hiding Lily?"

She looked at him. "This secret is mine to keep."

Remus looked at her. She was looking terrified at the palm of her hand. It was the ring he had asked her about last Christmas. He watched her put the ring on making sure she couldn't see the rose. She looked at Remus and saw he was staring at her.

"Let's find everyone and get some dinner." She said as she stood up. Remus followed her out of her room. He went to get James and Sirius as Lily went to get Jess and Mags.

The next day they went to get their school supplies. Lily had fun and met up with some people she knew like Emma and Meg. When she saw Emma, Lily asked if she had seen Jacks since her party but Emma said she hadn't. No one had seen or talked to Jack. Lily started to worry and told the others she was going back to the Leaky Cauldron to send a letter to Jack. When Lily got to her room she saw an envelope on her dresser. She looked around the room and saw Zowie perched on the window. She opened the envelope and had to grip the bedpost to keep balance. She was reading an article from the Daily Prophet.

WITCH FOUND DEAD

Cathy Stone was found dead in Cherry Park last weekend. Cathy, wife of David Stone and mother to daughter Jacqueline, had been missing since last Christmas. Cherry Park, only a few blocks from the Stone residence, had been searched but apparently not well enough. Two kids found the body in a cave. When ministry officials got to the scene they found Dark Mark symbols throughout the cave. Mediwizards have announced she was killed with the Unforgivable Killing Curse. There was a preserving charm on the body suggesting Mrs. Stone was killed quite a while ago. The Daily Prophet sends its condolences to her family.

Lily blinked back tears. She took another piece of paper out of the envelope and recognized Jack's handwriting.

Lily,

I thought I would send you the news since you can stay strong. I can't even write this letter. I don't know when I'll be coming to school.

Keep in touch,

                       

-Jacqueline

Lily didn't know what to do. Jack expected her to stay strong. This was the most tragic thing Lily had ever heard. She sunk to the floor and let a few tears escape. There was a knock on the door, which Lily ignored, but whipped away her tears. She was just staring at the article. She heard the door open and looked up. James was standing in the doorway looking around for Lily then spotted her on the floor.

"You okay Lil?"

She looked up at him. No one ever called her Lil, but she liked it. She snapped out of the thought and shook her head at him muttering "No."

James crossed over to her and sat down.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

Lily just stared at the article. James taking the hint leaned over and started to read. His expression changed to shock.

"Oh my god…"

"James please go get everyone and bring them in here." Lily said very shakily.

James left the room quietly. Ten minutes later he returned with everyone and a very angry Sirius.

"James what the hell is your problem? I was bu-"

"Shut up Sirius." Lily said quietly.

Sirius continued. "SHUT UP SIRIUS." Lily yelled.

Sirius stopped talking and stared at Lily. He was surprised. Lily never was that hostile to anyone.

Lily breathed deeply. She had to do this for Jack.

"I got a letter from Jack today. She-um-sent me this article and a note." Lily's voice was quivering. Her hand was shaking hard as she read the article to them. She finished the article and picked up the note and read it. When she finished she fell to the floor and Sirius came up to her. He gave her a big hug.

"I'm sorry for being a prat. I didn't realize-"

Lily just shook her head and hugged him back. After they hugged Lily went to everyone else and gave them a hug. Remus gave her an extra squeeze, knowing that this was hard for Lily to do. Soon everyone left Lily's room to go to their own. As soon as they were gone Lily lay down on her bed and cried. She could only act for so long.