Thanks Nashpoo for the review! Man, I think I pretty much lost everyone . . . oh well, serves me right for never updating. I know where I'm going to ultimately take this story, but I've, as you've probably noticed, been having trouble with writer's block on how to write it. I'm really sorry for the long wait. Even though I've lost some interest for this fic, I will make sure I'll finish it. Thanks to those still reading for bearing with me. This chapter's for you.

Graduation, finally, Lily thought to herself, smiling.

Both she, James, and Alice and Frank Longbottom had passed the various Auror finals with flying colors.

Now, they would be graduating to the real world, where the true danger lies. To their delight, Thomas and Cordelia had also passed, "barely" in their grinning words.

She looked over at her boyfriend. James's face was hard set and his eyes had developed a tiredness that replaced the pure mischievous energy he had just possessed a few months ago.

He'd really had to grow up fast.

But the past hasn't been completely shrouded in darkness. Petunia has actually begun to come around, especially after Lily demonstrated the perks of magic around the house, magically wiping all the dinner dishes clean in a second.

Though she still had a fresh determination to get back at Voldemort and his damned Death Eaters for what they have done to everyone, she still couldn't help but feel happy that her family was coming together. Her mother, father, and sister were all going to attend her graduation.

"So I guess you're graduating from the freak school soon?" Petunia asked, this time in a teasing voice. She still referred to it as a "freak school" although she had lost the bitter tone quite recently.

"Yeah," Lily grinned.

Then she frowned. "It's a dangerous world out there, Tuna. My job's going to be an important one. People–people have died for You-Know-Who's hunger for power."

Petunia nodded sympathetically. "Your friend and your boyfriend's family."

Petunia could understand how much it must hurt, how much it ate her sister up inside. But she couldn't possibly imagine the true heart wrenching justified revenge that must infuse. She could sympathize, but she could never truly feel.

Thought she wouldn't admit it, Petunia was happy to be on good speaking terms with her sister.

"Well, we'll have you to protect us, right Lils?" Petunia commented reassuringly.

"I guess so," Lily replied, smiling uncertainly.

Petunia wrapped her little sister in a hug. "Don't worry about it. No matter what, we'll always be family."

It made Lily feel guilty that she still had her family when James has lost his.

This just gave her more motivation to be that family for him, and she loved him even more than ever.

She knew that, someday, it would all be okay.

"Why do we have to wear this?" Thomas moaned loudly.

"To scare off You-Know-Who's followers, silly!" Cordelia teased, barely resisting the grin that was emerging on her face.

Thomas just glared at his girlfriend. "But do we have to wear pink dress robes? It conflicts with my manliness, you see,"

Lily sniggered slightly, and she could see Alice trying and failing to stop smiling. Even James managed a small grin.

"Pre-graduation jitters?" Lily asked an unusually quiet James, leaning her head into his shoulder.

"No. I'm–I'm just wondering what my parents would say if they were here today."

Lily didn't speak for a moment, and when she did, spoke the most sincere she could grasp. "I'm sure they would say how proud they are of you."

"I guess,"

Sighing softly, Lily straightened herself and offered a hand out to James. "We'd better get going,"

Smiling at his girlfriend, James gladly took her hand, and they made their way into the beginning of next chapter of their lives.

"These witches and wizards have worked hard to get this far. Our select group has been narrowed down slightly so that we have nothing but the elite–our graduates today. I must commemorate them for their bravery in pursuing such a difficult job, especially in recent years. Let's give them a round of applause!"

The crisp sound of clapping could be heard echoing in the chambers. Soon after that, the ceremony began. Lily, though ecstatic that she was graduating, couldn't help but miss the distant carefree happiness that she had felt upon graduating from Hogwarts. The atmosphere was somewhat dampened by the guards positioned around the room.

"Lily Evans,"

She accepted her diploma with polite applause from the audience. She beamed as she saw Petunia and her parents' proud faces as she walked down from the stage, formerly the dueling arena.

When "James Potter" was called out, Lily clapped extremely enthusiastically, feeling that she had to make up for his parents not being there. After James was seated back down, Lily kissed his cheek softly.

"That wasn't so bad, was it?" Lily teased.

As the ceremony went on, they finally reached the last name, leaving the closing speech. As a student stepped up to speak, there was suddenly a loud bang as the doors flew open. Screams could be heard from the families waiting at bay.

"Wands at the ready!" The headmistress commanded, whipping her own out of her robes.

Entering through the doors were Death Eaters . . . masses of them. Cloaked and hidden, they began shooting spells from left to right. Lily and James flipped their chairs over, giving them cover as they tried to analyze the situation.

Some classmates began dueling the Death Eaters, only to find themselves double or triple teamed. Lily's eyes widened in horror as she saw someone's eyes roll back, falling down with a scorched back.

"Stupefy!" She spat, anger intoned in her voice as it hit a nearby Death Eater.

Suddenly, she felt herself being choked from behind. She tried to breathe, but found that she couldn't. James turned around. "Thomas?" he asked in disbelief.

Thomas smirked, one arm keeping a tight hold on Lily, and the other pushing his wand into Lily's head. "One move, Potter, and I'll blast her brains out."

"You –" James stuttered, unable to comprehend what was going on. Thomas was a Death Eater?

"The Dark Lord is great, thus, he requires sacrifices. After all, he can't afford fresh blood mixing with the blood of his loyal followers, can he?"

James froze. Oh god, Lily. He couldn't lose her! He couldn't!

Suddenly, his brain started to work again. He couldn't lose Lily, and he won't. His expression became cold as he finally grasped what had just happened. Thomas was a traitor. He was one of the bastards that killed his family, just as James would kill him.

His eyes were icy as they locked with Lily's; trying to tell her without words what to do. Lily's green eyes widened in realization, and gave him a wink of confirmation.

Meanwhile, Thomas was still speaking a monologue about how the Dark Lord was going to take over everyone and how the new world order was going to be great. Lily jerked her head to the side violently as James uttered a curse straight at where Lily's head had been a few seconds before –straight at the traitor's face.

Howling in agony, Thomas let go of Lily to grasp the smoldering half of his face.

Cordelia, who had just knocked out a pair of Death Eaters, saw what happened and came rushing over, still wary of any potential danger. "What the hell are you doing?" she shrieked at James. "Are you bloody mad?

"He's dirty, Cordelia," Lily explained coldly when she realized that Cordelia had no idea about her boyfriend's loyalties, "He's a Death Eater."

"No!" she shouted, "You're lying,"

But just as she was about to defend Thomas, he grabbed her and held her tight. "You caught me off guard last time. Not this time. Smith!"

Lily and James wheeled around to see an incoming spell directed at the back of their heads. Lily quickly used the Shield Charm, deflecting it and rendering it useless.

When they turned around to face Thomas again, they could see him backing away slowly, Cordelia still in his grasp. The poor girl looked utterly shocked.

James shivered as he felt a cold feeling creep up his spine. His honed Auror ability sensed something . . . powerful, something dark.

"Kill the girl."

The voice was cold, unfeeling. Thomas looked around wildly, searching for the origin of the voice. "But . . . but M-my Lord, is that really necessary?"

It seems like he wasn't faking his feelings for his girlfriend, Lily thought dryly, her hands tightening its grip on her wand.

"Show your loyalty; spill her blood," the voice hissed, edged with a vague threat.

"Yes, My Lord," Thomas replied, his voice shaking somewhat. But, his hands trembled and he fumbled with his wand, finally dropping it. Cordelia recovered from her shock fast enough to take advantage of the opportunity and elbow her boyfriend in the face, right where James had hit him with a burning spell a few minutes ago.

"FOOL!"

Suddenly, something sharp and fast whipped through the air, slicing Cordelia's throat cleanly. She grabbed at her throat with her hand instinctively before her face drained of color and she crumpled to the floor.

"Crucio!"

Thomas fell to the floor beside his love, twitching and writhing in agony, his screams echoing in the bloody hall.

"I will leave you to accept punishment. Pathetic, weak, fool."

Lily had been listening hard, trying to find the voice's origin. With that last statement, she was able to pinpoint his approximate location.

"Stupefy!" she shouted, pointing it in the direction of the shadows. The spark of red light was halted, though, with a mere wave of the wand.

"Stupid girl, do you really think a simple stunning spell can stop Lord Voldemort?" he laughed, high pitched and cruel. He paused as he looked into Lily's defiant eyes. "Those green eyes . . . they look familiar. I remember promising to kill you. And so I shall."

Lily tensed, cursing the world. It couldn't end like this, not without a fight.

"Avada –" Voldemort began.

"CRUCIO!"

Voldemort was thrown backwards from the strong force of the spell. Lily turned to see who her savior was, to find James, breathing hard, his wand out and his face contorted with rage and hatred.

"Murderer." He spat, all of his pent up rage and anger worked into that one spell.

Lily, though glad from the rescue, couldn't help but think, James just used a one of the Unforgivable Curses.

Voldemort smiled. "Another day, I think." With that, he disappeared, with the last of the Death Eaters apparating after him.

"Damn it!" James screamed, kicking a chair over, "He got away."

"James, stop it!" Lily grabbed his arm roughly, "That's not going to help anything! We should help those who are hurt." She told him, trying to keep her voice steady for his sake.

That was when she truly absorbed everything that had happened. Dozens of bodies lay dead on the ground, including people she knew well. Cordelia and others.

Oh no, Petunia!

Lily glanced around at the massacre, praying to whatever gods were out there that her family was okay, that they were spared. Lily sighed in relief as she saw Petunia's thin body, but a feeling of dread settled in as she saw the state her sister was in. She was crying, tears streaming down her face as she kneeled down next to two bodies . . . their mother and father.

"Oh, god," Lily gasped.

Petunia slowly turned around to face her sister, her eyes blazing and angry. "You did this. It's because of you and the freaks just like you! YOU KILLED THEM!"

"N-No . . . no Petunia . . ." Lily shook her head, but what else could she say? Had she killed them by choosing to become a witch? To become an Auror? Lily automatically put a comforting hand on her sister's shoulder, sharing in her grief, her self guilt.

"Get your filthy, tainted hands off me,"

Lily recoiled at her sister's harsh tone. Petunia slowly got up, bushing her shirt where Lily had touched her. "Never, ever speak to me again. You are not going to endanger me, or anybody else I know anymore."

With that, Petunia slowly walked out of the room, trying to keep the fresh tears from falling, only allowing one tear as she rounded the corner and disappeared from her sister's sight.

Lily was overwhelmed with sadness. She had no more family left, just like James.

We're both orphans now.

Speaking of James . . . Lily knew she had to get back to him. James was crouched down, holding onto his dark hair with both hands, as if trying to rip the memory of the massacre from his mind.

"James?" Lily began gently, when they heard a groan from behind them. Both of them turned around at the source of the sound. It was Thomas. They had forgotten about them.

James slowly got up, shaking Lily's hand away gently. He loomed over Thomas's battered body. His face contorted again, his eyes regaining a crazy glaze in them. Suddenly, he viciously kicked Thomas in the stomach.

"James!" Lily shouted.

But he didn't listen. James grabbed Thomas by the collar and shoved him against the wall, delivering several punches to his already battered face. Torturing him, just like Voldemort wanted.

"Stop it! Stop it James!" Lily screamed at him, using all of her strength to wrench her boyfriend away from him, succeeding. Thomas slid down to the floor, trails of blood following him down.

James shook off Lily's grip and whirled around to face her angrily, his eyes blazing fiercely, "Why the hell did you stop me!"

"Because I don't want you turning into him! Into Voldemort!" Lily cried out desperately, everything hitting her at once, all the emotions exploding inside her until she couldn't take it anymore. She fell to her knees, collapsing in wails, crying a fountain of tears.

James looked shocked. The crazy glint in his eyes was gone. All that was left was raw compassion and genuine concern. He kneeled down next to Lily. She had been there for him in his darkest times; so shall he. James embraced Lily tightly, letting her sob into his shoulder.

"We'll get through this," he whispered into her hair, "We always do."

"Yeah?" Lily choked, remembering all the losses and darkness fate played upon them and the world, "Well, we shouldn't have to."