A/N: I'm not sure if this update took a long time. I didn't really keep track of when I last updated. Ah well. Oh, and I hope you all did your homework (which wasn't really assigned, but for my sake, pretend it was and you're just late) and reviewed Carol of the Bells, my new 1-shot! Anyhow, I'm procrastinating. Oh, and it's time for another chapter with Lily and James.

Of Broom Closets and Time Travel

The two teenagers wandered back to the common room in quiet. They held each other's hands at one point, but neither could muster the courage to ask 'what next?' The first living (well, not really living, but at least talking) person they saw was Nearly Headless Nick (James had always called NHN, which annoyed him to a great extent. Oh, how fun that had been.)

However, for some reason, Nick scolded them. He spoke very stiffly to James, telling him that it was bad enough the Headmaster had died, he did not need to bring back unnecessary memories of James and Lily. "You should be ashamed of yourselves. Perhaps you think you have a right, because they are your parents. But did you ever think, that perhaps, I miss them dearly? Do you have no sympathy for me!" he preached, then primly turned around and floated through a painting, much to the flower maidens' discomfort. Neither James had no idea what was going on, so he motioned that they should keep going.

Finally, the two reached the fat lady, who seemed to have lost some weight, with bags under her eyes, and her always-elegant hair mussed up. James mentally slapped himself – how could he forget the map! Now he had no way to gain entrance. What would they do?

Suddenly, two girls pushed past Lily, one with golden hair and pale eyes, another with black hair and eyes. Both were rather pretty, but wore sneers. They muttered the password, "Governo corrotto" and sped into the room, ignoring Lily's innocent call of "Have a nice day!"

The fat lady called after the two girls, who were named "Lavender Brown and Parvatti Patil" that that was no way to treat her, and to get right back out her and close the portrait nicely. They did not come back out, and so Lily repeated the password, and walked to their favorite chairs in the corner, only to find them occupied by the two beastly girls they had just met.

"Parvatti" was whispering about Fudge. James creped up and listened from behind the chair. He didn't like what he heard.

"I can't believe Fudge is taking over this place!"

"I know. I mean, not like I liked Dumbledore, but remember Umbridge? That bitch was horrible, and if Fudge tries to replace the teachers here, I'll be so mad!"

"Yes, but he is doing the right thing. Dumbledore was driving the school to the dogs. It is probably the best thing he could've done."

James turned away, disgusted. How could they say that! If Fudge was that blundering Hufflepuff he remembered, there was no way Dumbledore could be outranked by him. What a disgrace to his memory!

Turning back to listen one last time, he heard Lavender whispering to Parvati, "I heard he wants to replace McGonagall with that Ministry woman, what's her name? Oh yeah, Docezza Ammalata."

James felt sick to his stomach now. How DARE Fudge replace McGonagall with that woman – she was evil. Worse than that Umbridge woman! The very nerve…

He stalked back across the room where Lily had found seats in front of the fireplace to retell what he had heard of the conversation. At the mention of Ammalata, she, too, looked queasy. She knew what Ammalata was capable of doing; she had listened to the horror story James had told her about what that woman had done to Remus.

It was no wonder she was a Slytherin, after all…

-Flashback-

"James! How could you do that to Docezza? Just because she's a Slytherin, you have no reason to –"

"Excuse me, Lily, but I have every reason to do whatever I want to that bitch."

"Well, tell me, dear, what those oh-so-good reasons are then."

Lily had thought she had won that argument. How wrong she had been.

"Fine, Do you promise never to tell Remus that I told you? He doesn't want people knowing."

Well of course, she promised. Days later, she still wished she hadn't. What she was told was horrible.

"Well, of course I do. Out with it."

How Lily hated those words now. They unleashed horrors that should never happen, much less be known.

So, James began the story.

"Dolcezza is Remus' cousin. She knows about this, erm, disfigurement he has. It's a problem with his face – you see, he was born with an eye problem; He didn't have an… eyelid on one of them. It was a huge problem. Finally, he got it…fixed, but she never forgot. One day, over the summer, she started calling him all these names. Finally, she started punching and kicking him. She threw quite a lot of spells. Just because of this one disfigurement. She was horrible. He was so badly hurt, that he was knocked out for days. His lungs almost collapsed. She almost killed him. That's why I want to kill that freaking bitch. How could she do that, Lily, how! He is such a great friend – and she does that to him. How?"

James was now crying. What Lily didn't know, and wouldn't for many years, is that he had lied, for the first time in his life, to her. He knew Lily was a great witch, but honestly could not trust her yet with Remus' secret. It had been his to tell anyway.

Lily was shell-shocked. How could she do that! Because of a fixable, stupid, birth problem, she almost killed one of her best friends. She didn't have many friends, and the Marauders were her closest ones, for some odd reason. But deep in her heart, even before James, Remus had always been the first to understand where she was coming from. All because of that stupid problem….

She would have revenge on Ammalata. Someday, somehow. She would. And Dolcezza would be sorry that she was ever born.

-End of Flashback—

"James, what the hell is going on? I just want to go home."

Lily hugged her knees, and cried.

Responses:

Marguerida – I might have to have a small character death, just to make a point or something, I dunno. Don't worry though, nobody's going to die who's really important. Probably some poor, random, nameless Hufflepuff dude or something. Lol, perhaps I'll write a fic called "The poor, random, nameless OC" or something. Ooh thank you! That would be fun, fun, fun! Keep on reading, there's more good stuff (I hope!) on the horizon!

Angel of the Elements – Yes, strawberry lip-gloss is very good. Although I rather like kiwi too…

Spike blade – Soon enough? Probably not, but… um…. Well, to bad, I'm the author here (mwahahahaaaa)… Wait, no! I didn't mean it like that! (sighs. Damn. I seem to do that to a lot of people. LOL.)

EternalEcho – It's a bit longer… sort of.

ABLONDERhErMiOnE – What is it with you and calling me Crazy Duck of Doom and Ducky Person? Ah well, I rather like those names. So whatever. But see, I'm continuing! What gave you the idea that I wasn't? AHHHH Monki Magic! Must run and hide! Okay, sorry. I'm hyper on… well, actually nothing. Haven't eaten for twelve hours. Ah. Perhaps that's it. I like to eat constantly… Must go eat….

A/N: Did you realize who I "forgot" to say had no idea what was going on? A brownie to whoever knows what I'm talking about, or who, rather. I know the excuse for why we all have to hate Dolcezza Ammalata is rather lame, but I'm brain-dead, okay? Listen, if I think of anything better, I promise I'll change it. Okay? Don't forget to review!

Another A/N that I wanted to make look important so you would all read it: Reviewers are my friends. I like them. Un-reviewy people annoy me. And ask any of my friends, if you annoy me, I'll annoy you, and I was told by my best friend to put "Annoying" on the back of my sports shirt. Get my point? Actually, I ended up putting "Dumb Blonde"…. But… whatever, that really doesn't matter, does it?