Previously:
"…anyway, since I'm home now, mum and dad want to go to-," Melanie went on, but was cut off by a heart stopping announcement that not only stunned Lily and Melanie, but the speaker, James himself.
"Lily, I'm in love with you!"
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The effects those words had on them all were incredible. Melanie, who had been chewing muggle bubble gum, dropped her jaw and the wad fell to the ground. Lily's head snapped around to stare at James, a puzzled expression upon her face. James himself looked like a blowfish, mouth opening and closing every few seconds, absolutely shocked that he did that. This had to be the most horrifying thing that has ever happened to him, which was incredible because his mother wasn't the one responsible for it.
Nobody said anything, or for that matter, moved, for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, Melanie came to her senses, stood up unsurely, and brushed herself off clumsily, stuttering and sputtering until she could finally form an audible sentence, "U-Um, I'm going to…t-to g…yeah. I'll be…somewhere else." She quickly ran off.
That left just Lily and James. They just stared at each other, James looking utterly terrified and Lily looking pensive. Lily spoke after a few minutes, her voice soft and soothing, "Is it true?"
James gulped and nodded, stuttering out, "Y-yeah."
Suddenly, her eyes changed from confusion and thoughtfulness, to sparkling and hopeful. Her face broke out into an unsure grin and she said through a gasp, "Really?" She grabbed his hand again and squeezed it as a question of reassurance. He squeezed back.
"Yeah," he said softly, almost a whisper, "I-I think I've loved you since the beginning of the year." He met her eyes again, secretly waiting for her to say the thing he wanted to hear from her.
It was like she had read his mind. She bit her lip, then said, "I-I loved you since 4th year."
James was very surprised to see tears forming in her eyes. He reached over and wiped the fallen ones. She let out a shaky laugh, running her hand through her hair nervously.
"I-I was afraid that you didn't like me that way." She explained, "You always had girlfriends and whatnot-,"
"All to keep my mind off of you." James cut in firmly, "I wasn't sure if you liked me that way either. I figured I wasn't good enough for you."
"You could never not be good enough for me." Lily protested, "James," she went on very softly and sincerely, "You're…you're everything to me. You've been my rock for half my life, and if you hadn't moved away all those years ago, you would have been my rock for my whole life. I love you."
Without another word, James closed the distance between them and kissed her passionately, both filled with an overwhelming amount of emotion. It was like every time they hugged, only the feeling they had in their stomachs was multiplied by a thousand. James ran a hand through Lily's soft curls and Lily put a hand on the side of his face gently.
James never wanted to let go for fear of loosing this precious moment. But, when he did pull back, his eyes connected with Lily's. He pulled his eyes away from her amazing orbs and studied every feature on her face. Her perky nose sprinkled lightly with freckles, her beautiful, and swollen from the kiss, lips, her left cheek that supplied a dimply every time she smiled; everything about her was astonishing. So perfect.
"I love you too."
They kissed once more and then talked quietly as they watched the sun set the rest of the way, James holding Lily protectively. Lily never felt more safe and wonderful than at that moment.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The very next day, Lily was woken from her sleep by a soft kiss. She breathed in deeply and opened her eyes with a sigh, seeing the adorable face of her official boyfriend.
"Good morning, sweetie," James said, pushing some hair out of her face. She sat up more.
"Wonderful morning, love," she whispered. They were moving closer for a real good morning kiss when the door to Lily's room opened and they instinctively sprang apart.
"Lady Lily, wake thou up-ith!" Sirius' booming imitation of an Old English accent came from the doorway.
Lily stole a glance at James the exact moment Sirius, Remus, and Peter all walked in.
"Aw, here be-ith thy court jester and thy fair maiden!" Remus said, plopping down on Lily's loveseat.
"Yeah," Peter said, cracking up, "We be-ith waiting in the James' room for a half hour…ith." He said, unsurely.
Sirius and Remus shook their heads, ashamed. Lily stole another glance at James and saw he was looking back at her. She bit her lip in question. James nodded his head, smiling widely.
"You guys," Lily said, "We have to tell you something."
James took Lily's hand in his. Sirius caught this act and raised an eyebrow at them. Remus just smiled knowingly. Peter was to busy looking at Lily's knick-knacks again to really pay attention.
"We're officially…a couple." James proclaimed. Peter dropped one of Lily's unicorn figures and snapped around in surprise. Sirius without hesitation ran over and embraced them both fiercely.
"P-Padfoot, you're beginning to act like my mother," James wheezed out, turning red from lack of oxygen.
Sirius pulled back and grinned apologetically.
"Congratulations, you two." Remus said, smiling widely at them. He gave James a prideful look and James nodded at him gratefully.
"Wow," Peter said, eyes wide open. "So, you two really are going out?"
Lily nodded happily, "Yep, as of last night."
"Always knew you two would end up together," Sirius said voice beaming with satisfaction.
"Who else knows?" Remus asked.
"Melanie does, that's for sure," Lily said, giggling when she saw James turn red.
"Do I sense a funny story?" Sirius asked, plopping himself down on Lily's bed beside James.
"It's nothing," James said firmly amid Lily's now full fledged laughs, "I just said some stuff right in front of my older sister. Ya know, nothing out of the ordinary."
"He told me he loved me in front of her," Lily gasped out, hugging him as she said it.
Sirius, Remus and Peter all howled with laughter and Sirius clapped James on the back. James smiled wryly.
"Now everyone," Lily said after they finished their teasing, "you must get out now, I have to change."
"Oh we don't mind," Sirius said, lying on his back, relaxed.
"I'm sure James doesn't," Peter said, jokingly.
Lily tried to look stern as she pushed them all out of the room, James being the last, leaving room for a small kiss.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The next few weeks were a blast for them all. They did everything from muggle amusement parks, to simply lounging around in the Potter's entertainment room. Lily's birthday came and went, earning her plenty of beautiful presents from the guys, Melanie, and the Potter's.
Despite all the activities and games the Marauder's and Lily went through, both James and Lily sensed trouble brewing with Mr. Potter. Lily shared her thoughts with James about the day they got off the Hogwarts Express and saw his parents. The hesitation in Mr. Potter's voice when he said everything with the Ministry was worked out. James told Lily about the time he was walking through the house around 2 in the morning for a midnight snack. He walked through the hall, passing his father's study, suddenly pausing when he heard a voice in there.
James had peaked around the opened door curiously, and saw his father arguing with some man's head in the fireplace. James said that his father's exact words were, "I don't care if they did find those in my desk, THEY WEREN'T MINE! He cannot take over! It's immoral!"
This left both Lily and James bewildered. They decided to let the subject drop and focus more on their relationship. Mrs. Potter, of course, had been ecstatic when she heard the news of the two finally going out. Mr. Potter had congratulated them more civilly while James' mother had to hug them.
All that past them, leaving the five children at August 3rd. The day the trouble started.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"James. In your boxers again, buddy?" Sirius said, flopping down next to him on the sofa in the entertainment room.
"Would you expect anything more?" James said, mock astonished.
"Never from you, Prongs," Peter answered as he reached over for the remote and flipped through the muggle television.
"Where's Lily?" Remus asked from his seat on the big plush chair a few feet away.
James opened his mouth to reply, but Lily's voice answered for him, "She's right here."
James turned his head to watch her walk into the room. She smiled and sat next to him on the side that didn't contain Sirius.
"And how is the most beautiful girl in the world today?" James asked, moving his arms around her waist.
"Who me?" Lily giggled.
James moved his face closer to hers and whispered, "I don't know of any other gorgeous girl that matches your beauty."
Lily laughed quietly and they both started to kiss. "Ugh! You guys, get a room!" Sirius exclaimed. They've been like this ever since they announced they're being a couple.
"This is a room," James managed to get out through a kiss.
Suddenly, about ten pillows came hurling their way. "Alright, Alright! We'll stop!" Lily cried out, smiling.
"So, what do you guys want to do today?" Peter asked, looking absolutely bored with the TV set.
"Oh," Lily exclaimed, "Well, we could-,"
Unexpectedly, Lily was cut off by Mr. Potter's shouts from the other room. "I cannot believe they did this to us!!!"
"Harold, dear, it's not so bad," came Mrs. Potter's plea-filled voice.
The Marauders exchanged confused glances and all at once arose from their seats and followed the shouts.
"What's going on?" James exclaimed, walking into the kitchen. They all saw the hectic scene in the kitchen. Lily immediately felt dread in the pit of her stomach. Never in all the years she stayed here has she seen Mr. Potter look so upset. He was glaring at an issue of the Daily Prophet lying on the kitchen table where Melanie sat with her uneaten breakfast in front of her. She sat frozen and pale, looking down at the paper as though it were death itself. Mrs. Potter appeared as though she were about to cry, standing near Mr. Potter, looking down at the paper as well. None of them even looked as though they heard James' question.
"What's going on?" James asked again after receiving no answer.
This time, his mother looked up at them and motioned them to come nearer. "Horrible news, dear." She said thickly.
They all gathered around the table and read an article from the paper, eyes widening and faces paling with every word they took in.
"'Minister of Magic Released From Office!'!" Sirius read indignantly.
"How on earth could this have happened, Mr. Potter?" Lily asked angrily.
"Dad, you're really released?" James cut in.
"Apparently," Mr. Potter began, trying to stay calm for the children's sake, "They on the board at the Ministry believed that I had in my possession a few dark magic weapons that they had been looking for for quite some time. They have also believed that the Assistant Minister of Magic, Jacob Wellington III and Secretary Arnold Crest held some weapons as well."
"They fired you? What evidence do they have?" Remus exploded.
"They claim they found some of the supplies in my desk at the Ministry and the same for Jacob and Arnold." James' father said bitterly.
"Who have they got to replace you?" Peter said faintly.
"A real weasel named Cornelius Fudge." Mr. Potter spat out. "I never have liked him. I was always trying to get him sent to Azkaban. Sneaking, mysterious he is. Friends with all the pure blooded families like the Malfoys and Crabbes. I always had a feeling that he was working for the Dark Side. But, apparently, the board doesn't feel the same way because I have 24 business hours to clear out my office, along with Jacob and Arnold."
'So that's what dad was talking about that night in his study.' "Who have they got to replace those two?" James asked.
Mr. Potter shrugged, "I don't know. Fudge will probably choose when he gets into office." Mr. Potter banged his hand on the table so loudly that everyone in the room jumped. "With that man running the wizarding world every muggle-born, half-blood, any non full blooded witch or wizard is in danger!" He shouted passionately.
Lily fell slowly down into a chair and put her face into her hands. James rubbed her back comfortingly, "What do we do now?" she said softly.
"There's nothing we can do." Mr. Potter said, now sounding and looking older than he really was. He too slowly sat down.
"There's gotta be something!" Sirius exclaimed.
"There isn't. As it is, Harold's only lucky he wasn't sent to Azkaban himself." Mrs. Potter answered, speaking for the first time in a while.
"Technically, they have enough evidence against him. We can only assume that so many people know and did respect him enough that they don't want him in there," Melanie spoke.
They all were silent for a while. Then, Mr. Potter spoke in a very quiet, pained voice, and said something so serious, it made their spines shudder, "It's a good thing you five are going back to Hogwarts. Unfortunately, it's the only safe place in the world right now."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
September 1st came by very quickly. After the Marauders had heard the horrible news about Mr. Potter, the days were more horrible than the next. It wasn't a drastic change with the wizarding world. Just little things seemed to happen. Someone right in Diagon Alley had the nerve to shout some obscenities to James' father as they were all gathered there for school supplies.
So there they were, on the platform 9 and ¾ pushing their trolleys along. They hadn't seen Cassandra yet, but they were sure she was taking the news of her father's release pretty badly. After all, that was who she was known as, daughter of the Assistant Minister of Magic.
The platform was packed. Lily could barely see the train over people's shoulders so she let Sirius, the tallest there, guide the way. Finally, they made it to the trolley compartment and pushed theirs in. James took Lily's for her, so she was free to glance around at the passing people.
Suddenly, something caught her eye. Someone was there who wasn't supposed to be.
She paled considerably, so by the time James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter got their trolleys in there and turned around to face her, her face was as white as snow and she wasn't at all blinking. In fact, the only movement she made was with her legs, which were carrying her backwards until she felt the trains metal against her back and she could backup no more.
"Lily, love, what is it?" James asked, concerned.
Lily's trembling form stayed the same as she utter one word, still looking at whatever was frightening her, "Malfoy."
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A/N- hope you all liked this chapter. Please review!!!
*"Oh my God, it's Malfoy!"
*"Didn't you know? Mr. Fudge allowed me to return."
*"You better stay away from her."
*"Oh, this is precious. A Potter and a Mudblood."
*"I'd watch my back if I were you."
*"C'mon guys, let's just go find a compartment."
*"I don't need your pity! The Wellington name will still hold meaning!"
*"I'm fine; it's just a lot to take."
*"Remember, we have to go to the Prefects compartment in a while."
*"It's starting to rain."
*"I'm going to find the trolley lady and get us some snacks."
*"I wonder why we're stopping."
*"What happened to the lights?"
*"Oh no. Deatheaters."
*"We've got to get Dumbledore down here. And quick!"
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A/N- alright, I did only half. I'm so sorry, but my goodness you guys, I actually got 30 reviews on this. I'm so proud of you! And, to answer champtennis's question, yeah, her parents died because of Lord Voldemort. If you wanted to read it, it's chapter 14 Many Happenings. Thanks for reviewing; I'm glad you like it!
Thanks again to every reviewer! You are all so wonderful!