Standing Strong

Summary: Can Dumbledore reunite the Gryffindores and Slytherines? Can Lily and James put aside their differences? Can the Marauders overcome all obstacles? But most of all can they stand strong?

Disclaim: All characters, places ect belong to J.K.Rowling unless of course you dont recognise them.

Reviewers:

Constructive Criticism( ) - Thank you for your warnings, i think i found all my I's and changed them. And i am definitly trying to avoid Mary-Sues, so i will be watching out for that and slapping myself if i find anything a bit too over the top perfect.

A/N: Sorry about the spelling mistakes in the last one but sometimes i just dont seem to pay attention enough and i dont realise ive done it and plus my spell check doesnt work. Oh and the rugby is on at the moment so i am trying to watch that and do this chapter and the first one...and thats all the excuses i have for my mistakes. Oh yeah and before i forget i put romance as one of the genres and it is a romance but it doesnt come until later on just to clarify that : )

Chapter two: What is Truth?

Watching all the excited first years faces as she handed out their timetables to them she couldnt help but smile and remember how she had felt when she got her first timetable and looked at all the new things she would be learning. James it seemed did not look best pleased as the owls came with mail, parcles and newspapers. The reasons for this she did not know, nor could she decide why she acctually cared. Finally settling down to her own breakfast she glanced at her own timetable. As she looked through each day it wasnt until she reached the end of the week she realised that she had seven lessons a day rather than the usual six. She also noticed that the lessons which occupied those spaces where transfiguration and defece against the dark arts. It made sense but why only the seventh years. As she looked around her it seemed more and more of her class mates had noticed the dramatic change in their day.

"Hey Lily did Dumbledore metion any change to the timetable to you or James" Asked Ella baffled by all the extra work she would probably have to do in a shorter amount of time.

"No, not a word. I dont understand it, I could find out" Just as Lily was half way out of her seat when James pressed her shoulder until she was back in her seat.

"Dont bother i've already been up, its too improve skills in the seventh years, to make sure they are prepared. McGonagalls words" James left to sit back down with his friends and tell them and the people around him the same thing. Lily would have been angry with James domainating behaviour but she couldnt help but feel as if her pressure gasget was going to blow and the best thing to do would be to hide from everyone until she felt calm and releaved again.

Both break and lunch were taken full advantage of by all the seventh years who would all be attending an extra class. As they entered the transfiguration classroom they all took their usual seats. When Professor McGonagall had entered the classroom the last thing she had expected was happy, excited adrenaline high students, but that was what she got. The anticipation mounted as McGonagall took a large stack of leather bound project folders out.

"Quiet now. This extra class will be a chance for you to prove your worth. But of course because of the homework time you will lose, there will be no Transfiguration homework."

The class erupted into happy cheers and smiling faces. The marauders all high fived each other and Ella found her self dancing again. McGonagall Banged loudly on her desk to gain everyones attention once more.

"On the understanding that you complete the work set to you in these classes. Now the project you will undertake in pairs is one in which will require high concentration and dedication. The work will not be easy and may for some of you be quite demanding. Now Dumbledore has put you into pairs. Pairs in which he and I believe will work best."

McGonagall began to read names off a long list and in turn each pair collect a folder between them and sat together.

"Peter Pettigrew and Nicole Judus. Harriet Hudson and Mathew Berret. James Potter and Lily Evans." Both groned and got up to collect what they needed and begrudgingly sat side by side.

"Eyvon Celvick and Remus Lupin...Oh dear god. Dumbledore believes that you Sirius Black and Ella Belgrave would be able to use your energies well together." Everyone laughed as the two sat together and immediatly started poking and prodding each other until Ella hit Sirius who sat still in pain.

"Cas Preist and Roger Fernhall." McGonagall finished her list before continuing.

"Now your folder contains all the information you will need to complete your task you may use these end of the day Transfiguration classes to work on your project and your own time. Now down to the project itself. Transfiguration is most useful for disguises and obtaing certain objects you need but dont have. Now you have to do both practical and written to pass with a high mark. I want you in your pairs to work on techniques for disguise and interpret why they are useful, diagrams to be included. To prove you have worked on your project practically on The beginning of November you will talk about what you have found out and do a presentation practically showing the results of the techniques you used. That gives you two months to work on the project. You may leave now."

On the way back to the Gryffindore common room all of both James and Lily's friends were with their partners talking about what lay ahead for their project. Which left nothing but for Lily and James to do the same.

"You got any ideas for this project? I was kinda thinking of writing about the polyjuice potion and maybe coming up with a substitue for"

"Look Lily, I appreciate your enthusiasm but i'm not in the mood right now. I just want to get back to the common room, rest and then go down to dinner in peace. We can work on the project any time, just not now." James started to speed up, but he couldnt shake Lily of that easily.

"Well you didnt have to be rude about it, I was only trying to show some interest. It wasnt like I was forcing a pen into your hand and demanding we start writing here and now. Christ the other day you had the nerve to tell me I didnt ever give you a chance and here I am now trying and you shrug me off."

"Lily will you just drop it. Im am sooo sorry I cant always be in the right mood when you need me to be and im sooo sorry that its such an inconvinience for YOU to have to put with more than you already do" James shouted at Lily. She stood still in shock until James started to move down the corridor again.

She followed not far behind until both of them were standing outside of the fat Lady portrait.

"James" Lily broke the silence.

"What" He said pausing before giving the password.

"We dont sleep in the dormitories any more."

"Then why didnt you tell me that before we walked all the way down here" He asked irritation showing in his face.

"I didnt want you to shout at me again." Lily said simply as she turned and continued on her way to the white dove lady with James following softly behind her.

Lily gave the password and entered hers and James common room. Lily entered her room and jumped on her bed and began punching the pillows.

Why does he always have to be so bloody difficult. she thought to herself. Ok she can admit that maybe she isnt always the easiest of people to understand or get on with but at least she made an effort. He wasnt even trying. Aagin she couldnt understand why she cared and when she looked at her watch she realised she wouldnt have much time to find out. She had promised to meet Cas and Ella for dinner in five minutes.

James had not found dinner an entertaining event. He had spent all of it thinking of what Lily had said to him and how guilty he felt about what he said to her. He decided therefore to put things right, after all he did need to try and as difficult as it may be it was up to him to do it. He made sure to leave the great hall just after Lily had. He entered their common room after she did and caught her just in time.

"Lily" James shouted, she was just about to open her bedroom door when she turned to look at James.

"Yeah"

"I'm sorry I shouted at you...and I am interested to hear your ideas for our project, so if you want to meet up tomorrow and tell me" James asked hopefully.

"Appology accepted. And yeah we can meet, seven in the Library."

"Yeah that sounds good to me"

Lily nodded and started to walk in her room.

"Goodnight Lily"

She stopped and called to James.

"Goodnight"

James went to bed not long after Lily and found himself feeling immeasurably better for putting things right. With that in mind he slept peacfully for the first time scince the middle of his summer holidays.

Though James was sleeping peacefully in the next room Lily was having trouble settling down. A walk. That seemed like an ideal solution. Taking her heads badge (just incase she needed a reason to be out at this early hour) she pinned it to her vest top and walked out through the portrait quietly. She walked slowly down several corridors and up and down several set of stairs only slightly aware of the fact that she didnt really know where she was going. Only when she reached a corridor deprived of any of the little things that would normally make Hogwarts corridors interesting. There were no paintings, no seats, no mirrors, no windows. It was just bare and excessivly cold. She moved slowly and much more aware of what was her limited surroundings. When she heard muffled voices she stopped right where she was and stood frozen still and listening hard.

"...We cant leave it any longer...I know how and i know where Master but i dont think"

"You would do well to listen and follow instructions..." This second voice was hollow and whispy. Every word was distained with a venom a cold hard merciless tone.

"...You will wait as you were told to death eater" The words rang so loudly in Lily's ears that she felt her body pulling in two directions. Her common sense and adrenaline were telling her to run to hide and to get help of some sort though she didnt know who she would have to help. Her other half the half that was scared told her to stay still and not move, she didnt want to be heard, to be found.

When common sense prevaled Lily ran and ran in all directions trying to find somewhere familiar a way to find her common room again. Her brain now telling her that she was dreaming, that she had heard something or that maybe just maybe she had been imagining things. After all she had been tired right?

She managed to find her way back into the common room and sat, shaking. Or was it shivering, she couldnt tell the difference. Comtemplating what she would do.

Go and tell Dumbledore or McGonagall? They would wonder what she was doing at night and plus she couldnt remember how she got there so there was nothing they could do.

Tell Cas and Ella. She could imagine what both would say...

Ella would look shocked and jab her fists in the air with a determind look on her face.

"Well, we'll just see about that. Wands at the ready. Where were they? Did you recognise the voice because if you did we could be after the scum bags right now..."

Cas would stand still and look quizical for a moment before making her own reasonable suggestions.

"Well all's you can do is tell Dumbledore Lily, I mean you say you cant remember where you heard them I dont think theres much any of us can do, but Dumbledore would probably know the place if you described it..."

No neither of them would do. She though about two of her other friends, whom she used to share a dorm with. Anna and Felicity.

She could hear Anna now as if she where here with her.

"NO WAY!..But well...erm I dunno Lily" and a shrug that was what she would get from Anna at the most.

Felicity would probably be a cross between indifferent and annoyed at Lily's paranoia.

"Oh for gods sake Lily, I doubt very much that Dumbledore wouldnt know if Death Eaters were roaming the halls of Hogwarts let alone if they were talking to you know who as you've suggested..."

With that Lily felt like collapsing into darkness and waking up not being able to remember, when her eyes fell on James bedroom door...no she couldnt and what would he do but shout at her for waking him up. She didnt feel like she had any other choice so she decided to gamble on James. At least if he couldnt do anything he might be able to help her make the right decision.

She knocked tenitivly on the door and heard a muffled groaning sound and someone moving around the room. The door opened -

"Sirius if its you i swear to god i'll"

"Its me" she said quickly.

"Er Lily unless there is a fire and we might die if we dont get out of the building it can wait until tomorrow ok. Nothing can be that important" Lily knew James would rant for a while and then close the door in her face if she didnt interupt and tell him.

"There are Death Eaters in the school" Lily said desperate and breathlessly.

"What" James stammered and walked over to the sofa to sit down. He rubbed his eyes with his hands. He pulled his wand from a holder he had attatched to his pyjama bottoms. As strange as this was to Lily she knew she shouldnt be distracted.

"Acio glasses" James called and when they arrived he placed them on.

"James I went for a walk I wasnt paying attention to where I was going and then I was on this landing it was empty there was nothing there like it wasnt in use or something." Lily took a deep breath and slowed down.

"I stopped to see if I would be able to find some way back to a place I would recognise when I heard voices. The first one said something about the time being right and they knew what to do and he called the person Master. The second voice, James it was a cold hard voice. He said that the plan was to be followed and that he would do well to do as he is told. He called him a death eater."

Lily started shaking again and tried to control it, she didnt need James to know how scared she was for what might be about to happen. To Lilys dismay James did notice but for the first time he didnt comment just took a cloak of the rack and passed it to her. Lily took it and placed it on herself.

"Lily, do you realise who the person; the death eater was probably talking to"

"Yes...it was Voldemort, it had to be. No death eater would call just anybody Master."
"And your sure thats what you heard"
"Yes"

"Ok. Go to bed Lily. I'll put a charm on the painting to keep it locked, no one will get in. Tomorrow I want you to write down what you heard and the corridors you remember going down or up and whether you were going up or down the stairs,I also want a description of the corridor. Hand it to me in the morning." With that James helped Lily up by her arm and then left for his own room slowly and quietly closing his own door. Lily did as James told her to and went to bed, not that she got much sleep.

Lily wrote everything down as James had requested. She had a wash, got dressed and tied her hair up in a messy bun and went to meet her friends.

They all entered the great hall and went to find seats. Lily saw James and the rest of the marauders and slowed down as she came closer to them.

"James, heres what you asked for." Lily tried to be as vauge as possible and went to join her friends.

"What was that about" Asked Remus.

"We have to look at whats writ on here and see if we can find a certain corridor on the marauders map." James left out most of the details, he would explain when they were not likely to be overheard.

"Why whats happened? You didnt send all of Lily's possesions to some stranded corridor did you" Sirius started to grin until he saw how serious James looked.

"No. I'll explain later but it seems Lily found out some interesting things on her walk about last night."

"Tut, tut. Our own head girl on walk abouts after curfue. You know this means she has to let us off next time she catches us."

Remus and Peter couldnt help but laugh at Sirius's suggestion knowing full well that despite what Lily had been doing there was no way on gods earth she would let Sirius off with anything. Even James managed a smile.

"I wouldnt bet on it padfoot."

The day had gone as swift as the last one. They had all just left the defence against the dark arts room. Patronouses were a favourite of the teacher, not so popular with the now drained students.

"Oh well heres where we leave you Lily, unless your coming in" inquired Ella.

"Yeah come one Lil's i'll give you game of chess." Persuaded Anna.

"Oh for christ sake I am tried you lot, let me pass" Felicity walked through the other four. None of whom looked surprised by her sharpness and impatientness. It was all part of the way Felicity was made. Deep down she loved them and they loved her and everyone knew it.

"No, im shattered. I think i'll go lie down for a bit and then i have to go and meet James. But i'll see you for dinner in the same place."

"OK see ya" said Anna.

"Bye, and dont be too hard on the poor fella" said Ella.

"Have a nice rest Lily" said Cas.

They all entered the common room, leaving Lily on her own. Lily made it back to the portrait of the dove lady and gave the password. Whe she entered she did not see what she expected to see. James, Remus, Sirius and Peter were all sat at a desk looking a large piece of parchment.

"Er" Lily wanted to say something but didnt know what so she closed her mouth and placed her bag down.


"Lily,er...dearest."

"Sirius just explain what we're doing, its not like its some big secret shes not invloved in." Said James. This worried Lily, anything secret the marauders were involved in more often than not was something highly against school rules.

"OK. Well James told us about your walk last night, which means you owe us one. Anyway we decided the best way to find the place you were is on the marauders map."

"What is the marauders map"
"Ah well its a map of Hogwarts, every entrance and every password for every door, painting and statue. It also shows where everyone is. Now we've already selected three corridors that might be the one you were in. So once we've finished looking we are going to take you to all of them and see if you can tell us which one it is."

"But hows that going to prove anything"
"Because they, he, she might go back again" James interjected.

Lily thought about it and as much as she wanted to object to it, it did seem like the best course of action. At least if they found the right place they could tell Dumbledore exactly where it happened.

"Ok guys lets leave it for now. We can finish it after dinner." Said James.

"Yeah but its important" argued Remus.

"Why cant we finish it now, i know you and Lily cant wait to jump on top of each other and everything but i'm with Moony this needs doing." Sirius stated.

"We cant finish it now becuase i have to meet Lily in the library." Lily might have been decived but she could have sworn that the corners of James's mouth twitch when he looked at her.

"Oh alright, but i still think your hiding somthing Jamesie. You watch him Lily, his intentions maybe to take you on a study session to the library but i bet he'll trap you inbetween two book shelves and grope you." Sirius said as he left with a chuckling Remus and Peter.

"Sorry about them" said James. He picked up his bag and headed to the portrait. "You coming"

"Oh yeah of course."

A/N: Ok I am finishing this chapter now and i'll continue with it on the next chapter. In fact this is even longer than the first and might well be boring. If it is tell me. I think the first three at the most chpters might be a bit boring but its mainly becuse all the stuff im writing about now is necassary for the story as a whole. Please review, i really really would like to know what you think even just one line about it. Ok anyway please read the next chapter! Please and thank you : )