A/N: Since I hate having to take up the chapter with review responses, I've decided that only if you write something that I feel I have to reply to, will I write a response.

Once again, I barely know what I'm writing. I am utterly sorry if the story seems to be...erm...getting bad. I'm just...not interested in it anymore. I'll finish it, though...

Oh, yeah, one more thing. I've been rping a lot lately, so if it says "Lyra" anywhere in the story, it's supposed to be "Lily"...

–x–x--

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE: HIDDEN THOUGHTS

After a moment of looking at each other as if for reassurance everyone nodded, even Snape.

"We should get into groups." Sirius said.

"Right," James said happily, his sudden mood swings leading him toward cheer, "Since Moony over here seems to get along so well with the loser over there in the corner," Here he indicated Snape, "They can pair up. Wormtail and Sirius because we need someone to watch after Wormtail. Ah, and I guess that means Evans and I get to be together, eh?" He smiled roguishly. Lily scowled, but didn't say anything.

–x–x–

Walking alone with Lily wasn't something that she would have volunteered for, James knew. She was too proper and prim to be around a messy, bad-mannered boy like him. He didn't much care...or at least he hadn't. But with too much silence James felt rather....disgruntled.

He'd tried to walk alongside her, but she kept speeding up until they were both on the verge of running. After that, James had let himself fall back. He didn't mind. The back view was as good as the front view. He wondered if she knew that he was enjoying himself as she led the way. Usually he would assert himself and make sure that if he wasn't in the front, he was at least on the side. But that was with Sirius or Moony. They weren't much for looks–at least in James' opinion.

Still, he didn't like being in the silence. All he could hear were their own footsteps and from somewhere far off a dog was howling. It wasn't Moony or Sirius, of course. He knew their howls like the back of his hand. His footsteps, he noticed then, might attract the attention of a Death Eater. They were looking for him, after all.

The further they walked the more James noticed their footfalls. It came to the point that James was almost tiptoeing–

Lily chuckled quietly as James tiptoed along behind her. She looked at him with a grin then kept walking. But her laughter broke James' spell and he felt his face go red as he eased back into normality. He even went as far as to walk up beside her. He was surprised when she didn't speed up to get away from him.

James looked sideways at her face, and saw a little frown between her eyebrows. Going through the Lily files in his brain James remembered that she frowned when she was thinking.

"What are you thinking?"

Immediately her eyes lost their trance look and came back into focus. Her little frown turned into a scowl. She started walking quickly. James almost laughed.

"Come on! You can tell--"

"I don't have to tell you anything, Potter. It's none of your business."

"I'll bet it is, you're just too shy to say."

Lily abruptly stopped and James's shoulder careened into hers. Rubbing her shoulder, Lily looked up at him defiantly. "How would you know."

James' mood swung toward seriousness, mimicking hers. "Why does it matter? It's not like you would believe me anyway."

She knew what he was talking about. "You know what happened, James." She said.

"Apparently I don't." James answered rudely.

They stared at each other for a moment. James vaguely thought about how soft her lips looked, but stopped himself. Now was not the time to be snogging in the Dark Fortress corridors. Or the time to be slapped.

Lily's glare faltered. "How would you not know?" She asked quietly.

"I don't, Lily, alright?" James muttered furiously, "I don't remembered kissing you. I was with Sirius when it happened. I'm positive. You could give me veritaserum and you would still come up with the same answer--"

Lily interrupted him, "I don't believe you."

"Then so be it!" James said loudly. He started walking again, as fast as he could without actually running. Lily caught up with him.

"Then what will we do?" She asked rudely, panting as she tried to keep up.

"We'll agree to disagree."

He heard her footsteps stop momentarily, then she hurried toward him again. By now he was slowing down.

"Fine."

They walked in silence for a few minutes. Both walked at normal speed now. James no longer felt like talking to her or looking at her. Even if he was down to a normal walking speed, James was still fuming.

Finally, after so long, Lily spoke, "Why did I ever marry you?"

James stopped, his eyes flashing furiously, pulling her to a stop with him he yelled, "AND WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME??"

"Don't yell!" Lily said, trying to pry his fingers off her arm.

He gave off a bit, but wouldn't let go. Planting his feet, he stood ready to wait for an answer all day. Unfortunately he wasn't able to wait all day, because as soon as he decided on the matter they heard Death Eaters walking their way. James pulled Lily into the nearest room. Thankfully it was empty. He stood at the door, listening, until the Death Eaters passed, then pulled Lily along with him as he walked out.

Lily wrenched her arm away from James after a few moments of trying. He stopped and looked down at her, breathing heavily.

"Huh?" James asked, following her gaze with his face every time she tried to look away. "What's the big problem with me?" His voice was quiet and cold.

"I hate you, James." Lily said, seriously.

Hurt filled his eyes. His lip twitched into a scowl. He began walking again.

"You married me." He said when she'd caught up with him again.

"I don't know what went through my mind to make me do that." Lily said.

"So you regret it?"

"The only thing good that came out of our so called marriage is Harry."

"Harry?" James gave her a startled look, which she didn't see because she wasn't looking.

"Yes, Harry. He might look like you, but I can proudly say that he acts absolutely nothing like you."

"Right." James said sarcastically. He couldn't agree with her.

She looked at him ruefully.

"In any case, the fact that we got married and died trying to save Harry can't be forgotten about. There must have been something there." James said resolutely.

"I don't care if there was anything there, James. But for now, we might as well call it a truce–since we're stuck together."

James smiled cheerfully.

–x–x–

The dungeons of a place that was already cold and frightening didn't make Harry feel any better. Above ground this place was ugly–below ground it was indescribable. He could barely see–but anything he could see was dirty and gray and sad. He felt sorry for the walls.

Sometimes Harry wondered if his friends would do these things for him. Would they save him under any circumstances if he were in danger? Would they leave the safe room where Snape had told them to stay, in a hostile fortress, to go looking for him?

Why would they, Harry sometimes thought. What was so great about him that they should worry about saving him for. Of course, he wasn't the one who helped them through all their problems despite them pushing away. He didn't...well...there were a lot of things that Harry didn't do for them that he really should.

Guilt washed over him. He should've....

If it weren't for him, they wouldn't even be in this situation. That was true. Harry hated being the reason for all their troubles.

Sighing inwardly, Harry walked silently down the dungeon corridor...

–x–x–

Why did I agree to this...Sirius thought for what seemed like the thousandth time. He could have been safe and breathing on a perfectly normal level right now...but nooo...

Wormtail, next to him, was breathing harder. He wasn't chubby for no reason at all. Even if Sirius wasn't in Quidditch, he liked to keep himself in shape. Good decision, too. Breathing too loudly in these corridors after just outrunning another group of Death Eaters couldn't be good.

Wormtail irritated Sirius. The kid was being a bit too dramatic. He didn't say anything, though. No reason to talk in a scary corridor when a couple of murderous Death Eaters were on your tail.

Sirius supposed that they'd lost the pack of Death Eaters, so he slowed down considerably, to let Wormtail catch his breath.

He hadn't had much time to actually look at this place before. Now that Sirius actually saw it, it wasn't too bad. The dungeons weren't too pretty, but the main part of the fortress (this part) wasn't too shabby. He had to admit it, at least to himself.

Due to the fact that they most likely weren't going to escape anywhere while a couple hundred Dark Wizards were after them, as Sirius had soon found out was the case, there probably wasn't much chance of them escaping unless someone came with help. In the meantime, Sirius couldn't remember where Snape's chamber was. If he was correct, no one else would remember–except for Moony, of course. But Moony wasn't there. Sirius had to keep reminding himself that he'd been stuck with the dweeb.

As soon as this thought crossed his mind he heard footsteps to his left, where their own corridor forked off into another.

"More damned Death Eaters..." Sirius muttered, pulling out his want and standing in front of Wormtail. The kid was useless.

"Run, Wormtail." Sirius said, "I'll take care of them" Easier to take out his own frustration on these guys than on someone who could barely stand up for himself.

Twenty minutes later he was grumbling at how easy they had been to get rid of. Ole Voldie really had to find himself some better minions. Of course, he had been given an advantage. He'd seen them first. But still...

Sirius, still grumbling, ran to catch up with Wormtail.

–x–x–

Sometimes he wondered why Harry wasn't learning quicker. He was wondering at this very moment. Harry's 'training' had done nothing if not prove that everything was much harder than anyone had thought. Except, perhaps, for Harry. Harry knew exactly what he was facing.

Albus had, for once, left his secluded quarters. At times it could become a bit too stuffy for him to stand.

Of course, pacing didn't help. He was doing the exact same thing out here in a quiet corridor at midnight that he would've been doing in his office.

Where is Severus...?

–x–x–

a/n: I was thinking about going on...but something...interesting...is going to happen and I don't want to spoil it now . Lol. See you all next chappie!

–x–x–

REVIEW RESPONSES

(Reminder: As I said above: I'm not going to respond to reviews anymore unless I actually have something to say. Don't want to take up the whole chapter with review responses, no da!)

Ness Lupin: Trying to work on it all some more. I'll do my best!! hands out cookies

Novinha Black: What parts weren't right?? TELL ME!!!