"James?" Lily asked Friday night on patrol.

Their first week of seventh year had flown by with teetering, towering piles of homework and the Marauders relentless pranking; just last night they had swapped all of their belongings with the girls so that when they went to grab their pajamas they were faced with the Marauders nightclothes.

"Yes?" he asked turning to her from where he had been looking out of a window. Fresh from his latest detention, courtesy of his horrible Divination teacher Professor Shunpike, which involved three hours of scrubbing the trophies in the trophy room without magic, James had joined Lily on yet another patrol, with no culprits.

"Are you scared?"

He looked to her confused. "Of what?"

"Of what's going to happen to all of us when we leave next year? I mean, we've spent seven years protected at Hogwarts, while the wizarding world outside the walls of the castle have been fighting a war with Voldemort and his supporters."

"Well I have faith in my scrounging abilities," James said grinning, before realizing Lily was serious. "Aurors are some of the most highly trained wizards there are. I'll be learning from the best."

"But it's just not Aurors he attacks is it? It's ordinary wizards as well, and Muggles. No one is safe James, no matter what career we take we're going to be pulled into this one way or another. Some or all of us could be dead within months of finishing," Lily worried.

James stood in front of her, "No we won't Lily," he whispered, "Because we'll all be looking out for one another. Not our own personal interests."

Lily shuddered then feeling a cold chill run down her spine. She looked out at the grounds where James had been a few moments ago. There was glittering dew on the grass and the grounds were bathed in moonlight. She looked up at the waning moon and then back to the grounds. There was a movement in the Forbidden Forest and Lily pressed her nose to the glass of the windows to see better. She saw no less than ten figures emerge from the trees; all wearing cloaks of black and masks which revealed only their eyes. They held their wands out and fanned out across the lawn.

"James!" Lily gasped grasping his arm. James turned to look outside.

"What is it?" he asked yawning-stopping mid yawn when he saw the figures. "Death Eaters!" he exclaimed and Lily and he whipped out their wands.

"We have to go get McGonagull!" Lily insisted.

"There's no time!" James exclaimed as the figures headed for the front doors of the castle. They made a run for the closest staircase and thundered down it as fast as they could.

"James we can't possibly take on a dozen Death Eaters on our own!" Lily declared as they ran at full speed down the halls. They had made it to the Entrance Hall and were leaning against the walls of the hallway trying to conceal themselves.

"You're right," James reached reaching into his pocket.

He brought out what looked to be an old dusty mirror.

"Sirius Black," James said quietly into it. Lily looked astonished as the mirror swirled and Sirius' head appeared in place of James reflection.

"Prongs, what's going on? Had enough of married life with Evans?" he teased.

"This is serious Padfoot, we've got Death Eaters about to bust in here any moment, get McGonagull!" James whispered.

"Leave it to me," Sirius answered and James put the mirror away.

"If there's one thing about Padfoot, that makes him an honest man, it's that he can be serious when the time calls."

"James, what are we going to do?" Lily asked frightened as they heard footsteps outside the doors.

"Hold them off till McGonagull and Dumbledore arrive," he maintained moving towards her. James put one his hands gently on the nape of her neck so she looked at him. "Stay with me Lily." He pleaded.

Lily took in a deep breath, "I'm with you," she mouthed as they heard the doors burst open. Then with one last look at him she brought out her wand. They charged into the Hall and were met by four Death Eaters.

"Just who we were looking for," one Death Eater remarked.

"Oh yeah?" James asked, "What for?" he was twisting his wand in his hand readying himself.

"Why don't you ask your parents you'll be meeting them soon," one sneered.

"My parents?" James asked confused. The four raised their wands at James ignoring Lily, and taking advantage of his confusion yelled,

"Stupefy!" as Lily yelled "Protego!" pointing her wand at James.

Their stunning spells were repelled as Lily's protection charm covered James.

"Immobilus!" Lily shouted pointing at a random Death Eater who immediately froze in the spot, and then dodging a curse

Lily grasped James and pulled him out of the Entrance Hall as the other Death Eaters poured into the Hall.

"C'mon James it's just about six to one," she panted, dragging him up a hallway and a flight of stairs. "We're going to have to fight differently. We can't just duel them!" she added stopping James. There were no sounds coming up the corridor behind them. Lily turned to him, "it's too dangerous." James moved towards her so that they were within centimeters of each other.

Suddenly there came crash from downstairs. James and Lily turned sharply to look down the corridor. Sirius was backed up against the entrance to the corridor yelling incantations; he ducked as jets of light came his way, exploding holes into the wall behind him. Sirius then came flying down the corridor towards them.

"Run!" he bellowed and the three set off down the corridor dodging curses and jinxes. Lily and James needed no explanations they bolted with Sirius as three Death Eaters came sprinting up the corridor.

"Trippenda!" a Death Eater yelled and Lily tripped and fell flat on the floor.

"Lily!" James called desperately as she struggled to rise; he turned and raised his wand. Sirius cursed one of them and he fell over sprouting tentacles all over his face. The two remaining raised their wands towards Lily.

James in desperation roared, "Protego!" as the Death Eaters sent curses at Lily. James' shield was not strong enough.

Suddenly Lily began to emit sounds of immense pain as both of the Death Eaters, pointed their wands at her and said, "Crucio."

James raised his wand again and the Death Eaters stopped, "Stay where you are Potter. Move and we will curse her again." James felt himself boiling.

"What do you want?" he yelled.

"You," they said robotically pointing their wands at him.

"Well you can't have him!" Sirius exploded stepping forward towards them.

"Sirius no!" James yelled as Sirius raised his wand. The Death Eater was to fast for him,

"Stupefy!" he cried and the Stunning Charm knocked out Sirius. He landed with a thud and the only sound in the corridor was Lily's sobs. James raised his wand feeling his anger rise.

"You foul-" he began but was cut off as Dumbledore arrived at the end of the corridor.

James felt relief pass over him, as the Death Eaters turned horrified to see Dumbledore standing in all his magnificence behind them. The two able bodied Death Eaters escaped through a tapestry to their left and left their companion who was still trashing on the ground the tentacles which had sprouted from his face were now attempting to strangle him. Dumbledore stunned the Death Eater and revived Sirius while James ran to Lily.

"Lily," he whispered pulling her into his arms. She opened her eyes vaguely looking at him.

"James?" she asked her voice faltering.

"It's okay I'm here," and she nodded her head. James lifted her up into his arms.

"I think you had better return to your dormitories, you have done more than enough." Dumbledore said putting up a hand to Sirius' attempts to argue. Dumbledore accompanied them down the corridor.

"Where's McGonagull?" Lily asked as they magically locked doors behind them.

"Fighting the Death Eaters in the Charms corridor," Dumbledore said, "all the teachers are, but they're spilt up." He pulled up a tapestry. "This tunnel will take you back to the portrait hole, stay in the Gryffindor Common Room until Professor McGonagull retrieves you," he bade them farewell sincerely.

"Good luck Professor." They called as they tapestry was closed behind them and they were immersed in darkness.

"Lumos," Sirius muttered igniting his wand tip. Lily shielded her eyes.

"Oww Sirius!" she said trying to get out of James' arms. Lily scrambled to the floor.

"Are you sure you'll be okay?" James asked concerned. Lily looked at him scornfully.

"Yes Potter," she snapped and took out her wand. "C'mon, we should be with the Gryffindors." They walked through the passage and exited just opposite the Fat Lady.

"Codswallop," Sirius muttered as he escorted Lily and James into the portrait hole scanning the corridors and then entering himself.

The seventy or so Gryffindors looked up in fright as the three descended the stairs.

"Lily!" Hannah shrieked and the girls leapt onto her as if they'd never see her again.

"We were so worried!" Felicity cried. Lily was almost crying herself feeling so safe in her friend's arms. "When you didn't come back to the Gryffindor Tower we thought you had been hurt or something."

"And then Sirius wouldn't let us come with him when James called him on the mirror!" Carol interjected. "We tried so badly Lily."

James sat with Sirius, Remus and Peter in the corner.

"They wanted you!" Remus exclaimed. James nodded.

"They said I'd be meeting my parents soon, what can that mean? You don't think they're dead do you?" James asked and Sirius shook his head.

"We'd have heard, Grotcher would have been here already." Grotcher was the Potter's kindly old house elf.

"What can it mean then?" James questioned and the others shrugged, "Perhaps I should see Dumbledore when this has-"

James was interrupted as Professor McGonagull entered the portrait hole. "The disturbance in the school has been dealt with." she said as calm as ever. "You may now go back to your dorms. Rest assured I assure you the castle is safe." She finished dismissing the students. "Potter, Evans." She called to Lily and James. They walked to her tensely.

"What the two of you did back there was reckless, foolish and irresponsible. The sensible thing to do would have been to alert a teacher," Lily hung her head in shame and James opened his mouth to protest but McGonagull went on, "however the two of you showed immense courage and determination in keeping the Death Eaters at bay until teacher's could arrive, and showed great loyalty to both the school and Professor Dumbledore. That being said the Professor requests the two of you to meet with him Sunday afternoon."

Lily and James stood mortified to the spot not quite knowing whether they were in trouble or not.

"What does this mean Professor?" Lily asked finally.

"This means Miss Evans that you and Potter may return to your dorms safely, good night." McGonagull abruptly turned and left.

Lily turned to James; he looked as confused as she felt. "C'mon," he said to her, "Let's get some sleep."

They walked in silence to the Head's Room and Lily felt her bones and muscles began to ache after the effects of the Cruciatus Curse. They said goodnight at the doors of their rooms and then changing into their pajamas went to bed.

Lily lay for ages in her bed. She was unsettled having to turn light her candle every couple of minutes to check no one else was in her room, and inspect the grounds out her window. Finally she gave up and lighting her candle once again crept into James' room.

"James," she whispered her face illuminated by the candle, his barely visible.

"What is it Lily?" he asked sitting up.

"I can't sleep," she said uncomfortably, "I'm too scared to," she stammered not believing herself, here she was in her night gown telling James Potter of all people that she was scared.

"Come here," he whispered and she made her way to his bed. He opened the covers and she climbed in and snuggled into him. He wrapped his arms around her in the warmest and most comforting arms Lily had ever been enwrapped in. Lily felt as if nothing could touch her, that nothing was real except the beating of her heart and James'.