CHAPTER 19..:::::.. 

 Disclaimer: Well, basically I won everything you don't recognise. But you already know that.

Cara-meLissa: More James and Lily action eh? Hmm. I'll see what I can do. (I love them too.)

Quidditch Queen: Cyprus was great thanks; I do quite like American accents, but no more than Irish (no offence) but I think lots of Americans like British accents (I may be wrong) but when I went once, and we ordered food they kept asking us to repeat it so they could hear our accent. Lol. It made me laugh. I wondered too, don't worry! Glad you love Bellatrix!

The Only One You Ever Feared: Hey, I love your name. Thanks for reviewing. Keep doing it! Lol.

Remus'sHunni: I love Remus too!!! He's fab. I call him Lupin because that's how JK refers to him; also I think it's because he was a professor. I'm just trying to be faithful to the master- ess.

Tainted Day: Aww thanks a lot!

Fashiondiva: *Rosie deeply hopes that the Diva was joking about a sexy Snape else she will curl up and die*.  What was I doing in a cocktail bar? You mean when I'm only 16? Hmm, I'm not sure; you'd be better off asking the five random men I was with. Lol.

Drops-of-Winter: Thanks, I'm trying to show why Snape might be so ... ugly.

Maulani: Hi, thanks for the review, you think it's in cannon? Wehey! Lol.

Pookie Monster: Lol, yes you did and yes I did thanks. Hehe. Glad you love this. I'm going for funny and dramatic AND romantic. Phew.

Inkling1: Wow thanks, that was a close one. I was close to death and then saw your review. Phew! Well, I hate to be the one to tell you, but I made up the whole Glory Glory Haliegh Hippogriffs thing. Lol.

Kat44: No errors eh? Wow, that's a first! Must be why I'm top set English! Lol.

Hira: A million gazillion? That's an awful lot I must say. Haha. Actually, it's not enough! More love! Lol.

Akira Gown: Hmm, to forgive you a second time ... now that could be hard ... but I can do it. Lol. Just glad your still reading it.

Lady Rebecca: Yeah, I am trying to show just a snippet of sympathy or what have you, but to be honest I expected flames! Thanks a lot.

Mystikalolo: Lol, yes P does naturally stand for Potter *Rosie knows what mystikalolo is talking about however* and as for that, you shall just have to wait and see. ;)

*HITS PLAY*

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Much to the horror of most of the seventh years, their last year was positively flying by. Weeks and months were disappearing like Galleons and the workload was definitely increasing due to their forthcoming NEWT's. This was all very well, but now they only had a few weeks left before the exams were actually upon them. The winter month had slipped away and summer was almost upon them.

"I just can't believe how quickly it's all gone," said Lily one day at breakfast.

James smirked. "I know. We've been going out for almost three months now."

Lily looked sideways at him. "I didn't mean that," she said. "That's just dragged on."

James looked at her, slightly crestfallen, his hazel eyes searching hers.

"I'm joking!" she said hurriedly as Sirius and Remus exchanged glances. And then quietly, "Seriously, three months?"

"But the thing is," Lupin interrupted because it was likely that yet another argument was likely to break out between the pair as had been happening frequently. "It also means that our NEWT's are here soon."

Sirius scoffed through his potatoes. "Come on, Moony," he said with a chuckle. "We'll sail them."

But the rest were looking at Lily who had angrily banged her knife down on her plate with a clatter. "All right, that's quite enough of this. I want all of you, right now, to explain these nicknames to me."

James grimaced. "W- why, Lily dear?" he asked furtively.

"Because, James, there has to be a reason as to why you are called Prongs to everyone else except me and why you call Remus by someone's backside and why Sirius is a Bigfoot or what ever."

There was a pronounced silence after this when Peter slightly cleared his throat. "Um, Lily, I'm known as Wormtail," he said in a small voice.

"Really," said Lily absent-mindedly. "That's nice, but will somebody just get it over with?"

James looked from one to the other and then back at Lily. "Is – is it really that important, pumpkin?" he asked.

Lily's eyes flashed. "Don't you call me that," she said sharply. "And I think that three months in a relationship –"

"Two months, twenty six days and this morning," James cut off.

"– Should constitute as showing a little trust between one another. And why have you been keeping count like that?"

James blushed ever so slightly, though attempted his tone to be mature and still cocky enough to escape the sniggers from his friends. "Well, I just – I didn't think that … that it'd last this – this long so I … you know."

Lily's expression changed for a microsecond into one of fondness as she leaned over to him. "That's so sweet," she said, kissing him on the cheek. James glowed.

"I know," he said but the glow was lost as her expression changed very quickly as did her tone of voice.

"But that's not the point. Come on someone, fill me in."

They all cast gloomy looks among themselves. Lupin sighed. "I suppose we have to tell her, Prongs," he said ignoring Lily's indignant expression.

"Why?" said Peter suddenly.

"Because," said Sirius, "if we don't she might put us in detention. Or worse. Hex us."

"Do we have to?" asked Peter sulkily. "I liked it when it was just the four of us."

"Oi, this is my girlfriend!" James said. "But do we have to?" he added quietly.

Lupin waved an impatient hand and leaned very far in so Lily did too. When he spoke, his voice was barely more than a whisper and not very audible so Lily had to strain to hear. "You see, Lily, it starts with me."

Lily frowned. "You?"

"Something happened to me when I was a young boy that would isolate me for the rest of my life."

There was a pause as the clogs clicked about in Lily's head. Before Lupin could go on, she raised a hand, eyes wide. "You – you're a … a werewolf, aren't you?"

Lupin's eyes widened slightly with shock as did the others. "How did you know that?" asked James, impressed.

Lily shook her head. "I remember. That night, with Snape, and you and … the werewolf. I had a suspicion because you didn't want to hurt it and you wouldn't let Snape kill it … sorry. I mean you."

"It's quite all right," said Lupin indifferently, "But you see, my friends could hardly fail to notice what I was after being in my company for two years. So when they knew they could help me with my transformations, they –"

"Wait a second," said Sirius. "I want to say Lily, first, don't scream or anything."

"Don't make a fuss – "

"I know you're Head Girl –"

"But I'm Head Boy, so …"
          "Will you shut up and tell me?" she said, annoyed. It couldn't be that bad … surely …

"They became illegal Animagi so they could be with me when I was a werewolf," said Lupin after a second. "That's what the names are for. Sirius is –"

"YOU WHAT?" she said, rounding on James. "I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU WOULD –"

"SHUT UP!" he hissed, pulling her down again as she had risen from her bench and clapping a hand over her mouth. "You have to keep quiet or someone will hear you! Do you really want to land us all in Azkaban?"

Lily shook her head, still unable to speak.

"Do you promise you won't tell?" said Peter, looking scandalised.

Lily hesitated and then nodded her head slowly. James released his hand and her eyes were wide. "Why … how … how …"

"It took them a while but in our fifth year they managed it. Sirius is a big black dog, I'm a wolf, Peter is a rat and James is a stag."

Lily frowned for a second and then realised something. "Ooh! That's why … with your Patronus …"

"That's where the nicknames come from," James explained. "Peter's Wormtail, Sirius is Padfoot, Remus is Moony and I'm Prongs."

There was a very loud and pronounced silence after this where Lily opened her mouth a few times to speak and then closed it again, at a loss of what she should say, if anything.

James broke it. "S – so, what do you think? Dear?" he added hopefully.

Lily shook her head and hen smiled much to the surprise of all four Marauders. "I think it's brilliant," she said. "I don't know how you managed it, but it's brilliant."

&*()_&*()_&*()_&*()_

          Snape was walking very quickly to the house where resided Lord Voldemort. Almost three months had gone by since he had had the Dark Mark seared into his skin to show he openly supported Voldemort. It was hard, having to hide it from everyone at school, especially Dumbledore, but Snape was very useful. He was stationed at the exact right spot if Voldemort needed to know anything, and Dumbledore trusted him. He was to report every week or so just to confirm that nothing out of the ordinary and happened yet. He did not dare Apparate; it was much easier to sneak out of the Grounds and through the passageway to Hogsmead where a fellow Death Eater would be waiting. This time, it was Lucius Malfoy.

          "Anything to report, Snape?" he asked smoothly in a superior voice. Although Malfoy was only a few years older than Snape, he had been a Death Eater for longer and therefore held more sway over him.

          "Not this time, no," said Snape.

          Malfoy's lip curled in almost the identical way that Snape's did. "Severus," he began. "You have had nothing to report on now for almost two months. I do hope that there is nothing wrong."

          Snape shook his head. "There has been nothing to report, Malfoy. Nothing that the Dark Lord would need to be plagued with."

          Snape only told them what he had to; he would never reveal anything about how he was taunted or humiliated. That would show weakness and that was the last thing he wanted to do. He was not lying. There was nothing to report.

          "Right, well in that case, there is no need for you to come up to the house. That is probably better. Then you will not be missed."

          Malfoy nodded and swept out of sight leaving Snape with a guilty twinge in his stomach. He did not know whether this was due to the fact he could not do anything useful for Voldemort or something else.

&*()_&*()_&*()_&*()_

          Lessons were all the same in context; they worked very hard, James and Sirius included, and then were very glad for a lunch break. Then they continued to work very hard again, often into the night, and ate as much as was physically possible before collapsing into bed. One evening a few days after Lily had been informed of the Marauder's antics as Animagi, the four returned, exhausted from revision, from the Common room. They all sunk down fully clothed into bed and moaned.

          "This is unnatural," said Sirius. "The human body cannot be forced to cope like this."

          "I totally agree, Padfoot," said James.

          "What are you on about?" said Peter. "We all know perfectly well that you and Lily will exchange massages later."

          James sat up. "How do you know about that?" he asked, forgetting himself and then recovered lamely. "I mean, what are you talking about Wormtail?"

          To save James the embarrassment of having the other two quiz him, Lupin changed the subject. "I thought you said you were going to sail them, Sirius?"

          "I lied," Sirius groaned.

          Just as he said this, Lily came bustling in the dormitory. They all sat up hurriedly.

          "What are you doing in here?" said Sirius, scandalised. "You're not allowed in here!"

          "Says who?" said Lily defiantly. "I'm Head Girl, I can do what I want."

          "Now, Lily, that's abusing your position. What if I was naked?" he continued.

          Lily rolled her eyes and made a disgusted expression. "Then I shall thank Merlin that you are not."

          James stood up and went over to Lily. "Not that I'm not glad to see you," he said, kissing her on the cheek, "But what are you doing in here?"

          Lily held up a paper. It was The Daily Prophet and on the front was a large headline; "VOLDEMORT STRIKES AGAIN".

          "Oh no," James breathed as the others, catching sight of the headline, stood up and went over to them. Lily cleared her throat and read aloud.

          "The notorious Dark Wizard, known by a name that we witches and wizards would rather not speak of, (Lily tutted; "Why they just can't say his name I don't know,") has struck again. Neighbours of Gideon Prewitt and his wife last night came out of their homes after hearing a terrible commotion only to find the terrifying Dark Mark lingering sinisterly above the house. After alerting Ministry officials immediately, the newly elected Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge, stated, "It was only a matter of time before he struck again, but I must urge the Magical Community to remain calm and trust us to restore order and safety." Readers are encouraged to ring the Panic Hotline if they are still unconvinced for their safety."

          "Oh, what a load of old tosh," said Lily snappily. "Restore safety my backside. They're no closer to stopping Voldemort than I am of having an affair with the Muggle Priminister."

          They all looked at her, shocked.

          "Well, they're not," she said quietly and sat down on James's bed. James sighed deeply.

          "I cannot believe this," he said coldly. "Why them?"

          Sirius shook his head. "I don't know."

          Lupin also stood up and went to the window. "He doesn't need reasons anymore, it's just for the hell of it."

          Peter was the only one sat down as Lily stood up. "B – but they will stop him, won't they?" he asked timidly. They all shot him glares.

          "Does it look like it?" snapped Sirius. "The Prewits were powerful wizards, they wouldn't have gone without a fight."

          Lupin looked grave. "Maybe that's why," he said slowly. "Maybe they rose against him."

          "Good for them," said James quietly.

          "Oh yeah?" said Peter who had suddenly gotten to his feet. "Good for them, was it? Doesn't look too good now, does it, eh?"

          "Peter!" snapped Lupin, a warning look in his grey eyes.

          "No, Remus, let me speak. They stood up to V – … to Him, and now they're dead! Doesn't bode well for the rest of us, does it? You're all planning on standing up to him as well, aren't you?"

          "Yes!" came the defiant reply from every single one of them.

          There was a long pause as Peter sat down again, shaking slightly.

          James moved forwards. "What exactly are you saying, Wormtail? That it's not worth standing up to him? That we should just go along with him and whatever he tries to make of this good world?"

          Wormtail gazed up at James, frightened. "No! Not at all, it's just … well. I'm scared."

          "We're all scared, Peter, but that's no reason to mouth off about giving up!"

          Peter nodded. "I know, I'm sorry. It's just I'm not brave like you and Sirius and Remus."

          James walked over to where Peter was sitting and put a hand on his shoulder. "It'll be all right. We're with Dumbledore. You're not to worry, OK?" he said giving it a quick squeeze and going to join Lupin at the window.

          Lily hid her disgusted expression at Wormtail; he looked like a shaking overgrown baby with his ratty fingernails and whiny expression. It made her sick.

&*()_&*()_&*()_&*()_

          News of the murder of the Prewits spread like wildfire through the school over the next couple of weeks. People carrying issues of the Daily Prophet would open them again in the back of classes, unseen and discuss it in hushed whispers. Teachers too, seemed rattled. They would be talking quietly in the corridors and then break off abruptly before students could hear what they were saying. It was obvious however; they knew, as well as Lily and the Marauders that Voldemort was getting stronger. Within a fortnight, the panic had subdued slightly. The Prewits were not talked about half as much and student's minds were driven clean of Voldemort as more frantic revision ensued.

          Something happened the next day however that would turn the Marauder's minds away from revision. Rubeus Hagrid, Hogwarts gamekeeper, had been away from his duties for the past month. James and the others were on very good terms with Hagrid, who thought them highly amusing. James knew, however, what Hagrid was doing. His father, Edward Potter, worked for the Ministry and had told James, who was sworn to secrecy, that Hagrid was helping Dumbledore work against Voldemort. He had left it at that, so James had no details. That day however, Hagrid burst through the doors of the Great Hall in the afternoon during lunch.

          "Professor Dumbledore, sir!" he said breathlessly as he trudged up to the staff table.

          Dumbledore got to his feet looking worried and so did McGonagall.

          "Professor, there's somethin' I gotta tell yeh!"

          "Hagrid! Not here!" hissed McGonagall as students were looking very interestedly at him.

          "If you would be so kind as to accompany me outside, Hagrid," said Dumbledore calmly as he moved away from the table.

          "Righ' you are, sir," said Hagrid and he followed him out.

          James and the others exchanged curious looks, but no more was known until much later.

*^*^*^*^*^

          "James, will you come in now, please!" Lily was saying to him as he got off his broomstick. "I'm getting cold and we have to do some revision!"

          "She's right you know, Prongs," said Sirius, swinging his broom over his shoulder. "Come on," and he strode off.

          "We'll be there in a minute," James called out after him and stored his broom in the shed just to the right of them.

          "No, we won't," said Lily sternly. "I don't know about you, but I want to pass these NEWT's and if we don't study properly –"

          James pulled a sad face. "Come on, Lils, we never get any time alone together anymore."

          Lily frowned. "We don't have time to go off all the time, James, we've got exams!"

          "So you keep saying!" he said, taking her arm. "Come on, we're going on a hike."

          Lily objected and tried to half pull her arm free. "No, come on James, we can't, we don't have time –" but she didn't try very hard. James's grip was far to strong and in a way he was right; they hadn't ever really spent time alone together away from the Marauders. Not even when they had started the relationship.

          "Where are we going?" she asked after a few minutes.

          James frowned. "Well, I'm not sure."

          They climbed the hill past the lake where the giant squid was sunning itself in the fresh sun and past Hagrid's Hut.

          "We're going … here," said James and flopped down on the grass where they had a nice view of the lake and the castle. He grabbed Lily's hand and pulled her down too.

          "What are you doing?" she asked sternly, but with a little smile. "We're going to just sit here, is that the idea?"

          "Pretty much."

          Lily smiled. "Well, it's a nice idea," she said.

          James attempted to subtly put an arm around her shoulders, but it wasn't very subtle. Oddly enough, she didn't object. Not even when he kissed her.

          The sound of rustling movement behind them made them turn sharply.

          "All righ' you two?" came a booming voice. Hagrid turned to James and winked. "Not interrupting anythin' I hope?" he asked slyly.

          "Oh no, no!" said Lily standing up suddenly. "Sorry, Hagrid, we didn't see you."

          "I gathered tha'," said Hagrid with a small smile. "An' I think it's great about yeh two, I gotta say …" he trailed off.  "Anyways, none o' my business, that. Best be getting off."

          James stood up as well, sensing an opportunity, and spoke. "Hey, Hagrid, what was all that about yesterday? With Dumbledore?"

          Hagrid's face darkened. "Ah, can' tell yeh, James, you know I can'".

          Lily caught on. "Yes, we know, Hagrid. We know you work so hard against Voldemort," (Hagrid flinched) "and that you risk your life."

          Hagrid's face lightened again. "Ah, well, yeh know …"

          "Yeah," James said. "The things you do are so dangerous, we're lucky to have you."

          "Well, it ain't really all tha' dangerous, I just, yeh know."

          "Oh it must be, Hagrid," said Lily in admiration.

          "No, no, I just go out an' find news for Dumbledore, like about the Pattersons las' nigh' …"

          "What?" asked Lily and James simultaneously.

          Hagrid's face changed again. "Ah, now, don' you trick me, yeh two!" he said, annoyed with himself. "I shouldn' of told yeh anythin'."

          "Oh come on, Hagrid, we'll find out anyway," said James, raising his eyebrows slightly. "What happened to the Pattersons?"

          Hagrid looked thoroughly disgruntled at his own blunder, but sighed deeply. "All righ', if I tell yeh, don' yeh go tellin' no one else, yeh hear?" he said sternly.

          Lily and James nodded furiously.

          "They're dead," he said shortly. "You Know Who killed 'em the other week. I weren' s'posed to say nuthin', an' they're tryin' a' keep it outta the Daily Prophet, so don' say nothin', all righ'?"

          Lily and James were startled but nodded all the same as Hagrid wandered off, still looking annoyed with himself. They looked at each other with wide eyes.

          "James, it's probably nothing, but I … I just think there's a pattern here."

          James breathed in deeply. "It's getting worse," he said quietly.

          "No, I just mean … Prewits? Pattersons?"

          James looked away slowly, contemplating something. "P … before the Prewits it was the Peters. That was a few month ago."

          Lily nodded looking fearful. "James, you don't think … maybe –"

          "Don't," he said shortly. "Don't think about it." He drew her into a hug and looked over the top of her head at the castle. "We just have to know that we can get through this."

          "Promise?" she asked.

          He kissed the top of her vibrant red head. "I promise."

~#~#~#~#~

          Antonin Dolohov drew himself up proudly in front of Voldemort. "It is done, my Lord," he said clearly.

          Voldemort half smiled. "Good. Very good. You have pleased me, Antonin. You shall be rewarded."

          Dolohov practically trembled with pride. "Thank you, my Lord."

          Voldemort began to pace. "I feel now that we are able to sleep easy. For now. Then when time gets closer, we shall simply have to … improvise."

          Dolohov laughed softly.

~#~#~#~#~

          James would never ever forget what happened that evening as long as he lived. He and Lily walked hand in hand back into the Common room fresh from their newfound knowledge about the Pattersons, and Lily's cryptic feeling. James was not prepared to find the Common room empty save for Sirius, Remus, Peter and Dumbledore. They were all white and shaking, Sirius was sitting down, his hands over his face whilst Remus had his hand on the post of the bed as though he might fall if he didn't hold something. Peter was staring out of the window, looking completely lost. Lily and James stopped abruptly.

          "What on earth has happened?" she asked. Sirius looked sharply up and Remus took his hand off the post as they came in, but Peter did not move.

          Dumbledore walked towards them. "May I have a word, James, in private?" he said softly, almost sadly. But James was looking at his friends and the grave expression on Dumbledore's face.

          "What's going on?" he repeated, looking at Sirius who had sunk his head back into his hands. "Professor?"

          "James, I must ask you to accompany me somewhere private –"

          "No!" said James more loudly than he had anticipated. "No, something's happened, hasn't it? I want to know, now!"

          Lily moved forwards and put a hand on his arm.

          Dumbledore said nothing, which angered James. He could tell that there was something terribly wrong and he wanted to know. "James, something has happened. You should know that –"

          "Professor, please. Just tell me."

          Dumbledore sighed. "Very well, James. Voldemort has struck again."

          James almost felt a wave of relief sweep through him and then felt sickened with himself. "It's OK, Professor, I know about the Pattersons. It wasn't Hagrid's fault but we just –"

          "It is not the Pattersons, James. It kills me to be the one to let you know that there has been an attack. On your parents."

          James blinked. So did Lily. He opened his mouth once, and then closed it again. "W – what do you mean, an attack?" he said after a second. Lupin grabbed the post again.

          Dumbledore lowered his head.

          "An … an attack, but – but they're OK, right? Do we need to go to St. Mungo's? We could go now –"

          "James," Sirius spoke from beneath his hands. "James, you can't."

          "What do you mean I can't?" he said, his voice breaking.

          Dumbledore looked up again. "You cannot visit them, James, because they are no longer with us."

          "What do you –"

          Remus exhaled shakily. "They're dead, James. He killed them."

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  A/N: ARGH! SORRY, SORRY, SORRY! I know you hate cliffhangers! But I just had to! It was too good to miss! I almost cried writing this; I could just imagine James's little face and Sirius grief stricken … Argh! I'm going to be awful when I have to write you know what. Oh, for any comments about why wasn't the Rat's parents killed, that's because when I wrote her, I assumed she would probably support Voldie himself so she was no threat to him. I have no idea if he has a father. Anyway … REVIEW PLEASE!!!!!!