Lily bit into an apple, smiling as the sweet, soothing taste filled her mouth. She was seated on the bench of the Quiddich stands, working on homework. It was right after the end of school, and most everyone was in Hogsmeade. The November holidays began on Friday, so Dumbledore had added an extra Hogsmeade trip to help the seventh-years take off a bit of stress from all their extra work.

Lily Evans didn't take breaks. She was far too busy to go and 'hang out' with giggly Hilary and her little group of chick-friends. Besides, she had a huge Astronomy essay to work on. Besides, she had this weekend to go home to her family before returning to school on Monday.

The wind was blowing gently, but the summer heat had not yet left, even though they were deep into November. It was high time for the chills to come, but Lily definitely wasn't complaining.

Lily was so deep into her work that she didn't hear the voices at the bottom of the pitch at first. She looked up, seeing two figures walking on the springy turf of the pitch. Her eyes narrowed. She wished she had been alone.

James Potter laughed, his low, musical laugh that resonated throughout the entire stadium, and Lily shivered. The woman with him was unmistakably Tevyn, and that improved Lily's mood not one whit.

She watched, unnoticed by the pair, as James artfully 'pulled' a flower out from behind Tevyn's ear, listening to the girl giggle. Lily glared harder. If they were going to be sappy romantic fools, couldn't they do it elsewhere?

She finally stopped staring when a familiar pair of blue eyes looked up at her, and James waved. Lily ignored him, going back into her books.

"James, why does Lily hate you so much?" Tevyn asked,straightening her ponytail. James happy faced instantly vanished, his whole demeanor changing to one of grim indifference.

"No idea." he said, glancing skyward again. Lily was still writing frantically, pretending not to notice the couple. But James knew she had. Their eyes had locked for a millisecond, but that was enough for him.

I'm over her. He said silently, turning back to Tevyn. Vyn was actually a very pretty girl, with those dark chestnut locks surrounding her like a wave of copper. But I always liked flame.

No, Tevyn's eyes were just as pretty. But they weren't green and riveting.

James glared at himself, ignoring the little annoying part of his brain. He didn't need to be thinking about Lily Evans.

"No! Damn, stupid quill." Lily whacked her quill on the edge of the seat, trying to get the ink to flow again. A huge blot had appeared in the center of her parchment, but she didn't care. "You know, if you suck on the end, it comes out easier." A deep, baritone voice said beside her, and Sirius Black appeared. He was dressed in a loose long-sleeved t-shirt and jeans, and looked completely comfortable.

"Black, I hope that wasn't some twisted innuendo." Lily said humorlessly. She looked at him, not surprised to see the dancing light of mischief in his eyes.

"Of course not! Evans, you have a sick mind. I would never-"

"Save it." Lily said briskly. "I was just leaving, anyway."

"So soon?" Sirius asked, sitting down beside her and leaning back and stretching. "But I only just arrived."

"Exactly why I'm leaving." Lily replied, shoving her book and parchment into her bag. Sirius grabbed her wrist, glancing at her notes. He scoffed.

"Don't you ever take a break?" he asked coolly, handing her the parchment back. Lily blushed, avoiding his gaze.

"Of course! In the summer time." she added quietly. Sirius laughed. But then, he would. His entire life was about 'taking a break'.

"My dear little innocent flower." Sirius said, still smiling. "I believe I know what you need."

"A long, hot bath that does not involve any thought process?" Lily asked wistfully. Sirius grinned, leaning forward and brushing a scarlet hair off her cheek with his thumb.

"Though that holds much appeal, I was thinking more along the lines of a huge party." Sirius said. "Tonight. Would you like to go with me?"

Lily frowned. She knew that parties were outlawed on the Hogwarts grounds, and this sounded pretty fishy to her.

"I know the rules specifically say that we can't go to parties..." Sirius spoke up, as if reading her mind. "But don't you want to break at least one rule before leaving Hogwarts?"

Lily frowned. It would not be good to show up in public with her ex-boyfriend, but she was marvelously tempted by the offer.

"Besides, you owe me one after walking out on my lunch the other day." Sirius said, flashing his signature smile. Lily melted, and she knew that there was no way she could not go.

"Alright." she said hesitantly. "But on one condition..."

"Anything." Sirius said, smiling.

"No twisted little schemes on getting me to talk to Potter or his little girlfriend." Lily said, glaring at him. Sirius smiled sheepishly, and she knew that was precisely what he had been planning.

As Sirius melted back into that shadows, Lily was mentally punching herself. There was no way that she was getting out of this one...no way.

"Lily, what in heaven's name are you doing?" Hilary's distant voice called through the mundane darkness of the dorm room. "Dreading." Lily said simply, not moving. She was spread out on her bed, her arms laying idly above her head, and one leg falling off the edge. Her stare was blank, and she had no idea what time it was.

"Lily. What's wrong, honey?"

Hilary came over and sat on the edge of Lily's bed, and it occurred to Lily that she had never really had an honest conversation with this girl. They had an agreement, but it wasn't exactly a close friendship.

"I'm going out." Lily said blandly, still beating herself up inside. She knew that Hilary would be overjoyed and start that annoying giggling if Lily told her that she was going out with Sirius.

Hell, she was going out with Sirius. Her notorious ex. They were going to a party together.

Lily sat up straight, almost knocking Hilary off her bed. The girl smiled at the redhead. Lily turned her head lazily to the side.

"I'll see you later, Hill." she said quietly, picking her cloak up off the ground and glancing at the clock on her bedside table.

"Where on earth could you be going? It's 10:00!" Hilary called after her.

"Cover for me, will you?" Lily asked over her shoulder.

She wasn't going to show. Sirius thought nonchalantly. He was waiting by the school's double-doors, waiting for his beautiful ex-girlfriend. Or rather, ex-fling. The two had always done less talking and more snogging when they were together. He knew that Lily would stand him up, after she realized what she had agreed to. It just wasn't in her nature to have fun, unless she knew without a doubt that she couldn't get caught.

He remembered a few times when it had been she to suggest that they sneak out to Hogsmeade, a few years ago. That was back when Lily was fun, when Lily was-

"Waiting for me, were you?" her voice cut into his thoughts. Sirius smiled, knowing who it was before he even turned.

"Let's go, Lil. Don't want to miss anything interesting, would we?"

"Does that mean alcohol?" Lily asked, licking her dry lips and already regretting this. Sirius grinned. He knew perfectly well how Lily was around anything alcoholic. Give her one drink and she'd tell you anything...and she couldn't say no.

"Possibly." he said, taking her elbow and steering her away. The two did not speak anymore as they made their way to the forbidden forest.

Lily had no idea where this party was taking place, so she had to do something that was extremely hard and probably not too intelligent: trust Sirius.

He led her through the forest until they came to a huge, roaring bonfire that jumped out of the darkness like a bomb exploding right in front of Lily's eyes. There had to have been thousands of people there, and Lily immedietely balked.

Crowds made her nervous, and Sirius of all people should know that. She hated it when she felt insecure and surrounded, like a trapped beast who could not even see through her own dim blindfold of fear.

Sirius held out his arm, and Lily entertwined hers tightly with his. The two weren't on the best of terms, but she knew that there was no way she was letting him walk away without her.

Sirius' body was comforting, and Lily calmed down slightly. He was warm enough to condradict the chills that were zooming with painful eccentricity up and down Lily's spine.

She had only worn a light pair of jeans and a sweater, and it was by no means a warm night outside.

"Want a drink?" Sirius asked, his rumbly voice startling Lily as she observed the passing party-goers.

"Um...sure." she said. She reluctantly let Sirius disengage himself from her, and she leaned back against a tree, trying to remain invisible.

"Evans?" a woman's voice asked nastily nearby. Lily jumped and turned, only to see a familiar buxom female standing nearby, sipping firewhisky out of a paper cup.

"How'd you get in?" she asked nastily. Lily glared her worst death glare, all of her insecurity melting away as she was confronted with a challenge.

"You think I don't go to parties?" Lily questioned. "Think again, bitch."

Eryn seemed unmoved, she just continued to sip her alcohol. How she hated Lily Evans. She looked at the girl in front of her in distaste. Lily was dressed in a simple hooded sweater and jeans, but nonetheless had managed to snag one of the best-looking blokes there.

Why do the idiot men always fall for her? Eryn asked herself, surveying Lily through her piercing eyes that missed nothing. It's her air of innocence. She realized. Lily Evans might have been seventeen, but she was built like a skinny fourteen-year-old.

Eryn, on the other hand, was buxom and well-rounded in every aspect that counted, while all little Lily had to offer was her overlarge brain, and who wants that?

"Is this a scrutinizing party?" Lily asked nastily, folding her arms over her chest. "What do you want, Eryn?"

"I needed to talk to you, actually." Eryn said. "It's quite important."

Lily rolled her eyes. The seventh-year-Slytherin girl had talked to her all of twice, and the only reason Lily even knew who she was was partially because she was one of James' ex-girlfriends. It wasn't exactly a good situation.

"Talk." Lily spat.

"Are you always this disagreeable?" Eryn asked, her heavily-lipsticked lips turning upside-down in a cute little moue. Lily could tell why James had been so taken with her, she exuded a sort of charm that was a mystery, however shallow it may be.

"Yes. Now start talking before I walk away." Lily said, not really wanting to be seen with her.

"Alright, you little snarky bitch." Eryn began, her charm disappearing quick as a blink. "I will tell you once, and only once. Stay away from my property."

Lily was quite taken aback. What in heavens name could she be talking about?

"Huh?" was all she could spit out.

"You know what I mean." Eryn said, moving closer to Lily and hissing in her ear. "You stay away from James, or you will face the consequences."

"What was that all about?" a voice startled Lily out of her reverie. She was wearing an obviously-shocked look on her face, and Sirius grinned slightly. It was the first time he had ever seen her truly speechless.

"S-she t-thought-" Lily was sputtering indignantly. "She thought I liked Potter! That I was attracted to him!"

Sirius grinned again, fighting the urge to laugh out loud. Lily was obviously flabbergasted at the insinuation of the sneaky Eryn. He could see the thunder raging violently in her smoky green eyes, and he knew that she was about to blow up.

"Your drink?" He offered, handing her the dixie cup. Lily took it with numb hands, downing it quickly.

She looked almost relieved as the biting alcohol trickled down her throat, and Sirius was mildly surprised. He had never seen anyone but Remus take firewhisky that easily.

She relaxed almost instantly, and Sirius remembered that she had a weak head for alcohol. It was apparent even now, after little less than eight ounces of the mixture.

However, he knew of the potency of firewhisky, and he didn't want to get her sick.

"Can I have another?" she asked, her eyes already glazing over.

"No, honey." Sirius said quietly. "There isn't any more."

Lily frowned, evidently trying to get her fuddled mind to wrap around this new information.

"Sirius, I may be mildly drunk, but I'm not stupid. Please get me another? Don't make me wheedle." Lily said, her eyes meeting his and twinkling slightly. Sirius groaned, if she was going to start teasing him like this, he'd ger her a whole bottle of firewhisky!

"I'll be back, love." he said, giving her a quick, wet kiss on the cheek. Lily giggled madly, leaning back against the tree. This was what she was missing, this was Lily, and it felt good.

"Care to dance?" Lily heard someone ask her in a dim corner of her brain. She knew that voice, and after a few seconds associated it with the face of a familiar boy; a Ravenclaw by the name of Steven Johns.

"Sure." Lily said, throwing caution to the wind and taking the offerred hand. He led her out beside the fire, and the roaring music penetrated through Lily's fogged mind.

She hated being so un-resistant to alcohol, but she also loved the wild, uncontrolled feeling she got even when slightly intoxicated. Like now, she was dancing wildly with someone she hardly knew, but she didn't care at all.

She caught a glimpse of someone she thought was Sirius, but it turned out to be his brother-Regulus. Lily mourned silently, for in a dark corner of her heart she had wished that Sirius had come to rescue her.

"What are you doing later, sugar?" Steven's hot, whisky-soaked breath asked against her cheek. Lily tried to frown, but only succeeded in a weak grimace.

Before she could answer, however, she felt someone roughly grab her arm and jerk her out of the boy's embrace. Lily was dragged halfway through the forest before she came to her senses.

"Who the hell-?" Steven's voice rang out as he charged after them. "Get off her, you oaf!"

Lily felt her attacker turn, felt his body radiate an anger such as she had never seen before.

"Get away, runt." he growled, low in his throat. "Before I rip you to pieces."

"Potter." Steven hissed. "I shoulda known you'd come after her." And with that, the younger boy turned and sauntered back to the party, leaving Lily alone in the grasp of her furious savior.

"Who do you think you are!" Lily asked finally, ripping herself out of James' grasp.

"I think I am the person that just saved you from that-that slime!" James said, still furious. He folded his arms across his broad chest, and Lily glared right back, placing her hands on her hips.

"Are you my mother?" she asked vehemently. "I can dance with whomever I want!"

"Lily, Lily, Lily." he replied scathingly. "You are too innocent to even understand-"

"Try me." Lily said dangerously. "All you ever do, Potter, is walk around giving orders, pushing people's buttons and then walking away! Why me? Why do you even care! I was having a perfectly good time-"

"You mean when he was practically trying to get inside of you out there?" James asked, gesturing wildly. "Believe me, Lily, it would have only been a matter of time before-"

"And who's to say I wouldn't have let him?" Lily asked viciously. James stopped, stunned. Her eyes blazed into his with surprising seriousness,even though she knew in her heart that she never would have accepted the Ravenclaw's offer. She also was incredibly grateful for James' rescuing of her, but she would never never admit it.

"I'll leave you to that, then." James said abruptly, turning away and stalking into the forest. Lily felt like she had been slapped. She had only realized how safe his presence had made her feel after he had left.

"Evans." a low purr of a voice greeted her as she re-entered the party. Her intoxication must have disappeared at her anger at James, and she instantly knew that Steven had been waiting for her. "Hello, again." Lily said quietly, not meeting his eyes.

"Dance, again?" he asked, jerking his head toward the throng of dancers. Lily shook her head, swallowing a lump in her throat.

"...But maybe we can just talk?" she asked hopefully, not wanting to be left alone.

"Sure." Steven said, taking her elbow and leading her over to a small huddle of logs, which were serving as benches for the partying youngsters. He sat down beside her, handing her another drink.

Lily sniffed it warily, then smiled happily when she realized that he had gotten her lemonade. Even though he had been dancing rather unscrupulously, Steven seemed like a pretty nice guy.

"So tell me about yourself." She said airily, beggining to feel comfortable. This was fun. She could do this. There was no danger.

"I'm in Ravenclaw, play on the Quiddich team...parents dead, brother-in St. Mungo's. The usual." Steven replied, brushing his mud-colored hair off his forehead. Lily was shocked at the nonchalant way he told her this. If her parents were dead-she sure wouldn't be announcing it to strangers! She'd probably be crying helplessly in her dorm room.

"That's...awful." Lily said, her happy mood quickly gone. Steven just looked at her with those strange amber eyes of his. There was something odd about those eyes...

"It's nothing. I'm over it." he said airily. "But what about you? Head Girl, goody-goody Evans? If you pardon my asking, what in hell are you doing out here, partying instead of studying with the snooty Ravenclaws?" Lily giggled at his sarcasm.

"Aren't you a Ravenclaw?" She asked.

"Yes." Steven replied, still gazing at her with those weird, uncomfortable eyes.

"Does that make you snooty?" Lily asked playfully, throwing her empty cup of lemonade at him.

"Nope. I'm a complete procrastinator and a complete idiot. No idea how I got into the 'smart house'. But you never answered my question." he said, blinking. As Lily stared at him, she realized what was wrong with his eyes. They were dead.

Dead, dead, dead eyes.

Isn't that odd? She thought, chewing her lip. How can someone have dead eyes? They didn't move or dance like Sirius', and they weren't even cold and frighteningly furious like James', or even hazy and impersonal like Hilary's. They were...dead.

Lily stood up, rather abruptly. Something had clicked in her brain, and she knew that this was wrong. Something was wrong. A panic switch in her brain went off.

"I have to find Sirius." She said, more to herself than to the surprised Steven. She grabbed her litter off the ground and rushed into the throng of people.

Something was definitely wrong. The music had stopped, and people had begun to shriek wildly, the dancers squishing even tighter together. Lily tried to worm her way through, but her efforts were to no avail. The darkness of the night seemed magnified by the tenfold, except she was standing almost right next to the blazing fire.

Only, the fire wasn't really blazing anymore. Lily was so shocked at this that she turned, and saw the fire flash white, sending sparks far into the sky.

She screamed, and felt herself spinning as people crashed against her on both sides. The fire was now a bright, eerie green, but Lily could see something, something...

A black shape had appeared in the fire, flying high into the air before returning to a hovering state directly above the fire. The torches that people had stuck into the ground flickered, and Lily saw the light reflect off the eyes of the person next to her.

The thing that happened next was the most terrifying thing that Lily had ever experienced in her entire seventeen years of life.

The world went black.

OMG. I am sooo sorry this took so long. Someone remember to yell at me next time I take this long to update.

Seriously, I don't know what I was thinking. I assure you the next update will be much SOONER.

Also...remember reviews inspire me to update. A LOT.

cheers

Pia