Chapter edited and reposted – 23rd July 2006

Sigh. No big changes. Bit more detail in the fighting. But apart from that practically nothing.

Disclaimer: I swear, I never wanted to steal it. I was just playing with the characters. You'll get no money from me!

Review responses:

mel- Thank you! I do have a tendency to write long chapters. I'll probably start shortening them cause I'm getting through them too quickly (slaps wrist!)

MoonylovesFlo- Yes I'm evil, but not as evil as Tai Greywing. She IS evil. Enjoy the update.

Tai Greywing- My three muses are being unbelievably lazy! The Doctor is the only active muse and he is spouting stuff for RS book 3. Very bad! What I really need is for Fred to wake up.

Ashley- Hope I didn't leave you in too much suspense. Thanks for reviewing! Lol!

Iluvgerardbutler- Yes I'm evil but I do know people more evil than me. Enjoy!

Fairy-GYAKUTENNO-MEGAMI- Thanks! I know leaving suspense is not nice… I suddenly feel so bad. I'm sorry! Here's the chapter!

A/N: Thanks guys! I'm afraid when I wrote this chapter I hit a temporary writers block session. My muse jumped out of the window and I think it landed on the barbecue, which is right under my bedroom window. Now I'm only two chappies ahead so I'm getting slightly worried how I'm going to cope with updates. This week I have to do some serious writing. Anywho, enjoy!

Chapter 12

Lily forced her head up so she could see. James was crouched beside her, with his wand drawn. Sirius was equally tense, trying to hold Tash down. Lily could see that her friend was raring to attack the people who had taken her cousins from her. Jenny was looking terrified, even with Remus clutching her arm in protection. Everyone else in the bar was screaming, holding their friends and family in terror.

There was another echoing bang and the door of the pub blew open shattering against the bar. More people screamed as nine hooded and masked figures came into the room, wands drawn. As one, Lily, James, Sirius, Tash and Remus all stood up and cast spells at the intruders. Three were knocked out. Jenny scrambled out from behind the table and ran to help a fourth year Ravenclaw who was trapped behind the bar.

"More students is it?" one of the Death Eaters sneered. "Well Dumbledore's not here to protect you is he?"

"We're capable of fighting scum like you," James snarled. Lily gripped his arm in warning.

"James Potter," another Death Eater joined the conversation. "Just as arrogant as your father. He also thinks he's capable of fighting us. All Aurors must be the same…"

"Invocatum!" James shouted. Not expecting an attack, the Death Eater hit the floor. This was the cue for the others to start throwing hexes. Lily, Tash and Sirius pulled up shields quickly.

"Crucio!" one of the Death Eaters had spotted Jenny helping the Ravenclaw student behind the bar. She screamed as the curse hit her. Remus paled and ran over to her, stunning the Death Eater as he passed.

There was a furious relay of hexes back and forth across the bar. Everyone who had been seated in the pub were now desperately trying to fight their way out.

"Where the hell are the teachers!" Lily cried in frustration. James, Sirius and Tash were still throwing hexes at their opponents. Remus was trying to help Jenny off the floor, along with the Ravenclaw girl, who was looking terrified beyond measure.

"More to the point," Tash said. "Where the hell are the Aurors!"

There was another bang and Jenny was knocked out. Remus stunned the offending Death Eater into the nearest wall.

"Stupefy!" Tash screamed, pointing her wand at another Death Eater. The spell was blocked causing the table, which they were all using as a shield, to shatter. A cutting curse hit Lily just below the shoulder, slicing a gash all the way down her upper arm. Blood began soaking into her jacket. James hexed the Death Eater and turned to check her.

"James look out!" Lily shrieked. Another Death Eater had sent a killing curse at James whilst his back was turned. Sirius pushed them both to the ground. The curse blew a hole in the wall. The Death Eater snarled and threw another killing curse at them.

"Carpe Retractum!" Tash yelled. A thin golden ribbon shot out of her wand and pulled a chair in front of the curse, causing the chair to explode and splinters of wood to fly everywhere.

"Paralizus!" another Death Eater shouted. There was a flash of silver light and Tash dropped her wand. Her right arm went limp.

"Crucio!" the Death Eater shouted. Tash buckled to the floor screaming, but not for long. Sirius began duelling with the Death Eater.

"Petrificus Totalus!" Lily yelled. Another Death Eater crashed to the floor. There were loud bangs from outside and from the sounds of the spells being issued. Help had finally arrived.

"Verdimillious!" another Death Eater shouted, pointing his wand at James. Sirius jumped in front just as the curse hit. He winced as it struck. James sent the Death Eater backwards into the wall, just as McGonagall and Flitwick charged in. The remaining Death Eaters disapperated, all except one, who pointed his wand at the window and shouted, "Morsmodre!"

There was a flash of green light and the dark mark erupted from the end of his wand. There was a pop, and what was left of the Death Eaters disapperated leaving a broken and battered Hogsmeade.

OOO

"Will she be alright?" Remus asked. It was almost midnight and everyone was still in the hospital wing. Jenny was still unconscious from the Cruciatus curse.

"She'll be fine," Madame Pomfrey was flitting around the room feeding potions to the various casualties.

"Are you sure?" Remus looked up from Jenny's bedside where he was seated with James, Lily, Tash and Sirius.

"Yes she will be fine!" Madame Pomfrey said. "Now, Miss Marquand hold out your arm."

Tash rolled her eyes and followed the matron. Lily gripped James' hand, which was resting on her shoulder. Her cut had been mended in seconds, but was still aching and had left a silvery scar down her arm. The three boys alone seemed unhurt. Tash on the other hand, was complaining because Madame Pomfrey had insisted on strapping her arm up for ten minutes covered in strange blue gel, which was supposed to help un-paralyse it. Lily thought it smelt rather like rotten sardines, and everyone was giving Tash a wide berth except for Sirius, who was remaining protectively close.

"Hey guys," Sirius piped up from her side. "Did Jen just stir or was it just me?"

It wasn't just him. Jenny was slowly waking up, looking rather disorientated.

"Are you alright Jenny?" Remus looked at her intensely.

"I think so," Jenny rubbed her head and sat up groaning. "I take that back. Everything hurts!"

"Madame Pomfrey said that would happen," James told her.

"What happened to the Death Eaters?" Jenny asked.

"Disapperated when the teachers arrived," Lily said.

"Did anyone…" Jenny looked worried and swallowed, "die?"

"Seven students, and thirteen villagers," Lily said in a small voice. Jenny deflated and groaned again.

"What about that Ravenclaw who was trapped behind the bar?" she asked.

"Ellie Harper," Lily said. "She's okay. She had a broken leg but she'll be fine."

"Thank Merlin," Jenny said. At this point, Tash rushed over from Madame Pomfrey.

"Are you alright Jen?" she asked.

"Hey you don't smell of sardines!" James said.

"She removed the gel, I couldn't stand it any longer," Tash tutted, still looking at Jenny for a response.

"I'm fine," Jenny said.

"Into bed Miss Marquand!" Madame Pomfrey ordered. Tash rolled her eyes again and got into the next bed along.

"Ah Miss Tailby you're awake! I have some potions to give you now that you've regained conscious…"

Jenny gave another audible groan, causing Madame Pomfrey to raise her eyebrows.

"Shouldn't the rest of you be back in the Gryffindor tower?" she asked the rest of the group.

"No," Sirius said automatically.

"Don't take that tone with me Mr Black!" Madame Pomfrey said. "Off you all go! I have to go and speak to Mr and Mrs Edwards…"

"As in Toby Edwards parents?" Lily asked in dread.

"The same," Madame Pomfrey sounded grim.

"Oh God," Lily covered her face in her hands feeling a lump rise to her throat.

"What's wrong?" James asked.

"I tutored him last year in charms!" Lily sighed. "He was such a nice kid. He was only a fifth year."

"They're evil," Tash hissed.

"You still want to be an Auror?" Sirius asked.

"Hell yeah!" Tash said. "Although I don't see me going anywhere if I keep coming back to this place!"

"We'll come and see you tomorrow," Lily promised getting up and rubbing her eyes. Remus gave Jenny a kiss on the cheek, causing her to smile. Sirius did the same to Tash, who was pouting at the unfairness of not being able to go back to the tower.

"And where do you think you're going Miss Evans?" Madame Pomfrey demanded, with her hands on her hips.

"To the tower?" Lily asked. "Like you just said."

"That cut was very deep, and you might still have shock!" Madame Pomfrey insisted. "You are staying here, that is final!" she added upon seeing Lily try to protest. Lily sank onto another bed, scowling miserably.

"You'll be out by tomorrow," James kissed her quickly on the lips and smiled. He followed Sirius and Remus out of the hospital wing.

Lily flopped onto her bed and lay there thinking. Images of the attack kept flashing through her head. When the lights in the hospital finally went off, she couldn't sleep. All those people, all those students, all dead. She thought of Toby Edwards, only fifteen and now he was dead because of Death Eaters. How many more people would have to die before Voldemort would be satisfied?

As Lily finally drifted off, she could hear Tash singing quietly from her bed. She rolled over to the comforting sound of James Taylor's 'you've got a friend.'

OOO

A week later and the end of term brought an even thicker layer of snow to the grounds of the castle, making it all the more difficult for the students going home to haul their trunks to the train station.

The week following the Hogsmeade attack had been hectic, particularly for Lily and James, who were both expected to help the students recover from the weekend and prepare for the Christmas holidays. Overall, Lily was rather looking forward to going home for Christmas to see her family, even if I did mean placing herself within insult range of Petunia.

"Lily look at it this way," Jenny said. The three girls and Marauders were trying to enjoy the boring train ride. Currently Jenny was sitting on the other side of the compartment next to Remus, hand in hand. Next to them Tash was sitting in Sirius's lap, alternating between fiddling with her radio and blowing bubbles with her gum. Sirius was absently twisting a strand of her hair around his finger.

Lily was leaning against James's shoulder feeling sleepy. The long nights combined with the movement of the train were putting her in a state close to exhaustion, and from the way James was struggling to stay awake, Lily guessed he felt the same. On James's other side was Peter, unwrapping what appeared to be his eleventh chocolate frog.

"If she's still with that horrible…" Jenny trailed off frowning. "What was his name again?"

"Vernon," Lily replied.

"Whatever," Jenny waved her hand. "If she's still with him, she'll be high as a kite and probably won't even notice you've come home."

"Good point," Lily said. Tash and Sirius both chuckled at Jenny's description.

"Anyway," Jenny continued. "Weren't we supposed to be organising at trip to Diagon Alley after Christmas? We never did get to go and look for dress robes in Hogsmeade."

"You're right," Tash said, prodding her radio with her wand whilst talking. "Is the twenty seventh okay for everyone?"

"Fine by me," Lily said. Everyone nodded. Lily shifted closer to James, who still had one arm around her shoulder. The only sound was Tash fiddling with her radio.

"So… who thinks the lady with the sweet trolley is over fifty?" Jenny asked.

"Yeah we're bored too Jenny," Sirius said.

"Mmm," Jenny blushed a bit from her rather random comment.

"I'm not bored," Tash said waving her wand at her radio. "Cantareus!"

Her radio glowed a funny blue colour.

"Yeah well Tash you might find comfort in muggle technology but the rest of us find train rides boring," James said.

"I have an idea," Jenny said slowly.

"Uh oh!" Tash grinned, prodding her radio again. "This is a very dangerous and worrying situation!"

"Ha ha, thank you for your confidence booster Tash," Jenny said sarcastically. "How about we play truth or dare?"

"No!" Lily whined. "Last time I played truth or dare I had to go and ask Snape if he was gay!"

"What did he say?" asked Sirius, as James, Remus and Peter all snickered.

"Why you so interested?" Tash frowned before morphing her face into a smile. "Are you hiding something from me?" she asked innocently.

Everyone else laughed and Sirius retaliated by tickling Tash until she begged for mercy.

"So who's up for it?" asked Jenny as Tash's giggles subsided. James, Sirius, Remus and (with some persuasion) Peter all volunteered.

"Tash?" Jenny asked. "Or are you being significantly distracted by your radio?"

"I'll play," Tash said. "What's the forfeit question?"

"Kiss on the lips to the person who set the question," Jenny said.

"That's tame," Tash rolled her eyes.

"Not if the two people are guys," Sirius pointed out shuddering.

"Lily?" James asked.

"I suppose," Lily agreed. She regretted this immediately as Jenny performed a charm over the compartment, making any person who lied break out in bright pink spots.

"Okay who's first?" asked James.

"Shotgun Peter!" Tash shouted.

"Do I have to?" Peter wailed.

"Yep," James grinned.

"Go on Peter, get it out of the way," Jenny advised.

"Alright," Peter muttered.

"Truth or dare?" James asked.

"Truth," Peter said immediately.

"You're a Gryffindor, have some courage!" Sirius challenged.

"Okay dare," Peter looked very nervous.

"Ok I've got a good one," James said, grabbing a box of everyflavor beans from the table.

"Okay, eat all of these at once."

"That is the worst dare I've ever heard!" Tash said shaking her head.

"Actually I think its pretty good," Lily said shuddering at the thought of what the taste might be.

"Do I have to?" Peter asked again.

"Either that or you have to kiss James," Jenny reminded him.

"Damn, I didn't think of that," James cursed. "Eat the beans Peter!"

After a little more persuasion, Peter did eat all of the beans in one go, and nearly spat them out of the window.

"Right new rule," Jenny said. "No eating strange food. Peter your go."

"Fine," Peter was still slightly green. "Tash, truth or dare?"

"Dare," Tash said without hesitation.

"Snog Sirius right now."

"That's not a punishment you know," Tash pointed out.

"Who cares?" Sirius said, grabbing Tash and kissing her.

"Okay, that's enough guys!" Lily said after thirty seconds of watching their friends tongue tag. "We said kiss not suck each others lips off!"

"Shut up!" Tash said but flushing all the same.

"Okay Jenny truth or dare?"

"Truth," Jenny said. James and Sirius snored.

"Describe your first kiss in detail," Tash grinned evilly. Jenny went red and glanced at Remus from under her lashes.

This continued for half an hour. After Jenny's truth (during which everyone had applauded) James had to kiss her after he refused to go and tell Snape that he was fit. Lily had to describe how good James was at kissing, which caused both of them to turn bright red. Remus refused to tell everyone the most embarrassing moment of his life and had to kiss Lily. Finally they agreed on one more round as the train entered London.

"Okay, Sirius truth or dare?" Remus asked.

"Dare," Sirius said.

"Run up and down the train singing," Remus said.

"Jenny and Remus are evil!" James claimed thinking of his own dare which he had turned down.

"No way!" Sirius said.

"Either that or you have to kiss him," Lily reminded him. Remus gulped. He hadn't thought about that.

"I'm not kissing you Moony!" Sirius said in horror.

"Go on Sirius," Tash begged. "I'll give you a present."

"What kind of present?" Sirius asked suspiciously. Tash rolled her eyes and whispered something to him.

"Cool!" Sirius said. "What am I singing?"

"Bohemian Rhapsody," Remus said, slightly thrown off by the sudden change of mind. "But just sing…"

"Oooh!" Tash chimed in. "I see a little silhouetto of a man…"

"Okay I got it," Sirius said getting up from his seat and headed to the corridor.

"How do you know that song?" Tash asked Remus curiously.

"You sing it every morning on your way to breakfast," Remus reminded her, as Sirius began to sing. Lily, Tash and Jenny fell into hysterics.

"I see a little silhouetto of a man. Scaramouch! Scaramouch! Will you do the fandango?"

"What did you promise him?" Lily asked, wiping tears from her eyes.

"Thunderbolt and lightning, very very frightning! Galileo! Galileo!"

"A trip to a broom closet when we get back," Tash said, grinning from ear to ear. "Works every time!"

OOO

"Lily what the hell do you keep in here?" James asked, heaving her trunk down off the train.

"Books," Lily said.

"Bloody hell," Sirius complained, hanging onto the end of the trunk. "I thought girls kept clothes in their trunks."

"We do!" Tash said. "Girls always carry clothes along with extra things that describe their personality. For example, Jenny carries a vast supply of potion ingredients since she wants to be a healer."

"Okay Tash I think they get it!" Lily said, dragging her trunk to the barrier, just as Jenny ran through after Remus. Sirius grabbed Tash and they both disappeared through the barrier.

"Ready?" James asked. Lily grinned. She was so happy she was going to see her parents again. She ran through the barrier and was followed quickly by James.

"Lily!" Lily had barely enough time to look around before her mother came over and hugged her. Lily hugged her back with feeling. She'd missed her mother so much over the term.

"How are you?" her mother broke away as her father came up behind them and hugged her too.

"Fine," Lily grinned. "There's someone I want you to meet." She dragged her parents over to where James was standing with the trunks.

"Mum, Dad, this is my boyfriend James."

"Nice to meet you," James put on his most charming grin and Lily relaxed as she saw her mum smile warmly.

"Ah so this is the famous James Potter I've been hearing so much about," her mother said with a twinkle in her eyes. James grinned but Lily felt her face burning.

Her father came forward to shake James's hand. If Lily had been worried she had no need anymore. Both her parents seemed to like him.

"So where are your parents James?" asked Lily.

"I'm apparating home," James said. "So I'm afraid you'll have to wait until the party to meet them Lily."

"What party's this?" asked Lily's mum.

"Oh yeah," Lily remembered. "James's family is holding a New Years Eve party. Can I go?"

"I don't see why not," her mother smiled at James. Lily was glad her parents liked him. At this point Jenny and Remus came hurrying over to them, both out of breath.

"Guys we have a problem," Jenny gasped. "Hi Mr and Mrs Evans."

"Hello Jennifer," Mrs Evans said.

"What's wrong?" asked Lily.

"Well one of the Slytherins decided to grease the wheels of Tash's trolley," Remus said. "And when I say one of the Slytherins, I mean Bellatrix and co."

"Evil cow!" Jenny piped up.

"And what happened?" asked James.

"Well in short, Tash went skidding into the wall," Jenny said.

"Ouch!" Lily winced.

"Oh it gets worse," Remus assured her.

"How could it get worse Moony?" asked James.

"She broke her nose," Jenny said.

"Oh Merlin!" James groaned.

"Yep," Jenny nodded. "My mums patching her up and Sirius is having a go at Bellatrix. Basically they are both far from happy."

"We'll meet you at the car Lily," her mother told her, obviously completely lost to what they were talking about.

"Nice to meet you James."

"Did they like him?" asked Jenny nodding at James as Lily's parents walked off.

"He has a name you know!" James said.

"Yes I think they did," Lily said. "Well done James."

"Heads up, here come Tash and Sirius," Remus warned, as the two of them walked up to the group. In the background, Bellatrix and her group of Slytherins/future Death Eaters were still laughing hysterically. Tash's nose had been mended but she was not looking happy.

"IT'S NOT FUNNY YOU STUPID COW!" she screamed back at Bellatrix. "Stupid fucking…" she trailed off. The last time Lily had heard Tash use that kind of language had been on the train to school, indicating that she was very unhappy.

"Calm down Tash," Sirius said, but he was wearing the same expression of loathing.

"It's not funny!" Tash repeated. "I don't intend to look like Dumbledore till I'm at least seventy!" Everyone burst out laughing.

"IT'S NOT FUNNY!" Tash shrieked.

"Sorry Tash," Lily said.

"Right I'm going home," Tash said glancing over her shoulder at Bellatrix. "I can't stand them any longer. I'll see you guys soon." She hugged everyone except Sirius, who kissed her on the cheek, before disapperating.

"I'd better go to," Jenny said. "I'll owl you all over the holidays."

She and Remus disapperated, leaving James, Lily and Sirius alone.

"I'm off then," Sirius said. "I'll see you at home Prongs." There was a pop and he disapperated.

"I'll miss you," Lily said hugging him.

"I'll miss you too Lils," James said. "But I'll come and see you sometime. And your parents said you could go to the party on New Year."

"Yeah but it's not the same as at Hogwarts," Lily said.

"I know," James said. "Nothing is the same as Hogwarts."

Lily smiled.

"But just enjoy Christmas. Don't worry, I'll owl you." James reassured her. Lily smiled as he gave her a gentle kiss on the lips before pulling away from her reluctantly. Lily felt warmth spread through her entire body.

"See you," she said. James smiled before disapperating. Lily sighed before grabbing her trunk and making her way to the car.

A/N: Wow. Writers block is a pain! Now all you have to do is leave me a lovely review. It's the purple button down there. Just give it a click and tell me what you thought, even if it's negative, just tell me in a nice way.

Next chapter: Lily and James prepare for Christmas and Lily receives some rather shocking news from her sister (ooh I'll give you three guesses what this is!)

May Stardust fall in your dreams!