James' Freak: No they haven't left, they're going into seventh year. (It's the summer)

Lily elbowed her way through the crowd to the bar. James followed in her wake, puzzled by her sudden forcefulness. There was something slightly unbalanced about the way she was swinging between emotions. She reached the bar and called to the barman, who she evidently knew. This London Lily knew everyone, it seemed.

'Vodka, straight' She yelled.

'Two' said James

'Three' said Sirius

'Make it four and quick' said Remus wanly. He was looking a little the worse for wear.

Lily grinned.

'What happened to the blonde? I thought she might eat you.'

The barman slid the four shots towards them. They all knocked them straight back, slamming the glasses back onto the table.

'Remus, honey, come dance with me before she comes back!'

Lily pulled him off into the heaving group. James was practically apoplectic by this point.

'She...she called him honey! Why would she do that?'

Sirius laughed.

'Uh…James? She blows kisses to me.'

He ran after them before he could be reached or killed.

James sighed and followed him, wondering why he was always behind someone tonight.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………

Chris, Lily, Remus, Sirius and James sat around in the Club. There were very few people left, only people the owners knew, who wouldn't be chucked out 'till they shut up. The five of them, propping each other up and waving happily to Pete and the others, burst back into the night. It was surprisingly cold, even for the end of August, and Lily shivered.

'Wait, What time is it?' She asked, worriedly.

'About two'

'Oh shit! My sister's going to kill me!'

Chris pulled out his mobile, which fascinated the wizard-born James and Sirius.

'You want to ring her? Stop her worrying?'

Lily laughed loudly and bitterly.

'She won't be worried, Chris, you know that. She doesn't care if I never come back so long as I don't wake her up.'

James didn't hesitate.

'You can come back with us if you want. Sirius doesn't mind, do you, mate?

'No. Of course not.' Said Sirius dryly, slightly disgusted with how pathetic James was being.

'You know you can always crash at my place if you want.' Said Chris, with an odd look at James. Sirius stared back, backing up his friend.

'I think I left my bag at your flat Sirius so I'll come back and get it and see where I go from there' Lily swayed slightly. She was very white.

'You're not safe to drive' said Chris worriedly

James laughed. Slightly unkindly.

'There are other ways of travelling' he said scornfully

'But what's she going to do with her bike?' he asked slowly and very clearly.

James reddened.

'Come back for it tomorrow, idiot'

James and Chris moved towards each other, but Lily was between them and she provided a distraction that second by spectacularly throwing up. United for the time being, James and Chris caught her between them.

'Christ' said Chris 'You haven't been drinking Vodka, have you? We all know what that does to you'

James turned to Sirius.

'Here, you conceal the bike and I'll apparate back to the flat with Lily.'

Remus turned to Chris.

'You want to come?'

Chris threw a last look at Lily, and sighed.

'No. I'll just weigh you guys down.'

Lily and James disappeared. Chris revved his bike and sped off around the corner. His engine grew fainter and Remus and Sirius, checking that the Harley was Concealed, apparated back to the flat.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………….

They found James looking nervous. He was running his hand through his hair, distractedly.

'She passed out when we got back here' he said 'I put on my bed and just left her'

Sirius was working very hard to keep a straight face.

'You put her in your room, eh?'

'Yes' said James icily 'And I will be sleeping out here on the sofa!'

Remus smirked at Sirius' pout. He glanced at his watch.

'Well, I guess I'll turn in. Don't you think so SIRIUS' he said

'No. I think I'll just…..'

Remus rolled his eyes and pushed Sirius into his room before entering his own, muttering something that sounded like bloody useless friends, can't even take a bloody hint, and leaving James very, very confused.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

James woke suddenly. He slept lightly these days. It was still dark, but a grey – pink tinge was creeping through the window. There was a figure blocking it at the open window. It was leaning against the frame of the window and drinking a glass of water. James moved silently towards the window.

'Lily?'

She turned to look at him and smiled slightly. Her eyes were red rimmed and she was very pale. Her eyeliner had run down her face in long tear streaks.

'Are you ok?'

His hand moved instinctively to her cheek but she flinched slightly and he dropped it.

'Yes' She said, staring out across the London rooftops, heavenly with dawn light ' I don't sleep well anymore'

'Yeah. Me neither'

She turned to look at him, frowning slightly.

'Why not?'

'I don't know. I just….I have this feeling' he explained awkwardly ' like something bad's gonna happen, and it's gonna be us, our year, our generation who will fight it. I don't know. I'm probably talking shit. As usual, right?'

A trace of bitterness had come into his voice as he gazed out. Lily laid a hand on his arm.

'No. I know what you mean.'

He looked into her eyes for a second. There was something there, a pain he could not understand. He dragged his eyes away.

'So how about you? Why can't you sleep?'

Lily smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes, where the confidence she usually carried had faltered. She looked less like the idealistic Lily of Hogwarts than ever.

'It's just this dream I have. Over and over again. I know it so well now I remember everything in it.'

She glanced at James, but he was still listening intently so she continued.

'I'm singing at the beginning. I know it's me because I wrote the song

Child of Rain, Child of Sky,

You are mine.

I hold you above the flood.

Feel the sun on your skin

Breathe in,

The thunder and the light

You're in my sight

Though I'm gone

Hold on. Hold on.

Child of night, child of mine,

I know you

And you'll be fine

Hold yourself strong

Hold yourself tall

You stand above us all.

Feel the sun on your skin

Breathe in

The thunder and the light

You're in my sight

Though I'm gone

Hold on.

I see the clouds

I feel the rain

But you will be strong

Hold on.'

She sang softly, eyes closed.

'And all the while I'm singing, I'm rocking a cradle and I see a baby with jet black hair and my eyes and I know I love him more than anything in the world. I finish the song and someone comes in and puts their arm around my waste. I breathe in and I know the smell. And I know I love him as much as I love the baby. We stand there for a while, his chin resting on my shoulder, my arm bent backwards around his neck. Then there's a creak downstairs and the lights cut out. The man whispers for me to stay with the child. I pick him up, holding him close I'm crying and I'm trying to get out but I'm trapped and then suddenly there's a flash of green light from downstairs and I wake up.'

She was staring, eyes wide and terrified out of the window, talking more to herself than anything. Suddenly she flicked her gaze on to James.

'It's going to happen, I know it.'

James didn't know what to say. They stared out across the rooftops to where the river shone in the early sunlight. A breeze came in through the small gap and lifted the curls around Lily's face, making them dance. They stood there, neither moving.

Slowly, very slowly, Lily's hand crept into James'. He clasped it firmly, and if there had been anyone to see, they would have noticed a little of the fear leave her eyes.