"Having fun Potter?" Lily asked sardonically as she and Henriette walked past Potter and Sirius washing the windows near the Hospital Wing.

"Bite me Evans." James replied not turning around.

"Watch it Potter. If you annoy me too much I might just take you up on that offer." Lily laughed when she saw James turn around an angry look in his eyes. "I'm just playing with you Potter." She said as she and Henriette turned a corner.

"I reckon she likes you Jamesie." Sirius said wiping his sponge across the window pane.

"Lily Evans has hated me since I don't know when."

"I talked to Henriette that time we went out and she said Lily doesn't hate you. She just reckons you're conceited and your life revolves around girls, Quidditch and yourself."

"Well that's good. I think."

"Not exactly something to base a relationship on." Remus said walking nearer.

"Hey Remus."

"Hey Remus."

"Having fun?"

"We already got asked that question. And someone already got told to bite me." James answered.

"Hope it wasn't a girl." Remus said guessing who it was.

"Well if you class Evans as a girl."

"Which you obviously do James."

"No comment."

"And all three of us know what that means. So what time are you two expected to be finished?"

"Dunno. When Denison tells us we can leave."

"So you'll be here for a coupla years."

"Probably."

Just then Dumbledore came around the corner talking to Mr Denison. He stopped in front of James, Sirius and Remus.

"How is that you three always manage to land yourselves in detention? Didn't you only get a detention last night?" he asked.

"It's a talent Professor." Sirius said honestly looking up at the headmaster.

"Well I think you two can go now. I need to speak to Mr Lupin."

"Sir?"

"Mr Denison will finish these windows when he next has time but tonight you two will go back to your common room and stay there. Understand?"

"Yes Professor." Not needing to be told twice James and Sirius threw their sponges in the bucket and raced off, waving bye to Remus.

"Wonder what that was about?" James yelled. He was in the lead, after having being challenged to a race to the common room by Sirius.

"Maybe he gets secret detentions."

"Sirius that is stupid even for you."

"Shut-up."

"You got a date tonight?"

"Nah. I need a break man. I've been out every night. How bout you?"

"Nah. I just broke up with Jess." James called back, looking over his shoulder. He ran into someone and fell onto the ground.

"Ha Ha now I win." Sirius shouted racing off. James shook his head and attempted to get to his feet. A slim, pale hand reached down to help him up.

"Hurt that big head of yours Potter?"

"What is it with you and me always literally running into each other Evans?"

"Just unlucky I guess." James stood up. He was still holding onto Lily's hand. He looked down and removed it quickly.

"I'm not that bad Potter." She said wryly.

"No your not are you Evans?"

"Definitely not."

"Off to see Kingston?"

"No. He and I broke up three months ago Potter. Of course I wouldn't expect you to know that. You being so involved with your girls, you're Quidditch and your detentions."

"Jealous Evans?" he asked shooting her his charming smile that worked on every other girl in the castle, except, it seemed, her.

"Keep dreaming Potter." She tossed over her shoulder. James jogged to catch up to her. When he reached her he jogged backwards so he could talk to her as well as see her face.

"Well where are you going then Evans?"

"Why do you care Potter?"

"I'm a caring guy."

"Sure you are. That's why you date four girls a week."

"What's wrong with that?" he asked.

"You really don't know?" she asked stopping abruptly.

"No." he stopped to and walked closer to her.

"Forget about it then James. See ya around." She swung into the girls' bathroom and James realised that that had been the first time in a long time that she had used his first name.

"Hey James!" James looked up and saw Sirius beckoning to him. James looked once more at the door to the girls' bathroom then shrugged and jogged off to Sirius.

'I can't believe he actually thinks it's alright to date four different girls in one week.' Lily flushed the toilet and walked out of the stall. She washed her hands and fixed her hair. She pushed open the door and checked that Potter had gone. She quickly walked out and headed off towards the entrance hall. She walked out onto the grounds and sat by her favourite tree near the lake. She stared across the water.

"Pretty sight isn't it." A soft voice said from behind her. She turned around quickly and saw Professor Dumbledore standing near her.

"You startled me Professor. Yes it is a pretty sight. This is the only place I can completely think without interruptions. That sounds silly."

"No it doesn't. Everyone has to step back and think hard every now and then, Miss Evans."

"Professor, may I ask you a question?"

"Of course."

"Do you think my parents are in danger?" she turned to face him, her expression grim and serious.

"In danger? Oh. I see. From Lord Voldemort. Let me tell you something Lily. Lord Voldemort was a student at Hogwarts. He was a very bright boy. He was then called Tom Riddle and he was even Head Boy. What he is doing now is a result of his anger and resentment towards his father. You see his father was a muggle who left his mother pregnant with him when he found out she was a witch. After his mother died Tom felt so alone and betrayed. His hatred stems from that betrayal and he is taking his feelings out on muggles and muggle-borns."

"That isn't an excuse Professor."

"I know it isn't. But we can not do anything about it. We just have to pray and hope. We must never give up hope Lily."

"I should go now Professor. My friends are waiting for me."

"Good-bye Miss Evans." Lily walked away, looking back only once and saw Professor Dumbledore settling himself on the rock. She ran all the to Gryffindor common room and collapsed, heaving for breath on a cushiony sofa. She relaxed, rested her feet on the small table in front of her and closed her eyes. Her breathing became regulated and she began to doze.

"Hey Lily. Can we talk?" She knew the voice. Lily groaned and slowly opened her eyes. Standing over her was James Potter.

'He looks like an angel.' She thought to herself. And it was true. The firelight at James's back cast an ethereal glow around him and made it seem as though he was glowing. His face was soft and he smiled down at her with that disarming smile that had made her feel faint ever since her second year. And was it her imagination or had he just called her by her first name.

"If you want too." Lily sat up, removed her feet from the table and hugged herself. She turned to James when he sat next to her. She smiled patiently at him.

'She looks so pretty in soft light. Hell she looks pretty in any light.' James thought to himself. He sat next to her and leant back, propping his feet on the table.

"So. I wanted to ask you to finish the conversation we were having this afternoon. About me dating four girls a week?"

"Umm… I don't really know what to say to that Potter."

"And another thing. You called me James."

"And you called me Lily."

"Yeah well I thought I'd return the favour. So back to our previous conversation. Why do you think it's wrong to date that many girls in one week?"

"Why? James are you really that daft. Sure you're having fun. But what about those girls. They spend months wanting to go out on a date with you, then it happens and they like it and they think that you like them too. Then they walk into the Great Hall for breakfast and see you with your arm around another girl. How would you feel?"

"I got a bit lost there."

"I have a friend in second year. She's not in Gryffindor and she went on a date with you. She said she thought you really enjoyed it and that you would ask her out again, and then she saw you with another girl. Do you know how much that hurt her?"

"Obviously not. But… I mean… I can't limit myself to one girl. That isn't fun."

"What's fun isn't always right James." Lily shook her head and rose from the sofa.

"Wait." James grabbed her wrist and held her still. He rose and let go of her wrist. He looked down at her and she looked up at him. James started to lean in.

"Lily! You have a letter." Carrie called from the stairs. Lily's head jerked up and she cast a glance over her shoulder. Seeing the grin on Carrie's face she turned away from James.

"Good night Potter."

"Good night Evans."

Lily ran over to Carrie and past her up to the dorm. On the headboard of her bed Tweet was perched.

"Tweet. I only sent you yesterday." Lily gathered her owl up and hugged her quickly. She then allowed Tweet to perch on her shoulder while Lily untied the letter from Tweet's leg. The letter was from her father. Lily could tell that from the handwriting. She sat on her bed and read the letter. When she got to the end, she sank to the floor, stunned. Carrie seeing this quickly went to Lily and plucked the letter from her friend's hand. Reading through it she hugged Lily.

"I'm sorry sweetie. You want me to come with you to Professor Dumbledore?"

Mute, Lily could only nod. Carrie helped Lily to her feet and putting an arm around her waist led her from the room. The letter floated onto Lily's bed.

Dear Lily,

I'm sorry I couldn't tell you this in person sweetie, but your mum's had an accident at work. She's in a coma. I understand if you want to come home immediately. I'll have Mr Heinz from next door drive you to the hospital when you get home. I love you Lily-Flower. Hope to see you soon.

Love always,

Dad

Sirius came down the stairs looking for James. He found him sitting on a sofa near the fire. Sirius sat down next to him and stared into the fire.

"So what happened?"

"Evans reckons I upset a friend of hers by going out with her once and then going out with another girl the next day. I don't know what her problem is. I'm fourteen I'm supposed to be having fun, not looking for the person I'm bloody well going to marry." James said angrily turning to face Sirius head on.

"Yeah?" Sirius said thoughtfully.

"Yeah."

James looked up when he heard a commotion near the stairs to the girls' dormitory. He looked up and saw a throng of people surrounding Lily and her friend Carrie.

'The one who interrupted our almost kiss.' He thought to himself.

He got up and wandered over. Carrie was supporting Lily with one arm around her waist and the other trying to shove her way through the crowd.

'Lily looks ready to collapse.' He thought and moving quickly parted the crowd. He stepped up to Lily and Carrie and put his arm around Lily's waist supporting her weight on him. With help from Sirius; who parted the crowd, they made it out of the common room. James stopped outside the portrait hole.

"What's the matter Evans?" he asked nonchalantly, while on the inside he was worried as hell. He was slightly annoyed when Carrie answered instead of Lily.

"If you wanna help me get her to Professor Dumbledore without a lot of meaningless and unnecessary chit-chat then your welcome to help, but if not blow away Potter."

"I want to know what's wrong with Evans." He said stubbornly setting his chin.

"It's none of your business Potter." Carrie replied just as stubborn as James. James, Carrie and the silent Sirius were surprised when Lily spoke in a harsh voice to them all.

"I'm fine. I don't need any support. I'm perfectly capable of going to the headmaster's office. And if you really must know Potter, which it appears you must, I'm going home."

"Home? Why?"

"Not forever Potter. Just until my mum gets better. Then I'll be back."

"Your mum? I'm sorry Evans."

"Me too Potter. Now seeing as I have the guidance of the two people most likely to know where the headmasters office is could you show me please? I really want to get home."

"It would be our honour as troublemakers Evans." Sirius bowed, acting as a gentle man and offered his arm to Lily. Lily laughed softly, and then her expression darkened as if remembering a particularly horrible moment. Sirius escorted Lily to Professor Dumbledore's office with Carrie and James following them silently. Sirius removed his arm and pointed to a statue of a Griffin. Lily looked at him uncertainly.

"The password's Gummy Bears." James put in.

"Ok then. Gummy Bears." Lily was a little apprehensive, but the password seemed to work as the statue moved aside to reveal a set of carved stone steps that twisted as it took its course upwards.

"Thanks for all your help you guys." Lily said and stepped onto the stairs. James and Sirius watched as the statue closed over Lily and Carrie walking up the staircase.