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Chapter 10—Murdered Among Us

"Wait." Lily said. James reached the staircase but froze. "Please, can I just talk to you. You don't have to talk to me, but I just need you know everything. Please, James." She looked into his eyes, which she knew would weaken him. He stepped down and walked over to her.

"Fine."

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

James listened painfully to Lily's story. Her eyes were getting watery and her voice unsteady, but she made it all the way through. It was a story that seemed so unreal, it was almost unbelievable. Lily looked deeply into his eyes, but he tore them away. Her eyes could weaken the darkest wizard.

"Lily, no one can get kissed by accident." He said.

"James! I've told you this already! He said 'Lily, can I…' and I looked up to see what he was going to say, and then he just leaned down and kissed me, and I pulled away as soon as he did, but you came too late!"

"This is ridiculous. No one can believe this!"

"I need you to! It's all I've got!"

"All you've got? Tell me the real story then!"

"That is the real story. James…" She trailed off. He looked up at her and she kissed him, similar to what Jason had done. James pulled away, and that hurt Lily. He looked at her in disbelief.

"How do I know that's what happened?"

"You have to believe me! Don't you love me?"

"I'm not so sure about that." His comment stung and Lily looked down, regained her strength and faced him again.

"You've known me seven years, James. The only person who's known me longer is

Katie. Now, out of those seven years, when have I lied?"

"Gee, I wouldn't know. You spent six of those years call me a big-headed prat!"

"I don't lie, James."

"Okay." Was all he said and walked up to his room. He heard Lily sniff loudly, but he didn't turn back. He needed to think.

Meanwhile, Lily sat on the couch, thinking of how pointless her story was. She felt terrible. The argument they had seemed to make no difference to how things were before. The portrait door opened and Sirius entered, looking around.

"Hi, Lils, did you talk to Prongs?" He asked.

"Yeah." She responded.

"Didn't go well?"

"How'd you guess?" Lily said dully.

"You're face looks devastated." He walked over to her and squeezed her shoulder. "I'll go talk to him."

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

James heard a knock on his door and saw Sirius coming in. James exhaled deeply.

"So Lily talked to you, huh?" James asked.

"Yeah, after she passed out earlier." James sat up.

"She passed out, when?" He asked.

"After your little fight in the common room. She got all pale and just dropped down. She would have hit her head on the table if I didn't catch her." Sirius explained and James looked out the window. "You're hurting her really bad."

"Who are you, Sirius? I thought you were supposed to be on my side? Everyone is acting as if I'm the bad person. She was the one kissing the other guy!"

"Prongs, the story she told you was true. Honestly. Come with me." He led the way to the balcony where they could see Lily sitting on the couch reading. "What are you thinking right now?" James was quiet for a moment.

"I'm thinking that I love her." He said.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

It was a Hogsmeade weekend, but none of the Gryffindors felt like going.

"Let's go running." Katie said suddenly, as she and Lily were working in the common room.

"It's cold."

"So? We'll get warm after we've been running. Pleaseee? I haven't exercised in a long time."

"Katie, you play Quidditch."

"Yes, but all we do is play Quidditch at practice, we don't run or anything."

"Fine."

They changed into their small running shorts and old t-shirts. After tying their hair back they raced each other to the Quidditch pitch.

"Wow that feels good." Lily smiled.

"C'mon, I'll race again. Two laps around the pitch."

"Easy." Lily agreed. On the count of three, they both took off. They ran with the same exact stride, Lily pushing to reach that amazing speed she had that day Jason kissed her. "Katie, pole!" Katie swerved out of the way just in time, and the girls kept running, while they laughed and laughed. They easily finished the two laps at the same time. They fell back into the sand, breathing and laughing from the pure enjoyment of running.

"Lily, can I talk to you?" She looked up and saw Jason's tall body standing over her. Her laughter died and smile faded. Katie glared at him. He held out his hand to help Lily up, but she got up on her own, and pulled down her shorts.

"I, erm, saw you run. You're a good runner."

"Yeah."

"Listen, I heard what happened with you and James. I hope it wasn't my fault." Lily laughed a hurt laugh.

"Not your fault? It was all your fault." Jason looked away, his handsome features looked hurt. "Lily I like you."

"I know that Jason, but I had already told you, I have a boyfriend and I love him. Jason, I liked you at the beginning of the year. You were nice at first, really good-looking, etc, but then you stopped talking to me, so you lost the chance. I'm sorry." She said and jogged back to Katie.

"You okay, Lil?"

"Yeah, thanks Kate. I think I just needed to talk to Jason." Katie smiled and hugged her best friend.

"Let's go. I'm getting cold." She took off running to the castle, with Lily following her.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

"Would ALL students please report to the Great Hall immediately. This is no drill, come quickly." McGonagall's voice traveled around the school. Lily and Katie looked at each other and left to go to the Great Hall.

"Please! Have a seat immediately! Quiet down!" Dumbledore said once they reached the Great Hall.

"I must tell you some sad news. Hogsmeade is no longer allowed to students this year." A murmur of protest arose through the crowd. "Silence! There is quite a reason for doing so! As you know, the dark wizard, Lord Voldemort, as he likes to be called, is gathering followers, committing crimes of wrongdoing. Today in Hogsmeade, a student was snatched from the crowd and murdered. Murdered among us who are still living and breathing, without us knowing until it was too late." There was complete silence in the Great Hall. It was a sad silence, and no one knew who the student was.

"I need you all to stick together. This is a time of togetherness, friendship and helpfulness. The imperious curse is popular, many of you older students know of it. If someone you know is acting strangely, please, don't by any means hesitate to report. 'Anyone can give up because it's the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength.' That is what we must rely on now. True strength."

Lily and Katie's eyes were teary. They knew all the peaceful times were over. This was it.

No one left the Great Hall right away. Younger students were scared, and older ones were deep in thought and sadness.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

There were new rules. It was as if the Chamber of Secrets had opened again, which occurred in Lily's first year. She was still thankful she was not killed then. Students couldn't be roaming around after dark, no Hogsmeade, and no one was allowed to walk around alone. It was a scary time for everyone.

Lily and James were still not back together. Their relationship was as cold as the temperature outside. Lily was sick of it all.

"Is this how it's going to be now? Only talking to each other when necessary?" She cornered him in the common room.

"Lily, I don't know." He told her.

"James, I've told you the story. I gave an example. I don't know what else to do. I'm sorry. I give up." He sadly watched her walk out of the portrait, neither of them remembering the new rule.

Lily was mad. She didn't know what else to do to James. She still couldn't believe that after finally falling in love with him, because of an accident someone caused, he was rejecting her. She suddenly heard quiet footsteps behind her and she whipped around, but saw no one. A chill ran up her spine and she picked up her speed. It was only now she remembered not to walk alone.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

"C'mon, Padfoot, Moony, let's go get food. We'll take the cloak though, it's getting dark." James suggested.

"Do we need to tell Wormtail?" Remus asked.

"He's getting tutored with McGonagall tonight." Sirius answered and got under the cloak with James and Remus.

"Hey, Prongs, is that Lily?" Remus asked, spotting a redhead in front of them.

"Yeah, I guess it is. She shouldn't be walking around alone." He answered.

"Prongs! Moony! Look over there!" Someone tall and in dark robs came out of the shadows. They saw it hide and Lily spin around. She looked scared.

"What is he doing?" Remus whispered aloud, once he started following Lily again. They saw him pull a wand slowly out of his robes. Lily was holding on tightly to something in her back pocket. The marauders assumed it was her wand. She spun around again, wide-eyed, but the mysterious guy hid just in time. He pointed his wand at Lily's back.

"LILY!" Sirius yelled just as James yelled "STUPEFY!" Sending the guy falling back unconscious.

Lily screamed and turned around. She saw Sirius, James and Remus standing with wands out, James pointing his at a guy lying on the ground.

"What happened?" She asked, scared and staring at the figure.

"We were going to the kitchen and we saw someone following you and then he pulled his wand out and pointed it at you and that's when you heard us." Sirius explained. Lily walked over to them.

"Thank you." She said. They all nodded simultaneously, making her smile.

"Prongs, we'll get food and meet you at the common room." James and Lily watched them walk away until they were the only ones left in the hallway. Lily looked at James.

"So, erm, thank you." She said again, but James said nothing. Lily was getting ready to walk away but he stepped forward and placed his hands softly around her neck and kissed her. He deepened the kiss and Lily moaned.

"I've missed that." She whispered and he pressed his forehead against hers and laced his fingers with hers and grinned.

"Me too." He said, kissing her sweetly.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

There you go! Another chapter! I hope it was good…I really do! I've been working hard to finish it, since I won't get the chance to update for a few days. I really appreciate all the reviews you give. I won't be greedy, but I would love more! Thanks so much!

Much love,

HPF670

Livin 4 Dancin, potterchick1, and sunkissed017-thanks so much! I love getting your reviews! I appreciate it SO much! Hope you liked this one as well!

Lyny Angell- Thank you! I'm glad I inspired you to update...it makes me feel special hahah! Hope it worked out well for you! Also hoped you enjoyed this chapter.

dragonsrgorgeous07- thanks for reviewing, especially since you don't usually do that. It means a lot. I agree...GOF did kick major arse. I am definitely seeing it again soon! Hope you like this chapter when you get to read it!