Lily was ecstatic for Remus. He deserved all the love in the world, and Gwen was just the girl to give it to him. Lily had, of course, seen something brewing a long time ago: the way Gwen always had a smile on Remus' face, the way she seemed completely comfortable with him, and the way she refused to let him feel sorry for himself.

"Have you told her yet?" she asked quietly.

Remus had looked down at his feet and shook his head. "I don't know how."

Lily put a hand softly on Remus' knee from her seat on the sofa opposite him. "You have to, you know."

"I don't have to tell her now," he looked up at her; his brown eyes pleading. "I don't want to ruin anything. I don't want her to run off."

"From what you've told me about yesterday, she won't be running off anytime soon," she smiled at Remus rather maternally. Then, with a twinkle in her eye, she added, "I have to convince James to take me to Tuscany."

Remus' face broke a little, but soon returned to his tortured frown. "Lily..." he said brokenly. "I can't tell her. Not now, at least."

"I don't know why you could tell me and Dorcas just like that," she snapped her fingers. "But you can't tell the girl you've been sharing all your feelings with for the past six months."

"I knew you wouldn't mind," he said simply. "And Dorcas…well, she had to know. It was getting ridiculous. With Gwen…well, I just…I just don't think I could handle it if she rejected me."

He looked back at the ground and Lily sighed. "I understand, Remus. I do. But give Gwen a little credit. It probably won't change a thing."

"Lily…I…"

"Tell her when you feel comfortable telling her," Lily shrugged; leaning back into her seat. "But Remus, you have to do it soon."

He nodded slowly; blinking. "I know."

"So Remus Lupin and Gwendolyn Abercrombie," James whistled as he and Sirius came back into the living room. He settled himself next to Lily on the sofa and threw an arm over the back. "When are we going to Tuscany?"

"Sounds like a nice honeymoon," she suggested. He raised his eyebrows and kissed her lightly on the lips. She laughed a little.

"Tawdry Italian affairs," James said suggestively, still looking at Lily. "Never would have expected it from you, Moony."

"It was hardly tawdry," Lupin laughed. "I just kissed her."

"In the middle of a piazza in front of an ancient cathedral after a day of sunbathing and gelato-eating in the Italian countryside," Lily reminded him. "That is perhaps the most romantic kiss I have ever heard of."

"Was ruining your sister's wedding not romantic enough?" James tried to look offended.

Lily couldn't help bursting out in laughter. She doubled over.

"Hey…"

"I love you James," she laughed.

"Love you too," he smirked and kissed her again

"Gwendolyn is pretty good looking," Peter offered. "Congrats, mate."

Remus laughed slightly; turning rather pink and smiling sheepishly. "Thanks Peter."

"I'm not surprised she kissed you," Sirius drawled; a newly-formed scowl crossing his face. "Gwendolyn Abercrombie is a bit of a slag, you know. I mean, there was this one time in the library 5th year…"

Sirius was stopped by a hard slap to the side of his face. "HOW DARE YOU?" Lily bellowed at him. "I don't care what Dorcas Meadowes did to you, you have NO RIGHT to take this away from him."

"Lily," Remus said quietly; watching the exchange nervously. "It's alright…"

"No Remus," her green eyes were burning with anger at Sirius, who was holding his face; his eyes narrowed. "Sirius cannot act like an arsehole just because something bad happened to him. And he cannot treat you or Gwen this way."

"Hey James," Sirius growled. "Can you get your fiancée to keep her nose out of my fucking business?"

"Shut up Sirius," James said angrily. "She's right."

Lily exhaled angrily as Sirius stood and, glaring at her, made his way into the bedroom. He slammed the door behind him.

"Remus," Lily turned to him and placed a supportive hand on his shoulder. Her eyes were still burning but they softened a bit when she addressed Remus. "I'm so sorry."

Remus breathed and then shrugged. "He's just upset and… he did shag Gwen in the stacks."

"He had no right to say those things," Lily said; still fuming and now pacing. "Who hasn't he shagged in the stacks?"

"Ummm…..You," Peter said.

Everyone looked at him, completely shocked looks on their faces. Peter shrunk a little in his chair; damning himself for what he said. After a second, a smile grew on Lily's face. She plopped down in her spot next to James.

"That's damn right."

The meetings of the Order were utterly exhausting. Held in a different member's home every week, they were spent rehashing the latest attacks and any evidence they had managed to dig up. Rumors were discussed as facts, a single glimpse of a wizard near an attack site considered a suspicion. Elphias Doge swore he saw Robert Mordaunt, the missing minister of magic, at the Harris' home the day the Auror couple were killed were killed. Moody even promised to look into it. Every possibility, every shadow, every scrap was pondered until no one could think straight.

"What we really need are more eyes," Moody said one day. "How is the recruiting effort going?"

Everyone looked around; praying that someone would have one person to bring to the table. Lily scanned the table: Gideon and Fabian Prewett, Emmeline Vance, Edgar Bones, Caradoc Dearborn, Sirius, Benjy Fenwick, Frank and Alice Longbottom, Hagrid, McGonagall, Moody, Doge, Peter, Remus, James…everyone shook their heads.

"I have found another member," Dumbledore said from the corner of the room. Lily hadn't seen him through the entire meeting and smiled a little at his secrecy. A short, curvy blonde woman stood next to him. "Miss Marlene McKinnon," he presented her and she nodded her head slightly. "Recent graduate from the Auror academy."

"Hello," Marlene said in a quiet but firm voice. "I want to help in anyway I can."

"Why don't you both sit down?" Emmeline offered; pulling two chairs to the table with a flick of her wrist.

"Thank you Emmeline," Marlene smiled. "How are you?" The two girls had both been Ravenclaws in the same year at Hogwarts.

"Alright," Emmeline nodded.

"Marlene," Lily asked. "How is Muriel doing?"

Marlene smiled at the mention of her sister. "She just got engaged actually. He's going into the Auror academy next month. Cade Bradley is his name."

Sirius scoffed loudly.

"Ignore him," James smiled, then sent a glare at his friend.

"Shouldn't we be talking about possible Death Eaters at the Scott's last week?" Remus asked quickly; eager to keep Sirius from blowing up.

"I'm sure Bellatrix Black was there," Moody narrowed his eyes. "Harpy, that woman."

"The Towlers live nearby," Doge said; leaning back in his seat. "Owen swore he saw Severus Snape that night."

"I can't believe he turned into a murderer," Lily sighed; frowning.

"Damn Snivellus," Sirius scowled. "Always knew he was a bad egg, just like my pathetic cousin."

"You're sure you have no idea where Bellatrix or Regulus may be hiding, Sirius?" James asked; leaning forward and putting his elbow on the large wooden table.

"You know I haven't spoken to Bellatrix or my parents in years. I have absolutely no clue."

James leaned back in his chair; letting it balance on the two back legs. "Anything on the Robert Mordaunt theory, Moody?"

Moody actually laughed. "It's not possible. Mordaunt was in Peru that night."

"Well, is there anything else?" James looked around the room; begging someone to give him something. No one said anything. A few shook their heads or pursed their lips in defeat.

"Then I guess that's it for this week," Moody sighed. "Keep your eyes peeled for anything. Anything."

There was a feeling of utter despair and frustration as the members began to disappear one by one. Peter approached Dumbledore.

"Sir," he said sadly. "Doesn't it feel like we're looking for something that isn't there?"

"Well, Peter," he looked over his spectacles. "It very obviously is there. Hundreds of wizards have been killed."

"Don't you ever just want to give up?" he asked; fear filling his pudgy face.

Dumbledore smiled slightly. "It is no shame to lose if you fight for the right cause, Peter."

Peter nodded, biting his lip, and Dumbledore disappeared.

"James," Lily yelled from the hallway, propping open her flat door with her foot. "If you don't hurry up, I'm going to be late. I don't own St. Mungo's, remember."

"Sorry Lil," he yelled back. "This owl won't let go of the prophet."

"I'm counting to 10 and then I'm leaving without you," Lily glanced impatiently at her wristwatch. "JAMES!"

"Lily," the voice was softer. "Lily, I think you'd better come in here."

With an exasperated sigh, she stormed back into the kitchen and began tapping her foot. "What is it? We really have to leave now."

James was staring at the front page of the Prophet. His face was in utter shock: wide eyes, trembling mouth, furrowed brow. He swallowed and shook his head in slow motion. "I don't think we'll be going to work today, Lily."

Lily rolled her eyes. "James, I have to go to work. I don't own…"

"Lily," he said firmly and looked up her; holding The Daily Prophet out in front of him. She looked him in the eyes; trying to read his expression. Something had happened. Something awful. She settled, her mouth parting and her eyes growing with questions, and took the paper from James' outstretched hand.

Lily gasped as she read the headline.

Attack on Muggle Bus Station in Bristol: Hundreds Killed

It was the picture, however, that she focused on. The bus station nearest Lily's childhood home was gone. In its place was a huge pile of rubble and earth. Emergency workers were digging through the rubble; searching for bodies or any lucky survivors. After the initial shock, her eyes flicked to the side of the picture. The filled car park was still intact and partially visible. When she saw the old brown hatchback, she immediately collapsed. James was able to get his arms under her before she hit the floor. She felt the sick rising in her throat and, in desperation, pushed herself forward to the ground. She pulled herself across the floor to the loo. The minute she reached the toilet, she began retching. James was right behind her and held her hair back; rubbing her back as the sick continued to come. When Lily had nothing left to throw up, she continued retching; desperate to find something else to expel. Soon, the rocking motion brought her to violent, angry sobs and she threw herself into James' arms.