Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize. All characters belong to a woman with a great imagination and determination, capable of creating this world that is the center of so many stories.

Sins of Angels: Sorry I haven't updated. Computer troubles like no tomorrow… Anyway, thank you to all reviewers, I'm terribly sorry I haven't updated in so long, and I may need to space them out even more, my new laptop just doesn't want to cooperate. So, this really is up at the first chance I got, which I once again apologize for it not being sooner. Stupid technology! Another bit of news I'm not sure has reached everyone's ears, I've decided that I'm stopping this story at the end of their seventh year. A sequel most likely will be also included in the deal that I cut off my story then, but there's a very high chance that they will not follow each other immediately. So enjoy, it might be ending relatively soon.

Chapter 38 – Damsel in Distress

Lily felt his hands slide around her waist and smiled. She had been looking for a book in their personal library and he just came up from behind and wrapped himself around her, resting his chin on her shoulder.

"What are you looking for?" he asked softly.

"A Transfiguration book that I'm sure I saw here last week. I don't know where it could have gone, to tell you the truth."

James let her go and disappeared in his room, bringing out the very book she was looking for. She smiled at him.

"Thanks. I didn't realize you had it."

James shrugged. "I needed to look something up."

It was then that Lily noticed his broom resting next to the door. She frowned a bit as she glanced out the window. "Quidditch practice in this blizzard, James?"

He nodded. "We need to be ready for all kinds of weather for this Friday's match. It'll be good practice. I don't fancy losing to Ravenclaw at all."

Lily sighed and then grinned as she walked up to him and rested her arms on his shoulders. "Guess I should give you something to keep you warm then."

"Oh?" James said, raising his eyebrows. "And what might that be?"

Lily kissed him softly on the lips. It was one of those kisses that were gentle, soft, loving, but had a force like no other.

James smiled after she pulled away. "That'll work, yeah."

Lily laughed at him. "Well. Go on, Quidditch Captain. Can't keep you here all day, can I?"

He kissed her on the cheek. "Lily, you can keep me here, right next to you, for a lifetime."

Lily smiled and then pouted. "Not forever?"

James smiled too. "At some point we'd make our way to the couch, wouldn't we?"

Lily laughed and then shooed him away. "Go on, Quidditch star! I don't fancy losing to Ravenclaw. And don't catch a cold, alright?"

James walked over to his broom and opened the door. He looked back. "I'll try, dear," he said wearily, as if they'd been married for twenty years. Lily grinned at him.

"Have fun!" she called as he closed the door. She gently lowered herself on the chair, looking at the book James had handed to her. It was not long before a frantic knocking came from the Hufflepuff Common Room door. Lily stood up quickly and opened it with permission from the portrait.

"Lily!" a third year called hurriedly. The girl pointed at the sixth year Diggory, who was currently laughing as he tore down the curtains.

"Diggory!" Lily said sternly. The boy turned to her, laughed a very unsettling laugh and turned back, setting a chair on fire.

"He's not like this, Evans," another sixth year said.

"I figured. Diggory, listen to me! You have to stop!"

The boy just turned to her again and laughed, his eyes dull. "Hello, Evans," he said, his voice horribly hollow. "Fancy meeting you here."

Lily raised her wand. This wasn't normal at all. "I'm giving you one last shot, Diggory."

His eyes flashed, as did the horrible smile. "Fine. Have it your way," he said and lowered his wand. Lily did so too and took a step towards him. He turned sharply to her again and pointed his wand, screaming "Crucio!"

Lily collapsed, screaming, as the pain filled her. She opened her eyes and looked through the tears at the others. "Stun him!" she barked at the watchers. One raised his wand and followed her directions. As soon as the stunner hit him, the pain lifted. Lily collapsed on the floor, curling into a ball and clutching her head painfully. The third year that had called her rushed to her side as the others stayed away from both of them.

"Are you okay?" she asked feverishly. All Lily could do was shiver.

"Oh, man, wait until Potter hears what Diggory did to his girlfriend!" some boy said. Lily groaned. She didn't need James to protect her!

Okay, so maybe his help would have been welcome say, while she was in pain. But it was okay now, it was under her control.

Good God, is that how everyone thought? Before she was a girl with a lot of power and short temper. When did that reduce to merely being James's girlfriend?

"I'm fine, fine," she said and got up, groaning. She focused her dazed eyes on Diggory. "Right, I'll take him to the Hospital Wing. I'll need help, though."

The third year jumped up for the third time in ten minutes and led the way out. Lily could distinctly hear whispers behind her.

"Diggory's in for it now."

"Potter will have his head for sure."

"I heard Black knows a spell to make his…you know…smaller."

"I happen to know Lupin has the brains to think of a potion for almost anything, pleasant or not."

"Man, Diggory won't come back as himself at all."

"He's captured the Marauders' wrath."

Marauders' wrath? What about Lily's wrath? What about the thing she'd do to him if she finds out it had been voluntary? Why the hell was she the damsel in distress?

It's highly unlikely that anyone in this school would get that allusion. Oh, well. I'll just have to show them.

But how?

She came into the hospital wing and levitated Diggory onto a bed. The young boy looked oddly still as the curse was lifted, Dumbledore standing watch over him. His eyes opened slightly, and then he sat up, looking around wildly.

"What's going on?" he demanded. Lily flinched as he glared at her as though she had been the reason he was here.

"You've been behaving curiously," Dumbledore said calmly. He turned his gaze to the Headmaster.

"What?" he asked weakly. Before he could hear an answer, James burst in through the doors and ran over to Lily, Remus, Sirius and Peter behind him. He plopped down on the bed beside her and held her in a tight hug, as though making sure she was really in one piece.

"Are you okay?" he asked worriedly, stroking her hair.

"I'm fine, James," Lily reassured him. Well, if no one thought she was helpless before, they would now.

It's not that she didn't want James to make her feel better. She just wanted him to do it a bit less obviously, to act as if he thought she stood a chance.

Because she did. Against anyone. She was Lily Evans, Head Girl, and the position was well earned. She didn't need James to save her.

"I would've come sooner, but I didn't know, Lily. I didn't know."

Lily sat up, pulling out of the hug. "James, I understand you were worried, but I can take care of myself."

"But I should've been there to protect you!"

"Maybe I didn't need protection! I'm not your damsel in distress, James!"

She stormed out of the Hospital Wing. If Dumbledore or Diggory had heard any of it, they didn't make it known. James turned to the others, a puzzled look on his face. "My what?"

Remus shrugged at him. Sirius looked out the door and shrugged too.

James stood up. "Should I go after her?"

"I would," Remus concluded. Sirius just shrugged again. James nodded and left, running after her.