Disclaimer- Still, this does not belong to me!

Chapter 4

James glanced around the common room; he, Sirius and Remus were standing by the portrait pulling on their coats and scarves. On the far side of the red and gold room he saw Lily, with a role or parchment on her lap biting at her lip thoughtfully. Smiling at the way the firelight lit up her hair he didn't even notice Peter siting a few meters away from her.

Striding over to her quickly he asked hopefully. "We're heading down to Hogsmeade, you coming Lil's?"

Lily looked up at James and smiled, her life had become far less stressful since she had stopped ignoring him. "No thanks, I'm going to stay here, I've got an arithmacy essay which needs to be in first thing Monday."

Trying to hide his disappointment he asked again, "You sure?" Offering him a slight apologetic smile she nodded. And resumed studying her parchment.

Peter who had been listening to the conversation frowned slightly before he jumped up enthusiastically. "I'll come!" He quickly jogged off to grab his coat.

James, however, didn't really seem to hear, "Well I guess we'll see you when we get back."

Lily looked back up and smiled, "See you later, James."

James smiled back at her, as Peter returned to his side. Turning reluctantly away from Lily, he headed back towards Sirius and Remus, with Peter following at his heals.

Peter Pettigrew walked in silence behind the other three marauders. Sirius and Remus were as usual making fun of each other; James was unusually quiet, probably due to the red heads rejection of his invitation.

Scowling, he thought of the new comer, she was messing up everything. He didn't need her sniffing around, she made him uncomfortable, she wasn't like the others. She didn't talk to him but she didn't overlook him as others often did. She looked at him as if she could see his very soul.and she saw something that she didn't like.

Shaking of the disturbing thought he mentally laughed at himself. She didn't know anything, she couldn't. But still, he would have to keep an eye on her. And hopefully separate her from the others.

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Lily walked slowly across the frost covered grounds of the Hogwarts gardens, after finally finishing her essay she had decided to get some fresh air. Sighing she glanced over at the lake, autumn had settled in and draping trees were shedding their gold and crimson leaves, which floated cross the rippling surface.

Casting a glance back towards the castle she saw the Marauders ambling slowly towards the main door, all except James, who was sprinting in her direction.

Stopping, she smiled and watched, when he reached her, he stood in silence for a few seconds, regaining his breath. Lily grinned and teased, "Hey, back already?"

Smiling James nodded, "Yeah, how's your day been? Get your essay done?"

Lily pulled an expression of extreme distaste; "Hmm, three feet of parchment! Glad I finally got it all done, I only just finished and decided that I had to escape the common room before I went mad!"

"You should have taken divination, you hardly ever have essays and when you do you just make it up."

Lily, who was starring out across the lake, answered absentmindedly; "It would have been easier only Professor Dumbledore refused to let me take it." She trailed off suddenly realising what she just said.

James stopped smiling and raised a quizzical eyebrow "Why not?"

Thinking fast Lily attempted to think of a reason, coming up with nothing she lamely said, "I, um, I once had a problem with a vision.ended up in the hospital for weeks." Taking a quick peek at his face, to gauge whether or not he believed her she saw his face was carefully neutral.

James started walking along the lakeside with Lily at his side, he knew she was lying, he could always tell when she was but he didn't argue. They walked in silence for a few minutes until he changed the subject. "Do you play quidittch?"

"Yes, I play seeker." She answered, hiding a smile, she wasn't surprised that was his fall back conversation.

"Me too, ever thought about trying out for the house team?" Lily shook her head, "Nah. I'm not that good."

James looked thoughtful before suggesting softly; "Maybe you just need to practice a bit more."

"Maybe," she conceded.

James took a deep breath and gathered his courage before saying. "I could.I mean if you want to train up a bit, I could, um."

Anticipating what he was trying and failing to say she saved him the struggle, "I'd like that."

James stopped walking and looked at her, a smile forming on his lips, "Yeah?"

"Yeah." She replied and stifled a giggle as she saw a blush spread across his cheeks.

Sensing that she was no longer pushing away, he tried his luck again; "So, you going to come down to Hogsmeade next weekend?"

Lily was thoughtful for a moment, not ignoring him was one thing but going out with him was something else. Making her mind up she said, "I.What do you think their up too?" Lily gestured at something she had seen over her shoulder, in the direction of the castle.

James turned to see Sirius, Remus and Peter, standing near the main door, the entrance blocked by Lucius Malfoy and Severus Snape. "I have no idea." Lily watched an expression of concern wash over his handsome features. He looked at her for a few moments before they both started to jog over to their classmates.

"Oh look its Potter and his little fan club." Lily pulled a face as she heard Malfoy's cold drawl. She really hated him; she would never forgive him for what he had done to her in first year.

Sirius glanced back at Lily and James as they arrived at the scene, "Shove off, Malfoy." He replied angrily.

Malfoy laughed slightly, "We'll leave when we want to. Besides, we want to torment the little mudblood." Although Lily herself was not bothered by the comment as she knew perfectly well what her real heritage was. The others didn't respond so calmly, Remus looked as angry as she'd ever seen him, whilst James and Sirius flung themselves forward in an attempt to attack Malfoy.

"I'll." James seethed, but his threat was cut off by Lily, who had lunged forward to stop a full-blown fistfight starting.

Grabbing hold of James's robes she whispered, "No! He's not worth it!" Sirius backed away a bit, James who was still shooting death glares at Malfoy paused and looked down at the petite female, whose hands were braced on his chest. Sighing he relaxed a little.

Snape sneered a the scene before him, "Maybe she's not quite as stupid as we thought."

Seeing a chance for escape and wanting to avoid an argument that could lead to a fight, whispered softly; "Let's go."

The whisper caught Snape's attention and he turned towards Remus, "Just the person, where were you three nights ago Lupin?"

Remus paled at both the question and the obvious threat in the Slytherin's tone. Lily watched in interest as he responded, the Marauders had yet to tell her of his full moon exploits. "I was."

Sirius seeing his friend falter, tried to diffuse the situation with his usually sarcasm. "What are you, his stalker? Why do you care?"

"Just curious as to where he disappears to all the time." Snape replied in his oily tone, sneer firmly in place.

James put himself in between Snape and Sirius, "If you must know he was."

Snape knowing the usually excuses cut him off, "With you, no he wasn't. Crabbe saw him heading across the school grounds by him self." He glanced over triumphantly at Remus who was clearly terrified. "Well, what's your excuse this time?"

Having had enough of Snape torturing her friend, Lily said simply. "He doesn't need an excuse."

Malfoy turned instantly on her, "What's it got to do with you mudblood?" Again Lily had to grab hold of James as he tried to grab Malfoy around his pale throat.

Lily suppressed a smile, partly because of James being noble and trying to defend her, partly because of the idea, which had formed about how she could get the Slytherins off of Remus. "It has everything to do with me.considering that he was with me." The comment gave the desired effect with Snape and Malfoy, James, Sirius and Peter looked shocked, but none more so than Remus, who was staring at her open mouthed.

Snape did a double take, from Lily, to Remus and back to Lily; "What?"

Lily side stepped around James and linked her arm into Remus', smiling broadly she said calmly. "I can't say that I'm surprised that you don't know what I'm talking about, I mean what girl in their right mind would want to touch you?"

"You and him?" Snape stuttered out in surprise, Lily just raised an eyebrow.

"Why you little Mudblood whore!" Malfoy sneered, the words had barely left his mouth when James' fist connected with his nose. Snape grabbed Malfoy as he staggered, "You'll regret this." He murmured, hand covering his bloodied and probably broken nose, they turned and headed back into the castle.

Lily sighed and detached herself from Remus, shoving James gently in his shoulder she murmured, "You shouldn't have done that, they'll rat you out to their head."

James turned around surprised and studied her face carefully, he couldn't work out why she wasn't more upset about this. "He shouldn't have called you that." He replied calmly.

Lily shrugged but didn't say anything, she turned to Remus who was still looking incredibly pale and withdrawn. "You okay Remus?"

Remus nodded, her voice pulling him out of his revive he glanced up at her; "I.why did you say that?" Lily raised an eyebrow again, "What?"

Sirius nodded, "About you and him?" Trying to keep the grin off her face she glanced at the four boys, Sirius was looking at her in shock, Remus and Peter had a look of confusion on their faces. Whilst James, James looked relatively angry, but surprised and confused at the same time.

"You do realise that it's going to be spread across the whole school by tomorrow morning?" James murmured in constricted tones.

Lily shrugged again, "It's better than Remus getting into trouble." She smiled at Remus, hoping she had ended the conversation, the last thing she wanted was him to feel forced to tell her about being a werewolf, that or him guessing she already knew.

"Tr..trouble?" Remus gulped.

"Oh come on," Lily said, cocking her head to one side, "you were sneaking across the grounds in the dark! I know you guys; you were up to some prank again! It's better that they think that we were making out than they pin whatever practical joke you pulled on you!"

Lily turned and headed up towards the castle entrance, effectively ending the conversation. The other Marauder's looked at each other in shock but decided not to correct her.

Jogging they ran after her, once they'd fallen into stride with her, Remus said softly. "Oh, well thanks, I really appreciate it." Lily smiled and nodded, walking together they made their way back to the Gryffindor common room.

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Another chapter!!! Hurrah!!!

Hmm, longish chapter, a bit forced though, but I'm getting there. But where am I going with this? Anyone guessed yet? I just wrote the death scene.sob! But that's a way away yet!

Thank you to everyone who has reviewed! Keep reviewing, it makes my day (and encourages me to write!)

Until the next update!