Yes it's back! Ducks rotten fruit. Thank you to anyone who has encouraged me to continue.
CHAPTER 7
It had taken some time for Sirius to calm down; eventually Lily managed to convince him that she wasn't comfortable transforming yet, let alone flying in form. She spent the next few months practicing every night. James always accompanying her and sometimes Remus and Sirius. James and Sirius flew after her on their brooms, shouting encouragement and offering to catch her if she wasn't successful.
The students were back and the school was subdued with the terrible spring weather. Gossip focused on the fact the Trewlawny seemed to always smell of Dungbombs and that Dumbledore had returned to his locked office after visiting the ministry, only to find Fawks had been charmed Slytherin green and that all his quills had been transfigured into frogs that sung muggle commercial tunes if you got to close.
Other than that all seemed normal.
The O.W.L.s were fast approaching and even Sirius seemed to realise this meant it was time to work. Most nights found the five of them squashed around a table in the library or wedged in the common room, pouring over text books and notes.
As Lily no longer had any notes James was trying to be chivalrous and let her revise from his. In the hope of being polite Lily did so, then later got copies of all Remus' notes as he, at least had managed to pay some attention to the lessons. She had the sneaking suspicion that Sirius and Peter were also revising from Remus' work and James as well, when he thought Lily wasn't looking.
It was a great sense of relief when the owls were finished. Lily was positive that she had failed Arithmancy, potions definitely and possibly History of Magic as well. Charms she was positive she had passed, as well as Defence against the Dark Arts and she was particularly proud of her transfiguration practical exam as when asked had managed to transfigure a teacup into a frog...a perfectly green frog. Practice in Dumbledore's office had obviously paid off.
Exams finished and the weather finally approaching warm both fifth year students and seventh years were settling down to enjoy their summer.
Lily sat cross legged in the common room reading through the daily prophet, it was nine, and the sun had just gone down, the heat from the day was still lingering.
Remus had disappeared about an hour ago, heading down to the Whomping willow with Peter for company. Peter, now returned was playing Gobstones with James and Sirius was curiously absent. In another half an hour the trio would head down to the shrieking shack.
Lily hadn't yet accompanied Remus on the full moons, not quite used to staying in her animal form for long periods of time, James had suggested she wait a while longer before trying.
The portrait door to the common room swung open and Lily glanced up just in time to see Sirius stumbling through. He looked pale and seemed to be shaking.
James noticing Lily's concerned expression turned and saw Sirius. He stood up quickly and headed over towards his friend.
Lily wasn't sure what was said between the two of them, but James grabbed the front of Sirius' robes and thrust him up against the wall. Both Lily and Peter sprung to their feet at this, ready to intervene but perplexed, Sirius and James were always winding each other up but they never came to blows over it.
James seemed to snarl something in Sirius face, causing the shorter boy to cringe away, then James turned and sprinted out of the common room. Sirius slipped down the wall, a trembling hand pressed across his eyes.
For once Peter and Lily were on the same page, both confused and concerned they made their way to Sirius.
"Sirius-" "Are you alright, what-"
Sirius pushed them both away and charged up the stairs to the dormitories, a moment later they door slammed.
Lily turned to Peter and raised an eyebrow. He shook his head and slowly made his way towards the staircase, intent on quizzing Sirius and finding out what was going on.
As he reached the window though he stopped. "Hey look!"
Lily was by his side in seconds, there racing across the grounds towards the whomping willow was James in animagus form, once he reached it he transformed back to his usual self and headed down the secret passage way.
"What's he doing?" Breathed Lily.
Peter shook his head. "We made rules, one was never to use our- forms in the open where we could be seen."
Peter disappeared up the stairs but Lily remained at the window, what seemed like an eternity later the willows swaying branches froze once more.
James' form could just about be seen in the falling darkness, squinting Lily realised that he was dragging something behind him- not something someone.
Without any further thought she turned and ran, reaching the main entrance hall she almost collided with Dumbledore, an anxious looking Peter standing behind him. Some distance off was Sirius, his head hung low, trying to blend with the shadows.
"Sirius, what have you done?" He flinched at Lily's softly asked question.
"Now is not the time." Dumbledore continued to the main doors, once opened James could be seen practically dragging Snape in.
A good look at the Slytherin told Lily that he was still alive, just stunned, there were no visible bite marks or scratches and she felt like collapsing in relief. If anything had happened to Snape there would have been no questions asked, Remus would have gone straight to Azkaban.
The headmaster had taken hold of Snape and was now supporting him. He turned to the students, "Sirius and James you will accompany me and Mr. Snape to my office. Peter, Lily, please return to your dormitories."
"But-" The protest was quickly quelled with a look.
"From what Mr Pettigrew told me, neither of you are involved in this. James is in no trouble either, I simply need to understand fully what happened tonight. He will return to your common room shortly and no doubt tell you all that has been discussed word for word."
The words could have been Dumbledore's usual amusing speech but there was no humour in his tone, nor any twinkle in his eyes. He seemed old and tired but Lily recognised his anger from the time dementors had raided the quidditch field in her second year.
One thing was certain, she wouldn't want to be in Sirius' shoes.
James returned an hour later, the common room had mostly cleared out and anyone who dared to remain was met with glares from both Lily and Peter and soon left.
James flopped tiredly into a chair. No one said anything for a while, waiting for another to speak.
"Snape's fine, so Remus is in the clear."
"Until Snape decides to tell the whole school the minute he has the chance." Lily snapped.
James shook his head, "He has been suitably terrified into remaining silent. Dumbledore seemed to be under the impression that if Snape hadn't been such an irritating nosy prat then this might not have happened."
"His exact words?" Lily asked with a wry grin. James returned the smile, if some what half hearted.
"Snivillus is in the hospital wing, having dreamless sleep."
"And Sirius?" Peter piped up.
James shrugged, "Dumbledore's still ripping into him, I've never seen him so angry. He'd probably expel him only he'd have to explain why and that'd drop Moony in it." Lily cringed slightly, James tone suggested that expulsion from school was the least that Sirius deserved.
"Do you have any idea what possessed him to do this?" James shook his head again.
"He refused to say, I think Dumbledore hoped to drag it out of him once I'd gone."
They lapsed into silence for a while, eventually Peter excused himself for bed, yawning as he went.
"Do you think that Remus will remember any of this in the morning?"
"I don't know. Damn idiot had managed to open the door, if I'd been a minute later-" James sighed, "He looked like he would wet himself though, hopefully he'll steer clear of Remus from now on, although knowing him-" He trailed off and sighed.
"Knowing Snape, once the shock has worn off he'll be using this against Remy." Lily guessed.
"Remus is never going to get away from him. I'll kill him!" James was up and pacing then.
"Snape?"
"No, Sirus! How could he do this? He knows what Remus had to lose! What was he thinking?"
"My guess is, he wasn't." James seemed to deflate then. They sat in silence for a while longer, another hour had passed and still no sign of Sirius.
James stood again.
"I'm going to go- the last thing Remus needs on top of this is to rip himself to pieces through boredom and frustration."
Lily nodded, standing as well. "I'll go with you."
James stopped and looked at her. "You sure that you're ready for that?"
She shrugged in response, "Trial by fire, might as well just jump in the deep end."
They left the common room and headed down towards the entrance hall again, the atmosphere tense and awkward. Lily glanced at James, he looked truly miserable, as the 'leader' of the marauders this some how fell on his shoulders, his concern for Remus and the apparent betrayal of Sirius weighed heavily on him.
Sighing Lily slipped her hand into his.
James glanced at her in surprise, then offered a small, grateful smile. They walked out together, hand in hand.
...end chapter...
A/N- I can say nothing about how long it took me to start writing again, all I can do is apologise. For 2 years I have not written, painted, drawn or played my piano or guitar. Everything that was creative about me just disappeared and then three weeks ago I sat down and wrote 20,000 words of a new Lord of the Rings fanfic. Then I thought- hmm, Lily? still needs to be done, and I came on and found the story (as I had deleted it from my own computer) and started writing. There are three chapters now, and I've found my direction again.
The story is just going to be written, it may skip great periods of time and read awkwardly but right now all I want is to get it finished, I think that I owe that much to the people who were still leaving reviews and emailing for a story abandoned in 2003. Hopefully one day it will be reworked but for now all I can say is it will be finished.
Tbc- I promise
