Disclaimer: Anything you might recognize from the Harry Potter books belongs to JkRowling. I am simply a Fan fiction writer.

Chapter Five: Rumors and Going into Hiding

Not even a week after agreeing to be James's friend and Lily was becoming steadily tired of the attention she was receiving from the school. After the shock about them being friends had finally subsided the rumors had immediately began to spread. Every time she and James walked down the corridors, whenever they sat in the common room, on the grounds, or in the Great Hall people would whisper.

The most common rumor to be heard, and believed, by the students was the theory that Lily had confounded James and tricked him into thinking he was her friend so she could become popular. As though she had nothing better to worry about than popularity.

The more absurd rumors that where floating about had been thought up by Rowena Smooter. Lily snorted at the very thought of her. Rowena was a jealous, dark-haired, fifth year Ravenclaw who happened to fancy James quite a bit. Lily had erupted into laughter when she'd first heard one of Rowena's ridiculous ideas but shortly after stopped upon finding out that people actually believed her. Immediately her amusement had changed to absolute disbelief and slight revolution that anyone could be so thick.

What was even more surprising was the number of girls who didn't have a problem with she and James being friends, and Lily had found out why only a few days ago. Some girls decided that Lily being James's friend was dead useful because they could give her piece of parchment with their name, house, year and details for when they wanted to meet James,then theyavoided the embarrassing task of asking him in person themselves. This action therefore caused Lily to dub herself with the accuratetitle of: "James Potter's human snogging planner slash secretary".

Lily was currently searching for Ian Crowley, the Head Boy, who was supposed to have dropped of her homework while she stayed in the Hospital Wing. Lily had been patrolling two night's ago when someone had hexed her from behind, making her normal sized canine teeth turn into two long fangs. Lily had had to go to Madam Pomfrey for removal. This afternoon Lily'steeth were back to normal and she was allowed to leave the infirmary.

Lily sighed, she'd been searching for twenty minuets already and she was about to give up and go to the Gryffindor tower when she caught sight of Elaine Harrison, a fifth year Hufflepuff prefect. Being in the same house as Ian Elainewas bound to have seen him.

"Elaine!" Lily called down the hallway, before breaking into a jog to catch up with her. Elaine stopped and turned around just as Lily reached her.

"Oh, Hello, Lily," said Elaine, politely. All the Prefects where, no matter their opinions of Lily they all where expected to treat the Head Girl with politeness.

"Hi, I was wondering if you'd seen Ian," said Lily. "He was supposed to get my homework assignments, the ones that I missed, but he never came."

"You haven't heard?" asked Elaine, looking genuinely shocked.

"Heard what? I've been in the Hospital Wing for the past two days," said Lily, slightly impatiently. Honestly, even if they didn't like her, hadn't they noticed the Head Girl missing for two days?

"Ian left last night, his parents pulled him from school," said Elaine.

"What!" exclaimed Lily, it was her turn to be shocked.

"Yeah, I know," said Elaine nodding. "It was a big surprise, even for Dumbledore."

"Why didn't anyone tell me?" asked Lily, frowning.

"We all just found this morning," said Elaine defensively.

Lily nodded and said, "Do you know why they pulled him out?"

"No, too many rumors are being started, I don't what the real story is," said Elaine.

"All right, well, thanks Elaine," said Lily.

Elaine nodded and then continued her way down the corridor.

Lily sighed, she'd have to pop in to the all of the Professors offices later on and retrieve her homework assignments. Right now though she'd go the Gryffindors tower, see whether or not Remus knew what happened with Ian.

xxx

"Flutterby."

The portrait of the Fat Lady swung open and Lily clambered in through the portrait hole, into the common room. She started searching for Remus and saw him sitting with James and Sirius in some armchairs by the girls dormitory. She walked over and when she reached them they all looked up at her.

"Hey," said James.

"Hi. Listen Remus, do you know what happened with Ian?" asked Lily. "I was talking to the Hufflepuff prefect, Elaine, and she said he got pulled out. But she doesn't know why."

"Well supposedly Ian's parents have a chance to travel to the Orient and so they've taken him out of school," said Remus.

"But we don't believe that," added Sirius.

"Old wizardring family the Crowley's are. And a powerful family at that, not only in their magical abilities, mind you, but in their connections, more importantly their connections to the Ministry," explained James.

"What sort of connections?" asked Lily curiously, wondering what this had to do with why Ian left.

"Donation of money, Order of Merlin," shrugged Sirius. "What earned them they're connections isn't important, the fact that they have money, are on good terms with the Ministry, that they're powerful witches and wizards is what is important."

Before Lily could ask why that was important Remus spoke.

"Ian's Grandparents where murdered, it was in the Prophet this morning," he said. Without giving Lily time to register this shocking piece of news he continued, "The dark mark was above their house, Lily, the Death Eaters killed them."

"And why would Voldemort have them killed? He wouldn't - unless of course they agreed to join him," said James.

"Seems a bit odd for his parents to decide to take a holiday just after two of their family where murdered," said Sirius.

"Our theory? It would however, make perfect sense for them to go into hiding," said Remus.

She nodded thoughtfully, it did, they're theory made complete sense. But if Remus, Sirius and James where clever enough to figure the true meaning behind Ian and his parents leaving, wouldn't Voldemort figure it out as well? Was there any place, county or city, where you could hide from Voldemort if he was after your family? In the end wouldn't it have been better for Ian to remain at Hogwarts? He was safe here, Dumbledore was here. But, Ian would also be worried for his parents, scared for them, and in Lily's opinion wasn't it better to be with your family and if you got caught, die with them?

It must be horrible to go into hiding, thoughtLily, to have your family a target of Voldemort, to be scared and cooped up from the world, waiting to see if you'd live, if you'd survive. You couldn't trust anyone, not even your best friends, you had to be cautious of everything and everyone until Voldemort was gone, maybe, maybe even for the rest of your life.

I know really late, I'm so sorry, but I was having a lot of trouble with this chapter, you'll probably all be thinking "why?" but it's a really long story. Anyway, thanks everyone for sticking with me, I hope you liked this chapter.

Important Author's Note: I'm looking for a new Beta unfortunately Naomi and I can't seem to get our computers to accept each others messages. I would preferable like someone who's from England, or someone who knows how to correct my Americanisms to British Slang really well. If you or even someone you know who'd like to beta my story, please send me a private message.

Huggles, please review,

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