It had been a few weeks since the ball, and Lily was revelling in that loved-up feeling you get when you're stuck between two guys who are both acting like they're crazy about you and are both absolutely gorgeous. She knew that whichever way she moved she could have some kind of relationship with that person, but she also knew, deep down, that whichever guy she chose, James or Matt, in the end it would turn out to be the wrong choice. Either way, she would regret it eventually.

It was a very strange predicament to be in: after all, Lily saw James every day and he was fast becoming her best friend, always full of laughter and cheerfulness. Matt, on the other hand, she only really saw every once in a while. With him being two years older than her and in a different house, they were an odd pair. But every time the met in the corridors or locked eyes across the Great Hall, Lily felt a flutter and Matt would always smile or give a cheeky wink.

Awakening from her sleepy thoughts as she half-listened to Professor Binns talking monotonously about goblins and giants and some kind of Scandinavian civil war, Lily focused her eyes on the figure she had been unconsciously watching for the past fifteen minutes or so. She yawned, then frowned as Professor van Spyk got to her feet from the tree stump she had been sitting on.

Why was she near the forest? Surely she wouldn't take a walk for pleasure in this weather – it was absolutely freezing! And it seemed even less likely that the highly appearance-conscious woman would be sitting on a log letting her beautiful curls be tossed around by the wind unless she was waiting for something. But only Dark things resided in the Forbidden Forest.

Could it be that Petra was a Death Eater? After all, she was a Slytherin and definitely very cold and calculating. Lily mentally kicked herself. How could she have trusted Petra? She was Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, but that just meant she knew a lot about the Dark Arts! She had been alone with Lily in her office – she could have done anything! How could Lily have been so stupid?

As Lily thought about it, she became more and more sure that she was right. Her Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor was a Death Eater. And surely Professor Dumbledore didn't know, after all, it wasn't as if he would let a Death Eater teach at Hogwarts. Not knowingly anyway. Lily would have to tell him.

Then she realised how stupid it would sound – the only proof she had was that she had seen Petra near the Forbidden Forest, and that was hardly grounds upon which to accuse someone of being a Death Eater. There was only one way around it – she would have to investigate.

"James!" Lily hissed quietly, just loud enough for James on the desk in front to hear. Jess, too, had heard, and she turned around from Lily's right and raised an eyebrow. Lily stuck her tongue out and turned to James, who was looking at her quizzically.

"What?" He mouthed.

"Come with me after class." Lily whispered. He raised both his eyebrows but nodded and turned back around.

A few moment later, a piece of parchment levitated itself off James' desk and onto Lily's. She took one look and burst out laughing, causing even Professor Binns to turn around.

"Sorry Professor" she said quickly, and, with a relieved look, he continued.

The note read: You're keen.

Lily grinned and scrawled In your dreams! underneath, sending the parchment back in James' direction.

At the end of the class, Lily got up quickly and grabbed James' arm.

"Come on!"

"Alright, chill out woman! What's the hurry?"

Lily sighed. "I can't tell you now, just come with me."

"Hey, you could be taking me anywhere!"

"Don't you trust me?"

"No!"

"Really?"

"Well, I don't trust you not to pull some stupid prank on me!"

"Ahem, pots and frikkin kettles!"

"Alright alright, I'm coming. Remus, don't wait up."

"Wha?" Remus turned round, puzzled.

"I'm off with Lily."

Remus raised his eyebrows and made a rather lewd gesture behind James' back. Lily scowled but didn't retort. She dragged James by the arm out of the classroom and down the hall, down stairs, more corridors and finally the marble staircase into the entrance hall.

"Where the bloody hell are we going?"

"I'll tell you in a minute."

"C'mon Lils, can't I just dump my bag or something?" Seeing that they were headed outside, he moaned "Lily, it's bloody freezing out there. Can I go get my coat?"

"There's no time!"

"Well some of us don't have insulation…"

"Excuse me? What are you implying about my flabbage?"

"Did I once mention flabbage?" James grinned, and Lily suddenly didn't mind this comment.

"Okay, fair enough. Just get a move on! I'll explain outside."

James sighed but hurried after her. When they got outside, now moving at a brisk jog, James spoke again.

"Are you gonna tell me then?"

"Yeah. Well, I was looking out the window –"

"Lily Evans! Why weren't you paying attention?"

"Have you ever paid attention in one of Binns' classes?"

"Fair point. So what? Was Hagrid's cabin on fire?"

"No" Lily laughed. "But I saw Petra."

"Petra?"

Lily suddenly realised that not all the class would know their Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher by her first name. "Van Spyk."

"Oh. So?"

"She was standing by the Forbidden Forest. Looked like she was waiting for someone."

"Again, so?"

"Duh, she was by the forest!"

"Well knowing her, she was probably going in for a quick shag."

"James!"

"Bet she was!"

"Bet she wasn't."

"Was!"

"Wasn't."

"How much do you bet?"

"A lot. Look James, what if she's up to something?"

"Like what? A mass orgy?"

"James, be serious! She's a Slytherin"

"Well I did try pointing that out to you a while ago, but you're the one that's all chummy with her."

"That's not relevant!"

"Is so."

"James, shut up!…..James, why aren't you saying anything?"

"You did tell me to shut up."

"I meant listen!"

"Well that's not what you said."

Lily rolled her eyes. "Look, don't you think it's a bit suspicious?"

"Suspicious? Yeah, but she is a Slytherin."

"I am aware of that. But what idiot would be out here in the cold for a shag in the middle of November?"

"A Slytherin?"

"Shut up about goddamn Slytherin, James!"

"Oh fine. Yeah, I s'pose she could be up to something sneaky, evil and generally Slytherin-like…"

"Potter!"

"Hey, I'm agreeing with you here! I could easily turn around and go back, you know."

"True. Does that mean you'll join my spying mission then?" Lily asked, talking quietly and slowing down so as not to alert anyone to their presence. They drew closer to the forest and began walking along the treeline.

"Where was she?" James whispered.

"About here" Lily said, stopping and peering into the trees.

"Shall we go in?" James said, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.

"Go on then." Lily said, grinning.

James led the way between the trees, brushing Lily's waist with his hand to guide her in the right direction. Lily couldn't help but smile at this. After a few minutes Lily thought of something.

"Er…James?"

"Yup. That's me."

"Isn't this a bit stupid?"

"Why?"

"Well, we're wandering around in the Forbidden Forest when we know for a fact that a Slytherin with a great knowledge of the Dark Arts and probably someone else is in here too. They could be watching us right now."

"Now who's starting with the Slytherin prejudice?"

"You know what I mean, James." Lily was beginning to sound a little scared so James turned around and hugged her, pulling her close to him. Lily grinned, suddenly feeling much better.

"We're fine, Lils. Think about it. If there were people watching us. They would have done something by now. Why would they just be watching?"

"Yeah, I guess…"

"And we haven't heard a peep out of anyone. We'll just have to listen hard for anyone, that way no one could sneak up on us, yeah?"

The sky was growing darker as winter closed in, and Lily shivered as James pulled away from her.

"Yeah it's cold, but you're the one who insisted on coming out with no jackets."

"I'm sorry –"

"Don't worry, I was only joking. I would hug you again, y'know – the penguin effect, but that could make walking difficult."

"I suppose so." Lily wouldn't have cared though. They should make hugging-and-walking an Olympic sport, that way they'd have a damn good excuse to practice. She supposed the magical community didn't do the Olympics though. A World Cup then? She was jerked to her senses as James stopped, putting his arm out to bring her to a halt alongside him.

"Hear that?" Lily barely heard him speak, but she could see the words formed on James' lips.

She cocked her head to the side. "Rustling" she mouthed, and James nodded.

They crept forward, James' hand on Lily's shoulder, until they stood at the edge of a very small clearing. Now they could both see what Petra's secret meeting had been about.

"Bloody hell. What did I tell you?"

So so so so SO sorry for the lateness of the update and the shortness...I've been really busy and feeling really awful and I haven't really been in the mood to write about happy times. So sorry! Also, I haven't yet been able to find a BETA so if there are mistakes, I apologise!

Harry Potter Mania Telling you what role Matt will play would kinda spoil the story, non? Thanks anyway.

Angel2510 Yeah you're right, they're all linked in one big plot, but I see the main plot as being about Lily and James and then loads of other underlying stories. Petra...she's gonna play an interesting role. I'm not sure how vital to the plot she will be yet, but she'll definitely spice things up a bit. And I repeat: weird reviews are GOOD:D

HPBeatles Yeah, you know about subplot #1, but only vaguely. I'm not gonna spoil it for you. I may need help in the near future, thanks - I'll let you know :)

Weird Not Boring Hehe, gotta love murder mysteries...I was wondering if anyone read other people's replies - I guess you've answered that for me! Sirius worshipping is ALWAYS good - thanks very much!

Dk Lili Thanks, I try... :)

Sunshine65 I tried to get updating but it kinda didn't happen...sorry! Did you get my email? I'm sorry if that was totally out of order, but I just wanted to say something, and on here isn't exactly the best place...shrug

Right, I'm gonna be very ambitious here and ask for 10 reviews before I update. I know enough people read it, so if you want me to update, check the review count and add yours please! I really need feedback if this is gonna work, so work with me here guys!

Just out of interest what do people think is gonna happen next?

a) Petra will be participating in a mass orgy.

b) Petra will be fighting someone.

c) She will have killed someone.

d) Someone will have killed her.

e) Petra will be talking to some really scary Death Eater-type people.

f) She will be having a shag against a tree.

g) She will be standing in the middle of the clearing talking to herself and occasionally yelling "Muahahahahaha! I will rule the world!"

Prizes for the people who get the right answer...

A million apologies for my bad writing at the moment, I'm just not really in the mood. Spur me on people!

Becca