A/N: Wow, how things have changed since I last posted! I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy. Hopefully this fluffy little chapter will lift your spirits during the new reality we find ourselves living in. Wishing you all well!

The next morning, James woke to the sound of Madam Pomfrey's shoes clicking against the stone floor of the hospital wing. He rolled over with a groan and put on his glasses, but Madam Pomfrey strode past him, heading towards another cot that had curtains drawn around it. Two Aurors stood guard nearby, though they stepped aside for Madam Pomfrey, allowing her to duck behind the curtains.

She murmured something, and a deep, rumbling voice replied. A moment later, Caradoc Dearborn stepped out from behind the curtains. He noticed James was awake and approached him, looming over his cot.

"She's going to be okay," said Caradoc gruffly. He indicated the cot with the curtains drawn around it.

"Oh, said James. "That's brilliant."

Caradoc's stern expression didn't change. "I wanted to thank you. For protecting her when the situation was dire."

"That's not — I mean, thanks, but I really didn't… " James tried to sit up, as Caradoc looked very intimidating from his current viewpoint, but a searing pain went through his chest.

"Is everything alright?" asked Caradoc.

"Yeah," gasped James, clutching his chest.

Caradoc raised a meaty hand, as if to signal to Madam Pomfrey, but she had already emerged from behind the curtains and was bustling over to James, carrying an array of potions balanced on a tray.

"I don't need any of those," said James at once.

"Good morning to you, too," said Madam Pomfrey. She set the tray down on his bedside table and began measuring out the potions into small phials.

"Seriously, I'm fine," said James. "I feel —" Something in his side caught painfully, and he sucked in an involuntary breath. Like I've been run over by a hippogriff.

Madam Pomfrey narrowed her eyes. "You feel?"

"Great," said James. "I feel great."

"I'm glad to hear it," said Madam Pomfrey. "You'll feel even better once you've taken those potions." Before James could respond, both she and Caradoc had returned to Sally's bedside.

James downed the potions reluctantly and, bored, began to Transfigure the empty phials into glass animals. He'd made an impressive lion and was working on a stag when Sirius burst into the hospital wing, Remus and Peter at his heels.

"There you are!" exclaimed Sirius, catching sight of James. "You're alright, then?"

"Yeah, brilliant," said James. "I keep telling Poppy I'm ready to leave but she's insisting I stay, I don't know why…"

"She's probably worried, God bless her," said Sirius. "It's not every day she gets a true emergency, I bet."

"Out of curiosity," said Remus, "do you know what happened to the door?"

James glanced guiltily at the door to the hospital wing, which had been blasted off its hinges. "Er. That was my fault. I'll put it right once I'm" — he grimaced — "off bedrest."

"Bedrest?" yelped Sirius. "Is she out of her mind?"

Peter looked a little wistful. "I'll swap places with you, if you'd like. Professor Kettleburn wants us to groom his Chimaera today, and I just can't be arsed."

"James," said Remus quietly, "what happened last night?"

"Yeah," said Sirius. The cot sagged a little as he sat on it. "I'd like to know that myself."

"Erm, there's not much to tell," said James. He hesitated; Sally hadn't mentioned Regulus to Dumbledore. He didn't quite understand what that was about, but maybe he ought to keep Regulus' involvement quiet, as well.

"I saw Sally on the map with Lily," began James. "They were in the dungeons. Mulciber's gang was heading towards them, so I went to warn them. We got out alright, but we had to duel Mulciber's gang, because they were trying to kill Sally."

"You're joking," said Sirius. Peter looked very pale.

"Yeah, it was mad," said James. "Mulciber cast the bloody Killing Curse, blew up half the corridor — and Snivellus gave me these." He tugged at the neck of his hospital gown, revealing the white scars that snaked across his clavicle.

Sirius called Severus something very foul. "He cut you to ribbons! When I get my hands on that jaundiced little —"

"Those are curse scars," said Remus worriedly. "They — they might not fade, Prongs. Some cursed wounds don't."

"Yeah, Poppy said as much," said James. "I'm lucky Lily was there, honestly. She managed to stop the bleeding. Probably saved my life."

"That makes you even, then," said Sirius. "After what you did for her on the Hogwarts Express."

"That's no good," said Peter. "You always want a witch to be in your debt. Makes it easier to write the marriage contract."

Sirius nudged James, grinning. "You'd better hope she puts herself in mortal peril again in year seven, Prongs."

"Very funny," said James. "What happened on the Hogwarts Express was entirely different, Lily would've been fine if I hadn't —"

"Yeah, and I'm sure Sally could've fought off six Death Eaters without you, too," said Sirius sarcastically. "I always thought Moony was the good boy, but you're giving him a run for his Galleons, aren't you?"

"Prongs has got me beat," said Remus. "The best thing I've ever done for Hogwarts was when I organized the awards in the Trophy Room during our fourth year."

"And just think, that little project earned you a prefect badge," said Sirius. "Imagine what sort of reward Prongs'll get for finding a missing student and saving her life."

Peter grinned evilly at James. "I bet Dumbledore gives you a trophy for this. An award for special services to the school, or something like that. You mark my words."

"Keep it up and I'll make Poppy throw you out of the hospital wing," said James. "Special services. Honestly. I've done nothing —"

"Dumbledore doesn't think so," said Sirius "Did you know that he awarded you two hundred house points over breakfast?"

"And there was a speech," said Remus.

James groaned, throwing himself back on the pillows.

"I bet you're Head Boy next year," said Sirius.

James made a rude gesture at him.

"Oh, my," said Peter. "That is very unbecoming of the Saviour of Hogwarts and future Head Boy —"

"Agreed," said Sirius. "Remus, take points."

"I could never," said Remus. "Take points from James Fleamont Potter? Don't you know he single-handedly saved Sally Dearborn and put the Slytherins in their place? I've heard You-Know-Who is thinking of retiring, he knows when he's met his match… "

"Merlin's dangling Bludgers," said James. "I've half a mind to pull a Mulciber on you lot —"

He broke off. Lily had just walked into the hospital wing. She exchanged a few words with Madam Pomfrey at her desk and then walked towards James' cot.

James' heartbeat quickened. She'd come to visit him.

His arm suddenly began to throb, and he swore; Sirius had hit him.

"Don't forget to breathe, mate," said Sirius.

"I was breathing," said James defensively. He ran his hands through his hair. "How do I look?"

"The better question," said Peter, wrinkling his nose, "is 'how do I smell?' "

"Shit," said James, groping for his wand. He cast a quick Fragrance Charm just as Lily reached them.

"Hi," she said. "I thought I'd…" She trailed off and sniffed the air curiously. "Do I smell honeysuckle?"

"Huh," said James. "That's weird. I don't smell a thing."

Sirius rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, well," said Lily. She shifted her weight a little. "How're you feeling?"

"Perfect," said James at once. "Never better. I —"

"Yeah, he's fine," said Peter. "He was just threatening to murder us all, Death-Eater-style."

James leaned over to shove Peter, but the movement sent a sharp pain through his side. He froze, one arm extended, and sucked in a breath.

Lily raised an eyebrow. "Never better," she repeated.

"Well," said James, "I certainly don't need to be on bedrest —"

"Until we replenish your blood, you do," said Lily. "Do you know what would happen if you stood up, fell, and hit your head?"

"I dunno," said James. "Die, I guess?"

"You'd bleed out," said Remus helpfully.

"Exactly," said Lily. She drew her wand. "Do you mind if I check your humours?"

Sirius jumped off the cot so quickly it was as if he'd been sitting on a pin. "We were just leaving. Feel free to check whatever part of James you'd like, Wondergirl."

Lily tensed at the nickname. "If you're just going to take the piss…"

"No offence intended," said Sirius. He gave her an easy smile and jerked a thumb towards James. "Thanks for saving this git's life, by the way. I'm glad we'll get to keep him around a bit longer."

Lily relaxed, then frowned. "I didn't — 'saving a life' is a strong term, there's far more left to chance in Healing than most people —"

"They really are soul mates," said Peter in a stage whisper to Remus.

"We'll be back later, Prongs," said Sirius. "I'll tell Slughorn that the Saviour of Hogwarts won't be able to make it to his Sunday detention, I'm sure he'll be heartbroken…"

Lily shook her head fondly as she watched them walk away. "Some friends you've got."

"Yeah, sorry about that," said James. "Bunch of wankers. They're alright, really, once you get to know them…"

"It's fine," said Lily. She turned her wand over in her hands. "I really do need to check your humours, though. Madam Pomfrey wants to know if the potions are working."

"Ah," said James. For a moment, he thought she'd come to visit him. "Right. You're here for your apprenticeship."

"Of course," said Lily. "What else —" Her cheeks turned pink. "Oh. Did you think…?"

"I didn't," said James firmly. He wished he could sink through the cot and die. "I just assumed — you're not wearing Healer's robes or anything —"

"You're completely right," said Lily, whose face was now the same colour as her hair. "I should wear a badge or something when I'm apprenticing. I'm sorry, I didn't think — I'll speak to Madam Pomfrey right away —"

"No," said James, "it was my fault, I shouldn't have assumed — stupid of me, really…"

"I can come back to visit, if you'd like," said Lily. "I'm having lunch with Marlene and Mary, but maybe after —"

"Don't visit," said James immediately. "I mean, why would you — it's not like we're mates, or anything…"

Lily bit her lip. "Right, yeah." She let out a nervous little laugh. "I think I'll be busy this afternoon anyway. Revising, you know…"

She flashed him a tight smile and muttered the spell to check his humours. James tried to think of something normal to say, but nothing came to mind. Lily scribbled a few notes on a scrap of parchment and scurried back to Madam Pomfrey's desk, leaving James to feel as if he'd somehow failed an exam he hadn't been aware he was taking.

The full moon rose on Tuesday night, but James was still in the hospital wing, so the task of occupying the wolf fell to Sirius. He crept down the tunnel underneath the Whomping Willow a full day early, hoping to reinforce the protective enchantments surrounding the Shrieking Shack. They'd been letting the wolf stretch its legs on Hogwarts grounds, but he couldn't allow that to happen this month. It would be too dangerous without the stag to keep the wolf in check.

The wolf escaped despite his efforts; it squeezed itself between the planks of the boarded-up windows and scrambled out before Sirius could stop it. Although he'd specifically reinforced the windows with protective enchantments, some forms of magic had no effect on the wolf, it seemed.

Sirius, as Padfoot, bolted after the wolf, leaving Wormtail squeaking wildly inside the Shack. Though the streets of Hogsmeade were blessedly empty, the nighttime air carried the lingering scent of humans, witches and wizards who during the day had been drawn outside by the springtime weather.

The wolf was hungry, and the scent was intoxicating. Padfoot finally herded it into the Forbidden Forest, but he received several irritated bites for his efforts, the worst of which nearly cost him an eye.

At long last, the first rays of the morning sun dappled the wolf's hide, and it collapsed atop a mossy bank, paws twitching. Sirius crouched nearby, wand drawn, as the wolf let out a horrifying scream and became Remus once more.

"We're not in the Shack," rasped Remus after the muscles in his jaw stopped seizing.

"No," said Sirius a tad irritably, "we're not. Someone couldn't stay put."

Remus' eyes slid in and out of focus. "Your face?"

"Someone nearly took out my eye."

Remus' face contorted with regret and self-loathing. Sirius sighed. He hadn't been meaning to make Remus feel guilty. "It looks worse than it is. Don't worry — I've been injured worse in Quidditch practice."

"Liar."

"You don't play Quidditch, so you don't know." Sirius helped Remus sit upright and settled beside him. "Are you cold?"

"No."

"You're shivering."

Remus' shoulder jerked against Sirius' side; it could have been a shrug, or a particularly violent spasm. "Side-effect of transforming."

"Well," said Sirius. "I'm cold, at least." He pulled the Invisibility cloak out of his robes and draped it across their laps.

After a few minutes, the tension left Remus' body. He rested his head on Sirius' shoulder.

Sirius sniffed his hair. "You smell awful. Like a wet dog."

Remus' voice was muffled. "Cauldron. Kettle. Black."

Sirius hummed and entwined his fingers into Remus' untidy hair. The sunlight was growing brighter, and the air began to fill with chirping sounds, punctured by the occasional scuffling of small animals. Remus' breathing slowed.

Sirius checked his watch reluctantly. They needed to leave; it was nearly half-past six, and Madam Pomfrey would soon be bustling down to the Whomping Willow.

Five more minutes, he decided, and he closed his eyes, tilting his head towards the morning sun.

After closer to ten minutes — could've been fifteen — he helped Remus limp back to the Shrieking Shack and returned to the castle for breakfast.

At this early hour, the Great Hall was all but empty. To Sirius' surprise, though, James was seated at the far end of the Gryffindor table, across from Peter.

"There you are," huffed Peter as Sirius joined them. "Couldn't have waited up for me, could you?"

"No offence, Pete, but I know Flobberworms that move faster than you do as a rat," said Sirius, reaching for the plate of sausages. "And you're not much quicker in human form, either."

Peter gestured at the wound below Sirius' eye. "Did Moony do that to you?"

"Yeah, and I got lucky," said Sirius. "Think he was aiming for my eye." He turned to James. "Did you sneak out of the infirmary, or did Madam Pomfrey actually let you go willingly?"

James grinned. "I've been given a clean bill of health. Apparently she's never seen someone with humours more balanced than mine."

"Excellent," said Sirius. He glanced around the Great Hall. A few fifth year Ravenclaws had walked in, their arms laden with books, but the Hall was still nearly empty. "Listen," he said, lowering his voice. "There's something I've been wanting to ask you about, but couldn't in the hospital wing. All those Aurors hovering around, you know."

James nodded. "Bit of overkill, if you ask me," he said around a mouthful of toast. "Caradoc still hasn't left Sally's side, and I get the impression he's willing to hex anyone who so much as breathes in her direction."

"Not surprising," said Sirius, and he cast a quick Muffliato Charm around himself and James. Peter protested, but his voice grew indistinct and incomprehensible through the barrier of the charm.

James frowned and leaned across the table. "Quickly, Padfoot, before Wormy has a coronary. What's this about?"

"Regulus," said Sirius. "The night you found Sally, you said Regulus wanted Lily for something. Was he involved somehow?"

James let out a breath and ran a hand through his hair. "Er, yeah, sort of. But I'm not — I didn't really get the full story about that. You might want to ask him yourself."

"He's not going to tell me anything," said Sirius. "The last time we talked, I punched him."

"Well," said James, "I expect you'll have to apologize for that, won't you?"

Sirius made a noncommittal noise.

"Sorry, mate," said James. "It's just — it's not really my story to tell, is it?"

Sirius crossed his arms. "I suppose."

Peter's muffled protests were growing louder. Apparently, he was bothering the Ravenclaws: they were shooting dirty looks towards the Gryffindor table.

James raised his eyebrows at Sirius. "Are we finished here?" He jerked his chin pointedly towards Peter.

"Yeah," said Sirius, and he lifted the charm.

Sirius got his chance the following Saturday, during the Hufflepuff match against Slytherin. He transformed into Padfoot and climbed to the top of the stands to watch the match, hoping Regulus would notice him and realize he wanted to talk.

Unfortunately, Regulus gave no indication that he'd spotted the shaggy black dog, but the Hufflepuff Quidditch team certainly did. Two of their three Chasers began sobbing and refused to continue the match. The Hufflepuff Seeker refused to fly higher than ten feet off the ground, and when Madam Hooch called a timeout to ask what was wrong, he cited a fear of falling to his death.

Even though the Slytherin team was missing a Beater, thanks to Mulciber being mysteriously absent, Hufflepuff still managed to lose badly: the final score was an abysmal one hundred and eighty to twenty.

Padfoot didn't care about that, since numbers were difficult as a dog. He climbed down the stands — easy enough to do, as most of the students were giving him a wide berth — and sat near the Slytherin changing room, waiting for Regulus to come out.

Regulus emerged a few minutes later, his black hair damp. He spotted the dog at once and sighed loudly. "You have got to be joking."

Padfoot wagged his tail and led Regulus around the corner, behind the changing room. As soon as they were alone, Regulus knelt beside the dog. "What do you want?" he hissed. The skin around his left eye was still slightly yellow.

Padfoot let out a loud bark, and Regulus stumbled backwards, surprised. The dog settled on its haunches, satisfied, and became Sirius.

"Nice flying, Reg," he said, brushing off his knees.

"You're going to get yourself expelled," said Regulus. "Running around Hogwarts as Padfoot, what are you thinking, people will catch on in about a minute —"

Sirius shrugged. "I needed to get your attention."

"Well, you've got it. What do you want?"

This was the difficult part. "I wanted —" said Sirius. He cleared his throat. "I wanted to, er. Apologize. For punching you."

Regulus arched a single, perfectly-groomed eyebrow. "Really."

"Yeah. Shouldn't have done it."

"Looks like someone punched you, too," said Regulus, with a gesture towards Sirius' swollen face.

"More or less," said Sirius. "So, er. Do you forgive me?"

Regulus almost laughed. "Have you gone mad?"

"I don't think so. No madder than usual, at least."

"Why do you care if I forgive you?"

"Er," said Sirius, "because you're my idiot brother, who I care about despite my better judgement. And because I want you to tell me if you were involved in the whole Sally thing. And because I'm sorry. Is that enough?"

The humour vanished from Regulus' face. "Fine," he said. "You're forgiven. But I'm not telling you about Sally, regardless."

"And why not?"

"Because it's not your business."

Sirius leaned against the wall of the changing room. "At first I thought you tried to duel Sally like the rest of your Death Eater friends, but James made it sound like you helped her. Like you kept her safe somehow."

Regulus' thin lips pressed together tightly. "That's one interpretation of what happened."

"Reg," said Sirius. "You don't have to pretend with me. We both know you're not the next Mulciber. You haven't got it in you. And if you helped Sally —"

"Haven't got it in me? What's that supposed to mean?"

Sirius fidgeted. "You know."

"I don't," said Regulus coolly. "Mind explaining it to me?"

"Come on, Reg. It's like — like how Mum calls you sensitive."

Regulus' eyes hardened. "Soft, you mean."

"Those are Father's words," said Sirius.

"You've called me that, too."

Sirius raked his hands through his hair. "Whatever you want to call it, then, Reg. This is a good example. You're not —"

"Not what?"

You're not like me. "You don't get off on hurting people. And you don't like getting hurt. It's not a bad thing. It's the way you are."

"Alright," said Regulus. "So I'm not hardened and fearless like Sirius Black, the mighty Gryffindor. What's your point?"

"Just that…" Sirius clenched his fists. His Animagus form might be a dog, but he hated begging. "Just that the way you are… it doesn't fit. It doesn't fit with what the Death Eaters want to do."

"It doesn't matter," said Regulus. "The Death Eaters want a Black. They want our money. Our vaults."

"They'll have a Black. They'll have me. Why do you think I went back to Grimmauld Place, Regulus?"

Regulus snorted. "There's not a single person in Britain who'd believe you'd join the Death Eaters."

"Maybe not," said Sirius. "But I'll be as good as. At least until our parents finally croak. I've been helping Father give the Death Eaters gold, and items from his collection, did you know?"

"Of course I did," said Regulus, though he looked a little uncertain now. "Though I'd have thought you'd put up more of a fuss —"

"Collateral damage, Reg," said Sirius. "But that's on my conscience. Not yours. You don't have to be a part of it. You've done enough."

"You don't understand," said Regulus. "The things I've been involved in — I can't back out. They'll kill me."

"The Potters would love —"

Regulus rolled his eyes. "Not the Potters again."

"I have a contact in the Order," tried Sirius. "I could —"

"Not on your life," said Regulus. "Do you know how quickly our parents would disown me if they found out that I ran crying to the Order?"

"Would that really be so bad?"

"Yes! It would be!"

The ferocity of Regulus' response surprised Sirius. He rubbed his hand across his face, trying to think of something non-judgmental to say. "You really crave our parents' approval that badly?"

Regulus said nothing; he looked away, breathing heavily.

"They're terrible people," said Sirius. "They treat us like we're disposable."

"So what?" said Regulus. "Everyone else does that, too."

Sirius shook his head. "No. I've got people who care about me — and their last name isn't Black."

"Good for you," said Regulus. "I don't."

"But you could," said Sirius. "If you'd only —"

"Will you please drop it?" asked Regulus. He met Sirius' eyes. It was like looking into a mirror. "I'm happy for you. I'm glad you've got support. But that doesn't change a thing about my situation."

Sirius felt five hundred pounds heavier. He slumped against the wall. "You're making the wrong choice."

"Perhaps," said Regulus. "But it's my choice to make, isn't it?"

Sirius' throat grew tight, like he was going to choke, and he realized he wanted to cry. It was a terrible feeling, heavy and damp.

He transformed into Padfoot, if only to make the feeling go away, and he ran and ran, into the Forbidden Forest and away from his foolish, soft-hearted, idiot of a brother.

Lily had an utterly bizarre week. Somehow, the entire school knew that she and James had been responsible for finding Sally Dearborn, and absurd rumours were swirling regarding how, exactly, they had done it. She couldn't so much as walk down the corridors without passing clusters of students who stared at her and whispered behind their hands. More than one first year student asked for her autograph, and she swore that even the teachers were displaying favouritism that she didn't deserve.

"This is maddening," she told Marlene during their Charms lesson. Professor Flitwick had just awarded her five points to Gryffindor for wearing matching socks. "I can't go anywhere without people making a scene. I'm not sure how everyone knows what happened — I only told you and Mary, and James just got out of the hospital wing a few days ago, so he couldn't have had time to brag about it —"

"Er," said Marlene, looking guilty, "I might've told the Quidditch team. And I think Mary told Parvana, who told her sister Priyanka, in Hufflepuff? Then the Hufflepuffs told the Ravenclaws, and I'm sure the Slytherins have their own version of the story, so..."

Lily groaned. "Some friends you are."

"Try to enjoy it while it lasts," said Marlene. "You're a Hogwarts celebrity! Remember how in second year everyone was obsessed with Barnabus Horneater because his aunt was Celestina Warbeck? This is just like that, only better, because you actually did something worth being recognized for."

Lily hated being recognized. The rumours about what had happened grew more outrageous as the days went on, but she had no interest in setting the record straight. As far as she was concerned, the story was Sally's to tell. Seeing as Sally remained in the hospital wing, surrounded by Aurors, it seemed likely that nobody but Lily, James, and Regulus would ever know the full story.

Surprisingly, James Potter didn't seem to enjoy the extra attention all that much. Lily had expected him to strut proudly around the castle, considering how he thrived in the spotlight. After he was released from the hospital wing, though, he seemed embarrassed to receive any extra attention, and mostly kept to his group of friends. Every once in a while, in the common room or during lessons, he would catch Lily's eye and give her a small, almost sheepish smile.

The final Quidditch match of the year — Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw — took place the following Saturday. Lily, who didn't care much for Quidditch in the first place, opted to stay in the common room over attending the match. The thought of sitting in the stands, surrounded by students who would whisper and stare at her, seemed incredibly unappetizing.

Instead, she curled up in a squashy armchair near the hearth and began reading the latest Muggle paperback that her mum had sent her. It was a mystery novel, the last in a series, about the murder of an heiress in her country home. Usually Lily preferred Muggle books over Wizarding ones, but she was finding it difficult to focus. She'd spent the past six months trying to solve a murder; she didn't much feel like reading about another one in her spare time.

"Good book?"

Lily jumped. James Potter was standing across from her, folding a shimmery silver cloak across his arm.

"You scared me. I didn't hear you come in." Lily narrowed her eyes. "Is that your Invisibility Cloak? Are you sneaking around?"

"More or less," said James jauntily. "Madam Pomfrey's forbidden me from playing Quidditch for a month — I'm not sure why, I've told her a million times that I'm fine — but I did want to go down and watch my team win the Cup for the second year running."

He proffered his elbow to her. "Care to join?"

Lily nearly turned him down. The rejection was on the tip of her tongue, but then she glanced at her stupid Muggle novel. Spending the afternoon with James Potter might actually be more pleasant than reading about the murder of the Dutchess of Harewood Manor. She was so tired of intrigue.

"Everyone will stare at us if we show up together," she said.

James made a face. "You've noticed, too, have you? I thought it was in my head at first."

"It's driving me mad," said Lily. "Have you heard some of the rumours? They're absolutely ridiculous — nobody's got the first clue about what really happened —"

James grinned. "They're saying you single-handedly blew up half the dungeon as soon as Mulciber pointed his wand at you. Some temper, that Lily Evans…"

"Oh, God," said Lily. "Did you hear the one about how you shielded Sally with your own body as Mulciber transformed into a werewolf and mauled you?"

"Yeah, the rumours about me are usually something along those lines," said James, and his smile faded a little. "Everyone's dying to find out how I got my new scars, you know…"

Lily's stomach twisted uncomfortably. "I'm so sorry. I —"

"Don't apologize," said James, waving a hand. "I'm alive because of you."

"But if I'd only been — if I'd had more experience, I might've been able to —"

"It doesn't matter," said James. "I don't care if I've got scars. It's a small price to pay for being alive, isn't it?"

Lily bit her lip. "I still feel awful about it, though." She couldn't believe she was admitting that to James Potter, of all people.

"Well," said James, "you can make it up to me by accompanying me to the Quidditch match." He indicated the shimmering fabric draped across his arm. "We can go under the Cloak, nobody'll be the wiser. We'll actually be able to enjoy the match."

Lily wasn't sure if he was asking her out or not. He was looking at her frankly, without any of the bravado she'd come to associate with him. She cast a last look at her Muggle novel, then closed it and left it on the armchair. Maybe she wasn't the only person to have changed this year.

She joined James under the Cloak, and they made their way through the castle and onto the grounds of Hogwarts. After enduring day after day of whispers and stares, being invisible was absolutely lovely. With every floor they descended, Lily felt lighter and more carefree. She didn't even mind that she was under the Cloak with James Potter. It helped that he smelled nice, like soap.

They found an unoccupied row at the top of the stands just as the match was starting. "Eli Jordan's filling in for me," observed James. "That's good, he's decently speedy… Weak arm, though…"

"Oh," said Lily. She was suddenly aware of just how little she knew about Quidditch. "That sounds good, yeah."

James glanced at her. "You don't usually go to Quidditch matches, do you?"

His tone was matter-of-fact, but Lily flushed. "Er, I do, once in a while… I just get busy, you know…"

James smiled widely. "Don't worry. I'll explain everything to you." His arm brushed against her as he pointed at one of the Gryffindor players streaking across the pitch. "That's Parvana. She's the Seeker. As long as she catches the Snitch, and our Chasers score twenty points more than Ravenclaw, the Cup is ours."

Lily began to regret that they were under the Invisibility Cloak. He was sitting so close to her, and he was talking about his former girlfriend. A little breathing room would have been nice.

"You think it's likely we'll win, then?" she asked. That was an intelligent-sounding question, wasn't it?

James scoffed. "Likely? It's nearly certain. Our Chasers are solid, and Parv's the best Seeker we've had in a decade."

There he went, bringing up Parvana again. Did he have lingering feelings for her?

"She must be talented," said Lily.

"She is," said James simply.

That didn't tell her much. Lily was going to have to ask directly. "You two dated, didn't you?"

James glanced at her, and once again Lily wished she was sitting just a little further away. "Yeah, we did. I'm surprised you noticed, honestly."

"Why would that be surprising?"

James shifted a little and looked away. Was he uncomfortable now? "We — er. We didn't exactly…" He ran a hand through his hair. "A lot of the time it felt more like dating my sister. Does that make sense?"

Lily thought about Regulus. She'd certainly felt something for him, but in the end… "I think I know what you mean."

James gave an awkward little shrug. "It's kind of embarrassing. Oh, we've scored."

Lily expected him to jump out of his seat and hoot like an idiot the first time Gryffindor scored. Instead, he gave a couple of appreciative claps and went back to watching the match intently. Had she misjudged him all this time? Or did he only act like an obnoxious git when his friends were around?

"Something on my face, Evans?" James asked after a moment, and Lily went bright red.

"No, I — you just surprised me, that's all."

"Did I? How so?"

There was no way she was going to tell him she'd thought he was an obnoxious git. "You're just — more subdued than I would've thought. Gryffindor scored, and you barely even clapped."

"Well, we're under the Cloak, aren't we?" said James. "I'd blow our cover if I started celebrating like an arsehole, and then where would we be?"

Lily wasn't listening; the Gryffindor Chasers were doing something complicated and interesting on the pitch. "I think we might've scored again!"

"Excellent," said James, as a roar of cheers sounded from the stands below them. "Just need to catch the Snitch now, and we'll have the Cup — and second place in the House Cup, mind you."

Lily smiled. "I think we've had second place secured ever since Dumbledore awarded us two hundred points each for finding Sally Dearborn."

James shushed her. "Let's not talk about Sally. We're here to have a nice, normal time watching a Quidditch match."

"Where I come from, there is nothing normal about Quidditch."

James laughed, and they fell quiet as the Ravenclaw Chasers made a daring attempt on the Gryffindor hoops.

"This has been nice," said Lily after Simon Ashworth, the Gryffindor Keeper, had successfully blocked the shot. "I'm glad you invited me."

"I'm glad you came. Didn't know if you'd be interested."

I'm especially interested now that I know you smell like soap. Lily tried to shoo the traitorous thought away. "It's a bit funny how we ended up, isn't it? Considering I always thought you were — you know."

"Devilishly handsome?"

That struck a little too close to home. Lily opened her mouth, then shut it. "I was going to say a bit of a wanker."

"Well," said James, "you haven't exactly been wrong, have you?"

How could he be so self-deprecating? Had she mistaken his sense of humour for arrogance? "I think my mistake was believing that you're only a wanker."

"Right," said James. "I'm a wanker and an arsehole."

Lily laughed and gave him a little shove. "You know that's not what I meant!"

"Sure you didn't," said James, winking.

"I didn't! I don't want you to think —"

"Evans. Relax. I'm teasing you." He was still watching the match, but he reached over to ruffle her hair. As his arm fell, his hand brushed lightly against her back.

Judging by the way her heart was pounding, Lily was fairly certain the gesture had triggered an arrhythmia. "Oh. Erm, right." She hoped her voice didn't sound as strangled to him as it did to her.

James turned towards her, frowning, and Lily cursed silently. He'd noticed. "Alright, Lily?"

He was so close. She didn't turn away. "Never better."

She didn't know why she was looking at him so intently. Maybe it was because he was the only person who understood everything she'd been through in the past week, or maybe it was because he was gazing at her too, and she couldn't be imagining this, could she?

He touched her chin, which was still bruised from where she'd hit the ground after the dungeon had exploded. His thumb was gentle as it brushed her jaw. He watched her intently, looking for a reaction, and she really hoped Madam Pomfrey was at the match because there must be something wrong with the way her heart was pounding —

An enormous roar went up from the stands, and Lily and James jumped apart.

"Oh — we've caught the Snitch!" said James, standing up.

Lily had no idea how he was able to determine what had happened on the pitch in such a short amount of time, but she stood up as well to stay under the cover of the Invisibility Cloak.

"Ah — that's brilliant," she said, joining him in clapping. She wished her heart would calm down.

James pulled the Cloak off of them and began to wave it like a flag, whooping loudly. Lily caught his eye, and he gave her a slightly rueful grin.

"I'll have to go down to congratulate the team," he said. "You're welcome to come, or if not — I'm sure there will be a celebration in the common room, I might see you there..."

Lily fought the feeling of disappointment growing in her chest — surely Parvana could have refrained from catching the Snitch for an additional ten seconds — but whatever moment had been shared between them had clearly passed.

"You go on," she said, smiling as brightly as she could. "I'll see you in the common room. Congratulations on the win."