Disclaimer: I don't own the Harry Potter franchise, characters, or rather, anything you can recognise. I own the plot and that's about it, really.

A/N: Thank you, thank you, thank you for all the positive reactions to the first chapter! It was incredibly inspiring and fueled me to finish the second one even faster. For more regular updates as well, follow me on tumblr eternal-courage. I will regularly post updates on it, and feel free to send me 'asks' as well. Next, I cannot thank three of my close friends enough for supporting me and encouraging me to put my writing to use. They do not have tumblrs, except for danbeetle73, but I felt it necessary to mention them in this note. Lastly, thank you to the lovely Kat from sunshine-marauders for reviewing Chapter 1 and giving me the feedback I needed to refine and edit it!

Please leave reviews! They make me and all other authors out there feel great!


19 June 1976

"Lily Jasmine Evans!"

"Lily Jeremiah Evans!"

"Oh, shut up, that's stupid. Lily Jovanni Evans is obviously the right one."

"Can I ask why everyone is trying to guess my middle name?" Lily snapped, irritated. She looked up from the Daily Prophet copy she was reading half-heartedly on her four-poster in the girls' dormitory. Alice, Dorcas, Mary, and Marlene were sitting on the floor, playing Exploding Snap, while Lily had chosen to opt out, informing them of the new regulation set by the caretaker, Argus Filch ('Exploding Snap is not to be played within the Hogwarts castle!') and instead read Freya Jorkins' newest headline-worthy piece. Emmeline had disappeared sometime after breakfast, saying she needed to visit the library.

"It's because we know everyone's middle name except for yours," Mary said, deadpan. "We know Alice's - it's Blair, Marlene's is Elisabeth, Dorcas' is Juneau, Emmeline's is Delacour, and mine is Sabrina. The only person missing from this list is you."

"Why is that a valid reason?" asked Lily exasperatedly. "Why is it important that you know everyone's middle names?"

"It's so she can impress Amos Diggory with her loyalty and closeness with her mates, something those soft-built Hufflepuff duffers all like," Dorcas scoffed, rolling her eyes. "The bloke's about to leave Hogwarts this year, Mary, give up on him. Besides, everyone knows he's been shagging Christina Fawley since their sixth year. I wouldn't be surprised if they already had a child."

Alice snorted. "There were some rumors," she said seriously, though everyone could tell she was trying to keep a straight face. "Apparently they named it Cedric."

"Hoo, shit," Marlene giggled. "That's not a rumor. It came from Diggory himself. Kara Vane, you know that sixth year? She was flirting with him and chatting him up during a Hogsmeade trip, and he told her that he and Fawley had a son! Glinda Greerson overheard Amos telling Vane and she told everyone, that bitchy gossipmonger."

"It wasn't her secret to tell," Lily nodded in agreement. "I don't think it was wise of Diggory, though, to tell Kara. She's as notorious of a chatterbox as Glinda is. Besides, he could have just told her he was seeing someone already."

"Well, when has Diggory been one for brains?" Alice asked. The others, save Mary, nodded grimly.

"He came top in his O.W.L.s among the Hufflepuffs!" Mary defended, indignant. "That has to count for something!"

"He might have brains when it comes to his studies," Marlene sighed, stretching her arms as she stood up, "but when it comes to people, you could call him a pea-brain." She walked over to Lily's bed and sat next to her best mate, leaning over so she could look at the article she was reading. "Vital Arrest Made in Armagh: Saoirse Stebbins suspected of leading Cult in Northern Ireland," she read out loud.

"Saoirse Stebbins? As in, Siobhan Stebbins' sister? The one who married a Muggle?" Dorcas wondered.

"Yes! I win!" Mary announced, as she tapped a card with her wand in time, beating out Alice and Dorcas.

"According to this article, he wasn't a Muggle at all, but in fact was a Death Eater. Oh, damn," Marlene commented, snatching the paper from Lily - who yelped 'Hey!' but otherwise didn't protest - and flipping through the article intently. "Apparently Stebbins married Augustus Rookwood, whose family was known for its prejudices - wait a second, shit. They're only detained. Unless they're found guilty with actual credible evidence, they won't be forced to attend a trial, go to Azkaban, etc."

"Really?" Mary exclaimed, running over to Marlene and Lily and peering at the article. "Merlin, you're right!" she announced, after a few seconds of silent reading. "That's not fair at all!"

"It is fair, though," Alice said, gathering all of the Exploding Snap cards and piling them neatly so she could place them back into the small cardboard box. "If they're not really Death Eaters, they won't be forced into Azkaban."

"That's not how it works for Muggleborns and Half-bloods, though," Dorcas observed. "If we're suspected of committing a serious crime, we're sent to Azkaban immediately. At least Purebloods have the amenity of a trial." Dorcas, along with Mary and Lily, was a Muggleborn as well, and knew how prejudiced the Wizarding community could be.

"You're right," sighed Alice. Pushing the last of the deck into the box, she folded the flaps attached to the opening over and tucked them into their respective places. "Now that we're done with Exploding Snap, what would you like to do now?"

"We could take a walk by the lake," Dorcas suggested, standing up and offering Alice a hand, who took it gratefully, and pulled her up. "I heard they're having a Gobstones tournament there, and we could go watch it or even play in it."

"Sorry," Lily smiled sadly. "As exciting as that sounds, I promised Professor Slughorn I'd host a study session for the Third Year final exams."

"Didn't all the exams already happen?" Marley asked, rolling the newspaper into a cylinder, walking over to the fireplace, which was not blazing and burning as it was midday, and throwing the paper into it.

"No, they're starting on Monday of next week, the twenty-first. I believe they will span from the twenty-first to the twenty-fifth, and then the first through fourth years, as well as the sixth years, will have the last three weekdays, the twentieth-eighth, twenty-ninth, and thirtieth, off. Then we leave Hogwarts for the hols on the thirty-first."

"Do I even want to know why you know this?" Alice teased. "Are you seeing a fourth year?"

"No, I'm seeing a first year," Lily retorted calmly.

Alice gaped at her. "You jest, surely?"

Lily deliberated her question for a moment before replying, "Yes, of course."

Alice sighed. "Thank Merlin. Surely your tastes aren't that low."

"What are you saying?" Lily frowned, standing up and walking to the door.

"I mean, I can't really see you dating a first year. You are the mature, smart, and fiery Lily Evans. You might appeal to older kids, but the younger kids hold you in too much awe to make a move on you, you know? You're… distant. You're the untouchable Lily Evans. People might fancy you, but they think you're too untouchable. How many people have you gone on a date with since you broke up with Doc?" she asked, referring to Lily's first and only boyfriend, Caradoc Dearborn, who she had gone out with at the start of the year but had broken up with after a particularly disastrous date. When Lily shook her head, Alice continued. "None? See? No one has asked you out because they think you're too, er, well, high on a pedestal. Queen Lily. Goddess Lily."

Lily grasped the doorknob and twisted it, pushing the door open. "I don't want to be thought of as unapproachable," she said, walking through the door, Alice following close behind. "I don't want people to be scared to talk to me. I'm just this little mess you call your mate."

"A big mess," Marlene corrected, seamlessly joining the conversation. "Your hair? A damn right mess. The eyes? I've never seen a colour as horrendous. And the skin! How pale," she shuddered. "You're the biggest mess I've ever had."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Marley," Alice giggled. "Lily is, of course, agreeing with you, isn't she?"

"Indeed," Lily confirmed, nodding her head. "I am a mess. It's not that I'm unapproachable. No one speaks to me because of my bitch-like tendencies and my unnatural untidiness."

"Couldn't have put it better myself," Marlene smirked.

"I'm going to compete in the Gobstones tournament," Mary announced from behind them, linking an arm with Dorcas. "And I'm forcing Dorcas to partner up with me because she is the only decent Gobstones player I know!"

"You don't have to force me," Dorcas assured her. "I'm coming willingly."

"That makes my life easier, doesn't it?" Mary admitted. She pushed Lily, Alice, and Marlene to the side ('Out of my way!') and dragged Dorcas down the staircase, into the Common Room, to the portrait hole, and, once she pushed the portrait aside, out of the portrait hole.

"Are you going to the tournament too?" Lily asked after they had walked down the stairs, turning around to face Marlene and Alice.

"Why not?" Marlene shot back. "It's better than tutoring bloody midgets in Potions. I hope you didn't expect us to follow you to the Library."

"We're not going to the Library," Lily said with a sigh. "We're not allowed to brew Potions in there. See, if a student melts their cauldron by adding, for example, porcupine quills before taking the fire off while brewing the cure for boils, their cauldron will melt, remember what Rosier did in first year?" When Alice and Marley nodded, she continued. "It'll mess up the Library, and Madame Pince will not like that. So, we have to tutoring in the Dungeons."

"Add insufferable know-it-all to your list of bad attributes, and you've got yourself a whole line of blokes waiting to date you," Mar sniggered.

Rolling her eyes, Lily pushed the Fat Lady's portrait open and stepped through the hole, ducking down, and stepping out. She watched as Mar and Alice followed her through the hole. Alice stepped through first, her short brown hair brushing the soffit of the arch. As she was as short as Emmeline, there was no need for her duck. However, Marlene, the 5'10'', was much taller than the arch, and if she didn't duck down at least six inches, she would have hit her head on the wall.

"We're heading off for the Lake. We'll either meet you in the Dungeons as soon as the tournament is over or in the Great Hall for lunch," Marlene promised, taking a step towards Lily, bending down slightly and engulfing her in a hug, wrapping her arms around Lily's midsection and pressing her face into the ginger's hair.

"Oomph," was Lily's response, but after she broke apart from her best mate, she gave her a cheery smile and a wave. "See you later," she grinned, before turning towards the corridor on the left and starting along it.

From behind her, Alice called, "Goodbye!" as they turned to the right and walked off.

Lily had a sarcastic humor, or perhaps just a sarcastic attitude, one that often hid her true nature. Underneath her sometimes tough and icy demeanor, she was vulnerable, timid, and insecure. She tried her hardest to deflect any unkindness, insult, or even cruelty thrown her way, but ultimately, she was human too. And an incredibly flawed one, when you thought hard about it. Her way of coping with a problem or emotion was to retort back and shut it out. When she saw Doc snogging Caroline Burke not more than a week after they had broken up, and he had tried to apologise by asking her if they could go back to being friends, she had informed him it was alright that he broke her heart by treating her worse that shite while they were dating, lusting after Caroline all the whilst, and it was alright that he had disregarded her feelings altogether by ruining their last date and creating grounds for a breakup, but forgave him nonetheless.

Her humor could be self-deprecating as well. As she had proven earlier that day, she couldn't see herself positively, and resorted to turning her insecurities into quips or wisecracks, ones that everyone laughed at but ultimately didn't agree with. Lily didn't realise this and allowed their satire to hit her hard, harder than it should, feeding her insecurities.

Lily arrived at the Dungeons quite a few minutes later, walking down seven incredibly long staircases and at last entering the chilly below-ground floor. Though, Lily did not see it that way. In her mind, the Dungeons were among the most sacred places in Hogwarts. The classrooms, the storerooms, everywhere. The lowest floor of the Hogwarts castle was one of the most beautiful places Lily had ever come across.

Lily located the third classroom on the right of the corridor she first entered as she clambered down the stairs. The third years would meet her there and she would review the most difficult potions for an hour and a half with them. She had planned to go over the Wiggenweld Potion and Doxycide first, before then moving onto potions of their choice. She hopped off of the last step and made her way forwards about thirty meters before turning right, pushing the oak door open, and entering the classroom.

Lily felt a draft of cool air caress her legs as she made her way to the front of the cavernous classroom. The stone walls and floors instantly reduced the temperature and countered the fuming heat of brewing potions. Mentally lauding the architect of Hogwarts, she walked to the cauldron at the front of the classroom, the one that was just in front of the professor's desk, which was in front of the blackboard, her footsteps echoing throughout the silent room. She stood behind the pewter cauldron and scanned the room. A few students, most likely Ravenclaws, Lily mused, had already set up their supplies and ingredients and were waiting for the session to begin. All the other students were just chatting with their table and housemates as they waited for Lily to begin.

"Er, hello everyone!" Lily called, waving a hand for attention. The class instantly settled down and all eyes were on her and her flaming barnet. "Thank you for being here today. If everyone could get out the ingredients for the Wiggenweld Potion, we'll start with that."

"We did that in bloody first year," a student scoffed. Lily turned her head in the direction of the speaker and saw a green-clad girl flipping her blue-black hair over her shoulder, looking scandalised.

"Well, Miss -" Lily began, before the girl interrupted her.

"Bulstrode," she finished, the corner of her lip curling upwards. "Miriam Bulstrode. And I thought I'd let you know, before you ask, that I can brew it perfectly. My Wiggenweld Potions are flawless, Professor Slughorn says so. So forgive me for asking if we will even get to the Girding Potion today, Evans."

"I don't take kindly to that, Miss Bulstrode," Lily bit, frowning at the outspoken girl. "Can everyone here brew it perfectly?"

"You sound so shocked and overbearing. Don't be," Miriam smirked. "You know, you might be ol' Sluggy's favorite, but that doesn't mean you're the only one here who can brew a sodding Wiggenweld."

Lily ignored her remark and returned her attention to the rest of the class. "I hope by now everyone has their ingredients out," she said, biting her bottom lip. "I'd like to start by going over the purpose - yes?"

A boy with honey-blonde, scraggly hair had thrust his hand into the air eagerly, his wide, pale-blue eyes curious and twinkling. "Miss Evans, Miriam does have a point. Can we do the Doxycide instead? I keep messing up when we add the Hemlock essence, and I don't want to make the same mistake during the exam."

"You're Mac McKinnon?" Lily grinned as he nodded quickly. "Of course. I wanted to do that anyway."

"When the blood traitor tells you to do something, you do it, Evans, but when a Pureblood does, you don't?" Bulstrode asked, standing up vehemently, meeting Lily's eyes daringly. Miriam's eyes were a very vivid green, darker than Lily's, and they were angry and prejudiced. "You don't know your place in the world. You're just another filthy Mudblood."

"Five points from Slytherin!" Lily snapped, her blood beginning to boil with frustration and spite for the girl. "It'll be another five if you don't stop shooting your mouth off!"

"Don't call Miss Evans that, you bitch!" Mac shrieked, standing up as well. He turned towards Bulstrode and glared at her angrily.

"Bloody suck-up. What, did you think Evans would date you if you were kind enough to Mudbloods like her?"

"You're a psychopath! You go on all day, calling people a m - Muggleborn, not even caring about what they think about you!"

"You're as filthy as all of them!"

"You whore -"

"E-NOUGH!" Lily yelled, smacking her cauldron for emphasis. "Ten points from Slytherin and Ravenclaw. Mac, I appreciate the effort, but this is unacceptable. And Bulstrode…" Lily trailed off, running a hand tiredly over her face as Mac shame-facedly sat down, looking into the depths of his cauldron sadly. "Sit down, and let's go over Doxycide."

A few minutes later, every student had pulled out an assortment of strange ingredients, such as Dragon Liver, Hemlock Essence, and other items that were not to be taken lightly, as many of them had unpleasant properties that could seriously harm the student if not used properly.

Grabbing a piece of chalk, she began to write the instructions for the potion on the blackboard. In her impeccably neat, curvy script, she wrote down the first task which was to be completed by the student, followed by the next steps:

Juice the Bundimun, and add the Bundimun acid to the cauldron and stir quickly.

Grind the Streeler shells and add to the cauldron.

Stir the potion then heat.

Add chopped dragon liver and stir vigorously.

Add a dash of hemlock essence and stir again.

Add a glug of cowbane essence and a dash of tormentil tincture.

Stir slowly then heat the cauldron.

Wave your wand over the cauldron to finish the potion.

"I haven't detailed the instructions much," Lily announced, placing the chalk on the desk, "because you should know how to properly brew the potion by this point. If you need any help, you can always ask."

A mousy-haired girl with pigtails anxiously lifted an arm from her seat at the front of the classroom. "What if we can't do it?" she whispered, chewing on her bottom lip frantically.

"What do you mean?" asked Lily, her voice edged with a tenderness only someone with her uncommon kindness would have cared to insert. She eyed the girl softly as the third year fretted internally before speaking up once more.

"I can't do Potions to save my life," she admitted, tugging on a ponytail. "I especially can't do Doxycide. It's like my Achilles' heel."

Scoffs and expletives rippled throughout the classroom. "What, can't the Mudblood brew a potion?" one nasty child leered, as another rolled her eyes and, propping her chin up on her palm, muttered, "You don't have to teach us all about Muggles, Meeks."

"What's your name, love?" Lily prodded, walking towards her desk.

"Darra Meeks," she sighed, her eyes darting around the classroom and taking in the glares that were being offered to her.

"Darra, you'll do fine," whispered Lily. She bent down and patted the girl's shoulder. "Try your best, and even if Potions isn't your strongest subject, it doesn't mean you shouldn't try hard at it."

As Darra nodded, Lily looked up at the rest of the class and smiled. "You've got twenty minutes to finish brewing. This potion isn't hard. You need to know how to brew this one. That being said, I'm here to help everyone. So if at any point, you need help, don't be afraid to ask."

Murmurs of agreement rumbled from desk to desk, and as everyone shifted to begin their potion, clanging could be heard ringing through the cool air. Someone had evidently knocked into their cauldron, and it had fallen to the cobblestone floor, but it didn't matter. Lily returned to her own cauldron and similarly began brewing Doxycide as best as she could from memory. After all, it couldn't hurt to refresh her skills. She picked up a pair of dragon-hide gloves from the table her cauldron was placed upon and slid them onto her slender fingers.

Reaching across the small table for the exceptionally large mortar and pestle, she gingerly placed an oozing but subdued Bundimun into the stone cup and began smashing it with forceful, circular movements that caused a large quantity of acid to begin to leak out of the sickeningly green creature. The textbook, she remembered, instructed students to smash the middle of the Bundimun only, but Lily found it to work best when she crushed every corner of the creature with the round gestures rather than vertical blows. She continued for about a minute, until the Bundimun had turned into a clear pulp, and the green secreted acid had gathered around it.

Lily quickly tipped the juice into the cauldron, holding the actual Bundimun back with the pestle. Placing the mortar off to the side, she dug her clean gloved hand into a pocket and drew out her wand. She began stirring the potion by twisting her wrist in large circular movements just above the cauldron, taking care to prevent her wand from making contact with the acid. She did so for a few rapid seconds, before putting her willow wand back into the pocket she produced it from.

Before proceeding with her potion, she looked up and scanned the classroom. All of the students seemed to be doing fairly well with their own potions, though none of them had procured as much Bundimun acid as Lily had. Brushing a strand of hair out of her face, she bent down, underneath the table, and cautiously withdrew the five toxic Streeler Shells from a pewter bucket that had an incredibly strong anti-leakage charm placed on it so no one would harm themselves in case any residual Streeler slime dripped onto his or her arm. Lily dropped the shells into the mortar and crushed them into a powder so fine it felt no longer solid, but almost like a liquid.

She poured in about a third of the Streeler Shell powder into the Bundimun Acid before stirring the potion five times counter-clockwise. She repeated this action twice until all of the powder had been dissolved into the acid. She had come to discover that this technique gave the potion the silky texture it required. Then, lighting the burner underneath the cauldron with a quick 'Incendio!' and stirred the potion fifteen times, clockwise, and thirteen times, counter-clockwise. The potion began turning mint, the color of her potion being the exact color described by the textbook. Turning the heat on before stirring always gave her better results.

Dicing the dragon liver into fine pieces with her silver dagger, Lily pushed the pieces into the cauldron before stirring ruthlessly, though so expertly that not a single drop of the faint green solution splashed out. Now, with the magical properties of the liver seeping into the solution, the mint began deepening into an emerald green, one that looked strikingly similar to Lily's eyes. She turned off the heat by muttering the countercharm for the fire-conjuring spell. She then measured a spoonful of hemlock essence and dropped it slowly into the depths of the cauldron, stirring again, adding cowbane essence and tormentil tincture, before stirring gently and turning the heat on once more. Lastly, Lily waved her wand above the cauldron in a triangular manner, indicating the finish of the potion, which had flushed into a blue-black hue.

Picking up an uncorked crystal phial from the very edge of the table, Lily carefully scooped it into the cauldron and allowed the Doxycide to trickle into the bottle. Once it had filled to the brim, Lily lifted it out and placed it onto her desk and reached for a stopper, which she pushed through the neck of the vial. Pleased with her work, she turned around and left the finished Doxycide on Professor Slughorn's desk before returning to the table with the cauldron and vanishing the unused Doxycide, and cleaning up her workspace. She had taken less than ten minutes to complete her flawless potion, whereas most of the Third Years were still stirring with difficulty after adding the dragon liver.

"Evans!" Miriam Bulstrode barked some minutes later, glaring at her indecently. "I'm done with my Doxycide, come belittle it with your prejudiced Mudblood mind." Several students hissed at this remark, but Lily paid no attention as she walked towards Bulstrode's cauldron.

Standing before the bigoted Third Year, Lily peered into the depths of her cauldron, noting how excellent her Doxycide was. Straightening herself, she met Miriam's eyes and gave her a small smile. "It's rather well done," Lily congratulated, gesturing towards the pot. "The color could have been a bit more blue, as it's a bit more black as of this moment, but it's close to perfection."

Lily noted that Miriam seemed to be struggling to find words to respond to her compliments. At last, the raven-haired girl spoke. "How do I get it the same colour as yours?" she asked hesitantly, pointing at Lily's phial, which rested upon the desk at the front of the classroom.

Lily welcomed the inquiry. "Well, yours is already quite close," Lily mused, rubbing her chin momentarily, "but I think it might be a matter of how much tormentil tincture you added. Perhaps a tad bit less would suffice."

"I added a spoonful," Bulstrode blurted out. "Should I add half of that?"

"A bit more, I think. Maybe three-fourths."

"Alright. Thanks, Evans," she mumbled, looking down. Lily frowned slightly at her discomfort but returned to her spot at the front of the classroom. These times were strange indeed, but sometimes, the students needed reminding of the fact that in the end, blood didn't matter and it was your willingness to cooperate and work with others that mattered. At the end of the tutoring session, everyone gave their thanks to Lily and left the classroom.

"Mac!" Lily called suddenly after the blond boy as he left through the door. Mac patiently turned around, his large eyes flooded with curiosity.

"Yes?" he asked, his bright gaze flickering over her stance.

"You're really Marlene's brother," she grinned, walking forwards and sticking her hand out, waiting for him to return her handshake. "I wonder why you weren't sorted into Gryffindor."

Mac slipped his hand into hers and shook it firmly. "No way! I love being a Ravenclaw. Gryffindors are too loud, too arrogant…" he trailed off, shaking his head. "Sure, I mightn't be afraid to swear my arse off, and I do defend Marley's mates, but that in no way means I have to be a Gryffindor."

Rolling her eyes, Lily drew her arm back. "You do more than 'swear your arse off'."

"'Course!" exclaimed Mac. "That fuc - sorry, Lily," he apologised at her reprimanding gaze, "that bloody Slytherin torments all of my mates and feels the need to show off her intellect every second of the day."

"I could say I've felt the same before," Lily laughed, punching his shoulder. "Why do you hate each other so much anyway?"

Mac dropped his voice and his eyes grew even wider than they already were. "She asked me out at the start of the year," he whispered, his voice disbelieving. "Said I was a Pureblood and we needed to stick together. As if I would ever date that bitch," he scoffed. "I'd rather court my whole collection of textbooks gladly than go out with her, which is true because I love my textbooks."

"I take that back. You are a Ravenclaw."

"Trust me, I wouldn't have it any other way."

"Well," Lily grinned wickedly, "how about I give you those ten points back for turning her advances down? No one likes a bigot."

Mac returned her smile. "I think that would be necessary, my friend."

The two of them walked back through the door and exited the classroom. Lily turned left, while Mac turned right. "I've got a bit of a study session with my mates," he explained. "I've got to go. It was nice meeting you!" Mac jogged off, leaving Lily alone in the corridor.

Continuing towards the staircase, Lily recalled Marlene's promise to meet her in the Dungeons or for lunch. As if on cue, Marlene, Alice, Dorcas, and Mary's voices began drifting down the hallway and in a matter of seconds, Lily could see them make their way down the staircase.

"That was damn unfair on Diggory's part, Mary," Dorcas declared, practically hissing with anger. "He cheated on that last turn, he all but bloody admitted to it!"

"Don't be such a bitch, Dorky," Mary scoffed, subconsciously playing with the tips of her hair, which was tucked into a ponytail. "He played absolutely perfectly. There's no way in hell that angel would cheat."

Mar retched and clawed at her own throat. "Oh, shit, don't talk about him that way. You're forgetting he's got a son."

"A bloody gorgeous one, probably," Mary sighed dreamily. "Do you think he and Fawley are married? Just because he has a son doesn't mean he can't date someone else."

"Sod it!" Alice squealed, slapping Mary's forearm. "That's disgusting as shite, don't let me ever catch you saying that again."

"Hello there, ladies!" Lily called brightly from the bottom of the staircase. Quickening her pace, she dashed up the few dozen steps she needed to climb to reach her mates. "How was the match?"

"Bloody stupid," Dorcas grumbled. "Me and Mare were winning, we were so ahead in terms of points, but then Diggory cheated in the finals by using his wand discreetly and hitting six at a time! He insisted he didn't, and the referee, his stalker, Delilah Abbott, obviously agreed with him. If he had played fair, we would've won, but as always, Diggory's gorgeousness won him the round."

"Now, listen here," Alice preached. "It's completely fine that he has the win. He needs something to harp about to his young son. Even if it's something as incredibly bland as Gobstones, he can't disappoint the little bugger."

"Did you hear that, Dork, you bloody killjoy?" Mary snapped. "Leave Amos alone."

"Does Diggory even know who Mary is?" Marlene asked sardonically, rolling her crystalesque eyes.

"Harsh, Marley," Lily snorted. "By the way, Mary, Bertram Aubrey called you a 'foxy brunette who he'd welcome a shag from anytime', and he's no ordinary catch."

"Right, wasn't he voted third most eligible bachelor at Hogwarts?" Alice asked brightly.

"Who's one and two?" Dorcas asked nonchalantly, as though she could care less, because she could. To an outsider, it may have seemed as though Dorcas was legitimately interested, but in truth, she only wanted to know because she had a love of learning, whether the topic was worth learning about or not.

"Black and Potter respectively," Alice scoffed, her tone going dark.

"Disgusting," spat Lily. "Who compiled this list?"

"There's a rumor it was Madam Pomfrey," Alice replied instantly. "She's not that much older than some of the seventh years, and naturally, she has her own opinions on the Hogwarts students."

The girls turned around and continued up the stairs. "Poppy's, what, maybe twenty-six at the most? About the age of my cousin Molly," finish Alice.

"That's - I didn't need to know that," Mary blinked, looking at Alice queerly.

"You ill, Mare?" Dorcas asked, laughing.

"I finally see reason regarding Diggory," Mary mumbled, looking down at her feet as she stumbled over a step on accident. "Perhaps I will shag Aubrey."

"We're here for you, MacDonald. All the way."


"Hello, Remus," Lily said quietly, meeting him in the Common Room at precisely 10 o'clock. They were to complete rounds around the castle as part of their Prefect duties that evening, and they generally met up together in the Common Room as it was the easiest place for them to both arrive and meet up at.

"'Lo, Lily," he returned equally as silently. "How was your day?"

"Oh, you know, the usual. Professor Slughorn asked me to set up a study session for the Third Years' Potions exam on Tuesday, so I spent about an hour and a half there. Then the girls and I lazed about for the rest of the day. You?" They left the Common Room, leaving through the portrait hole, and starting down the corridor.

"The lads and I aren't all really speaking as of this moment, so I've had a peaceful day to myself. I helped Hagrid with his pumpkins, he's planting them now, you know, so he needed a bit of help with the magic to speed their growth up a tad bit."

"You're not speaking?" Lily asked incredulously. "But you're always…" she trailed off, suddenly meeting his agitated, amber-brown eyes. "Does it have anything to do with what happened last week?" she whispered.

Remus stiffened and looked away, instead focusing on the corridor ahead. He opened his mouth to speak but Lily interrupted him.

"Oh Merlin! Don't feel obligated to answer. I'm sorry, that was incredibly nosy of me, I shouldn't have asked that. Don't answer if you don't want to!" she said, horrified. Her almond-shaped eyes and her pretty green irises grew wide as she frantically got her words out.

Remus laughed ruefully. "Calm down, Lily, it's alright. I guess you do have a right to know, what with James' bite and all that." He brushed a few strands of his mousy-brown hair out of his eyes and took a sharp inhale. "Did Prongs mention anything to you during your row?" he asked anxiously.

"Prongs, I'm assuming, is Potter, because he's the only one I ever really row with. And yes, he mentioned Sev - Snape. Something about Snape blabbing to the whole school, I believe."

"Ah. Well, about your row, anyway."

"Is it important?"

"I just wanted you to know what I thought about it."

"Oh, do go on, tell me how Potter was the perfect gentleman while I was at fault," Lily snapped, stuffing her hands into her pockets.

"I don't think James was right, Lily," Remus said calmly.

"Oh really?"

"Really. He said quite a few things that were out of line. It wasn't fair of him to judge your friendship with Snape because he didn't know your reasons for it, and he had no right to say or do what he did. He shouldn't have gotten so angry at you because he didn't really have any right to."

"Do continue," Lily replied, pleasantly surprised.

"But that doesn't mean I agree with what you said either. You both were at fault here, and I think you should have heard him out more fairly instead of yelling about how Snape was right about him. I think he was hurt because you compared him to someone he doesn't take too kindly to."

"Whose side are you on, Lupin?" Lily asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Neither. I'm a Swiss party."

"I don't think I agree with you. Anyway, what about what Potter said? About Snape blabbing? Is that important too?"

They turned left and began to walk down the first staircase, the one leading to the sixth floor. "It is incredibly important. If Snape did blab, you would have heard about it by now and I wouldn't be at Hogwarts."

"Really?"

"I'll begin, I suppose. James says you know about my, er, condition, I suppose," Remus said, turning his head to face Lily expectantly.

"I do. And I just want you to know that I'm here for you, always, and I'm sorry for not being a better friend, and I will never judge you for it," Lily replied quickly, drawing in a breath after finishing.

Remus smirked softly. "My word, Evans, you do ramble much, don't you?" he teased. Letting out a sigh, he gave her an apologetic smile. "Sorry. And thank you."

"You don't have to apologise," Lily giggled, elbowing him in the ribs. "Actually, I think you do. And I want you to apologise by not digressing."

"It's you who dig - I see," sniffed Remus. "Well, anyway, I suppose I should get on with the story. A week ago it was full moon, and, well, Sirius told Snape how to walk in on me transforming. He just wanted to give Snape a scare, but I could have killed him, or worse, bitten him. I wouldn't wish that on anyone, not even him. Sirius told Snape how to freeze the Whomping Willow, and there's a passage there that leads to where I transform. James came in and pulled Snape out in time, and Sirius got into serious trouble. Dumbledore made Snape promise not to tell anyone, I believe, and James was bitten in his haste to hear Dumbledore's verdict."

"How did - how did he react to it?" Lily asked softly.

"He punched Sirius," he replied stiffly. "None of us are talking right now, and I'm probably the only one who'll tell you what happened. Sirius is far too ashamed and James is far too loyal. As for Peter, I don't think he even wants to get involved between the two of them. And remember, Lily, don't give Sirius hell for what he did. He told him because of Snape hexing James nonstop after the Defence O.W.L. Sirius is human too, and he was very angry about the whole situation."

Lily was silent for a few minutes, wondering what to make out of this retelling. They continued along the corridor, not finding any trouble or anything out of order.

They were walking past a classroom when suddenly they heard the very distinct sound of glass smashing against a wall coming from inside the room. Remus and Lily immediately looked at each other, and with Lily's confirming nod, they edged towards the door, as quiet as mice.

Remus gripped the handle of the door as soon as he was close enough and twisted the handle downwards, simultaneously pushing the door open. He walked in, and Lily followed close behind.

What they saw was, least to say, unexpected. A heap of broken shards of glass was scattered along the floor next to the door, and several ruptures in the wall, along with fiery red stains, gave the room a rather ominous look, as though being dark and late wasn't bad enough. Turning her head, Lily followed Remus' stunned gaze and was quite surprised herself, for clutching an empty bottle of Firewhiskey, vehemently glaring at the wall, was a pale, scruffy-looking Sirius Black, who was lacking his usual charm and looked as though he'd gotten smashed a hundred times over the same evening.

"Black! Have you any idea what time it is?" Lily demanded, stomping towards him and snatching the bottle from his hand. "That better not be Firewhiskey," she warned, examining the label on the bottle.

"You - bitch!" he growled, swiping the bottle back and making a show of throwing it at the wall. It crashed into the stone, shattering into a million pieces, and Lily covered her face with her clothed arms to prevent the wayward shards from harming her face.

"You broke Prongs' bloody heart - hasn't been his own fucking self since you did it," he snapped, looking down at Lily angrily, intolerance etched all over his features. "Your best mate Snivellus, bloody bastard, sent James to the Hospital Wing because he was bleeding his fucking shit out! He used that dark magic on him - couldn't stop bleeding - AARGH!" he yelled, stepping on the empty bottles next to him. They crunched loudly and Remus made a sound of displeasure.

Lily, frightened, took a step back. "Sirius, Sirius, listen to me," she said shakily. "You're in a lot of trouble, it's past curfew, and you could be suspended for school defilement and getting plastered. C - clean this up and take a Sobering potion. We need to go to Professor Dumbledore with this." She flinched as Sirius picked up another bottle and threw it at the wall.

"Go fuck off and practice your dark magic with Snivellus!" he roared. Remus could no longer wait in silence for the drunk Sirius to calm down.

"STUPEFY!" Remus yelled, hitting Sirius in the shoulder. Sirius toppled over, his forehead hitting stray shards on the cobblestone floor. Remus let out a breath and gave Lily a cold, indifferent look. "Let's clean up. I want to get the hell out of here."

Lily drew out her wand from her pocket and began Vanishing the shards of glass on the floor along with the empty bottles. She also used 'Scourgify' on the few pools of Firewhiskey that had pooled on the floor all evening long. Finishing her task, she looked over her shoulder and saw that Remus was running a hand over the wall to make sure the damage was reversible. With a few waves of his wand, the wall had been returned to its original state. He noticed her lingering gaze and his expression shifted to that of a pleading one.

"Lily," he said, pained, "I - I know what he did was completely unacceptable, and I know he should be expelled for this, but he's in a bad way. James has been treating him as though he doesn't even exist, and he's hurt over everything that's happened. He regrets it, and I know as soon as he's recovered from his hangover he'll come to you and apologise. I swear on Godric's grave he'll regret everything that he said to you. Please tell me you understand."

"I do," Lily answered automatically. "I swear I'll take his secret to the grave. I won't go to Dumbledore with this. I should, but I know what it's like to be shunned by those who care about you."

"I do too," Remus concurred softly. He gave Lily a small smile and levitated Sirius with a 'Locomotor' charm. "Let's get back to the Common Room," he said. "Once he's safe in bed with a hangover potion on his bedside table, we can return to finish rounds."

"Does this mean you forgive him? What he did wasn't right, but I think it's affecting him a lot," Lily commented as they walked out the door.

"I was worried that if I did, he would assume what he did was alright, but I don't think so anymore," Remus admitted.

The rest of the rounds went well, and Lily had no reason to be angry at anyone that night. Though, an inkling of doubt remained in her mind, though, as she slid under her covers at seven to midnight. Sirius, in his drunken rage, had mentioned James being sent to the Hospital Wing because of Severus. Sirius had said he was bleeding badly, because of a curse Snape had cast. Lily had a suspicion that it was 'Sectumsempra,' a spell her former mate had invented earlier that year, and it was so lethal that Severus had killed a few innocent creatures with it. Lily had been told by him that it was just for self-defence, but she had always thought that it was for quite a bit more. Groaning, she burrowed deeply into her covers and forced her eyelids to fold over her eyes. She needed to sleep. She could worry about this tomorrow, or perhaps the day after that, or perhaps…


20 June 1976

"Evans!" a tall figure called from behind her in the courtyard of the Hogwarts Castle. Lily could hear his footsteps and could tell he was jogging to catch up with her. Turning over her shoulder, Lily spotted Sirius Black approaching her, sporting a red-and-gold Gryffindor Quidditch jumper and grey tracksuit bottoms. He pushed through the crowd and caught up with her at last, slowing down to her right.

"Evans," he reiterated, giving her a painfully-fake grin, one that was not at all like his ordinary, charming one. "How are you this lovely morning?"

"Hurry up and get to the point, Black," Lily snapped. "I've got a career appointment with Professor McGonagall and I absolutely cannot be late, do you hear me?"

"I heard you," he said quietly, a surprising change of tone. He handed her a blue thermos that he assured her was filled with butterbeer. "I need to butter you up, and apologise," admitted Sirius.

Lily took the thermos from him, screwed the stopper off, and brought it to her lips, her mouth instantly being filled by the frothy, amber liquid. It was a rather warm morning, so he had taken the pain to cool the butterbeer down before bringing it to her as a peace offering.

"What did you need?" Lily asked more amicably, clearly pleased by the gift. Sirius shrugged and rubbed the back of his neck.

"I dunno, to apologise for last night, I s'pose," he muttered uncomfortably. "And to thank you. For not turning me in, that is. And I didn't mean a word I said. I respect you too much to say anything like that."

"I'm not a monster," she bit. He contorted his face and scowled.

"Beat it where it hurts, won't you?" he snapped. "And just for the record, it took me five doses of that hangover potion to get it to a remotely normal level of a hangover, and my noggin still aches."

"Oh, so you've got levels of a hangover? I didn't know that."

"Do quit being coy, would you? Save that for Prongs."

"Speaking of Prongs, and therefore, last night's events, I'd like to let you know that if it was anyone else, I would have turned them in, even if it was Marlene."

"Oh, really?" Sirius asked with a sleazy grin, putting an arm around her shoulders.

"Yes. I've got a soft spot for bad boys, you see?" Lily smirked, shrugging his embrace off casually.

"Our James is quite the bad boy, you know? You don't know of half the things that troublemaker gets up to," he replied smoothly, winking at her suggestively.

"When you start flirting, you're unbearable to be around," Lily said bluntly. "If you were yourself more, you'd be easier to be friends with."

Sirius faltered, and his grin faded slightly. "I'm not flirting," he assured her honestly. "I'm flirting in James' stead at any rate. I'm just trying to help you see that there's more to our Prongsie-bear than you see."

Lily hummed distastefully and took another gulp of butterbeer from the thermos. "You're still Team Potter, despite the fact that you're not speaking?"

"I'm always Team Potter," Sirius amended softly. "He's more than a best mate to me, Evans. He's the brother I've never had."

"You do already have a brother," she pointed out tactlessly, before realising the implication of her words and placing a hand over her mouth. "I'm sorry, Sirius, I shouldn't have said that."

"It's fine," he replied, a hard look glazing over his stormy-grey eyes. "He's not much of a brother to me. Doesn't act like one, anyway."

"If it helps, my sister doesn't either," Lily comforted him. She looked to her right and met his eyes. "After I got my Hogwarts letter, we grew apart. She… doesn't like things that are out of the ordinary. And to her, I'm a freak. So, I don't fit at home, and I don't fit in the magical world either. At home, I - I'm supernatural. I'm creepy. At Hogwarts, I'm disgraceful, and a tainter of all things magical."

"Don't say that," Sirius replied harshly. "You are one of the most talented witches I have ever met. You belong here as much as anyone else does."

"Thank you. Before I go, I have two things to ask you," Lily said. "First, did Remus forgive you?"

Sirius' eyes lit up as his mouth twisted into a smile and he nodded. "All I have to do now is persuade James to forgive me, and the Marauders will be four once more," he replied brightly, a huge change from his tone from before.

"Brilliant. Now, I've got one more question for you," Lily smiled, handing him the now-empty thermos back. "By the way, the butterbeer was simply lovely. You filched it from the Kitchens, I presume?"

"Nah, that's far too easy. But I'm not telling you where it came from. Anyhow, what was your question?" Sirius smirked.

Lily rolled her eyes. "Blokes will be blokes, I suppose. Well, it's about what you said last night." Lily noticed Sirius tense and his smirk fade away. "You said, or rather, yelled, something about Severus using dark magic on Potter and sending him to the Hospital Wing. What happened?"

"Too nosy for your own good, that's what I always said," Sirius sneered. "The fucking bastard used the spell he invented on James five nights ago. He couldn't stop bleeding, and we were so worried he would die right then and there. Madam Pomfrey healed the wounds, but Snape said that James deserved it for making him lose you."

Lily's face flushed to a red deeper than the colour of her deep red hair. "How - how dare he!" she choked. "I was never his to lose in the first place! I'm not an object he can toy around with! I wasn't his girlfriend or wife either!"

"That's exactly what James told him, Evans," Sirius growled. "And then the slimy git used the spell. That's why we absolutely despise that shampoo-deprived, dark-arts obsessed wretch."

"I'll tell him exactly what I think next time I see him," Lily snapped. "I'd go after him right now if I wasn't worried about being late for McGonagall."

"Go on, then," he ushered, nudging her in the direction of Professor McGonagall's office. "You must tell me how dear Minnie pinned her hair up today later. I do enjoy her captivating looks!" he cackled.

"Sod off, Black," Lily laughed before stumbling towards the castle. "And thanks for the butterbeer and talk."

"Cheers, Evans!" he called from behind her, giving Lily a sense of déjà vu as she gave him a thumbs up and walked into the Herbology corridor with her head held up high.

With a considerably improved disposition, Lily subtly skipped down the open and airy Herbology corridor, processing her conversation with Sirius. He had been quite amiable and warm with her, which was a considerably different attitude than what he had portrayed over the last week or so. Maybe having the victim in this scenario forgive him was all he needed, but without James, he wouldn't return to his normal, flirtatious self, ever. Lily's conversation with him was probably the closest she had ever come to discovering what he was like with the Marauders.

Immersed in her thoughts, Lily almost didn't notice her arrival at Professor McGonagall's office one set of staircases later in the Defence Against the Dark Arts tower. Halting herself before the professor's office's oak door, she stood patiently, looking down at the floor, and waited for the student currently in the room to exit. She didn't have to wait long.

Professor McGonagall had informed the students at the eleventh hour of the recent change in the configuration of meeting times. Apparently, due to complaints from the students whose last names began with letters that approached the end of the alphabet, the order had been changed and now it was based on the order of first names.

Not more than two seconds later, the door creaked open and a blue trainer stepped through the doorway, the first followed by the other. Her eyes darting up, the green orbs found hazel ones staring right back into her own. It didn't take long for Lily to realise who this molten-gold of a colour belonged to.

James' jet black hair was as messy as always, Lily noted, as her eyes scanned the rest of his face. In fact, not much seemed out of place except for the fact that his usual ear-splitting grin was absent and instead a gentle frown distorted the normally distinctive dimple on his left cheek. He walked out of the room, pushing the door fully open and allowing Lily to walk through.

"Potter," she said coolly, brushing past him. At first, he didn't respond, causing a number of thoughts to run through her mind, the most prominent of which was that perhaps he had finally decided to ignore her, but they settled down as he softly returned her greeting. "Evans."

The way he said it incited a chill down her spine. It was so soft, so broken. His voice was normally the soul of a party, the loudest and most projected. Now, however, it was a former shell of itself. Conflicted, Lily chose not to turn back around and suppressed the urge to ask him what the matter was when she already knew it herself. He was still heartbroken over what Sirius had done and the fact that the two of them had rowed the very next night did nothing to resolve his worries.

Mentally sighing, Lily walked into the classroom and waited as Professor McGonagall, who was sitting in an auburn chair that was rimmed with gold, placed a few pamphlets into a protruding drawer at her desk. The elder woman then pushed the drawer shut, straightened her spectacles, before looking up and giving Lily a tight-lipped smile. "Miss Evans, please take a seat," she greeted, gesturing to the simple, black folding chair James had previously occupied.

Lily nodded and slid onto the cushion of the chair, folding her hands in her lap and diligently waiting to listen to what her Transfiguration professor had to say.

"Now, Evans," she began kindly, "this meeting is to talk over any career ideas you might have, and to help you decide which subjects you should continue into the sixth and seventh years. Of course, I do not expect you to have a solidified idea yet, and neither does the Headmaster. Especially during these dangerous and dark times, it is, however, crucial for you to choose what you would like to do for the rest of your life. Have you had any thoughts about what you would like to do after you leave Hogwarts?"

Lily's fingers fidgeted nervously and she looked down into her lap. "Well," she squeaked, "I thought about it a bit, and I was rather conflicted between the idea of being an Auror and a Healer when I was younger, but I think that I'd like to be an Auror."

"An Auror?" When Lily hummed in agreement, Minerva nodded approvingly. "I think you would be well-suited for the profession, Evans. You are one of the most capable students who has ever been under my tutelage, and, from what Mr. Potter and his friends claim, quick with a wand as well. You would do well, especially as a Muggleborn, to contribute to this fight too."

Lily blushed and managed a quick "thank you".

"I do believe you have acquired the required number of O.W.L.s to clear the first cut-off for becoming an Auror," she said, standing up and reaching for a folder at the corner of her desk. Flipping through it, she stopped when she found the desired document and withdrew it from the manila product. Placing the folder back in its designated spot, McGonagall sat back down in her comfortable seat and skimmed through the document, her eyes rapidly darting over the fine print from behind her square spectacles.

At last, she spoke. "Of course. I expected nothing less," the professor beamed, giving Lily a rare smile, one she hastily returned. "Os in every subject with the exception of Divination and History of Magic, in which you have scored Es. I'm impressed, Miss Evans. Only Vance and Potter in your year have scored almost as well as you have. And, of course, you have passed the desired subjects with flying colours: Defence Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, Potions, Herbology, and Charms. Excellent. I'm quite pleased with your Transfiguration mark, especially - what's wrong, Evans?" McGonagall queried, sensing Lily's discomfort.

Lily gave her beloved professor a pained smile. "Well, Professor, will the Ministry hire a Muggleborn?" Lily asked tentatively.

"I see no reason why not," Minerva answered abruptly. "If you are inquiring this based on the current state of affairs, and the war, then there is a chance that they may not due to influence from those who see disdainfully upon those of your birth, but if you were to wait to apply until after the war, then you most definitely will not face prejudice from the Ministry of Magic."

Lily nodded slowly in affirmation and in disappointment. If the Ministry would not allow Muggleborns to become Aurors, she would not be able to fight or contribute to the war. "I see."

"Which sub-department of the Auror office were you thinking of applying to?" Professor McGonagall pushed, diverting the topic to a more light-hearted one. "If I may, I would like to encourage you to apply to the Potions or Charms department, as they seem to be your strongest subjects."

"There isn't a 'Defence Against the Dark Arts' department, is there?" Lily joked, playing along with Minerva's change of subject.

Professor McGonagall smiled. "There is a field team that fights and directly tackles arrests, but only the very best, the cream of the crop, are selected for this team. Only about twenty-five aspiring Aurors are selected every year. It is riskier to apply for this team when compared to the other departments, but I do believe that you are more than gifted enough to be beyond a desk job in the Ministry."

"I would really like to apply for that team. What is it called?" Lily inquired, her curiosity piqued. She liked the sound of this department, and it took her fancy.

"The Field Department," Minerva returned. "It is not listed on the pamphlets provided to students, as it is generally discouraged to apply due to the severity of the demand, but professors can put in a good word for the students as they apply. If you would like, I will most definitely recommend you for this department. I have no doubt you will make a change."

"Thank you, Professor," Lily grinned, her mood dissipating. "I would really appreciate it."

"I have approximately three pamphlets advertising this field team left, as I am only provided with five each year, and I have only provided it to students whom I believe will benefit the most from this knowledge," McGonagall said sternly. "If I am to provide this to you, you mustn't show it to anyone else. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Professor!" Lily nodded eagerly.

Minerva's forest green eyes pierced Lily's own for a moment, before she nodded and pulled out a glossy leaflet from her desk drawer. She carefully held it out to Lily, who gratefully accepted it and glanced at the cover, which read "The Field Team: The Elite Fighting Division of the Auror Department."

"The lives of these Aurors are portrayed as glamorous, but their jobs are much more demanding and less rewarding," Minerva commented as Lily read over the contents of the leaflet.

"Do you believe in making the biggest difference? Are you a brilliant student who aches for field work and lives for fighting for the safety and freedom of the citizens of the Wizarding World? If so, the Field Team is the right department for you!

The typical length of a shift is 48-72 hours, as a single mission can last for quite a few days. The Aurors who fight in the Field Team handle most of the arrests made, and most of the arrests you heard about on the wireless were made by the Field Team. The identity of the Team members remains an undisclosed secret, and the details of the career of one may not be revealed to anyone."

There was far more information, but Lily stopped there. "I will read over this, Professor," Lily stated. "I will most definitely work hard enough to qualify for this division, and I will do my very best to make you proud."

Professor McGonagall nodded at Lily seriously. "If you have no more questions, you may leave. Please send the next person inside."

Lily nodded and stood up, pushing her chair in as she gave her professor her thanks and a small smile. She walked towards the door and saw Marlene waiting calmly outside the door.

"Professor McGonagall's asking for you, Mar," Lily grinned, stepping aside as to allow Marlene to enter the office. Marlene returned Lily's warm welcome with a smirk and walked inside. Once Marlene was seated, Lily allowed the door to shut softly and continued down the corridor.

Lily Evans: Auror on the Field Team. She quite liked the sound of that.