Within a week, James' world had transformed from black and white into a kaleidoscope of colour. He woke up with Lily curled up beside him. It was the first night they'd spent together (sleeping only of course). She'd stopped by his room after her evening rounds and the two had got to talking, listening to music and snacking on the bag of jelly slugs James kept stored in his bedside drawer. At some point, they must've fallen asleep.

He rolled over, the movement rousing Lily who stretched out her legs and rolled over to face him.

"Morning," she smiled, the side of her face creased from the pillow.

Lily was still wearing her clothes from the night before (though she'd moved under the covers at some point). James still couldn't quite believe it – he was waking up beside Lily Evans.

"Do you remember when we fell asleep?"

"Not a clue," James confessed. They didn't touch, still nervous around one another. They were just getting used to the intimacy they now shared, the fact that James could kiss Lily whenever he wanted was shock enough.

The sound of students leaving the dormitories and heading down to breakfast carried from behind the door.

"Should we get dressed?" Would they walk down to breakfast together? Sit and eat side by side on the bench? James couldn't help but worry that it would be quite a scene if Fabian were to see them...

"I think I have a better idea," Lily said. With that, she scooted over and kissed him. He melted into the embrace. This was how he wanted to start every morning for the rest of his life. Merlin, one week in and he could already imagine spending the rest of his life with her.

"We'll be late to class," James reminded her, Lily's legs linked with his own.

"I don't care," she told him, looking up at him with her green eyes, dark eyelashes batting. She was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen.

XXX

Fuck it, they'd said – James shocked by Lily's willingness to blow off the rules – they weren't going to their first-period class. Instead, after lounging in bed for a while, cuddling with the occasional snog in-between, they'd changed into fresh clothes and headed straight for the kitchen.

"You've never been to the kitchen?" James asked in utter disbelief.

"I don't think it's right! They spend all day slaving away, prepping food for us all. Whatever is left over in the kitchen is theirs. It's the least they deserve." James couldn't help smiling; his mother had given him the same lecture many times before.

"We don't take anything they don't offer. Besides, we're friends."

"Sure, you think you're friends, but how do you think they feel when you're the only ones benefiting from the relationship—"

"You're spoiling all the fun."

"Sorry." She smiled sheepishly.

"I thought we were on a roll this morning, Evans. Skipping class, spending the night alone in the boys' dormitory even though it's strictly against the rules."

Lily rolled her eyes, the pair of them rounding on the final flight of stairs. "I know how to break the rules."

"That's debatable."

"I was the one who suggested it this morning, wasn't I?"

"A fluke," James shrugged. Now he was just teasing her, a smirk tugging at his lips. Lily laughed.

"I'll prove it," she told him. "I'll help you pull off one of your infamous Marauder heists the next time one rolls around."

"You wouldn't."

"I would." She had her poker face on - not giving a thing away.

They rounded on the painting of the bowl of fruit and Lily was barely able to contain her laughter when James stepped forward and tickled the pear, the portrait hole suddenly opening.


Mary caught Marlene leaning against the wall, near the staircase to the basement, grinning at a piece of parchment in her hands.

"What's got you looking so peachy?" she asked, coming up behind her. Marlene quickly slid the letter inside of her Potions textbook.

"Nothing." She was blushing.

"Secret admirer?"

"Shut up."

"Come on, fess up!"

"It's from this guy…"

"I knew it!" Mary couldn't remember the last time Marlene had been seriously interested in any guy. Fifth-year perhaps?

"Henry Fawley, I don't know if you remember him. He was a few years above us and friends with Amy—"

"Your sister's friend? The one you had a massive crush on when you were thirteen?" Marlene rolled her eyes, leading the way down the spiral staircase. They had five minutes before Potions began.

"I wouldn't describe it as massive but, yes." Marlene had practically drooled every time Henry entered the room. Mary remembered one party, in particular, the summer before fourth-year, Marlene and Amy had thrown it while their parents were away. That was the last time they'd heard of or seen Henry Fawley.

"He works at Donovan's now."

" Donovan's ?"

"The pub in Hogsmeade?"

Mary shook her head, dumbfounded.

"The one the Marauders rave about."

"Ah."

"Well, he's a bartender there. We ran into each other during the Hogsmeade trip."

"What did he say?"

"That it was nice to see me again, we should get in touch, the usual bullshit you say when running into an old friend."

"Except you were never friends," Mary said, eyebrows raised suggestively, "were you?"

"He was my sister's friend when I was eleven," Marlene reminded her, "I highly doubt he sees me as anything but."

Mary begged to differ but they'd already rounded on the Potions classroom, filling up with students for the one P.M. class. She held her tongue and Marlene went over to join Lily at their cauldron in the back, Mary walking along the third row to hers…

There was someone else in her seat. He was rather tall with dark hair and, judging by the look on Emmeline's face as he spoke to her, it was most likely Devin, her Hufflepuff conquest.

"Mary!" Emmeline bolted up the moment she noticed her partner. "You remember Devin don't you?" He looked over his shoulder and offered Mary a half wave. She glared in response.

"Look, do you mind sitting with Reg for today?" Emmeline whispered, their heads close together.

"What? No—"

"Please Mary, just today. I swear I'll owe you."

There was no point in arguing. Emmeline had made up her mind and therefore, Mary would be exiled to spend the next three hours with Reginald Cattermole.

Reg already had his nose buried in the textbook, reading it closely, as if Slughorn had already handed out their instructions for the class. He looked up when he saw Mary beside the table, smiling sympathetically.

"Did they give you the boot?"

"Yes," she grumbled, slumping over into the seat beside him. "Wankers."

Reg laughed. "Yeah, Devin sure knows how to be a dick." Mary was shocked by Reg's harsh judgment, she imagined him to be a bit more like Peter Pettigrew – a blind follower of anyone whom he felt was superior (not that Peter wasn't an absolute sweetheart). Perhaps she'd misjudged Reg...

"Why do you hang out with him then?"

"Well, our families have known each other for years. We've hung out since we were children and I suppose we keep it up, from time to time, for memories sake." Reg shrugged, "kind of like keeping your siblings around no matter how much you want to bludger them over the head."

Mary chuckled. Was that a joke? Had Reginald Cattermole just made her laugh? She would have never expected it but, as Professor Slughorn took to the front of the class to begin the lesson, Mary realized she didn't much mind her new seating arrangements.


Sirius was at one of the round tables in the far corner of the common room, textbook sprawled before him. He had to get through three chapters before his Transfiguration class tomorrow and he was barely halfway through.

"Padfoot!" James' voice, enthused, carrying from across the room. He rushed over, tossing his bag on the table so that it shoved Sirius' book aside.

"Not like I was reading that," Sirius muttered, though James paid no mind.

"I have a plan," he explained.

"A plan?"

"Lily has insisted she can break the rules just as much as the next person." Sirius could already see where this was going. Just the glint in James' hazel eyes told him the chances of him finishing his readings tonight were slim. "I think we should sneak down to Hogsmeade, snatch our usual from Don's and get smashed. We can do it in my room-"

"You do realize it's a Tuesday night?"

"Since when did you become such a fun sponge?"

Sirius rolled his eyes. There would be no changing James' mind - especially not if Lily Evans was involved. At this point, he had two choices - dig his heels in and insist he would sit this one out or…

"Fuck it," Sirius shrugged, slamming his textbook shut. "What do you need me to do?"

Twenty minutes later they were sitting on the couches by the fireplace, Peter, Remus, Marlene and Lily joining them now. They had all agreed to forego their work for the evening in the interest of fun, more accurately - in the interest of James proving a point and impressing his new girlfriend.

"Well then, what's the plan?" Marlene asked.

"Sirius and I will take the secret passage to Hogsmeade and sneak into Don's cellar to grab the alcohol. You lot will wait for us back here-"

"So we don't get to have any of the fun?" Lily frowned.

"You get to drink the alcohol, that's the best part."

Sirius was happy to trade places with the girls. The last thing he felt like doing was taking a fifty minute trip down a dark, musky passageway just for a few bottles of Firewhiskey. Of course, he knew better than to question James' plans.

"We can play a game of Exploding Snaps," Peter suggested, "while we wait for them to return."

"Did I hear Exploding Snaps?" Frank and Alice - who had just come in through the portrait hole - came over, holding hands. "I'm the Exploding Snaps champion," Frank bragged.

"Liar," Alice mouthed to Sirius who did his best to suppress his laughter.

"What trouble are you lot getting up to tonight?"

"Oh, the usual," James replied, grinning. Alice gravitated towards the girls, sitting on the couch, and Sirius watched as they came together, heads close, whispering amongst themselves. He knew there wasn't a chance in hell they'd let the boys have all the fun. Of course, it was only later that he would regret not asking them what they were planning.


"What a load of bollocks," Lily said to the girls. They were in her room now - having left the boys downstairs after "agreeing" to James' plan. He and Sirius would take the passage after dinner and meet them all back in James' dorm in two hours.

"Why do you want to journey all the way to Hogsmeade anyway? It's freezing outside and it sounds like quite the mission." Of course, it was easy for Alice to shrug the whole thing off. No one had suggested that she was a rule follower without a fun bone in her body. Lily was the one with something to prove. She wanted James to know that she was just as game as he was - she was only smarter about it.

"It's the principle," Marlene cut in, sitting by the window. "The boys are suggesting that we would somehow not be able to pull it off as well as them. They think we're safer back here in the castle."

"As if they haven't had enough detentions to last a lifetime," Lily grumbled. "We break the rules all the time, we're just better at it."

"True," Alice nodded.

"Look, I've taken the passageway with James a hundred times. If you want to pull one over on them we can do it."

Lily perked up. "Really?" Marlene nodded, not seeming the least bit intimidated by the prospect.

"We'll leave while they're eating. They won't even know it's happening."

"Brilliant." The corners of Lily's mouth turned up.

"I'll come too," Alice interjected. "Can't let the boys have all the fun can we?"

So it was agreed - the three of them would make the journey instead of James and Sirius. The plan was to be back in the castle before the boys had even had the chance to leave - they would be shocked.

Lily - who was Head Girl and still had responsibilities in the castle that evening - made a trip down to the Prefects Office before leaving. Tonight it was her turn to organize the patrol schedule and while she had no trouble breaking the rules - she also quite enjoyed following them sometimes.

The room was small, just enough space for a long table to convene at. There was a schedule which hung on the back wall that Lily went straight for, finding the names of those on patrols for the night.

"Lily?"

She jumped. She hadn't even heard the door open. Severus Snape was standing at the other end of the table, dark hair hanging in his eyes.

"What're you doing here?"

"I'm on patrols tonight," he reminded her. "Susie and I were going to meet outside the office but I noticed the door was open…"

"Oh," she nodded, the tension in the room palpable. "I was just checking to see who'd been scheduled…" it was difficult to believe they'd once been the closest of friends. Now they could barely stand to be in the same room - at least Lily found it impossible. She couldn't look at Severus without seeing the boy she'd once known and cared so deeply for but neither could she erase the reminder of the pain he had caused.

"Is it true?" The question caught her off guard. "Are you and Potter…" he practically choked saying James' name.

"Yes." Severus' face fell and then his lips turned up in a snarl.

"Why?" he asked - as if he were still her friend. "Why would you date him of all people?"

"What I do is no concern of yours," she answered dryly.

"You said you would never date him."

"Things change, he's changed. James isn't the same guy he was two years ago, can you say the same?"

Severus glared at her. "I don't think you have any right to judge me when you're spending time with Potter and his goonies-"

"Oh please. James and his friends are innocent. They don't attack innocent girls in empty corridors or threaten the lives of people because of their blood."

"That's not-" Severus began to say, wanting so badly to defend the life he had chosen, the one Lily could never approve of. She shook her head.

"I don't want to hear it." She didn't. Not one excuse. There was nothing he could say to change her mind or the fact that only a few weeks ago his friends had attacked her for no reason other than the fact that she was muggle born.

"Lily, please-"

"I have to go." She crossed the room, brushing past him. She knew what came after the plead - he would beg her to forgive him, to give up James and return to their friendship. As if it hadn't crumbled years ago, as if they could somehow go back to what it had been before they'd both chosen their sides.

Severus didn't bother trying to stop her, he knew better than that by now, and Lily stepped out of the room, desperate to push their interaction behind her and focus her attention instead on impressing James Potter.


Alice found Frank alone in his dorm, lying on his bed with a book in his hands - he enjoyed being alone with a book more than anyone else Alice knew. She'd come to tell him what they doing (at least one person in the castle should know where the girls had gone) and also to steal one of his warmest sweaters.

"I still don't understand why anyone needs to sneak out to Hogsmeade," Frank said once Alice had explained the plan to him.

"I don't know, but James and Sirius are implying that we girls would not be able to pull off the heist as successfully as them."

"Silly mistake on their part," Frank smirked.

"My thoughts exactly."

"Come here." He opened his arms and Alice slid from the end of the bed - where she was sitting - into them. He was warm and smelt of lemongrass soap. She snuggled up into his chest. Frank was her safe place. His arms were where Alice felt most at ease. Thinking about it now, it seemed implausible that she should seek comfort from any man but him.

Except she had. Alice's stomach sank with guilt as Frank kissed the top of her head. She had betrayed the person who meant most to her and sooner or later she would have to tell him.

"Promise me you'll be safe."

"Of course."

"And you'll be back before eleven."

"Yes," Alice agreed. She looked up, smiling at him, "can I borrow your sweater, the blue one?" Frank scoffed.

"So that's why you're being so cute, huh?" Alice leaned forward, kissing him. "The second drawer," he told her. Alice pulled one of the drawers on the side of his bed open and grabbed the sweater from within.

"Everything I own looks better on you," Frank said, watching from the bed as she pulled it on over her head.

"Not true." Alice climbed back onto the bed, lying on top of him, kissing his lips softly. "You're quite handsome."

She ran her hands down along his chest, pausing when Frank reached for her left hand, staring disappointedly at her naked fingers.

"I haven't told anyone yet," she explained. "We will-"

"When?"

"Soon."

"You've been saying that for weeks Al." She sat up, feet tucked beneath her.

"I just don't want anyone to...place their judgment on us." That was true, sort of. Alice knew they were young - people would gossip. Many wouldn't believe that the relationship would make it. Usually, Alice wouldn't pay much mind to what others thought but this time - knowing how terribly she'd messed up - part of her agreed with them.

"Who cares about anyone else." Frank sat up, reaching for her hands. "The only person I care about is you."

"I guess, I also just…" Alice looked down into her lap, avoiding eye contact as she always did when the subject of her mother arose. "I wish she could know."

"She does," Frank promised. "Where ever she is, she knows."He stroked her hair, the way she liked and kissed her tenderly. How could she not want to scream from the rooftops that she was lucky enough to have a man like Frank want to marry her?

"I'll tell them," she promised him as they pulled apart."I'll tell the girls tonight."

"Okay." He smiled and she could see that it relieved him to know soon the engagement would be real - once everyone knew it would become official. Questions would be asked and Augusta would be informed that a wedding needed to be planned (Alice dreaded that).

"Go show those boys what you can do," Frank said, giving Alice's bum a playful smack as she stood up from the bed. "Then come back to me."

"Always," Alice promised, pushing open the door.


Marlene, Alice and Lily decided they would dress "incognito" for the evening. The three girls convened in Lily's room dressed head to toe in black - Lily even wearing a black beanie to complete the look. It was laughable really, the three of them sneaking through the empty castle corridors looking like a couple of burglars.

Marlene had taken the passageway many times with James (and once or twice with Sirius - though she preferred not to mention those occasions to her friends). She led Alice and Lily to the third-floor landing and paused in front of the statue of The One-Eyed Witch.

"Dissendium," Marlene said, watching as the witch's hump opened to reveal a short slide.

"How on earth did they find this place?"

"It's a bit of a long story." Marlene slid down to the passageway first, feet hitting the ground hard. She stepped aside so that Lily and Alice could follow after her. Once they were all inside the entrance closed and the passage was suddenly masked in darkness.

"Luminos," Marlene, Alice and Lily all said at the same time. Light filled the tight space, the girls chuckling before Marlene stepped forward and took the lead.

"Well then?" Lily prodded. "What is this story?" They had an hour to go before they reached the village - forty-five minutes perhaps if they could walk fast enough, but Marlene wasn't so sure they'd manage with three people.

"Do you remember Nick Henstridge?"

"Yeah, he's a hard one to forget," Lily scoffed - the way most did when reminded of Nick. He'd been in Amy's year - four years ahead of them - and a constant source of irritation for every professor. Lily - in particular - had loathed him. He was a Gryffindor, and a popular one at that, but he took enjoyment in teasing under year Slytherins, Severus Snape being one of them.

"He was fit, wasn't he?" Alice chimed in.

"Those freckles," Marlene swooned.

"Oh please. He was average at best and a total dick head."

"Just to play devil's advocate," Marlene began, knowing full well she was about to hit a nerve, "that group of Slytherins he used to target? They're all followers now."

"It's true," Alice agreed. "You know I found a second year crying in the fourth floor bathroom yesterday. She was shaking because Avery warned her that something would happen if she continued to pretend she was a witch."

"Alice," Lily gasped, "that's horrible. You should have told me-" she seemed to regret the words the second they came out of her mouth. It was obvious why Alice would not have brought the event to Lily's attention - she was worried it would hit too close to home. They didn't talk much after that, at least, not about anything that mattered and everyone seemed to forget entirely about the story.

Marlene was thinking about reaching Donovan's , knowing Henry would be there. Part of her ached to see him though she knew it would ruin the whole plan. If he caught them he'd most likely have to tell Don and then the boys would know they'd fumbled the whole thing. No, she'd have to reserve her interest in seeing Henry for a later date (perhaps the next Hogsmeade trip?).

"There's something…" Alice cleared her throat to get their attention. "I should tell you something while we have the time...I, um...well, FrankandIareengaged," She sputtered out. It took a moment for the words to register and another for Marlene to digest the news that Alice - the most level-headed of all of them - was planning to get married before she'd even finished school.

"Wow," Marlene heard Lily say from behind her. She didn't dare turn her head - she was worried Alice might not like the look of disapproval she wore. It seemed to Marlene silly to rush to get married. If Alice and Frank planned to be together forever, why not simply wait awhile before rushing into lifelong commitment? Unless…

"Are you pregnant?" Marlene blurted out, unable to contain herself.

"No!" Alice's voice bounced off the walls. "Nothing like that...Frank just...well, he proposed and I said yes," Alice reasoned - as if it made any sense.

"It'll be a long engagement then I suppose?" Lily asked.

"Yes. School comes first. I mean I...I didn't even want to tell anyone yet because it still feels so far away - marriage." Marlene didn't bother pointing out that Alice said the word like it was a death sentence. She offered Alice a simple "congratulations" and tried to pretend the rest of the journey that she didn't think it was a total mistake.

They were all drained by the time they reached the ladder - and entirely grateful to finally escape the dank tunnel. Once again, Marlene led the way, quietly guiding the girls through the Honeydukes basement and out the front door - careful not to make a peep.

The fresh air was a blessing after being underground for an hour. They took big, grateful gulps of it, taking the road down to Donovan's . They weren't very far - a minute in? - when they saw a man standing further up the road. He had his hands tucked into his coat pockets and paced back and forth.

"Shit," Lily cursed, stepping back to try and avoid being seen.

"I think it's okay," Marlene assured her. "I think it's Henry…" and it was. He noticed them a few seconds later, eyes practically bulging from his head. Marlene doubted she looked any different. The three girls stood - like deers caught in headlights - watching as he strode towards them purposefully.

"What the hell are you guys doing out here?" His tone was harsh - nothing like Marlene remembered him.

"We were just…" Marlene meant to explain but with the look on his face, she assumed the truth would only make matters worse.

"You have to go," he insisted, "go back to the castle now ."

"Mate, you have no authority over us, chill out."

" Marlene… " His tone left no room for argument. In the days to come, she'd regret not listening. It might have made all the difference.

"Fine," Marlene agreed, glaring at him. The three of them turned back in the direction of Honeydukes, leaving Henry behind. Marlene didn't mind - not when he spoke to her like an insolent child. What the hell was his problem?

"We failed," Lily sighed. "This is going to be quite the embarrassment."

"Not a fucking chance," Marlene shook her head. " The Three Broomsticks is across the street from Honeydukes, we're getting that alcohol." No one argued - not that it would have made a difference at that point. They passed Honeydukes, crossing the street instead towards the side of The Three Broomsticks . They scaled the building in search of the cellar entrance.

"Henry was…" Alice began hesitantly.

"An asshole," Marlene finished for her. "Screw him." Why the hell did she need to be chasing after some twenty-one year old guy she'd had a crush on when she was thirteen? He could be a total weirdo for all she knew. Besides, it wasn't as if she were lacking in male attention, there was Sirius after all-

Suddenly, a hand clasped roughly over Marlene's mouth, dragging her backwards as she choked on her screams. She was pushed against the side of the building roughly and then a wand was shoved into her throat, her own confiscated. She couldn't see her abductor but she could smell the alcohol on their breath. She could tell it was a man by the way he held her - just close enough to make sure she was uncomfortable.

Alice was shoved against the wall beside Marlene. From the sounds of it Lily was on her other side - though she couldn't turn her head to look.

"What are your names?" Demanded Alice's captor. None of them responded prompting each of the men holding them against the wall to remind them that they could die at any given minute. Marlene could feel the tip of his wand pressed into the back of her head now.

"We're just students," Lily insisted.

"Students, huh? What business do you lot have lurking about Godric's Hollow at night?"

"We were going to get alcohol," Marlene told him. For a second it really seemed like they might get away with it all. The men would realize they were no threat - they had come to steal a few bottles of Firewhiskey and would be on their merry way.

"What're your names?"

"Amy McKinnon, the redhead is my younger sister, Marlene." It was all Marlene could think to do to protect Lily's identity - just in case.

"Alice Griffith."

There was mumbling between them men behind them. Marlene could only see the back of Alice's head. She wished she could see her face, that they could assure each other with easy glances that everything was going to be okay.

"You'll come with us."

"What-"


The boys had returned to Gryffindor Tower after dinner prepared to say goodbye to the girls before they left for their evening excursion. Instead, they'd been met with surprise.

"Turns out you've been duped," Frank announced when the boys entered the common room. He'd been sitting alone at a table near the windows, studying, but had risen to greet them the moment they'd returned. He had a piece of parchment, folded up four ways.

Don't worry boys, we can do all the hard work for you.

James couldn't help but smile. He had a sneaking suspicion Lily was behind it all - outraged at the thought of being excluded from all the fun. She had a need to be right. James was beginning to learn that trying to tell her what to do was useless.

"I can't believe this," Sirius chuckled, "you convinced them to do the worst part."

"Did they even take the map?"

It took James and Sirius a few minutes to figure out which one of them was currently keeping the map - it was determined after quite some deliberation that it was Remus who had used it last, to sneak down to the kitchen at night (he was a notorious late night snacker).

Remus, of course, had gone to the library with Leila right after dinner and so they were tasked with rummaging through his things like a couple of crooks.

"Aha!" It was in the middle drawer of Remus' bedside table. Sirius discovered it and shook his head. "Rookie mistake."

"Frank said they left an hour ago."

"Shouldn't be long then," Sirius shrugged, tucking the map into the back pocket of his jeans.

"Come on, we'll wait for the others in my room." James beckoned Sirius off into the hall and around the corner to the Head Boy's room. The last person to sleep in there had been George Alderton and that had been in their fourth-year - after that, the Head Boy had been Ravenclaw for two years. Never in a million years had James expected to be the next one to occupy the room. He still felt like they would show up and revoke his badge at any minute.

"Come on, let's play a game of chess," Sirius suggested. James also had a hidden mickey of Vodka that he hadn't mentioned to Sirius. Sirius spread the board out on the table James had near his window. It was meant to be used for studying but most nights it served as either a dinner table or a chess board base.

"Did you know?" Sirius asked, arranging his pieces as James fixed them both a drink. "That the girls would take charge?"

"I had a feeling Lily might," he confessed. It was just an inkling - a curiosity in fact. He had wanted to see how far she would go to prove him wrong. James was impressed.

They played a heated game of Chess, finishing off two vodka mix drinks each. At some point the moved to the bed, both reassuring the other they weren't falling asleep, not at all, the girls would not find them passed out when they returned…

" James !" It was Remus' voice, ringing urgently in James' ear, that brought him back to consciousness. Sirius was already sitting up, rubbing his eyes sleepily.

"What?"

"They're not back."

"Huh?"

"The girls aren't back!" Remus repeated - although this time more panicked. It took James a few moments to understand the words, coming slowly to consciousness.

"What time is it-"

"It's been over three hours," Sirius announced grimly, looking down at his watch.

"They're just running late." James reached for his glasses, rested on the bedside table. Peter was standing at the end of the bed, biting his nails. That wasn't a good sign.

"Maybe they had trouble getting into Don's?" Sirius suggested, yawning.

"Not if Marlene's with them."

"We have to tell someone."

"No." Sirius put an end to Remus' line of thought right away. "We have to try and find them."

"Don't be stupid-"

"Oh don't be such a wuss Remus."

"Please don't argue," Peter pleaded, as he always did. James couldn't stand it - any of them. He reached under his bed for the map and scanned it closely. They were nowhere to be found in the castle, or even the passageway on their way back from Hogsmeade. Something was wrong.

He stood up, ignoring the other three, and reached for his shoes, sitting on the edge of the bed to pull them on.

"Where are you going?"

"To find the girls. I'll take the tunnel to Hogsmeade-"

"We should tell someone," Remus stressed, "Dumbledore-"

"I'm with James, we find them ourselves. Chances are they got held up somewhere along the way." James hoped that Sirius was right. Of course, Remus was still not convinced and - with one person on the edge - Peter naturally tipped towards uncertainty.

They never got the chance to decide, not before there came a knock at the door. James answered and there was Frank, wearing his pyjamas, face drawn with concern.

"I'm going to McGonagall," he announced. James had no issue arguing with Remus about being a rule follower, but Frank Longbottom - who had planned to be an Auror since birth - was a more difficult sell.

"Wait!" Sirius insisted from behind James. "Frank - please, we'll find them-"

"Something is wrong, if things had gone smoothly they'd be back by now."

"It's only been two hours," Sirius tried to reason.

"It's been three!" James could see the colour rising in Frank's neck. He would never budge, not when Alice was involved. James knew he should feel the same way - his girlfriend was out there as well, after all - but he couldn't bring himself to accept that any harm had come to them. The thought was too awful to bear.

"Let him go," Remus told them, "he's right." James knew it was no use - even if he wanted nothing more than to race down the tunnel and search for the girls himself. He gave in, sitting on the edge of his bed wordlessly, mind suddenly filled with every worst-case scenario on earth. Just a few hours ago Lily had been in this very room and now...well, now James hadn't a clue where she was.