After a few weeks, it was Christmas! There was going to be a Hogsmeade weekend. James walked up to Lily in the common room with Lily flowers. "Um, Lily?" he asked, shy.
"What is it James?" Lily snapped. "I have to get ready for patrolling the corridors."
"I was just wondering if you'd consider going to Hogsmeade with me? We could maybe go to the Three Broomsticks or even Tomes and Scrolls? My potions book fell into a potion and disintegrated." James suggested, adding the last part under his breath.
Lily was about to say no, like she had the past several times Potter had asked her. But, for some reason, something was telling her to accept. In fact, he was rather handsome, standing there flushed behind his flowers for her. So, she, for the first time, said, "Yes. Yes I will."
"Really? You will!" James exclaimed.
"Yes. I can't believe I'm saying this, but yes." Lily nodded.
"Alright! Let's meet at the front doors at maybe 11?" James suggested.
"Okay. Now, I gotta go." Lily told him, leaving.
The next weekend, James and Lily walked down to Hogsmeade together, First, they went to Honeydukes. James bought her some pink coconut and then they went to the Three Broomsticks.
"Here Lily," James pulled out her chair before going and ordering some butterbeer. When he got back, Lily was staring at a table. It had three hooded people at it. "What is it."
"Don't those guys look a lot like Death Eaters?" she asked quietly to which James nodded.
"Why don't we listen in?" he suggested to which she nodded.
After a few minutes, they heard one of them say, "The Dark Lord wants him dead."
Another said, "But he wants to do it himself. We're not supposed to help."
Lily looked at James panicked. James took over, "Go get a teacher," he muttered to her.
She nodded and said, "Well James, I'm gonna go. I promised Mary I'd help her with her Transfiguration homework."
"Okay Lily. I'll see you in class." James waved and Lily hurried out.
Just outside, she found Professors Patterson and Willowes. "Professor Patterson! Professor Willowes! There are Death Eaters in the Three Broomsticks. James is keeping an eye on them!" she exclaimed.
Harry and Ginny exchanged a look and rushed inside, but not before telling Lily, "Go find some aurors. There should be some around the town". She nodded and hurried off. James was at the table behind the Death Eaters still. Harry and Ginny took a seat nearby. The Death Eaters got up.
Their eyes narrowed. "Stupefy!" They each shouted.
The other one brought the first two back and they started running. Ginny locked the door and Harry said, "Colloshoo!" to the three of them and they were stuck to the floor. Then the Death Eater shot a spell at James and Ginny jumped in front of the cruciatus curse. Harry saw her writhing and shouted, "Incarcerous!" at all three. But, not before James was hit with the body bind curse which paralyzed him. Just then, the aurors got into the building.
They took all of the death eaters off and Harry grabbed Ginny telling Lily, "Bring Mr. Potter up to the Hospital Wing." Lily nodded and used the mobilius spell to float James off the ground as Harry picked up his unconscious wife. After a few moments they arrived back at the castle.
McGonagall ran up, "What happened?"
"Miss Evans and Mr Potter found Death Eaters in the Three Broomsticks and got myself and Ginny. The Death Eaters are in custody now." Harry told her as they walked. McGonagall nodded.
Once in the Hospital Wing, Madam Pomfrey bustled over. "What happened?"
"Ginny was hit with the Cruciatus Curse and the head swelling hex. Mr Potter with the body bind curse combined with the skull mutating." Harry told her. She nodded and got to work, taking off the body bind curse and shrinking Ginny's head back. After about 30 minutes, they both started to wake up. When Harry saw that, he hugged Ginny. "Oh, I'm so glad you're okay!"
"What happened?" James asked.
"You were hit with the cruciatus and body bind curse." Lily told him, Harry still hugging Ginny.
Madam Pomfrey hurried over with food. "You can both leave late Monday." Ginny nodded, knowing the head swelling hex had hit her.
"Thank you for helping me," James told her. Ginny smiled and nodded.
"Well, I'm gonna go tell your friends what happened," Lily told him, leaving. A little while later, the other three marauders came in and they talked for awhile.
Madam Pomfrey walked over to them. "You know you're pregnant right?"
"No." Harry told her, looking at Ginny happily. Pomfrey smiled and left.
"Why did you tell her we didn't know?" Ginny whispered.
"Because if we did, then she'd ask questions when it wasn't born in May or June since time traveling won't affect your pregnancy." Harry told her and she understood. On Monday, Ginny and James were released after they ate lunch. James and Lily had officially become girlfriend and boyfriend too.
It was Christmas Break and Lily and the Marauders were staying. Harry walked over to Sirius in the hallway. "Hello Mr Black."
"Hi Professor." He acknowledged.
"You know, your brother stayed behind. Maybe you should try talking to him?" Harry suggested, noticing the strain between the two.
"Nah. My entire family hates me." Sirius told him.
"Well, I get that your parents do, but did your brother ever actually say that?" Harry asked. Sirius considered this and grinned, going to his brother.
"Hey Reg." Sirius said.
"Sirius? I thought you hated me," Regulus said, looking down. Snape rubbed his back.
"I thought you hated me!" Sirius told him, sitting down.
"I do! I hate that you left, not even giving me a second thought!" Regulus glared.
"I just couldn't stay there any longer. When mother and father stopped paying attention to me and focused on you, you just lapped it up. Didn't think of how it was making me feel. So, I just assumed you couldn't care less if I left and so I left without telling you." Sirius explained. "I didn't know you actually did care."
"Well I did!" Regulus said, glaring. "I even thought you shouldn't be in Slytherin! You clearly had different ideals, so I knew how upset you'd be if you were!"
"You supported me not wanting to be in Slytherin?" Sirius asked, quietly.
"Yes!" Regulus shouted.
"Look, Reg, I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. I just didn't think you'd care whether or not I left. Do you think we could start as friends again?" Sirius asked.
He smiled, "I'd like that Seer." They hugged and talked for awhile until it was time to go to bed.
On Christmas Day, Harry found Lily sitting by the lake. "Miss Evans. What are you doing out here? It's cold."
"Just thinking." She said.
"May I ask what about?" Harry inquired further.
"I got presents from my parents but none from my older sister. We haven't been that close since I learned I was a witch, but she's still always sent something. Professor Patterson, can I ask you something?"
"Sure." Harry agreed.
"Do you like my name? Petunia says that someone as awful as me shouldn't have such a sweet name."
"Of course I do. And not just because it's my twin sister's name. But also because the name means the flower, which stands for purity and passion. I think that describes you just right. You're a lot like my sister," Harry smiled.
"Thanks." Lily smiled. A snowball hit her. She turned to see who did it and saw James holding a snowball. "Oh, it's on!" Harry smiled as she went to go play in the snowball fight.