That evening, James and Libby were not at dinner. Nor could they be found in the Common Room afterward. It took Sirius bringing this to Lily's attention for her to notice (frankly, she was glad for a bit of time away from the two of them), which he did while Lily was entertaining some of the Gryffindors by the fire.

Lily had her wand aimed discreetly at Frank, who was clearly trying to study, and kept using a Switching Spell on the page he was poring over and one from a dirty magazine that had fallen out of Marc Hughes's backpack. She did it so quickly that Frank did not think to investigate, but not so quickly that it did not stop him in his tracks and make him go cross eyed with confusion and embarrassment every time it happened. Lily was clutching her side laughing as Frank looked around surreptitiously to see whether anyone could see what was happening to page 386 of Advanced Potion Making, when—

"Hey, Lily, have you seen—what's so funny?"

"Nothing," said Lily, trying to pull a straight face. "What's up?"

"You seen James around? He was supposed to meet Remus, Pete, and me to work on the...er…to study."

Lily giggled. "To study. Right. Well, last I saw of him we were in Charms. Sorry Sirius."

"Well, I haven't seen Libby around either so I suppose they're gallivanting about somewhere."

"I suppose, yeah."

Then silence.

Sirius cleared his throat awkwardly. "Well, thanks anyway, Lily."

Libby did not arrive in the girls' dormitory until nearly ten o'clock at night. Maggie sat up immediately. Lily remained silent behind her bed curtains. Something told her she wouldn't want to hear this.

"Where've you been?"

"Been with James," Libby replied shortly.

"For five hours? Tell me everything."

It was quiet for a moment. Something wasn't right.

"I don't want—there's nothing to—I'm really tired, Maggie."

That's when Lily heard it in her voice—she'd been crying.

"I'll bet you are," came Maggie's obliviously impish response. "Did you have a nice time getting tired with your booooyfriend for five hoouuurss?"

Libby tried to laugh. It was an incredibly sad sound. "Actually, he's…not my boyfriend. Anymore." She sniffed loudly.

"Oh my god! What happened? Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Libby's stuffy voice answered, swallowing back a sob with a snuffle. "Anyway, I really, really can't talk about it right now. Just let me go to bed. Please."

And at four in the morning when Lily woke from a strange dream about a Niffler and a Sneakoscope, she could still hear Libby sniffling.

Life was strange the next morning. Libby looked like she'd been beaten half to death by an angry mob in the night—Lily, Alice, and Maggie struggled to pull Libby out of bed before breakfast, failed, and then had to come back after eating to drag her to the first lesson, succeeding only after they threatened to call backup—and James had never been so quiet in all his life, Lily was sure of it. Out of respect, it seemed, Sirius was rather quiet himself, and as Lily made her way to History of Magic with Remus at her side she mumbled, "Next few weeks should be comfortable, eh?"

"Yeah, probably not remotely awkward."

"How's he doing?"

"Fine. Seems fine. Won't talk about it much."

"Libby either."

"Doesn't need to say much, though, does she?"

In History of Magic, Lily took her usual seat next to Libby, who really did look awful. She looked at James, who was two rows ahead of her on the left. He looked fine.

She didn't know why his callousness bothered her—didn't she hate that James and Libby were together? What possessed her to do it, she did not know; she performed a quick Protean Charm on a spare bit of parchment, aimed her wand carefully at the parchment on James's desk, which he was doodling on rather than taking notes, and whispered the spell again.

What've you done? she wrote, waiting for him to notice the writing on his parchment.

She saw him tense up, staring down at his parchment, giving Lily a perfect view of the hair on his head sticking up idiotically in the back. James looked around in confusion at Sirius—nothing. Remus—nothing. And Peter—nothing. Finally, he turned in his seat. When his eyes met Lily's, she raised her eyebrows. He smirked and turned back around. For several long moments, he did nothing. She almost thought he had decided to ignore her and pay attention to Professor Binns for once. Then, with a guilty little surge of excitement, she watched James dip his quill in his ink…

If you're referring to the last 40 minutes, I've sat here tuning out Professor Binns. Also, I've done a bit of light reading.

Lily smiled, rolling her eyes. I'm not talking about during class.

Is this about the statue?

What?

I don't know where its fingers are, I've already looked. It was an accident.

God, Potter. Were you born this way?

That's what Mum says.. Yeah.

Libby.

What about her?

What do you mean what about her? You split up with her.

I don't know where you get your information, Evans, but whatever little birdie landed on your shoulder chirped little feathery lies into your ear.

?

I haven't split up with anyone. Can you conduct research for your dramatic screenplay elsewhere?

Think you're cool with your Muggle jokes?

What can I say..I pay attention in Muggle Studies. You weren't there for that lesson because you were too busy brewing Ammortentia for Jasper.

Are you suggesting Jasper needs a love potion to find me attractive?

No. Maybe I was saying you felt really sorry for him so you brewed some to drink for yourself.

And why would I need to do that?

Dunno. Perhaps cos he's got blue hair and laughs like a drowning man.

I'm not even going out with him, so say what you like.

That's not what he says when he tosses off over your scrap parchment before bed every night.

You're vile.

James did not respond for several minutes. Then: I'm very busy at the moment if you're through harassing me.

Lily looked up. Busy? Reading Quidditch through the Ages?

Yes, Evans. Reading Quidditch through the Ages.

So Libby ditched you then?

Yes.

She seemed to really like you.

I'm aware, and it is complicated. You would not understand, you with your perfect union. Lily Podmore. Sounds alright to me.

Ha-ha. I could have sworn I just said I wasn't going out with him.

Yeah, well, that's not what he says when he snogs his pillow and calls it 'Lily.'

You're such an idiot.

Did you know Glenn McElhoney caught the Snitch in 46 consecutive games?

Who cares? Are you alright?

I'm fine. I wish I could say the same for my Quidditch team.

Nice to see you're taking the matter seriously.

Would you prefer it if I was heartbroken or something? I can lie if you like and say I am shattered.

No, regular heartless Potter is fine. Maybe you can find some advice in there about what to do when you have a nasty breakup with one of your Chasers.

Why do you think I am reading it?

Find anything?

Yes, it says "don't date anyone on your Quidditch team."

Brilliant advice.

Evans, what do you want? You demand I explain myself for breaking up with your friend, when really I've been ditched and you should be clearing a spot on your shoulder for my weary head.

James turned around and smirked, waggling his eyebrows. Lily stuck her tongue out at him. He turned back around and continued…

Also, the 4th button on your blouse has been undone this whole lesson. Considering you are a good enough friend to storm in here with your lady bits hanging out and defend Libby's honor, you would think she'd at least be a good enough friend to tell you it's time to buy a new blouse. I haven't said anything out of gentlemanliness but there you have it.

Thanks for letting me sit here like an idiot instead of telling me straight away.

I figured if you were going to hassle me I'd better at least get a nice view out of it.

I don't suppose you're going to tell me what's going on with you then.

No. I'm sure Libby will tell you though, and then you can hate me good and proper.

Lily was on the verge of prodding him further, when the bell made her jump out of her skin.

This became James's and Lily's preferred method of communication over the next few weeks. The former seemed, for whatever reason, to prefer to keep his public communication with the latter very formal, and Lily felt guilty even saying James's name when Libby was around. Rarely did a lesson pass without James's angular print appearing on her notes or in the margins of her books, and when he did not initiate, something always occurred to Lily that she had refrained from sharing with him earlier while in certain company.

Nice Veritaserum today. I think you were the only one that managed it.

No, Severus got it too. So odd, he usually shows off a bit more in Potions…didn't even say a word.

Oh, didn't you know? Old Snivellus has given up speaking for the time being.

?

After a chain of rather unfortunate events he seems only able to speak in rhyming couplets. Should have heard him earlier. You wouldn't know it by looking at him, but he's quite the poet.

You are horrible.

Who says I had anything to do with it?

If it looks like a duck, sounds like a duck, and walks like a duck…

Oh, brilliant, I'll do quacking next. Cheers, Evans.

But James's and and Lily's cheer would soon be extinguished. After the Prophet arrived one evening, it seemed that there would be little to laugh about in the wizarding world for a long time. Lily had entered the Common Room from the library that evening to a cacophony of frightened, anxious voices.

"What—what's going on?" she said feebly into the din.

Several people stuffed The Evening Prophet into her hands, but everyone was talking so loudly and so quickly she could hardly make a word out.

Lily let all but one paper fall to the floor and she began to read the first page. The headline was all she needed to see: Muggle Parents Summoned to Ministry for Research.

"What the hell—" she spluttered. She read on. The Ministry had decided to conduct "research" on Muggle-born witches and wizards by "performing a series of tests" on their Muggle parents in order to discover the mysteries of the magic gene, and determine how and why it appears in non-magic families or after a Squib produces a long line of Muggles.

And hidden in the last paragraph was the worst part of all. Ministry "officials" had already apprehended half a dozen families, with little to no notice it seemed.

Half of the Gryffindor Common Room seemed unsure how seriously to take it, some of them deciding that it sounded quite harmless. But Lily knew this was no research effort; it was a ploy to handle—or dispose of—the Muggle association with the wizarding world.

And like-minded people were beside themselves. Gryffindor was largely halfblood, and scattered with Muggle-borns, but even the purebloods were outraged. The chaos in the Common Room got so bad at one point that Lily and Remus, trying to do their duty as prefects despite Lily's fear for her parents and Remus's for his father, tried and failed to control the situation. No one could even hear them.

At last, James shouted, "Hey!" But no one listened.

"Everybody put a lid on it!" Sirius tried, but to no avail.

James and Sirius looked at each other, both lost. Finally, James leapt onto one of the armchairs, drew his wand and sent a very loud orange flare into the room.

Some people ducked for cover, others screamed, but eventually all eyes were on him in relative silence.

"Alright, everybody just calm down for a moment, alright? We can't lose our heads, that doesn't help anything."

"Easy for you to say, Potter, you're pureblood!" yelled a fourth year.

Lily cut in, "They're trying to ostracize us for being Muggle-born and you're going to get on him for being pureblood? How are you any better than they are?"

"I'm just saying—what does he know about it?"

Several supporting cries came from the crowd, but James whistled loudly and held a hand up. "Lily's right. Let's not gang up on each other. We've got to keep cool."

"What, just sit here and do nothing?" said Jack Belby.

"No, I'm not saying that. Look, we need more information. Inside information." James let this sink in. "I'm going to find Dumbledore. I'm begging you all to just stay here and stay calm. Lily, Remus…hold the fort alright?"

Lily and Remus nodded obediently.

"Sirius, back them up…everybody calm down, especially you, Drexel. I'll be back as soon as I can…I promise, I'll come straight back. Just let me talk to Dumbledore." It was silent when James left the portrait hole, but as soon as it closed behind him there was an explosion of chatter.

"Dumbledore can't let this happen!"

"What do you think they're going to do?"

"But it doesn't sound that bad, does it?"

"My mum—"

"Both my parents!"

"D'you think they're going to come after us too?"

"Guys…hey, everybody…listen!" Lily and Remus tried calling into the Common Room. Jasper approached Lily and put his hand on her shoulder. "Are you alright?" he asked, very near her face. She shrugged him off irritably and bellowed, "HEY!"

All eyes were on her.

"Didn't any of you hear Potter? We have to stay calm, at least until we know more. This could have already been handled. If not, we'll deal with it however we have to. For now, stop getting worked up. You're not the only ones with family in there."

This time, they listened. Finally, everyone took a seat. They spoke one at a time, practically in whispers.

"Where is he?"

"Why isn't he back yet?" people had begun to ask after half an hour.

Lily was becoming worried. He really should be back by now.

Finally, the portrait hole swung open, and Lily dashed to James as he climbed out. "What happened?"

He looked long and hard at her. "Alright everyone," he said, voice rather hoarse. I ran into Professor McGonagall on the way to find Dumbledore. He's…he's not here, he's left. He's already gone to the Ministry."

There was an uproar, but this time James subdued it just by raising a hand.

"I'll be honest…McGonagall did not look good. She's meeting with the other professors right now but Heads of Houses are going to go to the Common Rooms to…explain and…and calm everyone down."

Lily turned to face James again. "James. My parents…I…I can't just sit here."

"I know," he said, straight into her eyes.

Remus was at her side in an instant. "What do we do? My father is a Muggle…My mother isn't exactly pureblood…"

Lily looked between James and Remus, and Sirius and Peter joined them too. The noise in the Common Room had gotten out of hand again, but the five Gryffindors were staring intently at one another, all slowly drawing the same conclusion. Jasper, Libby, Alice, Frank, and Maggie approached them.

"I'm going," said Lily.

"What?" blurted Jasper.

"Me too," said Remus. "I've got to."

"Lily…Remus…just hold it…" said Jasper, looking at James for approval.

But James was looking straight at Lily. Part of her was expecting him to argue, to tell her it was too dangerous, to even stop her by force. Instead, he said, "Better make it fast. McGonagall's coming…"

"How will we get there?" asked Remus.

"We'll Apparate," Lily answered. "We've been practicing, haven't we? We can do it, Remus. License or no license."

Remus nodded.

Lily was not sure when everyone in the Common Room had begun listening, but Marc Hughes said, "Wait, you're going to the Ministry?"

"Look…if Dumbledore's there," Jasper reasoned, "It should all be okay, right?"

"Your parents could be there," said James. "Reckon Dumbledore will get to them before someone else does?"

Jasper shifted.

"Everyone else can do what they like," said Remus. "Ready, Lily?"

"Ready." And as they walked off together, James stepped in front of them.

"Wait…I think I'd better get my Cloak. We might need it."

"Er…we?" said Lily.

James looked affronted. "If you're going…" his eyes passed over Remus before locking back onto Lily's again. "Then I'm going."

"And me," said Sirius.

Lily could not argue. Then—

"And me," came a voice as Frank stepped forward.

"Me too," said Alice.

Libby nodded silently and stepped forward. Jasper joined her.

Several more people expressed the desire to come, and James took control again. "Listen, everyone…I hate to say it, but if you're not seventeen, you can't come."

"Sirius isn't yet," someone said. "Or Alice."

"Fine then, if you haven't had any Apparition training at all. We just can't risk it, and I'm sorry but I can't manage Side-Along Apparition yet. Not with so many people."

There was a surge of protests, but James ran up to the boys' dorm and returned with the Cloak tucked into a pocket of his robes.

"Ready?" he asked Lily, Remus, Sirius, Frank, Alice, and Jasper.

"Ready," they said in unison.

"Then let's go."