I believe in humanity. We are an incredible species. We're still just a child creature, we're still being nasty to each other. And all children go through those phases. We're growing up, we're moving into adolescence now. When we grow up - man, we're going to be something! Gene Rodenberry
I know that every good and excellent thing in the world stands moment by moment on the razor-edge of danger and must be fought for... Thornton Wilder
Chapter 1
Two years before…
"Quills down please!" Squeaked Professor Flitwick. "That means you too, Stebbins! Please remain seated while I collect your parchment! Accio!"
More than a hundred rolls of parchment zoomed into the air and into Professor Flitwick's outstretched arms, knocking him backward off his feet. Several people laughed. A couple of students at the front desks got up, took hold of Professor Flitwick beneath the elbows, and lifted him onto his feet again.
"Thank you… thank you," panted Professor Flitwick. "Very well, everybody, you're free to go!"
"We're done with Defense Against the Dark Arts! We're done with Defense Against the Dark Arts! We're done with Defense Against the Dark Arts!" A small, slightly chubby girl sang, her brown eyes sparkling.
"Thank you captain obvious." Said the brown haired girl next to her, however, this did not dissuade the first girl from her singing. It did, however, inspire her to do a little dance along with it. "Alice Abbot, you stop that this minute." She giggled, the three girls walking with them joined in.
"Yes mummy. If you say so." Alice responded sticking out her tongue.
"Emily, Alice, if you two keep this up I'm going to have to separate you." Said the only blonde walking with them, amusement evident in her voice.
"I've a better idea Marlie." Commented a dark haired girl. "Just sick Lily on them, she's the prefect."
"Oh, shove off, Dorcas." Said the redhead smiling. "Come on let's go sit by the lake. We can relax a bit before we have to study for transfiguration."
"Aw, Lily, why'd you have to go and do that. I was perfectly content doing my end of Defense Against the Dark Arts O.W.L. dance, and now you had to go and remind me that we've still got more. That's just not right." Alice pouted.
"Come off it Alice, you know you're going to do amazing on it." Emily said.
"Yeah, well, I still don't want to have to study for transfiguration." Alice responded sitting at the edge of the lake.
"So, Marlie, how do you think you did on it?" Asked Dorcas, her deep blue eyes twinkling.
"Not bad, how 'bout the rest of you. Well not Lily, we all know that she got an O."
"Marlene Cornfoot, shush, you'll jinx it."
"Guys can we not talk about it, it makes me a little nauseous." Emily said pressing a hand to her stomach. "Let's talk about something a little more pleasant, like the fact that Marlie's birthday is in a few days."
"Sixteen, woohoo! I can't wait until next year when we can finally use magic. My mum would kill me if she caught me doing any magic before then." There was a general murmur of agreement.
"You don't know how lucky you guys are. At least you guys can get away with doing magic when your parents aren't around. Em and I can't even do that since we're the only witches in our families." Lily started. "The Ministry really doesn't like it when you do underage magic." She finished with a giggle.
Alice raised an eyebrow, "What did you do?"
"I may have accidentally, of course, turned my sister's tea cup into a rat." Lily answered green eyes twinkling mischievously. "Anyway, I got a lovely owl from the ministry about not using anymore magic until I turned of age or else I'd be expelled from Hogwarts.
"And, still Dumbledore made you prefect. My god, what a rebel you are Lily Evans." Giggled Marlie.
"Shove off."
"I can't wait to be seventeen. It's not fair, Sirius Black turns seventeen at the end of September, and James Potter on Halloween. I want to be able to do magic by Christmas." Complained Dorcas.
"Don't forget Gideon Prewitt'll turn seventeen at the end of December. So that's three of the boys who'll turn seventeen before any of us." Emily added.
"Speaking of the boys, say Lily do you think that you'll admit it now?" Alice asked.
"Admit what?"
"That you are absolutely head over heels in love with James."
Lily gaped at her, "I am not head over heels in anything with James Potter."
Marlie raised her eyebrows, "Really, cause last night I could have sworn I heard someone mumbling in their sleep about how unbelievably good looking, talented, witty, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera, James is."
Lily blushed a deep crimson, while the other girls laughed. "Okay, I never said that I didn't like him." She mumbled. "He's just such a bloody prick sometimes. I won't ever go out with someone who treats other people like that, not ever."
"So, now that we're on the subject of talking in ones sleep, Alice I heard you mumbling pretty, er, interesting things that you wanted to do with Frank." Emily said, nodding slightly at Lily's thankful look.
Alice's blush was dark enough to rival Lily's. "Oh, well, that's just not right." Laughed Dorcas.
"Impedimenta!" Came a shout.
"Hey, what's going on over there? Under the beech tree." Alice asked desperate to change the subject.
"Is that Snape? Gross, I bet that didn't taste good." Emily said.
"Lily? Lily where are you going?" Alice called. "Well shit. She's gone to murder James and Sirius."
"Leave him ALONE!"
James and Sirius looked around. James's free hand jumped to his hair.
"All right, Evans?" Said James, and the tone of his voice was suddenly pleasant, deeper, more mature.
"Leave him alone," Lily repeated. She was looking at James with every sign of great dislike. "What's he done to you?"
"Well," said James, appearing to deliberate the point, "it's more the fact that he exists, if you know what I mean…"
Many of the surrounding watchers laughed, Sirius and Peter included, but Remus, apparently intent on his book, didn't, and neither did Lily.
"You think you're funny," she said coldly. "But you're just an arrogant, bullying toerag, Potter. Leave him alone."
"I will if you go out with me, Evans," said James quickly. "Go on… Go out with me, and I'll never lay a wand on old Snivelly again."
Behind him, the Impediment Jinx was wearing off. Snape was beginning to inch toward his fallen wand, spitting out soapsuds as he crawled.
"I wouldn't go out with you if it was a choice between you and the giant squid." Said Lily.
"Bad luck, Prongs," said Sirius briskly, turning back to Snape. "OY!"
But it was too late; Snape had directed his wand straight at James; there was a flash of light and a gash appeared on the side of James's face, spattering his robes with blood. James whirled about; a second flash of light later, Snape was hanging upside down in the air, his robes falling over his head to reveal skinny, pallid legs and a pair of graying underpants.
Many people in the small crowd watching cheered. Sirius, James, and Peter roared with laughter.
Lily, whose furious expression had twitched for an instant as though she was going to smile, said, "Let him down!"
"Certainly," said James and he jerked his wand upward. Snape fell into a crumpled heap on the ground. Disentangling himself from his robes, he got quickly to his feet, wand up, but Sirius said, "Locomotor mortis!" And Snape keeled over again at once, rigid as a board.
"LEAVE HIM ALONE!" Lily shouted. She had her own wand out now. James and Sirius eyed it warily.
"Ah, Evans, don't make me hex you," said James earnestly.
"Take the curse off him, then!"
James sighed deeply, then turned to Snape and muttered the countercurse.
"There you go," he said, as Snape struggled to his feet again, "you're lucky Evans was here, Snivellus-"
"I don't need help from filthy little Mudbloods like her!"
Lily blinked. "Fine," she said coolly. "I won't bother in the future. And I'd wash your pants if I were you, Snivellus."
"Apologize to Evans!" James roared at Snape, his wand pointed threateningly at him.
"I don't want you to make him apologize," Lily shouted, rounding on James. "You're as bad as he is…"
"What?" Yelped James. "I'd NEVER call you a – you-know-what!"
"Messing up your hair because you think it looks cool to look like you've just got off your broomstick, showing off with that stupid Snitch, walking down the corridors and hexing anyone who annoys you just because you can- I'm surprised your broomstick can get off the ground with that fat head on it. You make me SICK,"
She turned on her heel and hurried away.
"Evans!" James shouted after her, "Hey, EVANS!"
But she didn't look back.
"What is it with her?" Said James, trying and failing to look as though this was a throwaway question of no real importance to him.
"Reading between the lines, I'd say she thinks you're a bit conceited, mate," said Sirius.
"Right," said James, who looked furious now, "right-"
There was another flash of light, and Snape was once again hanging upside down in the air.
"Who wants to see me take off Snivelly's pants?"
"Think we should go after Lily or stay for the show?" Dorcas whispered.
"She's going to be supremely pissed for a while, let's let her cool down for…" Marlie cringed. "Oh, that's not pretty."
"My eyes!" Cried Emily. "Oh god, my eyes. I'm traumatized for life. Quick someone give me something sharp I need to gouge out my eyes." Several people laughed. Sirius and James sent her appreciative grins. "Please! It doesn't even have to be sharp, anything."
"It's no use you'll never get that image out of your head. And just think do you want one of the last things you ever see to be Snape without his pants?" Alice asked.
"I think I need a shower." Dorcas said as the girls trudged back to the castle. "I feel a kinda dirty. And when I say 'kinda' I mean incredibly."
They found Lily pacing their dorm. "Er, Lily?" Alice asked.
"What?" She snapped.
"Christ, don't take out James, Sirius, and Snape's assholiness on us. We've been through enough. I'm pretty sure that I'm scared for life." Emily muttered flopping down on her bed and pulling the pillow tight over her face.
"What's up with you four?" Lily asked looking at them strangely.
"Shower, desperately need a shower." Dorcas muttered.
"Lily, please tell me the password to the prefects bathroom." Marlie pleaded.
"Hey no fair, I feel dirty too. I want to shower in the prefect's bathroom." Alice muttered.
"Called it. So how about it Lil."
"No, why do you all need showers? And why is Emily trying to smother herself?"
"I can't, I just can't bring myself to talk about it." Alice replied.
"Don't look at me." Marlie said when Lily turned to her, "I don't want to think about it anymore than she does."
"Will someone tell me what the hell is going on?" Lily demanded.
"James took off Snape's pants, Lily." Emily muttered from under her pillow.
Lily's eyes bugged out, and she muttered "Wanker."
"Exactly." Emily said sitting up and pointing at Lily. "And there it was, all hanging out there, and… oh god, I think I need to go throw up now." She said and ran for the door as Dorcas opened it. "HA HA HA! I got the bathroom; shower time for Emily St. John."
"Hey! That's shit Emily!" Alice pounded on the door. "Open up the damn door."
"What a jerkweed." Marlie muttered. "What?" She asked when the other girls looked at her.
"Jerkweed? What are you, like seven?" Lily asked giggling.
"It's the best insult ever; think about it, there's no comeback for it. Lily you're a jerkweed." Lily just shook her head, "See! I told you!" Marlie said dancing around the room.
"Why am I friends with the lot of you?"
"'Cause we are the most amazing people in all of Hogwarts." Dorcas answered.
"There is that." Lily agreed.
"And we know how to get you out of your James Potter induced tempers." Alice added.
"Please promise me you'll be careful, all of you." Emily said to the group of fifth year Gryffindors surrounding her on the train platform, giving them each a hug before walking over to a tall brown haired woman.
They all nodded, "We will be. I think I'd safer at home though." The redheaded Gideon said to the rest. "I'm staying with my sister and brother-in-law this holiday."
"What's so bad about that mate?" Remus asked, brushing his dirty blonde hair out of his blue eyes.
"You mean besides the fact that they've got a five year old, a three year old, and that she's pregnant again; the baby's due at the end of the holiday."
"Ha, well you enjoy that Gideon." Sirius said.
"Shut it you."
"I think that Em was referring to more frightening matters than a pregnant woman and a couple of toddlers." Lily said dryly.
"You never met my sister Lily; she's a bit scary when she's emotional. Anyway, there she is. You all be careful." Gideon said losing the joking tone of his voice. "Oy, Molly over here." He didn't dare say 'see you in September', none of them did, they didn't want to tempt fate.
"There's my mum, Sirius. Come on lets go." James said. "Bye guys." He clapped Remus and Peter on the shoulder, and hugged the girls except Lily. "Er, bye Evans." Sirius did the same, though he included Lily on the hugs.
"Er, bye Potter." Lily said, then after a second, she jogged up to him and gave him a quick hug, "Be safe."
"You too. Come on Sirius, mum's waiting."
"There's Tommy, be safe." Marlie said, and then walked up to a man that looked like male version of her and kissed him on the cheek. "It's good to see you."
"Oy, there's my mum, and there's your dad Remus." Peter said pointing. "Bye." He mumbled.
"Bye girls." Remus said giving them each a hug.
"So, just me and you now Lil."
Lily looked at Alice, "Yeah it seems so." She said warily.
"So, what was that hug with James all about?" Alice asked
Lily rolled her eyes, "It's nothing, just because I don't particularly, like him," Alice raised her eyebrows, "even if I do like him, like him. I don't want him to die. Anyway, there's my mum and dad, and oh joy they've brought Petunia along for the ride."
"They brought your sister; I've never seen your sister." Alice craned her neck, "Whoa, I wouldn't have guessed the two of you were related."
Lily grinned, "That's the best compliment I think I've had in a long time."
"Does that include the time that James declared that he didn't care if you were all of the teacher's favorite, and that he still loved you anyway?"
"Bite me. Are your parents here yet?"
"Nah, but my dad's pretty forgetful. I swear he'd lose his head if it wasn't attached."
"Hold on one second mum." Lily said turning away from her mother, "Do you want me to wait around with you until he shows?"
"Don't worry about it; either he or mum will be here soon."
"You sure?"
"Yes, Merlin Lily, you're annoying. Go home, annoy your sister. Give her a biting tea cup."
"I don't have any biting tea cups."
"I might have slipped one into your trunk before we left Hogwarts."
Lily grinned, gave Alice a hug, "Thanks. Be careful, will you. It's not safe to be wondering around by yourself."
"Oh look, here's my dad now," Alice pointed to a man with the same round race that she had, "bye mummy."
Lily said the first thing that came to mind, "Jerkweed." Both girls erupted in laughter.
"Jerkweed, Lily?"
"Er, it's an inside joke mum. It's good to see you; I've missed you all so much."
Lily woke up the morning of August 7 just like it was any other. She quickly made her bed, no house elves here she thought, as she had every day of the summer holiday. She took a shower, made sure to stay in the bathroom a little longer than necessary just to annoy her sister, as she did every morning. She got dressed quickly, dried her hair, counting the days until February 28, or was it March 1? (She couldn't decide since she didn't technically have a birthday this year. She'd have to ask Dumbledore about that. Though she supposed it wouldn't matter as she would be at Hogwarts at the time.) Stupid leap year, she thought, like she did every morning. She paid the owl that delivered the Daily Prophet, like she did every morning. And like every morning she sat down on her bed to read it before going down to breakfast.
The picture on front page wasn't any different from usual, really. It was the usual Death Eater attacks, though this one seemed to be a bit more involved than others. However, this morning the headline caught her attention like never before.
Worst Death Eater Attack Thus Far
In the worst Death Eater Attack to date, the followers of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named have attacked nearly three dozen homes, half a dozen of those belonging wizards. Among those to have lost their lives are members of the Abbot, Abercrombie, Perkins, Pettigrew, Lupin, and Zeller families. The surviving members of said families declined to comment.
Lily threw down the paper, eyes full of tears. Searching frantically for parchment she wrote a quick letter to the first person she thought of who would know if her friends were okay, James Potter.
James,
I just read about the attacks in the paper, are they alright? Do you know? Please, I don't have any other way of contacting them.
Lily
She rolled the parchment up and tied it to the leg of her owl, Hamlet, whispered an urgent, "Please hurry." Lily then shoved the paper under her mattress, where her parents wouldn't find it, and took a deep breath. Lily closed her eyes and prepared herself to face her family.
It took five days before Hamlet returned with an answer.
Lily,
They're all okay. Remus and Peter are both staying with me, the Death Eaters got their dads. Peter's dad was a muggle, but since his mum married him they wanted to punish her, ruddy bastards. It was Alice's whole family, her mum, dad, even her older sister Sarah who was visiting. Alice was out with Frank when it happened, thank Merlin. Apparently the Death Eater's were still there when Frank brought Alice home, he got help right away. It's the first thing they learn as trainee aurors. I asked my mum and dad and the details are a little sketchy, but I think she's staying with Frank and his mum.
James
It was only after reading this that Lily felt the horrible weight that had been sitting on her shoulders the past few days lift. She spent the last two and a half weeks of her summer holiday skimming the paper for names of those she recognized. When she spotted them, it never failed to ignite two major emotions: sorrow and anger.
September 1st came all too slowly for Lily. She wanted desperately to be back in the safety of Hogwarts. She didn't want to keep searching the paper for her friends, though she knew she would continue her ritual at school to watch for names of those who had already graduated.
At the entrance to platform 9 ¾ Lily hugged her parents, said a silent thank you to whoever was listening that Petunia had gone out with her 'boyfriend'. Lily personally thought that this Vernon Dursley was a complete and utter wanker, but that was just her opinion. If her dad happened to agree with her, well, that was their little secret.
She managed to get her trunk on the train with the help of a blonde Ravenclaw boy in her year, whose name she couldn't remember. With a hurried "Thanks." Lily set off to find her friends. She found them all, except James and Sirius, in a compartment near the back of the train. She kissed Remus and Peter's checks and gave Alice a hug, keeping her arms around the other girl, resting her head on Alice's shoulder,"I'm so sorry."
Alice sobbed; Remus and Peter just nodded, though both their eyes teared. "I have to go to the Prefect meeting, but I'll be back later." When Remus got up and made to follow her she gave him a questioning look.
"Prefect meeting, I'm prefect too Lily. I have to be there too."
"Don't worry about it, stay here, I'll tell you what you missed."
"Thanks."
"Whatever I can do. You too Alice, Peter." And with that she walked out the compartment door and straight into someone else.
She would have fallen to the floor if it hadn't been for the strong arms that gripped her waist. "Sorry Lily. I wasn't watching where I was going."
Lily looked up into the face of James Potter. "No, it's my fault. Thanks for catching me." Since when did I have to look up like that to James Potter? He was barely taller than me in June.
"Your welcome. See you after the prefect meeting."
"Hey, Evans." Sirius said following James into the compartment and sitting down.
Lily blinked, and then continued up the train to the prefect's compartment. Huh. Lily thought. Since when did James Potter call her Lily? And not ask her out the first time he saw her the new school year? Or not make some sort of comment about catching her and how great he was? He didn't even hang on to me longer than was needed.
A/N: Review, let me know what you think :-)