Chapter 17

Realizing what was going to happen, Lily didn't feel nervous at all. Somehow, she knew that they would be okay. She felt strengthened knowing that James and her were in this together. Briefly catching each others eyes, just as the tip of Snape's wand had caught green light, Lily felt a burst of unexpected hope fill her heart. Almost in unison, Lily and James raised their wands, and shouted "STUPEFY!" using their last ounces of energy.

Apparently caught off guard, Snape stumbled as the two jolts of red light hit him from in front and behind. His wand dropped, and he hit the floor with a heavy clod, the wood underneath him made a loud splintering noise.

Briefly meeting each others gazes, Lily and James shared a genuine smile as they once again overcame a life and death experience. Lily felt a rush of dizziness rush through her body, and she let go of her wand, before falling unconscious on the ground, her heart joyous even though she didn't know why.

James felt alarm pulse through his body as he saw Lily fall. He tried to crawl his way over, but felt he didn't have any energy left. Promptly, he fell hard to the floor as well, his head hurting very much. Yet, a sweet smile still lingered on his lips as he felt his eyes droop, as the world went black.

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James awoke groggily to the sound of whispers. He presumed he was in the Hospital Wing as all he could notice was white. As he thought back to the terrifying events that had occurred, his body gave an involuntary shudder as to what would have happened if they hadn't hexed Snape together. With the energy of just one of them, it would just make Snape stagger a few steps backwards.

Seeing Lily in the bed opposite him, they caught each others eyes, and Lily indicated for him to be quiet. They could hear quite a loud conversation that was hushed constantly into whispers.

"It was lucky that Mr. Black and Mr. Lupin reported this immediately to me, Albus. I can't imagine what would've happened if the three had been left there for a moment longer!"

"Indeed Minerva…these set of events have been unfortunate."

"What do you think would've triggered this?" Professor McGonagall's voice was strict, sharp, yet panicked. Seeing her in this state provided no comfort to either James or Lily. Yet, Dumbledore's voice was his usual: crisp, cool, yet kind.

"That is not important now…you are sure our students are being well attended to?"

"Oh yes…the new nurse, Poppy Pomfrey is very able. The students are in capable hands. But it is important we find the reason for what happened. Why on earth would Mr. Snape pefrom these unexpected acts?" The Professor's voice lowered yet again, as she realised it was going into a shrill again.

James bolted up in his bed. His head felt as if a thousand fire crackers had exploded in it, and most parts of his body were aching painstakingly. But none of it mattered. All James wanted to now was why Snape would consider killing Lily just to revenge him? Surely, even he wouldn't be prepared to spend a lifetime in Azkaban. And he was in Seventh Year in Hogwarts under Dumbledore's nose…there was no way he could've gotten away. There must be some logical explanation! Apparently, Lily thought so too, as she inched her ear closer to the doorway to get clearer access to the conversation and what Dumbledore's reply would be.

Much to the annoyance of both of them, Dumbledore merely chuckled lightly. He seemed neither worried, nor disturbed in any way.

"Oh, we all know that Severus and James have their differences. But one of our students wouldn't go to such lengths of murdering just to revenge a little grudge. I can assure you Minerva, that what happened was mostly against Mr. Snape's intentions." Dumbledore said no more, and there was a finality in his tone that made McGonagall unable to enquire any further.

"We must visit our students, Minerva. Why don't you go and see Mr. Snape in the next room while I see how Mr. Potter and Miss. Evans are coming along. I see the new nurse has wisely put them in separate wards." With a courteous nod, Dumbledore strode into the room, and James immediately scampered under the covers.

Dumbledore beckoned for Lily to follow him and they both sat down near James' bed. Both opened their mouths to speak in protest and outrage at Snape's murder attempt, but Dumbledore silenced them with a flick of his hand. James and Lily stared curiously at the Headmaster who had a small smile present on his lips. He seemed neither distraught, nor showing any signs of worry.

In fact, his eyes were showing his usual twinkle, one that James found particularly strange. Why was Dumbledore pretending that nothing serious had happened? They could both have been killed!

"Mr. Potter, Ms. Evans…how are you feeling?" James was feeling very sore, and his head felt as if somebody had whacked him with a mallet with it. Lily's left arm had appeared to be mended as it had broken before. There was a deep cut on her thigh which was also healing nicely. As she stared at Dumbledore's serene face, Lily couldn't help but become relaxed…it was an effect that the headmaster always gave his students or people that looked at him.

Lily mumbled something, now a little embarrassed about her little outburst. But she still couldn't help but feel curious at Dumbledore's reaction.

"About Severus Snape…" she began.

"Ah Ms. Evans…I can assure you it is not what you believe" Seeing James open his mouth, Dumbledore also silenced him. "And you Mr. Potter."

"But he--" James tried to explain to Dumbledore in exasperation. He wanted the Headmaster to see that Severus Snape had tried to murder the girl he loved!

"I am under belief that this was against Mr. Snape's intentions. I know you both have many differences, but I inclined to refuse the fact that one of my students is a murderer. I have heard a first hand account of what Mr. Snape believes happened. It is apparent and likely he was placed under the Imperius Curse."

The information sank unsurely into Lily and James' minds. Although the tale seemed likely, Lily supposed it wasn't entirely impossible. And if Snape had Dumbledore convinced, even with his great skill in Legilemency…Lily found no reason to enquire any further.

James, on the other hand, furrowed his eyebrows in concentration. He knew that Dumbledore was an extremely powerful wizard, and Snape was unlikely to fool him, yet he still found Snape's story a little on the unconvincing side.

"And you believe him entirely, Professor?" He asked careful to choose the right words.

"Indeed, it is under my impression that Voldemort placed the Imperius Curse on Severus"

"But why would Voldemort want to kill Lily…Snape said he wanted to use Lily's death to…hurt me." James said, now a little abashed.

"Exactly, it is quite clear that Voldemort's intentions have been to hurt you, James" Dumbledore said briskly, a hint of regret in his voice.

Lily, who had remained for some time quiet, felt her heart leap painfully as she realised how much danger James was really in. Again, she was surpised at the amount of emotions she was feeling for James Potter.

"And what happens now?" She whispered, causing Dumbledore and James' gazes to divert to her, causing her to blush slightly.

"Very well asked Ms. Evans. I have said this before: Lord Voldemort is after the last of the potters. He wishes to extinguish all he believes are threats to him and his quest for domination. This is also another reason why I have asked you and your friends to fight against Lord Voldemort. If you don't start protecting yourself, it is inevitable he will come and kill you. As I have stated before, I am in no power to protect all my students."

There was a slight pause, as James and Lily grimly acknowledged this information which Dumbledore had made clear before. Madame Pomfrey came in and checked up on their progress and fussed over their injuries. After receiving a pointed look from Dumbledore did she leave.

The Headmaster continued as if there had been no interruption.

"In answer to your questions Ms. Evans, we need to start acting now. If Voldemort could curse Severus Snape while he is, what I originally believed, safe in Hogwarts, I really don't know what else he is capable of. It is beyond me how he managed this, but we need to be ready for future attacks like this."

James silently snorted and couldn't help but add, "There is no satisfactory evidence that Severus Snape was actually acting under the Imperius Curse. I'm not sure you understand the deep…" James struggled to find an appropriate word. "Misunderstandings we have for each other, Professor." James personally thought that 'misunderstandings' really wasn't an appropriate word, as he was sure Snape was clearly evil and wasn't misunderstood at all.

Dumbledore only nodded, and his expression revealed nothing. His eyes had lost some of its usual twinkle; even his robes seemed less glittery.

"If my assumptions are correct, Voldemort will be acting again on the next Hogsmeade trip, which as you both know, will be scheduled after the Christmas Holidays. I hope you both realize that he is quite merciless, and will go to any lengths to accomplish what he desires. All of you are in grave danger, to put it mildly. I want you to be prepared for what lies ahead. Whatever that may be. You need to unite and your bond and courage will help you fight…for your lives." Dumbledore's voice sounded tired, but his voice was firm with a tinge of anger. Lily noticed a few more wrinkles had found their way onto his face.

"I bid you farewell, and hope you both make a full recovery. Good day to you both." Dumbledore drew himself to his full height, and left the room without another sound. His footsteps made no noise as he made his way to the door, leaving Lily and James quite amazed.

Briefly meeting each others eyes, a moment of awkward silence lingered in the room, and slowly lifted as Lily walked briskly back to her bed and picked up a copy of the Daily Prophet. James, feeling quite disgruntled that she had said nothing to him, and the serious warning that Dumbledore had given them, slumped heavily back down into the covers of his warm bed and feigned sleep for the rest of the day, his mind in shock and numbness.

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The Christmas Holidays were slowly drawing to an end and it had been pretty much uneventful. Lily was still officially holding a grudge for a reason she wasn't even clear about now, even though he'd managed to successfully save her life for the second time.

For Sirius and James, it was the usual high spirit as the full moon was on the last day of the Holidays, a few days away. Remus looked sour, but nonetheless grateful he had such understanding and great friends. The Marauder spirit seemed to be slowly reviving itself after much time of pause, mostly because of James being heartbroken.

Although he knew he'd never get over Lily Evans, he thought that maybe it was best for him to carry on with his 'normal' life…which was of course, jinxing and hexing the ones who need teaching, and seducing the women. Yes, his old, carefree life seemed so much more appealing now.

It seemed that he had gone over a phase of his life. Maybe it happened more with teenage guys. Whatever the reason, he felt a huge burden lift off his shoulders, as the liveliness and energy ran through his body once more.

He remembered the days in hospital after Snape's attack had been the worst. There were so many confusing and unclear thoughts running through his mind, and the white of the Hospital Wing made it all the worse. With Dumbledore giving them his grave warning, and Lily sulking in the opposite bed, having no intention to talk to him, James felt so alone.

Although Sirius had come to visit him every second of every minute of every hour of every day, he was given a ban from Madame Pomfrey after 'accidentally' dropping a Dungbomb that he'd been carrying around and disturbing the other patients. Whether it was intentional or not, James still didn't know. At first, Sirius had used his 'Black charm' to try and wheedle his way out, and by calling Madame Pomfrey 'Poppy' and complimenting on her clothes and looks, but in the end, to no avail.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, James was reunited with Sirius and Remus. And things were looking all the more promising for the 3, even though the times were more grim than ever. The mood of the school hadn't lifted much at all, especially in the Common Rooms where people were either buried under thick books, or looking dead from stress.

There were few incidents of a couple of students fainting from lack of sleep, or overwork. In James and Sirius' opinion, it was so stupid, the way everybody was working at this time. It wasn't even close to examination time. Of course, they considered the time to study when it was a few hours before the actual test…but it was more practicable anyway.

And now as they were seated in the Common Room in the early hours of the morning next to the roaring fire, Remus was scratching his chin with the back of his quill as he furrowed his eyebrows in concentration at the Transfiguration essay that lay in front of him. Sirius and James were sniggering randomly every few minutes as they made wild gestures that were their new invention for communication.

"Oi, Rem…we've worked out this new system for pranking. We'll cut down the numbers of hexes we do on the First Years, they always seem to cry unnecessarily whenever we pick on them." James motioned for Remus to sit closer to them, and after stifling a humungous yawn, he obliged and stretched before slumping in a cushion on the floor next to his best friends.

"Yeah, I don't like First Years much…when I try flirt with the girls, their expression freaks me out…it's a mixture between they're busting to the toilet and over enthusiasm. It almost makes me a little embarrassed!" Sirius gave a bark-like laugh.

"Our new targets are once again, Lily and Brittany. I seriously can't believe we've lain off them for so long. Me and Padfoot want to go back to our old devious ways. We need to uphold our reputation after all" James grinned.

"Mmm…whatever you like. I'm just worried about the full moon guys. I know I do this every time, but there's always this uncomfortable gnawing sensation in my chest." Remus twiddled his fingers.

"Oh, it'll be fine Moony, it always is! But we need to worry about the prank! I suggest we get Evans and Davies together…we'll embarrass them in front of the whole school. They'll wish they'd never been born."

Remus looked unconvincingly at Sirius, for all 3 of them knew that was pretty much impossible. But it would still be worthwhile to see the girls' embarrassment.

Sirius suddenly gave an excited squeal and a knowing glance lit up in his eyes. He clasped his hands together loudly and shot up from his chair. After a moments pause, he looked at Remus and James.

"We slip the…" All 3 suddenly exchanged knowing glances, and James too, leapt out of his seat and ran his hands through his hair several times out of excitement.

Remus chewed his lip unsurely, but after receiving dark looks from his friends, finally gave in.

"Oh alright…I suppose it'll be quite funny. Just don't over do anything…"

"After the Full Moon"

"Yes…it's settled"

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Much planning of the prank had been done. It wasn't a huge assignment, but when they did something, the Marauders had to make sure their pranks ran smoothly and effectively.

Finally, the high anticipated day of the Full Moon had arrived. The 3 Marauders had gathered under James' Invisibility Cloak and were making their way down to the Shrieking Shack now. Remus was already starting to twitch uncontrollably, and he made strange coughing noises.

"We need to charm this cloak and make it bigger! I mean, it's a tight squash for the three of us, if Peter joins, how will we all fit?" James muttered, feeling someone step on his toe.

"Yeah, this cloak has all our good memories. We need to---"

Remus' painful werewolf transformation had taken place, and after much agonizing roars and ripping noises, a full grown werewolf stood in the teenage boys place. A stag and a shaggy black dog stood beside it, and the 3 bound off into the moonlit night.

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In the Heads Common Room, Lily Evans was finding it difficult to sit or stand as she paced the room. For some odd reason, she couldn't concentrate on anything…and for her, it was something really unordinary. The full moon was out that night, and since she couldn't do her homework, she might as well go out for a stroll alone.

She really needed some space for her thoughts. Especially with…things happening, Lily was finding it particularly difficult to think straight these days. Although she knew she shouldn't go out in the dangerous night after hours, she found she didn't really care at the moment. Fresh air and coolness seemed very appealing to her right now.

As she strolled towards the Grounds, Lily thought she heard a distinctive howling noise, and painful ripping noises. Then there was a beating of hooves, and a great long bark of a dog. She knew that the Forbidden Forest concealed many dark creatures, but these noises seemed to be heard in the direction of the Whomping Willow.

She hurried quickly over there to see what had happened. She drew out her wand slowly. "Lumos" she whispered before continuing in the direction of the odd sounds. What she would find was totally beyond her as she heard her footsteps squelch in the thick blanket of snow which was lit up uncannily by the pale glow of the moonlight.

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A/N: Omg…I'm so tired, it's really late now, but I felt I had to finish the chapter because I haven't been updating. Hope you all enjoyed it.

Thx to all my dear reviewers…plz plz plz tell me what you thought. Yawn…I think I'll go to bed now. Until next chapter we meet!

Purebliss90