A/N: Thanks for all your reviews! I know this chapter is short, but it's best to end it here because the next one is gonna jump ahead a bit.

Chapter 33

Lies

The next day, James and Lily invited Sirius over to explain what Dumbledore told them. While they didn't tell him the prophecy word for word, they told him that either Harry or Neville could defeat Voldemort for good. And because Voldemort knew this part of the prophecy, it put both the Potters and the Longbottoms in great danger. But being the loyal friend that he was, Sirius said that even if anything ever happened to James or Lily, he would always be there for Harry.

Later that afternoon, Lily and Harry went to see Marlene at St. Mungo's so she could hand in her resignation. Lily took one last look around the hospital, talking with her once fellow Healers. They were all sad to see her go, but were very happy for her and James.

By the time Lily and Harry returned home it was nearly five. She was about to start something for dinner, but a Ministry owl swooped in and her heart nearly stopped. Shaking slightly, Lily opened the letter. Attack in Whales. Should be back by twelve. Love, James.

Suddenly, Lily wasn't nearly as hungry as she was before. But, knowing that she did need to eat something, she ate an apple. She took Harry upstairs and gave him a bath (she got nearly as wet as he did) and put him in a sleeper. She sat in the rocking chair in the nursery, humming softly, and hebegan to doze off.

Then, just after Lily laid Harry in his crib, she heard a crack from down stairs. Wand drawn, she silently head down stairs, where she received a pleasant shock to see Alice, holding a very tired Neville, looking up at Lily.

She immediately lowered her wand. "Bring him up here – Harry's already asleep."

Alice smiled gratefully as she met Lily halfway up the stairs. Once she put a sound asleep Neville next to Harry, Alice and Lily made their way down stairs.

"So, I guess Frank go called in, too?" Lily asked as they sat together on the couch.

"Yeah, it was suppose to be his day off on top of it." They fell into an uncomfortable silence...both of their minds thinking of one thing...

"You know, I don't think we've seen each other since right before you went into labor...Neither of us knew what we were getting into." said Alice, a small smile on her lips.

"You mean before we heard the prophecy?" Lily said, smiling although her eyes were sad. Alice looked at her in surprise. "It just seems so – so surreal."

"I know," Alice said, her eyes shining. "And I'm sorry...I haven't seen you in so long. You're my best friend..." tears started to fall from her eyes. "But after we found out about the prophecy, I was afraid to see you. Because I was hoping that Neville wouldn't be the boy the prophecy spoke of, I was hoping that Harry was and I – I just couldn't face y–you."

By now both Lily and Alice were both sobbing. Once they had calmed down, Lily said, "that's exactly why I haven't been to see you either. And there's something else...this Sunday, we're going to have a very small baptism for Harry. We're going to name Sirius his godfather and the only witnesses are going to be Remus and Elizabeth. James and I both wanted to name you Harry's godmother, but if Harry is the one that the prophecy is talking about, then if something happened to me and James and Sirius, then you shouldn't have to be responsible for him...I can't put you and Frank and Neville in that kind of danger."

Alice nodded sadly. "That's exactly why you're not Neville's godmother, either."

The two friends looked at each other before they pulled one another into a hug.

"Well, I hate to interrupt, but..." Lily and Alice let go of each other and looked to see James, Sirius, and Frank all standing next to them laughing...but none of their smiles reached their eyes.

"I'll just get Neville," Alice said as she walked up the stairs. Once she returned with her son, she and Frank said their goodbyes and left.

Lily turned to James and asked, "So are you two going to tell me what happened or what?"

James and Sirius exchanged a nervous look before James said, "Josefine was killed."

Lily stared at the two men before she finally got out a hoarse, "Wh – how –"

"She was dueling with Frank," said Sirius, "One of the other Death Eater's fired the Killing Curse, missed Frank, but it hit Josefine."

Lily stared at the floor, letting it sink in. Josefine was dead...the girl that Peter had dated for so long...not very many of her friends had liked her, but she had never harmed Lily. It had been quite a shock to her when James and Sirius had discovered what she really was – a Death Eater.

"Does Peter know?" she asked, slightly choked up. "I know that they're not together anymore, but he should still know."

"We just got back from his place." said Sirius. "He was upset, but he'll be fine."

000

Peter was distraught...James and Sirius had just left, telling him that Josefine had been killed. Even worse, the way they had explained it – it sounded like it had been a complete accident.

That was when the Dark Mark on his left forearm burned. Shakingat the mere thought of having to face his Master, he Disapparated.

Lord Voldemort was standing in the center of the room. Only one other person besides Peter that was there was Severus Snape. Peter knelt on the floor and kissed the hem of the Dark Lord's robes before standing up again.

Voldemort looked down into Peter's eyes, causing him to almost collapse under the intense stare.

"You already know, then," Voldemort said quietly. Peter knew he was talking about Josefine's death.

"Y–yes my L–Lord,"

"Who told you?"

"J–James Potter and Sirius B–Black."

Voldemort's red eyes suddenly sparked. "And did they tell you how she was killed?"

"They s–said that she w–was hit by a–a m–missed Killing C–Curse."

"Lies," Voldemort hissed. "Potter killed Josefine"

Had Peter not been so shocked by this statement, he would have noticed Snape give Voldemort an almost questioning look.

"Wh–What?" Peter stammered.

"Potter killed her." He replied calmly. "I had ordered an attack in Whales, an those blasted Aurors turned up. Many of the other Death Eaters had said they saw Josefine dueling with Longbottom, when Potter intervened...by killing her."

Peter was in shock. How could James kill Josefine...his Josefine? It couldn't be true. But even Peter knew that it was no secret that James had never liked Josefine – even before they had discovered she was a Death Eater.

"But there is something we can do..." Voldemort said in a low voice. "Severus has already started in part in this, and know it is your turn. I need all of the information you can give me on Neville Longbottom and Harry Potter.