As time passed, the threat of Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters grew and inside the walls of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry relations between Houses was at an all time low. The students of Gryffindor and Slytherin were constantly clashing, while the students of Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff began to choose their side. Those students who had family that were fighting were on edge, waiting for their Head of House to take them to Dumbledore's office. The students who had Muggle family members were scared more than anyone else. For James, whose father was an Auror, it was particularly frightening because of the incredible threat posed to Sirius (as a blood traitor) and Remus (as a werewolf). For Lily, a Muggle born, these times were harrowing though she hid her fears remarkably well. The doomed pair had long ago chosen their side and nothing would change their mind…

James walked through the halls of Hogwarts with his head held high and an easy swagger in his step, but on the inside James was cringing at every sound he heard and fearing that McGonagall would find him with bad news. Only his friends knew the truth and he wasn't about to let the Slytherins know that he was scared out of his mind because they would only use it to their advantage. James smiled easily at a group of third year Hufflepuffs, sending them off giggling, and walked into the boy's bathroom. James glanced around at Regulus Black, who was at the wash basin, and continued walking towards an open cubicle. Before he got the chance to enter he found his way blocked by Rodolphus Lestrange.

"Hello, Potter."

"Hello, Lestrange. I wasn't aware you fancied guys?"

"Funny," Rodolphus glanced past James and James had the uneasy feeling that he'd just been surrounded by Slytherins, including his best mate's brother. "Tell me, Potter, how's your dad? Still an Auror, is he?"

"You know bloody well he is." James was beginning to worry. Not about himself, but about his dad.

"Hmm. You going to follow in his footsteps?"

"What's it to you?"

"Just wondering, weren't we boys?" There were murmurs of agreement behind James, and without meaning to he glanced behind him. The only one who wasn't sneering was Regulus. "See, we've come up with a plan. We reckon that if we… get to anyone who wants to be an Auror before they became one… well, then there'll be less of you when we graduate. Good plan, innit?"

"Ingenious. There's only one problem."

"Oh? And what might that be?"

"You don't have the balls to kill me. You don't scare me, Lestrange." The truth was the James was petrified. He knew that Rodolphus was good at Charms and, strangely, Defence Against the Dark Arts. James truly believed that he was in trouble.

"No? We'll see about that." Before James had registered what Rodolphus had said he was thrown across the room by a powerful curse. As James was slammed into the tiled wall he blacked out for a few seconds.

When James came to the first thing he noticed was Regulus quietly leaving the bathroom. The second thing he noticed was that Rodolphus and his cronies were lifting James to his feet. When he was being held up properly Rodolphus pulled back his fist and then the fist was coming straight for him, and then it landed squarely on his nose. James heard a distinct crack which meant that his glasses were broken. And then pain reared its ugly head and James saw stars swimming in the air in front of him. Rodolphus' fist kept coming and very quickly James had a broken nose, fractured jaw, spilt lip and a black eye on top of the broken glasses which were lying on the floor by this stage. James' vision became blurred but he could still hear. Before Rodolphus could land what would have been the kill punch a clear voice rang through the air.

"Immobulus." Rodolphus' fist freezes inches from James' face and as he slowly slips into unconsciousness he sees a face with bright green eyes framed by brilliant red hair. A word escapes his bloodied and swollen lips…

"Lily…"

***

Lily stood over James as he lost consciousness and blushed slightly when he whispered her name. As soon as she was sure that he was out entirely she put two fingers gently against his bare neck, praying that she would find a pulse. After a few desperate seconds there was the unmistakable beat of flowing blood. Lily sighed and quickly turned to the others who were making sure that the Slytherins were immobile and trying not to look at James.

"He's alive."

"Thank Merlin!" Sirius spun around and came over to them. Remus sent a silent thank you upwards and joined them. "Jesus, he looks like crap."

"I'm sure he'll be fine. We have to get him to the Hospital Wing." Lily took control again and led the way up to the Hospital Wing while Sirius and Remus carried James between them. Lily held the doors of the Hospital Wing open for them and called out for Madam Pomfrey. She got the boys to lay James down on a bed and then ushered the three of them out into the hallway, where they were met by Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall along with a sheepish Regulus.

As the four students told the two professors what they knew, they held their breaths for news from Madam Pomfrey. And when she did open the door she was bombarded with a bunch of questions from the four of them. Sirius voice was, obviously, the loudest, while Remus came in a close second. Dumbledore silenced them all with hand.

"Madam Pomfrey? How is the patient?"

"Just fine. He's still unconscious for the moment but I've done that deliberately so the he won't be in as much pain."

"Pain? I thought you said he was fine?" Sirius butted in.

"He is, Sirius. I've healed James but I can't eliminate his pain. His body has to do that by itself." Madam Pomfrey moved aside. "You may go in and see him now if you like." All four of them walked in and went over to the bed where James' lifeless body was lying. Sirius and Remus sat down on either side of him, whereas Lily and Regulus remained standing at the end of his bed. Regulus was asked away by Dumbledore to answer some more questions, and Lily, not liking seeing James so lifeless, ran out of the Hospital Wing and down to the Lake.

Lily sat at the Lake's edge for hours undisturbed. Lily watched the comings and goings of students, staff and animals and wondered how the world could continue to spin when so many people were hurting… dying… bleeding… crying… fighting… surviving. How could the world still spin when James was lifeless? Lily was surprised that she found herself praying for James to recover, to wake, to live again. But then again, she couldn't imagine her life without him. For good or bad, Lily knew somehow that James would always be there with her. And she liked that thought.

Until that moment Lily had believed that she wouldn't fight because she didn't want to place those she cared for in danger. But she realised that no matter what she did they would be in danger and that to keep them safe she would need to fight. She would need to ensure that Voldemort and his Death Eaters were beaten.

And all it had taken for her to decide this was the near death of the boy that she believed she hated.