"Holy shit! Lily, stay with me, be courageous," James' heart was panting very fast, he didn't know how he was able to walk and think while holding Lily in this state, his hand was covered in blood, Lily's blood, and he could feel the cut on his own neck hurting and burning, but it didn't matter, Lily was much important.

"I am more courageous than anyone else, James, relax," she spoke as he led her through the passageway.

"How can I relax when you are in this state," he could feel the tears burning his eyes. "It's my mistake that you are like this."

Lily groaned as she felt her leg aching hard. "It's not your fault dummy."

James noticed her discomfort and with use of little magic lifted her two inches from the grounds and began floating her towards the destination, where should he take her? Hospital? No, that will raise a lot of questions and might led to their expulsion.

"Room of Requirements," Lily moaned as though she could hear his thought, "Not hospital."

He felt her falling unconscious and held her tightly, they were under the cloak and he knew that his foot was visible but he didn't care now, he walked as fast towards the room of requirements as possible with an unconscious Lily by his side. He finally reached the spot, he walked past it three times, 'a place to heal Lily', ' a place to heal Lily.'

The door appeared, and James immediately took her inside, it was kind of like a hospital wing but with a single big bed, on the shelves were several potions and lotions, books about healing, injuries, curses, etc. few of them he recognized were similar to the books Mary uses for her lessons with Poppy.

James put Lily comfortably on the bed, her face was white, there was a scar on her side, he looked around the room and found the things he knew would help in treatment, he was thanking Remus for several injuries he has given to James as it has all helped him to become quite good with injuries and then over the summer, his knowledge about injuries has improved.

He took the potion, opened Lily's mouth, and forced it in, he wasn't letting himself freak out as he knew it will only worsen the situation, he gave her two other potions. She coughed and moaned. Still not fully conscious, it wasn't what James was worried about. To apply the lotion to the cut he has to remove her cloth and he has never done it without her consent, he swore loudly and decided that he would apologize to her later, he removed her robe and cloth and started putting the lotions on the scars, she has gotten injured really bad he noticed, each time he has applied the lotions on any scar his hands would shake and he felt as though a sword was being stabbed in his chest at his heart. It took him an entire hour to apply lotions to each scar, it was time to now speed the healing by spells, though he has memorized the spell, having listened to Lily use the spells on him after each full moon, he checked the spell in the book and then only used it on her, he then used a different spell to heal her burnt hands.

Another hour and he has healed all the wounds, he relaxed, it was now that he noticed that the room was much warmer as compared to the freezing outside, there was a fire burning in the fireplace near the bed, and he now realized that she was lying on the bed without much cloth, he swore again, if it wasn't for the fireplace, the cold would have hurt her, he immediately moved to her and placed the warm blanket over her body.

He consulted the book again and gave Lily three another goblet full of potions and saw the color return to her face. Just one unhealed wound was still there, below her collarbone, the spell has broke the shield and had hit her there, he searched two books and then found the picture of that injury, it was a curse, he read about its treatment and searched the room for the items, he applied the said lotions and potions on the wound, slowly the bluish scar began lightening. He felt that her temperature has risen, he consulted the book again, it was her body fighting against the injuries now, he gave her another potion as said in the book and felt her temperature returning to normal.

He looked at her legs, the bluish bruise on her toe has disappeared now. She moaned in her sleep as James applied a lotion over her forehead to calm her mind.

Now, that he was sure that she will be okay, he looked at his own injuries and all the pain hit him at once, they all had gone when James was treating Lily but had returned once James' mind has relaxed. This, James thought, This right here is the proof that love makes you stronger his love for Lily has helped him to save her.

He removed his shirt sitting on the bed, he wanted a better look at his injuries, a mirror appeared in front of him, his face was just as horrible as Lily's face or the new transfigured face had been before, and he saw that he has a cut on his neck and shoulder, his entire red hand was bloody, it was his blood and her's blood, he cleaned his hand and started applying lotion on it and speaking the spells on them, his face or Jack's face has a burn on the cheek and side of his neck and ear, he treated them, it was much difficult to treat wounds like this and he had the nostalgic feeling of summer when he would return to Leaky Cauldron, once he was so badly hurt that he has to mutter advice to Peter in his half-conscious state, that was a horrible night but not as horrible as tonight.

"James," Lily groaned behind him.

Shit, he should have given her the sleeping potion.

"I am here, Lily, relax," he replied as he turned and held her hand.

"Stay," she spoke softly.

"I am, Lily, I am just beside you," he moved up the bed closer to her, and he then returned to healing his wounds.

"It was one hell of a night," she chuckled after five minutes, her eyes still closed, James smiled too. "It was a thrilling adventure."

"Yeah, Ms. Evans, it was a thrilling adventure," he half laughed as he healed the final cuts.

"Are you okay?" she asked, her hands resting on his back.

"Yeah, Lils, never felt so high in life," he said putting back the lotions, he picked up the potions now and drank it, awful taste, he picked up another bottle and drank it, he felt relaxed now. Lily was drawing patterns on his back absent-mindedly.

"What happened after I was hit by that spell and fell to the ground, I wasn't able to see anything I crouched to a nearby wall, behind a car, cast a shield charm around me, and was ready to use the portkey. There was thick red smoke and there were shrieks all around me," she said. "I remember our plan working perfectly against those three death eaters, but then seven more arrived, I brought down three of them, but I... I saw that young boy was killed and I wasn't able to protect him," she choked.

They had watched the boys' family from the balcony of his house, snow was falling around James and Lily as they sat waiting for the three death eaters. They had heard how excited the boy was, it was his birthday, his eleventh birthday, and he was happily telling his parents and his grandfather that now he can go to Hogwarts, both Lily and James had seen themself in that boy. The only problem for the boy was that his grandfather was a muggleborn and his grandmother a muggle, so he too was a muggleborn, the death eaters were behind his parents, and had gotten their kid too. James and Lily had warned them as soon as the death eaters arrive. The father has run out to fight the death eaters, while the mother had stayed inside with the son and the grandfather.

When Thanatos and Andraste were able successfully caught the three death eaters, the boy and mother had come out to thank them but at that moment seven more death eaters had arrived, it caused panic, the family freaked out and couldn't think of what to do. Not everyone is able to act in life-threatening situations.

If the three family members weren't there then James and Lily could easily have used their reserve plan which they had made for such occasions, which gave them the opportunity to flee or to injure the opponent but since using that plan might have led to the death of the three, James and Lily decided to fight.

It was tonight that James had seen how powerful Lily could be, she was fighting four of them alone, she was radiating true power, the father was engaged in a duel too and the mother was in another, the son was hiding behind his mother. Thanatos has disappeared for a second from the fight to call the Aurors and to ensure that they win against the death eaters, not his best plan but it worked, to be honest, it failed but gave them the much-needed time against the death eaters.

He thought of releasing the final trap of using blinding lights and bats and crows, and explosions to distract the death eaters, it did help but it also freaked them and made the death eaters to do their business fast and run away, as they weren't able to find out was going on around them. It also freaked out the family as they didn't know something like this will happen.

Lily knew about it so she maintained her composure and injured a death eater badly, now she was fighting against two of them, though she was distracted as the mother was failing, Lily had rushed to help her by throwing a strong spell which James had no idea of, Lily was in her attempt to rescue the mother, the kid and was fighting the two death eater while James had taken the position of the father who has rushed off to help his family, James was fighting two death eaters, he knew Lily was facing four along with the family, and then he saw through the corner of his eyes Lily bringing down two death eaters to ground and rescuing the father from another death eater, there was a loud bang as her shield broke and she fell to the ground shrieking in pain, James called after her, there were three death eaters left, the family James noticed had panicked and saw that the son was separated as his parents order him to run inside, but that has given the death eaters a clear view of the boy and he has killed the boy.

The green flash of light had brought back the memory of Amy's death, he just like that time was involved in a duel, while others were falling, he knew that if he didn't act fast the family along with Lily will die too.

The anger rose inside him and he used his best trick, he escaped the two death eaters he was dueling with, and then has released thick red smoke in the air, it was so dense that nothing could be seen, he has then used his deer instinct, used his ears and attacked the death eaters, Thanatos was angry, for the first time he has lost someone on this occasion, he could hear the cries of the two parents, their cries, he was reminded of his parents, uncle, aunt, Remus' mum, he tonight was real Thanatos, all the three remaining death eaters were silenced, one of them has tried to use fire to escape but Thanatos didn't cared, he faced the fire and reached for the death eater, all three of them will not attack or kill anyone again, Thanatos hasn't used the killing curse, but the spells he has used were enough to ensure that one of them will die if not treated within ten minutes, while the other two were brutally injured, they will not be able to speak again, he has made sure of that, they will not able to use their hands again.

No help came for them in the next ten minutes, only Aurors arrived, that to find ten death eaters, three of them dead, and a victim, an eleven-year-old boy, died on his birthday.

"Well, I think Dumbledore will know by now that I am still active," James sighed lying next to her.

"Why?" she asked she tried to turn to him, but winced and decided to remain in her original position.

"The news about the incident will spread like fire, I think, I got out of control," said James looking straight up at the ceiling.

"At least we both are alive," Lily said holding his hand. "How we escaped?"

"I made that thick smoke and used my hearing abilities as a stag to locate and kill the death eaters," James said.

"Kill?"

"Yeah, one of them had heard your name, when you fell I used your name and they might have made the connection that it was you, so, I injured them pretty badly, one was burned by his own fire, the other I used ten hexes continuously on him, he was the one who has killed the boy, and the third I stabbed in the stomach with the antler, I had disarmed him, but he knew that I was using hearing skills so he had gone quiet, I transformed into the stag, could make out his hood and run straight to him and then had hexed him more, I think he died there. I am sorry, I fucked up," he said his voice breaking.

"I thought I was imagining you calling my name," she let out a chuckle to divert his mind.

"The others didn't hear me using your name, as they were shouting themself, but one of the death eaters had heard me, he had repeated the name, and I am not good at oblivating so I did what my instinct told me," he confessed. "It was just like the time Amy died, and I got burdened by guilt and anger and fear of losing you. I am sorry, I didn't intended to kill him, I didn't knew what else to do, I was afraid."

Lily summoned all her strength and moved to face him, she placed her hands on his face, "It's okay James, they were killers and your intention wasn't wrong, it was the only option there, and don't forget you saved four lives tonight and have saved countless others, sometimes a warrior has to kill. A soldier fights in a war and has to kill an opponent soldier, it is his duty, his responsibility, he has to do it to save his motherland, and that's what you did, a soldier is not a killer, James, he is a hero.

"You didn't commit murder James, you stopped them from committing murder, and you stopped them from coming after me or my family, I don't know how many 'Lily' named witches are there but it would have made it clear that you were a normal wizard and that would lead into many attacks."

James nodded and turned to look at her, he rested his hand on her cheek, "How are you feeling?"

"I am fine now, thanks, for saving me," she smiled.

"So, you are not angry at me for killing him?"

Lily shook her head, "You are not a murderer, you are so soft-hearted that you never killed a fly," she smiled and James mirrored her. "You are a good healer," she said looking down at her body, where she was still feeling pain, all the scars had healed but were still visible.

"I used the books to consult," he said.

"Where are my clothes?" she asked as she noticed she was wearing only two things.

"Sorry, they were stained by blood and soil, and I had to apply the lotion so I removed them, sorry for not taking your permission." Lily laughed at him.

"You are such a gentleman, I forgive you, and thanks again," she said still laughing. She then noticed the clock. "How long have we been here?"

"Three hours I think, it's six, so we returned around three,"

"How long was I out?"

"Two and a half hours," he informed her.

"We should get some sleep, I don't think I can attend class today," she said, and James agreed.

"Out of all the eight nighttime adventures, we never missed a class, but today in the ninth adventure we will miss a class."

Suddenly Lily sat up, and James sat up looking worried, "What happened?"

"We can't miss the class, they all know now that there was someone else with Thanatos last night, and Peter will able to figure it out and there's a chance others will too, we have to go to class."

"But you are in no condition to attend class, you need relaxation,"

"You don't understand Dumbledore will figure out that I was the one with you, if we both do not return, and he might neglect that it was you, if you are in your class, but if we will not be there then Dumbledore surely will connect the dots."

James had to agree with her, "Let's go to charms classroom, it's first thing in the morning, and it's always open, we will take the last seat and take a nap."

"Excellent," said Lily.

After taking more potions, they both reached the charms class and took a nap, this was how they spent their day, taking short naps in between classes, the news of yesterday's event wasn't in the paper as the events occurred late in night, so evening post will have it and tomorrow it will be spread to the whole castle. All the time Lily has to take support of James to walk as she felt so weak that she thought she couldn't stand on her own legs for more than two minutes.

At dinner, Dumbledore was absent much to the relief of James as he couldn't look into the eyes of the old man.

"If he doesn't turn for the next two days then I will not have to see him till next year," James whispered to Lily, who nodded sadly.

"What are you two up to, do you both have sex all night long or what?" asked Sirius as they all sat in the common room.

"We do, and we don't get tired," said Lily and James grinned.

"What are the plans for Christmas?" asked Mary.

"Mum and dad will be staying at James' house, and so will I," Marls said happily, winking at Lily and James.

"I will stay with James too, Euphemia sent a letter to me, ordering me to spent Christmas there," said Sirius winking at Marls who rolled her eyes.

"I will go to James' house first then will go to my house on Christmas and then will return back to James' house and then will go to my house two days before the wedding," said Lily.

"When's the wedding?" asked Mary.

"Fourth January, two days before the next term begins," said Lily.

"Why are you spending so much time at Prongs' house?" asked Sirius.

"He is my boyfriend and my mum and dad themself said I can spend time with The Potters, because Petunia though has agreed to make me bridesmaid, doesn't wants Vernon's family to know how stupid freak I am," said Lily angrily.

It was true since the wedding has came closer Petunia has started giving Lily the cold shoulder again, this was to impress the Dursleys and Lily has doubt that Vernon has a major hand in it, as he was the only one who knew that Lily was a witch, Lily had spent an entire day ranting angrily about Vernon and occasionally inserting Petunia into it when she has received the letter from her sister. Jame knew that she was to break down and cry at any moment so he has stayed by her side the whole day, thus facing the wrath of Lily Evans, others would look at them and say Lily hated James, but only they both knew and now their friends had learned too that Lily does this to James because she only let down her guards in front of him, and after shouting at James for whole ten minutes she had fallen into his arms crying, she was hurt that her sister has listened to that Vernon and was not considering to make her bridesmaid.

"Really Padfoot, when will you mature?" asked Remus shaking his head.

Lily used this as an excuse to leave the group, James understood and stiid closer to her they walked very close, so as not to show that Lily had trouble walking.

While in the common room Sirius received lessons from others on when to speak and what to speak.

The next day Lily felt much better, but her heart sank during breakfast as they came to know that Sirius' father has died three days ago and his mother has refused to tell Sirius about it, he wasn't even invited to the funeral.

When Sirius has heard the news he has just walked off, James told the others that this is Sirius' way of griefing, he spends time locked in a room for three hours and then only talks to others, all this while he is locked, he jots down all his emotions to feel better.

After lunch, Marlene has went to talk to Sirius and hasn't returned. This incident thus told them where Regulus has disappeared few days ago.

In the evening the worst fear of James came true, he was sitting with others in the common room talking about Sirius and his father, Sirius and Marls were upstairs in boys' dorm since lunch. It was then that a fifth approached James and handed him a parchment. James looked at Lily and they both exchanged concerned looks.

Dear James,

I would like to meet you at my office at 6 p.m. today. Kindly come along to my office. I hope you your friends are coping well during these difficult times.
Albus Dumbledore.

P.S. I ate Lemon Drops yesterday.

"I am coming with you," Lily told him when she noticed his pale face.

"You don't have to," said James. "I can manage."

"No, you can't, I am coming with you," she said in the tone that meant she was not backing down.

"Thanks," smiled James, he was very grateful to have Lily's company, she was his morale booster and has the ability to help him in these situations, she has talked to him for an hour consoling him that he was not a murderer and it wasn't his fault. And now she has understood that James will not be comfortable to talk to Dumbledore properly.

She was still feeling very weak, James noticed it and helped her, "I think we should go to Poppy and get you checked," he whispered worriedly.

"Where are you two going?" asked Peter.

"To see Dumbledore, he called me, I think some head stuff," said James.

"Or does it have to do with it?" Peter whispered showing James today's Daily Prophet, James and Lily had forgotten to check the prophet as at that time news of Sirius' father demise has reached them, so they had been focused on that all day.

James read the paper quickly and saw Lily tense beside him. The family had told the reporters how their son had died and how Thanatos along with another figure, Andraste, were their to help them. It also mentioned the death of a dead eater named Bulstrode.

Peter spoke more quietly, "Is it someone else or was it you? You were not here that night and is Andraste Lily?"

"You can't tell anyone please, Wormtail," pleaded James.

"Of course I won't, but you should have taken me with you," complained Peter.

"We didn't wanted to put you in danger Wormy, and here it would have asking you to leave the castle with us. Trust me we were worried that you will get injured," said Lily.

"And I have been making excuse that I was spending night with Lily, so that's why Sirius has left me, you know if you were missing too, he would have suspected, and if not he then Remus," explained James.

Peter nodded, "But I want to be involved in next one."

"That will be helpful, we sure need more help," said Lily unconsciously placing her hand at the collarbone where it still hurt.

James nodded, "We will come up with some excuse." James was glad to have Peter's support now, after the last incident he was shaken to his core, and so was Lily, not everything goes according to plan, how closely they had escaped death, he thought.

Dumbledore looked up as the two students entered the office, he hasn't expected to see Lily Evans here too, but then he was not shocked too.

"Ah. . . James, and I see Lily has accompanied you too," he greeted them.

"Sorry Professor," Lily said. "He was a little worried and I wanted to accompany him."

The old man smiled, "I appreciate that, please take a seat. So, I am correct in assuming that you know what extra thing James does?" Lily nodded. "James, you know you have broken many rules by leaving the castle without permission."

"Sorry Professor, but this . . .this head post, this is not what I want, I want to help in the war and not sit comfortably in the castle while others die around me," James spoke up.

"Professor, you can't punish him for rescuing others, and the rules were only broken for welfare. And if the rules are broken for a good cause then it isn't wrong," Lily stated. "And he did saved lives, and I don't see anything that can be most virtuous than saving lives."

Dumbledore smiled at her, "I wasn't going to give him punishment Lily, I was merely stating facts and the point that I was quite disappointed in him and his partner in crime."

Dumbledore looked at the pair with curiosity, and they both looked back with determination, Dumbledore chuckled, making them confuse.

"I wanted to give you experience of leadership, James, and what's better than Head duty," he told them. "But now I see that you have Lily by your side to help you with that."

"Why you wanted to give me leadership experience?"

"I will come to it soon, first I wanted to talk about previous night events," Dumbledore said and Lily noticed color leaving James' face, she took his hands in her own and pressed it.

James was afraid that Dumbledore will ask for all his secrets, his secret group, and about James' foolishness.

"I went to meet the parents, it was a very painful loss for them, losing their son is the worst thing that can happen to any parent. They told me how two of the figures warned them about the attack, and how your partner protected them, it was rather unfortunate that they lost their son, but nevertheless I want to thank you and your partner, who I think is present here," he pointed at Lily, "for protecting them, and others too."

"How did you know it was me?" Lily asked.

"I have quite a good idea about what goes around in my school, sure I am not able to give much time but I keep an open eye and ear and nose too, to all of the activities around my school and the fact that I myself have studied here for seven years is an extra perk," Dumbledore winked at them.

"There's a difference between killing for pleasure and killing for a good cause," he spoke to James. "I know James that you have always thought that killing can be avoided in a war, yes I know your views but I hope that you understand now that sometimes situation arises where killing is the last option. Your parents, uncle and aunt all have been Aurorsm and have killed many death eaters, will you say that they are evil person?"

"No, professor, of course not, they are the best, most kind hearted and good people I have ever known," James said instantly.

"Exactly, that is my point," Dumbledore walked and stood in front of James. "That night you didn't killed a person or human, you killed an evil figure, if it's any relief than know that Bullstrode was one of the most evil death eater, he has been responsible for killing many people.

Don't think of yourself as a bad person James, you are not like Tom Riddle, he killed for pleasure, and all the other wrong reasons, and I believe that the situation must have gone out of hands that you killed him, Right?"

Lily spoke for James and told Dumbledore how the situation was, how he has heard her name, and how James has panicked.

"There it is, the proof that you are a good person, so don't feel guilty about it, James. I believe that I have a good judgement of a person's character, so believe me when I say that you James are a good person. Not every killer is a murderer. It is hard, after first kill it feels really bad but you did it for good cause so don't feel guilty."

The pressure that James was feeling over his heart since he has killed the death eater lifted up, he felt a new respect and affection for the old man, he felt ashamed for his comments last year regarding Dumbledore, then after all he was angry at that time. "Thank you very much Professor. It did help a lot."

Dumbledore smiled at him and offered him a bowl of tofees, he took one of the toffee from it, the old man then offered the bowl to Lily.

"Professor you never told how you got this injury," James pointed at his black hand.

"I was a little foolish, acted without thinking as curiosity over took me," he sighed sadly returning to his seat. "Marvolo's ring has a curse around it, you see, if not for my good knowledge of dark magic, and Slughorn and White, I would have been dead by now."

"I would have died then, if you wouldn't have reached the spot before me," said James.

"Well a lesson to learn from my mistake, be curious but be cautious too."

"Professor, Tom Riddle had found out from The Grey Lady the location of Rvenclaw' diadem and has found it too in Albanian Forest, and made it into a Horcrux, but I don't know what he did with it where he hid it," James told the old man who became very attentive.

"I will try to interrogate the Grey Lady and would search in the forest too, do you have any other information?" James shook his head. "Well, then I think it's time I tell you about why I wanted you to have leadership experience. I have created a secret organization to fight Voldemort and was hoping that you and Lily too will be interested in joining it."

"You mean The Order Of Phoenix? So is it for real?" asked Lily.

"Yes, it is, and we are looking forward to more reinforcement. So, I was hoping you both will be interested to join it." James and Lily nodded. "Though I wasn't going to tell you all until you graduate, and I still can't make you member while you are at school. But it looks like you are a little too eager to help, though I can't involve you in the order as others will question it and it will draw more attention, I can do you a favor since you have proved your worth, I will turn my back against some night wanderings, though my advice will be to be careful."

"We try to avoid direct fights as much as possible," James told him.

"Though I have many questions for you, but for now I will not push you. Another piece of advice though, Voldemort might be coming after you, by you I mean not only Thanatos but James Potter and Lily Evans too."

"Why? I don't understand," asked Lily her heart beating fast.

"The death eaters had sent an invitation to you both to join them but you both refused, now Voldemort himself has decided to confront you both and offer you to join him, he has started this since his death eaters failed to get more recruits, so he is going out there himself and using his terror to ask people to join him and if they refuse he kills them, so be careful."

"My parents," Lily choked.

"Have been given extra protection by both the ministry and the order," said Dumbledore.

"Why is he obsessed with us?" James asked angrily.

"A death eater has gained Voldemort's trust and was the one to suggest names of you both, they are very well aware of your talents and to prevent you from joining me, are going to come after you, this time it might be Voldemort himself."

Lily buried her face in her hands, this was her worst fear, Voldemort coming after her, James, and their parents.

James helped Lily in getting out of the Headmaster's office.

"Do we have any leads?" she asked at once.

James hesitated before nodding, "They might try to attack some wizarding family, the informant is not 100 percent confident."

"We should go," she said to him. James thought she must be joking, she could barely walk properly, she was weak and still recovering and here she wanted to go on another adventure.

"You are not in a state to go," he pointed out.

"I am fine, and am capable to go," she said rather angrily. "We need to protect them."

"This Lily is not right, if we go like this it will be of no help," he said keeping his voice calm.

"You don't understand, they can die, James, just like that boy," she was shouting now, and he was afraid someone will hear them.

"Stop shouting, someone can hear us,"

"They lost a child, James, I saw the pain on their faces, I failed to protect him,"

"It wasn't your fault," he pressed.

"It was James, if only I would have acted fast, it could have been prevented," she argued. "We should go, can't let more get hurt."

"No, we are not going, you are not in that state and we are not prepared,"

"You think I am weak, I am not, I am capable of fighting them,"

"You are not thinking properly."

"Fine. I will go alone then, give me the information of the place,"

"You are not going anywhere alone, I am taking you to the Hospital wing first."

"I don't want to go there, I am fine," she said angrily.

"No, you are not, stop being stubborn for once."

Till now they were talking in low voices but now Lily shouted as anger overtook her, "You stop bossing me around, what I do and what I don't do is none of your business."

A few people who were making their way to Great Hall heard her shouting and slowed their paces to listen what was going on.

"It is my business," James snapped at her and regretted instantly. "It is my business to make sure you don't do something stupid and are safe."

"I don't need you to protect me," she shouted, tears forming in her eyes.

"You are acting stupidly Lily, try to relax, you don't have to suppress your feelings," he tried to hug her but she jerked him off.

"I am not stupid. You are, you always grin and laugh like stupid when in reality it is all fake. JAMES POTTER FAKES HIS GRIN. You act as though everything is alright, that you are happy, but you are a liar, you fake things. You are a hypocrite, you say to me to not suppress my feelings but you yourself do the same thing," tears were slowly falling through her eyes as she shouted.

"You are not in your right state," he said to her trying to hug her but she jerked him off again. "Don't make this hard Lily, it's already tiring enough."

"Then don't try, leave me alone," she shouted.

"Really?" he asked looking straight into her eyes. "Do you really want me to leave you?"

"Yes," she shouted, her one hand reaching at the spot where she was hurt while the other rubbed her head. She couldn't bear to look into his eyes.

"We need to talk Lily, it was a mistake, I was being selfish, I forgot about you, so let's go talk and get done with this," he said running his hand through his hair. How could he ignore the fact that she has seen a boy losing his life in front of her? He remembered how much it has hurt to see Amy die.

"What has been done is done, I don't want to talk," she said her voice dropping now.

He looked around and saw that a crowd has gathered around them. He cursed internally.

"Look, this is a personal matter, we can't talk about it here, come with me," he said taking her hand, she removed her hand from his grip. "You need closure just like me." He gripped her hand again, she tried to shake his hand off. She was afraid to talk about it. "Don't make me force you," he warned her, sometimes he couldn't understand why she tries to bury her feelings under anger.

"You won't dare, leave me," she said looking at him.

James cursed himself, he took out his wand and pointed it at her, she took out her own wand. he was ready to create a shielding charm around him. Before James could say anything to her, another wand was pointed at him.

Severus Snape was having the time of his life, he heard her shouting, and saw a crowd of students, he too joined and watched the fight between Potter and Lily, his chance at Lily has gone up. He immediately took her side the moment he saw theirwands out.

"Leave her, Potter, she doesn't wants you," Snape smirked.

James wasn't sure that he wanted Snape to face Lily's wrath or not, it would be fun to watch but Lily needed him, and he was sure that Snape will end in hospital wing, beside Lily is weak and if she uses hard spells she will hurt herself.

"Trust me Snape, you don't want to interfere unless you want to go to hospital wing," he said to Snape and as on spot Lily's wand was pointed at Snape too.

"Don't come in between," said Lily through gritted teeth. James used the opportunity and took hold of Lily's hand and pulled her with him, away from all the crowds. He enclosed her in a hug as she began crying.

"Shh..it's okay," he said softly stroking her back. "You tried your best, we can't save everyone."

"He was only eleven, James, he was so happy to join Hogwarts," she cried. "I remember how happy I was to receive my letter."

"I know, every wizard looks forward to their eleventh birthday, I was head over heels mysefl. I wish could have saved him, we tried our best Lily, not your mistake," he soothed her.

"How you handled it?" she choked.

"It gets better by the time, it hurts but time heals it. I remember over the summer, a person was killed by them in front of me, I felt guilty but I told myself I am saving as many as possible."

"I want to sit," she told him as her legs began shaking.

"Let's go to hospital wing," he suggested.

"No, I want to be here with you, she will separate us, and at this moment I don't need medicines, I need you," she spoke softly.

The passageway was not that good spot for privacy but can work as for the moment, he conjured a blanket, sat down on the floor and pulled her on his lap, and wrapped the blanket around them and leaned against the wall.

"Thanks for coping up with my anger and not leaving me," she said in his chest. "Sorry."

"I will never leave you though try not to make it so hard, you need to let your feelings out," he told her.

"And so do you," she said.

"We are the biggest idiots in this case," he smiled.

"Since that night, I have been thinking about when I got my letter, and you know that memory includes happy memories and sad memories, but now it is all sad memory," she told him clutching his shirt tightly. "It has Petunia and Snape, and see now both of them have betrayed me, one used the racial abuse, the other is ignoring me just because I can do magic. I don't understand Petunia, she sometimes get along with me so well just like old days and then she acts totally opposite, and now since she has been influenced by Vernon, she has began hating me more, I don't know what he is telling her that has turned her against me again.

And then there's Snape, I don't think I need to explain how hard he has made it for me to visit that memory, whenever I see him, I remember that he once used to be my friend and now he is a death eater, he betrayed our friendship, it hurts to think that once an innocent boy is now an evil person, supporting the most evil persons in the world. I thought of erasing that memory but it's too precious to erase."

"Never erase it, it was your introduction to wizarding world," James told her as he hugged her tightly.

"Why people have to become bad, James?" she sobbed. "What did they gained to kill that boy?"

"I don't know, Lily. I think they are hungry for power and made wrong choices, thinking it's the right choice," he said sadly. "They are delusional."

"I wish Petunia goes back to loving me and share her happy memories of wedding with me," she whispered. "If Santa was real, and you have to ask him for a gift, any gift, what it would be?"

James replied without taking any time, "A peaceful life. That's all I want, when I was young I wanted to be hero, but now I want just a peaceful life, where you and I can live peacefully with no pain just love and happiness. What about you?"

"I would want to have you, Petunia, our parents, our friends, our loved ones to be with us and not leave us, but if I can't have all of them, I would want to have you," she replied.

"There's nothing wrong in hoping, so we can hope at least to have our gift even though it seems impossible now," he said thinking of a world with no Voldemort, he and Lily sitting together peacefully outside their house on a sunny day watching their children playing, it was just like the time he has spent during easter with Lily, watching Felix playing in the garden.

She looked up at him, her watery green eyes filled with emotions. "Is it stupid to hope that Petunia and Vernon will welcome me with open hearts at the wedding?" she asked James.

"No, it's not, she is your sister, I have seen her and lived with her, she loves you," he replied kissing her forehead.

"And do you think it's wrong to hope that the death eaters will come to their senses and stop killing people?" she couldn't help herself from asking this qestion, James knows how to help her, he knows what to say, she knows he wouldn't lie to her, his words gave warmth to her soul.

"No, it's not wrong. One can hope," James sighed sadly. "We can hope that they come to their sense and see the world with real eyes and not with the eyes that are clouded with the hunger for power and greed."

She still held his gaze, she was looking at him as though he was the answer to everything, "Do you think it's foolish to think we will be alive when the war will end?"

"It's not foolish, it's a good and happy hope, it looks difficult but that doesn't mean we can't, we will try our best, and will hope everything turns out to be good," he told her.

"You are right, we can only hope. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst," she said and he chuckled.

"James, you know, I don't care if I die young or live long, I want to live my life to the fullest, I want to live with you, we will live together even after Hogwarts, we will get married, and go in the war together, I don't want to miss out on living life, I want to enjoy it with you," she said this happily and was lost picturing her life with him, a huge smile on her face as she too saw herself sitting with him and watching their kids play in the garden.

James felt that this is all he needed in his life, the smile on her face was the best thing he has ever seen and he wanted her to smile like this all time and never cry.