A/N: I'm really, really enjoying writing this story now, and I'm putting all my other fics on hold for a while as I obsessively plan this one out. :) I hope you guys are enjoying it, too! I really like this chapter – think Lily really grows stronger in it. I think she was still a bit of a little girl before this point. So anyway.

Happy reading!

A Celebration and the Dark Truth

And friends with them Lily became. James, Lily and Remus were eventually able to be around each other without it being extremely awkward, and they got on with their normal lives, minus the ridiculous drama. Of course, the Slytherins were still a pain in all their arses, but they refused to lower to their level. However, Sirius and James vowed that if they ever tried anything else, they'd regret it.

Sirius and Dorcas were an official couple by the beginning of December (it'd taken some encouraging from both the female and male parties on both, because of their 'being a couple is overrated' nonsense), and Lily had never seen Dorcas so happy, or Sirius for that matter (he'd also toned down the cockiness, and, of course, quit the frequent flirtations with other girls).

Lily hadn't seen much of Severus at all, nor his friends. Not that she particularly wanted to, but it made her nervous. She just hoped he wasn't up to anything fishy, because it always ended up badly when he tried to do anything of the sort. Although, Mulciber and Avery had been suspended from Hogwarts for a month after what they did to Mary, who'd healed rather quickly considering the amount of Dark Magic that was used upon her.

Despite the fact, Lily herself was happier than she'd been the entire year. She was very thankful for Alice's wakeup call, and she was more successful in general now. She was doing well in her classes, still had time for her friends, and even went to each of the Quidditch games this year, unlike the previous years. She'd never really fancied the sport, but since many of her friends were now on the team, she made it a point to always go.

Therefore, she was making her way down to the Quidditch pitch with Mary, Alice, Frank, Remus and Peter in the freezing December weather. They were discussing how Gryffindor was surely to win because Ravenclaw's seeker was injured and they had to use a backup.

"I mean, Linton's good, but the Gryffindor seeker's definitely better," Frank said.

"A good thing too, that Barker's out – he was an aggressive player, wasn't he?" Mary asked, frowning.

"Yeah, but Lingly could take him," Remus pointed out, "And if he can take Barker, he can definitely take Linton. I mean –"

Then, Wilkes, Rosier and Snape walked by, bumping into Remus and Lily – who were on the ends – on their way around them. Wilkes and Rosier snickered, but Snape just made cold eye contact with Remus. It gave Lily the shivers. She tried to catch his eye desperately, to convey her worry through her gaze, but he only glanced at her briefly before turning forward with his friends again.

"Watch where you're walking, you bloody –" Frank yelled, but Alice cut him off by putting her hand on his arm.

"We don't need to satisfy them with a reaction, Frank," she murmured, glaring at them, "It'll only cause another pointless fight."

Remus glowered at them. "They're lucky James and Sirius aren't here. They don't' have quite as good of tempers."

He and Frank glared, Peter looked a bit sheepish and the girls looked wary. This feud was becoming more heated than was necessary for school rivals, but Lily knew that once they were out of school, the Slytherins would be on one side and they would be on another. It wouldn't seem so pointless then.

XXX

The defeat of Ravenclaw was celebrated by a huge party in the Gryffindor common room that night, and James and Sirius even managed to sneak firewhiskey in – how they did this, she would never understand.

Lily was sitting on the couch and was having a pleasant discussion – over the much-too-loud music – about an assignment Professor McGonagall assigned with a fellow classmate, Tom Jerry, when James plopped on the couch next to her.

"You're talking about homework?" he exclaimed exasperatedly, and Lily could tell he was a bit tipsy. She shared a knowing glance with Tom and he left with a nod and a smirk.

"Do you have a problem?" she chuckled, studying his flushed cheeks and lazy posture. Yes, he was definitely a bit intoxicated, but Lily wasn't going to touch the horrid stuff – she learned her lesson about what it did to the innocent drinker.

"Yes, in fact, I do," he slurred, "This is a party, Lily, and I will not allow you to talk about such depressing things."

Lily couldn't stop giggling at him and she nodded. "Alright, I understand. It won't happen ever again."

"Good," he said pleasantly, then seemed struck by an idea. "Come dance with me!"

Lily glanced behind her in horror at the group of people dancing and shook her head vigorously. "No, no, no, no, no –"

"Come on! We were pretty good at that Ministry Ball, remember?" he said, a twinkle in his eye.

"James, that was different –"

"Come on." He demanded without her consent, grabbing her hand and dragging her from the couch.

"No, no, no, no, no, no, no –" she repeated as he forced her to the group of dancing people and immediately started twirling her around. After about five seconds, she couldn't help but laugh and play along. That's what happened when you hung out with the Marauders – you just started to go with it.

"Oi, not the dancing king and queen again! They'll blow us all out of here!" Sirius yelled, grinning as he and Dorcas passed by them.

They laughed and James shoved his shoulder, but then continued their ridiculous, and quite frankly, terrible dancing. Lily laughed again and looked up at James, who was busy doing an intricate, solo dance move that he probably would not have done had he been sober (or maybe he would've), and the thought suddenly occurred to her that she was so happy to have James in her life, that she'd finally let him in. Without him, she'd still be the uptight, goody two-shoes Lily Evans. He put the fun into her life that she'd been missing out on for sixteen years, and she would be forever grateful.

Her thoughts were interrupted as he grabbed her hand and spun her again, and she laughed whole-heartedly, hoping her life would stay this blissful.

Of course she was wrong.

XXX

Lily rushed along the main corridor towards Transfiguration, a rare moment when she was not with her friends due to her running back to her dorm to grab her forgotten textbook. When she was halfway there, Sirius came up from behind her, nearly giving her a heart attack – of course he was skipping class – and he started talking immediately, like he'd been with her the whole time.

"Hey, Lily, I was wondering what I should get Dorcas for Christmas since it's coming up, but I didn't want to actually ask her, 'cause I thought that'd be lame, so I was wondering –"

"Yes, I'll help you, Sirius," she chuckled, "Just stop talking so fast, you're giving me a head ache."

He laughed and opened his mouth to say something, but they heard the familiar cackles of Bellatrix Black from the one of the smaller hallways beside them coming up. They both frowned and walked forward silently, peering around the corner to see Black and Rodolphus Lestrange levitating two first year boys in circles above them, their yells for help silenced.

"Get a professor." Lily whispered, her mind already planning.

"No, I'm not leaving you." he scoffed, "You go, I'll –"

"What? Fight them? Because that worked so well last time." She hissed, looking up at him. "I know how to handle this. Just hurry."

He was about to argue, but she gave him her best authoritative look, and he sighed, running towards McGonagall's room. Lily immediately dropped her things and pulled out her wand, rushing into the corridor.

"Put them down." She demanded, and the two looked over at her with maniacal looks on their faces.

"Oh, Evans the Mudblood," Bellatrix sang, letting the first year fall to the ground with a strangled scream. Lily went to help the small boy, but Lestrange stepped in her way. "What a pleasant surprise."

"Put him down, Lestrange. Gently. Don't you think you've done enough?" she spat, glaring at him. Lestrange regarded her with a frighteningly light expression, then let the boy go without looking, just as roughly as Bellatrix had. The two boys ran forward and Lily knelt down, grabbing them by the shoulders.

"Go to Madam Pomfrey. Tell her what happened. Hurry." She whispered to where the other two couldn't hear.

The two ran off with frightened expressions, and she hated to leave them alone, but Black and Lestrange were hardly just going to let her run off now.

Lestrange chuckled and sidled forward, starting to circle. "Aren't you curious as to why we were being so . . . what would you call it? Mean?" he murmured in her ear with sick amusement. "Their blood – it was like yours."

Lily suppressed a shocked gasp and grimaced, turning her face to look at him. "You're disgusting. Both of you. Muggle-borns and half-bloods alike are just as capable as you, and most are far better people. Your master is a murdering psychopath." she hissed venomously.

"HOW DARE YOU SPEAK OF HIM, YOU FILTHY MUDBLOOD!" Bellatrix screamed, running forward. "CRUCI –"

However, before anything could happen, McGonagall appeared in the corridor then, her wand drawn.

"Black, Lestrange – your wands. Now." She demanded curtly, and the two looked at each other with sneers. Lily actually thought they would try to fight her when none other than the Headmaster of Hogwarts walked into the corridor as well.

"Good afternoon, Miss Black, Mr. Lestrange." Dumbledore said, but without his usual pleasant twinkle. "If you would please come with me to my office, I have some things I would like to discuss with you."

Lily knew they wouldn't dare try to do anything to Dumbledore, and they reluctantly followed, throwing their wands at McGonagall as they passed. Both gave Lily the filthiest glares she'd ever received as they walked from the hallway, and she shivered slightly. She knew she'd pay, one way or another. But it was worth it, to help those little boys.

"Miss Evans, are you alright?" McGonagall asked, walking forward to put her hands on Lily's shoulders.

Lily nodded, her brow furrowed. "Yes, Professor. I just – don't understand."

McGonagall sighed. "Some students in the Slytherin House have been corrupted and brainwashed, Miss Evans, and I am very reluctant to inform you that many other things – more horrific things – are going to happen that you do not understand."

Lily was shaken to the core by McGonagall's words, and was surprised to find she was moved to tears.

McGonagall looked down at the young Gryffindor with pity. None of the Hogwarts students truly knew the horrors of what the Wizarding World was facing these days – they knew only the rubbish the Daily Prophet put out, with was only a fraction of the crimes You-Know-Who was committing. Then McGonagall did something very out of character, and took the young Miss Evans in her arms as she sobbed quietly. Hopefully this would be a wakeup call for her. Hopefully she would warn others.

A war was coming, if it had not already been thrust upon them.

XXX

Lily had relayed the story to everyone a number of times, and James was worried at the look in her eyes lately. A hollow, depressed fog where there had been a light sparkle before. He wondered what possibly would've happened that she wasn't telling them, because he knew it wasn't just what had happened with Lestrange and Black. She'd dealt with them before. Therefore, when everyone else had gone to bed and there were only a couple more people meandering around the common room, James took a seat beside Lily, and studied her as she gazed into the fire.

He didn't even have to say anything before she murmured, "McGonagall said something to me. And it has really scared me up until now, because I'm ready to accept it now. I'm ready to fight for what I think is right," She looked at James and a strong, somehow calm determination now filled her eyes. "You-Know-Who is stronger than the Prophet lets on, I know you know that, and I know Black and Lestrange and those others, even Severus, are his followers. I know they're out killing Muggles – and probably Muggle-born wizards and witches now – every chance they can get. And I'm ready to fight for them, to protect them. I can't just sit around and act like it'll pass anymore. It's time I accept the truth."

She turned her face back to the fire and slipped back into her own thoughts again. James had never felt so impressed with anyone before, and felt another painful swell of affection for her. He wanted to take her in his arms, to brush her hair out of her eyes, to kiss the living daylights out of her, but he knew now was most definitely not the time.

So he just turned to the fire, too, and sat there with her, hoping she understood that him staying with her meant he agreed whole-heartedly.