[6]

The previous scene gave way to one that unveiled a mostly unlit hallway. Harry and Ginny stumbled upon Lily, whose bright Prefect badge shown in the dark.

"Lumos."

"Patrol duty," Ginny whispered to Harry, as the three walked down the hall in silence.

A few minutes passed by before a voice came echoing down the passageway. Lily made a move to open her mouth, but stopped short when she heard the conversation.

"So, Snivelly. How would you like to take on a dare?"

Lily paused for a moment before extinguishing her wand. Careful not to make any excess noise, she retreated into the shadows and listened to the unfolding conversation.

Sirius strode up to Snape, who was walking with his head tilted towards the ground and had not taken any notice to Sirius.

Snape narrowed his eyes in suspicion, and his eyes darted around Sirius, checking to see if he was truly alone. He asked slowly, "What sort of dare?"

"The kind of dare where you find out a Marauder's secret. But are you brave enough?" Sirius dropped his voice to almost a whisper.

"Try me." Despite his calm voice, Snape's face showed signs of distress.

"I know you spied on Madam Pomfrey and Moony going down to the Whomping Willow just last week. And you simply couldn't keep your nosy, oily head out of it, could you? I see you've been snooping around." Sirius spat out in a disgusted tone and suddenly slammed the front of Snape's book shut, revealing a worn book with the embossed letters, Vampire Infestations and How To Get Rid of Them.

Sirius eyed Snape with naked contempt before the corners of his mouth turned upright ever so slightly. "Poke the Whomping Willow's knot with a stick and follow the passageway to the Shrieking Shack." Sirius's smirk widened to show his gleaming teeth. "I dare you."

[7]

Abruptly, the Pensieve lurched Harry and Ginny from the previous scene and shifted the setting to reveal James sprinting in a corridor to catch up with a retreating redhead. The two were headed outside in the direction of the Whomping Willow.

"Lily!"

A hoarse voice called out after her. Even with all of his athleticism, James Potter had to catch his breath.

Lily spun around and shot James an icy glare. "I can't believe that you and your silly friends are daring Severus to do something rubbish, yet again. I'm stopping him from doing something foolish." She turned and took a few steps before faltering to a stop again. "It's not fair, you know. He's lonely, and you have all of these friends. You're much more popular than he is, yet all you do in your spare time is pick on him."

"Lily, please listen to me. I'm sorry. I-I've been picking on Sni-Snape these past few years because I thought I could make you see that he's not as cool as me, as popular, or as taken with you. I've realized now that I've been acting like a total prick, and you'd never like me if I continued to act that way. I want you to actually like me."

Lily faced him. James could not read Lily's eyes, which normally were such a startling bright green color, but were currently darkened with a variety of emotions. She stared at James for a few more seconds before looking away and breaking their brief connection.

James mustered up his resolve and continued, "Lily, I know you're probably not going to believe me, but I'll go after him. Just tell me that you won't follow us. It's dangerous."

Upon hearing his words, Lily opened her mouth to protest. "Are you joking? If I left Severus in your hands, you'd gladly let him be murdered!"

"Lily. Please. I promise you that I will protect him from harm."

For a while, Lily did not speak, and her expression was unreadable.

Finally, "Go."