Thank-you to everyone so far who has been reading Changed, I am so excited about how many people have been reading this. I must say, I do wish more people would review though. This story has had over 1000 hits and only eight reviews... And may I also send a special shout-out to GoLilyandMarauders, thank-you for being my most faithful reviewer!

(I know that it is argued whether Bellatrix and Rodolphus were at Hogwarts at the same time as James and Lily, but I threw them in here. I hope you don't mind!)

Please enjoy and review! Love you all!

Of course, none of this belongs to me; it belongs to J.K. Rowling, the Almighty Queen of writing.

Chapter 7

Lily and James both continued their friendship as usual over the next week. James was scheduling Quidditch practices nearly every day, and with head duties, homework preparing them for NEWTs, and Lily's Slug Club dinners, they barely had any time to just hang around the common room and chat.
Finally, one night Lily looked at her schedule and realized she and James had patrol that evening from 9:00 to 11:00. She checked the time and was surprised when it was already 8:45. Where was James? She hadn't seen him since their last class (charms). She went upstairs to his dorm and knocked politely. No answer. What if he fell asleep? She would have to wake him up; they had to leave in fifteen minutes... She opened the door just a crack, and peeked in.
"James?" she whispered into the room, feeling foolish. He wasn't in sight. She swung the door open all the way an crept in tenatively. James was not there. She felt somewhat intrusive, being in his dorm without permission, but she couldn't help but take this opportunity to learn what she could about her fellow head. She could see that he was certainly loyal to his house; a few large Gryffindor themed banners hung neatly about the room. She could also see that he was a bit messy, but organized, as he had some stray robes strewn across the floor, but his bed was made and his dresser drawers neatly closed. On the wall, above his bookshelf (filled with photo albums, Quidditch books, and school textbooks) he had a collection of pictures, alongside a poster of England's Quidditch team. She went over to it and looked at the pictures. There were a few of him and his parents when James was little; the three of them waved up at her merrily. She couldn't help but smile back at the photo; James's chubby little face was just so adorable! And James was not lying when he had mentioned his mother being beautiful. With gorgeous, wavy, raven-colored hair and vivacious brown eyes, she could see where James got his good looks. His father had light brown hair, that in current pictures was flecked with gray. His green eyes sparkled merrily, as his son's often did. The next few photos were of him and the Marauders. She couldn't help but notice how out-of-place Peter looked next to the self-confident, handsome carelessness of James and Sirius. Then there was Remus, fawn-colored hair, equally good-looking, though slight scarred, and always the most mature and thoughtful one of the group. She'd never told anyone, but she had a crush on Remus in third year. It was just a small fancy, but it had been long ago that she realized any relationship between them would be just a little too... dull. They were far too much alike.
Remus was her friend now, since she discovered he was a werewolf. His symptoms were easy enough to identify for any observant individual that actually read up on magical creatures. When she had told Remus that she knew of his affliction, he had been afraid, afraid that she would tell the other students, or merely reject him and scorn him. But growing up in the muggle world, she hadn't grown up with the judgement and terror of werewolves like other witches and wizards here. So when she told him, earnestly, that she didn't care, it was almost like instant friendship. Remus was a wonderful person, and she pitied him every day for his undeserved misfortune.
Therewere a few other photos of James on the wall, with people she assumed were his relatives. One seemed to be with his grandparents: he was standing in front of Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor alongside a grayed haired woman with bright, joyful eyes, and a friendly-looking old man with knobbly knees and a long black beard. James had a large ice cream, which was melting quickly, so that his hands were covered with the sticky stuff. Lily laughed as she watched the ten-year old James try to suck the ice cream out of the bottom of his cone while his grandmother tried to clean him up with her wand. Lily suddenly felt as though someone was watching her. She turned quickly. James was standing in the doorway with his broom over his shoulder in Quidditch robes and an expression of mild surprise on his face.
"Er." he said.

"James, I'm sorry!" she blurted out, incredibly embarrassed. "I just realized that we have patrol tonight, so I came to look for you, but you didn't answer when I knocked so I came in thinking you might have fallen asleep, because we had to go soon, and I thought I should come wake you up, but then I got distracted and I swear, I was just going to leave when you-" she stopped short at James's amused expression.
"Lily." he said patiently. "I honestly don't care." she was slightly bemused by the truthfulness in his voice. He sincerely did not care that she was snooping around in his room.
"I've lived with four other guys since I was eleven." he gave a crooked smile that made her breath catch. "Do you honestly think I have anything to hide?" he walked into his room, still looking at her appraisingly.
"Oh, well, I don't know." she blushed ferociously, partially because he had caught her in his room, and partially because of her rambling explanation. "Everyone has a secret or two." she said, trying to rid the ruddy tone from her cheeks. James's expression became thoughtful. "I guess you're right." he said pensively. "There is one thing I'm not sure I would want you to see in here..."
"Well." she said, extremely curious about James's secrets. "I apologize. I didn't mean to intrude." she grit her teeth slightly while saying this. She had hated him for the past six years, and now she was apologizing to him. It was not easy. He smirked at her conflicting expression.
"I love listening to you apologize, Lilypad."
"Why?" she wrinkled her nose at him.
"Because it's so difficult for you!" he cried, with exaggerated irritation.
"Usually I dont have a problem with apologizing." Lily sighed in defeat. "It's just you." James smirked again.
"Come here, Lils." he rolled his eyes. Usually if someone used the nickname "Lils" for her, she disliked it heartily, because of Severus's old inclination to call her that. But when James used it, it didn't remind her of old times she missed, it made her think of the present, hope, and new friendships. "I'll show you my deepest, darkest, innermost secret." he whispered mysteriously. She tried not to look too eager, but he apparently could see right through her. "I know you're dying to know!" James teased, motioning her over to his four-poster. He set his broom lovingly onto the bed, and said, "Take a seat." She crossed the room and plopped onto his bed, trying not to look awkward about it while he rummaged through his trunk. "Usually I don't make a habit of leaving this lying about the castle." he said, extracting a fluid and silvery gray piece of sheer fabric . She gasped as he shook it out to it's full length. It rippled like water woven into material, smoother than silk, light as air. It was splendid.
She gasped. "Is that-?" James swung it over his shoulders and clasped it so that his entire body disappeared. She could almost feel her eyes popping out of their sockets. "An invisibility cloak!" she breathed, looking at James's floating head in awe. He grinned as he walked around the room. She giggled. Just seeing someone's head float around the room of it's own accord was extremely bizarre. "Where'd you get it?" she asked curiously.
"My dad." James smiled and put the hood up so that he was completely invisible. The floor creaked with quiet footsteps, but had no idea where he had gone.
"James!" she said, alarmed. "That is very disconcerting!" Silence. "James..." she said warily.
"Boo." James's face appeared inches from hers.
"Gahh!" she shrieked, and punched him on the arm. He didn't flinch, but it certainly did hurt her hand.
His didn't move, but stayed, mere inches away from her. She could feel his breath caress her cheek softly when he exhaled, washing her over with the scent of mild pine. She felt her breath catch in her throat as she realized just how close their lips were. She couldn't help but glance down at his perfect smile... his perfect lips...
Their eyes met. His were dilated, so that they appeared to be a luminous chocolate brown with flecks of green and gold. He grinned before leaning back and whipping off the cloak. It had only been a mere second, but her brain was more frazzled that Tuney's hair in the morning.
"So- where- where'd your dad get it?" she asked, trying to resume normal conversation though her heart pounded wildly in her chest.
"Oh, it's been passed down from generation to generation." he said, folding the cloak carefully and waving his wand over it.
"What are you doing?" she inquired, puzzled.
"Shrinking it." he answered, as the cloak reduced in size so that it would fit a doll.
"Hmm." Lily mused as James tucked it in his pocket.
"Blimey!" James's eyebrows shot up into his messy hair as he looked at his wristwatch. "It's five to nine, we'd better get going."
"Oh, right." Lily said, still trying to re-organize her thoughts.
"One second." she dashed from James's room and into hers. She quickly grabbed her favorite perfume and misted herself with it. She ran a brush through her hair and gave her teeth a quick but thorough brushing. She checked herself in the mirror and obsessively brushed her hair again.
"It's James Potter." she breathed to herself, trying to calm down her system. "You don't care what he thinks of you." despite the fact that she didn't care, she took an extra second to lay on a thin coat of her raspberry lipbalm. "Okay, sorry!" she called to James as she walked to his closed door. "I'm ready now."
"Me too." James opened the door. He had changed out of his Quidditch robes and was wearing light-colored, loose, but not baggy jeans, and a simple black t-shirt... but bloody hell, was that boy good to look at in black. She managed to make a disproving face at his attire. It seemed that was the only way to keep her emotions in check. Mmm... those biceps though...
"What?" He asked, looking down at himself self self-consciously.
"You don't look very official, that's all." she shrugged. He turned and walked back into his room, reappearing a moment later with his head boy badge pinned onto his jean pocket. She couldn't help but roll her eyes at his attempt to look official.
She also took off her robe, so that they would at least match. And so she wouldn't feel weird dressed for school when he wasn't. She also pinned her badge onto her white V-neck, pretending not to notice that James had definitely just checked her out. She desperately tried not to be pleased by this, but failed.
"Okay." she said, tossing her robes back into her room carelessly. "Now I'm ready." James gave her a cheeky grin and set off down the stairwell. "So how has your week been?" James asked convivially. "Oh, you know, the usual." Lily shrugged. "Homework, being bored to death by Professor Binns, avoiding Severus and his creepy friends, sent a letter to Tuney, Mum, and Dad, docked about a hundred points from this Hufflepuff girl-"
"Sorry." James interrupted her. "But do you and your sister... write to each-other often?"
She pursed her lips and shook her head sadly. "I write to her... often... but she never replies." James looked at her, sympathy filling his vibrant eyes. His hand twitched towards hers as if he wished to squeeze it in comfort, but he stopped in midair somewhat awkwardly. She feinted unawareness and kept walking in no particular direction.
"So how was your week?" she asked conversationally. James stepped back into the conversation with vigor.
"Well, tons of Quidditch practice, obviously," He rubbed his left shoulder as though it was injured. "like you said, homework, and... well, you'll see on Monday." he winked at her, which made her blush furiously. He definitely noticed, because when he looked away from her, he was smirking victoriously.
"What are you plotting for Monday?" she demanded, trying to recover from her blush for the second time tonight.
"Just a little surprise for the Slytherins." he grinned mischievously. She shook her head. "I could report you." she reminded him.
"Yeah, but you won't." James said confidently.
"You don't know that." Lily said, even though he was right. Most of the Marauders' pranks were harmless, and they had increased in wit and decreased in harm, getting better and better each school year. This year, though she wouldn't admit it if her life depended on it, she had been slightly looking forward to what they were planning this year.
"So, sorry I interrupted you before, what were you saying, about the Hufflepuff girl...?"
"Oh, yes, that." she rolled her eyes in the memory. "So I was just going to the Room of Requirement to study, right?"
"Right." James smiled. Why did he always look at her like that? The funny thing was, she didn't mind it anymore.
"So I walk in, as usual, and there's this pair of Hufflepuffs laying on my studying table, on top of each-other!" she exclaimed in dismay. James's eyebrows shot up into his chaotic hair.
"And the girl was, er... definitely not what i would call 'decently dressed' when I interrupted them... " Lily said awkwardly. "she seemed as though she was coming on pretty strong to the guy."
"Blimey." James remarked, looking at Lily in interest. "So what did you do?"
"Well first I just sort of stared at them in disgust, but then I sort of started yelling at them, and docked a hundred points from Huffepuff." she shrugged.
"Seems a little harsh, doesn't it?" James asked fairly.
"Well, I was going to dock fifty, since it was after curfew... but that was before the girl called me a 'bloody bitch'." James looked angered by this.
"Merlin..." he shook his head
"Yeah, well, I don't mind that much." Lily pursed her lips. "I've been called worse."
The James she knew and hated back in fifth year would have bugged her to no end, interrogating her about who had insulted her. But James had changed. He didn't comment but gave a her a small twisted smile. They wandered in comfortable silence for a few minutes. Lily couldn't help but be distracted by how close they walked alongside each-other, the arms occasionally brushing, sending shivers down her spine.
"Are you cold?" James asked politely after she had visibly shaken for the third time.
"Er, a little." she said, it being true, though that wasn't the reason she had shivered.
James waved his wand over her so that a sensation of warmth enveloped her. She was impressed.
"Thanks." she said. He nodded in acceptance. "Where'd you learn that one?"
"Our charms textbook." he raised an eyebrow at her. "I'm shocked you didn't know that!" She rolled her eyes.

"Despite what some people think, I do not read all of our school books cover to cover."
He grinned slightly. "Despite what everyone thinks, I do read all our textbooks cover to cover."
"You do not." Lily said disbelievingly.
"Yes, I do."
"I'm speechless."
He chuckled in amusement.
"Well, doesn't it explain my lack of sentence in Azkaban and the teacher's adoration for me?" James smiled charmingly.
"The teachers do not adore you!" she made a face at him.
"Okay, well Slughorn and Kettleburn do." he defended himself. She couldn't help but silently agree.
"I think Slughorn loves me more, though." she grinned back at James.
"How dare you suggest such a thing?" He gasped in mock horror
"He so does." Lily countered playfully. "Don't you notice the way he always comes to see my potion first?"
"That's a personal thing, Lils." James rolled his eyes. "I've thought for a while that he fancies you." She elbowed him in the stomach playfully, noting that she could feel the contours of his abs through his t-shirt.
"That's a horrible thing to say!"
"Oh, it's not that bad... he can't be older than thirty!" James elbowed her back gently.
"Yes, but he's rather... large, and reminds me of a cross-breed of a walrus and an over-stuffed armchair." she said, quirking her eyebrows. James stared at her for a moment, then started laughing hysterically. She couldn't help but laugh with him. His laughter was just so infectious. His joy filled her up, erasing the gap in her heart that was from the losses in her life. She gazed at him in affection as he continued to laugh. He really was gorgeous...
"A walrus and an armchair?" he choked.
"An over-stuffed one." she corrected, giving him a wry smile. "And blonde's not my type anyways..."
"What is your type?" James quirked his eyebrows back at her. Black hair, hazel eyes, incredible abs... She blushed, though she hadn't said it aloud.
"I'm not sure yet." she said half-truthfully. James shrugged and muttered something that sounded like "over-stuffed armchair... how does she come up with these things?..."
"Where are you going, Lily?" James asked and stopped. She looked around. Where was she going? She had subconsciously been heading towards the grounds. They were now standing in the empty Entrance Hall.
"Oh." she remarked. "I don't know." James chuckled. She looked out the window of the Hall out at the grounds, lit brightly by the full moon.
"Poor Remus." she said softly. She knew he was somewhere out there in pain, probably suffering in loneliness and pain.
James looked at her tenderly. "Come on," he said, motioning for her to follow him. "Let's go check the Great Hall" She followed James into the Great Hall. The extravagant room seemed so empty without the hundreds of students it usually held. Their shoes slapped against the stone floor, echoing loudly around the room.
"All clear." James said, swinging his lit wand around the room.
"Downstairs?" Lily suggested. They trouped down a few staircases, and patrolled around for a while, arguing about whether McGonogall fancied Dumbledore or not.
"Where are we?" Lily asked after they had figured that Dumbledore and McGonogall were secretly in love, but out of professionalism, denied their passion for each-other.
"Well I think the Slytherin common rooms are right ahead..." James said, his voice echoing off the damp stone walls.
"Stop." he suddenly whispered, holding up a hand to hold her back from a plain looking door.
"What?" she hissed.
"Nox." James whispered, so that his wand light was extinguished. They were plunged info complete darkness.
"James?" she hissed, panicking slightly. His warm hand grabbed hers and gently pulled her towards him. Her heart stuttered, whether because of his unexpected movement or because he touched her, she didn't know for sure, but had a hunch it was the latter.
"Shh." She felt James's finger brush her lips slightly. Goosebumps rose on her arms. "Follow me and stay quiet." he instructed. "Engorgio!" There was a faint rustling sound, and a smooth cloth was suddenly thrown over her. She squeezed James's hand. She could feel him right next to her under the cloak, his warm, muscled arm pressed against hers.

"Are we invisible?" she whispered into James's ear, a flyaway hair of his tickling her cheekbone lightly.
"Yes." he responded after a moment. She could've sworn his breath caught in his throat, though. The husky tone of his voice made her insides tingle - something she'd never felt before. Bloody hell.
"Alohomora." he whispered, and pulled her through the door as silently as possible, creeping quietly into the corridor. There, dimly lot by a few wands, was a group of teenagers. Lily gasped slightly as she saw who made up the circle of nightime prowlers. Avery, Mulciber, and Wilkes, whose first names she didn't know. Then there was the rather attractive Evan Rosier, little Regulus Black, his older cousin Bellatrix Black, Rodolphous Lestrange, and... Severus, looking bored and as though he was too cool for the world. What were they doing here?
"Who's there?" Bellatrix hissed into the darkness, her shadowy eyes peering in their direction. She was beautiful, no doubt. Perfect, tall, regal body, beautiful long black hair, and handsome Black features. But her inner self and haughty expression kept most boys at an arm's length. Or a room's length. She felt James stiffen beside her. She froze in place beside him, forgetting for a terrifying moment that she was completely invisible as a beam of wandlight hit them.
"Bella, what are you talking about?" Sirius's little brother asked, the rest of the group staring at her with puzzled expressions.
"No." Severus's cold voice seeped through Lily's heart like ice. His apathetic expression made her want to run across the room and beat the old him out. Where was the Sev? Where did her friend go? "The door opened." Severus murmured, his lips hardly moving. "Bella isn't mad.", his black eyes flickered across the room. Lily's heart sped it's pace slightly as he seemed to stare right at her. She laced her fingers through James's, reassuring herself.
"But there's nobody there!" hissed Wilkes, pointing his lit wand in their direction. Lily felt so exposed, like he should be staring right at her, but his eyes simply swept right over her. This was so weird.
"It's probably just Peeves." Lestrange shrugged, his bemused expression looking out of place on his haughty face.
"Or that blasted cat." Evan Rosier said absentmindedly, twirling his wand through his fingertips. Lily supposed he was referring to Mrs. Norris, the seemingly possessed kitten.
"So back to the matter at hand." Avery clapped his hands together impatiently. "I wanted everyone here tonight so I could share... certain somewhat confidential information that my father has made me aware of."
"It's a secret?" Relegus' pale face looked eager in the wandlight.
"Shut it, Black." Mulciber shot him a death glare. Lily felt a pang of sorrow for the poor boy. He was only fifteen, but already so wrapped up in fitting in and trying to impress his family, he'd forgotten who he really was.
"So." Avery continued mysteriously, his dark eyes glinting maliciously. "We all know that the Dark Lord is rising, and quickly. We also know that whoever's with him's rising aswell, and whoever's against him's going down." They all nodded in assent. Even Severus. That foul, loathsome, cockroach of a traitor.
"Well, as some of you already know, my uncle went to school with the Dark Lord himself, and he has some connections."
"Yes, Avery we know." Rosier rolled his eyes at the ceiling. Avery ignored him.
"Well in my uncle's last letter he said that the Dark Lord has started branding his followers with something called the Dark Mark." He paused, seemingly for dramatic effect. "The Dark Lord is going to my uncle's house, and anyone who desires to pledge allegiance to the him can come and be branded by the Dark Lord himself!" if his eyes were glinting before, now they were burning with thrill. Some excited murmurs were exchanged inside the circle. Relegus was wide eyed, and Severus even looked a tad bit surprised, but it was nothing compared to Bellatrix. Her entire face lit up devilishly, and she trembled with what appeared to be joy. Lily felt somewhat sick at their thrill. It was just so wrong. Voldemort had done nothing good so far but kill a few Muggle-borns. Was that what they all wanted so badly? To murder innocent people? James squeezed her hand reassuringly. She leaned into him slightly for comfort.
"We will go." Bellatrix spoke strongly. "We must. This is our chance to show the Dark Lord how committed we are to his cause. We must go." She looked around, as though daring someone to argue with her.
"Um, Bella?" Relugus piped up nervously.
"What?" she said harshly.
"How are we going to get out of the castle?"
"That's another reason I asked you all to come here." Avery looked around at them. "I don't know how we're going to fool Dumbledore into letting us all out of the castle. Or sneaking out of the castle without anyone noticing." They all put on thoughtful expressions.
"I know." Severus said with no emotion in his eyes, "Potter." James started and Lily's heart sped like hummingbird wings. Did he know they were there? What was he talking about? Could his icy, penetrating stare see past invisibility cloaks?
"What?" Wilkes expressed Lily's inquiries, puzzled.
"Potter has a map with every secret passageway out of the school." Severus said coldly. "If we take it, we could probably get into Hogesmade and apparate from there.
"How do you know that?" Mulciber demanded. "Suddenly you're best mates with James Potter?"
"No." Severus said calmly. "I will never stoop to the likes of him." Lily squeezed James's hand gently, thinking of what Severus would say if he could actually see her in this position.
"Great." Lestrange said exuberantly. "I say we steal the ruddy map, and do it. Bella's right." she gave him a somewhat suggestive smile at these words. He returned her smirk. "This is our chance. Once we're branded, we're in it forever, no turning back. Giving all for the Dark Lord, ultimate power, and no more filthy mudbloods!" Bellatrix gazed at him in adoration as he finished his monologue.
"All right, how do we get the map from Potter?" Wilkes asked excitedly.
"Accio Potter's map!" Bellatrix pointed her wand upwards. James stiffened beside her. The group waited in suspense for a moment.
"That was dramatic." Severus drawled after a pregnant pause.
"There's enchantments on all the dorms to prevent thievery." Relugus spoke up nervously.
"We'll just have to sneak up there and get it ourselves." Lestrange scowled. "That could be difficult though."
"Anyone know how to get into Gryffindor tower?" Wilkes asked.
"Potter's head boy." Severus stated, some emotion finally in his dark eyes. "He doesn't stay in Gryffindor Tower anymore." Lily could help but notice the anger in his eyes as he said this. She couldn't help but feel somewhat victorious. He was jealous of not just James anymore, but he was jealous of her and James.
"Oh, I forgot your friends with that little mud-blood girl!" Bellatrix shrieked with mirth.
"I am no longer." Lily's heart sunk at his apathetic words. "I was ignorant then." He continued, "but now I know she is nothing but filth beneath our feet." James's hand tightened around hers protectively. She gave him a sorrowful smile underneath the cloak. Their eyes met. Again, Lily felt an electric sort of pulse shoot through her veins. Forget Severus.
"Can we go?" she whispered as quietly as she was able into his ear. He nodded silently, but put up one finger to signal "one minute."
"Alright, I'll follow Potter back from dinner sometime and see where their room is." Mulciber said.
"Won't he wonder why you're following him?" Wilkes asked, bemused.
"Disillusionment charm, dumbarse." Mulciber spat back at him. Real pleasant lot they were here...
"I'll follow him in, sneak up to the dorm, and take the map. It's not complicated."
"Won't he realize that someone's there if his possessions start flying around his room seemingly of their own accord?" Lestrange asked fairly.
"Merlin, you make everything so complicated." Mulciber cried, aggravated. "I'll just wait around until I get my chance."
"Sounds like a good plan." Rodolphous nodded in agreement. "Once we have the map, we'll go from there?" The rest of the group nodded too. "Well, I'll let everyone know when I have the map." Mulciber said. "We should probably head back to the common room." They all trouped out the opposite door, Bellatrix fantasizing aloud about being "one of the Dark Lord's very own servants." Once they had all gone, James whipped off the cloak, and stared at Lily, wide-eyed.
"Blimey! We are so lucky we came across this conversation!"
"So it's true?" she asked anxiously. "You really do have a map with all the secret passageways out of the school?" He looked slightly guilty. "Er, yes."
"Where'd you get it?" she asked curiously.
"Well... we kind of made it."
"We?"
"Sirius, Remus, Peter and I." Her impressedness overtook her disapproval for his neglect for the rules and his knowledge of every illegal way out of the school.
"Oh." She said, raising her eyebrows. "Well I'd keep an eye on that thing." He bit his lip in thought.
"We'd better tell Dumbledore." he said after a moment. She was somewhat surprised at his idea. "Won't that mean you have to tell him about your map?"
James shrugged. "He probably knows more or less everything that goes on in this castle anyways."
"True." she conceded. "When do you think we should tell him?"
"Now?" James suggested.
"Its kind of late." she also bit her lip, subconsciously mirroring James's facial expressions.
"He'd want to know." James said confidently. "We're talking about a large group of students sneaking out of the school to join Voldemort and pledge allegiance to him."
"Off to Dumbledore's office, then." she said firmly. They set off at a quick, jittery pace. Severus's cold face swirled in her mind. Her mind was occupied with thoughts of you-know-who's rise to power. I'll never join him. Lily thought, anger bubbling up inside of her. If the very idea of Voldemort had turned Severus - an innately good person - to an emotionless muggleborn killer, the Dark wizard was strong. And she would fight him with everything she had. She would stay on the good side, with good people that loved and cared about her despite her blood-status. People who cared about blood status were simply wrong.
It was at that moment she decided she would fight against Voldemort every chance she got. And she knew the person beside her would too. She looked at James out of the corner of her eye. His jaw was set and his face solemn. She knew his thoughts must be similar to hers in that moment. She felt so safe, and comfortable with him. Right now she should be distraught, frustrated, and scared. But she felt powerful. And it was only when they reached Dumbledore's office entrance on the second floor that she realized hers and James's hands were still twined together.