The next few weeks flew by quickly for the six seventh years. The year was getting more stressful and the girls were hardly ever seen outside the library. Even the boys were noticing it. They were having difficulties finding time to plan pranks, something the teachers were grateful for. However, on the weekend of Halloween and the first trip to Hogsmeade the teachers took pity on the seventh years and most gave them the weekend off. Lily, Amber and Dawnelle were planning to be anywhere but the library.

That Friday was Halloween and classes let out at midday. The girls were excited for the feast that night. Class ended and people flooded into the corridors, and stopped when they saw the impenetrable orange fog that filled the halls.

"What the hell?" someone exclaimed as the girls walked out of Transfiguration talking to Professor McGonagall.

"What? What is this?" the professor asked.

"The Mauraders," Lily, Amber, and Dawnelle replied together. McGonagall sighed.

"Where do they find the time to come up with these ridiculous stunts?"

"Where do those boys find the time or knowledge to come up with anything?" Amber looked at the fog and reached her hand out slowly to brush through it.

"Yes, that is a good point." At that moment Sirius bounced out of the fog and landed right next to Dawnelle. "Detention, Mr. Black. For all of you."

"Yes! We haven't had detention in forever!" Dawnelle raised her eyebrows.

"That actually makes you happy?"

"Yes! We were starting to worry that our record might be in jeopardy."

"Because so many people want to compete for the most detentions."

"Girls, this conversation is going no where. You will never talk sense into any of the Mauraders," Lily exclaimed.

"Except perhaps Remus," Amber added.

"And how about the fabulous James?" James and Remus appeared from the misty cloud.

"Why would anyone even bother to talk sense into you?" Lily asked.

"Evans! That was harsh. I was going to escort you safely to lunch but now I'm thinking I might leave you."

"Tragic. I don't think I need your help getting to lunch."

"But you can't see through the mist unless you are with one of us! Isn't it ingenious!?" Sirius offered his arm to Dawnelle.

"Oh Merlin."

"That's ok Lily, I can take you and Amber," Remus said.

"Remus, mate you're killing me!" James whined.

"Get over it Potter." Sirius and Dawnelle were already gone and Remus turned to lead the girls away as well. They found that while holding Remus' arms the girls were able to see through the mist quite well. They had to admit that seeing some of the people running around, hitting stuff was rather amusing. However, Lily was Head Girl. She had to help. Still holding Remus' arm she caught a first year before he plunged head first down the staircase. After she steadied him she turned to a fifth year Ravenclaw and turned him away from the suit of armor he was about to run into.

"Lily you destroy all the fun in pranks!" They had all reached the first floor and were now free of the orange fog of the upper levels of the school. James had followed them out laughing loudly at the people falling and hitting each other.

"James," she walked over to him and tapped his Head Boy badge, "you are suppose to be responsible and helpful, remember!?" He grabbed her wrist and smiled mischievously.

"Of course, my dearest Lily, anything for the most beautiful Head Girl!" She sighed exasperatedly but her breath caught in her throat as he twirled her around and pulled her into an elaborate dip. Her hair fell to the floor, that's how low she was to the ground.

"JAMES POTTER!"

"Yes?"

"Let go of me this instant!"

"I might hurt you if I did that!"

"Not likely, she's about two inches from the ground," Amber said laughing.

"Still, I wouldn't want to risk harming the Head Girl!"

"Then quite being ridiculous!"

"But that's what I'm good at!"

"We know." Sirius was standing with Dawnelle behind James.

"You cannot possibly be eighteen! You are too stupid!"

"Thank you!"

"That wasn't a compliment."

"Oh. So will you go out with me?"

"NO I BLOODY WILL NOT!"

"James, I don't think she is going to give in."

"But Remus said this would work!"

"No I didn't!"

"REMUS LUPIN YOU PUT HIM UP TO THIS?"

"Might have mentioned it in passing," Remus shrugged, "didn't think he'd do it though."

"I'm not protecting you against her when she gets out of that," Amber said.

"Please?" He looked at her with puppy dog eyes.

"No. My resolve is firm." She looked quickly at him. "But starting to weaken." He leaned in and looked at her sweetly. "And weakening faster."

"Gag me with a spoon!" Sirius attempted to look sick.

"Shut up Sirius," Dawnelle said.

"Make me."

"You really want to see where that leads?"

"He probably does but the rest of us don't!" Remus answered before Sirius could.

"Damn," Sirius said.

"Excuse me? I'm sorry but I'm looking for the Head Girl. They said that she was here." A scared looking girl of eleven or twelve was standing behind Remus. Everyone turned to look at her, making her, if possible, even more nervous.

"She's right here," Remus put his hand on the girls back and lead her to Lily. The girl looked down at her in surprise.

"Can I help you sweetheart?" Lily asked.

"Um, well," she stopped and glanced fearfully up at James.

"James, you're scaring the poor girl, let me up."

"Oh man," he groaned. "Next time Evans. Next time I'll get you to go out with me." He pulled her up swiftly but elegantly.

"Potter, I am not going out with you ever." Lily turned to face the girl. "What's your name?"

"Ellie."

"What can I do for you?"

"Um, my brother, he's sick or something. Someone told me I should find you."

"Where is he?"

"I can take you to him."

"Ok, James, let's go."

"Me?"

"No the other Head Boy named James."

"There's another one?" Ellie laughed nervously.

"Come on."

"Coming."

"Lead the way Ellie." They followed the small girl to a classroom on the first floor. There was a boy no older then the girl lying on the floor. Lily rushed to him. "James, someone hexed him. We need to get him to the Hospital Wing."

"No," the boy whispered, "I'm fine. It's no big deal." He tried to sit up but James leaned down and made him stay still.

"Don't move yet mate, you got hit with a pretty nasty jinx. Do you know who did that?" Lily looked at him in surprise but he didn't seem to notice.

"No I didn't."

"Yes you did! Tell them what happened!" Ellie seemed much less timid when talking to her brother. He shook his head. "Fine, I'll tell them. Some third year girls were making fun of me and I kept telling them to stop but they wouldn't so Eric told them to leave and they got mad and cursed him." She was on the verge of tears now and Lily wrapped her arms around her. "Will he be ok?"

"He'll be fine."

"Lily, I'm taking him to the Hospital Wing, you should take her to McGonagall." James lifted the boy easily and waited for Lily by the door.

"Come on Ellie, let's go see Professor McGonagall." Lily joined James holding Ellie's hand.

"How are you going to see in the fog upstairs?" Ellie asked James. She was really shy when talking directly to him.

"Don't worry about me! I'm a Maurader." He winked at her. She laughed again, though less nervously this time. Lily rolled her eyes at him.

"That's why we worry," she muttered to Ellie.

"Hey Ellie," James said brightly.

"Yeah?"

"See if you can convince the Head Girl to date me!" Ellie laughed loudly this time, no trace of nerves at all. Lily would have been mad at him but seeing this girl comfortable in her surroundings again made her anger disappear. She rolled her eyes and turned away.

Ellie was bouncing next to her now as they walked back the way they came.

"I like the Head Boy!"

"That makes one of us."

"Does he always do stuff like that?"

"Like what?"

"Ask you out and stuff."

"Always."

"Why do you say no?"

"How old are you Ellie?"

"I'm twelve! My brother and I turned twelve just after we got here!"

"Well, Happy late Birthday then."

"Thank you! So why won't you date the Head Boy?"

"Persistent, aren't you?"

"That's what my mom tells me!"

"I see."

"So will you tell me?"

"Oh Ellie, he dates everyone!"

"What about you?"

"He's been asking me out since first year."

"That's a long time to keep saying no."

"That's a long time to keep asking me out."

"Yes, it is. Why does he do it if he knows you will say no?"

"He's a boy. Why do they do anything they do?"

"Yes, my brother is like that. He didn't want me to tell anyone he got hexed by a bunch of girls. Sorry I bothered you though, I mean it looked like you guys were having fun."

"Oh no! If anything I am grateful to you! You saved me from having to agree to going out with Potter."

"Well, I'm glad I helped!"

"Me too."

"Um, Lily, where are we going? The professor's office is somewhere upstairs, isn't it?"

"Yes, we're going to the Great Hall. I am hoping she is at lunch right now. If not I'll get Sirius or Remus to take us."

"Why would they be able to?"

"They are the Mauraders. They pulled this stunt. Only the three of them can see through the fog."

"Oh. Lily?"

"Yes?"

"Weren't there suppose to be four Mauraders?"

"There were. Peter Pettigrew was one of them but he never sees them this year. He's so far behind in his studies that he has tons of work and classes to make up."

"Oh, I get it." They reached the Great Hall but MacGonagal was not there. In fact most of the teachers were missing from the staff table. Lily sighed and lead the way to the end of the Gryffindor table where Sirius was sitting with Dawnelle and Amber. As they walked past the table Ellie waved to some of her friends who were clearly in awe that Ellie was talking to the Head Girl.

"Where's Remus?" Lily asked as they reached her friends.

"Running an errand," Sirius answered.

"Can you take us to MacGonagal then?"

"What do I get out of it?"

"Sirius!"

"Yes, yes, ok, I'm coming." He got up slowly and took Lily's other arm. "Where to ladies?" Ellie giggled.

"Not so scared now, is she?"

"She thinks James is hilarious."

"Oh, well you're sure to like me then!" Sirius exclaimed. "What's your name?"

"Ellie."

"I like it. And I am Padfoot." Ellie looked at Lily in confusion.

"They have nicknames for themselves."

"Oh."

"Cool aren't they?"

"Yes!" Ellie said breathlessly. They were walking up the stairs, into the fog now. They reached McGonagall's office at the same time she did, though she looked considerably worse for wear considering she had had to battle her way through the blinding fog.

"Mr. Black, end this prank now!" She all but screamed at him.

"Don't worry Professor! Moony is working on it! It should be gone in the next five minutes!" He let go of Lily and walked off into the mist.

"Professor?"

"Yes, Ms. Evans?"

"We need to talk to you."

"Ok, do come in."

"Thank you." Ellie was nervous again. Lily could tell by the fact that the grip on her arm tightened considerably. "No worries, Ellie, if you could face James and Sirius, you can face anything."

"Agreed," said an agitated McGonagall. "What can I help you with?"

"Well, um, some third year girls were making fun of me earlier."

"Do you know who?"

"I don't know them, but I think they were Slytherins."

"Ok."

"Well, I told them to leave me alone but they wouldn't, so then my brother told them to leave. They got mad and they cursed him. I found Lily and she had the Head Boy take him to the Hospital Wing."

"I see. Are you hurt?"

"No, I'm just worried about my brother. I hope he's alright."

"I'm sure he is dear." McGonagall smiled at her. "Thank you for telling me. I will address this issue. Now, Ms. Evans, please escort Ms. Lawrence to the Hospital Wing to see her brother."

"Yes Professor." Ellie and Lily left the office and, to their surprise the fog was thinning out. They could see almost the entire corridor now. "Gotta love Remus," Lily said to Ellie. They reached the Hospital Wing. Madam Pomfrey took Ellie to her brothers bed and told Lily she could leave. Ellie said goodbye and raced to see her brother. Lily went back to the heads common room thinking she could read for an hour or so. She entered the dorm quietly and lay on the couch with her book.