ok , i just want to say that i was somewhat dissapointed with the lack of reviews for my last chapter...it was a surprise update for you all and some of you didn't thank me (THANKS TO THOSE OF YOU WHO DID THOUGH!!!!! I HEART YOU GUYS AND GALS!) but yeah... :( i was sad...so no more surprise updates for you all...unless you can make it up to me by sending me tons of reviews for this chapter...(cough cough) Anyway have fun with this update!!

Chapter 10. New Findings and Having Fun

A few weeks had passed since the agreement was made between Dumbledore and the small group of Gryffindors. It was the last week of September now and as a treat for October, Lily wanted to plan a Halloween ball.

She had been meaning to talk to Dumbledore about her plans, but ever since that night when their assignment was given, she had been reluctant to even face the professor or James.

Things had gotten odd with both James and the rest of the Marauders as well. Not that they were any better before, but at least back then Lily could be around the boys and not have it bother her too much. As a way to get her mind off things, she decided that planning this ball would be a perfect distraction.

It was a quiet afternoon in the library and Lily was discussing her plans for the Halloween Ball with Gwen and Liz.

"Ah, how exciting! It would be wonderful to have a ball for Halloween. We can dress up really nice and make it a masquerade party!" Gwen exclaimed.

"Yes, it would be a great distraction from all the things we've had to do lately," said Liz "I don't know about you, but Dumbledore really has been pushing both Remus and I on that assignment he gave us," Liz said, her eyes showing the stress she was feeling. Although Lily didn't know what exactly Remus and Liz were working on for Dumbledore, she could tell that it took a lot out of both of them.

"Well, James and I haven't started our task yet, but I'm sure that when we do start I'll be sympathizing with you, Liz." Lily said reassuringly, nodding her head.

"As for Sirius and I," Gwen interjected, "all we have to do at the moment is perfect a lot of charms and spells he told us to work on. Which is kinda fun when I think about it," said Gwen, going off in a dreamlike state.

"Gweeeeeen, are you ok?" Lily asked, noticing the sudden change in her friend.

"Oh, yes, I'm good. Absolutely, good," said Gwen with a slight smile before wiping it off her face, making her two friends give her odd glances. "What?" she asked innocently, her eyes still kind of glazed over as if she was in a trance.

"Nothing," replied Lily and Liz, a mischievous smirk playing on both their lips.

"Riiiiiggghht," said Gwen, eyeing the blonde and redhead skeptically. "Anyway, when are you going to ask Dumbledore? I'm sure he'll say yes if you ask him," Gwen urged.

"I'm planning on asking him sometime this week so that we can start getting things set and you know that whole deal," Lily said thoughtfully.

"Oh that sounds like a good idea! If he says yes on Friday then we'll have more than enough time to get everything done," said Liz.

"Wow, I can't believe that it's already been a month since the first day of school. Time is flying by too fast," Gwen commented.

"I know. That's one of the reasons why I decided to plan this party. Maybe then, things won't seem too filled with work and worries," Lily sighed, as she said this, not noticing the strange look Gwen and Liz were giving her.

"Did I hear correctly or did Lily just complain about having to do too much work?" Gwen asked in shock, her hand placed over her mouth in disbelief.

"Yes, dear Gwen, you heard correctly. Our little Lily made her first complain on the burdens of schoolwork. I'm so proud," Liz said before hugging Lily in a motherly way.

"Oh, nock it off! I'm not complaining, I'm just acknowledging the fact that school has been hectic," she said defensively, trying to pry Liz's arms away from her neck.

"Lily, we know that things have been hard on you too. It's our last year of Hogwarts, it's supposed to be stressful," Liz replied softly, finally letting go of Lily.

"Alright, enough of this talk about school and worries. Let's get outta here and have some fun," Gwen interrupted excitedly.

"I really shouldn't, I still have to look up a few things in the Restricted Section with Remus and then I have to finish that report for Potions with Professor Slugworth," Liz replied.

"And I have to get some things done as well," Lily added. "We have a test coming up for Defense Against the Dark Arts."

"Oh no you don't! You girls are coming with me! We really need a break for the afternoon. Now come along. No arguing," Gwen said sternly as she snatched both of her friends by their arm and led them out of the library just as Remus and Sirius were entering.

"Hello ladies, where are you all headed?" Sirius asked.

"Sorry boys, but us girls are gonna have a little fun for the night. See you later…maybe," Gwen said in a rush before Lily or Liz had anything to say.

"What about our assignment, Elizabeth?" Remus called out in vain.

"Sorry Remus, I'll catch you later!" she replied sympathetically, leaving Remus and Sirius staring after the group of girls in confusion.

"Now, that was weird," Remus said, scratching his head.

"Tell me about it."

It was around 9:45p.m. and the three girls had found themselves causing a riot in the Head Dormitory. The floor of the common room was littered with candy wrappings, plenty of pillows, and a couple issues of Witch Magazine; they had also managed to find one of the house-elves to sneak them a few cakes from the kitchens. At the moment, they sat in a circle on the floor as they played Exploding Snap just as James walked in.

"Hello, my fair ladies. Having a nice sleep over?" he questioned cheekily as he reached over to one of the Chocolate Frogs that lay next to Gwen.

"It's going splendid…that is, until you showed up, Potter" said Lily, making a grab for the same Chocolate Frog that James was reaching for, but James was too quick for her and she fell over Gwen miserably. She stared angrily as James unwrapped the sweet and took a bite.

"Wan' some?" he asked with his mouth full, showing the half bitten chocolate to her.

"No thanks," she replied in disgust.

"So, don't you think you ladies should be getting to bed? I do believe its past curfew and I am entitled to hand out detentions for those who are out and about in the halls," James said smugly.

"Well, it just so happens, Mr. Chief-In-Command, that they have permission to be out at the moment. And its not even time for curfew yet…at least not for about another five minutes. So if you would be so kind as to let us be, then that would be splendid," said Lily, trying to be as polite as possible, but to no avail.

"Oh come on, Lily. Do you really think I would do that to Gwen and Liz?" asked James after finishing his last bite from the chocolate.

"I really don't care right now. Could you just go…please?" Lily said, begging him with her green almond shaped eyes. She knew he couldn't resist her so she waited patiently for his reply.

"Fine, fine, but I'm warning you. I just saw Filch and his mangy ol' cat prowling around here and I don't think he was too pleased to find out that we didn't get punished the last time we were out of our dormitories," James warned with his hands on his hips.

"Thanks, James, we'll keep that in mind," Lily said dismissingly.

"All right then, 'night girls," he said with a slight bow and then headed to his room.

"Well, I guess he's right, you girls should start heading to bed. And I don't think it's going to be easy if James said that Filch is around these halls." Lily said regretfully.

"We'll be fine, Lils. We're big girls," Gwen replied playfully.

"Why don't I go with you? Just incase Filch does show up I can tell him it's my turn to check the halls."

"No, no, Lily. There really is no need for that. Besides, you look extremely tired. You should go to bed," said Liz, who had gotten up from the floor and was now distracted with a book on one of the shelves in the common room bookcase.

The book was placed almost at the top, causing Liz to have to reach on her tiptoes to try and get it. As she reached higher, she held on to a candle stand beside the shelves, and just as she finally got a hold of the book she tugged on it before almost falling over.

"Inky Puffs! I've finally got it!" she exclaimed under her breath before a door slowly appeared in front of her. "Oh, wow, a secret passage way!" she said in surprise.

At that instant, Lily and Gwen looked at where Liz was to see the door that appeared right in the middle of the large book shelf.

"Liz, you found your way back to Gryffindor common room!" Lily announced, hurrying to get off the floor and go to where Liz stood. Liz was just stood there for a moment and then opened the book in her hand, when she turned to the first page she cursed softly and then looked at Lily, a frown placed upon her graceful face.

"What's wrong, Liz? Arn't you glad you found a way back to Gryffindor Common Room?" Lily asked, her head tilted in confusion.

"Oh I'm not disapointed about that...its just that this book looked so interesting from up on the shelf but its blank..." she replied with a pout upon her full lips, flipping through the rest of the book hopefully.

"Ah Liz, I'm sorry, but isn't this really cool?" Lily said, pointing to the secret door.

"Hey! What's with all the ruckus? What happ—" James gasped. "Is that what I think it is?!"

"Whoa, Liz!! How did you do that?" Gwen asked as she glided her fingers over the row of books that lined the new door.

"I dunno, I was just trying to get this book from up there," she said, waving the book nonchalantly, "and as I grabbed it I said 'inky puffs'," just as she said those words the door vanished and became the same old bookshelf that it had been.

"So the password is 'inky puffs'," Gwen said, expecting the passageway to appear, but this time nothing happened. "Aw, how come it didn't work that time?" she asked disappointedly.

"I think you have to say it while reaching for this book at the very top," Liz answered smartly, holding up the book. She then went on her tip toes to place it back where it was.

"Well that's great! Now we can visit each other without going through the corridors!" Lily said happily, turning to James who didn't look as enthusiastic as she."What's wrong with you, Potter? Why the sad face?"

"He's just upset that he didn't find the passage way before anyone else," Gwen said with a grin. "It's alright James, you can lead us through, if you want," she said, patting him sympathetically on the back.

"No," he replied a bit sadly, "its ok, I'm going to bed. I have some things to do in the morning. Once again, good night everyone." He turned his back on the three girls and strided to his room.

Both Gwen and Liz looked at Lily oddly, expecting and explaination to James's behavior, but she was just as lost as they were. She only shrugged with her palms facing up in the air and then stepped through the door that was in front of them. "So are you girls coming or not?" she asked with a grin before she was lost in the darkness of the passageway.

YAY!!!!! THEY FOUND THE HIDDEN PASSAGEWAY!!! HOW FUN RIGHT? YEAH LOTS OF FUN... yeah well you know what i'm gonna ask for...REVIEWS! there i said it...see y'all around soon!! laters!