I am so so so so so so so so so so sorry. My computer was glitching like crazy for the longest time, so i had to refresh it, but that made MS Word uninstall, and chrome, and every other installation i needed. So i have been spending weeks trying to fix everything, and i am eternally sorry! As an apology i will be releasing the next chapter within the next 2-3 days-assuming my computer will not be bitchy.

So, let me start off by saying that i really like this chapter, and it was pretty fun to write. I always love writing Lily/James stuff, even though it's not always friendly. By the way, to the reviewer who asked me if i was sure this was not a love story (sorry i don't have your username at the moment), i hope this chapter-specifically the end-is the answer to your question.

I feel it is important for you to know, since it has been so long, the beginning of this chapter takes place during the end of the last chapter (the one with Prof. Turing). I won't recap that chapter because it doesn't really come into play for this one, however i will recap it next chapter, as it affects that one.

Okay, i think that's all. Thank you for your patience. I am out of school now, which means i will update more often, so long as my computer cooperates. Alright, see you at the bottom of the page!

Disclaimer: Mine is the bad stuff. J.K.'s stuff is the stuff that's familiar and good.

Recap: Everyone is mad at each other and on edge. If you don't remember why, go back to chapter 8. If i remember correctly, it's the 2nd or 3rd part of the chapter where they are at dinner. It starts with something along the lines of "Dinner went to hell." Actually, upon reviewing this, you should probably go read that again. It's been like weeks and you've probably forgotten. I've forgotten. But you don't have to if you don't want to. You will still understand the chapter, you just might be a little confused. Also, Lily accused Remus of telling James about her dad. The only thing i will say about chap. 9 is that Turing was doing shit for the Ministry and not sleeping a lot. That's literally all that matters here.

Aaaaaaaaaaannnnnnd... ACTION!


On Friday, the twenty-third, the sixth year Gryffindors and Slytherins sat in Potions. Slughorn smiled at their tired, bored faces and clapped his hands.

"Today we are making Garotting Gas. It is, under no circumstances to be used or released. It is dangerous and can cause harm. Please be careful and follow the recipe religiously. Go to your partners and begin. You have until the end of class."

As the partners started to move to sit next to each other, Marlene could be seen threatening Sirius while Maria took to ignoring Eric Tomkins.

As Lily and James moved together, Lily did not even look at him.

"Look, Evans—" James started.

"Don't!" Lily cut him off, still not looking at him. "Don't talk. I don't want to hear your pathetic voice. Don't touch any of the ingredients. I can't trust you not to mess this up."

"That's a little harsh, I mean—"

"What," she cut him off, harshly, "did I say? Don't talk. At all."

James sighed and looked away. He amused himself by watching Sirius try to get Marlene to at least look at him while Lily worked on the potion. But soon he grew bored, which led him to an idea.

He pulled out a piece of parchment, a quill, and some ink. He scribbled down a small note and slid it over to Lily:

What does this potion even do?

Lily glanced at the note and rolled her eyes, going back to the potion without a word. James, annoyed, took the parchment back and wrote another note on it:

You said I couldn't talk.

Again, Lily glanced at the note, but did not say anything.

Come on! I'm board as hell over here! Give me something!

"You spellt 'bored' wrong."

James cocked his head and narrowed his eyes at the note, as if not believing her.

Is there another way to spell board?

"B-O-R-E-D," Lily said, slowly so as not to confuse him.

This is why I talk. C'mon, Evans, humour me!

Lily sighed. "The last time you asked that question, we ended up costing Gryffindor points," she said, referring to his first note.

"We?" That was your fault. I just asked a question.

"This," Lily said, stirring the cauldron, "is a gas that, when released, causes choking or suffocation."

I feel like I'm not safe.

Lily smirked. "Good."

Are you really still mad at me?

"Yes."

I am really sorry, though!

"I don't care."

James thought, moving the quill a few inches above the parchment, silently. Lily watched his hand moved absentmindedly.

What will it take?

"For?"

Forgiveness.

Lily snorted. "We are way beyond the point of forgiveness. Because of you, my three best friends hate me."

James sighed. "I know," he said, accidently.

Lily glared at him and he jumped, realizing his mistake. He put his hands up, pretending to silently calm her like a mime would for humorous effect. He mouthed the word 'sorry,' then wrote:

I know.

Lily looked at the note and shook her head, mostly to keep from laughing at his antics.

If you won't forgive me, then what can I do to make you at least tolerate me again?

Lily thought for a moment. "I don't know, James."

The famous and ever-so-decisive Lily Evans doesn't know?

"Not this time."

There must be SOMETHING!

Lily couldn't help but smile. Before she could answer, James started writing again.

If I can still make that beautiful smile appear on your face, even rarely, then I know it's possible that there is a way to make you tolerate me again.

Lily stared at the parchment for a moment, not knowing how to respond to the statement.

"Excellent potion, Lily, James," Slughorn said, walking up behind them and looking at the cauldron in front of Lily. "Fifteen points to Gryffindor."

As he walked away, Lily thought of something. "James," she said. "Can I ask you something?"

You're going to ask me anyway so, yes.

Lily bit her lip. "How did you…" She hesitated.

Spit it out, Evans.

"How did you know? About my dad, I mean."

James hesitated, again moving his hand over the parchment in intricate patterns, but not touching the quill to it.

It would be much easier to say.

"But did… Did Remus tell you…?" her voice trailed off at the end, almost afraid for the answer.

What? Wait. Did Remus know?

Lily frowned and looked at James. "He didn't tell you."

James gave her a bewildered look.

No, he didn't tell me!

Lily felt awful. What had she done? She had pushed away the only Marauder that had actually cared about her. One of her only friends that was still talking to her. And she blew it. Her thoughts were interrupted by James flicking her wrist.

"What the he—Oh." She looked at a newly scrawled note on the parchment.

Why did you only tell Remus?

Lily hesitated. "Because… because I knew I had to tell someone. I couldn't keep it in. And I knew he wouldn't treat me differently or overly-pity me if I told him. Stupid, I know. I didn't even tell my closest friends."

That's not stupid. Sirius is basically my brother, but I would trust Remus over Sirius with certain things. That's just Remus.

Lily looked at him. Hazel eyes met green ones and silence fell, whatever Lily had been about to say forgotten.

After a few moments, James couldn't help himself: "Lily, I—"

Suddenly, there was a small explosion.

"Everyone out!" Slughorn called over the slight panic that ensued.

The students started running out of the classroom, pushing each other to get out faster.

Finally, when everyone was out, Slughorn closed the door and cast a charm on it, presumably to keep the gas in. Then, he turned to two students, madder than anyone had ever seen him. "Which one of you threw it?!"

Marlene and Sirius stared up at him, both somewhat terrified. But neither said a word.

"Fine. Detention for both of you. Tonight. And fifty points from Gryffindor." The Gryffindors all moaned. "You can all wait out here for the bell. And I'm afraid you'll have to spend the rest of the day without your school supplies."

All the students groaned and meandered around the dungeons until the bell rang. By that time, James had forgotten about the conversation with Lily, but Lily hadn't. She knew she would have to apologize to Remus.

And her other friends.

xoxo

Marlene made her way down to the dungeons around eight. She walked slowly, dreading going there and having to serve a detention with Sirius. As she walked through the dungeons to the Potions classroom, she could hear Slughorn talking to someone. She slowed to listen.

"—not healthy," Slughorn was saying, his voice echoing off the dungeon walls.

"I don't care," said the other person. "I need this. I will sleep when I can, but right now is not the time to argue. I have to get back!" Marlene recognized the voice as Professor Turing.

"When was the last time you slept?" Slughorn asked.

"That doesn't matter," Turing scoffed. "I have these potions, I'm fine."

"They will have the opposite effect if you use them too often," Slughorn chided. "They do not replace sleep."

"I will sleep," Turing said, more forcefully. "Tomorrow. But I need a potion. Now."

"Violet," Slughorn sighed. "What you're doing, this business with—"

Marlene heard footsteps behind her and she turned to see Sirius coming towards her, late as usual. Marlene gestured for him to be quiet. She could hear Slughorn getting angrier behind her.

Sirius looked at her and tip-toed up next to her to listen as well.

"—yourself!" Slughorn was saying, whispering loudly. "I can't be the only one worried about you!"

"You're not," Turing said. "But I know my limits, thank you, and I don't need anyone to worry about me."

"Fine," Slughorn said, resigned. "Take the potion and go, I have students coming any minute. Actually… they are already late."

Marlene grabbed Sirius's arm and dragged him down the hall and around the corner from where they came. When she heard footsteps coming, she started to walk back towards Slughorn's room.

As she and Sirius—who had taken his time catching on to her plan—came around the corner, they surprised Professor Turing, causing her to jump. To her, they had only just been coming down to the dungeons.

"Hurry," she urged them. "He's already mad at you."

Marlene just nodded to her and kept walking while Sirius stared at Turing for as long as he could.

When Slughorn saw them round the corner, he threw his arms up. "It's about time. Hurry." He gestured for them to go into the potions classroom.

"Uh, are you sure it's safe?" Sirius asked, eyeing the closed door.

"I wouldn't risk a student's life," Slughorn said, annoyed. "Now go!"

"Marlene, you go first," Sirius said, shoving her towards the door.

She rolled her eyes and opened the door without hesitation, but immediately jumped back in disgust at the smell that forced itself into the corridor as soon as the door was only slightly open. "Are you sure it's safe?" she asked Slughorn, putting her sleeve over her burning nose.

"Oh, yes. You two messed up the recipe. It smells like the gas, but it's completely harmless. Oh, and the texture was a little off the mark," Slughorn said, opening the door all the way so they could see inside.

Both Sirius and Marlene put their sleeves over their noses to block out the horrible stench wafting from the room. But their eyes got wide when they saw the inside of what used to be their potions classroom.

Everywhere, almost everything was covered with a large grey goop. It was over bags, on the walls, the ceiling, chairs, books, parchment, desks, cauldrons, and everything else in the room.

"Okay, I know we didn't make this much," Marlene said, looking around in amazement.

"The cauldron can't even fit this much into it," Sirius added.

"Yes," Slughorn agreed, moving behind his desk. "It expanded as soon as it was thrown. Luckily, it has seemed to stop. Just in time for you two to clean it." He took out two buckets, two large sponges, and two bottles of soap. "Magical soap and water seems to dissolve the substance quite well."

"Yeah, so does a spell," Sirius said.

"You don't learn a lesson with a spell," Slughorn said.

"We can't clean all this in one night!" Marlene complained.

"You're going to have to," Slughorn said. Then, having an idea, "Or you can come back tomorrow night and Sunday night to clean."

Sirius and Marlene groaned. They started quickly, each working at opposite ends of the room, mostly because Marlene didn't want to be near Sirius. Slughorn took their wands and sat outside, grading papers. He closed the door, not wanting to have to smell the horrible stink.

"You know, this is all your fault," Sirius said. "You're the one who threw it."

"You were being a prick," Marlene snapped.

"So you try to kill me?" Sirius asked.

"I wasn't trying to kill you, just shut you up!"

"Yeah, I'm sure Slughorn would understand."

"I wasn't thinking," Marlene said.

"Obviously! You've never done a lot of that."

Marlene threw her sponge down and stood up, facing him. "So why didn't you tell Slughorn it was me?"

Sirius turned to look at her. He rolled his eyes. "You think he would believe me? If I said something, he would think I was lying."

Marlene opened her mouth, but couldn't find words, so she turned back around, crouched down, and continued to clean. After a few minutes, she sighed and mumbled, "Sorry."

"What?" Sirius asked, turning.

Marlene sighed again and turned around, sitting down on the floor with her back against the wall. "I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry I tried to kill you. I'm sorry I messed up the potion. I'm sorry I didn't tell Slughorn. I'm just… sorry." She sounded defeated, like she didn't care about anything anymore. And she didn't.

Sirius shook his head, "I'm sorry for yelling. And, y'know… all the other stuff."

"I'm just tired, Sirius. I am so tired of this. Of everything."

"So we're good? On like… everything? We're friends again?" Sirius asked, oddly nervous.

"Sirius Black? Just friends with a girl? I didn't think it was possible!" She smiled at him.

He shrugged, grinning. "Sometimes you don't get the girl, but she's too special to let go."

Marlene rolled her eyes. "Please, you would be lost without me."

"I was," Sirius said, starting to clean a desk off.

Marlene just sighed and continued working. They continued on like this for a while. But, after Sirius had cleaned the desk off, he noticed a piece of parchment with, what looked like, notes. But it was James's handwriting, and James didn't take notes.

Sirius read over the parchment a few times before fully understanding it. He quickly slipped it into his pocket and continued cleaning.

After a few hours, Slughorn came in and finished the rest with a sweep of his wand, making Sirius and Marlene cry out in anger. He gave them their wands back, and sent them back to Gryffindor Tower.

They walked up together, talking and laughing, Sirius's arm wrapped around Marlene's shoulders.

xoxo

On Saturday, Lily was sitting in the Common Room at a desk. By herself.

Around eleven, she felt someone sit across from her. She figured it was Aylin, and smiled, looking up. However, as she saw who it was, her smile dropped and her eyes grew wide.

"Don't say anything," Marlene said as Lily's mouth opened. "Just wait."

Lily stared at Marlene, astonished that this was happening. Whatever this was. She didn't know what she was waiting for, but she didn't want to upset Marlene, so she kept quiet.

She stared at Marlene for a minute before Marlene looked back at her and sighed. "Okay," she said. "You can talk. This is taking too long and it's awkward."

"What's going on?" Lily asked almost before Marlene had gotten to the end of her sentence.

"Let's just say I am very, very tired."

"Tired? Marlene, that doesn't explain anything!" Lily said, exasperated.

Just then, Eli sat down next to Lily, surprising Lily more than before.

"What is this about McKinnon?" Eli said, grumpily.

"You'll see. We just need Maria to get here." At her words, both Lily and Eli began to argue with her.

"If you think we are going to sit here and say sorry and talk about each other's feelings and braid each other's hair and instantly become best friends again, you've got another thing coming!"

"Marlene, you mean well, but I just don't think that this is going to work. We are obviously not going to get along and there's no point in putting us through this stress!"

"Shhh!" Marlene said, waving her hands at them to be quiet. "She's coming."

As Maria sat down, she looked at everyone at the table with narrowed eyes. "Why are we here Marlene?"

"I am sick and tired of this," Marlene said. "This fighting. It's stupid. First, we are going to have a civil conversation about everything and try to talk it out. Understood?"

No one looked at her or said anything.

"Then I'll go first," Marlene said. "I am mad at Lily for telling James about my parents." She said it half-heartedly, as if she were bored.

"I know," Lily said. "And you have every right to be. I messed up and I feel awful about it. I'm sorry. I am so, so sorry. I would give anything for you to at least talk to me again."

Marlene grinned, whole-heartedly. "Apology accepted. Now you, Lily. Who are you mad at and why?"

Lily looked surprised. "I'm not mad at anybody," she said, eyes wide. "I messed up and I know that. I don't have the right to be mad at anyone. Except James."

The other three sat in silence for a few moments, not knowing what to say. Finally, Marlene said, "Eli, you can go next."

"I'm mad at Lily for telling James Marlene's secret and for not telling us her dad died. I'm mad at Maria for 'lying to us about her father,' whatever that means. And I'm mad at Marlene for taking my pearl necklace, losing it, and then lying about it."

"Eli, I know that necklace meant a lot to you, and I'm sorry I took it. I feel awful about that, still, which is why I never told you. I was afraid. Please forgive me?" Marlene said.

Eli nodded solemnly. Then turned to Maria.

"You know how I told you that I never knew my dad?" Maria asked softly. The others nodded. "Well, I did. For a few years. A few years of Hell. He beat up my mom and, well, me. He wasn't good. I don't really like to talk about it."

"I'm sorry," the words chorused out of Eli's, Lily's, and Marlene's mouths in unison.

Maria shrugged. "He's gone now. My mum is a witch." Everyone stared at her for a moment, not sure how to respond to that. What had her mother done? Did they even want to know?

After a few moments, everyone turned to Lily.

She sighed. "Well, I told you all at the beginning of summer that he was sick. But I didn't really tell you how bad it was. We knew he wasn't going to live. I guess, like Maria said, it was too hard to talk about, so I didn't. I told Remus after it happened because I knew he wouldn't overly-pity me. But it hurt too much to tell you guys. I'm sorry."

Marlene took Lily's hand. "It's okay, Lily."

"Were you ever going to tell us?" Eli asked.

"Of course," Lily said. "But, only at the right time. And when I was strong enough."

Finally, Maria said, "I'm mad at Eli because she—"

"I broke up with him," Eli said, not meeting any eyes. Everyone stared in shock. "What you said really got through to me, Maria. I was crawling back by saying yes. I deserve better."

Maria grinned.

"See?" Marlene said. "That wasn't so bad! And to think, we've been avoiding this all month."

"Don't go thinking that we're going to be best friends again," Eli said.

"But we are at least friends, right?" Maria asked.

Marlene smiled. "Of course we are."

xoxo

"Hey," Lily said.

Remus looked up from the book he was reading at a desk in the library. "Hi, Lily. This is… unexpected," he said. Then, realizing she was standing, gestured to the seat across from him and said, "Please, sit."

Lily sat down and looked at him sadly.

Remus smiled and chuckled a little. "Spit it out before it eats you alive, Lily."

She sighed. "I may have rushed to conclusions before, in my rage at James and Sirius, and accused you of things that, in hindsight, are utterly ridiculous."

Remus smiled at her. "Apology accepted."

"It's just that, I don't know how James knew. And the only logical explanation, even though improbable, was you."

"You don't have to explain, Lily, I understand."

"And maybe I jumped a little too quickly, but my conclusion was still sound and I would have gotten there either way. So, please forgive me."

Remus laughed. "Lily, I already forgave you. Twice."

"I know, but you didn't let me finish," Lily said.

"I forgive you," Remus said.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Lily jumped up and hugged him, squeezing hard.

"Alright, alright, don't kill me!" Remus said, hugging her just as tight.

"Sorry," Lily said, letting go. "Have you, by any chance, seen Sirius?"

Remus raised an eyebrow. "I believe he and James went to talk to Madam Hooch. Why?"

Lily sighed. "Sadly, you're not the only one I need to apologize to."

Remus smiled at that. "Sorry, can't help."

Lily sighed again. "That's fine. I don't want to keep you from your work, so I'm gonna go, see you later."

"Bye, Lily."

xoxo

"Evans!"

She kept walking.

"Evans!"

She kept walking.

"Evans!"

Lily felt the air shift as someone slipped into step next to her. She kept walking, her eyes forward.

"Don't ignore me, that's rude."

Lily made a small noise somewhere between a snort and a gag. She kept walking.

"I heard you were looking for Sirius. You wanted to apologize right?"

Silence.

"Well, why don't you want to apologize to me?"

Lily used every ounce of self-restraint she had to keep walking.

"I deserve it, don't I?"

She knew he was just trying to get her to talk. She kept walking.

"Don't be shy, I know it's hard to be cool around someone like me, but try your hardest not to let all your hidden feelings for me out at once."

"Potter," Lily said so harshly that if words could kill, James would be past dead. "Leave me alone."

"C'mon! No snide remark? Or comment? Or insult?" he asked, confused by her behaviour.

"You do it yourself just fine," Lily muttered. She kept walking.

"Ah, there's the Evans I know and love. What's wrong?"

"You."

"No, I mean, what's bothering you?"

"You."

James sighed. "Other than me."

"Nothing. I was great until you came."

"And then you became happier? Or perhaps—"

"Whatever your about to say," Lily said through gritted teeth, "don't."

"I'm just trying to have a friendly conversation."

"No, you're not."

James tone became suddenly more serious: "Are you really still mad at me?"

"Yes, James. Why is that so hard to understand? You're a horrible person who does horrible things and expect people to love you for it. And, for some reason, people do. Well, not me. Welcome to the real world, Potter, where not everyone is wrapped around your little finger."

"So I'm a horrible person now, am I?" James asked, slightly hurt.

"No. You always have been a horrible person. And you have no right to get offended after everything you did."

James knew she was right. "You're wrong."

"About what?"

James didn't say anything.

"I do have one question though. How did you know about my dad?"

James didn't say anything.

"Fine, then answer this question instead." Lily's voice got softer, more warm and caring and nice: "Why didn't you tell the other Marauders?"

James stopped, causing Lily to stop and turn to him.

James looked her in the eye for only a moment before turning around and walking away. Lily sighed.

She kept walking.


So was that worth the wait? Oh... Sorry. Well, the next chapter will be out soon so does that make up for it? Oh... okay, i guess. That's fine. I didn't expect forgiveness. As long as you liked the chapter. Did you? Please tell me, because i need to know.

Seriously, though. Tell me what you liked/didn't like (i won't be mad. I need criticism!) and favourite and review because it puts a huge smile on my face every time! I love you all. I wish you all happiness and safety. The next chapter is called, "In Quidditch We Trust." See ya next time!

~Jill
MissSlytherinxoxo

XOXO