Chapter 16:

Harry's heart sank. He didn't know how to answer her. He didn't want to lie, but he couldn't tell the truth. I mean she was not a stupid girl. She would have figured it out eventually. What could he do or say…?

Lily crouched down close to the ground and buried her face in her hands. Harry just watched as she quietly began to sob. He bent down and put a comforting arm around her. He still didn't have the slightest clue as to what he was going to say to her when she when she stopped crying.

"Hey," Ron said as he and Hermione suddenly appeared behind Harry. "What's going on?"

Harry looked up sympathetically at them, and just continued to comfort Lily. "She found out…"

"What?" Hermione said shocked as Ron's eyes just widened in a complete look of shock.

"About…" Harry began, as he looked at Lily and then back at his friends. He mouthed, "my dad."

"Oh…" Hermione said bending down to be eye level with her. "Oh Lily, are you all right…?"

"Why…" she said looking up. Her eyes were swollen and her face was red. "Why?"

"I ask myself that everyday," Harry said standing up and looking down at her.

"But Voldemort…" Lily said as her voice broke. Ron cringed at the mere mention of the name. "I mean… I knew he was killed, but I never thought that it was by Voldemort…never in my wildest dreams would I ever have thought that James…James Potter would have gone off and gotten himself killed by one the most powerful wizards to ever live."

"He wasn't exactly looking for it," Ron said. "You-Know-Who came to his house looking for him…"

"They used to joke all the time," Lily said through her tears. "All of him and his friends. They used to joke that the four of them would take him on and defeat him…"

"Well," Ron said, "At least his son did…"

"Ron," Harry said casting him a look. "Lily, look…my father was killed trying to protect his family. As much as I wish he was here to be with me, he's a hero. He'll live forever in people's hearts and minds."

"That was beautiful Harry," Hermione said resting a comforting hand on his shoulder. Harry smiled at her and then looked down at Lily. She was staring straight up at him.

"I know," Lily said. "Its just this is all so…horrible. I mean I'm seeing all my friends…and they're all old enough to be my parents, and the one that I really would like more than anything to see…is dead. Killed by Voldemort like I was always so afraid of."

"Afraid of?" Ron asked. "You actually suspected that this might happen?"

"Always," Lily said straightening up. "James wanted to become and Auror so bad….and of course if he went though with it, he would have put his life in peril on a daily basis. That thought must have crossed my mind at least a hundred times. I mean I remember the day he told his parents that that was what he was going into."

"What'd his parents say?" Harry asked.

"They were of course against it…" Lily said as she calmed down a bit and stood up straight. "I mean have you ever asked your grandparents about their feelings towards that sort of thing?"

"Ummm…" Harry said awkwardly. He really didn't know how to answer that question since he had never met his grandparents. "No, I haven't…"

"Well," Lily said looking towards the ground. "I remember that day like it was yesterday…"

************

"James, sweetie?" came the voice of an older woman.

"Are you going to answer her?" Lily asked. She was laying down on her side next to James on his bed. He was laying on his back staring straight up at the ceiling with and icepack over his eye.

"No," James mumbled.

"James," Lily said slowly. "You're going to have to tell them sometime. They're going to have to see your eye…"

"It'll heal.." James said as he took the ice off his eye.

"That'll take days," Lily said. "Your father could fix it with the flick of his wand…"

"Well, then I would have to tell him where I got it from," James said as he looked at her. She just smiled as she looked at the swollen bruise.

"What about your glasses?" Lily said sitting up and reaching over to pick up his glasses that were broken into two halves.

"I could fix them," James said looking up slightly. "If you would just let me…"

"No," Lily said clutching them tightly. "You're underage, and you know you're not allowed…"

"Well then," he said shrugging. "I'm just going to lock myself away in here for the rest of the summer."

"You won't be able to see much…" Lily said laughing.

"Oh well…" James said as he plopped the ice pack back on his face.

"You need to talk to Sirius…" Lily said seriously. "I mean he's your best friend…"

"Best friends don't punch each other in the face," James said aggravated. "He can come apologize to me…"

"I'll talk to him then," Lily said. "I'm not going to let you two fight. You are far too close…"

"I don't feel like talking about him right now," James said leaning close to Lily. "Let's do something else."

"Like what?" Lily asked. James just smiled as he leaned in and kissed her. There was a sudden knock at the door.

"James?" came the same voice as before. "Are you in there?"

"So close…" James said laying back down frustrated. "Yes mum?"

The door opened and in came James' mother. She had dark hair and dark eyes, and was very short and skinny. "James, what's this I hear from Meredith?"

"Well if it's about how her son went and tried to beat the bloody pulp out of my face, then it's all true." James said as he took the pack off to show her his eye.

"Oh honey," she said as she went to look at his eye. "You gave Sirius quite a bloody nose."

"Good," James said grumpily. Lily just rolled her eyes.

"You two need to sort this out," she continued.

"Whatever," James said.

"Maybe you can talk some sense into him," James' mum said looking at Lily. "You and Sirius are the only two people he'll listen too."

"That's not true," James said making a face.

"Isn't it though?" His mum said looking at him. "I bet if Lily asked you to reconsider your plans for the future, you would."

"No one can change my mind about that…" James said. "I want to an Auror…"

"Sweetheart," she said as she began to pick up some of the things that were lying around his room. "You say that now, but you still have two more years left at school. You have the marks to do anything you desire. I mean if you really wanted to, you may be Minister of Magic…"

"Who would ever want that," James said. "That's probably the last thing I'd ever want…"

"James, it doesn't matter," she continued. "All I'm saying is that you may reconsider…"

"I don't see why you wouldn't want me to be one," James said watching his mum with his good eye. "I mean they make fantastic money…"

"James," his mother said half laughing. "The last thing you'll ever have to worry about is money…"

"I want to make my own living," James said sitting up. "I don't want to be completely dependant on my inheritance."

"I know dear," she said sighing. "All I'm saying is that you could do anything. You'll always be well off. I mean you can go and own a Quidditch shop if you'd like."

"That's plan C," James said grinning.

His mother rolled her eyes. "Well, what's plan B then?"

"To play Quidditch for England," Lily said grinning.

"Yes it is," James said smiling widely. "See mum, if I get an offer to play for England, then you won't have to worry about me becoming and Auror."

"Let's hope you get an offer then," his mother said.

"Hello," said a strong male voice. "What's going on in here?" It was James' father. He was very tall and burly, with dark hair and dark eyes. "James what happened?"

"With what?" James asked confused.

"Sirius and him got in a fight," Lily said.

"Honey," James mother began. "Will you tell your son to be the bigger man and go and talk to Sirius?"

"Oh boys will be boys," his father said laughing. He pulled out his wand and pointed at a nearby empty bowl. He mumbled some incantation and the bowl suddenly filled with a purple liquid. He then went and picked up James' glasses, quickly muttered oculus repario, and fixed them.

"Take this," his father said handing him the bowl, his glasses, and a towel. "Apply it to your eye and the swelling and bruise should be gone within the hour."

"Told you," Lily said playfully elbowing James.

"Yeah, yeah," James said reaching over to the bowl.

"Why don't you go into medicine like your father?" James mother asked as she watched him apply the towel to his face.

"Because I'm going to be an Auror," James repeated. "I'm going to be an Auror, and I'm going to and catch a whole load of death eaters, and I'm going to eventually take on You-Know-Who in a wizarding duel and in the end be victorious…"

"James," his father said sternly. "What did I tell you about that. You need to more realistic…"

"What's not realistic about that?!" James said more annoyed. "Why can't I be an Auror?"

"You far too bright," his father said.

"What does that have to do with anything?" James said loudly. Lily suddenly started to feel very uneasy.

"You will not raise your voice to me young man," his father said sternly. The usual sweet and jovial man suddenly looked very fierce.

"Fine," James said.

"Be down for dinner in a half hour," his father said before he turned and walked out of the room.

"James you know how he feels about that," his mother said shaking her head. "He's had too many friends killed by death eaters. He's seen too many Aurors brought into St. Mungo's with horrid injuries. The last thing he would ever be able to handle is to see you in that position. His own son. He'd kill himself."

"Whatever," James said only half listening.

"A half an hour," she said. "I'll see you both."

"All right," Lily said nodding. James didn't answer.

"Sorry," he mumbled to Lily. "I just don't see why they won't let me pursue my dreams."

"They care about you," Lily said as she rubbed his shoulder. "I mean I can't exactly say that I'm thrilled that that's what you want to do…"

"Oh not you too," James said glancing at her. "Right now my best friend hates me and my parents are ready to ship me off to Bulgaria. I can't afford to have my girlfriend working against me too…"

"I'm not against you," Lily said. "I'm just trying to help you realize where your parents are coming from."

"Yeah ok," he said smiling. "Hey, we've got a half hour."

"We do don't we," Lily said grinning playfully.

"So…" James said . "What do you want to do?"

"What do you want to do?" Lily said very slowly.

"Well," James said. "I have a few things in mind, but it's really up to you…"

"I'm going to and talk to Sirius," Lily said standing up and walking over to the door.

"Ok, that was way off where I was going with this," James said sitting up.

"I'll be back," Lily said as she kissed him quickly and turned to leave.

"I can't win," James said plopping back down and putting the towel back on his face.

***********

"So he always wanted to become and Auror," Ron said looking around the corridor. More people were starting to emerge from the Great Hall.

"Yes," Lily said as she wiped her eyes on her sleeve. "I'm guessing he did too…" Harry just smiled, still unsure of what to tell her. He realized that there was a lot he didn't have to worry about telling her because there was still so much that he didn't know.

"You two really did get along well," Hermione said smiling as they all slowly began to walk to class.

"Yes," Lily said smiling finally. She tended to smiled the widest when she thought about James. "James and I have always gotten along really well. Well, wait that's not true…"

"It's not?" Harry asked.

"No," Lily said shaking her head. "In our fourth year, him and I got into a huge shouting match in the middle of the common room."

"What happened?" Harry asked as they walked into Potions ten minutes early. Snape was no where to be seen.

"Ok," Lily said. "You see we had always been friends. I mean not best friends or anything, just always known each other and talked in class and what not. Now, before your dad and I started dating he was a bit of a…womanizer."

"Womanizer?" Harry said laughing. "My dad?"

"You have no idea," Lily said laughing. "Sirius and him both. Remus wasn't as bad, and Peter was hardly ever a threat."

"Well," Ron said laughing. "Looks like Harry fell far from that tree…"

"Sod off," Harry said. "So what did you all fight about?"

"You want to hear another story?" Lily asked. "I don't want to bore you with all my little stories…"

"No," Harry said smiling. "We have time. I love to hear stories about my dad."

"All right," Lily said smiling warmly. "Well this isn't exactly my favorite memory if James, but it's definitely memorable…"

*****************

"He's such a scumbag," Emily Darbur said from her bed, which was right next to Lily's.

Lily looked up from Charms book. "Who?"

"Sirius," Emily said. "Did you hear what he said about that Hufflepuff girl."

"Black?" Lily asked.

"How many Sirius' do you know?" Emily said as she plopped down on her bed.

"I don't know," Lily said shaking her head. "What did he do?"

"You know Liz Abbott?" Emily asked. "She's a Hufflepuff third year."

"I knew her older brother," Lily said as she flipped through her book. "He graduated last year."

"Yes," Emily said nodding. "Marcus' little sister. Anyway, she's always fancied Sirius. Always. Of course this is nothing new for him. He gets it all time."

"No kidding," Lily said laughing. "I don't really get it either. I mean he's cute, but with a reputation like his, I don't see how anyone could touch him."

"Tell me about it," Emily said continuing. "Anyway, Potter told him about her feelings for him so he asked her out."

"How sweet," Lily said. "Where the point?"

"Well, today in Arithmancy," Emily said. "Did you see how him and Remus were whispering to each other?"

"They always do that," Lily said. She wondered if Emily actually had a point to this story.

"Well," Emily said. "I heard him telling Remus that he figured, and I quote, that 'I only have a few more days until I get what I want out of her, then I can get rid of her.'"

"He did not say that?" Lily said as her mouth dropped. "What a jerk!"

"I know really," Emily said standing up. "I couldn't believe it. Hey, you want to go down for dinner?"

Lily checked her watch. "Yes, lets go." They both got up and walked out of their dorm room and down into the common room. As they walked towards the portrait hole they heard voices. Lily turned to see James and Sirius sitting and playing a game of chess.

"Going to dinner?" James asked as the two girls walked past.

"Yes," Emily said nodding. "Are you?"

"Soon enough," Sirius said smiling. She had never particularly disliked Sirius, but after hearing what she just had, she wanted more than anything to wipe that silly grin off his face.

"All right then," Lily said turning to leave. "Suit yourself."

"I have to wait," Sirius said standing up. Several people were appearing in the common room to leave for the Great Hall.

"Why's that?" Emily asked. "Have to wait for your fan club to be there to cheer on your entrance?"

"Cute," Sirius said smiling dryly at Emily. "But no, just one member…"

"One member?" Lily asked with her eyebrow raised.

"Yeah," James said as he pushed his hands in his pockets. "He's waiting for his girlfriend, she's always late."

"Yeah, what he said," Sirius said looking at James. "But like yours isn't?" James just shrugged.

"Oh you mean the one you're just waiting a little longer to get some out of?" Emily said acidly.

"What?" Sirius said somewhat shocked. "Pardon me?"

"I heard you in Arithmancy," Emily said. "I heard what you said to Remus."

"Well aren't you special," Sirius said casting a look at James.

"Come off it Sirius," Lily said. "That's really rotten."

"What are you talking about?" Sirius said defensively. "You two really need to mind your own damn business." He turned to step around them.

"You're such a jerk!" Lily blurted out. She didn't know where it came form, this wasn't like her at all. She was so angry that Sirius would do that to someone though. The sight of him was making her angry.

Sirius just stared her up and down. Lily was actually afraid of what he was going to do or say to her.

"Whatever," Sirius said shaking. "God forbid I upset the prime and proper ice queens…"

"Shut up, Sirius," James muttered so quietly that no one but Sirius could actually hear him.

"You *******!" Lily said to Sirius. "Don't you dare ever attempt to try and call me anything!"

"I'll do what I want!" Sirius said loudly. Most of the common room was watching now. "If I want to call you an ice queen I will!"

"Sirius shut up," James said again very quietly.

"And you…" Lily said turning towards James. "You think you can just stand there an whisper little insult for him to use…."

"What?" James said.

"You're not any better than him!" Lily said, her face turning red. "I mean just because it's not you this time using some poor girl, doesn't mean that it hasn't been or that it won't be you soon enough…"

"Wait a minute," James said. "I didn't say anything…"

"I'm sick of your **** Potter!" Lily blurted out. "You and Black's ****! You both treat girls as objects and I'm not going to stand for it!"

"So?" James said angrily. "Who cares what you think!? Your opinion means nothing to me or to him. So why don't you just go and mind your own damn business. Crawl into your little hole and go read a book and try to become the best little witch you can be, because apparently cleverness is the only good quality you've got going for you!"

Lily stood in her spot. Too shocked to move. She blinked a few times before turning and walking straight out of the portrait hole.

"Way to go, jerk," Emily said as she turned and followed her.

"That went well…" Sirius said half grinning. "You may have come off a bit too strong there though, mate."

"Sod off!" James said angrily as he stormed off into the direction of his dorm.

*****************

"So what happened?" Hermione asked.

"Well," Lily said grinning. "I found out that he was actually trying to defend me. Sirius said it was because he had always fancied me. He just got angry that I would say that about him. The bad side came out in both of us. We eventually smoothed things over. Needless to say…"

"That's so cute," Hermione said distantly.

"Reminds me of you and Ron," Harry said rolling his eyes.

"Shut up," Ron and Hermione both mumbled.

"Well, well," said a very cold voice. "Isn't that cute…recalling the memories of your childhood Lily?" It was Snape.

"Yes," Lily said very forced.

"You and Potter…" Snape said very quietly as he cast a look at Harry. "You two were quite the perfect couple. I'm assuming you know what happened to him?"

"Yes," Lily said again forcing her words out.

"Pity," he said sighing. "Such a bright boy. However, what he had in brains he lacked in common scene." Lily and Harry both just scowled.

"Do you deny it?" Snape continued. "I mean if he had any he wouldn't have gone and gotten himself killed…"

"Shut up!" Lily said standing up and throwing her chair back. "You're a horrible person! You were a horrible child and now you're a horrible man!"

"At least I lived long enough to become one," Snape said evilly.

"You stupid prat!" Harry said jumping up.

"Ten points from Gryffindor," Snape said smiling.

"I don't care!" Harry said. "I'm sick of you degrading my father!!"

"You don't care?" Snape asked with a raised eyebrow. The rest of the class was looking on confused. "Well, maybe you'll care about this…" He walked over to a nearby cabinet and pulled a small beaker. "You're potion. It's finished…"

"Is it?" Hermione said shocked.

"Well…" Snape said as he held it up above his head. "It was…used the last bit of Grut's root that one my find this side of the country. Very rare and very difficult to acquire. But, Mr. Potter doesn't seem to care…

"You wouldn't," Harry said shocked.

" So neither do I…" Snape said, and with that he dropped the glass beaker and Harry could only watch as the potion fell to the ground.