Chapter 17:

The beaker feel to the ground with a loud crash as the glass shattered and the potion sprayed on a nearby table. Harry, Lily, Ron and Hermione all stared gawk jawed at the spot where it had landed.

"Now," Snape said turning to face the rest of the class, which looked genuinely confused. "The process in which an engorging potion may be concocted…" He was suddenly interrupted by the sound of a loud crash. Everyone looked to see that Harry had flipped his chair and stormed out of class. Lily and Ron followed suit, and Hermione stood blankly glancing from Professor Snape to the door. She grabbed her bag and walked for the door.

"Mr. Malfoy?" Snape said casting a glance in the direction of Draco.

"Yes sir?" Draco said sitting up straight.

"If you please go and find Professor McGonagall," he said coolly. "I believe I need to speak to her about some disruptive students…"

"Yes sir…" Draco said smiling evilly.

******

"I don't think it was your potion," Hermione said as she watched Lily pace around their dorm room.

"I hate him," Lily said very angrily. "I really hate him."

"We all do," Hermione said shrugging. "I'm almost positive that it wasn't your potion though. I mean Dumbledore would have him severely reprimanded…"

"He needs to get a swift kick in the…" Lily began to say before she was suddenly interrupted by Lavender and Parvati entering the room.

"Hey you two," Lavender said smiling as she sauntered over to her bed. "You'll never believe what Seamus just did for me…"

"No one cares that he transfigured a fork in a flower…" Parvati said as she too sat on her bed. "I mean you've told anyone that will listen."

"Well," Lavender said shooting her a look. "Some of us have people in our lives that will do sweet things for us…"

"Anyway…" Parvati said turning towards Lily. "What was all that about in potions today?"

"Nothing," Hermione said shifting uneasily. "Hey what exactly did we do in potions today? You know I'm studying for my N.E.W.T's and I would really hate to not know exactly…"

"Give it a rest Hermione," Lavender said flipping her hair.

Hermione looked her up and down. "At least I have other things to talk about besides Seamus."

"And why would you be talking about Seamus?" Lavender said very defensively.

"Oh never mind," Hermione said rolling her eyes. "Lily, do you want to go down to the common room?"

"Yeah," Lily said distantly. "I need to talk to Harry…"

"Oh do you?" Lavender said smiling. She glanced at Parvati who just smiled back.

"Yes," Lily said unaware of where Lavender might be taking this.

"Well," Lavender said, "that's really cute. I mean I really thought that he and Ginny Weasley were becoming an item, but…"

"Lavender not now," Hermione said as she stood up and walked towards the door. "Come on Lily." The two girls walked down into the common room right as Harry was walking in.

"Hey," Lily said as Harry threw down his broom. "How was Quidditch practice?"

"Great," Harry said smiling widely. "Sirius came to watch…"

"He did?" Hermione asked somewhat shocked.

"Well," Harry said smiling slyly at her. "He did in one from or another…He's coming by tonight. He and Remus both. To say goodbye."

"They're leaving?" Hermione asked.

"They have too," Harry said. "They need to get back to work."

"Have you spoken to Dumbledore?" Lily asked somewhat edgy. "I mean I know you were set on talking to him."

"Oh," Harry said. His face fell as if he suddenly reminded. "No, I haven't gotten around to talking to him yet."

"Oh," Lily said disappointed. For the first time, Harry noticed that Lily wanted nothing more than to go back to her own time.

"Don't worry," Harry said smiling. "We'll get you home. I promise."

Lily smiled meekly. "Thanks Harry," she said as she walked over and hugged him. "You've…you all have been absolutely wonderful to me. I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't met you."

"Well," Harry said stuffing his hands in his pockets. "If it means anything, I think this meeting has meant more to me than it has to you…"

"I doubt that somehow," Lily said grinning. "I mean all you've gotten out of meeting me was a few stories about your dad that you could have asked anyone. Sirius could have told you lots more than I ever could."

"It's still too painful for him, I guess," Harry said looking down. "He doesn't talk about it much."

"Well," Lily said sighing. "I'll have to help him remember the good. The stuff that I remember."

Harry smiled. "I wouldn't worry about that potion. I really don't think it was the one intended for you. I think Snape was bluffing."

"I do too," Hermione said. "I think he was full of ****."

"Did you just insult a professor?" Harry asked half laughing.

"Maybe," Hermione said smiling slyly. "After all, you and Ron have had a terrible influence on me."

"Horrible," Harry said grinning. He turned to look at Lily who seemed to be lost in thought. "What's the matter Lily?"

"Oh nothing," she said distantly. "Just thinking about that potion."

"It wasn't yours," Hermione said defiantly. "I know it wasn't."

"I believe you," Lily said. "I'm just wondering why he would do that…"

"Drop it?" Harry asked. "Because he's a mad bugger!"

Lily laughed. "I know that. It's just…oh never mind. I really don't feel like talking about him right now."

"I never do," Harry said grinning. "I'm going to go upstairs and change. Stay right here though, because they said they'd be coming by any minute."

"All right," Hermione said sitting down. "Hey, wake Ron up if he's asleep."

"I think he'd like it more if you woke him up," Harry said as he headed of in the direction of his dorm. He walked up the stairs to find all of his roommates still awake. Dean sat upon his bed reading a book on soccer for the 50,000th time, all the while ignoring the story that Seamus was obvious trying to tell him. Neville, however, sat paying very close attention to whatever Seamus was saying. Harry glanced over to see Ron lying on his bed reading the Daily Prophet.

"So anyway," Seamus said. "The way that you would obviously have to go about that would be…"

"Hey Harry," Dean said cutting Seamus off mid sentence.

"Hey," Harry said throwing his stuff down.

Ron looked up from his paper. "Hey mate, how was practice? We stand a chance tomorrow?"

"I dunno," Harry said sighing. "I mean there are only two people on the team that have been playing for more than a year. This is a major rebuilding year for Gryffindor."

"Slytherian lost a few players too though," Neville added.

"Yeah," Harry said as he took out a clean white shirt. "They lost a few. They didn't loose five players…I mean its been rough. You really should have gone out for the team Ron."

"I wanted to!" Ron said. "You know I couldn't though because of what happened this summer…"

"I know," Harry said slowly remembering what had happened this summer when Ron and him had been playing Quidditch in his yard with all his brothers. Ron had been playing the keeper position, when suddenly his brother Fred sent a bludger right at him. He hadn't seen it and it collided with his back. He spent the rest of the summer in a wizards hospital, with no chance of recovering by the time Quidditch season started.

"Well, let's just hope it's not a massacre," Dean said. "I can see Draco Malfoy sitting smugly for the rest of the year…"

"Not if I have anything to say about it," Harry said smiling. "If anything I'll make sure to get the better of him."

"Well that's worth going down to watch if anything," Ron said grinning as he absently read the paper.

"Ron you want to go play chess in the common room?" Harry asked.

"Nah," Ron said lazily. "I'm kind of tired."

"Come on," Harry said trying to catch Ron's eye so that he could signal him.

"I'll play tomorrow…" Ron said as he flipped the page.

"Hermione asked me to get you to come downstairs," Harry said resorting to that.

"Watch him jump up now," Seamus whispered to Dean and Neville.

"I'm not going to jump up," Ron said putting the paper down. "I consider it more of a leap." He hopped up.

"I think that was more of a hop," Harry said as he threw on slippers.

"Definitely more of a hop," Dean said.

"Whatever," Ron said as he followed Harry out of the room. "I can't win…" They walked downstairs to see Lily and Hermione playing chess.

"Don't move that there," Ron said as he sat down next to Hermione.

"Why not," Hermione said ignoring him and moving the piece.

Lily moved her piece. "Check."

"That's why," Ron said giving her a look.

"That's why I get for not listening to the chess master," Hermione said as Harry set up the pieces.

"I just like that for once, you weren't right." Ron said grinning.

"Ron you really need to…" Hermione began.

"Shut up you two," Harry said. "I'm not in the mood for your arguing….I mean flirting." They both blushed scarlet as Harry watched as the last of the Gryffindors left the common room and walked up to their dorms.

"When's Sirius going to come?" Hermione asked.

"Remus is going to come to get us," Harry said as he noticed the confused look on Ron's face. "Then we're going to go and meet up with him and Sirius."

"Good," Hermione said. "For a second I thought you were going to tell me that Sirius was going to come here. Then anyone could see him and he could get into serious trouble."

"Hermione…." Harry said under his breath.

"Why would he get in trouble if someone saw him?" Lily asked.

"Oh," Hermione said realizing what she had just said. "Ummm…well…" She looked at Ron and Harry for help.

"There aren't suppose to be any visitors in the common room." Ron said suddenly. "Could jeopardize the safety of the students." Hermione breathed deeply.

"Oh," Lily said as her and Harry began to play chess. Harry shot Hermione a look, but she already seemed to be very disappointed with herself for her slip of tongue. Harry became distracted from this fact when he noticed that the portrait hole quickly swung open, and Remus Lupin stepped in.

"Remus!" Lily said very excitedly. Harry saw in her face again the yearning to go home. Sirius and Remus were the closest thing she had to home right now, even if they were in their mid-thirties.

"Lily," Remus said smiling widely. "Harry, Hermione, Ron…"

"Hi," the three Gryffindors all said in mixed unison. "How are you?"

"Good…" Remus said smiling. "Dreading the fact that we have to leave. Why don't you four all follow me?"

"Are we going to Dumbledore's office?" Lily asked as they all exited the portrait hole.

"It's really the only safe place in the building," Remus said as he led the way to Dumbledore's office.

"Milky way," Remus said as they approached the stone gargoyle.

"What's a milky way?" Ron asked as they climbed the stairs.

"It's a galaxy," Hermione began in her textbook manner. "In which the planets of our solar system reside…"

"Actually," Remus said cutter her off. "It's a muggle chocolate bar that Professor Dumbledore took at liking of."

Ron smiled at Hermione. "Not your night, huh?"

"Shut up," Hermione said as they walked into the round circular office. Dumbledore and Sirius were laughing over something that one of them had just said.

"Good evening," Dumbledore said turning to face the young students.

"Evening," Lily said as she smiled widely at Sirius. He beamed back.

"Well I'll let you all get to your goodbyes," Dumbledore said. "I believe you two gentleman really need to be on your way?"

"Yes," Sirius said nodding. "We won't keep them long." Dumbledore nodded and walked into his small adjoining office.

"I can't believe that you both are leaving so soon," Hermione said as she sat down. "You just got here."

"I know," Sirius said. "I hate to go," he glanced at Lily. "But we must."

"I understand," Lily said solemnly. "It was wonderful to get the chance to see you both."

"You have no idea how wonderful it was for us to see you again, Lily," Remus said slowly.

"No idea at all…" Sirius said very distantly. "Ron, Hermione?"

They two of them both looked up at him. "Yes?" Hermione asked.

"You two take care of yourselves," Sirius said as he walked over and hugged them both. "And keep up the great job of looking after Harry. I'm so glad he has friends like you…"

"We will," Ron said as he turned to Remus. "You both take care as well…"

"We will," Remus said as he too hugged them all goodbye. "Harry?"

"I'll be careful," Harry said looking from Remus to Sirius. "I promise I won't go looking for trouble."

"Well.." Sirius said looking at Remus. "That's wonderful to know, but I was going to tell you to make sure that you beat the bloody pulp out of Slytherian tomorrow."

Harry laughed. "I think me staying out of trouble is easier than that…" He walked over and hugged Remus and then turned towards his godfather. "Please stay safe…"

"I'll try Harry," Sirius said smiling warmly at him.

"Can you do any better than that?" Harry asked.

"Ok," Sirius said. "I will stay safe…." Harry smiled.

Sirius turned to face Lily. "Lily Evans…"

"Sirius Black…" she said smiling back.

"I don't know what to say to this…" he said. "I mean I know I'll never see you like this again. This is so much more than just goodbye."

"Oh Sirius," Lily said slowly. "You always were the one to make goodbyes so dramatic and sentimental…"

"Sorry," he said shrugging.

"And Remus," she said turning towards Remus. "You were always the one to avoid goodbyes…"

"I still do…" Remus said. "I like to refer to it as see you later…"

"Except you won't see me later," Lily said smiling.

"I know," Remus said very sadly. "Trust me…I know."

Lily walked over to hug Remus. She turned to Sirius who seemed to be shifting very uneasily. "Goodbye Sirius…all though soon enough I'll be seeing the both of you again. Much younger of course, but it will be you." Sirius smiled very sadly as tears welled up slowly in his eyes.

"Come on Sirius," Remus said putting a reassuring hand on his friends shoulder. "We need to be in Manchester soon…"

"I know," Sirius said not taking his eyes off Lily. "Well, I guess this is good bye all…"

"Bye," they all said in mixed unison.

"Have a safe trip," Hermione added.

"We will," Remus said. As hard as he was trying not to show emotion, Harry swore he heard Remus sniffle. The two men headed towards the door and almost as if on cue, they both turned and looked at Lily who was smiling widely.

"Sirius?" Lily said suddenly.

"Yeah?" he asked.

"Will you do me a favor?" Lily asked. "You too Remus?"

"What's that?" Remus asked.

"Tell Harry stories about James," she said slowly. "I know it must be painfil to think about, but there were so many good times…."

"For you?" Sirius said. "I promise we will tell him about his mum and dad."

"Good." Lily said smiling.

"Bye," they both said as they slowly walked out of the room. The room was very quiet, until a sniffle from Hermione broke the silence.

"We'd better get back," Harry said to the others. "I need to get some sleep if I even want to stand a chance against Slytherian."

"Right," Lily said. "Wait!"

"What?" Harry asked tuning towards her.

"The potion…" she said. "Shouldn't we asked Dumbledore while we're here?"

"Good idea," Hermione said walking over to the office he had enter. She knocked and several moments later he came to the door.

"Yes?" Dumbledore asked pleasantly.

"Well, Professor," Harry asked. "You see we just need to ask you about something that happened in potions today…"

"Yes," Dumbledore said. "I heard that the four of you left in the middle of your lesson?"

"Yes," Ron said slowly. "But we had really good reason..!"

"Maybe so," Dumbledore said. "Still however, I can't justify leaving a lesson. That's something we'll deal with later though. Is that all?"

"No," Lily said. "You see there was this potion that Snape said was my potion. Then he dropped it on the ground and it broke and spilled everywhere…"

"What?" Dumbledore asked slightly shocked. "Well I haven't heard anything about this. I'll have to speak to Professor Snape first thing tomorrow morning." He paused as if lost in thought. "I can't think of any reason he would do that unless for some reason he doesn't want you going back to your own time. In any case, I will get this all sorted out by morning. Is that all?"

"Yes," Harry said nodding.

"All right then," Dumbledore said. "Have a good night." With that he shut the door. The four of them turned and walked out of the office and down into the corridor.

"Well that was interesting," Hermione said. For once she seemed unaware of what to say.

"Yes," Lily said. "Definitely…but see Harry? I told you I'd get Sirius and Remus to tell you more stories about your dad."

"Yeah," Harry said laughing. "Thanks."

"You're welcome," she said. "Hey can I asked you a quick question though?"

Harry's stomach leapt. He hated when she asked him that. "Umm…what?"

"Well," Lily said uneasily. "I really have tried to avoid asking you this…but my curiosity has got the better of me…"

Harry looked at Hermione and Ron who both stopped in their tracks. "What's that?"

"Well," Lily said as she glance from one uneasy face to the next. "I was just curious about…" She paused. "Well…"

"What is it?" Ron asked.

Lily breathed very deeply. She seemed to have a hard time asking this question. "Well…I just wanted to know….what was your mum's name?"

Harry, Ron, and Hermione's eyes all widened. "Wha…what?" Harry asked shakily.

"Your mum," Lily said. "I haven't wanted to ask you because I wasn't sure I wanted to know about who James ended up with. Plus, I didn't want to hear it and then realize that I knew her and then have to suffer the loss of two friends of mine…"

"Umm…" Harry said very uncomfortably. "My mum…"

"His mum…" Ron said very unsure. "She was…ummm…"

"She was…" Hermione said searching her brain for something clever to say.

"Oh Potter," said a menacing voice suddenly. "Don't tell me you've actually gone and forgotten your own mother's name…."

"Malfoy!" Harry said turning to see Draco emerging from behind a corner. "What are you doing here?"

"Could ask you the same question…" Draco said very sinisterly. "But apparently you have a more important question to answer first." He smiled evilly, and Harry suddenly feared the worst. That Draco somehow found out about who Lily really was.

"Sod off," Ron said.

"Shut up weasel…" Malfoy said. "I'm waiting to see why Potter's taking so long to answer. I mean if you need help thinking of her name I can surely help you. We all know it, and I for one have no problem telling her…"