As it was the weekend, Melissa was relaxing in bed and wondering what had become of the four smartest, nicest, most popular girls in their year.

Chloe had died. There was no changing that and she didn't think there was any point in trying to. Sure, Chloe was an amazing person, but death was death and there wasn't much anyone could do when someone had reached it, but let go and move on.

Kendra had collapsed into herself, an empty shell of the lively, studious girl she had been before. Now she would spend hours gazing into space in class and at meals. She didn't eat unless she was reminded; it was if she had simply forgotten how to live life!

Lily was seeing someone. She was sure of it - Lily hadn't been this recklessly happy since Chloe's death, and Melissa often saw her smiling secretly to herself for no apparent reason. All Melissa couldn't figure out was who the guy was. And just why her best friend was keeping it all from her.

And herself… she was freakin' engaged! At sixteen, too! Sometimes she felt like she was the only sane, normal one of them now. She felt so left out of Kendra's silence and Lily's zealousness.

She was also worried about Sirius, and his growing arousal around her. He wanted her - she would be a fool not to know that. But she was worried about what would happen if he got out of control, like he almost had when she had stopped him. She had been furious at him; they were only sixteen, it was barely legal! And her worst fear was getting pregnant. She was scared of sex, too, of losing her virginity to the wrong guy, in the wrong place, at the wrong time. Sirius was no virgin, he had told her that much, and that meant, as again he had told her, that he couldn't go without it for too long without going stir crazy.

She sighed ruefully. Her life was so damn complicated, and she was only in sixth year!

xXoXx

Lily was walking down a corridor on the fourth floor, when she felt a strong and muscular pair of arms sweep her into one of the unused transfiguration classrooms.

"James!" she said, giggling softly as he gently put her down on a desk and kissed her nose.

"Hey yourself," he whispered huskily, his face lighting up when she touched her lips gently yet forcefully to his.

They had been at it for a good few minutes when they heard a smug voice say, "Expelliarmus! Well, isn't this touching?"

As their wands flew from their grasps towards Lucius Malfoy, they stepped apart hurriedly; their relationship was still a secret and they intended for it to stay that way until Kendra and Remus made up. They felt sure that the two stubborn teenagers would resolve their issues at some point, they just weren't sure when.

James glared at Lucius, who was standing with his wand pointing straight at them, "Malfoy," he said coolly, not bothering to hide his disgust with the older student.

"Potter," Lucius acknowledged him with a nod of his head, "And your mudblood whore."

Lily stiffened, James could see it, "How low can you go, eh Malfoy," he retorted, his glare giving way to a cold smirk. Seeing Lucius' reaction, he pressed on, "Yeah, I know what you are - one of voldie's lackeys. Care to show us your arm, bastard?"

Lucius glared back icily, "You don't know how much of a mistake you just made, Potter," he replied, rolling up the left sleeve of his robes to reveal a startlingly black pattern branded into his skin. The pattern was of a skull with a crude snake coming out of its mouth - the Dark Mark, worn by Death Eaters.

James let out a heavy breath, "He's recruiting young."

"James, what is that?" Lily asked in a low voice, staring in horrified fascination at Lucius' forearm.

"It's the Dark Mark," James spat, putting an arm around her protectively, "Voldemort puts it on Death Eaters so he can summon them when he needs them and vice versa."

"Only his most trusted followers…" Lucius said proudly, letting his voice trail out before he finished his sentence. Nonetheless, they all knew what he had said, or implied.

Lucius reached out his right arm and pressed his finger into the mark, shuddering as he did so.

"What the hell are you doing?" James cried, jumping away from him and pulling Lily with him, "Don't you know what that does?!"

Lucius smirked nastily, "I know exactly what it does, Potter. He's coming. Finally you and your mudblood friend will get yours."

James made a wild dash at the door, but Lucius stepped in the way easily, "It's locked, Potter," he remarked idly, still smiling sardonically at them.

"Lily!" he gasped frantically, his arm still holding hers tightly, "He's coming here! Malfoy bloody summoned him!"

Her face drained of all remaining colour then, as the full gravitational impact of what he had said sunk in, "You mean, Voldemort's going to come to Hogwarts?"

He nodded gravely, his arms wrapping around her and encompassing her body reassuringly, "C'mon Lils, we'll get through this."

"I wouldn't be so sure," came a cold, silky voice from the door.

They both looked up, and saw a tall man with striking black hair who was wearing a long dark cloak.

"Voldemort," James said contemptuously, taking a step back despite his apparent air of confidence.

"Ah, the young Potter boy," Voldemort sneered. Now he looked at Lucius, "Well done, Lucius. Lily Evans delivered and secured, with the Potter brat as an added bonus."

"What do you want with Lily?!" James yelled dangerously, his eyes flashing as he held Lily ever closer.

Voldemort looked offended, "I merely wish to talk to her," he replied smoothly, locking his eyes with Lily's, "So, my darling, do you speak?"

"I'm not your darling." Her voice came out as a defiant hiss.

Affronted, he continued, "I have an, erm, proposal for you, Lily. I have heard many great things about you, a beautiful and accomplished muggleborn witch, only sixteen years of age-"

"Yeah, we know all that," James interrupted, "Why are you here?"

"Manners, Potter," Voldemort snapped, waving his wand at him, "Crucio!"

James dropped to the floor, his body writhing in grotesque agony. Lily could hardly bear to watch.

"Stop it!" she shrieked, looking imploringly at Voldemort. He looked at her with an unreadable expression on his face for a few seconds, before releasing James from the curse.

James scrambled to his feet, breathing heavily, "You-"

"So, Lily," Voldemort went on, cutting into James, "I was wondering if you would like to join me?"

"Be a Death Eater?" she repeated incredulously, staring at him as if he were mad, "Me?"

"Lily, I am offering you a privileged role in our society. I will triumph, and those who are not with me will suffer the consequences and pay the price-" he looked at James pointedly "-As I was saying, you are a very talented witch, and you would be of a great help to me as a Death Eater."

Lily laughed; the sound piercing and deflating the silence that had been hanging in the air as she seemed to contemplate her decision, "Me, a Death Eater? Let's get this straight - you curse James right in front of me, and then you expect me to become your little Death Eater?! Are you mad? I love James, but I hate you!"

Voldemort staggered back, his shoulders hunching slightly, "I shall give you one last chance, Lily Evans. You can save yourself from certain death if you accept my offer."

"How about no?" Lily replied, looking up at him boldly.

"Then you are lost," he returned icily, his stony glare intensifying, "Lucius! We shall go elsewhere."

Lily gave a relieved sigh, but she shortly realized this was not to be, as Voldemort walked forward once more and firmly encased her in his arms. She heard James give a horrified shout and felt his hands on her, trying to pull her away…

But then Lucius grabbed him, and everything went black.

When they had stopped spinning, Lily and James opened their eyes to see the inside of a rickety building.

James inhaled sharply - it was the Shrieking Shack! And in about ten minutes the rest of the Marauders would be coming in here to transform, as it was the full moon. He tried to convey this to Lily, but Voldemort grabbed him by the arm and led him towards the wall. He waved his wand and strong ropes attached him to the wall, binding his arms, his torso and his legs. Damn, he couldn't even reach his mirror, which he could've used to warn Sirius!

"…wonder where Prongs is," came Sirius' voice as he came through the tunnel of the downstairs section of the Shrieking Shack.

James opened his mouth to yell and warn them, but Voldemort issued a strong silencing charm on both him and Lily, so he had to resort to mouthing curses and making faces at Voldemort and Lucius.

"Yeah. He's never missed one before," he heard Peter remark in confusion, definitely wondering where he was.

Voldemort strode quickly to the stairs, concealing himself from the three Marauders below, but able to see them quite clearly.

"He's seeing someone," Sirius said darkly, his voice strong and clear, "You guys must've noticed how happy he's been lately. He's got to be seeing some girl."

Lucius tapped Voldemort lightly on the shoulder, and when his master turned around with eyebrows that reached the top of his skull, he quickly explained that the boys downstairs were looking for James for some reason and that he was seeing Lily without them knowing. Voldemort smiled evilly as he realized how vulnerable James was right at that moment.

Remus started up the stairs, and froze about halfway up when he saw James tied to the wall.

"Wha-" was as far as he got, before Voldemort silenced him.

Sirius realized that something was wrong. Very wrong. He got out his mirror, and said slowly, "James Potter."

James' mirror floated out in front of him, showing Sirius his predicament effectively.

"James is-" Sirius said worriedly, breaking off mid-sentence as Voldemort showed himself.

"Hello boys," the dark wizard said maliciously. Before any of them had the chance to react, he waved his wand and the three boys went rigid, and floated upstairs to join James on the wall. Then he released all the silencing charms and a clamber of voices broke out.

"Shit! Voldemort, here!"

"I'm gonna kill someone! It's dangerous!"

"I tried to tell you guys, but-"

And then Sirius caught sight of Lily, "What's she doing here?" he asked curiously, watching James' reaction. His friend blushed, "I was going to tell you…"

"You're seeing her," he said baldly, "Why didn't you tell me?"

"We were keeping it secret. Lily didn't tell anyone, not even Melissa!" James replied hastily.

Meanwhile, Voldemort was talking to Lily, "Now who is this Melissa?" He mused, "Accio Melissa!"

"No!" Sirius screamed wildly, "No! Leave her alone!"

Voldemort laughed then, "Ah. Young Sirius Black, is it? I am well acquainted with your siblings." That got a raise out of the teenager, "Why don't you just crawl back into your spot in hell!"

A few moments later, Melissa was standing wide eyed and pale faced in front of Voldemort, "What?" she breathed, completely dumbstruck, before realizing who this man was, and whipping out her wand.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Voldemort warned, his eyes glinting red in the pale darkness.

"Oh and why not?" Sirius called from his spot on the wall, his mouth twisted into a bitter smirk, "C'mon Mel! Love you!"

"Love," Voldemort spat in contempt, glaring at the girl standing in front of him, "Is nothing!"

"Expelliarmus!" Mel shouted, while Voldemort was effectively distracted, "Bombarda!"

Voldemort was thrown across the room violently. He stood up and was about to curse her for her impudence, when Lily snatched his wand from where she stood behind him.

"Leave now!" came a new, older voice coming from the stairs, "You shall not curse Hogwarts students while I am alive to see it!" Dumbledore thundered imperiously, waving his wand at Voldemort, and muttering an incantation. Voldemort darted aside though, and with a loud crack he disapparated, leaving Lucius in his wake.

Dumbledore released the boys' bonds and they collapsed with relief, Sirius running to Melissa and hugging her fiercely, and James doing the same for Lily, "Oh Merlin," he breathed, tears of relief stinging his eyes, "I was so afraid…"

Remus, however, gave a strangled moan, causing everyone in the shack to look at him. Dumbledore realized what was going on, "All of you, out! Leave Mister Lupin for one time, I'm sure he will manage."

Lucius glanced curiously at Dumbledore, trying to figure out what he meant.

"Ah, and Mister Malfoy. Come with me, if you will. All of you, to my office!"

And all of them, bedraggled and defeated, walked slowly back to the castle, glad to be alive. In the distance they could hear Remus' tortured moans, and Sirius, James and Peter felt immensely guilty for leaving their friend on the full moon.

But they were alive, that was all that mattered. They were all alive, for now.

Hey all! How are your hols going? Sorry I took longer to update than usual, but when it's the holidays, I sorta have a tendency to slack off. Don't we all?

Was this chapter okay? I rushed it a bit, cause I didn't want to forget the idea I had. I was going to kill Melissa off, but in the end I chickened out. Oops.

Please please please please review!! Your thoughts and input are much appreciated!

xx

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