Just finished Trials of Apollo today and am currently dying because the next book comes out NEXT YEAR. If this isn't cruel torture, I don't know what is...

Well, anyway... this chapter is much longer than the last few, so I hope that makes up for the really short ones!

Enjoy :)

"Madam Pomfrey released me from the hospital wing around ten-ish, saying that my concussion had passed and I just needed some more rest. So I was walking back to our Common Room when I remembered that I had missed that day's Potion's exam, and I decided to see if Professor Slughorn was still at the dungeons," Lily began. "It was just past curfew, but I wanted to ask Slughorn whether I would be able to make up the test."

James snorted at her odd willingness to take the exam (he himself would have wholeheartedly skipped it if he had had the chance), earning a fierce glare from Lily. He threw his palms up in defense, eyeing her warily, but she just squared her shoulders and continued, dismissing his interruption.

"Anyways," she cleared her throat," the dungeon was locked, so I assumed that the professor had left and began making my way back to the Gryffindor room. Just as I turned the corridor, though, I-I..."

She faltered and her eyes began to shimmer. James immediately scooted over to her and draped an arm over her shoulder, surprised when she leaned into his touch. He was worried- like, a whole new level of worried. Nothing made the fierce Lily Evans break down to tears and- though he wasn't complaining about it- depend on him (of all people) for support. "Lils, I don't know what happened to you, but if you aren't ready to tell me-"

"No!" she cried. "I mean, yes, I'm ready- I'm fine."

James nodded but kept his arm tightly around her.

She inhaled deeply and continued," I turned the corner and saw three students huddled in a corner, whispering about something. I stopped, but I guess they had heard my footsteps. They turned around, and- and just smiled awful, cold smiles when they saw me. Well, two of them did; the third just stood there quietly in the back. The first two came out of the shadows-"

"Who?" James interrupted.

Lily wavered, her lips pressed tightly together, "Some Slytherins."

James turned so that he was facing her, releasing her shoulder. He glared at her now, aware that she was still keeping specific details from him. "Who?"

Lily grimaced, averting her eyes as she mumbled something inaudible to James. Leaning down so that he was eye-level with her, he took her injured arm and held it up in front of her. "Who. gave. you. this."

Her voice cracked as she breathed," Just- just let me finish.

"The two of them started jeering at me- all those nonsensical Mudblood threats- and they had me cornered against the wall. I-I didn't know what to do and there were no teachers around... and then they took out there wands and just started cursing me. I was able to deflect most of their spells, but I wasted my time looking towards the third Slytherin for help," she spat out the last part bitterly.

"And that's how I got this." She raised her arm.

James sighed, clutching the bridge of his nose. He tried to appear calm, but on the inside, he was ready to murder the sorry bitches that had made the mistake of laying their filthy hands on his Lily. Again, he tried," Lily... who were they?"

She bit her lip, peeking a glance at James. "Promise you won't do anything stupid."

"Er..." he faltered," define stupid..."

"You can't go after them or hurt them in any way."

James's jaw dropped as he cried," What? Lily! They hurt you! And called you a you-know-what!"

"I know. And that's precisely why I don't want you going after them. They don't care who they harm, whether it's a muggleborn like me or a pureblood like you."

"Wait..." James said slowly. "You don't think I can take care of myself?"

"Um... not really..." Lily's lips twitched upwards.

"Can too..." James muttered, but he was just happy to see Lily smile- or, almost smile.

Lily quirked her eyebrows at him, waiting for a response.

"Fine," James complied," I won't do anything you claim to be stupid. But just know that it'll tear my insides, break my soul, burn my conscience-" Lily laughed "- to see these morons walk free."

Lily gave him a small smile, but then grew solemn again as she took a shaky breath and began," The first Slytherin- the one that didn't do anything..."

And all of a sudden, everything clicked into place for James. How had he been so clueless and blind before? Of course Lily would feel this awful if someone who had been so close to her had grown so distant- if someone who she had once trusted and loved betrayed her so harshly. She had been through this pain before- last year when the idiot had insulted her in front of the whole school.

"Snape," he blurted out, gritting his teeth.

Lily's eyes had taken on a nervous gleam as she twiddled her thumbs and offered James a wary smile. "Erm... yeah."

"And I'm guessing the other two were Avery and Mulciber."

"Yeah..."

An awkward silence settled between the two of them as James furrowed his eyebrows in deep thought and Lily peered nervously at him, opening her mouth to speak and then deciding against it.

Finally, James stood up, rubbing his forehead in frustration. "Are you still certain that I can't do anything about this?"

Lily stood up as well. "Yes, James. I don't want any additional trouble."

He huffed in annoyance, but then turned towards Lily again. He took her into his arms and rested his chin on her head, closing his eyes. Why Lily wasn't going to do anything about Snivellus and his stupid Death Eater throng was a mystery to James, but he would respect her wishes. As long as Snape didn't get in his way anytime soon, everything would be fine...

Lily tensed as James wrapped his arms around her, but then relaxed into his chest. They just stood there for a few minutes until the bell rang, meaning their Herbology class had just ended.

Breaking away, James and Lily silently made their way to the door, neither of them sparing a glance at the other. Unlike earlier, however, this silence was more peaceful than uncomfortable. After flashing him a shy smile, Lily parted her way and walked down the hallway towards her next class. James just stood in the doorway for a few seconds before making his way towards Transfiguration as well.

His head was swarmed with thoughts about what Lily had said- everything replaying in his mind. How had Snape just stood there- watching Lily face off with not just one- but two- trained Death Eaters that wouldn't have had any grief if it came to killing her? He was fuming, but he told himself to calm down; the last thing he needed was to break his promise to Lily- especially when everything seemed to actually be going well between them.

Still lost in his thoughts and completely unaware of his surroundings, James bumped into someone as he turned the corridor.

"I am so sor-" he began until he realized who had come to face with.

Without thinking, he launched himself at none other than Severus Snape.