AN: Wow. I am soo sorry. I can't believe how long this has taken me to update. I wish i could promise regular updates from now on, but my computer's actually broken and i'm in the process of getting it fixed/getting a new one, so i will try as hard as i can to update more quickly than last time...anyway, thanks so much if you've stuck with me, and are still reading this story. you guys are amazing!! Enjoy!

A shiver ran through Lily's body, starting at her toes and working its way up along her spine. Another followed the first, then another, until Lily couldn't tell where one shiver ended and the next began. She was crouched outside a set of double doors, staring down a dark stone passageway. Behind the closed doors, the Muggles carried on with their party, oblivious to Dumbledore's strongest protection spell cast over them, held in place by more than fifteen witches and wizards.

The force of the spell weighed down noticeably upon Lily, who knew it would only get worse as her fellow Order members were attacked and she was forced to carry a larger portion of the spell. It was heavy enough as it is, and she wondered how long she would be forced under its weight.

As she stretched her neck from side to side, the bones cracking satisfyingly, Remus approached her left side, his eyes darting around warily. "Seen anything?"

"Nope," Lily muttered. "Not that I could do much if I did see someone." She indicated her wand, which she held pointed upwards, faint silver-gold threads running out of its tip.

"Sarah said she'd be over here soon. You'll be alright with her around," Remus said, his voice worried.

"I'll be fine," Lily attempted to convince him. "You just go back to your position and wait for the Deatheaters to arrive like a good boy."

He grinned at her. "See you on the other side."

"See you," she replied, gazing back down the passageway as Remus left. She felt slightly better. But only slightly. Lily sighed and tried to work herself into a better position…this was going to be a long night.

---

A flash of light woke Lily from her light doze. She hadn't even noticed she'd nodded off, and immediately felt panic rise up inside her like bile.

"Looks like the fun's about to start," Sarah commented from her place beside Lily. "Rise and shine, sweetheart. We're about to kick some serious Deatheater ass.'

"That sounded like a line from a bad movie," Lily muttered, wedging herself firmly between one of the two tall stone pillars either side of the oak doors, and gazing down the passageway.

Sarah didn't reply, just raised her wand and began shooting spells as soon as she saw the dark shapes come hurtling around the corner at the far end of the corridor. More Order members and Ministry officials joined Sarah and soon the hallway was filled with flashing lights, loud bangs, and yells of pain and success. Lily wished she had James' invisibility cloak, but quickly reprimanded herself for such a cowardly thought. It would do no good wishing herself out of danger, and it would certainly do no good thinking about James and the danger he was in.

The pressure on Lily suddenly intensified, and Lily knew that meant fellow Order members were no longer carrying their share of the spell. Were they dead? Or just knocked out? Lily didn't know, and could barely spare a thought for it: the pressure on her head was so great she could only wince and swear quietly under her breath.

Her nose started to bleed, but she did not drop her wand. She couldn't. If she dropped out now, then the Deatheaters would be yet another step closer to killing the hundreds of muggles inside the Museum hall.

Lily cracked open an eye and gazed around the pillar to see Sarah, dancing manically as she dodged spells and shot off hexes, grinning delightedly, her black hair whipping around her. Wizards and witches all along the hallway dropped, and Lily could barely tell who was who through all the smoke and darkness. The weight on her shoulders was steadily increasing, and Lily found herself clutching her chest, gasping for air. The Order members were being forced backwards, many dropping like flies around her. The Deatheaters were gaining on them…it wouldn't be long now…and Lily couldn't stand it any more…it was too much…she needed to breathe…couldn't breathe…

Lily's vision swam as her head spun. Her hand holding the wand began to shake and slowly fell down to her side as she collapsed onto the cold marble floor. The last thing she heard before she passed out were dozens of loud cracks, screams, and then quiet, as her vision turned black.

---

Lily woke up, as completely and suddenly as if someone had just yelled in her ear. She was lying on a comfortable leather couch, a few blankets thrown carefully over her, in a familiar sitting room. Sitting up quickly, Lily heard someone tut loudly behind her.

Madame Pomfrey bustled over and pulled at her eyelids, checking her vision, while muttering under her breath about dangerous spells, and careless magic. It was very strange to see the Hogwarts matron in James Potter's living room, but Lily sat still until she had been thoroughly checked over.

"Well, you'll survive," Madame Pomfrey said huffily. "Do you think you can stay out of trouble while I check on my other patients?"

Lily nodded meekly and watched Madame Pomfrey open the door and leave the room. She had barely exited, when James strode through, his face looking thunderous.

"You could have killed yourself!" he yelled. "Why the hell did you hang on so long? You were the only one left holding up that spell – the spell that was meant for twenty people. What did you think you were doing?!"

"Stop yelling," Lily said, drawing away from him. "My head hurts."

"Your head hurts," he repeated. "Your head hurts. Well of course your head bloody hurts! YOU ALMOST KILLED YOURSELF!"

"Will you stop yelling!" Lily exclaimed. "What happened? Where's Voldemort?"

James frowned and sat down on the couch beside her. It seemed he wanted to keep shouting, but answered her questions anyway. "You were losing badly. The Deatheaters would have taken the place if we hadn't arrived when we did. We managed to save the Queen and round up all the Deatheaters at the palace – you were right, Voldemort didn't send many – and then we came to help you."

"I heard a lot of loud cracks," Lily said, trying to remember.

"You were unconscious by the time I arrived," James said, looking murderous again. "We joined in the fight, and then Voldemort arrived and yelled for them all to go. All the Deatheaters disapparated. Then Voldemort saw me hanging on to you. He looked absolutely livid – it was terrifying. He raised his wand, and I disapparated, taking you with me. I get the feeling he's not too pleased with us since we escaped him last time."

Lily raised her eyebrows. "And…and, the others? Is everyone okay?"

James' face grew softer and he looked away. "There were casualties, Lil."

Lily sobbed. "Who?" she whispered.

"Hannah Steadfast, Vesper Coots…" he looked up and met her eyes. "And…Eleanor."

A ringing silence filled Lily's ears, as she attempted to process what he had just told her. Eleanor. Her best friend, Eleanor. Sweet, naïve, Eleanor. Dead.

It just wasn't possible. James had to be wrong. He just had to be. Eleanor had been here just hours ago. Talking and laughing…telling Lily it would all be okay. They'd all be okay.

James reached out to touch her shoulder but she pulled away from him. "Please go," she said quietly. "Please, James. Just…just go."

She heard a loud sigh, then the door open and close. Crossing to the window, Lily pressed her forehead against the cool glass and felt her eyes and throat burn. The door opened again, and Lily turned around. It was James, followed closely by Sarah, who's eyes were puffy and bloodshot. Sarah ran to her, and they clung tightly to each other, sobbing.

James let himself quietly out of the room, and was met by Sirius, waiting for him in the hall.

"How are they?" he asked, his characteristically sombre eyes worried.

"I'm not sure it's really sunk in," James muttered, making his way towards the kitchen, Sirius at his side.

"So I'm guessing now wouldn't be the time to tell Lily we saw Snivellus at the Palace?"

Shaking his head, James said, "She's had enough bad news for one day. For some reason she's always worried about that slimy git. And now we've got proof he's a Death Eater."

Thanks for reading! I will try and update soon. Love reviews!!!