"Oh, so this is where you've been all day!"

Lily grumbled; Alice's rather high voice was no way to be woken up in the morning.

Rolling over Lily glanced sleepily at her alarm clock and upon seeing it was almost 2 in the afternoon, sat up in confusion.

"Tired?" asked an amused Lauren. They both shared a grin, whilst Alice sat down and set about gently rearranging Lily's hair, always rather haphazard in the mornings.

"I..I must have been more sleepy than I thought..."

"Lily, you've been doing work for two the entire week," Alice said reasonably, "you're bound to be a little groggy."

Lily moaned and flung herself back on the pillows, folding her arms over her eyes.

"That Potter better have a satisfactory reason for not being here!" When no-one responded in a little while, she peeked from under her arms; her two friends were looking suddenly awkward, exchanging glances and shifting uncomfortably.

"What is it?" Lily sat up, willing her friends to look her in the eye, "Come on, what is it?"

Lauren sighed, "I was hoping you'd maybe seen a paper or something already. Here, read this..." She rummaged in her bag and slowly tugged out the Daily Prophet, handing it to Lily. Lily pulled her knees towards her, and rested the paper upon them, taking in as she did so the headline. It certainly got to the point.

MASS MURDER

No less than 247 witches and wizards have been discovered dead over the past week, and there can be no doubting their connection with the ever growing threat of you-know-who. Last night it reached a climax as in one quick blow, the so-called 'Death Eaters' killed no less than 60 innocents, all of whom were simply attending a town meeting within Hampshire, looking to establish rules of security amongst them. Experts are currently having trouble identifying the victims so far however, as it seems the Death Eaters opted for more crude methods in their killing, as opposed to their regular use of the Third Unforgivable Curse.

It was then uncovered yesterday, as the ever rising Death Tolls were addressed, that the majority of deaths over the past few weeks had been predominantly that of Aurors, particularly those involved in the capturing and imprisoning of you-know-who followers. The exact figure is unsure, but one ministry spokesman wished to assure the public that although losses have been great among the Aurors, it comes with the occupation, and none had died in vain. (The names of those known to have been killed within the last three weeks, are listed on page 3.)

Article cont. pg2.

Lily looked up, "You-know-who?"

Alice, looking strangely serious, nodded and answered her, "His name is believed to be a jinx of some sort, like saying it might make you a target," her face twisted; she looked disgusted, so strange on Alice's gentle face, "they're terrified, but being terrified of the name as well is not going to help matters. I thought maybe... maybe Voldemort was actually behind it... if believing even the name has an effect, imagine how panicked everyone will be now..." she laughed bitterly, "as if they aren't already panicked enough. My father didn't want me to even be at school this year. But, everyone keeps saying, it's the only safe place left. My mother practically threw me here."

Lily's eyes fell to the newspaper again; she understood the emotion Alice was feeling she thought; the prospect of war was a worry it was true, but more than anything it angered her...she was muggleborn after all.

"Lils?" Lauren said suddenly, pulling Lily away from her thoughts, "Page 3."

She head looked up and stared at Lauren, 'the names of those known to have been killed...', and then she quickly turned the page, scanning the list as quickly and as thoroughly as possible until she stopped dead.

Mr Charles Potter and his wife, Julia, both among the greatest Aurors in the field of defence and control, died approximately 2 weeks ago, (exact date unknown), their bodies were found by their only son, James, when he returned from a week camping trip with friends. They had been in their kitchen, the dark mark had been burned onto the kitchen door. They will be sorely missed by all who knew them.

Lily stared at the page for a very long time until she looked up at her friends, secretly hoping for, she realised, someone to contradict it. Lauren only let out a long breath, and nodded silently. Alice was staring rather miserably at the floor. What on earth was Lily meant to make of this? She hated James certainly, but she'd never, in a million years, ever wished this fate upon him. Both his parents murdered. By no less than death eaters she supposed. How was she meant to act towards him? She could hardly go on being as snappy as possible whenever he spoke to her... or could she? Maybe pretend it hadn't happened... No, ridiculous. She could...be nice perhaps?

For some reason, Lily concentrated on how to act towards him for a long time, until suddenly other thoughts started to push their way to the surface, where was he? Was he OK? Did he have someone left to look after him? The questions started building up in her mind to near breaking point, and she decided she had to know. Without further ado she threw the newspaper aside, and jumped out of bed heading directly to her wardrobe.

"Lily?" "

Where you going?"

"Sorry, but would you two go? I'm going to get dressed. I think I'll go find Remus, ask him how James is doing," for some reason, Lily could feel her cheeks going slightly pink when she said that, quickly she added "I'll need to know that I won't be left to doing those duties all year!" She realised it sounded a bit heartless, but it was better than nothing. She frowned inwardly... why had it been better?

"um...OK. We'll see you later then," Lauren frowned. Lily barely noticed, tugging clothes of hangers rather violently.

"Tell us what Remus says wont you?" Alice added as they left. Absent mindedly Lily said that she would and without even bothering to brush hair or teeth, slipped some clothes on and went looking, rather urgently, for Remus.

As Lauren stepped out of Lily's room, Alice closing the door behind her, they began to walk down the stairs, both frowning.

"That was quick..."

Alice nodded, looking just as confused, "And what was it she said...she'd be left doing all the duties?! Not exactly the aspect of it I was concentrating on..."

Lauren nodded fervently, "I have no love for Potter certainly, but if it were me I'd probably even be prepared to take over all his duties for at least a few weeks more if he needed it."

"Definitely!" Suddenly Alice turned to Lauren looking thoughtful, "Did you notice, she blushed when she was talking about Remus." Lauren smiled at Alice, she always did notice things like that. Alice grinned back, "But," she said dramatically, "did you also notice that she referred to Potter as James? Weird don't you think?" Lauren grinned as well. For someone so cheery and chatty it always struck Lauren as odd that Alice should be so observant some times, even about someone like Lily who could be decidedly mysterious. And, more often than not, she was always managed to see the right things...

Remus looked sympathetically at Lily, "he wanted us to keep it quiet, said he didn't want everyone knowing and looking at him funny."

"I still say you could've told me, I'm going to share a bathroom with him! I can't not know that sort of thing." Remus laughed slightly, and shook his head,

"My apologies Miss Evans." They were quiet a time, until Lily asked, quite softly, "How is he?"

Remus took a deep breath, and smiled wryly, "The same I guess you could say. Still as much of 'prick' as you often call him as he ever was. He's...managing better than I expected he would actually. He would've come back straight away, but it was their funeral the day before, and Dumbledore insisted he needed the week."

Lily nodded, looking at the floor frowning. James' face kept appearing before her eyes; she couldn't imagine him upset. He bounded around the place, constantly pleased with himself, constantly pleased with the easy life he had been given, constantly pleased upon seeing her...

"I wouldn't worry about him you know, he really is surprisingly resilient." Lily looked up, taken aback. Remus had been watching her it seemed. She frowned, "I'm hardly worried about Potter, Remus. The boy can obviously take care of himself." Remus shrugged and let the matter drop. Lily spent the remainder of the day, fidgeting anxiously, and when night fell she found herself unable to fall asleep for the longest time. She concluded quite firmly that she should avoid sleeping in till 2 from then on.