"How dare they? How dare they?"

Evie was pacing in front of the fireplace in the Gryffindor common room. It was now well into the night and they were the only ones still up. Upon returning to the castle with Remus, James and Sirius had found her and told her what Snape, Avery, and Mulciber had done to Scarlett. She had then furiously marched through the castle to the hospital wing. Scarlett had still been unconscious when they left. The three Slytherins had seemingly used her for target practice, and because some of the spells they had used were particularly nasty she was to be sent to St Mungo's.

"And she defended him! She actually defended him!"

Evie had blown apart a broom cupboard door when Sirius told her that Lily had refused to let them curse Snape. James was silent, slightly ashamed that he had let his feelings for Lily affect his loyalty to Evie.

James, Remus, and Peter sat on the couch with different levels of concern on each of their faces as they observed their friend pace madly. Sirius, who had been lounging in an armchair, could take it no longer and stood going over to her, taking her shoulders steadily in his arms.

"You won't do yourself any good scuffing up your shoes like that."

The look in her brown eyes was intense and furious as the firelight gave them the appearance of hot liquid. "I want them hanging by their knickers from clock tower by the end of this week!"

"One thing at a time, love. First the Acromantula venom, then we pay our favorite Slytherins with a little vengeance."

Evie had never felt more on the edge than she did that Friday in Professor Rosskin's Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. He was lecturing them on the chameleon-like nature of a boggart, and while it was all well and interesting, she could not help but anxiously await the end of the lesson. She had not spoken to Lily since the previous Saturday. She could not forgive her for taking Snape's side, even if Lily denied taking sides at all. After attacking Scarlett unprovoked and outnumbered, she still maintained that it must have been pressure from the other boys that made him do it. This had turned into a rather nasty fight in the middle of the common room.

Just forget it, Lily! You'll never admit it to us let alone yourself that he's up to his eyes in the Dark Arts!

That's not true! Severus is a good person! He's just misguided and pressured into all of this because he's in Sly-

He still made the choice, didn't he! He still used his wand against a defenseless first year!

Like Potter doesn't hex people when he has the chance.

James would never use the Dark Arts on someone! He would never attack someone who couldn't defend themselves! But your pal Snivelly has! He kept beating her down until she was incoherent! She's my family and he hurt her! He hurt her of his own volition! So fine, Lily! Take his side! But one day when you find yourself side by side with a Death Eater don't come crying to me!

She didn't know how their friendship could recover, if it ever would, and even if she wanted it to. Lily had turned her back on her and defended Snape. Snape. Of all the people to defend she had to pick that greasy git. Well if she wants to pick him over me then that's just fine. She can do whatever she likes, I don't care, thought Evie savagely. The fight had also taken its toll on Marlene and Matilda who were now caught in the middle. Lily would not admit she was wrong in defending Snape and Evie wouldn't so much as look at or mention Lily.

Evie bit at her nails as she looked at the clock. Just a few hours left until she and the boys went into the woods in search of the venom. Was it a bit stupid and reckless? Of course. Would they be maimed? Possibly. Killed? Who was to say? Best case scenario was that they'd walk out of that forest with soiled knickers and a vile of venom.

Evie had spent dinner sitting with Marlene. She had not had an adequate amount of time to spend time with her as Marlene was mostly in Lily's company, but had opted to catch up. She was semi-distracted by her thoughts on the night to come throughout most of the conversation; it mostly consisted of Marlene telling Evie in thorough detail about how she had broken up with Otto Bagman because he was "frankly far too immature" and been asked by Sturgis Podmore to the Yule Ball. Evie knew Podmore to be a friend of the twins', but that was about all. Marlene had gone on and on about how lucky she was to be going as a third year to the ball and how rarely that actually happened. Evie grunted in agreement. She didn't particularly care about dances and boys at the moment (except for maybe one). She had important things occupying her mind, for Godric's sake! She was going on a death defying mission that night! She was going to continue helping Remus along with the animagus potion! And she would be damned if she did not at least hex Snape by Monday! She was Evie Bloxum and she did not have the patience or time for frivolous dances.

Or so she thought until on her way to the common room she was flagged down by-

"Yes, Gid?" she asked, quite clearly anxious.

"You in a hurry, Evie?" he asked clearly amused.

"Yes, actually I am so if you wouldn't mind walking with me-"

"I would but I've got to go meet Fabian and Sturgis. I've only just come to ask you something."

"No, I can't be bothered to practice keeping tomorrow morning."

He grinned and chuckled, "Good to know, but I wasn't referring to Quidditch. I actually wondered if maybe you'd like to go to the ball with me."

She looked like a fish out of water, mouth agape as she visibly blanched.

"You...what?"

"I, Gideon, wondered if you, Evie, would care to join me, again Gideon, to the Yule Ball," he asked with a blush creeping over his freckled cheeks.

"I-but-well-sure?"

"Brilliant! Well I'll see you later then." And just as quickly as he'd shown up, he swiftly kissed her cheek and departed with a wink.

After he'd rounded the corner she felt herself get poked in the back. Poked by thin air?

She rolled her eyes, "Have you been listening this whole time?"

James's head popped out from under the cloak. "Well it was just too entertaining to pass up."

"Is Sirius with you?" she heard a grunt from come from next to James's bobbing head, "Good. And Remus and Peter are?"

She was saved an answer from the two boys turning into the corridor. After disillusioning herself, Remus, and Peter, they walked down to the edge of the forest, cloaked friends in tow.

The charms and cloak were lifted. The dark provided them with enough cover from anyone who might see them and Peter was sure that Hagrid was still in the Great Hall. James left the cloak inside a stump before turning back to his friends.

"Right, so the plan is we all stick together in there. If we come across anything we're less likely to get attacked if it's got five wands on it. Where exactly did Hagrid say the Acromantulas were, Pete?"

"Well it took quite a bit of mead and encouragement, but he said if we keep heading East we'd be bound to run into them."

While Evie, James, and Sirius looked anxious, Peter looked beyond terrified. Remus, as per usual, looked more concerned than anything.

"Are you sure we ought to be doing this? I'm sure if we tried to find it somewhere else we probably could."

Sirius shook his head. "Not likely. I went so far as to search Slughorn's office and storeroom, but nothing. This is our only shot."

They had to have been there for hours, surely. It definitely felt like it. The five friends walked deeper into the forest, wands lit, blasting a trail marker into a tree every few feet for reference. Aside from the distant hooves of centaurs and the occasional bowtruckle, they hadn't stumbled across anything yet. Leaving the cloak behind had been a wise decision. None of them would have been able to maneuver around the overgrown roots, trees, and thickets with it, as it was already proving difficult. More than once Evie and Remus had had to grip Peter's arms to keep him from falling over. James and Sirius were less than bothered as they strode through the forest with their wands held high.

"Are we there yet?"

"Pete, you say that one more time and I'll feed you to Beery's chomping cabbages," snarled Sirius.

Peter gave a squeak and shuffled closer to Evie.

She rolled her eyes, "Just leave him alone, Sirius. We're all thinking the same thing."

He laughed mirthlessly, "I seriously doubt you and I are thinking the same thing right now."

"What's that supposed to mean?" she went to stand in front of him, her eyes narrowing.

"What I mean to say is that your mind is probably swimming with thoughts of your darling Gideon right now," he said pronouncing Gideon's name with obvious distaste.

"Since when've you got a problem with Gideon?" she demanded.

He walked by her, "Oh I've got no problem. It's just that I don't fancy getting killed tonight because your thoughts keep wandering to insignificant subjects."

"My thoughts do not keep wandering, Black," she practically spat at him, "And we both know I'm a far better witch than you are a wizard."

It was his turn to look offended. "I could take you any time anywhere."

"Shove off, you idiots!" yelled James coming to stand between them.

"No. He thinks he's so big and tough and that I'm more likely to blunder than he is."

"I know you're more likely to use the wrong end of a wand than me!"

"I hardly think this is the time or place for this," said Remus as he tried to pacify Evie by putting a hand on her shoulder.

The four of them continued shouting at each other, Peter only managing to look on flabbergasted, completely unsure of what to do in a situation where James was not in control. He then noticed something climbing down from one of the trees…several somethings with several sets of long twitchy legs, and shiny black eyes.

"James…" he muttered meekly as the creatures approached, "…Sirius…" the creatures came closer now… "Remus…" one of them looked about to lunge at "Evie!"

Everything happened fast. Evie screamed. The spider launched. Sirius jumped in front of her. Remus fired a spell hitting it clean in the chest. Sirius collapsed on top of Evie bringing them both down on a thick, mangled root. He lay still while Evie cried out in pain from where her back made contact.

James and Peter kept firing off every hex, jinx, and curse that came to mind keeping the spiders at bay, but more were coming. Remus quickly knelt by the unconscious Acromantula, positioned a vile under its pincers, and filled it with the venom.

Evie pointed her wand at Sirius and, though muffled, said, "Ennervate!"

Sirius instantly awoke and groaned, clutching and rubbing at the back of his neck.

"Sirius? Sirius, are you alright?"Sirius looked around them and back down to Evie.

"Wussgoinon?"

"I'll have to fix that bump on your head when we get back to the castle," she said quickly followed by a sharp intake of breath as she clutched her back, "I'm not sure I can walk. I might have cracked a rib or two."

Without another word, he lifted her into his arms, "We'll get you all fixed in the castle," she didn't answer, "Evie…Evie!"

"Hmm?" she slurred with her eyes barely fluttering open.

"Evie, stay with me alright? We'll get you all fixed. Poppy will fix you, you'll see."

"No, not Poppy," she said as her head lolled. Sirius couldn't understand how anyone couldn't stay awake with the scene unfolding before them. If anything she was probably blacking out from pain. That was not a good sign.

"I've got to get you help, Evie."

"Lily…get Lily…she'll take care of me…"

"Oi, James! Let's go! We've got to get her out of here now!"

James paled at seeing Evie wounded to the point where Sirius tore through the forest frantically with her in his arms. They ran all the way back to the castle, never once stopping as the band of spiders chased after them. Remus, Peter, and James were unrelenting in firing hexes as they ran sideways, missing every knot and trunk on the forest floor from their adrenaline. Sirius's arms burned from carrying Evie for so long, but he was unwilling to slow or pass her to someone else. He was going to save her. He was not going to let her down.

Who's seen Deathly Hallows part 2? Was it not overall spectacular?

Anyways, I'm only going to write one or two more chapters set in their 3rd year- currently leaning towards just one long one (that's what she said).

Right, so enjoy & review!

LBM