Author's Note: And here's the second batch of edits completed! So as of 11:05ish EST on August 27, the first 20 chapters are updated!

Chapter 20: It's Going to Be a Long Night
Monday, September 26, 1977

"I could be working on my Runes homework or working on Transfiguration but no. Slughorn decided to let everyone brew Amortentia. So here I am, in the dungeons, brewing an antidote," I whined to James.

"At least you aren't suffering alone," he said in return, measuring out some of the ingredients.

"I'm trying to focus on Dueling Club last night. That was awesome," I said, thinking back.

We did team battles again, this time I teamed up with the girls while the Marauders got together. They changed it so we could only do two battles each, so of course we earned sixteen points for Gryffindor's dueling team. Slytherin is still losing, not able to catch up after losing points the first night.

"It was amazing. McGonagall is so pleased with us." James couldn't hide the pride on his face.

"Emmeline was pleased to finally be able to use Steleus. Sure, it wasn't the same group of students but even still."

"The Ravenclaw group fell off the podium! It was brilliant!" We started to laugh at the thought of the Ravenclaw sixth-years falling with their ankles over their heads.

"I used one of Snape's spells he told me about. Worked out well," I mentioned passively as I chopped up some more components to an antidote that was going to get a lot of use tonight.

"Which one?"

"Langlock. It sticks their tongue to the roof of their mouth."

"So that's what happened to the Hufflepuff team!" He mused as he stirred the simmering antidote.

"Yeah," I said, looked at the remaining ingredients. "Still have to add the Wiggentree twigs, castor oil, and extract of a Gurdyroot. Should be clear when we're done."

"You think we'll have enough?" James asked as he threw in the twigs, still stirring the currently yellow-tinted potion.

"I'll put it in single-serving vials," I said, pointing to the small army of glass vials on the counter next to us. "We'll just cross our fingers." I poured in the castor oil, making a face at the thoughts of what's to come.

"You seem excited for tonight," James said sarcastically. I groaned.

"I hope the girls are still in the Library. I want to work on Runes after this."

"Well, I'll go with you. If they aren't there, I'll keep you company. The guys can deal," James said, smiling and pouring in the Gurdyroot essence. "Maybe get some Transfiguration done. We have until eight to work on whatever."

"Six if you count dinner," James said, stirring. I got the vials ready.

"Oh, it's clear! Thank goodness!" I exclaimed as I poured some potion in each vial. We had about twenty servings, each vial was the size of my pointer finger.

I saw James check his watch. "It's five o'clock. Want to go to the library for an hour before dinner? Then we can go back and check up on whatever is needed for classes tomorrow."

"Sounds like a plan," I said, putting all the vials in a carrier I brought along. It's a hard box, like a camera bag, with a strap. I was able put the vial stand in there as well so nothing rolls around or breaks. "We have our arsenal, so lets go!"

Thankfully, I was able to do my homework for Runes in the hour before dinner. Dinner was spent brooding while Dorcas gave us a hard time ("You should stun inside rooms before entering, just in case" and "Don't get tempted to join the party") and Remus just kept mumbling about how he was glad it wasn't him. Honestly, I'd rather it be me than him. He was really starting to look ragged and he deserved a full night in his own bed since he won't get it tomorrow night.

After dinner we all gathered in the Head's Common Room to study before we kicked them out for rounds. All but Remus came, who went straight to bed. We were able to finish up all the stragglers for our Tuesday classes, again having fun with our dream journals. We kicked them out at about five-till-eight so we could get going.

Antidotes in hand, we left to go to war.

"Lets start in the Astronomy Tower and work our way down. Keep your eyes peeled for people trying to sneak past us," James said, wand ready.

I pulled my wand out and had a hand on my potion bag. "Now or never, right?"

We headed to the Astronomy Tower, preparing for anything. The door was shut when we arrived.

"You do it," I whispered to James, pointing at the door.

"Why do I have to do it?" he whispered back. I shrugged. "You're closer, Lils. I'll take next one."

I groaned quietly and placed my ear against the door. Ugh. I could hear students in there, and they definitely weren't studying anything they offered at Hogwarts officially.

"It's showtime?" I whispered uncertainly.

James rolled his eyes. "This is going to be a long night," he whispered. Then he banged three times on the door.

I had to put a hand over my mouth to stifle my laughter at the sounds of the students swearing and scrambling. I noticed James smiling and holding back laughter, too.

I put my ear back against the door when the sounds stopped.

"You think they're still there?" said the first voice. A girl.

"I don't know, I only have eyes for you, my love!" said the second. A boy, speaking dreamily.

I patted the bag for James to see. He nodded. I tried the door, it was locked. I pointed my wand at the door and said, "Alohomora," the clicking from the lock audible for all.

They had their warning.

I entered first, wand ready. The girl was standing there, a fifth- or sixth-year Ravenclaw. A Slytherin of around the same age was clinging to her leg.

"Don't ever leave me, my Goddess!" he exclaimed. She started looking a little uncomfortable.

James entered shortly after. "You're obviously not in the N.E.W.T. level Potions class," he told the girl. She shook her head guiltily. "So where did you get it?"

"Bought it off a Slytherin girl for two Sickles," she admitted.

"My love is priceless for you, dear Faye! My love! My amour!"

"Oh, Merlin, we're never going to get anywhere with this," I groaned. I pointed my wand at him, "Silencio." He suddenly grew quiet.

"Thank you," Faye said with a sigh. "He was getting on my nerves."

"Then you should have thought about that before giving him Amortentia! People get a little barmy on that stuff," I told her. I took out a vial and knelt down next to the Slytherin. "This will make her be yours forever," I told him, handing him a vial. I saw Faye's eyes grow large as I said this and I couldn't help but take in a sick satisfaction. His eyes grew, too, but in anticipation. He drank it in one gulp and had that dreamy look on his face for about five more seconds before it faded. I released the Silencing Charm on him and asked him, "You doing okay?"

"Oh, Merlin, my head hurts," he said.

James looked at him. "Go straight to the dorms and we won't take points away for you, since you weren't exactly here on your own accord." The Slytherin left and Faye tried to leave, too. James's arm went up in front of her to stop her, "We aren't quite done with you, yet."

She sighed and shoulders dropped. "Worth a shot," she admitted, taking a seat in one of the few chairs scattered around the room.

"Who sold you the potion?" I asked her.

"Um," she said, thinking. "She was taller than you, heavier, dark hair. Her hair was curly. Scar on her right arm."

"Hortentia Bulstrode," I said instantly. James looked at me curiously. "The scar was a charm backfiring last year."

"Yes! That's her! She had a bunch she was selling for two Sickles, each! Can I go now?"

"Yes, fifteen points will be taken from Ravenclaw," I told her, her shoulders slumped again. I pointed to the door and she ran.

"Seventh-years are selling the stuff to the younger ones?" James asked rhetorically after she left.

"This is really going to be a long night," I groaned. "I only hope we made enough antidote."

We finally made it back to our dorm at around eleven-forty-five, awake and wired from a crazy night chasing students. Cast many "Relashio" and "Silencio" charms throughout the night and took away many points. Found out there was at least one student from each house selling it to the younger students, so we had to make a stop at each head-of-house to give a list a names. Never saw anything too scaring, thankfully. We were currently laying on James's bed in our pajamas, laughing about the night's endeavors. Our potion carrier that once contained the antidote lay long since empty on the floor.

"Some of the things people say under the spell," I said between laughs. I turned to James and said over-dramatically, "Oh, my true love! My prince! Please take me here and now! I cannot live without your love! I would rather die than be rejected by your heart!"

James wrapped his arms around me. "My angel! You fell from Heaven into my arms! Your beauty is akin to a Shakespearian sonnet, nay, it is more radiant! My world is darkness without the sparkle of thine eyes! Be mine, my Goddess! Blessed be my heart if you swear to keep it as your own!" he declared in the same over-dramatic tone I used.

We both had tears in our eyes from laughing so hard.

"I have to admit," I said when I regained my composure. "It's extremely corny but some of it was rather poetic."

"The rest was as bad as sitting in Madame Puddifoot's on Valentine's Day," he replied, wiping the tears from his face. He turned to me and wiped some of the tears from my face with his thumb. "I love you but I promise you. I will never be that corny."

"Thank Merlin for that. I don't know if I could take it with a straight face, especially after tonight," I admitted.

"I'll stick to the normal things. Like how I love it when your eyes sparkle when you laugh," he said, wiping away another tear from my cheek.

I started to laugh. "Seriously, James. That was sweet and all but I can't handle anything like that after tonight." I glanced outside and noticed the moon, nearly full. "So tomorrow, what's the plan for you guys?"

"You're not planning on sneaking out after us are you? Because I will not have that," he warned.

"No! That would be suicide! I'm not that stupid, James," I said, playfully punching his arm. "No, I was wondering when you're leaving and all that."

"Pomfrey takes him around five, so we'd leave here at around quarter-till-six. Make sure she returns before we go in."

"Okay," I said, pulling out my silver pendant.

"What are you doing?" he asked, looking at the pendant. "And do you ever take that off?"

"Only in the shower. That's me time," I said, glancing at him. His face suddenly had a smug grin on it. "Stop thinking about it. If I wanted company, I'd ask. Right now, it's my time. Anyway, I keep in on me, just in case. Like you have your mirror on the bedside table. You keep your glasses and wand there with it."

"Okay but what are you doing?" he asked again.

"Inviting the girls over for a slumber party tomorrow night, what else? I'm not sleeping in this big dorm all on my own. I don't think so."

James laughed, taking his glasses off and placing them by the mirror and his wand. "Whatever makes you happy."

I pointed my wand at the pendant.

Girls-
Have the dorm to myself tomorrow night.
What do you say? Be like old times!
Bring Alice!
-L

"There we go! All set!" I said, putting my wand with his.

"Bit overboard for a night with classes, isn't it?"

"It would be like every other year we've been at this school. I miss those girls."

"Whatever makes you happy," James said, grinning.

"You make me happy," I told him. "Happier than anything in this world."

"Now you sound almost as corny as the students from tonight."

"Hey, I'm actually being honest. Not the result of one of Slug's sick jokes."

"In that case, you make me happier than anything, too," he said, still grinning.

I put my hands around his neck and pulled him in to kiss me.

And I didn't need a potion for him to return it.