Chapter 6

Lily was already waiting in the prefects' lounge when James arrived. He was fifteen minutes early, trying to avoid rushing like he had last time. He had also rather enjoyed getting the jump on her at the previous meeting. When he walked in, however, he was surprised and slightly irritated to find her with Mark Whitby, sitting close together on the sofa, laughing.

James coughed and they flew apart. Lily jumped up, her face flaming, while Mark just nodded and gave him a friendly grin. James felt like punching the Ravenclaw prefect; instead, he ignored Whitby and gave Lily a shake of his head.

"This isn't your personal snogging closet, Evans," he chided. "We've a meeting to start, you know." He began to pull the chairs and sofas closer, ignoring the strange crushing feeling in his chest. Why should it bother him? She'd been nothing but horrible to him all year. Whatever might have happened between them at the end of sixth year had apparently been lost over the summer and completely destroyed by their constant bickering since meeting on the train.

Lily scrambled to help, conjuring the rest of the chairs needed for the meeting. "We weren't snogging," she muttered as she bumped into him. James felt a curious shock as their shoulders touched, and he glanced up in surprise. Her cheeks were pink again, the color striking against her green eyes. Shaking his head at whatever had passed between them, James pretended he hadn't noticed.

"Of course not," he murmured back. "That must be why your hair is a mess."

Lily's hand flew to her braid, which was actually quite neat; she narrowed her eyes at him when she realized he was playing her. Apparently she had no comeback, because her mouth just opened and closed a few times before the other prefects started streaming in, and the opportunity to retort was lost.

As everyone settled down, James went ahead and started the meeting. Lily interjected several times, as if trying to get back at him for his remark about about Whitby and her hair, until he finally just sighed and let her continue. He couldn't help but glance at Whitby, who was watching her with a dopey smile on his face. He idly wondered what the Ravenclaw saw in her, given that all she seemed to do was make snarky remarks. Then again, she was usually quite clever with them, not to mention rather pretty when aggravated.

He was lost in his thoughts when Lily started going over the weekly roster for rounds. He heard his name assigned to bathroom duty and sat up a bit straighter. "Sorry, when is that?" he asked softly, leaning toward her and glancing over her shoulder at the sheet. She smelled nice.

Lily glanced at him with exasperation, her nose almost bumping into his. He pulled back, embarrassed, and she swallowed. "Wednesday and Thursday. Why?"

James shook his head. "I can't do Wednesday. Can you reassign me?"

"Why not?" asked Lily, frowning as she glanced down at the sheet. "Important date? Or are you sneaking out to Hogsmeade again?"

"Not exactly," murmured James, trying not to glance at Remus. He was sure his friend was trying not to listen. Wednesday was the full moon, and he couldn't leave Remus to transform alone.

"Then why should I switch you?" she whispered. The rest of the prefects were watching them, and James turned his head away so they couldn't hear him as well.

"Because I asked nicely," he said, holding back any biting retorts. "That's why."

"That's a first," she murmured.

"You switched Remus last month, why not me? Look," he said, beginning to lose patience. "If you take it for me, I'll owe you. How about that?"

She narrowed her eyes and seemed to think about it. "Stop bothering me about Mark."

James sighed and nodded. "Fine. Done."

"You're welcome," she whispered.

"Yeah, thanks." He sat back and gave Remus a small nod. If Lily noticed, she didn't say anything.

The meeting continued until she actually turned over the final item—Halloween duty— on the agenda to him. He hurried through it and dismissed them right on time. Avoiding Evans, he stood and put away some chairs, then walked out, determined not to get into it with her—or Avery—like he had last time. He just wanted to get back to his dorm and catch up on the Arithmancy chart he had put off all week. He also wanted to owl his dad again; he had not been checking in enough and felt the need to talk about the many conflicting feelings he had about Evans.

As he passed a window, a flash of lightning lit the sky; he'd have to send his owl in the morning. Disappointed, he hurried on. He didn't run into any Slytherins, but he hadn't gone far when he heard a voice call his name. It was Anastasia Harrison, and she looked determined to corner him this time.

"Are you busy?" she asked frankly, practically sauntering up to him and standing quite a bit too close. James took a step backward and found himself trapped against the wall.

"Actually, yes," he said, willing his hand away from his hair. "I've got a lot of homework so I'm heading back to my room to get started…" He trailed off at the look on her face: she somehow managed to pout while looking suggestive at the same time. He swallowed hard and moved away from her, only she took a step forward and ran her tongue over her lips.

"I've got loads as well," she purred. "Maybe we could work together. I know a great place to study."

"Study?" James asked, embarrassed to hear his voice squeak. A crash of thunder seemed to emphasize it.

"Well, among other things," she murmured. Her body was brushing against his and he felt himself responding in spite of his brain telling him to run the other way.

"Really," he said, gently pushing her away. That was a mistake, because touching her was like putting his hands in a flame. "I can't."

"Oi, Prongs!" called a voice behind her, and he looked up to find Remus coming toward them.

"Next time, then," she murmured. "I can wait."

"Ready to get started on that chart?" Remus asked loudly, nodding politely to Anastasia. She gave Remus a look before blowing James a subtle kiss, then strolled casually away, hips swaying, perfectly aware that they were both watching her go.

"Thanks, mate," murmured James. He ran his hand through his hair and shook himself, trying to forget Anastasia's bold implication. She was smart, she was attractive—but she was far too assertive, even aggressive. And if he admitted it to himself, he was simply too busy to get involved with a girl who would certainly require far more attention than he had to give with so much going on.

"You're welcome," said Remus, clapping him on the shoulder. "Bodyguard duty now includes Avery, Evans, and Harrison. Anyone else I need to keep an eye on?"

James was too grateful for Remus's timely interruption to be bothered by the bodyguard comment. He shook his head. "No, but you can take Evans off the list. We're fine. Quiet week, actually, and she agreed to cover for me Wednesday."

"Oh, I don't know about that," Remus replied softly. "She didn't look so happy when she saw Harrison licking her lips at you."

James stopped and stared. "She saw?"

"She did." Remus nodded knowingly. "And she stormed back the other way."

James felt a small grin spread across his face, and Remus rolled his eyes. He didn't know why, but for some reason he suddenly felt a bit better about things.

Lily watched James leave the meeting. She couldn't help but frown, curious as to why he so adamantly needed that one particular night off. She didn't think there was Quidditch practice that night, and she was certain there weren't any major assignments due the following day. She had seen his eyes flick to Remus Lupin; did they have something planned? Another trip to Hogsmeade? Or did he have a date?

"Can I walk you back?" asked Mark behind her. In spite of everything, he was still a perfect gentleman. She smiled at him, but shook her head.

"No, go ahead. I'm meeting Mary in the library to go over some Potions work. I just need to gather my things."

He shook his head. "You're a hard girl to win over," he sighed with mock sadness.

"I know," she laughed. "I really am."

"I'm not giving up," he said with a wink as he left. "At least, not until you've said yes."

She remembered a certain Gryffindor saying something similar during fifth year, and yet James Potter hadgiven up, considering how difficult it was for them to get along now. Shaking her head of the unexpected thought, she waved Mark out of the lounge. "Keep asking and eventually I'll give in."

He laughed as he left, and Lily quickly cleaned up the room and followed. She turned a corner and stopped in her tracks when she saw James Potter against the wall, Anastasia Harrison practically on top of him. He looked uncomfortable, but he wasn't pushing her away. Lily felt rooted to the spot as her stomach at dropped seeing them together. She hardly heard Remus come up behind her and call James's nickname. When she saw Anastasia blow James a kiss and leave, Lily turned and ran back the way she had come.

Storming back into the prefects' lounge, she dropped a curse, only to jump when Mark stood up from behind one of the sofas, illuminated by a flash of lightning.

"Lily!" he exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"

"What are you doing here?" she snapped instead, irritated to find she wasn't alone after all.

"Apparently I seem to forget something at every meeting." He held up his Charms book. "So I just nipped back in to grab it. But why are you so upset? Did something happen in the hallway? Was it Avery again?"

Lily sat down and sighed. "No, it wasn't. Just Potter this time. Sorry about the curse."

"It's okay, I'm starting to get used to it when it comes to him," he laughed. He joined her on the couch and sat down next to her, his thigh almost brushing hers. "What happened? Did he say something to you?"

"No," she replied, shaking her head. "He didn't. He was just—" she trailed off, not wanting to talk about it. Really, it shouldn't matter to her who James was snogging in the corridors, but it did, and she didn't want anyone to know that—especially Mark. "He was just being Potter."

"You guys do like to row, don't you?

Lily scrunched up her nose and gave him an odd look. "I wouldn't say we liketo fight, we just do."

Mark nodded without saying anything, though he did move somewhat closer to her. She felt her heart speed up nervously, but she did not move away.

"Do you like him at all?" he asked finally, gazing into her eyes. Lily swallowed as she thought about it. Mark wasn't suggesting that's why she fought with James all the time, was it? It couldn't be. James was arrogant and annoying and always picking on her…and she was short-tempered and sensitive and always picking on him. They couldn't get along if their lives depended on it, even in spite of an occasional pleasant moment now and then. Of course she didn't like him.

"No," she told Mark after only a moment's hesitation. "I don't. He's far too clever and cocky for his own good, and he's extremely difficult to work with, not to mention—"

He stopped her with a kiss. Lily was too surprised to even shut her eyes as he leaned forward and placed his lips to hers. Just as quickly he pulled back, looking away. Lily noticed he was blushing, and he nervously ran a hand through his neat hair, much like another boy she knew.

"Sorry," he murmured, backing off slightly. "I was just so glad to hear you say that."

"Say what?" Lily asked, confused.

"That you didn't like him," Mark replied. "I thought maybe that was why you didn't want to go out with me."

"Because of James Potter?" Lily was so astounded she laughed out loud. Then she stopped and wondered if he were right. Was it because of James? Or because of Michael Townsend? Or because of Mark himself? Maybe it was just her.

"Lily, can I ask you something?" Mark said, looking both thoughtful and uncomfortable.

"Of course," she replied, curious yet apprehensive.

"What happened in Hogsmeade last year? What really happened?"

She was so caught off guard by the question her mouth fell open. Finally she shook her head, confused. "What does that have to do with…this?"

Mark backed away again, moving down the sofa as he seemed to gather his thoughts for words. "Well, I know you were attacked," he began. "I can't imagine experiencing something like that, especially here at school. But there were a lot of rumors afterwards about what happened, about Kieran, even about you and Potter. Obviously that's why he was made Head Boy, but I was just wondering … if that's why you guys don't get along very well this year."

Lily was silent, thinking about his words. She was quiet for so long that Mark finally took her hand and squeezed it. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked. It's none of my business. But if you ever want to talk about it, just let me know."

He started to stand, but Lily pulled him back down. Now that he'd asked, she wanted to tell him. Truth be told, she hadn't talked to anyone but Sandra and Mary about it, and even then they hadn't discussed it much, somehow always managing to talk around it. Summer holiday had distanced them from it, and after they'd returned, it had been more like a vague memory that they all just wanted to put behind them.

"It's okay," she said softly. "I never considered what other people were saying. It's not something I really like thinking about. I mean, no one believed we could be attacked right outside of Hogwarts; it's bad enough imagining what it will be like when we leave." She actually shivered and rubbed her arms as she remembered the sunny day in June that had changed so much.

Mark put his arm around her and Lily let her head fall to his shoulder. It felt warm and strong, much like James's had that night in the hospital wing. Taking a deep breath, she began to tell him about that fateful day in Hogsmeade: how she had just started walking back to the castle with Sandra and caught up with James, Sirius, and Remus. How they had turned the last corner out of town and run straight into Kieran Quinn and Andrew Parker, staring down six Death Eaters with their wands out. Sirius had shouted, the distraction giving Kieran and Andrew the chance to pull out their own wands, and Lily had found herself in the middle of her first true battle: hexes and curses flying around her so fast she hardly knew what was happening…

Andrew fell to the ground, Stunned unconscious. Kieran shouted and stepped in front of his friend's prone body, putting down one Death Eater with a well-placed Full-Body Bind curse. James ran to join him as the attack quickly grew more heated. He had almost reached them when the awful green jet of light—something Lily never thought she would see—struck Kieran in the chest, and he fell next to Andrew, eyes staring lifelessly toward the blue sky.

James howled in frustration and took out the Death Eater who had just killed Kieran in front of them. The other four suddenly concentrated on him, a brutal Cutting Curse slicing across his face. Sirius and Remus ran to his defense, Sandra and Lily right behind them, only Sandra went down before she even got there, blood gushing from a gash in her leg. Lily turned to help, but saw Sirius crumple in front of her, his hand sliced to ribbons by a Severing Charm not meant for flesh.

Lily hesitated, unsure whether to help Sandra or Sirius or continue the fight with James and Remus before they were all injured or killed. She almost didn't see the purple jet of light coming straight at her and barely managed to block it. The Death Eater casting it advanced, determined to take her down. She blocked spell after spell, unable to do anything but shield herself, until finally he broke through and disarmed her, and she fell, landing awkwardly on her leg.

And then James was there, his face furious, his shield strong even though his face showed the effort it must be costing him. He forced back the Death Eater, catching him with a quick Trip Jinx and a Leg-Locker Curse, then helped her up. Lily stayed with Sandra while James turned to where Remus stood in front of Sirius, trying to hold off the last three Death Eaters. Sirius was clutching his arm to his chest and groping in the dirt for his wand. He found it and the unexpected spell he managed to cast hit one Death Eater square in the chest.

Together James and Remus beat back the last two Death Eaters, forcing them away from their injured friends, but they were strong, and James and Remus were growing tired, and the man James had hit with the Leg-Locker Curse recovered and joined them. Yet suddenly there was help: Professor Dumbledore appeared with the Auror Alastor Moody and Frank Longbottom. After a few more spells, the three remaining Death Eaters Apparated out, knowing they were defeated, and leaving behind their fallen comrades…

Lily took a deep breath to settle herself as she paused. Mark was staring at her in wide-eyed shock. She finished quickly.

"Dumbledore sent a Patronus to the castle, and moments later Madam Pomfrey appeared. She put Sirius, Andrew, and Sandra on stretchers and quickly took them back to the castle with Kieran." She sniffed, holding back tears just thinking about it. "Frank and Alastor Moody took the three remaining Death Eaters to the Ministry, and Professor Dumbledore walked James, Remus, and I back to the hospital wing. Sirius's hand was pretty bad, and Sandra lost a lot of blood, but they were okay. Andrew, too, though he was upset about Kieran. The rest of us just had cuts and bruises, although I was limping and I remember James had a bad gash on his face. Dumbledore asked us what happened, and we let James take the lead. It seemed he had really done the most, after all."

Mark held her close and kissed her head. It felt good even though she was confused. "That's unbelievable, Lily. I can't believe you survived something so horrible." He tilted her chin up. "I'm so thankful, though."

Even as he leaned down to kiss her again, her thoughts drifted back to the hospital wing, and she finished the story in her head…

Madam Pomfrey wanted to watch over them, and so they were all ordered to stay in the hospital wing for the night. Sirius had the worst injury and slept fitfully as his hand regenerated. Andrew just turned his back and stared at the wall, obviously devastated by the death of his friend and housemate. Sandra and Remus slowly drifted off to sleep, and Lily was left alone with James.

Trying to understand the day's horrific events, they talked, and as they talked, the enormity of what had happened suddenly hit her, and she couldn't help but let the tears finally fall. James was suddenly beside her, his arm around her, and she sobbed into his shoulder as he rubbed her back, her neck, her hair. She thought maybe he was shaking, and when she looked up, she saw a tear running down his face as well. Their eyes met, and her breath caught in her throat as they moved closer together, their lips just inches apart…

And then Madam Pomfrey appeared to check on Sirius, and the moment was lost—apparently forever.

End Notes:

Thank you once again to mugglegirlmarauder, who helped me work out the details and has got me over several blocks. I hope you enjoyed the flashback to Hogsmeade - perhaps I'll write it as its own story someday!

Since a few people have asked, this story is 28 chapters long and I do hope to update frequently. I rated it 'M' because there is one chapter with a bit more adult sexual themes (though not 'all the way') and because there is some violence and language later on as well. Thank you so much for the amazing reviews, I'm so glad so many people are enjoying it!