"So you weren't just messing with us? You really are friends with Potter?", Marlene enquired incredulously.
Lily shrugged. "Yeah, we're both Heads this year, so it'll make things easier. Plus, he's gonna stop pretending he likes me now, which is definitely a bonus, so why not?"
"Um, Lily", Emma interrupted, "What do you mean 'pretending to like you'?"
"Well I thought it was pretty obvious...", Lily replied with a puzzled look.
"Potter clearly isn't actually into Lily, it's all an act so that people pay attention to him.", Marlene explained in a patronising tone.
"Well you two can think whatever you want, but I don't think it's true. I've seen the way James looks when she rejects him. It's not a joke for him!" Emma burst out. Lily and Marlene looked at her strangely – Emma was usually so reserved.
"Touchy!", Marlene exclaimed. "Does someone have a crush on Potter?"
"Of course not", Emma retorted, "But even if I did, do you think I'd really have a chance? D'you think anyone has a chance against Lily? You say he's pretending to like Lily, but if it's all an act, then why does he never go out with other girls? It's not for lack of offers!"
And with that, she stormed off.
"Well I never!", Marlene murmured.
Lily didn't reply; she was too busy in thought. Did Potter actually fancy her? What Emma had said made sense. She had never known him to have a girlfriend. Sure, he had snogged girls in broom closets but he'd never had a real girlfriend. And even Lily couldn't deny, he was very good looking, and most people seemed to think that he had a great personality, although Lily didn't agree with that. But, if he did fancy her... Why? What was so special about her? She didn't think she was pretty. Marlene had always been the one who attracted attention. And she had never been nice to Potter. So why? No, Lily conceded, Emma must be looking too much into this. He couldn't possibly like her.
o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o
All of a sudden, it was November. The first month at school had flown by. Lily, Marlene and Emma were excited for the first trip to Hogsmeade.
"I'm dying for some Butterbeer!", Marlene said excitedly, "Let's go to the Three Broomsticks first."
"And I'm going to stock up on Honeyduke's finest chocolate. A month's supply at least!" Lily told her friends happily."
The three girls giggled, and headed towards the gates of the school, wrapping scarves tighter around them.
After shopping around and picking up a few quills and other essentials, the girls were free to roam around Hogsmeade. For a while, they stood looking at the Shrieking Shack, debating whether it was really haunted or not. In the middle of the argument, Marlene decided it was 'Butterbeer time', partly because she craved Butterbeer and partly because she was losing the argument.
As they entered the Three Broomsticks, they saw that they were not the only ones who had decided to warm themselves up with a Butterbeer. The bar was completely crowded. Lily indicated a small unoccupied table in the corner, telling Marlene and Emma to sit down and she would get the drinks. After queueing for what seemed like an hour, she made her way over to the table.
"Sorry, Lils", Marlene told her sheepishly, "Only two chairs."
Lily scowled and looked around the bar, trying to find an unused chair. Finally, she spotted one. Only one problem – it was at the Marauder's table. Lily rolled her eyes. Typical. She didn't want to stand at their table, so she pushed her way through the crowd to get to their table.
"Evans!", Sirius said delightedly when she stopped at their table. "What a pleasant surprise!"
Lily glanced at James, who was staring determinedly into his Butterbeer.
"Would it be okay if I took this chair?", she asked Sirius sweetly.
"Aww, you're not going to join us?", he replied in mock disappointment.
"I'll take that as a yes.", Lily commented, and without another word, she took the chair and returned to her table.
As soon as she had set down her chair, the girls heard screaming coming from outside. A few people stood up, trying to see what was going on. The screaming got louder and Lily heard yells coming from outside. She quickly got up and headed towards the door to see what was happening. She peeked outside the door and was shocked to see people running around the streets, screaming, as well as a few lying on the ground wounded. She glanced up to the sky and saw the dreadful Dark Mark hovering in the sky. She had only ever seen the Dark Mark in photographs before, and had never really understood what was so scary about it. Now, she could feel terror running through her veins.
Hooded figures shot colourful curses at the people shrieking and trying to get away. Lily panicked. She turned around to find Emma and Marlene behind her. She told them to gather up all the younger students and get them back to Hogwarts. Then, Lily did something she thought she'd never do. She swallowed her pride and asked the Marauders for help.
"Look, there are Death Eaters outside. I know you know shortcuts to Hogwarts, so get there quickly and raise the alarm. Got it?"
Peter nodded and scurried off, while the other three told her they were staying to fight. Lily nodded grimly and, taking a deep breath, stepped outside. She ran as fast as she could against he instincts, towards the Death Eaters. She sent a few Stunning curses towards the Death Eaters, as well as a few other random jinxes that occurred to her. Suddenly, Lily heard cackling behind her. She twirled around to find herself face to face with Bellatrix Black. Bellatrix had finished Hogwarts two years ago.
Lily tried to disarm her, but Bellatrix deflected it easily.
"Is that the best you've got, Mudblood?", she cackled.
Lily furiously tried more curses, to no avail.
"Crucio!", Bellatrix yelled in her high-pitched voice.
Lily was overwhelmed with pain all over her body. She screamed out in pain as Bellatrix intensified the curse.
"Expelliarmus!", bellowed a voice behind Lily. As suddenly as it had started, Lily's pain stopped. She collapsed to the ground. The hands belonging to the voice shook her shoulders desperately as Bellatrix scrambled around searching for her wand.
"Lily, Lily!"
It was none other than James Potter. Lily reached out and James grabbed her hand, pulling her to her feet.
"Come on, Lily, we have to get you back to Hogwarts", he told her as he tried to pull her along.
Out of nowhere, Bellatrix appeared in front of them once again.
"Got to finish what I started.", she laughed gleefully. "Avada -"
As James saw the green light coming from Bellatrix's wand, his whole world was turned upside down. Everything around him was blurred, only Lily remained clear in his vision. It seemed as if everything was going in slow motion. Lily wasn't going to move out of the way in time. Lily couldn't die. If Lily died... He didn't even want to think about it. All this happened in a split second, and without thinking about it, he dived in front of Lily, pulling her to the ground. Then, his world went black.
Lily sat up and saw James lying on the ground. She screamed and started to sob uncontrollably. She didn't even notice Aurors arriving and Death Eaters fleeing. She just knelt on the ground, shaking the boy who had saved her life.
She leaned over his torso, weeping into his chest, whispering "No" between sobs. Lily felt a gentle tap on her shoulder and looked up to see Dumbledore himself looking down at her.
"Would it be all right if we took Mr. Potter to the Hospital Wing?", he enquired politely.
"Y-you mean he's n-not...", Lily trailed off.
"I believe Mr. Potter is simply unconscious. The curse just grazed his shoulder, so it did not do what was intended. He has had a very lucky escape. Madam Pomfrey should be able to fix him up in no time."
Lily had calmed down considerably during Dumbledore's speech and followed quietly as Dumbledore levitated James towards the school.
After about half an hour, Madam Pomfrey had finished with James, and Lily sat at his bedside, waiting for him to wake up. Waiting, just waiting.
