Be Here Now

Disclaimer: Nope, don't own Harry Potter, just anything you don't recognize.

A/N: Hey everybody! I can't believe it's already chapter fifteen! I've also started to name the chapters, so tell me if you like them or not. Let's see… that's pretty much it! I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Eclare LJ and Percabeeth: Thank you! Thank you! Yeah, we can go kill her together if you want… that is, if the girls don't do it first. Ha-ha! Will do. :D

Aurora White: I'm not going to say a word. Thanks, glad you liked it!

Laveycee: As I said to Aurora White, I'm not saying a word.

And now, chapter fifteen (which has a few swears and insulting names)!

x.o.x.o.x.

Hilary, Alice, and Marlene look at her.

"Are you quite sure that no potion is amber colored?" Hilary asks.

Lily bites her lip, thinking. "I'm not 100% sure, but we can check the library tomorrow. I only know of Muggle alcoholic drinks that are amber colored and Polyjuice Potion could be colored amber if the person's color is amber."

Alice nods slowly. "He didn't get drunk, did he?"

Marlene and Hilary shrug, while Lily responds, "I have to get back to the Head Dorms and tomorrow I'll let you know, or maybe by the parchment."

"And he didn't turn into a different person," adds Marlene.

Lily sighs thoughtfully. "This is getting complicated. Okay, I've got to get going. It's been a great night, girls. Sleep well." And Lily disappears.

The other girls reach a silent agreement to wait up until midnight at least to see if Lily would try to contact them by the magical parchment.

x.o.x.o.x.

Outside the Fat Lady, Lily pulls out her wand from the special-made slit in her dress that hid the wand perfectly. Remembering Dumbledore's parting words, Lily lights every lamp she passes with a soft fire. Light the way back, Lily. This had had double meaning. Literally, and figuratively. After all, she needed to light her way to finding true love, didn't she? Suddenly, she finds herself in front of the Head Common Room portrait. She utters the password (television) and climbs through to find James sitting there alone.

"Good evening, Potter," Lily greets, walking to the door that concealed her short flight of steps leading to her room.

James makes no notice of hearing her.

Lily sighs. He had so many mood changes! First he was looking at her like she was the only thing in his world, and then he ignores her steadfastly! What the hell was wrong with him? However, Lily takes notice that he is completely and utterly sober, so she hastens up her steps, bounds into her room, uses her wand to change, and sets her stuff in her closet. Wearing a silk nightgown, she races for her parchment, praying that her friends had stayed awake.

He's not drunk. –L

Really? –H

Yup. –L

Thank goodness. –M

No, that's not good, Marl! That just makes it more difficult for us! Where is Alice, by the way? –L

Showering. Says that she needs to get Frank's hands off her. –H

Uh-oh. Trouble in paradise? –L

No. She's just not used to it yet. –M

Ah. Okay, let's figure this out tomorrow. I hope you had a fantastic time. Sleep well, and that goes for Alice too! –L

Lily places the quill and parchment down carefully on her desk, and pads across the carpet to her bed, falling into the soft, welcoming depths. She lies silently on her pillow for a few minutes before allowing sleep to claim her.

x.o.x.o.x.

"No."

Lily slaps the last potions book in the library shut. She and her friends had been searching for hours on a Saturday in the library for a potion that was amber. None. In the whole world of potions, only one recorded potion was amber: amber Polyjuice if it should come to that.

Hilary groans. "Damn."

"This is too hard," mumbles Alice.

Marlene, who, out of the four, was the second closest to James, sighs. "We've got to release James from the bitch's clutches, guys. Just keep pushing on."

Lily sighs, amending the statement. "Yes. I-"

"My brother doesn't deserve to be under the clutches of such an evil person. I mean, he's done some bad things, but really?" Hilary fumes, unknowingly cutting off Lily.

Lily's emerald gaze shoots to Hilary's hazel one.

Marlene and Alice watch the exchange with impressed eyes. They could communicate without saying a word.

As her eyes break away from her almost-sister, Lily sighs. "Don't worry. We'll figure it out."

Hoot.

Everyone turns to the library window, and Hilary rushes over, grabbing the letter from the owl, pats it quickly, and sends it off. The librarian comes over, studying them with vicious eyes for a few moments, and then stalks away, muttering about ungrateful little brats.

"It's from Mum," Hilary says, her voice filled with relief. On the outside, it addresses to James and Hilary Potter. Apparently James had already seen it.

James! Hilary!

I am terribly sorry for terrifying you earlier. We fought bravely, dears, and I hope that one day love will conquer for you as well. I just barely lived. I lived because I wouldn't be able to stand not seeing your father, and I'm positive he intended to live. I wouldn't have been able to stand not seeing you or Isabel, my darling babies.

How is wonderful old Hogwarts? Is Dumbledore well, and Professor McGonagall? Give them both my condolences, please. It is now November, and Christmas is drawing as close as ever. I am allowing you both to bring three friends maximum. And Hilary, please do your best to beg the wonderful Miss Lily Evans to come! Your father and I have been itching to meet her since Christmas in your first year and James began ranting and raving about her. Write back soon with your list of guests.

Love always,

Mum

"I can bring three friends back home for Christmas! And Mum really wants to meet you, Lils! Please come!" begs Hilary, already knowing that Alice and Marlene's answers were cinched.

Lily closes her eyes. Usually she stayed at Hogwarts, and last year she had actually went back to the alley for a day or two, sitting there and staring aimlessly at the wall that she called home. She knew perfectly well that Hilary's family was the richest Wizarding family in the world. She could only imagine what their home- no, manor, would be like. For the most part, she would feel completely out of place. Even when her parents were alive, they were neither poor nor rich. They got by on a teacher and lawyer's salary.

"I can't," Lily says finally, responding to her friends' anxious looks.

"What? You can, Lils! You're not busy," protests Hilary.

Lily draws in a breath. "Hilary, your family is the richest in the world, Muggle or Wizarding. I live in an alley. I would not feel at all comfortable."

"Lily, you have us, Sirius, and Remus. We're your friends," Marlene consoles.

"How do you know Potter will be inviting Sirius and Remus?" retorts Lily. "That unknown potion could do something."

"My brother loves those three other Marauders like his own brothers. No potion, love or otherwise, could get past that," Hilary answers. "Plus, Mum expects those three."

"Where's Peter been, by the way? I only see him at meals, and he never speaks," Alice brings up.

The other three shrug. Alice had really been the only one to actually like Peter. The others just pretended for the Marauders' sakes.

"Please, Lils?" begs Hilary.

Lily sighs again. "I'll think about it, Hilary. I really will. For now, could we just try finding out what the slut is using?"

Reluctantly, they agree.

x.o.x.o.x.

"So, Hils, who are you bringing home for Christmas?" James asks as the group plus Maya sit in the Gryffindor common room.

"Alice and Marlene," Hilary answers. "You?"

"Padfoot, Moony, and Wormtail," James informs her. Hilary understands who the nicknames refer to, but she couldn't figure out why. "What about Evans?"

"I'm right here," snaps Lily, surfacing from her book.

James rolls his eyes at her. "What about Evans?" he repeats.

"Lily's thinking it over," Hilary responds vaguely.

"James, why are you inviting them and not me?" whines Maya, shooting the other Marauders a fierce scowl. Sirius shrugs, unfazed, Remus continues reading without a reaction, and Peter cowers slightly.

James shrugs nonchalantly. "We can only bring three friends."

"Bring me," Maya demands of Hilary.

Hilary scoffs. "No way! My last spot is reserved for Lily, and if she can't come, I'm perfectly happy with just Alice and Marlene."

"Bring me," Maya repeats with a growl.

"Make me."

Maya brings out her wand.

"Imp-"

"Expelliarmus!" Lily cries, catching the girl's wand before she can register what happened. "You almost used an Unforgivable against my best friend."

"Give me back my wand, slut!" screams Maya, lunging for Lily.

Lily throws up a strong shield around her that Maya claws against. "Don't call me a slut." Lily turns to Hilary. "I accept your invitation with one condition."

Hilary nods eagerly. "Anything," she promises sincerely.

"All of you come to my house first," Lily says. "Including Potter, because I know you told him."

Alice flushes, ashamed.

"Deal," agrees Hilary.

"What? The alley?"

Lily gasps. James Potter had just spilled her darkest secret to the biggest gossip in the school: Maya Santiago. "Get out. Now, Santiago. Before I make you."

Remembering her former curses, Maya scurries out, turning this information around in her head, and plotting how to use it against Lily Evans.

Lily takes down her shield, staring murderously at James. "You just spilled my darkest secret to the biggest gossip in the school! Not to mention Peter, who I haven't told yet! It will be all over the school by tomorrow!" she accuses.

James holds up both hands. "Sorry!"

"Sorry? That's all you can say? I've put up with you since September, Potter. I never knew that bitches were your type. But apparently you have compatible personalities. I may love you, but I assure you that I will do my utmost to get rid of those feelings. You've hurt me time and time again, yet I still love you. Now I suppose I know what you felt when I kept rejecting you. But it's too late, isn't it? You've got the bitchiest girlfriend to ever walk through Hogwarts, and I am going to find a boyfriend by the end of this year. Keep out of my life, Potter, or else." Lily storms from the room, heading for her own dorm.

"You've done it now, James," murmurs Marlene regretfully.

Alice shakes her head while Hilary fumes, "I trusted you again!"

x.o.x.o.x.

A/N: Next chapter will be chock-full of details! Will Lily's prediction come true, and how? Please REVIEW! And until chapter sixteen…

~TrueLoveIs4ever