Author's Note: Put this up last night, but it was really rough. I just wanted to get back in the habit of posting a chapter daily, but I added a bit more.

As much as the residents of the Potter house wished everything returned to normal, it never did. Agatha was stuck in a state of tense nervousness, especially whenever Charles was called away. That, unfortunately, seemed to be a more common occurrence these days.

James, Sirius, and Lily knew something was wrong. Once Lily was called in Charles' office to discuss what happened Friday night, she assumed that she lost some of his trust. However, it seemed to be more than that. He was overprotective of all three of the teenagers, and every time he implemented a new measure of security James pushed back. Sirius, on the other hand, walked a fine line of rebellion. Lily didn't mind and spent most of the time in her room writing letters to her friends or reading books in the backyard.

Their Hogwarts letters came early August, James and Sirius didn't even bother to open them, so Agatha took them. "Are there any new supplies I need to know about?" she asked Lily.

"No, the books are just typical sixth year books."

"What classes are you taking?" Agatha asked. "I usually just buy everything for James, he hates going to Diagon Ally."

"Well, Alice and Marlene are going to shopping on the twentieth, can I go with them?"

"We'll talk to Charles," Agatha said.

"It's Diagon Alley, mum, what can happen?" James questioned.

"It's not very far from Knockturn Alley," she said.

That caused the three to all roll their eyes. "If Sirius and James come that'll be five of us. Frank will probably want to come and he's of age," Lily explained. "Please, we've never had any problems before and we'll be safe."

"Remus will come," Sirius said. "And Peter, we can't do anything with them around."

"Fine," Agatha muttered. "Is Friday alright? I'll go to Gringotts to get money out, the usual amount."

"I have an account set up, my parents did it."

"Keep your money, Lily, no arguing is going to change mum's mind," James said.

"My parents left me an inheritance, and that couple with my ministry job leaves me with plenty of money," Agatha explained. "Oh, Sirius, Charles said that Orion is going to be dropping off your things tomorrow."

"I'm surprised mummy dearest and brother dearest didn't have a bonfire," Sirius commented dryly. "There isn't much I want, but it would be nice not having to steal James' clothes anymore."

"You stole my favorite Quidditch shirt," James muttered.

"Stole? You mean borrowed, we are brothers after all and brothers share."

Lily had to hold back a laugh at that. She always wondered how James and Sirius had gotten so close, but it was clear to her now. He had became a part of the family, he even had his own room. When she found out that Sirius had been disowned, her admiration for Agatha Potter grew even more. As much as he loved her parents, she could not imagine them taking in her disowned friends with open arms.

"I was an only child first," James muttered.

"There always so self-absorbed," Sirius commented, laugher sparking in his eyes, as he turned to Lily. This earned him a slap upside the head from James. "What was that for?"

"Boys…" Agatha warned. "Honestly you are going me a favor by just being here, Lily. With those two…" The older woman shook her head. "Thank you," she said softly as the boys pushed their plates away and left the room. "They're going stir crazy, but the Ministry is worried and every precaution is necessary."

"We'll keep each other safe." Lily reached for her Agatha's hand and passed a smile.

On Friday Lily couldn't keep still as she held the letters from her dearest friends. Today she would finally be able to see them and in less than a month they would be sharing a room again. With a deep breath she finished getting dressed, wrapping her hand around her locket. Lily hadn't taken it off accept to bathe since the funeral.

"Are you ready, Evans?" Sirius asked peering through the door.

"Don't you knock?" Lily questioned. "I could have been changing?"

"Your point is?" His eyebrows shot up as his mouth formed a lazy grin.

"You're revolting," Lily shouted, hurling a pillow she grabbed off a bed at him. "Sirius Black you are lucky I am underage!" She let out a shriek of frustration as she walked over to grab her purse. As she headed to leave the room James blocked her. "Are you really double teaming me?"

"I wanted to see if your ready, my lovely Lily." James passed her a smirk and reached over to place an arm around her. "I don't mind waiting, of course, but sometimes I do get a little bored."

With a huff she pushed away from him. Why did she have to tell him she liked the old James? Now he was going to start acting like an arsehole all over again. She marched down the stairs, her arms swinging. "Lily…" a voice called. As the bottom of the stairs she whirled around to see James standing there. "Do you really have to be like this?"

"If you don't want to wait, don't, alright? I can survive without the infamous James Potter."

"What the hell's gotten into you, I thought we were past this."

"We were, but if you're going to make fun of my request and throw it back in my face, forget it!"

"Sorry, it's how I deal," he muttered so softly she almost didn't hear. Lily looked at him with a concerned look. "You didn't see the papers, did you?" he inquired.

"No."

"Apparently he decided that muggleborns aren't even worth the time of day anymore, he's going after sympathizers." James scanned her face to see if she would understand. "People that help those that are unworthy or dirty are being persecuted. People like my mother."

Lily's eyes widened and her mouth dropped.

"He hasn't gone after ministries employee's, but he's going after pure-bloods that are going against him." James shook his head. "Can you do me a favor, Evans?" The seriousness had faded from his voice and now it had a teasing edge. "Just ignore what I say if it offends you. Joking around helps me deal, something I picked up from Sirius."

"Just like being an arrogant toerag helps me deal," Lily replied, using the words he used to insult her a while back.

"Exactly, now let's go to Diagon Alley." He put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed it reassuringly. The gesture seemed second nature to him and Lily did not protest one bit.

Sirius pretended not to notice the way Lily clung to James arm and how he didn't even seem realize that she was doing that. They made their way through the crowd, going to the Leaky Cauldron where their entire group was supposed to be meeting.

"Remus!" he shouted when he saw his lanky friend emerge through the doors.

Beside James, Lily's shoulders relaxed ever so slightly and she let go of James' arm to greet the boy. Her arms enveloped him tightly and he made a show of keeping his hands light on her shoulders blades. Peter came next, but only got a smile from the red head who now stood between James and Remus.

"Where are the girls?" Sirius whined after a few minutes.

The rest of the group just laughed and began to sip their drinks they had ordered a few minutes prior. As if on cue Marlene McKinnon strutted through the door and Lily sprinted towards her wrapping her arms around the short girl.

"Lil!" she shrieked. "Merlin, I missed you." Her arms enclosed around the red head tightly.

"You look so different." Lily's hand went to her friend's hair. The brown locks that had once reached mid-back barely covered her ears.

"In France all the girls are doing it. Of course my cousin protested, but she's a Beauxbatons girl." Marlene sighed and then peered over Lily's shoulder, by now they had released but were still standing centimetres away from each other. "We have to talk about what happened, but now's a bad time." Her eyes flitted across Lily's face. "I know you probably have been asked this enough, but are you alright?"

"Better, they've actually helped." Lily tilted her head in the direction of the Marauders.

"Remus has always been fine, but are you sure you're talking about James Potter and Sirius Black? The immature prats that have not left you alone since second year?"

"Sirius is different than you think and I've reached an...understanding with James."

"You're on a first name basis with them?" Marlene questioned. "Are you sure you're feeling alright?"

Before Lily got a chance to answer both of their names were called out. By now the owner of the place was frowning, Lily flashed him a charming smile before turning to her friend. Alice was the Remus of their group. Level-headed she could put an end to almost any fight and despite being quiet, she always knew the right thing to say. Everything about Alice was light, from her hair to her eyes to her skin. Beside her stood Frank Longbottom. Now in his seventh year he had grown quite handsome and was no longer that awkward second year that Marlene teased Alice foro having a crush on. His hair and his eyes were dark, he was tall and broad shouldered. Even though his looks were slightly intimidating and he was fiercely protective of those he cared for, he was probably one of the nicest people Lily had ever met.

"Lily, I wish I could have seen you sooner." It was Alice's turn to hug her tightly. "We are so glad to see you." Alice placed a light hand on Frank's shoulder when she pulled away. "I know you must have had a horrid summer with Petunia."

"Did you get any of my letters?" Lily asked.

"I only got one," Alice explained. "Never mind that, it will be easier to speak about in person. If you want we can even wait until school starts, would that be alright? I know how you hate to have serious talks not in public. At school we can lock our door and stay up late into the night."

"Of course," Lily said. "I'm just lucky that the two of you are here now. The only woman I've seen in weeks is Agatha."

Alice's eyebrows furrowed, but Frank understood completely. "Are we all going as a group?" Frank asked.

"We're supposed too, but I really don't want to be them anymore." Lily's eyes flitted over to all the boys. Sirius was telling a story, using his hands to make light gestures. James was laughing so hard his glasses had begun to slip down his nose. Remus was leaning on the table and Peter's face had a huge smile on his face. The four of them hadn't been alone together for a while.

"Mum said to be careful, but four is a good group and Remus can be the voice of reason. Why don't you all go ahead to Flourish and Blotts, I'll tell them the plan." Frank didn't leave room for any other options, just kissed Alice lightly on the cheek before going over to where the Marauders were.

The girls wandered over to the bookshop. Inside Marlene pulled Alice over to a display of an English version of a magazine she loved in France. Lily somehow managed to sneak away and wandered the shelves looking for a required book. As her fingers closed around the volume, she heard footsteps. "Honestly, James…"

"It's not James, it's Frank," he said as she turned to face him. "Are Alice and Marlene around?"

"Over there." Lily gestured. "Poor Alice didn't escape Marlene's grip when she found this rubbish magazine and had to show us."

"Good, because I wanted to talk to you. Alice wouldn't like what I have to say and I'm certain Marlene wouldn't handle the offer well."

"What are you proposing, Longbottom?" Lily hoped that he caught the mock-professional tone and that she wasn't irritated with him. It seemed that she too had picked up on the habits of Sirius and James.

"I know what's going on with you and James," he whispered.

"How….?"

"How I found out is not important. Listen, Alice isn't just the girl I'm dating, she's my best friend and I know she thinks of you and Marlene like sisters." Frank took a step closer when someone passed, and Lily pretended to be engrossed in the book she was holding. "I hope that I'm not just some guy your best friend is dating," he continued.

"You're not," Lily assured. "I consider you one of my friends. I can't vouch for Marlene…"
At that Frank laughed, Alice had told him how much Marlene used to tease her about him when she had her crush during first year. Couldn't you at least like a cute older boy? Marlene would ask Alice whenever she blushed when Frank walked by. He's the nicest boy I've ever met. Was the only thing Alice would say in response.

"I know it must be hard with you living with him and I saw the way he looks at you. I know that you can handle yourself, you've always been tough as nails Lil, but if you need some help I'm here."

Lily passed him a confused expression. "That's sweet-"

"He's just as stubborn as you, but the thing is he's cocky about everything. I know how he is with girls, he's been in the room next door or across the hall since he came to Hogwarts. And however tough you may be, you're not intimidating."

At that she laughed, knowing what he spoke was the truth.

"Besides, I can make sure a Bludger slips through the defenses on accident and hits a certain Captain. Not hard enough to hurt him, just enough to knock some sense into him."

Lily laughed and reshelved the book, scanning the shelf in front of her for another. Her hand wrapped around the brand new copy of Confronting the Faceless, the required Defense Against the Dark Arts text for sixth years.

"Get the old copy, it's half the price and you hardly ever use the book. Wolfe is all about hands on learning," Frank explained, his hand going for the seventh year DADA book. "He's an ex-Auror."

"I heard that, it's terrific Hogwarts has him." Lily looked him over, trying to remember what Remus said whenever she accused him of being able to read minds. "He's also a great resource for students who wish to pursue that career option."

"Don't tell Alice yet, I need to wait to get my NEWT results before I can even think about applying."

"You don't want her to worry."

"She's already worried about me, she doesn't know about me wanting to become an Auror, but she knows that I plan on joining the war effort after graduation."
"How? Please tell me you-"

"Lily," he warned, dropping his voice taking another step closer. "Dumbledore is helping to start another organization, it's called the Order of the Phoenix," he explained. "The ministry can't always be trusted anymore. They've been cutting back on resources." He scanned her face for understanding. "They're conserving resources while they still can. Some people, like the Potter's, don't even need to work, but others are feeling the pain."

"Are you saying that ministry workers are joining the Dark Lord?"

"Keep your voice down," he ordered, softness fading from his face. "And I don't know, I've only got my information second hand from overhearing my parents talking at dinner or snippets of letters."

They pretended to be interested in book shopping, picking out the assigned books.

"We better find Alice and Marlene."

"Wait, Frank." Lily grabbed his arm. "Thank you for being a good friend."

He paused, knowing that she wasn't finished.

"Can anyone join the Order after graduation?"