Hello again! Sorry for the wait on this, and I have had so many nice reviews, I love you all! xxx

I have some (hopefully) bad news: I have some massive drama planned for the next ten chapters or so, so there will probably be a massive wait for the next one as I want to get well ahead on the story before I post the next chapter. Just warnin' ya :P

- PIAM3 xxx

Chapter Six - Rendezvous in the Library

Lily was seated in the Library, piles of books around her, her eyes barely open with lack of sleep. The books towered over her, and she had been methodically working her way through them, the note from Flitwick saying she could use the Restricted Section next to her. There was a simple reason she was doing this: love. Not because she loved staying up till four in the morning, not because she loved hearing books scream at her when she opened them, but because of one sentence Professor Flitwick had said the lesson before. That one sentence had changed Lily's whole opinion on the war. They had been working on charms of protection, complicated charms that extended further than Protego, to the Fidelius Charm, and other spells similar. But at the end, he had added, "But there is some protective magic even more powerful. Love. No one is really sure how it works, but it has been extensively researched. It can be used to save people from harm, or protect a whole family if needs be." Lily had, immediately at the end of the lesson, asked for permission to research this branch of magic for herself.

So there she was, as she had been for about twelve hours so far, entranced by the writings of a particular author, the name she couldn't remember that was how long she had been reading for. They talked about how sacrificing yourself for someone you love gave the person a magical protection that was unbreakable. There were cases of Muggle mothers, not knowing how the magic worked, throwing themselves in front of Medieval witches who were bitter about the treatment of magical people, and the muggle children, because of their parents sacrifice, surviving the attack! Lily was in awe, to love someone that much that you would sacrifice yourself for them was a lot. Lily loved her parents and Petunia, she really did, but Petunia was their favourite and that knowledge had soured the relationship as soon as Lily had started Hogwarts. At the start, they were so proud, but later, when Tuny became jealous, their affection shifted to her, and Lily was left behind. So she honestly didn't think she would die for them. What about the girls, Marlene, Hestia, Mary and Emmy? Would she die for them? If the situation was right, Lily thought, and it might help them, I would. Out of the window, she saw James, Sirius and Peter running around, making sticks fly and attack each other. She couldn't help but feel jealous, they would all die in an instant for each other, and they were brothers in all but blood. They would gladly take punishment or pain if it meant the others didn't have to, and they tore up every time Remus was sick. It would be so nice to love and trust people that much, but she was too cynical for that.

She sighed and turned back to the book. Turning the dusty pages, she was soon engrossed in another element of love magic. After a few minutes, she felt a short tap on her shoulder.

"Hmm? Oh, hey Remus, how are you?"

He smiled down at the frazzled looking girl, "I'm good thanks but you look awful, what have you been doing?"

Lily frowned, "Reading. And not sleeping, which is probably why I look half dead." She flicked to another page and read down.

"And why aren't you sleeping?" Remus asked.

"Because I'm researching magic that is affected by love and it's really... interesting..." She stopped talking, her eyes widening as they flicked across the page.

"REMUS!" Lily yelped, grabbing his arm.

"What?!"

"Read that!" She pointed to a section headed 'Other Affected Spells'.

He read the passage out loud, "One spell widely known to be influenced by love or affection is the Patronus Charm; of course, thinking of the person you love could easily produce a strong Patronus. Another spell affected by love and affection, and there are more than people suspect, is Reducto. The blast of the spell is strongest on people you have no affinity to, or do not like. In which case, it follows that if a witch or wizard attempts to cast this spell on a person they have affection for, the result will not be as powerful, merely blowing them backwards rather than the normal explosion and and force." His brow furrowed, "You got so worked up about this? Most people know about Patronus'..."

She sighed, "Think back to Defense Against the Dark Arts, first day back. What spell did Sirius use on Marls?"

Remus widened his eyes slightly, "Reducto, but-"

Lily interrupted, "And did it work?"

"No but-"

"So he has affection for her!" Lily cried impatiently, hitting him on the arm with another large book, "Merlin Remus, you're supposed to he smart!"

He thought about what Lily was saying, furrowing his brow as he thought about it, "So, what you're saying is, the reason his spell didn't hurt Marlene was because he cares about her?"

Lily nodded furiously, "It's proof, PROOF! He MUST like her!"

Madame Pinch glared at Lily as she raised her voice, but Lily ploughed forwards, "He must like her, Remus, he must!"

"I agree, it's very possible, but Marlene hasn't even acknowledged his existence after the whole Quidditch trial fiasco. I'm not sure how this helps your whole 'get Marlene and Sirius together' plan..."

Lily flapped her hand, "No matter, she has to realise soon, it's just a matter of time!"

"What's just a matter of time?" James Potter said, sauntering in with his hands in his pockets, "Moony, Lilykins," he said, nodding to each of them in turn.

Lily sighed at him, but said, "Until Marlene realises she has to date Sirius..."

"Hate to break it to you, Evans, Sirius doesn't date, but I do if you want to go with me to Hogsmeade one time..."

Lily huffed and rolled her green eyes at him, "For the last time, no, Potter!"

He shrugged, "Moving on, do either of you know what's up with Marls recently? I mean, I know she's pissed at Sirius for the Quidditch thing, but she won't talk to Emmeline either, and has hardly spoken a word to me for four days!"

Lily nodded in agreement, "She's not really talked to us either, and runs off f we ask why." It was true. Marlene was become very introverted recently, worrying about her family, and keeping her anger at Emmy and Sirius going even if it was over the top (which it was). She hasn't wanted anyone to feel sorry for her and worry, but ironically by avoiding them they were even more concerned.

James sighed, "I just don't get it, why is she so moody? This isn't Marls at all!"

Remus frowned and sat down opposite Lily, "Prongs, mate, would your parents know what's going on? If Marlene's telling her parents, they might know too. They're good friends aren't they?"

"Yeah, Blood Traitor Buddies they call themselves," James joked.

"Blood Traitor Buddies? Why?" Lily asked.

"Both our families refused to help the Death Eaters, and with her parents as Aurors, it makes life hard."

Remus nudged his friend, "Get some parchment and write to your parents. See what they know."

James turned to look in his bag as Lily replied, "They did? That explains a lot actually."

Finding a half working quill at the bottom of his bag, James slouched on the seat and began to write, "Uhuhh, it means we have to be careful in Hogsmeade, we're a target. It also explains why Marlene is amazing at Defense, she has to be..."

Remus peered at the paper, "What should we write?"

Lily gazed through James as she thought. Who would know that about James Potter? He was never careful, but unless he wanted to die... Lily suddenly found herself upset at the thought of him dead. Not that she wanted anyone to die, but she didn't care about James Potter anymore than say, a random Hufflepuff fourth year. In fact, she hated him. Sort of.

"How about, 'Hey Mum and Dad, can you tell us what's up with Marlene, Love James'?" James suggested jokingly.

"How about no?" Lily said, snapping out of her daydream, "Start with something a little more formal, because we really don't have a right to know. Try 'Recently, we have noticed that Marlene isn't talking, and has been avoiding us for some unknown reason.',"

James scribbled it down.

"Then you could put, 'We were wondering if you, being in correspondence with her parents, might have an idea or knowledge of the reasons behind her behaviour'..."

James liked at Lily with awe, "Evans, you are a genius you know that, right?"

She blushed and continued, "Thanks. Finish with our names, all thee of us, and no PS or anything, it's formal."

Remus nodded, "That sounds good, now send it, James, we might get a reply by tomorrow of you hurry."

James grinned and ran out if the Library towards the Owlery.

"We'll know soon," Lily said with a satisfied smile, trying to tame her hair as she turned back to her books.l

Remus groaned, "How long are you planning o. Staying here reading, Lily?!"

"As long as it takes," she said through gritted teeth.

"To do what?"

"To protect my family. Think about it Remus, more Muggles and Muggleborns are being killed everyday, along with their friends and lovers. Anyone associated with me is in danger. I /have/ to keep my family safe... I can't... I can't let them /die/!" she choked out.

"They'll be fine, promise."

"No! You can't promise! Nowhere is safe, not even Hogsmeade!"

"Of course Hogsmeade is safe!"

Lily tore at her hair, "Did you not hear what Potter said? He has to watch himself for Death Eater attack there, it's not safe."

"Lily... I'm sorry..."

She sighed and leant back, exhausted, "It's okay, Remus, it's not your fault."

He smiled at her sadly and walked out, cursing Voldemort and the Death Eaters for targeting people like Lily, who were the very best people, and who didn't deserve to die at all.

Hey, just a quick note to say that if you see any grammar errors/typos (and there will be plenty) just leave a little review of PM me saying where it is, and I'll try and get round to sorting it out.