Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, blah blah blah...now get on with the news!
THE SEQUEL IS UP!
YAY!
IT IS OFFICIALLY UP!
It is called 'The Brave Ravenclaw'!
It is about James and Lily and Sirius and Remus and an OC! It is AU, not canon.
Please read it, and review! Thank you!
Now, enjoy this chapter! Then go read the sequel, and follow, favourite and review!

"Are you sure you want to do this, Lily?"
"I have to."
"No, you don't-"
"Yes, I do. Petunia went there, so I have do too."
"I'm coming."
"You better be."


The front door of my old house is hanging off its hinges. The paintwork outside is slashed at like tigers inhabit the UK, and the flowers that my mum worked so hard to keep perfect are lying in tatters across the driveway. The remains of the police tape that was plastered across the porch has been quickly ripped off, so shreds of it are still stuck to the door posts. The lights are all off in the house, which makes me involuntarily shudder; my mum always insisted that one light was on at all times, as she was scared of the dark.
My mum.

James grabs my hand and gives it a big squeeze, his mum standing just behind us.
"Are you ready?"
I take a deep breath.
"Yeah. Let's just go in."

I lead him up to the door, and duck under the hanging door. The hallway is dark, and I reach up for the light switch, flicking it so that the hall is flooded with light. It looks untouched, the empty vase still on the side, the radiator cold and silent, Dad's coat still hanging over the banister.
Dad.
Shaking my head, I bite my lip, wait for a second, and then start slowly climbing the stairs. I want to avoid everywhere except my room, but it turns out that Petunia, my absolute favourite person in the whole entire world, has piled the few boxes outside my parents' old room.
My parents' room.

The boxes are faded, and crumpled with age, and James picks up the boxes and moves them out of the way, staggering slightly at the weight. My parents' room is dark, and, feeling sick, lean up to turn the light on. The room looks normal, painstakingly normal, apart from a large red stain on the bedspread. I let out a startled noise, shuddering, and James puts the boxes down quickly, his hand flying to my shoulder.
"What's wrong? Are you...oh Lils..."
I point at the stain, teeth chattering, not sure whether I'm going to cry, or vomit, or both. James turns me around, pulls me out of the doorway, and shuts the door.
"Don't look. Just don't look. Come on, I'll get these boxes outside, you can get your stuff, and I'll give you a minute, okay?"
"Hmm." I mumble, blinking quickly, trying to clear my vision of the horrible patch on the duvet in my parents' room, and then walk into my bedroom.
After I've packed up some of my stuff, and folded my clothes into a bag, I shoulder my rucksack and walk quickly out of the room and down the stairs, not looking at the other rooms. Waving at my room like an idiot, I bite my lip to try and stop myself from crying, and run outside, to where James has piled the boxes up in a neat stack, and is scanning the houses, standing next to Mrs Potter.

"Okay, Lils, my mum said she'll Apparate back home with the boxes. Do you want to go for a walk?"
I nod, still feeling dazed, and he holds my hand, following me as I lead him down the street, past the cul-de-sacs, and down to the park I used to play in when I was little. We walk down past the swings, up by the willow tree, and I pull James down to sit with me, under the towering tree down by the pond.
"It's beautiful..." James smiles, leaning back against the trunk of the tree, and I lay back against him.
"Yeah, it is, isn't it? I used to come her when I was younger, to play."
"On what?"
"Excuse me?"
"What did you play on?"
"The swings. Come on, I'll show you."

I yank him up, and then run over to the swings, hopping up onto it and kicking off with my feet. Laughing, I swing higher and higher, until James starts to look panicked.
"Uhhh...Lily, that's quite high..."
"I'll be fine, James. I used to do this all the time!"
"Really?"
"Yes- oh! Move back!"
He stumbles back a few steps, and I launch myself off the swing with a shout of laughter, flying off the end and soaring through the air before landing lightly on the grass.
"Lily! Are you okay?"
"Yeah," I giggle, flattening my hair. "That was fun! I haven't done that in ages."
"Maybe that was a good thing..." James mutters, and I nudge him with my elbow.
"Come on, it's just like flying!"
I wait for him to respond, but he's stiffened, looking at something rigidly in the distance.
"What is it?"
"Snape..."
James mutters, hand brushing his pocket for his wand, and I peer at where he's looking.

Sure enough, Severus is sitting on a bench not far away, holding an old-looking book in his hands, apparently absorbed in the book.
"James! Leave it!" I look at him cautiously, but he's focused on the lone figure, huddled on the bench.
"James!" I whisper furiously, grabbing at his arm as he stalks forwards, and he swings around to face me.
"What?"
"Stop it!"
"I'm just going to say hello."
"Oh, don't make me laugh! What is your problem with him?"
"He insulted you!"
"Maybe he did, but I've made my peace with it, so you should have too!"
"But Lily..." He whines, and I drag him away, rolling my eyes.
"Come on. Let's go home."
He brightens at my words, and for a second I don't know what he's smiling at.
"What?"
"You said home."
"I did?"
"Uh-huh."
"Okay then. Come on James. Let's go home."

Thank you! New Year's in next chapter!
Read the sequel! Please!
Don't forget to review if you've got anything to say! I'll hear it all!
Thanks bunches,
She-who-loves-fanfiction xx