Author's Note: I apologize for keeping everyone waiting for an update for longer than a week! We have been having SO MANY problems with our electronics over the past week and a half. First my boyfriend's computer died for some unknown reason, now we are fairly certain the either RAM or power supply in my computer needs replacing because I couldn't get any signal to my monitor for a few days, and last but not least, our internet decided to stop functioning periodically...

SO, moving on from all my issues, THANK YOU everyone who has supported this story with reviews/follows/favorites. Every time I get a notification about any of these things it makes me so incredibly happy! Now without further ado, please enjoy the latest chapter in the lives of Lily, James, and their friends (at least in my happy-ish fanfiction-y world).

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry potter. Anything recognizable is property of the amazing J.K. Rowling.

Chapter 7

"I'd say that was a successful Zonko's jaunt," James said as the Marauders strolled down the cobbled street.

"We are now even better equipped to wreak havoc throughout the Hogwarts halls," Sirius said, finishing with an evil-villain-esque laugh. Peter laughed gleefully along with him.

"I don't think we really needed any help from Zonko's products," Remus said. "Although they certainly make our pranks more fun."

"Course they do!" Sirius said cheerily. "They give us way more options, Moony. It's brilliant."

"We should plant the dungbombs in the Slytherin Common Room," Peter said with a snicker.

"Obviously the plan, mate," James said. "But we have to find a trigger for them to go off. And give the surprise a little something extra…" He trailed off, trying to think of something good.

"Maybe have the smoke they give off dye the Slytherins colors?" Remus suggested.

Sirius grinned wickedly. "Brilliant, Moony!"

"Why thank you, Padfoot," Remus said in an overly gracious voice, giving a semi-bow as they walked down the street.

"Can we pop in to Honeyduke's for a bit?" Peter asked a bit timidly, still so afraid of being rejected by these boys who called him friend. Even after all the four had been through, he was still insecure, afraid.

"Course we can, Pete," James said immediately.

"Yeah Wormtail, we can't have Padfoot completely depleting his sugar stores again, can we?" Remus joked. James and Peter shuddered at the memory of the rampaging, sugar-deprived Sirius.

"That was one time," Sirius said indignantly.

"Yep, and we'll never let you forget it, mate," James replied, shoving his hands in his pockets to guard them from the chill wind. "Besides, we should get tons extra sweets. It's Halloween next week. I think it's the perfect time for the Marauders first party of the year."

"Yes!" Sirius said, jumping up and punching the air in his excitement. He continued rambling on about all the things they would need as they scoured the walls of Honeyduke's, buying as much as they felt was necessary-which was a lot.

"Hey, guys," Remus said once they were back out on the cobblestone street. "It's nearly one."

James and Sirius perked up immediately, both wearing nearly identical grins.

"What's the time got to do with anything?" Peter asked.

"Did we forget to tell you?" Sirius said, actually unsure if Peter had ever known about their plans for the day.

"We have a date with Lily Evans," James said proudly, puffing out his chest slightly.

"Get over yourself, Prongs," Remus said, giving James a light shove. "It's not just Lily. Mary, Emmeline, and Marlene will be there as well."

"Oh," Pete said succinctly. "Didn't hear about that one…"

"Sorry Wormtail. I was trying not to obsess so hard that I guess I forgot that you weren't there the night we made the plans," James said with a guilty grin, his hand immediately going to the back of his head to ruffle his eternally messy black hair. Pete visibly cheered, though, and the Marauders made the short journey to the Three Broomsticks.

"So James, your first date with Lilykins doesn't even count as a date. How does that feel?" Sirius said, unable to make it all of the twenty feet to the pub in silence.

James scowled at his best friend. "Really Sirius?" They all refrained from using the word 'serious'. The jokes Sirius made gave him too much pleasure. "You had to go there?"

Sirius had the decency to look a little shamed. "Sorry Prongs. But at least she said yes to this one, right? That's progress!"

"But this isn't," Remus said in a low tone as they entered, indicating the sight in front of them with a nod of his head.

They were met with the sight of Lily in a heated conversation with Severus. Severus was miraculously on his own.

"Sorry doesn't cut it, Severus," Lily was saying, her arms crossed. "It doesn't change what they did, and it doesn't change that they would do worse if given the chance. Just thinking about what Mulciber did to Mary a while ago makes my blood run cold!"

James remembered Mary being in the Hospital Wing with some serious cuts and bruises. It had not been a pretty sight. He wasn't that close with Mary, but he could imagine coming across one of his friends like that, coming across Lily like that…

James took an aggressive step forward, his hand reaching for his wand.

Lily's emerald eyes shot over Severus' shoulder to meet his hazel ones and he froze in place. Lily shook her head.

"It's done, Severus," she said. "Thank you for checking up on me, but I'm fine, and your friends won't like it if they hear you've been talking to me."

She turned her back on Severus and walked to the table in the far corner of the room, where the rest of her friends were already sitting with a round of Butterbeers. James scowled at Snape as they passed by him.

"Snivellus," Sirius said with a sneer, shoving his shoulder against him as he passed.

"Padfoot," Remus said in a warning tone.

James had his hands balled in tight fists. He was resisting the urge to turn and hex Snape. He knew Lily would hate him for it, and he really did not want her to hate him anymore. He just couldn't stand to see Snape pining after her, especially since he was so into Voldemort's way of thinking, the whole 'wizards are better than humans' and Pureblood supremacy things. James threw himself into the chair next to Lily and gave everyone at the table a tense nod in greeting.

"Hello everyone," Remus said in that proper way he had. "How has your Hogsmeade visit been so far?"

"Wonderful!" Marlene said immediately. "I found the perfect outfit for Slughorn's party!"

"Thank you James," Lily said quietly while Marlene told the other Marauders all about her dress robes, even though they clearly didn't care what they looked like. James gave Lily a questioning look. "For not getting involved back there. Or for hexing him like I know you wanted to when he was leaving," she explained.

James gave her his signature crooked grin. "Not worth the time," he replied, casting it off as no big deal.

Lily let him get away with it, giving him a smile and brushing her hand over his in a silent thank you.

"Wait, if you got all this stuff, where is it right now?" Peter asked, confused.

"Honestly, are you lot wizards or not?" Lily asked with a laugh. "I'm serious!"

"No you're not!" Sirius said in an affronted tone. The other Marauders groaned. "I am, and I don't appreciate a female trying to impersonate me and my good name!"

The girls all laughed.

"I can't believe you just said that," Remus said with a disappointed shake of his head. "We avoid the S-word at all costs. He enjoys his jokes too much."

"Ah," Lily said once she stopped laughing. "Well I meant what I said, I can't believe you lot are wizards and you're actually carrying your purchases around in those big bags." Lily held up a single bag. "All of our stuff is right in here."

"It's not possible," Sirius said. "All that stuff couldn't fit in there, particularly a set of dress robes!"

Lily rolled her eyes and put her arm up past her elbow into the bag. At the boys' still-confused faces, Lily explained, "Undetectable Extension Charm."

Remus hit his palm against his forehead. "I can't believe I didn't think about that."

"Wow," James said, leaning back in his chair. "I feel incredibly stupid. And very much not a wizard."

"Lilykins, you just made my life so much better," Sirius said happily, in direct contrast to his friends.

"Glad to be of service," Lily said gallantly, bowing her head to Sirius mockingly.

"Okay, that's it, we're definitely keeping her around forever," Sirius said once he finished moving all of his belongings into one bag.

Lily raised her eyebrows. "This was a decision you lot were making?"

"Well of course, Lovely," Emmeline said before any of the Marauders could speak. "Didn't you know that not just anyone is allowed to be in the presence of such awesomeness without going through a full review? If just one of the Marauders doesn't approve of the new groupie, it's no good. Sirius is usually the toughest nut to crack, too. So it looks like you passed."

The girls were all pressing their lips together tightly, trying desperately not to laugh at the Marauders' faces. James and Sirius had nearly identical expressions: jaws dropped open, eyes staring blankly, one eyebrow raised. Remus looked dumbfounded, like he couldn't quite believe that the ever-calm Emmeline Vance had just said something like that. And Peter look lost, like he wasn't quite sure if this was a real thing that he hadn't known about or if it was a joke; he kept looking between his three friends, making sure they were as lost as he was, before he finally relaxed a bit. He was the first to laugh though, and it made all the girls release their laughter.

"Well, I have never been so insulted in my entire life," Sirius said dramatically, standing in a huff. "I am going to get drinks." He started walking away, then tossed a wink over his shoulder at Emmeline. "And then I'll be back for more."

"So who's up for a party this Friday for Halloween?" James said excitedly, trying to forget that someone had actually made fun of the Marauders.

"Sweet!" Mary said, nudging Emmeline. "Looks like we will have something to do with ourselves without Lily and Marlene around."

"Where are you two going to be then?" James said, disappointed.

"Didn't you hear, numbskull?" Marlene asked. "I just got the dress robes for it and everything."

"Yeah, Professor Slughorn's party," Lily said with a small smile. "It's always right on Halloween night, and I've promised I'll go.

"If Lovely Lily refused to go to his Halloween party, I think Slughorn would die of heartbreak," Mary said dramatically, throwing her head back and putting the back of her hand against her forehead in a pose.

"Oh, come off it," Lily said, blushing in embarrassment.

"You are his favorite student, you know," Emmeline said.

"Yes, and it's all because she's Lovely, thus the nickname," Marlene said dryly. "First you're a natural at Potions, and then you turn out to be a sweet, caring young lady? What more could the Professor ask for in a student for his collection?"

"Shut it, Marlene," Lily said into the top of her Butterbeer. "Just because I don't have the heart to disdain him for his 'collecting' shouldn't make me a bad person."

"On the contrary," Remus said. "It makes you a very good person."

"Thank you, Remus," Lily said gratefully, reaching out the squeeze his hand.

"I just don't get why you go to all his Slug Club gatherings," James said. "I mean, even if you do like the bloke, is his party really better than one of ours?"

"Is that seriously what you're concerned about, James?" Mary asked incredulously. "Whose party is better?"

"Well it is a legitimate concern," Sirius said as he set four bottles of Butterbeer down. "I mean, if of Sluggy is throwing parties as awesome as ours, we definitely need to step up our game."

"Actually," Lily said, causing everyone to look at her, "the thing I like about Professor Slughorn's gatherings has nothing to do with the party aspect. He really does know a lot of influential people, and if I go to his parties, he introduces me to every single one of them. By the time I leave Hogwarts, I think I'll be one of the most well-connected students, except maybe one who has family in the Ministry."

James gave a nonchalant shrug. "If that's all it is, then I'm no longer worried."

"Yeah, you already know everyone you need to, huh James?" Peter said, proud to know someone who had so many powerful connections in the wizarding community.

James shrugged off Peter's comment, uncomfortable with others bringing up his family's connections. It wasn't anything of his doing, just the luck of being born into the Potter name. It wasn't that he wasn't proud of being a Potter, a descendent of the Peverell line, but he liked being acknowledged for his own accomplishments.

James quickly turned the conversation back to the upcoming parties. Everyone was in high spirits with the upcoming holiday. Even those in the group not invited to the infamous Slug Club gathering had the Marauders' party in Gryffindor Tower to look forward to. It was shaping up to be a great week, run-ins with Snape aside.

"Lily, would you pay attention? This is serious!"

Lily's chin was resting on the palm of her hand, gazing across the study hall blankly, lightly biting her bottom lip as she dazed off. It was just Marlene and Lily for the day. The brunettes had other classes while the blonde and redhead had the period free. Mary was in Arithmancy while Emmeline had Divination.

"What are you looking at Lily?" Marlene asked huffily, shutting her Potions book loudly. She turned her head in the direction Lily was looking, and a triumphant grin spread over her face. "Oh, if that's who's got you so distracted, don't let me interrupt."

"Huh?" Lily finally said, her eyes focusing on her friend's face.

"I was trying to get your help with this Potions assignment, but please feel free to go back to ogling Potter," Marlene said, a self-satisfied smirk playing over her lips.

"What? I was not!" Lily claimed. "Why on earth would I be staring at Potter?" Lily refused to sit with the Marauders when she was doing homework. They were far too distracting. Not that it was helping her at all to not sit with them this day.

Marlene cocked her head to the side and raised her eyebrows at Lily, her bright blues eyes sparkling with mirth. "Because you think he's cute. That messy black hair, those hazel eyes, those glasses that are constantly falling off his face. Tell me truthfully you've never wondered what it would feel like to run your hands through that hair." Marlene crossed her arms over her chest, confident that she was right.

Lily huffed, frowning and crossing her arms as well, but more as an act of self defense. "So what if I have?" Lily asked grudgingly. "A girl can find a bloke attractive and not want to be anything but friends with him, right?"

Marlene snorted in what was very nearly derision. "Sure, keep telling yourself that Lils."

"Promise you won't repeat what I just told you!" Lily said suddenly, realizing she hadn't actually asked Marlene not to repeat her confession.

Marlene sighed in disappointment. "Man, I almost got away without you swearing me to secrecy this time. One of these days you won't remember, and then I can tell James what you really think."

Lily rolled her eyes, laughing, at her friend.

"And what does the lovely Miss Evans really think about James?" Remus asked as he sat next to Lily.

Lily's eyes flew wide open, her smile falling off her face. She grinned sheepishly at Remus as she said, "That he's a better bloke than I thought before?"

Remus just raised his eyebrows at Lily, trying not to laugh at her. He wasn't going to push her. What would happen, would happen, and Remus was content to just watch it unfold.

"I was just wondering if you could help me through this part of the Potions essay we have to write," Remus said. "I am not entirely grasping this concept, I think."

"That's the part I needed help with!" Marlene said. Lily gave Marlene a disbelieving look. "Okay, okay, I really needed help with the whole thing. You're a godsend, Lils. I wouldn't make it through Potions without you."

"Alright, you two, let's get this done with," Lily said as she pulled a book over to her and explained the antidote-creating process for blended poisons using Golpalott's Third Law.

"So basically, when we are all Aurors," Sirius said from behind Lily and Remus suddenly, "we should have Lily in our squad to deal with anything Potions-related."

Lily jumped in her seat, her hand going to her chest. "Give a girl some warning next time you sneak up behind her, Sirius," Lily complained.

"I agree with Padfoot, though," James said, groaning as he looked over Lily and Remus' shoulders at the diagrams Lily had drawn in her attempts to help Remus and Marlene. "Doubt I'll ever get Potions as well as you."

"Or Charms," Sirius added. "You've really got a way with Charms, Lilykins."

Lily blushed and ducked her head as she muttered, "Thanks guys. And did I hear you correctly? You both want to be Aurors?"

"All three of us do," James said, clapping a hand on Remus' shoulder. "Pete did too-" James gestured over his shoulder to his round-faced friend. "-but he didn't get a good enough grade on his Potions OWL."

"Best way to fight a Dark Lord is to join the Dark Wizard catchers, right?" Sirius said, falling into the seat beside Marlene. Lily shrugged, not so sure.

"What, you doubt the skills of the Aurors?" James asked, genuinely curious, as he sat on Lily's other side, and Peter took the spot next to Sirius.

Lily sighed and folded her hands on the table in front of her, not meeting anyone's gaze. "If they are so good at catching Dark Wizards, why are so many Death Eaters running rampant around the country? Why does no one have any idea where exactly Voldemort is, or how to stop him?" Lily looked up and shared a look with each of the people sitting with her. "Voldemort has connections everywhere, and he and his followers aren't afraid to use the Unforgivable Curses, so he can control anyone he wants." Lily shook her head. "I'm not convinced the Auror Department is enough to stop him."

"It's better than doing nothing, though," James protested. "Even if there is some corruption, it's not everyone. It's better than doing nothing." He repeated the last sentence in defiance, trying to convince Lily.

"But I've heard rumors," Lily said quietly, leaning in close to the others so as to avoid being heard.

Marlene shared a glance with Remus across from her, and then with Sirius sitting next to her. "I know what you're talking about, Lils," she said, tucking a strand of her blonde hair back behind her ear. "But no one knows anything about them. They're like ghosts, showing up to help, and disappearing as soon as the fighting's over."

"Makes sense, doesn't it?" Lily said. "No one wants to put their families at even more risk. Voldemort's only getting more powerful. Anyone outwardly opposing him earns swift punishment in the form of dead, or at the very least tortured, loved ones."

"Are you talking about who I think you are?" Remus asked, his pale green eyes flicking between the two girls.

"What is it?" Sirius demanded impatiently, placing his hands palms-down on the table, his grey eyes hard with determination.

"They are called the Order of the Phoenix," Lily nearly whispered. "That's basically all anyone knows about them."

James' hazel eyes widened. "I remember my parents mentioning them once," he said. "I think they might know a few of the members, but they never say. Like you said, Lily, everyone's cautious. You really want to join the Order and be on the front lines?"

Lily nodded, and leaned back, signalling she was done discussing it. She didn't want to hear anyone's nonsense about it being too dangerous. Her life was in danger just for being a Muggleborn witch. If her life was in danger, she might as well spend it making the world a safer place for future Muggleborns. They spent the rest of the free period in silence, each contemplating their own thoughts on the future. Lily packed up hurriedly when the period was up, trying to make a quick escape from everyone.

"Lily, wait up!"

Lily sighed as she turned her bag swinging and hitting her in the leg. She grabbed onto it's strap to stop it moving, tucking her hair behind her ear with her free hand.

"What do you want, James?"

"Just wondering if you'll make time for both parties tomorrow night," James said, his hand going to the back of his head and that crooked grin on his face.

"You know you're hair doesn't need any help getting messier, right?" Lily commented dryly. James immediately dropped his hand to his side. "I'm going to try to make it back for the end of the party in Gryffindor. Someone has to send the younger students to bed, don't they?" Lily said with a grin and a wink. "I'll see you later, James. I've got Ancient Runes to get to."

"Wait for me, then," Remus said, half-jogging to Lily's side. "Later mates!" Lily and Remus waved over their shoulders as they disappeared around the corner.

James sighed in contentment. Lily finally hadn't said no to him.