A/N: Hello there! Before I say anything else, I would just like to thank everyone who has supported me thus far - I dedicate this chapter to the people who are still with me, reading this even though I look back at previous chapters and wonder what the hell I was thinking, this is for the people that have followed (90 followers!), favourite-ed (58 favourites!) and reviewed (over 100 reviews guys... I just - I'm speechless) and I just want you to know that I appreciate it - I appreciate you.

So have a lovely day, I wish you all the best in everything you decide to do (or not do- have a lazy day) and thank you.

Okay, enough with the emotional sappy stuff. Enjoy.

JAMES' P.O.V

MALFOY MANOR

CELLAR

Well. My brilliant plan to ambush Snape, check up on Lily and set up the Portkey for the Order (in order of importance, of course) went about as well as Wormtail's attempt to console Moony after he blew up Moony's Muggle record collection. Though, to be fair, it's wasn't Wormtail's fault that Padfoot chucked the firework at him – Wormtail's eyebrows were completely singed off. Padfoot managed to escape without too many things being thrown at him. Moony was livid – it was my idea to use the fireworks, true, but it wasn't my fault that Padfoot lit them indoors and in close proximity to Moony's record collection.

Anyway, I now find myself in the cellar of Malfoy Manor, tied up and disarmed. This was not the plan. Hestia and Mary – who were sent after me as back up, are also here, tied up. I think the Death Eaters are finally getting organised. Having said that, however, it's probably not the wisest decision ever to have all your prisoners in one room but oh well.

I haven't seen Lily – she's doing a good job of disguising herself. Snivellus is standing outside the door; with a woman would you believe it? I know this because I can hear them talking. Her voice is melodic; she has jet black hair and an elaborate dress - essentially, she's a standard pureblood lady. She's the kind you're made to talk to at balls but never have anything interesting to say beyond some medieval conversation etiquette they were taught when they were about five. I'd sooner marry Wormtail than a girl like that who can't think for herself. I'm not sure why she's talking to Snivellus of all people – you'd think she'd have standards but who knows?

Hestia and Mary are gagged – I am not, I'm just bleeding everywhere, which they are not. I'm not very comfortable. My head hurts and every time I move, my stomach is in agony. If Padfoot were here, he'd do his helpless fish impression and make me laugh and then I wouldn't feel so miserable. If Moony were here, he'd formulate some plan to get us out. If Wormtail were here, he'd manage to wriggle himself out of his binds as a rat and cut through my binds with his teeth. If Lily were here, we never would have got caught in the first place, or if we did, we wouldn't be wandless. But none of them are here – it's just me on my own.

The door creaks open and someone comes down the stairs – it's the lady that was standing with Snape earlier, she lights her wand and looks around. Her eyes fall on me and she rushes over, hastily untying the binds around me. She then hugs me tightly before kissing me all over my face somewhat desperately. I can feel wet tears on her cheeks.

"Um… what are you doing?" I manage to get out between groans, my stomach hurts so much.

Who the hell is she? What the fuck is she doing?

"Can you stand?"

"No, I don't think so."

"You're bleeding," she summons her hand bag and routes around in it.

"What a revelation, I had no idea."

She drops some weird liquid (Dittany I think) on my stomach and jeez, that hurts. I wince, trying not to choke on the green smoke.

"Sorry," she says, holding her hand out to me and pulling me up, I stumble and she catches me, "help me untie Hestia and Mary."

"Okay… how do you know their names?"

She looks at me then rolls her eyes. There's something about her that is so familiar.

"Of course," she mutters, "James, you imbecile, it's me – Lily."

I squint at her, "I don't know who you think you are, but –"

"Oh shut up," she snaps, "we don't have time for this."

"Time?"

"I gave Snape a sleeping drought and a potion that accelerates and increases the effects of alcohol – it won't last forever. Look, I got all of your wands –"

"You were talking to Snape?"

"Yes, now move it, you can get out the back way –"

"What do you mean? You're coming too."

"No, James, I'm not."

"I can't leave you here –"

"You can and you will. You need to set up the Portkey. Dorcas knows where the Aurors are imprisoned – the mission is complete."

"How will you get out?"

"I'll cross that bridge when I get to it," she says, shrugging me off.

"Cross it now," I say, grabbing her arm, "you said so yourself, the mission is complete."

"Your mission is complete," Lily (I think it's really her) says, "I still need to get the others out alive."

"Lily –"

"Sh, no time, go," she leans in and kisses me; her breath – at least- is familiar.

"I prefer you Muggle-born and ginger," I tell her and she blushes.

"Seriously James, go."

"When Snape wakes up –"

"You think they're going to blame me for your escape?"

"Well yes –"

"I can handle him. Now go."

"Okay..."

For once I actually believe her.

LILY'S P.O.V

I close the cellar door and walk back to the ball. Snape is still passed out. Once I'm in the hall, I go over to Narcissa.

"Oh hello, Andrea isn't it?" she beams at me.

"Yes," I reply, smiling.

"Where's Severus?" she asks.

"He told me to go back," I say honestly – because he did tell me to go back before he passed out from the sleeping potion I gave him. I then sneaked into the cellar and set James, Hestia and Mary free. He'll wake up soon.

"Ah," Narcissa grimaces, "he and James had a somewhat antagonistic relationship in school. Unfortunately, it seems to be a hatred that has continued into their adult life."

"Was it very bad in school?"

"Oh no," Narcissa says, "Just hexes, a few silly pranks and scares was all. They aggravated each other and grossly over-reacted. James had a few friends and they travelled around in a gang – pathetic individuals that mercilessly bullied younger children. It was abysmal…"

"He's been gone a while…" I note.

"Yes," Narcissa says worriedly, "would you mind checking on him?"

"Not at all," I smile, "er, which way is the cellar, I'm sorry –"

"That way," Narcissa points in the direction of the cellar – which I already knew the location of but I must act as though I am a complete stranger to the Manor and not as though I've been studying blueprints of it.

"I'll come with you," Narcissa says.

I walk with haste to the room outside the cellar and find Severus passed out – he must have had more alcohol than I'd originally thought. Narcissa walks over to him and shakes him. He murmurs before opening his eyes.

"Severus? How much have you had to drink?" Narcissa laughs, helping him to his feet.

"A lot," he gulps. "Shall we get back to the party?"

"Are you sure you're alright?" I ask, feigning worry.

"He's fine," Narcissa answers, "Severus, perhaps you'd like to ask Andrea to dance?"

Damn her, she's match-making.

"Yes, yes, of course. Erm, Andrea, would you like to dance?"

"I'd love to," I reply, taking his hand and letting him lead me back to the ballroom. I can feel Narcissa's smile and try not to gag.

We dance for what feels like a long time. He seems distant. Has he worked out what happened? Mind you, I've watched him all night and he's had so much to drink, I doubt he noticed that his drink tasted funny.

"Severus? Are you alright?"

"What? Oh yes, yes I'm fine."

"What happened down there?"

"I'm not sure," he frowns, "I probably just passed out when you left. I'm sorry."

"No, don't worry. I had Narcissa to talk to. "

He groans, "Whatever she told you, it's probably a gross exaggeration of the truth."

"She didn't say anything bad."

He spins me.

"In any case, she's hardly easy company."

We talk that way for a long time. I can't stop worrying about James. Did he manage to set up the Portkey? Did he get out okay? When will we get the signal from the Order? Are the others okay? My conversation with Snape is alright. As I used to know him very well, I know exactly what questions to ask to engage him and animate him, I know his opinions on certain theories in Potions and Alchemy that will make him warm up to me and I know what will make him laugh. He relaxes more and more as we talk.

"You have lovely eyes," he says.

My eyes have been disguised as blue.

"Thank you."

"You can sort of see the green in them."

Shit. My disguise potions must be wearing off.

"You really remind me of my friend. She has green eyes you know; they're so beautiful and red hair – thick and soft – just like yours. She has freckles like you as well. She's very pretty."

"Was she your girlfriend?"

"No, no… we were best friends for quite some time."

"Did you love her?"

"Yes, very much."

"And what were her feelings for you?" I ask. He takes a long sip of his drink.

"Not the same. You see, she married someone else."

"Did you ever tell her that you loved her?"

"I tried. I tried but she didn't want to hear it – we fell out when we were fifteen."

"Oh no, was it bad?"

"Very, very, very bad," he nods, "very, very, very, very, very bad."

I think he's more than a little drunk.

"Worse than with that man you hexed?"

"Potter? Yes, worse than that."

"So why do you hate him so much?"

"He's a liar, a Charlatan and pretentious. She was just another one his conquests but she didn't see that. I tried to tell her what he was like but… she fell for him in the end."

"Is she the Muggle-born he married?"

"Yes, that's her," he says tiredly.

"Sorry, that was intrusive."

"No, no, it feels good to talk about it after all this time. So how about you? Any relationship woes to tell?"

"There was this one boy who asked me out once. I didn't realise that it was a date at the time but he never showed up to the date for some reason."

"He stood you up? The bastard."

"Yes... there was this guy I liked at home – he was really sweet, a little socially awkward but really intelligent. Anyway, there wasn't anything there – I mean, we kissed once but other than that…"

"Relationships are shit," he announces.

"They are," I say, inwardly sighing. Just pretend you're Sirius.

"Marriage is a load of bullshit."

"Absolutely."

"Love is the biggest bullshit of crap."

"Interesting word choice..."

"People in general – they're just a load of judgemental bastards."

"Yep, how much have you had to drink? Don't you think you should stop now?"

"And Potter's not even that good looking – I mean his hair! What's that monstrosity all about?"

"Isn't it outrageous when people don't look after their hair?" I say dryly but he doesn't pick up on the sarcasm.

"And babies are ugly rolls of fat with eyes and noses."

"Okay."

"- that blubber up snot and sick."

"Lovely."

"All they do is sit there. What is the point of them?"

"To expand the human race?"

"And even if they do manage to survive their bloody childhood, the rest of their life will just go downhill from there – a fucking messed up disappointment."

"Okay…"

"And when they find someone they love and who doesn't treat them like shit – they'll just lose them to an airhead that has enough money to buy his weight in diamonds."

"Maybe you shouldn't have another drink–"

"Maybe I should," he slurs.

"I don't think so."

"Why am I so pathetic Lily? Why am I so alone?"

I am momentarily stunned.

"I – I'm not Lily, I'm Andrea."

"Okay."

"I really think you should lie down."

He leans on me for support and we go out of the ballroom (Narcissa winking at me) and sit on a bench with a huge window open behind us. A paper aeroplane glides out of the window and lands in my open hand.

Stand back.

Be ready.

-Snuffles

I drag Severus out of the way and glance at the window. Shit. My hair is completely red now – if anyone were to walk past right now –

Suddenly, the window smashes in slow motion. Thinking quickly, I immobilise the shards of glass. Padfoot flies through the window on his broomstick.

"Hey Lily-flower."

"Padfoot," I say, relieved.

"Dorcas, Marlene and the others are already out, they used the Portkey – it took a while to track you down. We were worried."

"Sorry, I was a little tied up."

"Is that Snivellus?"

Snape is lying on the floor with drool coming out of his mouth.

"Yep," I sigh.

"Well this is too good an opportunity to miss," Padfoot says, readying his wand.

Footsteps approach and I can hear shouting in the distance.

"We should go," I say.

He summons a broomstick and I jump onto it. We speed off; the shouting beginning to fade out. I haven't ridden a broom in a while. Sirius is collapsing into thunderous laughter - I suppose he must have managed to hex Snape after all. I can't help laughing with him – it feels good to finally be free. Suddenly, other brooms appear, with Death Eaters on the backs of them.

"We're going to stoop low then speed up and go to the sky – got it?" Padfoot shouts over the roar of the air in my ears.

"Erm –"

"We're going to lose them – just swerve, zig zag, swoop, slide, whatever. Oh, and one more thing – try to keep up."

He smirks and I bite back a grin, he leans forwards and shoots off towards the sky. I follow, sending jinxes and hexes at Death Eaters as I go. I'm right on his tail, as is Avery. I shoot a knock-back jinx at him and he zooms in the other direction. Damn, flying is exhilarating. I can see why James loves it so much.

More and more Death Eaters – we go faster. Around church spires, through tunnels, flashes of green and white and red consistent throughout. The rain is pounding on my back, the night air rippling through my hair and the adrenaline… We're almost in London now but there are still Death Eaters following. I throw a charm at Mulciber (I think it's him – he uses fire more than any other Death Eater I've ever duelled) and his broom is turned to lead. Only three Death Eaters left.

Padfoot takes an abrupt turn into a forest. I can hear thunder. What the hell is he doing? He climbs dangerously higher, higher than the trees. The Death Eaters do the same. He looks at me and I nod – two seconds before the lightning strikes, we dive into the forest. One of the Death Eaters is struck down and he falls to the ground. There's one Death Eater left. Merlin this is hard.

I glance briefly behind me but the Death Eater isn't there.

The night air sends chills down my spine as I look around, trying to find the Death Eater. Sirius looks similarly confused. He circles around and glides next to me.

"Let's head back to base," he says.

"Base?" I ask confusedly. He gives me a meaningful look and I catch on. "Oh right, base. Yes, let's go."

He rolls his eyes at me and we soar off, checking for movement behind us. We're almost in the mountains before I hear it – the sound of robes whipping and rustling in the wind and a short grunt. Sirius looks at me and we spin around, stunning the Death Eater between us. The Death Eater falls from his boom and plummets to the rock far below. I wince.

"Come on," Sirius says, "we're meeting the others at your place."

We fly until we find an open, empty space before Apparating to Godric's Hollow.