A/N- To clarify, the compact mirrors Hermione received are not the same as Sirius' handheld ones (one of those ends up in Harry's possession Book 5, remember?).

This whole chapter is in 1977, but I think Lily fans (do you even exist? I swear, she's great) will be satisfied. As a tip, keep in mind the POVs when you learn about her and other characters. Contextualize opinions by how trustworthy you think the respective "narrators" are.

Chapter Nine: Hogsmeade

.oOo.

Saturday, October 1st

1977

.oOo.

[James' POV]

James Potter was having a hard time keeping his head on straight. There were all of the planning details for the ball, classes, prefect's meetings and rounds he needed to schedule, and of course, the ever-looming question of what he wanted to do with his future. He stared at the sweaters on his bed, thinking of the color wheel Lily had conjured up the night before while they brainstormed decoration schemes. He really didn't have the brain capacity for this date, and he especially didn't have the processing power to deal with Lily Evans.

Living with her was nothing like he had expected it to be. He had spent the greater part of the summer cataloguing her faults. Too driven, too callous, too uncaring of goals that weren't her own. She was never mean, of course, but sometimes that empty stare she would give him with the tilt of her head was even worse than a tongue lashing. Although her temper hadn't died down, she seemed to have redirected it ever since that unfortunate incident with Snivellus in their fifth year. She was smoldering on the inside and had no time for miscreants such as himself. What she was so busy trying to do, James had no idea, but he watched the way the Fates would put their heads together and whisper, the way they singled out his year mates—Frank, Remus—there was something brewing in Gryffindor tower. Something he wasn't to be made a part of, and after years of vying for her affection, and then approval, James had given up. It was easy to dislike her remembering that look, as if he were a Flobberworm on a cutting board she had just deemed too stale to bother hacking into pieces.

Of course, this year it was all different. She was still Lily, exclusive and exquisite, but she seemed less so. It was just last morning he had caught her chanting "I am Lily Evans," in front of the mirror, a scene straight from a self-help book. He had smothered his laughter and hid in his room, forced to consider that Lily, who needed confidence exercises and got drunk and cried because she missed her parents, wasn't quite as heartless as he thought. Plus, the way she looked at him now, the corners of her eyes would crinkle and she'd smile and it was as if she saw something in him that wasn't completely worthless to her. It was unnerving. He didn't know if he liked it.

"Potter," she called, a soft knock interrupting his internal monologue. "May I come in?"

"What?" he asked harshly as he opened the door, irritated she was taking residence in his thoughts again. She looked startled by his abruptness, but nevertheless smiled. He sighed and leaned against the door frame. "What can I do for you, Evans?"

"Well not for me, exactly, but with me? If you have time, that is. I thought we could check out the shop displays together today, maybe take note to see if there's anything we like for the Ball? They do all sorts of studies on colors and positions and what not so I thought we could—"

James held his hands up in surrender, wondering when Lily had begun to ramble. "Sorry Evans, no can do. I have plans."

Lily's smile faltered only for a moment. "Oh! Well that's alright then." She peered around his room and got up on her tip toes, looking over his shoulder. Her sharp eyes narrowed in on the scene on his bed.

"Are you having trouble deciding what to wear?" she asked with a sly smile.

"What? I, psh, no," James sputtered. The red flush he could feel creeping across his face seemed to have said otherwise, because she ducked under his arm and strode into his room, hand on her hip.

"You shouldn't be embarrassed, you know, I do this all the time for…" she trailed off suddenly, biting her lip. She looked so far away and vulnerable for a moment, James almost had to pinch himself to keep from gawking.

"Ron?" he asked, remembering Lily's behavior from the other night. She whirled around and looked at him with wide eyes. "You mentioned him the other day, when you were, err, out of it."

"I thought you said I didn't say anything strange!"

"You didn't! You just said something about Ron, I just assumed he was a friend of yours!"

"He is," Lily said sharply. There was a tense silence that followed, and James was annoyed at the guilt that bubbled up inside him. He knew her home life was a sensitive topic, she had been crying about it for fucks sake, why had he gone and brought it up? More importantly, why did he care? He hadn't done anything wrong! Fucking Evans, he thought irritably, looking at the girl who had gone from refreshingly chipper to somber in a matter of moments. He deliberated for a moment before groaning internally.

"Well," he said, coming to stand next to her. "I hope he's a well-dressed bloke, because if I don't look presentable today, my Mum will hear of it."

Lily looked up from the floor and gave him a broad smile. "You won't regret it, James, I swear," and despite the ensuing onslaught on how cardigans had no gender restrictions and arguments over whether or not he needed a tie, he really didn't.

"There," Lily said, fastening a scarf around his neck and patting his chest. After being wrangled into a dark blue cardigan that he really did look dashing in, he didn't bother and try to pull the it's-too-warm-for-a-scarf card. "What are you all dressed up for, anyways? Has Zonko himself come to town?"

James blinked. It was no secret that Lily and the Fates weren't exactly impressed with the Marauders' crowning achievements. "Err, no. I've got a date, and Marley is Mum's favorite," he said, wondering why he was almost reluctant to tell her. She gave him a pretty smile and wished him luck and offered to handle carriage duty on her own before sweeping out of his room, leaving him to stare at the spot she had just vacated in disbelief.

Fucking Evans, he thought for the umpteenth time that day. He had other things to think about, namely a witch who would serve him his arse on a platter if she thought he was playing her. He shuddered, suddenly glad he had the scarf, and made his way to Ravenclaw Tower.

.oOo.

Hermione had been having such a good morning. The mirror was hidden, her classes were going well, and good, sweet Frank had even snuck her a rare book on warding that was sure to be a help. Of course, there had been that minor Ron hiccup in James' room, but she had quickly busied herself with dressing James up not unlike she had Harry on his first official date after the war. James was not nearly as pleasant as his son, but he was begrudgingly funny and quick with his wit and the two had fallen into a tentative rhythm. Everything was coming up Granger. Or had been, of course, before Hermione realized he was going on a date. With Marlene.

For reasons she couldn't quite pin down, Hermione didn't like Marlene McKinnon. Perhaps it was because of the favor Sirius showered down on the unmoved Ravenclaw- Hermione had been trying to get Sirius to like her for weeks! Or maybe it was because of that curious display in DADA; she had fended off Professor Prewett with no more than a sixth year's skill set—it should have bene impossible, really. Whatever it was, there was something about Marlene that made the hairs on the back of Hermione's neck stand up, suspicions she considered all but confirmed when she saw Marlene McKinnon and Peter Pettigrew together on the map she had filched from Remus.

She put on a strained smile when Alice bounced up to her through the sea of students congregated outside. "Potter skivved off, has he? We'd better start without him then." She spun around gleefuly, singling out groups of students. "Oi, you lot, into that one!" she directed into carriages.

"Remind me why you weren't made Head Girl?" Hermione asked, genuinely curious. Alice just snorted. She, like her soon to be husband, really was lovely. Hermione had only been there a month and she was already entirely attached to the girl, a loyalty she assumed was only deeper on Alice's side, since she had known Lily for six years.

"Alice, can I ask you something?" The small brunette stopped pretending to lasso the third years with her wand.

"Of course you can, Lala." Hermione cringed at the pet name and trucked through nonetheless.

"How do you feel about McKinnon?"

"Marlene? I like her, of course. She isn't exactly the most approachable girl, but she's done a bang up job with our finances. Did you see how much our last fundraiser raked in?" Hermione sighed, realizing Alice was talking about SPEW.

"I know, she's great, but I mean…What do you think about her personally."

Alice blinked. "Well… we don't know her that well, do we? You'd be better off asking Sirius if you're trying to get to know her or something, unless…Oh Lily!" Alice implored, "tell me this isn't about James."

"I think she's up to something, Alice! I don't know what, exactly, but I've had the strangest feeling about her—"

"And you've conveniently only felt this way when she's going to Hogsmade with your newfound crush? A crush, by the way, I have taken at face value despite the years of empirical evidence that suggests otherwise—"

"I know," Hermione interrupted, "and you're a dream, but you said yourself that she wasn't interested in him in the least! Why are they suddenly going on a date now?"Hermione couldn't exactly explain her suspicions without revealing more information than Lily Evans would know, so she tried the Alice approach.

"That is true…" Alice trailed off, and Hermione knew she had her.

"Alice please, I wouldn't be saying this if I didn't think it was important, I need to know if she's up to something."

"Dissident in the ranks," she said distastefully, the words bitter on her tongue. "You really, truly think there's something there?" At Hermione's affirmation, Alice groaned and covered her face with her hands. "Fine, but if Mary catches wind of this, you're on your own."

.oOo.

Alice frowned as Hermione transfigured a pebble into a ladybug. "That is supposed to help us how?"

"Surveillance charm," Hermione explained. "It'll record their conversation."

"Only you would put those two together," Alice muttered, watching Hermione let the bug loose into a carriage. "This way Potter, a carriage for you and your lovely lady," she called as the couple in question threaded their way through the crowds.

"A carriage all to ourselves?" Marlene asked, eyebrows raised as she greeted Hermione and Alice.

"Head Boy does come with its privileges, you know," James teased, helping her up. He tossed his date a careless wink, and although Marlene only scoffed, James looked far more at ease with her than he did with Lily. The bug was perched innocuously on the very edge of the carriage, perfectly safe as James and Marlene boarded. Hermione breathed a sigh of relief and was about to close the door when the scarf James had been wearing moments earlier fell out.

"Oops, clumsy me," Marlene said, coming down the steps to retrieve it. She shot Alice and Hermione a cool smile. "It's a little warm in there, you know," she commented before climbing back in, and Hermione could do nothing as she crushed the bug underfoot.

.oOo.

[James' POV]

"Cut the crap, you gutter snipe. Where are you going with this?"

"Well," James drawled, "I think we're going to Hogsmade." Marlene clicked her tongue and scowled, and unable to help himself, he laughed. James and Marlene were familiar, having attended balls and functions at each other's homes. It was hard not to have a soft spot for the witch whose toes he had spent many a formal party treading on, one he knew was reciprocated.

"Are you in some kind of trouble, Jamie?" she asked in a low tone. "Has Lady Dorea found out you desecrated a family heirloom?"

"First of all, you taught me that spell, so if I'm going down, you're coming with me; and secondly, I'm not always in a bind, woman. Have some faith!"

"I would, but last time I did I ended up in your wine cellar literally knee deep in—"

"Don't remind me," James grimaced. "You caught me on an off day, I'll admit."

She squinted at him suddenly. "This isn't a prank, is it? Because I swear to Salazar, if it is I'm going to hex your balls off and serve them to you for dinner."

"As appetizing as that sounds, is it that hard to believe I'd want to take you out?" She looked as though she were deep in thought for a few moments.

"You're paying."

"Of course."

"Honeydukes afterwards?"

"Do you think I was raised in a barn?"

"You'll charm Aberforth into letting us have our way with the tap?"

"Undoubtedly."

"Alright Potter, I'll cater to your, well, whatever this is. But only because it happens to be advantageous to me if Mum thinks we're courting. Not to mention Lady D can hardly be mad at you if you tell her you're bringing me home for Yuletide," she said, fluttering her eyelashes coquettishly.

"I knew I liked you for a reason Marls," James said with a conspiratory grin. "Business or pleasure first?"

.oOo.

While Hermione hadn't put much stock into Alice's warning about Mary, she wish she had.

"What on earth are you doing loitering about here?" Mary asked, wrinkling her nose at The Hog's Head.

"Ah, you know, getting some…fresh air?" Hermione tried.

"Oh? Don't tell me you're on a date, Lily Evans."

"Oh no, just waiting on Alice." Hermione was keeping watch while Alice checked to see if Marlene and James were there.

"Just a girls day, then?" she asked, sounding hurt that she had not been invited.

"No, no, of course not. I mean yes, but you're welcome to join," Hermione said quickly, cringing at how ridiculous she sounded. Mary furrowed her brow but said nothing, crossing her arms and standing outside as well. Just then, Alice burst out of the door.

"No sign of them in there, Lily, we could try and check—" she reported before realizing Mary had joined them. "Oh! Hello!" she said nervously.

"No sign of who there?" Mary asked, eyes narrowing in on Hermione.

"Oh, we thought a couple of the sixth years were buying Dungbombs to sneak into the castle," Alice rattled, and Mary held up a hand, silencing her. She really was a terrible liar.

"No sign of who?" she asked again. Her dark eyes glinted dangerously and Alice looked like she wanted to be swallowed by the Earth.

"McKinnon." Hermione said finally, figuring Mary's wrath wasn't worth getting into a lie she couldn't explain her way out of. "I think she's up to—"

Before Hermione could even explain her suspicions, Mary had broken out into a mirthless laugh. "You're joking. You must be kidding, Lily."

"Mary," Alice said reproachfully, hand on her shoulder, Mary shook it off abruptly.

"Don't you Mary me, Alice, encouraging this," she said disdainfully. "Fuck, Lily, I thought you were over this shite?"

"Mary I swear to you I wouldn't be doing anything if I didn't honestly think—"

"If you didn't honestly think? If you didn't honestly think? Lily, I don't give a rats arse about what you honestly think, because has it never once occurred to you that you might be wrong? That you might have to give someone the benefit of the doubt?"

There's no benefit of the doubt in war, Hermione thought, but she remained silent.

"Honestly Alice, I don't know why you're encouraging this. Marlene is our friend. Do you remember what that is, Lils? To have friends and not fucking minions?"

"Mary!" Alice shrieked.

"What? I'm so tired of your shite! You want to play princess, fine. But this? Sneaking about because you think somebody—a friend, no less- might leak your precious plans? As if you can do what even Dumbledore hasn't been able to. Newsflash Lily, you're brilliant, but you're not that important." She spit finally. "Come on Alice, we should go. We all know what happened last time Lily had a suspicion," she said, turning on her heel.

"Well that was uncalled for," Hermione said, watching the blonde stalk away. The words stung, of course, but they weren't really meant for her. Besides, Mary's little outburst had given her plenty of insight into Lily Hermione would have to mull over.

Alice looked at her mournfully. "Was it? I—I think she's right on this one, I shouldn't have let you—" Alice sighed, massaging her temples. "Look, I'll see you later, okay? She'll come around before the next meeting, but…you should probably prep for this one on your own." Alice shot Hermione a regretful look before running to catch up with their fuming friend, leaving her alone in front of the seedy bar.

.oOo.

Hermione hadn't begun to feel really guilty until she sat in on James and Marlene's date. They talked about their classes and families and Sirius. They laughed about not knowing which fork to use even though they had both done the Wizarding version of Cotillion, and blushed over their inability to eat pasta while looking dignified. Marlene wasn't some sort of secret Death Eater ambassador. She was his friend, and they were children. Mere children in comparison to her, 20 years of age and hardened by battlefields, she was disgusted with herself for jumping to such dramatic conclusions. She probably hadn't seen the bug, and maybe she and Peter had a class together. The war wasn't at their doorsteps quite yet, why was she trying to bring it to them? She trailed them to Honeydukes more out of a sick curiosity than urgency, watching as Marlene threw Fizzing Whizbees into James' mouth and then looked panicked when he pretended to choke. She shoved him when he showed her he was fine, and he laughed. How many times had Ron or Harry done the same thing? She missed their antics; Harry's consistent efforts to bring her into the real world and Ron's unique way of getting her worked up into a passion. "That's my girl," they'd say with a smile as Hermione ranted about House Elf rights or Werewolf legislation. "The world had better watch out for our brilliant, terrifying friend." The very same friend who, when everything was on the line, couldn't even get a boy to like her.

She left the store when James and Marlene got into an argument over who would pay, the former flashing the Potter wealth while Marlene dug through her bag, a scene she and Harry played out every time they went out. She wondered if he was doing the same with Ginny. Or Lily, for that matter. Even if she did make it out of this hellhole, would Harry ever forgive her for not being brave enough to save his parents? Would he even want her back? If he were to look in the Mirror of Erised right now, which woman would he see?

She was snapped out of her thoughts when she bumped into Remus Lupin, who took one look at her before dropping his armful of chocolate bars and sweeping her to his chest.

.oOo.

"I really am alright, Remus," Hermione said, sipping on the tea he had insisted on buying her.

"I'm sure you are, but drink it for me, will you? I can't exactly offer you a smoke on a school trip, and my mum would have my head if she knew I left a pretty girl distraught on the streets."

"You shouldn't leave anybody distraught on the streets," she frowned, and he flashed dimples she hadn't realized he had.

"There she is, my crusading, fearless friend." Hermione shook her head, wondering if Remus had always known how to make her feel at home.

"I don't know what I'd do without you," she said honestly, and he laughed.

"Well, even a Queen has her counsel, doesn't she? Consider me at your service." Hermione frowned, thinking of Mary's admonitions earlier. Whatever was going on here, she was beginning to suspect the stakes were higher than SPEW's Four Tenets. She stirred a cube of sugar into her tea pensively.

"There's one thing you can do for me, actually…"

.oOo.

[Dri: I hope you liked this chapter, then! Hopefully your mirror question is cleared up!] [reisa: You are so sweet! Don't worry, I have no intention of dropping this any time soon. I wouldn't worry about your turning point number 2 quite yet.]