A/N: After yet another brief hiatus, here's the latest chapter! Next one should be up sooner. Thanks for your patience!

VII. The Devil You Know

"Plans?" Sirius ventured.

"Blowing off Slughorn's dinner," James replied.

"You're not going? Evans will be there."

"Sluggy will have a whole speech prepared acknowledging me and my unspeakable loss - which he'll then proceed to speak at length about," James said dryly. "Now, he'll only be able to gaze wistfully at my empty seat, and say, 'such a shame he couldn't make it. Family circumstances, y'know'."

"You've put a disturbing amount of thought into this," Sirius replied.

"If anything, I'm doing him a favour. This way he can go on about how close he is to my family without me being there to contradict him."

"You're a man of the people, Prongs."


"The evidence is irrefutable, Councillors! Voldemort's organisation is culpable for the deaths of at least a dozen Muggles, and quite possibly, the family of Albion Potter! This Chamber must act to preserve our security. Let the vote be cast!"

"Order!" shouted the Presiding Warlock. "I welcome Councillors to register their votes."

High in the public gallery, Dumbledore watched the proceedings of the ancient Council below.

"How do you think it will go?" Alastor Moody asked, his features scrunched up in distaste at the circus below.

"It will pass," the Headmaster said.

"You're confident, Albus," Moody replied.

"I'm rarely mistaken."

"Order!" the Warlock shouted. "Councillors, please be seated. Order!"

"Rowdy, aren't they?" Moody remarked.

"The result is in. I will have order!"

The Presiding Warlock gavelled the Chamber to silence, then spoke.

"By majority vote, the Resolution passes. The Wizengamot hereby denounces the wizard Voldemort as an enemy of the people. The Wizengamot instructs the Auror Office to use whatever magical means deemed necessary to bring Voldemort and his followers to trial before this Chamber. The Wizengamot authorises emergency powers to the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and the Auror Commander in the interests of preserving public order. The Wizengamot further authorises emergency powers to the Minister for Magic in the interests of preserving national security."


"You're back late," Sirius remarked.

"Are you my mother?" James replied.

"How's Fenwick?"

"Hmm?"

"Your fly's down, Prongs."

"Fuck," James exclaimed.

"Yes, I imagine that was involved," Remus smirked from behind his newspaper.

"How was the dinner?" James asked, ignoring Remus.

"Shite," Sirius replied. "Evans looked decent though. Even asked where you were"

"What did you say?

"That you were balls deep in Fenwick."

"Fuck off."

"You wouldn't expect me to lie to her, would you?" Sirius asked.

"That's precisely what I'd expect you to do."

"Shit!" Remus exclaimed suddenly, holding his paper aloft. "The Wizengamot just denounced Voldemort."

Peter reached for his wireless radio, giving it a couple of sharp prods with his wand."

"…if you're just listening in, we have breaking news. The Wizengamot Council has just passed a sweeping resolution denouncing Voldemort and his organisation as dark wizards. The Council, by slim majority, has authorised whatever magical means necessary to bring Voldemort to justice - awarding emergency powers to the Ministry's Department of Magical Law Enforcement and the Minister for Magic. We understand that a state of emergency has been declared by the Minister's Office…"

Peter dimmed the wireless, leaving a somber quiet in the Marauders' dormitory.

It was Remus who spoke first, articulating what they were all thinking.

"War."


"Class dismissed!" announced Professor Whitcliffe. She waved her hand and the notes on her blackboard disappeared. James and his fellow sixth-years filed out into the corridor.

"This is rubbish," Sirius said, hoisting his satchel over his shoulder. "The Ministry just labelled Voldemort's organisation as a threat to the nation, and we're sitting in Defence twiddling our fucking thumbs!"

"We should just do it ourselves," James replied.

Sirius mulled it over as the Marauders made their way to the Great Hall for lunch.

"That idea's not actually half bad."

"Think about it. We already practice our own curses and hexes, what if we invite others to join us?"

"Like a sparring session," Peter surmised.

"Yeah."

"I'll have a word with some people," Sirius said.

"Moony, can you suss us a classroom? Monday night?"

"Sure."

The group sat down at Gryffindor table moments before the food appeared.

"I hear Evans dropped Wright," Sirius said, filling his plate.

"Yeah?" James said.

"As he was leaving Hospital Wing, according to McKinnon."

"Oof," Peter remarked.

"What did she say?" James asked.

"Apparently she told him that if she'd wanted to date an arsehole, she'd be dating you," Sirius quipped.

James threw a fork in his direction.

"Prick."


James made his way quickly towards The Three Broomsticks. Hogsmeade was bitterly cold, with snow flurries swirling through the air, and he was grateful to reach the shelter of the inn. James bustled through the front door of the crowded inn, and scanned the room for a seat somewhere. A flash of red by a window caught his eye - Lily sitting in a booth, flicking through the pages of a well-worn novel. He made his way over.

"Evans."

"Potter," she greeted, setting her book down.

"Mind if I take this seat?" he asked, and sat down without waiting for a reply.

"Who are you waiting for?" she asked, her expression hard to read.

"You, since about third year."

"How's Danielle?" she retorted.

"No idea. We don't talk much."

"That must be a new experience for you."

James smirked, and took her half-full glass of Butterbeer, draining it in a single gulp.

Lily scowled.

"I was definitely finished with that, cheers Potter."

"Another drink?"

"Good luck, it's bloody packed in here."

James shrugged, and clambered onto the table.

"Here's to the most beautiful barmaid in all of Scotland!" he shouted, raising the glass into the air to cheers from the patrons sitting around them.

From the bar, Madam Rosemerta caught his eye, and made her way over.

"Feet off the furniture, Mr Potter."

"I do impulsive things for love, Rosie," he quipped, sitting back down.

"What can I get you?"

"Two Butterbeers please."

"Of course. Where's Mr Black?"

"Otherwise preoccupied."

"Pity. I'll get you those drinks."

James watched her walk away and sighed.

"She always did fancy Sirius more than me."

"He is much better looking."

"My pride is already wounded, Evans. Don't rub it in."

The barmaid returned with their drinks, and James handed her several coins.

"Rosemerta's Butterbeer is the finest around, but on days like these, you need a little kick," James said, fishing a small silver flask from his robes.

He unscrewed the lid and poured a measure into each drink.

"Here, give this a go."

Lily eyed it suspiciously.

"What did you put in it?"

"Evans, it's not spiking a drink if you've literally watched me do it. Here," he said, taking a drink. "It's fine."

Lily tentatively took a sip, and a feeling of warmth spread through her throat and across her cheeks.

"What's in that?"

"It's called Moonyshine. Wish I could take the credit but it's Remus' work. All he'll tell me is that it's part Pepper-up Potion and part Johnnie Walker. Keeps the edge off. Especially during Quidditch season."

"You're all alcoholics."

James shrugged.

"I can quit any time, Evans."

"How reassuring."

"What're you reading?" James nodded toward her book.

"A romance. It's utter rubbish," she replied dismissively. "Where's the rest of you?"

"Card game at the Hog's Head."

"Why aren't you there?"

"I just got out of detention, and they won't deal anyone in after it starts."

"This all sounds perfectly legal."

"It's only a few Galleons between friends," James replied, downing the rest of his drink before standing up.

"Well, Evans, this has been pleasant," he added, making a show of patting himself down. "You haven't threatened to hex me once, and my bits are still intact."

"Fenwick will be overjoyed, I'm sure."

He smirked.

"I have to go. Things don't get smuggled into the castle by themselves."

"You're incorrigible."

"I try. Catch you around, Evans."


"I ran into Evans at Hogsmeade," James reported later. He was lying on his bed in the Marauders dorm, throwing a Quaffle into the air and catching it as it fell.

"How are your bits?" Peter asked.

"Intact."

"Maybe she's getting soft in her old age," Sirius remarked.

"How was the game?" James asked.

Sirius made a disgruntled noise.

"Crap."

"Great," Peter smirked.

"You're a prick, Wormtail," Sirius replied.

"You're just bitter because it's the third week in a row I've beaten you."

"You're in a rut, Padfoot," Remus said, looking up from his book. "Go find a nice Hufflepuff girl."


James looked around the room, taken back by the number of people there.

"Er, hello," he began. "I guess most of you are here because you've no time for Whitcliffe."

"Or because we want to see you make a right arse of yourself," interjected Sirius, leaning idly in his chair.

James scowled at him.

"Thanks," he said dryly, before turning to address the group. "Look, like me, you're probably tired of Whitcliffe and her 'practical reviews'. Defence isn't meant to be theory-based, we're meant to actually do shit. So we want to meet up - say once a week - and go over what Whitcliffe has done in class."

He looked at the group of faces - some sceptical, some bored, some interested. To his surprise, Lily had shown up with Marlene, and he was pleased to see a curious look on the redhead's features.

"Who here knows how to cast a Patronus Charm?"

"What's a Patronus Charm?" asked a Hufflepuff.

"Who knows?" James asked.

"It wards off Dementors," Lily answered.

"Ten points to Evans," James said dryly. "Bloody useful piece of magic. Put your hand up if you can do it."

Lily raised her hand, glancing around the room. Remus, Sirius and Peter had put their hands up with James, as had Eleanor Fenwick, and surprisingly, Marlene.

"That's…actually more than I had expected," James said. "But still only seven in a class of what, thirty?"

"Show us, then," asked Natalie Bones, a Ravenclaw.

"Okay," James replied. He stood, placing his feet firmly, and raised his wand. "Expecto Patronum!"

With a burst of brilliant white light, a shining silver stag rose forth from James' wand, and cantered around the room.

"I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm in," said Natalie Bones. "Will you teach us?"

A chorus of agreement came from the collective students.

James held up a hand, and the room automatically quietened.

"Behave, Professor Potter is talking," said Sirius, smirking from his seat in the back.

"It's not easy magic, and I'm warning you, you won't get it straight away," James continued, giving Sirius a flat look. "Questions?"

"Do you think it's dangerous? Out there?"

"If it wasn't, my cousin would be coming to Hogwarts next year," James said quietly.

There was a palpable silence.

"Er, anyway," Remus intervened. "For those of you who are keen, we'll start next week. Same time and place."

Their fellow students began to disperse in groups of twos and threes.

But Lily, her eyes wide, was still staring at James' Patronus in surprise.

"Something wrong, Evans?" James asked her, a crease forming between his eyebrows.

The red-headed girl recovered.

"No. Nothing's wrong. Er, excuse me."

She grabbed her bag and left the room, avoiding James' eye.


"What was up with Evans?" James asked after the Marauders had returned to their dorm. "She was staring at my Patronus. And then she practically bolted from the room."

Sirius passed a Snitch from one hand to the other.

"She's barking. I mean, all girls are, but Evans has a particular gift for it."

"Thank you for your adept assessment of the female psyche, Padfoot," Remus replied flatly.


"Shit night for it."

"Fuck!" Lily exclaimed, startled.

James nodded towards her telescope. "Astronomy?"

"This might be news to you Potter, but the Tower isn't just used for shagging."

"You don't say."

James peered up at the sky, brooding with clouds.

"Any luck?"

"Not really," Lily admitted, "but I need to get this essay done."

"When's it due?"

"Week tomorrow."

"Next Friday? Evans, you might as well have all year."

"Well, I'm busy all next week."

"Try Quidditch training all week."

"Try Prefect duty, tutoring three different year groups, the mountain of Transfiguration homework McGonagall assigned us, after-hours brewing with Slughorn, and Charms research for Flitwick."

"No wonder you're mental."

James rummaged in the pocket of his cloak and fished out a cigarette.

"Fag?"

"Sure," she replied, taking it.

He snapped his fingers, and the end of the cigarette lit up as if on cue.

She passed it back to him, and he took a long drag.

"I should quit. It's an awful habit."

"Nothing the right potion can't fix," she replied, taking the cigarette back.

"Still though."

Again, she passed the cigarette back to him, her eyes suddenly far away.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked.

"Has your Patronus always been a stag?"

"Yeah," he shrugged. "Runs in the family."

"Really?"

"Yeah. My dad, his dad, and his before him. All the same," he said, running a hand through his hair. "Apparently it's not so uncommon. Bit of a pureblood status thing."

Lily made a disparaging noise and he shot her a look.

"I don't buy into it, Evans."

"Doesn't stop you from benefitting from it though."

"What do you mean?"

"Doesn't stop you from having every door open to you. Opportunities that Muggle-borns could never have. No one questions your right to be here. No one questions whether you're good enough. The world - this world - is what you grew up with. It wasn't thrust upon you when you turned eleven. You don't have to deal with leaving your friends and family behind. "

"That's–"

"I bet there's a desk at the Ministry waiting with your name on it."

"Two, actually."

She scowled at him.

"I kid."

He ran a hand through his hair.

"Look, I can't say I get it, because I don't. This is me being honest, Evans. I can't relate to the experiences of a Muggle-born witch, because I'm not one. But the reality of what's out there - the shit that's going on - means we've all got to pick a side. My family chose yours. I chose yours."

She looked at him with a sceptical expression, not entirely convinced.

"And all the shit you talked about, not getting the opportunities I get…we'll fix it. We'll fix it, but we've got to win first. That's all I've got."

"Okay."

"Okay?"

"It's a start."

He made an exasperated noise.

"You're bloody difficult, Evans."

"Take a look in the mirror, Potter," she retorted, an eye on her telescope.

"Not your finest work."

"Oh fuck off."

He laughed, and stubbed the cigarette out on the parapet.

"There's something I've been meaning to ask you, Evans."

"If it involves dinner you can forget it," she replied, scribbling in her notebook.

Thunder rumbled in the distance, and a moment later, raindrops began to fall.

"Bugger," Lily said, frustrated. She closed her notebook and began stuffing her stationery into her bag.

"Let me," James said, taking her telescope down from the parapet and folding it up as the storm picked up. "Come on, Evans, you'll be drenched."

Their walk back to the Gryffindor Common Room was quiet, punctuated only by the faint echo of their footsteps in the corridors.

"What were you going to ask me?" Lily said, breaking the silence.

"After seeing my Patronus the other day, you ran from the room," said James.

"I was running late for something."

"And now you're asking me if my Patronus has always been a stag."

"It's nothing."

"You're a shit liar, Evans."

"Leave it," she replied, and that familiar edge was in her voice, the one he knew all too well.

"Suit yourself," he replied. "Wyoming."

The portrait of the Fat Lady swung open and they both clambered through.

"Hold on, Miss Evans."

Lily turned to see Professor McGonagall climb through the portrait hole behind her. The Common Room quickly quietened as the Professor cleared her throat.

"Do not leave this Common Room. The other Houses have been instructed to do the same," McGonagall announced. "Prefects, you are in charge. I assure you there will be grave consequences for any student found in the corridors. That will be all.

"Is there nothing we can do, Professor?" asked James.

"No, Potter. Stay here."

McGonagall left, disappearing through the portrait hole.

"What's going on?" Lily asked Remus.

"No idea," Remus answered, his features troubled.


Four figures, garbed in black robes and masks, emerged from the Forbidden Forest with wands drawn.

"Quietly," one said in a hushed tone.

"Gentlemen, I fear you've made a grave error in judgement," Dumbledore said softly.

The Headmaster had seemingly appeared out of thin air in front of the group.

"You're an old fool, Dumbledore," proclaimed one of the wizards, training his wand on the Professor.

"Tom should know better than to send his followers to Hogwarts."

"Avada–"

Dumbledore gave a nearly imperceptible flick of his hand, and the wizard was thrown thirty feet by an invisible force. Two curses streaked past, then another, as the rest of the group opened fire. The Headmaster made a claw-like motion with his hand, and a second wizard collapsed, clutching at his throat.

The last two shared a look as Dumbledore advanced. With another minute hand gesture, the third wizard crumpled to the ground as two sharp pops shattered his kneecaps. The last black-robed figure let off a torrent of red light, which dissipated harmlessly off a blue tinged shield Dumbledore had weaved around himself.

"Tom will need to do much better, I'm afraid," Dumbledore remarked. He made a final sharp gesture, and the last black robed figure fell to his knees, coughing up blood. The brutal assault had only taken a matter of moments.


Nathaniel Potter strode into Dumbledore's office with a grim expression on his features.

"I came as soon as I got Minerva's message. Dumbledore, how on earth did they get in?"

"I don't know. But I will personally bolster the school's defences," Dumbledore added, meeting his eyes with a piercing gaze. "Any subsequent attempts to breach the grounds will be considerably more arduous."

"How did you know they were there?"

"Naturally, the castle alerted me to their presence."

"We'll take them to Barden's Keep. Alastor is waiting," Nathaniel replied. "I'm sure he will prove to be a deterrent."

Dumbledore frowned.

"Nathaniel, my concern is not that more will come. Rather, I fear that Riddle will attempt to radicalise those already within these walls," he explained. "The students are young, and impressionable. With the right motivation they can be dangerous. And I fear I may already be too late."


A/N: Thanks for reading. Reviews welcome!