Lily

"You look great, Edgar," Lily said as he waited outside the Gryffindor common room. Being a Ravenclaw, he couldn't enter, though his own common room was on the same floor.

"Thanks, Lilybear. You look smashing yourself," he replied, offering his arm. They descended the seven flights of stairs together—an ordeal in her heels. She wouldn't have worn them, but Marlene and Mary had insisted... again.

When they reached Slughorn's room in the dungeons, Lily paused in awe. The space sparkled, and the guests looked dazzling. She spun slowly, drinking in the sight—and accidentally met James Potter's gaze. He was already watching her. Surprisingly, he looked... good. Too good. Their eyes lingered too long, and Edgar noticed. He tugged her gently toward Slughorn.

"Lily, Edgar! So glad you two could make it!" Slughorn beamed. "And—if my sources are correct—you're a couple now?"

Lily smiled. Edgar nodded. "Yes, sir."

"We'll catch up later, Professor," Edgar said, then quickly pulled Lily into a secluded corner and kissed her hard. His body was strong against hers. Thick shoulders, arms pressing her lightly against the wall, fingers trailing up and back her side. Too much.

She pulled away. "We just got here."

"Lilybear, what's wrong?" Edgar pouted, visibly frustrated.

"I don't know what you mean," Lily replied distractedly. James still had that worried look in his eyes.

"Don't play around, Lily. We barely ever kiss, and when we do it's when Potter comes into view. I'm not stupid—you're in love with him, aren't you?" Edgar ran a hand through his perfectly styled hair. That struck Lily; she hadn't realized it could get messy. She thought it might've been a Permanent Sticking Charm at this point.

"Me and Potter? Don't be ridiculous. I said yes to you, not him. I'd just rather talk than snog right now," she said, crossing her arms.

"All we ever do is talk," Edgar snapped.

"About boring things—like your hope of universal cauldron thickness regulation. Do you even know what I want to do after school? Or anything about me for that matter?"

He sighed. "Let's go somewhere quieter. We can talk."

"I came for the party, not to make you feel better," she said coldly.

"Just tell me, Lilybear. Do you even like me? Or am I just here to make Potter jealous?"

Her eyes narrowed. "I would never do that to you. Or to anyone. And for you to think I would—that's low. Really low."

"Lily, wait!" he called as she turned to leave.

She paused. "What?"

"I'm sorry. I know it was wrong. I just... it's hard. Everyone loves Potter. I assumed you might too."

"I thought you trusted me," Lily said quietly. "Just go, Edgar. Please."

"Can I see you over break? Talk properly?" he asked, almost pleading.

"I don't know. I'll owl you," she said. He leaned in and kissed her cheek. She stayed rigid and expressionless.

As he walked away, she turned and nearly collided with James. He stood just behind the curtain, pretending to look for someone in the crowd.

"Drop the act, Potter. That's twice now I've caught you eavesdropping," Lily said. She couldn't find it in herself to be mad again. This whole semester has been more emotional than she would've liked.

"Where's Delia?" she asked, not unkindly.

"Sick with something or other," James replied with a shrug.

"Not the most caring boyfriend, are you?" she teased, raising a brow.

James smiled flirtatiously. "I would be to you."

"Oh, give it a rest," Lily muttered, brushing past him toward the drinks table. No more egos tonight, she pleaded internally.

She needed to cool off—Butterbeer, maybe. Or Firewhiskey, if only they served it.

On the dance floor, she spotted Sirius spinning with a very tipsy Marlene. They were already half-drunk on fun—and probably more than that. Despite herself, Lily smiled. For all their talk of it being casual, it was obvious Sirius and Marlene cared. They'd figure it out eventually.

"Lily," came a voice behind her.

She turned to see Severus.

"Snape," she said curtly. She only called him that when he acted like someone else around his Slytherin friends. His gaze dropped, guilt written all over his face.

"Lily, I know we haven't been getting along lately but I thought we were supposed to be friends? Best friends?," Severus said to her. Unlike James, Severus had a way of humbling himself and owning up to his mistakes. That is what Lily looked for in a friend.

"We are, Sev, but I don't like some of the people you're hanging round with! I'm sorry, but I detest Avery and Mulciber! Mulciber! What do you see in him, Sev, he's creepy. D'you know what he tried to do to Mary MacDonald a few weeks ago?" Lily leant against the wall, looking up at his thin, sallow face.

"That was nothing," Severus insisted, "It was a laugh, that's all-"

"It was Dark Magic, and if you think that's funny-" Lily said, her voice raising. She had had it with all men that evening. She wasn't going to put up with anyone at the moment.

"What about the stuff Potter and his mates get up to?" Severus demanded. His face began to turn red and he couldn't contain his resentment. Everything comes back to James.

"What's Potter got to do with anything?" Lily asked. It seemed to her that Severus had a bit of an obsession with James.

"They sneak out at night. There's something weird about that Lupin. Where does he keep going?" Snape whispered suddenly. From the look in his eyes, it seemed like he was trying to convey something to Lily but he wasn't allowed to say it outright.

"He's ill. They say he's ill-" Lily whispered back. The pages of the journal flash through her mind in a breeze. Animals, potions, charms.

"Every month at the full moon!?" Snape said.

"I don't like what you're insinuating. Why are you obsessed with them anyways? Why d'you care what they're doing at night?" Lily shot back. She could handle his anger at James, but not Remus. Remus was sweet and caring and her friend.

"I'm just trying to show you they're not as wonderful as everyone seems to think they are!" Snape said desperately. His gaze was so intense he made her blush.

"But they don't use Dark Magic, though." Lily told him, "And you're being really ungrateful. I heard what happened last year. You went sneaking down that tunnel by the Whomping Willow, and James Potter saved you from whatever's down there," Lily said.

"Saved!? Saved!? You think he was playing the hero? He was saving his neck and his friends too! You're not going to- I won't let you!" Snape sputtered furiously.

"Let me!? Let me!?" Lily said with equal intensity. Lily never put up with someone telling her how to feel. She narrowed her almond shaped eyes and waited for him to respond.

"I didn't mean- I just don't want to see you made a fool of. He fancies you, James Potter fancies you! And he's not... everyone thinks... big Quidditch hero," Snape mumbled bitterly and incoherently.

"I know James Potter's an arrogant toerag. And I certainly don't need you to tell me that. But Mulciber's and Avery's idea of humour is just evil. Evil, Sev. I don't understand how you can be friends with them!" Lily said exasperated. Although she said it to make him reevaluate his friendships, he seemed lighter and happier than ever.

"I can't just abandon my friends. They're in my house," Severus said, trying to make her understand.

"I'm not friends with plenty of people in my House," Lily pointed out, "Including James Potter, who you seem to be obsessed with."

"Me- I... I'm not obsessed with him, I'm just trying to keep you safe. Mostly because you and him did seem to be quite cosy at Slughorn's dinner party a few weeks ago," Severus reminded her. His beetle black eyes were pained as he said it.

"That was different. I was simply thanking him for saving my friend from your friend," Lily said, getting angry all over again.

"I'm not going to rehash that all over again, alright? Let's just- let's just forget about them all for now," Severus offered. Lily didn't want to forget about any of it, but she still needed his help and she still wanted to be his friend too.

"Fine," she said sharply. And as if he could read her thoughts, he responded.

"So what was it you needed my help with?" His long greasy black locks gleamed from the light of the room.

"Oh, it's about a rather complicated potion I came across... in a old book I got for Christmas," Lily lied. She knew that the topic was secret and that she swore she wouldn't break their trust, especially after listening to Snape's rant about their questionable excursions. Yet nevertheless she explained what she had seen to him, just not where she had seen it or who it involved.

"Lily, if what you're telling me is true then you're dealing with a really advanced piece of magic. What book did you read it out of?" Severus asked. His beady eyes seemingly stared into her soul.

"I-I don't remember," She said, averting his gaze.

"We both know that isn't true. You remember every book, especially the old ones. They're your favourites."

"I think the cover was ripped," she mumbled, "What does it mean though?" He sighed and she knew he knew that she was lying.

"It's the potions to become an Animagi, y'know like McGonagall. It's a really difficult process and the potions are only part of it. Some of the ingredients are really hard to get your hands on, believe me," Severus said slowly.

She looked at him curiously regarding his last comment. The gears in her mind began turning.

"Don't you have to be a certain age to become an Animagi?" She asked. Lily figured that you did and she remembered Professor McGonagall saying something in passing, but she wanted to hear it from him.

"Yes, you must be of age. And you must register with the Ministry," His eyes narrowed, "You aren't trying to become one, are you?"

"No, I'm not a blithering idiot. And I'm certainly no rule breaker," Lily said loudly, making Severus smile. She hadn't heard him laugh in a while, so she felt good too. She had her friend back.

James

Term had ended the day after Slughorn's party, and things couldn't have gone worse. He broke up with Delia after discovering she tried to slip him a love potion—an actual love potion. Lily had barely spoken to him at the party, spending most of her time with Snivellus of all people. James would've preferred her hanging out with Edgar Bones again over that greasy git.

To top it all off, Sirius had been forced to go home and stay there for the entire break. His parents were determined to turn him into a "true" Pure-Blood, whatever that meant in that twisted house. And Remus had endured the full moon alone—on Christmas, no less. That went against everything they stood for. The Marauders had a rule: never miss a full moon. But Remus had insisted they stay away.

All in all, it had been a miserable holiday for James Potter.

"Prongs!"

Sirius's voice rang out across the platform as he ran, pushing his trolley. James turned and pulled him into a hug without hesitation. He didn't care what anyone thought—he'd missed Sirius like mad.

"How were your parents?" James asked carefully. He noticed the faint bruises lining Sirius's face and arms.

"Agonizing, per usual," Sirius said with a shrug. "But guess what?"

"What?"

"I never have to see Bellatrix again."

James raised an eyebrow. "How do you figure?"

"She's getting married. To a Death Eater. One of the batty Lestranges. And he's apparently pretty high up in Voldy's little club, so she'll be far too busy playing murder-house with her new master to bother me." He grinned. "And Cissy's engaged to that Malfoy tosser."

"Seems like all the Slytherins are Junior Death Eaters these days," James muttered. He thought back to the Sorting Hat's warnings. "Too bad, ambition isn't the worst thing in the world. But bunching people up like that'll make an allegiance that's hard to break."

"I guess we'll just have to mess them up bad enough they don't get the chance to join up," Sirius replied with a wicked gleam in his eye. James didn't doubt him. Sirius knew more dark curses than Snape, thanks to his twisted family. It was scary sometimes—but useful when it counted.

The two boys hopped aboard the train, joining their friends in a compartment and immediately launching into scheming mode.

"Okay, so we're using a Fainting Draught," James said. "But how do we get it to them?"

Sirius shrugged and unwrapped another Chocolate Frog. Remus was buried in his latest Muggle novel, and Peter just glanced around, waiting for someone to speak.

"What if we ask the house-elves to slip it into their pumpkin juice?" Peter suggested.

James beamed. "Brilliant, Pete!"

"Why don't we give some to Evans too?" Sirius smirked.

Remus looked up slowly, frowning. "You aren't serious?"

"No, I am Sirius," Sirius said, barely containing his grin.

Remus ignored the pun.

"James likes this girl, right?" he asked, looking at him. James nodded. "Then why are you planning to knock her out? That doesn't exactly scream romance."

"I don't need to 'ooze romance', Moony. She already loves my personality," James joked.

Remus just sighed and went back to his book.

"Besides," James added, "I'm not letting Padfoot do that. We're sticking to the Slytherins."

"But she rejected you," Sirius reminded him.

"And I don't plan on giving her more reason to hate me."

"Whatever you say, Prongs," Sirius muttered.

James glanced at him. "Padfoot? Want to go ask the house-elves tonight?"

Sirius perked up. "I'd love to!"

"Great. Tonight it is," James said, feeling better already.

They took their seats at the Gryffindor table for the start-of-term feast. James was practically buzzing with anticipation, waiting for a few of their Slytherins to drop.

But nothing happened.

James scanned the hall, confused. No one fainted. No one even looked queasy. Zonko's had never failed them before.

"Prongs," Peter whispered, "you might want to skip the pumpkin juice. Delia's looking... a bit dodgy."

James followed his gaze. Sure enough, Delia was staring across the hall, suspiciously intense. He poked his cup, wondering if the sweetness was just juice or a love bomb again. Suddenly he was not hungry anymore.

"I'm not feeling well," Lily said suddenly, standing up. She swayed slightly. Her eyes were unfocused.

James felt his stomach drop. No no no no no no...

"Do you want me to come with you?" Marlene asked, concerned.

"No, I don't want to ruin your dinner. I'll see you later," Lily said, pale and shaky.

She took a step—and began to fall.

James was out of his chair in a flash, catching her before she hit the ground. She fit perfectly in his arms, her red hair a vivid splash against his robes. He looked up at Dumbledore, who gave a small nod. His eyes twinkled, but James barely noticed.

He carried her toward the hospital wing, his heart racing. Halfway there, Lily stirred.

"What's going on?" she mumbled.

"You fainted, love," James said, trying to sound light. But inside, he was panicking. This was not how it was supposed to go. He was going to kill Sirius.

"Did I?" she asked weakly.

"Yes. How do you feel?"

"Safe," she whispered.

"You have strong arms," Lily added.

"Really? What else do you like about me?" he asked, teasingly, unable to help himself. She was delirious and he was weak.

"You have a nice face sometimes," she said as he gently laid her on the bed.

"You have a nice face too," James replied, smiling as she drifted off. He stayed there a moment, just watching her sleep, before Madam Pomfrey shooed him away.

Now it was time to deal with Sirius.

"You absolute git! Barking mad, thick-headed, manipulative, gormless—git!"
Remus's voice echoed down the staircase.

James took the stairs two at a time, heart pounding. He stormed into the dormitory just as Remus was finishing his rant.

"Do you even realize how potent that draught was? It was meant for five people! And you gave it to one. To Lily!"

The room went silent as James walked in.

"Say something, will you?" Sirius asked, clearly unnerved by James's look.

James didn't speak.

"C'mon, Prongs—"

"Don't call me that."

"James, it's not a big deal—"

"She's not some stupid girl, you prick."

Sirius scoffed. "Mate, give it up. She doesn't even like you."

James's jaw clenched. "I trusted you. The whole reason we were doing this was your family. Your family is full of Death Eaters."

"Take that back!"

"I won't. It's all true. You drugged Lily, then mocked me for caring. And you thought that was funny."

"It was just a laugh! I'm sorry, alright?" Sirius said, sounding small now. "I didn't think you'd—get so mad."

James didn't respond. He slumped onto his bed, suddenly exhausted.

"She's best friends with a Slytherin and she hates us, James," Sirius tried again. "She threw me in detention again last week."

James closed his eyes. "That changes nothing."

"I'm sorry," Sirius said quietly.

James sighed. He remembered how gutted Sirius had been the year before, when he'd accidentally betrayed Remus's secret. He knew that look in his eyes—remorse mixed with shame. Sirius was reckless and stubborn, but he wasn't cruel. Not really.

Lily was going to be okay.

That mattered more than anything.

"Yeah, we know. Just... think next time, yeah?" James muttered. "We're not the bad guys. Leave the innocent alone—or we become the bullies."