Lily

As promised, James had met her in the Entrance Hall for their scheduled Patrolling Shift. He'd offered to monitor the upper floors for the first half-hour of their watch and then they could swap. She'd agreed to their normal routine - but she couldn't bring herself to go far from their starting point. Her heart, in all honesty, wasn't in it.

After learning about Durmstrang's entry qualifications, a weight had settled into Lily's stomach.

She couldn't look at the walls of Hogwarts the same as she processed this new piece of information - to think, she could've been kept from attending, that someone had the power to do so. It made her stomach clench; yes , she was familiar with the derogatory remarks and the bullying - gods, even the attack from two years ago - but the notion that one of the most prestigious wizarding schools - according to Hogwarts, A History - unrepentantly banned Muggleborns from learning there…

How had she not known? She felt like an idiot. Seeing Potter's pitying gaze made her feel worse.

Her scoff echoed in the Entrance Hall as she re-entered from the corridor that led to the Transfiguration department.

"Lily," a voice had rasped.

She whirled, wand raised defensively as she scanned the area, managing to lower it a few inches as she glared at the arrival of her former-friend. "What are you doing out, Snape? It's past curfew."

"You shouldn't be here," he hissed, stepping closer with his hands raised in a 'I mean no harm' manner.

"What do you mean?" she demanded, glancing towards the Great Hall's closed doorway, then towards the stairs that lead towards the dungeons. He had been alone.

When Snape stood only a few feet away, he reached out - the movement almost involuntary, as if he were hoping to place his hand on her arm. "It's not safe for you here, Lily."

Lily took a reflexive step back, making sure he was just outside of arm's length. "What does that mean?"

Snape scoffed, looking at her as if she were daft. "You know what it means. If I'd known that you planned on returning this year -"

Her mouth dropped open. "What, you would've stopped me? Stopped me from coming and earning an education I have a right to?"

Snape scoffed derisively. "That's not -"

"No," she spat. "I'm tired of you always thinking you know what's best for me. Over and over, you tried to steer me to whatever it was you liked the most -"

His mouth fell open. "I didn't -"

"Or controlling where I went and when -"

"I've never -"

"You have!" she spat. "I realize it now; looking back at our friendship. I understand that you were protecting me - or trying to, in your own mad way - but you were hurting me, don't you realize? You never -"

"I'd never hurt you!" Snape protested angrily. She realized too late how close he'd move towards her when he reached forward and clutched her arm, his hand sliding down to hold onto her wrist connected to her wand hand. "I would never put you in harm's way, or -"

She laughed harshly.

His face pinched, staring down at her with a glare. "You don't know what I've done to protect you, Lily. The others - they hate that you're Head Girl - they think -"

"They think?" She tugged at her hand to free it from his grip, but he held strong, his grip turning painful against her struggle. "You've made it abundantly obvious what you think, Severus. I'm just a Mudblood, aren't I? The same as what they - your friends - think, isn't it?"

Snape reached up to pinch at the bridge of his nose, as if he were trying to retrieve patience he didn't have. "They aren't - I'm not going to - you weren't supposed to come back," he huffed, as if it were too much of a nuisance to explain. "Lily - you have to -"

"Just stop," she hissed, trying to tear her wrist free one last time, yanking it hard enough that he nearly tumbled into her.

He caught himself in time, using his other hand to grab onto her shoulder to steady himself before her.

"Get off," she snapped, shoving at him with her free hand, using the heel of it to dig hard enough into his sternum to cause pain.

It worked, the push surprising him just enough that he let go, stumbling a second time before he'd finally caught himself.

His resulting reaction surprised her; whether it was pain from her shove or the notion that she'd actually struck him, he'd reflexively rushed forward, his own hand that held his wand raising above his head to strike -

"Oi!"

Snape's advance halted immediately, his arm still held aloft as he and Lily turned towards the staircases, catching sight of -

Potter.

He was staring down at them with a furrowed brow, wand already in hand - and she could suddenly see the scene from his viewpoint. Her stomach rolled.

"Potter," Snape spat, automatically taking a step away from Lily as his expression filled with disgust. "What are you doing?"

"Thought I heard someone rowing," Potter said coolly, advancing towards them in a casual manner. "Everything alright, Evans?"

Lily, throat too tight to speak properly, could only nod.

"You're not on the schedule tonight, Snape," Potter continued. "Not sure what you're doing out after curfew."

Snape sneered. "I don't have to explain myself to you , Potter." Almost instinctively, he continued to back away as Potter neared them, his movements defensive.

Potter's eyes flicked to meet hers for a brief moment, his expression unreadable. "How about you return to the dungeons, then?"

The sheer amount of careful civility in his tone sounded taxing.

Snape scoffed. "I'm not going to listen to -"

"Go," Lily requested, quietly, a wave of warring emotions rushing through her as she found herself grateful for Potter's presence; how he subtly placed himself between the two of them and how he continued to remain carefully indifferent.

Snape's eyes met hers from over Potter's shoulder, his expression souring as he returned his eyes to glare at Potter. "Oh, here to save the day then, Potter. Ever the hero."

He'd said the last word with distinct hate and malice and extra meaning that Lily could tell held weight. He turned sharply on his heel to escape down the corridor that led towards the Slytherin common room.

The ringing silence was painful.

Potter's careful expression faded to one of mild concern. "Are you…" Her own expression must've stopped him from finishing the question. He pivoted. "I'm sure that the last twenty minutes of patrol can be skipped. Should we head back to the tower?"

Lily nodded, falling into step beside him as they began the journey towards the dorms.

You weren't supposed to come back, Snape had spat at her. It's not safe for you here.

Her stomach rolled as the words clanged around her mind. Though she'd gotten cruel looks and the normal derogatory under-handed comments from the members of Slytherin House, her return had been … noticeably uneventful. She'd even been able to avoid Snape himself until he'd cornered her.

Potter seemed to throw caution to the wind; perhaps worried by her silence. "Are you alright?"

There was something about his earnest worriment that pulled at something within her chest. "I'm not sure," she said honestly.

She must've sounded honest enough. His normal grin - reassuring and mischievous - made its appearance. "You'll let me know when you're sure, then?"

"You might be waiting a bit," she replied, unable to stop herself from replying in a similar teasing manner.

"Fair enough."

He followed closely behind her as they ascended the moving staircases, even going so far as to reach out when a staircase shifted beneath them, upsetting her footing.

"Thank you," she said reluctantly, still feeling heat from his touch on her back despite his hand's retraction. "And… thank you," she added carefully as they made it to the 7th floor.

Lily could see him glance at her from the corner of his eye, clocked the moment he understood what she was thanking him for.

"Nothing at all," he replied, like it truly wasn't.

Like he hadn't just witnessed her former best friend nearly threatening her. Like he hadn't come in to save her from more hurt and pain that could've been avoided.

Here to save the day then, Potter, Snape's echoed.

Ever the hero.

Without reason, it all rose up within her suddenly; the anger, the fear and pure exhaustion from feeling like she did have to be careful and tiptoe around everyone.

"You know, I don't owe you," she said, the words coming out against her will.

He turned towards her, brow hidden beneath his fringe from his apparent confusion. "Sorry?"

"I don't owe you anything," she clarified.

"I'm not sure I -"

"For that day. On the train."

She wasn't sure why she suddenly needed this out, why there and then. But she didn't like the way this feeling had been hanging over her, as if she were in his debt .

His eyes widened as he turned to face her properly. "You don't. You don't owe me anything -"

"And I can't have you swooping in and acting like I need help -"

"I know you don't -"

"- when it makes me feel like I'm not strong enough on my own -"

"You are, Evans -"

"- and I don't want you to now constantly wave it in my face that you bloody saved -"

"Evans, " he snapped, his voice loud between them.

Her own mouth snapped shut when she realized how much closer she'd moved towards him, aware of how rapid her breathing was from the ranting she'd done. Her finger was pressing against his chest, just at the middle of his sternum.

James's expression was hurt, bewildered.

Her heart dropped through the floor when she processed what she'd said. "Sorry," she muttered, embarrassed as she spun and fled towards the Common Room's entrance.

"Evans, hang on!" he called, his voice spurring on her speed.

She snapped the password at the Fat Lady, who'd reared back, offended, but opened the passage accordingly. Lily nearly dove through, fully embracing the fact that she was full-on fleeing from Potter in order to avoid the conversation further.



June 20th, 1976 End of 5th Year
Hogwarts Express

"What's happening!" Marlene screamed.

Lily had lost track of things for a moment among the chaos. Other students had run past their compartment's doorway, followed by the sound of screams and smoke. Shouts and curses were let loose. Lily had ducked in the doorway, falling to her knees as bodies rushed down the corridor, screaming.

"It's an attack," she gasped, covering her head as debris and dust rained down on them. "But it can't -"

"Mary!" Dorcas screamed, jumping up from her seat to lunge towards the corridor.

"Wait!" Lily reached out to grab at her arm, halting the girl's progress.

"Lily," she gasped. "We've got to check on Mary. She was in the corridor -"

"I know, I know ," Lily hissed, pulling her down so they both ducked. "We've got to be careful - we don't know who's out there."

They both leant their heads through the door to peer into the hazy darkness; there must've been some sort of smoke-charm cast. Lily could barely see five feet in front of her. There was no sign of Mary.

"Fucking hell, look at the wall," Dorcas whispered, raising her hand to point.

Lily looked.

The wall was charred; blasted to just the skeletons of the outside of the train so that the outside sky was peaking through the open bits exposed. Smeared there, among the untouched parts, streaks of blood.

Lily's stomach sunk through the floor.

Dorcas whimpered. "Maybe she ran off with the rest of the students; locked in a safe compartment?"

The lump in her throat was hard to swallow as Lily tightened the grip on her wand. Her moral compass was swinging wildly between slamming the door shut and securing it with all the luggage that was in the compartment - and stepping out into the corridor to find her friend.

Lily looked at Dorcas. "I suppose we'll have to find out."

For a brief moment, Dorcas timidly smiled - unsure and a bit shocked, but a smile none-the-less. Her wand was already in her hand.

Lily looked over her shoulder at the other girls; how Emmeline was holding onto Marlene's hand tightly, both of their faces pale. "You two stay here; barricade the compartment door. But be ready if any other students need help, yes?"

Marlene nodded, lips pursed tightly as she stood on shaky legs. "More than a Bubble Charm, alright?"

Her grin was reluctant as Lily nodded in return. "I've at least got a Tickling Hex."

"Good," Marlene said succinctly. "Don't go easy."

Dorcas's face was grim when Lily turned back to the doorway. "You okay?"

Lily nodded. "Let's hope those Duelling Club sessions pay off."

Dorcas smiled, another bleak tilt of the lips.

Pieces of charred wood and carpet crunched under her shoe as Lily took the first step out in the corridor; the sound of it eerily loud in the silent corridor. She craned her neck to see if she could peer down the corridor; through the haze and smoke for any sound or movement.

"Do you think they've moved onto the next carriage, or do you think they've left altogether?" Dorcas whispered as they treaded carefully further, the both of them crouched low.

The commotion had initially started at the back of the train; Lily knew that their carriage was one of the last nearest to the end of the train. If they had carried onto the next carriage, and the next and the next… Lily wasn't sure if they were still on the train or not.

And so Lily didn't answer Dorcas's question, and instead continued to creep forward, glancing at each darkened compartment's window along the way, hoping that the closed curtains meant that whoever was in there was safe; locked and secured and uninjured.

Lily and Dorcas stepped through the gangway onto the next carriage; the damage was worse. The smell of charred wool and wood hung in the air among the cloud of smoke. The first carriage's door was slightly ajar.

The sound of muted whimpers gave Lily pause.

Her stomach twisted as she crept forward to peek through the opening.

A small group of 1st Years were cowered together, huddled in the corner. Lily recognized a few of them; mostly Hufflepuffs.

"Lily!" one of them cried.

"Sh," she urged quietly, rushing through the door - Dorcas followed closely behind. "You must be quiet," she ordered them, scanning their faces - scared, smudged with ash.

"What's going on? Is it an attack?" a little boy asked in a trembling voice.

Lily wasn't sure how to answer; to tell the truth or to lie?

"They took Elsie," one of the girls cried. "And I haven't seen her sister."

"Alright," Lily said, after taking a bracing breath. "Dorcas and I are checking the other compartments. I need you lot to stay here; we're going to cast a charm on the door to lock it; but you should grab those cases from up top and move in front of the door as best as you can."

It took a moment, but eventually she received a wave of timid nods from them.

She gave them one last reassuring look before shutting the door, leaving herself and Dorcas in the corridor alone. She could hear them shuffling inside the room, heavy clunks as they pulled the luggage from above them.

Lily and Dorcas took turns casting their own Locking Charms on the door; Lily knew that they likely wouldn't hold up against a grown-wizard, but she hoped it would deter them if they came back. She cast a Silencing Charm as a precaution.

They stepped back together, Dorcas giving Lily her own reassuring nod. They continued on.

"Where is everyone?" Dorcas hissed.

Lily shook her head. "I hope in their compartments," she murmured, wrinkling her nose to try to dispel the smell from her nostrils.

"It has to be Death Eaters though, right?"

Lily didn't want to answer. "What was that?" she asked instead, pausing before they advanced into the gangway to the next compartment.

"Voices," Dorcas hissed as she shoved Lily towards the luggage closet at the end of the carriage. "Move!"

They huddled together, Dorcas pulling the curtain shut just as the doorway to the gangway slammed open, loud voices bursting through into the silent carriage.

"That all the carriages?" a wizard asked impatiently.

"I think so," another wizard replied, his voice high and excited.

The open doorway loosed a large gust of air; the curtain fluttered open a few inches. Panicked, Lily reached out to clutch at it, keeping it held closed to remain hidden. A small gap remained, just enough for Lily to peek through.

She caught sight of the two wizards as they passed; hooded dark robes and masked - the light glaring off of the metal features.

"You think so, you idiot?" the first wizard hissing, stomping to a stop so that the second wizard nearly ran into him. "Have we checked them all or not?"

"We did," the second wizard hissed, though his voice held uncertainty.

The first wizard huffed, an angry sound. "We found all the Mudbloods?"

Dorcas shifted, reaching out to grab at Lily's forearm tightly. Lily wasn't sure if she'd done it out of fear or concern for how Lily reacted - but then Lily thought of Mary; where she might've been taken.

The other wizard must've responded with a nod; their stomping carried on further down the corridor until another door slammed - another gust of wind. Lily assumed they moved onto the next carriage.

Slowly, cautiously, she pulled the curtain aside and scanned the corridor. Through the straight hallway and the gangway's window, she could see the backs of the Death Eaters trudging through the doorway into the next carriage.

"Quick," she whispered, pulling open the curtain completely and gesturing Dorcas forward, keeping her eyes on the window where she could still see the dark robes of the wizards. "Get to the door."

"It's locked," Dorcas hissed, trying the handle. "They must've cast a Charm!"

Unwilling, Lily turned her back towards the window at the end of the corridor. "How? I didn't hear them cast anything."

"I don't know." Dorcas huffed, trying harder at the door.

"Try a Finite, or whatever counter-spell you know," Lily demanded, glancing over her shoulder.

Dorcas tried a few with fruitless success. "For Merlin's sake," she spat. "Nothing's working!"

"Blast it, then," Lily murmured between clenched teeth, feeling her heart rate accelerate as she watched the wizard's near the next door. "Or melt it."

"I can't think." Dorcas exhaled shakily. "What's the incantation?"

"Ardelucide," Lily hissed over her shoulder. "Try that one."

Dorcas did; the sound of a hissing could be heard - then the clunk of the handle hitting the floor.

The sound of it shot Lily's heart to her throat as she looked back towards the Death Eaters. They did not react; but they'd reached the door, pulling it open and stepping into the gangway on the other side.

The tense muscles in Lily's shoulders eased; they'd move on. "Quick," she hissed as Dorcas pulled open the door.

The draft of air must've shifted the door at the other end; Lily could almost feel the rattle of it against the jamb.

"Fuck," she hissed, seeing the two Death Eaters pause. "Go. GO."

She stumbled into the gangway after Dorcas, shutting the door uselessly without the handle as they made their way into the next carriage. When they shut the next door behind them, Lily looked through the window to find -

Two masks faced towards them, already at the start of the other corridor.

"Oh, Christ," she cried out, raising her wand to cast a quick Locking Charm, though she knew it was probably useless. "Go, Dorcas, go!"

Lily could imagine the two Death Eaters just behind them; the threat of it making her knees weak and unsteady.

They screamed as a Blasting Spell just above them sent wood splinters raining over them. Lily knew if it had hit one of them, they wouldn't have been able to get back up.

Instead of focusing on their spells, Lily focused on Dorcas's back as they fled into the next compartment. Another Blasting Spell tore apart the door in front of them; Lily could feel shards of glass cut into her cheek, into her arm as she shielded her face with her hands.

"Shit!" Dorcas cried.

"Keep going," Lily urged with a cry. She tore at the tower of suitcases within reach of the luggage closet, the smaller cases tumbling down - hopefully a long enough deterrent to gain some time.

She worried for the students left in the compartments, if they heard the Blasting Curses and feared for another attack. She knew they were only a few more carriages away from the front of the train - she didn't know what they'd do if they reached it.

"Impedimenta!" one of the wizards shouted.

"Protego!" Lily called instinctively. The spell bounced off of her shield.

"What do we do?" Dorcas called out in fear.

Lily didn't know how to answer. Instead, she threw her arm over her shoulder, shouted, "Stupefy!"

One of the wizards cursed; a thud soon followed. Lily wouldn't chance looking back, but her gut told her she'd been fortunate in her aim.

The rush of elation was short-lived - another Blasting Curse struck the space just behind them at their feet. The force of it knocked Lily off of her feet; she fell forward into Dorcas, knocking them both over.

The Death Eater stomped towards them, his wand trained on them as they rolled over to face them. "Names?" he demanded, his voice clear even through the mask.

The two of them remained silent; something telling Lily she should not reveal her identity.

"Names!" he shouted, shaking his wand. Lily flinched.

"Meadowes," Dorcas answered with a snap, unable to hide her ire despite her fear.

The Death Eater seemed to take a moment, as if considering, before his wand moved to aim towards Lily. "Now!"

"I -" Lily struggled, shifting onto her side - suddenly aware of the wand still secure in her hand.

Perhaps she didn't need it. The wizard, impatient, stepped closer so that he stood between Lily and Dorcas's feet, his wand still raised towards her. "NAME!" he roared, stooping forward to point the wand closer.

The raise of his voice stirred her own temper; before he could lean closer, Lily hitched up her foot and swung it, the hard edge of her toe connecting with the bones of his wand wrist.

The wizard shouted as his hand whipped to the side, his wand flinging from his grip onto the corridor floor. "Bitch!" he spat, falling to his knees.

"Go!" Lily ordered Dorcas as the two girls flipped over onto their hands and knees to escape. Lily shoved at her friend, pushing her onwards so that she could go through the mangled doorway.

A hand latched onto her foot, dragging her back before she could fully stand. She fell forward onto her elbows painfully, kicking out where she could and hoping to connect with any body part she could.

"Hold - still - you -" The wizard behind her grappled at her, hauling her back.

"Get off!" she screamed.

He'd managed to twist her around so that he dragged her on her back. It granted her full motion of her legs, swinging and driving her feet into his hands, his arms, where she noticed he'd successfully retrieved his wand.

He seemed to notice the same time she had; he reared back, bringing the wand down in a large slashing movement.

Instinctively, Lily raised her arms to protect her face, her neck - but screamed out in pain as a gash appeared across her arm; a long line among the smaller cuts the smashed glass had incurred earlier.

Blood was already soaking the sleeve of her light blue jumper; she felt it along the length of her arm and down to her elbow as she held it aloft.

He raised his wand to cast another curse; she raised hers just in time to cast a Protego; his spell bounced off dangerously; ricocheting off of her charm and landing against the wall behind him. The glass windows rattled inside their panes.

"Impedimenta!" Lily shouted, granting herself the time to properly stand and escape as her spell found its intended target.

Standing, however, took immense effort; Lily was quick to realize that perhaps the slash along her arm had cut a vital artery - the blood flowing did seem more liberal than what she'd consider a safe amount.

She entered the gangway easy enough; but turning the door handle to the next carriage with her wand in hand was a bit more difficult - but the movement in her left hand seemed stilted. That made her nervous.

"Stop!" the Death Eater shouted, having somehow ended her cast spell. "Fucking -"

She'd already made it halfway through the corridor - could she see Dorcas through the window to the next? Her vision was blurring - also not a good sign. Her knees felt weaker than before, but she forced herself onwards. She was almost to the door - almost -

"Don't move or I'll fucking kill you!" the Death Eater shouted. His footsteps were loud; or perhaps that was the heartbeat now rushing in her ears.

A few more steps maybe - or just a few feet -

"Avada Ke-"

Something grabbed at her, hauling her to the side just as a blinding bright green light streamed past her.

It took her a moment to process the happenings that had just occurred.

The Death Eater had unrepentantly cast the Killing Curse on a Hogwarts Student.

She'd been too weak to fight whatever - whoever - had pulled her out of its way. Her head felt too heavy for her neck, but she was able to hold it aloft enough to recognize another luggage closet.

When her eyes raised to check who was her saviour, there was a part of her that was both stunned and unsurprised.

James Potter stared down at her with a furrowed brow, his eyes narrowed with concern. Her gaze dropped down to his mouth, where his lips were moving but she couldn't quite comprehend the words coming from it. There was blood on his jaw.

She was deadweighting, she knew - her legs were no longer strong enough to hold herself up properly on their own. His arms were wrapped around her, one holding tightly to her upper arm. When she glanced down, the entire sleeve of her jumper was now soaked in blood; some of it had gotten onto her stomach - some of it had spread to Potter. His gray jumper was dark with it.

When her eyes strayed back towards his anxious gaze, it struck her - he had saved her.

Potter shook her violently then. "Can you hear me?"

"Christ, yes , Potter, I can hear you," she snapped, though her words were a bit more faint and slurred than she'd intended.

"Merlin's fuck," he hissed, adjusting her so that she was stooped against the stack of luggage. He had his wand brandished, leaning around the corner. "Stupefy!"

A Blasting Curse clashed against the wall beside them.

Lily couldn't flinch away from it - but she didn't have to. Potter had bent over her, shielding her from any stray debris.

"Stay awake, Evans," he hissed, holding her chin between his fingertips for a brief moment.

"I am," she protested, despite the fact that her eyes had been closing.

He leant to meet her at her same eye level. "Then keep your eyes open, yeah?"

"Piss off," she murmured, letting her head fall back against the wooden suitcase behind her.

"There's the spirit," he said with a grin, moving away to peer around the separator. "Confringo!"

The sound of wood blasting echoed down the corridor as the other wizard cursed.

"Awake," he ordered. It took her a moment to realize he was speaking again to her.

Lily was surprised he had the gall to lightly slap her cheek. She tilted her head away from it, glaring. "Don't touch me."

Potter snorted. "I won't if you stay bloody awake ."

Before she could retort, a sound echoed through the corridor - a loud crack.

"Ministry of Magic; stay where you are!" shouted a new voice.

Lily hadn't realized how close she'd been to Potter; she felt it when his body relaxed, his grip around her arm easing as his form slackened. "Thank Merlin," he hissed, his voice with relief.

She watched as he leaned his head back against the wall, his eyes falling shut.

He had saved her.

A wave of nausea rolled over her; and Lily couldn't pinpoint if it was a result of the blood loss - or this knowledge that she now appeared to owe him her life, to a certain extent.

Her knees gave out completely; but Potter was already there, arm set against her shoulder blades as he eased her descent to the floor.

"Evans?" he demanded, shaking her gently. " Evans."

His voice sounded like it was coming from underwater. She tried to snap at him to quiet down; she was right there, after all. But her jaw felt slack; her vision dimming.

"Lily. Answer me."

She found that she couldn't and instead let her eyes fall close completely.

"Help!" she heard Potter shout. "I need help over here!"