Chapter 1- The Beautiful Friendship Begins

Lily Evans had just experienced the worst summer followed by the worst train ride of her life.
Sure, she had been made Head Girl but the Head Boy to her Head Girl was a different story.

Lily was sitting in the annual Hogwarts feast, awaiting the Sorting to be over. She sat with her
two best friends, Halle Douglas and Katy Jones. Professor Dumbledore, an aged man with a
long, silver beard and electrifying blue eyes, was prepared to make his traditional speech to
the school and Lily was so hungry she actually was not looking forward to listening to it.

“Welcome back to another year at Hogwarts everyone. There are a few notices I wish to
make. Firstly, Mr. Filch would like to repeat that Dung bombs are not allowed in the
proximity. Also, to the first years and some of the older students, the Forbidden Forest is out
of bounds. Now, would the new Head Boy and Girl meet me after the feast to discuss routines
and rituals. Also, to the new Prefects, please escort your group of first years after the feast is
finished and get your passwords from the Heads. Now, let the feast begin,” Dumbledore said.
He raised his hands and magically the empty plates filled with the most delicious food one
could imagine.

Lily helped herself to the hot food on the table and began to eat as she noticed a sickening
sight. James Potter was stuffing his face, a chicken leg in one hand and a goblet of pumpkin
juice in the other. At least he wasn’t dripping food off his chin, unlike his best friend Sirius
Black. Lily made a face of sheer disgust.

The Marauders, as they liked to call themselves, were unavoidable at the school. The
Marauders consisted of four mischievous boys who considered themselves the ultimate in
pranking and dating.

James Potter seemed like the ringleader of the whole charade. James was a touchy subject to
talk about in front of Lily. The two of them had never gotten along, but recently the dislike
had turned to disgust which had then turned to hate. James was a tall boy, who was Seeker for
the Quidditch team, and had untidy, black hair that was useless to manage. He actually
preferred it that way as it gave him that messy Quidditch look the girls loved. Well, all the
girls except the girl he actually fancied. Lily thought he was a conceited prat who bullied
people for no reason. That was part of the reason why she despised the idea of James Potter as
Head Boy. She knew he was just going to break the rules and give detention to his enemies
and even encourage misconduct.

Sirius Black helped encourage such behavior. He gladly took the glory of tying with James
for holding the most detentions. Sirius was an excellent student but didn’t apply himself to the
real world. Studying and homework was a waste of time to him. He could be pranking
Slytherins or snogging girls in the broom closet. Yes, Sirius Black was a Hogwarts heart
throb, but according to Lily, he was just a pain in the rear. He was Captain of the Gryffindor
Quidditch Team this year which Lily knew upset her friend Halle. Halle hated Sirius with a
passion for all the same reasons Lily hated James. He was unbearable to be around. Therefore,
Halle hated Quidditch and basically anything associated with Sirius. Lily thought of Halle and
Sirius’s relationship as peculiar. Sirius loved Halle for all the wrong reasons - lust - and Halle
hated Sirius for all the right reasons.

Remus Lupin was the third member of the infamous Marauders. He was the more responsible
guy of the four and was the more likely candidate for Head Boy as he had been Gryffindor
Prefect since 5th year. Lily respected Remus more out of all of the boys, but after years of
watching him sit back and allow Sirius and James to get away with so much, the respect
faded. It was also known that he had a major crush on Lily’s friend Katy, and Katy was madly
in love with Remus. Lily had no idea why the two of them never got together but it wasn’t her
place to play Matchmaker.

Peter Pettigrew, a chubby boy who looked extremely out of place with three of Hogwarts'
somebody’s that it was hard to believe he even belonged. Yet, after all the years at Hogwarts,
the Marauders remained a foursome instead of a trio. Apparently Peter must have had some
good qualities, but what exactly was beyond Lily.

Lily was proud to say that she wasn’t one of those obsessive girls who worshipped the
Marauders every chance she could get. No, she Lily Evans was an authority figure who chose
to make something of herself. She wasn’t ugly but she wasn’t remarkably pretty. Why exactly
James Potter liked her wasn’t apparent at all but Lily figured that was because he couldn’t
have her. He always loved a challenge.

“So Lily love, when’re we going to get started on those kids?” James asked, in-between bites.
She had the misfortune of being seated in the same compartment as him on the train, being
seated in the same carriage as him, and now being seated directly across from him at a meal.

“I think I’ve lost my appetite,” she answered faintly. She turned to talk to Halle to distract her
from the monster she was forced to work with all year.

“So, how was your summer?” she asked.

“Well, my parents were off on vacation, as usual. Sometimes I think they forget they have a
daughter. They’re either working or off in Bermuda spending their money away. It’s
sickening really,” Halle said.

“What about you Katy?” Lily asked, turning to her other friend.

“Well, let’s see, my two twin brothers tormented me the whole time. But I did meet this really
cute boy in Africa, when we went on a trip there. He was nice but the whole language barrier
may have been an issue,” Katy said.

“You think?” Halle asked sarcastically.

“That’s ok though, I like someone else,” Katy said dreamily.

“Remus,” Halle whispered behind Katy’s back. Lily laughed.

“I missed you guys so much this summer. Petunia’s getting married to that awful man,
Vernon. I don’t know what she sees in him. But, whenever he was over she made comment as
to how I was delusional. Annoying most of the time. She's glad I didn't live up to the awful
reputation she's given me,” Lily said, grumbling at the very thought of her sister.

“Ok, Prefects, would you please escort the First Years to their Common Room,” Dumbledore
said.
“That’s my cue,” Lily said.

“Mine too,” Katy said, as she had just replaced Lily after Lily had been made Head Girl.

“This should be fun,” Lily groaned as she saw James and Remus stand up. James followed
quickly behind her as they headed for Professor Dumbledore’s office.

Lily walked on one side of the hall, trying to steer clear of being near Potter.

James grinned. This should be the start of a beautiful friendship.

Lily took herself to the bathroom barring the door to the world and sat perched on her
carefully chosen egg shell grey bath. Her eyes scanned the room while her fingers gripped the
cold hard edge until they hurt. The room was prefect, beautiful. How carefully this room was
crafted, she thought, good enough to be featured in any interior design magazine. Their whole
house was prefect and beautiful, every inch tenderly crafted into reality by his hands right
from her dreams.
She placed her face in her hands and sucked in a deep breath. Why had she said that? Why
had he come home at that exact moment? What the hell was wrong with her any way? Her
heart thumped angrily in against her chest wall, screaming at her loudly that she was an idiot.
Everything she cared about she destroyed, she had just crapped all over everything they had
been building together.
She knew she had betrayed him by even saying the words. How could she tell him she was
only trying them out to see if they felt true? He wouldn’t understand that, he did not work like
that. He who thought carefully about every word he uttered. Even now he was thinking,
weighing up his response. All through dinner she had seen his mind chewing it over as he
chatted and entertained their guests. He wouldn’t look at her though, he wouldn’t meet her
eyes.
He was sitting out there now as if nothing had happened. He was all smiles and jokes, merrily
chatting with the girls about any old thing, the perfectly charming host. She couldn’t stand it.
But then that was him all over wasn’t it, all measured and level headed. It would go against
his nature to bring anything up in front of company, no matter how close to them he might be.
He could wait to discuss it, maybe all weekend. He would calmly sit her down and ask her all
sorts of reasonable questions that he had formulated during that time to determine what it
meant. Then he would put forward his thoughts on the subject to gauge her reaction, and then
after some more thought he’d decide what they were going to do about it. She would be
waiting forever for the decree.
She was not good at waiting, or much for careful thinking about things. She went on her
instincts. When she thought something she said it, and while it was forever getting her into
trouble, she felt it saved a lot of hassle in the long run. People knew where they stood with her
and she liked to know where she was with them too. All this angst over a silly statement was
not good for either of them.
She stood up and splashed water on her face. All their lives James had always wanted to be
more like her, he was forever complaining throughout their teens about his inability to say
what he was thinking. Wasn’t it one of the things he loved about her after all? She would just
go in there and get it sorted now, so they could get on with the rest of the weekend.
She looked at her ruddy face in the mirror, winding her mousy blond hair back into a tighter
plait and nodded at herself as she dried the droplets of water off her face with the fluffy cream
towel given to her by Maud for Christmas. She placed the towel back on the heated rack and
slide the lock aside to let the world back in.
She could hear dishes clanging together in the dining room, accompanied by loud cheerful
voices punctuated with barks of laughter. Upstairs she could hear the kids banging about in
the blanketed enclosure of Evans room.
The dinning room table was littered with knives and forks, desert dishes and serving platters
covered in left over bits of charred meat. One and a half empty wine bottles guarded the
cafeteria, while four cups sat ready to accept the brewing coffee. Kathy came in from the
kitchen giggling and began to gather up the rest of the used dishes. Lily told her to sit down
and have her coffee, taking the serving platter from her and beginning to stack the rest of the
debris onto it.
She met Karen, carrying after dinner mints and a jug of milk, as she passed through the little
cubby which joined the two rooms. With a bob of the elbow to indicate the stereo, she told her
to stick on some music and relax with Kathy while they did the dishes. Karen looked at her
strangely for a moment and then smiled passing on through.
Lily entered the kitchen and pushed the angular door shut with her foot. James looked up from
the sink and smiled vaguely at her forehead. She set her pile of dishes on the dark wooden
countertop and retrieved the drying cloth from his shoulder. They stood quietly working side
by side, him washing the glasses, his hand dipping in and out of the sudsy water, her taking
them from him to dry and set back in cupboard.
“You know earlier,” she started after a moment of gearing herself on, “that thing I said.”
He nodded, as he set the last glass on the draining board and reached for the pile of plates. She
watched him as she dried the glass, his jaw clenched in the effort to keep his face passive, his
t-shirt rippling with the movement of his back muscle, as he lifted the stack into the water.
She wanted to reach out her hand to touch that strong warm back, but something told her he
wasn’t in the mood.
“It was a stupid thing to say.” She tried to sound light, casual, “I don’t know where it came it
from….”
He bent his head as he scrubbed the plates with the yellow handled brush. His whole face
clenching, his eyes narrow to slits as he placed his first victim on the drainage broad. She
reached out and grabbed his arm, ducking her head down to make him meet her gaze.
“I didn’t mean it.” she told him, her voice coming out more annoyed than she had intended.
So much for making a bit of a joke about it.
“You never say anything you don’t mean.” he countered coolly, pulling away from her. He
stopped and took a deep breath staring into the sink, “can we talk about this later.”
“No.” she shook her head, “Not if you’re thinking like that.”
“Well what do you expect me to think, lily…” he finally looked at her, “you said our marriage
was doomed.”
“I was just …” she clenched her hands, closing her eyes looking for inspiration. Please, tell
me how to explain this to him.
“You were just what? Joking? Trying to shock them? What?” He voice sounded weird,
clipped and strained. She opened her eyes and looked at him seeing the hurt in his eyes,
“What would make you say that?”
“I…I” she gapped lost for words, her hands reaching out to him.
“What?” he half shouted half pleaded, “explain this to me.”
“I just wanted to try it out…” she let herself step close to him, her hands hovering over his
chest before coming to rest on his solid warm form, “to see if it sounded…true.”
“Don’t.” he barked stepping away from her as her hands touched him. He shook his head,
“Why would you…you were thinking….how…..”
“but it didn’t…I knew as soon as I said it I was wrong…” the words stumbled over each other
desperate to repair the damage. She stepped to him again but he stepped away throwing his
hands up as he turned his back on her. Her month opened and closed useless as the true
weight of the damage she’d inflicted settled on her chest. “I’m sorry.”
“Sorry??” he repeated to the window, bracing himself on the worktop, “For what? Saying it?”
he began to turn his eyes finding hers, “Or for thinking it?”
“Both….” it was out of her month before she even realised she was being tested. She watched
his face close up, anger clamping down on him. His eyes stared at her a steely grey
unreadable in a way that clutched at her heart. She could always see what he was thinking…
she felt cut off from him. “James…”
“I can’t believe you married me thinking that.” he growled.
“I didn’t…” the words broke in her throat and echoed unconvincingly in the air between
them. The world seemed to flip over in the seconds they stood there staring at each other.
Somewhere inside her she could feel it laughing. It had tricked her…the voice had tricked her.
By letting it speak she had created a self fulfilling prophecy. She looked at her husband, her
best friend falling away from her. She had ripped his heart apart just as the voices were
ripping her apart.
She wanted to cry, scream, beg for his forgiveness. She wanted to rage at him for judging her,
berate him for not understanding. With their history what did he expect? It was his job to stop
her messing it up. Why was he letting this happen? Inside her mind a quiet calm voice told her
she didn’t deserve any of this any way, the game was up, her true self had won out. Another
gleeful voice whispered to her that she would be free again soon, free to keep running as long
and as far as she want.
“If you could even think that for one second.” he snarled, “Then we might as well give up
now.”
“No…no…” she shook her head, her heart writhing in agony.
It was crumbling around her, the world was crumbling into nothing. She knew it was the point
of death. There he was age four all snot and sticky up hair watching her cautiously as she
swung upside down from the tree in her garden. They were seven planning war against kids
from down the street. Ten, swimming together in a mountain lake in France daring each other
to swim further, dive deeper.
Thirteen sitting on the freezing steps separated by their new friends, catching each others eye
to share a private thought. Then fourteen, him getting tall and her friends noticing him. Now
fifteen, his eye bright and tired after sitting up all night with their friends talking about
everything. She saw them, attending parties where they had their first crushes, first kisses,
first loves, first heartbreaks.
And then sixteen the night he had gotten dead drunk in a effort to get over Karen, carrying
him home, him kissing her as she put him to bed in the spare room. Months later when he had
asked her to help him get rid of his virginity. All the fun filled days and heart breaks that had
passed between now and then. The memories washed through her as she stood there.
“After everything…after all you’re running…” he growled finally, taking her by the
shoulders, “The only reason we got this far was because I believed one day you’d get it out of
you’re system. I thought you had finally come to rest…”
“Yes...I’m done.” she croaked reaching for him, “please believe me…I just want to be here
with you.”
“But you don’t believe we can last.” he said softly resting his forehead on hers. She felt the
hot tears welling in him, and springing from her, “I can’t live like this.”
“I do…I do believe.” she wept.
“Yeah but for how long.” he threw her backwards from him as if her words had burned him,
“No…Lily it ends here…I can’t spend my whole life waiting for you to blow it all apart….”
“NO…please…James…no.” her finger clawed at him as he stepped back again and again
from her grasp. “no…no…”
“Sorry.” It was Karen’s meek voice that rung out from the doorway, freezing them both to the
spot. They turned to look at her and she looked back at them, her eyes wide with concern. For
a moment she seemed like she would say more, but she only repeated her apology and backed
out of the room still holding the cups she was carrying.
“We can’t talk about this now.” came James calm voice. She returned her gaze to him and
watched him moving towards the door leading to the hall, prefect, beautiful the love of her
life.
“We have to talk about this…JAMES.” but he was gone. She collapsed onto the floor
sobbing. She felt him wrenched from her, the pain contorting her body as she wept.
It’s over, you lost, you finally got what you deserved, they said. Go after him. it is no use, you
lost him, they said. You’re free again, about time, let’s go now, they sang. Stay and fight you
coward, don’t let him do this, it’ll pass, stick at it, run and hid, they advised. It ends here, he’d
said, it ends here.
He has ended it, she told herself, he was right, she couldn’t make him live like this. He and
Evan both deserved better than her. She would leave with the girls in the morning, she
decided, no point dragging it out.
She stood up drying her eyes suddenly numb and silent. Yes, she knew he was right, if she
could even think it, they had no chance. He had put so much in and she always gave him so
little in return. He had carried her for too long. Things were only going to get worse from here
on in. She would leave before he was forced to live through any more of her bloodshed.
She found him in the kids’ room with Kathy, who silently carried Killiann out as she came in.
They worked together easily as they tuck the kids in and pick a video for them to watch, but
for the first time in 25 years she felt completely severed from him. See, the voice deep inside
her whispered, I was right; it was only a matter of time.

This is the story about the Marauders’ seventh year at Hogwarts.

James’ Introduction

Life is difficult. Everyone knows that. From the tiny baby learning to walk to the old
homeless man on the street corner it is common knowledge. But what used to slay me is that
some people go through life, time after time, failing. They never have the strength to get up
off the floor. But I, a mere boy of seventeen, had a different story. Why you say? The reason
was simple; just like a board game I thought that there was one trick that’ll guarantee success
every time. Well, I thought there was a trick in life…find only one goal and dedicate your life
to it.

Now don’t get me wrong. Sometimes finding that goal is one of the hardest things you’ll ever
do. There are people who wonder around aimlessly with no place to go, and nothing to
support them. Those people are lost…hopelessly lost. But they will find their goal. It could
take their entire lifetime, but they will find it. I, on the other hand, had thought I already found
mine. It was placed in front of me some years ago (with a big ‘free’ sign on it I may add) and
I took the opportunity.
I had dedicated my life to love Lily Evans.

Many of you may snort with laughter and comment that my goal was ridiculous. I don’t care.
None of you know Lily. She is the girl of my dreams…in fact; the girl is my dreams. Lily is a
sweet girl, small and pretty. Her wonderful red hair cascades around her neck and her eyes are
like sparkling emeralds. She has an amazing laugh that comes from her heart, and her spirit is
as strong as the ocean. I will never love anyone as much as I love Lily. However, there is one
thing that you should know.

Lily had dedicated her life to hating me.

Though it is a cold hard truth, it is a truth nonetheless. I wish I could say that Lily is the dead
center of this story, but sadly she isn’t. Life had always been easy for me. I focused on my
main goal and blew up a couple of bathrooms in my spare time. I used to think that nothing
could ever disrupt the monotony of life of an average Hogwarts student. Then things began to
change, and suddenly I was proven wrong. The barrier that separated my friends and I from
the rest of the world had crumbled away. We found that our old lives had just been a clouded
mass of deception. The real world was much worse.

See why I’d rather talk about Lily…

***

Chapter One

Rain trickled from the skies the morning of September 1, 1977. The day had dawned like any
other Sunday; dripping wet birds singing at the top of their voices, church bells ringing at the
start of mass, and families waking up to a new week. But for many this day was a day to
remember.

Steam billowed from an amazing scarlet engine as it sat expectantly on the tracks. A rather
tall and lanky seventeen-year-old, clothed in a pair of corduroy slacks and a green sweater,
stood staring at the train as though mesmerized. For James Potter, today was bittersweet.
Although he would be returning at last to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, his
home away from home, this would be his last term. He shook the mat of untidy black hair off
of his forehead sadly. The thought of leaving the school behind was almost unbearable; it held
too many of his most precious memories.

"Hey, James!" A voice shouted. Sirius Black pushed his way through the crowd of tightly
massed people. He was a handsome teenager with dancing gray eyes and a curtain of dark hair
that surrounded his face. Sirius and James had been best friends for nearly six and a half
years. They were closer than blood and were hardly seen without each other.

"What now, Sirius?" James asked, feigning annoyance as he picked up the end of his trunk.

"I just wondered where you had run off too," Sirius retorted, "And besides, I thought I saw
Remus' sorry hide back there."

James stood on tiptoe to see over the heads of the crowd around him; he was tall enough as it
was. His other good friend, Remus Lupin, was leaning against a brick pillar, deep in
conversation with his much shorter mother.

"He's over there," James pointed, sneering at Sirius. It pays to be tall.

They dragged their trunks across the platform, greeting their fellow students as they passed.
Adam Cooper, a fifteen-year-old boy who worshiped the ground Sirius walked on, had shot
up about ten inches, and their dorm mate, Frank Longbottom, had received a hair cut. It was
funny to see everyone again; it felt like they hadn't been apart since the last time they were
here.

"Yeah, mum, I'm fine..." Remus told his mother with an air of impatience.

"Are you worrying about poor ickle Remmy?" chuckled Sirius as James swung a good-
natured punch at the other boy, whose face split into a reluctant grin. Freckles were splashed
across his skin, and a hedge of reddish brown hair grew on his head. Remus, like James,
always looked as though somebody had grabbed both his feet and head before stretching them
taut. Though unlike James, the other boy always looked rather ill. His eyes were tired and
drawn, his skin pale, his limbs weak, and his posture forever suggested someone defeated.

“Why hello, James and Sirius,” Remus’ mother smiled warmly, hiding her worried features
underneath it.

“Hello, Mrs. Lupin!” Sirius beamed, engaging her immediately in conversation. He could get
anyone talking…

James cast a furlong look at his sickly-looking friend. He snapped his fingers, and begun to
speak in sign language, an amazing talent James had taught to himself and his friends. Remus
watched with a grim expression.

“When?” James’ fingers said.

Remus looked around the platform before answering, “Tomorrow night.” James frowned
sympathetically.

A loud whistle issued from the scarlet steam engine. James jumped, muttered something about
finding his mother, and hoisted his trunk through the throng of people. Remus bade his
mother good bye with a kiss and joined Sirius as they followed their tall black-haired friend.

“Look who it is!” Sirius barked suddenly. He thrust his arm in the crowd and, as suddenly as
though he conjured him out of thin air, dragged their other good friend, Peter Pettigrew, in
view. A plump mediocre boy with watery eyes and sandy hair, Peter was as different from his
friends as possible. Whilst James, Sirius, and Remus were exceptionally smart and talented,
Peter struggled to keep his grades from failing. Also, if it weren’t for the fact that his friends
were the most popular boys in school, he would be teased until he was sad and miserable.

“Hi, guys! How was your summer?” Peter asked, smiling.

“Fair enough,” muttered Remus.

They found James giving his mother a last minute hug. She kissed him, warned him to
behave, and kissed him again. Sirius stifled a snigger and also gave Mrs. Potter a hug.

“Now, go!” She ushered them toward the train. James tossed his trunk into an open door and
jumped in to pull his friends’ luggage in. Sirius tossed his up, smacking James on the
jawbone. Eyes watering, James shoved the trunk back hard, causing Sirius to stagger under
the pressure. Remus took the opportunity to politely hand his up.

“Hey!”

“Next time don’t launch yours at me!” James snapped, though not unkindly.

It took several minutes to correctly get everyone inside a compartment. They cut it real close,
too. The train began to move, slowly at first then gradually faster. James ducked down and
shifted through his trunk, Sirius stretched out on several seats and pulled out a comic book,
and Peter engaged Remus in conversation about a random Quidditch team.

“Here it is, guys!” James declared, pulling something from in between a pair of folded socks.

A shiny red and black badge sat in the palm of his hand with the letter HB encrusted on its
surface. The three spectators leaned over it in somewhat awe. James smiled proudly.

“Wonder who the Head Girl is?” Peter asked.

“Lily,” Remus answered simply.

“How do you know?” James demanded.

“I saw her earlier. The badge was pinned to her robes. She’s not going to be happy with her
partner, though.”

“Haha! James, sorry mate, but you’ll probably get screamed at.”

“This’ll be interesting.”

Remus laughed, “While we’re on the subject, James- we have to get down to the prefects’
cabin.”

“So you’re leaving me!” Sirius snapped, affronted.

“I’m here,” Peter answered.

Sirius grunted and looked back down at his comic book, “Man, what a party.”

James gave him a hearty grin and exited the compartment, Remus at his heels. They walked
down the student filled hallway, waving joyfully at the different people peering at them
through the glass windows. Remus hummed a Beatles song carelessly with his hands in his
pocket. James jammed an elbow into his side when he spotted a certain figure in front of them
with long red hair that swayed when she walked.
“Oi! Evans!” the black-haired boy called.

She whipped around with her bright green eyes narrowed.

“What do you want, Potter,” she said icily.

James puffed his chest out, hoping the overhead light would reflect on the shiny surface of the
badge. Lily’s jaw dropped. She looked from James to Remus and back to James.

“No way! This is some joke!”

Remus held up his hands, “I swear I’m not in this!” And he walked right past them, humming
“Eleanor Rigby” once again.

“You seriously aren’t kidding?” Lily asked apprehensively.

“Why would I lie about this?”

Lily rolled her eyes. “It just seems like your type.”

“We’re going to have to make this work, Lily.” James tried to act serious.

“You don’t need to lecture me!” she snapped, “Let’s just get this over with.”

James sighed dramatically to himself. “This might take a while.”

Chapter Two

All through the meeting, James and Lily shot glaring looks at each other. Remus kept
sniggering behind their backs with one of his other prefect friends. The new recruits kept
exchanging bewildered looks at each other.

“If you misbehave,” Lily snarled, shooting a furlong look at James, “You shall be dismissed.”

“And if you abuse your privileges due to superior thinking,” James responded, “You will also
be dismissed.”

“Can I be dismissed now?” said a timid fifth year.

“No!” Lily and James shouted. The girl shrunk back in her seat.

Twenty minutes later, the meeting was finished. It would have gone on longer if Remus
hadn’t stepped in and took over passing out the night shift schedule. He patrolled the corridors
beside James, who was joyfully humming to himself even after his full force cat-fight with
Lily.

“I don’t know, Remus,” said the black-haired seventeen-year-old, “I thought we got along
better than usual.”

Remus simply stared.

“What’s wrong, Lily?” asked one of her best friends. The seven of them were cramped inside
the little compartment, playing cards. Only four of them were Gryffindors; Alice Prewitt, Sara
Weasley, Megan Weasley, and Ann Quigles. Abby Resley, Megan Corner, and Rachel Jorden
were in Ravenclaw.

She rolled her eyes and groaned: “Potter…Who else?”

A suppressed giggle ran around the compartment. James Potter was always a sensitive topic
between them. They practically worshiped the ground he walked on; Lily simply couldn’t
stand him.

Though he is quite handsome…in a way, she thought hurriedly, But looks alone can’t
determine what’s inside.

But she couldn’t help but shiver when his face haunted her dreams. It was a stern face with
prominent cheekbones and sharp features, but there was something soft about it that made it
likable. Maybe it was the twisted smile that always played around his lips. Though whatever it
was, it made people like him...especially the girls.

“What is it?” Rachel asked slyly. Lily frowned at her. When it came to boys, they could never
agree on anything.

“Well, dear Potter somehow wound up with the Head Boy badge.”

“Burn,” Ann chuckled.

Lily leaned against the doorframe: “He is going to cause so much trouble. It’s not even funny.
I don’t know what Dumbledore was doing, but something was going on there.”

“Maybe he was drunk,” howled Megan Weasley. They threw the cards at her and she ducked.

“I don’t think it was that,” her twin sister, Sara, sighed.

Rachel shook her head, making her shock of white hair flutter around her face: “Maybe
because he wanted to give James a second chance. James is a really nice guy. You just have to
dig down.”

“How deep?” Lily griped.

“Very funny. James is very nice to me. I sit near him in Transfiguration,” said the Ravenclaw.

“I seen you with him,” Abby coughed, “You start doing that tinkling laugh of yours and the
words ‘I’m flirting again’ shows up on your forehead. Then again, you do that with every
boy.”

A good natured laugh was exchanged and Rachel rolled her eyes.
“I don’t know, Rachel’s got a point. James is kind of nice…sometimes,” Alice said with a
thundering look from Lily, “Though you got to admit. He’s kind of cute.”

They nodded in ascent as Lily scoffed, “Alice, you already have a boyfriend.”

“I know,” she sighed dreamily, then shuddered, “But at least Frank’s got beautiful eyes.”

“Oh, I know!” Megan Corner choked out, “James’ eyes are so creepy.”

Lily nodded. That was one drawback about James. He may have been handsome and nice to
look at, but his eyes didn’t fit the rest of him. While James was carefree and reckless, his
intense hazel eyes were almost exactly the opposite. They were harsh and serious even when
he was laughing, as oppose to most people whose eyes crinkle up. It was almost unnatural.

“Least he wears glasses,” Sara said. That was true, but James was always losing them. Either
that or his best friend, Sirius, like to hide them.

“So what boy are you chasing nowadays, Rach?” Megan Corner asked, feeling that changing
the subject was best due to the annoyed look on Lily’s face.

Rachel’s eyes begin to sparkle: “I’m not going to tell you!”

“You don’t need to tell me, because I already know,” Abby scoffed. Rachel frowned at her.

Lily lost interest in the conversation and went outside to start patrolling the corridors early.
She heard someone come from the compartment she just came from and turned to see Sara.
The freckled redhead smiled at Lily. Though she and her twin sister looked very similar, they
were nothing alike. While Megan liked to misbehave, Sara was more serious and preferred
following the rules with Lily.

“Hey, can I patrol with you?” Sara asked, being a prefect herself. For the past two years, Lily
and Remus had been the Gryffindor prefects for their year. But with Lily now being the Head
Girl, someone else needed to be prefect and the most responsible one was Sara. Lily was glad
that she got the job, because she always felt rather guilty that she stole the job from one of her
best friends.

“It’s not against the rules,” Lily laughed. She liked Sara’s company.

They walked down the rattling corridors, ignoring the rain splattering the windows. It was a
dreary cold day and a wonderful way to start the year. Classes tomorrow would be so much
fun.

“Hey!” snapped a familiar voice, “If I see you do that to her again, I will not only give a
detention but I’ll smack you as well.”

Ahead of Lily and Sara, Potter was fussing at someone he normally wouldn’t have. Adam
Cooper stood before him, arms crossed. A very angry blond haired girl stood behind James,
one nerve away from screaming at Adam as well.

“I’d like to see you try to punish me, James,” the boy challenged. Lily knew immediately that
was the wrong thing to say. James Potter was extremely competitive. Immediately, his pride
began to fuel his energy, and his unnatural eyes flashed.

“Are you going to be that stupid, Adam?” James snarled, “You have to respect the ladies.
That is the way a gentleman is supposed to act. Isn’t that right, Holly?”

The girl bristled, tossing her curly hair behind her back: “Listen to him, Adam! Because as of
right now, we’re done!”

And she retreated to her compartment. Adam actually growled at James.

“Excuse me?” James questioned, “I’m not the one who just lost his girlfriend. I think that is
punishment enough. But I’ll give you a hint to get her back, if your relationship hasn’t yet
been launched over the cliff. Wait till she’s calmed down, then go to her and beg her to take
you back. Tell her that she means the world to you and other stuff like that. Yeah, it’ll hurt
your pride, but isn’t what you lost worth that?”

Adam chewed on his tongue for moment, as if he was on the verge of saying something nasty,
but he turned and walked down the corridor. James noticed Lily and Sara watching. His hand
jumped to his hair and he rumpled it, more out of habit than anything else.

“I was on my way back from the bathroom and I could hardly believe what he did to that poor
girl,” he said bewildered.

“I thought you handled that nicely,” Sara said.

James’ eyes flickered to Lily for second, and seeing that he wasn’t going to get a compliment
from her as well, said, “Thank you very much, Sara. Well, I got to go. There’s the sweet
cart!”

And he passed them hurriedly. Sara looked at Lily with her eyebrows raised.

“Oh, come on Lily! James’ heart is in the right place, he just has his priorities mixed up.”

“I thought you didn’t like him,” Lily said heavily.

“I don’t,” Sara said softly, “He’s arrogant and bigheaded, but that doesn’t mean he can’t
change. Who knows, you might wind up thinking the same thing.”

“Hey! Hannah, look! I can see it!” cried a first year from one of the nearby compartments.
Sure enough, the magnificent Hogwarts castle loomed in the distance. They were back.

Chapter Three

James, shoving a half-eaten cauldron cake, made his way back to the prefects’ carriage. The
hanging light fixtures rocked back and forth, casting long shadows across the floor of the
train. Outside the grimy rain splattered windows, the bright fires within the Hogwarts Castle’s
fireplaces gleamed like the welcoming gates of the after life. As quickly and silently as he
could, James slipped into the prefects’ carriage.
Lily was speaking. “Hagrid will take care of the first years as they cross the lake. We,
meaning all of you, will have to monitor the other students as they get inside the threstral-
drawn carriages. Then, after the feast you will have to take the first years up to their
dormitories.”

“If there is a problem,” James cut in, “Report it to either myself of Lily. Are we clear?”

There were several nods of ascension and the prefects filed out of the carriage. James eyed
them strictly as they passed, but shrugged at Remus as the werewolf stumbled over the
threshold.

“You know, Lily,” said the Head Boy as he inspected his reflection in the window in the
carriage door, “You worry too much about what might happen. If we are going to make this
work, you’d better chill.”

At first there was no answer, so James made to step out into the corridor.

“Epoximis!” Lily hissed.

James’ feet stuck fast to the floor and he nearly fell forward. He twisted around to face Lily,
who was trembling with anger. Even though he petite frame came up short to James’ lanky
one, he still felt rather daunted by the look on her face. She pointed at James and he felt a
slight point of pressure where her first finger was pressed against his collarbone in accusation.

“I thought you disapproved of that spell,” he said slowly. He and Sirius used to use that spell
all the time to her anger. It had interesting effects, but they would always get in trouble for it.

“Don’t lecture me!” she snarled back, and he squirmed as his collarbone ached. “I want to
know what’s going on! How did you get the Head Boy badge?”

“I don’t make rules.”

Her green eyes flashed. “No, you break them. Which is why I find this all so unlikely. You
are so simple-minded and prejudice that I’m surprised that they even trust you with a wand,
much less a position of power.”

James grabbed her hand, pushed it back, and rubbed the tender spot. “I’m not as shallow as
you think, Evans. Maybe Dumbledore knows something that makes my Head Boy Badge
make sense. What makes me so mad is that you don’t want to even try to understand me. I’m
not some dumb animal.”

Lily breathed in sharply, staring into his serious hazel eyes without flinching. Then she tossed
her long red hair behind her shoulder. She pointed her wand toward his feet and muttered the
counter curse.

“We may have to share Head Boy and Girl duties,” she said darkly, “But I will never work
with you. We are not capable of agreeing.”

And she strode straight out of the corridor. James adjusted his Hogwarts robes and left behind
her, checking the empty carriages for any troublemakers.

Dumbledore stood before the entire school, his silver beard and hair gleaming in the
candlelight. He looked impressive underneath the star-strewn magic ceiling. Raising his
hands, he addressed his school body.

“Welcome, first years, welcome! Since we have finished the wonderful meal that was
prepared for the occasion, I would like to address a matter of great concern. Many of you may
realize that a war is brewing in the near future. The issue of the dark wizard, Voldemort, is
one of great concern. Our very own Professor Newta has sadly decided that his duties lie with
Department of Magical Affairs at the moment. In his place, Professor Jerome Malo has
decided to take his place as Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Let’s give him a very
warm Hogwarts greeting.”

A thin young man in his early thirties stood from beside Professor McGonagall and bowed.
He raised his hand in greeting and then promptly sat down. James, who stood next to Lily in
the back of the Great Hall, raised his eyebrows and exchanged a look with Sirius from across
the room. They both wondered whether this man was capable of handling troublemakers…
like themselves.

“Our new Head Boy and Girl would like me to inform you that they will not tolerate any
wrongdoers this year, especially the new rave of creation of unofficial and unsafe spells. They
are standing in the back next to the caretaker, Argus Filch.”

Heads turned briefly to recognize the two in the back, then did a double take when they
realized that the Head Boy was none other than James Potter, the boy whose detention record
lapped almost everyone seated in the Great Hall at the moment. What surprised them even
more was that James did nothing of the sort to bring attention to himself, which was very
unlike him. He stood next to the rather cross Lily Evens, hands in his pockets and looking for
once in his life humble. More than once, the word ‘joke’ sounded around the room.

“They will patrol the corridors every other night and deal with duties higher than any other
student in this hall. I hope all of you younger students will strive for this position. Now, I
think it is time that we head off to bed to refuel ourselves for your lessons tomorrow. First
years, please follow the prefects at your table.”

Lily and James stood at the back of the Great Hall, watching the students pass. More than
once, several fellow troublemakers peppered James with questions, but he ignored them and
waved at Sirius, Remus, and Peter. They gave him a lopsided grin and followed the mass up
to the common rooms. Then, when only the teachers remained, Dumbledore beckoned them
forward. James felt like he was on display as he stood before the teachers, their hard eyes
glaring at him. They, like Lily, obviously felt that he was not up the job of being a Head Boy.
But Dumbledore had obviously said something to them for they kept quiet. The only teacher
who didn’t look accusingly at him was Professor Malo. The sandy haired man stared intently
at him from over his fingertips, creating his own first impression.

“I hope that you are up to your duties for I fear that this will be a hard year,” Dumbledore said
softly.
“May I ask why?” Lily questioned.

“You already did, Miss Evens, but I will answer your question, nonetheless. With the dark
wizard Voldemort on the verge of attacking, things will not be the same. I fear that things
inside Hogwarts may even change.”

James adjusted his glasses. “I didn’t realize that it was that serious.”

“I didn’t expect you would,” Professor McGonagall sniffed. Dumbledore cast her a stern look.

“Well, it is,” he said as if nothing had happened, “And I’m sure I can count on you to lead the
school with your chins held high. Now, if you follow me, I will lead you to the Head Boy and
Girl room. You will need to report here at least once a day. I will have assignments listed and
night shift duties posted on the bulletin board. The password is Phoenix Tears. If you need to
change it please inform me.”

He led them into the back room and down a row of trophies and oil paint portraits. Then they
stopped at picture of a young girl in a full-length dress seated on a swing. She had an oval
face with deep blue eyes and she smiled at them from over her sketchpad.

“Hello, Dumbledore,” she said, “Are these the new Head Boy and Girl?”

“Why yes, Evanna,” the headmaster answered.

The girl set aside her sketchpad and stared at them intently. She, like Professor Malo, had
sandy hair that curled around her oval face. James wandered who she was.

“You know,” the painting said finally, “The boy reminds of Louis Currey, who was one of the
worlds best aurors of all time. Her painting sometimes visits me. She has portrait here in
Hogwarts and also inside…”

“…the Ministry,” James cut across her, “Yes, I know. She is my great, great, great aunt. I
have her nose, don’t I?”

Evanna looked surprised. “Yes, you do. You must be her brother Dwight Potter’s great, great
grandson.”

“Actually, my great, great grandfather was their youngest brother, Archibald Potter. He
worked in the department of International Transportation. He was the one that solved the
portkey problem in Manchester. You know the one where…”

This time Lily across him. “…muggles had learned to spot portkeys from the old markings
wizards used to use on the artifacts.”

“Somebody obviously pays attention to Professor Binns,” Dumbledore said to Lily. She
beamed.

“Well, a guess this Potter will be like every other Potter,” Evanna said brightly, “I always say
that they have the blood of some of the best wizards of all time. When it comes down to it,
they all come from the great…”

“Please, Evanna,” Dumbledore said, snickering slightly, “Phoenix Tears.”

“All right, Dumbledore,” the painting responded as she swung inward, “I never forget
anything, you know. Especially the time you brought that redhead Saria in here after hours…”

“Enough, Evanna.”

The headmaster led them inside the room. The Head Boy and Girl room was a formal and
very comfortable study like room. There was a collection of inviting chairs around the fire
place, a long table for formal meetings, two desks, and a bulletin board covered in papers of
every kind of notice.

“I had no idea that this was down here,” Lily said in wonder.

“I did,” James laughed, and to Lily’s surprise, so did Dumbledore. Then, the headmaster led
them back outside and the portrait swung closed behind them.

“Now, I think that the two of you need to head on up to bed. You also have a big day ahead of
you. I will talk to you later.”

James walked on ahead, but Lily remained. She turned to Dumbledore.

“Professor, I must ask. Why is Potter the Head Boy?”

Dumbledore’s sparkling blue eyes stared at her from over his glasses. He put his hand on her
shoulder and led her forward.

“Lily, James Potter comes from a long line of very intelligent and successful wizards.
Though, James does seem to spend most of his time causing trouble, you cannot deny that he
is the descendent of an amazing chain of people. I’ve spent some time watching him and I feel
very certain that I made the right choice. He is both brave and very smart, and has a number
of other talents. And also despite his attitude, he is human as well, Lily. He has faults and
fears as well as any of us. That, in my opinion, is the greatest strength that we have over every
other creature on this dear earth.”

Lily nodded and hurried up to the common room, engrossed in her thoughts.

Chapter Four

The noise level in the room dropped suddenly as Professor Malo stepped forth from his office.
His sandy hair was rumpled and untidy as if it had never seen a comb before, but he was
otherwise a good-looking guy with gray eyes and a benign smile. Up close, he looked slightly
careworn and his robes were shabby. It seemed as if he had financial problems, but it wasn’t
entirely noticeable. James gave Sirius a quick glance. It was an unwritten law that whenever a
new teacher came to Hogwarts, they had to test them out to make sure they were up to
scratch.
“Good morning, all,” the professor said. They responded quickly, still waiting to find out
what kind of teacher he was. “Now before we begin anything, I think it would be proper if we
completed the introductions. You all know who I am, but I have no idea who you are. Now, I
understand that you are the advanced class? That means that I’ll have to work extra hard with
you.”

He pointed to Alice, who was the first person in the first row. The plump, but pretty blonde-
haired girl stood and said, “My name is Alice Prewitt.”

Malo nodded his head. “Oh, and when you tell me who you are, please state the career choice
that you are pursuing. Now, Miss Prewitt, what do you wish to be?”

“Auror, sir.”

“Ah, you must be quite the student,” Malo said approvingly, “How about the Head Girl?”

Lily, with her long red hair in a French braid, stood and said, “Lily Evans, and I’m shooting
for a job in the Ministry. In fact, I’ve been offered a job near the Head of the Department of
International Affairs of Magical Law Enforcement, but I’m not sure whether I’ll take it or
not.”

Malo nodded. It continued like this for nearly the rest of the class, but when it came time for
James to speak up, Malo promptly skipped over not only him but also Sirius and Remus. They
looked at each other, dumb-founded.

“Now that we have completed the introductions…”

“But, Professor,” Sirius interrupted, “You forgot us!”

Malo looked at them intently. “Oh, I know who you are.”

“You do?” Remus asked.

“Yes. I, uh, received a memo from Professor McGonagall earlier. Your names are James
Potter, Sirius Black and Remus Lupin if I’m correct.”

This class snickered and Megan Weasley snorted, “Oh, you’re correct all right!”

Malo laughed briefly. “But I don’t know what you are planning on doing after school.”

“Well, my uncle’s got me a job abroad,” Sirius replied.

“And I’m going to be working for Dumbledore,” Remus chimed.

Malo nodded and turned his eyes to James. “What about Mr. Potter?”

“Striving for a job with the English Search and Rescue Team for Wizards and Witches in
Distress.”

“Ah, it’s a satisfying job I hear. In fact, I know the captain. Went to school with him. I’ll let
him know that there’s a certain troublemaker who wishes to spend his life saving people,”
Malo said.

James nodded in thanks. He kind of liked Malo.

“Do you realize that Malo was the only teacher that didn’t lecture us about NEWTS,” Sirius
said as they entered the Great Hall for lunch, “It’s the first day and I already want to leave.”

“You’re telling me!” James retorted, “Hey, Remus, you okay?”

The pale boy returned to earth with bump. He shrugged and said, “I’ll live.”

“Oh yeah!” That’s tonight, isn’t it?” Peter beamed.

Remus frowned at him.

“What are you going to do, James? You have Head Boy duties,” asked Peter.

“He’ll skip it, of course!” Sirius snapped.

“No, he won’t!” the werewolf retorted.

James held up his hand. “Relax, guys. I’ll just come after patrolling.”

They nodded, obviously sated.

“Oh, thank heavens! I’m so hungry,” Peter sighed as they sat down at the table. Like dogs,
they dug in the food. James bit into a chicken leg and offered Remus one.

“I’m not hungry,” he responded.

James shrugged. “Well, okay, but what are you looking at?”

“I’m just trying to figure out who this girl is,” Remus said, blushing slightly.

James looked over to a bunch of six-year girls and stared at the unfamiliar figure Remus was
pointing at. She was a lanky but otherwise good-looking brunette. “I don’t recognize her, but
she sure is pretty,” the Head Boy shrugged.

“Yeah,” Remus said almost dreamily.

Sirius snickered. “Is ickle Remmy love struck?”

“No! I’m just trying to figure out who she is.”

“Well,” Sirius sighed, “Go ask her.”

And before Remus even had a chance to respond, he was shoved forward. Swallowing
nervously, he realized how bad he was with girls. He cast an angered look at the boys, but
went on anyway.

“Umm…excuse me,” he said. The girl looked up. With a jolt, Remus noticed that she looked
even prettier up close. Her eyes were a dazzling sky blue and her curly brown hair framed her
face perfectly.

“My friends were having an argument on whether you were new or not and I had to settle it.”

She laughed brightly. “Yes, I’m new. Today is my first day. I came over from the States.”

“Welcome, then,” he said, turning to leave.

“Wait,” the American girl said, “I didn’t catch your name.”

He blushed red. “Remus Lupin.”

“What an interesting name, Remus. Mine is Brooke. Brooke Garrison.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Brooke,” he said, “Well, I’ll see you around.”

He walked back to the boys, feeling oddly lighthearted. Sirius was snickering into his
pumpkin juice while trying fend off an elbow from James. They had obviously watched the
entire thing.

“Is she new?” Peter asked.

Remus smiled slowly. “Yeah…her name is Brooke.”

“Well, are you going to ask her out?” James asked seriously.

“What?” Remus stuttered, terrified of the concept.

Sirius let out a bark of laughter. “Do you even know what the phrase means?”

“I can’t ask her out,” Remus hissed, “I don’t know her, and she doesn’t know me.”

“Okay, whatever you say.”

Chapter Five

“Did James say what time he is coming?” Remus asked from his corner in the Shrieking
Shack.

Sirius looked up from his deck of cards, and shrugged. “No, but I expect around eleven.”

Remus nodded, distracted. His skin was a ghostly white and a series of tremors racked his
lanky frame. He had been a werewolf for nearly ten years, but that didn’t make the
transformation any easier. If anything, it made it harder, and the constant pain didn’t do much
for his physical and emotional health. He glanced out at the rapidly sinking sun and sighed.
There was nothing he wanted more than to be a regular person.
Remus’ head nodded as his mind slipped in and out of focus. The brutal and merciless mind
of an animal always came first, robbing him of his will to think and infer. After that, he’d start
crying and howling as he painfully transformed into the wolf-like body of a monster. And for
a few blissful minutes, if he were lucky, he’d collapse into a semi-conscience state, before the
entirety of hell burst forth as the beast within him opened its eyes.

“Sirius, Peter…transform,” Remus gasped as he struggled against the werewolf. He gripped

the leg of a broken bed as he convulsed, muscles bulging against an unseen force. His eyes
rolled into the back of his head.

Sirius looked away. He had seen Remus go through the transformation a thousand times, but
it still sent shivers down his spine. He looked at Peter and nodded, shrugging off his robes and
shoes. Focusing on the familiar image of a black dog in his mind’s eye, he took a deep breath
and begun to morph into his much loved Anamagi form. Though his transformation was
nowhere near as painful as Remus’ must be, Sirius still struggled against the discomfort.
Shaggy black fur sprouted over his skin and his tailbone groaned as it elongated into a tail.
His nose formed into a muzzle as his spine melded into a canine form. Once the
transformation was done, Sirius arched his back and stretched out his muscles. He glanced
over at Peter, whose Anamagi form was a rat, and wagged his doggy tail.

Remus howled painfully from behind them, and they turned to see their friend struggle
through the finishing stages of the werewolf transformation. Curled in the corner of the room
was creature twice the size the regular wolf with an elongated muzzle. It fell silent for a
moment, sides heaving from lack of oxygen. Then, it slowly opened its devilish yellow eyes
and struggled to its feet. Hot, steamy breath rushed past its fanged maw as it faced the dog
and the rat. Sirius caught a glimpse of Remus inside the yellow eyes as he fought to regain
control. The werewolf ceased its trembling and calmed slightly before them.

James rubbed his eyes and glanced at his wristwatch. He had been patrolling for nearly two
hours and it was almost eleven. Making his way down to the Head Boy and Girl room, he
wondered what his friends were doing, and whether or not Remus was injured in the
transformation.

“Phoenix Tears,” he told a sleepy Evanna. The portrait swung inward and he stepped inside,
sighing as the warmth from the fireplace washed over him. He went over to the bulletin board
and checked patrolling off his list of things to do.

“I see you made it,” Lily said darkly as she stepped into the room.

“Obviously,” James retorted.

Lily rolled her eyes and in one fluid movement, crossed out patrolling on her own list. She
swept her hair from her tired face, picked up her bag, and made to turn out the door.

“Aren’t you coming?” she asked.

James started briefly, then stopped and looked around. “I don’t where I left my bag!”
“You mean the one by your desk?” Lily answered, her eyes narrowing suspiciously.

“Thanks.” James went over to the bag and dropped to his knees. He dug around inside his bag
for a moment, and then, realizing that Lily was still by the door, looked up and frowned.

“I can find the dormitory by myself, thank you,” he said.

Lily cocked an eyebrow at him. “Right,” she said, and then stepped outside of the room. She
walked a couple of paces down the hall, and stopped. Struck by a quick surge of curiosity,
Lily squeezed herself in between an over-large trophy and the wall. She held her breath as the
creak of the portrait sounded and waited for James to pass. But although she heard footsteps,
she did not see the black-haired boy walk by.

As soon as he stepped outside, James whipped off his invisibility cloak and let the night
breeze ruffle his hair. Somewhere in the distance, he could hear the sound of wolf braying to
the full moon. He took off down the hill, changing into the powerful body of an antlered stag.
Muscles like liquid steel moved gracefully underneath his tan coat, and James tossed his
mighty head as if challenging any who dared. This is what he missed most about Hogwarts.

Chapter Six

“I’m telling you, Sara. Potter is up to something,” Lily hissed as she and Sara made their way
down to breakfast.

Sara sighed. “You don’t think you’re over reacting?”

Lily gave her a sour look. She was positive that James didn’t come to bed last night or even to
the Gryffindor common room because she had fallen asleep in an armchair by the fire. No,
Potter was up to something and she was going to catch him doing it. If she did, then Lily
would have visible proof that he did not deserve to be Head Boy.

“Look, Lily,” Sara said softly, “There’s James right now and he doesn’t have that ‘I’m up to
something’ look.”

“No, but he looks tired.”

Tired was almost an understatement. He looked positively asleep as he sprinkled cinnamon on

his porridge. Sirius and Peter sat beside him, and their equally exhausted looks sent Lily’s
spirits soaring even higher. Whenever James played troublemaker, he always did it with his
friends. The only problem was where was Remus? When Lily pointed this out to Sara, the
prefect only shrugged her shoulders.

“He’s probably just visiting his mother again,” she sighed.

They sat down, and Lily reached for the eggs. She could see James over Sara’s shoulder and
he seemed to be deep in conversation with Sirius. That was another bad sign. If Sirius was
holding a conversation with anyone and it didn’t have the words ‘Hey, baby. Want to go
upstairs?’ in it was bad news.
“You know,” Lily said to Sara’s exasperation, “Now that I think of it, Remus going to visit
his mother as much as he does seems a little fishy.”

Sara rolled her eyes. “I guess he’s just a devoted son. Besides, what else would he be doing
every month?”

“That’s the problem! I can’t figure out. Any person who loves to break the rules should be
automatically stupid.”

They sat in silence for a few moments, and then James got up and headed to the Head Boy
and Girl room. Lily was struck with a brilliant idea.

“I think I’ll go ask him what he’s up to,” she said slyly.

Sara frowned at her. “Even if he was up to something, he wouldn’t tell you, Lily. You’re out
to ruin his life.”

“If I try a little bit of ‘good cop, bad cop’, I’m bound to get something from him.”

Her friend gave her a quizzical look and Lily sighed, “You don’t watch enough muggle TV.”
Then setting her fork down, she got up and crossed the Great Hall. James turned upon hearing
her footsteps. His intense hazel eyes were dull and surrounded by bags, but he otherwise
looked quite cheerful.

“I think we have to patrol the courtyard indiscreetly at break. Madam Pomfrey suspects
bullying and it’s only the second day,” he said conversationally.

Lily couldn’t stop herself. “Gee, I’d never thought I’d hear that from you.”

His annoyed look told her that she needed some work with ‘good cop, bad cop’. They
continued to the far corner door and down into the hallway. Lily thought for a moment. This
was her first attempt at trying to start a conversation with James. Any attempt prior had
always been started by him and ending with her yelling.

“You look tired,” she said casually, “Didn’t you get any sleep?”

“Nah, I stayed up late…thinking.”

“Thinking?” She gave him a suspicious look.

“Yes, thinking. By the way, why are you being so nice?”

Lily shrugged. “Oh, just taking your advice and trying to cooperate.”

“Well, stop it,” James said, “You’re making me nervous.”

She had to choke back her laughter, admitting that there were times when he could be quite
humorous. But Lily gave herself a shake. They were nearly to the Head Boy and Girl room
and she still didn’t have any idea that he was causing mischief.
“Sorry. But I had to ask, see,” she said, wording the statement carefully, “I had to stop and tie
my shoe and I didn’t see you come out of the Head Boy and Girl room last night. I was just
wondering…”

“You were spying on me?” James asked, all cheerfulness gone.

“I didn’t say that! You’re twisting my words.”

James’ eyebrows knitted together and his eyes flashed. “Look here, Evans! Stay out of my
life. I have business that you don’t need to know about.”

“It’s about Remus,” Lily snapped, angry that she had failed to retrieve any news, “I bet he
doesn’t actually go to his sick mother every month! I saw her on the train station and she
didn’t look like someone who was chronically sick. In fact, she only looked worried. Probably
because her son keeps hanging out with a bunch of hooligans who have nothing better to do
then make everyone else’s lives miserable.”

James no longer looked angry. His skin had gone a ghastly white and he looked absolutely
horrified. “I don’t know why I ever liked you, Evans,” he breathed, “You’re just as horrible as
you always say I am. But let me tell you this, if I catch you snooping around again I’ll
personally make your life a living hell. Some secrets are best kept secret.”

And he turned on his heel and marched away from her. Lily bit her lip. She had never seen
James that unnerved. She had touched a matter of great concern with him, and it made the
situation worse. The fact that James was hiding a secret made him seem…almost more
mature.

School melded into its familiar monotonous tone as the days wore into weeks. It was as if
Hogwarts moved with the same rhythmic beat that made living without seem almost
impossible. Every student in the school found that the days prior to their Hogwarts time hard
to recall, and in some places nonexistent. Their life revolved around school and all its
activities. Quidditch teams could be seen practicing in the evenings and weekends, preparing
themselves for the season opener. Homework and tests were being piled high on the children.
And the Hospital Ward had already seen a great deal of ailments ranging from colds and
fevers to aches and bruises. It was as if summer had never occurred.

Lily had followed James’ advice and kept her nose out of his business, but she still wondered
about it constantly. It bothered her that James could be doing something illegal and possibly
dangerous. She had wanted so badly to turn him in herself, just to get the recognition from the
teachers. Her friends said that she going senile, obsessing over James and his troublemaking.
Sara told her to let him do what he wants; saying that it was his reputation that he was
spoiling and Lily had nothing to do with it. But in a way, Lily thought she did because the
Head Boy was mostly associated with the Head Girl. Anything that he did would somehow be
tied to her.

Even though Lily kept an eye on him, she didn’t really see anything that could be considered
warning signs. In fact, he went on with his Head Boy duties and took care to pay attention to
the needs of the school. Everyone had to admit that he was living up to his badge, though
every now and then he was caught pulling one of his old pranks. But that wasn’t new or
unexpected. It wasn’t long before Remus had returned and James sour mood was lifted and he
went back to being carefree. Though one thing was different. He now completely ignored
Lily, which was far from being ordinary. It seemed as though he had finally given up on her.
To her great surprise, Lily actually found this the most annoying thing he had ever done.

“Did you give Alec Renning a detention for being out after hours?” Lily asked one Friday
evening nearly a month later.

“Yes,” James answered in his simple, one-syllable response. She turned to hide the scowl on
her face. The only time she had the chance to talk to James was during Head duties and he
never said much. In fact, Lily couldn’t recall a time he had even answered in a full sentence
since they had that argument on the second day of school.

She thought quickly. “I had to fill out a detention on Severus Snape today. I caught him
searching through someone else’s bag.”

A brief flash of anger crossed James’ face. She knew that would definitely get a response
from him considering the fact that he hated the greasy idiot with a passion. But the glimpse of
emotion was brief and he bent down and started rummaging through his bag. The familiar
action sent a jolt of adrenaline racing down Lily’s spine. Was history repeating itself?

She leaned forward to check something off of her list and peered sideways into his bag. There
were textbooks, quills, old parchment, and candy wrappers inside, reminding her of the many
bags she already had to search that year. But he shifted the contents, and Lily caught a
glimpse of something silvery. She gasped.

“What?” James snapped, realizing her presence and yanking his bag over his shoulder.

“Oh, so you actually can string together the thought required for a sentence,” she said bravely,
pretending that she hadn’t seen anything, “If the word ‘what’ can actually be considered a
sentence.”

Sniffing angrily, Lily grabbed her bag and walked out of the room. Her heart was hammering
so loudly against her chest that she feared the whole castle would hear it. She was certain that
she had seen an invisibility cloak inside James’ bag and she was certain that they were very
rare and hard to come by. She had known for years that the troublemaker liked to walk around
at night, and she knew how he did it so efficiently. Lily now had the perfect excuse to get him
in trouble and all she needed was proof. And she knew how to get it.

As quickly and quietly as she could, Lily squeezed herself behind the trophy that she hid
behind last time. The sound of the portrait opening and closing tore through the silence like a
sharp edged knife. Though she knew she couldn’t see James move about underneath the
cloak, she could feel the slight reverberations of his heel striking the stone floor. And then,
just as she had hoped, the creak of the door to the Great Hall sounded. Lily hardly believed
her luck as she tiptoed after him.

Chapter Seven

Lily cracked open the door to the Great Hall and peered through. A bright full moon shone
through the giant floor-to-ceiling windows and cast long pools of light on the stone, making
the shadowed crevices seem darker than normal. Her green eyes quickly found a bend in one
of the bright moonbeams where it seemed as though a person was walking through one the
liquid rays. It has to be James, she thought hurriedly. The shadow moved across the floor and
the giant door was wrenched open. Like a mouse, Lily crept after him. It seemed that being
invisible made a person near-sighted.

For a solid five minutes, she followed the invisible boy down to the main floor. Her breath
caught in her chest as the front oak doors opened wide enough for someone to pass through.
Lily wondered what could be out there that James had to see and debated with herself whether
she should follow. There were no witnesses outside. But the intoxicating mixed feeling of
revenge and curiosity drove her onward. She pulled open the doors, letting the shock of cool
night air soothe her flushed face.

“Nice invisibility cloak, Potter!” she yelled into the wind.

James gasped, frozen by numb reality. There was no way that Lily could have known that he
came out here. He had taken extra precautions this time to insure himself that Remus’ secret
remained just that…a secret. But then again, Lily had been spying. A sudden rush of hot
emotion ran down James’ spine, but he made no sudden movement. If the moonbeams didn’t
hit him oddly, he could stay invisible until Lily gave up. Maybe she had only just seen the
invisibility cloak and had no idea that a werewolf was currently running wild just out of their
range of sight.

“Oh, just give up!” the redhead yelled, “I know you’re out here! I saw your cloak in the Heads
room. I now know how you’ve been getting around at night and I’m sure the teachers would
like to know too.”

She really is an idiot, James thought. She doesn’t take time to examine every aspect of life.
All Lily worries about is her reputation and future. If she just stopped to think, she might
realize that there are other people in this world.

Lily was frustrated at this point. “For god’s sakes, James, just give up!”

James caught a glimpse of movement from the corner of his eye. A jolt of adrenaline rushed
through him. Lily couldn’t see what he saw due to her position, but she was in terrible danger
and didn’t know. Without thinking twice, he whipped off his invisibility cloak.

“Don’t move,” he said in a shaking voice, but in her supposed moment of victory, she didn’t
listen.

“I’ve finally caught you,” Lily smirked.

He shook his head frantically, placing a finger on his lips. He inched toward her, doing his
best not to make any sudden movements. Lily, by this time, was pretty unnerved by his
actions. Her green eyes narrowed suspiciously.

“What?” she asked.

Before James could answer, a long low growl sounded from behind her. Lily spun around in
panic and backed up against James, nearly sending him sprawling. Standing right in front was
an enormous wolf with yellow devilish eyes and long fangs. It hackles were raised in wild
anger, and saliva hung from its maw like slippery vines. The monster growled again, raising
the hairs on the back of James’ neck.

“Oh my god,” Lily whimpered in a hushed voice, trembling against James’ body, “That’s…
it’s…it’s Remus!”

He swallowed nervously. “Just…keep…still.”

The wolf stepped forward, his wild eyes inspecting his prey. Then, from out of nowhere, a
much smaller black dog pounced on top of the monster with such ferocity that the wolf
toppled over. The canines landed in a sprawling mess of teeth, claws, fur, and blood. James
yanked Lily backwards with the single command of ‘RUN!’ and she didn’t hesitate to obey
for once in her life. They sprinted toward the outskirts of the forbidden forest, hoping to find
sanctuary in the upper branches of the trees.

“What are we going to do?” Lily yelled over the distant snarling of the dogs.

“Just leave that to me!”

They reached a tall, sturdy tree and Lily hoisted herself upward, climbing like she’d never
done back home. A loud yelp sounded from the fight and the black dog slumped motionless.
The werewolf lifted its head and howled, staring at James wildly. It sprinted toward him,
moving quite fast for an animal of that size.

“James, hurry!” Lily screamed. But James didn’t move his position. Instead he began to
transform, changing into the powerful build of his antlered stag. Lily yelped in fright from the
branches of the tree, hardly believing what she was seeing. The deer lowered its head, pawing
the ground wildly with its cloven hooves. The werewolf, knowing better than to plunge into
the merciless prongs of the stag, skidded to a stop.

James, cornered but armed, was quite a match for the wolf. The bloodthirsty monster growled
and chuffed in desperation, trying to penetrate through the unwavering stag. But the deer held
firm, using its antlers as a shield between him and the predator. The wolf paced back and
forth, periodically snapping at the prongs. Whenever he’d turn one direction, James would
follow.

Meanwhile, the black dog was struggling to his feet. He shook his shaggy coat out and licked
his more serious wounds. A tiny bedraggled rat sat beside him, squeaking nervously. Not far
away, the stag was fending off the werewolf with its sharp prongs. The dog started forward,
flinching from his flesh wounds. He was in no condition to fight, but he was sure that help
was needed.

The werewolf pulled something clever. He faked one direction and twisted around the stag’s
antlers. With a ferocious growl he sank his teeth into the vulnerable back leg. The deer brayed
painfully as blood squirted past the wolf’s mouth. In desperation, James rammed his antlers
into the fur-covered torso. With a yelp, the werewolf toppled backwards only to be struck by
the burly black dog.
Recognizing defeat, the yellow-eyed monster sprinted deep into the forbidden forest, the
black dog in pursuit. Their braying voices echoed dimly throughout the close-knit trees,
before vanishing altogether. James, feeling that danger had passed, transformed back and
sagged against the tree. A throbbing wound stretched across his lower thigh, oozing blood all
over his clothes.

“Are you hurt badly?” Lily asked breathlessly as she climbed down the tree.

James ignored her, feeling the hot anger coursing through his veins. He took his pocketknife
and slit his already ruined pant leg. The amount of blood lost made him queasy, but he rinsed
the wound with water from his wand and healed himself as best as he could. It still hurt to put
weight on it, but he would live. There were other matters more important.

“Where are you going?” Lily asked as he turned toward the trees.

James paused, breathing in sharply. “You’re the genius…figure it out.”

“But you’re hurt,” she whispered.

He twisted around and stared her straight in the eye, making her cower underneath his gaze.
“That never bothered you before! Why start now? Besides, my best friends are in danger and
that’s what matters to me now! Not some bloody scratch. Why don’t you go squeal to
Dumbledore? Isn’t that what you want?”

He transformed into the stag, and bounded into the forest, leaving Lily rooted to the spot. The
mess that she had created horrified her beyond comprehension. With heavy steps she returned
to the castle, but instead of going to one of the teachers’ offices as she had once wished, she
took the long route to the Gryffindor common room.

All through the night, Lily tossed in and out of dreams that included raging monsters with
yellow eyes and sharp teeth. Her friends woke her up early for it was a Hogsmead visit, but
Lily turned it down saying that she wasn’t feeling well. She slipped on her bathrobe and sat
alone in the dormitory, thinking of last night’s events. It didn’t make sense to her. She had
known those boys for nearly seven years and she thought she could read them like an open
book, but this new information totally took her off guard. It surprised her that James would do
so much for Remus when others would normally shun him. Even Sirius’ actions, for she was
positive that he was black dog, made her reconsider all that she had gathered about them.

Lily dressed and went downstairs to the common room. There were a few people seated in the
chairs, mostly stragglers who wake up late, but one of them approached Lily. It was the brown
haired girl from America. It had been one of Lily’s assignments to help the girl get situated at
her new school. She was a nice person, very sweet and full of humor. She and Lily became
friends, but due to the fact that Brooke was a year younger made time to hang out limited.

“Hey, Lily,” Brooke said in her American accent, “Do you a know a boy by the name of
Remus Lupin?”

Lily kept her face blank. “Yeah, he and I used to be on prefect duty together.”
“Oh, okay. I just heard that he got injured pretty bad while he was making his periodic visit to
his mother’s.”

“Yes,” Lily said, surprising herself, “Yes, I know.”

“Well, is he alright?” Brooke asked.

“I just heard myself, Brooke. I couldn’t tell you.”

The curly-haired girl nodded and told her thanks. Lily watched her retreat to her six-year
friends and wondered briefly why she so interested. But she shook the matter out of her head
and turned to a couple sitting by the fire. There were wrapped so tightly together it was hard
for Lily to tell the difference between them.

“Hey, Chris,” she asked the blond-haired boy, “Have you seen James Potter anywhere?”

The boy shook his head.

“No, but I saw Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew at early breakfast,” the girl chimed in.

Lily thanked them. If James wasn’t with Sirius then she knew something was quite wrong.
They probably had a row over last night’s events, and James was most likely off sulking. Lily
wanted to speak with him just to clarify what she had seen, but before she did anything, she’d
have to find him first. The best place to start would be their dormitory.

“Hello?” she said as she knocked on the door. There was no answer, so Lily let herself in. The
room was vacant as far as people go, but there something peculiar on one of the beds. She
picked it up.

“Far out,” Lily breathed, staring at a giant map of Hogwarts. On top of the page, the words
“The Marauders’ Map” shone in great black letters. Small ink smudges moved across the page
and it took Lily a minute to see that they were people. She searched for the Gryffindor Tower
and found familiar names like Brooke Garrison, Marietta Lee, Christopher Edgar, and even
her own name, Lillian Evans. She had never seen a map quite like this before and it astounded
her greatly.

And idea came to her and she searched the rooms and corridors until she found the name
“James Potter” within a secret passage on North Tower. Lily folded the map and placed it
within her pocket and hurried out the dormitory. She found the secret passage within seconds
even though she had never seen it before. It was nothing more than an empty hallway with a
rope ladder leading several floors up, but she found the passage quite effective. James was
sitting on a windowsill, looking out into the lake. He seemed so woebegone that Lily actually
thought about turning back around.

“What do you want?” he asked without looking up.

“Well, I just came to talk.”

James lifted his head and stared her straight in the eye. “How did you know where I was?”
Lily frowned and pulled the map out of her pocket. James threw his arms up in the air.

“For crying out loud! You’re snooping again?”

“No!” Lily said hurriedly as he snatched the map out of her hands, “It was accident! I only
went up to dormitory to see if you were up there and the map was just lying on one of the
beds. I’m really sorry and all, but I couldn’t stop myself. It’s a really amazing invention, you
know.”

James gave her a funny look. “You think so?”

“Yeah, did you invent it?”

“Mm-hmm,” he said, “Third year actually.”

“You’re kidding me,” she said, grateful that he wasn’t yelling anymore.

“No. Say, what did you want to talk about?”

Lily tucked her hair behind her ears and sat down on the stone floor. She knew that they could
be here a while.

“I just…wondered…I mean, I want…” She paused, trying to find the right words.

“How someone sweet like Remus could become a monster every month?” he offered.

“Yes…I mean, no…I mean…James, you’re reading me wrong,” Lily sighed, “I don’t care
that he’s a werewolf. He’s seems pretty…contained. I just did something stupid.”

James’ eyebrows rose so high that they were in danger of disappearing into his shaggy hair.
“So, you admit that you were wrong by following me?”

Lily ran her hands over her face. “Yes, James.”

They were silent for a few minutes.

“All right,” he said, cupping his hands under his face, “I’ll tell you what you want. Just ask it
in question form.”

“How long has Remus been a werewolf?” she said, decided that it would be best to start from
the beginning.

“Since he was seven.”

“And when did you, Sirius, and Peter find out?”

He paused for a moment. “Umm…Christmas of second year.”

“Dumbledore and the other teachers are full aware that he is a werewolf?” Lily asked.
“Yeah.”

“But…not about the fact that you’re an animagi, right?”

James blew out his cheeks and looked at the lake again. “Knew we’d get there at some point.
You are correct.”

“How?” Lily said in amazement, “How did accomplish something like that?”

“I…kind of did it,” he answered, studying his fingertips.

“I’m…I’m impressed. I don’t know what else to say. Why’d you do it?”

“Well, because you can’t go near a werewolf when you are a human, but animals are in no
danger. I get bit loads of times and yet I’m fine.”

Lily was stunned. It was hard to imagine that James would go out of his way just to help
someone he loved and cared for like a brother. Maybe the troublemaker did have a heart
underneath after all.

“You’re a deer, right?”

“I prefer stag. Sirius was the black dog, and I don’t know whether you saw him or not, but
Peter is a rat,” he answered.

Lily leaned back and shook her head. “This is just so astounding. Its hard to believe that
you…you…”

“Could manage something like becoming an animagi?”

“No,” she responded uncertainly, “That you’d do something…like that…because that is the
only way you could be with your friend when he needed you the most.”

James stood and made his way to the rope ladder. “You know, Lily, like I said before…I’m
not as shallow as you think.” And he climbed up it, leaving Lily to wallow in her thoughts.
Chapter 1

Lily sat on her four poster bed in front of the mirror that she had just made appear, she sat
taking off her make up with a cotton wool pad (one of the many millions she had brought with
her.) She reached over to the bedside table, grabbed her wand and made the mirror disappear,
she then place her wand back on the table and slid off her bed, to get her pyjama’s.
Just as she was pulling her top over her head, ready to replace it with the red strapped top, the
dorm door opened, and to her horror in the door way stood James Potter,
“ Wow Evan’s you’ve bin working out?” James said staring uncomfortably at her black bra,
suddenly realizing what had happened she grabbed her top and quickly tried to cover her self
up, but it was too late. James had seen to much.

“get out” Lilly screamed, pushing him out of the door and down the stair’s.
She ran back up the stair’s how did he get in she thought there was a spell on the dorm stairs
to make sure he couldn’t get in.
Tomorrow’s going to be a long day and it’s a Saturday she sighed,
She pulled down her trousers and put on the black hot pants to match her top and then pulled
the curtain’s around her and snuggled down under the warm, soft sheets.

The next day she awoke knowing she didn’t have to get up, she smiled as she turned over on
her back, she sat up, rubbed her eyes and then got out of bed, she decided to use the prefects
bathroom to get ready in, she opened the door and heard one of the showers being used and
put down her stuff in the shower cubical, and then walked out (still dressed) to get her towel,
as she turned around someone came out of the cubical, she bumped into them and looked
round, Sirius Black (one of James’ friends) was lying on the floor stark naked with his towel a
good five feet away, she saw everything. At first she didn’t know what to do so see covered
her eyes and turned away while Sirius got himself together.

“I think it’s only fair, that now you have seen my morning glory, I get to see yours” he said
playing with one of the straps on her top.
“Not a chance Sirius” Lilly said disgusted, batting his hand away” I wonder how did you
become a perfect?” she asked
“I have my ways” he said smiling he started to walk away and he bent down to get his clothes
and added “ oh well if I don’t see it now maybe I should walk in when your getting changed “
he smiled cheekily
“ you are disgusting” Lilly said getting into her cubical and making sure it was locked tight.
Chapter 1

“Lily…” Lily’s best friend Laura Thompsen was unsuccessfully trying to get her friend’s
attention.

“Oh Lily…” Laura called in a sing-song voice. Still no response came from Lily who was
lying on her bed deeply engrossed in the magazine The Quidditch Pitch. Lily had been lying
like that for the past twenty minutes, and Laura was getting antsy.

“Hey Lily, I could really use some help on this Charms paper.” Laura had been trying to write
her paper for the last hour, but without much success. But honestly, how much success can
you expect to have when your dorm mates have already finished their homework and are
either “reading” a magazine full of hot quidditch players without shirts on, or playing
exploding snap in the middle of the room?

“Mmm hmm.” Lily replied. Laura let out an exasperated sigh and dropped back onto her
pillows. She closed her eyes, but immediately jumped when she heard a loud CRACK! come
from the middle of the room.

“Could you two please go play that game in the common room, I’m trying to study up here.”

“Well, we would, but now that Sirius finally has a steady girlfriend, the common room has
been rather, umm, steamy if you know what I mean.” Rachael and Amy looked at each other
and scowled. “Besides, why can’t you just go study down there?”

Laura frowned, “For the same reason that you don’t want to go down there. Sirius has a
girlfriend; James is sulking because Sirius has a girlfriend, so he won’t pay me any attention. I
mean, there’s practically no one left that’s worth flirting with. And no, I am not going to lead
that poor fifth year on.”

Amy smirked and said, “But I thought you needed to study, not flirt.”

Laura sighed and put her books away. It looked like she wasn’t going to get much done
tonight. She stood up and wandered over to the girl’s vanity. She was trying on a pair of
Rachael’s earrings when she realized that Lily hadn’t turned the page of her magazine for the
past ten minutes. Curious, Laura slowly approached Lily from behind to see what she was
looking at. On the right side of the magazine was a picture titled Derrick Angleton, Newest
seeker of the Sheffield Snidgets. Laura had to admit; he had a fantastic build and was
incredibly handsome. On the other side of the centerfold, was a piece of parchment. She
leaned in closer and began to read.

Dearest Lily love,

I miss you so much. I don’t know if I can handle another minute without seeing you. You are
the most beautiful girl that I have ever seen. I love you more than ever now that we are apart.
Promise me that you won’t forget about me. You are like an angel. My angel. I can feel you
smiling down on me from the heavens of Hogwarts. I can hear your voice in the wind saying,
“I love you, I miss you,” as I fly around the quidditch pitch...

“Ugh, that is so sappy Lily; I can’t believe you like that stuff he writes.”

Lily snapped the magazine shut and flipped over onto her back to see Laura hovering over
her.

“Excuse me, but that’s private. If you don’t like it, you don’t have to read it.”

“Come on Lily, can you honestly tell me that you like being referred to as…” She grabbed the
letter from Lily and read, “having skin as smooth as my broom handle.”

“Give that back!” Lily made a snatch for the letter, but as Laura was both a good six inches
taller and two feet away from Lily, her fist returned to her empty. “And it’s not really what he
says, it’s what he is trying to say.”

“Ha,” Laura snorted, “You and I both know that it’s not what he is trying to say, but how
many muscles he can ripple while saying it.”

“Ooo, you’re going to get it for that!” Lily jumped off her bed and started chasing Laura
around the room. Laura yelped and dove under her bed, but it was to no avail. Lily had
already grabbed her wand and Laura felt a peculiar sensation that could only mean one thing.
Lily had hit her.

“AGHHH! No! Please stop Lily, ah… ha ha ha. Oh! Hee, hee hee. Ouch!” Still stuck under
her bed, Laura had hit her head on the frame while being tickled by Lily’s spell.

“Oh! I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean for that to happen!” Lily exclaimed. Laura slowly crawled
out from under the bed, rubbing her bumped head, and itching from the sensation that the
tickling spell always left behind. Lily ran across the room to help pull Laura to her feet.

“You know, if you can’t stand a minute with out looking at some rippling pectorals, I suggest
you go downstairs and ogle at James for a while. The real thing is ten times better than a
picture.” Laura said as she inspected her head for bruises.

“Oh, ha ha.” Lily retorted with a smirk. “If you ever catch me ogling at Potter, especially his
pectorals, please take me to Madame Pomfrey immediately because I will have either one,
been given a love potion, or two, have gone insane.”

***

It was the first Saturday of the term, and Lily and her roommates, along with the majority of
the student body, were taking advantage of the beautiful fall day before they had a full load of
homework given to them on Monday. Lily was happy that this was her last year at Hogwarts,
but she was also sad. She knew that after graduation, things wouldn’t be so simple anymore.
She would have to find a job, and somewhere to live, and Derrick would most likely ask her
to marry him. That is, unless he found some other cute, sporty girl in the Quidditch industry
that he had been thrust into after graduating the previous year.

She and Derrick had dated for almost her entire 6th year. Looking back, she couldn’t really
say how it all started. Derrick had become the head boy and she had been reappointed as a
Gryffindor prefect. He was the seeker for the Gryffindor quidditch team, and arguably the
most attractive boy in school. But, for some reason he fancied her. One day, he approached
her after a prefect meeting. This alone shocked her, but when he asked her to accompany him
on the next Hogsmead weekend, she nearly fell over. Of course she said yes, and things just
seemed to blossom from there.

Did she love him? Yes. Her roommates might say that she was deliriously in love with him. It
was probably mostly because she had never thought of herself as being able to attract
someone that handsome, chivalrous, smart, skilled, and that had a bloody beautiful body. He
was just tall enough that the crown of her head would fit under his chin, and her arms would
fit perfectly around his hard abdomen.

Lily had to admit that Laura was right; his letters were awfully sappy. Sometimes she wished
that he would just tease her once in a while. Maybe give her career advice instead of being
star struck all the time. Deep down, she knew that they were probably one of those couples
that she would cringe to see in public, and she knew that many people did cringe at them.

Most people say that “absence makes the heart grow fonder,” but since Lily had been away
from Derrick all summer, she had begun to notice his faults. She would look back and realize
things about him that she never would have noticed while in his captivating presence. Like
how hypocritical he was when he would find a couple making out in an alcove, scold them for
it, and then make full use of it with her once they had left. Or even how he kissed now seemed
to bother her. She was glad that she wasn’t almost choking because his tongue was so far into
her mouth. That thing must have been six inches long! She did miss him though. Her lips felt
dry after four months without a kiss. She didn’t know if she could last until Christmas. Of
course she would… but hugging a pillow at night just wasn’t enough.

If nothing else, Derrick had saved her from a year of Potter’s torment. James hadn’t dared to
ask her out while she was dating Derrick. Every time they had a fight, he would take his
chances and try to talk to her, but before he could say a word, she would always say, “We’re
still dating, Potter, so don’t even bother asking.” Now with Derrick gone, she knew that
James would have no qualms about asking her out. She hadn’t dared to venture into the
common room since returning to Hogwarts. She just had this feeling that he would pounce on
her the first chance he got…