"Mr. Potter, Ms. Evans, what do you think you are doing out of the castle during school hours?" Professor Slughorn asked. He obviously had been doing the same thing we had, been out for a stroll.

"We, ah," I couldn't seem to find words. My mouth was moving as if it was full of putty.

Then Professor Slughorn looked horrified. "You two weren't… you know…"

"No," James said quickly before Slughorn could continue. I had an idea of what he had been about to say, and I hoped I was wrong. Either way, my face started to flush. I looked around me, anywhere but at them.

"You see, Professor, Lily and I needed extra time to work on Head duties, you know, organizing events and stuff for Hogwarts. Importance business. We've gotten permission to do so," James told the Professor confidently.

"Is this true, Ms. Evans?"

I felt Slughorn's eyes on me but couldn't bring myself to look up. If I had he would have for sure been able to see through the lie—I was such a terrible liar.

"Yes, sir," I muttered, barely audible. Why do I always find myself in such situations only when I'm around James?

Professor Slughorn looked James up and down before giving a huff and declaring, "Well, if you have so much time off I'd appreciate if you'd help me out. I've been needing extra assistance to help me make a potion—very powerful stuff. But everyone always been unable to lend me a hand. "

James coughed, "I wonder why." Thankfully Professor Slughorn didn't hear. He was too busy smiling at us like we were little kids and he was giving us lollipops. "You'll help me, won't you?"

There was no getting out of it. We both nodded our heads enthusiastically. Too bad I won't actually get a lollipop out of this, I thought, gritting my teeth as we headed back to the castle.

James seemed fine with the turn of the events. It seemed our argument was totally forgotten, and I was silently thankful. I was being ridiculous towards him, getting in his face at every little choice he made. It really was none of my business at all. Nor should it be.

We soon found ourselves in a dreary looking dungeon where Slughorn called Home. He had a large copper cauldron pulled out in the middle of the room. Potion ingredients were strewn everywhere.

"Well, good thing I tidied up before I left for my walk earlier—my unconscious must have been telling me that I would later be having guests," the professor said.

James gave a good natured laugh… but stopped abruptly when Slughorn started at him.

"My dear boy, what's so funny?" he asked.

"Um, your joke, sir," but James stopped as he realized Professor Slughorn had been serious.

I coughed to fill the uncomfortable silence. "Professor, what potion are we helping you with?"

Slughorn stopped giving James a weird stare and started stumbling around the room, looking for something. He must have found it as he stopped abruptly next to a large bookcase. He pulled out a long, yellowing piece of paper.

"It's something for Professor Dumbledore. Can't say what, I'm afraid. It's secret stuff, but I think I can trust the two Heads to help me out. After all, you two are probably the most responsible students at Hogwarts!"

It was my turn to laugh, once again at something Professor Slughorn hadn't meant to be funny. "Ahhaha—sorry, tickle in my throat…" I gave a loud cough for good measure and mentally smacked myself silly.

Professor Slughorn looked concerned for my sanity, but only momentarily before James asked him again about the potion, and Slughorn prepared the cauldron.

"Now, I need to run an errand, but follow the directions on this list" –he thrust the yellow paper into my hands— "The first three ingredients should take about an hour to stir together." With little more instruction, the professor zoomed out of his room.

"Once again you and I are alone in a classroom. Hmm, this could definitely lead to some juicy gossip for the first years," James said.

I chose to ignore his comment. I wasn't sure where he was trying to go with it. Was he trying to flirt with me? I wasn't sure to think of it if he was. I was just getting used to talking to him again and trying not to get upset over some of the things he says.

I lit a small, contained fire under the cauldron's copper bottom and threw in the snake skin.

"I was surprised by your ability to come up with a feasible lie to Slughorn outside when he caught us. I thought we were dead meat for sure," I finally said.

James pushed his hair up arrogantly. "Yeah, well, it comes with years of practice. You don't think I've only had 34 detentions for nothing, do you?"

I stopped stirring for a second and looked into his hazel eyes. "Thirty-four detentions! You've had thirty-four detentions?!" I couldn't believe it.

"So few, I know," James said, looking thoughtful. "I suppose if I hadn't gotten so good at excuses, the number would be nearly double."

All I could say was, "thirty… thirty-four…" I shook my head. I knew he had gotten many more detentions in his first couple years at Hogwarts.

I threw in the next ingredient, and James went on talking as if he relished thinking back on his misbehavior. "Yep, second year they made Sirius and I scrub dishes in the kitchen for a month. We finally finished our detentions when we got caught sneaking around school at night and were sent back." He shook his head. "We were down there so often that one time a professor came in and accidently addressed us as house elves. "

I laughed, visualizing it all in my head. Little James Potter, naughtiest boy to enter Hogwarts great doors.

My cheerfulness was cut short when the door swung open and Professor Slughorn came back in. He strutted in slowly, carrying himself tall with his large belly protruding above his belt.

"How's it going along, Ms. Evans?" he asked, smiling kindly at me.

I shrugged. "We're only on the second step."

Slughorn seemed to understand. "Yes, well, keep working. I'll prepare the beetle juice for step five," he said and started to walk to a dirt shelf in the back to the room.

The door swung open again, and all our eyes were on the newest addition to the room. It was a professor I only recognized by sight as I had never taken one of her classes. She didn't seem to notice that either James or I were in the room. She headed straight for Slughorn.

"Horace—have you heard?" she panted. She had obviously just ran the whole way to the room.

Professor Slughorn sputtered, "Beth, what on earth is going on? What are you talking about?"

"You—Know—Who has done it again… attacked muggle families," she sobbed. "It's all over the news, the ministry doesn't know how they're going to stop him."

At the mention of muggles, my body stiffened. I worried about my parents at home constantly. You—Know—Who had been killing and causing destruction for a long time, but it seemed like there had been more attacks recently than in the past.

Professor Slughorn looked at James then at me. "Please, Beth, there are children in the room." He hushed her up and ushered her out of the room while giving the two of us pitying looks.

The room fell silent as the two disappeared. I didn't move except for my hand which still stirred the cauldron, although I was no longer aware of what I was doing.

"Lily?" A hand went out and touched my shoulder. "Lily, I'm sure your family is fine." I knew James was talking to me, yet it was like I was alone on an island. I was surrounded my hundreds of innocent muggles who had died cruelly at the hands of witches and wizards.

"Lily, we should get you back to the common room." James carefully tried to pull me away from the cauldron, but I was stubborn.

"No, we can't leave the potion unattended," I insisted, trying to keep my voice steady.

"No, we definitely don't. Slughorn will understand." He pulled on me again, and this time I didn't put up a fight. He must have dragged me all the way back to the Gryffindor common room, but I don't really recall any of it. My mind was racing with dreadful possibilities.

Then I blinked and found that I was standing in front of my bedroom door.

"You should go to bed," James said from where he stood next to me, supporting me. I wanted to argue, to remain strong, but sometimes I have found it is best to give in. So I nodded and James helped me into my room and into my bed.

The fact that he was in my room would have sent me screaming only months ago, yet now it was comforting. I trusted him; I knew that he would respect me and that he understood the terrible emotions I was feeling.