A/N: WELL WELL LOOK WHO'S BACK (me). So, hello, a long, loooong overdue update eh - but here in anniversary of the last time i updated (November 15th 2015), here's the next update! Its short, but its something. Shoutout to Renata for giving this a quick read and giving me enough validation to actually post it 3

To those of you that have stuck around, and return to the story for this chapter, my appreciation for you is endless xx

Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns Harry Potter as well as most characters below, although she greatly under-uses them (read: James and Lily).

James had slumped down, elbows resting on his knees, head in his shaking hands. Lily, her expression unwaveringly neutral, was standing facing the two-way mirror, watching a frail medic tend to Goyle, as a beefy agent stood guard.

A phone buzzed constantly on the table, but neither made a move to retrieve it. James stood, just as the buzzing stopped. Lily finally got a look at his face but turned away quickly, wincing. He looked impossibly angry, his face was tight and his expression hard, but amidst the anger you could also see the betrayal, like a knife in his gut.

"James,"

He tensed immediately and turned further away. "I don't want to talk about it, Evans"

She reached out anyway, and caught his arm. "Maybe it's not… maybe it was an accident James."

James spun around, yanking out of her grasp. His dark eyes flashed and he clenched his jaw, "An accident? He almost killed Sirius! He tried to kill us! How could that be a fucking accident? He WAS the mole."

"I should have fucking known. All the signs were there – him always being out, Riddle's cronies being two steps ahead of us, it was apparent, and none of us fucking saw it", James turned and punched the wall twice, his knuckles white. The frail medic jumped, glancing at the mirror nervously.

Lily placed a hand on James shoulder, sliding between him and the wall. "Look James, you can't blame yourself. It's none of our fault. He betrayed us. We trusted him, and he fucking sold us out." She tiptoed, pressing her lips hard against James'. He hesitated, hands limp on her hips, lips noncommittally responding.

Lily broke away, "We have to get to Remus and the others. They need to know."

They did not take the news well.

Remus broke the glass he was holding. Marlene's eyes filled with tears. Sirius shouted "I'M GOING TO KILL THAT RAT BASTARD", slamming the door on his way out (Lily went after him, to ensure he did not). Everyone needed some time.

An hour later, Lily and Marlene sat at the kitchen counter, talking in low tones. James sat on the couch, his unseeing eyes fixed on the dancing flames in the fireplace. Remus and Sirius had retreated upstairs and their silence was periodically interrupted by exclamations of "HE WAS OUR FRIEND" followed by sounds of objects shattering. Everyone needed more time.

Another hour later, they had all somehow congregated at the kitchen counter.

"What do we do now?"

Remus looked up, heaving a deep sigh. "What we're supposed to. We complete the mission."

James shook his head and turned away. "The stakes have never been higher. If we weren't worried before, we definitely have to be now". He shook his head again, squeezing Lily's hand in his own.

Marlene leaned forward suddenly. "But look here guys, we might actually have the upper hand here."

The others' curious looks spurred her on, "They don't know that Goyle squealed. They don't know, that we know. As far as they're concerned, we have no clue that Peter is the mole. We still have shot at bringing this home, and I don't know about you, but I have never been more ready to bring those motherfuckers down."

Sirius nodded, sitting up a little straighter. "We gotta act fast."

Remus sighed deeply, eyes closed, pinching the bridge of his nose whilst rapidly drumming his other fingers on the table. He snapped his fingers suddenly, looking up. "The Halloween Party. Tomorrow. Its our best – if only – shot. Lily and James, maintain your covers. Riddle obviously has known for a while, and is keeping up the charade for some reason. You do the same. He thinks he had the upper hand, he thinks you're fools, he's always seen right through the cover. But the ball is in our court now, and he doesn't have a stinking clue. Play his game, but play it better."

Remus snapped his fingers together, thinking fast. "Marlene, call in sick tomorrow. Actually, no that'd raise a red flag. Go in, sneak away after lunch. I need help back here. I cannot stress this enough Lene, minimal contact with Riddle or his cronies. The risk is so high now – for all of us – so, any sign, any inkling that something is not right, get yourself out of there."

Lily cleared her throat. "Are we positive the stone is in Riddle Inc though? In light of recent events, he may have moved it, we might end up risking our lives for nothing."

Sirius pursed his lips together "No, no, the stone will be there. It makes sense. Riddle is a fucking narcissist, he's not going to let the stone be anywhere else except under his nose in his headquarters, and he's far too conceited - he doesn't think the Order – we - pose a threat."

"And that's exactly why we are"

James hovered in the doorway before knocking gently on the open door. Lily glanced over, and sat up, pushing the sheets off her. "Hey."

James moved towards her, perching on the edge of her bed. He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, and ran a hand through his hair, twice. "Look Lily, I just wanted to explain-"

"You don't have to, James." Lily interrupted.

"I want to, and a part of me needs to too" he said.

Lily nodded, reaching to grasp his hand lightly.

"Look. I care about you. That's…probably an understatement. I don't know what's going on with us, what it is that we have exactly, where we're headed, and I don't need to know now. But I care about you. Regardless. And yesterday, seeing Riddle's man have you pinned down, and his fists and knives inches away from causing your death…I… I was so scared Lily. That I was going to lose you. I don't know if it was because it was someone I cared about, or because it was you, but the fear was almost paralyzing in a sense. And today… finding out that one of my best friends? Was someone entirely different from who I thought he was, and that he was the one that put us there? Fighting like hell for our lives? I just, I don't know where to begin trying to comprehend this…" he trailed off, turning away.

Lily tugged on his hand, pulling him in for a hug. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he tucked his face into the crook of her neck and shoulder. "It's okay, James. I'm still here. You're still here. Sirius is still here."

"And we have to keep fighting"

A/N: Leave a review, it really is what keeps me writing, and also it brings me a whole lot of happiness hehe to get that little notification. Here's to hoping the next update isn't in a year ha ha love u guys