Disclaimer... I do not own any of these characters. They all belong to the fabulous JKR. Please read and enjoy.

Fifth year was OWL year. And OWLs meant a lot of things. Stress, among other things. And looking at career paths. Career paths meant leaving Hogwarts. Lily was in no way ready for that.

She took a deep breath to steady herself as she dragged her leather trunk awkwardly along the platform to hoist it onto the Hogwarts Express.

Calm down she ordered herself, you're not even on the bloody train. You still have three entire years left. It'll be fine. You'll be fine. Take a breath, Evans.

Lily abandoned the heavy leather trunk beside the gleaming crimson train that was puffing smoke as merrily as a chimney at Christmas. She nodded her thanks to the uniformed wizard that hefted it up onto the train.

The witch turned to face her parents, and noticed just how blindingly obvious it was that they were Muggles. Her father was in a morning jacket and tie, her red haired mother a flowery dress, and they were looking around with wide eyes. They had seen this sight twice a year for five years, but every time they looked as if they were seeing it for the first time.

Perhaps it was because their contact with their daughter's world was so small. They held on to every piece of it they could, because they were like parts of her.

Lily smiled, and moved towards them, hugging them tightly, hiding her face in her father's grey wool coat so she could let her face slip into her now-habitual worried frown. Next year she wouldn't let them come. It was too dangerous, with the number of Muggle killings on the rise.

They weren't widely publicized, of course, and the Prophet never suggested that they were anything but horrible accidents, but people knew. Of course they knew. In this new world of fear and secrets and violence, where they were hungry for every scrap of news, every piece of concrete information.

There was of course, the fact, that police hadn't been able to find anything wrong with the bodies. Not a mark to suggest how they'd died. And then the expressions of pure terror on their faces, almost as if they'd died of fright. So Lily, and probably most of the Muggleborns that read the Muggle papers, and a few wizards and witches that were able to put two and two together, knew.

Voldemort was coming. No, that wasn't quite right. Voldemort was here.

Lily fixed her smile firmly on her face as she pulled away and kissed her mother gently on the cheek, her father saying something about owls, and remembering to write.

Petunia wasn't there, of course. She hadn't come since Lily's first year. When she had spat 'freak' at Lily, with tears of rage in her eyes.

"I better go" she said, detangling herself from their arms regretfully, and smoothing the green knit dress she wore.

"Be careful dear. And have a wonderful year" her mother told her fondly, reaching out to tuck a lock of Lily's flaming hair behind her ear.

"I will" she promised.

With a final wave, Lily clambered aboard the train.

Inside, it was noisy and crowded, squeals of delight as friends reunited mixing with the whistle of the train and the voices of parents and family members on the platform.

She eased through a cluster of excitable second year Hufflepuffs on her way to the Prefect's carriage, but stopped at the sound of a familiar, relieved voice.

"Lily!"

The witch turned to see Severus Snape shoving past the Puffs as he moved down the carriage.

"Hullo, Sev" she said, fiddling with her badge awkwardly.

"Oh" he remembered, eyes falling on the badge, "I forgot, you have to go the Prefect's carriage, don't you?"

"I'm sorry"

"It's fine, I saw Mulciber a few compartments back"

Lily wasn't able to help it, her lips twisted into a frown at the other boy's name. She couldn't exactly fault Severus for having friends within his house, but they were just all so awful. She'd seen them pouring over the Daily Prophet at breakfast last year, sniggering and making snide remarks when they found an article about the murder of a well-known Muggle supporter.

"Right. I should go…" she trailed off, her feet already turning away.

"Ok"

They stood there for another heartbeat, awkwardness hanging between them.

Finally, Lily moved, and walked away.

She felt slightly nervous as she passed into the Prefect's carriage, all gleaming golden wood and velvet.

It wasn't divided into compartments, rather, there was a large table in the centre, stacked with parchment, ink and quills, and the carriage was ringed with cushioned benches.

It was already partly full, and she could see a few new Prefects from her year talking to their house mates. She joined the Gryffindor group, and greeted Remus Lupin. Lily didn't mind Remus. He was hard-working and quiet, and much nicer than his mates. Lily could feel a scowl start to grow on her face at the thought of that absolute git, James Potter.

"Oh congratulations, Kalia!" Lily told the new head girl as she spotted the shiny badge on the front of her robes. The girl was an extremely pretty Hufflepuff, who smiled at Lily and tucked her long, glossy black braids behind her ears.

"Thanks" Kalia said, sounding nervous.

"We all knew you'd get it" her friend Benjy assured her.

Prefects trickled in steadily in clumps, chatting to friends about their summer holidays. Lily caught a few fearful remarks about Voldemort.

"Alright!" Kalia finally said loudly, gesturing for them all to sit down. The head boy, Caradoc Dearborn took a seat at the foot of the table, smiling at the new Prefects welcomingly.

The train ride passed in a flurry of new schedules, patrol times, and overviews of point docking systems. As the sun dropped, the lanterns lit magically, and Lily glanced out the window.

A spiral of black was unfurling, keeping pace with the train. It seemed strangely malevolent and Lily could feel her mouth go dry. She was about to point it out to Remus when there was a squeal of brakes and the train rocked, knocking the lights out with a bang.

Several people screamed, and Lily could see both Kalia and Caradoc jump to their feet and reach for their wands in the dim light.

Lily's heart was pounding wildly as she reached for her own, whispering 'lumos'

A dim white light ignited, illuminating the frightened faces of the Prefects.

One by one, more wands lit, until the carriage was full of soft white light and raised wands.

Lily tensed again as there was the sound of shattering glass.

"Get into pairs" Caradoc ordered in a low harsh whisper, "we have to make sure the students are ok"

A hand grabbed Lily's and she looked up to see Remus Lupin looking at her seriously. She felt a surge of gratitude for the boy beside her. There was a sort of nameless fear that had settled deep in her stomach, born when she first saw that streak of black. She wasn't quite sure what it was she was afraid of. Death Eaters? Voldemort himself? It seemed unlikely that they would board the Hogwarts Express, unless-

A wild thud in her chest, and she pulled Remus closer.

"The Muggleborns" she whispered. And then it was fear for herself, and fear for those that didn't have magical parents and just plain and simple, thick choking fear.

Lily spoke up, fighting against the lump in her throat.

"What if they're after the Muggleborns?"

There was a rumble of angry voices in the carriage, and Lily was touched to see that even the Slytherin Prefects looked horrified.

"Change of plans" Kalia said briskly, holding her wand aloft, "get into groups of four. If any students are injured, bring them here. If there are people aboard, don't try to fight. Just run. Everyone knows Stunning Spells and defensive jinxes? Ok. Good. Be careful, people"

Two Ravenclaw Prefects that Lily didn't recognize joined her and Remus. They looked fearful, and Lily hoped her own face didn't look so terrified.

The train rocked again and she heard the bang of a spell and a scream.

"Come on"

The exited the carriage slowly, following the bobbing wand lights of the group in front of them.

Lily heard a wild, careless, keening sort of laugh that made the hairs on the back of her neck rise. She was suddenly thankful for the warmth of the people beside her and she took a deep steadying breath, laying a hand on the smooth wooden wall of the corridor to steady herself.

The Ravenclaw girl beside her shot Lily a fearful smile.

There was the crashing shatter of glass and another high pitched scream.

Their group started to run, making it to another carriage where Lily could see the flashing lights of spells, and moving bodies trying to make it out. Her heart was in her mouth, and the air felt too hot.

She heard Remus shout, "Sirius!" and felt him scramble away, dodging a Stunner and something more dangerous.

A dark cloaked figure lunged out of the gloom and Lily raised her wand, the Ravenclaws beside her mirroring her action.

"Impedimenta!" she cried, and the person fell back

Lily could see students running towards her, and started shepherding them back the way she'd come.

"Go to the Prefect's carriage" she told them, and hastily removed her badge with shaking fingers, "this'll let you in"

The group of students scurried away and Lily moved towards the fighting.

"MUDBLOODS!" she heard someone shriek, and her stomach contracted at the hate in the voice, and at the word itself. Funny, how even after dodging curses and hexes, a word still had the power to make her hands go clammy and her heart thump with rage.

"MUDBLOODS DEFILING OUR WORLD, STEALING OUR MAGIC, RUINING OUR CHILDREN. MUDBLOODS AT HOGWARTS! YOU WILL ALL PERISH WHEN THE DARK LORD RISES"

Lily could see the screamer, a slim young woman with long glossy black hair and a pale, strangely delicate face, brandishing her wand like a knife and cackling as a student that Lily knew to be muggleborn fell before her slashing wand.

A boy ducked under the curse she sent at him, and hit her squarely with a Stinging Hex, laughing as he did so.

"Nice one, Sirius!" she heard, and Lily recognized James Potter's voice as she sent a Stunner at the woman, who dodged it.

"Sirius?" the dark haired woman whispered, lowering her wand, and her companions did likewise, "Sirius Black, my cousin? You shame us, boy. You shame our family. I won't kill you, today. You won't be so lucky if I see you again"

As Lily stared in shock, she and her companions twisted on the spot, and disappeared.

Her entire body felt frozen, but the attackers' disappearance let her move, and she hurried down the train corridor, checking that none of the students were injured. There were a few cuts from the broken glass, and some mild hexes that would wear off soon enough, but nothing too serious that she could see.

"Evans!" Lily heard, as she was fixing the glass in the windows, the Ravenclaws turning the lights back on.

James Potter stood in front of her, smiling breezily as he stuck his wand back in his pocket.

"Nice way to start the year, don't you think? A visit from the friendly neighbourhood Death Eaters?"

"We're lucky no one was hurt"

The levity was wiped from James's face, and he looked at her sadly.

"A student was taken" he told her.

"What?"

"When the fighting first started, one of them grabbed some second year Ravenclaw and Disapparated"

"Oh Merlin, we have to let the school know. Do you know the kid's name?"

James frowned, running a hand through his hair and Lily rolled her eyes in annoyance.

"Jemma? Jemma Markel?"

"She's a Muggleborn" Lily said softly, sagging against the wall.

James shot her a sympathetic look, and she immediately straightened, turning her back on him.

"Hey Evans"

Lily turned, expecting a snarky comment or an inappropriate suggestion.

"It's good to see you" was all he said, before turning away.

They arrived at Hogwarts shortly, injured students being handed off the train, and terrified first years following in Hagrid's wake like ducklings. Hogwarts loomed, safe and comforting in its solidness, golden light shining out the windows, and smoke puffing from the hundreds of chimneys. The lake shone hard and glittery in the moonlight.

Lily ignored the carriages, and sprinted after Hagrid, her feet pounding the dirt. There was a cut on her cheek from broken glass that she hadn't gotten around to healing, and she could feel warm blood on her skin, trickling down to her jaw. Lily pressed a hand to her face absently.

"Hagrid!" she yelled, panting, and the groundskeeper turned around.

"Lily Evans? Why aren't yeh up at the carriages with the others?"

"Hagrid, we were attacked on the train. A kid was taken. Jemma Markel"

Hagrid's massive face was grim and aghast, and he patted a small first year boy on the back in what was probably meant to be a comforting manner. The boy was knocked face first into the solidly packed dirt, and Lily winced in sympathy, having experienced a few of Hagrid's pats, herself.

"Tell Professor McGonagall when yeh get up te the school"

"Ok" she nodded, "Ok"

The carriage ride seemed to take an eternity. Mary and Marlene, her two closest friends, discussed the attack raptly, hands waving wildly.

All Lily could think of was Jemma Markel. Taken, taken, taken. Gone. Gone. Gone.

"Lily, did you see the attack?" Mary asked finally, brushing her springy black hair out of her brown eyes, and looking at her friend anxiously. Mary was a shy witch, but smart, and she was a half-blood, making her safe enough.

"Yes" Lily said finally, hollowly, "I saw. There were maybe five of them. One- she said she was Sirius Black's cousin"

"Must've been Bellatrix Black" Marlene told them, settling back into the plush seats of the carriage. Her mum worked for the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, and she normally knew the latest updates on Voldemort and his followers.

There was silence in the small space for a moment, before Lily spoke again.

"A second year Muggleborn was taken"

Mary let out a small shriek, reaching out to clutch Marlene's hand, who was staring at Lily with wide eyes.

"It happened before I got there, Potter told me"

"Bloody hell" Marlene swore, her pale face furious.

Lily didn't say anything as she stared out the window at the approaching castle. Just this morning she'd been afraid of OWLs and career paths, and now- Now a girl had been taken by Death Eaters and her false sense of security had been shattered. None of them were safe. Not Mary with her half-blood status, not even Marlene as a pure-blood, no one. Because who could ever be safe in the face of such toxic hate?

The rest of the trip passed in silence, Marlene still holding Mary's hand.

Once they got to Hogwarts, Lily saw Kalia take McGonagall aside, and was selfishly thankful that she hadn't had to break that news as she saw the Transfiguration professor take a stagger-step back, her indomitable reserve shaken. McGonagall was pale, and she pressed a hand to her lips, already looking around for Flitwick, who was the girl's head of house.

With a weight in her stomach, Lily took her seat at the Gryffindor table, frowning as James Potter sat directly across from her.

"Hullo Evans" he said, sounding suspiciously cheery.

She told him so.

He shrugged.

"Can't a bloke just be happy? We're back at Hogwarts, no one died on the train, I have an excellent prank planned for tomorrow's Care of Magical Creatures, and apparently Peeves is making havoc in the Potions department, so that class might be delayed"

"Jemma Markel was taken by Death Eaters, Potter. She's twelve years old"

"The Ministry will get her back"

Lily pushed her dark red hair back, resting her elbows on the table.

"Of course. Because they've been so incredibly proactive about Voldemort rising"

James shrugged again.

"Why are you here, Potter?" she asked.

"Just saying hello"

"Well, you've said it"

James stood, and moved down the table to where Sirius, Remus, and Peter sat and talked, and Lily felt a twinge of what was definitely not regret as she watched him go.

"You know, you're always very snippy with him" Marlene informed her, shaking long blond hair back over her shoulders.

"He bloody well deserves it" Lily said grumpily, "he's a prat"

"He's not always a prat" Mary said fairly, "just when you're around"

"So I bring out the worst in him?"

Marlene sighed, and turned to face her friend.

"He's immature" Marlene told Lily, "and being a prat is how he tries to get your attention. I'm not saying you should give it to him, but if you're a little nicer, he might stop being such a git"

"Shh" Lily said, sitting up, "the Sorting's starting"

The Hat sang, and the group of trembling first years were led out, starting with 'Angler, Lara!' (Hufflepuff) and ending with 'Yarrow, Nakaia!' (Gryffindor)

The new students were duly applauded, but Lily could see worry on the faces of the Ravenclaws as they realized that one of their housemates was missing.

She turned her attention to Dumbledore as the headmaster stood, an elegant figure in crimson robes with gold embroidery. Guess he was feeling his Gryffindor pride.

"Welcome back for another year" he told them, smiling, before his lined face turned serious, "much as I hate to delay our delectable feast, I'm afraid that this cannot wait. I am sure most of you are aware that the Hogwarts Express was attacked this evening. Those responsible owe their allegiance to the wizard known as Voldemort. A student, named Jemma Markel, was taken. She was Muggleborn, like many of you"

The whispers that swept the hall sounded like waves washing on a beach, low and gentle, contrasting strangely with the horrified expressions of the students.

"We will be doing everything in our power to return her" Dumbledore continued, looking out over the Great Hall gravely, "but for now, let me just say this. We are threatened by a force the likes of which we have never seen before. It is hateful. It is cruel. It is powerful, and yet it is ignorant. It doesn't realize that our worth is not determined by our blood, our family, or our house, but rather the choices we make, and the paths we walk. So I ask you, do not give in. Do not let them win, by giving them your fear"

The second he stopped speaking, food appeared on the golden plates, and the talking started.

"Blimey" Marlene said, cutting a generous slice of ham for Mary, "I don't think he's ever done a speech before the feast, has he Mar?"

Mary shook her head and offered the gravy to Lily, "Things must be really bad. Did you listen to the Hat's song? 'United all the houses stand or surely we must fall/ to monsters in the mist, and spells from every wand'"

Marlene nodded, taking a bite of steak and kidney pie, "it was bloody grim, that's for sure"

"I want to know why the Hat though it would be a good idea to rhyme 'stand' with 'wand'" Lily said and poured pumpkin juice for the three of them.

Marlene shook with laughter, "is that a joke from our grim Tiger-Lily? You must be feeling better if you're mocking the Hat's lyrical skills"

Lily waved her fork in Marlene's general direction, glancing up at the enchanted ceiling. It was gloomy and grey, threatening rain, and from time to time lightening flashed across the sky.

"Lily makes fun of the Hat's song every year" Mary pointed out, "It's practically a tradition"

The redhead pretended to ignore her two friends, scooping up a bite of mashed potatoes aggressively.

"Looks like we got a new defence professor" Mary said quietly, nodding her head to where a heavy-set witch in worn looking black robes sat, surveying the students with a strange eagerness.

"She looks like she can hardly wait for lessons to start" Marlene observed with distaste, and hid behind her goblet of pumpkin juice as the witch's eyes swivelled towards them.

"Ooh, she doesn't look fun, does she?" Mary breathed, casting a glance at the staff table, and the witch's cold eyes.

"Not much" Marlene agreed, and took a warm roll from the basket on the table.

"She might be perfectly nice" Lily suggested, sounding doubtful.

Both Marlene and Mary shot her identical, incredulous looks.

"Or not?"

The feast on the table disappeared to be replaced by pudding, and Lily lunged for a large slice of chocolate cake just as Mary scooped up a tub of mint ice cream.

Marlene regarded them with some disappointment.

"Oo' rnt avin any?" Mary asked around a large bite of ice cream.

"I was going to, but you two have put me off"

"Orry" Mary said, not sounding very sorry at all.

Marlene eventually caved and chose a slice of key-lime pie before the food on the plates disappeared.

Dumbledore stood again, this time smiling. His half-moon spectacles flashed white in the light from the candles, and the gold embroidery on his robes shone dully.

"I trust you are all sufficiently stuffed. Now, as the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts was recently vacated by Professor Talley, it is my pleasure to introduce you to Professor Jugson"

The stocky witch gave a brief wave, and Lily noticed James and Sirius sniggering into their napkins a little ways down the table. Idiots. Honestly, it was fifth year. She could understand a first year getting all giggly about the unfortunate name, but they should be a little more mature by now. Of course, James and Sirius had never showed the remotest interest in acting their age.

"It is late" Dumbledore continued, "and as such, I must ask you to take to your dormitories. Prefects, thank you for your bravery on the train, and now please lead your first years to your common rooms"

Lily jumped up, waving goodbye to Mary and Marlene, and corralling a few first years that were trying to join a group of Hufflepuffs.

"This way, you lot" she ordered, grabbing a tiny brown haired witch who was spinning around confusedly.

Remus showed up in a moment and took charge of half the group, making Lily smile gratefully. They were really rather bouncy, these first years. And small. She was almost positive she hadn't been that small.

"Amortentia" Lily told the Fat Lady, who giggled and blushed as she swung open to admit the first years.

"Come on" she told her little gaggle of witches encouragingly, "just up there. I'll see you all in the morning, alright?"

They nodded solemnly, all wide eyes and tightly shut mouths as they trooped up the stairs.

She sighed, and took a seat by the fire. The day had been far too long, and she just wanted to enjoy the warmth of the fire on her face for a moment before the common room was filled with noisy Gryffindors. The armchair was cosy and overstuffed, and Lily's cold feet began to thaw.

She closed her eyes, remembering the flash of curses and Bellatrix Black's mad, mad laugh. It was so warm in here…

Lily had just started to drift off into an uneasy sleep, when a voice spoke beside her ear.

"Baby-sitting tire you out?"

She bolted upright and glared at James Potter who was crouching by her chair and looking very pleased with himself.

"I was sleeping, you bloody prat" she informed him.

"Last time I checked, you had a bed for that"

"Sod off, Potter"

"Sweet dreams, Evans"

When she woke the next morning it was to grey skies and cold air, despite the fires burning just downstairs. Lily groaned, pushing her face deeper into her pillow and pulling the quilt over her head. Her bed at Hogwarts was much more comfortable than her one at home.

Finally she struggled out of the down mattress to see a very sleepy looking Mary emerging from a pile of blankets, shoving masses of curly black hair out of her face. Somehow, Marlene was already up and pulling on knee socks calmly as the other girls exited from their beds, some more gracefully than others.

Lily was already standing when she heard a thud, and moved until she could see Anna Rogers lying on the floor and staring up at the ceiling.

"I appear to have fallen" the witch announced.

Lily rolled her eyes and pulled the other girl up.

"Mmrgh" Camilla Lovegood rolled over and sat up, tiredly detangling herself from her bed clothes.

"Morning everyone!" Marlene sang, and Lily raised an eyebrow at her.

"You're cheery"

The other girl shrugged and tied her shoes quickly.

"We're back at Hogwarts. It's nice"

"We'll see how long that attitude lasts when we get our first homework assignment" Mary started to change her clothes, tapping her hairbrush with her wand so it attacked her curly hair.

Lily smiled involuntarily. It was nice to be back, to wear robes and see such casual magic, to talk to her friends and sleep in the four poster beds.

"I'll see you lot of spoilsports at breakfast" Marlene added, scooping up her book bag.

The rest of the girls got dressed in sleepy silence, the occasional yawn or muttered spell the only thing breaking the quiet.

The gloomy clouds finally broke and spilled their rain out almost grudgingly, to patter on the window in an irregular pattern. It was chilly, and the dim grey light made everything in the dormitory look especially grim, the crimson hangings were dull, the girls looked pale and listless.

Lily quickly braided her flaming red hair back neatly and pinned her Prefect badge to her robe before looking at Mary.

"You ready?"

"Mm hmm" Mary replied, still struggling to tie her hair back.

"Let me"

Lily moved behind her friend, hands moving deftly as she prodded and tucked Mary's hair into order. She flicked her wand casually, and released the other girl's hair, holding her breath.

"Ta da!"

"Thanks Lil"

With a wave to Anna and Camilla, they headed down the stairs.

A few portraits smiled at the girls, and Lily jumped over a trick step as they went down the stairs to the Great Hall. The normally wild atmosphere of Hogwarts felt subdued, Lily saw a group of third year Ravenclaws huddled sadly in a corner, and students moved in groups, glancing around nervously.

"Everyone seems so afraid" Mary said sadly, tucking her arm through Lily's and looking at the students.

Lily felt afraid. She wasn't sure if it was just a result of the fearful environment, or because of the attack on the train, but there was a cold, creeping fear that hadn't been there yesterday. Living in a shadow was hard.

They found Marlene working her way through a plate of waffles at the Gryffindor table, and sat down next to her, dropping their book bags on the ground carelessly.

"It's quiet" Marlene observed, "normally everyone's making a complete ruckus the first day back. 'S weird"

Mary nodded in agreement, grabbing a tureen of scrambled eggs.

Lily shot a glance up at the staff table. It was practically empty, only the Herbology professor sat there, and she looked anxious.

"What does the Prophet say?" she asked, snatching Marlene's copy from the table.

Marlene shrugged.

"The usual. 'Terrible misfortune, families are in our hearts, do what we can, blah blah blah'. The Ministry's leaning on them pretty hard, I reckon"

"Damn"

"Mm"

The trio ate quietly for a while, Lily flipping through the Prophet searching for any mention of Jemma Markel. There was nothing.

"Morning ladies!" someone said finally, and Lily looked up to see Sirius Black plunk himself on their stretch of bench, stretching his feet along the empty bit of seat.

"'Lo Sirius" Marlene greeted him, and he waved as he grabbed a piece of toast and shoved half of it in his mouth in one go.

"You see the Prophet this morning?" he asked, accepting the china butter dish from Mary.

"There's nothing about the attack" Lily told him.

"Check page fifteen"

She eagerly flipped back to the appropriate page, and there it was. A tiny article by some witch called Rita Skeeter.

Ministry Ignores Blatant Death Eater Aggression

Yesterday, of course, was the day that young witches and wizards return to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. But for twelve year old Jemma Markel, the train would never deliver her. At five thirty pm, the train was attacked by a group of roughly half a dozen Death Eaters, led by the well-known Bellatrix Black. After shouting some inflammatory and derogatory slurs, they proceeded to throw hexes and curses at Muggleborn students. They left the train after a confrontation with Black's cousin, fifth year Sirius Black. However, they kidnapped Jemma Markel, a Muggleborn, before they left. Her current location is unknown. The Ministry of Magic refuses to acknowledge that this attack was the work of Death Eaters.

Lily whistled as she finished reading.

"Well she isn't pulling her punches, is she?"

"Nope" Sirius said cheerfully, pouring himself a cup of tea, "I'll see you in Potions"

"Thanks" Lily said quietly, folding the newspaper back up and handing it to Marlene.

Professor McGonagall made her way over to their table a few minutes later, clutching a pile of blank time-tables.

"MacDonald, McKinnon, Evans. We need to talk about your new classes"

"I'm continuing Ancient Runes, Muggle Studies and Arithmancy" Mary told her, looking slightly anxious.

"That's fine, Miss MacDonald"

Lily sorted out her classes quickly as well, while Marlene looked through the Prophet.

"Miss McKinnon. You'll need another class for your OWLs" McGonagall told the blonde witch, who shot a 'help me' look at Lily.

"Muggle Studies" Lily mouthed.

"Er- Muggle Studies?" Marlene said, sounding doubtful.

"Alright, you're set. Have a good first day back, girls"

"Thanks Professor" they chorused, tucking their schedules into their bags and standing.

Lily supressed a sigh as her eyes landed on the Daily Prophet again. She could see a picture of Wanda Hartford, the Minister for Magic, waving and smiling cheerily on the front page.

"Don't" Mary said firmly, towing Lily away from the table and looking her friend in the eye, "don't think about it, there was nothing you could've done, love"

The redhead shook herself, staring at her shoes. "I know. I just wish it had been acknowledged"

"Of course" Marlene said, "but you have Potions, and I have Divination, and we're both going to be late"

"We'll see you later, Lena" Mary told her, and left with Lily for Potions.

Despite the cold gloom of the dungeons, Lily felt at home there. The bubbling caldrons, strange ingredients and jovial Potions Master all contributed to the aura of familiarity. She peered through the haze up at the black board, wrinkling her nose as she struggled to see.

"PepperUp Potion!" Professor Slughorn said, clapping his hands, "a relatively simple brew for your first day back, and invaluable as we move into autumn and winter. Madam Pomfrey is always appreciative of new stock for her pantry. Make sure that you grate the Salamander tail finely, and don't overuse the pepper flakes"

Lily turned her attention back to her caldron, prodding the base with her wand until a blue flame ignited, burning merrily.

"Two sticks of cinnamon" she muttered, digging in her Potions kit and tossing the spices in, "a cup of freshly boiled water, two clockwise stirs and a counter clock wise until the potion bubbles"

As she began the wait, she glanced around. Mary was at the same stage, and traded a small smile with Lily as they stirred. Sev looked almost bored, and Lily waved at him cautiously, until his face lit up and he beamed at her. Lily noticed with some satisfaction that Potter was having difficulty getting his caldron to ignite, but immediately felt guilty as she saw the confusion on his face.

Sirius, beside him, was snickering, and Lily noticed that every time Potter tried to light the caldron, Sirius cancelled the spell. She turned back to her potion hastily as bubbles started to rise.

The colour was changing subtly, spicy smelling steam rising off the top of the liquid. Lily waved her wand above it, checking the temperature carefully. Too hot, and all it would do would burn whoever was unlucky enough to ingest it. Too cold, and it would simply make their nose run.

The large scoop of pepper flakes fell into the potion, and it immediately turned a bright steaming crimson. The witch smiled in satisfaction, and started to grate her dried Salamander tail, making a neat pile of the sloughed off scales.

"I think I did ok" Mary said as they left, clutching the assignment that Slughorn had handed out at the end of the lesson. A foot on the fifteen uses of Salamander tail.

"You did fine, Mar. Slughorn said yours would be used in the infirmary"

"I'm worried about this year. I've heard such terrible things about OWLs. You know my older sister almost ended up in St Mungos, she was so anxious?"

Lily nodded as they made their way out of the chilly, dank dungeons. At the top of the stairs, she gasped and came to a stop as if she'd been slapped. Mary started to look at her in confusion before she saw it, and whimpered, her books slipping out of her hands to slam against the floor with a noise like a door slamming shut.

THE MUDBLOODS WILL DIE

The words were painted on the wall outside a broom closet, in smeary acid green paint. A cluster of second year Gryffindors and Ravenclaws whispered and stared at it, and Lily felt rage burn through her veins. They were too young to be so afraid.

"Move along there" she said, not unkindly, hurrying the second years on to their next lesson, "I'd best go get McGonagall" she murmured as an aside to Mary, who nodded woodenly, picking up her books one at a time.

"Why're you blocking the stairs?"

Lily turned to see James Potter and Sirius Black staring at her, flanked by Remus and Peter. She pointed at the writing. James blanched a sickly white, before slowly turning red with anger. Lily watched with some interest. She hadn't thought that James harboured any pureblood supremacy, anti-Muggleborn sentiments, but well… He was a Potter. An old, old pureblood family, and it seemed odd that he'd be so upset looking over the slur. Sirius just looked ill, and Remus and Peter moved closer to get a better view.

"Did you see who did it?" Potter asked.

"Of course" Lily snapped, "that's why I'm standing around talking to you, while I let the culprit get away"

"Sorry" Sirius interrupted, "but did you just say culprit?"

Lily blinked at him. "Yes?"

"Who the hell says 'culprit'? Why not say 'the slimy Slytherin sack of shit that did it'"

"That seems overly long"

"Git"

Sirius was about to respond in kind when James stepped on his foot, effectively shutting him up. Lily looked at them disdainfully.

"If you're done mocking my word choice, I'm going to go report this to Professor McGonagall"

Lily didn't wait for a reply before leaving.

The hallways were packed with students on their ways to lessons, and Lily had to fight against the tide to make her way to the plain wooden door marking the staff room.

She took a deep breath before knocking. The staff room had always seemed sort of sacred and it felt like she was disrupting the sanctity of it. McGonagall answered, dark hair pinned severely back under her tall hat, and she frowned slightly at Lily, who stood there, breathless from hurrying.

"Miss Evans?"

"Professor, I'm so sorry to bother you, but there's something painted on the wall just outside the dungeon stairs"

"Surely Mr Filch could clean it up?"

"Professor, I think you really ought to see this… It's not just a bit of graffiti"

The older witch sighed and pulled her robes tighter around herself, "Alright Miss Evans. Lead on"

Most of the students had made it to their next classes, so the halls were deserted, apart from the occasional pearlescent ghost gliding serenely past. Lily caught her breath, and realized how shaky she felt. It was one thing to see the slurs outside of Hogwarts, to hear them hissed by the occasional elderly witch or wizard, but at her school, the place where she fit, the place she felt safe, it was intrusive.

The Transfiguration professor caught her breath as she saw the neon words, shining in the torchlight. Lily thought she heard the older witch mutter something under her breath.

A dark figure leant against the wall under the writing, and Lily recognized Potter as they got closer.

"Mr Potter" McGonagall sighed, fixing her eyes on the wizard sternly, "why aren't you at your next class? Herbology, I believe?"

"I thought I'd make sure Lily found you alright before I ran off" he told her seriously, still leaning casually against the wall, and having produced an apple from somewhere, took a noisy bite.

"Well, as you can see, Miss Evans found me. I'd advise you move quickly before you're late. Pomona doesn't enjoy latecomers"

"Duly noted Minnie" Potter agreed, and hurried off.

Lily was torn between laughing and crying. The look on McGonagall's face when Potter had called her 'Minnie' had been fairly brilliant, but then the writing…

"Thank you for bringing this to my attention Miss Evans" the professor said finally and crisply, "I can take it from here. You'd best be off to Herbology"

Lily nodded, and left, with a final look back at the glowing writing and the concerned woman regarding it.

Her shoes made a satisfying clicking noise on the stone floor as she hurried along the corridor. Herbology started in three minutes, and Lily bit back as curse as she glanced at her watch, only to run smack into someone.

"Graceful, Evans. You should start training for the ballet"

Potter. He had been waiting in the hallway, leaning against the wall again and calmly eating his apple when she ran into him. Lily steadied herself on the wall.

"Why aren't you in Herbology?"

The boy shrugged. "I was waiting for you"

"Why?" she asked again, starting to walk. Potter hastily followed her, swinging his book bag up from the floor.

"I wanted to ask you something"

Lily didn't reply, and he took that as permission to continue.

"I was wondering… If you'd go out with me?"

She whirled around, incredulous.

"Are you serious?"

James ruffled his hair, regarding her solemnly.

"Well, I'm not serious, but my best mate is. I could introduce you, if you'd like"

Lily let out a noise that seemed to be a snort combined with a scream, and started walking again, looking straight ahead.

"So that's a 'no' then?"

She didn't dignify that with a response and kept her eyes fixed on the ground. As such, she didn't see Peeves, hovering above her with a large urn and a wicked grin.

"Supposed to be in class, naughty, naughty" the poltergeist tutted, before releasing his ammunition. James saw what was about to happen a split second before it did, and lunged forward, knocking Lily out of the way. Of course, this knocked her off her feet, and she landed on her arse, spitting with rage as she clambered back up, dusting her robes and her grey wool knee socks off.

"Right. What the bloody hell are you playing at, Potter? I have a class to get to, and you're running about like a prat, shoving me over? Piss off, alright, and stop bothering me"

Without waiting for a reply, the witch drew herself up and stalked off, not seeing the shattered urn and leaving James on the cold castle floor, his rectangular glasses askew as he watched her go.

A.N. Thank you so much for reading! If you enjoyed, (or if you didn't, and want me to know just how horrible it is) please, please review. Seriously. Any review is treasured. That was a bit of a messy starting chapter, I'm sorry, and hopefully it'll improve. Thanks again!