Thanks to all my readers xx, enjoy the chapter –PAR

"There's a cluster of people in one of the empty classrooms near the dungeons." James said.

"Who?" I asked.

"Avery," He paused, "Snape, and some other Slytherins. Actually not all of them are Slytherins, I see a few Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws mixed in."

"Let's go check it out," I said. We hurriedly walked down to the dungeons. We could hear voices as we got nearer. We inched closer to the open doorway.

Snape was talking in a loud voice.

"-he has invited all of you, from the noblest of families, to be a part of this. The wizarding world needs wizards like you, those with pure blood coursing through their veins, to cleanse the world of the scum which dwells on it!"

Evidently it was the end of a very long speech because cheering echoed from the room and down the hallways.

"James!" I whispered. "They're going to start coming out of the room! We need to hide!"

We ran over to a dark alcove, the furthest one we could get from the nearest light source.

People started pouring out of the room, going back to their common rooms. James and I let out a sigh of relief when the last group's footsteps died away.

"Well, what do we have here?" Snape asked.

James and I stepped out of the alcove reluctantly. My wand was shaking In my hand.

"Sev-" I began, pleading with him.

"You made your choice, Evans," Severus said, looking at me with an impassive face. Large shadows circled under his eyes and under his cheekbones, probably from lack of sleep.

"Sev, you don't have to do this," I said, "You don't have to…be evil" He looked at me with such disdain that I wanted to shrink under his gaze. James moved closer to me, protectively.

"Lily, let's just…"James suggested, tugging on my elbow.

"You left me, Evans. You left me to this." Snape said quietly.

"Sev, I told you that I can't be with you like that," I said resignedly.

"This is my final goodbye, Evans. I am not your friend anymore." He said, looking at me, his face shrouded in impassivity, like a mould of stone.

"Sev, you'll always be my friend." I insisted.

"It would be better for you if you did not consider me a friend, Evans. I will only hurt you." Snape said, backing away, until he disappeared into the darkness of the corridor.

James let out a huge sigh of relief, and I couldn't blame him.

"James, we have to tell Dumbledore about this," I hissed, as we walked out of the dungeons. "He has to know what they're planning!"

"Lily, we don't even know what they're planning," James said, trying to rationalize. "What are we going to tell Dumbledore? Uh, Hi Mr. Greatest Wizard who ever lived, yeah, we came across a meeting of Voldermort's followers, who are also students here, and we have no idea what they're planning, but we just came to tell you," I rolled my eyes.

"He can still be alerted that these kinds of meetings are going on within the castle, James. There's no harm in telling him." I said, trying to steady my still-shaking hands.

"I guess there's no harm in telling him, but it's too late today." James said, running a hand through his hair and looking down at me.

"We can go tomorrow, then," I said, still significantly chilled by Snape's words.

Several days later

April late-morning light gleamed faintly off the Hogwarts express as James and I found our way over to my parents on Platform 9 ¾.

"Lily!" My mother said, wrapping her arms around me for a hug." James and my father shook hands gruffly.

"My Lily-flower," Dad said to me, pulling me towards him for another hug.

"It's good to see you again, James," Mom said, beaming up at James.

"No time for pleasantries, when there's traffic to beat," Dad said loudly, guiding us to the car. Mom rolled her eyes.

James easily lifted our trunks into the car, and off we went, to my childhood home.

Once I was all settled in, I went to the guest room, where James was staying.

"Hi," I said, flopping down on his newly-made bed.

"Hey, that's mine," James said, turning to face me.

"What are you going to do about it, then?" I teased, smiling up at him.

"You have no idea what I want to do to you Mrs. Evans," James smirked, sitting beside me on the small bed.

"Lily!" Mom's voice floated up the stairs from the kitchen.

"Yes mum!" I answered. I stood up and looked at James. "Stay right there, don't move." I ran down to the kitchen.

"Yes, mum?" I said. Mum had her purse on her arm and a shopping list in her hand.

"I'm going to the store to get ingredients for tonight's dinner with Petunia and Vernon. Your father had to go into work a while ago, but he will be back by supper." She smoothed down a lock of my hair. "I'm trusting you and James will make mature and safe choices while I am gone for an hour."

"Yes, mum." I said dutifully, all the while thinking about James on the bed upstairs. I felt a small twinge of guilt that I wouldn't heed her order, but then brushed it off.

"That's a good girl," Mum said, kissing me on the forehead and then walking to the door.

"Bye, mum," I said cheerfully, watching and waiting until her car turned out of the driveway before I bounded back upstairs to James, who truthfully, was actually right where I left him, only he was laying down on the bed and staring up at the ceiling.

"I'm back," I said, in a sing-song cheery voice. I climbed on the bed and straddled his waist, sitting atop him. He made to touch me. "No," I said, swatting his hands away, "You don't get to touch until I say so." James looked pleasurabley annoyed. "Just close your eyes," I said, caressing his face. I bent down to whisper in his ear, "you have to promise you won't touch until I say so."

He hummed, a low, dark sound deep in his throat to show his compliance. I nibbled on his earlobe to show my thanks. Our only physical connection was the spot where I was grinding on his hips. I ran my hands up his torso slowly.

"Take off your shirt," I said, watching him obey. His perfect, sculpted abdomen shone in the afternoon light that was filtering through the curtains overhead. I placed my lips on the left side of his neck, and slowly trailed them down to the waistband of his pants. He moaned, part anticipation, and part pleasure.

I did the same thing again, only pausing to circle one of his nipples with my tongue. He moaned even louder, and his eyes fluttered open, the pupils dialated with lust.

"Keep them closed," I said, nipping him lightly on the neck. He obeyed. I continued grinding, meshing our midsections together. His hands shifted where they lay on either side of him, as if James would've liked nothing more than to grab me.

I started with tiny kisses around the waistband of his pants, and then trailed up to his lips, my hands firmly placed on his toned biceps. I slowly kissed him, and then moved to whisper in his ear.

"Ok, now you can touch," James' hands flew up from where they haad previously lain and ran up and down my back and all over.

"bloody hell" James whispered in my ear, "I was beginning to think I would die if I couldn't touch you soon." One of his hands moved to my inner thighs, caressing my pleasure spots while he kissed my gently.

We spent most of the afternoon in the same fashion, at least until Petunia and Vernon got home.

The next few days were a rush of activity for James and I. My parents seemed determined to get everything perfect for the wedding. After the wedding, James went back to his house to spend time with his parents and Sirius, Remus, and Peter, while I had some quality time with my own parents.

The rest of the break was uneventful, especially after Tuney and Vernon left for their honeymoon. On Monday, James and I, along with the rest of the students, boarded the train for Hogwarts for our final chunk of the year. For myself and my fellow seventh years, it would be our last. The first week flew by in a whirl of studying, Quidditch, and patrols. James and I hadn't seen any more evidence of "dark activity" since before break, and truthfully, I was so caught up in preparing for my NEWTs that I didn't have time for much else. I was studying for the exams needed to be a Healer; Potions, Charms, Defense, and Transfiguration. Transfiguration had always been my hardest subject, while I excelled at Charms and Potions. To remain at the top of my class & have a chance at being a healer at St. Mungo's, I needed excellent marks in all subjects.

I took my first NEWT exam, Charms, on a Wednesday, on the second-to-last week of school. It went well, and I sat my other exams with relative ease, although the practical part of the Transfiguration exam did give me a little trouble. Since James was studying to be an auror, we had a few NEWT exams in common, and even took our last exam for the year, Defense, the last day of school.

I put down my quill just as the proctors called time. All of the exams rolled up neatly of their own accord and flew to the front, and then the students were free to go. I waited patiently at my desk for James. Someone placed a hand on my desk. I looked up suddenly to find the dark eyes of Severus Snape poring down into mine. I blinked.

"I wish you the best of luck, Lily," He said softly. "You won't see me again for awhile."

"Severus, you-" I began to protest, but he smiled sadly at me and then he was gone. A few seconds later, James came over.

"Still meeting everyone over by the lake, right?" James asked.

"Yeah," I said, a lump forming in my throat.

"Hey," He said, taking my hand and giving it a comforting squeeze. "This isn't goodbye to everyone, just to some people."

I smiled up at him and gave his hand a squeeze in return. "Let's go make this a memory to never forget."

We walked out of the DIning Hall and down the front steps that led to the lakeside. I could see Marlene, Sirius, Remus, Peter, and Alice giggling at some joke Sirius made moments bfore. The sun was shining gently down on the scene; the lake glittered as if it had diamonds floating on its surface, and a small, sweet wind gently ruffled the leaves of the trees as I turned back to look at the Castle I had called my home for seven years. I saw my friends down by the waters edge, laughing merrily, and when I turned to my right, the man that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with was smiling down on me.

"You good?" James said, putting a comforting arm around my shoulders.

"Never better," I said, beaming up at him.

As a wise man once said, "Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light."

The End

Thank you for all my loyal readers for staying with me until the end! I couldn't have done it without everyone's critiques, compliments, and encouragements. This story was my first long, multi-chaptered one & I loved the entire experience. I enjoyed learning and exploring the bounds of the world of the venerable JK Rowling, and *disclaimer* all characters are hers, the world I write about is all hers, and I in no way wish to disrespect or copy her works. I am but a guest in the world of Harry Potter. These characters became more real to me than I thought when I embarked on this project. Thank you again to all of my readers and any feedback on the story is appreciated!

xxxxx-PAR