Caught In The Act [James/Lily]

[LILY MARIE EVANS]

Lily was hidden away in a sea of books. She was behind two rows worth of History of Magic books but her eyes were not on the pages this time. The red head was peering over the spines of books as she carefully eyed the future husband of hers. Lily's stomach churned as she thought of marrying Severus as he made his descent in to the dark arts. She hated those Slytherin driving him in to the deatheaters. They were rotten! Plain rotten to the core and willing to hurt innocent people in the process. She bit in to her bottom lip, how long had she been sitting there now?

"Three hours." She whispered to herself. Three hours she had been sitting there just waiting for a shred of evidence. One single shred of evidence was all she needed to prove he was going the wrong way. Then she wouldn't feel so guilty about throwing the ring back at him. Usually Andromeda joined her in her little spying but she had an exam to study for and Lily-- well Lily was determined to find something. Her teeth sank low in to her bottom lip as she pretended to read, holding a book up to her face as she eyed Severus through the two isles of books trying to keep her self distant despite the bright red hair she sported.

Her most recent decision to step up her spying game was all due to the time she spent in the forest with that Toadling. How was she supposed to know that James Potter could actually be interesting? Usually he was too busy hexing students, and she was too busy yelling at him to see anything more than his arrogance. Still she had been avoiding him since that day. She had left him on the grounds, heading off with Sev and leaving him with her books. She had been feeling so guilty that she avoided him and his little friends.

Though it had been harder than she expected. Most of the time she ran threw the common room just to avoid them and spent her time looming over Sev's books to keep herself up to date in the classroom. Lily Evans was being a coward over a boy but it was something she wasn't sure how to face just yet. Facing James Potter was something she wasn't ready to do.


The emerald eyed girl looked up again from the pages of the book to see Severus finally moving. He had put his book down, tucking it under his arm and moving his way to another book case of novels. Lily leaned forward a bit, fine eyebrow raised as she watched him, if he went out the door she would most definitely follow. He had to be doing something other than reading. Honestly what kind of death eater was he?

[JAMES POTTER]

“Come on James!” Sirius called after him. James was falling behind in the halls; his bag was a bit heavier than it normally was. He intended on giving Lily back her books personally. But, that, however, wasn’t the reason that he was dragging so far behind. He was still sore from the trip to the forbidden forest. Not from the running, or the fact that he was chased down by a different centaur. No. What was really sore was not finding Lily afterwards. He got out of the forest, but didn’t see her. Instantly he fled back into the woods. The same Centaur chased after him, but James didn’t care. He stupefied the creature and made his run. He ran all the way back to the waters, and further. Was she lost? James wasn’t giving up. No, he insisted on finding her, but after hours of searching, he trailed his way back to the grounds. His fist was clenched at the sight he came back to: Snape and Lilly talking. How long was she there? His teeth clenched, his grip on her books tightened. He was holding every ounce of anger in, trying to keep from approaching Snape and doing something stupid. He kept the sharp pain he felt from showing as well. That, that was a low blow.

“JAMES!? HELLO?!?!?!” Sirius’ tapping on James’ forehead woke him from the memory. Grinning, James smacked the boy’s hand away. “Alright Padfoot! I heard you. Hold your tail still, why don’t you?” He actually missed what Sirius had said ‘cause his direction ended up going towards the Great Hall. “Not hungry, Padfoot. I’ll catch up with you later.” Sirius knew what happened that night - James told him. Well, everything but the discussion about Peter. That was still his own secret, sort of.

“Where is she?” His feet walked slowly, his eyes tried to spot the red hair, but he had no luck. “Better yet..” James turned to a younger Slytherin, with a grin, he stepped in front of the younger student, causing the kid to stop. “Where is Snivellus Snape?” James’ brow rose. The kid looked like he was going to say a smartass comment, but James was in no mood. “Answer right and I won’t hex you.” The kid just turned and pointed towards the library, “Thanks.” He muttered, moving out of the kids way, and walked towards the Library. He had a feeling Lilly would be there, especially after seeing her with Snape that night.

James entered the library - a place he didn’t really bother hiding himself in unless he really needed information about something. For that sort of thing he asked Moony. James walked around and down the aisles until he saw the red hair just barely peaking up from a stack of books. James smiled a bit, still upset that she actually was avoiding him. Taking his bag off his shoulder, he grabbed her books and sat them on the ground beside her. He felt his lip twitch a bit, catching Snape’s movement from the corner of his eyes. “Glad to see you made it out.” He muttered quietly before standing upright. “At least someone did.” He was a bit bitter still, but he was still smiling, as if he were joking. “Next time I inconvenience you, at least tell me like you normally do.” That wasn’t exactly what he wanted to say. In fact, he was holding that in. But it rolled off his tongue by accident. “Sorry.” He muttered, as if that would take those words away. Then again, part of him didn’t. He wasn’t angry with her.. Just a bit, well, hurt. “Guess I wasn’t expecting to be abandoned like that is all.” He shrugged some, acting as though it didn’t bother him. “Well, I promised to give you your books, and there they are.” What was wrong with him? Normally he would just joke it off and act as though nothing happened. Was he actually that hurt by her? “Sorry for interrupting your…” He looked from her to Snape, then returned his gaze back to her, “studying.” He finished, biting the inside of his cheek to keep himself from saying anything stupid, he started to turn away from her.

[LILY MARIE EVANS]

The sudden voice next to her, made Lily jump. Her fingers tightened on the book in her hand as she jerked her attention to the side, her eyes leaving Snape to James. Suddenly Lily was feeling guilty at his tone as she let her eyes fall down to the books he returned to her. What was she supposed to do? Blow of Sev and go back for him? It wasn’t like the two of them had a date or anything. It wasn’t a date! Lily just needed to get a grip on her nerves. Instead she threw her hand up, almost dropping the book in her hands as she reached for Potter’s arm.

“James wait!” She spoke in a hushed tone to stop him from drawing any attention to her. She pulled him behind the aisle of books and glanced between the bookshelves once more trying to get a fix on Severus. She searched for him and sighed finding him close to the door and turned her attention back on Potter.

“Its not like I wanted to leave you back there.” She answered him honestly, pausing her words though to glance at her hand on his arm and she quickly let go of him taking a step back to keep the space between them. She was not going to be listening to the latest rumors of James Potter featuring her in the library of all places. Lily glanced back through the shelves-- Sev hadn’t moved yet. He was talking to someone but she could easily tell from the bold bright hair that it was Malfoy. She pressed her lips in to a thin line, so he was hanging around the death eaters. Okay, now all she needed was evidence. Cold hard evidence would help her unjumble this mess tangling around her.


“…And you didn’t inconvenience me, I got caught up by a friend is all. Look I‘m sorry, I really was trying not to leave you there.” Lily apologetically looked up to him, pressing her lips in to a bit of a frown. She did honestly feel bad about ditching Potter in the woods. He had pushed her to safety and she had left him there, staggering behind.

Carefully leaning down, Lily picked up the books he set down for her and she eased them in to her own bag feeling the weight finally pressing back on her shoulder. It was a relief to have her books back at least, even if Potter didn’t believe her. With a heavy sigh she glanced back up through the shelving before silently cursing under her breath,

“Oh bloody hell.” She muttered and reached up raking a hand through her red hair. She had spent too much time looking at Potter and now Sev was on the move. He had just been there and now he was moving with Malfoy somewhere. Really was this any way to spend her free day? Busy stalking her (secret) fiance just to pin evidence on him? Lily felt stupid and foolish for doing it but it was the only way to let Snape down without feeling the guilt. Was she wrong for not wanting to feel it? Then again she wanted to follow the two of them, Malfoy and Sev were up to something.

[JAMES POTTER]

James had turned nearly 180 degrees before her voice stopped him - it was hushed, but he heard her anyways. “Hm?” He didn’t turn towards her at first, that is, until she pulled him behind the aisle of books. She stood in front of him, but her eyes dragged back to someone, and James knew exactly who that someone was - Severus Snape. “Caught up by friends?” His eyebrow rose. He knew Severus was her best friend, but he also knew that the two were arguing at one point in time because of the filth Severus called her. “Could’ve left a howler or something.” He tried to smile some, he glanced at her hand that still held him for a second before she moved it. His lips curved down slightly at the sight of her frown. “Ev-” He stopped, instead of speaking, he shrugged some.

He saw the relief over her face when her books were finally back in her posession. “Bloody heavy baggage” He joked, trying to lighten the situation. He was trying to get back to that day in the forest - before that creature came along.

‘Oh bloody hell.’ James’ brows pulled together for a moment, his eyes followed her gaze. “Playing spy, Evans?” He grinned some, pulling his bag a bit more on his shoulder. It didn’t have damn near anything in it compared to Lily’s bag. Then again, Lily actually took most courses seriously whereas James hadn’t. “Secret crush on Snivvy, or something?” He chuckled a bit. It wasn’t because of his dumb joke, but because he wasn’t sure if that was it - if that was the reason she ditched him for Severus. Did she really actually like him? Or was James falling off his broom too much?

“Sorry for keeping you distracted.” He grinned, quite pleased that he actually distracted her, especially from Snivvy. “If you want to play spy, you need the tools, Evans. And! I’m pretty much free, so I’ll help.” He thought over his words - stalking Severus? He would rather vomit, fall into a hole of Devils snare, and meet Voldemort face to face than to stalk Severus. Then again, he would be able to keep an eye on Lily, help her, and make sure that Sniv and Lily didn’t do anything. Dumb plan, but it worked in the muggle shows!

“No objections either!” He got a bit loud, getting a few glares from other students. “Ah get back to your books!” He did recognize the faces, but he hardly cared. He looked back to Lily. “Shall I carry your bag again?” He held out his hand, waiting for her to object, or take the offer. “I solemnly swear that I will not say a word to catch ol’ sniv’s attention and ruin the mission. Sirius and I have practiced quite often.” He did practice the whole muggle James Bond stuff - it was quite amusing, even if he had gotten himself in tons of trouble. “Well?”

[LILY MARIE EVANS]

Spying, she had been caught. Caught red handed by Potter, she bit in to her bottom lip and looked over to him and then back to Snape who was making his way out of the library. Really, she hadn’t wanted anyone other than Andromeda to know why she was spying on Snape. Then again, did Potter really need to know the reason? He didn’t have to-- she could always lie to him.

Her heart skipped a beat. Lily wasn’t one to lie often at all and for some reason she couldn’t find herself lying to Potter but then she wouldn’t be lying to him-- she would just not be telling him the whole truth. He held his hand out for her bag and Lily glanced from his hand to his face. Carefully she reached out and handed over the bag knowing it was going to overpower him for a bit. “Look, Potter.” She started softly, “I’m not spying on him. I’m just watching out for him.” She whispered quietly in the library.

It was partially true. Lily was looking out for him after all, she didn’t want to him to fall to the death eaters but part of her wanted him to go that route just so she could give the ring back. She loved her best friend, but there was different love there now. It wasn’t how she felt in her younger years, blinded by his knowledge of the magical world. Now he was more of her friend than anyone else and those friendly feelings were not going much further. She wasn’t so sure she could ever marry Severus Snape, especially with the track he was following now.


“So for clarity. I’m not spying.” She spoke softly as her eyes trailed from Potter’s face to Sevy leaving with Malfoy. She quickly made a mental note of the direction they were going as she turned back to Potter feeling disheveled. She was bringing him in to her dirty work. It wasn’t right. Still the curiosity was eating her alive and she let her books go to his hands again. Why was she putting so much in to the Toadling? Then again why was he being so nice to her when all she did was yell at him, ignore him and yet he was still trying to get on her good side.

“But it would be nice if you would help-- and you do promise right? Not to tell anyone?” She felt the familiar sinking feeling in her stomach as she walked along the edges of a lie. This engagement was going to bed the death of her that was for sure.

She listened to his agreement, solemnly swearing to her that he wouldn’t breathe a word. Trusting Potter was going to be hard, she never trusted Tuney with such things. Only Andromeda really knew the insides and outs of Lily’s life. Now she was letting Potter in little by little. She felt like she was leading him down a dark corridor only to ditch him again. Silently she promised herself not to leave him in the dark for too much longer.

When she found the evidence, she would give the ring back. Then Lily would go on her way maybe even leave the library and spend an evening with her friends. Spend the day with her nose out of a book.

“Come on then. Lets go catch up before he goes too far…”

She couldn’t believe she was saying such a thing, bringing Potter in to this mess would be a huge mistake but she could face the consequences later right?

[JAMES POTTER]

Spying with Lily on Severus? Definitely not his ideal afternoon, the spy with Lily was perfectly wonderful, it was the snake that they were spying on that was the problem. Wait? Why was she spying on him? Okay, sure she said to ‘protect him’, and that thought made his heart sink right into his stomach, but there was another reason. Lily wasn’t spying on him only to protect Snape. That much James knew; he may be arrogant, but he was not stupid. He had the time to learn peoples expressions when they were lying, telling the truth, and so on - Lily was lying. He couldn’t blame her though; it wasn’t as though they were together, or best friends - something James wanted to change and worked on changing for awhile now. “Sure, sure. If you say you’re not spying, then you’re not.” He grinned, grasping her bag and setting it on his shoulder. “I swear, Evans. I’m going to have a permanent indent in my shoulder just from your bag.” He joked, but held onto the bag anyways - especially to keep her from grabbing it.

“Clarified: Firefly is not spying on Snivvy. Toadling hears the message loud and clear.” He turned to watch Snape follow Malfoy out the door, and paid attention to their direction. “They won’t get too far.” HE grinned, grabbing Lily’s hand, “Come on.” He wasn’t grabbing her hand to make any moves - though the idea wasn’t far from his mind - but to keep her close enough that they wouldn’t get caught. James nodded, “I promise. I won’t tell anyone of this, but I have something I need you to keep a promise as well.” This was James’s next opportunity to spy on Remus, and keep an eye on Snivellus Snape. James had a growing feeling that Snape was joining the Death Eaters - sure, James hate the guy with a passion, but he NEVER hated anyone more than he hated the Death Eaters. If Snivellus was becoming one, would he turn his back on Lily? James clenched his teeth at the thought - he would not let Severus do anything to harm Lily, or anyone else. If he catches the Toucan-Sam joining them, James would send him flying to his coffin. That’s only saying that Snivvy was joining, other than that, James was just going to hex him - maybe. Maybe? What was wrong with him?

“I have something that we can use to keep an eye on Snivvy, I mean Snape. But! We can only use it if you swear not to acknowledge its existence after today… or ever, really. It doesn’t exist, got that?” He had a parchment in his bag - something that Padfoot, Moony, Wormtail, and himself made. It wouldn’t show its contents unless the person knew the password and no one but the marauder’s new that password. “Should’ve used this to find you instead of some second year - or was it third? Ah, well, promise, Firefly?” He grinned, reaching into his bag with his free hand since his other hand was still holding Lily’s. He knew that he was keeping her from getting after Snape any faster, but he also knew she would probably appreciate the idea he had. His feet moved toward the direction Snape had went, but he hit into a couple of students because he was paying more attention to Lily than his path. “Sorry, mate!” He shouted after another student as he looked ahead of himself, trying to pay attention to where he was going.

[LILY MARIE EVANS]

“Yes, we’re not spying.” Spying was a dirty word. Sure she was watching him, technically stalking but she was doing this all in the name of protection of Sev from himself. She grinned up to James for a moment as he complained over her books. Sure she took more classes than she needed to and she often overloaded herself with homework and books from the library. Still it was funny to see him holding her books, even sweet but that was something Lily would never, ever utter to the Toadling.


“Maybe if you spent more time on studying than on a broom-- you may actually have some muscles.” She teased him softly knowing good and well that even she could barely hold on to that bag most of the time. Though his next words only made her smile more. He had actually referred to himself as the Toadling. The name she often called him when angry-- often for her own affection as well but she would never let him know that.

His hand moved to hers and Lily blinked up at him before he tugged her along. Her fingers wrapped around his palm as she moved with him. “Of course-- I promise.” She murmured softly to him as she moved with him, she glanced down to the ground wondering if she should be trusting Potter with so much? Sure he was keeping her secret, it was only fair she kept one for him too right?

“Why are you digging for parchment? She asked curiously trying to peer over his shoulder as she glanced in to his free hand trying to see but she wondered if she should give him some privacy as she turned her head away. “What is it exactly? And how is that going to help us?”

Lily found herself asking one too many questions as she usually did within classes. She was far too curious for her own good, far too intuitive on top of it all. It was clear though Potter wasn’t going to tell her much even with her questions. He wanted her to promise and so she’d give it to him. She owed him more than just a little promise. With a soft nod of her red head she looked up to him, “Yes, I promise Toadling. I won’t breathe a word of it.” She murmured with a solemn nod of her head as James lead them around with his piece of parchment. She was just under height that she couldn’t read the paper but maybe it was safer this way.

More than likely it was some sort of hexed parchment map of the school. Still she trusted him despite her usual attitude toward him often kept them apart. Lily was glancing through out the halls too occasionally looking at their hands joined. Would anyone really pay close attention to them? Lily Evans was playing too close for comfort. What if Sev turned around to see her holding hands with him? God forbid any of his little Tadpole friends saw. Still, Lily pushed the feelings down, focusing her energy all on Severus. He was up to something with Malfoy and if she could get the evidence then maybe-- just maybe the rest of her year would go smoothly.


A student crashed in to Potter nearly knocking Lily back a bit but she held her ground and walked through the crowding halls with him. Nervous that any moment she would find Sev in a compromising position. Would finding the evidence really make her happy? Or would it just break her heart? She did love Severus after all. Nothing would change the love she felt for her best friend but it was far from true love any more.

[JAMES POTTER]

He bit the inside of his cheek - Note to self, Potter: Do not say ‘spying’. He nodded slightly, “Sorry, force of habit.” Spying was a much easier way of saying it than ‘stalking’ was it not? Ugh, spying was hard enough! But, if Lily didn’t want to call it that, then he wouldn’t. He was ‘looking out’ for Snivellus. He needed to get his head checked from that fall on the pitch.

“More time studying would mean actually having to study. I do not need to study, Firefly.” He grinned, chuckling some at her remark about muscles. “I have muscles, if you want, I will show you them later?” He was joking, an odd joke, but his voice hinted around that it was only a joke. The showing muscles part, not the having them. “Good, that would mean I could, maybe, show you what’s the importance of this parchment.” He glanced over his shoulder some, seeing her try to take a look, he shook his head. The maurader’s would strangle James if they knew what he was up to; then again, Sirius would probably get a laugh out of the extremes James was doing just to spend time with Lily. Whereas Lupin would say it was ‘irresponsible’ of him to be showing anyone that - especially Lily who, at one point, would have definitely told on him for having such a map.

“This, here,” He pointed to the parchment, “ is a map.” Once they reached the outdoors, James came to a sudden stop, he didn’t tug her along so she wouldn’t hit right into him. Looking around, James saw that it was clear. “You promised not to tell.” He reminded her, a useless habit of his. Even if she did tell, James wouldn’t admit to it. Not only that, no one would really know the password. Well, Lily would, but to believe such a map existed would be somewhat psychotic - right?

He showed the parchment to Lily - it was blank. No sign of ink, any markings of land, absolutely nothing was on it. “Watch.” Holding his wand against the parchment, James took another glance before speaking, “I Solemnly Swear that I am up to no good.” Before their eyes ink started to appear, the fine lettering read ‘Messr’s Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, & Prongs presents: The Maurader’s Map’. This very map was how James kept up with the rat. The very rat whose name was listed on the parchment - Wormtail. James didn’t look up to Lily. Instead, James Open the folded Parchment, and scanned it to find Severus Snape’s name. A few recognizable names showed first to James: Sirius, Alice, Dumbledore, and so on. Even Lily and James’ names were there, right by one another.

“Ah! Here he is!” James grinned, looking up to Lily, then turned. “They’re heading towards Hogsmeade?” It wasn’t only Malfoy and Snape’s names either - Pettigrew was beside them as well. His teeth clenched hard for a second before he clear his throat and grabbed her hand again, “Come on.” He grinned some, trying not to let it show tat he felt betrayed by Peter.

[LILY MARIE EVANS]

Lily held back the urge to laugh at James as he spoke of muscles and studying. "You have muscles? I doubt that one Potter but you can keep dreaming. So keep your shirt on." She teased him shaking her red head as she moved along the corridor with him.

"And you do need to study you know. You'll need it Potter when exams come up." Lily warned him softly as she glanced up to him with a fine eyebrow raised, quietly wondering why he was hiding the parchment in his hand in the first place. She wanted to see why he was relying on the parchment to follow Sev around versus her way of following after him.


Though when he announced it as a map, Lily raised an eyebrow up to him. "No thats a piece of parchment." She corrected him quietly, "You've gone mad if you think thats a map." A small snicker fell from her lips as she shifted foot to foot looking up at him as if she had wasted time following him. She could have followed Sev herself but she was willing to give James the benefit of the doubt after all. Its not like she had a better way of this, and he was always better at breaking rules than she was. Lily never broke a rule in her life.

"Yes, yes I've promised. I won't tell a soul." She murmured quietly with a soft sigh as she tried to peer over his shoulder once more for a peek at the parchment. It was still blank until he turned away from her for a moment, murmuring something of being up to no good and she looked over to him with a fine eyebrow raised once more. Her head was swimming with questions, sinking down to her tongue just begging to be asked like she did throughout class. Still she held her tongue waiting for him to show her what exactly he was talking of. He finally opened the parchment and she moved next to his side glancing over his hand. There was ink on it now. Was it joke parchment? Hexed? Possibly there was no way something like that existed anywhere else she had seen. Nor could she read it the way he was holding it. He finally glanced up with an exclamation of finding them and Lily smiled inwardly. Finally! They had a mission to catch up to him.

"Hogsmeade? Why on earth would he be going there?" She questioned as he grabbed her hand again. Lily barely had a chance to twist the question around before he pulled her off with him down the hall.

"Just one question Potter." She paused her statement looking back over her shoulder as they were leaving the library, making sure no nosy under classmen were following them.

"Why would they be going there? Better yet how are we supposed to follow them and not be seen?" She asked curiously as she moved faster to keep up with him. Her fingers closed over his hand as she held a bit tighter to him just to keep from getting left behind. She was trusting him on this, keeping Sev in their sight. She needed that evidence.

"And how does that map tell you that?" She asked, knowing she had already asked more than one question. Potter was just going to have to deal with her curious side taking over like an infection.

"...And how did you get something like that?"

[JAMES POTTER]

"I don't need to dream up what I've already got, Firefly." He grinned, winking at her, following the map. Joking, he grabbed the end of his shirt, "You sure you don't wanna see?" He chuckled some, letting go of his shirt, knowing she would probably roll her eyes and take off without him.

"I don't need to study, Firefly." In fact, James never really bothered to study. James' scores were pretty outstanding compared to what many people may have believed. Even McGonagall questioned James on a daily basis as to why he didn't act like the student he could be, all based of some scores he had on a test. McGonagall even told him that she would make him head house boy, if he cleared up his act, that is. James, on the other hand, didn't really see the advantage of being house boy. But the idea wasn't too far from his mind time to time. "You really thought I would let you down, didn't you?" He didn't miss the shock that was on her face - one minute the parchment was clean, the next? Ink splotted everywhere.

He couldn't help but laugh when she asked so many questions within a ten second time-span; that was her though. Lily always had questions that needed to be answered. Often times James caught students rolling their eyes at her when she was the fist to shoot up her hand, right in the middle of the teacher asking if there were any questions. James' lips turned downward when she asked about Hogsmeade. "To tell you the truth.. Slytherin's have a place of their own in Hogsmeade." Was he really going to tell her all this? "Kind of a spot for them to discuss... whatever." James looked to the parchment, watching the names move closer and closer to a particular name that had alerted him. "Bellatrix." He muttered. Peter was afraid of her, a good majority of people were, but why would he be there? Unless.. "I have a way to get in without being noticed." James' grip tightened some against Lily's, mostly from anger, but also to keep hold of her so he wouldn't lose her in a crowd.

"This map is.. well.. something special." How could he describe it other than that? "It's a parchment that a group had made, mainly out of boredom, but to keep track of certain Death Eaters ... and other's." Yes, they used the map to find Snivellus and harrass him, they used it when they went to find Moony when he turned wolf, but they had also used it for Order work - though they weren't part of the Order, they were still preparing themselves. Thing is, Wormtail knows about the map as well, and that wasn't so well if he went to join the Death Eaters. "I got it because I'm in this group." H

They began to get closer to Hogsmeade; James knew exactly where Snivellus and Wormtail were heading. Setting his wand against the map, James, again, murmured the words to hide the ink away from anyone's sight, and knowledge. "Mischief Manage" as soon as the ink had come, it was gone. Pushing the parchment into his bag, James grinned, turning to Lily. "Now, to get in unnoticed. We'll have to work as a team and move together as one. That won't be a problem for you, will it?"

[LILY MARIE EVANS]

"I don't think you'd let me down. I just wasn't aware you'd come up with an explanation for that map." She sent him a smile just before he read a name on the map.

Lily felt James's hand tighten over hers and she almost pulled her hand away, asking him what the deal was with Bellatrix Black. Lily knew Bellatrix. She was mean and hateful to most of the other students, Lily included but she often brushed her off. She wasn't fond of the Slytherin most of the time. Aside from Sev she paid them no attention at all. With a soft sigh she kept her questionable comment to herself but couldn't deny herself the question. "What would Sev be doing with Bellatrix? He hates her..."

Her voice trailed off for a moment as she let those words sink in her head. He had said he couldn't stand her, but was that a lie? A diversion to keep her off the trail of him sinking in with the deatheaters. Her heart sank low in her chest and she felt sick to her stomach as she rolled her eyes to the ground listening to Potter explain the map. She almost had no attention in the questions she had asked before wanting to know how that parchment worked.

"So its magic." She answered softly, mind still plagued by the thoughts of Severus turning his back on her. The summer after he embarrassed her had been long and rough. Then he showed up on her porch begging for an apology, asking her to marry him and like an idiot she had been too nice to say no. Too nice to say no, that was her alright.

Her thoughts were too scattered to notice how far they had traveled away from the school, towards the sweet get away of Hogsmeade. She turned to James as he tapped on the map before stuffing it back in to his bag. She raised an eyebrow up at him.

"Whats to stop others from reading that?" The red head asked softly as she moved with him before James stopped, turning to her with a question.

"I may not be as good at this as you but I think I can handle my own." Lily answered softly though silently worried she'd stick out, she wasn't the best at this breaking the rules thing. She wasn't the best at spying--- 'protecting' her best friend. Still, if she wanted to get the evidence, she needed to listen to the one person who would know what to do. Obviously Potter was her only choice and despite her usual hate for him, he wasn't all that bad. "So, I think I can do this."

[JAMES POTTER]

He chuckled some, shrugging slightly, moving her hand with his own. "I can come up with explanations you'd never heard, Firefly. However, to give the truth is a completely different story. Well," he grinned some, looking back to her for a second, before looking ahead, "parts of the truth, that is."

"Everything can be magical, Evans. Just because it doesn't appear by wand doesn't mean it doesn't have magic in it." As far as James was concerned, even a fly could have magic in it. It only depends on how strong-willed the creature is to bring it forth.

James loosened his grasp on Lily's hand, not wanting to hurt her, or make her uncomfortable. "Bellatrix is a character of her own sort." He muttered through his clenched teeth. Bellatrix? No, there was someone else there. There had to be! Right? "No one can stand her. I've seen how Severus looks to her - he wouldn't follow her, Firefly." He didn't miss the grief that struck Lily's face when the words sunk in. Why was he defending Snivellus? Was he REALLY trying to defend Snivellus Snape in order to make Lily feel better? He definitely needed to get checked in to a psych ward, that was sure.

"You don't look so please by the idea of the two meeting." He looked to her with a genuine smile. "They're in the same house, Firefly. Who knows? Could be some ridiculous, humiliating, sad excuse for a party." or they could be discussing Death Eater busniess he said to himself. He felt as though there was venom spewing from his mouth - he wanted to run to his dorm and brush his teeth clean of all this crap coming from him.

"For one, you need the password to get the ink to show up. Two, well... you actually HAVE to be up to no good, or some sort of mischief." He chuckled half-heartedly, shrugging some. "Brilliant, Firefly." He looked around for a moment before lightly tugging her off towards an abandoned ally way. "Since I seem to trust you, for some weird reason at that," he joked, "I guess I can trust you to see a little trick of mine." Releasing her hand, James turned both ways, being absolutely sure they were alone, before speaking "Accio cloak." He said quietly to be sure that only Lily Evans might have heard him. One minute the hand that held Lily's was empty, the next a cloak was in his grasp. "Ah, perfect." Grabbing the ends of the cloth, James shook it out and winked to Lily, "Now you see me," Throwing the cloak over himself, he vanished, or so it seemed. "Now you don't." Pulling the cloak over his head, James' body was invisible while only his head showed. That is, until he lifted his arm to let her in.

"Come along, Firefly. This is the way we get in without being seen." No one knew how James and his pals got into trouble - even how they got away with many of the things they did. More-so, no one but the Marauders knew that James had this cloak. This was his last string of secrets, really, and he let Lily Evans in. He didn't know if she would keep her promise to not tell anyone, but it was actually relieving to let someone else know about him, about who he really was. Sure James was a prat, arrogant, and a prankster, but there was far more to him than all that. Far, far more secrets than that.

[LILY MARIE EVANS]

Lily looked to James as he tried to calm her nerves as he spoke of Bellatrix and Severus all in the same house. A party? Really? Was he trying to help her? She felt heavy and closed her eyes for a moment knowing that he was trying. Still, Lily didn't feel any better over Severus running off with Bellatrix, sneaking out of the castle was one thing but going with her too? It was just one more arrow, pointing to his narrow walk in to the Deatheater status.

"Maybe Potter." She whispered softly, "Maybe its nothing." Then again, maybe he was pledging himself to the death eaters, planning to join the dark magic and letting her just be pushed to the side. For a moment she fiddled with the decision of forgoing the evidence. She loved Sev but he hurt her too much.

The red head must have been lost in thought by the time he tugged her in to the small alleyway. She looked around glancing behind her back to make sure no one had seen them. That would have made her life even worse. Evans seen sneaking off with Potter down dark alleyways. She rolled her eyes at the rumors beginning to pour in her mind but she shook her head looking to him as he let go of her hand.

"Why is it always up to no good with you Toadling?" She asked curiously with a fine eyebrow raised as she turned to him as he mentioned one last trick. She had to be honest. Potter was already showing her a different side. Though she partially wondered if he was only doing this to get in her skirt but she pushed that thought aside. He was too nice for that.

He whispered something, but Lily missed it before he pulled a cloak out and shook her head as she turned her head up to him. "A cloak is going to be your way of sneaking in?" She questioned with a fine eyebrow raised before he pulled the cloak around his form. Lily's emerald eyes went wide and she took a step back for a moment.

"How on earth did you get one of those?" She asked curiously, "Its an invisibility cloak. I've only read about those. In the library."


Lily felt like a bookworm recalling the facts from the library as she watched him raise a hand up for her. She paused for a moment, hesitating wondering if she should join him or not. She bit in to her bottom lip and moved forward, ducking down under his arm a bit as she let him pull the cloak around. Her pale cheeks flushed red and she looked down at her feet for a moment trying to find words to break the silence. "H-how are we going to do this without falling over one another?" She questioned him softly.

"And certainly how are we going to walk around without hitting anyone?"

[JAMES POTTER]

"What else am I supposed to do?" He questioned, rolling his eyes at the thought of actually spending time studying. Studying wasn't really for him. When he sat in class, he paid enough attention to the professors to know what the basic idea of the miserable hours spent in that class was for, what to do for the next class, and exactly what he needed to know. James spent a little bit of his time doing assignments, and that little bit of time was more than enough for him to pass his exams with highly exceptional grades. He just enjoyed goofing off far more than actually doing any assignments, or studying.

"It's a family heirloom." He grinned, actually surprised that she even bothered to read any sort of book mentioning an invisibility cloak. There were very, very few people that actually cared about the stories this particular cloak had come from, but many knew it. "It isn't just some random cloak either. You've heard the stories of the Peverell brothers, yes?" It was a well-known story among the magical folks, not to muggles though. "Well, not only have you read about them, but you've actually seen, and used one. There's a bucket list deal you can get rid of." He grinned as she moved under his arm. Closing the cloak, he looked over his shoulder at her.

"We'll have to move quietly, slowly, and together. Remember? I told you we'll have to really work together to succeed in this 'watching out for severus' deal." He bit his tongue from saying 'stalking' and 'spying', knowing she didn't like either words. "This allyway is pretty good for practice." He didn't miss the flushing red color in her cheeks - was it from being close to him? Or something else? He wanted to ask, but only guessed she would wanna hit him, or deny it.

"We can still see people, Firefly. They just can't see us. If we hit them, don't apologize. They'll just look back and think they were imagining it. Gotta stay quiet or our cover is blown. If I move my feet, move yours." He chuckled some at the idae of the two falling - he remembered the first time he, Padfoot, and Moony went out under that cloak and the terrible trouble they had just moving the first inch. "I'll keep a slow pace though, just so we can get the hang of how each other moves." Two other names were on that parchment, and, aside from Bellatrix, James knew they WERE Death Eaters. He's seen the marks for himself. They were dedicated to Voldemort and did anything they could to please him. This, however, wasn't what he was going to tell Lily. She was already torn by the idea that Severus was with Malfoy AND Bellatrix. He couldn't break that news to her. He wouldn't, unless she asked him.

"Let's get a move on before we miss anything." Was Peter really joining the Death Eaters? Or was he just forced by Bellatrix to be there? Whatever the excuse, James was ready to find out and approuch Peter about it. "One last thing.," He had barely moved his foot before he pressed it back to the ground, turning from her and looking at the brick wall before closing his eyes. "Bellatrix isn't exactly friendly with either of us, neither is Malfoy. But, if something comes up and we're exposed, take the cloak and make a run for it. I can handle them on my own." He was confident of that much, and he was going to make Lily get out either way. He smiled before looking back to her, "Now we can get a move on."

[LILY MARIE EVANS]

"Family heirloom? Really Potter, then should you be messing with it? They're very delicate." She educated him softly despite the fact it was probably going in one ear and out the other much like his lessons in class often did. However, Lily didn't press the issue as she moved under the cloak with him. There was plenty of room for her and him but walking was going to be a bit troubling. Not to mention he told her not to apologize.

That was going to be even more troubling. Lily was often too nice, that when people would hit her-- she would apologize. Now she had to shush up and stick to her role of spy. She shook her red head, it was not spying. It was protecting. She inwardly rolled her eyes at the word. She sounded foolish even in her own thoughts. Who the hell was she kidding? Lily Evans had gone from best friend to mudblood, to fiance and now to stalker. She was losing what ever was left of her brain cells to James Potter.

"Fine we'll practice but don't step on my toes." She warned him with a soft glare, "I don't need to be limping under here." She muttered softly, feeling bad she snapped at him but at the same time rebuilding her wall she often kept guarded, leaving James on the other side. He was bully and yet here she was working with him. Maybe he wasn't all that bad. The memory of Snape calling her out in front of most of the school returned. James had tried to make him apologize. She remembered him and his words but somehow had been so overwhelmed by emotions blocked him out.

Now she felt the urge to thank him and actually be nice to him. What was wrong with her? Andromeda would be kicking her in the side forcing her closer to Potter, all while begging for the details of their outing. Still, Lily pushed all emotions down and walked a bit along side him trying to match his steps. However, James stopped and turned to her with the soft warning to get her out of there.

She rolled her emerald eyes up at him. "Oh come on." She muttered softly to him trying to keep her voice down. Nothing would be stranger to the passerby's aside from the alleyway talking to them.

"Even if they do see us, which they wont because we're not getting that close-- but if they do. I'm not leaving you there. Don't be stupid Potter." She smirked up to him, "I'm a better shot than you are anyways."

The red head tacted on that last statement with a since of pride. She was awfully quick with her wand, even commended by most of her teachers as she passed every class with flying colors and then some. Lily was on her way to being Head Girl she just knew it but that had nothing to do with her protecting Severus from the Deatheaters. Even if they turned on them and did magic, Lily would not leave James defenseless.

"Besides, you'd be out numbered and thats just pathetic."