Lily could not get through the next few days without catching smouldering glares of hatred from Sirius.

She had patrolling duty with Remus two days later. She discovered that Remus, who usually waited for her on such nights, had already left.

"Hi, Remus," she said, when she found him.

"Hi," said Remus coldly. He did not speak a word more to her.

"We're friends, right, Remus?" asked Lily timidly, after an hour of total silence.

"No one who hurts my best friends is my friend, Lily," said Remus distinctly.

"Remus—I just—"

"He did not deserve that, Lily. I heard the entire thing. He did not do anything more than just ask you out."

"He's so—he's so annoying—" Lily knew Remus was right, but she did not think she had the courage to own it up.

"He doesn't seem so to me," said Remus coldly.

"That's because you're his friend...of course he will pretend in front of you—"

"I do not wish to discuss it anymore."

They lapsed back to silence again, and did not speak till the end of their duty hours.

--------------------

The day of the Hogsmeade visit in May dawned bright and clear. As usual, there was a sense of excitement in the students from the morning.

The Marauders, after a brief visit to Zonko's, headed for 'The Three Broomsticks'. They passed the group of Gryffindor girls of their year, but there was enough ill feeling on both sides for all of them to ignore the others.

After Lily's outburst on James, Sirius had been ruder than ever to Marlene, and even Alice had lost patience with him.

Madam Rosmerta, owner of 'The Three Broomsticks', came up to the Marauders, smiling warmly. They were her favourite customers, especially James and Sirius. She loved their wicked sense of humour, and she never hesitated to sell them anything even if they came when there was no Hogsmeade visit.

That day, they were talking about introducing a new feature into their Marauders' Map.

"It's a complex spell, but I think we can manage to transfer our opinion about certain people into the map," said Remus.

"And if he tries to open it—" said James.

"He's got to mention his name," added Remus.

"Then insults will appear for that person. Let's try it on Snivelly!" said James gleefully.

"If you think we are going to let that greasy git touch our map, Prongs, you are badly mistaken," said Sirius.

Suddenly a shrill scream came from outside.

"What's the matter?"

Frank and Edgar, who were closest to the door, opened it and peeked out. Hooded figures were appearing all over the streets of Hogsmeade.

"It's Death Eaters!" shouted Frank.

There were screams of fright inside the little inn. Madam Rosmerta, who was serving a group of third years, froze in her tracks and went pale.

"Evacuate the third years!" said Edgar, taking command. "James, Sirius, Remus—" He waved his hand at the children.

"Madam," said Sirius, standing up. "Open the back door, please."

Madam Rosmerta did as he told her.

"Kids, come on!" called James commandingly. As Remus and James saw the third and fourth years out of the inn and told them to go straight back to the school and inform Dumbledore or McGonagall, Sirius joined the students going out of the inn to face the Death Eaters.

Frank spotted two Death Eaters cornering a junior girl of Ravenclaw. He rushed to fight them.

"Expelliarmus!"

A wand flew through the air and landed at Marlene's feet. Another Death Eater lunged for it and knocked over Marlene, who kicked out violently and brought him down with her. As Frank started duelling with the one who still had his wand, Marlene actually tried to take on her Death Eater physically. Soon he had pinned her to the ground, and was raising his arm, when Sirius appeared and petrified him. The Death Eater collapsed on Marlene. Sirius pulled her to her feet.

"Idiot, McKinnon—thought you could take on him physically?" he grumbled, and handed over her wand.

By now more Death Eaters were appearing and the seniors of all the three houses were joining in the fight. Frank and Edgar were fighting three Death Eaters. James was taking on another one far away. Near Sirius and Marlene, Remus was fighting one, too.

A group of Hufflepuff girls of third years went running past followed by some Death Eaters. Alice and Lily rushed over to save them, and there was a huge clash of lights and curses.

Marlene stunned a Death Eater who was trying to curse Hestia from behind. Sirius lunged for Remus' arm and brought him to the ground as the Death Eater whom Remus had been fighting shot a purple light from his wand.

"That's dangerous Dark Magic—Moony, be careful!"

The next moment, Sirius and Remus dived on opposite sides as a powerful curse hit the ground between them. And when Remus looked around, Sirius was gone.

He had no time to worry over it as he took on the Death Eater who had fired it.

Then a terrifying scream rang out.

"It's him—it's Voldemort!" yelled Frank, who had caught a glimpse of him. His opponent hit him strongly and he collapsed.

"FRANK!" Alice rushed over to defend him.

Lily, now alone, was going further and further away, trying to battle a group that outnumbered her. She got two of them consecutively with two well aimed stunners and suddenly found herself face to face with Voldemort.

Voldemort was worse than anything she had ever imagined. His eyes were snakelike red slits; his skin was a terrifying shade of white.

"So...a Mudblood, eh? Fighting against Purebloods?"

Lily shrank back, shaking violently.

"Crucio!"

Lily screamed and fell to the ground, writhing with pain—pain more powerful than she had ever experienced before.

"LILY! LILY!"

She heard a distant shout—James' voice shouting her name.

"PROTEGO!" yelled James.

As the pain stopped abruptly, and her eyes could focus again, she saw James standing in front of her, tall and proud, with his wand raised.

"Don't you dare attack her," he snarled.

On the other side, Remus was frantically searching for Sirius.

"Sirius—Sirius!"

Someone grabbed Remus from behind and he yelled.

"Stop shouting, Moony—it's me," said Sirius. "What's the matter?"

"James and Lily went that side—I think Voldemort is there—"

"Come on!" shouted Sirius.

They ran together towards the direction Remus had pointed at, dodging Death Eaters and students.

"James Potter..." said Voldemort. "Making the wrong choices, I see, just like your father. But you will be valuable on my side. Brave and loyal, and Pureblood...Will you join my forces?"

"Are you mad?" asked James, and he sounded so incredulous that Lily gave a half laugh.

"Well then...Crucio!"

James tried hard not to scream, but a strangled cry escaped him. Lily stood up, and she in turn cast a Shield charm between James and Voldemort, and before the latter could react, James stood up too.

Together Lily and James tried to fight Voldemort, who was easily the strongest wizard of all times after Dumbledore.

They dodged and ducked, and occasionally sent Stunners at Voldemort, which didn't do anything more than just amuse him.

"PRONGS!"

Remus and Sirius had reached them, running.

"Crucio!" Voldemort targeted James again. James dodged it.

Sirius saw red.

"CRUCIO!" he shouted at the top of his lungs, meaning it.

Voldemort only stumbled back.

"CRUCIO!" shouted James in turn.

The four of them actually managed to hold Voldemort till the cry of "DUMBLEDORE!" raided the air.

Voldemort vanished as Dumbledore appeared beside the four of them.

"Where is he?" cried Lily, panicking.

"NOT HER, YOU COWARD!" came Frank's fierce voice.

And then they knew that Voldemort had targeted Alice and Frank.

Dumbledore reached them quickly.

"Retreat!" hissed Voldemort, and the Death Eaters began Apparating away.

"Still causing trouble, Tom," said Dumbledore sadly, as Voldemort vanished.

"Please return to the school at once!" said Professor McGonagal, who had arrived too.

Almost in pin drop silence, Hogsmeade was vacated.