Now that I had Glenn's address, I could potentially slip off at any time yet I still had numerous things to figure out - namely what I was actually going to do to Glenn. The possibilities were quite literally endless and the idea that I now had full access to revenge was almost overwhelming.

Initially, I had intended to wait a few days but months went by and I was now closer to going than I had been before. Remus had come to a decision, he was going to go away for a little bit in an attempt to win over the feral werewolves. We were all hesitant but Dumbledore had emphasised it's importance and Remus still very much trusted the man. It was down to this that me and James had become increasingly closer, often staying in bed until the mid-afternoon, knowing that we could be whisked off to secret meetings at any time.

He was due to leave around November and I could tell it was getting to Sirius. The pair of them were round at our house even more than before, Sirius yearning for company knowing his boyfriend would soon be gone.

"It all feels so fleeting," Sirius murmured, one night as we lounged around, each couple taking up half the sofa, "Time is so fleeting."

Remus laughed, "Are you on moonshine again?"

Instantly James reacted, "Again... Padfoot, what?"

"In-joke," Sirius replied, "I'm not on moonshine. It's just odd to think Remus is with us now and then in a few weeks, you'll ... you'll be out in the bloody mountains somewhere."

Remus planted a kiss on Sirius' forehead, "Only for a bit, it's just a trial run."

"That's what they all say," James said ominously, "Trial run and before you know it, Dumbledore's extended it to life. It feels like that's all life has become sometimes, lying around in wait for Dumbledore's next moves. Like he's playing some weird game of chess and we're nothing more than pawns - "

"Porn?" 

"It's a chess piece, Sirius," I laughed, "How can you not know that?"

"Hey, I'm far too cool to play Wizard Chess, have you even met me?" Sirius asked, only half joking.

"Maybe we should stop it," James murmured.

"What? Sirius's attitude that he's somehow 'too cool' for Wizard Chess ... please let's," I replied, sticking my tongue out at him as he glowered back.

"No, no," James said a little louder this time, "I mean escape this cycle of just fighting all the time, do something. We never do anything anymore other than sit around here - "

"And drink moonshine."

"Please explain the joke?" James begged to which Sirius winked, mouthing 'later', "We don't even celebrate anything anymore, for Lily's birthday this year we just had a tiny slice of cake - "

"I liked that though," I reminded him.

"I know but we could have done more," James said, "Sirius, we didn't do anything for yours, we used to have dorm parties, go out for drinks, dancing ... let's do something."

"Halloween," Sirius brought up, "We could do something for that ... a party does sound fun."

"What if the Order needs us?" Remus asked to which Sirius replied:

"This is what I'm talking about, it dictates our lives!"

In truth that wasn't the main thing that had plagued my mind yet I was unwilling to admit my fixations until I'd seen them through.

"If they call us, we can show up ... piss drunk," Sirius laughed before dying down, "I wouldn't want people to get hurt though ... tipsy but still very functional and able to walk in a straight line," This seemed to satisfy him as he nodded, "Okay, that I can deal with that. How about it? A small group of friends, we can have it at the penthouse."

The idea sounded nice although we should have known that Sirius's definition of 'small' was a little bigger than ours and as the weeks went by, the guest list seemed to grow. I was surprised that Sirius trusted enough people in his home but I guessed Remus would ensure there was strict door controls so I wasn't too worried.

Funnily enough as me and James changed for the party, revenge was the last thing on my mind for once mainly because applying lipstick required all my attention. But it was more than that, it had been my focus for so long, perhaps I did need a night just to forgot about the Order, all the chaos ... everything heavy and just relax.

"James ... have you got your Gomez Addams costume on?" I called from the bathroom, "I want to see us together because I make a pretty fine Morticia."

"I don't doubt it!" He yelled back, "And I think I might have a better plan..."

Instantly my heart sunk as I turned back to the door having heard his footsteps on the landing, "James, for the last time, we're not doing Bambi. I know you liked it when we watched it but no -plus I'm already in half of my - oh," James was stood in the doorway ... wearing his normal clothes.

"Eh? What do you think?"

I raised an eyebrow, "Um ... are you using a girl potion again or something?"

"No, it's a joke," He replied, "Because you know you get sexy witch costumes so I'm a sexy wizard but I don't need a costume ... no?"

Instead of shooting it down, I decided to play along a little bit, slinking up to him, "You most certainly are."

"What are you going to do, Mrs Potter - 

"Addams."

"Sorry, Addams," He corrected, "Have your way with me?"

"Well, I would, you are an incredibly sexy wizard after all," I replied, my hands resting on his shoulders, "But right now, I'm Morticia and you're James ... I can't possibly seduce another man's husband."

He pouted, "Do I have to put on the Gomez costume to have any fun?"

"I'm afraid so," I replied, "Now go! Be off with you, I have a dress to zip up!"

"Aw, you're such a killjoy!"

"I prefer spoilsport, you arse!" I laughed as he disappeared from the bathroom, letting me return to my getting ready.

Eventually, I managed to convince James to change into his costume after several stag surprises and he looked dashing - in my opinion at least. Sadly, when we arrived at the Penthouse, Sirius had other ideas.

"Blimey, Prongs," He managed after laughing for several minutes, "What's with the gelled hair and suit? It's just our flat, not the bloody Ritz - Lily, you look incredibly by the way."

James pursed his lips, "And what are you meant to be?"

"Myself, reckon I'm scary enough on my own."

"You are," James's face morphed into the picture of shock, "I thought that was a cheap mask when I first arrived - ow!"

They playfully fought whilst I walked on by, shaking my head a little. The party was divided between those who had costumes and those who didn't ... sadly Remus hadn't tried either just like his boyfriend. Still, he was going to be sent on a possibly deadly mission over the next few weeks so I could understand that. I was glad to see Peter had put some effort in though, dressed as a pumpkin, orange face paint and all. The rest of the people were ones I vaguely recognised such as Sirius's cousin or a friend from school so I decided the other Marauders' were my best bet whilst my husband was busy.

"Happy Halloween, you two!"

Remus smiled, "Morticia Addams?"

"Yep," I replied, "I would say a Catchphrase but I haven't seen Addams family in a while, I just remembered that she looked pretty incredible."

"I thought you were McGonagall," Peter admitted before shrugging, "What? I just got an authoritative vibe!"

"Young McGonagall, perhaps," I laughed, turning towards the kitchen area where James and Sirius were laughing as the latter poured them both particularly large cups of what looked like Vodka. No Firewhisky tonight ... they were only onto hardcore stuff tonight.

"Oh Merlin's Beard, look what's happening there," I sighed, shaking my head, "He's going to be so clingy tonight."

"Isn't he always?" Remus asked, deadpan.

I smiled dryly, "You know how he gets ... just trust me. Half an hour on and he'll be hanging around my shoulders."

"Well ... don't let James have all the fun," Remus grinned, gesturing his head towards several Firewhiskies still closed on the counter.

"Remus Lupin, you are a terrible influence."

He shrugged, "We all have dark side - "

Peter raised an imaginary glass, "Here here."

"Besides I can't get drunk, got to leave earlier tomorrow and I can't risk a hangover," He smiled innocently, "Drink for two?"

It was a terrible idea yet Remus was oh so convincing with his innocent smiled concealing a trickster who'd never been caught underneath. Of course, within half an hour, I was laughing at the slightest funny thing and James, as predicted, had his arms wrapped around my waist ... we were both pleasantly tipsy, I told myself.

"How are you so pretty?" James crooned, "I-I look like a circus ringmaster and not even a good one but you look all pretty, s'not fair!"

I found myself laughing excessively, "You look very handsome!"

"Lies ... wait! I'm Gomez now," He wiggled his eyebrows at me, "W-will you have your way with me now, Mrs Addams?"

I sighed dramatically, "I'm n-not shagging you in Sirius and Remus's bed."

"We have a guest room," We both jumped as Sirius casually interjected into our conversation before returning to his own.

"In that case alright."

James was staring at Sirius in awe as I led him away, "He's psychic ... Padfoot, he's psychic!"

•••

Half an hour later, we were both sobered up, my lipstick and James' pencil moustache well and truly rubbed off. Judging from the disco music downstairs and faint sound of Sirius yelling, "Watch me, Remus! I'm gonna jump!" things had got pretty wild yet we weren't in the mood to move. Instead, I stayed leaned against James' chest, the two of us staring faintly at the glass doors at the beautiful views of London.

"Do you ever just feel like this is what we should be doing all the time?" James said dreamily breaking into a rather casual conversation about stars.

I laughed slightly, "Yes."

"Not just this but partying, letting loose," He sunk down, "We're so young, Lily..."

"I know," I replied softly, "But we're also in a war."

"We don't deserve this," He practically whispered now, "We should be enjoying ourselves, not fighting. I would die for you Lily but I ... I also want to live for you too. I want this war to end and for us just to live, knowing we won the war and all is well. Sometimes I feel like running away from it all but if something happened to ... well, anyone, I'd never forgive myself, you know? We can't leave now, no unfinished business."

"Yeah ..." I repeated softly, "No unfinished business."

In that moment, I decided I was going to finish it tonight. No unfinished business, no lies, none of that anymore. Of course James wouldn't let me go, especially not after last time so I coaxed him to sleep. It was pretty easy, he'd been out the night before the Order so it took little effort. After he was down, I tiptoed out of the room in my now half done Halloween costume.

I was surprised to see that whilst I was up here Marlene and Mark, of all people had arrived. She greeted me drunkenly, rushing over, "Is that the walk of shame, I see?" She slurred, looping her arms around my neck.

"How long have you been here?"

"Not long - "

"We got Cocktails before," Mark explained, "Nice to see you, Lily."

"Yeah, nice to see you too," I replied, "Um, Mark, James is asleep up there, could you just maybe keep an eye on him? I'm sure nothing will happen but I just have somethings to attend to urgently."

"Ooh like what?" Marlene giggled.

I longed to tell her but that would do nobody any good, "Just ... some loose ends to tie up."

"Sure thing," Mark replied, "Got a Quidditch game tomorrow anyway, I hope you finish whatever it is."

"Yeah," I nodded, already starting to wander away, "Yeah, me too..."