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Can you imagine casting a spell on the entirety of the Forbidden Forest?

I honestly can’t understand why no one’s ever put a spell around the forbidden forest to keep us out of here. Dumbledore’s always telling us it’s off limits so why not actually make it so?

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"I'm alright. How're you?"

He gave a nod before stepping a bit further into the room. “How are you?”

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"I'm part of the reason he didn't go to the hospital wing...? Sirius, you should make him go. He doesn't sound alright."

"He - he wouldn’t go to the hospital wing. Said it wasn’t major, and you two were in there, and-" He shook his head. "He’s just - out of it is all."

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"But you're planning on it, aren't you? Please don't... I'm sure Dumbledore has more than enough to keep you busy." She flushed at her mistake, cheeks blazing red. "It was a slip of the tongue, Potter... but if you're proposing, I do think it's custom to offer up a ring?"

"I’m not saying I’m going to drop out of school right now, yeah? I just… I need to do something. Obviously, extra patrols are just a shit way of keeping busy.” He shifted his gaze to their hands, finally nodding his head. “James and Lils Potter…yeah, we deserve that much, I think.”

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"Are you sure? Alright, then."

Amycus shook his head, leaning gently against the doorway. “No, I’m alright.”

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"Is he still in the hospital wing? What's happened to him since then?"

He shrugged. “He’s just - Merlin, Lils. You didn’t see it. It just - all blew up. Everything before with his dad and then this, and him being - the things that they would say about muggleborns and -” He growled, dropping his head in his hand. “He was in the library the other day, really trying to provoke Bellatrix. He’s gone mad I swear it.” 

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"What? Why?"

"No, that - you were cursed, Lils. It’s not-" Images flashed through his head, Aramis scratching at his arm where Lily and Mary had been branded, the screaming in his sleep. "It’s just - he feels guilty I guess. That it wasn’t him. That they didn’t go after him."

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"What does that mean, not right in the head? Not right in the head like I was when... d-during the ball?"

He shook his head. “He - he’s just not - he isn’t right in the head right now, alright? He’s shaken up is all. He’ll be fine.” He hoped.

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"Of course I want to fight... You're not the only one who wants to protect the people you love, James. I just don't think it should be now. It's illogical. We've still got so much to learn. Where will you go? What will you do? I'm going with you whether you like it or not. I'm going to be the one that sends Bellatrix Lestrange to Azkaban and don't you try to talk me out of it. And I get where you're coming from..." She quieted for a moment, looking down at their hands. "But... could we at least get a chance to be ourselves for a little while? Not soldiers or victims? Just you and me... James and Lily Potter? I mean... James and Lily?"

"It’s always going to be too soon.” He shook his head vehemently. “‘Course not. I want you to be my girl until the day I die, Lils. I always have.” He took her hands in his own. “We’re in this together—but if you don’t want to fight, if you want out, I understand. It’s not safe.” 

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"I understand that. I know you've always wanted to join the Order. I do too... but this... It's too soon. What're you going to do? Leave? Are you going to give me up too?" Her hands rested on his forearms as her eyes watered at the thought of James leaving her behind. It brought about an irrational fear, one that made her heart tense and hammer inside of her chest.

"I haven’t made any choices yet." He cupped her face in his hands, trying to reassure her as best as he could. "I’ve always known I was going to do this, Lils. It’ll be giving up everything to do it—could you do that?" 

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"You'll die. No, James..." She shook her head. "At least finish school. Please. I'm begging you. Don't charge into it without thinking. I can't lose you. If you're going, then... then I'm going too."

"What am I supposed to do, Lily? Sit around and wait until someone else I love gets hurt—or worse? This is what I’m supposed to do!”

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Lily pulled away to look at James incredulously. "What?" she asked, hoping she had heard him wrong. 

"James, you can't. Not now. Dumbledore wouldn't allow it. James, please."

"Promise? I don’t want to lose you ever, Lils. I’d marry you right here if I could, but… I think I need to join the war, Lily. I dunno win, but I feel it in my bones. I need to fight.”

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"Of course I will. You don't even have to ask, James." Lily hugged him tightly, rubbing his back reassuringly, though she knew that he wouldn't find much comfort in the act. "You didn't lose me. I'm right here, okay? I'm right here for you and I promise not to leave you."

"Will you go with me?" Even to his own ears, he sounded like such a lost little boy. His grip tightened around her, and he let the tears pour out unashamedly. "I don’t know what I would have done if I’d lost you too."

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Do you want some?

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It's surprisingly exhausting.

You've got a little something on your...

Then how is ‘not giving shits’ makin’ you tired?

I don’t.

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"Broke Aramis? What the bloody hell does that mean?"

"Don’t worry, Lils, I didn’t fight them. They just - broke Aramis is all." He sighed, looking down at his hands. "I’m sorry."