Note:
Hi guys!
Just a little note before we start. First, this is officially my first story on FanFiction, which means that I have not yet understood everything about how the site works, so sorry if I take a bit of time to answer or if I do a mistake or two.
Second Point, I'm French. And I mean 100% French, so English is not my natural language. So, I'm really sorry if I'm making mistakes, but I'm working hard to improve (as proof, I'm writing this story in English). Don't hesitate to tell me if you see any mistakes and I'll correct them. I'm doing my very best, so please try to understand that I'm not perfect.
I will upload new chapters as often as possible and I'll try to be regular.
I hope you'll enjoy reading this story as much as I enjoy writing it.
Have a good time!
PS: Mvw65 is currently proofreading this story, which will explain that some chapters will present more mistakes than others. Thank you again by the way, Mvw65, this is so kind!
Prologue
Rosier, Avery, Mulciber, Lestrange and Bellatrix Black walked towards them. James instantly put himself between them and Lily, his wand already held tightly in his hand.
"We're in luck today my friends!", Bellatrix said with one of her cat-like smiles. "The Mudbood we were looking for, and as a bonus we even have her little puppy!"
The others laughed cruelly. James passed a protective arm in front of Lily. She had seized her wand too.
"What do you want Black?" asked James in a cold voice.
"Make you pay for what you and your friends have done of course! You're the reason why Amycus almost got expelled."
"He should have been", spat James, his voice shaky with fury.
"You're not getting away this time, " answered Avery.
And before James could answer, he was deflecting a curse sent by Mulciber. Lily disarmed Rosier before he could move and James petrified him, and he fell on the ground in a thud. Lestrange and Avery were now duelling fiercely against James, while Mulciber and Bellatrix were focusing on Lily. The Slytherins were good duellers, and before long James and Lily were both covered with scratches and bruises. Finally Lestrange fell to the floor, ropes wrapped around his limbs.
"Impedimenta!" James roared.
And Avery was sent flying into the stone wall. James turned his attention on Lily. She had just knocked Mulciber out, and was protecting herself from the rain of spells that Bellatrix was sending upon her. James raised his wand, but before he could say any incantation, another voice echoed from the end of the corridor.
"Sectumsempra!"
James felt the spell hit him on his back, right under his right collarbone. His wand slipped from his hand and fell on the ground as both Bellatrix and Lily suddenly stopped fighting. He could feel something wet and warm flowing down his back. He could barely breathe. He felt the same warmth on his face. Lily's eyes grew wide, a terrified expression painted on her face, while Bellatrix looked mesmerized.
"James...", Lily gasped in a weak and shaky voice.
He tried to answer, but all that came out of his mouth was a low groan, and he finally fell on his knees. Lily rushed towards him, forgetting completely the gang of Slytherins around them. She kneeled next to him, and he fell upon her. He could feel the warm liquid going down his torso as an unbearable pain was slashing his chest. He put his hand on his white shirt, but when he looked down at it, it was covered with blood. When he looked at Lily again, he was terrified.
"You really have to teach me this one Snape!" said Bellatrix in a joyful tone.
She clapped her hands together and jumped on the spot, like a child who has just seen his big birthday cake.
"Later perhaps", Snape answered. " You should all go before a teacher comes. I think they had their lessons."
"You're right."
Bellatrix and Snape helped the others to their feet and they all ran towards the end of the corridor. All, except Snape, who remained in a dark corner of an alcove, a few feet away from the two Gryffindors. Lily didn't notice anything, she couldn't. All her attention was focused on James. She held his bleeding and weak body in her arms, cradling him gently, as she would have done with a little boy who cried. She was softly stroking his messy black hair, thinking as fast as she could of all the counter curses and healing charms she knew. But she had no idea what to do.
"It's gonna be alright, James, it's alright."
She was crying and her tears were falling on James's cheeks, mingling with the blood covering his pale face. She could feel him growing weaker and weaker in her arms.
"Stay with me James, it's alright. It will be fine."
She knew the others would be here in any minute now, and the only plan she could glimpse through her clouded mind was to wait for them. They would know what to do, and she begged James to wait with her for their arrival.
"Lily..."
He tried to speak but he winced with pain.
"Don't try to talk, just stay with me, it'll be fine."
But he could feel that it wasn't going to be fine. He was dying, here, on the cold floor of the dungeons in Lily's wonderfully gentle arms. He was dying, and he knew he didn't have much time.
"Lily, I've got to tell you..."
He could barely breathe now, every rise and fall of his chest was a struggle, but he had to tell her before he could give up and rest.
"I..."
He winced again, and she let out a sob.
"I love you Lily."
His hazel eyes were fixed upon hers, full of tears, and she knew he meant it. He really did love her.
"I've loved you since the first time I saw you, on our first evening in Hogwarts, and I've never stopped falling more and more in love with you since. I love you, and I always will."
She cried even harder, choking. She tried to speak, but the words stayed stuck in her throat. He slowly closed his eyes.
"NO! No James!" she cried.
He was drifting away, she was losing him. She looked desperately around her, and it was only then that she noticed Severus.
"Sev! Sev, help me! Please help me!"
She begged him, choking and crying. She knew he was the one who had cursed James in the first place, but right now he was her only hope.
"I don't know the counter curse. Oh please Sev, help him!"
"Why? Why do you want me to help him? He's just a toerag, you said it yourself. He's just a bullying prat, he's not worth my help! Why do you want to save him?"
She looked at him right in the eyes. He had never seen her in so much pain.
"Because I love him."
