Disclaimer: ONCE AGAIN, I do not own Harry Potter
Lily groaned, finally regaining consciousness. She didn't know how long she'd been out. Her throat was dry and scratchy, her mouth was dry, her nose was burning, her skin was tight, her muscles were sore, she was covered in a thin sheen of sweat, her hair was falling in sweaty, sticky waves, clutching to any available skin it could find. She couldn't see anything, having been blindfolded, and reveled in imagining that nothing was happening, that the world ceased to exist.
Behind the putrid smelling material covering her eyes, Lily closed them, picturing James. She felt her body quiver as she thought of how she'd probably never get to see him again, never get to be with him again. Intense hurt filled her chest as she imagined how he was dealing with everything. James cared deeply about her, that much she knew for certain, and she knew that not knowing where she was, was probably torturing him. She also knew how furious he'd be when he found out where she really was. She wondered if he already knew, deciding that he probably did. If anything, she was sure Voldemort had bragged to Dumbledore about having captured one of the Order.
She shook the sad thoughts out of her head, wanting to just remember James, if maybe for the last time. The way he laughed. The way he'd kiss her forehead. The way his eyes would twinkle when he teased her. The feeling of his hand in hers. The way he smelled. The different colours in his hazel eyes. The way he held her hand proudly. The way he glared at people for calling her rude things. How he goofed around with his friends, returning to her with another bruise every time, fighting off her anger with a goofy smile and a kiss. The way he came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder. The way he told her he loved her. The way he wrapped his arms protectively around her when she was crying. Waking up to feel his arms wrapped securely around her, feeling as if nothing could hurt her.
She felt a sob leave her chest.
"So you're awake," a voice drawled, and her eyes flew open behind the blindfold, looking around desperately for the source, but seeing nothing but black. She heard footsteps and prepared herself for the pain she knew would be coming.
"Fetch the Dark Lord," another voice instructed, this one deeper.
"He wants to speak with you Mudblood," a male voice crooned, merely centimetres away from her ear, "Where's dear Potter when you need him, eh?" it cackled, and Lily felt her back stiffen angrily at the mention of James.
"Leave him out of this," she hissed, and the voice cackled.
"Think of this Mudblood. You've been missing a week now," it said, and Lily froze, "and has he come to save you yet?" it whispered, right next to her ear, "really cares for you, doesn't he?" it snickered, and Lily bit back her reply. Sassing him, she decided, really wouldn't help her.
"This isn't about him," she said, and the voice sniggered.
"It's not," it agreed, moving behind her, "But just imagine how much fun it would be to inform him of your death," the voice continued, and Lily shuddered, "Would come and take on the Dark Lord himself, wouldn't he?" it sniggered, and Lily closed her eyes.
"He wouldn't," she protested, but it was an empty accusation, and they both knew it.
"We both know he would, Evans," the voice said quietly, "And when he does, the Dark Lord will be only too happy to send him to you," it added.
"He'll never touch him," she said angrily, and the voice sniggered.
"You're far too easy to threaten," the voice said, "with all this love business."
"That will be enough," the dreaded high, clear voice rang, and Lily felt her body quiver in response, as if trained; hearing that voice meant pain.
"Yes, my Lord," the voice said quietly. Lily heard footsteps, and assumed her company had left, leaving her alone with Voldemort.
"Now, have we decided to share information?" Voldemort asked, and Lily sat up straighter.
"I've told you! I don't know anything!" she said, "And even if I did, I wouldn't tell you."
"Too far Mudblood," Voldemort whispered, "You go too far. Crucio!"
The sound that filled the chamber filled Lily with dread, and with shock she realized the high-pitched noise was her own piercing shriek of agony as the curse attacked her body. She was almost certain there were knives everywhere, piercing every centimeter of her body, underneath her skin as well, as if her muscles were twisting, her tendons snapping, her bones stretching, too long for her skin, trying to get out.
And all of a sudden, the pain was gone, leaving her sobbing and gasping for breath. Her forehead was coated with sweat, her body sore, her mind starting to fade in and out of consciousness, multicolored spots scattering across her mind.
"You want more?" Voldemort asked, his voice sounding entertained. The sound of it made Lily want to spit at him in disgust, "Tell me what you know," he preened, and Lily whimpered.
"I-I can't," she cried, and Voldemort clucked his tongue.
"That's no good. I'll have to loosen your tongue further," he said, "Crucio!"
"So what's the plan?" Sirius asked, his jaw set, as he looked at Alastor Moody. Sirius, Remus, Peter, Moody, James and two others were standing around a table, looking down at a rough sketch of what was supposed to be the building where Lily was held.
"This is where Evans is," Moody said, marking the chamber in which Lily was being kept captive with an 'x'.
"So how do we get in there?" Remus asked.
"The entrance is here," Moody continued, marking the entrance to the building with another 'x'.
"That's not too far," one of the others said, and Moody snorted.
"On paper it isn't, Rookie," he said, "But in person, that's about 10 yards, not to mention all the security we're going to have to get past," he muttered, "If I were Voldemort, I'd have guards stationed here, here, here, here, here and here," he said, marking each respective 'here' with green dots.
"You missed a spot," Remus muttered, rolling his eyes.
"So what are we going to do?" Sirius asked, and Moody sighed.
"We're apparating," he said, and we'll find ourselves right outside the entrance. Thing is, there's only one entrance, so it's not like we can get to Evans any other way," he said, looking pointedly at James, who was eying the 'x' representing Lily with raw intensity.
"Then what?" James asked, his voice blank and expressionless as it had been all week.
"Well, we bust in," Moody said, "You two," he said, nodding towards Peter and Remus, "Will take out the first guards we meet, along with myself and the other two," he said, nodding towards the other two men, who nodded.
"What do we do?" Sirius asked
"Potter and yourself are to go ahead of us, and attack the guards directly ahead. By this point, I'm assuming some sort of alarm would have gone off," Moody said, "so we'll quickly join Black and Potter in taking out all the guards, who'll run straight at us, I assume."
"What about Lil?" James asked, glaring at Moody, "wont they use her as bait when they see us enter?"
"Which is why, Mr. Potter, I'm putting you in charge of getting her the bloody hell out of there," he said, and James nodded shortly, "Don't worry about the rest of us," he said, "As soon as you have a hold on her, you disapparate. As soon as you have disappeared, we'll follow shortly," he said, and the others nodded, "Understood?"
"Understood."
Lily groaned as the door to her chamber slammed open.
"Get up Mudblood," Bellatrix cackled, her shoes clacking on the stone floor as she made her way over to Lily
"What do you want?" Lily asked, her voice too raspy to pass off as vicious.
"I'm bored," Bellatrix said, the smirk evident in her tone, "So I came to play. You ready to play, Mudblood?" Bellatrix snickered. Lily heard the unmistakable swiping of a wand being pulled out of it's casing, "Now, what can we play?"
"How about, turn around and get the bloody hell out of here? I've heard it's fantastic," Lily spat, and heard Bellatrix's sharp intake of breath.
"Watch what you say Mudblood," she said in a low, dangerous voice, "Or else we could have an- oops!" she cackled as Lily screamed, a sharp pain striking at her calf. She felt something run down her leg, the unmistakable scent of blood in the air, "I like this game," Bellatrix snickered, "Although, it'd be far more amusing of you could watch the pain," she whispered, and suddenly, Lily could see. Her vision was blurred because of dehydration, torture, and her loss of blood, but she could see.
Bellatrix was standing in front of her, wand poised to attack, smirking down at her, "Peek-a-boo!" Bellatrix cackled, before flicking her wand, causing Lily to cry out as another gash appeared on her upper arm, blood trickling slowly down and dripping onto the floor.
"Bellatrix," a voice said from the doorway, and Lily looked up to see Rodulphus Lestrange smirking, "You're getting the floor dirty."
"Well, here we go," Sirius said, looking at James.
"You be careful," James said, and Sirius rolled his eyes
"Always am," he said, "You too."
"Always am," James mimicked, and Sirius let out a humorless chuckle.
"Promise me something," Sirius said, and James looked at him, "If anything has happened to her," he said, and James' jaw clenched, "Promise me you'll still fight to get out of there," he said, and James sighed.
"Padfoot I-"
"Promise me," Sirius said, and James looked at his best mate for a second, before sighing and nodding.
"I promise."
"Last chance Mudblood," Voldemort said, walking at an eerily slow pace as he entered the chamber, where Bellatrix was still playing games, Rodulphus sniggering in a corner, and Lily sobbing, "Tell em what you know."
"Never," Lily said, and Voldemort hissed.
"Wrong answer," his tone was deadly quiet, "Out," he snapped at the other two, who bowed down before leaving the chamber, "You'll regret this Mudblood," Voldemort hissed, before walking out of the chamber.
"You know the plan," Moody hissed as they landed, "Potter and Black to the back. Good luck men," Moody said, before he pointed his wand at the door. The lock clicked.
Reaching forward, Remus pushed the door open. As moody had predicted, there were two sets of guards, and at once, Remus and Peter started firing spells, along with the other two.
"Come on," Moody snarled, gesturing to Sirius and James, "Go ahead!"
Sirius and James snuck ahead, wands drawn, eye scanning quickly for the first sign of movement. Suddenly, seven Death Eaters descended on them, and they drew their wands, battling off the fierce duelers. Moody and the others joined them shortly, and James took his chance to look around for Lily. There was a gateway off to the side, and, ducking a spell, he sprinted towards it.
Inside, sprawled on the floor, was Lily Evans.
"Oi!" James spun around quickly to see a hooded figure point towards him, and the rest of them turned to face him, pointing their wands at him.
"Move Potter!" Moody growled, "We'll handle this," he said, taking out three Death Eaters. The others were soon to join in dueling with them, and James took his opportunity to put a shield charm on the entrance and sprinted to Lily's body, sprawled on the floor. He fell down next to her, brushing her hair back from her face.
"Lil, Lily, Lil," he said urgently, shaking her gently, "Lily wake up!" he said. Lily's eyelid fluttered and her eyes flew open, bleary.
"J-James?" she choked out in a raspy voice, and James smiled, a tear falling down his cheek.
"I'm here," he whispered.
"W-what are you doing here?" she managed out. James could hear the strain her voice was under, and shook his head.
"We're saving you," he said quietly, "Let's go," he said, and saw her whimper.
"I can't move," she said, her eyes filling with tears.
"It's okay," James whispered, "I've got you," he said, settling his arms under her shoulders and under knees respectively, standing up.
"It hurts," she whimpered, and James nodded.
"I know baby, I know," he said, "Moody!" he yelled. Moody turned around, and James nodded once, before turning on the spot, taking Lily away from the horrible place.
They landed at the Order Headquarters, and not a minute later, the rest of the recue team surrounded them.
"Well that went well," Sirius said, smiling down at Lily.
"Potter, get her to St. Mungos," Moody instructed, "The rest of you, come with me, we have to report to Dumbledore," he said. Sirius, Remus and Peter dropped kisses onto Lily's forehead and waved to James, their faces the epitome of relief, before following Moody out of the Headquarters.
"Ready?" James asked Lily, who groaned. Taking that as a yes, he turned on the spot once more, landing up in St. Mungos hospital.
"Don't leave me," Lily whispered, as he followed the Healers orders and placed her gently on a bed.
"Never," James said, kissing her forehead, and holding her hand firmly in his as the Healer walked over
"You're telling me, you let the Mudblood escape?" Voldemorts high cold voice rang, the fury laced in with the calm voice.
"We're sorry, my Lord," Rodulphus Lestrange said, and Voldemort's eyes narrowed.
"I run off to complete an errand and I come back, to this?" Voldemort hissed, and the Death Eaters looked down at the floor shamefacedly.
"My Lord, I-"
"Crucio!"
"James?"
James' head shot up from where it had been resting on Lily's bed, and looked up at her face to see her eyes, miraculously, open.
"Lil," he breathed, leaning up quickly to press his lips to her softly, "You're okay," he whispered, and she nodded, eyes watering.
"I'm okay," she choked.
"Looks like you're gong to be here for a few days," James whispered, "your injuries were…severe," he managed, and Lily nodded.
"I know."
"How could you be so careless Lil?" James asked, eyes burning, "How many times have I told you to never walk home?" he asked, and Lily nodded, a tear seeping out of the corner of her eye.
"You were right," she whispered, "I'm sorry," she said, and he snorted.
"You should be sorry," he said, and she looked at him, eyes wide, "What would I have done if something had happened to you?" he asked, and Lily sniffed, "What would I do without you, Lil?"
"I'm sorry," she repeated, her body shaking with a sob, "I just wanted to walk home one day, and then I was tortured for a week for it," she whispered, and James put his arms around her as she continued to cry, "I don't ever want to go through something like that again," she whispered, and James stroked her hair.
"You'll never have to," he said quietly, kissing her head, "I'm not going to let anything happen to you from now on," he said, and Lily wiped her eyes
"You promise?" she asked, looking up at James, who smiled down at her.
"I promise."
"Time to leave?" Lily asked, as they stood up at The Leaky two months later.
"Yes," he said, and she nodded, "What are we going to do?" James asked, and Lily smirked.
"It's another Marauder bonding day, isn't it?" she asked, and James snorted.
"Yes, it is," he said, and Lily nodded, biting her lip, "I'll drop you home first," he said, sensing her distress, and Lily smiled up at him.
"Thank you," she whispered, leaning against his side.
And off the two went, hands threaded together, walking down the familiar lanes of Muggle London.
THE END.
Hey guys! So that was a rather random and plotless adventure, but I've had the idea in my head for a long time, and just had to get it up before it at me alive. Hope you liked it!
REVIEW PLEASE (: and keep your eyes tuned for another TMATSS update or maybe even another oneshot.