A/N: First of all, call me whatever you must but I am excited about this chapter. I had it in mind long before I started writing the story. Secondly, have you heard 'The Reason' by Hoobastanks. It reminded me of James and Lily, a lot.
Disclaimer: I don't own Hp or Paperlace or anything else even remotely cool.
Previously: The first Hogsmeade weekend resulted in Mary getting a boyfriend, James realized he didn't want to get over Lily, James and Alissa became friends, Snape had overheard Mary telling Lily that Dumbledore wouldn't be around during their Hogsmeade weekend. Lily was attacked.
6. Billy, Don't be a Hero.
"Never think that war, no matter how necessary, nor how justified, is not a crime." - Ernest Hemingway
Lily could feel nothing. She was numb when all of a sudden she was released from the grasp of numbness. Her breath caught in her throat and her heart beat wildly at the sudden pain she felt. Although her heart rate stabilized, she still couldn't breathe. She thumped her chest and massaged her throat to let some air in but no avail. She was starting to feel dizzy and the world was spinning. She felt her knees go weak and stumbled. Somewhere, in the back of her mind she noticed that she could breathe properly. But her fingers were sweating. As she tried to wipe them, she felt something was wrong with them.
"They're tiny." She realized with a gasp.
As she inspected herself, she found that she was for some unknown reason eight years old. Looking around, she recognized her surrounding as her bedroom back home. She was not in Hogwarts anymore. Weird, but seeing that when she was eight she had no idea what Hogwarts was, it was only natural. She was in her night gown sitting up on the bed. It was dark, probably the middle of the night. Suddenly there was a blood curling howl and a bark from outside. As Lily looked towards the window, there was a moment of strangely calm silence. It was a nerve wrecking, eerie silence, like the calm before the storm. As Lily turned away from the window, she saw snakes on the wall opposite to her bed. There were several snakes, twisting and hissing, writhing around menacingly. Once again, Lily felt her windpipe constrict but this time out of pure fear. As her hand flew towards her throat for the second time, she felt scales. A snake was choking her. Trembling with fear, she wished the earth would open up and swallow her. To her horror, that was precisely what happened. There was a hole in her bed and she plunged into darkness.
Lily could feel her brain telling her to open her eyes but the act was tiring. As she tried to open them, her eyes became more and more heavy. Finally, with one last spurge of effort, her eyes flew open.
"Good morning, miss Evans, about time you got up." came a kind voice. As she woke up groggily, she realized she was in the hospital wing. Her body was aching all over and she felt like a herd of hippogriffs had trampled over her. While madam Pomfrey bustled about, reaching into her medicine closet for some potions, Lily sat up trying to get a hold of her bearings but failing miserably.
"Madam Pomfrey, can you explain me what am I doing here?" she asked, allowing her head to collapse into her hands.
"That Miss Evans, only you can do. Mister Dearborn entered here with you in arms muttering something about being cursed. He was frantic and I had to give him a calming drought and put him to sleep. I believe he gave his version of the tale to professor Dumbledore but professor would like to question you as well. Now, drink up." said Madam Pomfrey.
"How long was I unconscious?" asked Lily slowly trying to wrap her mind around her situation.
"Two days. It was a Hogsmeade weekend." Said madam pomfrey briskly, urging her to drink her potion.
Her mind started reeling at the mention of Hogsmeade and she remembered everything with a gasp.
"I'm going to call professor Dumbledore now, Miss Evans. Don't go anywhere, you are still weak." said madam Pomfrey softly.
Lily nodded mutely but her mind was reeling. She remembered being particularly happy on Saturday. She had spent some time choosing her Prussian blue skirt to match with her cream blouse. She had let her hair fall over her shoulders in cascading ringlets. She had kept the makeup light, just a simple lip-gloss and some eyeliner. It was her first date with Caradoc. As she reached the great hall five minutes late, he had been waiting for her. He smiled at her and complimented her. As they walked towards the carriages, they started talking about completely random topics. She had forgotten how easy it was to converse with him. Once they had arrived at Hogsmeade, she had suggested visiting the three broomsticks, for there was a slight chill in the air but he had refused.
"I have something planned" he said smiling mischievously.
"What is it?" Lily asked curiously.
"A surprise!" he exclaimed and pulled her in the direction of hogshead. When she pointedly refused to go in there, he shook his head and smiled. "There is clearing up ahead, beyond hogshead. I have a picnic planned." He said slightly put out that he had to reveal his secret but still happy with her reaction. Her green eyes had widened in response and a gorgeous smile was playing on her lips. She remembered holding his hand and laughing slightly when a noise brought her back to reality. It was professor Dumbledore and he had just opened the doors to the infirmary.
"Good morning , miss Evans. I hope you are alright."
"Of course professor Dumbledore." She said politely.
"We were beginning to worry miss Evans, you gave us quite the scare. I came as soon as I could but you were already unconscious." said Dumbledore seating himself in a chair beside her bed.
"Sorry professor." She replied. At her response he chuckled and a familiar twinkle returned in his eye.
"I hope you don't mind me questioning you Miss Evans. It is only important that you get your story out of your system and you won't be bothered about it anymore." said Dumbledore, his face growing old with worry and the twinkle disappearing from his eye.
"Of course Professor." Said Lily and taking a deep breath she started talking.
"It was the Hogsmeade weekend and Caradoc had planned a picnic in the clearing beyond the hogshead. He had said the clearing was hardly known to anyone and he had stumbled across it by mistake some years ago. But the clearing was already occupied. There were several death eaters in a circle; like a meeting was going on. I would've walked away sir, because standing there with me and Caradoc against roughly twenty powerful, more advanced death eaters who wouldn't flinch to kill us is a dumb idea. I was about to turn away and motioned Caradoc to do the same when I heard a snippet of their conversation.
"…..Avery and Mulciber cursed the mudblood. They are ready to join and they have been loyal so Far." said a voice of a boy. That was when I decided to crouch behind a tree and listen.
"Who was the mudblood?" a cold voice asked.
"Mary Macdonald, a Gryffindor" came a timid reply from the boy. He looked too young to be a death eater.
"And about those letters?" asked another death eater in the same sneering tone.
"Snape, Avery and Mulciber did that too." said the boy.
Sir, I can't be positive but I think the boy was Rodoluphus Lestrange. I have seen him in school sometimes and he looked like him. It has to be someone from Hogwarts." added Lily and paused to gauge professor Dumbledore's reaction.
"Miss Evans, I assure you mister Avery and Mulciber will have to pay for their actions. However, I need you to answer me carefully, was Mr. Snape involved in attacking your friend?" asked Dumbledore, sitting up straighter.
"I…I don't know professor. He may be but I didn't hear his name." said Lily slowly, stressing herself to remember.
"Alright Miss Evans, please continue."
"Then professor they were talking about attacking Hogwarts.
"Are you sure that Dumbledore is not here?" asked yet another death eater, his voice betraying his fear.
"I'm sure sir." replied Snape.
"Very well then, let us pay our dear old school a visit. But we are few in number and it would be best not to spend our time dueling. Now, do you boys know the room of requirement?" said a death eater in a drawling tone.
Avery and Mulciber gulped visibly but nodded nevertheless.
"Good, the dark lord requires us to fetch something rather precious from the room. Are you boys up to the task?"
"Yes sir. Anything for the dark lord." said Rodoluphus as others also muttered their consent.
"But what is it that we have to fetch?" asked Snape, his confidence increasing slightly. This was an easy task to prove his worth to the dark lord.
"A diadem." said the first death eater gruffly. His tone indicated he didn't trust the boys and sure enough he said, "I don't trust these children." Like being children was the worst insult he could think of. "One of us should go with them."
"Don't be ridiculous Macnair, of course two of us will accompany them. We wouldn't want to face the dark lord's wrath for their stupidity." said another death eater.
Macnair grunted in response and then he didn't say anything. At that moment, I told Caradoc that we ought to leave and inform someone. As we started to head back towards the main village, one of us stepped on a twig. It happened very quickly and before we could react, one of the death eaters called out, "who's there?" and a few of them stepped outside the clearing. They had seen us. We started to run but they send spells along our way. Caradoc was ahead of me, so I asked him to go to the hogshead and get help while I tried to keep them distracted.
"Stupefy" Macnair yelled at me. I ducked in time and put up a protego charm. From the corner of my eye, I saw Caradoc had almost reached hogshead. I also saw the four boys, Lestrange, Avery, Mulciber and Snape run away.
"Petrifucus Totalus." I screamed at a death eater who instantly froze and fell.
"Great work Evans, 1 down about a million more to go."
A death eater tried to attack me from behind and I think Snape put a protective shield in front of me. One of them used a stinging hex on me and another tried to crucio me at the same time." Her voice broke at crucio but she took a deep breath and continued.
"I dodged the cruciatus curse but the stinging hex hit me. I remember stunning one more death eater and using rictumsempra on another. I disarmed a third one whose hood fell off. I think it was Lucius Malfoy sir; he was a prefect during my first year. But I can't be sure because at that moment I heard Caradoc yelling at me to look out but I think I turned too late because the next thing I remember is waking up here."
Lily finally finished her story and looked at Dumbledore, who was lost deep in his thoughts. Finally he spoke.
"Miss Evans, you have been extremely brave, a true Gryffindor. The information you just gave me corresponds with Mr. Dearborn's tale. Both of you have been extremely brave; 50 points to Gryffindor."
Lily beamed in response, happy to have earned praise from him. "Sir, I have a question" she added. "You were not here at Hogwarts sir but…." She trailed off unsure.
"Miss Evans, the owner of hogshead happens to know me very closely. It was, by him that I received the message and arrived as soon as I could to help. Mr. Dearborn had rushed into the bar and started talking about the death eaters and help. The bartender contacted me and followed the young man outside to help in the duel. I assume that is when you were knocked out."
"Oh, okay professor. And sir, the four boys…."
"Now Miss Evans, I assure you these boys will face consequences. I cannot punish Mr. Lestrange simply for the company he keeps but Mr. Avery and Mr. Mulciber will be facing suspension. However, there is no proof about Mr. Snape's actions except his involvement in sending those letters for which he will receive detention for the remainder of the year. It will be a long year for him. Now, I suggest you get some rest while I start writing a letter to their parents." said Dumbledore getting up and patting her on the head.
"Sir" said Lily as he reached the door, "My friends will be worried sir and…"
"And they deserve to know the truth miss Evans." He said smiling. Tipping an imaginary hat towards her he walked out leaving her puzzled but surprisingly relieved. After madam Pomfrey's insistence to get a full check up, she finally left the hospital wing. It was almost time for lunch, so she got her bag from the common room and walked to the great hall. As entered the great hall, grateful that she had only missed half a day's lecture, owing to the fact that the previous two days had been a weekend, she bumped into someone.
"Ouch, ow! I'm sorry. I wasn't looki…" she started to apologize when the person she had knocked down interrupted her.
"Lily?" said Caradoc not believing his eyes.
"Oh, hi Caradoc." She said lamely, realizing it was him.
"Oh Merlin, Lily you had me worried sick for the past two days. How have you been? Are you alright? Damn you Lily, I was so worried." He started speaking quickly pouring his concern and fear into his rant.
"Car, stop It." said Lily putting her hand on his shoulders. "I'm fine. I'm alive. Healthy as a hippogriff." added Lily smiling at his concern.
"How have you been? Did… did they attack you after I was knocked out?" she asked, her voice breaking, realizing for the first time she had not even bothered to think about him.
"Well, after I left you, which was the stupidest thing I've ever done in my life. I mean, Merlin lil, you are a muggleborn, they hate you more than anything and I left you all alone to fight them. Shit, Lily, I'm so sorry." said Caradoc, his eyes wide with fear and guilt.
"Its okay car, you got us help which we needed. And I asked you to go. What happened then?" said Lily, taking his hand and rubbing circles on it.
"Right, when I came back towards you, you were dueling two death eaters and had just stunned one of them. Fuck Lily, you were amazing. Bloody brilliant and I was standing there staring at you like a dumbass. When I did come to my senses, a death eater was going to attack you from behind. I called for you to look but you didn't hear me or you were too late. The curse hit you. I was worried you might've died but then there were a couple of them attacking me. Then out of nowhere Dumbledore came there along with the bartender from hogshead (did you know he is Dumbledore's brother?) and well, they must've fought off all the death eaters. I wasn't paying attention. I had got hold of you and I was on the way to Hogwarts. He came half an hour later, worried out of his mind." explained Caradoc, his eyes looking past her as he remembered the incident.
"So you're alright. Not hurt or anything?" asked Lily anxiety showing in her eyes. Caradoc tore away his gaze from the horizon and looked at her and smiled, "I'm fine now."
Lily let out a sigh which she had been holding in when he frowned and said, "Actually, no, I'm not fine. I just realized that I ruined our date. And it was all my bloody idea to go there."
"Hey car, shush. You didn't invite those monsters over there. You didn't,did you?" she said smiling weakly at her lame attempt to joke.
"No I didn't." admitted Caradoc.
"Then why are you worried. As for our date, there will be plenty others." She said smiling up at him.
"Really." asked Caradoc, not believing his ears.
"Really, you are my boyfriend after all, i.e., if the offer still stands." Lily replied biting her lip.
"It does." He grinned at her.
"Good." She smiled before giving him a quick kiss on the cheek and going into the great hall. Barely five minutes after entering hall, she heard a voice screech her name.
"Lily!" Saffi screamed from across the hall before running towards her and engulfing her in a tight hug.
"Merlin Lily, you had us worried. Are you alright? Did Pomfrey patch you up properly? When were you released?" asked Saffi, questions tumbling out of her mouth. Melina, Mary and Alissa were standing and smiling beside them, watching Saffi practically strangle her.
"Merlin you people, isn't she your friend? Trying to choke her to death, are you?" said James coming up behind them. He had walked down to the hall with Alissa voicing his concern about Lily when he heard Saffi scream (who hadn't heard her scream?) and he had followed the girls.
As Saffi let go of Lily looking slightly embarrassed but quite relieved to know she was fine, Lily gave a weak amused smile before turning to James and pretending to wipe a fake tear. "Why potter,only you care about me. not even my closest friends?" she said before breaking into a grin and pulling Saffi in a hug. While the girls hugged Lily, James along with the rest of the marauders sat down; Sirius with Emily in tow and started serving himself some lunch. The girls finally settled down and Lily ended up opposite James.
"Alright there halo?" he asked waving his fork about.
"Not quite. You see someone's trying to spear me his fork" she quipped slapping his hand lightly to keep his fork away from her.
"So Lily, put us out of our misery and tell us what in the bleeding hell happened. All we know is you were attacked and fucking unconscious." said Sirius looking at her.
"Aww… Sirius, I didn't know you cared." said Lily in a teasing tone before adopting a serious expression and narrating her story.
Once she was done her friends clapped her on the back or looked at her incredulously.
"Lily, you fought all alone. Freaking Merlin's sodding pants, you're amazing." said Remus.
As Lily blushed slightly and protested ("really, I didn't do anything, it was Dumbledore. Caradoc was with me too"), others added their compliments. Finally, everyone started conversing among themselves. It was then that James asked her once again, "Are you alright halo?" more softly not allowing anyone to listen.
"I am Potter." She replied rolling her. "Not a scratch on me else Pomfrey wouldn't have let me leave."
"That's not what I meant, Lily. I meant Snape, he was your friend. It must've been terrible to seen him….. With them." Stated James vaguely, concerned yet afraid that she might lash out on him.
Instead, Lily gave him a small smile and a sigh. "He was my friend. Past tense. And I was expecting this." She said her voice heavy. Then she fell silent and just when James thought the conversation was over, she spoke once again, "You were right, about Sev-Snape and the letters." James thought back to his theory; maybe he should've looked for proof before. Maybe then she wouldn't have been attacked.
"Yeah, I'm sorry I was." said James feeling bad for her. He was hardly a fan of Snape and was glad to know his suspicions were correct but he didn't want to Lily sad, the way she was. However before Lily could answer him, Mary turned around and started telling Lily about Richard, effectively ending their conversation.
A/N: I know i can go for weeks without any update and all of a sudden two updates in two days (almost). well, don't you worry. College starts tomorrow and i may not update for weeks. but i promise i'll try my best. once again, i'm worried about this chapter. For the first time i used only one person's point of view and i am nervous.
I expect reviews.
Cheers.
xoxo
Writer.