A/N: Enjoy!

Disclaimer: As usual, I don't own the HPVerse...blah, blah, blah. I'm just sharing my own creations with all those other fans out there.



Even Angels Fall
Chapter Nine
Diversions



James whipped around and stared, shocked at the two figures in front of him. Soon, his shock passed and he glowered at his two best friends. The form of his girlfriend and her tear-streaked face and reddened eyes made his heart jump slightly, but he scolded himself inwardly, telling himself that she didn't care - that Voldemort, his father, was correct about her - that she only cared about herself. The only reason she was here was for her own benefit so she could have him back. She didn't even care how he felt - she didn't care that he wanted stay here with his new family.

"And you are here, why?" James asked coldly, looking back and forth between Sirius and Lily. Sirius' eyes, James saw, were also welled with tears, but he didn't shed them.

"We - we've come to take you home," Lily said again, trembling. She looked at Sirius for support, but he was only staring at James and his long beard and short hair. He barely blinked and his jaw was firm.

James got up off of the bed and walked over to a dresser in which he pulled out a set of black robes and a long black cloak. He turned to look at his friends, and said, just above a hoarse whisper, "I am home."

Lily's jaw dropped for a mere second and she stepped forward. James pulled out his wand - which Lucius Malfoy had given back earlier that evening - and pointed it at Lily, who stopped abruptly, her eyes widening.

"James, put that away," she said slowly. "You and I both know you would never do something like that."

"Oh yeah? Try me," was his reply. "You think that just because I was in love with you at one time means that I would never do anything to hurt you. Well, Lily, you're wrong. When I loved you, I'd have never let anything happen to you - but now that you've been with that filthy Malfoy, without a clue in that thick head of yours, don't think that I won't do anything to harm you if you come near me. I swear on my life, Lily Mariah Evans, that if you come near me during this night or any other night, I'll kill you."

"You'll - you'll..." Lily stuttered, tears running rivers down her cheeks. She turned to Sirius, who was still staring at James. "He's under the Imperius - do something!"

Still not taking his eyes off his best friend, he said, "No he's not, Lily - look at his eyes."

Lily looked straight into her lover's eyes. The black coals were full of malice and hatred for the two who were standing in front of him. Lily had once seen this look directed to Voldemort and sometimes Snape, but never in her or Sirius' direction. There was no love or compassion in James' deep black eyes, there was only coldness and loathing.

"Damn right, I'm not under the Imperius," he growled. "I already told you guys that I was happy here. I've got my new family - one who cares for me more than you two and Peter and Remus ever did. My father is kind and caring and he loves me - he needs me here with him, and I can't leave him - even if I did want to."

"No. That's not what you want, James," Lily said. "You want to be Head Boy next year, you want to graduate from Hogwarts, you want to work with the Ministry in the Department of Magical Games and Sports." She sniffed and wiped her eyes, her voice breaking slightly as she said, "You - you said you'd give me lots of children and we'll live in a big house out in the country by all our friends." She put her head in her hands and wept.

"Times change, dreams change, people change," James said. He shrugged off his robes and pulled on the black ones, then placed the cloak over his shoulders. He conjured a mirror and shaved his face with a charm. He ran his fingers through his inch-long midnight hair then turned back to Sirius, who was still staring at his friend, and James was getting rather annoyed by this. "What is it?" he snapped. "I'm not going back and you're just going to have to accept it."

"I accept it," Sirius said slowly. Lily looked up sharply. "And I completely understand that you are needed here more than you are at Hogwarts. You're right - it was completely selfish of us to come here and try to stop you from being with your family and those who need you. We just came here to make sure that this is what you want to do, and we'll support you with your choice because we love you - even if the choice you make means that we'll never see you again." He looked at Lily, went over to her and grabbed her hand. "We're going now, and we want you to know that we will never stop loving you, no matter what evils you do in the world." He dragged the wide-eyed Lily to the door, opened it, and looked back at James. "Goodbye, my friend." And he stepped out the door, pulling Lily out, then shut the door behind him.

James was shocked. Was that real? Did Sirius and Lily just come to rescue him and he turned them down and then they accepted what he wanted to do with is life? He couldn't believe it. Did they lack that much ambition that they gave up?

It took all the power that James had in him to not care, to keep reminding himself that he wanted this new life. He shook his head and finished readying himself, straightening his robes and cloak. He shook his head one final time before he turned around, sat back down on his bed, put his head in his hands and tried to find the tears, but couldn't, so he was wracked by dry sobs.

* * *

Sirius pulled Lily into the same dark room that they were in with Dumbledore. He pulled a large candle out of the knapsack and a box of matches and lit it, making the large room glow eerily.

"What the hell was that back there?" Lily demanded of Sirius. He grinned slightly at her glare and took her hands in his, which she ripped out roughly. "You think that I'm going to let James stay here and become one of those foul creatures? You can accept what you will, but I will not stand here and let my best friend and boyfriend become a part of the Dark side." Sirius was silent, his grin was wide now, reminding Lily of the Cheshire Cat. Her rage deepened and she continued. "You think it's funny don't you? Do you want your best friend to become the pawn of the Dark Lord who keeps telling him lies? You go on back to Hogwarts, but I'm going back to James."

"Go where you will," Sirius said, "but I'm going to crash a party."

Confused, Lily shut her mouth and listened to Sirius' plan.

* * *

Albus Dumbledore walked through the corridors silently, his plan running several miles an hour in his head. A wizard clad in black robes and a mask turned the corner and looked at the silver-haired wizard.

"You're not supposed to be here," the wizard said. Dumbledore smiled and replied, "Don't you think I know that?" He swung back his arm and punched the wizard with such a force that one wouldn't think possible for such an old man. He dragged the knocked-out wizard by his feet into a room and pulled the mask off. "Here's a winner," he muttered, recognizing the face to be one of those in the inner circle.

He pulled out a small pocketknife from his cloak and cut several patches of the curly brown hair. He took out a small flask and added the hair. After the hissing and bubbling subsided, he downed the whole container and threw it against the wall as he doubled over, writhing as if snakes were in his belly.

As soon as it started, it stopped and Dumbledore stood there, not as himself, but as the younger wizard. He took the knocked-out wizard's clothes and mask, gagged and bound him, then left him in the corner of the room.

Dumbledore walked out of the room and headed towards where he knew the Dark meetings were held, and was soon met up with two other wizards.

"Are you excited for tonight, Jamison?" one of the other wizards asked. How the wizard knew who he was impersonating, Dumbledore knew not, since they all had the masks on, but he answered all the same, trying to keep up on his character role.

"Absolutely," he said with his new thick Scottish accent.

"Think Potter will make a fool of himself?" asked the second wizard.

"No, James Potter never makes a fool of himself," Dumbledore answered truthfully. "Although I must say that I certainly hope he does. I don't want him in our ranks."

"Know what you mean, mate," the second replied. "Master will probably initiate him. I mean, you've heard the way he talks about him when he's not with him every minute of the day. Lord Voldemort is really looking forward to having him with us. I don't know why - I mean, he's a Gryffindor, he'll turn against us the minute he gets the chance when he goes back to that Mudblood contaminated school."

"He's going back to school?" Dumbledore asked. The wizards turned sharply towards Dumbledore.

"Where have you been, Jamison? Weren't you listening when Master told us his plans for the Potter boy?"

"I had brat duty," Dumbledore said after some quick thinking.

"Oh," said one wizard. "I hate it when Master puts the chore of watching Potter on us. I mean, he's the one who wanted him in the first place and he's the one who's become so attached to him. Did you know that I overheard him telling Lucius Malfoy that Potter was his son?"

"No!" Dumbledore gasped. His head was taking mental notes of all the things these imbecile excuses for Death Eaters were carelessly throwing around. "But Master never wanted an heir - he planned on living forever."

"I guess he does now," the wizard replied with a shrug. "But get this - I also overheard Master telling Malfoy that Potter was now referring to our Lord as his father. Can you believe that? There's no chance in hell, no matter how much Potter screws up, that our Lord won't initiate him."

Dumbledore's head was swimming. It was a little bit of information, but a massive amount to process. He knew these gossiping morons wouldn't lie and he couldn't help but feel the bile rise up in the back of his throat, wondering if it was too late to save one of the best students he'd ever set eyes on. And it was his entire fault for not even paying attention to what was going on around the castle. Sure, everyone thought that he knew everything, more or less, that went on around the castle, but obviously he didn't know enough.

"Here we are. It should be starting within a half an hour. Get into positions."

The wizards walked into a room full of other wizards who were standing in two circles - a small circle compiled of about twenty people, and a larger circle enclosing the smaller circle. Inner circle, Dumbledore thought, taking in the new meaning. One of the wizards Dumbledore had walked with said a quiet goodbye, inclining his head slightly to the other two, and he stood in the outer circle.

Dumbledore followed the wizard to the inner circle and stopped when he did. He looked around, noticing gaps in parts of the circle, hoping that he was in the right spot, as it seemed that they had certain places, but the other wizard said nothing.

"Evening, Jamison, Douglas," said another wizard taking place a few paces away from the wizard that Dumbledore now knew was named Douglas. He inclined his head slightly in a bow while Douglas replied, "Evening, MacNair."

MacNair turned to greet other Death Eaters and Dumbledore turned to Douglas and commented, "I can never remember if he's MacNair or if he's Noyes."

"Oh, that's an easy one to remember. MacNair is number seventeen. See the little patch on the arm of his robes?" Dumbledore looked, and sure enough, there was a miniscule patch on the right elbow of MacNair that read I-17. Inner Circle servant number seventeen, Dumbledore thought. Since when did the Dark Lord start numbering his Death Eaters? That's easy - when he started having more followers than he could remember names.

A voice interrupted Dumbledore's thoughts.

"Looks like you two are early. Lord Voldemort doesn't even know you're names," the voice sneered, "and only God knows how you got into the Inner Circle."

"We've worked hard for our positions, Malfoy," said Douglas coldly. "The only reason you're here and Master knows your name is because you've got your head so far up his arse that I can't tell where you end and he begins."

Lucius Malfoy whipped out his wand, pointed it at Douglas' heart and growled ominously, "Don't you ever insult me like that again, or next time I will curse you into oblivion." He put away his wand and moved into his position across from them.

"He's just hacked off because it's true," Douglas said quietly. Dumbledore nodded in agreement. Douglas looked at his watch again. "T-minus ten minutes."

"Have you heard why Potter is getting the Mark tonight when his birthday isn't until the twenty-ninth of February?" Dumbledore questioned, trying to sound casual.

"You haven't heard that either?" Douglas asked, incredulously. "Well, Potter's actual birthday only occurs every four years and since Leap Year was last year, Master thought that the sooner he gets into the circle, the sooner he can get back to Hogwarts, and the better for us all to learn about the plans of our opposing side. Even though you can't officially receive the Mark until seventeen, he'll be seventeen soon enough and Master thinks he can carry out the plans. The current plan is for him to tell that Muggle-loving fool of a headmaster that he wants to be a spy and he'll learn all their plans and tell our side - you know, the good stuff like that."

"Do you really think that will work?" Dumbledore asked. "What if he double-crosses us while he pretends to double-cross that Mudblood-lover?"

"I would highly doubt that," Douglas replied. "I mean, Potter's taken to calling Master 'Father'. If that's not proof enough for you, I don't know what is.... Five minutes."

All was silent in the room save for a few excited whispers and shuffles. Dumbledore tuned in his ears into where Lucius Malfoy was standing, whispering to I-21.

"We can't have Potter in here," Malfoy was whispering, "he'll ruin every plan we've ever made. He's already ruined Master's plans to gain control over the continents. It seems that Master now plans on dying because he needs an heir - and he is naming Potter his heir tonight. With all due respect to our Lord, I can't believe he's coming to this. I mean, I could see where the Mudblood came in with his last plan, but I just think that it's gone way too far this time."

"Three minutes," Douglas said into his ear. "I can't wait."

"I certainly can," Dumbledore muttered.

"Oh, stop being such a sourpuss about it," Douglas chided. "Potter will be a fine addition to the Family. He's extremely loyal, as we've already seen, and he is fit for the job - you've got to admit - despite the fact that he's not a Slytherin. He'll be one of the best damn Death Eaters in history - and then Lucius Malfoy will have to work his pale ass off to kiss the ass of Lord Voldemort and Potter. That'll be the greatest thing to watch, that will."

"Yeah, I'd have to agree with that," Dumbledore said, not really knowing what he was agreeing to, since his plans were, one again, rushing through his head like the speeding Hogwarts Express. He looked around the full circles and spotted a few of the operatives - he recognized them by their stance and the way they carried their wand - just like the Aurors - one would have to have extremely sharp eyes to catch that the wands were carried slightly different by mere millimeters than the normal wizard would carry it.

Douglas took a breath to say something more, but there was a loud bang! and a massive cloud of green smoke appeared in the center of the inner circle. At once, all the masked wizards got down on their knees and placed their foreheads on the ground with their arms sticking straight out in front of them. Dumbledore followed suit.

A set of footsteps were traveling in and out of the two circles, and although he couldn't see to whom they belonged to, Dumbledore knew that they were the footsteps of one ominous wizard who called himself Voldemort.

"Inner Family stand," commanded the deep, pleasant voice. The inner circle stood and Dumbledore looked at the tall, pleasant-looking wizard with red snake-like eyes. He smiled, which, as usual, didn't reach his eye, and the headmaster couldn't help but remember the time at a young, newly graduated wizard's wedding, where he was laughing and smiling, his eyes full of love for his bride…Dumbledore thought that nothing could ever change that young man, and he certainly never thought that he'd become this - this monster that was standing before the fifty masked Death Eaters.

"Welcome, my sons," Voldemort said, taking in the sight of his closest followers while those of the outer circle stayed on their knees, foreheads to the cold stone ground, hands outstretched. "Met up once again to fulfill our Dark purposes - to rid the world of the filthy and the common and to raise the superb and the powerful. We are to show the Light of the world that we are the Power - that there is no such thing as Good and Evil, but only Power and those too weak to seek it." He paused for effect.

"Outer Family stand," he commanded. Those in the outer circle stood swiftly and quietly. Lord Voldemort continued, "Brothers - sons, we have united here this night, on the ides of the moon of the Wolf, to welcome a new addition to our Family - who will not fail to succeed at fulfilling Dark purposes. He is not irresolute about seeking Power and he will rapidly gain what he deserves - unlike several of you imbeciles that are only kept here because of my generosity, pity, and need for servants.

"This addition has several qualities - loyalty, faithfulness, intelligence, worthiness, and a strong mind for Power. He has been here for three months total - against his will at first, and bitter, but he has seen the glories - the right - and he is ready to become brother and son to us all. He is prepared and willing to go through the arduous tasks of being on our side, and I know that he can become one of us. Furthermore, I have faith that he will become my heir on this night and aid me in my reign over the society we strive to create.

"Now let us bring him in," Voldemort said with a small smile. "Death Eaters - brothers - sons, welcome my heir, my son, James Alan Potter."

A large mahogany door opened to the east of the two circles and a tall, dark wizard clad in black robes and a black cloak came striding, both nervously and pompously, into the great hall they were in. He looked straight at the elder wizard and stopped for nothing, forcing the circles to break as he went into the middle to join the Dark Lord.

"My heir! My son!" Voldemort cried, looking around the hall at his circles. One by one, the Death Eaters went down upon their knees and bowed as they had before when their master had appeared. "Arise," he commanded. Once they had all gotten on their feet, Voldemort started speaking again.

"James Alan Potter will now be called Lord Mordred as my son and heir and he will go by no other name, save if he commands you to call him by any other name. You will follow his every order with no questions asked. The only higher than he is myself - make that clear in your brains from this moment on."

The Dark Lord clapped his hands together and smiled, looking at James. Dumbledore was shocked to see that in his eyes was the love that he had once held there for his bride, love that hadn't been there for anyone else until now - nearly thirty years later. Dumbledore almost felt remorseful that he was on this mission to take his best student back to his rightful place. He felt pity for the Dark wizard, who was about to have the second living thing that he had felt love for in the entire universe taken away from him. But Dumbledore knew that he couldn't leave James Potter here to live as Lord Mordred, son of the Dark Lord Voldemort. That wasn't where James was supposed to be and he wouldn't be happy here.

"Now, my son, it is time for you to join us - to join your brothers, your fellow Dark followers. Do you feel you are ready?"

James swallowed the lump that was in his throat and then nodded. "Yes, my father and my lord."

* * *

Lily looked intently at Sirius as he launched into explanation.

"James is being initiated tonight, right?" Lily nodded. "Well, we're just going to have to go in there and get him."

"And you think that's going to work?" Lily asked skeptically. "Listen - he doesn't want to leave, and even if he did, there is no way in hell Voldemort will let James out of his sight."

"I thought you were the one who wanted to get James back so desperately," Sirius said. "You know what, if you aren't strong and brave enough to face fifty Death Eaters and Lord Voldemort, go back to Hogwarts and continue fucking Lucius Malfoy, because if you don't put your faith into this enough to get James then you don't deserve to have him back."

Lily seethed with rage stronger than she had ever felt it before. Sirius' words rang in her ears like sirens and she lifted her hand and smacked Sirius across the face. Sirius' hand flew to his cheek and rubbed the raw skin. Eyes both emerald and coal glared into the other with deep hatred and malice.

"Lily," Sirius said slowly after what seemed like hours of looking into her fiery eyes. "I don't want to quarrel with you right now. I -"

"Sirius," - at this, Sirius winced inwardly - Lily had been too angry to use his full name, as she usually did when she was hacked off - "I never thought you, of all people, would say that to me. After all the years you've tried to protect me and were there for me...now this? Whatever has gotten into you, I don't like it. Maybe you should go into the hall with James and become initiated a slave to that putrid being."

"Listen - I don't like being here any more than you do. To tell you the truth, I'm scared shitless of this place - it's not just you." He grabbed Lily's hands, and she reluctantly let him hold them. "I didn't really mean what I said, Lily; I was just disappointed that you felt you didn't have the courage to go through with this. Lily, I know the Sorting Hat placed you in Gryffindor for a reason, and you shouldn't back down from your troubles because you have the characteristics of Godric himself." Lily looked away and smiled faintly. "Do you forgive me for what I said?"

Lily looked at Sirius once more. "Yeah, I forgive you." The dark-haired wizard pulled the witch into his arms and embraced her tightly. "But after this is over, I'm not going to talk to you for a week," she added, embracing Sirius back.

"That's fine," he said, letting her go and settling down on the floor next to the candle. "So, here's the plan: We're going to find out where the meeting is being held - most likely in the great hall - and we'll sneak in with these." He produced two long, black cloaks and masks from his bag, which Lily knew they were replicas of the Death Eater cloaks and masks.

"Where did those come from?" Lily asked. Sirius just smiled mysteriously. "You haven't illegally charmed that bag to produce whatever you need, have you?" Sirius' enigmatic smile grew. "Oh, that's great, Sirius - let's get ourselves into even more trouble!"

"Hey, the Ministry's not here; besides, Dumbledore was the one who put the charm on the bag - didn't you realize that I didn't put a candle into my bag before we left? I just thought that we needed light and I opened the bag to see what I had in there, and there was this candle.... Anyway, that's beside the point - if Dumbledore wants to break the laws, then he can have at it - as long as it's helping us. Now before you get all righteous on me, let me finish telling you my plan.

"We're going to go into the hall and stand in a dark corner, and then we're going to create a diversion to stop Voldemort from initiating James."

"I can see how that'll work - we'll just create a diversion, grab James and run out of here and the Dark Lord won't even know what hit him."

"You know, I'm kind of winging it here, so I would appreciate it if you could cut the sarcasm."

"Sorry."

"Then were going to grab James and run out of here," Sirius finished. Lily rolled her eyes and growled in frustration. "Hey! Do you have a better idea?"

"As a matter of fact, I think I do."

"Then let's hear it," Sirius snapped, "because we're running out of time."

"We're going to sneak in there with the cloaks and the masks on, sneak behind some of the Death Eaters, then create a diversion."

"Oh, and I see how your plan is a better one than mine," Sirius said sarcastically.

"I wasn't done yet," Lily scolded. "Our diversion has to be so big that it will stop the ceremony and put the entire circle into total chaos. Then, we'll go up to Voldemort and tell him that we'll take James back to his room and suggest that the ceremony continues tomorrow after he finds out who did what."

"I like that."

"I said you would."

Sirius threw Lily a cloak and a mask and they both pulled them on. He grasped her hand for good luck, and they exited the room, traveling towards the first floor.

* * *

Dumbledore looked around the hall again, trying to see how many operatives were there. Most of the operatives were in the outer circle, but there were a small few that were in the inside. He wondered just how many of them were really working for his side and who was on that of the Dark Lord. If Voldemort had come up with that plan for James to follow, that must have meant that there were others following that plan. He would have to ask the Ministry permission (for once, he reminded himself) to use Veritaserum on his operatives. Never had Veritaserum failed him - but never had an operative either, and he couldn't decide if the Dark wizard had come up with that all on his own or not.

The voice of Lord Voldemort broke through his thoughts. James now was kneeling in front of the wizard. And the elder was querying the latter.

"James - Lord Mordred - my son, do you understand that you will have to give all the loyalty you have to me and all Dark purposes?"

"Yes, Master," James replied hoarsely, inclining then lifting his head.

"And do you know the penalty for those who do not give me their loyalty?"

"You are always so merciful, my lord," he said inclining and lifting his head again. "But the penalty is death."

Voldemort nodded. "And what of those whom are against me? What happens to them?"

"They suffer for their sins," James replied - sounding more like a machine than his self. "Unforgivable Curses are always used for those who do not agree with our side."

"And how do you feel about Muggles and Muggle-borns?"

"Filthy, common-blood shouldn't be within this world. None whatsoever. All products of Muggles are a nuisance into the world and should be destroyed."

Dumbledore looked shocked at the young wizard. Never before had he expected such words to come out of James Potter's mouth. The same James Potter that loved Lily Evans, a Muggle-born, with every molecule in his body. He loved her more than anything the headmaster could even think of, and now he was saying that all products of Muggles - all peoples like Lily Evans - should be banished from the face of the earth. Dumbledore shivered, wondering, for a second time, whether he was too late.

"My son, do you promise that, as my heir, you will die for your brothers within both Families?"

"I will only do what I have to," James said. "They are lower classified than I and I shan't waste my time on the lowly beings unless there is something in it for me."

Voldemort smiled. "Exactly perfect. Do you swear, James, to be Lord Mordred the best to your knowing and give all your faith and loyalty and love?"

"I solemnly swear that all my loyalty, faith, love, and power lies on the Dark side and its purposes."

"Now hold out your left arm."

* * *

Looking over the shoulders of the outer circle Death Eaters, Lily saw James hold out his left arm. Voldemort grabbed the sleeve of the cloak and pulled roughly at it, tearing off the sleeve of his robes along with it. Voldemort bent over and grabbed James' wrist. He pressed his nose to his inner forearm and sniffed.

"Nothing like the smell of new skin," he said softly, stroking his long, thin fingers across the tan skin. "You will all be mine, and this little spot will prove it. As you may put it - you belong to me, and to let everyone know you belong to me, you shall bear my Mark." Lily could see that James swallowed convulsively, and she wondered the reasoning for this. Voldemort continued. "James Potter - with all the Power inside of me, I now name you Lord Mordred, evil counsel for the Dark side. May your heart and soul always be bound to finding Power and never weaken to seek it."

He made a motioning of his hand, reminding Lily of something Muggle religious folk did, and her heart rate increased by what seemed a hundred times. She knew that this meant he was about to make his move, meaning that it was her turn to act. She pulled out the wand she had taken from the one standing in front of her and pointed it at the center of the circle. She nodded at Sirius, who nodded back. He gulped a massive amount of air into his lungs, then shouted, "POTTER CANNOT JOIN US, MASTER - HE IS NOT LOYAL! I WILL DESTORY HIM AND RID YOU OF THE NUISANCE NOW!"

At the same moment, Lily shot several spells every which way and pushed the two wizards in front of her down, causing a domino effect. She and Sirius, then stepped beside them and started their acting game.

Some spells Lily had thrown around had set fire to some things in the room. Others had been hexes and Death Eaters were doubled over in pain and anger. The Dark Lord looked around the room, his eyes wide.

"Who did this?" he shouted over the chaos, but no one answered. "Which one of you did this, so help me, I will flay you within an inch of your life and then I'll cut you into tiny pieces. WHO DID THIS?"

James was still on his knees, but he was looking around wildly, Lily would have sworn that there was a certain amount of relief in them. Now was their chance.

Sirius and Lily strode up to the Dark Lord, bowed lowly, and then rose.

"Master," Sirius said, disguising his voice. "One of the curses came from MacFreen over there, sir. I was standing next to him. He told me that he knew for a fact that Potter - excuse me - Lord Mordred wouldn't become Family tonight, and I asked him how, and he wouldn't tell me. And when I saw him with his wand, I tried to stop him, but he wouldn't listen."

"Imbeciles!" Voldemort screeched. "What do I have to do to get decent service around here? Take Lord Mordred back to his rooms and make sure he has everything he desires." He turned to James. "I apologize, my son, for this happening. I assure you that it will be straightened out and we will have you accepted into the Family in no time." He turned back to Sirius and Lily. "Take him. If one finger is laid upon him, so help me, I will assure you die slow and painful deaths. Go!"

That was much more than both Sirius and Lily had expected. They had planned on getting on hands and knees and begging the Dark wizard to have James taken out of his sight. But the two of them got over their shock and bowed low again. Voldemort, impatience getting the better of him, pushed Sirius and Lily out of the way and walked past them to MacFreen.

"Come, Lord Mordred," Sirius said, still disguising his voice.

James got up and followed Sirius and Lily out of the hall and into the silence of the corridor. He followed silently until they turned and Lily placed his hands over James' mouth and Sirius picked him up and carried him, kicking and muffled screaming, into a library.

"I'll have you both killed!" James shouted once they had let him go. "Father will certainly have your heads for this!"

"It's worth it," Lily said, pulling off her mask.

James gaped. He couldn't believe his eyes. Lily was standing right there in front of him and beside her, Sirius was pulling off his mask. He felt as if he could just curl in a ball and weep, but he was too taken aback to do anything but stare.

"You," he whispered, staring at his best mate. "Was that you who did that?"

"Well, it was all Lily's doing, really," Sirius replied. "I was only used because I could disguise my voice better."

"You - you did that for me? Even after what I said to you every time I've had contact with you?" Lily nodded slowly. "I can't believe you - you...gods! I love you guys so much!" He stepped forward and pulled them both into an awkward hug and the three of them wept. "I love you," he sobbed. "I love you so much!" He kissed Sirius on both cheeks, then kissed both Lily's cheeks, and then he took just her in his arms and embraced her, reluctant to let go. He pressed his lips to hers and kissed softly, memorizing her lips and her taste all over again.

"It really is you this time," he whispered to her. "It really is you."

"James," Lily said, wiping the tears off his cheeks. "Let's go home."



A/N: No! Only one or two more chapters left after this! I'm so sad. I'm kind of excited though, because I will get to start writing Falling into Grace - the next part of the Falling Series - which takes place in seventh year at Hogwarts.

Quick question out there for all of you: I don't have my third book - Prisoner of Azkaban - with me (a friend borrowed it) and I need to know what happened to Peter's finger. I seem to remember that it said it was placed in a box and given to his mother. Now, did I just make that up, or did it really happen? Please let me know - I will be forever grateful to you!!! You can leave the answer in your review or email me the answer - k_wayment@hotmail.com --- THANKS!!!

Thanks to all the reviewers. I'm trying to be good at that! At the end of this story, I'll give a tribute to you all who've stuck with me. And if you keep sticking with me, I promise I'll be better with thank-you's in Falling into Grace.

Well, that's all I have to say. Happy Reading Wherever Your Little Eyes May Take You!

~Lavender