Recap of chapter 9:
Then they hear the tell tale signs of people in a clearing up ahead: twigs breaking under feet, and the slithering of cloaks along the falling leaves. James makes to go straight there, but Lily pulls him back and says:
"We need to contact Mad-Eye!
"We hear voices so we are just going to check it out but there are definitely people in here."
"You look surprised: is that at I have my own 4000 book library – which I have read about 3000 books of – or the fact that I know something you don't?" he teases her lightly (and quietly).
So they walk on, facing horror in their path….
Chapter 10:
Here's the big chapter (I think), hope you all enjoy it!
"James, be quiet!" Lily hisses at him, when James' heavy breathing annoys her.
"Oh sorry, Miss Perfect – just because I am practising spells under my breath, as well as gathering materials around the site of the Death Eaters so we have a little advantage," he snarls back – the worst he has ever spoken to her which shocks her into guilt: he's preparing for this when all she has done is get her wand out.
So, she begins charming herself, then James and says:
"I've given you extra strength, speed, courage and general fitness. I've also just brought your broom (cloaked so that only we can see it) into the clearing for a speedy get away," she explains: for herself, she gave logic, speed, courage and maximising brain speed so she can perform multiple spells at once.
James nods, to show he understands her, and they grow ever nearer to the Death Eaters. They begin picking up the conversation:
"…Macnair, Nott, we have your confirmation through your fathers that at the next Inner Circle meeting you would be performing a joining ritual, to cleanse you from all that Dumbledore rubbish," someone is saying in a silky voice.
Mr. Macnair and Nott are DEATH EATERS?
DUMBLEDORE RUBBISH? He's the absolute psycho, to think that Dumbledore is the problem – it's your boss!
"Yes, Mr. Malfoy, (thoughts: Malfoy is a Death Eater? Malfoy is a Death Eater?) we understand," they echo in unison.
James and Lily exchange panic stricken glances at the recruitment occurring in front of them: but then realise that there may only be Malfoy there.
Then again, he was an exceptional wizard at school, before he has joined Voldemort: now he must be even stronger.
"What about you, Snape?" Malfoy asks, and Lily almost faints at the fact her ex-best friend is joining the Death Eaters.
I knew he was upset when I left him, but he was already hanging with Macnair and the rest… there was nothing I could do – or was there?
James, sensing her despair at Snape being here (to be honest, he was pretty shaken up about it himself, knowing how close Snape was to Lily) closes an arm (not his wand arm, he is still muttering charms to transfigure logs into leaves, then arranging them into circles around the Death Eaters – he's also doing tangents, incase of other Death Eaters) around her, and to his great surprise, she turns into him and lets him hold her!
"Sir, I will definitely be attending the next meeting and performing any ritual that gets the feeling of that ancient codger off my robes," Snape replies venomously ad Malfoy cracks a laugh at this.
"Well that is certainly promising: we need more people like you… Macnair, how are the rallys getting on?"
"Sir, we will not be able to grasp any of the Gryffindors – the courageous crap and also Dumbledore and McGonagall guard them too closely… apparently most of the people from this Order thing you mentioned last time come from Gryffindor. The same goes for the Ravenclaws; they are too happy with their position as Gryffindor sidekicks as they work together. We have tried Hufflepuff but they are just a bunch of cowards – but we will keep trying sir!" he adds on the end in a hurry, when Malfoy's face turns to a murderous stone.
"Good, well we ought to get going before the dratted Order find you here: you three leave now, and we shall wait for a while before leaving," Malfoy says curtly, and promptly the three students leave the forest, almost brushing past the still hugging (for comfort – obviously) couple, who move out of the way just in time.
"Mad-Eye ought to be here by now," Lily murmurs into James' chest and he nods:
"Maybe we ought to try and incapacitate him and whoever 'we' is for Mad-Eye?" he suggests and she nods feverishly.
"Yeah, maybe if we capture them, Sev will realise what a mistake he is making. You kno James, we haven't spoken in almost a year besides sly comments, and in a sense I don't miss him… but if I never speak to him again, that will be fine as long as he doesn't join them!"
"I know Lily, I know – lets go do everything we can to save our wizarding world – and it happens to be, Snape as well - now and hope Mad-Eye gets here in time to save your sweet ass," he jokes and she rolls her eyes: back to normal… or just fearful for our lives?
With a jolt, she realises that this is along the same lines of what happened in the summer – facing off Death Eaters, some of which may have been there when it happened and she only hopes he holds it together long enough.
I hope she doesn't think I have gone back to beign like I was before, and that this year has been an act, because it hasn't. I just hope I live long enough to kiss her – with her permission…
With a communal nod, they advance forwards into the unknown danger…
… and in the clearing see their targets: 4 Death Eaters – Malfoy, Rosier, Avery and Yaxley – two of the weaker, strong Death Eaters, if that makes sense; they're in the Inner Circle, but there are many Death Eaters stronger than them.
They are talking about gathering more students and Malfoy says:
"We definitely need that Potter. We let him live in summer because we were hoping that he would turn to us because Dumbledore didn't bother to help. Unfortunately, the damned Order turned up, and any chances we have of getting him have been greatly reduced since Dumbledore made him Head Boy with that Mudblood he so loves. We'll just have to target them again and again till they give in – she'd be an asset as well."
The others murmur in agreement.
Lily has to restrain James with the jibe against her heritage: he takes this very seriously, even though he is a pureblood: his philosophy = who cares about your heritage when it's what type of person you are that makes all the difference.
"You can take Yaxley and Rosier. Malfoy and Avery… they're mine," James hisses, remembering their faces from their attack on him this summer, as well as the comment by Malfoy just then. Lily nods in agreement and they prepare to attack the Death Eaters.
"Three"
"Two"
"One"
"NOW!" they echo in unison
And it looks extremely unimpressive: no cried out spells, oh no, the best students in the year aren't going to use verbal spells, no they go for non-verbal and the element of complete surprise.
Four jets of light simultaneously emerge from the middle of nowhere, it seems, but actually from under the cloak that gives them a limited form of protection… for now. Malfoy loses a leg (unfortunately, reversible…only dark magic is irreversible) and is hopping around in agony, Avery is blind and confused. Lily hits Rosier with a Confundus Charm straight to the head, and simultaneously hits Yaxley with a stunner straight to the chest: may as well get rid of one of the opposition and even the numbers slightly.
"Who's there?" Rosier asks, the Confounding charm wearing off all too fast.
They then begin shooting spells back at James and Lily – well the direction the spells came from, given that the duo are still under the cloak- who thankfully have the cloak to protect them (spells deflected away); yet they still cast a shield charm each, just incase a spell comes at such a strength that it blasts the cloak out of the way.
"Come out children. Come out and playy!" Malfoy sneers, just as James sends the piles of leaves to encircle the Death Eaters, before transfiguring them back to their natural state of logs and moss, encircling them for a moment, whilst James and Lily separate: Lily runs behind a huge tree whereas James stays there, waiting, waiting, waiting… then
BOOOM!
An avalanche of wood chips rains down on the forest and the three Death Eaters emerge, mutinously angry (Malfoy has regrown his leg). They see James standing there and stop still before Malfoy says:
"Well, Well, James Potter. Here to kill us… alone? Well, I hate to break it to you, child, you couldn't beat one of us, let alone all three alone."
"He isn't alone!" Lily furiously shouts and emerges from behind the tree.
"Well, isn't it little miss Mudblood, dear Severus used to moon over? Well, are you here to die with your dear Head Boy?" Malfoy says irately.
"Oh we won't lose: you see, we have the power of good behind us – and good beats evil in every case," she replies instantly, and the three Death Eaters exchange glances before breaking into racks of laughter.
"Well lets show this amazing show of good then!" Rosier laughs and then James shoots a curse at him, knocking him to the ground as he was completely off guard (even though he is a Death Eater – isn't he supposed to be on guard). The laughter dies off and Malfoy looks insubordinate once more.
They retaliate, and for almost 10 minutes, shots are fired and deflected on both sides. James and Lily are sweaty, red faced but alive, and they look at each other often, to make sure that this is still the case.
"You alright?" James whisper yells to Lily who nods, feverishly concentrating upon her battle with Avery, until they hear movement from behind them. James instinctively turns to check that it isn't more Death Eaters, and sees Mad-Eye, Frank Longbottom, Alice Pollard and Fabian Prewett behind him, wands drawn, ready to attack. James grabs Lily (after a motion from Mad-Eye) and throws her down to the ground as a barrage of spells comes from the defenders.
Frank yells:
"Get out of here now: go get Dumbledore!"
Lily and James look around for the broom and then there it is - under a pile of wood chips. Keeping bent to the ground, a shield charm over them for protection, and then James mounts it with his Quidditch skill. Lily hesitates: she hasn't really flown before.
"Come on Lily!" James urges, and then she climbs behind him and places her arms (very) tightly around him.
"This isn't finished Potter!" Malfoy yells after them, as James zooms back to the school, upto (with his broom – he's flown past here many times) Dumbledore's office and hovers by the window. Dumbledore is in there, writing on many pieces of paper but looks up as Lily knocks on the window.
"PROFESSOR!" she yells, "Professor!"
He waves his wand and opens the window, before rushing over to them and says:
"James, Lily, what's going on?"
"Sir, there was recruitment in the forest – Mad-Eye, Frank, Fabian and Alice are down there but they need your help: there are four of them! We tried to hold them off for as long as possible so you could try and catch them!" she tearfully explains and Dumbledore motions for them both to fly in the open window, which they do.
"Wait here, both of you! We'll talk when I get back," he says then rushes off.
Lily buries her face into James' chest and sobs, whilst James holds her close, sat on the floor.
I love him, I LOVE HIM!
Lily lifts her head up, and looks deep into James' eyes.
"James, this may come as a surprise, and awful timing but… it's what it took for me to realise it….. James – I LOVE YOU," she says, whispering the last bit.
Did she just say that?
James leans down, Lily leans up and they meet at the lips for the sweetest kiss of all time: Lily and James' first (allowed – by her) kiss in history… the first of many!
So that's it – the fight wasn't really in it that much but what do you think of the end?
Please review!
Vicky xx