Disclaimer: Not JK…

Chapter 10: The prelude to the battle

"Why are you so restless, Lina? Emily will be here in a minute. I have to check a few last minutes things. I'll be back soon!"

Lily left her alone, seated at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall, unaware of the turmoil taking place inside her friend.

If only I could somehow uproot Hogwarts and place it in the middle of Antarctica I could be calm.

She looked around at the scene of natural merriment around her, at the unsuspecting students who were talking and laughing amongst themselves as if there was nothing to worry about. Her vivid imagination pictured each of the students she saw, cold and dead or writhing in agony. Her will power was elusive today and self control seemed out of the question. She shook her head to make the images fade. They did, after sometime, but they left a bitter aftertaste of dread in her.

"Calm down. You are attracting people's attention"

A quiet voice brushed by her ear, making her shiver involuntarily, but her trepidation lessened and she was able to concentrate on the person who had seated himself before her.

"And did I tell you you look magnificent?"

She knew he was just humoring her with that comment. There was nothing out of the ordinary for him to comment about her appearance.

She was only wearing a dark green top with an ocean blue jean which was covered entirely by the cloak she wore.

The twinkle was now back in his eyes, all traces of the previous seriousness completely vanished, confirming her thoughts.

"Pity I couldn't say the same for you. You look ghastly. Did you look in the mirror today?"

Though she had meant to merely offend him, she did see that he was looking paler than usual. There were shadows under his eyes, indicating one, if not a few, sleepless nights. May be he wasn't as poised afterall.

"…I tend to spare them the heart break of knowing they'd never have a chance with me"

She'd missed his point in her musings and could only assume it would have been something that would flatter his vanity.

"No, really, are you okay? You look…tired" she said as her fingers stroked his cheek absently.

Her voice was unusually soft and filled with concern, which was shocking even to herself.

"No…I'm fine. Just a bit of…nothing"

A sudden realization sprung into her and she removed her hand from his face, as if she had been burnt. Her hands were tingling. He appeared as flustered as she was, running his hands through his hair, a habit he had picked up from James.

She avoided looking at his eyes, opting to draw shapes on the wood with her finger, trying to ignore the reflection of his face on the gleaming surface. Silence reigned between them, until it was broken by the arrival of Remus, Emily and Peter, the last of the trio dragging behind.

"Did we miss something?"

Both of them heard Remus' whispered question but pretended to be deaf to it.

"How long do you think it'll be before the feast starts?"

"Lily said Dumbledore should be here soon"

Helina managed to whisper before her thoughts were consumed by anxiety once again.

"I'm afraid that is the case, Miss Evans"

Dumbledore's solemn voice penetrated her brain which had suddenly frozen at the thought of the grave news he had delivered.

"What are we waiting for Professor? Shouldn't we be warning the students and making sure they are safe?"

James' insistent voice cleared her head, bringing her concentration back to the situation at hand.

"I think it would be better if the students stayed at one place Mr Potter. We won't have to worry about gathering them together"

James nodded his head, unable to say anything else. What could he say to such alarming news as an attack on the school? And within such short notice.

"I'm sorry if I'm being petulant Professor but are you quite sure that the news is reliable?"

"Unfortunately yes Miss Evans. I assure you I have done all that is in my power to protect the castle. But if something does go amiss…"

Lily shuddered to think of the repercussions. The image of James on the floor of the Hogwarts express, at the brink of death flashed before her eyes, and she listened intently to the Headmaster to banish such depressing thoughts away.

"I'd like to know if you would help"

"I'd do anything in my power Professor"

Dumbledore sighed, dreading that he had to make his students face such dangers.

"All you have to do is gather up a few of the willing students. If my guesses are right, there won't be many of them here today. I cannot assure you that it will be easy but, strength in numbers is a definite advantage"

"Yes Professor. We understand"

"You may leave now. I have a pending discussion with one of the Professors"

Dumbledore seemed oddly aged and old, as they left for the Great Hall. Lily chanced one last look at the Headmaster to find him leaning in the fireplace in conversation with, no doubt, one of the Professors.

"Any ideas on what we should do Lily?"

James asked nonchalantly apparently unaffected. That's exactly how she'd have reacted to him after yesterday's….no, that was not a road she should take now.

"Lily?"

He seemed to be waiting for her answer and she thought fast to give him a general answer.

"I think we should do what Dumbledore suggested"

"Yeah! It's a great opportunity for us to learn real dueling"

He appeared expectant, as if he couldn't wait to duel a bunch of Death Eaters. She, on her part, was analyzing a list of people who'd agree to help.

"Of course Sirius would want to help. And Remus. I'm not sure about Peter, though. And Frank will be in for sure"

James kept naming people who'd probably join them, and Lily was preparing her own list.

"Do you think Alice would help?"

"Sure. That girl needs to take out her frustration on someone that isn't Frank Longbottom anyway"

"How many have you come up with?"

"Twenty five, counting all the prefects excepting the Slytherins. Anyone else can join at the last moment if they wish. Only sixth and seventh years though"

"Why are you so bent on making the Slytherins the bad guys? Give your prejudices a rest. I'm sure Severus would…"

She had inadvertently named her old friend. She now wasn't sure what he was at all. Picking up on her hesitation, James said,

"Snape? You must be kidding me! Might as well count Regulus in too" he said sarcastically.

Regulus Black was the younger brother of Sirius and his exact opposite. Lily was vaguely aware of the bad blood between the two siblings but she hadn't dared to examine it further. She remained silent, knowing there was nothing she could say for Snape that could change James' views. Some rivalries were not to be tampered with.

"So twenty five is the final count?"

"Yeah! But that might change"

They had reached the doors to the Great Hall now, and James hesitated outside it.

"Lily?"

His voice was intolerably soft, and she turned from the door to look into his eyes.

Big mistake. His eyes were pools of liquid hazel as they smoldered into hers. There was no way she could be sensible with the force of his eyes on them. She barely nodded her head, trying to regain the composure the look had shattered.

She did not want a repeat of yesterday's events.

"You'll make sure you remain safe, right?"

She breathed out a sigh, relieved. This was something she could deal with.

"Sure. I do have a bit of self preservation in me. Don't worry"

His eyes remained locked on hers, and she fought to look away from them. Impossible as it appeared, she did manage at last.

She entered the Great Hall at the same time Professor Dumbledore did, and the attention was drawn away from her.

Taking a seat by her friends, she was instantly aware of the palpable air of apprehension surrounding Helina. James was seated opposite her, and he began whispering in a low tone, no doubt spreading the message.

She, on her part, told her friends who were enthusiastic in their agreements. It was only Helina who baffled her. A hopeless look overcame her face, and she glared up at Sirius for apparently no reason.

Within ten minutes, the air in the Hall seemed charged up and the students did not seem to be bothered about the feast anymore.

And their anxiety was well rewarded with a blast that echoed across the school.

Helina's heart thudded in her ears as she jumped up from her seat before anyone else could react. It was mere seconds before Sirius was by her side, holding her hand to restrain her from running face first into the approaching mob.

Ever eye was trained on Dumbledore, one half looking for confirmation and the other in confusion.

"I request all students to be seated! I regret to inform you that our school is facing the threat of an external attack. There's no need for panic though! All students except sixth and seventh years who are willing to assist are to stay inside the Great Hall at all costs" With that he walked away with the rest of the staff following.

Helina was the last of them to leave the Hall and she found that a group of thirty four students were now eagerly awaiting Dumbledore's instructions. After a few minor instructions on safeguarding themselves, they went outside the door to the castle.

And the battle began.

A/n:Review!