James scooped Lily up in his powerful arms and hoisted her up off of the floor. The hooded Death Eaters poured into the room, shooting spells left and right. He caught sight of Remus shouting at Katie to duck a spell and Sirius already locked in a furious duel with a Death Eater. James broke into a run, heading for the hospital wing.
Bangs and cries followed him even as he left the scene, his feet slapping the cold stone floor. His eyes never left Lily. She didn't look good – her breathing was ragged and shallow, and a trickle of blood came from where she had hit her head against the wall. He turned expertly along a shortcut, practiced from years of heading to the hospital wing after Quidditch injuries.
It seemed to James to take forever to reach the hospital. He barged in without bothering to knock. The young nurse, Madam Pomfrey, looked up, startled. "Potter! What -" Then she caught sight of Lily. "Oh my stars – what happened?"
"Death Eaters blew up the doors while she was casting a protective charm," James explained grimly. He lay Lily down on the closest bed and stared at his right hand. It was red with Lily's blood. "Will she be alright?"
Madame Pomfrey's Healer training kicked in, and suddenly she was all business. "Yes, of course," she said briskly. "I'll need a Clotting Potion to stop the bleeding – and she'll need to stay the night. But I'm quite sure she'll be fine. Now run along."
James bristled at being told to run along like some naughty child, but he held his tongue. He did need to go. He spun on his heel and sprinted back to the Entrance Hall.
The battle raging there seemed to be taking a turn for the better. Most of the Death Eaters had either fled or were lying hexed on the floor, unable to move or groaning. Sirius was still in a duel with the same Death Eater. Her hood had fallen off, and James' jaw clenched as he realized who it was – Sirius' twisted cousin, Bellatrix. Sirius seemed to be holding his own, though, so James decided to let him fight his own fight and he would back him up if needed.
Remus, Katie, Erika and that Ravenclaw, Edward, were fighting in a revolving square, all of their shoulders against the others'. Death Eaters fell like nine pines against their onslaught.
Becky, Alice, and Leah also fought in a triangle, spinning to face new opponents. James suddenly found himself itching to help, and he willingly threw himself into the fray.
He soon gave up all thought and focused on hexing or petrifying as many Death Eaters as possible. "Heads up, James!" Remus and Edward shouted as they spun by, facing him. James whipped around to see the leering face of Lucius Malfoy, who was unmasked. "Having fun, Potter?" sneered Malfoy, raising his wand, but James shouted, "Silencio!" and Malfoy was left mouthing harmlessly. "Petrificus Totalus!" James then said, and Malfoy's arms and legs snapped together. He fell backwards, stiff as a board.
Edward suddenly shouted at James, "DUCK!" James threw himself to the floor as Edward shot a Stunning Spell at a Death Eater who had been sneaking up behind James.
"Why weren't you in Gryffindor?" James shouted, dodging Professor McGonagall as she slung a Death Eater out of the hole in the doors with her wand.
Edward grinned, shouting back, "My brain's a hundred and four years old!"
And then, as quickly as it had started, it was over. The Death Eaters who weren't lucky enough to escape were bound and taken to the dungeons until the Aurors arrived.
Dumbledore assembled all of the fighters in front of him. "The danger has passed us by," he said gravely, "but not without a price. Two are wounded – Professor Slughorn and Miss Lily Evans. Their wounds are not fatal, but bad enough.
"I would like to take a small amount of time to thank each and everyone of you for helping tonight. It was mainly you who rid us of the threat. Now, off to bed for a good night's rest. You deserve it."
As they walked away, James muttered to Remus, "Are you sure you should have been fighting so soon after the full moon?"
Remus was chalk white and exhausted but said, insisting, "I'm fine!" James didn't believe him. He sighed. The Heads' Dorm would be especially lonely and quiet tonight.
The second the Hospital Wing opened the next morning, James was by Lily's bedside. The bleeding had stopped, and her head wound had been magically sealed. Upon closer inspection, Madame Pomfrey revealed to him, Lily had had several broken ribs as well, but they were already healed. Now all they could do was wait for Lily to wake up.
At around eight – thirty, Remus brought him some toast. "I figured you'd be hungry," Remus explained, glancing at Lily. James thanked him. Remus continued, "Dumbledore told everyone what happened at breakfast. She'll have a hard time when she wakes up."
James skipped classes that day, preferring to stay with Lily. It wasn't until noon that her eyes slowly fluttered open. "James?" she asked blearily. "What happened? How did I get here? The last thing I remember, the doors exploded, and-" Then her eyes widened, and she sat up. "The Death Eaters! What happened?"
James gently pushed her back onto the white mattress. "One at a time, Lils! How do you feel?"
Lily winced. "I feel like – like pudding. Pudding with nerve endings. Pudding in great pain."
James laughed softly. "I better tell the pudding what happened before Madame Pomfrey has my hid for not telling her you're up." He gave her every detail of what had happened after she was knocked out, ending with Dumbledore's speech.
"So everyone's okay?" she asked, finally letting herself relax into the pillows. James nodded. "It wasn't for nothing." She said to herself. Then she seemed to realize something. "What happened to Professor Slughorn?"
"He got hit by a huge piece of wood from the doors. He's out cold, with a nasty lump on the back of his head." James pointed to where a huge mound of blankets marked where Slughorn lay.
Lily looked down at the blanket and picked at a loose thread. "No one's…mad at me, are they?" she asked tentatively.
"What? Why would they be mad?" asked James incredulously.
"I didn't reinforce the doors in time," she said, still picking at the thread.
"Of course they're not mad! If anything, they're proud," he answered confidently. "I am too. You were great!"
She looked up. "You're not just saying that to make me feel better, are you?"
"Nope."
She smiled, finally. "Thanks, James." Then she turned, looking for Madame Pomfrey. "When can I get out of here? I can't just stay in this bed forever."
James burst out laughing. "That makes two of us who can't stand the hospital wing!" Just then, Madame Pomfrey came bustling in.
"Oh, good, you're up! How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine," said Lily. "Can I go?"
"Not until I check you up, young lady! Now you just lay down quietly." Lily obeyed, but not without making a face at James behind the Healer's back. He tried not to laugh, smiling behind his hand. Madame Pomfrey turned to James. "Out!"
"No, please, can't he stay?" Lily whined.
The nurse's eyes narrowed, then she sighed. "Fine! Fine! I don't care!" She threw her hands up in defeat, and Lily winked at James.
Later Lily was finally released from the hospital wing in time for dinner. "James," she said, hesitating before the door to the Great Hall, "I don't think I want all of the attention that I'm about to get."
"It's okay," James reassured her. "Just act natural."
"Easy for you to say," Lily muttered, pushing open the door. As predicted, the entire Hall hushed as heads turned, then broke out in whispers. Lily held her head high and walked straight to the Gryffindor table. As soon as she sat, normal conversation started like a ripple across the Hall until the normal noise level was restored.
"So what's new?" asked Lily determinedly. The expression on her face clearly read, Ask me anything about last night and I will kick your butt into next year.
"Uh…not much!" said Becky, catching on first. "There was nearly no homework today. And Potions was canceled." She said the last part in a rush.
"Great," said Lily. She couldn't think of anything else to say.
Twenty minutes into dinner, Professor Dumbledore stood. "Alright, it's time for rest. To bed! Except for Mr. Potter…could I see you in my office, please?" Everyone stood and squeezed themselves out of the door. Lily shrugged at James and left too, leaving him confused.
A/N: Ugh. I don't like how the chapter ends…oh well…
Quote: "I feel like, like pudding. Pudding with nerve endings. Pudding in great pain." Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment, Chapter 58, page 118. Hope you're enjoying this! (U no review, I no write.)
(Me speak English goodier than you!) lol