Chapter 10
Disclaimer: This story is based off a fairy tale and I don't own Harry Potter.
The night of the ball arrived and I was as calm as I could ever be. I asked Remus for permission to leave to take a walk and he granted it. I was getting ready and looked in a mirror. The underlying sorrow in my eyes was very evident. Whenever I had a chance at happiness it was against the cards. When my mother had died, I had not only lost her but my father as well. Every time I looked at him, the grief had taken a fresh hold on me. Now I had a chance at love, but it wouldn't work. I was doing what I had to, to protect the Potters, to protect James. What I was doing was for the best. The Potters would never figure it out and my father hopefully wouldn't find me.
Once I got outside I took off my cloak and stuffed it in a barrel, not hearing the footsteps behind me.
"So this is how you've been hiding from me, nobody would think that a princess would masquerade as a servant," at these words I froze before turning around slowly. One of my fathers guards was standing there, knife in his hand.
"Why are you doing this?" My voice was weak and I attempted to step back, but was stopped when my heels hit the barrel behind me.
"Orders," the guard stated simply, advancing on me.
"I command you to stop!" I ordered in a stern voice.
"You bitch; you lost your power when you left your father alone."
"So you admit it, he is my father. Would you kill the princess of your land?"
"Try me," and with that he lunged. I twirled to the right and brought my knee up and hit him in the stomach. Thank god for those fighting lessons I had cajoled my private guards into giving me. The assassin crumpled and groaned. I knew that if he got up that I would probably lose so I clamped my hands together and brought them down on the back of his neck. I picked up a coil of rope and tied his feet and hands together, before I noticed that the moon had risen. I was late again.
-James' P.O.V.-
Maybe this was the time that she wouldn't show up. I hoped not, seeing as I had a really important question to ask her. A presence at my elbow made me turn my head to see Sirius and Elizabeth. Elizabeth looked at me and said quietly, "She'll be here, she has to be."
Sirius' eyebrows rose at this, but I had been too busy focusing on the opening door to care. Once I saw the shimmering I knew that she was here after all. I walked up the stairs to greet her and almost reeled back at the amount of sorrow in her green eyes. She smiled lightly, but the smile didn't reach her eyes. I held my arm out and her slim hand reached out and she held on lightly as we descended the stairs.
"Dance with me?" I asked quietly, guiding her to the floor.
-Lily's P.O.V.-
I could tell that he knew something was wrong. We were dancing silently, content just to be together, no matter how long we had. He whispered words that would have once made my heart race, but tonight it sunk to the pit of my stomach.
"Marry me," I couldn't tell if it was a question or an order. I pulled back and looked at James solemnly.
"I… can't," I saw James pick up on my hesitation.
"Can't or won't?" James looked angry as we stilled and just stood, staring each other down. I broke eye contact first, looking down and holding back tears.
"I can't."
"Stay with me, whatever it is, we'll get through it… together." He was speaking in earnest now, trying to keep me with him.
I pulled free and whispered, "Not this time, I have to do this on my own. I'm sorry. I have to go."
"I love you," he looked so broken that I almost gave in, but the memory of my fathers face steeled my resolve.
"I have to leave. If not for my safety, then for yours."
"Don't go. We'll leave this place. As long as we're together it'll be alright."
"Please, don't make this any harder." I turned and fled so he wouldn't see the tears in my eyes.
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Well I hope you like it and I will be updating way more often now.
Sorry for making you all wait.
Tell me what you think; hate it, love it, want to give any suggestions.
Let me know.
Over and Out.