Chapter 14: Mirrors and Deaths

The two Gryffindor boys walked with their wands out and followed the path of the centaur. They talked about what had happened in soft tones so they couldn't be overheard.

'Wish I had my invisibility cloak now.' James sighed. Sirius nodded. 'That would be useful.' He agreed. 'But we're Marauders, and we don't really need it after all!'

James clapped him silently on the back.

After a long moment of silence and the crunching of leaves beneath their feet, Sirius spoke up. 'I hope those kids are okay.'

James nodded. 'Yeah, me too.' He said. 'Thomas... He's a funny guy. Got a way with the ladies if I have to admit it. Real swell bloke.'

Sirius nodded. 'I've been thinking, I really hope the Slytherin kid is okay, as funny as that sounds.' He said. James shrugged. 'A Muggle-born can't be that bad right?'

Sirius agreed. 'I just feel like we've got a lot in common, except we're also practically polar opposites. You know?'

'Yep.' James sighed.

'And Evans... This whole year, I've teased her and bothered her about her study habits and her friendship with Snape, and now I've gotten her into this load of dung...'

Sirius turned his gaze towards the ground. 'Why do we prank them so much?' He asked quietly. James shrugged. 'Can't say anything about Snape, except that he's Snape I guess and we get a kick out of showing him up.' He said simply.

Abashed, he added. 'And I guess I don't like seeing them together as well.'

'And Evans?' Sirius asked.

James shrugged again. 'I don't know, I guess I thought she was a know-it-all at the beginning of the year, and that she's too hot-tempered for her own good, but...'

Sirius raised an eyebrow. 'But what?' He prodded suggestively.

James grinned. 'I think she's grown on me, that's all.'

Sirius looked amazed. 'Whoa, who would have thought that you and Evans would..!' He grinned. 'Do you really think you've got a chance?'

James punched him on the shoulder.

'Trust me, once we save her from oblivion, she'll be all over me!' He said with a confident smirk. Sirius burst out laughing.

'Yeah right, your only real competition is Snivellus then?' He asked. James frowned. 'Yeah, I suppose so.' He muttered.

'Hey, what if Dumbledore gets to her first?' Sirius asked suddenly. James tilted his head as they walked on.

'I don't know, I suppose there's still Quidditch next year. Once she sees me in the air, she'll be dying to climb on the back of that ol' broom and wrap her arms around me-'

'Enough.' Sirius raised a hand in disgust. 'She really has grown on you then.' His hand flew to his pocket suddenly and he pulled out a small, hand-sized mirror.

'What's that?' James asked curiously.

'Two-way mirror. I left one on your nightstand with a note saying how it works. You say the person's name and you can talk, like this.'

He showed James the mirror and to his shock, instead of seeing his own reflection, he saw the round, worried face of Alice Dearborn.

'James! Where are you? I was looking for you and I found this mirror on you nightstand! I can't find Lily, do you know where she is? We've looked everywhere!'

James cleared his throat. 'Alice, Lily and two others have gone missing.' He said softly.

Alice's eyes widened and she quickly turned frantic. 'Missing... Oh no, it's the death eaters, isn't it?' She gasped. 'They've got her.'

'Yep and we're saving her now.' He said quickly.

They didn't hear what Alice said next as Sirius quickly grabbed the mirror and mumbling a quick apology stuffed it back into his pocket.

'I heard people.' He whispered.

They suddenly stopped walking, as they heard talking overhead.

Silently, they tiptoed forward into the clearing where James could make out the tall figure of Dumbledore and the muscular one of Morgorian.

'Are you sure she's around here?' Dumbledore asked. James realized there were a few men in ministry robes present as well.

The centaur tilted his head down and sniffed. His eyes narrowed. 'I smell humans.'

'Where?' Cried one of the aurors. Morgorian whipped around and looked straight at the tree where James and Sirius were hiding behind.

James gulped. 'Uh oh.' He said.

'Mind as well.' Said Sirius.

They walked out from their spot and waved.

'What are you two doing here?' Demanded an auror. 'You're students, don't you know this is dangerous?'

James and Sirius opened their mouths to protest but Dumbledore spoke. 'Ah, Mr. Black and Potter. I must say, I"m not surprised that you've decided to follow me this whole time.'

James stepped forward. 'Do you know where they are yet Professor?' He asked.

'I have a hunch.' Said the old wizard. He nodded at Morgorian. 'Thank you for your help Morgorian. 'We are in your debt, and we will not forget soon.'

The centaur nodded and swept off into the darkness.

Dumbledore paced around the clearing, muttering to himself and to several of the aurors. James and Sirius stood by themselves awkwardly.

'Think we should help look?' Asked Sirius. 'Yeah, probably.' Answered James.

They began searching the bottoms of bushes and under thick leaves for any sign of the students.

'Any luck so far, Albus?' Asked a thin wizard with glasses. 'I'm afraid not, Angus.' Sighed Dumbledore.

James and Sirius had continued their search when Dumbledore stepped forwards suddenly. 'Ah, at last.' He said quietly.

James backed up and watched as Dumbledore gently removed some leaves and a few shrubs.

Someone gasped. 'Someone's there!'

They all craned their necks and at last, they could make out the legs, robes and hair of Lily Evans.

James stared at her for what felt like an eternity. 'Dirt and leaves covered long red locks and she had bruises and cuts all over her body. Her knees tilted inwards and her arm bent in an awkward position. Her black robes were a little torn.

Dumbledore conjured a stretcher and magically lifted Lily. He gently ripped off the frayed black robes and nodded at everyone.

'I believe no on else is in the vicinity.' He said grimly. 'We must head back for news now.'

James felt Sirius' hand on his back.

'You alright mate?' He asked.

'James shook his head. 'I don't know, Sirius.'

'She'll be alright.'

'I hope.'

They silently walked towards the castle. James didn't take his eyes off Lily for a single moment. She looked so vulnerable and small, lying on the big stretcher with her injuries. When he tripped for nearly the fifth time, Sirius grabbed him and hauled him up before he could fall.

'Stop worrying mate.' He said firmly. 'Trust me, she'll be fine.' James could only nod.

He nearly ran into the man carrying the stretcher. The group had stopped.

'What is it, Professor?' Asked a man to his left. Dumbledore's eyes burned for a moment before they seemed to blow out. He dropped to one knee and flicked his wand at a nearby piece of shrubbery. They all waited in thick silence as the leaves lifted themselves and blew away.

James froze at what was underneath them.

It was the body of a small, plump boy with brown hair and the Slytherin symbol crafted into his frayed black robes. His neck was purple.

It was Brian Waters, and he was dead.

'Bloody hell...' Sirius groaned despairingly. James felt pity for the poor boy, most likely a victim of his own houses' machinations. Anger seeped into his veins and he felt like pounding something.

Dumbledore conjured another stretcher and placed the boy on it. 'We must notify all officials at once.' He said quietly. Several men nodded and dissaparated.

James didn't pause to think about how they had dissaparated right out of Hogwarts until they reached the edge of the forest.

He let out a breath of relief when he saw the castle which, despite just having been under attack, still stood proudly at the top of the hill.

'James and Sirius, please head back to your common rooms. I will take Miss Evans and Mister Waters to the infirmary.' Said Dumbledore, sounding tired.

They left without objection and walked the seven floors to the Gryffindor common room.

'What should we tell them?' Sirius asked finally, after they had arrived.

James shrugged as the fat lady let them in without a password.

'We'll tell them what really happened. They deserve to know and they're equally worried about Evans as we are.' He said.

Sirius smiled. 'After you.' He said and they entered the common room.