Chapter 28: Once Again

"James, I'm sorry, but I don't want to send either you or Lily out on a mission so close to your wedding. Especially as Voldemort has a particular reason to try and harm the two of you." Dumbledore was sitting calmly behind the desk in his tower office, watching James pace angrily in front of him. James did not take kindly to being told to lie low.

"It doesn't make sense, Professor!" James said crossly. "You know that I am one of the best fighters in the Order. Why can't you let me go out and help the boys?"

"No, James. I will not let you die before your wedding. Go home, James."

James, anger seeming to roll off of him, turned and left the office, slamming the door loudly on his way out. He muttered furiously to himself the whole way down to Hogsmeade. And instead of apparating to the safety of his home, he appeared in the hall outside of Sirius' apartment and proceeded to pound on the door.

"Coming, coming…" came through the door, "you don't have to pound so loudly… oh, Prongs. What are you doing here? Thought Dumbledore wanted you to keep a low profile till after the wedding?"

James pushed his way angrily past his best friend and resumed his pacing in front of the fire.

"He does. He won't let me go with you guys tonight."

"It's alright mate. We'll be fine without you. It's just a routine spying mission. You just make sure you live long enough to see Lily become a Potter."

"Of course I want to live to see my own wedding, Padfoot." James' anger began to evaporate at the happy prospect of Lily Potter. "But I don't like sitting around all comfortable while you three are out there risking your lives. I want to be there to back you up."

"I know, Prongs," Sirius said as he put a reassuring arm around James' shoulders. "But I promise, the boys and I will be fine."

"How can you possibly know that?"

"Tell you what, mate. The second things start to look bad I'll send a message straight to you and you can come be a hero, alright?"

"Promise?" James looked up hopefully.

"Marauder's Oath."

"Fine. You be careful tonight."

"I always am."

James let out a great guffaw of laughter, and made his way to the door. But he stopped with his hand on the handle and turned back around to look at his friend.

"And Padfoot, I would much rather if you didn't have to wake me up tonight."

"I know, buddy. Go get some sleep. We have a wedding in three days to get ready for."

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James was deep in happy dreams of the day when Lily would finally be his when he was startled awake by a blinding light. Shaking the sleep out of his eyes he looked up to see a giant silver dog standing in front of him. All thoughts of sleep forgotten at the sight, James hastily sat up, starring intently at the Patronus he recognized as belonging to Sirius. Only Sirius would be self-centered enough to be his own Patronus. Suddenly Sirius' anxious voice came from the great dog.

"Help! Bella's got Moony, and you know her. Too many to get him back on our own."

The message delivered the silvery Patronus faded into nothingness as James raced out of bed and hastily threw clothes on then proceeded to run for the door with his cloak in one hand and his wand in the other. But he hadn't gotten three steps out of his door when Lily appeared in front of him, fully clothed and clutching her own wand.

"I'm going with you."

James came to a crashing halt.

"No, Lily. I will not lose you."

"I heard the message, James. And you know I am the only one of you besides Remus who can do a proper healing spell. If he is really hurt you'll need me. You know we can't take him to Mungo's without a lot of awkward questions."

James stared at her, a furious battle being fought in his head. He did not want to lose his friends, but the thought of losing Lily three days before their wedding sent an icy chill down his spine. But Moony was hurt…

"Fine," James said with great effort. "But we are going under the cloak."

"Naturally." Lily smiled at him, then took his hand as they hastily made their way out of the house. Lily had only last week put up Anti-Disapparation Charms on the houses of all of her friends.

Tightly holding hands and hunched under the cloak, Lily and James appeared in the middle of a massive fight. Spells were shooting everywhere and James was proud that Sirius and Peter were putting up such a good fight on their own. He quickly surveyed the scene and saw that Remus was crumpled unconscious inside a circle of Death Eaters. In front stood the regal form of Sirius' cousin, Bellatrix Black, unhooded and haughty.

Silently and carefully, stilling tightly holding hands, Lily and James crept around to the back of the group until they were feet away from the still form of Remus. Lily cast a nonverbal Disillusionment spell on James and then silently slid away from him, the cloak still around her. And then, after quietly counting to ten, they attacked.

The Death Eaters were not expecting an invisible attack from behind. Before they had even determined where the spells were coming from Lily and James had leveled half of them with determined Stunners. At the same time Sirius and Peter came running forward, tacking advantage of the distraction, and managed to whittle the number of fighting Death Eaters down to Bella.

"My dear cousin, it seems you have friends willing to die for you." There was laughter in her voice.

"You are not going to kill them, Bella."

"No, but I might."

Sirius's face fell as he turned around to the source of the voice. Tall and menacing as always, Lord Voldemort was standing directly behind Sirius, watching him carefully. Behind Voldemort, the terrified Peter Pettigrew was crouching in the shadows. He knew he was no match for the Dark Lord, and so he did the only thing he could think of. He transformed into a rat and scampered as quickly as he could in the direction of Albus Dumbledore. Unbeknownst to Peter, however, Bellatrix had been watching him and saw him transform, a manic glint in her eyes.

"Sad, that one of the most excellent family of Black should turn against my cause," Voldemort continued. "Would you please invite Mr. Potter to join us, Bella. He is standing directly behind you."

Bella turned and with a wave of her wand James came once more into view. Then, almost lazily, Voldemort waved his wand at James.

"Crucio."

"Protego!"

A shimmering shield appeared in front of James, blocking the curse.

"Really, Bella, I thought you were watching your dear cousin."

"It wasn't him my Lord."

"Ah, but of course. Miss Evans, if you would care to join the land of the visible."

Lily allowed the cloak to fall behind her, her wand trained on Voldemort.

"You did not actually think you could hurt me, my dear? A Mudblood such as yourself? I might not even have killed your despicable fiancée. Goodness knows it would be horrible for him to miss his own wedding. But, it appears the happy nuptials are going to have to be cancelled, as the bride and groom will be unable to attend."

"I don't think so Tom. I am quite looking forward to my wedding." James gave an almost imperceptible nod to Sirius, and instantly three spells shot out.

Bella had to jump hastily out of the way to dodge Sirius' spell. Then she turned in horror to watch James and Lily simultaneously try to disarm her master. And their combined spells succeeded where one would not have. Voldemort's wand flew in a graceful arc and landed on the ground.

Shock bloomed over Voldemort's face, and with a casual flick of his hand he summoned his wand and turned on the spot, disappearing into the night, the forms of his fallen Death Eaters disappearing with him, leaving Bella staring in horror at the three in front of her. But disdainful laughter quickly returned to her face.

"You will live to regret that." And with a parting shot at Sirius, who dodged her spell easily, she vanished to join her master. She had to tell him about an interesting little rat.

Before she was even gone, Lily had launched herself at Remus' fallen form and was waving her wand in complicated motions, muttering under her breathe. Sirius and James quickly joined her, worry on their handsome faces. It took several minutes, but eventually Remus drew an audible breathe and blearily opened his eyes.

"Moony, you've missed all the fun!" Sirius laughed, before gently scooping his fallen friend into his arms. "You two," he added to James and Lily, "better go back home. I'll take Moony to Dumbledore and tell him what happened. But he is going to be livid that you two came to fight."

James nodded silently, and drew Lily into his arms. Then, tightly clasping her to him, he apparated both of them home.