A/N: Can you believe it? Two updates in one day! And the only chapter in Lily's POV. Enjoy!
This Outtake could be placed after Chapter 28, since it happens during that chapter, but I'm putting it here because it's a hard one to place.
Outtake: Thrice Defied
Lily's POV
Joining the Order of the Phoenix was one of the most daring things I'd ever done. If my family could see me now, they'd have said James was a bad influence. Truthfully, it was liberating being with him; I felt like I could be myself. I didn't want to be on the side-lines; the only reason I'd been invited to join Dumbledore's organization was probably because I was married to James, but I'd have wanted to join even if I wasn't.
The first time I went against Voldemort was terrifying; we'd only been a part of the Order for two months and it was meant to be just a routine parole. It was just James and I when all of a sudden we were surrounded by five Death Eaters and Voldemort had been with them. We must have interrupted one of their raids.
"James Potter," Voldemort had a reptilian tone to his voice that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. "As a Pure-Blood, you would be…welcomed…to join us. I'm sure we could even find a place for your Mudblood pet."
"I will never join you," James spat out, sounding as disgusted as I felt.
"Even if I told you that I could give you back your sight?" Voldemort proposed, a hint of a smirk beginning on his emotionless face as he clearly thought he'd played his winning card.
"I don't need sight from a blind fool like you. Bombarda Maxima!" James fired off directly at Voldemort. I quickly put up a shield to block the retaliation from the Death Eaters. James grabbed my hand and I quickly twisted on the spot and Apparated us away and directly into the Order's headquarters.
After our fight – if it could be called that – with Voldemort, the Marauders stuck close to us. We always had at least one of them with us on patrols and they'd all added to the protection that was already on our home. Most nights at least two of them stayed the night anyway unless it was a full moon.
This meant that when we actually came across the Dark Lord himself for the second time, Sirius and Remus were with us. Voldemort didn't bother with trying to convince anyone to join him this time, he seemed determined to kill us for embarrassing him last time.
One of the Death Eaters made the mistake of injuring Sirius so badly he fell unconscious; considering how close it was to the full moon, Remus's retaliation was quick and brutal as he defended his fallen pack mate. It was safe to say that Death Eater didn't make it out of the battle and another one was gravely injured.
Unfortunately, since Sirius was out of commission and Remus was protecting him, it left James and me to face Voldemort alone again. We were most disheartened to find that his skill at duelling hadn't been exaggerated; we struggled to keep from being badly injured.
"Distract him," James whispered to me between spells. I nodded quickly, knowing that he'd never tell me to purposely risk myself unless he had a plan. Ignoring my fear, I began to fire spell after spell directly at him without shielding, leaving myself open to an attack that I knew he wouldn't be able to resist.
I could see the moment that Voldemort went for the killing strike, but before he could fire off the final spell, he was hit from behind by James. I was amazed to see Voldemort double over and start to make what sounded like chocking noises while James cast something else before running over to me and signalling to Remus that it was time to go.
Sirius was okay once he'd been checked out by a Mediwitch. He'd been hit by a nasty curse, but they were able to counteract most of the effects which meant he just had to rest for a couple of weeks. He wasn't happy by the restriction, but he lightened up when James explained what had happened once Sirius had lost consciousness.
"I knew you cared Moony," he grinned smugly while Remus rolled his eyes. "But more importantly, Prongs, what in Merlin's sake did you use on Voldie?"
"Rictusempra," James mumbled, blushing slightly.
"The tickling spell," I gaped at him. "You tickled Voldemort to distraction?!"
His shrug and rising blush did me in. The uncontrollable urge to laugh burst out of me as I sat down on Sirius's bed and began to laugh until tears streamed down my face. The others soon joined me as we shared a moment of disbelief and relief that we were still alive.
The third time we came against Voldemort was one of the most terrifying moments of my life. By this point, I was five months pregnant though I'd only known for the last one and a half. I was showing and my only thought was to pray that he wouldn't target my unborn child.
We had Auror Alistair 'Mad-Eye' Moody with us. He was my protection since it was my last patrol before I went on maternity leave. Both he and James stayed in front of me as often as possible, only moving when they had to.
I don't remember how the fight went; for me it just passed in a blur of fear. I only know that it ended with James and me firing off the same spell at the same moment in an attempt to double the power. Mad-Eye dealt with the Death Eaters while we fuelled all our power into keeping Voldemort away long enough to get away.
James made sure I was checked out by a Mediwitch straight away afterwards to make sure the baby was okay. We were both relieved to hear that everything was fine and I didn't argue when James made me promise that I wouldn't fight anymore. I wouldn't risk anything happening to our baby, and even once it was born, I wouldn't risk leaving any child of mine without parents.
Not sure if I like this chapter, but I hope you do. Please review! :)
