Fate
"Voodoo People" The Prodigy
"Wormtail," James said, placing his hand against Peter's shoulder. "Do you see over there - the shorter, female-shaped person? With the waterfall of auburn hair cascading elegantly over her shoulders? She's turning now… she-"
"In the name of all that is holy, Prongs-" Peter interrupted, grimacing as James forcibly turned him toward the edge of the platform.
"Do - you - see - her?"
"Yes… and I've seen her practically every day for the last year," Peter grumbled.
"She's my fiancée," James explained, his voice dripping with affection. "She's agreed to be my wife, to stay home with me and rub my feet when they're tired and-"
"I'm pretty sure Lily wasn't aware that was part of the deal when she said 'yes,'" Peter laughed.
"I have a task for you, an important task," James pressed on, his voice becoming stern. "And it's going to be a solo task since apparently Moony decided to disappear off the face of the planet."
"Does this solo task have something to do with your female-shaped fiancé, or am I actually going to be doing something worthwhile?" asked Peter skeptically.
James made a face. "Lily is worthwhile, and she thinks you're worth something so-"
"That's not what I meant, Prongs," said Peter. "Of course I think she's worthwhile… but I have no idea what kind of 'task' you are appointing on me. I'm sure she could do it better than I could."
"Psssshhh," James insisted, waving him off. "She can't do this one, because I'm asking you to keep her out of trouble."
Peter laughed, a little nervously. "She's going to love that. We're on the Hogwarts Express, Prongs… how much trouble can she get in?"
James' expression became hard. "I don't know… just make sure she doesn't- "
"James," said Julia's voice from behind him. He turned to see her watching him, a sad little smile on her face. "We'll be fine; I'll keep an eye on her too."
"You all right? Where's Sirius?" asked James, looking around for his friend.
"He stepped inside the station for a second," she explained. "I'm all right, just a bit tired I think."
James nodded, he was about to ask if there was anything else wrong when suddenly Lily bounded over to them, her face full of exuberance as she nodded toward the opposite end of the platform. "Look, over there…. Look, look, look!" she whispered excitedly.
Julia turned around as James and Peter followed Lily's gaze. Remus and Sam Pitchfield were standing in a secluded area at the end of the platform, embracing each other tightly. As they watched, Sam stood up on her tiptoes and kissed Remus lightly on the mouth. He responded by running his fingers through her hair and holding her close, prolonging the kiss for a few more moments. Julia grinned broadly before turning back to Lily and giving her a thumbs-up. "Nice work… that would have never happened if you hadn't-"
"Oh, Mooh-ooooh-ooooony…" Sirius' voice called, as he rushed over to the pair of them. "You finally pulled your head out of your arse! Just in time, eh? Oh, don't let me stop you… continue snogging," he teased, ruffling Remus' hair before letting him get back to his moment with Sam, whose expression was torn between fury and amusement as she glared after Sirius.
Lily rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest disapprovingly. Julia smirked and James was laughing as Sirius pranced over to where they were gathered. "You, Sirius Black, are the most obnoxious bloke I've ever met," said Lily, trying valiantly to hide the smirk forming on her face.
"I'll claim that title and wear it proudly. 'Sirius Black – The Most Obnoxious Bloke Lily Evans-Soon-To-Be-Potter Has Ever Met," he teased, side stepping James and grabbing Lily roughly around the neck. She made a shocked but amused noise as he hugged her tightly, vigorously tousling her hair as she protested and pushed against him.
"Get off me," she laughed, finally disentangling herself from his arms and attempting to appear stern as Sirius grinned mischievously at her, encouraged by James', Julia's and Peter's laughter. "Don't know what I was thinking, agreeing to live in the same building with you… James and I will never have a moment's peace," she said, rolling her eyes.
"I'll give you two a moment's peace as soon as I know Prongs has-"
"Enough," said James, sniggering uncontrollably as Lily's eyes narrowed in Sirius' direction. "The train is leaving… you sure you want to go?" he asked Lily.
She nodded, giving him a regretful smile. "I promised McGonagall. And it's not like I won't see her again if we join the Order," she said quietly. "Besides… someone needs to keep an eye on Peter and Remus," she said teasingly.
"Oh, of course," James laughed. "Make sure they don't snore too loudly and frighten the children."
"I'll keep them awake… well, Remus anyway; I want to see what he and Sam talked about," she said, peering over James shoulder and watching as Remus hugged Sam tightly before boarding the train. She waved at him, and then walked back inside the station.
"She's not –"
"She's heading to France," explained Lily. "She got accepted into the University, she's going to be a Healer."
"Oh," said James, frowning slightly as he watched Remus' figure join Peter inside a compartment. "So… how-"
"I told her… well, I didn't tell her, exactly… but I dropped enough hints that sure she figured it out," Lily explained sheepishly. "She needed to know… she needed to know why he was acting the way he was. I couldn't –"
"I agree," said James, placing his fingers against her lips, smiling when she kissed them. "I'm glad you did that. He needed the push. The sad thing about Remus is he wants the acceptance from everyone else… but he doesn't accept himself. He's human, and he needs human things."
"Like friendship," she agreed.
"And love," added James.
Lily smiled, leaning up to kiss him. James interlaced his fingers with hers, smiling against her lips as she wrapped an arm around his neck. "You'll be safe?" asked James.
Lily nodded. "Everything will be fine, love," she whispered, kissing him again. "You'll pick me up at the station?"
James nodded, quirking his eyebrow seductively as he pulled her close. "Uh-huh… and then I will whisk you away to somewhere private where Padfoot cannot find us and make love to you for the next three days on a bed of silk sheets," he grinned.
"Silk sheets are cold," she whispered, biting her lip and smirking at him.
"Cotton sheets then," he amended, kissing her soundly. They stayed close together, the noise of students around them fading away…
"OI! If you're going to get on the train you'd best get on it," Sirius shouted, shaking Lily roughly by the shoulders. She sighed and nodded, allowing James to kiss her once more on the forehead before she jumped onto the train. Julia stepped forward and hugged James, rather tightly it appeared. He kissed her on the cheek, and then nodded curiously as she patted his head and jumped on the train next to Lily. The whistle blew and the engine lurched forward, with the girls hanging out the door and waving bye to James and Sirius as they faded into the distance.
"Padfoot?" asked James.
"Hmmm?"
"What's up with Julia?" he continued as they walked to the edge of the platform.
Sirius frowned. "I'm not sure… she was… last night she was very… I can't find the right word," he muttered thoughtfully. "She was uncharacteristically serious. And I'm not making a joke with my name… she was. She told me she never wanted me to change; she wanted me to be an obnoxious, rule-breaking, wise-cracking scoundrel all of my life. And then she said… she said she wanted me to be Lily's friend."
"Come again?"
"She said she wanted me to be Lily's friend," explained Sirius. "I told her I already am, but she made me promise. It was very strange; and you know Jules can be strange at times… randomly insightful. But she was completely serious and very persistent about making me promise her things."
James considered him thoughtfully. "D'you think that… maybe … since Lils and I-"
"That was the one thing she didn't bring up… I tried," Sirius interrupted. "I thought perhaps she was feeling a bit… I don't know… but she refused to talk about it. She's told me, since we first got together, that she never wanted to get married… said it wasn't in the cards for her. But… I wonder…"
James nodded. "Maybe it was the ending of school and all that we've known for so long, that threw her off. Lils was a little thrown off this morning too; said she was ready to leave, but it was hard to let go."
"I get that… but that wasn't what was going on with Jules," he explained, shaking his head. "It'll be all right… we talked for a while, and … stuff… and this morning she was fine, very insistent about snogging me, but fine. What did she say to you during that hug?"
"She told me to take care of you, and Lily… and then she said she loved me and was happy I never gave up," he explained, shrugging at Sirius' concerned expression. Both of them looked up at the outline of the castle, knowing they'd be back soon, but unsure of when.
J&L&J&L&J&L
"…we're going to write to each other," Remus was explaining to Lily, Julia and Peter as the train rolled down the tracks. "She said she'll need to come home on Holidays, and… well… she wasn't sure if she wants to go directly to her parents' house… she's afraid for them…"
"She hasn't gotten any threats though, has she?" asked Julia.
"No… but the last attack in Devonshire was very close to where they live; she doesn't want to give the Death Eaters any reason to go back there," Remus explained sadly.
"Well, writing is good. And you can go visit her, and she can come home and visit you if she wants," Peter added encouragingly.
Remus nodded, a shy smile crossing his face. He looked over at Lily who was watching him cautiously. "That was pretty ballsy of you, Lils," he said, giving her a stern but amused glance.
"She needed to know, and I didn't tell her flat out," Lily replied loftily. "I only told her your nickname, and what your boggart was… as soon as I mentioned that, she figured it out on her own, clever girl that she is."
Remus chuckled, shaking his head with a bemused smile on his face. "I suppose I should thank you…"
"You should thank yourself," said Lily seriously. "It's about time you did something you wanted."
"So, are there plans for a fall wedding?" asked Remus, laughing at Lily's flushed cheeks and happy smile. The conversation turned to Lily and her childhood plans for a wedding, all of which had changed numerous times over the years, and the last few always included James.
"The only thing I'm certain of is I want it outside," said Lily. "It seems fitting, and I love being out in the sun, so that's what I want."
"His parents have that pretty meadow next to their house," Julia suggested.
"There's a forest not too far from his house as well," said Peter. "We've camped there a few times."
Lily nodded, storing this information for later when she actually had a chance to sit down and talk with James about it. Peter began talking about their camping trips, with Remus chiming in every now and then to add something to the stories and Julia laughing lightly. Lily only vaguely listened; she spent a majority of the seven hour train ride staring at her ring. It was different than when her mother had it; James had told her he'd had her mother's and father's rings molded into one, and added two small diamonds next to the larger one - one for her and one for him. It was simple, sweet, and incredibly beautiful; everything Lily had ever imagined she'd want.
They were around ten minutes away from King's Cross when Lily announced she was going to take one last look around the train to make sure all the students were ready to exit the train when they arrived. She examined the hallways as she walked, smiling as fond memories swept through her mind: falling asleep on James' lap, all the times she'd spent gossiping and playing exploding snap with Julia and Mary… discovering Julia and Sirius mid-tryst last Christmas… the time Remus and James had been practicing hexes and they ended up tying each other to the bench and were subjected to massive teasing by everyone who passed by. So many memories… it felt bittersweet to be riding the train for the last time.
The engine whistled as they pulled into the station, fifteen minutes earlier than they had expected to arrive. The platform seemed crowded as everyone got off the train and began to gather their trunks and other belongings. Lily and Julia set the two small bags they had next to a pillar, and watched as families greeted their children with hugs and kisses. Lily felt a tug at her heart, it was the first time she'd ever arrived at the Platform and someone from her family wasn't there to pick her up.
"James will be here in a minute," said Julia, observing her expression. "He's your family now."
"You are a mind reader," Lily chuckled.
"It's called Legilimency, Lils. Legilimency Lils… you should learn it just so I can call you that," said Julia, giggling uncontrollably.
Lily sniggered. "Right… well 'Legilimency Lils' is going to head to the loo," she announced, causing Julia to laugh even louder.
The platform seemed to be teeming with people, even though several families had already gone through the magical barrier back into the Muggle world. It was strange, but Lily put it aside as she passed familiar faces and said good bye. Hadley Crawler hugged her before leaving with her parents, and Betsy Hawk from the Quidditch team stopped to gush over Lily's ring as she was leaving the bathroom. More students stopped when they saw her: Melany Finch, Connie Lockwood, and Mary all paused for a few moments to gush over it again before hugging Lily tightly and promising to write. The attention delayed Lily a bit in returning to wait for James; she found herself explaining time and time again that the engagement had only just happened, and she hadn't had time to make plans, let alone think about a dress, flowers, or all the other things that went along with a wedding.
"But you'll be putting an announcement out, right?" said Felicity, still looking over the diamond with a slightly envious expression.
"I'm not sure," said Lily, biting her lip. "With everything going on… we'll see."
"Don't let everything that's going on stop you from planning something big if that's what you want," Felicity advised, releasing Lily's hand and giving her a kind smile. "You look really happy."
"I am happy… I'm very happy."
"Good… stay that way, Lily; don't let anyone or anything make you censor your happiness," said Felicity, giving Lily a quick hug and saying good bye before she left the restroom.
Lily smiled, internally thinking that Felicity had grown up a lot within the past nine months. She smiled to herself and began examining her appearance in the mirror, a far off corner of her mind wondering if James had been serious about taking her some place private for a few hours… days… whatever he had in mind. She had just begun fluffing her hair and practicing her Sexy Look when Julia came into the bathroom.
"What are you doing?" she asked, giggling slightly as Lily rearranged her expression hastily.
"I was bombarded by people! 'Good bye, Lily!' 'Oh, look at your ring!' you get my drift," she explained, ignoring Julia's sniggers.
"I see," replied Julia. "You're the talk of the student body… everyone's been asking me when the date is. Does it seem abnormally packed out there?"
Lily nodded in agreement. "It does! I've been thinking that since we got off the train, it's very strange."
"Here, you left this in your bag," said Julia, handing Lily her wand. "You really shouldn't leave it lying around, you know."
"I was just coming to the bathroom."
"I know, but-"
Julia's comment was cut off by a sudden commotion. There were shouts that began growing louder, followed by loud screams, and then suddenly a flash of white lit up the entrance to the bathroom. Julia and Lily both ducked and covered their ears as a loud bang echoed throughout the station; bricks began to fall and dusty smoke filled the room.
"What -"
"We have to get out of here!" shouted Julia, grabbing Lily's hand and tugging her through the door. They paused as soon as they exited the bathroom, both of them raising their wands defensively as they gaped in shock at the scene in front of them.
Black cloaked figures in skull masks had overtaken the platform. A few were engaged in small battles with parents or students, while others appeared to be making it a mission to capture members of the helpless muggle-born families.
Lily and Julia raced into the crowd, both of them casting shields to protect a set of terrified parents running toward the magical barrier from various curses. Lily pushed the family through and looked around for others in need of assistance. Several more people raced toward where she was, being shielded by various students, including Remus, Peter and Max Linghold.
"This one is still open?" Remus asked incredulously, watching as Lily pushed several people through the barrier.
"Yes… how-"
"There's only so many ways onto the Platform, they're closing all of them off," he explained, firing a jinx over her shoulder at a Death Eater racing toward them. More families with younger students raced to the gate, guarded by figures wearing purple robes.
"Get the Muggle-borns and their families out, especially the young ones," a familiar voice shouted. Lily looked up to see Alice Vanceton (it's Longbottom now, Lily thought randomly) standing at her shoulder urging people through the gate. "That's who they're after; get them out before they destroy this one!"
"All right!" Lily replied, sending a jinx over Remus' shoulder at a pair Death Eaters that were racing toward them. Alice ran off, leaving Remus and Lily guarding the barrier, firing jinxes at Death Eaters that attempted to come near them. Other older students, Julia, Max and Felicity among them were helping rescue the terrified families and guide them to the only open exit.
After around twenty people passed through, the flow of people running toward the barrier slowed. Remus peered into the chaos that was all around them, searching for others. "Do you think they got everyone?"
"I can't tell," Lily replied, firing another hex at a Death Eater who was engaging two Aurors in a violent fight. "There's too many people and-"
"You should go," suggested Remus, dragging her back toward the barrier as she started to walk forward.
"Are you insane? I'm not leaving you all here-"
"You're muggle-"
"I know what I am, Remus!" shouted Lily. "Don't announce it and don't coddle-"
"I'm not trying to coddle you!" growled Remus. "I'm trying to keep you alive!"
Just then Remus was pushed over by a cloaked figure that Lily's jinx had missed. The two began to struggle; Remus was punched in the face as he tried to block the man's hexes that were raining upon him.
"INCARCEROUS!" shouted Lily, watching as black cords sprang from her wand and looped quickly around the cloaked figure. The man fell and Lily pulled him off of Remus, releasing her grip when two Aurors raced over and took him off her hands. Remus looked up at Lily, his face full of gratitude. "Listen… just worry about keeping yourself alive," she said, helping him to his feet. "I can handle-"
Behind them there was another explosion as more cloaked figures came running through the barrier. Remus shouted something and pulled Lily out of the way, both of them watching in horror as the last Death Eater through cast a curse that destroyed the column, closing the only remaining entrance to King's Cross.
The platform was alive with flashes of light and the sounds of people shouting or screaming. Lily and Remus jumped up and raced into the fight, casting hexes and shields alternately as the hoard of Death Eaters began fighting the few Aurors that had arrived. The remaining students tried to assist, but their limited experience was no match for the violence the Death Eaters were dolling out; there were hexes being fired that Lily had never seen or heard of before in addition to liberal use of the unforgivable Cruciatus curse. The colors were bright, and everything seemed to move in slow motion at times. It was disorientating and frightening to stand in the midst of it. Lily had been fighting a particularly aggressive man in a cloak, surprising herself with how long she'd been able to hold him off, when she heard a familiar, horrific scream echo behind her.
Both she and the Death Eater dropped their fight for a second, but Lily composed herself and stunned him during the momentary distraction. She turned and raced over toward where Julia had been fighting with another Death Eater who now had her lying on the ground, screaming in agony.
"NO!" Lily shouted, waving her wand wildly and watching as Julia's tormentor was blasted off his feet. She grabbed Julia's cloak, lifting her up and trying to pull her away. "You're all right… you're okay," she said frantically.
Julia's eyes were wide with fear as she struggled to her feet. She was wincing as she moved, and Lily noticed a large rip in her cloak. It was wet… with what Lily didn't know, and she didn't have time to find out either, for as she dragged Julia away more spells were fired at them. Lily ducked behind a cracked wall and held onto her friend, trying to shield her from further harm.
"Lily, get out of here!" Julia shouted, trying to force Lily away from her. "Run, get-"
"I'm not-"
Lily's retort was cut off when someone grabbed her roughly by the hair, jerking her head back as they pulled her to her feet. Julia swore and jumped up, but another person rushed forward and clasped a hand over her mouth as they drug her inside the station offices.
Lily struggled as a large hand closed around her throat, turning her around to face the figure strangling her. The man lifted his mask, and Lily's expression turned furious as she kicked and fought against his grip. He squeezed her neck tighter, causing her to gasp and choke as she clawed at his hands.
"I told you you'd be dead… mudblood," hissed Mulciber, his hot breath spilling onto her face as he smiled viciously at her.
J&L&J&L
"Fifty galleons a month, each unit, for an eighteen month lease. The ad said that it'd be open at the end of this month, but it's open now if you'd like to move in," the landlord of the split level flat at number 62 Shoreline Lane, Hackenford, Avon was explaining to James and Sirius. "Rent is due the 28th of every month… I'm not fussed if you guys wish to have pets, as long as it's not anything too crazy…"
"We'll probably just have a dog," said Sirius with a grin. "Or perhaps a cat… no dragons or anything running around."
The landlord smirked. "Fair enough. If you find there's anything needing doing, and you can't manage, send me an owl… otherwise, you're all set."
Sirius looked at James, who grinned broadly as he signed his name on the parchment. Sirius repeated the motions, followed by the landlord, and then they all shook hands before the man Disapparated back to his home in Bristol.
"Excellent," said James. "So we can move in now."
"You'll need to get those silk sheets you keep talking about," teased Sirius. "Or was it satin?"
"It was silk," said James. "And Lily said I didn't need to worry about it; she thought they'd be cold."
Sirius laughed and watched as James Disapparated to his parents' house. He followed suit, coming out of the compressing darkness and wondering if he'd have time for a sandwich before they left to pick Julia and Lily up from the station.
"… just got a message from Moody, they're all heading over there now," James' father was saying hurriedly as Sirius materialized in front of the Potter's house.
"How are we-"
"They've been able to remove the apparition jinx, but it'll be back up probably if those bloody idiots have got a second to recast it," Ambrose snarled.
"What's going on?" asked Sirius, perking up at James' worried expression.
"There's been an attack," Lindsay Potter explained. "At the station; the train got in early and the Death Eaters have attacked."
"We're going now," said Ambrose, catching Sirius' attention. "Lindsay, I want you to stay here. If we can get people out of there, we're going to need places to send them, and it's safe here. Boys, we have to Apparate to King's Cross and then we'll determine how best to get on the platform from there. Don't try to Apparate onto the platform now," he ordered, looking at James with a stern expression. "If they've set up another jinx, you don't know where you'll end up."
"Right… right," said James.
"How bad is it?" asked Sirius, feeling panic rise inside his chest.
"We don't know much," Ambrose explained, shaking his head. "Moody only said that three muggles were killed after they came through the barrier back into the station. They tried to get the families and the Muggle-born kids out… but there was so much going on… we have to go."
Sirius nodded, noticing that James' face was pale and he'd only said five words the entire conversation. James' father began explaining more details of their plan, Sirius found himself distracted as a conversation he'd had with Julia over a year previously began to play through his head…
"…it's just not, Sirius. I know… I know divination is inexact, and things change and signals and signs can be misinterpreted… but… this is my fate. I'm not going to get married, or have kids, or anything like that. My future just… it stops. I don't know why but it just stops," she said, wiping a tear away from her cheek with a shaky hand. "So that's why. That's why when we first started all this I told you it'd never mean anything to me, and that's why I told you so many times that you shouldn't want me and you shouldn't… I don't… it's not an excuse, it's … it's not even a good explanation…" she sniffed.
"But, things change," Sirius said, taking a step closer to her. "Julia… the future changes; it's-"
"My future hasn't changed for the last seven years… it's the same outlook again and again, nothing. I should have never dragged you into this… you … changed everything and-"
"So things did change… your future changed, Jules," said Sirius.
Julia sniffed, wiping her eyes and looking up at him. "Only slightly… I started to care about you. I always liked you, but I started to care about you and I started to become attached… and I saw you getting attached," she sputtered, turning her face away so he couldn't see her tears. "You can't get attached to me. Lily is already attached to me, and it's going to be hard enough on her… and my parents… I don't want to hurt anyone else and-"
Sirius leaned forward and kissed her softly, slowly… trying very hard to communicate a lot of unsaid things with a kiss. His lips pressed against hers again, and he placed his hand against her cheek, forcing her to look at him. Words formed in his mouth, then fell apart, then formed again as Sirius tried to find away to express how he felt.
"I'm already attached to you," he said. "It's too late to tell me not to be. I've been… attached to you for a long time, Jules. I'm not attached to a lot of people. In fact, I can name the number of people I'm attached to on one hand," he explained, brushing her hair from her face. Sirius paused, trying to find away to quell her fears. "You could be wrong about this… its-"
"I'm not wrong… I'm not. And I don't want you to hurt because of me. I don't want to… to think about you shutting yourself off from everyone or… or grieving when I'm gone or… or crying over me. I can't do it, Sirius… I can't. I don't want you to hurt because of me..."
Sirius leaned close, pressing his forehead against hers and wrapping his arms around her waist. She softened against him, the way she always did… her body making room for his almost instinctually. Sirius caught her gaze and held it, trying to keep his emotions in check. "Julia… I'd hurt more if you never let me in."
"What?"
"You… I'll hurt more if… if I don't get to spend all the time I can with you," Sirius explained, feeling his cheeks color. He determinedly kept his eyes on hers, feeling very vulnerable and uncomfortable as he tried to explain that he wanted her with him now, no matter what happened in the future.
"If I didn't … if I don't tell you this, if I don't explain it… I'll sit alone in some empty flat somewhere regretting that I never said anything. And I don't want to regret - I don't regret. No matter what happens… I'll… I'd regret my life if I didn't have you in it, even if it's only for a little while. And that… that would hurt more than any grieving or crying I would ever do."
He sighed, feeling her eyes, feeling her read his emotions and his thoughts the way she always did. Julia knew him, she knew him almost as well as James did. And he knew her… and he knew she was going to push him away; she was going to tell him that he was better off without her. She was going to tell him that she'd never be able to give him what he wanted, and she was going to push him away to try and keep him safe and happy… like she had Diggory, and Huffton, and any other boy she'd ever kissed…
But then she was there, her lips were against his and her fingers were against his scalp. Her cheeks felt wet, and she was sniffling as she kissed him… but she was kissing him.
"Damn it… God damn it, Sirius Black. Why are you so loyal? Why are you such a masochist? Why-"
"I'm not a masochist, and I'm loyal because the people I'm attached to mean more to me than my own life. Julia Trelawney Tottleham… I'd hurt more if I was never with you… than I ever will if I'm without, I promise," he whispered.
"Sirius? Lad… we'll get there, they'll be fine," Ambrose was saying as Sirius pulled himself out of his thoughts. "We'll-"
"We have to get there now. Let's go." he sputtered urgently, no longer sure if he could keep his promise.
J&L&J&L
Lily looked on, horrified, at the number of people that had been dragged inside the small station house located on the magical platform. So many had escaped when she'd been guarding the exit, how could there still be so many trapped? Someone was screaming down the hallway where Mulciber was dragging her; the sound went through her like nails. Her stomach lurched horribly as they passed two bodies lying at odd angles. Mulciber stepped over them, as though it was nothing out of the ordinary, and pushed her roughly inside what appeared to be a small office. Across the hall, Evan Rosier and Lucius Malfoy were laughing as they tormented a fifth year Muggle-born she recognized from Ravenclaw.
"Stop it!" She shouted, fighting hard against Mulciber's grasp. "Leave-"
Mulciber grabbed Lily by the throat again, slamming her up against the door frame as she tried to run past him to assist the boy. She tried to reach her wand that was stowed in the pocket of her cloak, but Mulciber pulled her hands behind her back and held them with tightly with his free hand. Rosier and Malfoy looked up, only marginally interested in the arrival of another person, but then continued to torture and taunt the struggling student.
"You just don't know when to keep your nose out of things, do you?" Mulciber asked Lily in an amused whisper. "It's surprising you can get it so far into things when it's so flat against your face."
"I'm surprised you can see out of those beady evil eyes," Lily shot back, struggling against his grasp.
"Ahh… temper, temper, Evans," said Avery, waltzing nonchalantly down the hall with Julia. She looked pale but angry and was struggling viciously against his hold on her.
"Is this Tottleham?" asked Malfoy. "She's half-blood. Only the Mudbloods for now; don't either of you listen?"
"She's a mouthy blood-traitor bitch," Mulciber snapped.
"He wants revenge for being tattled on and mouthed off to," explained Rosier with a roll of his eyes.
Malfoy's pale grey eyes narrowed under his curtain of white hair. "This is not about your revenge, Mulciber. This is about-"
"I don't care what it's about, Malfoy!" Mulciber shouted, slamming a still struggling Lily against the door again. Her head hit the door hard, stars flashed behind her eyelids and the sound of their conversation became muffled as he squeezed her throat. "You got to have your revenge and take some cheap shots of your own at that blood-traitor sister of your girlfriend's! I'm not going to be long with this!"
"Well then get on with it," growled Malfoy.
Mulciber grinned and pulled out his wand, Lily's eyes widened but her expression remained defiant. "You don't have any idea how long I've wanted to do this," he muttered in a sickly desirous voice.
Lily swallowed, thinking perhaps she should censor her comments, but she couldn't control them. "Do what? Force me to breathe in your putrid breath?"
She heard Rosier chuckle as he muttered something, there was a flash of green light and a dull thud. Then three more pairs of eyes were on her, and she could hear Julia shouting for them to leave Lily alone. Lily stared back at Mulciber, feeling hatred and loathing, and a rush of fear as she realized that James was probably waiting for her outside the barrier to the platform. She knew he was wondering what was happening… if she was all right… Lily prayed silently in her head that he'd stay there… that he'd stay safe and away… that he wouldn't see her after they were done with whatever they planned to do-
"Breathe this," Mulciber snarled.
And then Lily's skin was on fire… no, her bones were on fire. Something was on fire inside her… maybe it wasn't fire, perhaps it was knives scraping at her bones… or her muscles being ripped apart… Whatever it was, all Lily wanted was for it to stop. She begged for someone, anyone, to stop whatever was happening to her. The pain was so intense, she had no will left to struggle, no will left to fight against the torture that was now being forced upon her… her and everyone else around her; she couldn't hear herself think. All she could hear was her own voice screaming. Screaming… and screaming… it went on and on… It was a horrible sound… she should stop, it wasn't doing any good. But she couldn't stop; it was as though the screams were being forced out of her body to make room for more pain…
"Can't you shut her up?" a low drawling voice said before inhaling sharply. Lily could hear someone shouting… swearing and cursing Mulciber and every other person present in the small office. Sensation returned, the floor underneath Lily was cool and soothing… she tried to open her eyes, but they were unimaginably heavy. Mulciber's foot dug into her back as she tried to crawl away…
"They tend to scream under the Cruciatus Curse you know," said Mulciber's voice, sounding obscenely satisfied at the thought of more screaming. "I never realized it bothered you."
"I'm not talking about that one," the low voice replied. "I'm talking about this one."
Lily's eyes fluttered open to see someone still in a mask gesture toward Julia, who was fighting uncontrollably against Avery's grasp. Rosier moved forward, but she kicked out, hitting him under the jaw with the toe of her trainer.
"Fucking…" Rosier sputtered, spitting out blood and examining the tooth that lay in his palm.
Malfoy stepped forward, flicking his wand and binding Julia's flailing legs together as he pulled her roughly away from Avery. "How exactly is she involved in this revenge plan? I was under the impression that it was Evans who found the girl," his drawling voice asked Mulciber.
Mulciber shrugged. "She goaded Flutterhorn into talking about –"
"Into talking about the day he couldn't finish the deed in Hogsmeade," explained Avery. "That was your own fault, Mulciber. If you would have let me-"
"So she pushed Flutterhorn to tattle on you, and Evans found the Crawler girl – whom you should have just killed by the way, blamed it on something Hagrid keeps in the forest – and brought her to McGonagall," Malfoy said, piecing together the story. He looked at Julia, smirking malevolently. "It was your own fault you got caught, Mulciber; you need to finish the deed if you're going to-"
"He can't finish anything because he's a coward! A wretched, spineless, coward!" shouted Julia.
Malfoy chuckled as Mulciber glared. "You always had a sharp tongue, Tottleham," he murmured, leaning close to Julia, his lips curled into a wicked smile. He brought a hand up to her face, turning it left and right as though he was examining her.
"Get your filthy hands off me," Julia snapped, spitting into his face. "You couldn't finish anything either according to Molly Gamp!"
"Oh, I can finish things," Malfoy sniggered, "Let's see if Mulciber has resolved his own issues."
He kicked Lily's still figure aside and motioned for Mulciber to come out into the hall. "I'm not touching this piece of filth," Mulicber said scathingly, looking at Julia in disgust. "It's a blood-traitor! Not to mention that Black's filthy hands have been all over it."
"I didn't mean like that, but you plan on killing Evans here and a few other Mudbloods… finish her off as well," said Malfoy.
"No," Lily whimpered weakly, she struggled to reach for her wand that was still in the pocket of her robes. Avery moved forward and then the pain came again, less severe this time but still excruciating. When it stopped, Lily could hear Julia shouting.
"-BASTARDS! LEAVE HER ALONE! STOP IT!" she shouted. "You fucking coward, Mulciber! You couldn't do it then you can't do it now!"
"No," Lily said, her voice ragged. She tried again to push herself up but was issued a sharp kick to her stomach.
"Do it, Mulciber," encouraged Malfoy. "She's a witness… and we have more work to get done here. There are twenty some of them in back that we're supposed to take care of and He's coming to make sure we have enough bodies. I'm not taking the fall for your-"
"All right, all right!" shouted Mulciber, sounding marginally afraid of Malfoy's comments. Lily watched horrified as he raised his wand and pointed it into Julia's defiant face.
The spell didn't come. Lily struggled more and the figure that was still cloaked moved forward and knelt down beside her, placing its hand against her back and holding her to the floor. She reached for her wand, the person holding her pried it from her fingers. "Stay still," the man whispered in a low voice.
"DO IT!" shouted Rosier. "Do it you pansy!"
Mulciber began to shake, his wand wavering uncontrollably in Julia's face. "No," Lily whimpered. "Stop… not her… she's one of yours… she's not-"
"Stay still," the voice close to her ordered, it sounded familiar but Lily didn't recognize it.
"And shut up," Malfoy shouted. "She's not one of ours… and you'll be next so just wait your turn, impatience is never attractive, Evans."
Lily sobbed once, clenching her fists as she struggled weakly against whoever was holding her down. The person softened their grip, almost as if they didn't want to hurt her…
"What the bloody hell is going on?" a harsh voice called. "There are five of you; it takes five of you to kill this lot of Mudbloods?"
"We-"
"What are you doing? Idiot boy," the voice grumbled. Lily watched as a man who could only be Mulciber's father swatted him roughly over the head. "This is not about you… selfish pig. You don't deserve the Mark, you don't deserve the honor. You'll probably tuck tail and run if cornered… Merlin help you if you do," he muttered, glancing at Julia who remained defiant. "Is this the one? The tattle-tale mudblood?"
"No, that's this one," muttered Mulciber, gesturing toward Lily.
"Leave her alone," Julia snapped. "Cowards… your son is a coward! He-"
"Well who is this, then?" the older man asked, eyeing Julia curiously.
"Blood-traitor spawn of Sheryl Trewlany and her muggle husband," Malfoy said in an offhand voice.
The man gave Julia a look of disdain. "My son is a coward? Your mother is a muggle fucking whore," he muttered.
"But she's not a coward. I'd rather have a brave whore for a mother than a miserable coward as a son," replied Julia scathingly, glaring into the older man's face. "But you have both, don't you? A coward for a son, and a whore for a -"
"AVADA KEDAVRA!" Mulciber shouted, a green flash lighting up the corridor. Lily screamed loudly as she watched Julia's figure slump and fall heavily to the floor.
"Who's cowardly now?" asked Mulciber, turning back toward Lily with intent in his eyes.
"Finish her, and then get back to work," the older man barked, walking away without even a second glance.
Mulciber nodded, stepping over Lily as Rosier and Malfoy headed down the hall. She heard the Unforgivable words again, and saw flashes of light in the hall. The figure who had been holding her down moved away and she tried to sit up, but Mulicber stepped onto her head and pushed it back to the floor.
"Why are you still here, Snape? You want a go before I off her?" he offered, glancing at the still cloaked figure. "You always –"
There was a loud bang followed by a blinding flash of white light. The glass in the office windows shattered and bricks that lined the walls of the building exploded violently. Mulciber stepped off of Lily, shielding himself from the blast. The cloaked figure, who Lily realized was Snape, dropped her wand as he ducked to protect himself from a falling wall. With every cell in her body aching, she reached out and grabbed it from under his feet. Another explosion came, and Lily curled into a ball, trying desperately to protect herself from the chaos that erupted around her.
A/N: I apologize for the length between updates, it will not be that long again. If you are curious, read the short little "Fate - Outtakes from Before the Fawn" story I put up... it explains a few things. Thanks! I will update soon, I won't leave you hanging.