Chapter 37: Attack

James recovered rather quickly after he woke up and was soon on his way home. As Lily and James entered the house for the first time in a week, it seemed empty. There was no sound echoing through the walls. All was quiet.

"Seems a bit. . . .empty, doesn't it?" Lily asked.

James just nodded. "I can't place it, but it doesn't feel like home anymore."

"Why do you still live here then?"

James shrugged. "I don't know. It reminds me of them."

Lily smiled. She knew he was talking about his parents. Slipping her hands in his, she pulled him to her side. James smiled, he couldn't help it when he was around her.

"I love you. You know that right?" he asked before he could stop himself.

"Of course I do," Lily answered confused by his sudden change in topic. "I love you, too. Now why don't you take me upstairs and show me how much you love me?"

They didn't make it up stairs, but the couch was comfortable enough. Lily lay on top of James, her limbs tangled with his. Lily readjusted her position and snuggled closer to James' chest. James pulled the blanket tighter around her. The fire was roaring in the fireplace. James had lit it a few minutes ago. He ran his hand up and down her arm. Lily was almost lulled to sleep, but suddenly a thought popped into her head.

"James?" she questioned tentatively.

"Hmmm?"

"You remember when you said that this place was empty and that it didn't feel like home anymore?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Well, what if we get a place of our own?" Lily suggested. "Not that I don't like your parents' house, is't lovely, but it's just so big and I don't plan on having nineteen kids any time soon-"

"Nineteen?" James raised an eyebrow. "That's a bit much don't you think? I am mean you'd have to be like rabbits and have kids every two weeks."

"James, that's not what we're talking about," Lily rolled her eyes. "I was talking about us moving into a house together. Maybe a smaller one. We don't have to sell this one, but I think a smaller house would be nice to raise a family in. Maybe one or two kids playing in the yard. There'd be a porch swing so we could watch them while we relaxed. Then we'd go into the dining room and have dinner. . . ."

James smiled as he listened to Lily ramble on about what she imagined her life, their life, would be like. Two kids? That sounded about right. First they'd buy the house. It'd be in a nice little neighborhood where everyone knew everyone. They'd have a have a girl first. She'd look just like Lily, with her red hair and green eyes. His little girl. Sirius would be mad at him for not having a little Marauder. Then they'd wait a few years and have another. A boy. He'd-

"James, are you even listening to me?" Lily asked, staring at him accusingly.

"Sorry," James smiled down at her. "I didn't mean to tune out, I was just thinking."

"About what?"

"Us," James answered. "Oh, and the answer is yes."

"Yes to what?" Lily inquired furrening her eyebrows.

"Yes, to getting a new house," James supplied.

Lily looked up at him with admiration in her eyes. James smiled and kissed her forehead.

"Go to sleep," he muttered.

Lily nodded and rested her head on his chest before falling into a peaceful sleep.

Lily's Healer training wasn't as hectic today as it had been. Mrs. McCarthy seemed to take pity on her and let her off easy. Lily was in a wonderful mood until Marci showed up on her break.

"Lily?" she asked tentatively.

"Yes?" Lily answered tightly.

"I'm sorry about our misunderstanding," Marci told her slowly. "I didn't know you were interested in James. Honestly I was asking for a friend."

"Oh, don't give me that friend crap," Lily snapped. "I've heard it a million times before. Besides, why would you ask about James if you wanted him for your friend?"

"Lily, really, that's all I was doing," Marci sighed. "I understand if you don't believe me, but it's the truth. I just wanted you to know. Besides you're a really great girl and you deserve someone like James. Anyways, I have a boyfriend."

Lily looked down ashamed. Marci was being so nice to her and here she was being as rude as Petunia. "I'm sorry, Marci, I just. . . .I really care about James," Lily explained to her. "I lost him, once, and I don't want to lose him again."

"So are we good?" Marci smiled.

"Yeah, we are," Lily replied smiling as well. "I really need to meet James. He's coming to take me out for lunch."

"Yeah, go ahead. You can tell me all about it when you get back!" Marci winked at her.

Lily smiled and made her way down the stairs into the reception area. James stood there leaning against the wall. When he saw her, his face lit up. Not wasting any time, Lily ran over to him and jumped into his arms. Picking her up, James spun her around. When he put her down, Lily proceeded to kiss him.

"Are you ready?" James asked.

"Yes, but I don't have long," Lily told him, "so we have to hurry."

"Got it."

They made their way into the street holding hands. Then there was a bang.

Lily and James jumped and turned around. "James, what's going on?" Lily asked, looking around at the scattering people.

"Lily, get out of here," James told her. "Go alert the Order."

"James, I'm not leaving you!" Lily cried.

"Lily," James grabbed her shoulders. "Go. Now!"

He pushed her away from where the explosion had come from and ran into the crowd. Lily turned and ran to the Leaky Cauldron. She didn't have much time. She cast five Patronus' and sent them to Sirius, Dorcas, Remus, Dumbledore, and Alice. They could gather everyone else.

She ran back out into the street. It was utter chaos. There were masked figures everywhere. They were throwing curses at everyone they could. A few people were fighting back. Over all of the screaming and shouting, Lily could hear high-pitched laughter coming from somewhere in the Diagon Alley. Bellatrix.

Lily jumped into action after assessing the scene before her. She stunned two Death Eaters quickly and was locked in combat with another. They were equally matched. Lily sent a stunning spell at him but he deflected it. Lily jumped out of the way when he sent an Unforgivable her way. His shock at her quickness, allowed her to stun him. She continued moving through the crowds. Suddenly, pain was searing through her body. She fell to her knees crying out in pain. In the background, she heard cackling.

"Don't touch her!" a voice shouted. The spell was lifted, leaving Lily breathing heavily.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't my cousin," Bellatrix spat. "Come to save the mudblood have you?"

"She can do that on her own," Sirius answered. "I was going for kick you arse."

They were locked in a duel immediately. Lily felt hands pulling on her, then she was leaning on a wall.

"You alright?" Karen asked as her dark hair fell in her face.

"Yeah," Lily answered regaining her composure.

Karen nodded before going to help Sirius. Lily stood and continued through the crowd. She had to make sure James was ok. A red jet of light shot past her head, missing her by just inches.

"Watch it, Lils!" a strained voice shouted at her. Lily saw Dorcas battling three Death Eaters at one time and holding her own quite well. Still she looked like she could use some help. Lily stepped in. They worked well together. Lily was the defense while Dorcas was the offense. After a few more minutes of this, all three Death Eaters were either stunned or disarmed.

"James?" Lily asked as soon as they were done.

"I saw him on down that way," Dorcas told her pointing farther down the alley. "Remus?"

"I don't know," Lily answered sadly.

"Right," Dorcas bit the inside of her cheek before moving off the way Lily had come. Lily moved quickly. She was close, so close, to James, or where Dorcas had seen James last. Abruptly Lily saw a head of jet black hair sticking up through the crowd; she would know that hair anywhere. She saw James engaged with a Death Eater, who seemed to be giving James a run for his money. Beads of sweat ran down James' forehead. Lily flicked her wand and the Death Eaters arms and legs snapped together before he fell over.

James turned around surprised.

"Lily!" he exclaimed. "I told you to inform the Order!"

"I did," Lily answered calmly. "I came back to help you."

"No, you have to get out of here," James told her, blocking a stray curse.

Lily snorted. "I can take care of myself, thanks."

"I know you can, I just want you to be safe," James amended. "Besides now I have to tell everyone my girlfriend saved my arse."

"Your sexy girlfriend," Lily corrected as she and a Death Eater engaged each other in a fight.

"True," James mumbled also dueling a Death Eater. "Who did you alert?"

"Dorcas, I saw her a few minutes ago," Lily started to list them, "Sirius, he saved me from Bellatrix and he's with Karen so he should be fine, Dumbledore, of course, Remus, I haven't seen him yet, and Alice, again I haven't seen her."

"They should be here by now," James bit his lip sending a curse at the Death Eater.

"I'm sure they're fine." Lily pushed herself up against a wall to avoid being hit by a curse. She then stunned the Death Eater she was battling. The Death Eater James was battling looked over at his companion giving James enough time to stun him.

"Well you two seem to know what you're doing," a voice hissed from behind them. They turned around to see the Dark Lord himself standing behind them. Lily and James looked at each other before they both shot curses at him. He repealed them easily.

"We aren't going to start this are we?" he asked politely. Too politely for Lily's liking. James automatically sent a curse at him. When he blocked it and sent another one back, Lily deflected. James started to throw curses and Lily deflected whatever Voldemort threw at them.

"That will be enough, you two," a voice stated calmly from behind them. "I will take over from here."

Voldemort's eyes went wide and Lily and James turned to look at Dumbledore. He stepped forward and started to battle easily with the Dark Lord. Lily and James watched in astonishment for a moment. Coming to his senses, James grabbed Lily's arm and pulled her away from the two masters. It seemed that most of the battle had dispersed.

"Lily! James!" a voice shouted from behind them. They both turned with their wands raised. Alice was running toward them. She slowed down as she reached them.

"What did you say when you found me in the bathroom crying over James?" Lily asked.

"Why are are you crying? All you have to do is go up and kiss the boy," Alice replied smirking. Lily lowered her wand while James just stared at her.

"You cried over me?" James asked.

"Do you really want to talk about this now?" Lily rolled her eyes as she hugged Alice.

"Yeah, she did," Alice answered James' question. "She was quite torn up over you actually."

"Prongs!" a voice called from behind them.

They turned around to see Sirius running towards them with Karen in tow. James raised his eyebrows and Sirius rolled his eyes. He transformed and James was satisfied.

"Alright, I believe it's you," he said. "Was she with you the whole time?"

"Excuse me, but, she is too good to get captured," Karen glared at him.

"Yeah, it's her," Sirius answered brushing himself off.

"Karrie!" Lily hugged her. Karen rolled her eyes, but hugged her all the same.

"Good to know you're still alive," Alice examined her before pulling her into a hug.

"I took care of those Death Eaters," Frank stated appearing from around the corner. "Thanks for helping, Alice."

Alice rolled her eyes. "I was a bit busy at the moment."

"Right sorry. Where's everyone?"

"I don't know who came," Lily told them. "I sent you, Sirius, Remus, Dumbledore, and Dorcas the message, but I don't know who they told it to."

"We came here as soon as we got it," Karen stated,

"Right, I sent a message to Fabian and Gideon," Alice told them.

"Finally, I found you guys," Dorcas looked up from brushing her robes off to find her face full of wands.

"Whoa."

"What was the last thing you told us before we left school?" Karen asked narrowing her eyes.

"The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death," Dorcas answered easily.

"Good answer," Karen said lowering her wand.

"Now all we're missing is-"

"Remus!" Dorcas shouted as he appearing walking up the deserted street that was littered with Death Eater bodies. Dorcas was going to run to him, but James stopped her. He nodded to Sirius who sighed. He walked slowly toward Remus.

"What did we create, what does it do, and what happened to it?" Sirius asked him.

"The Marauder's Map, we created it in fifth year, it shows the whole grounds of Hogwarts, even where students are, and Peter got it confiscated in seventh year by Filch."

James let Dorcas go and she ran into Remus' arms. "I'm sorry," she mumbled.

"It's alright," he told her, stroking her hair. "I'm sorry too."

Lily smiled at them. They were safe. For now.

A/N: Sorry I haven't updated in forever, but life got in the way. Anyways, hopefully I can update much quicker than last time. Review!