Sectumsempra

James

January 22, 1977

James Potter sighed and sidled along the empty corridors. He wasn't looking forward to next few hours of nothing whatsoever. Patrolling had to be the worst part of being Head bloody Boy. He pulled the invisibility cloak out of his pocket and put it around himself - he found rounds were a bit more entertaining when invisible, especially if Peeves showed up.

A half hour later, he encountered Mrs. Norris and James glared at the evil cat who'd gotten him into trouble many times. He was tempted to curse it or at least give it a little kick - deserved as much, he reasoned - but was distracted when he heard voices down the corridor. Mrs. Norris paused and then sprang down the hall, probably to fetch Filch. James curiously made his way toward the voices.

"Okay, so it's settled then. It's official now, you realize?"

"Of course, I'm not stupid, Avery. Now, hurry and get to the common room before Filch catches us."

"Don't worry so much, Snape. That old man should've retired years ago. We can take him."

Avery and Snape.

"Just go, Avery. I've got to get to the dorms."

"Yeah, whatever."

Fantastic, James thought sarcastically. Then, when he was sure they wouldn't see, he took off the cloak and put it in his pocket. He approached the pair, but found Avery had already disappeared around the corner. Snape was still there, staring calculatingly after him.

"Out so late, Snivellus." James scolded lightly, and Snape whirled around, glaring.

"Potter," he spat, "Spying?"

"Not exactly. I was doing rounds when I overheard you two. How does double detention sound to you?"

"Oh, please. Like you have any right to give out detention!"

James sighed impatiently. "I'm Head Boy, Snape." he said slowly.

Snape paused and studied him. "You and Lily friends now?"

He was taken aback and finally replied, " Er, I guess."

Suddenly, Snape had his wand in his hand and it was pointed straight at James. James didn't hesitate in taking out his in turn, just as fast.

"You told her about Avery and Mulciber."

"I didn't tell her anything, she found out herself." he answered, grimacing at the Slytherin.

He raised his wand. "Lies, Potter!"

Before James could say anything, Snape sharply wove his wand, exclaiming, "Sectumsempra!"

Right before the spell hit him, he yelled back, "Petrificus Totalus!"

James collapsed to ground as he felt searing pain across his chest. He put his hand to it and felt warm liquid, lifting it to see blood. He groggily watched as Snape's arms snapped to his side and fell backwards, rigid. James heard footsteps running toward him from behind and saw Filch limping toward them.

Filch studied the scene with wide, excited eyes. "Well, well, James Potter in trouble once again. What a surprise."

"He attacked me!" James yelled hoarsely, clutching his chest.

"I'm sure he did, boy," he muttered, "Detention."

"He attacked me!"

"Then detention for the both of you!" he yelled, his crazed eyes focusing on him.

"What don't you understand?" James forced out, his hands beginning to shake, "He attacked me and I body-binded him out of self defense!"

Filch stared for a moment, grumbling, "Well, I'll just get Professor McGonagall then."

Filch ran off, and, a couple minutes later, he came scurrying back with McGonagall on his heels. She did not look happy. James felt his wounds again and winced. He looked at the ground he was laying on and saw it was soaked with his blood. He could barely stay conscious, and the idea of closing his eyes and sleeping forever was sounding more and more like a cracking idea.

"What is this all about?" she asked hastily, bending down to look at James' wounds. Their voices became more faint as James began to hear only his heartbeat and his heavy, slow breathing. Everything started to go in and out of focus.

"Said he defended himself, Professor, with a body-binding charm. Said the Snape boy tried to attack him." Filch's voice sounded miles away. . . .

"Then what is the fuss about? For Merlin's sake, take Potter to the hospital wing. Snape - detention." was the last echo he heard before he fell into blackness.

Miles and miles away. . . .

James' eyes fluttered open to bright light. He was met with six faces staring down at him. Sirius, Remus, Peter, Lily, Emmeline and Dorcas. He blinked a few times and sat up a bit on the pillows. He realized Lily was grasping his hand and his first thought was how soft her hands were. . . .

"How're you feelin', mate? Up to gaining a head start on getting back at Snivelly?" Sirius finally spoke, stepping closer to his cot.

James grimaced as memories of the night before flooded back and groaned. "I'm going to fucking kill him."

Madame Pomfrey pushed her way through his friends and studied him. "Hm. I mended the wounds, but I'm afraid you lost a lot of blood. The wounds were very deep, and it took them a while to bring me to you, so there will be minor scarring on your chest, but other than that, you should be fine, Mr. Potter."

James' grimace deepened. "I'll be able to play Quidditch tomorrow?" he checked.

Madame Pomfrey pursed her lips and nodded. "Yes, yes," she muttered, "That's all you kids care about these days."

James shook his head, his mind drifting to Snape again. "I'm going to kill him." he repeated fiercely, moving to get off the bed.

"No, no - you won't be killing anyone. You will stay here until you've gotten some rest." Madame Pomfrey insisted, pushing him back down onto the bed firmly.

James was about to protest, but she held up a hand. "I will hear none of it, Mr. Potter. Now, get some rest. The rest of you - out."

They all started to argue, but she took out her wand and they all grudgingly left, waving dejectedly at James before he was left alone. However, Lily stayed behind and talked quietly with Madame Pomfrey. Finally, the nurse nodded reluctanlty and she let Lily come back to him.

James raised an eyebrow. "Miss me?"

She didn't even reply as she just grabbed his face and kissed him deeply. James was surprised and he couldn't help but smile into their kiss. When she leaned back, her hands still on his face, he smirked.

"I guess you did, then."

She sighed and grabbed his hand. "Be serious, James." she chastised, but she was fighting a smile.

"I'm completely serious." he said with a small smile, stretching his back and wincing.

"Are you alright?" she fretted.

He winked. "Never better." he groaned, settling back into the pillows. He didn't want Lily to have a heartattack, for Merlin's sake.

"It was really bad, wasn't it?" she asked meekly, studying his face.

James sighed. "I think you over estimate him."

"Trust me, I don't." she muttered, seeming lost in thought.

He eyed her warily. "Something you've got to say, Lily?"

She sighed. "No, nothing. Just - stay out of his way, James, alright?"

"Oh, Evans, you do care!" he cried over dramatically, and she rolled her eyes again. He smiled and shook his head, saying, "You just worry too much. Snape is harmless."

Lily scowled and smacked the side of his head. "I worry just the right amount, Potter."

He grimaced, rubbing his head. "Ooh, pullin' out the last name card, eh?"

She ignored him. "Be careful out on the field, promise?"

James smirked. "Promise, Lily."
She sighed, nodded in spproval and stood to leave, but then hesitated. She turned back and grabbed his hand. "Don't scare me like that again, you git. Get better."

With that, she kissed his cheek and she left the hospital wing, leaving a chuckling James behind.

Lily

James getting attacked had scared Lily more than she was willing to admit. However, the fact that it was Severus who had done it certainly did not help. She wanted to march straight to him and beat him up the Muggle way right then, but Remus, Dorcas and Emmeline held her back, while Peter just stayed indifferent. However, Sirius was all for it.

"Oh, come on, that little shit deserves it!" Sirius exclaimed.

"No, you two," Dorcas said, giving him a firm glare, "Trust me, I'd love to hex him a couple times, too, but he's not even worth it."

Sirius scowled. "Fine." he grumbled.

Dorcas smiled softly at him and sat on his lap. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her temple, brightening instantly.

None of this changed Lily's mind. She told the others she was going to visit James again, making all of them smirk, but, really, she was off to find Severus. She wrapped her cloak and scarf around her. It wasn't hard to find him. He was huddled outside with Mulciber, Avery, and Yaxley. They were talking intently, but when Severus caught sight of Lily storming toward him, he broke off from the group.

"Severus, what is wrong with you?" Lily exclaimed, shoving him immediately.

He stumbled back and eyed her as she whipped her wand out warily. "Are you talking about your little boyfriend? Well, he deserved it, brain washing you like that."

She let out a humorless laugh. "Hardly. I came up with the Death Eater idea by myself."

He scowled. "Even better."

"So, tell me, you're not a Death Eater?"

He hesitated, which was answer enough for her. She resisted the urge to either scream at him, punch him right in the face or burst out crying. Her best friend - ex-best friend - a Death Eater. She finally began to grasp the thought, and lowered her wand, dejected.

"Stay away from me." she demanded firmly, surprised her voice didn't shake. She sounded a lot more confident than she was. Lily bit her lip with one last look at him and turned, running back up the path.

"Wait! Lily, I can explain!" Snape yelled after her, but she was already inside the castle.

James

"Alright, Mr. Potter, you can go."

"Finally." grumbled James, immediately slipping out of the sheets of the hospital bed.

He put on his shirt and cloak to cover the thin lines tracing his chest and then bolted out of the suddenly-stuffy hospital wing. He headed for the Gryffindor common room, not even stopping to look for Snape. He stopped at the portrait hole, nearly yelling the password.

"No need to yell, boy." the Fat Lady sniffed before she swung open.

James immediately saw his friends sitting in one corner of the common room. He went over to them, grinning.

"Hey, guys." he greeted them, then noticed Lily wasn't among them and frowned, "Where's Lily?"
They all stared at him blanky.

"Uh, she's supposed to be with you, mate." Remus said, furrowing his brow.

Then Emmeline groaned. "No, Lily! She went to find Snape." she realized, grimacing.

"Smart girl." Sirius muttered approvingly, and Dorcas slapped him upside the head.

"We have to find her."

"I'll go find her. You guys stay here." James insisted, pushing Dorcas back into her chair.

"Erm, are you sure?" Emmeline asked.

"Yeah." he murmured, then went back the way he came.

"Be careful, James!" Remus warned him as he slipped out of the portrait hole.

James didn't really know where to look, so he started down the main staircase, glancing around. He was about to turn back around when he saw a distressed-looking Lily running toward the stairs, head down. He met her halfway and she didn't see him until he grabbed her arms.

"Hey, hey," he said as he careened her to a stop. "What happened?"

She looked up at him, her eyes wide with unshed tears. "James?" she said blankly.

"Lily, what's wrong?"

She sniffed and wiped her eyes. "I just went to go curse Severus - "

"Lily - "

"Don't worry, I didn't. I was sort of taken aback when he confirmed he was a Death Eater." she grumbled.

James hesitated. "Ah, Lily, I'm . . . I'm sorry."

He didn't know what else to say. Instead, he just kept his mouth shut, and enveloped her in a hug. She hugged him back after a moments hesitation, burying her face into his shoulder. He rubbed her back soothingly and she sighed.

"It's okay, Lily, I've got you," he murmured into her hair. "I've got you."

It was the only thing James could thing of - but, after a while, it stopped Lily from crying, and that was enough for him.