In the doorway stood a tall and dark figure. The remaining bits of the door hung off the hinges, creaking slightly.
"I have come for Harry," came Lord Voldemort's deep, booming voice, "Surrender him and I'll give you short, less painful deaths."
James slowly stood up.
"So…" Lord Voldemort continued, "is it a deal? At least all of you will die faster."
"Never!" spat James, raising his wand and moving in front of Lily and Harry.
"Very well then, Imperio!" replied Lord Voldemort as he pushed back his hood, revealing an oddly human face except deathly pale and sallow.
The curse struck James right in the chest. His wand went flying towards Lily and Harry. Lord Voldemort turned his face towards Lily and Harry.
"Now, Lily. You can watch as your husband kills you, Harry and himself with his own hands," growled Lord Voldemort. He erupted into a deep cackle, which was cold enough to freeze liquid nitrogen. "Now, Harry first."
"N-no…" James said, trying to resist the curse, sweat plastering his messy hair to his forehead.
James was overpowered and involentarily started towards Harry.
"No, no, no, no, no, NO!" screamed Lily, shaking her head. She began summoning objects and projecting them towards Lord Voldemort.
Vases, tables, chairs, stuffed toys, Harry's numerous rattles and a barrage of knives and letter openers, some of which missed him and were wedged into the wall of the hallway.
Most of the objects had hit Lord Voldemort to the ground, releasing his hold on James. Lily collapsed in exhaustion, gasping for fresh air. James collapsed onto the ground and started coughing. Something came dripping out of James' mouth, slowly but as noticable as a fire cracker and as red as a raging fire.
Blood.
At first only James noticed the dripping of his life-force but Lily soon noticed. That is because soon there was a small puddle on the floor.
"Hahahahahahahahahahahaha!" laughed Lord Voldemort, standing while bracing himself against the wall. He began to limp and circle the three, his face cut and bruised by the flying objects.
Lily and James, carrying Harry, slowly stayed opposite Lord Voldemort like sumo wrestlers at the beginning of a match. They ended up in the hallway. Lily started dabbing James' mouth while Harry, sensing the danger, kept quiet with eyebrows still knitted..
"You have lost Potters," said Lord Voldemort, an evil smile touching his pale, lifeless lips, "so you might as well give up."
Quick as lightning, James snatched up Lily's wand and summoned his own. A look of satisfaction came upon James' face.
Lily stood up. James wiped his mouth and also carefully stood up. They both trembled with exhaustion.
"Not quite yet, Voldemort," replied James, quickly running ideas through his head. "Accio, candle stick!"
The gold candle-stick resting atop the fireplace zoomed into the back of Lord Voldemort's head.
"Ah!" cursed Lord Voldemort.
James used this distraction to squeeze in another attack.
"Stup…"
Before James could go on, Lord Voldemort flicked his wand. James flew back and was bound to the wall by invisible bonds. He tried to struggle but it was no use. He was stuck.
"Lily!" called James, "Run! Take Harry! Please! It is too late for me! Escape now…"
