Chapter 8: Newspaper Articles.
Winter Holidays had ended and everyone had returned to Hogwarts for the start of a new school term. Lots of pressure was put on the 5th years as they had to study for their O.W.L's that they would do after Easter. Most of the time, they'd be studying, researching, doing homework and reading books way into the night. The Marauder's even stopped with some of the pranks as they did want to pass with some good grades, but that didn't mean that small explosions wouldn't occur during the long silenced rooms. Lily walked down to breakfast with the Marauder's, she was tired as she poured milk into her cereal and even in her hair when she missed the bowl from her exhaustion. It had been a full moon last night, and that meant all the Marauder's were out, and that Lily was up studying. When they returned, Lily would tend to some of Remus' wounds, and Sirius' for that matter, as the dog and werewolf always had play fights which could get violent. They all seemed tired after getting only a few hours of sleep. Lily had her spoon half way up to her mouth until her eyes dropped from her tiredness.
"I'm too tired, I want to sleep." Lily moaned and leaned against James for some support.
"Wake me up in time for class," she whispered. James smiled a small smile and wrapped an arm around her. As he took a bite of his toast, owls flocked overhead and swooped down, to deliver different letters and parcels. A large barn owl dropped 'The Daily Prophet' in front of James and demanded his pay. James put 5 Knut's into its pouch and it flew off, stealing some of his toast. James just opened up the paper. He stared in horror at the front page.
"Holy shit!" he uttered and gaped at the page.
On it was a picture of an ordinary street. There were many muggles, wizards and witches running across the page. Some were placing memory charms on the muggles, others were wizards he recognised from the ministry, trying to keep order and detect clues. The main headline read 'Dark Lord's Wide Spread Destruction on Muggle Towns!'
Times are heading for a dark- age, as He-who-must-not-be-named becomes stronger with each coming day. Many already know how he despises, muggles, muggle-born witches and wizards, and squibs, and he and his followers 'The Death Eaters' have been wondering across the land causing destruction to defenceless muggles. They have been relentless, torturing people with the Imperious Curse, the Cruciatus Curse and even the dreaded Killing Curse. These Death Eaters are everywhere, and the most powerful Auror's are in work throughout the day and night. Muggle houses and building have been destroyed, innocent lives have been taken and the Dark Mark has been seen in different muggle areas. Albus Dumbledore has been keeping busy helping the ministry as; he is claimed to be the only one You-Know-Who is afraid to approach. The headmaster is keeping Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in strict control and students are in safe hands…
James read on with the article in shock, Sirius looked at his face and asked what happened. James just handed him the paper, too shocked to say anything. He hated the helpless looks on the faces of the muggles and how horrified they look. Many had been crying over lost loved one's and he could see Auror's at work, rummaging all over the debris. Sirius read in silence, a look of shock on his face, Remus also peered at the paper. As James looked towards the Slytherin's table he was disgusted with the look on Malfoy's face, he looked smug at what had happened, so did Crabbe, Goyle and other Slytherin's. Snape held a neutral look to his face, he didn't look happy about incident, but he didn't seem to agree with what his fellow peers thought. Professor McGonagall stepped up and caught the attention of the other students. James shook Lily awake so that she could listen.
"Due to recent events having taken place, we have cancelled all classes that are usually learnt outside. Quidditch matches will be cancelled, and for those daring people, I suggest you keep out of the Forbidden Forest, it is STRICTLY out of bounds, unless you want to die a slow and painful death. Free periods will be spent studying but in no way is any pupil allowed to wander outside the castle. Do I make myself clear?" Professor McGonagall announced, glaring at any student that might disobey her. Students from all over the hall nodded.
"Good, now you may continue with your breakfast." She said, and the usual hubbub of noise returned.
"Why are we not allowed outside the castle?" Lily asked. Sirius handed her the paper, and she read in silence with a shocked and angry expression on her face. She had learned from many worried wizards and witches about the dark lord; Voldemort. He was a powerful and evil wizard, supposed to be a direct descendant of Salazar Slytherin, who had wanted a school of pure-blooded witches and wizards. Her thoughts were interrupted as Slytherin's approached her table.
"Many highlights about being a mudblood, isn't there?" Malfoy snickered.
"Piss off Malfoy!" Lily snapped at him.
"Oooohhhh harsh words! Well watch out Evans, Voldemort is going to come after you, and perhaps get rid of filth like you, mudblood!" Malfoy started laugh, as did the other Slytherin's.
"BASTARD!" James yelled and punched him hard in the face, and then in the stomach. The other Slytherin's started to started to approach James, but the Marauder's stood behind his and held out their wands, shouting different words and transfiguring them and throwing hexes at them. The teacher's were instantly in the scene of the fight.
"STOP IT! ALL OF YOU!" Professor McGongall said and used a counter-curse to stop any of the curses being thrown.
"WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?" She yelled at the boys. Malfoy now had a bleeding nose and a bruised eye, he clutched his stomach, and different rashes were popping up on his skin as a hex had hit him.
"ALL OF YOU! IN MY OFFICE! NOW!" She shouted and they all walked in a line out of the hall, closely followed by her.
Once inside her office, she leaned against her desk, the Gryffindor's in one side of the room, and the Slytherin's on the other side, throwing looks of pure venom of each other.
"Explain." she said sternly. All of them remained silent, but Remus started to speak.
"Firstly these scum…err…Slytherin's, especially Malfoy started to insult Lily about being muggle-born started to say how You-Know-Who would come after her. We all got angry and then that little fight happened." Remus explained to her.
"Firstly, I am very disappointed in all of you. Mr Malfoy, I am disgusted that you would say such a thing, especially after all that has happened. You should be ashamed and therefore, all of you will apologise to Miss Evans. 40 points will be taken off Slytherin and you will have detention with me for a week." She said directing her speaking at the Slytherin.
"And I'd like to see you boys apologise for this fight." She said directing it at the Gryffindor's.
"Sorry," they mumbled, not feeling sorry at all for what they did.
"Now, you boys get out of my sight! I'm very disappointed in you, and Mr Malfoy, go see Madam Pomfrey." She said. The Slytherin's filed outside.
"Now what can I say about you boys. Personally I am disappointed that you would behave in such a violent manner. But, after hearing what has happened, it was in a somewhat twisted way, noble." She said looking at the boys. They grinned a little.
"But that doesn't get you off the hook. Throwing those hexes were very impressive, and I'm glad to see my teaching in Transfiguration is coming in use to you, but you still need some punishment. You will have detention with me for a week, and 20 points will be taken off." She said, with a glint in her eye. The boys nodded as they accepted the punishment.
"One more thing, I know you know of ways in getting out of the school grounds, I don't know how you found them, but I'm begging you not to leave the school grounds." Professor McGonagall said with a slightly pleading look.
"What? In the halls you said not to leave the castle," Sirius stated grinning.
"No matter what I do, I don't think I'd be able to keep you inside this school." The professor replied. They all grinned.
"True," they chorused.
"But seriously, do not leave the grounds. And take care of Miss Evans, she is a very powerful witch, exceptionally powerful. And being muggle-born and powerful is dangerous for her now; she could become a valuable asset to us, so please protect her. You are very strong wizards yourself, and I'm trusting all of you. Now, get to class before you're all late," she said and started on her paperwork. They walked out her office, slightly baffled, but quite concerned.
Lily was glad that they weren't in too much trouble because of her. They told her about everything that happened while they were in McGonagall's office. They spent the evening in the common room, doing the load of homework and revision they had been asked to do.
The next morning at breakfast, owls fluttered all over and dropped different letters and newspapers to different people. James picked up his copy of the newspaper, and he had a look of disgust as he read the headline 'Voldemort Strikes Muggles in Scotland.' He had attacked the small settlements and different towns. Muggles could be seen crying on the picture and staring at what used to be their home. The students now received newspapers every morning and each newspaper, there would be different story about different muggle-born witches and wizards, and muggles getting their places destroyed or getting murdered. It was sickening to see some of the Slytherin's so smug about it, especially Malfoy. With every growing day, things started to look grim and Voldemort seemed unstoppable. Students received letters from parents warning them to be careful and some had gone into hiding. The Professor's looked out for muggle-born students, knowing they were in a particular risk, but many believed that Dumbledore would not let Voldemort get to the children. Lily was always seen with at least two Marauders', and James would always be by her side. Lily didn't like people looking at her like she was vulnerable, but she put up with it. She hadn't been outside in a long time. She felt like prisoner inside the castle, however, James would always reassure her and make sure she wouldn't go insane inside.
'Voldemort Growing Stronger!'
'Death Eater's Unconfirmed.'
'Auror's Threatened by Death Eater's'
'Fearful Muggles'
'Ministry in Chaos!'
'Voldemort Wipes out Pure-Blood Family.'
'Dark Mark Seen In Sky!'
Headlines came in everyday about what was happening. Each holding no signs of improvement and people were starting to lose hope. Professor Dumbledore was never seen attending any meals and was usually in meetings with Ministry members. Everything seemed to cause chaos. No one felt safe. Hagrid had been moved into the castle, for safety reasons. He'd often inform the professor's of what Dumbledore would be doing and Professor McGonagall had taken the place of headmaster, as Professor Dumbledore seemed to be busy with the Ministry.
Once again at breakfast, James received the paper, with Lily sitting beside him. As he opened the paper, the headline made them turn pale.
'Voldemort Seen Outside Hogsmeade!'
If Voldemort was seen near Hogsmeade, that meant that he was heading for Hogwarts. It was often rumoured that he wanted control of Hogwarts and wanted to change into a school of the Dark Arts. And one could only get to Hogwarts through Hogsmeade.
"He's heading over here," James stated looking at the paper with a grim look.
"But…with Dumbledore here, he wouldn't dare attack. Dumbledore is just as powerful than him, maybe even more powerful." Lily said.
"Yeah, we just need hope and strength to get through this," James said giving a smile. But smiling at this time seemed so foreign.
"That's the spirit," Lily said smiling herself.
That evening, they spent time in the common room as usual, but studying was out of the question. They couldn't do it, it was so tense in the common room and any noise would sound like bomb exploding. Everyone seemed so worried, and nervous and scared. Even Sirius, one of the most hyperactive and happiest person was silenced by all of this. Nearly everyone jumped when the portrait hole opened. Hagrid entered.
"Professor Dumbledore would like to see 'ily and James." He said, and waited them to come up with them. They followed him up the corridor, hand-in-hand.
