Chapter 11: The Familiar Premonition.
The end of the week had finally came and the students seemed a bit restless. They had not been outside in quite a while and with days becoming longer and brighter, they would complain about being locked up inside the castle. At the feast Professor McGonagall stood up and gathered everybody's attention.
"After complaints made from the student body, Professor Dumbledore has allowed a weekend visit to Hogsmeade. First and Second years may attend these visits on condition that a teacher is with them. Pupils that are third year and above may go with out a teacher but in groups no less than four. The first visit will be tomorrow in the morning and we will promptly leave at noon and arrive back at school at approximately 3.00pm, you may also be allowed to roam the grounds for that day only." she announced. Cheers were heard from the tables and a cheerful murmur went on in the Great Hall.
"Oh yes! I can't believe we can go!" first years were saying from down the table.
"This'll be a good time to stretch our legs, and maybe I can buy something for Petunia, her birthday is coming up soon," Lily said.
"I say you buy her dungbombs," Sirius said nodding in approval of his decision.
"I don't think so. I'd have to buy her something that's muggle-ish" Lily said smiling at the suggestion.
"Good luck then, Hogsmeade just sells Wizarding and Witching things." James said patting her on the back.
The next morning the Marauder's and Lily headed to the Entrance Hall. It was already filled with students. The First and Second years had been assigned with a certain teacher and the third years and above were patiently waiting by the door. They headed towards the door. Hagrid opened the door and the third years and above ran outside yelling something about freedom. The teachers watched them and shook their heads in an exasperated way.
"I think you lot are more mature than they are!" said Professor Sprout, the other students laughed.
All of the students were running around the grounds and laughing the Marauder's and Lily ran as fast as they could to the train that would take them to Hogsmeade. They all breathed in big gulps of the air as if they had been deprived of it inside the castle; they scared a lot of the birds in the forest as they ran out shouted in happiness. Once they reached the train, Lily and the Marauder's chose a compartment to the back of the train. The journey wasn't long and they reached Hogsmeade in less than 15 minutes. Once they reached Hogsmeade, students spilled out of the train and ran in every direction to different stores. The first shop the Marauder's headed to was Zonko's. They filled up on different things that they had ran out of. They then headed to the Three Broomsticks for a break and schemed up new ways to prank Snape and Malfoy. They then headed towards Honeydukes for some treats Petunia might like that were slightly muggle-ish and then Lily sent it through the owlery, paying 4 Sickles to use a large Barn owl. After many hours of shopping and talking and eating, they headed back to Hogwarts.
"I'm exhausted, Lily, that's the last time I ever go shopping with you!" Sirius said. Lily just chuckled.
"Sirius, you must be out of shape! Even I'm not that tired," Remus stated.
"Shut up," was all Sirius said and collapsed onto the couch in the common room.
"Well, Dumbledore is allowing us to roam the grounds this afternoon, I'm gonna go for a walk." James said and headed for the portrait.
"Wait! I'll come with you," Lily called and quickly put all her stuff in her dorm. They then headed outside.
Outside, people were either sitting under a tree, reading, going out on a boat ride on the lake, teasing the giant squid by tickling it's tentacles, out on broomsticks, chasing each other across the grounds, just basically enjoying themselves. And they walked and chatted, James held on to Lily's hand and they intertwined their fingers. They walked around the huge lake and then sat down under a sycamore tree by the lakeshore. Lily leaned against the tree and sat down. James rested his head on her lap and they chatted idly enjoying each other' presence. Lily would ruffle James' his hair making him look adorable. She hummed different songs and James would listen with a smile on his face and his eyes closed. He soon fell into a light sleep. Lily smiled at her boyfriend; he looked like a small child when he slept. She wished she had a camera to take a picture of James, but she thought that she would always remember it as a sweet memory. She bent down and kissed is softly on the lips. She smiled as he grew a small smile on his face. They stayed like that for a long time. Lily had started to make a daisy chain and put small daisies in James' hair, making him look silly, but she just laughed a little and made her daisy chain longer and longer. They stayed like that for a long time. The sun had started to set over the horizon and everything was peaceful. Night started to come, and they really should have gone back inside, but Lily didn't have the heart to wake James up. Lily gently stood up making sure James didn't bang his head on the ground. She headed to the shore and took off her sandals. The cool water caressed her feet and she smiled as a soft breeze blew around her and blew strands of her hair to her face. She started walking round the shore and splashed the water a little. The sound woke James up and he watched as Lily ran around the shore of the lake, holding her robes and kicking the water everywhere.
Lily looked up and saw the back of a cloaked figure. It hovered a few inches off the ground; it turned to face her. The hood covered the figure's face and Lily couldn't make out any of its features except tow shining silver eyes. It reminded her something, a long time ago, but she couldn't remember.
"Lily Evans," it spoke in a deep voice. Lily shivered, it sounded so cold.
"How'd you know my name?" Lily asked.
"That doesn't matter now child. I have big plans for you, now come with me," it said and held out it's hand.
Lily grimaced, it was a pale and grotesque hand. It had long yellowed nails. They were chipped in different places and there were some brown patches, like dried up blood. Lily shook her head.
"I don't know you, I'm not going with you," she said.
"You are a strong witch for being muggle-born. You could be great, and powerful and be worshipped by many. That Potter boy would be by your side of course, I have big plans for him also," the hooded figures said coldly and snickering.
"What do you mean?! Leave James out of this! Leave us alone!" Lily said and turned away to run. But she froze, she couldn't run.
"What the…?" she said, "What have you done?" she shouted.
"Stupid girl. You think I will let you get away, to become stronger with Dumbledore's help? If you will not join the dark lord's side, you will perish!" it spat cruelly. It raised its hand and pointed its finger at her chest.
James watched from a distant. He had seen the hooded figure there and talking to Lily. She looked distressed when she talked to it. 'This is too strange…wait a minute…this is just like my dream! This was my premonition!' James thought realisation dawning on him. James then saw it raise its finger to Lily, and the green ball of energy forming at its tip.
"Shit!" James cursed and started to run towards them, he turned into his stag form. The white stag with messy tuft of fur on his head ran quickly and silently towards the two.
Lily couldn't move, she saw the green light forming at its fingertip and tried harder to moved her feet, but her feet felt like heavy lead and she couldn't move.
"This seems like such a waste, I'm giving you one last chance, join the dark side or die!" it said cold.
"I'll never join the dark side, and I'll never become a servant to scum like Voldemort!" she spat.
"So be it, goodbye Miss Evans," it said. Lily closed her eyes, waiting for the curse to hit her, but then she felt herself being lifted up from the ground. Prongs scooped her up and ran as fast as he could away from the hooded figure.
"Prongs?" Lily said opening her eyes and seeing the white stag carrying her. She saw the stag wink at her and smiled thankfully. She nearly screamed when she saw the green balls of the curse being thrown at her. They just missed them by a fraction. Prongs ran faster and faster towards the school, the jets or light just behind him. 'I have to reach the school!' he thought determinedly. After what seemed like hours, he reached the steps, he rushed up the steps and ran through the door. Lily jumped off and closed the door as blinding green light was heading towards them. She placed her strongest charm to lock the door. Teachers and pupils started to head into the Entrance Hall as the blinding flash of light of green light came. Prongs gulped in his stag form and headed for a deserted corridor so that no one would see him. Everyone in the Entrance Hall covered their eyes and gasped. It gradually cleared and everybody opened his or her eyes. Lily was seen by the door with her wand pointing at the lock, she stood their breathless and then collapsed, she had fainted. Everybody stared at her wide-eyed. Prongs remained hidden in the corridor and turned back into his human form. James ran up to Lily and picked her up.
"Lily? Lily? Wake up!" he shook her a little. Professor McGonagall walked up to the two.
"James, take her to Hospital Wing, she's fainted. And you might was Madam Pomfrey to look at some of those grazes." She said and transfigured her quill into a stretcher. James nodded and lifted Lily up and placed her on the stretcher. He walked to Hospital wing with the stretcher floating in front of him.
"And don't any of you even think of following them!" she shouted at the curious eyes that followed them.
As they entered Hospital Wing, Madam Pomfrey saw to Lily. She was placed on a bed near the window, to let her have some air. She then lifted her head and poured some 'Quick-Start Potion' into her mouth.
"She should wake up within a half-hour or so, meanwhile, what happened to you James?" she said looking at the nasty cuts and grazes on his arm and legs.
"Uh…I…um…" James started to think of an excuse.
"Don't tell me. You always come up with some gruesome excuse whenever you are in here," she said and rolled her eyes. She placed him on a bed next to Lily' and cleaned him wounds. He than drank a sweet tasting potion and his wounds instantly disappeared. A few moments later, Dumbledore entered the wing.
"Hello Poppy," he greeted the matron.
"Hello Professor, what brings you to these parts of the school?" she asked.
"I just would like a word with Mr Potter and Miss Evans," he said and his eyes wandered to the students at the far side of the room.
"Ok, but not for long, they need their rest," Madam Pomfrey said and headed for her office.
Professor Dumbledore walked over to the students slowly, Lily was slowly waking up and James sat on a chair next to her.
"How are you feeling?" he asked the two students.
"I'm fine Professor, just a little tired," Lily replied yawning.
"Couldn't be better Professor," James replied.
"That's good, will you be willing enough to tell me exactly what happened in the grounds tonight?" Dumbledore asked.
James told him of the premonition he had had, and Lily was reminded of the dream she had a long time ago. She then told them how the figure asked her to join forces with Voldemort and how he had big plans for her and James. She told him how he had threatened to kill her and how James had saved her just in time.
"This is all rather interesting," Dumbledore muttered to himself with a twinkle of hope in his eyes.
"How is it interesting Professor?" James asked, eyebrows raised.
"It's very clear to me. You are both very powerful for your age, and Voldemort feels threatened by this. So he wants you to join his side so you won't be a difficulty in his way." Dumbledore said, "it's all rather interesting." He said.
"Now, I should leave you to rest. I'm sure you've had enough events for one night, goodnight" he said and exited. 'They are the creators in the prophecy.'
