Chapter 23- Kidnapped
James froze. He was looking right into a pair of red eyes that belonged to a tall, thin man with dark hair. The eyes were full of hatred. He knew he should have run, have saved himself, but it felt as if he couldn't. He was too frightened. When he somewhat regained control of himself, he whispered, "Run Lily." without taking his eyes off of Voldemort. Lily looked at him with scared eyes. She obeyed him, and ran as fast as the wind back to the castle.
"Smart girl, to run away." Voldemort spat at James. His lip curled into a sneer. "I hear you want to be an auror. Well, I have other plans for you, I think." With that, he steadied his wand and muttered something. James felt himself rise into the air. He no longer had control over his body. I should have run when I had the chance!
Voldemort let James hover in the air next to him for a minute, sneering at him, before turning and walking towards the forest. All the while he walked, he made sure that James was floating after him.
***********************
Once Lily was inside the entrance hall, she turned, expecting to see James come in right after her. He did not. After a minute or so had passed, she was beginning to get really frightened. Oh my god. What have I done? I thought he was right behind me! She cursed herself for listening to him and running. Her mother had always told her never to listen to men. She stood still, panicking, not knowing what to do next. Suddenly, she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned and looked into the wizened face of Albus Dumbledore. Thank god. she thought.
"Professor- James...he....Voldemort...near the lake....forest...help!" she stuttered almost incomprehensibly. However, Dumbledore, being the knowing man that he is, understood a lot from her few words.
"Go to the Hospital Wing. I will see to it. Try not to worry, I won't let anything happen to James." he said, trying to soothe her. He patted her shoulder reassuringly and walked off rather quickly.
Lily just stood for a moment, torn between obeying Dumbledore and going to save James. Her mind was having an internal debate. What? You think you can save him? From Voldemort? she asked herself. But I can't just sit in the hospital wing and wait! I have to do *something*!
Eventually, she decided that she wasn't going to go to the hospital wing. She couldn't sit in there knowing that James was in danger. Cursing herself once again for not staying with him, she snuck out the door again.
By now, the sun was low on the horizon. Pinks, purples, and grays danced across the evening sky as she made her way in the direction of the rock by the lake. When she reached it, she found it deserted. Frantically, she turned her head in all directions, searching for some clue. Oh god, please don't let Voldemort have killed him. Just the thought of it sent chills down her spine.
She stumbled on towards the forest. She figured that was where Voldemort had taken him; it was the only place around. By the time she reached the edge of the forest, her whole body was trembling. There was sweat on her forehead, and her legs and arms didn't seem to be responding to her brain. She tip-toed along, straining her eyes for some noise, any noise. And suddenly, a sharp, cruel voice rang out into the night.
"Shut up! Worthless boy! The only reason you are living right now is because I want you to die awfully! Your death is like revenge on all aurors for me!"
Lily heard a noise that could only be James and stiffened. He's alive. Not dead. Alive. Oh, but I have to get him away! she stood as quiet as a mouse, not moving an inch for fear of being discovered. How am I going to free him? Her hands were shaking as she took a step closer to the clearing where she had heard the voices. Tied to a tree on the opposite side of the large clearing was James. Blood was running down his face and his eyes were closed. Oh my god, what have they done to him? Not thinking about what could happen, she ran towards James instinctively.
"Dumb mudblood! You dare try and rescue your poor boyfriend?!" Voldemort had turned and seen her. His eyes were now blood red with fury. "I'll just have to kill you as well then!" He took out his wand and said something that caused Lily to find herself tied to another nearby tree.
James coughed violently and said in a hoarse voice. "Please, let her go. She hasn't done anything to you. You have no reason to hurt her."
"No reason?! She tried to rescue you, *and* she's a mudblood! No, she can die, at the same time as you!" was Voldemort's vindictive response. "Why do I even bother to answer you? You're worthless, both of you! And you'll both die for it!" he paused and then added, mostly to himself, "I have to get the Death Eaters over here, quickly. And then you can die. Your deaths will be witnessed and celebrated by all of my servants."
Lily looked at James with terrified green eyes. He met her gaze, and reached out to try and grab her hand, but he couldn't reach it.
**********************
Dumbledore was in good shape for the old man that he was. He sped towards the Forbidden Forest at top speed. After Lily had confronted him, he had gone to McGonagall. She had apparently known that Voldemort was hiding in the forest.
(flashback)
He had walked straight to her office and walked in. "Minerva! James has been taken by Voldemort. Do you have any idea where he might be hiding?" Albus Dumbledore was always calm (at least on the outside), even in situations like these.
"Oh my! I think V-he's been in the Forbidden Forest lately. I was talking to one of the centaurs the other day and he was telling me that evil things have been lurking there the past month or so. I had never thought of it being *him*, but with what you just told me, it must have been. But how do you know?"
"Lily told me. She was very worried when I ran into her. She told me that she had been with James and Voldemort had shown up."
"But how did she get away?"
"I don't know, Minerva. I'll have to ask that later on. But for now I must make haste, I just pray that Voldemort was not overly eager to see young James dead."
(end flashback)
He stepped inside the forest and a flicker of red caught his eyes. I thought I told her to go to the Hospital Wing! She's going to get both of them killed! He sped up and ran after her, hoping that she knew the way, as he did not.
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A/N: Well, there's chapter 23. Please let me know what you think and I'll be working on the next chapter as soon as I can! Thanks!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Thanks a bunch to all of you!
Prongs- I'm glad you like it, thanks!
Lady Lylia- I know what you mean. I'm not sure why they hung out with him
Sugiganesan@hotmail.com- I can't thank you enough. I'm glad you enjoyed the stories! Oh, and James will propose, as you know, all in good time...Thanks again!
anyway…oh well. Thanks a lot, for two reviews!
Phoenix6545- No problem, I love all reviews! Thanks again!
G.D. Jade- I know. I'm not sure why, but I had the urge to write a cliffhanger…sorry 'bout that. Thanks for reviewing!
SMAC- Me too! Sorry! Hope you liked this chapter!
The Lady Lillian- Lol, a few people have asked me that…I've been thinking about bringing that up later, so maybe I shouldn't answer that question just yet. Thanks!
Kristatwen- Lol, I'm glad you let me know that it was mean. Thanks again!
Hooper- Yeah, they probably are. J.K says she isn't done yet. I think it's supposed to come out in fall 2002. And I sure hope that she writes a book about Lily and James, that would be great! I'm so happy you like my story (both of them!) and I hope you continue to! Thanks a lot!!
Felicity Aulia Evans- Thanks for reviewing, I appreciate it!
Min Hee Ha- I'm glad you like all the chapters! I have my favorites, though. Thanks a bunch, once again!
James froze. He was looking right into a pair of red eyes that belonged to a tall, thin man with dark hair. The eyes were full of hatred. He knew he should have run, have saved himself, but it felt as if he couldn't. He was too frightened. When he somewhat regained control of himself, he whispered, "Run Lily." without taking his eyes off of Voldemort. Lily looked at him with scared eyes. She obeyed him, and ran as fast as the wind back to the castle.
"Smart girl, to run away." Voldemort spat at James. His lip curled into a sneer. "I hear you want to be an auror. Well, I have other plans for you, I think." With that, he steadied his wand and muttered something. James felt himself rise into the air. He no longer had control over his body. I should have run when I had the chance!
Voldemort let James hover in the air next to him for a minute, sneering at him, before turning and walking towards the forest. All the while he walked, he made sure that James was floating after him.
***********************
Once Lily was inside the entrance hall, she turned, expecting to see James come in right after her. He did not. After a minute or so had passed, she was beginning to get really frightened. Oh my god. What have I done? I thought he was right behind me! She cursed herself for listening to him and running. Her mother had always told her never to listen to men. She stood still, panicking, not knowing what to do next. Suddenly, she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned and looked into the wizened face of Albus Dumbledore. Thank god. she thought.
"Professor- James...he....Voldemort...near the lake....forest...help!" she stuttered almost incomprehensibly. However, Dumbledore, being the knowing man that he is, understood a lot from her few words.
"Go to the Hospital Wing. I will see to it. Try not to worry, I won't let anything happen to James." he said, trying to soothe her. He patted her shoulder reassuringly and walked off rather quickly.
Lily just stood for a moment, torn between obeying Dumbledore and going to save James. Her mind was having an internal debate. What? You think you can save him? From Voldemort? she asked herself. But I can't just sit in the hospital wing and wait! I have to do *something*!
Eventually, she decided that she wasn't going to go to the hospital wing. She couldn't sit in there knowing that James was in danger. Cursing herself once again for not staying with him, she snuck out the door again.
By now, the sun was low on the horizon. Pinks, purples, and grays danced across the evening sky as she made her way in the direction of the rock by the lake. When she reached it, she found it deserted. Frantically, she turned her head in all directions, searching for some clue. Oh god, please don't let Voldemort have killed him. Just the thought of it sent chills down her spine.
She stumbled on towards the forest. She figured that was where Voldemort had taken him; it was the only place around. By the time she reached the edge of the forest, her whole body was trembling. There was sweat on her forehead, and her legs and arms didn't seem to be responding to her brain. She tip-toed along, straining her eyes for some noise, any noise. And suddenly, a sharp, cruel voice rang out into the night.
"Shut up! Worthless boy! The only reason you are living right now is because I want you to die awfully! Your death is like revenge on all aurors for me!"
Lily heard a noise that could only be James and stiffened. He's alive. Not dead. Alive. Oh, but I have to get him away! she stood as quiet as a mouse, not moving an inch for fear of being discovered. How am I going to free him? Her hands were shaking as she took a step closer to the clearing where she had heard the voices. Tied to a tree on the opposite side of the large clearing was James. Blood was running down his face and his eyes were closed. Oh my god, what have they done to him? Not thinking about what could happen, she ran towards James instinctively.
"Dumb mudblood! You dare try and rescue your poor boyfriend?!" Voldemort had turned and seen her. His eyes were now blood red with fury. "I'll just have to kill you as well then!" He took out his wand and said something that caused Lily to find herself tied to another nearby tree.
James coughed violently and said in a hoarse voice. "Please, let her go. She hasn't done anything to you. You have no reason to hurt her."
"No reason?! She tried to rescue you, *and* she's a mudblood! No, she can die, at the same time as you!" was Voldemort's vindictive response. "Why do I even bother to answer you? You're worthless, both of you! And you'll both die for it!" he paused and then added, mostly to himself, "I have to get the Death Eaters over here, quickly. And then you can die. Your deaths will be witnessed and celebrated by all of my servants."
Lily looked at James with terrified green eyes. He met her gaze, and reached out to try and grab her hand, but he couldn't reach it.
**********************
Dumbledore was in good shape for the old man that he was. He sped towards the Forbidden Forest at top speed. After Lily had confronted him, he had gone to McGonagall. She had apparently known that Voldemort was hiding in the forest.
(flashback)
He had walked straight to her office and walked in. "Minerva! James has been taken by Voldemort. Do you have any idea where he might be hiding?" Albus Dumbledore was always calm (at least on the outside), even in situations like these.
"Oh my! I think V-he's been in the Forbidden Forest lately. I was talking to one of the centaurs the other day and he was telling me that evil things have been lurking there the past month or so. I had never thought of it being *him*, but with what you just told me, it must have been. But how do you know?"
"Lily told me. She was very worried when I ran into her. She told me that she had been with James and Voldemort had shown up."
"But how did she get away?"
"I don't know, Minerva. I'll have to ask that later on. But for now I must make haste, I just pray that Voldemort was not overly eager to see young James dead."
(end flashback)
He stepped inside the forest and a flicker of red caught his eyes. I thought I told her to go to the Hospital Wing! She's going to get both of them killed! He sped up and ran after her, hoping that she knew the way, as he did not.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: Well, there's chapter 23. Please let me know what you think and I'll be working on the next chapter as soon as I can! Thanks!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Thanks a bunch to all of you!
Prongs- I'm glad you like it, thanks!
Lady Lylia- I know what you mean. I'm not sure why they hung out with him
Sugiganesan@hotmail.com- I can't thank you enough. I'm glad you enjoyed the stories! Oh, and James will propose, as you know, all in good time...Thanks again!
anyway…oh well. Thanks a lot, for two reviews!
Phoenix6545- No problem, I love all reviews! Thanks again!
G.D. Jade- I know. I'm not sure why, but I had the urge to write a cliffhanger…sorry 'bout that. Thanks for reviewing!
SMAC- Me too! Sorry! Hope you liked this chapter!
The Lady Lillian- Lol, a few people have asked me that…I've been thinking about bringing that up later, so maybe I shouldn't answer that question just yet. Thanks!
Kristatwen- Lol, I'm glad you let me know that it was mean. Thanks again!
Hooper- Yeah, they probably are. J.K says she isn't done yet. I think it's supposed to come out in fall 2002. And I sure hope that she writes a book about Lily and James, that would be great! I'm so happy you like my story (both of them!) and I hope you continue to! Thanks a lot!!
Felicity Aulia Evans- Thanks for reviewing, I appreciate it!
Min Hee Ha- I'm glad you like all the chapters! I have my favorites, though. Thanks a bunch, once again!