A/N: Okay, time for a randomly placed disclaimer again.  ANYTHING THAT SOUNDS FAMILIAR IS.  While I did create some characters, others I obviously didn't.

Meanwhile, thanks for the great reviews! I really appreciate all of them, SO, here's another chapter for you!  Enjoy!!!

Chapter 16: A Death Eater's Betrayal

The next few weeks proved to be quite busy for Lily.  Despite James's countless pleas, Lily insisted on decorating the baby's room by hand.  She bought the different paint, and wallpaper, and fabric and set to work.  With some help from Marilyn and Jem, the room was beautifully finished with just under 3 months to go.

That's when it happened.  Lily felt a sudden burst of pain in her abdomen in the middle of the night.  She screamed and James bolted up beside her in bed.

"What happened? What's wrong? What can I do?" he asked.

Tears were streaming down Lily's face and she was shaking.  "I don't know, but I need to see a doctor, now!"

James quickly jumped out of bed, and holding Lily tightly in his arms, they disapparated to St. Mungo's Hospital Emergency Room.

When they arrived at St. Mungo's Magical Hospital, Lily was admitted immediately and rushed into surgery. Despite the fact that the doctors did not want James in the operating room with them, they knew it would be worthless to argue, they simply didn't have the time. So, James stayed by Lily's side, holding her hand and trying to assure her that everything was going to be alright.

While they were in the O.R. one of the nurses contacted Marilyn, who then contacted several others, including Sirius, Jem, Claire and Professor Dumbledore. Within an hour, all had arrived.

"Has there been any news yet?" Claire asked, seeing her mother pacing in the lobby area.

"Nothing. They're still operating."

When Dumbledore appeared, he did his best to calm everyone down and try to make sense of the situation. But the nurses refused to tell even him what was going on.

After a grueling 7 hours of surgery, Lily and James were introduced to their 1 pound, 6 ounce daughter.

Lily cried as she held the still baby in her arms. "Angelica, it would have been an honour to know you here..." she whispered, tears streaming down her face. James was too choked up to say anything. All he could do was stroke Lily's hair, trying to keep it out of her eyes.

The doctors then came over to them and took the tiny, unmoving Angelica away. "We need to examine her, to find out why this happened," one doctor said solemnly.

James nodded, watching as his daughter was taken out of the room.

Lily was then given a potion to help her sleep, and James left her side for the first time that day. He went to talk to their waiting family and friends.

As soon as he walked out into the lobby area, he collapsed into a fit of tears. Marilyn rushed to his side, along with Claire, and they tried to hug him and help him up, but he refused.

"No!" James shouted. "Just leave me!"

"James, dear, what happened?" Marilyn asked.

"They don't know," he sobbed. "But she's dead... Angelica didn't have a chance..."

Just then a doctor came out. "Professor Dumbledore, if you wouldn't mind, we would appreciate your opinion on something."

"Yes, of- of course," Dumbledore stammered, looking very sad as he passed James.

The doctor led Dumbledore to a small examination room where little Angelica Potter was lying motionless on a table. Even Dumbledore had to look away from her for a moment, and wipe a tear from his eye.

"Professor, I was hoping you could take a look at this. It is something that we found in the child's bloodstream."

The doctor held up a small vile that had a deep purple liquid in it.

"Is that what I think it is?" Dumbledore asked.

"What is it that you suspect?"

"It looks like Epulsione Potion!"

"That is exactly what we made of it as well, Professor."

"That would mean that someone sabotaged this child, before she had even been conceived..."

"Our conclusion as well. We will need to talk to Mr. Potter to see if he might know anything about this-"

"You cannot do that. I will not allow it. He is in no state for this," Dumbledore said.

"I understand, sir, but we've no choice."

"I shall handle this, Doctor."

James was still sitting in a heap on the floor when the hospital doors flew open and a cloaked figure rushed in.

"I need to see Lily Ev- Potter!" a familiar voice hissed.

"I'm sorry sir, but no visitors are allowed," the nurse told him.

"It is a matter of life and death!"

"What's all this?" Sirius demanded, having over heard the request to see Lily.

"It is nothing for you to- Black."

Sirius peered at the cloaked figure suspiciously. A hand then reached up from under the cloak and confirmed his suspicions.

"Snape."

Sirius spat out the name with so much hatred that everyone in the lobby area turned to see what was going on.  Even James found himself setting aside his grief for a moment; just long enough to take a deep breath, collect himself and leap over to the nurses' station where Snape was standing.

James didn't waste a minute.  He grabbed Snape by the collar and slammed him against a wall, his eyes looking as if ready to shoot daggers if provoked.  "What do you want with my wife?" he demanded, holding Snape up a good foot off the ground.

Sirius was standing behind James with his arms out, trying to prevent anyone from approaching them.

Snape didn't say a word.  He simply stared James straight in the eyes.

"I will ask you one more time!" shouted James.  "What do you want with my wife?"

Sirius then noticed Snape reaching for something in his robes.  As soon as he started to pull it out, Sirius yelled  "Expelliarmus!" only to discover that it wasn't a wand that Snape had retrieved, but a small beaker containing a pale yellow liquid.

"What is this?" asked Sirius, staring at the bottle he now held in his hands.

"What indeed," said Dumbledore, entering into the hostile scenario.  "Is that what I believe it to be?  Is it the antidote, Severus?"

Snape choked as James's grasp tightened around his neck.  He then lowered his eyes and gave a small nod.  James stared at him in disbelief, releasing his hands and causing Snape to call to the floor in a fit of coughs.

"Severus,  will not ask of you at this time how you became aware of Lily's particular ailment, or why you have chosen to step forward and appear here tonight bearing the potion to correct her, for I am certain that one day you will be prepared to make it known to us all," Dumbledore said.  "Now please, hand me the potion that he brought, Sirius."

Snape took a deep breath and stood at last.  He walked over to Dumbledore, and without a word, handed him a small, folded up piece of parchment.  Dumbledore nodded knowingly, and Snape turned to leave.  Before he did though, he gave a sudden, pain-filled gasp and his hand immediately shot to his forearm.  James, who was quick to notice things, had a split-second view of what Snape was trying to hide, under his robes and cloak.  It was a tattoo of the Dark Mark.  Before he could say anything though, Snape had disapparated.

James walked toward Dumbledore, intending to join him to go see Lily, but Dumbledore put a stop to that.  "Now is not the time, James.  You should remain here with your family and friends.  When she is ready, I will send for you to come in."

"But-" protested James.

"No," Dumbledore said, settling the matter.  He then turned and went down a hallway back toward Lily's room.

James sat down in a chair and buried his head in his hands.  His thoughts were flying around in his head as he was trying to make sense of the situation.  The dark mark… he kept thinking. But why would Snape help her?  How could he have known?  Why does Dumbledore trust him…And then James had a sudden realization.  "He's still in love with her," he said out loud.

"What?" asked Sirius.

James quickly shook his head, realizing he had spoken those words, rather than just thinking them.  "Nothing, nothing," he lied.

Dumbledore returned to Lily's bedside with Snape's potion in hand.  She was just beginning to wake up, and was shocked to find Dumbledore at her side rather than James.

"Where is he?" she asked quietly.

"He's waiting outside," Dumbledore told her, stroking her forehead gently.  "I just want you to relax for a minute and answer something for me, alright?"  When Lily nodded, he continued.  "Up until today, how have you been feeling recently?"

"I've been alright, I suppose," she whispered, trying to forget the horrible events of the day.

"Nothing out of the ordinary?"

"Not other than a headache or two…"

"Did you take anything for your headaches?  Any medicine?"

Lily shook her head.  "Nothing really… once in a while I'd take something that Claire left for me the morning of the wedding, but that's it."

"What was it that she left?"

"Just a small bottle, with a sort of dark coloured potion in it.  I wasn't feeling very well, as we had… gone out the night before, and it helped."  Dumbledore shook his head.  "What is it?" Lily asked nervously.

"Can you tell me if this," he pulled out the small vile from earlier, "is the colour of what you had taken?"

"It looks like it, but I couldn't be certain."

Dumbledore sighed.  "Lily, your daughter's death was no accident."  Lily's eyes widened and she opened her mouth to speak but no noise came out.  "This potion is called Epulsione Potion.  Are you familiar with what it does?"  Lily shook her head.  "It really is quite simple, even though it takes a very advanced wizard to concoct it.  The potion serves as a cleansing tool, it will remove any foreign elements from your body once ingested.  This would include alcohol, and most unfortunately, another life."

Lily's eyes filled with tears again.  "Who would do such a thing?"

"I think you know the answer to that."

"But why?  Why the child?"  Lily was now crying.

"Lily, the item in your protection… the Stone, you are it's only guardian.  However, if you were to have a child, the gift would then be passed on.  It would be in Voldemort's best interest to leave that power with you.  The only thing that bothers me about this, though," he continued, "is how you came in possession of the potion in the first place.  You said that Claire gave it to you?"

"Yes, I mean, I think so.  I- I found it on my nightstand in the Palace with a note saying that it would help.  I didn't think that-" Lily choked as her throat swelled and tears streamed down her face.

Dumbledore tried to calm her.  He took her hand in his and sighed.  "Of course you didn't, child.  Why should you?"

"It's my fault…" she whispered.

"No, it most certainly is not.  And nor is it too late for help.  Here," he pulled out the antidote.  "If you drink this, it will reverse the effects of the potion."

"But what about Angelica?"

Dumbledore looked down at the floor and shook his head.  "I'm afraid that it is too late," he whispered.

Lily turned her head away from him.  "Can I see James?"

"Lily, the potion.  It is most imperative that you take it."

"I'm sorry, Professor, but not until I speak with James."

"Very well."  Dumbledore then stood and left the room to fetch James.

When Dumbledore left, Lily turned her head back and noticed a piece of parchment sitting beside her.  It took all the strength she had, but she unfolded it and began to read.  She recognized the writing at once though.  "Severus," she whispered.

My Dear Lily,

I am writing to you now to let you know that you are in very real danger.  No doubt, by now Professor Dumbledore has acquainted you with the precarious circumstances surrounding your hospitalization.  I cannot help but feel partly to blame for this.  While I was not the one who left the potion for you in the first place, I was well aware that it was happening.  I have never stopped loving you, Lily, and perhaps that is why I am able to fight the instructions left for me.  I just couldn't let you live your life in such misery.  For your sake, I hope that you will take the potion I left for you with Dumbledore.  Other than that, I have but one more request to make of you.  You must never speak of this to anyone.  If word was to get out, about what happened, and about my having gotten involved, I fear for both you and myself.  Potter has already put himself in great danger, please do not intensify this.  I hope that you will do the right thing.

With love,

Severus Snape 

There was a knock at the door, and Lily quickly shoved the letter under her pillow, just in time.  James walked in, and Lily couldn't help but notice he had tearstains on his face.  He sat on the edge of her bed, taking her hand in one of his, and stroking her cheek gently with the other.

"I'm so sorry, baby," he whispered.  He then realized what he had said.  "I mean, it's just…" he sighed.  "I'm sorry," he said again.

"I know, I know," she nodded.  Lily longed to show James the letter from Snape, but knew that if she did, they were both as good as dead.  Instead, she forced a small smile.  "Dumbledore says that he can help… that if I take this potion here, it'll fix me up, good as new."

James nodded slowly.  "Are you going to take it?"

"Why shouldn't I?"

"Lily, you have to know where it came from."

"It's from Dumbledore!"

"No, Lily, Snape brought it.  And then he took it.  I don't know if you should trust it."

"Well, I don't see why I shouldn't."

"What?  Lily, this is Severus Snape that we're talking about!"

"And I still trust him! Hell, James, even Dumbledore trusts him!"

"I just think that we should have that potion looked at before you take it."

"Don't be ridiculous.  I would trust Severus with my life."

"Lily!" James couldn't believe what he was hearing.  "Do you have any idea what Snape is?  Who he works for?!"  Lily shook her head.  "Lily, he's a Death Eater!  I saw it!  I saw the mark!"

"That can't be…"

"Well, it is!  You have to believe me…"

"I don't care, James.  I'm going to trust him."

"He is a lying murderer! How can you trust him!"

"Like this!" she yelled.  She then grabbed the potion off of the nightstand and began to drink.

"No!" yelled James, reaching for the bottle.  But it was too late.  She drank every last drop.

Lily looked James right in the eyes and said "Done."  Unfortunately, at that moment she lost her grasp on the beaker the potion had been in and dropped it, causing it to shatter on the floor as she fell back onto her pillow in a faint.

"Lily!" James shouted, grabbing her shoulders and shaking her.  "Lily, wake up!"  When she didn't answer, James called for help  "Is anyone there?  Help me!"

Two nurses, a doctor, and Dumbledore all rushed into the room.

"What happened?" asked the doctor.

"She drank it, whatever it was, and then fainted!"

Dumbledore heaved a sigh of relief.  "James, she will be fine.  As long as she took it, everything is going to be alright."

"How can you say that?  I saw him!  It was probably poisoned…"

"James, you are being irrational.  Lily will be just fine."

James looked at Dumbledore as though he were crazy.  He then stormed out of the room and back to the lobby where everyone was waiting to find out what happened.

"Don't talk to me!" James snapped when his mother came over to him.

"But why? What happened?" Marilyn asked.

James was in a rage.  "I can't believe her!  That's it.  I can't stay here.  I'm going home."  Before anyone could say another word to him, he had disapparated.

As soon as James had gotten home, he went straight into his study making a conscious decision to do everything in his power to get even with Snape.  He pulled out all of his work notes and research that he and Sirius had been working on about Voldemort's rise to power and his followers.  He knew that the tattoo had to mean something and that Snape had to be up to no good.  But what?

Much to his disappointment, before he could get anything accomplished, James was interrupted by Sirius.  "What do you want?" he asked.

"Oh, nothing really.  Just rather curious about why you left your wife alone in the hospital after everything she's been through today.  But other than that, nothing."  He then looked at the things James had on his desk.  "What're you doing?"

"That potion… that Snape brought for Lily.  She drank it."

"So?"

"It was from Snape."

"But Dumbledore said she needed it…"

"I know, but you don't understand.  You didn't see it."

"See what?"

"The mark."  Sirius gave James a perplexed look.  "The Dark Mark."

"What?"

"When he flinched with pain, it was because of the Dark Mark.  I saw it."

"You don't actually think…"

"I would bet my life on it."

"You mean we've found one!"  Sirius was starting to get excited now.

"Not exactly.  We haven't found him.  Just discovered who one is…"

A/N: Review? Please? You all rawk!