Disclaimer: I don't own anything that belongs not to me. :)

She Will Be Loved

Chapter Ten ll The Nightmare: Needing Love

----------

After Lily took a bath and dressed into her (or the hut's) pyjamas, she told the cake-and-ice-cream-covered James sweetly, "You may use the bathroom now," and went to bed.

She felt deliciously warm and happy, and immediately resolved to think less about herself from now on.

The first thing I'm going to do when I get back, she decided as she rest her head comfortably on the soft pillow, Is apologise to Chel, Lee and Steph.

Lily was almost asleep when she heard James creep in. He smelt like soap.

James tiptoed into the darkness, careful not to trip or run into anything. He noticed Lily already asleep in her bed and smiled to himself. He knew he was starting to really like her, and he could do nothing about it.

Walking quietly over to her side, he looked at her pretty face that was illuminated by the moonlight and sighed quietly. He slowly leant down and kissed her forehead.

"Goodnight, Lily-bug..." he whispered, under the impression she was fast asleep. He crept back into his own bed.

When the rustling stopped, Lily smiled and whispered very, very quietly, "Goodnight James..."

---

"Give her to me," he ordered in a snarling, cruel voice.

"No, please, please don't!" screamed a woman, on her knees. She was crying as she begged the towering figure, "Please, have mercy!"

"Give her to me!"

"She's not here!" the woman shrieked.

Lily stared at the scene. She took a step forward and said disbelievingly, "Mum?"

Her mother nor the figure took any notice of her. They didn't seem to see or hear her.

"You can lure her back," he hissed.

"No, just leave her alone! It's me you want," she begged, "It's me..."

"You are useless now," he spat, "It is only her... you were of use before, before she was born. But she is magical and you're nothing but a dirty Mudblood. Hand her over."

"You'll never get her," she hissed back, finally gaining some confidence, "Never."

Voldemort took out his wand and pointed it at her.

"You are asking for it."

"You will never get her," Lily's mother said, half-triumphantly, "Never."

"Avada Kedavra!"

Lily woke up, screaming and crying. She looked around and was relieved to find herself in the dark bedroom.

"Lily? Is that you?" James' voice was thick with sleep.

Lily bit her lip, trying to compose herself, then burst into tears.

"Wha?" James flicked on the lights and crept over to Lily, "Hey... what's the matter?" He sat on her bed and she turned to him and buried her face in his shoulder.

"I saw h--him," she sobbed, "He was k--killing my m--mother."

"What?" James gasped, awkwardly putting his arm around her.

"Voldemort!" Lily cried out, "He k--killed my mother a--at the b--beginning of last y--year... Oh God, that was t--terrible."

"Oh Merlin," James gasped again, hugging her tighter, "I'm sorry, Lily."

There was silence for a moment as Lily continued to cry. Watching the murder of your mother was something so twistedly horrible... it broke her up on the inside.

When she calmed down, she muttered, "She was killed because of me."

Again, James was confused, "What?"

"He wanted me," Lily muttered, lifting her head from James' shoulder, "He still wants me. And she could've been saved, if it weren't for--" Lily leapt up and punched the wall.

"Lily, calm down!" James grabbed her hands as she burst into tears again. He pulled her into a hug, "Calm down before you start talking, all right?"

"You don't understand!" she shrieked, trying to wrench her hands from his grip, but he was too strong, "She could've lived, but because my scumbag of a father left us, she died!"

"What do you mean?" James asked quietly.

"My mother, sister and I have a gift," Lily muttered, sitting down, "I guess it's more of a curse sometimes, but a gift all the same. If we are loved by a man--and he loves us enough to die for us, we get a second chance to live."

"What?"

"It's some sort of ancient protection thing. I don't know. My mother had it first. And Voldemort heard about it, but he didn't know what it was. He just heard the three of us had a second chance to live if we died. And he wanted--still wants that sort of power. He only found out when she got married. I suppose he tried stealing it from her, but he didn't know it was associated with love, something that he can't understand," a few tears fell from her eyes, "Then my sister and I were born. He found out I was a witch with that special protection. Therefore, that made me more worthy."

Lily shook her head, "I don't get it. How am I more worthy?"

James looked bewildered, "I--I guess it's because you're magical."

She just sighed, "My mother could've lived if my father stayed. If he had just continued to love her. But..." her eyes filled with tears, "My sister, much as I hate her, is in danger of dying too... I just hope that whale of a fiance of her's loves her enough."

James suddenly remembered something, "Is... is this why you're so het up about someone loving you?" he asked softly.

Lily nodded slowly, "I said I wanted to be loved... but truth is, I need to be loved."

She scrunched up her face and started to cry again, but James just pulled her close to him and kissed the top of her head. She sniffed into his chest, hoping that he'd never let go.

----------

A/N: (sob) I'm gonna start crying... Well, that sure was pathetic. Sorry! Hehe. --MSQ.