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

She Will Be Loved

Chapter Eleven ll The Disaster: Voldemort?

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James and Lily talked all night, until it was four AM. They talked about family, about Lily's relationship with her sister, about James' parents... They talked about a lot of things. Then they finally dropped off to sleep.

They didn't wake up until almost noon the next day.

"Holy chickens!" squealed Lily when she saw the magically-conjured up alarm clock (turned out the whole hut was like the Room of Requirement), "Cow! There is no way we're gonna make it back to camp!"

"Huh?" mumbled James.

"It's eleven-forty-nine!" Lily managed to yell before she ran out of the bedroom.

James let the sleep clear out of his mind before realising what Lily had said. He looked at the clock.

So she was right.

They had a light brunch then moved to the living room and started to... sit. And grow bored. So they started to talk about their friends.

"Chelsea fancies Sirius," Lily blurted out.

"Oh, how... nice," James said, blinking several times.

"You can tell. She's always looking at him, but she gets really annoyed at him. Really easily. I don't blame her. Sirius is annoying."

"No he's not, really."

"It's just my opinion, of course," Lily shrugged, "And of course you would stick up for him, anyway. You're his best friend."

"No, actually, I agree Sirius is kind of annoying, but it's nature," James said seriously. Then he laughed, and Lily joined in.

"Leonie's a bit of a bore," James said slowly, wondering if that was such a great thing to say, "She's nice and smart and all, but she's kind of cynical and really hard to get to know."

"Yeah, I remember first meeting her. You kind of hate her for how she puts you down sometimes, but you really want her to like you as well," Lily said, choosing her words carefully.

"Yeah... what about Steph?" James asked.

"She's the babyish one," Lily said, pondering on the thought for a moment, "She's really cute, but she needs a lot of protecting. Once she gets a boyfriend, it'll be hell for me and Lee and Chel."

"Why?"

"Because boyfriends causes so much chaos, and Steph's too much of a little girl to realise it. She'll be in tears and tantrums every second day, and it'll be up to us to comfort her."

"You don't have to," James pointed out.

"But she's our friend, and our little sister in a way," Lily smiled, "I suppose you wouldn't understand."

"You're right."

After the talk, they laid down on the living room floor and looked up at the ceiling. It was raining again. They could hear it pounding on the roof.

Lily was dwelling on her own thoughts. James had kissed her twice now. True, it had only been on her head and on her forehead, but it still meant something, right?

Or maybe he's just playing with you, a voice in her heard argued back.

"Man, this sucks," James' voice broke into her thoughts.

"What does?"

"This," James waved his hand around, "Everything. If it continues raining, we're never going to be able to head back."

"Didn't you say it wouldn't matter if we trekked through the rain, because you didn't even get numeany?" Lily teased, still staring up at the ceiling.

James chuckled, "I didn't get 'numeany', but you might. Seeing as you're a girl."

"Being sexist now?"

"Hmmm... I suppose I am."

It was amazing. They spent three hours just lying there, talking about the first thing that came to the mind. Usually, James grew bored of talking, but with Lily, he just couldn't stop.

Finally they decided to have a snack. Then they played hide-and-seek. It was dark by then, and almost dinner time, but neither of them were very hungry.

"AHA! I found you!" Lily said triumphantly, breaking into a run down the stairs, seeing that James had cleverly concealed himself between the bookcase and tall vase.

James emerged with a grin, "Took you long enough."

"Whatev--oh!" Lily gave a small shriek as she tripped on one of the last few steps. She flailed forward. James immediately reached out and grabbed her hand, but she was still unbalanced. Lily grabbed at the first thing she could reach, which was the umbrella stand.

Suddenly, she felt as if she was in a time warp.

The hut disappeared, and everything became a blur. She felt like she was being spun around violently, like a merry-go-round put on the fastest speed. She could still feel James' hand tightly in hers.

The spinning stopped abruptly and the two yelped as they fell heavily on the ground, breathless.

Lily looked up fearfully. She could hardly see anything. It was so eerily dark.

"Where are we?"

James looked around, squinting. He was holding onto her hand tightly.

"We're in the Forbidden Forest," he replied as it dawned on. He was shaking.

Lily realised she was still holding the umbrella stand in her other hand. Immediately, she dropped it as though it was hot ash.

"It was a Portkey," she whispered, looking frightened.

"Well if it's a Portkey, it should take us back," James said, trying to hide the fear in his voice. He bent down to pick the umbrella stand back up--

"Accio!"

It flew out of his reach, and whisked out into the darkness.

James immediately straightened up, preparing himself for the worst.

"What--?" Lily started to gasp.

"Good evening."

It was a cold, souless voice from somewhere in the darkness. It pricked the hair on the back of their necks. Lily shuddered, she had heard that voice before...

"Voldemort," Lily suddenly whispered harshly. Anger flared inside of her and all fear seemed to disappear.

Several towering figures hidden in black cloaks and hoods advanced towards them. A single torch was lit, casting shadows everywhere.

"I see you have both come," whispered Voldemort, "Well, the more the merrier."

The Deatheaters gave some silvery laughter.

James stood there, frozen to the spot. His mind was racing and his heart was pounding. Lily was still glaring at the Dark Lord, her temper rising. He had killed her mother.

"Bagman," Voldemort ordered.

"Yes, my Lord," one of the Deatheaters said, stepping forward from the semi-circle. They took out their wand and snapped it at James. Immediately, a cage appeared around him. James' eyes widened and he immediately moved forward, rattling the cage.

Lily turned to James, wondering what was happening.

He wants me, not him, she thought furiously.

"Let him go!" Lily shrieked, tears threatening to spill, "It's me you want, just let him go!"

The Deatheaters shuffled uncomfortably.

Voldemort turned to her and stepped forward towards her, "Intelligent, you are. Yes, I have come for you. But he is a threat to me as well."

"What the hell?" Lily screamed, becoming quite hysterical in her rage and confusion, "How am I a threat to you in the first place? Other than that thing that gives me a second life, of course," she added quite sarcastically.

James inwardly groaned.

Lily was arguing as if she was in a cat fight.

But you didn't have cat fights with someone like Voldemort.

"One day, you'll become much more powerful," he whispered vehemently, "For now you are just a young, foolish witch meddling in teenage woes. But as you grow older, you will undoubtedly become more powerful. Especially," he added with a poisonous glance at James, "with him."

Lily had no clue what he was talking about.

"You," she said, quite enjoying being so rude, "will never become the greatest sorcerer, because Albus Dumbledore already is. If he could defeat Grindelwald, he'll defeat you. And everyone'll live happy that day. Can't be much of an achievement if everyone rejoices the day you lose power, right?"

Anger flamed inside of him.

"I will be the greatest sorcerer," he thundered, causing several Deatheaters and James to flinch, "However," his voice dropped to a deadly whisper, "There are a couple of obstacles standing in the way." He took out his wand and pointed it at her.

Lily stared right back at him. She whispered, "Kill me, I don't care. But you're just wasting your time and breath. I won't become a threat to you in the future because you're mistaken. There's nothing special about me."

"Not you by yourself, maybe," he was speaking furiously quickly now, as if he had many things to say and couldn't get them out properly, "But with him, you both have something that even I do not have, and cannot obtain." His voice was bitter and full of resent.

Lily still had no clue, but James understood.

"Lily," he yelled, "Take my hand!"

Lily turned to look at him and felt herself softened. I love him. I love him so much.

Merlin, right now isn't the time to dwell on teenage crushes.

But it felt much more than just that.

Lily started towards him.

"NO!" bellowed Voldemort, "IMPERIUS!"

Lily shrieked as she felt her mind being consumed, as if she had just been dunked underwater. She fell onto the ground, struggling with the pain that was throbbing in her head.

Do not go near him.

Kill yourself.

She shook her head painfully, trying to edge closer to the cage. No.

Take the wand and kill yourself.

No.

No one likes you for who you are. If you die, the world will be a happier place.

"NO!" Lily screamed.

James gave her an encouraging half-smile, he was reaching out of the cage, "Just a little further."

The Deatheaters were all too interested to see what would happen, and Voldemort was concentrating on controlling Lily's mind. She was tough. She was fighting it.

Go to edge of the lake and throw yourself in... drown yourself... save yourself from the pain you are causing others... kill yourself...

Lily involuntarily switched direction towards the lake.

NO!

Struggling painfully, everything seemed to stop as Lily tried to crawl to the lake, yet tried to reach for James' hand.

Drown yourself... kill yourself...

"NO!" she finally screamed. At this, all the pulling sensation telling her to go towards the lake disappeared. Panting, Lily threw herself with the last of her energy and grabbed James' hand.

"NO!" screamed Voldemort.

"I love you, Lily," James whispered, loud enough for her to hear him.

"I love you too..." her body was becoming weaker and her breaths shorter. She slowly collapsed onto the ground, completely limp.

A blinding white light seemed to erupt with a powerful whooshing noise. For a moment, you could see nothing but a dazzling white colour. The Deatheaters yelled and disapparated away, following their Dark Lord who had already fled.

The light shone throughout the entire forest, exploding into the sky as bright stars. Then it disappeared, leaving only a few more stars in the sky. They twinkled and shone as if they were guardian angels.

James felt so exhausted... his heavy eyelids were drooping... he felt himself slowly sink onto the ground. The cage that had trapped him mere seconds ago had disappeared along with the light.

"I love you, Lily," he repeated softly, his eyes fluttering shut.

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A/N: Awww.... their love is so sweet. :) --MSQ.