Hey! I can see that you guys really liked that chapter and the best is yet to come, at least I think so. I need to kiss each of your shoes because I am the worst author in the world. I want to thank those who reviewed, I love you all. (or as it is known in the south y'all) This is the chapter that inspired me to write the whole story, which, I will tell you now, will not be stopping at the deaths of Lily and James. I hope you enjoy this chapter the most, for I spent at least a month writing it, amidst a cold and scratchy throat. To answer someone's question on the last chapter, Rhubat got away with everything because he never told Dumbledore what he was really doing, as Voldemort instructed him to do. So little to enjoy, so much time to enjoy it, wait, strike that, reverse it!
Useless Information: Well, I have arrived with yet another quote… "Maturity begins to grow when you can sense your concern for others outweighing your concern for yourself." - John MacNaughton
Disclaimer: Just like pleather and faux fur, I'm not the real thing, but I do a pretty darn good job. The real stuff is J.K. Rowling (leather) and Marion Zimmer Bradley (real fur).
If Time is All We've Lost
Chapter 8 - Silver Sickle
"Hello it's me,
I've thought about us for a long, long time.
Maybe I think too much, but something's wrong,
There's something here that doesn't last too long,
Maybe I shouldn't think of you as mine.
-Todd Rundgren ~ "Hello, it's me."
Lily tried with all her might to scream, but Rhubat just tightened his grip around her mouth. He had placed a floating and immobile charm on Arabella, Raquel, and Soroya and then they all headed to the appointed place.
The boys stopped to regroup around the statue of Trintithia the True and look at where Rhubat was taking the girls. He was headed towards the secret chamber that they had discovered in their 2nd year at Hogwarts.
The chamber was really useless, just a room not a lot of people knew about with another room adjacent to it, or, in other words, exactly what Voldemort wanted.
Rhubat threw Lily into the adjacent room where Voldemort was. He tied the others up in the first chamber and stood watch, waiting for any other curious passersby. That's when Sirius took off, headed straight for where the painting of Tintagel castle was, also where the entrance to the chamber resided.
"Sirius, NO!" James tried to tell him, but it was too late, he had already hurtled to at least the third floor. "Remus, Gus, listen. You head for the painting and I'll follow you in with the cloak, I don't think Rhubat's planned for someone to be completely invisible."
Remus and Gus did as they were told. The statue was in such an obscure location, that it took them nearly an hour to get to it with out hurting themselves. Remus kissed the statue on the cheek, the only way to open the passage inside it and the others filed in silently. (A/N: A statue of Cilla the Civil is at the same place as the painting of Tintagel, but you can go in the chamber either way.)
As expected Rhubat placed the unconscious spell, "Kormentinsar Chordil," on Remus and Gus both, as he had done on the others, but missed James, as also expected.
James snuck in behind Rhubat and put the Kormentinsar Chordil spell on him. Try as he might, James could not remember the counter-spell to Kormentinsar Chordil. That didn't really matter, as he now noticed that he didn't even have his wand or the Marauder's map with him. With nothing left to do, James opened the door and sidled into the chamber as quietly as he could, amazed by what he saw as he removed his camouflage.
/~\ Hour before James arrived /~\
As soon as Rhubat had thrown Lily into the Chamber, Voldemort studied her carefully. The last time he had seen her, she was only 10, but she was still beautiful. It seemed, for some reason, that Minerva had no trouble picking pretty girls to learn to hate him.
Lily was horrified when she saw Voldemort. She had remembered him from their first meeting, but she couldn't really call it a meeting. Voldemort had been 19 then, dark and evil, and now, only seven years later, he had only added to his intimating prowess.
"Lily Evans, the single core of my plan, the only way to achieve what was left to me by my mother." His lips curled into a horrible smile as he watched her stand up. "You have surpassed me with your grace."
"I hope you cherish the thought," Lily snarled.
"You don't know how much that has mattered to me over the past seven years." Voldemort explained.
"Is this your plan that you've been dwelling on for seven whole years of your sorry life?" She laughed mockingly, probably the only one ever brave enough to do that. "I have to say, Voldemort, that I am highly disappointed in you."
In a swift move, he had pinned her against the wall. Lily was not expecting anything like this, but then the true realization hit her, Voldemort wanted her as his wife, or at least lover. Voldemort was really short for his years; Lily was only a few inches shorter than him. "Underestimation is never a good way to begin a relationship, my dear."
His mouth crushed hers and she cowered, in a vague attempt to get away. Finally, he pulled away. "Exactly like Igraine, aren't you? Are you praying that your soul-mate will come and rescue you, just like Uther did for Igraine?"
Lily was praying, but not to James, but rather to the Goddess and hopefully to the Merlin. But it wasn't long before Lily found her wit once again.
"Voldemort, I swear before all I know and all I have ever believed in that you will not take me consciously." Lily spat, her courage growing inside.
"Always a flaw, isn't there," Voldemort said as grabbed Lily's hand to kiss it, but she flung it out of his grasp and slapped him.
"Perhaps you haven't noticed your own 'little flaws'." She retorted. Voldemort was reaching his breaking point. "You may have my sister, but you will never take me."
"I always value courage," He snickered. He took out a needle and grabbed her by the throat. "All I need is one drop."
Lily could not think of what he was doing as he painfully touched her crescent moon scar with it. He took the drop of scarlet blood and rubbed it with his fingers.
"A son! You will bear me a son!" He showed the blood to Lily. Sure enough, it had beaded up, the true sign of the Goddess's blessed fertility for a male child. "You will bear me the son that will send Avalon to the heavens where it should be! The second Mordred will come and finish the task set before him."
Lily was desperate now. "Never! I will never be yours! May the Goddess strike me down before that happens!" Lily thought quickly and smiled. "And if I was to bear you a son, I could kill him without your knowing. Herb Lore runs in my blood."
"You think that will defy the Dark Lord," Voldemort laughed cruelly. "You think of me simply."
It was then that James removed his cloak. "Potter," Voldemort flared, but then his expression softened tremendously as he took a few steps toward him, picking Lily up by her hair, but by being trained as a priestess, it didn't have quite the effect Voldemort was going for. "Potter, you love her, don't you?"
Lily was then viciously reminded that Voldemort had the Sight. But then again, Lily wasn't stupid, her plan was taking form.
James looked up weirdly at Voldemort and at Lily, who wasn't really showing much emotion at all, as he asked him the question. "Yes, I do."
"I'll tell you what," Voldemort said, smirking. "We'll have a duel, not a wizard's duel, but a traditional muggle one. If you win, you get her and vice versa."
James looked as though he thought really deeply about the whole idea of fighting him and the vulnerability of his and Lily's life at the moment. There was no way out of fighting. If he ran for the door, Voldemort would trap him in less than two steps. James did not get behind in the current wizarding news, he had the Daily Prophet delivered to him, well, daily. He knew what Voldemort had been doing. James's only hope was that he would hold Voldemort off long enough for Dumbledore to come in and intervene. So, ignoring Lily, slumped in a corner, obviously talking to herself, he slowly nodded. For one last grasp of hope, he realized that Lily was a full priestess of Avalon and that she wasn't just going to sit and watch him die. James carefully picked up the fencing sword that Voldemort had thrown to him.
James took no time to figure out why Lily had had to take fencing lessons to prepare for Voldemort, he was excellent. Poised and perfect, James was having a hard time blocking each of his sword's blows.
Voldemort had it all ready. He would kill James, and then transport Lily somewhere else where they would not be found by any priest, priestess, or ruler of Avalon or Dragon Isle. (A/N: Dragon Isle is like Avalon for male priests of the God)
The fight was fierce, but fencing was not something that James excelled in. Voldemort had almost beat him many times, James always hanging on the last thread, but always coming out on top. But once, Voldemort's aim was true.
Lily hated what had to come next, but there was no other way to turn the table on Voldemort. Voldemort wrenched James to a standing position by the nape of his neck, his fencing sword was pressed to James's neck and his skin was almost at it bleeding point.
"Is this your Uther, Lady Igraine?" Voldemort laughed disbelievingly and then spit in James's face. James was still dealing with the immense pain in his neck to react to Voldemort's actions towards him. "I have always imagined him at least having a bit of chivalry." And he dropped the almost limp body of James to the ground and he pointed his sword at James's chest. "One word, m'lady, one word can save his life or destroy it."
"Fine," she said. "You can have me, just don't hurt James." Voldemort's hard expression softened immediately, and his sword tumbled to the hard, cold stone floor. James looked at Lily in supreme disbelief. But Lily gave him a look that plainly said, 'I'm fine, seriously.'
Lily played along with Voldemort's kiss until he was no longer conscious of what she was doing. Her hand fastened around the tiny sickle knife around her waist, the one she had been given when she became a priestess. She ensured the ultimate surprise for Voldemort and then drew the frozen steel across his cheek.
Voldemort let out a blood-curdling scream, that no doubt woke the entire school up. All Lily had to do know was to keep her and James alive till someone arrived.
Voldemort clutched his bloody cheek. After realizing that he only had a few moments to do as much damage as he could he took full advantage. Since he couldn't find the Potter boy, his rage was suppressed towards Lily. The perfect plan, seven years of careful execution, was nearly gone. Even if his purpose was not carried out tonight, then he would definetley be back, having more time work on a strategy where there was no way out, no way to possibly fail, then he would have his revenge on Minerva and on The God and Goddess.
He slammed Lily against the wall, which was not good for a body already deprived of half its energy. He retraced her crescent scar with his left fore finger. Instead of feeling a touch on her skin, it was like the day she had gotten the scar, only a hundred times worse than before.
As Voldemort smiled when he saw Lily's unexpected pain, and showed her the concealed razor that had been dipped into a pain increasing solution. "As you have left me with a mark I will never forget, I have done the same to you." Pain was now riddling her thoughts and scarlet blood was dripping down her face.
James attacked then, but he was no match for Voldemort. Voldemort hurled James into the wall, as he had done Lily. Voldemort locked his strong fingers around James's throat. "Bravery is sometimes repaid; too bad this isn't one of those times."
With the last of her strength, Lily picked up her sickle knife and plunged it into Voldemort's side. Hoping her aim was true, she sunk onto the floor in a dead faint, perhaps never to wake again.
Instead of screaming, Voldemort dislodged the minute dagger, his usual sneer turned into a grimace twisted with agony. He returned Lily's favor and then fled. (A/N: If anyone wants to know, when Voldemort returned Lily's favor, he stabbed the blade into her side.)
James stood up and tried to help Lily's lifeless body, but it didn't take long for her to come around, sputtering and coughing up the blood that had found its way into her lungs.
At that moment, Dumbledore burst in and let out a great sigh of relief. "Thank the Goddess that you two are all right. We must have you taken care of." Dumbledore lifted up Lily's body and turned to James. "Mr. Potter, go down to the hospital wing and get Madam Pomfrey," Dumbledore smiled as saw James's puzzled look. "Madam Pomfrey is tending to one of the house-elves that was burned in a horrible double boiler incident. Tell her to come to my office as soon as possible, and follow her."
Dumbledore silently walked his way towards his office and James sped towards the kitchens. Indeed it looked as though the house-elf was going to have a nasty rash as a side-effect, but Madam Pomfrey was happy to leave the kitchens. It seemed to James that some of the ill elf's friends were starting a small riot.
When James and Madam Pomfrey arrived at Dumbledore's office, Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore were standing around her. Lily's forehead was still bleeding, but her side still had the knife in it. It seemed that they could not remove it, and therefore, Lily was only able to sit up.
Madam Pomfrey let out quite an audible gasp when she took in Lily's state, and the dagger still plunged into her side. "Professor Dumbledore," she said as she bustled over. "Why haven't you removed this weapon!?"
"Poppy," Dumbledore said firmly. "Poppy, listen. None of us can remove the dagger because it isn't an ordinary dagger." When Dumbledore noticed the look of uncertainty on both James and Madam Pomfrey's faces, he quickly added, "You can ask Minerva, she will explain it better than I."
Minerva stepped forward. "Lily's sickle knife is unlike the ones given to normal priestesses on Avalon. She has the one that once belonged to Morgaine and contains blood rubies. The only thing different about it is that it cannot be simply removed. It has to be removed by the person's one true love. Voldemort, conceited and selfish, removed it himself because he considers himself his one true love."
Madam Pomfrey looked quite flustered. "That's not good, not good I tell you. A true love could take years to find, she may very well die tonight!"
James really didn't listen, but watched Lily as writhed in tremendous agony, but he snapped back into attention when he heard his name.
"That's what I said, Minerva," Dumbledore was saying. "I believe that Mr. Potter here can remove the dagger from Miss Evans's side.
"Me?" he said, very overwhelmed by being said as Lily's one true love. "Are you sure?"
"Of course, Mr. Potter," Dumbledore looked at him, slightly confused. "Don't you remember what happened in the chamber. Only the one that really loved her would admit that to Voldemort's face."
James turned it all over in his mind. Dumbledore was right, he did love her. But another horrible thought meandered into his mind; What if I can't take the knife out of her side? If I can't, then she may die soon or we may be searching all of Europe for the one that can.
"Go ahead Mr. Potter," Dumbledore looked at him with his twinkling blue eyes. "I am more than faithful that you will be able to remove it."
With Dumbledore's subtle encouragement, James grasped the hilt, the rubies almost hot against his skin. And, with very little effort at all, extracted the tiny blade from Lily.
The eminent anguish on Lily's face disappeared and everyone in the room looked relieved. The bleeding on Lily's forehead stopped and healed, just as the incision in her side had done. Lily caught James in a hug and, eventually, a kiss and, amazingly, Madam Pomfrey had no disagreements with their actions.
"Well, it seems all is in order here. I must return to the hospital wing. Mr. Mondin from Hufflepuff had a quite unforgettable experience with a prune-eating begonia." Madam Pomfrey left and hurried towards the wing.
"Mr. Potter, Miss Evans," they both looked up at Dumbledore, who was visibly smiling from underneath his silvery beard. "I believe I can trust you to find your ways to the Gryffindor Common Room. All of your friends will be very anxious to hear what has happened." And they both left the room as well.
Minerva waited till they were surely out of earshot before she spoke up. "Merlin, what are we going to do? Even if Lily does bear a child to James, she will never let it be fostered on Dragon Isle or on Avalon. Am I to find another to whom will definitely bear a child for me or you to foster as the next Lady of the Lake or the Merlin?"
"I certainly know that Lily will not bear a child to the Goddess. In fact, Narcissa will bear the future Merlin, but Lily will also bear a son, around the same three month period. Just as was foretold, they will hate each other, but there is a link between them, although they may not know it. The girl who is their link may not even know it. I trust you to find another woman to produce an heir for you. Befriend her and remember to tell her to start her child's middle name with an S." Dumbledore stared at Minerva's amazed face. "You have been denying the Sight, my dear. You will find an amazingly bright child, more intelligent than Lily. There is only one possible flaw. Narcissa will more than willingly give us her son to be fostered on Dragon Isle, but I'm afraid Lucius may want him to be his heir in being a death eater for Voldemort. Voldemort knows it, and I have prayed to the God and the Goddess continually that Narcissa will bear your heir, but it is not so. As long as we can educate the young man well, it will not be an issue. I still fear for Lily's life, Voldemort will no doubt want revenge on Lily, James, and their son. Their son will live, though, they may not, it is up to the God and Goddess. But, the girl who is to be your heir and Narcissa's son cannot know of each other as priest and priestess. The only time they will actually meet as gifts from the God and Goddess is when they prove their worth. That will be when Narcissa's son receives the serpents around his wrists and the girl will receive her crescent moon scar."
Minerva cut him off, smiling. "The Sight has been very generous to you, Merlin."
"Never doubt what the Goddess and God can give. If the two successors meet each other, not in the priest and priestess form, they will show great hatred for the other, just as Mr. Potter and Mr. Malfoy do now." Dumbledore finally finished.
"What about the Beltane fires? Has the God or Goddess said we shall have them participate?" Minerva asked.
"We may want to consult Delia about that, she is the only one on Avalon that has completely devoted herself to the Goddess." Dumbledore sighed heavily. "Or, the Goddess or God will give their consent in the Sight, in words, or in any action."
A/N: Like I said, I am so sorry, but I think that I was really scared to right this chapter. I hope you loved it. I don't think I underestimated myself here! I'll give my reviewers three things, including eternal thanks, instead of my usual two. They get tissues, (they have become like my life-source while I've been sick) soft peppermint sticks, (One of the Ultimate Yums!) and those pointy hats that noblewomen had to wear in the middle ages. (My friend has to make one for a Middle-ages festival that we're going to with school) I hope you guys feel like reviewing! Happy Easter! Happy Holy Week! Happy Passover! Happy March 25th! Thanks! Epequa ;)
Useless Information: Well, I have arrived with yet another quote… "Maturity begins to grow when you can sense your concern for others outweighing your concern for yourself." - John MacNaughton
Disclaimer: Just like pleather and faux fur, I'm not the real thing, but I do a pretty darn good job. The real stuff is J.K. Rowling (leather) and Marion Zimmer Bradley (real fur).
If Time is All We've Lost
Chapter 8 - Silver Sickle
"Hello it's me,
I've thought about us for a long, long time.
Maybe I think too much, but something's wrong,
There's something here that doesn't last too long,
Maybe I shouldn't think of you as mine.
-Todd Rundgren ~ "Hello, it's me."
Lily tried with all her might to scream, but Rhubat just tightened his grip around her mouth. He had placed a floating and immobile charm on Arabella, Raquel, and Soroya and then they all headed to the appointed place.
The boys stopped to regroup around the statue of Trintithia the True and look at where Rhubat was taking the girls. He was headed towards the secret chamber that they had discovered in their 2nd year at Hogwarts.
The chamber was really useless, just a room not a lot of people knew about with another room adjacent to it, or, in other words, exactly what Voldemort wanted.
Rhubat threw Lily into the adjacent room where Voldemort was. He tied the others up in the first chamber and stood watch, waiting for any other curious passersby. That's when Sirius took off, headed straight for where the painting of Tintagel castle was, also where the entrance to the chamber resided.
"Sirius, NO!" James tried to tell him, but it was too late, he had already hurtled to at least the third floor. "Remus, Gus, listen. You head for the painting and I'll follow you in with the cloak, I don't think Rhubat's planned for someone to be completely invisible."
Remus and Gus did as they were told. The statue was in such an obscure location, that it took them nearly an hour to get to it with out hurting themselves. Remus kissed the statue on the cheek, the only way to open the passage inside it and the others filed in silently. (A/N: A statue of Cilla the Civil is at the same place as the painting of Tintagel, but you can go in the chamber either way.)
As expected Rhubat placed the unconscious spell, "Kormentinsar Chordil," on Remus and Gus both, as he had done on the others, but missed James, as also expected.
James snuck in behind Rhubat and put the Kormentinsar Chordil spell on him. Try as he might, James could not remember the counter-spell to Kormentinsar Chordil. That didn't really matter, as he now noticed that he didn't even have his wand or the Marauder's map with him. With nothing left to do, James opened the door and sidled into the chamber as quietly as he could, amazed by what he saw as he removed his camouflage.
/~\ Hour before James arrived /~\
As soon as Rhubat had thrown Lily into the Chamber, Voldemort studied her carefully. The last time he had seen her, she was only 10, but she was still beautiful. It seemed, for some reason, that Minerva had no trouble picking pretty girls to learn to hate him.
Lily was horrified when she saw Voldemort. She had remembered him from their first meeting, but she couldn't really call it a meeting. Voldemort had been 19 then, dark and evil, and now, only seven years later, he had only added to his intimating prowess.
"Lily Evans, the single core of my plan, the only way to achieve what was left to me by my mother." His lips curled into a horrible smile as he watched her stand up. "You have surpassed me with your grace."
"I hope you cherish the thought," Lily snarled.
"You don't know how much that has mattered to me over the past seven years." Voldemort explained.
"Is this your plan that you've been dwelling on for seven whole years of your sorry life?" She laughed mockingly, probably the only one ever brave enough to do that. "I have to say, Voldemort, that I am highly disappointed in you."
In a swift move, he had pinned her against the wall. Lily was not expecting anything like this, but then the true realization hit her, Voldemort wanted her as his wife, or at least lover. Voldemort was really short for his years; Lily was only a few inches shorter than him. "Underestimation is never a good way to begin a relationship, my dear."
His mouth crushed hers and she cowered, in a vague attempt to get away. Finally, he pulled away. "Exactly like Igraine, aren't you? Are you praying that your soul-mate will come and rescue you, just like Uther did for Igraine?"
Lily was praying, but not to James, but rather to the Goddess and hopefully to the Merlin. But it wasn't long before Lily found her wit once again.
"Voldemort, I swear before all I know and all I have ever believed in that you will not take me consciously." Lily spat, her courage growing inside.
"Always a flaw, isn't there," Voldemort said as grabbed Lily's hand to kiss it, but she flung it out of his grasp and slapped him.
"Perhaps you haven't noticed your own 'little flaws'." She retorted. Voldemort was reaching his breaking point. "You may have my sister, but you will never take me."
"I always value courage," He snickered. He took out a needle and grabbed her by the throat. "All I need is one drop."
Lily could not think of what he was doing as he painfully touched her crescent moon scar with it. He took the drop of scarlet blood and rubbed it with his fingers.
"A son! You will bear me a son!" He showed the blood to Lily. Sure enough, it had beaded up, the true sign of the Goddess's blessed fertility for a male child. "You will bear me the son that will send Avalon to the heavens where it should be! The second Mordred will come and finish the task set before him."
Lily was desperate now. "Never! I will never be yours! May the Goddess strike me down before that happens!" Lily thought quickly and smiled. "And if I was to bear you a son, I could kill him without your knowing. Herb Lore runs in my blood."
"You think that will defy the Dark Lord," Voldemort laughed cruelly. "You think of me simply."
It was then that James removed his cloak. "Potter," Voldemort flared, but then his expression softened tremendously as he took a few steps toward him, picking Lily up by her hair, but by being trained as a priestess, it didn't have quite the effect Voldemort was going for. "Potter, you love her, don't you?"
Lily was then viciously reminded that Voldemort had the Sight. But then again, Lily wasn't stupid, her plan was taking form.
James looked up weirdly at Voldemort and at Lily, who wasn't really showing much emotion at all, as he asked him the question. "Yes, I do."
"I'll tell you what," Voldemort said, smirking. "We'll have a duel, not a wizard's duel, but a traditional muggle one. If you win, you get her and vice versa."
James looked as though he thought really deeply about the whole idea of fighting him and the vulnerability of his and Lily's life at the moment. There was no way out of fighting. If he ran for the door, Voldemort would trap him in less than two steps. James did not get behind in the current wizarding news, he had the Daily Prophet delivered to him, well, daily. He knew what Voldemort had been doing. James's only hope was that he would hold Voldemort off long enough for Dumbledore to come in and intervene. So, ignoring Lily, slumped in a corner, obviously talking to herself, he slowly nodded. For one last grasp of hope, he realized that Lily was a full priestess of Avalon and that she wasn't just going to sit and watch him die. James carefully picked up the fencing sword that Voldemort had thrown to him.
James took no time to figure out why Lily had had to take fencing lessons to prepare for Voldemort, he was excellent. Poised and perfect, James was having a hard time blocking each of his sword's blows.
Voldemort had it all ready. He would kill James, and then transport Lily somewhere else where they would not be found by any priest, priestess, or ruler of Avalon or Dragon Isle. (A/N: Dragon Isle is like Avalon for male priests of the God)
The fight was fierce, but fencing was not something that James excelled in. Voldemort had almost beat him many times, James always hanging on the last thread, but always coming out on top. But once, Voldemort's aim was true.
Lily hated what had to come next, but there was no other way to turn the table on Voldemort. Voldemort wrenched James to a standing position by the nape of his neck, his fencing sword was pressed to James's neck and his skin was almost at it bleeding point.
"Is this your Uther, Lady Igraine?" Voldemort laughed disbelievingly and then spit in James's face. James was still dealing with the immense pain in his neck to react to Voldemort's actions towards him. "I have always imagined him at least having a bit of chivalry." And he dropped the almost limp body of James to the ground and he pointed his sword at James's chest. "One word, m'lady, one word can save his life or destroy it."
"Fine," she said. "You can have me, just don't hurt James." Voldemort's hard expression softened immediately, and his sword tumbled to the hard, cold stone floor. James looked at Lily in supreme disbelief. But Lily gave him a look that plainly said, 'I'm fine, seriously.'
Lily played along with Voldemort's kiss until he was no longer conscious of what she was doing. Her hand fastened around the tiny sickle knife around her waist, the one she had been given when she became a priestess. She ensured the ultimate surprise for Voldemort and then drew the frozen steel across his cheek.
Voldemort let out a blood-curdling scream, that no doubt woke the entire school up. All Lily had to do know was to keep her and James alive till someone arrived.
Voldemort clutched his bloody cheek. After realizing that he only had a few moments to do as much damage as he could he took full advantage. Since he couldn't find the Potter boy, his rage was suppressed towards Lily. The perfect plan, seven years of careful execution, was nearly gone. Even if his purpose was not carried out tonight, then he would definetley be back, having more time work on a strategy where there was no way out, no way to possibly fail, then he would have his revenge on Minerva and on The God and Goddess.
He slammed Lily against the wall, which was not good for a body already deprived of half its energy. He retraced her crescent scar with his left fore finger. Instead of feeling a touch on her skin, it was like the day she had gotten the scar, only a hundred times worse than before.
As Voldemort smiled when he saw Lily's unexpected pain, and showed her the concealed razor that had been dipped into a pain increasing solution. "As you have left me with a mark I will never forget, I have done the same to you." Pain was now riddling her thoughts and scarlet blood was dripping down her face.
James attacked then, but he was no match for Voldemort. Voldemort hurled James into the wall, as he had done Lily. Voldemort locked his strong fingers around James's throat. "Bravery is sometimes repaid; too bad this isn't one of those times."
With the last of her strength, Lily picked up her sickle knife and plunged it into Voldemort's side. Hoping her aim was true, she sunk onto the floor in a dead faint, perhaps never to wake again.
Instead of screaming, Voldemort dislodged the minute dagger, his usual sneer turned into a grimace twisted with agony. He returned Lily's favor and then fled. (A/N: If anyone wants to know, when Voldemort returned Lily's favor, he stabbed the blade into her side.)
James stood up and tried to help Lily's lifeless body, but it didn't take long for her to come around, sputtering and coughing up the blood that had found its way into her lungs.
At that moment, Dumbledore burst in and let out a great sigh of relief. "Thank the Goddess that you two are all right. We must have you taken care of." Dumbledore lifted up Lily's body and turned to James. "Mr. Potter, go down to the hospital wing and get Madam Pomfrey," Dumbledore smiled as saw James's puzzled look. "Madam Pomfrey is tending to one of the house-elves that was burned in a horrible double boiler incident. Tell her to come to my office as soon as possible, and follow her."
Dumbledore silently walked his way towards his office and James sped towards the kitchens. Indeed it looked as though the house-elf was going to have a nasty rash as a side-effect, but Madam Pomfrey was happy to leave the kitchens. It seemed to James that some of the ill elf's friends were starting a small riot.
When James and Madam Pomfrey arrived at Dumbledore's office, Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore were standing around her. Lily's forehead was still bleeding, but her side still had the knife in it. It seemed that they could not remove it, and therefore, Lily was only able to sit up.
Madam Pomfrey let out quite an audible gasp when she took in Lily's state, and the dagger still plunged into her side. "Professor Dumbledore," she said as she bustled over. "Why haven't you removed this weapon!?"
"Poppy," Dumbledore said firmly. "Poppy, listen. None of us can remove the dagger because it isn't an ordinary dagger." When Dumbledore noticed the look of uncertainty on both James and Madam Pomfrey's faces, he quickly added, "You can ask Minerva, she will explain it better than I."
Minerva stepped forward. "Lily's sickle knife is unlike the ones given to normal priestesses on Avalon. She has the one that once belonged to Morgaine and contains blood rubies. The only thing different about it is that it cannot be simply removed. It has to be removed by the person's one true love. Voldemort, conceited and selfish, removed it himself because he considers himself his one true love."
Madam Pomfrey looked quite flustered. "That's not good, not good I tell you. A true love could take years to find, she may very well die tonight!"
James really didn't listen, but watched Lily as writhed in tremendous agony, but he snapped back into attention when he heard his name.
"That's what I said, Minerva," Dumbledore was saying. "I believe that Mr. Potter here can remove the dagger from Miss Evans's side.
"Me?" he said, very overwhelmed by being said as Lily's one true love. "Are you sure?"
"Of course, Mr. Potter," Dumbledore looked at him, slightly confused. "Don't you remember what happened in the chamber. Only the one that really loved her would admit that to Voldemort's face."
James turned it all over in his mind. Dumbledore was right, he did love her. But another horrible thought meandered into his mind; What if I can't take the knife out of her side? If I can't, then she may die soon or we may be searching all of Europe for the one that can.
"Go ahead Mr. Potter," Dumbledore looked at him with his twinkling blue eyes. "I am more than faithful that you will be able to remove it."
With Dumbledore's subtle encouragement, James grasped the hilt, the rubies almost hot against his skin. And, with very little effort at all, extracted the tiny blade from Lily.
The eminent anguish on Lily's face disappeared and everyone in the room looked relieved. The bleeding on Lily's forehead stopped and healed, just as the incision in her side had done. Lily caught James in a hug and, eventually, a kiss and, amazingly, Madam Pomfrey had no disagreements with their actions.
"Well, it seems all is in order here. I must return to the hospital wing. Mr. Mondin from Hufflepuff had a quite unforgettable experience with a prune-eating begonia." Madam Pomfrey left and hurried towards the wing.
"Mr. Potter, Miss Evans," they both looked up at Dumbledore, who was visibly smiling from underneath his silvery beard. "I believe I can trust you to find your ways to the Gryffindor Common Room. All of your friends will be very anxious to hear what has happened." And they both left the room as well.
Minerva waited till they were surely out of earshot before she spoke up. "Merlin, what are we going to do? Even if Lily does bear a child to James, she will never let it be fostered on Dragon Isle or on Avalon. Am I to find another to whom will definitely bear a child for me or you to foster as the next Lady of the Lake or the Merlin?"
"I certainly know that Lily will not bear a child to the Goddess. In fact, Narcissa will bear the future Merlin, but Lily will also bear a son, around the same three month period. Just as was foretold, they will hate each other, but there is a link between them, although they may not know it. The girl who is their link may not even know it. I trust you to find another woman to produce an heir for you. Befriend her and remember to tell her to start her child's middle name with an S." Dumbledore stared at Minerva's amazed face. "You have been denying the Sight, my dear. You will find an amazingly bright child, more intelligent than Lily. There is only one possible flaw. Narcissa will more than willingly give us her son to be fostered on Dragon Isle, but I'm afraid Lucius may want him to be his heir in being a death eater for Voldemort. Voldemort knows it, and I have prayed to the God and the Goddess continually that Narcissa will bear your heir, but it is not so. As long as we can educate the young man well, it will not be an issue. I still fear for Lily's life, Voldemort will no doubt want revenge on Lily, James, and their son. Their son will live, though, they may not, it is up to the God and Goddess. But, the girl who is to be your heir and Narcissa's son cannot know of each other as priest and priestess. The only time they will actually meet as gifts from the God and Goddess is when they prove their worth. That will be when Narcissa's son receives the serpents around his wrists and the girl will receive her crescent moon scar."
Minerva cut him off, smiling. "The Sight has been very generous to you, Merlin."
"Never doubt what the Goddess and God can give. If the two successors meet each other, not in the priest and priestess form, they will show great hatred for the other, just as Mr. Potter and Mr. Malfoy do now." Dumbledore finally finished.
"What about the Beltane fires? Has the God or Goddess said we shall have them participate?" Minerva asked.
"We may want to consult Delia about that, she is the only one on Avalon that has completely devoted herself to the Goddess." Dumbledore sighed heavily. "Or, the Goddess or God will give their consent in the Sight, in words, or in any action."
A/N: Like I said, I am so sorry, but I think that I was really scared to right this chapter. I hope you loved it. I don't think I underestimated myself here! I'll give my reviewers three things, including eternal thanks, instead of my usual two. They get tissues, (they have become like my life-source while I've been sick) soft peppermint sticks, (One of the Ultimate Yums!) and those pointy hats that noblewomen had to wear in the middle ages. (My friend has to make one for a Middle-ages festival that we're going to with school) I hope you guys feel like reviewing! Happy Easter! Happy Holy Week! Happy Passover! Happy March 25th! Thanks! Epequa ;)