Chapter Twenty Seven

Veritaserum

Lily and James entered the last chamber. There were two doors and two old men playing a game of chess. They jumped up suddenly.

The shorter one stood at the left hand door, while the tall lean one took the right hand door.

"He always lies." The tall thin man said, pointing at the man beside him.

"He always tells the truth." The plump short man said.

James frowned. "Do you have names?"

The two just looked at him. "All right, tall thin man you are called Garren. And you short fat man you are called Ward." The two men frowned.

"All right, Garren says that Ward always lies. Ward says Garren always tells the truth. Which means that Ward was lying when he said that Garren always tells the truth. Which means Ward doesn't always lie."

Lily looked at James. "What in the name of god are you talking about?"

"Them." James pointed at the two men who were looking very puzzled.

"All we want is an offering." They said together.

Lily laughed and went into one of her bags. She found a small bottle of clear liquid.

"Will this do?" she asked, holding forward the crystal bottle.

"Water?" Ward looked amused.

"Well, it's all we have." Lily replied. "I don't know the conjuring spell."

"Which door do we go through?" James asked.

"That's for us to know and you to not find out." The two men said together.

Lily frowned at them. "If we give you something, will you let us through?"

"No. but it will help if you give us something." Garren said.

"I just offered you something!" Lily cried.

"Water doesn't satisfy us." Ward replied.

"But might be lying!" Lily said.

"The whole world might be lying." Garren put in.

"Fine. I'll drink it then." Lily snapped. She pulled out the cork and downed the whole glass. A blank vacant expression came onto Lily's face.

"Lily? Lily are you okay?" James asked, waving a hand in front of her face.

"Yes." Lily's voice was lacking any expression. James stared at her.

"Lily, what was in that bottle?"

"I don't know." Lily's eyes remained unfocused and unseeing.

"Lil, what am I supposed to do?"

"Ask questions."

"Ask questions?"

"Ask questions." Lily repeated.

James passed a hand over his face and then turned to the two men. "Which door do I go through Ward?"

"Mine of course." Ward replied with an evil grin.

"Which door do I go through Garren?"

"His. He said so." Garren said.

James stopped and stared at them. "What color is the sky?"

"Red." Ward said.

"Blue." Garren said.

"What colors are on the Gryffindor badge?"

"Red and Gold." Ward said.

"Purple and Blue!" Garren said.

James looked around at Lily. Her gaze was still unfocused and black. "What do I ask Lily?"

"What door to go through." Lily said.

"What door do you go through?"

"His of course." Ward said.

"His!" Garren cried.

"What door do we go through?" James asked Lily.

"Garren's." Lily replied. James moved forwards, pulling Lily along behind him.

"Get out of the way." he snarled at the man. Garren stepped aside and James pushed the door open.

Sirius watched James's eyes fluttering. He was muttering. "No Lily! Lily wake up. Hurry!"

The blue eyes Sirius knew so well opened and fluttered. Tears began to form in the eyes. "Sirius." He muttered when he saw his friend. Sirius jumped up and knelt beside James's head.

"James. Are you all right mate?" he asked quietly.

"Lily. She's all alone now. There's nothing I can do." James managed to turn over and buried his head in his pillow.

Sirius felt tears pricking his own eyes. Lily was all that was left. She only had two hours left.

Lily felt herself return to the shell she had floated above. The taste of the liquid had burned down her throat and made her feel—unclean. She had no other way of describing the feeling of truth washing through her.

She slipped back in and began to walk towards the last door. She wished for James's strong hand around her's. She hoped that this was the last task.

The door was huge and made of maple, as far as Lily could tell. It had the sixteen pointed star engraved half way up and the handle was the same symbol.

Lily gently turned to handle and walked into the huge chamber.

"Welcome to the last task. You should be alone, as only the principle is allowed to enter this room. Do not make a sound." The voice said.

Lily frowned as a screen formed in front of her. It was almost as if she was watching the same thing that had happened when she saw the future.

A voice came from the darkness. A gentle old voice that Lily recognized at once. "You are, Lily, possibly the most important witch in this generation. You and James are the most important people in your generation. Your son is going to defeat the Dark Lord. Or that is what we hope. He is our only hope. Lily, are you listening to me?" Dumbledore's voice was gentle and firm.

The screen suddenly exploded. A man stood there. He was tall with dark hair and a pale face. "Lily Evans. I have long heard of you."