"Uh-oh, Jamesie, m'boy! Your love's just seen you snogging another woman!"
Sirius kidded as he watched James gape after the back of the redhead. James
turned on him instantly and opened his mouth to snap angrily. He never got
a chance to word his angry retort.
Because before he could speak, terror-filled screams came from the direction of Hogsmeade. The Common Room of Gryffindor Tower fell silent, all action stopped abruptly, as was the rest of the castle. It seemed as if time chose that moment to take a break. Chess games were paused, giggles and laughter halted, chasing each other had ended and all the students' heads instantly swerved to the east. Through a window, they could all see one thing: Hogsmeade, their beloved fun providing, break-time occupying, and simply a place to hang out village was aflame.
"AVADA KEDAVRA!!"
The chilling spell silenced all remaining sounds, which were few. Rising from a tip of someone's wand, after a muttered "Morsmorde", was the Dark Mark. And as if someone turned on a switch, everyone snapped out of their reverie and screamed. Littered in the air were frightened yelps, this time not only coming from Hogsmeade, but from Hogwarts as well.
*~*
Lily, in her dorm, had also heard the screams from the wizarding village, the eerie silence that had followed, the spine-tingling voice that had shouted the unblockable Killing Curse and the screams from their own castle that had erupted after.
She started shaking madly for the growing terror within her and ran on pure instinct to the Common Room. Lily had forewarned herself to prepare for the worst scene, but still got a shock.
The usually cheerful Marauders sat on the sofas, heads permanently stuck to the window in the East End. Girls were sobbing, including Clara and Dana. The tiny first and second years were numb with the dumb realization that they weren't as safe as they thought themselves to be. The older boys were trying to maintain peace, you could hear them yelling above Sacha Pront's grief-filled yells (her brother worked as an assistant in the Three Broomsticks, all her family were killed by Voldemort a few years back, and he was the only one she had left) orders to calm down and not be frightened, aside from the fact that they were scared themselves.
Above the pandemonium, Professor McGonagall (who entered her House's Common Room, unnoticed) shouted, "Settle down! Hogsmeade is under attack, as you know, by You-Know-Who. Please, it would not do well if we just stand here, yelling our heads off, not helping. Professor Dumbledore ordered fifth years and above, yes, that includes you, Miss Evans," she said nodding to the gesturing redhead on the stairs, before continuing, "to go to Hogsmeade and heal all people before the hospital doctors and nurses arrive. The rest of you will be sleeping in the Great Hall, with the rest of your classmates from other Houses. Fifth years and above, follow me. Hurry, please."
Lily, along with the rest of her classmates from the upper years, ran out, following the billowing black robes of their Head of House.
They met up with the confused and scared-looking Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs (the Slytherins looked particularly unbaffled in the least, they must've known this was coming) and all the staff, except Madame Prinuella, Professor Torres and Apollyon Pringle, led them running through the familiar path to Hogsmeade, their robes snagging at the low hanging branches.
When they reached their destination, most if the Death Eaters were still there and so were some of the Aurors. Most of them had gone after the escaping Death Eaters, Alastor Moody informed Dumbledore, before limping away to fire curses at the remaining standing Death Eaters.
The streets of Hogsmeade, on which the students and their friends had tromped along on happily, were littered with the usually happy civilians' bodies, the buildings in which they had drank Butterbeer and shopped for dress robes and other things were burned down, black rubbles littered where they once stood.
The students were astounded and with dumb realization recognized this pile of mess to be Hogsmeade. Professor McGonagall saw their astonishment and sympathized with them for a few moments, but this wasn't a time to be surprised.
"Students! This is a great shock to you, I trust, but it is no time to be standing around useless when we could be helping and healing the wounded. The healing charms: for burns, Substantium Eberium. For broken bones, we'll have to make do with splints and bandages, Ferula. For levitating the unconscious to the Portkey site, on the sidewalk beside the post office, Mobilicorpus. Get to work! Severus Snape, Marcia Greinhardt, stay behind, you will be helping Professor Mantle and I with the potions. Hurry," she lost no time in taking control.
Lily had been helping a girl, about six years of age, who had a broken leg and nasty burns over her upper body when she heard a groan to her right. Quickly levitating the girl to the Portkey site, she turned to where the groan had come from.
It was a boy, only a couple of years older than her. She looked at him with pity; his head was bleeding profusely from a crack that ran from his left temple to his mouth, his leg was bleeding, too, a large rock had apparently fallen on it, the bone seemed to be cracked. He had bruises and cuts all over, and it looked like he suffered from a very strong Cruciatus Curse.
Lily attended to him immediately. He had a raging fever and she beckoned Professor McGonagall, who was stirring a Pepper-Up Potion with Snape and some other students who were gifted at potions.
The older woman came bustling over with a vial of Pepper-Up Potion and she wordlessly handed it over to Lily. After the young man's bruises and cuts had been tended to and his fever was broken with the help of the potion, she levitated him to the Portkey site to be taken to St. Mungo's, as he was in no state to walk.
"Help, please.help." came a desperate cry for help from behind her. She sighed tiredly and she looked over. Lily had never seen anything more pitiful. Lying over a pile of rubble, with dirt all over her, was a woman, holding a new-born infant. The baby was so pale and it's chest heaved up and down very slowly. Lily felt a familiar burning behind her eyes. She blinked her tears away and helped the young mother stand up.
"Thank you, miss. Is my Charlie ok? Is he?" she asked Lily tearfully. Lily looked Charlie over and checked his pulse; it was very faint but was beating, just barely.
"Is he." the woman couldn't bring herself to say the word she dreaded the most about her child.
Lily faced the distraught woman and said, in a grave voice, "No, he's alive, but just barely. This is to make him feel a little better. Go to the Portkey area, bring him to St. Mungo's immediately. Hurry up, ma'am."
The woman hugged Lily, which caught her off-guard and thanked her. After watching the young mother rush to catch a Portkey, she looked around and spotted James, lifting a pile of rubber. Hurrying up to the black-haired boy, she saw him helping a young man up. Lily ran all the faster and aided James. Surprise etched his handsome features before a determined look set place over his face again.
They laid the man down and he opened his eyes, coughed and sputtered a bit before asking, "Who- who are you? What happened?"
Lily said, "Oh, God! You're Sacha's brother!"
It was true; the young adult had his younger sister's dark, hazel eyes and firm, sturdy mouth. His leg was torn up pretty badly, not unlike the boy she had helped earlier, he also had a crack running from the left side of his bloody forehead until his chin, but it was bigger. He was bleeding really bad from all the wounds all over his body. He didn't look like he was going to make it, but James and Lily could not give up.
"Yes, my name is Duncan. Where is she? Is she hurt? Is she all right?" He had no intentions about himself, only for his sister.
"No, only fifth years and above were sent to Hogsmeade. She's back at the castle, safe and warm with her friends," James said.
Duncan nodded, to show he understood. "Could you do a favor for me then?"
Lily nodded yes.
"Tell her I love her more than anything in the world, and I'll be watching her forever with our family. I'll always love he-"
Lily was afraid to look. The head they'd been holding up fell from James and her arms. Duncan Pront had gone to meet his family. Tears welled up in her eyes once more and she knew if she saw anymore pain, she wouldn't be able to take it.
Luckily, Professor McGonagall beckoned for the students that the doctors along with their nurses had come and it was time to go back to the castle.
One girl from Ravenclaw fainted, Patricia Dyres. McGonagall wasn't surprised.
"Healing with magic is very tiring. Don't be shocked if some more collapse. Simply levitate them into school and into the Hospital Wing. No questions, Mr. Black," she said as she spotted Sirius beginning to open his mouth. He shut it fast and they began their way to the castle, dirty and with mud- caked skin.
Lily felt her eyes beginning to droop and her exhaustion settled in her petite body, she couldn't take it.
She muttered a small help that James heard since he was walking close beside her. Hen, the world blacked out on her.
Because before he could speak, terror-filled screams came from the direction of Hogsmeade. The Common Room of Gryffindor Tower fell silent, all action stopped abruptly, as was the rest of the castle. It seemed as if time chose that moment to take a break. Chess games were paused, giggles and laughter halted, chasing each other had ended and all the students' heads instantly swerved to the east. Through a window, they could all see one thing: Hogsmeade, their beloved fun providing, break-time occupying, and simply a place to hang out village was aflame.
"AVADA KEDAVRA!!"
The chilling spell silenced all remaining sounds, which were few. Rising from a tip of someone's wand, after a muttered "Morsmorde", was the Dark Mark. And as if someone turned on a switch, everyone snapped out of their reverie and screamed. Littered in the air were frightened yelps, this time not only coming from Hogsmeade, but from Hogwarts as well.
*~*
Lily, in her dorm, had also heard the screams from the wizarding village, the eerie silence that had followed, the spine-tingling voice that had shouted the unblockable Killing Curse and the screams from their own castle that had erupted after.
She started shaking madly for the growing terror within her and ran on pure instinct to the Common Room. Lily had forewarned herself to prepare for the worst scene, but still got a shock.
The usually cheerful Marauders sat on the sofas, heads permanently stuck to the window in the East End. Girls were sobbing, including Clara and Dana. The tiny first and second years were numb with the dumb realization that they weren't as safe as they thought themselves to be. The older boys were trying to maintain peace, you could hear them yelling above Sacha Pront's grief-filled yells (her brother worked as an assistant in the Three Broomsticks, all her family were killed by Voldemort a few years back, and he was the only one she had left) orders to calm down and not be frightened, aside from the fact that they were scared themselves.
Above the pandemonium, Professor McGonagall (who entered her House's Common Room, unnoticed) shouted, "Settle down! Hogsmeade is under attack, as you know, by You-Know-Who. Please, it would not do well if we just stand here, yelling our heads off, not helping. Professor Dumbledore ordered fifth years and above, yes, that includes you, Miss Evans," she said nodding to the gesturing redhead on the stairs, before continuing, "to go to Hogsmeade and heal all people before the hospital doctors and nurses arrive. The rest of you will be sleeping in the Great Hall, with the rest of your classmates from other Houses. Fifth years and above, follow me. Hurry, please."
Lily, along with the rest of her classmates from the upper years, ran out, following the billowing black robes of their Head of House.
They met up with the confused and scared-looking Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs (the Slytherins looked particularly unbaffled in the least, they must've known this was coming) and all the staff, except Madame Prinuella, Professor Torres and Apollyon Pringle, led them running through the familiar path to Hogsmeade, their robes snagging at the low hanging branches.
When they reached their destination, most if the Death Eaters were still there and so were some of the Aurors. Most of them had gone after the escaping Death Eaters, Alastor Moody informed Dumbledore, before limping away to fire curses at the remaining standing Death Eaters.
The streets of Hogsmeade, on which the students and their friends had tromped along on happily, were littered with the usually happy civilians' bodies, the buildings in which they had drank Butterbeer and shopped for dress robes and other things were burned down, black rubbles littered where they once stood.
The students were astounded and with dumb realization recognized this pile of mess to be Hogsmeade. Professor McGonagall saw their astonishment and sympathized with them for a few moments, but this wasn't a time to be surprised.
"Students! This is a great shock to you, I trust, but it is no time to be standing around useless when we could be helping and healing the wounded. The healing charms: for burns, Substantium Eberium. For broken bones, we'll have to make do with splints and bandages, Ferula. For levitating the unconscious to the Portkey site, on the sidewalk beside the post office, Mobilicorpus. Get to work! Severus Snape, Marcia Greinhardt, stay behind, you will be helping Professor Mantle and I with the potions. Hurry," she lost no time in taking control.
Lily had been helping a girl, about six years of age, who had a broken leg and nasty burns over her upper body when she heard a groan to her right. Quickly levitating the girl to the Portkey site, she turned to where the groan had come from.
It was a boy, only a couple of years older than her. She looked at him with pity; his head was bleeding profusely from a crack that ran from his left temple to his mouth, his leg was bleeding, too, a large rock had apparently fallen on it, the bone seemed to be cracked. He had bruises and cuts all over, and it looked like he suffered from a very strong Cruciatus Curse.
Lily attended to him immediately. He had a raging fever and she beckoned Professor McGonagall, who was stirring a Pepper-Up Potion with Snape and some other students who were gifted at potions.
The older woman came bustling over with a vial of Pepper-Up Potion and she wordlessly handed it over to Lily. After the young man's bruises and cuts had been tended to and his fever was broken with the help of the potion, she levitated him to the Portkey site to be taken to St. Mungo's, as he was in no state to walk.
"Help, please.help." came a desperate cry for help from behind her. She sighed tiredly and she looked over. Lily had never seen anything more pitiful. Lying over a pile of rubble, with dirt all over her, was a woman, holding a new-born infant. The baby was so pale and it's chest heaved up and down very slowly. Lily felt a familiar burning behind her eyes. She blinked her tears away and helped the young mother stand up.
"Thank you, miss. Is my Charlie ok? Is he?" she asked Lily tearfully. Lily looked Charlie over and checked his pulse; it was very faint but was beating, just barely.
"Is he." the woman couldn't bring herself to say the word she dreaded the most about her child.
Lily faced the distraught woman and said, in a grave voice, "No, he's alive, but just barely. This is to make him feel a little better. Go to the Portkey area, bring him to St. Mungo's immediately. Hurry up, ma'am."
The woman hugged Lily, which caught her off-guard and thanked her. After watching the young mother rush to catch a Portkey, she looked around and spotted James, lifting a pile of rubber. Hurrying up to the black-haired boy, she saw him helping a young man up. Lily ran all the faster and aided James. Surprise etched his handsome features before a determined look set place over his face again.
They laid the man down and he opened his eyes, coughed and sputtered a bit before asking, "Who- who are you? What happened?"
Lily said, "Oh, God! You're Sacha's brother!"
It was true; the young adult had his younger sister's dark, hazel eyes and firm, sturdy mouth. His leg was torn up pretty badly, not unlike the boy she had helped earlier, he also had a crack running from the left side of his bloody forehead until his chin, but it was bigger. He was bleeding really bad from all the wounds all over his body. He didn't look like he was going to make it, but James and Lily could not give up.
"Yes, my name is Duncan. Where is she? Is she hurt? Is she all right?" He had no intentions about himself, only for his sister.
"No, only fifth years and above were sent to Hogsmeade. She's back at the castle, safe and warm with her friends," James said.
Duncan nodded, to show he understood. "Could you do a favor for me then?"
Lily nodded yes.
"Tell her I love her more than anything in the world, and I'll be watching her forever with our family. I'll always love he-"
Lily was afraid to look. The head they'd been holding up fell from James and her arms. Duncan Pront had gone to meet his family. Tears welled up in her eyes once more and she knew if she saw anymore pain, she wouldn't be able to take it.
Luckily, Professor McGonagall beckoned for the students that the doctors along with their nurses had come and it was time to go back to the castle.
One girl from Ravenclaw fainted, Patricia Dyres. McGonagall wasn't surprised.
"Healing with magic is very tiring. Don't be shocked if some more collapse. Simply levitate them into school and into the Hospital Wing. No questions, Mr. Black," she said as she spotted Sirius beginning to open his mouth. He shut it fast and they began their way to the castle, dirty and with mud- caked skin.
Lily felt her eyes beginning to droop and her exhaustion settled in her petite body, she couldn't take it.
She muttered a small help that James heard since he was walking close beside her. Hen, the world blacked out on her.
