Chapter 07 _Shattered Glass, Shattered Dreams_
James woke up on a Friday morning to find the hospital wing blazing with summer sunlight. He straightened up quickly and looked over Lily's bed. Seeing that she was gone, he immediately went to the office of Madame Pompeii and inquired.
"She didn't go anywhere. In fact, she's still sleeping", Madame Pompeii said as she removed her glasses.
With no further questions, James stepped out from the hospital wing. As he passed the library, Molly Finnigan strolled out of it.
"Oh, hello Molly. Have you seen Lily?"
Molly laughed. "Love problems huh? Anyways, I saw her went out from the hospital wing before I went inside the library. She said that she's okay but I don't certainly believe her because she was pale. I saw her going to the girls' toilet room on this floor."
James went out from Molly's sight and went to the girls' toilet room. With no preliminaries, he went inside and was awestruck to see the silver necklace lying on the tiles. Lily really came here, he thought.
He uncomfortably walked pass the cubicles. "Lily, are you still here? I already asked you for your pardon. I understand if you can't - " He stopped to look at the sink. This is the weirdest sink I've seen in my entire life! He touched the carved figure of a snake at the side of the copper tap. He guessed that this was made in favor of Salazar Slytherin.
"Open up!", James said. But he was amazed why he didn't hear his English accent but a hissing sound that went out from his mouth.
The sink began to move, in fact, it sank right out of sight; leaving a large pipe exposed, a pipe wide enough for a man to slide into. I saw the necklace near this sink - what if Lucius or Tom brought Lily down there? James was doubtful if he will slide in through the dark cellar but he made up his mind that he has to - save Lily from danger. I wish Peter, Remus and Sirius are here. Leaving his robes, he slid his legs in the pipe and pushed himself in.
It was like rushing down an endless, slimy, dark slide. He saw more pipes branching off in all directions but not as large as the pipe he's sliding through. It twisted and turned, sloping steeply downward and he knew that he was falling deeper below the school than even the dungeons. He could hear his stomach thudding slightly at the curves.
Then just as he begun to worry about what could happen when he landed on the ground, the pipe leveled out and he shot out of the end with a wet thud, disembarking on the damp floor of the large stone tunnel - large enough to stand in. His pants were covered with mud, so with his socks, shoes and shirt.
"Lumos!", James mumbled to his wand and it lit up. He confidently stood up and went to investigate the peculiar place, his footsteps slapping loudly on the wet floor.
The tunnel was so dark that he could only see a little distance ahead. His shadow on the walls looked monstrous in the wand light.
The place was so quiet - even more silent than the graveyard that made James almost lose his senses when he heard a loud crunch and was relieved to find out that he had stepped on a rat's skull. James lowered his wand to look at the floor and saw that the place was littered with animal bones. Trying very hard not to imagine what Lily would look like if she was imprisoned in one of the cellars in the tunnel.
He bent down very slowly, his eyes as narrow as he could make them and still see, James edged forward, his wand held high. The light slid over a gigantic skin of a vivid, poisonous green, lying curled and empty across the tunnel floor. The creature that had shed it must have been twenty feet long, at least. He set off past the giant snakeskin.
The tunnel turned and turned again. Every nerve in James' body was tingling unpleasantly. He wanted the tunnel to end, yet dreaded what he'd find. And then, at last, before him he saw a solid wall on which two entwined serpents were carved; their eyes looked strangely alive.
With no hesitations but with doubts, James touched the eyes of the carved serpents. Then, they parted as the wall cracked open into halves while James, shaking from head to toes, audaciously walked in.
"Lily!" James shouted desperately, squinting towards her and dropping to his knees. "Lily - don't be dead - please don't be dead -" Her head lolled side to side.
"She is not dead", said a soft voice. It was Tom. "Of course, I won't kill her; I can't."
"How do you know that she's not dead? Why are you here?"
"You have an intelligent and investigative mind, James. I'm impressed. With just a necklace as a clue, you were able to track her", said Tom, not taking his eyes off James'.
"You brought her here? Don't you know that she has an incurable malady?" James asked, whose mouth had gone dry.
A pathetic smile appeared on Tom's face. "Isn't it visible enough? The moment I saw her in the toilet room, she was vomiting blood." He took James' wand. "Let's match the powers of the unnoticed prefect, Half-blood, Tom Riddle, versus the all-star Quidditch player, James Potter!" Tom gave out a mischievous laugh - of emptiness.
"You're not fighting fairly - you evil monster! Give me back my wand!" James said as he went nearer to Tom.
The Slytherinian's right arm was stretched, the wand directed to James. "What does a poor, helpless Pure-blood do when he duels a mighty opponent? Whoever wins in this game, he is the right man for Lily."
James, think! You can't be stupid this time. Lily's between life and death - her heart between mine, Lucius' and Tom's. "I'm as ready as you are, Tom." James hardly spoke as he tried to put valor in his trembling body.
Tom raised the wand quickly and bellowed, "Serpensortia!"
The end of James' wand exploded. James watched, horror-struck, as a green, long snake shot out of it - venom is very visible in its eyes. "Oh great Salazar Slytherin", Tom began to speak, "the greatest of Hogwarts. Bless this snake - thy masterpiece. Turn it into a Basilisk!"
So, the snakeskin I saw a while ago is from the Basilisk! How do I fight this aghast creature?, James quickly thought. Wait! Its fangs may be dangerous but its stare is more perilous. I must not look at its eyes!, he thought in panic.
The Basilisk was moving towards James; he could hear its heavy body slithering heavily across the muddy floor. James' eyes were tightly shut; he began to run stupidly sideways with his hands outstretched to feel his way. Tom was laughing.
"KILL HIM BASILISK!" James heard Tom screaming. "TEAR AND RIP HIM INTO PIECES SO THAT I'LL HAVE EVRYTHING HE HAVE!"
James tripped. He fell hard on the floor and tasted blood - he could sense the Basilisk approaching him but he couldn't move.
"Stupefy!", said a triumphant voice. It was Sirius. "You will not have everything that James have because you have no -"
"True friends." Remus finished the sentence for Sirius.
The Basilisk froze and didn't move.
James abruptly stood up and gave Sirius a hug. "How were you able to find me and I'm in trouble?"
Remus patted James. "You forgot about the Marauders' map and your Animagus friends." Peter gave his friends a group hug. "Even though I'm a scaredy cat, I am always here to help you."
Tom was clapping. "Impressive. Very sympathetic." He went near the gigantic serpent. "You're very luck I know no counter spell for that charm but that will wear off in a few minutes."
"Then, I'll make sure it wont while we're still around", Sirius said in an assuring tone. "Expelliarmus!" He cried and James' wand in which Tom used landed on his hands. Transferring all the energy in his hands, he placed it over the snake's body and chanted,
"Shine moon in happy crest
Make it dream and grave in bliss
Make it slumber and rest
And we hope this incantation will last."
There was a loud bang in the chamber. The Basilisk lay motionless on the floor and slept.
"Now, what shall we do James?", asked Remus.
"We need to bring Lily back to the hospital wing," James replied.
"BASILISK, RISE UP AND KILL JAMES!" Tom demanded.
The poisonous snake swayed again, motioning towards James. Apparently, he never noticed it coming towards him; he was very busy running his fingers in Lily's strands of yellow-colored hair like smooth strands of silky thread. He was trying to wake her up through his sweet caress.
I wish I had the power to stop time, Remus prayed.
Lily slowly opened her eyes. Everything around her was blurry but one thing for her was sure - half of her body was lying on the Quidditch master's legs; her head was carried on his skinny yet mighty arms.
"NOOO!!!" Sirius shouted.
"STOOOOOP!!!" Remus bellowed as well.
But there's nothing they can do, the Basilisk's poisonous fangs sank deeper and deeper into James' shoulder and cried in pain. Lily was fully aware of the situation. She got James' wand, brandished it towards the enormous serpent and exclaimed, "Incendio!" Then and there, flames enveloped the snake and due to extreme heat, it keeled over sideways and fell, twitching on the floor and died.
James slid down. He gripped the fang that was spreading venom in his body and wrenched it out of his shoulder but he knew it was too late. Agony overcame him. Before he totally landed on the floor, Lily's arm had caught him. Peter, Remus and Sirius ran towards the sobbing Lily and the dying James.
"James, don't leave us!", Peter said in tears.
Remus can't help it and cried as well. Sirius on the other hand was full of frustration. "Why am I so useless? Why?"
"You're dead, James Potter", said Tom's voice above them. "Dead. Even your friends and this lovely lady knows it. I'm going to sit here and watch you die. Take your time. I'm in no hurry." He gave an obstreperous laugh that echoed throughout the chamber. "Wait! As far as I can remember, anything that happens to one of you shall happen to the rest of the group, right Marauders? Do you want to die as well flimsy creatures?"
"We're not flimsy - you are the one who's flimsy serpent!" Sirius yelled in a baffled voice. "You don't duel fairly!"
"Of course, I do duel fairly. Look, the Basilisk only attacked James; not the four of you. Besides, Lily killed it already - it's fair", Tom calmly responded.
Remus stood up as red and as hot as a pepper. "You horrible monster!"
"Want to challenge me I-"
"Go on, we're not afraid", Peter interrupted bravely.
Tom aimed his wand to them in a circular way and vociferated, "Imodia Aglipae!"
Luckily, Peter transformed quickly into a rat but to Remus' and Sirius' misfortune, they blasted like fireworks. The rat squealed - ran and hid at Lily's back.
"Trying to escape Peter the rat?" Tom asked in a malignant tone.
Lily stood up boldly though with weak and shuddering limbs. "Don't you dare hurt him."
"Alas! The lovely lady defended her friend who is as weak as her!"
She pointed her wand at Tom. "I may be weak but I can't allow you to destroy the last member of the Marauders." She gave the evil student no chance to say a word and cast a bone-vanishing spell on him. "Marachiam Imendo!"
"YOU CAN'T DE-FEAT THE GREA-TEST SOR-ER-ER!!! I SHALL - SHALL RE-TURN!!!" Tom bellowed angrily but his words faded as he wobbled helplessly and boneless on the floor.
Lily breathed unsteadily and the rat transformed back into a human figure.
James gave a moan - a very faint moan. "Lily, I can't take this anymore," he paused as she kneeled down. "I'm too weak."
Lily ran a finger on his lips and weep. "No James. You're not weak. You'll survive for me right?"
James managed to give her a languished beam. He reached out for his pocket and said, "May I place this back on your neck?"
She nodded in approval and went nearer to James. Tears were squinting in her eyes as he tied the silver necklace on her neck. "There. It really suits you." He wiped out a tear from her cheek. "Don't cry - it will destroy your beauty."
"Are you trying to make me laugh?", she questioned.
"Isn't it ob-"
Peter sank on his knees and embraced James. "Oh James! I'm so sorry! I'm such a feeble!"
James patted him. "You're no feeble, my friend."
"James, you can't die. You can't leave me alone."
Lily flung her arms around James' body. "I'm very sorry. I really don't want to disappoint you."
"You didn't disappoint me at all. I'm the one who's supposed to beg for your pardon for being so judgmental", James said as he enveloped her with her arms. "May I ask you a favor?"
"Anything and by all means."
James said no any other word. He encircled her waist and ardently brushed his lips to hers. Peter's eyes flashed wide as he saw Lily passionately kissed him back. The chamber was refreshed with a romantic feeling but Death was so eager to take James with him. The poisoned Gryffindorian parted away from Lily. He was grasping for air. He looked so pale that it seemed he smacked on a sack of flour. He looked at Lily straight in her eyes and said in a husky voice, "Take care and I L-O-V-E YOU." He tilted his head- his glasses fell and shattered into pieces - took a deep breath - his last breath - and died.
"NOOO!!!" Lily shouted frantically and burst into tears as she held James' dead body. "I LOVE YOU TOO JAMES!!!"
James woke up on a Friday morning to find the hospital wing blazing with summer sunlight. He straightened up quickly and looked over Lily's bed. Seeing that she was gone, he immediately went to the office of Madame Pompeii and inquired.
"She didn't go anywhere. In fact, she's still sleeping", Madame Pompeii said as she removed her glasses.
With no further questions, James stepped out from the hospital wing. As he passed the library, Molly Finnigan strolled out of it.
"Oh, hello Molly. Have you seen Lily?"
Molly laughed. "Love problems huh? Anyways, I saw her went out from the hospital wing before I went inside the library. She said that she's okay but I don't certainly believe her because she was pale. I saw her going to the girls' toilet room on this floor."
James went out from Molly's sight and went to the girls' toilet room. With no preliminaries, he went inside and was awestruck to see the silver necklace lying on the tiles. Lily really came here, he thought.
He uncomfortably walked pass the cubicles. "Lily, are you still here? I already asked you for your pardon. I understand if you can't - " He stopped to look at the sink. This is the weirdest sink I've seen in my entire life! He touched the carved figure of a snake at the side of the copper tap. He guessed that this was made in favor of Salazar Slytherin.
"Open up!", James said. But he was amazed why he didn't hear his English accent but a hissing sound that went out from his mouth.
The sink began to move, in fact, it sank right out of sight; leaving a large pipe exposed, a pipe wide enough for a man to slide into. I saw the necklace near this sink - what if Lucius or Tom brought Lily down there? James was doubtful if he will slide in through the dark cellar but he made up his mind that he has to - save Lily from danger. I wish Peter, Remus and Sirius are here. Leaving his robes, he slid his legs in the pipe and pushed himself in.
It was like rushing down an endless, slimy, dark slide. He saw more pipes branching off in all directions but not as large as the pipe he's sliding through. It twisted and turned, sloping steeply downward and he knew that he was falling deeper below the school than even the dungeons. He could hear his stomach thudding slightly at the curves.
Then just as he begun to worry about what could happen when he landed on the ground, the pipe leveled out and he shot out of the end with a wet thud, disembarking on the damp floor of the large stone tunnel - large enough to stand in. His pants were covered with mud, so with his socks, shoes and shirt.
"Lumos!", James mumbled to his wand and it lit up. He confidently stood up and went to investigate the peculiar place, his footsteps slapping loudly on the wet floor.
The tunnel was so dark that he could only see a little distance ahead. His shadow on the walls looked monstrous in the wand light.
The place was so quiet - even more silent than the graveyard that made James almost lose his senses when he heard a loud crunch and was relieved to find out that he had stepped on a rat's skull. James lowered his wand to look at the floor and saw that the place was littered with animal bones. Trying very hard not to imagine what Lily would look like if she was imprisoned in one of the cellars in the tunnel.
He bent down very slowly, his eyes as narrow as he could make them and still see, James edged forward, his wand held high. The light slid over a gigantic skin of a vivid, poisonous green, lying curled and empty across the tunnel floor. The creature that had shed it must have been twenty feet long, at least. He set off past the giant snakeskin.
The tunnel turned and turned again. Every nerve in James' body was tingling unpleasantly. He wanted the tunnel to end, yet dreaded what he'd find. And then, at last, before him he saw a solid wall on which two entwined serpents were carved; their eyes looked strangely alive.
With no hesitations but with doubts, James touched the eyes of the carved serpents. Then, they parted as the wall cracked open into halves while James, shaking from head to toes, audaciously walked in.
"Lily!" James shouted desperately, squinting towards her and dropping to his knees. "Lily - don't be dead - please don't be dead -" Her head lolled side to side.
"She is not dead", said a soft voice. It was Tom. "Of course, I won't kill her; I can't."
"How do you know that she's not dead? Why are you here?"
"You have an intelligent and investigative mind, James. I'm impressed. With just a necklace as a clue, you were able to track her", said Tom, not taking his eyes off James'.
"You brought her here? Don't you know that she has an incurable malady?" James asked, whose mouth had gone dry.
A pathetic smile appeared on Tom's face. "Isn't it visible enough? The moment I saw her in the toilet room, she was vomiting blood." He took James' wand. "Let's match the powers of the unnoticed prefect, Half-blood, Tom Riddle, versus the all-star Quidditch player, James Potter!" Tom gave out a mischievous laugh - of emptiness.
"You're not fighting fairly - you evil monster! Give me back my wand!" James said as he went nearer to Tom.
The Slytherinian's right arm was stretched, the wand directed to James. "What does a poor, helpless Pure-blood do when he duels a mighty opponent? Whoever wins in this game, he is the right man for Lily."
James, think! You can't be stupid this time. Lily's between life and death - her heart between mine, Lucius' and Tom's. "I'm as ready as you are, Tom." James hardly spoke as he tried to put valor in his trembling body.
Tom raised the wand quickly and bellowed, "Serpensortia!"
The end of James' wand exploded. James watched, horror-struck, as a green, long snake shot out of it - venom is very visible in its eyes. "Oh great Salazar Slytherin", Tom began to speak, "the greatest of Hogwarts. Bless this snake - thy masterpiece. Turn it into a Basilisk!"
So, the snakeskin I saw a while ago is from the Basilisk! How do I fight this aghast creature?, James quickly thought. Wait! Its fangs may be dangerous but its stare is more perilous. I must not look at its eyes!, he thought in panic.
The Basilisk was moving towards James; he could hear its heavy body slithering heavily across the muddy floor. James' eyes were tightly shut; he began to run stupidly sideways with his hands outstretched to feel his way. Tom was laughing.
"KILL HIM BASILISK!" James heard Tom screaming. "TEAR AND RIP HIM INTO PIECES SO THAT I'LL HAVE EVRYTHING HE HAVE!"
James tripped. He fell hard on the floor and tasted blood - he could sense the Basilisk approaching him but he couldn't move.
"Stupefy!", said a triumphant voice. It was Sirius. "You will not have everything that James have because you have no -"
"True friends." Remus finished the sentence for Sirius.
The Basilisk froze and didn't move.
James abruptly stood up and gave Sirius a hug. "How were you able to find me and I'm in trouble?"
Remus patted James. "You forgot about the Marauders' map and your Animagus friends." Peter gave his friends a group hug. "Even though I'm a scaredy cat, I am always here to help you."
Tom was clapping. "Impressive. Very sympathetic." He went near the gigantic serpent. "You're very luck I know no counter spell for that charm but that will wear off in a few minutes."
"Then, I'll make sure it wont while we're still around", Sirius said in an assuring tone. "Expelliarmus!" He cried and James' wand in which Tom used landed on his hands. Transferring all the energy in his hands, he placed it over the snake's body and chanted,
"Shine moon in happy crest
Make it dream and grave in bliss
Make it slumber and rest
And we hope this incantation will last."
There was a loud bang in the chamber. The Basilisk lay motionless on the floor and slept.
"Now, what shall we do James?", asked Remus.
"We need to bring Lily back to the hospital wing," James replied.
"BASILISK, RISE UP AND KILL JAMES!" Tom demanded.
The poisonous snake swayed again, motioning towards James. Apparently, he never noticed it coming towards him; he was very busy running his fingers in Lily's strands of yellow-colored hair like smooth strands of silky thread. He was trying to wake her up through his sweet caress.
I wish I had the power to stop time, Remus prayed.
Lily slowly opened her eyes. Everything around her was blurry but one thing for her was sure - half of her body was lying on the Quidditch master's legs; her head was carried on his skinny yet mighty arms.
"NOOO!!!" Sirius shouted.
"STOOOOOP!!!" Remus bellowed as well.
But there's nothing they can do, the Basilisk's poisonous fangs sank deeper and deeper into James' shoulder and cried in pain. Lily was fully aware of the situation. She got James' wand, brandished it towards the enormous serpent and exclaimed, "Incendio!" Then and there, flames enveloped the snake and due to extreme heat, it keeled over sideways and fell, twitching on the floor and died.
James slid down. He gripped the fang that was spreading venom in his body and wrenched it out of his shoulder but he knew it was too late. Agony overcame him. Before he totally landed on the floor, Lily's arm had caught him. Peter, Remus and Sirius ran towards the sobbing Lily and the dying James.
"James, don't leave us!", Peter said in tears.
Remus can't help it and cried as well. Sirius on the other hand was full of frustration. "Why am I so useless? Why?"
"You're dead, James Potter", said Tom's voice above them. "Dead. Even your friends and this lovely lady knows it. I'm going to sit here and watch you die. Take your time. I'm in no hurry." He gave an obstreperous laugh that echoed throughout the chamber. "Wait! As far as I can remember, anything that happens to one of you shall happen to the rest of the group, right Marauders? Do you want to die as well flimsy creatures?"
"We're not flimsy - you are the one who's flimsy serpent!" Sirius yelled in a baffled voice. "You don't duel fairly!"
"Of course, I do duel fairly. Look, the Basilisk only attacked James; not the four of you. Besides, Lily killed it already - it's fair", Tom calmly responded.
Remus stood up as red and as hot as a pepper. "You horrible monster!"
"Want to challenge me I-"
"Go on, we're not afraid", Peter interrupted bravely.
Tom aimed his wand to them in a circular way and vociferated, "Imodia Aglipae!"
Luckily, Peter transformed quickly into a rat but to Remus' and Sirius' misfortune, they blasted like fireworks. The rat squealed - ran and hid at Lily's back.
"Trying to escape Peter the rat?" Tom asked in a malignant tone.
Lily stood up boldly though with weak and shuddering limbs. "Don't you dare hurt him."
"Alas! The lovely lady defended her friend who is as weak as her!"
She pointed her wand at Tom. "I may be weak but I can't allow you to destroy the last member of the Marauders." She gave the evil student no chance to say a word and cast a bone-vanishing spell on him. "Marachiam Imendo!"
"YOU CAN'T DE-FEAT THE GREA-TEST SOR-ER-ER!!! I SHALL - SHALL RE-TURN!!!" Tom bellowed angrily but his words faded as he wobbled helplessly and boneless on the floor.
Lily breathed unsteadily and the rat transformed back into a human figure.
James gave a moan - a very faint moan. "Lily, I can't take this anymore," he paused as she kneeled down. "I'm too weak."
Lily ran a finger on his lips and weep. "No James. You're not weak. You'll survive for me right?"
James managed to give her a languished beam. He reached out for his pocket and said, "May I place this back on your neck?"
She nodded in approval and went nearer to James. Tears were squinting in her eyes as he tied the silver necklace on her neck. "There. It really suits you." He wiped out a tear from her cheek. "Don't cry - it will destroy your beauty."
"Are you trying to make me laugh?", she questioned.
"Isn't it ob-"
Peter sank on his knees and embraced James. "Oh James! I'm so sorry! I'm such a feeble!"
James patted him. "You're no feeble, my friend."
"James, you can't die. You can't leave me alone."
Lily flung her arms around James' body. "I'm very sorry. I really don't want to disappoint you."
"You didn't disappoint me at all. I'm the one who's supposed to beg for your pardon for being so judgmental", James said as he enveloped her with her arms. "May I ask you a favor?"
"Anything and by all means."
James said no any other word. He encircled her waist and ardently brushed his lips to hers. Peter's eyes flashed wide as he saw Lily passionately kissed him back. The chamber was refreshed with a romantic feeling but Death was so eager to take James with him. The poisoned Gryffindorian parted away from Lily. He was grasping for air. He looked so pale that it seemed he smacked on a sack of flour. He looked at Lily straight in her eyes and said in a husky voice, "Take care and I L-O-V-E YOU." He tilted his head- his glasses fell and shattered into pieces - took a deep breath - his last breath - and died.
"NOOO!!!" Lily shouted frantically and burst into tears as she held James' dead body. "I LOVE YOU TOO JAMES!!!"