Chapter 15: Ambushed

Lily and Amelia made their way into the castle quietly, trying to stay out of the main stairwell, as that seemed the most likely place to run into a prefect or professor. Unfortunately, avoiding the main hall also meant that it took them considerably longer to make their way to the hospital wing than it otherwise would have. Alice was still more or less unconscious, which turned out to be a blessing, as she was very quiet. Fortunately, they didn't run into any authority figures, and finally arrived at the hospital wing, panting and out of breath from running the last few hundred yards. They knocked quietly on the door to the infirmary, and it swung open shortly. Madam Pomphrey stood there, dressed impeccably as always in her nursing robes. "Can I help you girls?" she asked before seeing Alice floating behind them. Her expression changed to one of outrage. "Let her down, you silly girls. What have you done?" she asked, conjuring a stretcher on to which Lily and Amelia lowered Alice.

"We didn't do anything, Madam," Amelia began, but Madam Pomphrey waved her explanation away.

"Never mind, I'll need to do a thorough diagnosis. You two WAIT HERE. I'll be wanting to speak to you about this after I treat her." She began to float the stretcher after her into the hospital ward, but turned around abruptly. "Are there any others coming?"

Lily and Amelia looked at one another uncertainly. "Um…there might be, Madam," Lily finally answered.

Madam Pomphrey made a noise that sounded suspiciously like a growl, and disappeared into the hospital room with Alice. Amelia and Lily sat in silence for a moment, both trying not to think of what was happening outside. Lily felt confident that the four boys could take on Bellatrix, LeStrange and Snape, but who was to say that there weren't more Slytherins on the way? But that was ridiculous.  After all, the Slytherins had obviously not expected a rescue party for Alice. Or had they? Had they seen Frank slipping under the invisibility cloak and somehow called for reinforcements? A sudden vision came to Lily of the four boys being ambushed by older Slytherins. Crabbe was hitting Potter with some curse that doubled him over in pain. Sirius was on the ground, three older Slytherins surrounding him, kicking him. Frank and Pettigrew were surrounded by a group that appeared to be led by Malfoy. Frank was shouting something she couldn't hear. Off to the side stood Bellatrix, Snape and LeStrange, bruised but smiling…

"Lily?" Amelia was fairly screaming. Lily opened her eyes and realized that she had fallen off of her chair, and was now lying on the ground. She sat up abruptly and looked around wildly.

"The boys!" she said, standing up so quickly that she nearly knocked over Amelia, who had been leaning over her. She had to go tell the boys. But what about Alice? She couldn't just leave her. But then, Alice was with Madam Pomphrey now, so there was little else she could do, and someone needed to warn the boys. Lily decided, and headed toward the door. "I have to warn them! They're going to be ambushed!" Lily pulled the door open and ran out. Amelia called after her, but Lily didn't stop. She had to get to them; had to warn them. The Slytherins were on their way. Lily didn't pause to think how she knew this, how she could be so certain. She just ran as fast as her legs could carry her, up the corridor to the main stairs, down the steps two at a time, not caring this time if someone saw her, only knowing that she had to get down to the lake as quickly as she could. She reached the main entrance and ran out the door, down the stone steps, and made for the lake. "Let me be in time," she prayed. "Just let me make it on time."

As Lily drew nearer to the lake, she could see the fighting that was taking place. Pettigrew was huddled on the ground. He appeared to be in pain, but otherwise okay. Frank was circling LeStrange. LeStrange looked bruised, but she could hear him taunting Frank. "Your family's worthless, Longbottom. Muggle-loving fools, the lot of them! You couldn't hurt me if you tried!" Lily noticed with a small thrill that LeStrange no longer appeared to have his wand.

Longbottom laughed. "You're pathetic, LeStrange. You don't even have your wand right now. I could have Pettigrew come over here and curse you, and he'd best you. In fact, I should do that. I'd love to see a LeStrange bested by a muggle born." Frank motioned to Pettigrew, who struggled painfully to his feet. "Come on, Petey. You can take this loser!"

Pettigrew raised his wand. "Petrificus Totalus!" he roared. LeStrange ducked out of the way, but he was too slow. Pettigrew's spell hit him, and he went instantly stiff, and toppled to the ground.

Frank high-fived Pettigrew and walked over to where LeStrange was lying on the ground. "Yet another reason blood means nothing, LeStrange. Someday you'll learn that." He turned back to Peter. "Nice curse, Petey. Now shall we help James and Sirius?" Lily looked around and saw James and Sirius both fighting Snape.

They had apparently been hit with a few hexes, as Potter's face bore the unmistakable evidence of someone who had been hit with a twitching curse. His eyes blinked, his eyebrows went up and down, and his ears and nose twitched at random intervals. Black scarcely looked better. He was half-bent over, and seemed to be sprouting some sort of plant out of the top of his head. Snape wasn't in any better condition, though. From the looks of things, someone had landed a jelly legs curse, and from his black eye, one of the boys had also landed a punch. He was still holding his own, however. At the moment, every curse the two Gryffindors were throwing at Snape, he was managing to block, so they had to keep diving out of the way of the rebound. After Potter dove out of the way of his latest curse, he stood up, and the three boys began circling warily, Black doing everything he could to stand upright.

Snape yelled out "Serpensortia" and an adder flew out of his wand and landed, hissing, in front of Potter and Black. For a moment, they both stared at him in shock, and then began to step away. "Where did you learn that one, Snivellus?" Potter asked, as he walked slowly backward.

Black kept his wand on the snake. "Any ideas, mate?" he asked, still edging backward.

Potter shook his head, also pointing his wand at the snake. "None. I don't think I've learned any hexes that work on snakes."

Snape laughed. "What's the matter?" he said menancingly. "I thought Gryffindors were supposed to be brave? You're an embarrassment to your house, the two of you!" Potter snarled and raised his wand to Snape. "Go on then," Snape said, in a bored sounding voice. "I'll just block it again, and maybe when you dive out of the way of the rebound, you'll fall right into the path of the adder. They're Britain's only poisonous snake, you know," he said with a chuckle. "At least, the only poisonous snake that muggles know about."

At that moment, a voice yelled out, "Petrificus serpens!" The snake froze and fell to the ground like LeStrange had earlier. Snape, Potter and Black all turned in astonishment to see Pettigrew standing there, his wand still pointing at the snake.

"Where'd you learn that one, Petey?" Potter asked as Snape turned his wand toward Pettigrew. Before he could do anything, however, Frank yelled out, "Expelliarmus!" and Snape went flying backwards, his wand flying out of his hand. "Don't move, Snape," he said in a low voice. "It's four against one. We'd knock you out before you could even get to your wand." Snape glared from his position on the ground, but did as he was told.

"Where's Bellatrix?" Black asked as Lily reached the trees where they had hidden earlier. She was just about to run into the clearing and warn them to get out of there when ten figures stepped out of the shadows on the other side, led by none other than Lucius Malfoy. Lily froze as the figures surrounded the four Gryffindor boys and Snape. One of them handed Snape his wand back, and he ran over to where Bellatrix was now huddling over LeStrange.

"You lot! Get back to our common room now," Malfoy's voice said. "You're a disgrace to the name of Slytherin, losing a duel with four lousy Gryffindors. But don't worry. We shall restore Slytherin's honor." Snape unfroze LeStrange, and the three first-years began to walk toward the castle. As soon as Malfoy turned his gaze back to the Gryffindors, they paused and turned to watch the proceedings. The nine remaining Slytherins turned and encircled the four Gryffindors. "We shall teach you some respect, yet," Malfoy spat. "You!" he said, glaring at Pettigrew. "Do you not know that a Gryffindor should always fall to his knees in the presence of a Slytherin? Well, go on then. Kneel!" Pettigrew looked like he was going to comply, but Potter grabbed his arm and stopped him. "I wouldn't listen to your friend if I were you, boy!" he said, "You'll kneel!" He pointed his wand at Pettigrew and muttering something. Pettigrew fell to his knees with a cry. The other Slytherins laughed. Lily thought frantically. This was only the beginning. She knew what was going to happen. She had to help. But what could she do? If she ran out there right now, she would just be giving them a fifth person to torture. She looked around frantically as Frank rounded on Malfoy. "Let him up!" Frank said, glaring. "Let him up now!" Pettigrew was still howling in pain.

Malfoy and the other Slytherins laughed. Then Malfoy tapped his chin. "You're Alexander Longbottom's son, aren't you?" Frank's face went pale, and Malfoy grinned. "No wonder he ran away. I'd leave my family too, if I had a brat like you for a son!"

Frank was now breathing heavily. "My father did not leave us!" he fairly shouted. "You know bloody well that he was taken for a reason!"

Malfoy glared. "What do you know about your father being taken, boy?" he asked, the amusement gone from his voice.

Potter grabbed Frank's arm and whispered something. Frank nodded. "Just what we've been able to guess, Malfoy. My family isn't quite as stupid as you believe us to be. We know my father's job makes him a target to those interested in ancient magic."

Malfoy peered at him for a moment then gazed around the circle. "I've had enough talking," he said, and the other Slytherins chuckled. "Fire away, boys!"

Lily looked around frantically. Off in the distance, she saw light flooding out the window of a snow-covered cabin. She took off running. When she arrived, she pounded on the door. The giant-man that had led them across the lake on the first night answered. "Hagrid!" she cried, relieved.

He looked confused. "Who're yeh and why're ye ou' this late?"

Lily felt her heart thudding with fear and hesitated. She had no idea if this man would help her. For all she knew, he could be dangerous. She took a deep breath. She had no choice, though. He was her only hope. "I'm Lily Evans, sir. I'm a first year Gryffindor. And I'm out this late because four of my classmates are being attacked by older Slytherins. I—,"

Hagrid's eyes grew round. "Then wha' are we standin' aroun' here talkin' fer?" He grabbed his umbrella and walked out of the house. "Where are they?" he asked.

"By the lake," Lily answered, and he turned and began striding toward the lake, Lily running to keep up with him. She wondered vaguely why on earth he'd grabbed his umbrella. The sky was perfectly clear; there was no rain in sight.

"Hey, yeh lot!" Hagrid called out when they arrived in the clearing. The scene looked exactly as Lily had pictured it upstairs. Potter was doubled over, gasping, and Crabbe was standing in front of him, laughing. Three Slytherins were standing over Black, kicking him. Frank and Pettigrew were surrounded, and Frank was shouting at Malfoy, who was pointing his wand at him and warning him to be quiet. "Yeh best leave these young 'uns alone. Malfoy, yeh ough' ter be ashamed o' yerself, duelin' firs' years!" The Slytherins looked up at Hagrid, and began laughing.

"You have no authority over us, Hagrid!" Malfoy snickered.

Hagrid grinned, but it wasn't the friendly smile that he'd given the first years on their first night at Hogwarts. "Yer righ' abou' that, Malfoy," Hagrid agreed. "But as yeh may know, I get on well wit' Dumbledore, and I'm sure he'd be int'rested in findin' out why yeh were outta bed so late, and why yeh were beatin' up these firs' years." Malfoy's face paled, but he didn't say anything. Hagrid chuckled. "Tha's what I thought. Yeh deserve to be expelled fer this, but I don' wan' these ones gettin' inter trouble, too, so I'm lettin' yeh go. Now, git on back to yer dorm, before I change me mind, all o' yeh," he said, turning to where Black was lying on the snow and picking him up easily.

When they arrived at the hospital wing, Madam Pomphrey came out, tutting loudly about foolish fighting, and levitated Black onto a stretcher before motioning for the other boys to follow her. "You three look like you need some attention too, once I get Sirius taken care of. Follow me. You two," she added, rounding on Lily and Amelia, "get back to your dorms. These four will be just fine, and you can't do anything else for Alice right now."

Amelia sighed warily. "Yes Madam," she said as Madam Pomphrey disappeared.

Lily turned to Hagrid. "Thanks for helping me out down there," she said, her voice shaking from all that had gone on that night.

Hagrid smiled kindly at her. "I was glad ter help," he said, before turning and exiting the infirmary.

Amelia smiled weakly at Lily, but didn't say anything as they walked back to Gryffindor tower, under cover of the invisibility cloak that Frank had handed to Lily as they walked back up to the castle. When they arrived at the common room, they went upstairs, and warily got ready for bed. Lily finally broke the silence. "How's Alice?" she asked quietly.

Amelia sighed. "Madam Pomphrey said she's going to be all right, though she'll need to spend the next week or two in hospital." She looked at Lily as though she wanted to ask her something, but couldn't.

Lily smiled. "You want to know how I knew about the ambush?" she asked. Amelia blushed and nodded. Lily shrugged. "I have no idea," she said truthfully. "I just knew."

Lily sat down on her bed, and felt something tickle her hand.  She looked down and noticed that there were feathers all over her bed.  Her pillows had been cut open and the contents dumped everywhere.  She pulled back her covers, and saw that her sheets were several feet to short, and when she let down the curtains of her four-poster, she saw that they were flashing "Marauders Rule!  Princesses Drool!"  She looked at Amelia's bed, and then at Alice's.  Both looked much like her own.  They couldn't see Kaylie's and Desdamona's beds, as both had their curtains drawn, but their curtains had not been bewitched, so it was likely that they had been left untouched.  "Looks like we can stop worrying about them getting us back for the pillow fight," Amelia said with a small grin.  Lily started laughing, and Amelia joined her.

"Shh!" Kaylie said angrily.  They grinned at each other, and began cleaning up quietly.  Lily performed a lengthening charm on the sheets and Amelia repaired the pillows with the stitching charm they'd just learned.  They couldn't figure out the countercharm to make the curtains stop flashing, however, so they decided to leave them for the night.  After they'd finished with their own beds, they cleaned up Alice's. 

"I wonder how they managed to do it?" Amelia asked, lying down in her bed.  "I mean, without being able to get into the girls' dormitory and all."


 Lily sank gratefully into her own bed.  "I dunno," she said truthfully, crawling under her covers and laying down.  "But as soon as they get out of the hospital, I'm going to kill them."