Chapter 9 – Imminent
The next few months were wonderful for both Lily and James. They had a fantastic relationship. Lily now deeply regretted saying 'no' to him all those times before. Lily also grew closer to the Marauders and found that she had also misjudged them. They actually had genuine reasons for their pranks and, more often than not, the person they were pranking deserved what they got.
With Remus and Rachel also going out, Lily's friends all got to know the Marauders better. Within a month, Sirius had gone out with and dumped both Liz and Emma.
Outside the castle however, things were less perfect. Voldemort's support was growing. Muggle tortures and wizards disappearing became far more common. The wizarding world was worried. Most days, people found the Dark Mark glowing on the front page of their Daily Prophet.
Then one day in March, Voldemort left a message after an attack on Diagon Alley, where 32 people had died. "Hogwarts is next. Dumbledore beware." Panic set in among the students. Most refused to go anywhere without at least three other people, in case an army of Death Eaters ambushed them on their way to the bathroom. Teachers accompanied students to every lesson. No one, not even Dumbledore, seemed sure about what to do.
Finally, about two weeks after Voldemort's message, Dumbledore called a meeting for the prefects from Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Gryffindor. Dumbledore wasted no time in informing the students of what was going on
"It's coming soon. He's going to attack soon. I have a network of spies, many of whom have told me the same date. 13th April. I am telling you this because I am looking to you, especially Lily and James, to lead the school through this difficult time. I have not told the Slytherins this because I know that there are Death Eaters in the school, all in Slytherin house. This information must be kept among yourselves. Do not tell the students the date, simply inform them that the attack is coming soon and that they will have to prepare themselves." He looked particularly at the Gryffindors when he said all this
"Professor, what are we going to do when the attack comes?" asked James. Dumbledore took a deep breath before replying
"We are going to fight," he said, simply. The Hufflepuff students went pale The Ravenclaws looked scared as well. Even the Gryffindors looked a little shocked, except for James, who nodded grimly, and murmured, "good". The meeting ended soon afterwards. Lily was very quiet and progressed slowly back towards the tower, so James instantly knew something was wrong. He waited with her and pulled her gently behind a suit of armour. She sank down onto the floor. He moved down next to her a put his arm around her and quietly, she started sobbing
"What is it? Is it the attack or something else?" he asked her
"It's not supposed to be like this. We shouldn't be facing this while we're still in school. And what about my family? What if Voldemort comes after them? They can't protect themselves." And with that, she broke down again
"It's okay, Lils," soothed James, "I know we shouldn't be seeing this when we're at school. But the fact is that we are. And we've just got to deal with it. Dumbledore said he'd put protection on all the families of muggle- born wizards. Voldemort's got no way of knowing who or where they are. It's unlikely they'll be hurt. And whatever happens, I'll always be there for you. You know that." Lily stopped crying and hugged James tightly. After a minute or two, he said
"Come on, Lils. We've got to stay strong. Let's get back to the tower and tell the others."
When they entered Gryffindor tower, it was almost silent. It usually was nowadays. There were hardly any parties like there used to be. Instead, people didn't dare raise their voice much above a whisper. Lily and James moved into the middle of the room. James conjured a stage and he and Lily stood above the crowd, who fell silent. Lily began to speak
"We all know about the proposed attack on Hogwarts by Death Eaters. And unfortunately, we have to tell you all that the attack will happen fairly soon. We aren't sure when but w-w-hen it c-c-comes............," she tailed away, tears streaming down her face again. At this sight, the crowd's heads dropped. Seeing this, James took over, in a strong voice
"When the attack comes, we are going to fight against it, with volunteers from fifth year and above." At these words, nearly every face in the crowd showed absolute fear. Some people started shouting, others started crying.
"Quiet," demanded James, "we're all afraid. Of course we are. But that's the difference between a hero and a coward. The person who's afraid, but still fights anyway, is a hero. But someone who runs away from something because they're afraid – that is coward. I'm staying. I'm fighting. And if necessary, I'm dying to protect Hogwarts and everyone inside. Because I've never lost. I've never lost at Quidditch, I've never lost in an exam, I've never lost with women," he added, stealing a sly glance at Lily. In spite of the situation, the crowd laughed slightly, "and I don't intend to lose now. We're Gryffindors, for fuck's sake. We're the brave ones in the school. We're the best in the school. We've got to lead the school against those bastards. And I don't know about the rest of you. But I'm fighting." He looked around at them all, challenging anyone to look in the eye and say that they weren't fighting. Immediately, Sirius stepped out of the crowd
"I'm fighting too," he said, loudly. Remus followed suit
"Me too," he called, making his way through the crowd. Lily stood out from behind James
"And me." Seeing her boyfriend and best friend standing up there, Rachel also joined the group of fighters. So, to most people's surprise, did Peter. Most of the Quidditch team followed James' example and went up to fight along side their captain. Pretty soon nearly everyone from fifth, sixth and seventh years had agreed to fight. There were even a few people from the lower years who wanted to join them as well. Before they all went to bed that evening, James made sure there was one thing everyone knew
"Hogwarts will not fall."
Everyone in the new "Hogwarts Army" was given advanced training on how to stun, immobilise, disarm and capture Death Eaters. There were about 100 in the army, roughly 60 from Gryffindor, 25 from Ravenclaw, 10 from Hufflepuff, and surprisingly, about 5 from Slytherin.
Finally, on the 13th April, Dumbledore stood up at breakfast and said only two words
"It's today."
The next few months were wonderful for both Lily and James. They had a fantastic relationship. Lily now deeply regretted saying 'no' to him all those times before. Lily also grew closer to the Marauders and found that she had also misjudged them. They actually had genuine reasons for their pranks and, more often than not, the person they were pranking deserved what they got.
With Remus and Rachel also going out, Lily's friends all got to know the Marauders better. Within a month, Sirius had gone out with and dumped both Liz and Emma.
Outside the castle however, things were less perfect. Voldemort's support was growing. Muggle tortures and wizards disappearing became far more common. The wizarding world was worried. Most days, people found the Dark Mark glowing on the front page of their Daily Prophet.
Then one day in March, Voldemort left a message after an attack on Diagon Alley, where 32 people had died. "Hogwarts is next. Dumbledore beware." Panic set in among the students. Most refused to go anywhere without at least three other people, in case an army of Death Eaters ambushed them on their way to the bathroom. Teachers accompanied students to every lesson. No one, not even Dumbledore, seemed sure about what to do.
Finally, about two weeks after Voldemort's message, Dumbledore called a meeting for the prefects from Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Gryffindor. Dumbledore wasted no time in informing the students of what was going on
"It's coming soon. He's going to attack soon. I have a network of spies, many of whom have told me the same date. 13th April. I am telling you this because I am looking to you, especially Lily and James, to lead the school through this difficult time. I have not told the Slytherins this because I know that there are Death Eaters in the school, all in Slytherin house. This information must be kept among yourselves. Do not tell the students the date, simply inform them that the attack is coming soon and that they will have to prepare themselves." He looked particularly at the Gryffindors when he said all this
"Professor, what are we going to do when the attack comes?" asked James. Dumbledore took a deep breath before replying
"We are going to fight," he said, simply. The Hufflepuff students went pale The Ravenclaws looked scared as well. Even the Gryffindors looked a little shocked, except for James, who nodded grimly, and murmured, "good". The meeting ended soon afterwards. Lily was very quiet and progressed slowly back towards the tower, so James instantly knew something was wrong. He waited with her and pulled her gently behind a suit of armour. She sank down onto the floor. He moved down next to her a put his arm around her and quietly, she started sobbing
"What is it? Is it the attack or something else?" he asked her
"It's not supposed to be like this. We shouldn't be facing this while we're still in school. And what about my family? What if Voldemort comes after them? They can't protect themselves." And with that, she broke down again
"It's okay, Lils," soothed James, "I know we shouldn't be seeing this when we're at school. But the fact is that we are. And we've just got to deal with it. Dumbledore said he'd put protection on all the families of muggle- born wizards. Voldemort's got no way of knowing who or where they are. It's unlikely they'll be hurt. And whatever happens, I'll always be there for you. You know that." Lily stopped crying and hugged James tightly. After a minute or two, he said
"Come on, Lils. We've got to stay strong. Let's get back to the tower and tell the others."
When they entered Gryffindor tower, it was almost silent. It usually was nowadays. There were hardly any parties like there used to be. Instead, people didn't dare raise their voice much above a whisper. Lily and James moved into the middle of the room. James conjured a stage and he and Lily stood above the crowd, who fell silent. Lily began to speak
"We all know about the proposed attack on Hogwarts by Death Eaters. And unfortunately, we have to tell you all that the attack will happen fairly soon. We aren't sure when but w-w-hen it c-c-comes............," she tailed away, tears streaming down her face again. At this sight, the crowd's heads dropped. Seeing this, James took over, in a strong voice
"When the attack comes, we are going to fight against it, with volunteers from fifth year and above." At these words, nearly every face in the crowd showed absolute fear. Some people started shouting, others started crying.
"Quiet," demanded James, "we're all afraid. Of course we are. But that's the difference between a hero and a coward. The person who's afraid, but still fights anyway, is a hero. But someone who runs away from something because they're afraid – that is coward. I'm staying. I'm fighting. And if necessary, I'm dying to protect Hogwarts and everyone inside. Because I've never lost. I've never lost at Quidditch, I've never lost in an exam, I've never lost with women," he added, stealing a sly glance at Lily. In spite of the situation, the crowd laughed slightly, "and I don't intend to lose now. We're Gryffindors, for fuck's sake. We're the brave ones in the school. We're the best in the school. We've got to lead the school against those bastards. And I don't know about the rest of you. But I'm fighting." He looked around at them all, challenging anyone to look in the eye and say that they weren't fighting. Immediately, Sirius stepped out of the crowd
"I'm fighting too," he said, loudly. Remus followed suit
"Me too," he called, making his way through the crowd. Lily stood out from behind James
"And me." Seeing her boyfriend and best friend standing up there, Rachel also joined the group of fighters. So, to most people's surprise, did Peter. Most of the Quidditch team followed James' example and went up to fight along side their captain. Pretty soon nearly everyone from fifth, sixth and seventh years had agreed to fight. There were even a few people from the lower years who wanted to join them as well. Before they all went to bed that evening, James made sure there was one thing everyone knew
"Hogwarts will not fall."
Everyone in the new "Hogwarts Army" was given advanced training on how to stun, immobilise, disarm and capture Death Eaters. There were about 100 in the army, roughly 60 from Gryffindor, 25 from Ravenclaw, 10 from Hufflepuff, and surprisingly, about 5 from Slytherin.
Finally, on the 13th April, Dumbledore stood up at breakfast and said only two words
"It's today."