(Note from the author: These are not my characters, my world, or my
situations. They all belong to J. K. Rowling, and are protected by
copyrights.)
(Warning for readers under 13: Again, it's rated PG-13. You know the drill.)
"Please, werewolf," Dolohov said, walking closer, and lighting a cigarette. The flames illuminated his ghostly face, and his grin exposed his horrible teeth, "Don't fool yourself."
Lily pointed her wand at him as well, and glared, "Antonin Dolohov, you will be tried in front of the Wizengamot for multiple homocide . . ."
"And look who else is here," he sneered, letting the smoke billow over his head, "The Potter Mudblood."
Peter shivered from behind Remus, but still raised his own wand. Dolohov didn't see him, due to the fact that he was much shorter than Lily or Remus, and that way he was safe from harm. But the other two weren't.
"In here," Remus shouted, "It's Dolohov."
"You killed Sampson, werewolf," Dolohov chortled, "I told you. I told you all. You are a murderer."
"Stupefy!" Lily shouted, but Dolohov ducked the spell, and it richocheted off of the wall, and into darkness. He pulled out his own wand, and pointed it at her.
"Don't make me kill her, werewolf," Dolohov sneered, "Don't make me do it. You know I will."
"Antonin!"
Dolohov looked over Lily's shoulder to where Moody was now standing. The music still chimed in all of their ears. It was a piano.
"Ah, Alastor," he hissed, and raised his wand to Lily's neck, "Now you make a choice. I shall either take this scum or the other with to meet June tonight. Choose one. I shall enjoy killing them."
"Don't you make one move, Dolohov," Moody said, coming closer.
"I'll do it, Alastor," Dolohov said, now raising the wand to Lily's temple, "I'll kill her. You wouldn't want another murder on your conscience, now would you?"
"Don't make this harder for yourself!" Moody raised his own wand, and kept charging forward.
Remus and Peter watched in horror as Dolohov extinguished his cigarette, and threw the butt on the floor. He gave one last sneer to Moody, and then looked back to Lily.
"Such a sweet girl," he said, taking her hair, "Pity your blood is filth," and then his smile faded, "Imperio."
Lily's eyes shot open in shock, as Sirius's had that one day long ago in Moody's living room. Her body became rigid, and then relaxed again. Her face glazed over in a content smile, and Moody stopped walking.
"I'll kill her, Alastor," Dolohov said, "Now leave this place. Leave and don't look back."
Moody's eyes were narrowed and dead set on the Russian as he slowly came to a complete stop.
He wasn't going to do anything! He was going to let him kill her! Someone had to do something . . .
Remus took out his wand and aimed it at Dolohov, "I don't think so."
Lily turned to him, and sneered, "Ah, the werewolf speaks words of courage. How touching," she raised her wand, "Let us see how well he fights a girl, shall we? Filth against filth?"
That's when they saw them. Death Eaters emerging from the kitchen, from the entrance to the ballroom . . . at least ten of them.
Their masks were drawn over their faces, and their cloaks swept across the floor. They made their way to Remus and Lily, who were now facing each other. They laughed when they saw the scene before them, and encircled them.
"Two demons from hell shall return home tonight," Lily snarled in a voice that was not her own, "Two demons shall meet their father tonight."
"Lily, get out of it," Remus muttered, "I know you can hear me. You have to wake up."
"She cannot hear you now," Lily stepped forward, and Peter squeaked.
"Go get James and the others," Remus whispered to Peter, who was standing outside of the circle that now enclosed them, and he nodded. Peter ran out of the way, and Dolohov paid no heed to him.
"And as for you, Alastor," he said, turning to the old Auror, "It is just you and I, one last time. Possibly this time, you will not be as stupid as to let me live."
Lily pointed her wand at Remus, and advanced on him.
"Expelliramus!" Remus shouted, and Lily flew into the wall of Death Eaters, falling on the ground. Only to rise again.
"Come on, werewolf," one of the Death Eaters jeered.
"Lily . . ."
"CRUCIO!" she shouted, and Remus dodged the light flying towards him.
"Expelliramus!" he cried again, now aiming for her wand. It shot out of her hand and clattered to the floor five feet away. He took this opportunity to lunge at her, grab her around the waist, and tackle her.
He pinned her to the floor, and gasping to catch his breath, looked her right in the eyes.
"Lily, look at me," he said, "Come on. You're still there. I know you are. Look at me! Stop this! I know you want to. Come on! Come on, Lily! Fight it!"
"Get up, werewolf," one of the Death Eaters said, stepping out of the circle. Remus felt a jolt of pain run through his body, and he cried out in agony.
"Fight!" Lily growled, pushing him off.
"Lily! Listen to me . . ."
Lily kicked him, and the Death Eaters laughed.
"It was squealing for mercy when we threw it in that room," Dolohov said, brandishing his wand again and pointing it at Moody, "What did you call that animal . . . ah, yes . . . I remember now . . . Jonathon was begging for mercy. I would not have been surprised if the little heathen would have turned sides if we had let it live."
"Avada Kedavra!" Moody shouted, and the green light shot past Dolohov's shoulder.
"Ah, such a curse for such a man," Dolohov said, bowing, "I feel honored, Alastor, I really do."
"Avada Kedavra!" Moody cried again, and this one grew closer to Dolohov's ear. Dolohov continued walking towards him, ready to strike himself.
"It was my pleasure ridding this world of the evil demon," Dolohov sneered, raising his own wand, "Crucio."
Moody dodged the light, and shouted for the third time, "Avada Kedavra!"
Again, it missed Dolohov.
"You are trying to miss," Dolohov commented, "You are old, but not that old. You could kill me if you desired to."
"LILY!" Remus said, as she went to retrieve her wand from one of the Death Eaters, "Please, Lily! Hold onto my voice!"
"Antonin Dolohov," Moody started, raising his wand, "You are under arrest for the murder of . . ."
"Kill me, old man," Dolohov said, holding his arms out in a surrender, "Kill me."
"The Dark Lord will rid the world of the unpure of mind and soul," Lily said, raising her wand above Remus's head.
"Lily . . ."
"The Dark Lord will purify his world . . ."
"You will be tried in front of the Wizengamot for multiple homocide . . ." Moody continued.
"You still will not kill me, will you?" Dolohov said.
"You don't deserve to die," Moody snarled, and then pointed his wand in another direction to his side, "Avada Kedavra."
There was a sound of two falling bodies as the green light illuminated the room, and Dolohov's gaze shot over to see who had been caught by the spell. Two of the Death Eaters surrounding Remus and Lily were sprawled out on the floor. They was dead.
"Avada Kedavra," Moody shouted again, and a large light hit six of them, and Dolohov glared.
The remaining two Death Eaters turned their attention to the Auror, wands raised.
"No," Dolohov shouted to them, "This one is mine."
"We have orders from . . ."
"I do not care," Dolohov retorted, "He is mine!"
"AVADA KEDAVRA," Moody cried, and the last two fell. Remus got to his feet, but Lily pushed him back down.
"Hit me," she said, "Kill me."
"Lily . . ."
"Care for me to continue, Antonin?" he said, now pointing his wand towards Lily.
Dolohov narrowed his eyes, his face very sour.
"You will kill me," he hissed.
"No, Antonin," Moody said, "You will see the end of this war, and you will feel your consequences for your actions. No one can escape the true justice."
"You fool . . ." Dolohov sneered.
"You fear the end," Moody said, still pointing his wand to Lily, "But you will see it. You aren't getting out of it that easily."
There was a squeaking of shoes on the cleaned floor of the ballroom as the rest of the Order filed in through the main door, and surveyed the scene. James looked to Remus and Lily, and his face became white.
"You cannot protect them any longer, Alastor," Dolohov said, raising his hands again in a surrender, "Tell that to your Dumbledore for me."
And then in a pop of sound, he was gone.
Lily blinked, and then looked from Remus to Moody, who still had his wand raised to her. She gave out a gasp, and took a step back. Moody lowered his wand, and James rushed forward.
"What happened in here?" Frank demanded, running to the front of the crowd as James embraced Lily. Sirius and Peter went to the aid of Remus, helping him shakily to his feet.
"Dolohov," Moody reported, "He was the only one that escaped."
"I . . . I . . . I could see it happen, but I couldn't stop it!" Lily cried, looking in horror to Remus, "I am so sorry! I . . ."
"Are you all right?" James asked.
"Yeah, I'll live," Remus said, holding his side, and leaning on Sirius.
Sirius gave out a nervous laugh, and then shook his head, "Moony got beaten up by a girl. What would your father say?"
Everyone gave out a weak laugh, and Remus got his balance and let go of Sirius.
"I want a search warrant for Dolohov's old place," Moody said, "We should have done that months ago. I have a feeling he really is bringing it back into use. I want posters all around town of that man, and I want him found, gagged, chained, and thrown into Azkaban."
"The reporters are flocking to the door, Mad Eye," Kingsley shouted from the entrance hall, "I don't know how long we can hold them off."
"Tell them that unless they want a second head tonight, that they're to respect the Ministry's rules and vacate the premises at once," Moody snarled, and Frank sighed, rubbing his temples.
"I'll come with you," he said, and ran out of the ballroom. Lily was still staring at Moody, unbelievingly. Moody looked back at her, and then glared.
"Mrs. Potter," he snapped, "This is no time for your dramatics! Put your eyes back in your sockets and start to identify these bodies. Now."
Lily and James entered their house, exhausted that night. Lily hadn't said a word since they had left, and now she quietly floated up the stairs, and into their room. James sighed, mussed his hair, and set his and Lily's wands on the front table. It had been a hard night for her.
He followed his wife up the stairs, and into the bedroom. She was already laying down in the bed, brushing her long hair out of her face and staring at the wall in front of her. It seemed as if she didn't even hear him walk into the room.
"Lily . . ." he started.
"He was going to kill me," Lily said, looking up at James, "He had his wand pointed at me."
"Who?"
Lily broke out in tears, and James rushed to her side, taking her hands in his.
"Don't cry. Please . . . I don't want to see you cry," he said, and Lily rested her head on his shoulder.
"God," she whispered, "I . . . I know what Remus feels like. Not having any control over the hurting that you bring to others. Not having control over your actions. I've been through that curse before, but . . . but somehow it was different this time. I was a villain. Moody pointed his wand at me, just like the Death Eaters. I was one of them to him."
"It's all right, Lily," James said, rubbing her shoulders as she sobbed into his shirt, "Just calm down."
"And . . . and I just have to wonder," Lily said, "What exactly are we doing in this war? Why us? Why me?"
"I ask myself that question, too, Lily," James said, and Lily put her head in his lap. He stroked her hair as he took a deep breath, and then added, "And then I ask myself 'why not me?'"
"What?"
"How would my life had been different if I had never met you. And if I hadn't met the guys. And if my father hadn't been in the Order. And if I had turned in the other direction when me and Remus were walking that Christmas," he said, and Lily's bright green eyes, littered with tears, stared up at him.
"And I came to a conclusion about that life," James said.
"And what was that?"
James smiled warmly, and touched her cheek, "It wouldn't have been a life worth living."
Lily gave a tired smile, and touched his cheek with her own hand, "Yeah," she added in a forced voice through her tears, "You're right."
That night, there were no more tears. No more talk of war. Just dreams that filled the two of their heads, throwing them far away from the hell surrounding them, and into a paradise only the two of them would ever know.
(Warning for readers under 13: Again, it's rated PG-13. You know the drill.)
"Please, werewolf," Dolohov said, walking closer, and lighting a cigarette. The flames illuminated his ghostly face, and his grin exposed his horrible teeth, "Don't fool yourself."
Lily pointed her wand at him as well, and glared, "Antonin Dolohov, you will be tried in front of the Wizengamot for multiple homocide . . ."
"And look who else is here," he sneered, letting the smoke billow over his head, "The Potter Mudblood."
Peter shivered from behind Remus, but still raised his own wand. Dolohov didn't see him, due to the fact that he was much shorter than Lily or Remus, and that way he was safe from harm. But the other two weren't.
"In here," Remus shouted, "It's Dolohov."
"You killed Sampson, werewolf," Dolohov chortled, "I told you. I told you all. You are a murderer."
"Stupefy!" Lily shouted, but Dolohov ducked the spell, and it richocheted off of the wall, and into darkness. He pulled out his own wand, and pointed it at her.
"Don't make me kill her, werewolf," Dolohov sneered, "Don't make me do it. You know I will."
"Antonin!"
Dolohov looked over Lily's shoulder to where Moody was now standing. The music still chimed in all of their ears. It was a piano.
"Ah, Alastor," he hissed, and raised his wand to Lily's neck, "Now you make a choice. I shall either take this scum or the other with to meet June tonight. Choose one. I shall enjoy killing them."
"Don't you make one move, Dolohov," Moody said, coming closer.
"I'll do it, Alastor," Dolohov said, now raising the wand to Lily's temple, "I'll kill her. You wouldn't want another murder on your conscience, now would you?"
"Don't make this harder for yourself!" Moody raised his own wand, and kept charging forward.
Remus and Peter watched in horror as Dolohov extinguished his cigarette, and threw the butt on the floor. He gave one last sneer to Moody, and then looked back to Lily.
"Such a sweet girl," he said, taking her hair, "Pity your blood is filth," and then his smile faded, "Imperio."
Lily's eyes shot open in shock, as Sirius's had that one day long ago in Moody's living room. Her body became rigid, and then relaxed again. Her face glazed over in a content smile, and Moody stopped walking.
"I'll kill her, Alastor," Dolohov said, "Now leave this place. Leave and don't look back."
Moody's eyes were narrowed and dead set on the Russian as he slowly came to a complete stop.
He wasn't going to do anything! He was going to let him kill her! Someone had to do something . . .
Remus took out his wand and aimed it at Dolohov, "I don't think so."
Lily turned to him, and sneered, "Ah, the werewolf speaks words of courage. How touching," she raised her wand, "Let us see how well he fights a girl, shall we? Filth against filth?"
That's when they saw them. Death Eaters emerging from the kitchen, from the entrance to the ballroom . . . at least ten of them.
Their masks were drawn over their faces, and their cloaks swept across the floor. They made their way to Remus and Lily, who were now facing each other. They laughed when they saw the scene before them, and encircled them.
"Two demons from hell shall return home tonight," Lily snarled in a voice that was not her own, "Two demons shall meet their father tonight."
"Lily, get out of it," Remus muttered, "I know you can hear me. You have to wake up."
"She cannot hear you now," Lily stepped forward, and Peter squeaked.
"Go get James and the others," Remus whispered to Peter, who was standing outside of the circle that now enclosed them, and he nodded. Peter ran out of the way, and Dolohov paid no heed to him.
"And as for you, Alastor," he said, turning to the old Auror, "It is just you and I, one last time. Possibly this time, you will not be as stupid as to let me live."
Lily pointed her wand at Remus, and advanced on him.
"Expelliramus!" Remus shouted, and Lily flew into the wall of Death Eaters, falling on the ground. Only to rise again.
"Come on, werewolf," one of the Death Eaters jeered.
"Lily . . ."
"CRUCIO!" she shouted, and Remus dodged the light flying towards him.
"Expelliramus!" he cried again, now aiming for her wand. It shot out of her hand and clattered to the floor five feet away. He took this opportunity to lunge at her, grab her around the waist, and tackle her.
He pinned her to the floor, and gasping to catch his breath, looked her right in the eyes.
"Lily, look at me," he said, "Come on. You're still there. I know you are. Look at me! Stop this! I know you want to. Come on! Come on, Lily! Fight it!"
"Get up, werewolf," one of the Death Eaters said, stepping out of the circle. Remus felt a jolt of pain run through his body, and he cried out in agony.
"Fight!" Lily growled, pushing him off.
"Lily! Listen to me . . ."
Lily kicked him, and the Death Eaters laughed.
"It was squealing for mercy when we threw it in that room," Dolohov said, brandishing his wand again and pointing it at Moody, "What did you call that animal . . . ah, yes . . . I remember now . . . Jonathon was begging for mercy. I would not have been surprised if the little heathen would have turned sides if we had let it live."
"Avada Kedavra!" Moody shouted, and the green light shot past Dolohov's shoulder.
"Ah, such a curse for such a man," Dolohov said, bowing, "I feel honored, Alastor, I really do."
"Avada Kedavra!" Moody cried again, and this one grew closer to Dolohov's ear. Dolohov continued walking towards him, ready to strike himself.
"It was my pleasure ridding this world of the evil demon," Dolohov sneered, raising his own wand, "Crucio."
Moody dodged the light, and shouted for the third time, "Avada Kedavra!"
Again, it missed Dolohov.
"You are trying to miss," Dolohov commented, "You are old, but not that old. You could kill me if you desired to."
"LILY!" Remus said, as she went to retrieve her wand from one of the Death Eaters, "Please, Lily! Hold onto my voice!"
"Antonin Dolohov," Moody started, raising his wand, "You are under arrest for the murder of . . ."
"Kill me, old man," Dolohov said, holding his arms out in a surrender, "Kill me."
"The Dark Lord will rid the world of the unpure of mind and soul," Lily said, raising her wand above Remus's head.
"Lily . . ."
"The Dark Lord will purify his world . . ."
"You will be tried in front of the Wizengamot for multiple homocide . . ." Moody continued.
"You still will not kill me, will you?" Dolohov said.
"You don't deserve to die," Moody snarled, and then pointed his wand in another direction to his side, "Avada Kedavra."
There was a sound of two falling bodies as the green light illuminated the room, and Dolohov's gaze shot over to see who had been caught by the spell. Two of the Death Eaters surrounding Remus and Lily were sprawled out on the floor. They was dead.
"Avada Kedavra," Moody shouted again, and a large light hit six of them, and Dolohov glared.
The remaining two Death Eaters turned their attention to the Auror, wands raised.
"No," Dolohov shouted to them, "This one is mine."
"We have orders from . . ."
"I do not care," Dolohov retorted, "He is mine!"
"AVADA KEDAVRA," Moody cried, and the last two fell. Remus got to his feet, but Lily pushed him back down.
"Hit me," she said, "Kill me."
"Lily . . ."
"Care for me to continue, Antonin?" he said, now pointing his wand towards Lily.
Dolohov narrowed his eyes, his face very sour.
"You will kill me," he hissed.
"No, Antonin," Moody said, "You will see the end of this war, and you will feel your consequences for your actions. No one can escape the true justice."
"You fool . . ." Dolohov sneered.
"You fear the end," Moody said, still pointing his wand to Lily, "But you will see it. You aren't getting out of it that easily."
There was a squeaking of shoes on the cleaned floor of the ballroom as the rest of the Order filed in through the main door, and surveyed the scene. James looked to Remus and Lily, and his face became white.
"You cannot protect them any longer, Alastor," Dolohov said, raising his hands again in a surrender, "Tell that to your Dumbledore for me."
And then in a pop of sound, he was gone.
Lily blinked, and then looked from Remus to Moody, who still had his wand raised to her. She gave out a gasp, and took a step back. Moody lowered his wand, and James rushed forward.
"What happened in here?" Frank demanded, running to the front of the crowd as James embraced Lily. Sirius and Peter went to the aid of Remus, helping him shakily to his feet.
"Dolohov," Moody reported, "He was the only one that escaped."
"I . . . I . . . I could see it happen, but I couldn't stop it!" Lily cried, looking in horror to Remus, "I am so sorry! I . . ."
"Are you all right?" James asked.
"Yeah, I'll live," Remus said, holding his side, and leaning on Sirius.
Sirius gave out a nervous laugh, and then shook his head, "Moony got beaten up by a girl. What would your father say?"
Everyone gave out a weak laugh, and Remus got his balance and let go of Sirius.
"I want a search warrant for Dolohov's old place," Moody said, "We should have done that months ago. I have a feeling he really is bringing it back into use. I want posters all around town of that man, and I want him found, gagged, chained, and thrown into Azkaban."
"The reporters are flocking to the door, Mad Eye," Kingsley shouted from the entrance hall, "I don't know how long we can hold them off."
"Tell them that unless they want a second head tonight, that they're to respect the Ministry's rules and vacate the premises at once," Moody snarled, and Frank sighed, rubbing his temples.
"I'll come with you," he said, and ran out of the ballroom. Lily was still staring at Moody, unbelievingly. Moody looked back at her, and then glared.
"Mrs. Potter," he snapped, "This is no time for your dramatics! Put your eyes back in your sockets and start to identify these bodies. Now."
Lily and James entered their house, exhausted that night. Lily hadn't said a word since they had left, and now she quietly floated up the stairs, and into their room. James sighed, mussed his hair, and set his and Lily's wands on the front table. It had been a hard night for her.
He followed his wife up the stairs, and into the bedroom. She was already laying down in the bed, brushing her long hair out of her face and staring at the wall in front of her. It seemed as if she didn't even hear him walk into the room.
"Lily . . ." he started.
"He was going to kill me," Lily said, looking up at James, "He had his wand pointed at me."
"Who?"
Lily broke out in tears, and James rushed to her side, taking her hands in his.
"Don't cry. Please . . . I don't want to see you cry," he said, and Lily rested her head on his shoulder.
"God," she whispered, "I . . . I know what Remus feels like. Not having any control over the hurting that you bring to others. Not having control over your actions. I've been through that curse before, but . . . but somehow it was different this time. I was a villain. Moody pointed his wand at me, just like the Death Eaters. I was one of them to him."
"It's all right, Lily," James said, rubbing her shoulders as she sobbed into his shirt, "Just calm down."
"And . . . and I just have to wonder," Lily said, "What exactly are we doing in this war? Why us? Why me?"
"I ask myself that question, too, Lily," James said, and Lily put her head in his lap. He stroked her hair as he took a deep breath, and then added, "And then I ask myself 'why not me?'"
"What?"
"How would my life had been different if I had never met you. And if I hadn't met the guys. And if my father hadn't been in the Order. And if I had turned in the other direction when me and Remus were walking that Christmas," he said, and Lily's bright green eyes, littered with tears, stared up at him.
"And I came to a conclusion about that life," James said.
"And what was that?"
James smiled warmly, and touched her cheek, "It wouldn't have been a life worth living."
Lily gave a tired smile, and touched his cheek with her own hand, "Yeah," she added in a forced voice through her tears, "You're right."
That night, there were no more tears. No more talk of war. Just dreams that filled the two of their heads, throwing them far away from the hell surrounding them, and into a paradise only the two of them would ever know.