Hey sis! Very Good! Only minor changes. Call you later!
Disclaimer: See Chapter One.
A/N: Hey there people, so sorry for the late update. I'll try to update more often but it would appear that my LOTR fics have taken over. Don't worry though, I'll try to update this much more often that I have been. Anyway, many many thanks to my beta enb2004 who had two incredible HP fics that you have to read! As promised, here is Chapter Five. Enjoy!
Albus watched the Marauders leave with a sparkle in his eyes. This was exactly what he lived and fought for. James and Lily were at the very beginning of their adult lives and Albus would be damned if he let Voldemort ruin that for them.
"Albus, I think that we have a problem," Severus said quietly.
Turning away from his thoughts he turned to face the young man in front of him. Here was yet another innocent who's life had been spoiled, possibly for life, because of Voldemort.
"Yes Severus, I quite agree. This news is quite disturbing. How did he come by that information?" he asked tiredly.
Severus shook his head and sat down heavily. "By Merlin I wish I knew Albus, but it gets even worse," he said looking straight at the Headmaster.
Alarmed, Albus looked directly into Severus's eyes and not for the first time found them haunted.
"What is it Severus?" he asked gently. He knew that whatever Severus was about to tell him would not be good, particularly if he couldn't share it in front of the Order.
Severus rubbed his eyes wearily before looking up at Albus. "Albus, now that he knows about the Order, he wants me to find some way to infiltrate it and spy on it for him. Obviously he doesn't realize that I'm already a part of it. If he did know, well, I would be dead already," he said tiredly.
Albus sighed. Was it not to much to ask to give Severus a break for once in his life? Hadn't fate been cruel enough? Apparently not.
"This is indeed grave news. Severus, understand this. You may back out at anytime and I will fully support you. Too many times have you come close to being discovered already. I do wish that you would back out," Albus said looking directly into Severus deep brown eyes.
"You know I can't do that Albus. Not after all I've done," Severus said bitterly.
"Severus Snape, I will only say this once so you had better listen and listen well. What has happened to you is not your fault. You did not ask to receive the mark, it was forced upon you by your parents which was exactly when you turned to me for help. I am so proud of you Severus, I just wish that you could see all the good that you have done," Albus said fiercely.
"If you say so Albus. If you say so," Severus said wearily.
"I do say so my boy and right now, I think that you need to go and get some much deserved rest. We'll speak more of this later, but not right now," Albus said smiling at Severus.
Before Severus left the room however, he turned towards Albus. "By Merlin Albus, when is this cursed war ever going to end?" he asked, hoping, praying that his longtime mentor and friend would have an answer.
Albus looked at Severus sadly. "I wish that I could tell you I knew, but most unfortunately I don't. We will have to wait this war out Severus, even if it takes a decade. I will see this war won and the Light side prevail," Dumbledore said with confidence.
Severus eyed his former Headmaster with the utmost respect. "Goodnight Albus, and you're right, we will win this," he said before leaving the room.
Albus watched Severus leave with a heavy heart. The words he had spoken to Severus may have sounded confident but on the inside, Albus Dumbledore was anything but confident.
The Wizarding World was crumpling to its knees. More and more muggles, witches, and wizards alike were being killed as each new day dawned. The war would end within the next two years, of that Albus was sure of. Both sides were waning, slowly losing strength. It was only a matter of time before one side fell. What it came down to was which side would have the strength and the power to win the final battle.
Sighing, Albus put his head in his hands. What the Wizarding World needed was a miracle, and at the moment, none seemed to be forthcoming.
After the Marauders and Lily had left the meeting, they all apparated back to Lily's flat.
"Hey Lils, do you mind if we all crash here for the night? I'm dead tired," Sirius said while yawning.
"I'm with Padfoot on this one. It must be one in the morning by now," Remus said wearily as he plopped down on the couch.
Lily looked at the clock and groaned. "Actually it's two in the morning and yes, you can all crash here. I'm going to bed," she said trying to stifle a yawn.
"Night my lily flower," James said as he hugged Lily and quickly kissed her good night.
"Night James," she said tiredly before heading off for her bedroom and leaving the four boys to fend for themselves.
For a moment, James watched Lily walk off and wistfully wished he could join her. Remus interrupted his thoughts however.
"Prongs, get your mind out of the gutter. How about helping us out here instead?" Remus said waving at the floor which was bare of any sleeping materials.
"Oh, sorry," James said. With a quick swish and flick of his wand, there were four sleeping bags and pillows.
"Thanks Prongs," Sirius said while climbing into the sleeping bag and falling asleep only seconds later.
Remus and Peter also grunted their thanks before they too climbed in and fell fast asleep.
Seeing that everyone but he was already asleep, James sighed and climbed into his bag as well. Sleep however was not coming despite the fact that he was dead tired.
It wasn't until around five in the morning that he fell into a light doze when he was suddenly awakened by a scream coming from Lily's bedroom.
Lily yawned as she walked into her bedroom. Hopefully the boys would behave themselves and fall asleep right away. More than likely they would at this ungodly hour of the night.
Taking only enough time to brush her teeth and change, Lily crawled into bed and fell asleep the second her head hit her pillow, fully expecting it to be a dreamless sleep due to exhaustion.
Her sleep was anything but dreamless however. On the contrary, it was turning into a nightmare.
Dream Sequence
Lily was walking through a Hogwarts that seemed eerily deserted. Where was everyone? Oh, they were probably in class, yes that was it. She continued walking towards where Professor Dumbledore's was when she heard laughter behind her.
She whirled around to lecture whoever had decided to skip class but she found her breath caught in her throat. There right in front of her was James, and some red headed boy and bushy haired girl, with their backs turned to her.
"James! What are you doing here and who are these people?" she asked. Much to her surprise however, they did not react, it was like they had not even heard her.
"James Potter, you had better not be ignoring me," she said with a mock pout.
"James" turned around along with the two other people and smiled sadly at Lily before going back to his conversation with the others.
Lily gasped when "James" turned around. The boy, for that was what he was, had emerald eyes and a scar, a curse scar from the looks of it. The sorrowful smile the boy had given her teared at her heart. He looked so much like James, it was incredible! The eyes though, his eyes looked so old and haunted for one so young.
"Wait! Who are you?" she called after them. She had to know who this boy was and why he looked so much like James, she just had too!
The three children stopped and turned around to face Lily. The boy who looked so much like James stepped forward and met Lily's eyes directly.
Lily nearly gasped aloud once more as she was faced with the boy's intense stare. His eyes, those beautiful emerald eyes which echoed her own, seemed to penetrate her soul. His eyes practically screamed of a child who had seen and done to much.
"Please, who are you?" she asked desperately as he started to walk away once more.
The boy did not answer however. All he did was turn around once more and smile sorrowfully at Lily before walking away.
Suddenly, the scene changed and Lily screamed in fright when she saw that she was in a house that was slowly being destroyed.
Desperately she looked for an escape method when she heard the shrill cry of a baby.
She whirled around towards the sound and saw a baby boy trembling by his crib. A boy with emerald green eyes. No, it couldn't be. Yet it was, this here was the same boy whom she had just seen, except now, he was an infant.
The baby's wails suddenly increased and Lily turned around just in time to see a flash of green light and the most sinister pair of red eyes she had ever seen.
End Dream Sequence.
