Yay! I'm updating again!

Chapter Eighteen: The night off

It was a month later and the only times I got to see James were on some weekends. I was working hard with the Order, trying to find Anais, who was still missing, and try and figure out when and where Voldemort would strike next. They wouldn't let me go on missions yet...It's something I really want to do, I know I can help, but they think I'm too young still.

I know James is working hard too, I see him once in a while at Hogwarts, which was where Headquarters was until the start of next term. Quick kisses on the cheeks were getting old, but I still couldn't get a warm feeling everytime he smiled at me, even if it was across the room.

In truth I miss James and I wish I could be with him a lot more than I am now. But Anais is still missing, dead or alive, we don't know. I want to help find her, I can't even imagine what she's been going through.

Abbey is recovering, rather slowly, but steadily. I visit her time to time in St. Mungos, she hasn't spoken since it happened. But who can blame her? Everytime I go to see her Sirius is sitting with her, comforting her and I can tell she's extremely thankful.

As the threat of darkness challenges us, I can see the determination in the faces of the people in the order. We've been training and working hard to try and stop this evil man and it's about time we did so.

So here I am, sitting at home, enjoying one night off. I haven't had nothing to do in a month and it felt good just to sit there, relaxing in the candle-light, reading a book.

Well I was relaxing until the sound of someone apparating in my kitchen made me tense and grab for my wand. I gasped as I realized my wand was in my bedroom, I had left it there when I was changing into more comfortable clothes.

I looked for something that would hurt someone. The only thing that I could lift was a coatrack or an umbrella. I took the umbrella.

I shuddered in fear of what might be in my kitchen and took a step forward towards the door to the kitchen.

The door swung open and I screamed as a man stepped into my living room in front of me. The umbrella I was holding popped open and I screamed again, throwing it at the intruder in the doorway.

"Lily!"

I stopped screaming. Too casual to be an attacker.

"James?" I asked, hoarse from screaming.

"Yeah it's me. Are you okay?" I could finally see his face as he stepped out of the shadow of the doorway.

"Fine, I'm fine." I mumbled, picking up the umbrella and sticking it by the front door.

I heard a sound and looked over at James who was holding in laughter. I frowned and put my hands on my hips.

"What is so funny?" I asked and he just shook his head as a snort of laughter erupted from him.

I rolled my eyes as he glanced at the umbrella and then back to me.

"I thought you were an intruder! God, James. You could at least say 'Lily, love of my life, I'm here! Don't worry!' But no, you just walk in, in the dark I might add, and stand there staring at me! What am I supposed to do?" I exclaimed as James continued laughing. I glared at him as he walked towards me with an apologetic, but still amused, look on his face.

"Lily, love of my life, I'm here. Don't worry." He mumbled against my mouth.

"Cheater." I accused and he smiled cheekily.

"What are you doing here?" I asked as he settled himself on the couch. He pulled me down on his lap as I watched him curiously.

"I missed you. I haven't talked to you in a week." He answered as I immediately tingled at the feel of him so close to me.

"I talked to you yesterday." I murmured as he kissed my temple.

"Lily, a simple hello doesn't mean talking to me." James said, running his hand through my wet hair. I washed it about twenty minutes earlier.

"I know..." I trailed off, not knowing what to say.

"I don't like not seeing you." James said.

"I don't like not seeing you, either." I replied softly. I had no clue where this conversation was going.

"So, How are you?" James asked and I gave him a small smile.

"How am I? Let's see, One of my best friends isn't speaking and is in the hospital recovering from a traumatic loss of blood, my other best friend is missing in action and I have no idea where she may be. Other than that, I think I'm okay." I answered sourly as James frowned.

"Lily..."

"I'm okay, I'm just overreacting. I'm fine, James. I have a wonderful boyfriend who's kind enough to worry over me, care about me and love me. What else do I need?" I asked quietly, looking up at James who had a hurt expression on his face.

"You need, no you don't need, you deserve the best, Lily. I love you so much it hurts to even think of you in pain. I hate seeing you like this, missing people. Hell, I miss Anais too, she was like a sister to me. But the only person I can think about is you and how you're coping. It kills me to walk past you and only giving you a smile when I want to take you in my arms and never let go." James told me and I had the urge to cry. Not a sad cry, just a that-was-so-sweet kind of cry.

I don't do those very often. But, I guess tonight was an experience.

"Aw, Lily. Don't cry." James pleaded and I shook my head, sniffling.

"Did I make you cry? Oh, please don't Lily, it hurts me to see you like this." James said.

"You're so stupid." I choked out, between sniffles.

"What?" James asked, taken-aback.

"How can you do this to me?" I asked.

"Do what? What am I doing to you, baby? Please don't cry." James said, wiping away a stray tear on my cheek.

"How can you make me cry with just a statement like that?" I sniffled and James smiled as I threw him a glare through my tears.

"Cause' I love you, Lils." He answered, sending me into another wave of cutesie tears.

"Stop." I ordered, but he continued whispering sweet nothings into my ear for quite sometime later, even after I stopped crying.

The next morning I woke up to a pair of strong arms wrapped around my waist. It was an extremely comforting feeling and I felt like I could lay there and be happy my whole life.

Then I remembered I had work to do. All day. I opened my eyes and looked up at James' still sleeping face. My previous thoughts of work left my mind and I smiled at him. I became intent on observing him, my index finger trailing up and down his face. I took a lock of his messy hair and curled it around my finger, holding back a giggle when it bounced back into it's messy form.

I was so amazed that his hair wouldn't lie flat that I didn't notice he was watching me with a sleepy smile on his face.

"Enjoying yourself?" James asked, startling me as I looked down and blushed a little.

"I was." I joked as he stuck his tongue out at me.

"So mature." I said, smirking at him.

"I am mature."

"Are not."

"Are too."

"Are not."

"Are too."

"Are not."

"Now who's immature?" James asked, with a chuckle. I scowled and then smiled, pointing a finger in his direction.

I laughed as James tickled my side. I shrieked as James continued to tickle me in the most sensitive places. Like the bottoms of my feet, or on the back of my neck. He knew all the best places to make me surrender.

"Okay, Okay! I give in! I admit I'm the more immature one." I squealed as James smiled at his victory.

"Ready for breakfast?" He asked me and I nodded. I stood up and was about to walk into the kitchen when James' hand grabbed mine and pulled me back down onto the couch.

"Wha-?"

"I changed my mind." He answered, before cupping my face with his hands and kissing me. I smiled into the kiss as it became more passionate.

When we pulled away James looked stunned.

"Wow." Was all he said. I just smiled innocently and jumped up, walking into the kitchen. I heard footsteps behind me and knew James was following me.

That's when it happened.

"Mudblood." I gasped at what I saw. Lucius Malfoy was standing in the middle of my kitchen, with two people in masks behind him.

"Lily, who's that-" James walked in the kitchen behind me and immediately tensed, seeing Malfoy in my kitchen.

I didn't dare turn around to look at him, I knew if I did Malfoy would be able to hex me from behind. That is what he was there for, wasn't it?

"What do you want?" James growled and Lucius looked amused.

"The girl." A feminie voice sounded from behind one of the masks.

James stepped closer to me and I could feel his breath on my ear.

I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye and saw he had his wand drawn out, ready to attack.

I admit, I was scared to death. I had no idea why they wanted me, I know I was a part of their enemy, but a very small part. I gulped back my fear and decided I had to be brave and do this for Abbey and Anais, wherever she was.

"Lily, go. I'll take care of this." James whispered and I shook my head determined not to let them take James from me as well.

"I can help." I told him and I knew he was cursing my stubbornness.

"Well, mudblood. Are you going to put up a fight or come with us as we want?" Lucius asked and I glared at him. If looks could kill he'd be ten feet under by now.

"Fight then? I figured so, you were always a fiery one." Lucius drawled.

"Stupefy!" James exclaimed and the death eater to the left of Lucius fell to the floor.

"Expelliarmus!" The other masked death eater screamed and James wand flew over to them, Lucius pointed his wand at me and made to say something, but James' fist collided with his jaw.

The other death eater ran at me and I ducked as they tried to strangle me. This person obviously had not been trained physically.

They punched my chin and I winced in pain as I pulled their mask off.
It was Bellatrix Black. Sirius' cousin.

"You-" I pushed her onto the ground as she howled in pain. I kicked her in the stomach and then picked up a chair, hitting her head and knocking her unconscious.

"Bitch." I finished, smirking slightly.

The last thing I remember is James calling my name and seeing a flash of green light.

-whistles innocently- This isn't a cliffhanger... It's just um...a surprise? he..

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-A lesson before dying