A/N: Thanks so much for the reviews! Let me know if you have any other suggestions! About the swear words- If my parents found out that I posted that kinda stuff up here, I wouldn't be allowed to write. So, although I have no problem with them, I prefer keeping this account. At any rate… thanks for the suggestion. If you guys have any idea on how I could perfect my work (other than grammatical errors, I know its horrible and that I'm lazy, but I hate proofreading).
Disclaimer: I am in no way, shape, or form the only member of the magical world that surpasses Dumbledore – Ms. Joanne Kathleen Rowling.
The two stalked down the hall in silence, not in close enough to touch, but not exactly far away. Griffindors had long since learned that it was unwise to wander the corridors alone during Quidditch season – Slytherins would sneak up on unwary students and find something to do with them, not caring about the punishments. Lily knew this only too well. She had recently been dumped in the lake after trying to stop Slytherins from taking Jon. He got away, but Lily got a mouthful of water.
"What's Reinci?" James asked her as they continued to make their way to the staircase.
Lily shrugged. "I don't know, Potter, and if I did, I wouldn't tell you." This was said more as a fact than as an insult.
"Merlin, Lily, you don't have to be so… so… yourself about it."
She sped up, but James was close at her heels. "For the last time, Potter, my name's Evans."
"But Lil- Evans, can't you-" he stopped when he heard a footstep behind them. "Someone's here. Don't look." James muttered urgently out of the corner of his mouth as Lily started to swing around to see. "If we make it to the staircase, we might be able to make a dash for the tower.
"Potter, that's the stupidest plan I ever heard."
"You got a better one?"
"No," Lily persisted as she quickened her pace. "But anything's better than this."
"Evans-"
They heard a snicker from behind them. Lily sighed and turned around to see five masked Slytherins standing there, wands out. She could recognize two – the largest was Marco Leblank, the Beater and Captain of the Slytherin team, and the dirty, ragged robes belonged to Severus Snape, a Dark Arts fanatic.
"So." drawled Leblank. "What exactly where you two lovebirds whispering about?"
"First of all," James darted a quick glance at Lily who nodded and fingered her wand, "we aren't lovebirds. Second of- Petrificus Totalus!"
"Afring!"
Leblank and another were laying on the floor, both hit by their curses. Snape shot curse at James, who deflected it, but the fourth and fifth members were too slow to notice that they had just fallen for one of the oldest tricks in the book. Finally, they both realized what was going on, and advanced on Lily.
Deciding to use the one that had worked so well on his leader, the taller of the two waved his wand, "Petrificus Totalus!"
"Protego!" The spell bounced away from Lily and onto its creator who immediately fell to the ground, locked in the Full-Body-Bind Curse.
The shorter took advantage of Lily's concentration being elsewhere, "Winguardium Leviosa!" Lily shot up in the air about five feet, but was unable to touch the ground. Luckily, she was wearing pants, but it was still rather uncomfortable spinning about with nothing to grab onto.
She began to call out a incantation, but realized that if he lost control, he would fall. Instead, she aimed her wand at Snape. "Alorthoconodrum!"
He slumped on the ground, and James turned on the shortest Slytherin. Not being able to focus on two things at once, he let Lily drop as he sent a curse at James, who jumped toward where Lily was falling from and tried to catch her but just missed. Quickly looking back over his shoulder, he hexed the last Slytherin, who fell to the ground.
Lily was bleeding badly, and looked to be unconscious. Right, James thought. I'll run and get help. These guys won't be getting up anytime soon. Not after what she did.
He ran into an invisible wall. Casting a suspicious glance over at the Slytherins, he held his hand on the wall and pushed hard. Nothing happened.
Keeping his hand where it was, he walked around the circled wall. It had no openings, or even weaknesses. He turned around again, cursing himself for letting the Slytherins set up a trap without his knowledge. Then it hit him – Lily was exactly in the center of the invisible wall – just ten feet away from it at all sides!
Was it really the Slytherins? This wasn't the kind of trick they would pull… but Dumbledore would! Dumbledore, who had cast a spell on them! Dumbledore, who knew they were having arguments! Dumbledore, who told them not to go in opposite directions!
But why had it happened now of all times? James slammed his head against the wall., then walked over to where Lily lay. Picking her up, he decided to try an experiment. Maybe if he cared about her, it would all go away! He looked down at her. She was a mess. Blood blending with her copper hair, and running down her cheeks.
She was still beautiful, though. Still the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. It was funny, even, that others in the best of health couldn't compare with this wreck. Cradling her, he kiss her forehead.
Lily's eyes fluttered open, then just as quickly closed. Taking this as a good sign, James set her down and walked to where the wall had been. Nothing was there! Grinning, he continued walking. Confidently he broke into a jog. Within a second he crashed into the invisible wall.