Disclaimer: Harry Potter, Hogwarts, or anything that has ever been mentioned in the Harry Potter books does not belong to me. I would like to own them, and make billions of dollars every year, but the only thing in this story that is mine is my plot, if you can call it one. I am simply one of those very sad people who obsess over something that isn't real. Thank you for your time.

Chapter Ten

James looked up. This was the man who had murdered his parents, who had caused so much pain and desperation in his world. He knew that he should apparate away, but he remembered a lesson he had had in Auror Training. When there is the slightest chance of a problem occurring, apparition becomes the worst thing you can do. So James stood and faced Voldemort, ready to bargain.

"Let Lily go," he pleaded. "I'll stay, just let her go."

Voldemort chuckled, a sound that sounded neither amused nor funny. He was younger then James would have expected, around the age his own parents would have been, had they survived. "Why would I want to do that? I have you both right where I want you. You cannot escape, and she," he nodded at Lily, "has just killed one of my most loyal followers. That would be a death sentence for her, no matter who else she might be."

James had known that would be the answer, yet he still had to fight for her, somehow. Where were Sirius and Remus? He couldn't think of any way to get out of this without both him and Lily getting killed, and he knew that, if the latter happened, he would beg for them to kill him, too.

Suddenly, a deafening alarm went off. Several of the Death Eaters jumped, and they all looked at their Dark Lord for commands. He barked out, "Go. Someone is in the plans. I can handle these two." Most left, but two stayed.

If I live, I'm going to be buying Padfoot doggy treats for the rest of his life, James decided. It was more like Sirius to randomly set off an alarm. He only hoped it would buy them enough time. Three dark wizards gave slightly better odds then fifteen, but they still had the advantage.

Voldemort knew it, too, and didn't look any less confident. "Grab the girl," he told his two remaining followers brusquely, and then, turning back to James, he smiled evilly. "I knew your father, boy. I always hated him. Him and his god be damned equality, and protection to the mudblood filth. I can see that you are like him in that regard." He gave Lily an appraising glance, which caused her to glare back.

"He shared the sentiment, too. I believe we both knew that one of our lines would kill off the other. He always fought for me being expelled. He had a lot of power, your father. It gave me great pleasure to kill him."

James stoic face fought to reveal his emotions. Voldemort knew this, and continued taunting him. "Would you like to know how it happened? It was actually very much like this. I stood before him, and told him of all that he should never have done, while your mother was held off to one side. I fought him, until at last I had him without his wand. He had to watch her be killed, slowly tortured until her heart gave out. A beautiful woman, your mother. I loved her once, but she refused me to be with your father. A mistake she lived to regret."

James still watched, waiting for the true fight to begin. His opponent was only giving him anger that would give him strength in the fight to come. He knew that there would be a fight. Voldemort seemed to enjoy reliving history. However, James would not make the same mistake twice.

"He begged for his life," Voldemort taunted. "One would never expect such behavior from a Gryffindor, but he did."

"You're lying," James replied gruffly. "You're trying to make me lose my temper, and do something foolish."

Voldemort smiled sinisterly. "Potter, you already have." Then he bowed, insultingly, and the duel began.

James had to watch his step consistently. There was no question of who dominated this fight, but he had to try. Suddenly, everything stopped. A voice rang out in his mind. Kill the red-headed one, it said.

It sounded good, and James, already exhausted, wanted nothing better then to obey. Then, he realized that this was the Imperius Curse. That was not him telling himself to kill Lily. Voldemort knew what the greatest torture of all would be, but James refused to give in.

Several moments passed. Neither of the opponents had landed a hit, but James was growing even more exhausted with every passing second. Voldemort knew this, and whispered, with his next incantation, "I'm going to kill her. Wait a few moments, until I have you at my mercy, and I will. I will torture her until she can be tortured no more, and then I will kill her, slowly. Or just wait until her breath stops coming, and her eyes lose their gaze."

"I will never let you," James gasped out, and, mustering the last of his strength, began another series of curses. It was not easy to dodge so many things, and, since he hadn't had rest in more then 36 hours, he knew he would soon make another foolish mistake.

Suddenly, a loud crack rang out in the room. James looked at the death eaters and Lily in his peripheral vision, and saw that one of them was knocked out cold, Lily coming down from a high kick. She pulled out her own wand, and punched the other until he, too, was unconscious. Then she joined the duel.

"What are you doing, and what the bloody hell was that?" James asked frantically. She could leave right now, and save her own life. Voldemort was too intent on killing him to pay attention.

She grinned in return, and replied, "Saving your neck. And that, dear James, was a leftover move from a dance class I went to when I was younger. My mother always said it would come in handy."

Voldemort may have been in advantage with just James, but against the both of him, the odds slowly began to change. He lost ground, dodging more curses then he was throwing. Finally, knowing when he was beat, he told the couple, "Our fight does not end today. But end it will, in my favor." Then, he shot Lily one more time, and disapparated, touching a place on his arm before he did.

A flash of green light sped to the girl, and she crumpled like a wadded up napkin. James, cursing, leapt to catch her. He felt for a heartbeat, and couldn't find one. Tears began forming in his eyes. He had gone through so much to find her, and to make her his, but by the time he could, she was killed.

Remus and Sirius rushed into the room at that point. "They all disapparated, Sirius got into some weird room, what happened?" Remus asked breathlessly.

"He wanted to fight me, to relive his fight against my father. It didn't work. Lily beat up her guards," he nodded to the two unconscious figures, "But he hit her as he left. My god, Remus, I think she's dead." Then the tears truly began to start, falling on his only love's lifeless body.

Remus bent down, and, taking a pulse as James had done, shook his head. "I think you're right, James," he agreed mournfully. "I think we lost her." He put an arm around his friends shoulders, and pulled him up. "We need to get those two back to the ministry."

James just shook his head. "I can't leave Lily. You two do it." He still clutched her body, unwilling to admit that she was gone. Remus and Sirius tied up the two Death Eaters, and, looking mournfully at the body, left, dragging the bodies behind them, Sirius saying something about how it was never too late to attempt to join undercover auror work.

James picked up Lily and carried her through the open door. He was remembering every thing that had ever happened with them. Their first ride on the bus, where James had accidentally turned her hair green. Their third year, when James had asked her out for the first time. Their seventh year, when James had awoken from a bludger to the head to find Lily beside him, saying that, if the offer still stood, she would go out with him. Three years ago, when Sirius had rented the house across the street from hers, and he had been forced to leave her. A week ago, when he had been fighting his feelings for her. If only he had told her how he felt then, it could have made all the difference.

"You know, this might look really romantic, but it isn't the most comfortable position," a voice said sarcastically. James looked down, and, to his shock and wonderment, he saw that Lily had opened her eyes, and was giving him a mock glare. In his surprise, he nearly dropped her, and she had to hang on desperately to keep from hitting the ground.

"But, you were dead," James stammered out, checking over every inch of her to make sure there was nothing else.

"I heard a voice," Lily replied softly. "It told me that it wasn't my time, and that I had to go back." She stopped, and then made a sudden realization. "James, he said that one of the Marauders had turned traitor. I didn't think it was true, but I don't know anymore. So many things…" She trailed off. James comforted her, but he was remembering how Remus had appeared to know too much. And the seeds of doubt were planted.

James sat Lily on the floor, and quickly took all of her vital statistics. She seemed perfectly healthy, apart from the fact that she had been dead. "Can you walk?" he asked quietly.

She gave him an exasperated look, and said, "Is that all you can say? That I was dead, and if I can walk? That is a sad conversation with the girl you just agreed to marry." Then, giggling softly, she pulled his head down to hers, and kissed him.

I'M SORRY! I had no idea what I was going to do. I didn't know how to get Lily and James out of that mess, and it took me a while to think of our beloved Sirius and Remus starting a ruckus.

No, that is not the end. There will be one more chapter coming. This story was my first real baby, though, and I love it.

However, I still love reviews. And I know this chapter wasn't as great. I suck at fight scenes. I'm much better at the cheesy romance stuff.

And please, no anonymous flames, it's a waste of your time, having to write them, it's a waste of my time, having to read them, and it's a waste of 's space, having to store them. Plus, if you do, I'll make do an endurance week. It's a swimming thing, and it hurts like hell.

Now, to answer my reviewers from the last chapter (oh so long ago)-

azn flame92- Failed on the last one, sorry.

Prongsie-Jamesie- Now they got their kiss. And have you read Murphy's recently? You might be happy…

James-RoxMySox- Naw, I'll just sentence you to an endurance week.

The Sweet New Zealander- There, I answered your question. And I'm sorry. I couldn't think of anything else. I've read too many romance novels. Although Lily did save James

from David.

DramaQn621- very stupid. Thank you.

LostConscience- Sorry, I don't like cherries. Well, I do, but they don't give inspiration very well.

EmeraldEyedEvans- You want angst? Think of endurance week. That, my friend, is angst.

Mika Rieu- Evil me! And Remus has even more suspicions against him here. Poor Remus. I STILL LOVE YOU!

ourlittlesecret7- He'd been waiting for 4 years.

PinkyTheSnowman- He so did. And Voldemort just killed Lily, that was all.

Harrys 1 Fan- If you're not talking to me, then I shouldn't talk to you.

xXAlana BlackXx- He was just hiding his feelings. I'm not that evil.

SweetSouthernGal- What's evil is that I did it.

Stella Blu- I randomly had inspiration. It didn't last long.

I love you all!

Sally