Chapter 42 – Fight to the Death

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Lily paced the common room, wondering if her plan would work. Surely, someone would be in there. Remus, maybe. All she had to do was get down there.

She shook her head. It was now or never. She ran for the portrait hole.

No one even called her back.

- - - - - - - -

James ducked through the dueling crowds, ignoring the spells. The Death Eaters ignored him, anyway. Suddenly, a strong hand grabbed him and pulled him to the side.

Mark Lupin looked James in the eye. "James, please. I have a favor to ask."

James nodded frantically. "Sure, sure. What is it?"

"James, please…if Remus can't…James, protect my daughter. Please?"

James released his breath. "No problem, Mr. Lupin. Don't worry. Between Sirius, Remus, and I, we've got her covered."

Mark nodded. "Of-of course. James…I know there's nothing I can do, I know you kids have to do this, but…I'm just…"

"You don't have to worry, Mr. Lupin. I understand. And now I have a favor to ask you. If I don't make it…you tell my dad I love him. Yes?"

"Yes." With that, James sprinted off, and Mark returned to the fray.

- - - - - - - -

Lily missed her footing and tumbled down the stairs, landing hard on her back in front of the 3rd floor door. She ran inside and made her way to the One-Eyed Witch. Whispering the password, she rushed in.

Remus looked up. "Lily! What are you doing here!? It's dangerous!!"

"I couldn't…I just couldn't…"

"You couldn't what!?"

Lily looked at him, tears shining in her eyes. "I couldn't let you all die and leave me alone!"

Remus was taken aback. "Lily…Lily, we're not going to die. It's…" He trailed off as the entrance opened again, and James stepped inside.

- - - - - - - -

Noel paused outside the door, not sure which way to go. The scarlet pendant around her neck gleamed, pulsing with life. Panic suddenly flooded into her system, panic that wasn't hers.

'It's Sirius and Maria. I can feel their emotions through the pendant,' she realized, biting her lip. 'They must already be with him…'

She ran towards the forest.

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"Ah…Miss Ravenwood…Mr. Black…I've been expecting you."

Maria gasped soundlessly, clutching Sirius's arm. Never, in all her sixteen years, had she imagined that she would be standing face-to-face with Voldemort.

Voldemort, sensing her fear, laughed. "Oh, oh, oh, Maria…are you scared? But why? It's just me…"

Sirius made a growling sound deep in his throat. "Don't you dare talk to her!!!"

Voldemort grinned. "Oh, Sirius. You're just like him. Just like Salazar. He was just as protective of Rowena as you are of Maria. And then, of course…there was Godric…tell me, do you love Maria? Would you do anything for her? Because I'm willing to bet that James would, too…"

Sirius stopped in spite of himself. "What are you talking about?"

"Why, don't you know? You are the Heirs, and you don't know!?"

"What are you on about!?" Maria yelled shrilly. "Stop playing around! We didn't come here for polite conversation!"

"Steady, Maria! He'll mess with your mind and try to confuse you!"

Voldemort paced in front of them. "You two really are pathetic. You know that the founders were friends, yes? Well, Salazar and Rowena were…ahem…more than friends. Until Godric came along. Yes, Godric Gryffindor…he believed he could have anything. And he wanted Rowena."

Maria and Sirius exchanged glances.

"You're lying." Sirius said loudly.

"Oh, you think? You will see, Sirius Black…" Voldemort stopped pacing. "Now, I believe there is the little matter of the pendants…why don't you hand them over to me, and I'll let you go?"

- - - - - - - -

"Remus! Lily?" James stopped as the passage closed after him. "What are you doing here!?"

"James! You're safe!" Lily cried, rushing to him. She hugged him tightly.

James was confused. "What…why…what's going on!? Remus, we have to go to the forest…"

Remus shrugged helplessly. "She's scared, James…we can't leave her behind…"

Lily pulled away. "James, please…I know…I know I'd just be in the way…but…" She stopped, not really knowing what she was trying to say.

"It's understandable," Remus said quietly. "If it were one of us, we'd hate to be left behind, too."

James held Lily at arm's length. "Lily, I am not going to put you in danger." He said firmly.

"But…James…I – "

"Lily, this doesn't concern you. Please understand. I can't have you near me…you're Muggleborn. He'd get you and use you to get us. Don't you understand?"

Lily looked at her feet. "I understand."

James sighed in relief, kissing her forehead. "Good girl," he breathed.

Remus twitched. "James, we have to go."

"We'll be back for you, Lily…"

- - - - - - - -

Noel ran faster through the forest, hoping that Maria and Sirius were still okay. She didn't feel any great bursts of pain, so she assumed they were. Upon reaching the clearing, she hid behind a tree, watching, wanting to assess the situation before she rushed in.

Voldemort was smiling at Maria and Sirius, taunting them. Sirius had his wand pointed at the Dark Lord, his other arm blocking Maria.

"Leave her alone! Don't even speak to her!"

"Oh, Black, you amuse me. But you know what would be even more amusing…?" He flicked his wand. "Crucio!!"

Maria screamed. "Sirius!!"

Noel squeezed her eyes shut, suddenly blinded by the pain. She sank down to her knees, Sirius's screams echoing in her head. 'No, no, I have to help…'

Maria bit her lip, shrieking, "Expelliarmus!!"

Voldemort grunted, but managed to keep hold of his wand. "Oh…you want to play, too, Maria? Imperio!"

Maria's eyes fluttered. "Give me the pendant…"

'Pendant…'

"Yesss, walk over to me."

Maria started slowly over to Voldemort.

"Nooo, Maria! Don't do it!"

'Voice…who…?'

"Maria, don't give him the pendant!"

"Give it to me…"

"NO!!" Noel came flying out from behind the tree, tackling Maria.

Voldemort snarled. "Ah, Miss Potter, glad you could join us! Maria, kill her!!"

Maria looked up at Noel.

- - - - - - - -

James and Remus ran out the oak doors and into the forest, never stopping. James could hear Maria struggling inside his head, and he used his voice to calm her and try to get her to break the spell.

"James, how's she doing?"

"I-I don't know, I've lost her…"

"Not good!" Remus panted.

Upon reaching the clearing, they saw why. Sirius had knocked Maria out, forcing Voldemort to lift the curse and go for him.

Noel shot the Conjunctivitis curse at Voldemort, who immediately retaliated with, "Crucio!"

James stepped up. "It's my turn, now." He whispered. "NOEL!!"

Through her pain, Noel saw the static outline of her brother. Summoning her strength, she flung the pendant at him.

James caught it, and Noel crawled away.

"What is going on here!?" Voldemort snarled. "Another one!? Crucio!"

James threw himself on the ground, hearing the spell shoot over his head. Sirius was busy reviving Maria.

"Ohhh, lookey here!" Voldemort said in mock-glee. "It's Salazar, Rowena, and Godric!!"

Maria shot a Stunning spell at Voldemort, whispering to James and Sirius. "How do we use them!?"

"I – I don't know!!"

- - - - - - - -

Lily hid by the stair rail, preparing to race out. The fighting here was bad. Renee Potter and Adam Carlson were down, as were Professor Cheewa and another professor Lily didn't know. She bit her lip, wand out.

"I can fight, too."

She leapt down the stairs, shouting a Stunning spell as she went.

Lily Evans would not be left out of this fight. She had to help.

- - - - - - - -

Remus and Noel hovered by the trees. "They can't figure out how to use the Pendants!" Remus realized in horror.

"It's not like we know, either, though!" Noel said back.

"Okay, okay, okay. There must be something we're missing. What did that prophecy say? 'Should the pendant fall into the wrong hands, it will be destruction for the one to whom it belongs. And while they have the power, should they use it on the Dark Lord, it will surely take them down with him…'"

"But what does that mean!?" Noel asked.

"I don't know," Remus answered, thinking fast. 'Friendship, destruction, the power, it'll take them down with him…Friendship. Together.' "I know how to use them!"

Noel stared. "Tell them!"

Remus stepped out from behind the tree.

"Put them together!!!" He shrieked. "The pendants!! Put them together!"

Voldemort's eyes narrowed at Remus. "No more games," he said. Pointing his wand at Maria, he shouted, "Avada Kedavra!"

Maria gasped, putting her pendant up in front of her.

The green light surrounded her.

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a/n: Wow. Interesting enough? Shall I write the next chapter? Mwah. Please review.