Chapter 36: The First Grudge

"You will give it to him, do you understand?" The cloaked creature was saying, a slight lisp in his voice, like a snake.

The trembling blonde stood against the wall, saying nothing. The creature pressed something into her shaking hand with long pale fingers.

"B-but I d-don't kn-know if I c-c-can," she whispered, stammering. "He doesn't even l-like me…" she looked down at the stone floor, her blue eyes glassy.

"You will give it to him!" The creature thundered, making the blonde's head snap up, her eyes wide. "Make sure he does not see you. That is all."

"And if I don't want to?" the blonde ventured bravely.

"My dear, if you do not do as I ask, there shall be serious consequences," the creature said, brandishing his wand. His red eyes shone as slits through the black under his hood.

Nikki Gryfan didn't feel the salty water slipping rapidly down her cheeks. She clenched her fist tightly and ran.


Lily trudged up to her dormitory, her eyes red and sore from studying. James followed her, his arm wrapped around her shoulder. As she walked into her room, she noticed a rolled-up scroll of parchment sitting on her bed. James watched as her eyes scanned across the parchment, and an unreadable expression came over her face. She sat down. Her mouth opened slightly. She did not blink.

"Lily?" James asked, sitting down beside her. "What is it?"

"He… he's dead." Lily turned toward James. "My… my uncle Harry's gone." James wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly while she cried.


As soon as Nikki returned to Gryffindor Tower, she changed into a different robe, for the fear she had experienced in the dungeons was too much for her to contain. Once she was in dry clothes, she tiptoed to the boys' dormitory and quietly peeked in. To her relief, the room was completely void of people. She put the contents of her fist into an envelope, wrote James on it, and left it on what she knew was his bed.

Nikki Gryfan didn't know what James would find as he opened the parchment envelope, as she did not read it. The creature with red eyes had instructed her firmly not to, and she did not want to be more involved in this than delivering the message.

To James Potter

I have been watching you for a long time now, and notice and admire your talent.

Come to the Astronomy Tower tonight. This note will burn when you finish reading this. Bring the ashes with you.

James didn't know what to think of the note. The person had said that they admired him, so it was probably a very shy girl who had a crush on him. James kept developing this theory all day, and was scolded during class, and that almost ever happened.

That night at eleven, when the last person awake had fallen asleep studying, James slipped on his Invisibility Cloak. He swept up the ashes into one hand and quietly crept out of Gryffindor Tower.

There was only a tiny stream of light shining into the Astronomy tower from the sliver of moon. James walked carefully, not wanting to stumble. A gust of wind blew suddenly, and the ashes in James' outstretched hands blew to the ground and scattered. He fell to his knees and scrambled to gather as much of it up as he could, but he noticed they were gathering up themselves. As he stood up slowly, James found they formed an arrow. Slowly, he followed it and found a wand. Upon touching it, he felt a jerk behind his navel, discovering it was a Portkey. What he didn't know was where it was taking him.


"Sure," Caitlin said. "But what for?"

"I kind of have to talk to someone," Lily said.

"James?"

"Well… yes."

Caitlin nodded. "I understand." There was silence for a moment.

"So how is life as Mrs. Sirius Black?" Lily asked, smiling.

"Weird," Caitlin admitted. "I love Sirius, don't get me wrong, but now that we're married, things are just… different. We're sleeping in the same dorm, yet not the same bed, for one thing. And believe me, does Sirius want to." She laughed. "I told him no, but he just won't stop bothering me." She sighed, a dreamy look on her face. "I really love that boy."


"James?" Lily called softly after Caitlin had let her in.

"Hey Potter, some chick's here to see you," one boy mumbled. "Do you always have to rub your woman desirability in our face?"

Lily glared at him, and seeing who the "chick" was, the boy clamped his mouth shut, rolled over and didn't say another word.

"James?" Lily whispered again. She approached the lump in his bed. "Can we talk?" Still no response. "James Potter, I have a lot to study for, and you know I'm a risking a lot to come here just to talk to you, so for Merlin's sake talk to me!" she said, yanking off the covers. She gasped.

There, instead of his body, were two pillows. Lily looked around frantically.

"Lily? Is that you?" came a call from the corner. Lily turned to see Sirius, rubbing his eyes, lines on his face. A book was sitting in his lap.

"Boy, do you yell loud," he said tiredly. "I would hate to be in Potter's shoes. Listen, I think James went to the Astronomy Tower. He was mumbling something about it earlier."

"Thanks," Lily said dashing out of the room.

"No problem," Sirius said sleepily. "Just next time, keep it down to a dull roar, okay?"

On Lily's way out, the boy who had talked earlier said, "Hey, if you and Potter break up, I'll be right here!"

In the Astronomy Tower, Lily found something that shocked her—an arrow on the stone floor, made of white-gray ashes. She followed it, but found nothing on the other side but the stone wall.

Then she noticed stairs on the right. A whole winding staircase, probably used by Professor Sinistra. There were muddy footprints leading down them. They were fresh, as if they'd only been planted seconds ago. Lily followed the footprints, quickly running down the steps.

As she continued down the staircase, a sense of foreboding overcame her. James wasn't up here, there was an arrow of ashes, pointing to a wall, and there was a staircase she didn't think she should know about. Lily whipped out her wand, just in case.

As she neared the bottom, a faint light glowed. At the bottom she noticed a short man… or boy. He was wearing a cloak and carrying a lit wand. There was a small wooden table in front of him and he was nearing it.

"Stupefy!" Lily shouted. The man fell on his stomach so Lily couldn't see his face. She then neared the table and was astonished to find the top was completely empty. She ran a hand over its rough surface which brought a familiar jerk behind her navel, and she only hoped this led to James.


James found himself sprawled on his rear on cold, stone-hard ground. He got up slowly and found himself in a graveyard.

"Ah, James Potter. I see you've decided to come." The s's were drawn out to sound like a snake. The voice was high and cold. A tall figure in a dark cloak appeared in front of James. "My wand, please."

James didn't move. "I said, my wand!" The wand flew up in the air toward his hand and disappeared.

"Who are you?" James asked.

"I suppose it wouldn't hurt to tell you. You'll be dead in a few hours anyway." James immediately tensed. "I, James Potter, am your worst nightmare. I am the one who will soon control the entire Wizarding world. I am Lord Voldemort."

James had to snicker. "Control the world, eh? And how do you plan on doing that?"

"Crucio!" Every inch of James' skin was being pierced with white-hot knives. His insides were going to explode, every organ in his body. His brain was on fire. He wanted to die, right then and there.

"Stupefy!" a voice shouted. The jet of red light that flew through the air seemed enough to distract Lord Voldemort, and James was relieved of his pain. He closed his eyes and lay on the ground. There was a soft sound of running that came to a stop beside him.

"James?" a girl asked. "Are you okay?"

"Lily?" James opened his eyes and saw Lily's familiar and welcome face.

She kissed his forehead and pulled him to his feet. "What's going on?"

"Beats me. Hey, your lordship, you do know that that was an Unforgivable, right? As in, against the law?"

"You think that will stop me?" The high pitched cold voice sounded.

"Um, it usually stops most people."

"James!" Lily warned.

"Sorry. I mean, what did I do to you? I don't even know who you are."

"But I know who you are, James Potter, and that is all that matters. Ah, Lily Evans, how pleasant of you to join us. This will make my work so much simpler."

"Wh-what are you going to do?" Lily ventured, trying to keep a straight and brave face on.

"You and Mr. Potter will end up together, that is certain."

James grinned, but Lily jabbed him with her elbow. "I don't think he means that way."

"The reason why I must get rid of you is simple, and I am certain you shall understand. I shall take over the Wizarding world, and you two are standing in my way. You are a threat to my success so I must simple—how do you Muggles say it- remove the bugs from this operation."

"We are not insects," James said, while Lily did not say anything.

"Goodbye, James Potter and Lily Evans. And what a shame—you two make such a 'cute couple'," he said with distaste. "I hope you have a death wish. Avada Kedavra."

"Duck!" Lily shouted and dropped, pulling on James' sleeve. She rolled over behind a headstone.

"Lily?" James asked, following what she had done. He didn't get a chance to continue as Lily firmly pressed her mouth to his.

"Wh?"

"That's in case I don't get to do that again," she said breathlessly.

"Lily, don't say that, we-"

"James, be serious!" was all she said before peeking out from behind the headstone and yelling "Stupefy!"

"Protego!" Lord Voldemort hissed. Her spell dissolved.

"James, I'm going to cast a thick fog over the whole graveyard," Lily said as a jet of green light passed right over her head. "Run over there and wait for me. Do not touch the table."

"What?" James yelled.

"Just do it!" Lily jumped up and pointed her wand and James looked at her face one last time before taking off running. He did not hear the spell Lily said she would cast, nor the one Lord Voldemort did.

He stopped running suddenly and turned to Lord Voldemort, who held Lily against his black cloak. With a snap of his fingers, shackles bound Lily's ankles and wrists to midair. Struggle as she did, the chains would not break.

James' head was suddenly clear of all noise. He was in a foggy state of trance, of peace.

Kill her. A voice echoed in his head. James drew his wand and faced Lily.

Kill her. The voice repeated. James pointed his wand. Lily's eyes widened, panicking.

Go on.

But another voice in James' head sounded.

Commit murder?

Just do it.

But why, really? What has she done?

Kill her. Avada Kedavra.

No!

Kill her, damn it!

"No!' James shouted. "No! I love her! Alohomora!" The shackles dropped and Lily with them. James caught her.

Quick as a wink, Lily shouted the shroud spell, grabbed James' hand, and ran. They touched the table at the same time.

"Father, you have failed me. Petty Muggle, thought the hissing creature in the graveyard.


Breathless, panicked and panting, James and Lily sat in Dumbledore's office, relaying their entire experience.

"Tom Riddle," Dumbledore mused to himself. "Lord Voldemort."

And he told them the story of Tom Marvolo Riddle.


"James, do you really love me?" Lily asked when they were both in their pajamas under the covers of James' bed. Having just performed the Fidelius charm, they were both scared.

"I… Lily, of course. I love you more than life itself. Why would you question that?" he asked, kissing the tip of her nose.

"James?"

"Hmm?"

"Wanna know something?"

"Yeah."

"In first year, during the Sorting, do you know where the Sorting Hat wanted to put me? Gryffindor. And do you know why I said no?"

"Why?"

"Because of you. I was scared of you. Well, not terrified, like I was of Lord Voldemot, but I was just scared. Funny, isn't it?" she whispered.

James grinned. "That would explain why you were braver than me tonight."

"And James?"

"Hmm?"

"Don't try anything." She rolled over. James quickly brought his hands to his sides.

A/N: Well, it's finally finished! I'm dreadfully sorry it took me so long! I was hoping to maybe finish this story over break, or at least finish Chapter 37 as well, but my family made so many plans the only time I had for writing was in the car.

Anyway, this is finished! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, everyone!

Chapter 37 and then the Epilogue! Leave me an awesome review!

OutofAzkaban