James opened his eyes slowly. "What a nightmare!" he thought. "Man, I dreamed that there were death eaters in Hogwarts." James started to sit up. "Shit, I'm not in the dorm-WHAT THE?"

"Tell me where he is!" screamed a tall, cloaked figure.

"I-I don't know," answered Lily.

James stood up, pulling his wand out of his pocket. The cloaked person- whom he assumed was a death eater- had Lily kneeling on the floor, his wand pointed at her. She was crying... He was about to call out to her when the death eater spoke again.

"You hid Potter somewhere! I know you did!" he screamed again.

"I-No, I-I won't tell y-" Lily started.

"Crucio!" he shrieked.

James started shaking as he heard her begin to scream. "Shit, shit... Think quick..." he thought to himself. Then, seeing his only way to save her was to give himself in, he transformed into his animagus form.

"Now, well you tell me?" asked the death eater.

"N-No!" cried out Lily.

It was then that through her tears she saw a stag emerge from the shadows where she had dragged James. Whatever or whoever had knocked him out had not bothered with her, but had just turned around and shrilly screamed for the other Death Eaters. Thinking fast, she had grabbed his arms and pulled him behind a statue, where the shadows kept him away from sight. As soon as she had left him behind it though, a rough hand had grabbed her and thrown her down to the ground, asking her where the "Potter boy" was.

But even through the pain of the cruciatus curse, she would not tell them where he was.

The Death Eaters all turned to look at the stag. There were about five of them. "Crap," thought James. "I'm totally outnumbered."

Lily lay unconscious on the floor, her cheeks streaked with tears, and her hair in a tangled mess around her face. Suddenly, James stepped next to Lily. Then he hastily transformed back into his human form, wincing at the familiar pain his transformation caused. Then, as quickly as he could he grabbed Lily, cast a protective spell around himself and ran.

He could hardly feel his legs under him as he sprinted through the halls, the Death Eaters gaining on him. He felt tears of frustration slipping down his cheeks... But what surprised him most was that he cared more about saving Lily than anything else.

His legs unexpectedly gave way, and he came crashing to the ground. "Shit!" he cried out. He knew they were right behind him, but still he tried to get up and run.

Stumbling on a rock, he came crashing to the floor, just as Lily opened her eyes. "James, what's goin-" Then she caught sight of the Death Eaters hovering over them.

"So, your little girlfriend woke up did she?" asked one of them nastily.

"I'm not his girlfr-"

"SHUT UP!" screeched another one. "Now, Potter, how would you like to see her die... RIGHT BEFORE YOUR EYES!"

James, trembling with rage, placed himself protectively in front of her, helping her to stand up.

"Don't try to fight us, Potter!" he spat. "We're much too strong for you!"

"Don't touch her!" James answered, dangerously calm.

Lily took out her wand and, as calmly as she could, thought of all the hexes she knew.

"Don't even try us, mudblood!" cried out another Death Eater, pushing her down to the ground.

They formed a ring around her, and before James could do anything, began to torture her. "Crucio!"

James felt something rise up inside him that he'd never felt before. Maybe it was despair, maybe it was sorrow, maybe it was just because he hated Voldemort so much, or maybe even because he liked Lily so much, but something inside him broke. Crazily, he ran violently into them, pushing and hexing his way to her.

Breathing heavily, he eyed each Death Eater, and calmly spoke to them.

"I know each one of you," he said. "And I swear that if you kill her I will hunt each of you down- and destroy you."

"Oh yeah?" laughed one of them.

"Oh yes, Mr. Black."

The Death Eaters sucked in their breaths, surprised that he knew their names.

At that moment, there were blinding blue lights from all directions. James, shielding his eyes from the light, saw a group of aurors emerge from the forest, pointing their wands at the group.

"Are you alright, son?" one of them asked.

Overcome by the emotions of the night, he motioned towards Lily, and, picking her up, staggered towards the Hospital Wing.

"Oh my goodness!" yelled Madam Silvia as she saw the unconscious girl in his arms. "What has happened?"

"Death Eaters..." mumbled James.

Weary, he threw himself onto a bed and fell into a deep sleep.

"My my, it's a wonder you're still alive!" muttered a warm voice. Lily felt her head being lifted up and someone pouring a warm potion down her throat. She weakly opened her eyes.

"The Hospital Wing?" she whispered.

"Ah! You're awake!" exclaimed the nurse. "Now, I'm sure you remember what happened?"

Images of what had happened flowed through her mind, and she abruptly sat up. "Where's James?" she asked urgently.

"On the bed over there. Still hasn't woken up!"

Lily jumped out of bed, wincing as she crumpled to the floor.

"Now, now!" said Madam Silvia. "You're in no shape to go off running to your little prince charming!"

But Lily weakly pulled herself up and walked over to his bed, kneeling next to him.

"Thank you, thank you so much..." she whispered.

"Lily?" he asked quietly.

"Yes, it's me... Can't you see me?" she questioned.

"I'm afraid he's gone blind, honey," announced the nurse sadly.