Chapter 5: Still Waiting For You

"Messrs. Potter, Black, and Lupin, how may I help you? That is, assuming you have not been sent here on account of one of your pranks," Dumbledore said, smiling. However, as James relayed what he had heard the night before, omitting the part about being an illegal Animagus, Dumbledore's smile quickly faded.

"Well," he began after a few minutes of thinking, "we had believed that Voldemort and his Death Eater's were planning something, seeing as there have been few attacks for some months now. But an attack on a student? I can't say it wasn't expected, but it still surprises me that Voldemort would be foolish enough to try something like this while I am still around."

"Excuse me, professor, but who is this "we" you speak of?" Sirius questioned.

"The Order of the Phoenix," James said absent-mindedly, stroking Fawkes. Oh shit. I'm definitely not supposed to know about this top-secret organization.

Dumbledore chuckled at the look of uneasiness on James's face. "I figured you already knew, what with your parents being a part of the Order and all. The Order, Sirius, is a group of anti-Voldemort supporters. It's a small group of people who are willing to fight back against the Death Eaters comprised of supporters from all different professions—Ministry workers, teachers, bankers, thieves…"

"Thieves?" James cut in. He didn't very well like the idea that his parents were working amongst thieves. "What if they double-crossed the Order?"

"Anyone who has been inducted into the Order have proven their loyalty to me and to the cause. Thieves, I have found, are very well connected and can gather information we cannot without arousing suspicion."

"Professor, what are the qualifications to join?" Remus inquired startling James and Sirius. He had been so quiet, pondering the little information that Dumbledore had given them about the Order, that the other two boys had forgotten he was there. Remus' past history with Voldemort's cause made him want to join the Order even more so than the fact that he thought that what Voldemort was doing was morally wrong.

Dumbledore knew where that question was headed, and given Remus' past, he didn't blame him for wanting to join the Order. "The Order is only for people who are of age and out of school."

"And the Ministry spy?" James questioned out of the blue.

"I have a shrewd idea as to what area in which the spy works, but then again, I can only guess. Now boys, I have said more than enough without compromising the integrity of the Order. I think it is time that you go back to whatever you Marauder's do. I daresay a few pranks would liven the spirits here some. I appreciate you informing me of this conversation. It will be investigated. For now, however, the next Hogsmeade visit is cancelled. Mr. Potter, at the next prefects meeting, please inform them of the changes and request that they post fliers in the Common Rooms reflecting this change."

"Why didn't you tell us about the Order," Sirius accused James childishly.

"I couldn't. But that's not important right now. I need to go find Lily."

"Um, James," Remus started, trying to find an excuse for James not to go and see Lily, "don't you have quidditch practice?"

"Not today," James replied, setting off towards the Head's Common Room.

"He won't be too happy when he finds Lily in the state that she's in and know that we knew but didn't tell him," Remus said.

"I know, but he'll understand…maybe," Sirius answered.

"Somehow, I'm not so sure about that…"

When James reached the common room, he found Emma and Carolina outside Lily's door trying to break in.

"What's this all about?" James asked the girls.

"She won't let either of us in," Emma replied angrily.

"She keeps asking for you," Carolina added.

"What happened?" The last time she did this it was after her attack. Oh Merlin, it hasn't happened again, has it?

"She, well umm…maybe Lily should tell you what's going on," Carolina stammered. "Just take her this food. She needs to eat," she finished, handing over a tray of food and grabbing Emma and leaving.

"Lily," James called softly. "Lily, it's me, James." He heard Lily mutter a spell and the door unlocked and opened. Walking in, he was unprepared to see Lily in the state she was in.

"What happened?" he questioned, setting down the breakfast tray. Lily just shook her head and let a few tears trickle down her face.

"James, I'm sorry for getting so mad at you the other day. I hope you don't hate me."

"I could never hate you, no matter how mad you were at me, I would always love you." Lily cringed upon hearing the word love, but said nothing. "Now, please, tell me what's wrong with you," he said, walking over to her bed and holding her trembling body. James fingered the letter he had written to her in his pocked, but decided that it was definitely not the time to give it to her and promised himself to give Lily the letter later.

"James, Hunter…he hit me," she sobbed. "And I just froze. I couldn't move, I couldn't do anything. Then Sirius came—"

"Wait a minute, Sirius knew about this and didn't say anything to me?"

"I asked him not to," Lily mumbled.

"Why though. I mean, I know we were fighting, but this is so much more important to me than a stupid fight."

"I'm sorry, James. It wasn't just you I told him not to tell. I told him not to tell anyone, but obviously, he did."

"He just wanted what was best for you. He was only trying to help by telling someone. Lily, you can't just bottle up your feelings like this, it's not good for you."

"I know, but it's just so hard to let anyone in after—well you know…" she trailed off.

"He didn't do anything else, did he?"

"No, but it still shook me up."

"As it would anyone," James agreed. "No girl deserves to be treated like that. Davies is just a stupid git who wouldn't know Heaven if he had it if it knocked him on his ass."

"It was just like a year and a half ago when I was attacked. I couldn't think, couldn't move, anything. I just sat there and let him hit me."

"It's not your fault. You have memories that trigger your reactions that others don't have." Lily shuddered at the thought of that May night.

"Now are you going to do this the easy way, or do I need to force you?" he finished, moving closer to Lily, grabbing onto her shoulders and pushing her up against the cold, stone wall. All of the confidence she once had seeped out of her, leaving her frozen with a look of pure terror captivating her face.

"Aww, is the little mudblood scared?" Lestrange grabbed Lily and pushed her up against the hard wall. She let out a small gasp of pain and slunk to the ground.

"Crucio," Lestrange said, a hint of enjoyment in his tone. Pain hit Lily like a thousand daggers, but she couldn't even bring herself to cry out in pain. Suddenly, all the pain stopped. Lily struggled to get to her feet and tried to run. Lestrange let out an airy laugh and used a spell to pull her back to him. He hit her several times and she fell back to the ground. Lestrange moved in closer to her.

"Now you'll know real pain, mudblood," he whispered in her ear.

"No, no please…" Lily shouted, hitting James with her fists.

"Lily, it's ok," James comforted, grabbing Lily on her shoulders to stabilize her. Lily gasped out in pain as his hands made connection with her bruised body. James just gave her a horrified look.

"I'm so sorry, Lily. I didn't realize, I—" he stammered.

"It's ok," she sobbed, sinking back into his arms and crying.

"Things will be ok in the end. Why don't you try and get some sleep?"

"Will you stay with me?"

"I'll be right here waiting when you wake up."