Hey! I hope people are still reading this story! Here's another chapter! Thanks to:
MiisBlueAngel- Well, here's my third update this week! Getting close to five!
Kiko loves Kurama- Woo hoo! Glad you love my fic! I was losing hope that people were reading it! (besides the people that review! Thanks to you guys!) Anyways, yeah, hat would be evil if I made Pomfrey make James stay forever....but unfortunately for him, he's not done yet. Still lots of battles to fight, secrets to reveal, and Slytherins to prank!
Lilchocolatechip011- hey! Haven't seen a review from you in awhile! How've ya been? Anyways, you gave me a 10? Woo, more than I expected! Thanks a bunch!
Blood Emerald- Yup, this is some pretty intense stuff! But its only going too get more intense until poor little James does something about it! But even then it won't be over, because you still got Harry! Yup, I'm planning to write a story about him as soon as I can. Hope you enjoy this chappie!
Anyways, I've kept you guys waiting long enough, and I know you didn't come here to listen to my rambling...anyway, enjoy!
The worst is over now, and we can breathe again
I wanna hold you high, and steal my pain away
There is so much left to learn, and no one left to fight
I wanna hold you high, and steal your pain.
-Seether (ft. Amy Lee)
Chapter 21 Where to go from here?
James opened his eyes groggily. He looked around, not recognizing where he was. One minute, he was fighting Death Eaters, then the next he was in the....Hospital Wing?
James slowly sat up, only to be pushed back down. James chest was hurting horribly, and he cried out in pain and the person shoved him back down.
"Don't sit up, Potter! Your not well!"
"I've noticed." James muttered through clenched teeth. She ignored him, however and began checking him over. It was dark and there were no lights on, so James could only see her outline.
She handed him a goblet. "Drink this." She ordered.
He did as he was told. Afterwards, he looked at her. "Madam Pomfrey? Where is everyone? Where's Lily and Sirius? How about Remus and Peter? Is Emma okay-"
"Mr. Potter, I was hoping.....never mind. All of your friends are fine. Mr. Black will have to change his bandage after every few hours—Ms. Jungher has volunteered to do that—and will have to take a few potions during the day. Other than the regular cuts and bruises that will have to heal on their own, everyone is fine."
James sighed in relief and sat back.
"You, however...."
James looked sharply at her. "What's wrong with me?"
Madam Pomfrey looked at him in surprise. "Nothing damaging. You have, however, been asleep for nearly twenty hours, your friends and many of your admirers kept coming to check up on you every few mintues.
"As you remember, you were hit with the Cruciatus Curse twice. You will feel weak for sometime, and I'm wondering whether or not to let you play on the forthcoming math next week—"
"I can play. I've had worse injuries."
"Phsycally, maybe, Potter. But I'm concerned about you emotionally. You seemed quite shocked after hearing the news about John."
"I can handle it." James replied shortly.
"If you're sure, Potter. It's really late. The Headmaster has requested that you see him in the morning."
James nodded. Giving him one last potion, Madam Pomfrey went off to her office. James stared at nothing for a moment, then slowly began to climb out of bed.
'I need to get out, be alone for awhile. I have to think.' James thought, grabbing his wand. Still in the same clothes he wore the time he was attacked, he slowly climbed out of the bed. He was good at sneaking out, he slowly slipped past Pomfrey's office and out the door. After that, he began sprinting toward the Oak doors. He opened them, ran onto the grounds, and ran straight for the lake.
'I need to get away. Just for one moment, I don't want to think or feel.' James thought. However, he couldn't stop the visions of John laying there helpless, or of the ceiling that fell on top of his mum during Christmas—
Giving a growl of rage, James jumped in the ice cold lake. For one blissful moment he couldn't think, or feel, or remember anything. He ignored the cold. Floating in water, he just shut his eyes.
Finally after needing some air, he came up and took huge gasps of air.
'That felt so good.' He thought.
"Who's there?" a voice interrupted his thoughts.
James nearly choked on water as he turned around to see whose voice that was. On the side of the lake stood Lily Evans, wand raised, still dressed in her pajamas as well. It was dark, and James doubted she could see him, but he knew her red hair anywhere.
Smiling to himself, he dove underwater, and swam his way toward her. She could probably hear him, because he heard her shout, "You had better come out right now!"
"If you wish." Came James reply. He came up from the water, surprising Lily, grabbed her leg, and tossed her in the water. She gave a shriek of surprise as she fell in.
Laughing, James waited for her to come up. When she did, her eyes widened at the sight of him.
"James?" she asked, spitting up water.
James laughed again. It was the first time he had truly laughed in awhile.
"What—how—when did you get out of the hospital wing?" she asked, watching him closely.
"Well...." Said James slowly, "I get to leave tomorrow morning."
"You snuck out?!"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"I needed some time alone, Lily. You can understand that. I need time alone from everyone and everything."
Lily looked like she was going to scold him, but then her expression softened.
"Yeah, I can understand that."
There was silence for a moment, than Lily began to shiver.
"Come on, Lily. Let's get out of the water. Sorry for pushing you in."
The two began to swim back to shore.
"It's okay, James. But really, out of all the places to think, why in the lake?"
"I just find it refreshing."
The two climbed up onto the grass and stood there for awhile. Finally, James reached out and pulled Lily into a hug.
"Thank you." He murmured into her hair.
"For what?"
"For coming to help me. Your life was in danger, Lily! It could've been you who was taken instead of John! It could've been you who was captured and who knows where right now-"James voice was shaking at this point into his rant.
"James, I wanted to come and help you. And, I'm so sorry. Sorry about your mum and John. Your mum never would've been taken if you hadn't had to come and save me!"
"I don't care if my life is on the line. I'll keep you safe. Just like I would Sirius, Remus, Peter, or Emma."
"Am I honestly worth it?"
"Yes, you are."
They stayed in each others embrace, cherishing the moment. James felt so content—almost happy—with Lily in his arms.
"I don't know what to do." James sighed. "What do I do now? While I'm stuck at school my mum is fighting in a war and my dad and John are who knows where! I can't do a single thing to save them—"
"Keep yourself safe, James. That's all you can do for them."
"No, I should be out there fighting!"
"You'd get killed-"
"At least it would be for a good cause—"
"You dieing in war is not a good cause!"
"It's better than sitting—"
"And what about me?! If anything happened to you how do you think I'd feel?" Lily blurted.
James stared at her for a moment. He gave a small smile. "You'd have no one to argue with. No one to call big headed or a bully—"
"James! My opinion on you has changed! Don't you see it? To me, your not just the arrogant boy who wants to show off. You grew up, learned more about life—"
"But at the expense of my father's life." James said darkly.
Lily sighed. "Why can't you tell me what's going on?" she said quietly.
"What?"
Lily stiffened. She hadn't meant for him to hear her.
'Well, he did.' Lily thought miserably. She slowly slipped out of his arms and turned to look at him in the eyes.
"Something's happening, James. The others and I have noticed. Did you think we wouldn't? The Death Eaters want you for something and you won't tell us what!"
James was taken aback. "Where did you guys come up with that conclusion?"
"When we were cornered, Sam said something about something you have combined with the power of the Dark Lord he would be unstoppable!"
"Lily...."
"James, tell me what's going on!"
"I can't! Lily, I can't! It's for your own—"
"My own good, James? My own good?! The worst is over, James! It can't possibly get any worse—"
"Your wrong, Lily!" James shouted. Their argument was getting pretty loud now. Both of them were yelling.
"It can get so much worse, Lily. He could try to get you next! Or Sirius, or Remus—"
"James, I don't care!"
"But I do, Lily! I care about you so much. And he knows, Lily. Voldemort knows how much I care about you. You should just stay away from me so you don't get hurt!"
"James, I want so badly to help you. It's hurting me also to see you like this! Sirius seemed to be close to tears when he saw you screaming in your sleep."
"You can't help me, Evans."
"You won't let me try, Potter! I may not be the strongest fighter, but I can help. I can be with you when you need me. I wish I could take away all the pain, but I can't. I can do the next best thing though. I won't leave you. You won't have to be alone."
"But I already am! Unless you want to end up dead you'll stay away from me! The worst is yet to come, Lily."
"We can keep you safe—"
"You can't, Lily. I'm not even safe in my dreams."
Silence followed this statement. Lily had tears pouring down her face while James felt like his heart was splitting in two all over again. Letting out a sob, Lily reached over and put her arms around James chest, hugging him tightly.
James hugged her back, not sure of what to say.
"I'm so sorry, James. I'm so, so sorry. You don't deserve this—"
"No one does. Well, no one but Voldemort himself. Lily, I'll be fine."
"This is dangerous, James. I d-don't want you getting hurt." Lily said between sobs. She was shaking now. James just held onto her tightly, afraid to let go.
"Lily," he whispered, "There is something you can do for me."
"Name it."
"Please stay with me. I know I told you not to, but just forget about what I said before. Will you stay with me?"
"For as long as you need me."
"You truly are an amazing person, Lily Evans."
"You're not too bad yourself, James Potter."
James seemed to flinch at the name 'Potter.' He was a Potter still, wasn't he? But then, if he was their Heir of Gryffindor...
'You're thinking too much. Just enjoy the moment. Who knows how many moments like this you're going to have.' James thought to himself.
Lily sobs subsided. The two of them relaxed. Everything was silent for a moment.
James sighed.
"James? What is it?"
"What do I do now? Where do I go from here? Am I supposed to go home? Stay at Hogwarts?"
"You need to stay safe. You're not leaving Hogwarts as long as I'm here. You won't go home unless instructed by your mum or Dumbledore."
James chuckled. "I guess Lily Evans will be here to keep me in line, then?"
Lily smiled. "As long as James Potter continues to play his pranks."
"Not even Voldemort can stop me from doing that."
Now it was Lily's turn to laugh.
"So, watch out, Slytherins. The Marauders are back in business."
Lily giggled some more at this. Finally, Lily made to stand up, as did James.
"I better head back to the Hospital Wing."
"Yeah. Emma will be worried about me if I don't come back soon. We've all been a bit paranoid."
"Right. Well, I'll see you tomorrow in class than. I need to see Dumbledore in the morning. Tell the rest of the Marauders that I should see them in Defense Against the Dark Arts tomorrow."
"I will. Good night, James."
"Night, Lily."
With that, the two went their separate ways. And to James surprise, no one haunted his dreams. Just a lovely little red head who helped him through the after math of it all.
A/N. Ahhh, corny, isn't it? Yes, I know, I'm sorry! Not my best chapter. Don't forget to review and tell me what you think!
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