Chapter 3: Beginnings

By: Almicene Melwen

Updated: July 31, 2004

Catching the early light of the moonlight, the black rose sparkled softly. It was a magical rose and soft trails of glittering light fell from the petals to the desk she had placed it on. She could have watched the flower for hours on end as its ethereal glow and fragrance filled her room and forgotten everything else. Maybe that was why she had been appointed Head Girl, to keep her grounded in responsibilities. Merlin knew what she would do with too much time. She touched a petal very gently with a finger and the rose sighed happily, enjoying the attention.

Lily sighed softly, switching her thoughts once more as she sat at her desk, relaxing before she had to patrol. James Potter was an enigma for sure. He had definite charm but he refrained from using it most of the time or else he had some disease that every other girl knew about that she didn't. Lily had noticed him a couple years ago when he became one of the key players for the Gryffindor team. Who couldn't help but notice the handsome Gryffindor chaser and now Captain, especially when he was in his Quidditch uniform with the wind blowing through his hair while he streaked across the pitch, clearing enjoying every minute of the game? She had felt embarrassed forgetting his name earlier simply because he had turned his lovely hazel eyes at her.

The grandfather clock in her room chimed and she looked at her watch, her sole most prized possession. It had been her mother's watch, and the only thing she had left besides a couple of family photos of her parents. Her parents had not left a will so Petunia had taken everything else. Turning the lights off in the room with a magnified "nox," Lily snuck one last glance at the rose and the note beside it. She had wanted to throw it away just to spite James, but hesitated at the last moment. . . .She would just throw it away later. She was too 'tired' to do it at the moment.

Heading to the hallways, she tucked her smooth wand inside her dark green cloak pocket. Was she supposed to be patrolling alone or with the Head Boy? It didn't matter, she preferred to be alone anyways. There was no one to fake smiles for, to pretend to be alright, and drain her of what energy she had.

Her shoes were the only sound in the corridors. "I guess everyone does follow curfew after all." But just as soon as that thought had come, the whispers quickly dismissed her assumptions. Whispering a spell of stealth, she headed towards the noise.

"Hurry up! You know our Lord isn't patient!" barked one voice.

Lily's heart began to race as she pulled out her wand. Pressing herself against the wall she walked slowly towards the sound. She should have gone for help, but then again they would be gone by the time the professors came back.

The footsteps came closer and the redheaded witch waited until they were almost passed her hallway. Then she stepped out in front of them, very calm and collected. Funny, considering she was feeling exactly the opposite. Lily pointed the wand towards the four figures. "Don't even think about moving," she ordered.

"Who do you think you are to stop us from going?" snarled one. All of them were in hooded black cloaks, hiding their identity.

The apparent leader gave her an appraising look, seeing her Head Girl badge. "Oh," he sneered. "If it isn't our mudblood Head Girl. My apologies, your highness," he mocked. He waved the back of his hand at her, "Get out of our way filth."

Using her anger to overpower her fear, she added, "That's right, keep talking. You're only going to get punished further." Lily narrowed her eyes. "Now turn around and march to the Headmaster's office. Any movement to get your wands and I will not hesitate to use mine." Lily half expected them to run in four different directions or do anything but comply.

They gave her scathing looks but obeyed. "Damn . . . I wish we would have learned how to summon several objects at once. Then I could get their wands without any chance of being attacked by one of them."

The grip on her wand was incredibly tight. They were going to Voldemort . . . was there no safe haven in the world? Death Eaters in the very school where future aurors were learning. She wondered how the resistance would ever be able to win the war if things continued the way they were. They kept walking for a few minutes while Lily watched them for the slightest motion one of them was going for their wand.

"God . . . how much longer until Dumbledore's office? I don't think it's ever seemed so far."

She kept her eyes trained on them, and missed seeing a mislaid stone in the floor. Lily tripped.

And then everything happened so quickly.

"Crucio!" one screamed as he whipped his wand out and at Lily. The others pulled out their wand, eager to punish the mudblood that had stood between them and their master.

"Silencio!" another cried, thinking quickly. No one would hear her cry for help or the screams they would force out of her.

"That will teach you mudblood," hissed the leader. Then as he spun around his hood fell back, revealing bleach blonde hair and his identity.

"How not surprising," she thought even as the first part of the Cruciatus spell took hold. It was none other than Lucius Malfoy.

The pain enveloped her as she fell to the floor. She could have sworn her very skin was burning off, as the heat was so intense. Every nerve screamed in protest as each one was being tested and torn. She had never been in such intense agony. And then came the feeling of being stabbed repeatedly with a blade that was being twisted inside of her. Lily couldn't help but scream and scream. The spell made her wish she was dead instead of being in such agony.

Lucius crouched down and put a finger under her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze as her body continued to spasm. Her green eyes shined with fresh tears as others freely flowed down her face. "Ready for more?" he whispered with a sadistic smile as he raised his wand. The first spell was wearing off as her body began to calm down. He wanted to give her another taste. His lips curled into forming the first syllable of the spell. He didn't see her eyes trying to focus on the identities of the others. Lucius didn't realize the witch saw a hawkish nose protruding from another's cloak from her position on the floor.

That's when Lily punched him hard right where he would be least likely to forget it any time soon. A sick sound came from Lily's wrist. The redhead knew she had broken a couple of bones because she had hit him so hard. But it had been so very worth it. She grimaced through her tears as she watched him. He toppled over, cradling the family jewels as his accomplices fumbled for their wand. Lily was quicker this time even using her wand with her left hand, and she performed the counter-curse to the silence spell before casting the next spell.

"Tempestio!" she shouted furiously as red sparks flew from her wand of willow. They formed a giant tornado right in the middle of the corridor, heading straight for the boys. They ran away unsuccessfully as the storm meant for them swept them up into its cycle.

"Ahhhh!!!!" they screamed, crying out for some form of mercy.

Lily would have laughed had the situation been less serious, but she was about to pass out from the pain. "That's what you get bastards." Pushing herself off the ground with great difficulty, she stepped forward and bound each of them with a simple charm as they were whipped around in a vicious circle in the tornado. Then she released the charm, and the culprits fell to the ground hard. Then she heard a noise behind her. Lucius! She had forgotten about the sneaky little bastard. She whipped around, but not before a voice was heard.

"Petrificus totalus!" came the spell of immobility.

Lucius fell, still frozen with his wand pointed at Lily's back. She let out a small gasp and met the eyes of the person who had helped her. Then she frowned upon seeing who it was, turned around and magically floated the three hooded students towards the headmaster's office. Lily's legs gave out under her, but James steadied her. The redhead closed her eyes, catching her breath and headed towards Dumbledore's office despite her broken wrist and weakened state.

"Not even a thank you?" asked James, jogging to catch up as charmed Lucius's body to follow him with a floating spell.

"Perhaps an 'it's about time' would be the most appropriate statement for you," retorted the red-head softly, her voice shaky.

James looked at her, concerned. "We're dropping them off and then going to the hospital wing before you collapse . . ." he added as an afterthought, "again."

Lily shook her head firmly, the action obviously taxing her. "No," she said in an uncompromising tone. "I'm fine." She changed the topic of conversation away from herself. "So why were you late?"

The black haired boy gave her a sheepish grin and a shrug. "I got caught up with something before patrols. Sorry," he apologized, still watching her carefully in case she fainted at any moment.

If Lily noticed his concern, she ignored it and continued to banter with him. "You seem to be saying that a lot. Do you always make this many mistakes?" Lily asked tartly as they reached the gargoyle guardian. It stood unmoving, but its eyes looked towards the head students for the password.

"Lemon Drops," said James as the massive statue moved to reveal the stairway to the headmaster's office. "I'll pass on that question." He held his arm away from him, indicating for Lily to go first. The young wizard had been given etiquette lessons for several years until it had become second nature to him. She nodded in thanks, wondering what had changed his attitude towards her. He had been a little standoffish in Transfiguration class because she had brought him down a notch or two.

The two directed the bodies of the four students up the stairs and James followed Lily up the stairs. "Are you always this critical of everyone?"

She gave him a saccharine smile. "Just of gits."

"How can you say that if you only met me this morning?!" the young wizard protested.

"Very easily," she said, trying hard not to laugh at his expression. The pain from the Cruciatus curse was quickly fading, although her wrist was starting to swell.

He frowned. "Now that's not very nice. Seriously though, I've apologized for both mistakes."

They stepped into Dumbledore's office as he patiently waited for them to finish. An amused smile crossed his lips as he sat in the chair with his blue pajamas with crescent moons under his purple robe. They didn't even notice him as they continued arguing.

"First off, you've just insulted me again by implying that you didn't notice me for seven years despite the fact that we've shared exactly the same classes for those same seven years. Second, you haven't apologized for that new insult. And by my conclusion, if you make more mistakes faster than you can apologize for them, then you are indeed a git," Lily finished, her eyes tired, but with good spirit. Then she realized she was in the headmaster's office and not alone with James. "Headmaster! Why didn't you stop me?" she asked embarrassed.

James smirked. At least he wasn't the only one shamed in front of Dumbledore.

The old man smiled gently. "Because my dear Miss Evans, you looked like you were having such an intriguing conversation-"

"Monologue." James coughed into his hand softly so that only Lily could hear. She shot him a dirty look.

"with our young Mr. Potter here." Then the old wizard, first class of Merlin, became serious, looking tired with age and with relentless battles. "What brings our two head students here at such an hour?"

James looked over at Lily who turned her head away, remembering the effects of the Cruciatus curse. He watched her as she bit her lip and met the Headmaster's eyes.

He spoke for her. "These four I believe were attacking Lily, Professor. I only managed to get there at the last minute and stop Lucius from hitting her with a hex of some sort. She had already managed to get the other three though."

"I see," said the old wizard. "And before that Miss Evans?"

"They were whispering in the halls, sir, about meeting their 'lord.' I suspected it was Voldemort and I wanted to take them to you. So I confronted them and started to follow them here when I tripped and they . . . they used curses on me."

"Which curses Miss Evans?" His eyes full of sorrow. Lily could tell Dumbledore already knew the answer.

The redheaded witch closed her eyes trying to forget. . . Then she felt one of James's hands on her shoulder for support and thanked him mentally. "The Cruciatus curse sir," she said, keeping her voice steady. "That's when Lucius came over and was going to do another spell but I stopped him in self-defense. Then I bound the others."

The headmaster nodded sympathetically. "Do you know who used the curse on you Miss Evans?"

She shook her head, sighing. "No sir, they were hooded."

"These are dark times indeed, when four of own turn against fellow students," the old wizard said softly. "That will be all. Miss Evans, I recommend that you go the hospital wing."

Lily gave him a half-smile. "Thank you Headmaster, but you alone know why I will not."

Dumbledore nodded. "Indeed. I will tell some of the house elves to bring hot chocolate and some food to your room. That should help a little. Is there any other injury you have?"

Lily bit her lip and shook her head, avoiding his penetrating gaze. She would deal with the broken wrist on her own. After all, she hadn't studied healing charms for nothing during summer break.

"Very well, you both may go. Mr. Potter, if you could see Ms. Evans gets back to her room safely before you go back to yours. I will deal with these four."

The two students nodded and left.

He wanted to crack a joke to lighten the situation, but looking over to his companion, he knew his efforts would be in vain. They walked in silence to the head students' rooms and Lily paused in front of the portrait.

James looked at her hopefully.

"You have to leave," she stated bluntly. She didn't care if she was being rude, but Lily wanted to rest. She was going to fix her wrist, and perhaps drink and eat a little before collapsing on the bed.

The wizard raised an eyebrow. "I'm supposed to see you safely in your room." He crossed his arms and gave her a stern look over his glasses. Lily held back a laugh at his serious demeanor.

"Yes yes, I'm here, safe and sound. You can go now." She made a shooing motion with her hands.

"But I can't hear the password then!" he joked.

She snorted. "Exactly. I don't need a pervert coming in to my room at all times thanks."

James began walking towards his room but turned around. Lily was waiting impatiently for him to be out of hearing range. He wiggled his eyebrows mischievously. "How about half the time?"

It was lucky he had good reflexes, or he would have been hit by the hex that the redhead shot at him.