Before it Began
By. SkyQuill
Summary
James knew he was in love at first sight, but what would it take for Lily to love him back? Read their story leading up to their deaths and discover the dangers they faced and the loves and friendships they shared.
Disclaimer
I do not own most of the characters and places or anything else that may seem familiar. J.K. Rowling has the exclusive claim to this as well as the general plot that formed this fanfic.
Chapter 9: Laughter's Sunlight
Lily spun around in a kind of horrified daze. Her mind blanched as she watched Serena's slim body crumple to the ground in seemingly slow motion. A flash of green enveloped her mind momentarily the sound of a power gust of wind echoed throughout the woods. Only Callidora's pained shriek brought Lily out of her stupor. Tears now flooding to her eyes she whipped out her wand and aimed it towards the death eater who had just murdered her friend.
"Petrificus Totalus!" Taken by surprise the death eater went rigid as a board and fell forwards. This seemed to be the cue the rest of the death eaters were waiting for. Without a second thought they began firing curses left, right and center. The woods had now become a scene of complete chaos. Lily had one hell of a job dodging various flashes of green and red. As Lily dodged two stunners she caught sight of the others rushing forwards to duel, led by Frank who was by far the most experianced.
"Stupefy." Lily screamed as she landed painfully on her elbow in an effort to avoid another curse. Her stunner missed the death eater she had aimed at but instead hit one behind him.
"Lily are you okay?" came James anxious voice from behind her. Struggling to her feet, Lily saw James had fought his way through a band of death eaters to see if she was okay. She nodded hastily, noticing his skin was as white as a ghost.
"Go and get help." he told her firmly, pushing her out of line of a hex.
"I can't leave you here to fight them alone, we're already outnumbered!" Lily responded somewhat hysterically. Just then a beam of light hit James in the arm and a large gash appeared through his torn robes. Lily felt the color drain from her face.
"Just go!" James yelled as her rushed to meet the death eater who had just attacked him. Deciding it was best not to argue further, Lily scrambled past pairs of people, dodging many spells on her way. She had nearly reached the Shrieking Shack when a hand grabbed her wand arm tightly.
"Prepare to die Mudblood." a cool voice hissed from under his hood. Terror now taking over her actions Lily swung her free fist towards his face. WHAM! The man's grip loosened as her hand made contact. Wrenching free from his powerful grasp she turned her wand on him.
"Experlliamus!" she shrieked. The death eater staggered backwards into a tree and his wand flew from his hand and arced back over the trees. Lily didn't wait to see what he did next, instead she turned heel and ran as fast as her feet would carry her. She finally reached the dirt road, and vaulting the wooden fence she ran back towards the village. Her mind was curiosly blank as she ran, it seemed she was in such a state of panic she could only focus on one thing, find a teacher. Lily could have fainted with release when she collided with Proffesor Flitwick, McGonagall and Dumbledore exiting the Three Broomsticks.
"Proffesors!" she gasped clutching a stitch in her side, "Proffesor-" But Dumbledore raised a hand, his blue eyes blazing with fury.
"Where are they?" he asked peering into her eyes.
"Behind the Shrieking Shack!" Lily responded breathlessly. For a moment Lily stood there, ignoring the curious looks the students were now giving her. She watched Dumbledore lead the other Proffesor up the hill at a run before her mind clicked back into place. Again, she took off as fast as she could go, chasing after the proffesors. It took less then five minutes to return. Dreading what she might find she entered the woods behind Proffesor Flitwick. From her position she could see the death eaters apparating as Dumbledore came into view. Anxiously, she peered over Flitwicks head for her friends. Frank and Alice were standing side by side, leaning against a tree for support. Callidora was hunched over Serena's lifeless body and was attempting fruitlessly to revive her. The sight unbearable, Lily looked for James. Her observant eyes passed over Lupin who was sporting a bleeding nose and fell on James. He was lying still on the ground.
"James!" she shrieked panic striken, running over to his body. But as she neared him a last remaning death eater stepped out from behind a tree and muttered something under his breath, while drawing his wand across his chest. Lily felt a searing pain spread across her body and then everything went black.
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When Lily awoke, she was surprised to find that she was not in the Hogwarts hospital wing. The room which she currently resided bore all the markings of a hospital yet there were prominent differences. Sitting up she saw Cadence staring at her through puffy red eyes.
"Oh Lily!" she sobbed throwing her arms around Lily. "We've been so worried!"
"Are you okay?" came a second voice. Lily looked around from over Cadence's shoulder to see Callidora perched on the edge of a wooden chair, looking anxious.
"I think so. Where am I?" Lily responded faintly. Cadence gently removed herself from Lily.
"St. Mungos of course." she said whiping her eyes.
"Dumbledore and McGonagall brought us here. Flitwick remained behind to well..." Callidora's voice broke off. A great sadness seemed to emenate from her solemn words.
"Brilliant idea to get help Lily!" Cadence cut in, trying to change the topic. Her eyes too had clouded over as Callidora's explanation. This statement brought Lily's mind back to James.
"Where's James? Is he okay? What happened to him?" she asked hurriedly, ignoring the throbbing which pulsated throughout her sore body.
"He's fine, he was just knocked out." Calli' said quietly. "He's in another ward. Lupin, Sirius and Peter are with him.
"But what about school? And what happened to everyone else?" Lily continued, barely pausing to let the relief of James health wash over her.
"Term's over. You didn't miss much though. And Alice and Frank are fine. They were a bit shaken though. Alice is ummm...well she's..." Cadence said uncomfertably, her eyes misting up oddly again. Suddenly an image of Serena's body sprawled across the leaves entered Lily's mind. Her wavy blonde hair spread out around her, her turqoise eyes gazing into nothingness.
"Where's Serena?" Lily quietly thought she already knew the answer. Cadence threw her arms around Lily again and Calli' broke into sobs.
"Oh Lily, she's gone!" Calli' cried, joining in on the hug. All three of them broke apart and cried silently for a moment until Cadence finally broke the silence.
"And she was the one who thought none of us were at risk." she muttered quietly, "And now look at where we are. Lily and James in the hospital, and her..." Tears streamed down Cadence's face again like a waterfall. Each glistening drop shone with the loss of Serena.
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Serena's funeral took place five days after Lily was released from the hospital. James having been released just the day before stood beside her the whole time. The ceremony took place in Hogsmeade, well away from the Shrieking Shack. Lily clutched James arm with a death grip as they carried the body past the crowd and towards the front. Serena's muggle parents were clearly visible through the mass of people. Mrs. Dresi had a handkerchief grasped in her white hands while tears fell quite freely from her eyes. It was common knowledge that the rest of Serena's muggle relatives had already had a private funeral ceremony. Lily watched in numb silence as the minister began his speech on Serena's brief life. She didn't shed a tear, all signs of life seemed to have left and if it weren't for her white knuckles clasped firmly onto James' arm, one might've thought her dead too.
When it was at last time to pay her respects, Lily finally broke down. Crumbling, she fell to the ground onto her knees as she fingered Serena's cold hand sorrowfully. Distraught, Lily placed a yellow rose of friendship into the coffin and allowed James to lead her away, back to where her friends and the marauders stood solemnly. Alice embraced her tearfully and the two stood for a moment, letting their grief wash over them.
"Now what?" Lily asked when they finally broke apart. "We were supposed to find somewhere to live before we left Hogwarts. I have no where to go. I can't stand to go and live with Petunia!" Alice looked at her sympathetically, she would of course be moving in with Frank as her wedding was in a week.
"Lily, Calli' you can move in with my family until we find a place." Cadence suggested, finally looking up. Lily nodded gratefully. That night the three girls bid goodbye to the marauders, Alice and Frank and then used the Three Broomstick's fireplace to Floo their way to Cadence's. Fortunately, Cadence being a half-blood, they would be in a wizarding house.
"Oh dears are you okay?" Mrs. Summers asked as she rushed over. Lily found herself standing in the large sitting room of Cadence's small house. "Cadence told me you all might be coming to stay." Lily and Calli' shot Cadence curious looks. Cadence shrugged and managed a weak smile through her wet face and red-rimmed eyes.
"Hello Mr. Summers." Lily said in an attempt to be cheery as she addressed Cadence's muggle father.
"Hello Lily. Callidora. Cadence honey." he replied, a look of mild surprise still on his face from their arrival by Floo network. "You three look exhausted, why don't you head up to bed?" Calli' nodded mutely and the three then followed Cadence's mom up the stairs to a landing and into Cadence's bedroom. With a wave of her wand, Mrs. Summers conjured up to comfy looking cots. Lily was pleasently surprised to see her trunk already there. Alice had brought her a few changes of clothes at the hospital and Lily had forgotten all about her possesions throughout her despair.
"Thanks Mrs. Summers." Lily said gratefully as Cadence's mom shut the door behind her. Without words, Cadence, Lily and Calli' proceeded to change into their pyjamas and climbed under their covers. As Lily arranged her blankets Callidora stated calmly,
"Remember in first year when we all met?" Shaking off her surprise, Lily rolled onto her stomach to face the other two.
"Yeah." Cadence merely nodded.
"Lily and Serena couldn't find out how to get onto the platform." Cadence added her voice brightening. "And Calli', you were trying to help them! Serena went through but Lily refused to budge!" Lily blushed as the other two giggled,
"And then I came along and just pushed her! She went throught the platform alright, and knocked Serena over on the other side!" Calli' cut in laughingly. Lily couldn't help joining in,
"And then she got all offended and pretended she was going to hex me, but you two came through and saved me. Then we all burst out laughing!" Lily exclaimed as they all laughed. A warmth began to spread through Lily again. A happiness that she hadn't felt since before they went on that fateful Hogsmeade trip. It felt good letting her laughter wsh away the pain, and it reminded Lily of something. "You know, Serena's still with us. I don't think she'll ever truly leave as long as we remember her." Lily said, her voice not pained but joyful. The others agreed and for the rest of that night, they shared memories they had shared at Hogwarts. It was like the graduation day they had never had, owing to the circumstances. And althought Serena was not there in person, all three of them could sense her in their laughter. Like a ray of sunshine at the end of a storm.
A/N: I thought this chapter was so sad! Anyways I decided to update before I left my mom's so you could all have another chapter to dwell on. I know they're rather close together but I was in the right mood to write it so I did. Don't worry the stories not over yet though. I'm planning on this going just slightly past Lily and James' death. So yeah, I hope you enjoy this chapter and please review if you have a chance.