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 15: Meeting of Cursed Fangs
Lily felt her heart constrict with terror and her limbs numb.In her left hand she still clutched Mrs. Yerwuts's sleeve and in her right hand she loosely held her wand. In one swift movement the death eater snatched it away.
"Where are the others?" she finally croaked with fear invading every syllable of her words. The death eater let out a low, unpleasent laugh.
"Oh they're right there.(He gestured at the sitting room where Marlene, Elphias and Peter lay on the floor gagged and bound with ropes.) Except your Longbottom pals. The dark Lord is dealing with them upstairs." he hissed stepping aside. Without his cloaked body blocking the way, she finally got a full sight of their predicament. Beside her tied up friends stood three more death eaters. Two more were perched on the stairs. And to her outmost horror, Mr. Yerwut was standing proudly with the group of death eaters.
"Mr. Yerwut, wha-?" Lily croaked. He let out a loud, amused laugh.
"No. Mark Yerwut is already dead. I killed him last night. But if you wish to see my true identity, just wait for the effects of polyjuice potion to wear off." he replied calmly. Lily stared at him, fear flooding her senses, this cannot be happening.
The death eater in front of her suddenly waved his wand and thick black ropes wound their way around Lily. Panickedly, she struggled against her bonds but it was no use. She now had no choice but to join her friends on the floor. She opened her mouth to speak to Marlene whom she was laid beside but with another wave of his wand, the death eater gagged her. Choking silently, Lily craned her neck upwards to look at the death eater impersonating Mr. Yerwut. She watched, her whimpers muffled as slowly, Mr. Yerwut's face melted away and was instead replaced by the gaunt face of Rodolphus Lestrange. Lily immediatly recognized his face from the Ministry posters that had been posted everywhere. Beside her she felt Marlene and Elphias struggle against their bonds. Peter remained quite still.
"Let her speak." The death eater Rodlphus commanded. One of the others waved his wand and Lily felt her gag disappear. Choking,she addressed him as he loomed above her, his wand pointed lazily at her head,
"But we checked if you were death eaters. When we first came, we asked what your dearrest ambition was." Lily blurted. All of the death eaters laughed at this comment, LIly felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.
"I know you did you foolish mudblood. But Meritha Yerwut was herself and she kindly answered for us." one particularly large death eater responded raspily.
"Then why is she acting so odd now? She hasn't a clue what's going on anymore." Lily retorted.She could only think to keep them talking.
"That was me." Rodolphus Lestrange spoke up, "I put her under the imperious curse while you were all standing guard. And of course you wouldn't expect me because you all thought I was still that mudblood man." Lily groaned, how could this happen? Suddenly a heart-stopping scream sounded from upstairs. To her sickening horror, the death eaters exchanged looks of glee. Devoid of questions, Lily lay there helplessly on the floor. She could think of no way to escape, or to warn James and Sirius not to come in. Sighing hopelessly, she watched as several moments of silence passed. She knew they must be waiting for Voldemort to finish so he could torture Lily and her friends next.
"How come you-know-who is torturing F-f-Frank and Alice?" Lily asked smally. The grey-eyed death eater surveyed her in slight surprise.
"Don't you know mudblood? The dark lord takes pleasure in killing those on Dumbledore's side. And our rumoured attack on Hogwarts was just a diversion. We merely wanted less of you to come. To make you more vulnerable. But you should know that the dark lord often takes place in our tortureand murder raids. After all, you faced him in June..." he said coldly. Lily felt as if she had recieved a blow to the head.
"What!" she gasped.
"He was the only one who didn't flee when Dumbledore arrived. He attempted to kill your loser boyfriend and then he attacked you." he hissed, "He was most displeased with us for fleeing. But it was worth the damage he did to you." Lilylet this shocking information pass over her like a tidal wave. So she and James had escaped Voldemort before... Lily was broken from her reverie by a high pitched, cruel yell from upstairs, mingled with a loud thudding.
"Stop them!" the voice commanded. From beside her Marlene gave a convulsive movement. A loud stomping interrupted the momentary pause of surprise and Alice and Frank came tearing down the stairs, blasting spells at the death eaters as they came. Both of their faces were pale and taught but a determined light gleamed in their eyes. Lily felt a prickle of hope stir inside her.
In the the distraction, the steely eyed death eater hastened to stun Alice and did not notice Lily's wand slip out from his pocket. Silently it fell on the carpet inches away from her left hand. Not wasting a moment, she focused every particle of her mind on a spell that would release her. She murmered the words softly and to her intense relief, the ropes slackened. Quickly she struggled out of her now loose imprisonment and scooped up her wand properly.
"Diffindo." she said pointing her wand at the others binds. In the commotion, none of the death eaters realized that their hostages were escaping.
"Stupefy!" Elphis bellowed as they all squeezed past the ruckus and to the back door. Lily didn't turn around to see if his spell had hit, she made a dive for the door knob when a flash of orange light hit her and sent her skidding into the wall.
"Lily!" someone's shrill voice shrieked and Alice stepped into her line of view. "C'mon!" And seizing her arms, she helped Lily up and they re-attempted to reach their only means of escape.
"Alohomora!" Marlene yelled from ahead of them and the back door swung open. Lily and Alice hastened through dodging various hexes. They joined the others in the crisp night air followed by Frank who narrowly avoided a green jet of light as he stepped outside.
"C-colloportus!" Lily gasped. The back door sealed itself with an odd squelching sound just as the loud thumps of bodies colliding hit it.
"Is everyone out?" Frank asked in a voice of determined calm. Everyone nodded mutely except for Marlene.
"Oh no!" she wailed, "Mrs. Yerwut!"
"Never mind that now." Elphis Doge wheezed, "Lets just get away before they find us here."
"Right." Lily agreed, "Alice are you okay? What happened?"
"Not much. You-know-who taunted us for a while then used the Cruciatus curse on Frank and I. Only when he had turned away we blasted the roof with the Reducto curse and ran. He got trapped under the rubble giving us time to escape." Alice explained as they ran, minds set on getting off the property.
"That's horrible." Lily said quietly, panting as she struggled to keep up. "Oh no James and Sirius don't know!"
"What!" Frank asked alarmed. "We have to go back for them!"
"Frank you can't, you're hurt." Alice crooned.
"Alice you and Lily go back for them, Marlene and I will help Frank off the property and apparate for help." Elphias offered. Alice and Lily exchanged fearful but confident looks and nodded.
"Good luck." Marlene whispered as they turned back.
Lily and Alice hurried back to the cottage, adrenaline pulsing through theirs veins. Oh James...Lily thought, please be okay. The girls arrived back at the cottage within seconds. Lowering themselves to the grass, they crouched beneath a window to listen. Luckily, no death eaters came their way.
"We've searched the grounds. They've moved away from the back and we can't move fast enough to keep up. We think they're heading through the woods out back until they get off the property." a familiar drawl was informing someone.
"Very well." a icy, cruel voice replied. Lily shuddered for she knew who must be the owner of that voice. "Set Greyback loose." Lilystiffened when she heard Alice's horrified gasp from bedside her. Not wanting to know the answer Lily asked,
"What's Greyback?" Alice turned her fearful brown eyes on her,
"You mean Who's Greyback." her voice trembled with sheer fright, "He's the most violent werewolf in Britain. And look, "she added with a moan, "It's the full moon." Lily let this disturbing news settle for a moment. Her thoughts returned to Remus. He was still out there as a werewolf too.
"Lily come on! We have to move if they're setting a werewolf loose!" Alice said feverishly from beside her. Nodding, Lily scrambled after her friend, not bothering to correct her that there was already a loose werewolf on the run.
"Oh how are we going to find them!" Lily moaned as they made they ran away from the building, still in a half crouch so the death eaters would not notice their return. Alice shrugged,
"Lets go wait in those trees and we can keep an eye out for them. I just don't want to be around when they set Greyback out." As Lily and Alice reached the trees they swept the immense yard with their eyes, looking for any sign of the others.
"Look!" Lily said excitedly pointing at the ground. She had just noticed large wolf-like pawprints. Alice's eyes widened in horror.
"Those are werewolf tracks!" she whimpered, "I thought they were going to let Greyback loose! I didn't know they already did!"
"Alice shh, calm down!" Lily hissed for she had just seen light pouring from a newly opened front door, "I have something to tell you." Alice gazed at her mistrustfully. "You can't tell anyone oaky? But Remus is a werewofl too." Alice gaped at her, at a loss for words.
"Lily, t-t-that is not funny!" she said in a hushed voice.
"I'm not kidding you Alice. You have to trust me okay? Now we'd better follow these tracks, Sirius and James were with Remus when I left them."Lily replied impatiently.
"You left them alone with a werewolf? Lily they'll be killed!" Alice responded, refusing to budge. Lily stopped thoughtfully. James had somehow transformed into a deer. And animals weren't affected by werewolves, but how exactly had James transformed. The idea that he might be an illegal animagus still troubled Lily and she didn't want to discuss it with Alice just now.
"Never mind that now-" Lily began but a loud howl broke through her unfinished statement. Both Alice and Lily's gaze fell back on the cottage where a large, silvery wolf had just immerged.
"Oh no..." Alice breathed. Lily gulped. What if it smelt them? Lily's thoughts were confirmed when the werewolf swung it's long ugly snout in their direction. With another eerie howl, it began running pell-mell towards them. For a moment the two of them were too shocked to do anything. Then instinct snapped in.
"RUN!" LIly screamed seizing Alice's arm and charging further into the brush. "We've got to get away!" For the second time in one night Lily was forced to run for her life. Chased by a blood-thirsty and merciless beast.
"Lily! Look out!" Alice screeched. Looking up, Lily narrowly avoided colliding with a second silvery figure. In utter astonishment, she watched as Remus(still as a werewollf) leapt over her and attacked the second wolf. There was a brief moment when the girls watched in awe, as the two beasts bit and clawed each other. The only sound that filled the night air now was the frantic yelping and snarls of the two creatures and the girls ragged breathing. For a dazed moment, they both watched as the wolves teared at each others flesh with their cursed fangs. A soft tugging on the sleeve of her robes brought LIly back to her senses.
"Lily." James voice said comfortingly, "Let's get away from here." Turning around Lily embraced James. She had never been happier to see him in her life. James kissed her forehead and then helped her away from the still battling wolves. Alice followed mutely.
"Won't they attack us?" she whispered, her eyes not leaving Remus and Greyback.
"No." James replied helping them up a hill, "Werewolves usually get along but they'll fight to the death over prey."
"But Remus!" Lily asked with alarm. James gave her a grim smile. His nose was bleeding gently and a large gash ran the length of his arm.
"I don't plan to leave him." he informed them. And turning back to face the werewolves he held out his wand and performed the Conjuctivitis curse. Greyback got hit full blow in the eyes. "Sorry Moony." James muttered and did the same thing to him. "Now lets apparate quickly, we're off property now."
"Where's Sirius?" Alice asked.
"He's gone to find the others. Don't worry he'll be okay. I only hope Remus will when morning comes." James replied, his face still set. Alice nodded and apparated with a 'pop'. Lily gave James a quick kiss,
"See you at Headquarters then." And she too apparated away.
00000
Lily awoke groggily the following morning. Rolling over sleepily she fell promptly off the couch.
"Ouch!" she cried rubbing her head, "Where am I?" Awoken by her startled yell, the others stretched and yawned.
"Headquarters, remember?" James said thickly from behind a yawn. He was still lying on the couch Lily had just rolled off of. Last nights events came back to her in a flash. The mission, the trap and finally the battling werewolves. Looking around, Lily spotted everyone else getting up from sleeping bags on the floor.
Last night Lily and Alice had apparated back to Headquarters to find Sirius waiting safely with the others. Or all except Remus. They had all decided to stay at Headquarters so that they could inform Dumbledore of what had happened. White-faced, he had announced them to stay and get some sleep. He had also gotten a hold of Mad-Eye Moody and sent him off with Emmeline Vance and Dorcas Meadowes to wait until morning so that they could help Remus. The entire Order now knew about his ailment.
Lily got back to her feet and sat back on the couch. James stared up at her with concern.
"You okay Lils?"
"Yeah...Do you think Remus is?" Lily replied quietly. Silently she watched the other's morning proceedings.
"I'm sure he is. He's a tough guy." Sirius answered Lily for James was yawning widely again. "Oh and you realize you just fell on top of me." he added conversationally.
"Sorry." Lily said sheepishly. Suddenly Marlene's excited voice flooded from the meeting room,
"Look!" she said as she immerged brandishing the Daily Prophet. Lily took it from her and gazed at the headline. She read the article aloud for everyone to hear.
Death Eaters Strike Again
It is said that You-Know-Who's feared death eaters killed again last night. The victims this time were Mrs and Mr Yerwut who were found dead in their home at half-past two this morning. The couple, who were aged 40 and 43 were muggle borns that had been living in a small house just outside of Hogsmeade. The scene of the crime suggests that the Yerwuts put up a good struggle. The upstair's roof had caved in and much furniture had been broken or misplaced. Evidence also shows that the death eaters had let loose the much loathed and feared Fenrir Greyback in hopes of Hogsmeade villagers being attacked. Fortunately the werewolf was found badly injured this morning. It is believed that some other creature may have attacked it before it had time to contaminate the villagers. Unfortunately, ministry officials were unable to capture the beast as it fled before morning arrived and no one was able to get close to it for fear of being bitten. Anyone with additional information about the Yerwut's murders or the whereabouts of Greyback are asked to contact Auror Headquarters immediatly.
Lily finished reading to a stretch of silence.
"Looks like Moony subdued Greyback." James said, grinning slightly. Sirius looked pleased as well.
"I only hope that they'll be able to find him." Alice said from where she and Frank were sitting on the other couch. As if on cue a burst of emerald green flames from the fireplace caught their attention. Out stumbled Remus supported by Emmeline and Moody.
"Remus!" James cried leaping off the couch and hurrying over to him. "Sounds like you did a number on Greyback!" Remus smiled weakly and sat in an old arm chair.
"Are you okay?" Lily asked seriously.
"Yes, just a little tired." he replied rubbing his eyes, "Thanks Mad-Eye, Emmeline, Dorcas." He nodded at each of them who insisted it was nothing.
"Well you all should get home." Mad-Eye growled. "See you."
"Bye." they called after him as he exited through the door. There was a rush to follow his example and soon Remus, Lily, Peter, Sirius and James were the only ones left.
"Did you take your potion Moony?" Sirius asked quietly.
"I did. But something must have gone wrong." Remus replied looking perturbed. Peter dropped the cup of tea he was drinking.
"Sorry. Reparo." he muttered.
"Yeah...Well. Maybe you need to drink more or something next time." James said thoughtfully.
"Yeah...Maybe." Remus echoed. "Well i'm going to go home and rest."
"I'll come with you." Sirius offered and the two of the exited the front door.
"Bye." Lily said kissing James goodbye. He smiled at her,
"I'm glad you're alright. Take care now okay?"
"I'm glad you're okay too. And I will. Bye now." Lily responded and strode over to the fireplace. She didn't feel like apparating. She took a reasonable amount of floo powder and stepped into the grate. Tossing it down she shouted her address. And as green flames overcame her she blew James a quick kiss.
A/N: There we go. Now you all know what happens. lol Sorry if it's a bit jumpy. Please review!