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 29: Bitter Betrayal
Callidora blearily opened one eye only to be blinded by searing white light. Gasping she wondered where she was and what had happened to her. Cautiously, she re-attempted to open her eyes. Managing this small feat, she gazed around at her surroundings.
She lay in a stiff bed covered with snow white sheets. The room she was in was exceptionally boring and the floor was smade up of linoleum. Sighing she rested her head in an equally stiff pillow as realization kicked in. She was in a hospital room.
Impatiently, Calli' waited, praying someone would come in soon and answer her questions. What happened to me? Who got me out of the house? Is Cadence alright? Did the mother and boy make it safely away from the building? Was the girl-?
"Miss Prewett!" exclaimed an elderly witch in delight as she entered the room.Callidora jumped having been so preoccupied with her thoughts that she had not heard footsteps approaching.
"Where's Cadence?" Calli' blurted the first thing that came to her mind. She had so many questions that she was having trouble picking just one to start with.
"Cadence?" the healer repeated as she bustled around the bed, checking that everything was in order. "I dont know about her but there's a few people waiting to visit you. Perhaps she is among them."
"When can I see them?" Callidora asked nodding anxiously.
"Right away dear. But there's no need for them to come here. You're quite okay, we just wanted to keep you until you awakened." the healer explained, not seeming to notice the urgency in her patient's voice.
"I'm not hurt?" Callidora repeated dumbly.
"Nope dearie. Just a little smoke inhalation which we fixed up when the aurors borught you here." Callidora sat in silence for a moment, revelling in the news that she was uninjured.
"Oh, okay then. Er, thanks and bye." Calli' finally managed to say. The healer nodded briefly and Calli' pulled herself out of the hospital bed. She gasped in pain as she got to her feet. Her limbs felt incredibly weak while her muscles ached as though every one of them had been sprained. Resisting the urge to sink back into the fluffy, white blankets, Calli' forced her feet to move and exited into the hallway. Following the directions on signs, she made her way to the main lobby.
"CALLIDORA!" Cadence squealed the moment Calli' entered the room. Callidora managed a weak smile before being engulfed in her friend's wide embrace. Over Cadence's shoulder Calli' noticed Lily hovering nervously near James. Her face was pale and her mouth taut with worry. Nearby stood the rest of the Marauders as well as Alice and Frank.
"Hi everyone." Calli' said quietly once Cadence had released her. The men just nodded but Lily and Alice hurried forward to hug their friend.
"Are you okay?" Lily asked sounding slightly strained.
"Yeah, just really sore." she replied, wincing as Alice patted her arm lightly.
"We were so worried." Alice blurted. Callidora gave a shaky laugh,
"I can tell. You all look as though someone's died." Cadence gave a small smile,
"Well you could have." This statement reawakened something in Calli's mind.
"What happened to the family?" she asked urgently. Alice and Cadence immediatly bowed their heads and Lily wrung her hands nervously. Sirius answered for them,
"The boy and mother are fine. But the girl and father, er, well they didn't make it out..." Callidora momentarily blanked as the image of the fiery roof beam toppling to the ground.
"No..." she groaned. "I tried- I could've saved her. She wasn't even an arm's length away..." Lily soothingly put her hand on Calli's shoulder.
"You couldn't have saved her Calli', or she would here now. You did everything you could and that's all you should focus on." Lily explained sympathetically. The others nodded their support.
"Wait, Cadence how did you find me?" Calli asked, letting her friends soothing words comfort her briefly. Cadence shook her head,
"I didn't. Alice came to your rescue. She showed up soon after you helped the muggles outside."
"I was with my new auror squad." Alice offered. Callidora pondered this for a moment.
"Oh, how come your an official auror now and Lily isn't? Just wondering."
"The Ministry is in desperate need of more aurors," Lily explained, answering for Alice, "and seeing as I resigned before they could promote me, Alice got the job. I don't really mind though, I want to put all my efforts into-" Suddenly James clapped a hand over Lily's mouth. There was a brief moment of silent confusion.
"Er, I want to put all my efforts into...the Order." Lily said, struggling to cover up her 'almost' slip.
"I see." Remus said, surveying her and James closely. His light blue eyes seemed to comprehend what no one else was.
"Well anyways, we should get home. It's getting late and tonight's been rough already." Peter said, sounding almost nervous.
"And no more running into burning buildings!" Sirius warned Cadence seriously before kissing her goodnight. Everyone bade their goodbyes and soon dissapparated. It really had been a frightening night.
00000
"Okay, I don't know if any of you have guessed already but there's something we want to share with you." Alice explained, a broad grin on her face as her eyes sparkled with excitement and anticipation. It was Friday evening and everyone was at the Potter's place. Everyone that is to say, Remus, Sirius, Peter, Cadence, Callidora, the Longbottoms and of course the hosts, Lily and James.
Everyone nodded expectantly not knowing what to expect. They had all made predictions earlier when the Longbottoms and Potters were out of the room but none of them were really realistic.
Cadence had said she though that both couples were announcing their divorce but then Remus reminded her that that was hardly what they'd call 'exciting'. Calli' was sure it had to do with the Order of the Phoenix (which she knew little about) while Sirius guessed that they were purchasing some new, fancy wizarding item. Remus had suggested lightly that maybe they were expecting a child but his idea was quickly laughed off and scorned. Lily and Alice being pregnant at the same time, they thought, you've got to be kidding. Besides, as Callidora pointed out, Lily wouldn't be willing to have a child at such a young age.
"Our news is, " Lily said, her voice quivering slightly with a mixture of nervousness and delgiht, "Alice and I are pregnant!" Dead silence filled the room as though it were the aftermath of a bomb. Sirius was the first one to react, other then Remus who had a knowing smile spread across his face.
"OY MATE,WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME!" Sirius shouted joyfully, jumping up and embracing James in a one armed hug. James just laughed while Sirius turned to Lily, picked her up and swung her around. He accidentally knocked Peter over in the process.
"Oh Merlin Lily! Congragulations! And Alice you too!" Calli' squealed with sheer happiness, "You're going to be a moms!" Lily and Alice merely smiled as numerous congragulations buzzed around them.
Only Peter seemed to be less then pleased with the news. After being knocked over by a twirling Lily's feet he seemed dazed and with little memory of the previous events. In fact, he looked positively ill as he sat still on the chesterfield. Having been momentarily knocked out, he could only recall brief moments from the time before. "Our news is ...pregnant!" "Oy, Mate!" Lily and Sirius's faces swam in his mind as he struggled to recall what had happened. Now it came swirling back to him, Lily must be pregnant! He didn't recall about Alice being so as well. A look of pure horror and realization spread across his face.
The celebration continued late into the night. Sirius opened a bottle of firewhisky and offered it around. Alice and Lily of course didn't have any though being as it was alcohal. Peter soon announced he wasn't feeling well and left. His absence wasn't missed however as conversation ran wild from the discussing of baby names to who would be the godparents.
"Padfoot of course!" James announced cheerfully after checking with Lily. She smiled at Sirius's expression. He looked as though he'd never been happier before in his life. Alice and Frank's desicion however was based a little more on family.
"Well, my mom's always lamenting on how she'd like the chance to raise another boy so I think we'll have to give the honours of godmother to her." Frank explained. Alice looked pleased with this desicion as well and no one objected. They were all so overwhelemed with joy.
It was near three in the morning when the guests began leaving. Remus left first mumbling something about having to work the next day. Following him were Callidora, the Longbottoms and finally Cadence and Sirius.
"Congragulations again." Cadence whispered as she hugged Lily in farewell.
"Thanks." Lily whispered back and watched merrily as her and Sirius dissaparated.
00000
"My Lord, I have urgent news for you!" a cloaked figure whispered nervously as he kissed the hem of a taller wizards robes. Lord Voldemort stared down coldly upon his servant.
"What is it Wormtail?" he demanded, scarlett eyes peering downwards.
"The prophecy Snape speaks of, I have found the child!" Peter said hurriedly. Lord Voldemort's eyes immediatly flicked with interest.
"You have found the child? Impossible, he cannot be born yet!"
"Well no," Peter admitted but before he could finish explaining Voldemort's foot collided with his stomach. Rolling about a foot away he lay spluttering and gasping for air.
"Then why do you bother me with these lies?" Voldemort hissed impatiently.
"M-my Lord!" Peter gasped, "The child is not born yet but the one to bear him next summer is L-Lily Potter!" Voldemort froze in his tracks as he contemplated this. Finally his face broke into an evil smile.
"Well, well. We will have to drop in on her baby shower after the birth then won't we?"
"Y-yes my Lord!" Peter replied, stumbling to his feet. Voldemort laughed cruelly and then said to Wormtail,
"You have your masters gratitude. However I will have to punish you for your lack of getting straight to the point! Crucio!" Horrible, pained yells filled the cool night air. A bitter, screechy song of a friends' betrayal.
A/N: I am SO sorry everyone! I haven't been able to access my 'word' recently because of a virus or something my computer must have acquired. I am really am very sorry!
I wanted to have it up by the New Year, but well, it wasn't possible. Because I rushed to get this up there might be slight grammar errors and it might seem a little fast paced for which I apologize. I'm not sure I did an overly good job at all anyways... Now that i'm done pleading my case, a special thanks to Natalie Claidi who was my 200th reviewer.
Again, I aplogize and I will update this story as soon as possible! Happy New Year everyone!