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 31: The Echoes of Thunder
The night engulfed the small, deserted street. A light breeze rustled the dead leaves in the yards of the houses and overhead the stars twinkled faintly. All was silent except for the occasional hooting of an owl and the distant rushing of cars on the nearby highway.
Nothing seemed to be amiss as Alice Longbottom astutely surveyed the houses lining each side of the road where she now stood. Everything appeared to be perfectly normally. It was just another night for the muggles around her. Nothing to be wary or fearful of.
"I can't see anything that seems odd." a hushed baritone voice informed her. Mildly startled, Alice jerked her head around to find her husband- Frank Longbottom- approaching her.
"Are you sure?" she asked uncertainly. "Reed said this was the place." Only a half hour earlier had the auror superintendent, Wayne Reed, warned them about a planned muggle killing the area. She and Frank had been assigned to the field work while two other aurors had been sent to investigate the source of the threat.
However, as she stood here now in the tranquil silence, she felt sure Reed must have misinterpreted the tip off.
"I really don't know Alice. Maybe we ought to head back to the ministry." Frank suggested. Almost as if on cue, a bright flash of sparks came from the opposite end of the street.
"There!" she exclaimed in a tremorous voice. Immediatly, she and Frank took off at a run towards the source. Drawing her wand Alice shouted,
":Lumos." A beam of light erupted from the tip of her wand and Alice used it to see her way in the blinding darkness.
"Remember, if there's more then one we call for backup." Frank reminded his wife. She nodded distractly and brushed her gold brown locks out of her eyes. Breathless, the two of them arrived at the very end house's yard.
The door was conspicuously open, with scorch marks across it's front. Clearly, a wizard or witch had been here, and Alice would bet her life's savings that it was a death eater.
"No mark in the sky yet," Frank noted, "They can't have killed them already."
"Well let's hurry then. We're wasting precious time." Alice said, gritting her teeth as she worked up her courage.
"Right then. Let's do this." Frank said. With that, he stook several long strides to the door, holding his wand aloft. Alice hovered anxiously behind him, ready to attack should a spell go his way.
Peeking a cautious head into the doorway, Frank carefully observed the living room and attatched kitchen for any signs of danger. Nothing seemed out of place, but the soft murmur of voices from the upstairs floor gave away their enemies position.
Silencio, Alice thought aiming her wand at her feet. Immediatly the soft patter of her footsteps died as she walked across the hardwood floor of the main level. Frank did the same as they reached the staircase.
"No matter what happens-" Frank began in a barely audible whisper but Alice interupted him with a kiss.
"I know." For a moment the two shared a smile despite their doubts. They wouldn't have been sent on a mission, for it was perilous due to Alice's pregnancy, but as they had been the only fully qualified aurors in at the time, the ministry had not had any other options. It was a regrettable choice, but one that had been necessary. The Longbottom's only preoccupation now was to successfully carry out their task and keep safe.
Reaching the top of the landing, Frank gave Alice's hand a quick squeeze, then let go and moved forwards. Ahead of them a door remained open just a crack. Golden light poured out from the crack, along with the voices.
"W-w-w-ho are y-you?" a man's frail voice inquired. A cruel female voice responded,
"We are everything you cannot even begin to fathom."
"I-i-i don't u-unders-stand." the victim continued, tripping over words in his fright. The deatheater laughed again. Her voice was oddly harsh and mocking.
"Prepare yourself for death." another voice asked. This one was rough, and deep; a male's. Their seemed to only be two death eaters. Alice shot Frank an inquiring look and he nodded, fierce determination in his eyes.
Go, he mouthed. Lunging forwards in unison, Alice and Frank slammed the door open, their wands pointed directly at the throats of the two death eaters. To her astonishment, they were the only living people in the room. On the floor lay a murdered wife and husband. But weren't they just talking to them, Alice wondered in bewilderment? Suddenly, comprehension kicked in.
"Such pathetic you aurors are." the woman sneered. Alice scowled. She recognized that voice from the duel at the ministry ages ago. It belonged to Bellatrix Black.
"You're going to pay for what you've done tonight." Frank said threateningly. The death eaters again broke into hysterical laughter. Alice felt a churning sensation in her stomach. Shouldn't they be the least bit apprehensive?
"So you fell for our little lure did you?" the man asked. Alice clenched her teeth and Frank tightened his grasp on his wand so that his knuckles turned white. Their child had been at risk because of this ambush. But how could the ministry misread the threat so wrongy... Alice wondered angrily but then a second wave of understanding hit her. Her eyes widened with disbelief,
"Reed?" she questioned, her voice soft and losing vitality by the minute.
"Clever girl." Bellatrix crooned. "Too bad brains won't save you now."
"What?" Frank scorned angrily, "You actually think you two would be a match for us?" The death eater's eyes narrowed dangerously behind their masks.
"Watch what your mouth you scum." the man warned. Fighting back a torrent of rage, Alice straigtened her arm. She had, had enough.
"Stupefy!" she screamed, wand aiming directly at Bellatrix. Before the jet of red light had even gotten halfway towards it's target it evaporated in midair.
"What?" Frank exclaimed as he emitted a gasp. Neither death eather had so much as raised their wand.
"You're right Longbottom, " came an eerie, high pitched voice. "They probably wouldn't be a match for you as pathetically dim-witted as they are."
"Master-" Bellatrix began to protest but the figure immerging from the shadows by the closet raised a hand to silence her. Alice felt her blood turn cold.
"Voldemort!" Frank hissed, his face an expression of mixed contempt and fear. Like his followers, he too wore a long black cloak and mask. The only difference was the searing red eyes peering out from behind the mask. Alice felt a shiver go up her spine at the very sight.
"Indeed. Now I believe we have been fortunate tonight. You two belong to the Order of the Phoenix." It wasn't a question. Bellatrix and her comrades must have obviously noticed them the last time they fought. Trembling uncontrollably, Alice wondered if they knew about the pregnancy...
"I have suffered your presence long enough." Voldement declared when neither Alice nor Frank made an answer. "Crucio!" Frank collapsed to the floor, writhing with pain. With a small wail, Alice dropped to her knees next to him.
"Experimillimus!" Bellatrix shouted, adding her voice to the din of screaming. With a feeling of hopelessness, Alice watched with tears in her eyes as her wand was sent flying. She wsa going to die. She and Frank were going to die. Their child would never know life...
That thought relentlessly plagued her mind and then suddenly she knew no more pain. Everything went black.
000
Lily lay in bed curled next to James as the rain pounded heavily on the windows. Outside, lightning flashed and thunder shook the house. Despite the storm's formidable nature, Lily had always been enamoured by such occurences. In her mind it was a breathtaking event straight from the heavens.
As a child she had lain awake all night just to watch the streaking bolts of electricity criss cross against the black sky. And when they had occured during the day she would halt whatever she had been doing to take a few moments to watch in awe.
Lily smiled as -watching out the window-she witnessed another bright streak cut across the sky with incredible brilliance. Within second a deafening roar of thunder shook the house. James jolted awake from the noise. The storm was right above them now.
"W-whas goin' on?" James asked through a wide yawn. Lily merely nodded her head in the direction of the window as yet another blue line of lightening creased the sky. James's eyes widened as he put his glasses on.
"Wow. Brutal storm." he commented, marvelling at the sheer power the storm possessed.
"I think it's rather peaceful." Lily mused, not taking her vivid green eyes away from the window. James raised a curious eyebrow,
"Are you insane?"
"It's possible." Lily replied sarcastically.
"Well, there's no possible way i'm going to be able to sleep through this." James informed her. "I'm getting up."
"And i'm the crazy one?" Lily asked in incredulity.
"You always were."
"Was not." Lily scoffed. "I seem to remember a certain someone parading around in his third year while all the teachers discovered they had woken up to blue hair."
"That wasn't me!" James protested. Lily gave him a skeptical glance with which James replied to relucantly, "It was Sirius. Honest!" Lily continued staring, "Ok, I might've, sortof helped out just a teeny, little bit."
"Point made." Lily told him. Stretching her arms, she sighed, "I guess i'm getting up too then."
"Knew you'd agree with me in the end." James announced with childish triumph. Lily rolled her eyes,
"Whatever." Without further arguement she slipped out from under the covers and changed into a comfortable sweater and jeans. She then proceeded downstairs where she quickly boiled some water with magic and made tea.
James joined her shortly at the kitchen table where they continued to drink in silence as the booming thunder continued to vex the night. The clock on the wall read five thirty five AM when Lily finally spoke up,
"Are you scared?" she asked. James was baffled,
"What?"
"Are you scared?" Lily repeated, looking directly into his eyes. James blinked awkwardly,
"Er, of what?" Lily sighed in exasperation,
"Having a child James." she commented as though it were obvious. Taken aback, James pondered the answer.
"No actually." he finally concluded. Lily tilted her head slightly,
"Really? How come?" James shrugged non-chalantly. He was determined to keep his mouth closed about what he and the marauders had overheard a week ago. They had consulted Dumbledore on the issue and found him to be worried, but confident of their saftey. James trusted his ex-headmaster. If he wasn't bothered, then James wasn't either.
"I dunno. I guess i've just been too excited. I've waited for this all my life." he answered honestly. "What's there to be afraid of?"
"Oh James...You can be so daft." Lily told him with another sigh. "There are so many things that go wrong! We're in the order, we're aurors in training! What if I lost you? What if we were attacked and we lost the baby?" Covering her face with anxiety, Lily rested her forehead against the table.
"Lily shh! Everything will be fine, I promise. Trust me okay?" James said comfortingly, wrapping Lily in his strong arms. She leaned against his chest and kissed him softly on the cheek,
"Okay. It's just, oh I don't know. I'm already in love with this child James, and it would kill me to lose him. Ecspecially when we live in such a dangerous time."
"I'd never let anything happen to you..." James whispered.
"I know." A sudden clattering on the window caught their attention.
"It's an owl." James commented in surprise. Getting up he strode over to the window and undid the latch. The barn owl quickly slipped inside, dripping water all over the counter.
Hurrying over, Lily watched with interest as James removed the water sodden envelope and opened it up. The parchment was damp but fortunately the ink hadn't begun to run.
"What's it say?" Lily asked in puzzlement. James's brow furrowed as he read a short, but informative line. Immediate fear gripped at his heart.
"Quick, we have to leave." he told Lily. "Grab your coat."
"What? Why?" she asked, becoming uneasy at James's manner.
"There's been an accident. I'll explain when we get there, just hurry." he replied. Feeling extremely troubled Lily hurriedly fetched her coat and met James back in the kitchen.
"St. Mungo's." he informed her. "Let's go." Just as another round of thunder went off, shaking the china in the cupboards, Lily and James apparated, leaving the parchment to flutter slowly to the countertop. On it, inscribed in hasty black writing were the words,
Mr and Mrs. Potter,
We would be deeply appreciative if you could report to St. Mungo's Hospital immediatly. There has been an issue regarding the aurors Frank and Alice Longbottom. Please do not panic, but come straight away.
Your cooperation is appreciated,
Rena McCaffery, Hospital Suprevisor
For a final time, lightning illuminated the empty house. It was an ominous sign in the darkness. As the minutes passed by steadily the rain began to fade away and the grey clouds parted revealing the stars overhead. The thunder become an almost inaudible echo in the distance. Grass shone in the moonlight as it beared fresh dew drops and the leaves of the trees glimmered brightly under the moisture. The storm had passed, leaving life behind it.
Author's Note: Well, for those who haven't read my author's page, I hadn't planned to update this story for a while but here we are. I guess the mood just sortof struck me. Anyhow, I do apologize for the delay and shortness of this chapter. Things have been busy and i'm really pleased to just have gotten this down. It was an exceptionally difficult piece to write. Bit in between key parts if you know what I mean.
Anyways I hope you all enjoyed it and I will update sometime in the future though exactly how long escapes me. Life is quite hectic and as i've mentioned, i've actually begun writing my own novel now. Still though, I haven't forgotten about all you awesome reviewers ;) I will continue this story, I just ask your patience in doing so.
Thanks! And please feel free to leave comments, complaints, praise or critism.