It was several weeks after the dementor attack and life at Hogwarts had resumed its normal routine. Kids unwillingly got up, went to boring classes, ate, snuck out after curfew, slept, with the exception of Lily.
She was edgy, tension filled, and pessimistic. She looked as if she hadn't slept in about a year since she didn't bother with make-up and the purple bags under her eyes stood out on her tan face.
Even Mr. Binns had asked her about it when she didn't make her normal comments in history. Everyone had learned to stay the hell out of her way if they valued their sensitive parts.
Narcrissa Black had made the first and last idiotic mistake of taunting Lily, and Lily being very cranky and pissed off at the world, had let loose a spell that made Nacrissa…well…lets just say she wasn't exactly female anymore and was still in the hospital wing recovering.
One night Lily was actually in the Heads common room and he decided to approach her since she was just staring into the fire, "hey Lily are you feeling well?" She didn't look at him and continued staring into the fire as she answered in something remarkably close to a snarl, "do I look like I'm feeling well?"
James gulped and answered, "ok stupid question. Let me rephrase that, is there anything I can do to help?" She flicked him a glance, "yea, take a damn knife to my heart and kill me." James gaped. Lily chuckled, "just kidding though I wouldn't mind. Sit James,
I'm feeling rather nice at the moment and promise your proof of being a male is safe." Cautiously James sat down at the other end of the couch and faced Lily, "so why aren't you sleeping?" She stared into the fire for so long that he thought she hadn't heard him but then she spoke, "that dementor attack meant more than what any of you intrepid it to be.
I can't tell you what it meant since that is a burden that I won't give you but I can tell you that hell is going to break loose soon and its going to change things." She shook her head; "damn I'm really not getting enough sleep if I'm talking to you Potter."
She stood and pressed her hand to her head as she swayed. James was up in a heartbeat and caught her before she fell. He heard a muttered "damn" as he put his arms under her knees and lifted her fully into his arms.
She tried to shake him, "I'm not a damn wimp you idiot-" "when was the last time you ate something more than a carrot?" He cut her off, demanding. She seemed to think for a moment, "I have absolutely no clue."
He started carrying her towards her dorm room. Since the Head Boy and Head Girl were trusted there weren't spells on the staircases like in the house dorms, "My point." He said, kicking open her door.
He laid her down on the bed where her emerald green gaze stared back at him in confusion, "now I'm going down to the kitchens and get you something to eat that is completely unhealthy and not good for you to eat so that you will at least get some energy back."
He started to leave but Lily's hand snapped out and caught his wrist. He turned and raised an eyebrow, "yes?" She looked really uncomfortable, "um…thanks a lot James…for…well…everything." She looked so uncomfortable that he laughed and knelt and kissed her.
The spark that always jumped between them whenever they were near leapt into a full-fledged forest fire. James had meant it to be a simple amused kiss but this…this was the stuff of his fantasies.
Unconsciously he pulled her up and closer to him as his tongue explored her mouth and then dueled with hers. When they broke apart they stood staring at each other, hazel eyes to green eyes.
Then the energy left her body and she collapsed in his arms, her body having finally decided that enough was enough and shutting her mind down. James gently laid her down on the bed and pulled the covers over.
He stared down at her for a moment then, his emotions still swirling inside his mind, he left the room, silently closing the door.
It was breakfast on Monday, two days after Lily's collapse and she still hadn't awoken. James had had Remus check on her a couple times, not trusting himself to go into the room and be a perfect angel.
He had finished his huge breakfast and was watching Sirius eat it with a detached sense of interest. Remus, whom had his feet propped up on the seat next to him,
(Peter is…um…he changed his name to Patricia and is now preparing for his wedding to Michael Jackson in a week so he isn't at Hogwarts. Feel free to send your…um…blessings.) was about to ask James if he was all right when there was a loud crash in the Entrance Hall.
The teachers all stood, wondering what it was. The next instant they were all blown off their feet, with the exception of Dumbledore, and slammed into the wall near the Gryffindor table. 13 people in dark cloaks strode into the room.
Instantly everyone screamed, knowing who the 13 were. 12 of the 13 used stunning spells on them all, knocking everyone out but Dumbledore, James, Remus, and Sirius. The 13th cloaked figure drew off his hood, revealing pale features and green eyes edging towards red.
Dumbledore immediately sent a powerful curse towards him but he dodged it with ease, "well Dumbledore, you are not the person I came to fight but you will do." The two men dueled together, locked in combat as old as time itself.
Then Voldermort drew back and aimed the Killing curse at Dumbledore, who had no shield, when the earth rumbled and threw him to the ground. He stood and looked towards the staircase, which was visible since the wall to the Entrance Hall had been destroyed, with a smug smile,
"I was wondering when you would show and I would get a real fight, cousin."
Lily's eyes snapped open as her body leapt out of bed. Danger, murder, all resided downstairs and the bloody Fates had finally decided to show her something so now she knew what was to come.
She was already dressed with a wave of her hand as she tore threw the secret passage she had opened. She reached the main corridor and raced from the passage and on to the staircase.
She saw the two men dueling and she now knew that the battle was to be now. She sent her power deep and created a small earthquake. It flung Voldermort to the floor, preventing him from killing Dumbledore.
He stood and looked up and smiled, "I was wondering when you would show and I would get a real fight, cousin." Lily walked down the stairs as she watched Dumbledore blink and look to whom Voldermort addressed.
Lily then stood opposite to Voldermort, her body shielding Dumbledore's, "your plan was clever, Voldermort, and it completely threw me off." She used his new name, knowing this wasn't her kind cousin, Tom, but the murdering wizard Voldermort.
She smiled a knowing smile, "now that you are here why don't you finish what you have started." He too smiled as they both raised their wands, "yes why don't I." Then the first spell was thrown and the first battle of many began.
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