Hello! I promised I'd update during the Easter Holidays! I've been writing like mad, and have written quite a few chapters ahead of this one, so do look out for more updates. I intend to have this story finished very soon.

I apologise for the shortness of the chapter, but the main focus of this part was the James/Remus storyline. The chapters will get longer again after the next two or three chapters.

Hope you enjoy!

The Bond

Chapter 15

Between Life and Death

Part Two

Remus landed on his feet, straightened, grabbed his wand from inside his robes, and scanned the surrounding darkness. His eyes focused on two figures in the distance struggling with each other. Fists were flying, feet were kicking…faces whipped to the side….Remus ran forward, screaming: "Impendimenta!"

The force of the spell sent the two figures backwards, falling to the floor. Remus stopped by James pulling him to his feet. "Are you okay?" But his friend ignored him and attacked the cloaked figure, falling on top of him, punching him madly.

What the heck is going on?

He did not register Remus' presence, but something told him that a friendly face was here. James could not see. His eyesight was blurring as if he was losing his sight. His hands felt old, and a sense of dread seemed to engulf him. Was he prematurely aging?

He tried to stand, pulling his enemy up to, but his knees buckled, and he crumpled to his knees. Pain spewed up his back. A scream ripped from his mouth. His attacker rained blows down upon him, crushing his spine with every hit. Immense pain…

His screams became louder…

Darkness clouded Hogwarts: the moon shone brightly down into the grounds, clouds circled the sky. They threatened rain. Cloaked in black, and with dark magic protecting him, the Dark Man rushed out of the base of the Whomping Willow. The tree automatically responded, its branches lunging for the stranger that had dared disturb its wilful sleep. The man was too fast, propelling himself out of harms reach. A nasty gleam came into his eyes.

Stage One was complete. He had successfully got into Hogwarts Grounds.

Pulling his hood closer to hide his features, the man glanced upwards at the looming castle, his eyes going from window to window. It had been a hot day, very humid, and (as expected) a window was open on the third floor, exactly what he was hoping for.

He hid in the shadows slowly making his way closer to the walls, until finally he reached the section that he had spotted the window at. Carefully he pulled something out of a pouch and sprinkled it upon his gloves. Placing his now sparkling hands on the wall, he began to pull him self up. The stuff was illegally used, only sold in the Black Market. It was used by thieves to break into houses. The powder enabled the user to cling onto any surface and climb upwards without falling down and harming themselves. It was a useful product for other things but people always took advantage of it.

Thankfully he wasn't using it illegally this time. The law stated that any burglar must not use it, but it did not say that murderers couldn't. A nasty grin spread across his face, as his red eyes shone out into the darkness.

For the second time that night Remus found himself raising his wand and shouting a spell to separate the two fighters, but as the spell shot towards them, the enemy conjured a shield using one hand that sent Remus' spell circling back. Remus ducked. The spell disappeared into the dark.

There was only one other thing he could do. Running forward he attempted to drag the man from James, but his hands just flew threw him as if he was just a projection. He tried to touch James but he could not, and yet his first spell had affected them.

"He is fading….no longer does he stand in the mortal world. He will be gone soon." The dark man whispered, as if he was reading Remus' thoughts.

"Impossible…." Remus did not know what to do. How could he save James if he could not even touch him? Questions clouded his mind, and no answer seemed to burst through to ease his torment.

James's screams continued.

They treaded their way through the mist, straining their eyes so they could work out any shapes ahead of them. Harry's heart was beating fast. He held Neville's arm guiding him along and pointing out any obstacles that might trip them up.

The mist seemed to cloud round them, taking any happiness they had away from them. The chilly air brought shivers to their bodies and every so often one of them muttered 'It's cold.'

The further they travelled the harder it was to see. Several times Harry stubbed his toe or Neville stumbled. Their breathing was clear and crisp, as if they were afraid that they would die if they could not hear their beating hearts and the intake of their breath. Neville's eyes were clouded with fear, and Harry felt sympathy for him. He was scared too but the mission's importance was enough for him to work through the mist and conquer it.

Then something brushed into his head and he saw his death, his body ripped piece to piece and his friends screaming and then the scene went. Harry found himself laying flat on the floor, Neville beside him shaking very white. Could he have seen what he had just seen?

"Neville? Did you just see yourself die?"

Neville nodded, and a feeling of dread invaded Harry. He now knew what the mist was. The mist made people go insane and seeing their own death would be the start of it. Looking at Neville it looked like he was already there, but Harry knew better. "Come on," he hauled himself and Neville to their feet, "It's just want the mist does. If we conquer this we can get the Horcrux. I know for sure the Horcrux is here."

"The mist is a product of dark magic." Neville muttered.

Nodding Harry stepped forward, Neville following.

And fear still followed them.

It was with his skill at Dark Magic that he managed to slip in through one of the windows in Hogwarts Castle, skirting along the corridor, hiding himself amongst the shadows. Candles burned low, giving off a small smell. Coolness threatened ton consume him, but he did not care.

Taking out his wand, the Dark Man jogged down the corridor, descending one level before he came to the hospital wing. Reaching out his hand, he placed it upon the handle and entered the hospital wing, his eyes glowing with the threat of blood.

Sweat fell down his brow, his hands frantically punching any part of his attacker that he could reach. Darkness clouded his mind preventing anything from getting through. He felt he was falling, being swallowed by the infinity around him. The man was stronger then him and was gradually winning. His strength was failing, as if he was sinking lower into the ground.

Then something happened. A voice, a voice broke through the darkness, one that he loved dearly but could never see again until the die he died.

"JAMES, MY LOVE! DON'T FALL! FIGHT IT!"

Lily…

Her voice reverberated through him, giving him strength and slowly in his minds eye he saw Lily standing, red hair flowing down her back, standing next to another person - Remus.

With the strength that he now adorned, James rushed, hitting and kicking faster then ever, harming the man more then he had ever done in his life.

"Lily?" Remus looked at Lily and then back at James. "What? How?" he began to step back.

Her green eyes sought his brown ones. "I am linked to Harry, and through Harry I am linked to James. A bond as strong as ever grows stronger with each passing moment. Only through this state can I see James." Her voice was oddly distant as if it was coming from far away. "It takes great strength for someone to summon me here. James did that, unconsciously, and now I can help him. He made a promise and I intend for him to keep it. Harry will not be alone."

Remus nodded, not truly understanding but accepting the fact that Lily was somehow there but not consciously. Part of her soul resided in James and that was the part that was here, aiding James.

He turned to look back at Lily, but found that she was fading. Reaching out he tried to grab her but his hands flew through her shimmering form. "Take care of James…help him, help him." And then she was gone, the part of her soul turning into a sparkling red and gold spark before turning the green colour of her eyes and fading into nothingness.

Running forward Remus began speaking to James, trying to make him remember all the good times they had had, all the things he still needed to do…and it was if James was hearing him. The man that he fought gradually began to shrink, until he was a small ant.

Raising a foot, James crushed the man, and within seconds, Remus felt wind lifting them up, twirling them round and round until he opened his eyes and found himself in the hospital wing.

Remus shook his head as awareness returned to his body and he looked around. James' was deeply breathing, and he seemed at calm and at peace. The door handle slowly opened, and Remus fled to behind the cupboard - he had a feeling they had an unwanted visitor. He felt dizzy but he made his way so that he was carefully concealed.

The door opened and in strode a man, cloaked and the presence of dark magic was strong. Suffocating.

Remus' eyes widened as he waited, and then he lunged as the intruder raised a pointed knife above James' chest.

His tackle sent the man to the floor. Scrambling to his feet Remus made to stun him, but he was too shocked to do anything as his eyes roamed over the man in front of him.

"It can't be." He swallowed. His lunge had caught the man off guard and his hood had fallen, revealing his face. A face that Remus thought he would never see again.

Neville shook, his legs feeling like jelly unwilling to move steadily enough. He felt like he would fall any minute. Once again he shivered. Then as he followed Harry his foot caught on something that was dug in the earth. He stumbled, falling to the ground. "Harry!"

Harry turned around and lifted Neville to his feet. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I must have tripped on that." Neville pointed to the object that protruded from the ground. The gold sparkled in the faint light. Mesmerised, Neville bent down to pick it up.

"Neville! No!" Harry lunged forward to stop him but he was too late.

Neville's fingers tightened round the object and he pulled with all his strength and the object came flying loose. Neville fell back, his fingers still tight round the object. Then immense pain started, sending Neville into screams.

And all Harry could do was watch helplessly, unsure of what to do.

The sounds of bashing and crashing brought James back from his slumber. His head hurt as he opened his eyes. The bright light shone down and he had to turn his head to get accustomed to the light. He winced, but the sounds drew his attention and he swiftly looked up and saw Remus standing quite still. He looked like he was in shock.

"It can't be." Remus said.

James pulled the covers off of him, hauled his legs over the side of the bed and pulled himself to his feet, feeling dizzy. He waited for a few seconds then moved to stand next to Remus, but his eyes widened as he saw who lay on the floor, red eyes flashing up at them, anger radiating around the room.

James managed, "Sirius?"

TBC

Is this a cliff-hanger or what? If it isn't, I don't know what it is. Yeah, I'm a bit evil, I suppose. Heh, I will try and update as soon as I can, but I am going back to schoolnext week, so easter holiday is over.To find out how much more of The Bond I still need to write, visit my profile!Hope you have a great easter weekend! And if you do have any questions, just ask away and I'll try and answer them as long as they don't give away large amounts of the plot!

Please review!

MissBlackPotter