A/N: For those of you who were wondering why Lily was upset, it was because she knew that James would go back to being himself and stop being the boy in the Hospital Wing who appriciated her help.

Chapter 8: Attack and Unforgivables

Professor Peeler was walking to the staff table for breakfast that Valentines day. There was only one person on his mind: his girlfriend.

"I hope she's alright." He said to himself. He then noticed James Potter helping Peter with transfiguration.

"Annunciate Wormtail." James told him. "And visualize what you want it to turn into."

"I can't do it Prong." Peter said.

"Yes you can. Moony, Padfoot, and I won't let you fail." James told him.

"Mr. Potter is right." Peeler said joining in.

Peter looked at the pumpkin juice again and transfigured it to fire whiskey.

"Hi Professor." Sirius said joining the group and grabbed the goblet. Peeler bit his lip as the other two tried to warn him.

Too late. Sirius took a gulp of the strong stuff and started chocking on it. "Prongs? What did you do?"

"Peter did it." James said proudly. Peter just looked embarrassed. "I just coached."

"Great job Peter." Remus said hearing every word.

"You'd make a great Transfiguration teacher." Peeler whispered to James.

0000

That day in Hogsmeade,

"You didn't ask Evans?" Sirius joked with James.

"I did." James told him. "Usual answer."

"Well. There she is." Remus pointed her out.

James tried to flatten his hair.

Just then, there was a loud scream from the entrance. Everyone went to look and found a bunch of Death Eaters shooting curses right and left. One took one look at Lily and shot the Cruciatus curse at her. James ran in between her and the curse taking it for himself.

After a few minutes,

"Expelliarmus" a voice said.

The Death Eater's wand shot out of his hand and the curse was lifted. James was knocked unconscious not used to the pain (First time being under the curse and was under it longer than Harry was his fourth year).

Everyone turned to see Professor Peeler pointing his wand at the Death Eater as he came running to the scene. Remus came following. It was he who went to get the Defense Professor.

"Stupify." He said stunning the Death Eaters.

All of the students were too much in shock to help. James was still unconscious. John had gone to get Dumbledore. However, Professor Peeler was doing just fine on his own.

After all the Death Eaters had been stunned, Peeler dusted himself off.

"That wasn't too bad." He said to himself

"Crucio." A cold voice said.

Peeler felt the familiar pain coursing through his body. He cried out after 5 minutes.

"Well. You're strong. Usually people scream as soon as it hits" The voice said. "I don't have to kill you."

"What…What are you talking about?" Peeler asked breathing heavily.

"I'm talking about you joining me." The voice said stepping into plain view. It was Voldemort. "Together, we'd be unstoppable."

"I'd rather fight a basilisk while also fending off thousands of dementors, wandless, riding a hippogriff that didn't bow back." Peeler said head raised high.

"That's a shame." Voldemort said. "Crucio!"

This time, Peeler dodged and used nonverbal spell.

It was Voldemort's turn to cry out.

"What was THAT?" he asked after Peeler lifted the spell.

"A spell I learned my fifth year." Peeler told him. "Tom."

"What did you say?" Voldemort hissed.

"Tom. Tom Marvolo Riddle."

"How DARE you. Avada…."

"I didn't want to use this." Peeler said to nobody in particular. "AMOVATLEO!"

Gold light was emitted from Peeler's wand as it took the form of a lion. The killing curse dissolved and Voldemort vanished.

"What happened?" Sirius asked after a few moments of silence.

"A spell I learned from an ancestor." Peeler panted before fainting.

0000

DADA class two days later,

"Do you think Professor Peeler's alright?" Lily asked Melissa.

"I hope so." She answered.

"Evans!" James said running towards her.

"Potter." She said solemnly.

"Are you alright?" He asked.

"Yes." She told him. "I suppose I should thank you. After all, you did take that curse for me and spent a day and a half in the hospital wing."

"You're welcome." He told her.

"CALL THE DAILY PROPHET! PRONGS AND EVANS ARE ACTING CIVIL TOWARDS EACH OTHER!" Sirius yelled.

Lily glared at him and walked into the classroom followed by the rest of the Maraudettes and the Marauders.

Dumbledore was standing where Professor Peeler usually stood.

"Good day." He greeted them.

"Is Professor Peeler alright?" James asked.

"He should be fine in a few days." Dumbledore told him. "That last spell took a lot of power out of him, so he's weak."

"What was that spell?" Spica asked.

"It's a spell very few wizards know about Miss. Jenkins. VERY few. We are fortunate to have Professor Peeler on our side. Now to business, I believe Professor Peeler was going to teach you the Unforgivables. Nasty curses, but they need to be known." Dumbledore started the class.

Dumbledore taught the Gryffindors about the three unforgivables and what to do about them.

0000

After class,

The entire class of Gryffindors left quietly.

"I had no idea." Melissa said.

"That Death Eater shot an Unforgivable at me?" Lily asked.

"Yes." James said. "Dad gets those shot at him all the time."

"How can you handle it?" she asked. "Knowing that your Dad is in constant danger?"

"Because my Dad can withstand any attack." James boasted.

0000

In the hospital wing,

"How did the lesson go?" a weak Professor Harold Peeler asked the Headmaster.

"It went well. Mr. Black knew about the Imperious, Mr. Potter knew about the Cruciatus, and Miss. Jenkins knew about Avada Kedavra." Dumbledore informed him.

"I wish I could have done it. That's going to be the hardest lesson for me if I continue full time."

"Why?"

"Because my parents were hit with a certain uforgivable curse. As was I."

Peeler looked closer at the headmaster to see that he had done the impossible. He had shocked Albus Dumbledore.

"It's a long and complicated story, Sir. It's better not to ask. It has to deal with that secret I told you about when I came here."

"Ah yes." Dumbledore said realizing what the DADA Professor was talking about.

0000

A few days later,

James walked into the classroom ready for another day with Dumbledore. He got a pleasant surprise when he saw Peeler leaning on a pair of crutches.

"You're late." Peeler said with a grin.

"And you're back." James replied with the same grin.

"Against Pomfrey's will." Peeler added. "Now sit down before I deduct points."

James sat down.

"Now," Peeler continued, "As I was saying, Professor Dumbledore had informed me that he covered Unforgivables with you. However, he didn't mention something that I found out the hard way. You can't save yourself with Avada Kedavra. But you can save someone else."

"How?" Lily asked. (A/N: Ironic enough?)

"I'm glad you asked. If someone you love is being threatened, and you are merely told to move aside, if you give your life, the love is left as a shield to the person that is threatened. That was the only thing Dumbledore didn't mention. Now, if you turn to pages 536 in your books, we will discuss werewolves."

TBC