*o*-*o*-*o*-*o*-*o*-*o*-*o*-*o*-*o*-*o*-*o*-*o*-*o*-*o*-*o*-*o*-*o*-*o*-*o*-*o*-

Flirting With the Enemy

By; Sierra Sitruc

Email: ChristmasAngel87@hotmail.com

Chapter 16 Blue & Red Potions

Remus and Lily had both been talking quietly for a while the time ticking away quickly; overwhelmed with anticipation for what was to come, not the good type of anticipation, like Christmas, but the terrible kind like… Well, waiting for your death.

"So… You just passed out?" Remus asked, slightly amused. The two of them were getting along quite nicely for mortal enemies.

"Yes—oh it was terrible." Lily said, and she smiled at Remus but her smile changed as she started coughing roughly and blood appeared on her hands once more. "Ouch." She croaked.

"Yes… Are you feeling alright? You look terrible, no offense." Remus said quickly, not wanting to offend anyone, friend or foe.

"I feel terrible. You look how I feel." Lily said. "Like someone beat me up." Lily groaned as her legs cramped up. She repressed the urge to scream.

"Yeah, I didn't exactly have the most pleasant of evenings. That was…" Remus looked at his watch. "Wow that was almost 14 hours ago. It's almost 11:00 in the morning!" Remus said more to himself then Lily.

The two prisoners were rather calm; it made no sense to act as petrified as they were since it wouldn't help the situation any. So Lily and Remus had stuck to talking quietly and not speaking with hatred towards one another. It was how most prisoners acted towards each other.

"May I ask, what happened to you?" Lily inquired.

"Oh… I got into a fight with a Ministry Official if you really want to know." Remus said as he touched a large gash along his arm. He was used to getting hurt from his werewolf transformations and any other man in his place would probably still be unconscious.

"Really?" Lily asked alarmed. "A Ministry Official?"

Remus nodded, "Forneli Wilkes. I knew there was something about him… I just didn't know what, but he always smelled—wrong." Remus said thoughtfully.

"Oh, well if you ever get out of here, you can report him." Lily suggested, but there was no hope for escape in her voice.

"I think the chances of me escaping are as high as Dumbledore joining the Dark Side." Remus told her glumly.

"Yes, sad but true. So Forneli just fought you? Care to explain it?" Lily asked, willing to listen to anything that might take he mind off all the pain she was feeling.

"Sure, well… He came to my house and after some small talk." Remus snorted at this. "We started throwing curses at each other—my house was a wreck! He's very agile considering what a tub of butter he is." Remus said darkly. "At one point I was knocked onto my sofa and flipped it over… I'm sure it was a dark version of the wind spell." Remus explained.

"Ouch." Lily commented dryly.

"He dodged so many curses that all my windows are broken. Well, I got one good spell that made him fall on top my coffee table—smashed it up I reckon. And I took the chance to run towards the kitchen, he moved quickly though and cornered me in there I grabbed a knife and somehow—he got one too and forgetting our wands we got into a might fierce battle. He finally got me though when he drew out some silver powder and through it in my face… It just hit me so hard… I was knocked out. That just about sums it up." Remus told her.

"Silver?" Lily asked, not understanding him.

"I'm a werewolf." Remus told her, his amber eyes glinting morosely.

"Oh." Was all Lily could think to say, but it made sense. "You think that's why you're here?"

"Yes, I know that's exactly why they want me here. Probably have some sick plan for me." Remus sighed dejectedly.

"Well, it can't be any worse then being a traitor to the Dark Lord." Lily tried helpfully, and Remus looked at her with a weak smile. "Weird how we're together, don't you think?"

"Yes, I was wondering about it myself. I wonder where they put James." Remus announced his worries for his friend.

"I don't know, I've never even been to a place like this." Lily informed him. "You'd think after being a Death Eater for as long as I have, you'd know where he liked to keep his prisoners, but that was never what I did."

"What exactly *did* you do?" Remus asked her. "With all this Death Eater crap?"

"Oh… I was mostly doing muggle raids and surprise attacks on small homes… I was an apprentice to Mulciber in Imperius Curse usage." Lily informed him, her voice full of sadness. "I wish I'd never gotten caught up in all this." She moaned frustrated, to herself.

"We ALL have regrets Lily." Remus told her. "Now, changing the subject to a happier one… Do you think we'll be dead by lunch time, the afternoon, the evening or by tonight?" Remus said, keeping his tone light and jokingly, but serious at the same time.

"Hmm… I don't think I'll live too much longer." Lily said her voice considering her predicament. "You might still be alive 20 years from now. Other wise I don't think you would have survived such a fight. He would have just killed you. I know the way Wilkes' mind works. We did a few missions together." Lily added.

"Oh, well, I feel sorry for you."

"Don't be. I want this."

"Are you afraid to die?" Remus asked, looking at her through his black eye.

"It's not that I'm afraid to die… It's just that I don't want to be there when it happens." Lily said truthfully.

"I'm with you on that one!" Remus heartily agreed. "Dying doesn't sound too bad compared to living through this…"

"Hmm." Was all Lily managed, but the sound held her agreement. The two of them were quiet for a moment as they both tried to ready themselves for the death they knew was coming. They were lucky to have this time, time to reconcile things in their mind with their relationships with others and what they'd never get to do, everything they'd leave behind. They were prepared.

|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|!|

James had long ago left Voldemort's room and had been escorted to a room, similar to Lily's, but he had no roommate to talk to, unless you count the spider he'd found in the corner of the room.

He'd managed to get into a semi comfortable spot and had slept for hours straight, never waking, but having dreams of unidentifiable figures and strange glowing lights. Nothing to comfort him in his loneliness and fear.

James woke up late that morning, feeling rested and awake. He was worried about Lily—where was she? Was she safe? Who was with her… Snape? Since this place was full of Death Eaters (from what James saw) Snape had to be there.

He sat there quietly, wondering what he'd gotten himself into. The deal he'd made with Voldemort seemed easy enough. All he and Lily had to do was take two different potions, and everything would be ready to go… All the steps seemed easy enough. The entire process of giving Lily half his power wasn't complicated in his mind.

What if it was painful? Who would it hurt worse? Him or Lily? James had no idea. He hoped, if anyone had to feel pain it would be himself. Lily didn't deserve to feel anymore pain then she had already—and with whatever plans Voldemort had for her; she would be inevitably in an extreme amount of pain. It made James' heart wrench at the pure thought of it.

His stomach growled, but he didn't think he'd be getting food anytime soon, and that spider didn't look at all appetizing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Severus Snape stood in his potions lab, quietly brewing two different potions at the same time, something he was getting quite good at these days. Though, he was very sick of doing two potions at once, because it took an awful long time and he'd been working on these all night!

On the left, a flaming red potion boiled insanely—the 'Giving Potion' as it was known. It had a more proper name, but Severus had never bothered to learn it. The potion gave a person the power to send their energy into anything or anyone. It was how powerful dark magical objects were created. A wizard would send his power into it, trapping it in the object. It was quite spectacular really.

On the right, an opaque pale blue potion was simmering quietly, known as the 'Stealing Potion'. Another common, easier name to memorize. But basics were simpler to memorize then difficult foreign names. But the name meant almost exactly what it was nicknamed. This potion, made Severus wonder what Voldemort planned to use it for—he couldn't help but wonder if it had something to do with Lily.

This potion was used for sucking energy from a magical object… Or even person, though that was rarely done. Dumbledore himself had used this potion, when defeating the Dark Wizard Grindelwald. Dumbledore had stolen the energy from Grindelwald, leaving him powerless to fight, and Grindelwald had been defeated.

Severus knew that both potions would soon be complete and that in an half an hour a fellow Death Eater would 'discreetly' come and collect them. Severus had already informed Dumbledore of the potions he's been asked to make, and Dumbledore knew they should be wary of what they potions' effects may be. And they needed a double helping of the 'Stealing Potion', why? Was the question though.

Maybe, if they were all lucky, the potions would be dropped on the way over—after all it was Pettigrew who was coming. Though Pettigrew had always been rather clever at these kinds of things. He was sneaky like the rat he was. It was no wonder James didn't know one of his best-friends was a Death Eater.

Severus didn't think Pettigrew would ever do anything against his friends anyway, he was too weak. To wimpy to try anything against the great James Potter or for that matter Sirius Black. Though, you never know, sometimes people can turn around and bite you right in the ass with their huge buck teeth…

--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--

"Damn it Pettigrew, hurry it up!" Lucius Malfoy muttered to himself, Pettigrew had one job, just one and of course the blundering idiot was going to screw it up.

About five minutes the blonde showed up, panting-- but holding what they needed. "Here it is Malfoy." Pettigrew said, as he handed three vials to him.

"Good, I was getting worried you'd never show up and then the Master would be forced to kill you for your foolishness. He'd be terribly upset if he didn't get the ceremony finished on time." Lucius sneered.

"I won't mess up, if anyone messes up it'll be you. Your the one who is always-."

"Oh, shut up Pettigrew let's hurry up. What would you do if your cover was blown? Talking to me isn't a very good idea. Your friends will get suspicious." Knowing that would work, Pettigrew apparated quickly to wherever he was needed next.

Lucius apparated to right out side his Master's quarters, he came in with a soft knock and found Voldemort sitting there quietly. Lucius knew better then to interrupt him when he was thinking. He waited silently until Voldemort called on him.

"What is it Malfoy?" Voldemort said finally.

"The potions are ready, I have them here." Lucius held them up for Voldemort to see.

"Ah, good. Where' Gudgeon?"

"In one of the dungeons master, it's ready." Lucius answered quickly.

"Good, good-- After you get the audience readied for their little part, bring them there." Voldemort ordered, and he waved for Lucius to leave, which he did without question, leaving a vial of red potion on the desk.

~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~

"Remus? I was just thinking... When's the next full moon?" Lily asked, a shaky idea in her head.

"Tonight." Remus said firmly, a bit of fright in his voice. "You don't think they'll leave you in here with me until I..." Remus let the thought hang.

"It could be possible, I wouldn't doubt the possibility." Lily said bitterly.

"I'm not going to kill you, oh God... I've never actually hurt someone before in my wolf form! This is horrible... If only you were--." Remus stopped speaking, and seemed deep in thought, and Lily just watched; the energy was draining from her, conversation was easy-- but anything else...

Finally Remus looked up, "Too bad that door doesn't open." He said looking at it longingly, that's when Lily realized she'd definitely skipped over something important.

"We don't know that. Go try and open it." Lily urged.

"Why don't you?" Remus said, after all she was closer to the door then he was.

"Because I can't stand up." Lily said simply.

"Oh." Remus suddenly felt very stupid, then he felt curious. "What happened to you? You look fine."

"I certainly don't feel fine." Lily said, groaning slightly and rubbing her legs. "I hurt everywhere. The only thing that happened was I got stabbed by a dagger--you'd think the pain would go away."

Remus sighed loudly a got up, "It's probably locked, but I will just kick my self if its open." Remus got to the door and fiddled with it for a moment and it opened.

At first the two were both shocked, until a Death Eater entered along with none other then James Potter.

"Remus?!" James exclaimed upon seeing his friend, then he looked down and saw Lily on the floor. "Lily?! What the bloody hell is going on?!"

"Not too much." Lily answered weakly, and the Death Eater came up to her, she got a good look at his robes and recognized him immediately as Lucius Malfoy. Hanging around all the Death Eaters had some (very few) benefits.

"Evans, get up." Lucius ordered.

"That's where the problem starts my dear friend, I have lost the use of my leg." Lily said, a sneer on her face.

"Fine, stay down there." He spat, "We can do this without you standing." Lucius then produced a vial of fake blue looking liquid. "Drink this."

"Is it going to kill me?"

"Does it matter?" He asked impatiently.

Lily considered it a moment. "No, it doesn't, but if my drinking this turns into some freaky evil plan of Voldemort's where I turn into a fish--."

"Just drink it Evans!" Lucius snapped.

"Okay, okay-- don't lose your head." She said and grabbed the potion and examined it.

"It's alright Lily drink it." James said calmly, James had been busily talking with Remus and had stopped to tell her that. James himself was holding a red vial of potion-- it looked like blood.

"Okay then." Lily pulled the cork out and drained it in one gulp. Her body tensed up as she felt herself become very... heavy--or dense like a black hole. It was like everything was coming towards her. She was glad to be sitting down it made it much easier. "Whoa ho." She muttered, Lucius stepped a good distance away and James told Remus to stand back as well.

Something told Lily, something weird was going on. The room was slightly hazy looking and the world swirled in her vision. It was making her feel sick (er).

James pulled the cork out of his vial, and gulped down the red potion, with a look of determination on his face. He made a face as it went down and waited patiently for it to kick in. James' body became a light blue color--he almost glowed.

He took a step towards the very weak and tired Lily and kneeled down beside her. He studied his hands for a moment, knowing that what he was doing was for the good of Lily. He placed his hands on either side of her face and everyone watched as the blue began to fill Lily, it went very fast. But soon the blue color had drained off James into Lily.

Remus stared in shock, totally clueless to what was going on, and Lily couldn't have stopped him.

Lily became aware that she could stand up and had her strength back. What did James do? Lily wondered. James collapsed next to Lily looked tired, "James, what the hell did you just do!?" Lily demanded, worry for him evident in her voice. If he got him self killed because of her, Lily would never forgive her self.

"Just a potion, it gives you some of my energy--I'll be weak for a while, but I'll be fine." James told her.

"James, why? You idiot." Lily said affectionately.

"No time for answers, Evans, Lupin you two are ordered to come with me... To a new chamber." Lucius drawled, a smirk on his face. He soon escorted Lily and Remus out of the room, leaving James alone.

James. Lily thought worriedly to him, what she hadn't expected was an answer.

Lily?! Came an echo in her head, that sounded familiarly like James.

Um... Yeah? Lily tried.

Amazing, it looks like the potions gave us a telepathic ability for a while. James told her in her mind.

What was that about anyway? Lily inquired, but keeping her mind together as they continued to walk.

Well... Voldemort-

Oh not him!

Yes, anyway, he told me if I didn't do what I did you'd be dead in a few days, I just bought you more time. James informed her.

So? You shouldn't have done it. I would have rather died, now Voldemort can torture me to death! Did you think of that James? Lily's mind voice was exasperated.

Erm... No actually, but I don't think that's what he's doing. He was going on and on about soul stealing... Quite strange really. James explained.

Suddenly, something came to Lily's mind, something Severus had said to her when they were talking awhile back before Isabella had been attack and Mulciber had been killed... Something that might make some sense to the situation, Lily recalled the conversation she'd had with Severus.

"Voldemort- the bloody bastard, he should burn in hell! He won't even NEED Verataseum." Lily growled, as she started pacing the room with Severus trying to think of a plan.

"Watch your mouth! What if someone hears that talk!?" Severus hushed her as she continually cursed Voldemort.


"I'm ONLY stating the truth." Lily said haughtily.

"Maybe so- but more then likely he won't burn in hell." Severus said moodily.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Lily snapped, both of them hostile because of the situation.

"Well, him and some other Death Eaters have been making it so he doesn't die- he could very well live forever with all the spells and potions he's been using to avoid death." Severus told her.

"You mean- they're really doing that? I thought it was just rumors!" Lily exclaimed, horrified.

"It's true; I also heard that the next spell he plans on killing one of us." Severus shuddered, "For his 'best intentions' for them I'm sure. Honestly he kills his own followers!"

"Now who's getting a bad mouth?"...

Lily remembered it well, it had been right before she and James had had their run in with Voldemort and the giant.

I think I know what he's doing. Lily 'said' to James.

What? James 'said' back.

He's going to try and become immortal somehow, by using me--Oh dear we're here. Lily told him as she came into a room that was lit by dozens of candles floating in the air.

What? Lily tell me what's going on! James demanded.

Oh God... It's Davy! He's dead... Oh shit... Lily's thoughts held sadness that even James could hear.

Lily, keep telling me! Explain to me what's going on! James ordered her, and Lily didn't answer for a long time and when she did her voice was shaky and afraid.

They... They're raising him from the dead...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Chapter 17--