Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter

Chapter 30: Voldemort's weakness

Two week's worth of a journey finally brought Lily back to Hogwarts. She had kept getting lost along the way and was always afraid of Death Eaters jumping out at her from behind the trees.

Even though they had never really talked, she found the trip so lonely without James. His presence had comforted her and made her feel safe. Now she felt vulnerable and alone.

Without stopping to catch her breath, Lily transformed into a human and ran across the grounds to the castle. The change in speed had startled her; as a tiger she could run much faster.

She flew past the Great Hall ignoring the shouts of "Lily where were you?" and only stopped at Dumbledore's office.

"Licorice Wands! Jumping Jelly Beans! Grinning Gargoyles!" On her third try, the stone gargoyle finally sprang aside. Lily leapt onto the stairs and burst into Dumbledore's office.

"Ms. Evans!" she heard McGonagall exclaim, astonished, from inside.

"I'm sorry," Lily panted. "I need to talk to Professor Dumbledore, now."

"What is it? You can say it in front of Professor McGonagall," said Dumbledore from his desk.

"Professor," Lily started, struggling to catch her breath while she talked. "We found it! We found Voldemort's lair! But Death Eaters attacked us! James told me to come back and tell you and he stayed there to fight them!"

Dumbledore's face turned grave.

"When was this?"

"Two weeks ago, sir. I couldn't find my way as easily by myself."

"I see," Dumbledore said seriously.

"We need to go back! We need to save James! He could be dead!" Lily shouted anxiously. There was a pause.

"We will, of course, go there. But there's no guarantee we will be able to save Mr. Potter."

"But –"

"I'm sorry, Ms. Evans. Mr. Potter was well aware of the dangers when he offered to take this assignment. We will do everything within our power to get to him but I hold no promises," Dumbledore said. Lily lowered her eyes and said nothing. "May I peer into your memories to find the way?" Lily nodded and a strange presence filled her mind, kind of like when she and James had talked during the trip.

"I will go get the rest of the Order," said McGonagall briskly and left the room. The feeling was gone from Lily's mind now, and she knew Dumbledore had gotten what he needed.

"I see where to go. Thank you, Ms. Evans; you have done a great service to the Order. Your power to transform will be gone soon. By noon tomorrow you will no longer be able to."

"Yes, Professor," she said. James was most likely dead and it was all her fault.

"Come with me now. We must take you to the hospital wing and then you will rejoin your classmates at dinner. Do you feel ready for that?"

"Yes, Professor." Another person she cared about, gone.

Dumbledore led her out of the office and down to the infirmary. After Madam Pomfrey had fixed various cuts and scrapes she had gotten from bushes, he took her to the Great Hall. There was a great hush as Dumbledore led a sullen Lily to the Gryffindor Table, where she sat down in silence. McGonagall came in afterwards and took her place at the Head Table and Dumbledore stood in front of the teachers.

"Attention, students!" Dumbledore called out to the Hall. "I have something of great importance to tell you!" Lily's friends watched her worriedly as she stared down at the table. "I and all but five teachers will not be at school for a little while. I cannot tell you the reason for our absence but you would do well to listen to the teachers remaining here. You will have classes with the rest of your year as the number of teachers staying is so small. Those who you will answer to for however long we are gone will be: Professor Rourke, Professor Binns, Professor Tanner, Professor Tudeski, and Professor Lakley. They have each offered to stay and look after you. They will each take over Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Slytherin, and Head of School, respectively. I believe that is all, so enjoy your dessert!"

The various cakes and ice creams appeared and everyone dug in. They were still, however, casting occasional glances at Lily. The very center of the Gryffindor Table was quiet.

"Where were you, Lily?" Jenna asked finally. "We thought – you know."

"That I had been murdered? Like Andrea?" Lily asked angrily.

"I –" Jenna looked startled. Lily sighed.

"I'm sorry," she said. "I'm just upset."

"Why, what's happened?" asked Ylan.

"Yeah and where have you and James been for the last month?" asked Sirius. Lily looked away.

"Nothing's happened," she said, avoiding Sirius' question. Students began to leave the Hall. "I'm going to bed." She got up and walked away. Remus, Sirius, Peter, Ylan, and Jenna stared after her.

James sat in the cell, hugging himself for warmth. There had been too many Death Eaters for him to hold off on his own and he was just glad Lily had gotten away. When he had transformed back into a human, he had Obliviated the Death Eaters so that they wouldn't remember him being an animagus and Lily having been there at all. They must have taken down the magic barriers; he had managed to do it successfully. However, when they saw him afterwards, they captured him and brought him to the fortress.

James got no food and little water for the eternity he had been there. Time seemed to drag on and he had no idea how much had passed. He could only hope Lily had gotten back to Hogwarts safely.

The door suddenly wrenched open. Three Death Eaters came in, pointing their wands at him. This was not unusual; every day, they would try to get information about Dumbledore from him.

"Hello, Potter," the one in the middle sneered. James stood up and faced him.

"Hello," he replied.

"Why don't you tell us a little bit about Dumbledore?" Just like every day.

"No."

"Are you sure about that?"

James made no answer and kept his eyes on the Death Eater.

"Have it your way then," the Death Eater said. "Crucio!" James gave a gasp and fell to the ground twitching and turning and pain. He had learned not to scream or make a sound but it was almost unbearable. Finally it stopped.

"Come on now, Potter. Be a good little boy and tell us about Dumbledore," said the Death Eater on the left. It was a woman.

"No!" shouted James and lunged for her legs. He grabbed them and pulled them out from under her. She fell back and hit her head on the bars of the cell. A little blood trickled onto the floor as she lay there, motionless.

"You'll pay for that one, Potter," snarled the Death Eater on the right. "CRUCIO!" Once again, James twisted this way and that on the floor until it was over. He lay on the ground, panting.

"We'll be back tomorrow," said the middle Death Eater. He levitated the woman out and slammed the door behind them.

The next day when they came back, the Death Eaters said nothing. Instead, they stood, as if waiting for something. And soon, that something arrived. A tall man was approaching. His robes dragged on the ground, making a swishing sound, the only noise to be heard. James knew who it was right away. When he came to a stop, the man started speaking.

"Hello, James," he said, his voice quiet and menacing. "How nice to see you. Take your wand." He tossed James the wand that had been taken away from him upon arriving there.

"I'm not afraid of you, Voldemort," James spat, catching the wand.

"Oh really? Crucio!" James dodged the curse.

"Expelliarmus!" he shouted. Voldemort laughed and blocked it with ease.

"Imperio!" The spell hit James full blast. 'Hit your head on the wall,' a voice said inside his head. He struggled against the spell but already felt his legs move towards the wall. His hands placed themselves on the stone and his neck was already throwing his head back when –

"NO!" He tore himself from the wall, picked his wand back up from the floor and faced Voldemort once more.

"Good job, Potter. You can fight the Imperius Curse. But no one can fight this one. Crucio!" Voldemort shouted again. This time James had no time to dodge it and fell against the wall in the greatest pain he had experienced yet. He couldn't help himself and let out a small scream. Voldemort smiled in satisfaction and lifted the curse. James was left trembling as he struggled to get to his feet.

"Still aren't afraid of me, Potter?" said Voldemort. James let out shallow breaths as he shakily rose to face him again. He shook his head.

"There's nothing to fear about you. You may have more power than some other wizards but some day we will join together and destroy you. You are just a man. Just like everyone else."

Anger blazed in Voldemort's scarlet eyes.

"CRUCIO!" He screamed. James fell back again writhing in agony. When it was over this time he didn't get off the floor. His breathing was ragged and he could feel blood trickling down his whole body.

Voldemort walked over and crouched down next to him.

"Dear, dear," he murmured glancing at James' face. James lifted his eyes to his, his breathing still heavy.

Voldemort pushed aside the right shoulder of James' robes, allowing him to see the bare skin underneath. He studied it for a moment and then suddenly put his wand to James' body. It was a light touch but James was filled with agony, the most horrible pain he had ever experienced. Voldemort dragged his wand along James' skin, as if drawing something. James let out a horrible scream that lasted right up until Voldemort lifted his wand. "I will kill you, Potter," he said as he watched James scramble for breath. "It will come soon, don't worry. Death will be a sweet release for you." James tried to look his enemy in the eye, hoping not to show fear, but it was in vain. He let out a slight moan as he felt his shoulder throb. "But, even then, when your heart no longer beats, when air no longer fills your lungs…even then, you shall never be rid of me," Voldemort said as his gaze flickered to James' shoulder. He got up and walked away. James rolled onto his back on the ground, the pain almost unbearable. He heard the Death Eaters quickly follow their master out the door and lock up the cell. He gave a final gasp and was swallowed by blackness.

He was woken up by a tremendous blast. Somewhere above his head he heard shouts and curses. He sat up cautiously. Pain erupted through his body and he let out a small sound as he waited for it to pass. Finally he could pay attention to what was going on. Was someone attacking the castle? He walked slowly towards the door of the cell, pain filling his body with every step. His stomach called for food and his throat yearned for water.

James couldn't see anything from the hallway so he moved back to where he had started from, hoping to hear something more. He couldn't make anything out, but something was definitely going on up there. As he moved towards the door again, he felt something beneath his foot. Looking down, he saw his wand. They had forgotten to take his wand! He picked it up as fast as he could without hurting himself too much. Still he had to rest afterwards. When he was better he moved back to the door.

"Alohamora," he whispered. The door swung open without a sound and James crept out of the cell. He turned right and found a flight of stairs. Climbing up them took about ten minutes but he finally made it. He passed a few more corridors until he got to the source of the noise. What he saw astounded him. Order members, Hogwarts teachers, and aurors were fighting against the Death Eaters. They were greatly outnumbered but were doing well.

James' attention was drawn to a woman with black hair fighting a Death Eater as another pointed his wand at her back.

"Mum!" he shouted in panic and pointed his own wand, saying the first spell he could think of. "Incidere!" A large cut appeared on the Death Eater's arm. He dropped his wand in pain.

"James!" yelled his mother. James ducked under a jet of green that had been sent his way and turned around.

"Stupefy!" he shouted. The Death Eater behind him fell to the ground. Mrs. Potter ran up to him.

"James, I'm so glad you're all right," she said, hugging him. He winced a little. "We have to get you out of here."

"No, Mum, I'm fine. Really, I can fight."

"No! I can't risk losing you too. Let's go." Not giving him a choice, she grabbed his hand and led him quietly out of the room without being noticed.

They were now in an empty hallway, the shouts behind them. There was a door ahead and that was where they headed. It took them outside where James saw that there were several order members.

"Mr. Potter!" exclaimed McGonagall. "Come, come, we must get you out of here!"

"I'm going back inside. I'll see you later, James!"

"Mum, wait!" But she was already gone. James wanted to go in and fight but he knew he was more than likely to get killed in his condition.

"Come, Mr. Potter. You look terrible," said McGonagall.

"Thanks, Minnie, that means a lot." McGonagall let a smile appear on her face.

"I'm glad to see you didn't lose your sense of humor. Come." She led him around the fortress to where he could see the teachers, Order, and aurors had been before they attacked. Those who were too severely injured were there as well.

McGonagall, who had a few cuts as well, had just found a spot for James when a huge blast of red sparks came from over the hill.

"That means to retreat. We are greatly outnumbered," explained McGonagall gravely.

"I know," said James. "Here, I'll help," he added as she began to put charms on the injured so that they wouldn't be seen.

"Mr. Potter, you know the way back, correct?" asked McGonagall, looking worriedly towards the hill where they could now see the Death Eaters advancing on their enemies as the aurors and the Order moved further back.

"Yes, Professor," James said.

"Good. Lead everyone back to the woods and wait there." She cast a charm on him so he blended in with his surroundings and hurried away.

"Come on, then, I guess I'm leading you guys out of here," said James to the injured fighters. He recognized several of the Order members and two teachers, but not the rest. He figured they were aurors.

Going around the hill took longer than James had anticipated since everyone, as well as himself, were hurt. However, it still only took a couple hours since they weren't actually climbing it. As soon as they reached the beginning of the plain they moved as fast as possible. If the spell wore off and anyone saw them they were completely an open target.

The battle was soon over however, and they slowed down. Like before, with Lily, it was taking a couple of days to cross over. James could see the rest of their army, Dumbledore at the lead, not far behind, but his orders were to wait in the woods so he didn't stop.

The injured group waited for the others for about seven hours. When they finally arrived James found his mother and made sure she was all right. He couldn't lose her too.

Later that night, when everyone was asleep, James stayed by the fire. He stared into the dancing flames until he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked up into the smiling eyes of Albus Dumbledore.

"You have helped the Order a great deal, James," he said. "We would never have found this place without you. And Ms. Evans."

"I did what I had to," James said hardly and turned back to the fire.

"There is something bothering you." It wasn't a question.

"It's just – I've seen how powerful Voldemort is. And he grows stronger every day. It makes me uneasy because I don't know how he can be defeated."

"Are you scared of him?"

"No. My father once told me not to fear him. Fear of a name only increases –"

"-fear of the thing itself," Dumbledore said. "Yes, yes. But that's his name. Do you fear the person behind it?"

"I – I don't know."

Dumbledore said nothing.

"A – actually," James said, now realizing. "Yes, I do. He's terrifying."

"You would be a fool not to fear him." Dumbledore sat down next to James. "As to how we will defeat him…I think of this every day. It worries me, I admit. But, you know, he has weaknesses, just like anybody. You just have to find them."

James looked at him quizzically.

"Sir?"

"For example, I have the strongest weakness for sherbet lemons. Voldemort has a weakness for greatness."

"I don't understand," said James.

"Voldemort strives for greatness. Greatness to him is the point of his life. He wants to be the most powerful in the world – the best. But, as many like him, he frowns upon anyone less than pureblood. That is, he thinks they aren't worth living. He considers it a weakness to not be pureblood. Voldemort's reaction when his weaknesses are mentioned is his true weakness. It makes him angry. He may be more frightening when he's angry – but he's less in control of himself."

James was more confused than ever.

"I still don't understand. Voldemort's weakness is greatness because he wants to be the greatest? And your weakness is sherbet lemons…so are you saying you want to become a sherbet lemon?"

"Think for a moment. What do you think would shame Voldemort the most?"

James thought. And thought. And thought. And finally, he had an answer.

"Not being pureblood!" he exclaimed.

"Exactly."

"That's his weakness? He's not pureblood?"

"His whole past is his weakness. His family, his blood, his real name."

"Why would his real name be a weakness?"

"Tom Riddle. He was named after his father," Dumbledore explained. "His father was a Muggle. Voldemort couldn't stand it so he changed his name, to something he hoped would cause fear to the whole world. As you see, it worked."

James tried to take in all this new information. Voldemort was only half-blood? He couldn't believe it.

"It's quite late," said Dumbledore. "We all need our rest for tomorrow. I suggest you go to sleep and try not to let your mind be overwhelmed with these thoughts. Good night." The old professor got up, leaving James by the fire.

As James lay down to sleep he saw the shadow of Voldemort in his mind.

'Next time we meet…I'll know how to handle you,' he promised and closed his eyes.