Challenge: Write a story that takes place in the sky or somewhere that houses broom equipment (such as Quality Quidditch Supplies, the Quidditch pitch, Battle of the Seven Potters, etc.)

Prompts:

(word) ancient

(colour) light grey

(spell) Levicorpus

Word Count: 2,626 (excluding A/N)

Beta(s): Verity and the Ballycastle Bats team^^

A/N: The story was set shortly after Peter Pettigrew secretly joined the Death Eaters. Slight OOC.

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Battles in the Sky

She was riding a winged chestnut horse, her eyes blazed with fury as she summoned her magic, releasing a barrage of spells against the dark creatures attacking her from all angles. The air crackled with energy as she fought, desperately trying to keep them at bay while her husband, James Potter, riding a polished broom, darted every which way to stop any of them from reaching the Order below where more of the dark creatures and masses of Death Eaters sprang up in the ambush.

It was the height of cruelty, a massacre that did nought but spread fear. Under Voldemort's command, the Death Eaters and his little pets murdered members of the Order of the Phoenix in their own homes. It bred uncertainty and doubt among their ranks; suspicions of a spy concealed among them were whispered in secret. Someone was feeding the locations of Order members to the other side. Despite it all, they banded together for the sake of defending the magical world from the rising tyranny and the persecution that beset the people.

That night, the Prewetts alerted the Order when Antonin Dolohov and his band of Death Eaters' assaulted their home. They called everyone to the battle, and everyone responded. They needed each other more than ever, and they dived into the desperate fight.

However, before they got close to where the Prewetts battled the dark wizards, they had been ambushed by creatures that had allied with the Dark Lord. Giants, trolls, werewolves and other unnamed flying horrors poured in from all directions. They were sorely outnumbered. It was almost as if they knew exactly when and where to attack. Caradoc Dearborn was the first to fall soon after he had shouted the alarm, and the mayhem began.

The Ministry had recently issued an edict giving them free use of the Unforgivable Curses. This group of people swore against all dark magic, particularly the 'Unforgivables', but tonight they had no reservations, especially against such murderous creatures. The Aurors moved with effective grace, undeterred by the unexpected attack, standing their ground as they engaged the giants and the trolls. Remus Lupin, equipped with superior knowledge on werewolves and their weaknesses, joined a unit of Order members to confront the howling beasts charging from the concealment of the surrounding forest. Sirius, aboard his flying motorcycle, fought alongside James and Lily, single-mindedly shielding his friends from the side.

Dark-winged creatures, dripping with venom and malice, persistently tried to find a way through the trio's defenses in vain. They fell one by one, but more replaced them.

Lily didn't allow fear or weariness distract her. She guided her faithful steed with a firm hand as she dodged wings, claws, and fanged assaults, while her other hand clutched her wand securely as she fired hexes against the assailing beasts without falter.

Their main goal was to rescue the Prewett brothers; they cannot afford to lose even one more member. The McKinnons were all but obliterated and Edgar Bones had been murdered alongside his entire family. They would not allow the Prewetts to be slaughtered too! And yet, she couldn't help thinking the longer they were stalled, the smaller the chance of their friends' survival.

Determined to reach her friends before it was too late, Lily recklessly conjured a wild, living inferno, controlling it with a will so formidable that the dark creatures fled before her wrath. The creatures within the vicinity were incinerated to ashes as the rest scarpered away, gradually leaving a clear path in the sky. Gritting her teeth, she extinguished the Fiendfyre in a tremendous effort and readied herself to join the fight on the ground, when at that moment, James suddenly swooped in in front of her and shielded her from a stray curse.

"James!" Lily cried, watching helplessly as his broom took the full blast and splintered into tiny fragments.

Luckily, he was only momentarily rendered unconscious, but he was now hurtling toward the ground. Lily didn't hesitate and spurred her flying Abraxan into a steep downward spiral to catch him. Sirius, being the better flyer, zoomed past her, knowing that she won't get to him in time. But James hurtled down faster and Sirius struggled to close the gap between them. Thinking quickly, she aimed her wand at James and shouted "Levicorpus!"

Relief washed over her as James was hoisted to safety by his ankles, dangling in the air. She thanked her former best friend, Severus Snape, for inventing the spell, despite not being on speaking terms with him since he joined the Death Eaters. She wasn't sure if she'd ever forgive him for betraying her. He knew about the Dark Lord's ancient enmity for Muggles and Muggle-borns like her but he joined him anyway, destroying their friendship.

Shaking herself from her thoughts, she watched as Sirius retrieved her husband, who, thankfully, wasn't injured too badly.

"Lily! Are you out of your mind?" Sirius yelled, flying towards her, her husband in tow.

James smacked him in the head as Lily raised a delicate brow, not pleased with his tone.

"Fiendfyre! Do you know how dangerous that was?" he exclaimed as they hovered in the air, ready in case of another onslaught of flying beasts.

"I had it under control. Look around you, Sirius," she replied defiantly, gesturing at the clear sky.

"I wasn't concerned about those brutes or your capability to handle it. I was concerned about me and James! Honestly, you lugged that fire serpent around like a giant whip-"

"Hey! I knew how much space I had to work with." she explained impatiently. "You don't really believe that I didn't risk your hides, do you?"

"Alright you two, there's still a battle going on down there, we don't have time to dilly-dally," James intervened.

"Dilly-dally? Seriously? I just saved your ass!" Sirius quipped, feigning indignation.

James rolled his eyes. He knew that Sirius wouldn't let him forget that.

Lily contemplated as she watched the battle below. Dumbledore and a battalion of Aurors were holding their own against the giants. Remus was savagely breaking the ranks of werewolves along with a host of Order members. Peter Pettigrew was hiding on a rooftop, making use of his animagus form to dart here and there undetected, shooting curses at the trolls who were viciously swinging their clubs.

"I think we should go straight to the Prewetts while the sky is clear," she suggested

James and Sirius looked at her considering the options and nodded.

"I don't know what's happening, but this is clearly a diversion," James observed. "The Prewetts must have something important on Voldemort."

Sirius frowned. "You guys go ahead, I'll join you once I round up some reinforcements to you."

"Be safe, Padfoot," James gripped his hand tightly.

"You too, both of you," Sirius replied grimly.

James crossed precariously over from the motorcycle to Lily's winged horse, who neighed in protest. Lily was quick to soothe her with a gentle caress. Once James was safely mounted behind Lily, they bid Sirius farewell as he flew down to the fight.

Lily turned to her husband, "Ready?"

"Ready," he replied giving her a squeeze. They rode into the night, the light grey clouds speeding past them.

"Thank you," Lily whispered, leaning onto him, "for saving me back there."

James held her tightly and pecked her on the cheek. "For you, I'll do it again regardless of the cost."

"Ditto," Lily vowed solemnly.

They had been married for two years now and she marveled at the man she'd chosen. They'd gotten together during their last years at Hogwarts where she had witnessed his transformation from an arrogant bully to a man toughened by war who had grown in wisdom and compassion. She treasured the days they spent together, considering all they had to live through while working with the Order of the Phoenix; an organisation that fought for freedom, for equality, and everything that they believed in. Together, they became stronger, and together, they would overcome anything.

"I love you," she whispered. "Don't die on me tonight, okay?"

James smiled. "Dumbledore always said that love is more powerful than death." He leaned into her ear and murmured playfully, "and my love for you is stronger than all the death they can throw our way."

The happiness that bubbled inside her deflated at the sight of the Prewetts' home. Smoke billowed and flames surrounded the quaint cottage, the roof now decimated. Gideon and Fabian Prewett stood back to back, dueling five Death Eaters. It was clearly their last stand. A handful of Death Eaters lay dead at their feet, but from her vantage point, she could see more arriving in an attempt to converge against the brothers, who were now panting in exhaustion. Still, they fought steadfastly and Lily anxiously urged her mount onwards. But someone met them in the air and barred their way. Severus Snape, his black robes billowing around him, hovered astride a Thestral, giving them a challenging stare. Far below, Fabian cried out in pain, stopping Lily in her tracks.

"Move!" James bellowed.

Snape sneered at him. Glancing at Lily, he drawled, "Don't come any closer,"

"Why?" Lily asked, trembling in anger. "Why are you still with them? You've seen what they do- what they're doing now! Why?"

Severus shrugged. "Why?" his tone apathetic. "Why should I answer the likes of you?"

"Watch your mouth, Snape!" James spat as he gripped his wand, one arm wrapped protectively around Lily.

"How noble, Potter," Severus snorted. "If you really love your wife, you wouldn't let her into this mess. You're fighting a losing battle, go, before they kill you too."

"Like you care!" Lily cried, the hurt of years gone by flooding back. "You chose their side.

You chose murderers… Over me!"

"You chose him over me!" Severus raged, unable to keep his composure. "After what he and his friends did, you chose him!"

"I've apologized for my mistakes, Snape. I apologized more than once." James reminded him, his tone steady.

"Save your breath, Potter. No apology could undo what you did."

James saw through him. "I know, I will never earn your forgiveness. You hated me from the moment I cost you Lily, because I took the woman you desired."

Snape flinched.

"I've seen how you look at Lily, don't bother denying it." James continued.

"Desired her? I loved her- far more than you ever could!"

Lily's eyes widened at the revelation as she regarded her estranged friend. "Love?" She gasped, unable to believe the truth. "Is this true?"

Severus looked away, trying to hold on to the last shreds of his dignity.

"Love?" Lily asked, confused and angry. "You say you love me and yet, you betrayed me!"

"You betrayed me first," Severus replied, his voice heavy with sorrow.

"Please, Snape," James pleaded. "The Dark Lord is a psychopath. He's hell bent on destroying the lives of people just because of a stupid, egregious belief. Join us. The Order will give you safety."

"Safety?" he laughed. "You can't keep your own members safe. Don't worry about me, worry about yourselves. In the end, even the Order will fall."

"Please," Lily begged, "Please join us, Sev. Come back to me."

"Join me instead," Severus asked in return. "You know how much the Dark Lord wants you both. He sent me to ask you one last time, be grateful that he's giving you a third chance- there will be no more after this. Join us?"

Lily searched his eyes for a long moment, but she was disappointed with what she saw. With a heavy heart but a steady resolve, she answered, "Never."

"Then this is goodbye," Severus answered formally, bitterness clouding his face. "Farewell, Lily." Severus flew away, leaving his friend broken-hearted once again.

Without wasting more time, they raced towards the Prewetts', dismounting hurriedly, and rushed to join the fight. But the air was silent- the Death Eaters had gone, leaving Fabian and Gideon Prewett bloodied and broken on the ground.

The couple ran to their friends, kneeling beside them, while Lily frantically felt for a pulse.

Fabian was gone.

But they heard a gasp of breath next to him. Gideon, weak and exhausted, slowly opened his eyes and they hurried over to his side.

"Gideon!" Lily cried. "I'm so sorry, we- I- we were on our way- somehow they knew-"

"The stone… tell Dumbledore," Gideon rasped.

"What stone?" James urged, holding the dying man's hand.

"Flamel… the stone… he's after it… Tell Albus," he gasped, already fading.

"No! Gideon, no, stay with me," Lily pleaded.

But the man released his final breath; the spark of life in his light-grey eyes flickered out.

Lily wailed in grief. "This is Severus' fault!" she sobbed, her eyes taking on a frightening gleam. "If he hadn't stalled us- we could've saved them…"

James held her tight, hating what he had to say, "Or... we couldn't have."

She looked at him angrily. "What do you mean?"

"Snape. He stalled us so we wouldn't die too. You saw it down there, we would've been out-numbered, and we would have fought and died in the process."

"No! Snape stalled us so we would have to watch them die! It's what the Death Eaters do!"

"Lily! Stop. You know who Snape is better than that. Even I can see that he wouldn't hurt you like that. I don't want to say this, but despite everything, he cared for you deeply. Enough to sacrifice his dignity, to face you even in his shame, for the simple reason that it would save your life."

"No! I refuse to believe he'd-"

"Listen," James begged. "He left without harming us, he just barred the way, even though I know he would kill me in an instant. He loved you," he spat out with difficulty "…he loved you so much that he couldn't hurt me, because he knew it would hurt you. He warned us, it doesn't seem like it, but he did, he warned us about refusing Voldemort again."

Lily nodded, broken, the fight going out of her and slumped in exhaustion.

"Remember what Dumbledore said," James held her gently. "Love is an ancient and mysterious force; we might not understand why he did this, but I know that he loved you... he still does."

"I don't care anymore. He chose his side, I chose mine."

"Don't dismiss him so easily, Lily. There might be enough of the man you knew, it may yet lead to his redemption."

Lily looked at his eyes, full of love and understanding. "I hope you're right."

A year later, a prophecy was born that would turn the tide of the War.

In that dark hour, when the stars seemed to wink out from under the ominous fog, an ancient force so powerful and unpredictable was set in motion. Still, another year had passed before the prophecy was fulfilled, and deep was the scar it left in its wake.

However, that ancient force called love prevailed that fateful night.

For love made a man who had bitterly succumbed to the lure of dark arts, beg the Dark Lord to spare a life, the life of the woman he loved.

Love made the husband face the Dark Lord alone and unarmed, to give his wife and child time to escape.

Love made the mother sacrifice herself willingly in defense of her child.

And love became a powerful protection to a boy destined to save the world.

In the silence of that fateful night, the wind howled in mourning.

The embittered man found the woman he loved in the embrace of Death and vowed to turn his back on the Dark, as a tiny voice, vibrant with life, shattered the stillness, heralding the coming of a new dawn.

.o.O. END .O.o.

A/N: I researched Severus Snape's character (because my teammates can't shut up about him, XD) and read that without his love for Lily, he wouldn't have begged Voldemort to spare her. Then a willing sacrifice wouldn't have been made by Lily, and there wouldn't have been a Boy-Who-Lived. So I realized, and had to admit, that Snape was a huge part on turning the tide of the War against Voldemort. It was a lonely and tragic effort on his part, but he fought valiantly, all for Lily. #Always.