AN: here's chapter.. i forgot the number. Nine i think. Sorry about not updating school.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed!! keep them coming!!

thanks to Jegan for the plot!!

SEVENTH YEAR ROLLER COASTER

CHAPTER- 9: PROMISE

Lily bent over her transfiguration textbook, running her quill down the lines looking for a sentence she could use in her essay. The door to the head's common room swung open. Hugh stalked into the room.

"So" he said.

This simple word grated on Lily's nerves, which were already tense from the article.

"So what?" she snapped back.

"You've been cheating on me," said Hugh, getting straight to the point, circling her like a tiger, "with that Potter! I knew there was something between you two when I saw him!"

"Well bully for you" mumbled Lily, annoyed.

Hugh continued, ignoring her, "He looked at you too much for my liking. And that article proved it."

"That article," said Lily calmly, "is complete rubbish. Rita Skeeter loves getting dirt on people. Fake dirt. There is nothing between me and James."

"James" said Hugh, "you called him James. He is an acquaintance, I presume? A friend? Maybe... more?"

"you're reading way too much into this," said Lily, "you're over analyzing. Next thing you'll be telling me to call Maggie 'Seltzer' because otherwise it would imply i was involved with her."

"Am i?" asked Hugh silkily, "i don't think so, darling," ha pulled out something from his pocket. A photo. "you forgot the photo, Lily. How would the reporter have got the photo, fake as she is?"

Lily gulped.

"And i haven't even started," continued Hugh, "on this Remus Lupin, and Sirius Black. Tell me Lily, just how many boys have you gone out with? Before i came? After you knew we were engaged? Tut, tut, Lily. So many? In just- what was it?- two months?"

"You don't know what you're talking about," said Lily furiously, "There's nothing, absolutely nothing, between me and James, or Rems, or Sirius, or any other boy in this freakin' world for that matter."

Hugh ignored her again, "now Lily, this won't do," he continued, speaking like a parent to a child who had just been caught stealing candy, "especially when we're married. And I'm going to take care of that personally!" he finished in a growl.

Lily looked at him in apprehension. There was a mad glint in his eyes that she had never seen before, a dangerous glint.

Oh man, She though to herself, this guy means business. My wand... where's my wand? She groped around frantically in her pockets and on the table. No wand. This is bad.

"looking for something Lily?" asked Hugh, "perhaps- this?" he held up her wand, twirled it around, and threw it into the far corner.

And it just got worse, thought Lily.

"I'm not stupid, you know Lily," he said, advancing on her, "i knew you had something i didn't. And i took it from you. and now, to fix you."

"excuse me?" said Lily hotly, "fix me?"

"you recall my... ah... visit to your bed approximately a week or two ago?"

Lily blanched. "you wouldn't"

"wouldn't i?" questioned Hugh, "however, Lily, I think this time just a lick shall suffice."

a lick? What the hell?

With that, he leapt towards her, pinning her against the wall. Lily, sandwiched between the wall and Hugh, gasped for air, as she felt Hugh's hot breath on her face.

He pushed his lips roughly on her, becoming more aggressive steadily. She tried in vain to pull away.

"please.. no," she murmured, best as she could, "stop... please stop"

His hands encircled her wrists, and his nails dug into her skin, leaving bloody gouges. He stopped.

"that, was a lick, Lily. One more time, and it will be much, much, worse." he strode out of the room. Lily felt her knees give way, and crumpled upon the floor, crying violently.

" I can't believe mum an dad think he's honorable" she whispered to herself, "he assaulted me. For something I never did. They're making me marry a bastard! he-"

The portrait door flew open again, to reveal James, muddy and wet from quidditch practice.

"Lil?" he asked, "what's wrong?" he dropped his broomstick, and walked over to he, kneeling down, and circling his arms around her, "come on Lils, what's wrong?" he coaxed.

"get away!" she said fiercely, "if Hugh decides to come in here, he'll murder me!"

"i changed the password just now," said James. Then his expression darkened, "what did he do?"

Lily wiped away streaks of tears from her face.

"he-" she began, but James caught her arm. He swore under his breath when he saw the gouges, dripping blood.

"he didn't" he said darkly, angrily. The full impact hit him, "HE CAN'T DO THAT, THAT BASTARD! HE'S BEEN MAKING MOVES ON YOU EVER SINCE HE CAME HER. AND NOW HE'S HURT YOU! IM GONNA-"

"-beat him up so bad he'll wish he never laid a finger in me?" finished Lily.

James looked like he had just been slapped. "you're actually sticking up for him?" he asked slightly hoarsely.

Lily shook her head. "no," she said, "if you beat him up, my dad will have me thrown out of Hogwarts and force me to marry hugh immediately.I don't want that to happen."

James' eyes softened. "come here Lils" he wrapped his arms around her. "I'm not going to let anything happen to you, okay? You're not going anywhere, and nobody's going to do anything to you. Not while I'm around. I promise, Lils, i promise."

AN:i hope u liked it!! I'm really sorry again about not updating soon. We have finals coming up soon over here.