What has happened so far: James and Lily's 7th year. They have just been abducted by aliens - sorry - Death Eaters - and are being chased. They get hit by a great branch with an expelling charm, which turns out to be a portkey. The branch, not the charm.

The last thing that Lily remembered was a great big dirty branch hurtling straight at James, Jack and Lily, and a jolt, just behind Lily's navel, as her feet left the ground.

James, Jack and Lily landed on a hard, but grassy surface with a thud. James' ankle jolted, and he was sure that he could feel part of a bone rattling inside his leg. The branch that had transported the Hogwarts students laid a few metres away, and parts of the grass was glistening with blood. James turned his head the other way, to see where the light that was making the blood glisten, was.

As soon as he registered a silhouette, white cords came racing his way and blinded James to Jack and Lily. James felt something heavy drop on his left shoulder, and saw a mess of red hair.

'Lily! Lily!'

She did not answer.

'Jack! Are you there? Are you okay?'

'Apart from my wrist, I'm fine. What's wrong with Lily?' came a voice to his right.

'I don't know. She won't answer me. Her head is on my shoulder but I can't see her face.'

'Is she unconscious?'

'I think so.'

'Where are we?'

'Haven't a clue – wait – can you see that? It's on your … left-ish.'

'What?'

'You remember someone tied us up? Yeah well, if you look in that direction, I think the person is still there…'

'Yeah James, along with a dozen or so more people…'

The group of adults drew closer, until they arrived at the man with who was holding the dim lantern. In the light, the two boys could not see a face, but only faint reflected light where the face should have been.

'Can you hear that?' whispered James.

'Hear what?'

'That chanting.'

The whole group of adults drew even closer; each step was deliberate, as if they were planned. The soft hum of voices also travelled with the Death Eaters, until James, Jack and Lily were surrounded by the followers of Voldemort, only a hundred feet away.

'Three levels of wizards,
Three levels of witches,
Mudblood, Halfblood and Pure.
There's no good and evil.
Only those too weak,
And those with power.

The Dark Lord's magic strength
Measures far beyond others.

His mind is only of one,
His strength has no match
But his soul, divided.
To link them all together,
Without death 'round the corner
Here's magic, we've provided.'

Magic they provided? Voldemort's soul divided? What was going on? And why did they need three Hogwarts students?

'Jack, Jack. Are you – are you a Halfblood?'

'Yes. Magical father and a Muggle mother. Why?'

James' heart sank. Here they where. A Muggleborn, Halfblood, and a Pureblood. James, Jack and Lily were going to be part of a magic spell. Something about linking Voldemort's souls together without him dieing.

There was a crack and another figure, dressed in black robes, materialized.

'Evening, Death Eaters.'

The voice was of a high pitch, but it was icy cold, colder than ice on a winter's night. There was no sound from the ring of followers after the greeting, instead, Each of them came forward and kissed the hem of the robes of Voldemort.

'I see that you have brought here the requirements for this spell. You shall all be rewarded for your task of bringing here the three levels of magical blood – that is if there is not a hiccough in this.' Voldemort paused and looked at each Death Eater, as if expecting one to admit that something went wrong. 'Very well.'

Voldemort turned and saw the three Hogwarts students bound together. He slouched over and kneeled down so that he was at eye level. He raised a long cold finger and ran it down Lily's cheek. 'This is a pretty Mudblood,' he said sarcastically.

'Don't touch her!'

Voldemort turned his slit eyes to James and opened his mouth slightly as if surprised.

'Oh, and why not? According to the information from my sources, she doesn't like you. Apparently she hexes you just for smiling at her. And anyway, it won't be as if you will be spending anymore time with her!'

Voldemort cut the rope and grasped Lily's neck, pulling her away from the group. Before James or Jack could do anything, the ends of the rope formed back into one piece and it was pulled tighter that the material covering the arms of the two boys were cut.

'Start with the Mudblood,' said Voldemort. He threw Lily into the centre of the ring of Death Eaters, where she still lay motionless. No one else moved either, except for the two boys struggling against the ropes.

'M-My L-lord, we n-need to have all of th-them, f-for the sp-spell to work.'

Voldemort's head snapped in the direction of the Death Eater's correction. He snapped his fingers and the ropes that bound James and Jack unravelled themselves, burnt up and vanished.

'Take them,' he said icily.

Kicked by some invisible force, James and Jack were thrown into the middle.

James groaned. He had landed on his face and his nose started to bleed again. He felt stinging pains on his skin. He looked down and saw that, on his hands, and any visible flesh, he was cut. Presumably by the sharp jagged rocks that littered the ground. Using his sleeve, he tried to clean up the bloody mess as much as possible, but the blood from his nose continued to rush down his jaw, or seeping through the wet cloth, tickling his arms. He ripped the bottom of his robes and scrunched into a ball to attempt to stop the bleeding again.

'Jack, you don't bind ip I borrow you wand do you? I need to clean up dis mess,'

Jack shook his head. 'Sure James, but I broke my other wrist now as well,' he whispered back, 'and I can't reach it.' Jack was cradling both hands, and when he spoke his brow was furrowed and he had his teeth clenched. 'And you broke your ankle. Why the Hell did this stuff hafta hap—' Jack stopped abruptly.

Coming in the direction of the Hogwarts students was a short Death Eater with his dark robes billowing in the wind. He stopped short of James and Jack. James and Jack were about four feet apart, and Lily was ten from where James was, six from Jack. The Death Eater pulled out seven goblets from inside his robes and set them on the ground, in a large circle surrounding the three Hogwarts students.

The Death Eater stepped back outside the ring. He pointed his wand at Lily, and she began to rise up into the air. One foot…three feet…

When the limp body of Lily reached around ten feet above the ground, an ear-piercing shriek broke out and everyone recoiled, and Lily was dropped but a couple of feet. If the situation wasn't so serious, James would have laughed loudly and imitate the scream. He had heard Lily scream so many times, but never this loud. Or fearful.

Lily was lifted higher, despite her protests. The Death Eater had only stopped levitating her higher when she was about the height of a small two-story house.

The Death Eater started to pull his wand towards himself – but it seemed as if some kind of invisible force was pulling against him – and something silvery-white and powder-like substance was being extracted from Lily and spiralled around Lily's body. Lily began to scream even louder and she was twitching in pain, her head hung back and her face looked distorted. James couldn't look, but he couldn't turn away either. He just sat on the ground horrified, even though he didn't know what was now so painful. A moment later, his question was answered.

'A bone taken forcibly from a Mudblood, to strengthen His…' Lily's shriek drowned whatever was to be strengthened. He voice was mangled with pain when the stream of white dust abruptly ended.

The Death Eater's voice started to fade, Lily was slowly being lowered to the ground, with the silvery-white powder still dancing around her body. As Lily's feet touched the ground, her body slumped to the ground and the powder was racing towards the Death Eater's outstretched wand. The Death Eater twirled his wand, and a small goblet was conjured and the powder was directed into it, and filled it right to the brim.

The larger goblet, filled with the powder, so glaringly white, was directed into hover over the centre of the ring of goblets. The goblet was thrust upwards, and the white powder was thrown into the air, forming seven arches, that fell into the seven goblets.

James could hear Lily was sobbing heavily, but was trying to control the noise at which each gasp of air came out. One of her hands was clenched tightly and the other was hanging limp on the ground.

The goblet was let to hang in mid air, and the Death Eater's wand was now directed at Jack.

Jack began to tremble. His eyes were closed and he was taking in huge breaths, and gulping them down. James could see his adam's apple moving at a fast pace. Jack watched the wand with terror in his eyes. He held his arms out in front of himself, as if it would protect him from anything harmful that would be shot his way.

James saw a glint above Jack's head. James yelled 'NO JACK, NO!' but it was too late. The giant weapon dropped, and sliced Jack's forearm off so cleanly that it was a few seconds before Jack realised what had happened.

Jack's mouth kept opening and closing, and he was gulping so many times, just staring down at the blood dripping down his arm.

'Wh-what … b-b-blood …h-hand … o-off …'

'Jack!' called James, 'wrap it up!'

Jack looked vaguely at James, who had to repeat himself just so that he could get the information to try and stop the bleeding. Jack clumsily ripped the bottom of his robes off and wrapped it around his arm, which continued to bleed freely and heavily. James watched Jack struggling to tie the piece of cloth on with his other sprained wrist, when he heard the Death Eater speak.

'Flesh, from a Halfblood – flesh from both parties: Muggle and Pure. Flesh that neither Muggle nor wizard can penetrate with anything …'

With the same knife that cut Jack's arm off, it was directed to chop the flesh of Jack Stimmers into seven chunks, like a piece of steak, which made their own way to the area about a foot above each goblet. With a wave of a wand, the chunks of flesh dropped into the goblets, spraying blood all over them.

The Death Eater turned his head to James' direction.

What was next? What was in store for James? The others had gone through torture, each had gotten worse. What was going to happen to him? Was he going to go through the same pain?

The dagger came closer, leaving a trail of red spots on the ground.

James forgot about magic, even though he had lived with it for all of his life started to scramble backwards quickly, hoping that the dagger cold not catch up. No…what do they want from me? Another hand?

James hit an invisible wall. He pressed hard against it, trying to break it in any way, but the barrier was persistent. The dagger slowly sliced the air, in James' direction. The blade reflected the dim light with great brilliance, and the blood was a bright red.

The dagger stopped short from James' neck. James tried to control his breathing, in case the rise and fall of his throat would touch the tip of the dagger and be sliced open. The dagger turned, the side, pressing softly against his skin. It slid down his shoulder, down his arm, that the sharp blade separated the blood from his skin. The blood accumulated on the dagger's blade, and left behind a thick, clean and dry streak of skin.

Before he could register anything, the dagger shot back to the top of James' shoulder, and repeated its process of removing the blood off James' right arm, without spilling a drop of that red liquid on the blade. The cuts present on James' arm continued to flow, but each time, the blood was wiped away by the knife.

After many rounds, the knife left James, and the wall behind disappeared. James' fell back onto the hard ground, only a few inches away from a goblet. He stared at it. In the reflection, James saw the dagger tip sightly, so that blood was dripping down from the tip into the goblet.

'And the blood…the blood from a line, so pure, so old…he shall be the most powerful…

I need to do something. I need to stop this.

Tears formed in James' eyes. The salt mixed with the blood, now flowing much more slowly, from his nose. James' lick his lips, dry from fear, exhaustion and dried blood. The taste of dried blood, and salty tears brought up food from a meal he had from what seemed like so long ago. James' swallowed. He could see that all eyes were turned at the knife.

James couldn't think of anything to do. When it came to logic, he had none. He could not help. Oh no, Voldemort just had to go out of his way to scare everyone and make them all lose any ounce of logic…common sense. James narrowed his eyes. Voldemort, he was nothing than a bully. He was dirt. If ever James could get close enough to the bastard, and it was a situation he would definitely die, he would spit in Voldemort's face. Oh yes, a great big ball of slimy wet saliva would land on his face.

-----

Lily watched. The pain in her arm continued to stab her, but she could not tear her eyes away. The knife, balancing the blood of James, was pouring a little into each goblet, which already contained the flesh of—

Lily shuddered. It was a horrible thought.

The knife had just finished its second goblet and was on its way to the third.

Please, let whatever it is, fail. Please, let it die.

Lily looked over to James. He had his back turned and blocked the view of the fourth goblet. His back was hunched, and his legs were twisted odd angles.

'Move.' said a harsh voice.

James' head twisted painfully to the cold voice of Voldemort.

'Move!'

Lily watched sympathetically as James heaved himself up and crawled on all four to the centre, dragging his heavy foot behind him, with the blades of grass, bowing and springing back up after each limb was dropped onto the ground.

'James…James…'

James lifted his head, but he did not look at the face of Lily's. He turned his head and watched drops of his blood drip into goblet.

'James…James…'

'Shh Lily,' James said, turning back. He smiled weakly. 'Shh, it's alright…We just need to help Jack as much as we can.'

Lily nodded. The skin near the severed end of jack's arm had already started to change. The colour had faded from his skin and it was withered and wrinkly. The black piece of cloth, that Jack had been pressing his sore against, was now not black, for it was drenched thickly in red, red blood.

James ripped more of his robes off. He glanced at Lily, and she nodded, allowing him to rip the bottom of her robes. Reaching into her pockets, Lily extracted several hair-ties, and handed them over to James so he could tie the material over the stub of Jacks arm.

'Where…'

'I always keep a couple with me. I hate it when my hair gets in my face.'

'Thanks,' said Jack and James

Without warning, the three were once again kicked without making contact with anyone, but this time they were thrown out of the circle. They looked back, and only had time to register Voldemort standing in the centre of the circle with his arms raised high above his head, before the goblets burst into blue flames, at least five feet high. The flames ran along the invisible circle, joining the other fires in the ring. When a line of fire had enclosed Voldemort, they blew up a further ten feet or so.

The Death Eaters closed in, chanting something loud, something clear, but Lily could not hear, she was too dizzy and weary

--

James had watched for a few moments, at what had happened, before he remembered that he was only half-way through wrapping the bloody mess of the Halfblood's.

'C'mon…c'mon…it's gotta work…' James muttered, as he tied the cloth around Jack's arm, with Lily's hair-ties. James kept glancing back to the ring of fire, and back down to his work.

Jack was laid, sprawled on the ground. He looked terribly weak, and his breathing was deep but ever so slow. His breath whistled between his teeth and his eyes, just visible under his heavy eyelids, were watching his bloody stump being wrapped.

'Done!' said James, as the flame behind him changed from blue to black, and the chanting grew louder. A faint hissing could also be heard, then a thump.

'Can you hear-'

BOOM!

James and Lily flung around, throwing themselves over the limb body of Jack. A goblet had just had its flame burst up, and soar higher than the circular wall of black fire. James and Lily watched in horror, as if the fire would engulf them, in the fiery pit of death. From the base, a dark red colour started creeping up in streaks, eating the black fire.

'M-m-my Lord…'

'Wh-what's happening?' whispered Lily.

The streaks started to thicken, and ends started to meet. After a few moments, there was a cry of fury and the red fire had become only slightly transparent, but clear enough so that James would have been able to see the horrifying red eyes of Voldemort.

'We have to go…gotta go…'

A figure from behind the burning wall, moved and produced a long thick stick. Voldemort was pulling out his wand.

'Lily…help…Jack…oh wake up!' James started slapping Jack's face, but he did not stir, his pale face just lolled over his other shoulder. James clutched Jack's hand. 'Jack, if you can hear me, squeeze my fingers.' Nothing.

James glanced back at the flames. There was still enough solid colour to try and run away without being noticed. James staggered to his feet and dragged Jack's limp body up, hoisting it over his shoulder. He ignored the sharp pangs at every move he made.

'Lily!' he hissed to her turned back. 'We are moving, and we are moving now!'

Lily turned, her face streaked. 'Wh-where are we m-meant t-to go?'

'Anywhere, said James, transferring Jack to his other shoulder. 'Anywhere, then we can get back to school…apparate or something…' James glanced back over his shoulder, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw Lily turn her head too.

Lily nodded. 'We have to go now before anyone sees,' she said.

Slowly, ever so slowly, the backed away. James' heart was beating loudly. His head was pounding, his muscles burning.

Slowly…slowly…

---

Lily could not breathe. Her chest was tight and her body was tense. Each step she took, she prayed that she was not going to snap a twig, or slip and cry out.

Ten feet from where they last were…twenty…thirty…fifty…

Lily relaxed slightly. They were pretty far from where those flames blazed. She flashed a weary smile at James.

'Do you think it's safe to turn around and walk forwards now?'

James gave her something between a nod and a shrug. He took a step back to turn.

Out of nowhere, something hissed.

James and Lily froze.

Ssss…

It grew louder.

Lily was breathing rapidly again. Go away! go away!

It didn't. It got louder and Lily flung around. In front of her nose, was a great dirty snake, in the pose of a panther, ready to strike.

'LILY! RUN!'

She didn't need to be told twice, she jumped back and ran, in the direction she was just coming from. Streaks of light flashed past her, making her skin prickle and her hair slightly burn. Beside her James was clumsily running, shifting the weight of Jack's body every now and then.

Lily closed in. 'James! I'll help carry him, spread the weight!'

'ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND? WE'D JUST BE AN EASIER TARGET!'

'But you're tired and—' Lily screamed. James stumbled and tripped. From everywhere, light flashed at Lily, but James yanked her arm and she crashed into the ground.

'GO GO GO!' James yelled, pushing Lily in no particular direction. Where were they supposed to go?

'ABRUMBTIA!'

Screams filled the cold night air, and a flash of blood red light streamed at Jack, James and Lily.

'DUCK!' she screamed, but the curse grazed James' shoulder, blood pouring out by the bucket-loads. Lily scrambled back to where she was a few moments ago. She wiped the blood away from James' shoulder, but the wound did not 'magically' heal itself

'Accio!' Lily sobbed hysterically. 'Accio…something! Accio. ACCIO!'

Out of nowhere, something whizzed towards Lily, and hit her on the head. Lily felt a jolt, then passed out.

I know what you're all thinking.

ABOUT TIME!

Yeah, I know...it's been...ummm hang on, let me go check. It's been 6 months and 12 days. Well, would you look at that! Just goes to prove how loyal I am to my own story, my own "original" property! (sort of). Okay, this chapter is kinda long...I think I'll be done (as in done done done, as in finito) in another 2 chapter. (Gosh, it's taken more than a year to write something so cliche-ish! Wow...). Yes, I know, my 'poetry-spell-incantation thingy' isn't very good, but I needed to come up with something (it just so happens that it's so lame. What a coincidence) so there you go.

My year so far? Well, year nine is alright I suppose, some pressure in all these assessments, some teachers aren't teaching... (coughsciencecoughmathssubcough) and there is less than one year and a half UNTIL MY SCHOOL CERTIFICATE! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SOMEONE KILL ME NOW! Joking, I want to know what happens in book 7 before I die thankyouverymuch. School certificate is a bit like OWLs. breathe.

I'm doing commerce and textiles as my electives (parallel the new subjects Hogwarts kids start in 3rd year including our all time favourite: Divination) and the general academic stuff. English, maths, science, history, geo and P.E (noooooo Jackson for 3 years!!!)

Okay, I'll leave now so you can all review in peace.