A/N: Here's chapter 11...finally! I know it's short, but the next chapter will hopefully make up for it. And please review!!!

Chapter 11

Fellow Prisoners

James walked down the sidewalks of London, almost as if on autopilot, toward the Leaky Cauldron. It had become something of a ritual for him in the week that Lily had disappeared. Had it really been a week? He meandered between the Muggles and turned a corner right before running right into someone.

"Oh, I'm sorry," he replied without looking at who he had run into.

He was about to continue on his way when the person he had run into said, "James?"

He turned and saw Ashley standing at the corner. Shit.

"Oh...Hi, Ashley."

She took a few steps toward him. "How have you been?"

"Alright. How are things at St. Mungo's?"

"They're okay, a bit lonely now that Lily's gone...you've heard about what happened, right?"

James's expression darkened. "Yeah, I heard." There was what was most likely the most awkward pause of James's life before he said, "Well, I better get going. See you."

"Yeah, take care, James."

They went their separate ways, James turning back in the direction of the Leaky Cauldron. In a few minutes time, he walked through the doors, sat in what had become his usual seat.

"The usual, James?" The old barman asked.

He ran a hand through his black hair and sighed. "Make it a double, Tom."

"And I'll have the same." A voice next to him said. He cocked his head and saw Rachel sit on the barstool next to him.

Tom handed them their drinks, and they sat in silence for a while before James said, "So, which one of them told you I've been coming here?"

Rachel hesitated. "They both did. They're worried about you, James."

He finished his drink, not knowing what to say. Rachel put her hand on his, gave it a gentle squeeze and said, "I miss her too." She downed what was left of her drink. "So you they're still aren't any leads?"

"No. Mad–Eye said they interviewed someone they thought might have had a connection, but he didn't know anything."

Rachel sighed. "It'll take a miracle to find her alive, won't it?"

"Yeah, it will."

000

It was the first time the Death Eaters had tortured her since her arrival. But instead of having Lily dangling from the ceiling, they had chained her to the wall before they lashed her back. Just as the old wounds had begun to heal, they had ripped them open again.

They threw her back into the cell and slammed the door. As her green eyes adjusted to the practically pitch black room, she realized that her left wrist was extremely painful and throbbing – even more so than her raw back. The Healer inside her told her that it was broken.

She leaned on the bottom of her robes and tore four long strips and tied these strips around her wrist, wincing at the pain. She could fixed it in a second if she had her wand...then again, she wouldn't be sitting here if she had her wand, either. Her makeshift wrap would have to do.

"D–Does that help?" a frightened voice asked from across the room.

Lily looked up. One of her fellow prisoners, a blonde woman as far as she could tell in the dark, had spoken. She was clutching her right wrist.

"It doesn't do much for the pain," Lily replied, "but the wrap helps stabilize it."

"Are you a Healer?"

"Yes...well I'm actually a Maternity Healer, but yeah."

"What's your name?" This time, it was the woman with her daughter who asked.

"Lily Evans."

"I thought you looked familiar...you assisted Healer Alcott when I had my son."

"And you...what's your name?"

"Mary...Mary Elliot."

"I remember you...your son's name is Luke, right?"

"Yes, and this," she gestured to the sleeping child in her arms, "is Elizabeth."

They fell into silence. Lily looked back at the blonde who was holding her wrist. Tears were sliding down her face. "Can I take a look at your wrist?"

She nodded and Lily carefully approached her. "What's your name?" Lily asked as she examined her wrist.

"Katie."

"Well, Katie, I think your wrist is broken." Lily tore more strips of cloth from her robes and wrapped them around Katie's injured wrist. "This isn't going to fix it, but at least it's stabilized and should heal properly."

"Thanks,"

"Your welcome."

Once again, they lapsed into silence. What else could they say to one another? How could they even begin to comfort one another when they were each suffering?

Dark haired woman who was sitting with her knees against her chest finally said what every one of them were thinking. "I can't take this any more. We've got to get out of here!"

"And how are we going to do that?" Katie asked. "The bottom line is that the Death Eaters have wands and we don't. How can we fight against that?"

000