January 1979 - Ottery St. Catchpole, The Burrow

Chapter 2: The Second I Defy

She opened her eyes to a searing pain in her right foot as she regained her breath. Lily hated apparition, it felt as if she was having the air sucked out of her lungs like a vacuum. But that had been necessary. She desperately glanced around her and saw that James had landed in the field ten feet from her. It had been a narrow escape, Bellatrix nearly had them that time.

The pain in her foot, she saw as she looked down, was a splinched toenail. The only part of Lily Evans those bastards would ever get, she thought triumphantly. But her elation was tempered by the look of pain in the eyes of James as he stumbled to reach her. He couldn't quite make it and dropped to his knees clutching his side, blood seemingly pouring out.

She cried out in shock, running to him and surveying the damage. She had heard Bellatrix shout the spell…Sectumsempra. But it looked like she had aimed poorly. The wound didn't look terribly deep, but there was no way to know right away if there had been internal damage.

Her yelling, or more likely the crack of their appearance, must have awoken the occupants of the house they had appeared in front of, because moments later a tall red-haired man was running to them.

"Lily, you were supposed to check in an hour ago, Dumbledore told us-"

"They knew we would be there, Arthur," she said bitterly, "somehow they knew we would be there and they were waiting for us. They got to the package before us."

"Blimey-" Arthur Weasley searched for the words, but had none. He knew what she was implying. So he turned to the injured James, "Are y'alright mate?"

The dark haired, usually smiling teenager grimaced and gritted his teeth, "Bellatrix decided to try that new spell of Snape's, the hag, right as I was disapparating. Lucky she's got awful aim I suppose."

Arthur Weasley's stomach turned as he saw the blood, "Let's get you inside, Molly can fix you right as rain!

Each supporting an arm, Lily and Arthur half dragged the pale James into the Burrow. On any normal day, Lily loved the place. It exemplified everything she was fighting to have in her own life. While disorganized, it showed signs of a such wonderfully ordinary life. Toy broomsticks lay next to a clock that had seven hands, showing "Sleeping" for five small red haired faces, and "Home" for two more adult heads. Burping cloths and bottles were everywhere and a copy of Babbity Rabbity sat half open on the beat up coffee table.

The Weasleys had been extremely active members of the Order, with Arthur working in the Enforcement Team of the Misuse of Magic office and Molly as a Healer at St. Mungos (and unofficial Healer of injured Order members). That had been until their brood began to expand. Now with five boys, Molly became a full time mum and Arthur had relegated himself to the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts department. He didn't want a more high profile job that may entice a Death Eater looking for someone to imperius.

Molly Weasley was an attractive red haired woman, who seemed to be becoming a bit more round with each baby. The most recent had been twins, now a year old. As she came down the stairs, despite the hour, she had all the energy of one with all the time in the world to sleep.

"You made it!" she screeched forgetting herself, "We've been so worried, I had to be up all night anyways thanks to Fred and George. Goodness gracious those two are trouble already, I can't imagine what hell they will bring once they start walking. Oh-" she caught a look at the pained expression on James' face and instantly skittered to his side, "what happened here?"

"Bellatrix Lestrange," Arthur spoke first as he and Lily carefully laid James on the couch. The couple's eyes met, and Molly needed no further explanation. She herself had had her exchanges with whom everyone considered Voldemort's most loyal and dangerous servant.

"Got a piece of her at least, did you?" She asked James sweetly, trying to distract him from the pain as she poured a small potion on his wound. "Essence of Dittany," she explained to Lily, who was amazed to see a pink stretch of skin where his blood had been oozing. And then she could breathe.

She could see James begin to relax as well, and without even thinking, despite being in the company of others, Lily put her arms around him and held on.

A soft touch on her back was all Molly could do to support the young woman, who was doing all she could to stop herself from crying.

"It's okay," James whispered through the auburn waves, "I'm alright."

This time, she thought to herself. They had gone to retrieve a valuable object, sent by Dumbledore himself. Of course, being Dumbledore, he had decided not to share the contents. It was going to be an easy drop, they would meet the contact in Godric's Hollow and come directly to the Burrow. But just as the object was being handed over to Lily, James saw black streaks in the sky and rose the alarm. Before they knew it they were surrounded. Bellatrix and Adolphus Lestrange with more lackeys they had yet to be acquainted with. A battle ensued, their contact was hit with the deadly green Avada Kedavra. That's when James told Lily to go, and he would be right behind her at the rendezvous point. Before she had a chance to argue, he had placed a shield between her and the Death Eaters and she disapparated. The entire time she was fuming, why did he put himself at risk when she could take care of herself. That anger had disappeared though the moment she saw his injuries.

"Why did you do it?" she asked quietly.

Momentarily, James pulled himself from the hug, blue met green, "They were dead serious, Lil, and I had to get you out of the way of those curses." His fingers tangled in her hair, "I love you Lily, and I want to fight for your future. Because I want a future with you, if you'd have me."

A gasp from Molly made Lily realize exactly what he was trying to say, "Are you-?" she asked quietly.

He moved from the couch to his knees, albeit slowly with his still stinging injury, and pulled out a beautiful ring. It was a simple golden band with a luscious red ruby perched in the center.

There were tears in James eyes and words as he spoke, "We almost didn't make it today. And next time may be the time they get us. But I don't want to spend another moment without you. So be my wife, and as long as we breathe, we will fight for every beautiful second together."

With not a dry eye in the disheveled sitting room of the Burrow, Lily surprised herself by perking a small smile. Her distinctive eyes said it all as she took the beautiful gem from his hand and slipped it on her finger, and said she would.