Chapter 9: Beauxbatons

The next few days Hogwarts was on high alert. The story had spread everywhere and that night, the whole school knew that Lily Evans had almost died. This helped the gang grow closer. They were around each other all the time now, working on homework, playing games, or just talking with one other.

Lily had finally come to realize that they weren't bad people either. The Marauders had saved her life and she intended on thanking them every day. Even though they hadn't gotten along in the past, she finally realized what was before her eyes for so long. First of all, she liked James Potter, wait, she might love James Potter. He had been nice to her for so long and she was starting to be ok with it. She liked being in his company and his looks and personality was growing on her.

Along with James, the other Marauders were becoming her friends as well. She had always been friends with Remus but Sirius and Peter had been just like James. Now that James was closer to her, they grew close as well.

Following Lily, her friends were seeing the same things. Natalie had grown really close to Sirius and Lily noticed that a relationship would probably be popping up soon. Her friend seemed to have tamed the wild dog, which was perfectly ok with Lily. But along with that, both girls were friendly to all boys and loved having them around.

"Lily," Natalie asked, a gleam in her eye, "When are you and James going to get together?"

"Nat," Lily scolded, "After everything that's been going on I don't know if it would work out."

"Ok first of all," Alice looked over her book, "You like him, he likes you, and we know it so don't deny it. Second, he will not leave your side after what happened which you don't argue with. Just give in Lily and tell him how you feel."

"I don't want this to get in the way of Quidditch," Lily answered firmly, "What if every time I get hurt he gives up the game to help me? I want to win, not be babied," the girls laughed, Lily blushed.

"Just talk to him," Natalie finished.

"So this week we play Beauxbatons and I thoroughly intend on beating them," James lectured his team before their practice, "We have the talent to win and I want that to happen."

He watched Lily. Every movement, every look, anything was under his watch. After what happened in the dungeons he did not want to lose her or let alone anyone touch her. He gave her, her space, but made sure that he could see her at all times.

"We play them in two days, so let's have a successful practice," they all jumped up and flew away.

This was Lily's first practice back. She was nervous but it felt good to be finally flying again.

Her head was still a little sore and caused her some dizziness, but to the objections of Natalie and Alice, she wanted, needed to fly. And her team needed her too.

"Yeah Lily!" May approved when they got back into the swing of things, "We're glad you're back." She smiled, reassuringly.

"Me two," Lily added.

The day started off with rain patting on Lily's window. Great, she mumbled, it's raining. It was the day of their Beauxbatons game and it was pouring.

The team was all sitting together in the Great Hall eating a warm breakfast.

"Of all weather," Austin complained, "Rain?"

"Hey, let's use it to our advantage;" Steven put it, "those Beauxbaton's girls are too prissy to want to be in the rain." Laughter erupted from their table.

The rain came down in sheets. It covered everything and everyone. Even the drying charms people had put on themselves wore off quickly.

As they had predicted, the Beauxbatons girls were really close to canceling the game because of the weather.

The game started off a little shaky, one of their girls falling off her broom and had to be taken to the hospital wing. Things were looking good for Gryffindor.

Lily flew fast even though the rain felt like bullets to her skin. The chasers had to be extra careful, because their brooms were slippery as was the quaffle, which they needed to catch. But, they worked hard anyways.

The Beauxbatons flyers were half bad. They were on the three Gryffindor chasers all the time, making it hard for them to pass it. Even with that, Gryffindor gained a good lead.

Flying past James, Lily smiled and threw the quaffle to May who sped off. He smiled back, but was hit by a bludger in the shoulder.

"James!" Lily screamed over the wind and rain. She turned to see Lucius Malfoy dressed in maroon grinning evilly.

"Lily welcome, I'm glad you could make it," he snickered.

"Lily, go, I can handle him," James stayed mid air, his shoulder in his hand.

"Lay off Malfoy!" Lily shouted, moving in front of James, "you're not even supposed to be out here!"

James was shocked. Lily was standing up for him. But, I thought she hated me. He thought, confused. Maybe not, he smiled.

"Figured you'd be vulnerable, Potter, and I was right," he raised his wand and shot a hex at James.

Lily grabbed him off his broom and rolled over. The hex flew over her head and disappeared.

James got onto Lily's broom behind her as they sped away, Malfoy following.

"How can we lose him?" Lily shouted over her shoulder. James turned, Malfoy was a fair flyer and he kept up with Lily's break neck speed.

"I don't know, try anything," he answered back. Lily rolled, swerved, and turned, anything she could think off to get Malfoy away from them. They were flying away from Hogwarts and the Quidditch pitch.

"Where are you going?" James yelled.

"You said do anything!" Lily shouted back. She dove into the Forbidden Forest, deep in around trees and vines. Turning around James couldn't see Malfoy.

"I think we lost him," James said into Lily's ear. It had been a hectic ride and he had hung onto her waist. Resting his head on her shoulder he smiled, smelling her flowery hair.

Suddenly, Malfoy appeared in front of Lily. She screamed and veered out of his way, slamming into branches and brush.

"James?" Lily asked silently, "Where are you?" Lily was bleeding and hurt. She moved the best she could and silently. She could hear voices, wait voices?

Peering through some branches, Lily found James crumpled on the ground. No! She thought, He cant be dead!

"You serve me well, Lucius," Tom Riddle had appeared, "But where did the mud blood disappear to?"

"I could care less," Lucius spat, "Hopefully dead." She heard a popping noise and they were gone.

A/N: Sorry I haven't written in so long! I'm a senior in high school and have homework, volleyball, and marching band going on, I'm really busy! So I'm writing as much as I can in my free time. It's short too, I know, but it was a very important chapter, I hope you like it!