Chapter 12: Christmas Blood

"Home sweet home," Natalie's mom sighed as they walked into the warm house, shutting the cold outside.

"Follow me, Lily, I'll show you to your room," Mr. Sanders, Natalie's dad, picked up Lily's luggage and headed toward the stairs.

The Sander's house was pretty amazing. It was big and had a lot of rooms and levels, so many in fact that they forgot what was in them sometimes. But, on the outside it looked incredibly small. Wizard houses, Lily thought, excited. Yet, it was cozy and cute, it's was a perfect warm cabin in this frigid weather.

"Here we are," he opened the door to a cute room in a lovely shade of lavender.

"And mine's right across the hall!" Natalie exclaimed from her room.

"I'll let you two get settled in," he left, heading down stairs.

Unzipping her luggage, two people laughing and hugging in a frame stared up at her. Until this moment, Lily hadn't thought much about her parents. Seeing them so happy, it tore at her insides to be away from them during the holidays and not even knowing if they're alright. She missed them terribly, but hopefully with their smiling faces next to her bed, it would be better. Plus, all of her friends would be here to spend the holiday with her.

Underneath that was a folded piece of parchment. Lily opened it:

Lily,

I know this will probably make you scold me but I needed to write to you before I see you next.

First of all, you are amazing. Don't let what's going on to get into to your head and make you think you're not because you are. You're beautiful, smart, funny, a great Quidditch player, and most importantly, a great friend. Without you, I would be living one horrible life. Nothing to light it up, you know?

Anyways, one of the reasons I'm writing is to tell you how much I care about you. You mean so much to me and if something happens to you while we're, I'm, not there, I don't know if I'm going to be able to forgive myself. So, we spoke to Dumbledore and the only people who knew about you going to Natalie's for Christmas were him and us. He also has added a couple wizards around your house as extra security and when we get there, we'll check it out too. You know how I am about being safe, so stop making that face and just please go along with it.

(Lily was making that face.)

Well, I better finish up soon, the train is about to be loaded. Please be safe, but more importantly be yourself because that's what I love about you most.

See you soon,

James

Lily smiled. Even though this Christmas was going to be different, it was going to be amazing as well. Her parents and friends love her, but so does James and that made her feel so good.

I miss him already, and the rest of them, she sighed.

"Lily! Time for supper!" she put the note on her pillow and left her room.

James stared out the window as the snow danced across the pane. I hope she's ok, he thought and sighed. It was only the first night away from Hogwarts and he was already worried about Lily.

"Hey Prongs!" Sirius yelled startling him out of his dream, "are you in there?" he tapped James' head.

"Yeah, I'm here," he answered back with a scowl.

"Ah Christmas vacation," Sirius stretched out on the couch, "all about relaxation, sleep, and all the food! This is my kind of holiday!"

"Yeah," James murmured looking out the window again.

"What is up with you lately? You haven't talked since we got off the train and usually you are my numero uno in crime," Sirius eyed him.

"I'm just worried about Lily," he answered, turning around, "I don't want anything to happen when I'm not there."

"Breathe," Sirius joked, "Firstly, Lily is perfectly capable of disemboweling anyone she meets. I think she'll be alright until we get there."

"But you know Lucius; he gets what he wants with no question. And now he has a job that could cost him his own life. He wants Lily and I'm sure he won't stop at anything till he gets her,"

"Boys!" Mrs. Potter yelled up the stairs, "Time for supper!"

"Food!" Sirius jumped up and ran out of the room. Rolling his eyes, James followed; a lustrous smell taunting him out.

The days passed by pretty fast. Lily and Natalie had plenty to do around the house; exploring the many rooms, playing Quidditch outside, and just having girl chats or doing girl things.

"Lily! Get up!" loud and obnoxious knocking startled the red head awake. She looked at the clock, 9:03 a.m.

"Go away Nat, it's a Saturday and only 9!" she covered her head with a pillow.

"Yeah, but its Christmas Eve and everyone's already on their way!"

Oh no.

Lily fell out of bed and ran to her closet. She grabbed her dress clothes that Natalie had picked out for today and threw them on.

"Hurry up and get into the bathroom!" Natalie scolded. She sat Lily down in a chair, "Now stay still, we're running late, so I have to hurry."

"Come on in everyone!" Mrs. Sanders hustled, James, Sirius, Remus, Peter, and Alice in to the warm house.

"Natalie!" Alice exclaimed running and hugging first Natalie, "Lily!" then Lily.

James jumped at the sound of her name. She's alright.

Lily smiled hugging her friend. She had missed everyone so much and it was great to have them here with her.

"Look at you!" Alice looked at her, "You look amazing!" Natalie had curled Lily's wavy hair and added a touch of makeup, which had turned out really well.

She caught James' eye and he was smiling at her, like usual, causing the butterflies in Lily's stomach to go crazy.

"So great to see you Lily," Remus gave her a hug.

"You too, Remus," she smiled.

"Hey there kiddo," Sirius smirked, hugging her as well, "Nice to see you."

"Come on, my mom's got cookies and hot chocolate in the den," they all followed Natalie, except Lily and James.

They just stared at each other for a while; total silence.

Suddenly, James enveloped her into his arms.

"I was so worried about you," he breathed in her ear. He took in all the things about her; the smell of her, how she looked, her smile, everything.

"I missed you too," she laughed, hearing his heart beat, and feeling the warmth of his embrace.

He pulled away, holding her face in his hands, "Are you sure everything's ok?"

"Yes, it's fine. Nothing happened. Well, I almost crashed my broom into a tree, but nothing fatal…," they laughed, knowing that Lily would have never crashed, her broom was too smart.

"I'm so glad you're here," she whispered.

"Me too," he kissed her forehead and they went to join their friends.

The table was covered with steaming dishes. Turkey, potatoes, salad, and pumpkin juice took over the surface.

"This looks lovely, Mrs. Sanders," Alice commented.

"Well eat as much as you can, there's plenty for everyone," she smiled, taking her place.

The room grew silent as everyone ate the wonderful meal. Yet, even though the food was delicious and she was starving, her eyes could not leave James' face. She hadn't realized until now how close they were and how much he truly meant to her. She didn't have parents right now, or anyone else to talk to besides her friends and James was the closest of them all.

Looking up while sipping his pumpkin juice, James caught Lily's emeralds looking straight at him. She smiled slightly and turned red, but her eyes never left his.

A while ago, Lily couldn't even stand to be in his presence and now she couldn't stop looking at him. And a while ago, James would have loved the attention, but times have changed and he cared for her so much that he would do anything for her now, including die…

"That was delicious!" Sirius exclaimed, clutching his full stomach, "Can I move in?"

"No, but there's leftovers," Mrs. Sanders taunted him, sending him flying into the kitchen.

"Natalie, tonight there's a Christmas ball at the ministry and your father and I have been invited. We figured you kids could have some time alone here to exchange gifts and have your own Christmas."

James and Remus caught eyes. They aren't going to be here? What if something happened? What if Voldemort did know they were here and saw them leave and decided to strike?

"So, we're going to leave the rest of dinner out for you if you get hungry and get going," she smiled and grabbed her husband's hand, "Have fun!" and apparated then and there.

"Come on," Natalie got up, "I know the perfect room!"

Everyone followed Natalie, James and Remus following slowly.

"What's the plan?" Remus asked.

"We need to make sure the house is safe. And it would probably be best if the room we were in was either well secluded or a good place to lookout from,"

Remus nodded and went to check doors, windows, and any other entrance or exit in the house. James caught up with the group, behind Lily and grabbed her hand.

Opening the door to the room, everything went completely black.

"Well that's weird," Natalie said, walking over to the fire.

"James!" a scream echoed up the stairs.

"Sirius, Peter, come on," he turned to the girls, "Stay here, be quiet, and don't leave."

"James..," Lily begged, scared.

"No," he protested, kissing her cheek and leaving with the other boys.

"Lily," Natalie held out her hands to lead her over to a secluded wall.

"Don't move," an icy voice stopped the red head in her tracks.

It had been a while since Lily had faced Tom Riddle. The last time, he was a chilling handsome man, dark hair, pale face, and fierce eyes. Time had ravaged him into a whole new person. His skin was clammy and yellowish tinted, yet so thin you could see the veins. His eyes were almost a shade of pale red, holding plenty of evil in each stare. And his voice was raspy and dark, chilling to the bone.

Yet, despite his appearance, Lily stood tall and tried to stay calm in his presence.

"Nice to see you again," he smirked, "Alive."

"Yup, nothing new here," she smirked.

"Filthy mud blood," he scoffed, "You are not worthy enough to speak."

"Yet, I do," Lily was watching every move he was making. He had his wand steady on her heart and was moving closer and closer to her, yet he didn't seem ready to curse her; just threatening.

Lily needed a plan. She not only had to save her life, but her two friends lives as well. Her wand was in her back pocket, and a sudden movement would cause him to strike. Something else…

She searched the room, "Nothing can save you now, so don't try." He raised his wand. Lily stopped, waiting.

"Avada Kedavra!" the green light shot straight at Lily's heart.

At the right moment, Lily jumped out of the way, slamming straight into Natalie and Alice, knocking them over. The spell crashed into the abandoned wall, exploding it out into the frigid air, carrying the three terrified girls with it.

Remus had found three death eaters attempting to sneak into the house in the gloomy basement. Hiding behind a box he sent a voice summoning charm to James and waiting silently.

"How long do you think?" one asked.

"Shouldn't be too long, he was already in the room she was to be in,"

"Yeah and then we get to finish the rest of them off,"

"Don't get too excited," the one in charge scolded, "we want everything to go smoothly first."

"Stupefy!" three voices echoed the spell towards the death eaters. They hit one squarely in the chest and he knocked another down with the force of the spell.

Remus waited for the right chance; so far they didn't know he was here.

"Remus!" Peter yelled ducking another spell.

At the sound of his name, he jumped out and stunned one with his back to him.

Panting, he stood, wand pointing at the last death eater as his friends came out of their hiding spots pointing at him as well.

Suddenly, a huge explosion rocked the house. Everyone was swept off their feet and the last death eater, laughed then apparated away.

"Lily," James breathed, getting up and running out of the cellar.

The Sanders' house was higher than Lily thought. She hit the ground with oomph and groaned feeling pain in her shoulder and hip.

"Come on," she whispered, "We need to get away, quickly."

The girls got up, yet Natalie couldn't walk on an ankle and Alice couldn't breathe. The forest was just over the hill a ways away, and if they got there, there were plenty of places to hide.

They ran as fast as they could. Screams of rage were heard behind, causing Lily to jump and run faster.

Please let us survive, she thought, pleading.

They were almost to the forest, the edge of shadow a few feet in front of them. Lily suddenly fell with sudden force, hitting her head on the hard ground and rocks. A trickle of warm blood ran down her face as she turned over, trying to get up.

Voldemort was over her laughing, "Lily Evans, trying to run away from me? Just like the others, sad and pathetic!" his voice boomed over her head as the sky spun and her breath still hadn't returned.

"And now they will hear you scream! CRUCIO!"

A searing pain erupted everywhere in Lily's body; so intense she had never felt anything like it before. She screamed, she screamed so loud. She begged him to stop and he laughed and tortured her more.

James raced upstairs to the room. Turning the corner, a huge gust of wind almost blew him over. Where there once was a wall, was a gaping hole in the side of the house.

"Lily!" he yelled, no answer.

Running to the hole, the boys behind him, he saw the girls, a ways away running, or trying their best to. And behind them a billowing black cloak, keeping fast pace.

James didn't need to think, instinct had taken over now.

"Accio Malcentus Fire!" Lily's broom soared into the room and stood mid air right next to him.

"Go," Sirius urged, "we'll get there as fast as we can."

Without another word, he was on the broom. Pushing off, he looked forward, seeing Lily fall and the others keep running.

No, he thought, tears coming to his eyes, faster!

The black figure was upon her now and a scream erupted. James thought he was going fast, but after hearing Lily scream, her broom went into save-life mode. James hung on for dear life.

He could hear her screams still as he approached them at breakneck speed. The broom slammed into Voldemort, breaking his curse and knocking him into the air. His unconscious body connected with the ground a few feet away.

Suddenly, the pain stopped and Voldemort disappeared from Lily's view of the sky. The pain ceased, yet she was too delirious to speak. The last thing she saw was a fuzzy face over hers…then everything went black.

A/N: Nice and long for you! I had to have some intense action going on here! And plus a huge cliff hanger! lol Hope everyone likes it!