Be Here Now
Disclaimer: Don't own HP.
A/N: Yep, I know that the last chapter was fast.
Temy the Bloodedge: First, thank you for being such a consistent reviewer! Second, thank you for all the points you made! I hope you enjoy this chapter!
E. Katherine Valentine: I mention every one of my reviewers. I know, and thank you! Actually, I think the Ministry is useless. McGonagall could BECOME useless. And Dumbledore… eh. Thank you, and I know I have! I just love dooming them. ;) I completely agree! I like a bit of fluff, but if it gets too much… it's just drabbling on and on. Lol thank you so much for both the review and your kind words! I hope you enjoy this one!
dracosnapeslytherin: Yup!
x.o.x.o.x.
Lily's heart pounds. How in Merlin's name did Voldemort get onto Hogwarts grounds?
As if oblivious to her thoughts, Voldemort begins pacing a short length, his red eyes fixed on the young couple before him.
"It has come to my attention that you are a very talented witch, Miss Evans, and you a very talented wizard, Mr. Potter," he says in a soft, sinister voice.
Neither teen gives any acknowledgment.
"I would be honored if you would join my ranks. I can promise you the world. I can give you things that Dumbledore will never be able to give you," murmurs Voldemort.
Lily glares. "There is no way in HELL that I would join YOU!" she screams.
"So courageous. A true Gryffindor. But would that be wise, Miss Evans? You have seen what I could give you. I could give you the satisfaction of ending many lives. I could give you the satisfaction of hurting millions. I can give you the world."
"Satisfaction? Are you mad? Wait, don't answer that. You are mad, completely and utterly mad! How would that satisfy me?" James yells.
"Tut, tut. I gave you the chance, young ones, but now I shall make my move." Voldemort raises his wand between two fingers. "Crucio!"
The spell is aimed at James, and he falls to the ground, screaming in agony.
Lily cries out, staring at James helplessly. "STOP! DO ME INSTEAD!"
Voldemort laughs coldly and releases James from the spell.
Lily gasps in relief.
"You asked for it, little girl." Voldemort allows himself another cold laugh. "Crucio!"
Lily falls to the ground, screaming in pain. Knives are driving into every inch of her skin. James gets out his wand.
"LET HER GO!" he screams.
Voldemort laughs and continues torturing Lily.
"Stupefy!" James yells desperately, but Voldemort deflects the spell, but it forces him to lift the Cruciatus from Lily.
Lily stays on the ground, gasping for breath. She had been under the curse for just a bit longer than James, but not enough for her to go into unconsciousness.
"I'm going to kill you right now, Potter boy," snarls Voldemort. "First you toil my plans of recruiting the Evans girl, and now you toil my plans of torturing her into joining me! Ava-"
"You will do no such thing."
James and Voldemort freeze. James in a good way. Dumbledore has come! We are saved! Voldemort, however, in a bad way.
"Dumbledore," he sneers.
"It was poor reasoning on your part to come to Hogwarts tonight, Tom. I'm afraid you will be killing no Hogwarts student tonight," Dumbledore says calmly.
"What will you do to stop me?" smirks Voldemort.
"You underestimate me, Tom."
And the two wizards begin dueling.
"GET OUT OF HERE, LILY AND JAMES!" yells Dumbledore, sending a tall, powerful wave of water over Voldemort.
James picks Lily up and carries her out of range from the dueling wizards. He carries her into the Head Common Room and drops her on the couch, and then drops down on his knees right next to her.
"Lily, are you okay?"
Lily smiles weakly, taking James's hand. "I'm fine, James. Thank you for today. It was brilliant."
James looks at her in concern. "You're welcome, Lily. Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure. James… thank you. Not just for the date. For what you did back there."
"Don't even mention it, Lily. I would be willing to die a million times if you could just live a happy life," murmurs James.
Lily manages another half-smile. "I wouldn't be living a happy life without you, James." Her eyes fall closed and she drifts away on the gust of sleep.
x.o.x.o.x.
"WHAT happened?" shouts Hilary.
Lily jerks awake.
Hilary notices and covers her mouth. "I'm so sorry, Lily," she cries, rushing over to hug her best friend.
Lily shakes her head after hugging her back. "It's fine."
Before any of the people gathered (besides Hilary and James, there were Sirius, Alice, and Remus) could rant on about what had happened, the portrait swings open, revealing the headmaster and deputy headmistress, both looking grave.
"Come in, Headmaster, Professor," offers James, standing up. After all, it is his home for the year.
Dumbledore nods respectfully.
Lily jumps up, but wobbles slightly. "I'm sorry for my appearance, Headmaster and Professor."
In a rare show of affection, McGonagall says softly, "It is quite alright, Lily, we understand fully."
"Yes, Lily, sit back down. I daresay you need it more than Professor McGonagall or I," Dumbledore adds.
Smiling, Lily collapses onto the couch again.
"What brings you here?" Remus asks politely.
"Well, one reason was to do the same as you. Checking up on Miss Evans, that is," McGonagall says.
"And the other is that we have some very secret information that we wish to share," Dumbledore says. "Very grave."
"Is everything alright?" Hilary asks, alarmed.
"Quite, for the moment," mutters McGonagall.
Dumbledore shakes his head. "Have any of you ever heard of the Order of the Phoenix?"
James and Hilary nod automatically, but the other three shake their heads.
"I would assume you two know, as Charles and Natalia Potter are both in the Order. As for you three," Dumbledore says, "the Order of the Phoenix is an organization started by me. It is a dangerous organization to pledge membership to, and extremely risky, but many are prepared to take that risk. Our object and goal is to defeat Voldemort and save lives. The Ministry of Magic has no idea that there is this organization going on, and we don't intend for them or Voldemort to find out. Of course, you can't join until you are out of school, but I hope you will consider this. I will not force you into joining the Order, but I only handpick the students of mine that are exceptional witches and wizards, who do well under pressure, and are brave. I have already informed Miss Prewett, Mr. Longbottom, and Miss Meadows about this. I will be accepting answers at any time from now until the time you want to begin."
"Any questions?" McGonagall asks, looking at each of them individually.
None of them speak up.
"Very well."
Dumbledore's parting words are, "This is an organization in which you could die. Think it over carefully. Good luck."
x.o.x.o.x.
"Do you think you'll join?" asks Lily a week later.
It is nearly nine o'clock at night, and she and James are studying on the sofa together. She is lying across the sofa with her legs over James's as he sits upright.
James nods adamantly. "Yes. Someone's got to stop Voldemort, and even if I die doing it, I hope someone will remember that I tried."
Lily grins at him over her book. "That was very eloquent, Jamie."
James scowls at her. "Lils!"
Lily just laughs. "I think I'll join too."
At this, James sets down his book and looks at her seriously. "I can't stop you from joining, Lily, but I would feel better if you didn't."
This prompts Lily to place her book down as well. "James, why not? I want to help defeat Voldemort, even if the effort kills me!"
"This is very dangerous, Lily-"
"Oh, and you think I can't handle it?" Lily asks in a deadly calm voice.
"No, that's not it! Lily, I- I love you" – he had hesitated before saying this, because they hadn't said it since they began going out – "and I don't want you to get hurt! I honestly can't live without you!"
Lily looks at him steadily. "And you don't think it would kill me to wait at home all day and night praying that you didn't get hurt or killed? I would feel better if I could just help, James, don't you get it?"
"Lily, you are probably the most capable witch I know. You're brilliant. But-"
Lily cuts him off. "James, I'm going to join after I get out of Hogwarts, okay? You can worry and all that stuff, but you can't stop me. I'm joining, and that's definite." Her voice is firm.
"Lily, I never said I would stop you. I'm just warning you!"
"Oh, you don't think I know the risks? I pose a risk by just being MUGGLE-BORN! My parents were killed when I was fourteen years old! I would pose an even larger risk by joining the Order! My mum and dad are dead! And you think I don't know the risks?" Lily stands up angrily, her book dropping to the ground with a loud thud. "Come find me when you find sense."
She storms up her staircase to her room, slamming both doors behind her loudly and angrily.
James sits on the couch, running one hand through his hair tiredly and propping his chin in the other.
x.o.x.o.x.
Lily Hilary Alice Dorcas
What happened? I come into the Head Common Room to find my brother sitting on the sofa lifelessly.
He was warning me when I wanted to join the Order and he says he doesn't want me to.
Isn't that understandable? I mean, Frank warned me too.
Yeah, Remus did too.
It wasn't that part that riled me up. He was implying that I didn't know what the risks were.
Oh, he did NOT go there.
Oh, he did go there.
What?
Lily's parents died just because she was a Muggle-born. Her parents are DEAD and James thinks she has no idea what the risks are.
Oh.
Guys, I've got to go. Bye.
Lily rolls up the magical parchment and tosses it onto her desk along with the quill. Changing into her nightgown quickly, she lies back down and stares at the ceiling. She suddenly realizes that it was the first fight she and James had gotten into as a couple.
x.o.x.o.x.
A/N: Done with chapter twenty-seven! I hope you liked it! Reviews make me happy and give you cyber cookies or cupcakes or whatever dessert you like. Just request it. ;) Until chapter twenty-eight (the prank!)…
~TrueLoveIs4ever