Chapter 22-Take Me Away

When I woke up in the hospital wing I had discovered James by my side. He was sitting in a chair holding my hand and he looked relieved when I woke up. Madame Pryne was quick in making me drink all types of potions as soon as I sat up. She kept muttering things like how 'lucky' I was to survive after 'facing you-know-who'. She made James drink several potions as well. Apparently he had been hit with several curses, among those the Cruciatus. Admittingly a Cruciatus from a deatheater wouldn't compare to one from Voldemort, but they are still very painful and James shouldn't have been out of bed. I had only been unconscious for a day, but when I awoke the hospital wing was still very full of students who were injured in the attack on Hogsmeade.

"I knew you'd pull through." James said.

I smiled.

"I'm just lucky I guess." I said.

"No, you're a fighter. But what were you thinking trying to face Voldemort?" James said.

"I didn't mean to, I just so happened to run headfirst into the alley he was testing his new recruitees in. Purely coincidence." I said.

James rolled his eyes.

"So what happened?" He asked.

I thought back to the attack and the memory came full force, almost like I was reliving it.

"I was dueling next to Leah and she shouted for me to duck a curse. I fell to the ground as the curse flew right over my head. When I got back up she went chasing after the Death Eater who had cast it and I ran after her. I saw her go into an alley but by the time I made it she was already being held by several Death Eaters. At first I didn't even know that Voldemort was there." I said.

James sat and listened.

"Voldemort introduced himself and was saying something about testing his new recruits. He was acting all up on the Lord part and then he instructed one of the Death Eaters to hit me with a Cruciatus curse. I disarmed the Death Eater and Voldemort looked rather impressed about it. He... he asked me to join him." I said.

"What!?" James said.

"Yeah. I told him I would never join him." I said.

James waited for me to finish telling him what had happened.

"He looked rather insulted that I was so quick to refuse him and cursed me. It felt a lot like what I imagine Hell would be. It was unlike any Cruciatus I've ever felt before. Leah was screaming the entire time for him to stop. Then she started to fight against the Death Eaters that were holding her and Voldemort just, he tortured her. Because of my 'insolence' to him he tortured her. She had to be under his Cruciatus longer than me, but she didn't even scream or cry out. I was screaming for her the whole time though. She hit her knees and then I remember her falling on the ground right before Dumbledore appeared. I think I blacked out after that..." I said.

James nodded and squeezed my hand.

"After I told you to stay in the Three Broom Sticks, Remus and I ran outside and started dueling our way toward Sirius. I just tried to stupefy as many Death Eaters as I could. When we finally got to him he was already bloodied up pretty bad. But there was also about ten Death Eaters that he'd stupefied." James said.

I nodded for him to continue.

"We were dueling and trying to take out as many as we could when I heard Leah scream your name. I looked around for you until I finally saw you running. I tried following you, but there were so many Death Eaters, it took me awhile to find you again while trying not to get killed in the process. As I was running, Charlie and Dumbledore just apparated right in front of me. Dumbledore seemed to sense exactly where Voldemort was though because he just blasted though Death Eaters like it was nothing and headed straight for the alley I'd seen you run in. Remus saw Dumbledore apparate in and came over to us. He was injured pretty badily so Charlie apparated him to Hogwarts. The anti-apparation wards were still in place making it impossible for anyone other than Dumbledore to apparate in and out without a ring. Sirius literally stumbled over Tiffany and used his ring to apparate her to Hogwarts because her injuries were so severe. I ran into the alley where Dumbledore had just gone into and you were on your knees on the ground. By the time I reached you, you had already passed out. Dumbledore conjured stretchers and told me to hold on to yours. Next thing I know I was in the hospital wing at Hogwarts." He said.

"Students just started appearing directly into the hospital wing much like we had and it was complete chaos. There was blood and screaming and crying, Madame Pryne was running everywhere trying to heal everyone." James said.

I didn't say anything at first.

"And how is everyone?" I asked.

James looked away and didn't answer.

"Where's Charlie?" I asked.

James looked at me before standing up and pulling back the curtain around my bed. He gestured to the curtain that was drawn around the next bed over. James helped me out of bed and I walked to the next bed shakily before slowly pulling back the curtain.

Charlie was sitting in a chair next to the bad with his head in his hands. I looked down to the bed and I felt like my stomach just dropped to my feet.

In the bed was Leah. Her face was white and her hands were folded over her stomach. I turned to look at James only to find that he was looking away. I looked more closely at Charlie and noticed his shoulders shaking. He was crying.

"No." I whispered.

Charlie looked up and the look on his face was the one I remember seeing just after we burried Harry. A look of hopelessness. He looked as though his eyes were asking me 'What am I going to do now?'.

I walked toward Charlie and he stood up from his chair slowly. As soon as I got to his side of the bed he pulled me into a hug and cried on my shoulder. I started crying as well and James walked back to his bed, leaving me alone with my brother.

Madame Pryne walked over but when she saw us she said nothing before turning away. I walked to my bed and Charlie followed me. We both sat on my bed and Madame Pryne pulled the curtain around us giving us privacy. Charlie pulled out his wand and cast a silencing spell around us so we wouldn't disturb anyone else. I could tell it was the middle of the night by the way the moonlight poured into the hospital wing through the windows. Most of it's occupants would be sleeping.

"I heard what you told James." Charlie said.

I looked at him sadly.

"Thats just like her, you know. Defending her friends to the...death." He said shakily.

"It's all my fault Charlie. I'm so sorry!" I said as I started to cry again.

"It's not your fault Lils. It's nobody's fault but Voldemort's." He said.

"But if I hadn't of- and then she wouldn't have said-"

"And he would have killed you." Charlie said.

I didn't say anything.

"Would you do something for me Lils?" Charlie asked.

I gave him a confused look.

"What do you need me to do?" I asked.

"Can you hold on to this for me?" He said as he handed me a small black velvet box.

My eyes widened in surprise.

"I asked her to marry me." He whispered.

I looked up to meet his eyes.

"She said yes. I bought this for her the morning of the Hogsmeade visit. I never got a chance to show it to her." He said.

I opened the box and looked at the ring.

"Charlie, it's beautiful. She would have loved it." I said.

Tears came down his face as he smiled.

"She would have wouldn't she?" He said smiling.

"When did you ask her?" I said.

"A couple of days ago." He said.

I nodded. That explained their odd behavior over the last few days. Always, secluding themselves to each other only.

"But Charlie, you should keep this." I said.

"I will. I just, I can't have it right now. Will you just hold it for a few days?" He asked.

"Sure." I said.

He nodded.

"Get some sleep Lils. You need to rest." He said.

He hugged me and kissed the top of my head.

"Are you going to be alright?" I said.

I didn't believe it myself, but I had to say something hopeful.

"Would you be alright if you lost James?" He asked.

"Goodnight." He said before I could answer and he slipped past the curtain.

I sat there for about five minutes looking at the diamond my brother had bought for Leah and thinking about the last question he asked me. I finally closed the box and slid it under my pillow. I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and walked past the curtain surrounding my bed and quietly pulled open the curtain around James' bed. He was lying in bed looking up at the ceiling but he turned to look at me as he heard the curtain.

"Hey." I said.

"Hey." He said.

"Can I join you?" I asked quietly.

James slid to the far side of his bed and held up the blankets for me to climb in. I got in and he wrapped his arms around me and held me. We were quiet for a long time until I broke the silence.

"I don't know what I would do if I lost you." I whispered answering the question Charlie asked.

James' breathing had slowed since I had been laying with him and I assumed that he had fallen asleep.

"You never will." He whispered back just as quietly and it surprised me that he had heard afterall.

I felt him kiss the back of my head and I sighed.

There were twelve students that lost their lives the day of the attack on Hogsmeade. Hogsmeade visits were cancelled for the rest of the year as a safety precaution and everyone was forbidden to go into Hogsmeade or the Forbidden Forest.

Sirius and Remus both had to stay in the hospital wing over night but they were released the next day. James and I were released the day after only owing to the fact that we were both hit with the Cruciatus curse and needed to be monitored for that long to make sure we didn't have any lasting side effects. Sarah and Ashley managed to remain unharmed as they sheltered the younger students and other pub occupants. Peter had not been present in Hogsmeade that day. He stayed at Hogwarts tending to an illness that prevented his presence and required him to be 'held up in the hospital wing all day'. We told him how lucky he was not to have witnessed it. Tiffany was still in the hospital wing because she was hit with a very dark curse that drains you of your energy, called Erasco Enegio. Apparently its an old curse that runs through a certain pure blooded family that invented it hundreds of years ago and is only used among dark wizards. It drains you of your energy in a very painful and slow process, though it is not a widely known curse. Luckily there was a member of the families blood line that had created it present, he recognised what it was and performed the counter curse for Tiffany. It was Sirius Black. The curse and Sirius' involvement was to be kept a secret, according to strict instructions from Dumbledore. Our group, Madame Pryne, Professor McGonagall, and Dumbledore are the only ones who know of it.

Charlie had refused to leave the hospital and only left Leah's side when her parents had came to Hogwarts after recieving the terrible news of their daughter's death. They briefly disscussed plans for Leah's funeral and told Charlie they would contact him. Leah's body was taken with them to be prepared and it nearly broke Charlie as he watched her body being taken away. After Leah was gone, Charlie started to stay in the astronomy tower more and more and withdrawing himself from everyone.

Classes had been cancelled for the week and pending so that students could make arrangements to attend the funerals of their families. Most of the Professor's seemed very saddened by the loss of their pupils and wore only black in respect to their death's. The Ministry of Magic released several statements concerning the 'Hogsmeade Tragedy' as the Daily Prophet calls it. Several prestigious aurors were also killed or missing due to the attack and the ministry seemed more concerned about the loss of its staff than the lives taken from its future generation.

Though the mood was sombre indeed, more and more people began to realise that this really was a war. The sad part about this revelation was that attacks like the one on Hogsmeade, are to be expected. And as the saying goes, 'It will only get worse before it gets better'. This was the world us seventh years would soon be rejoining once and for all. It was a scary thought. It shouldn't be like this though. We should all be fretting over our N.E.W.T. exams that are in a few weeks and not about things like, if our families will still be alive tomorrow. We should be worrying about if we'll get the jobs we've dreamt of and not if we'll live past a year after graduation.

"Lily?" A voice from down in the Heads Common Room shouted.

I turned around to see James poking his head through his bedroom door. When his eyes landed on me the door opened fully.

"Lily! What are you doing in here? I've been looking everywhere for you, is everything ok?" He asked as he shut the door and walked over to sit next to me on the bed.

I had been sitting in his room for awhile waiting on him to come in. I was just sitting on his bed and thinking, but what he said just seemed to snap something I'd been reluctant to talk to him about.

James put an arm around me but I pushed him away. He looked at me with confused eyes and I sighed.

"Everything is not okay, James. Leah is dead! Our best friend is dead!" I shouted.

How could he ask me such a question? Almost the entire school is in mourning for the fallen students and he asks me if everything is ok? It's not okay! My first friend at Hogwarts is dead.

"I know Lily! Don't you think it hurts me just as much as it hurts you? She was one of my friends too!" James said.

"Than how can you act like that? How can you act so calm and composed when I feel like falling apart all over again." I said as tears began to fall from my eyes.

"I miss her too, Lily." He said quietly.

We sat in silence for a while.

"But, I know she wouldn't want us to fall apart like this. She would want us to be strong. We shouldn't cry for her loss Lily, but defend her and honor her memory by doing everything we can to stop those with her blood on their hands. It is Voldemort who is causing this destruction. It is Voldemort whose hands are stained with the blood of innocents. Her death, Lily, was not your fault. But honor her for the hero that she was. I know that she would have wanted us all to go on living." James said.

I threw my arms around James and he held me close to him.

"Take me away from this James. I don't want to think about this anymore." I whispered.

James slowly leaned down and placed his lips on mine with a gentle kiss. I put my arms around his neck and my hands went up to his shoulders and hair. James' arms were around my waist and we kissed passionately. I pulled James down on the bed and layed underneath him. We kept kissing and I couldn't help but love the feel of James' body weight on top of me. I pulled the bottom of James' shirt and lifted it off over his head. James gave me a surprised look and I smirked at him. He smiled as I put my hands on his skin, moving them up and down his chest and stomach muscles. James moaned in my mouth while we kissed. I liked it. No, I loved it.

"James." I whispered.

I took his head in my hands and pulled it toward my mouth so I could whisper in his ear.

"Touch me."

I was surprised that I'd just said that. Not that I didn't mean it, I'm just surprised I actually said it. James slowly pulled my shirt over my head and tossed it to the floor. He looked at me and I couldn't help but blush. James leaned toward me, kissed my cheek, and whispered in my ear.

"I love it when I make you blush." He said.

Somehow, I knew he was smirking and if anything it only made me blush more. James' hand was on my stomach slightly rubbing it as he kissed my neck. His hand went up slowly and he reached around to undo my bra. He took it off and dropped it on the floor. His hand gently slid to my front and his hands softly touched my breast. His touch was so different than anything I'd ever felt. It was so gentle, yet full of passion and love. His mouth went down my neck to my chest, replacing his hand. James was exploring my body, and I his. I'd never done this before. To be sexually intimate with someone. Was I doing this right?

"Say something." He whispered.

I looked down at him.

"I love you." I said.

My body felt like it was on fire. I was feeling so many new sensations that I didn't know you could ever feel. James' hands went to my lower stomach until his fingers slowly brushed underneath the waistband of my skirt.

"What do you want?" James asked slowly.

What did I want? I was so confused. My body was loving every second of James' touch. But I didn't know what to say to James' question. If I thought about it more, I'd probably just get more confused. I looked at James and nodded. He didn't even ask me a yes or no question, and I nodded my head. Could you be any more of an idiot Lily?

James raised his eyebrows but quickly changed his surprised expression to a more passive one. He came up to eye level with me and I could feel my heart beat increasing.

"Yes? All the way?" He asked.

I nodded again. There was no way I could trust myself to speak at this point, I was too nervous. I couldn't trust my voice to work properly.

"Are you sure?" He asked seriously.

I nodded again.

James smiled for a second before kissing me.

So, here goes?

James pulled my skirt down my legs slowly until I was left in only my panties. James smirked.

"These are nice." He said playfully.

I knew my face probably matched the color of my hair. James grinned even more.

He kissed the top of my underwear before his fingers hooked around the string on each side and he pulled them down, agonizingly slow, until they were completely off of my body. He held them up and looked at them, smiled, and tossed them behind him to the floor. I laughed and reached forward grabbing James' pants and boxers and pulling them off as well.

Any fear of regret I had was gone. We made love, and it was the most amazing thing I'd ever experienced.

When it was over, both of us were sweaty and James layed down next to me. We were both quiet and James put his arm under me pulling me to him. I was more than happy to have James hold me. At this moment, there was no place I'd rather be than in his arms. My body was tired and I could feel my eyes closing on their own accord. James kissed my forehead.

"I love you, so much." James said.

It was the last thing I heard before I fell asleep.

I could feel the sunlight on my eyes. I opened them slowly. Blinking several times. Memories of the previous night came to me. ...I had sex with James. I looked over and James was still sleeping. This wasn't the first time I had woken up next to James, but this time was different. We had experienced a whole new way to show our love for each other.

I looked at James' stomach. There was a scar from the gash he got from dueling with Chris. I traced it with my finger and James woke up. I hadn't even realized he was awake until he said something.

"That kind of tickles you know." He said.

I jumped and looked up at him.

He smiled and reached for his glasses from the bedside table.

"Good morning." He said.

"Good morning." I said.

He grinned and leaned forward and kissed me.

"I love you." He said.

"I love you too." I said.

"No Lily. You don't understand, I love you. You're the only one for me. There'll never be anyone but you." James said.

I was surprised that he said that. Before I could think of something to say, voices were coming from the hall outside the door.

"So what exactly are we doing to the Slytherins this time?" Peter asked.

"Prongs and I were talking about this last night, but I woke up this morning and I had this brilliant idea!" Sirius said.

"So this is why you dragged us here?" Charlie asked.

Remus laughed.

The door handle started to open and James looked like he was about to have a heart attack.

The door opened and I barely had time to pull up the sheet to cover myself.

Charlie stood in the doorway with a shocked look on his face. Sirius appeared a second later with the rest of the marauders behind him with a surprised looks as well.

"What the HELL is going on?!!" Charlie said.

"Nothing!" I said.

"Nothing?" Charlie said.

He picked up my underwear from the floor that lay by his feet.

"This doesn't look like 'nothing' to me!" Charlie shouted.

Sirius grabbed them and held them up whistling.

"I don't know about that." Sirius said holding them out.

"Shut up!"

"Sirius!!"

"Put those down!"

Charlie, James, and I yelled.

Sirius dropped them.

"Lily, get up and put your clothes on." Charlie demanded.

"What?! This isn't your concern! Mind your own business!" I said.

"You're my sister! Of course it's my business!" Charlie said.

"Charlie, she can do what she wants." James said calmly.

Charlie looked at him as if he had really just seen him.

"You! How dare you touch my sister!?!" Charlie yelled before he lunged toward James.

James took one of the blankets and pulled it around him as he jumped out of bed. Sirius lunged after Charlie and tackled him to the ground.

"Charlie get out!" I screamed.

Charlie and Sirius were rolling around on the floor. James had put on his boxers and he was now standing in the room with his wand in hand. Sirius let go of Charlie when he noticed James had his wand.

Charlie gave a final shove to Sirius before getting to his feet facing James with his hands fisted.

"Charlie, listen to me. I would never use Lily. I love Lily, and I would never do anything to hurt her or make her unhappy. Lily is important to me Charlie." James said.

"James, don't bother. He's being unreasonable." I said.

"No, Lily. I want him to know." James said.

I got out of bed, sheet wrapped around me, and walked toward James and Charlie.

"I love her Charlie. Merlin, I want to marry her!" James said.

"What?!" Sirius and I said.

James just stood there, not saying anything. Charlie punched the wall before walknig out of the room and slamming the door. Sirius, James, Remus, Peter, and I all looked at each other.

"So, that was awkward huh?" Sirius asked.

"Get out!" James and I both said.

"Geese, don't get your knickers in a twist." He said walking toward the door.

He bent over and picked something up.

"Oh, wait, you're not wearing any!" He said dangling my underwear.

"Put those down!" James said as I blushed.

Sirius laughed and shot them at James' head before running out.

James caught the underwear midair.

"Don't worry about him, I'll shut him up." Remus said.

James nodded.

Remus pushed Peter out of the room and just before he left he turned around and smirked. I can't believe Remus just smirked at us!

"Er, here." James said handing me my underwear that was still in his hand.

"Thanks." I said taking them and walking into the bathroom.

James followed me. I put on my underwear and bra as James talked to me.

"So, interesting morning." James said.

"Yea." I said.

"Are you alright?" James asked.

Of course not. You said something about marrying me! Thats pretty big. I'm a little shocked you know? I mean, did you really mean that or were you just saying it?

"Me? You're the one who was close to death just a minute ago." I said.

James smiled.

"Very true. But I was talking about last night." James said.

"Oh. I'm fine. It's just, Charlie is angry with me now. And I hate when we fight. It makes me feel so alone without him." I said.

"You've got me." James said.

I looked up at him.

"For how long though?" I asked, thinking about how all the people I care about are being effected by this war.

"Lily, I told you, I'm not going anywhere." James said.

"James, I don't know what to do." I said.

I looked into his eyes before hugging him fiercely. James wrapped his arms around me tightly and I cried.

I don't know how long I cried for, but eventually I stopped. James had held me the entire time, saying comforting words and rubbing my back.

"Thanks." I said quietly.

"You don't have to thank me, Lily. I love you. I want to be there for you." James said as he pulled me into his arms and kissed the top of my head.

"I know." I said.

But that's what scares me sometimes. No matter what anyone says, the people I love are in danger. My family, my friends, and James.

Author's Note: Thanks to all of the reviews on chapter 21. For updates between postings, check my profile page. There is a section for my notes on Twisted Tragedies.