A/N: I told you I was going to post the next chapter ASAP! Don't you love me? Review!
Chapter 29: Dreams
She moved through the house, her wand drawn. The room she entered was silent. A chair sat facing the wall. The black material seemed to mock her.
"I see you've come," a snake like voice hissed. "Now you will know what it feels like to defy me."
She didn't move as his chair turned around to face her. The man staring at her looked oddly distorted and his skin was waxy; he looked so pale that he looked ill. The whites of his eyes looked blood-shot. She could see what was once a handsome boy, but time had taken it's toll on Lord Voldemort.
"Should you choose to change your mind," he started, "I will understand."
"I will never join you!" she spat.
"Very well, you will pay for your mistakes," he seethed.
She jutted her chin out, daring him. She wasn't afraid of dying. Sometimes living scared her. No, she would not give him the satisfaction of scaring her.
Suddenly he stood and walked further into the room. She had the urge to follow, but resisted.
Three people knelt on the floor hands tied behind their backs, with invisible ties. They were also gagged. The hair hung in one of their faces. His gray eyes glared at Voldemort. His handsome face twisted as he looked up at the cruel tyrant.
Another one of the prisoners looked at the ground. Her long black hair fell in her face. Her blue eyes glanced briefly around the room. The life had faded from them. She took a look at the Dark Lord and averted her eyes.
The middle prisoner held his head high. His hazel eyes stared fearlessly into Voldemort's. His hair was still as messy as ever. Like he had been flying. He refused to drop his gaze even when the tyrant had glared at him.
"Now, girl," Voldemort spat. "What are you going to do now that I have them? Would you watch them suffer?"
She shook her head. She couldn't join him, but she didn't want her friends to die.
An angry look crossed his face. "You have made your decision you shall live with it."
He turned his back to her. Green light flashed from his wand and the long haired boy fell. Dead. She tried to move, but it was like she was being held in place. The gags were removed from the others' mouths. Green light hit the girl and she screamed in pain. She writhed on the floor like a fish out of water.
"Stop! Please!"
The Dark Lord just laughed and continued. Finally he lifted his wand. The girl lay lifeless on the floor barely breathing. He turned to the other boy.
"No, please!" she pleaded, closing her eyes.
"You shall watch!" He snapped. Her eyes opened on their own.
"Lily," James whispered as green light flashed.
Lily awoke with a start, scrambling backwards in her bed. The sheets tangled around her legs and she kicked them away.
"Lily, calm down," Karen tried to calm her. "It's ok. It was just a dream."
Lily breathed deeply, calming herself. She looked around the room. Karen sat next to her in her short nightgown, concern was written on her face. Sirius stood behind her, he had an unbuttoned shirt on with his boxers. His gray eyes flooded with apprehension. He regarded her carefully. James stood on Karen's right, his eyes watched her carefully. He ran a hand through his hair.
"You were screaming, Lily," he said.
"What was it about?" Karen asked, gently.
Lily shook her head closing her eyes tightly as the dream came vividly back to her. Pale skin, blood-shot eyes. A hand rested on her shoulder.
"You don't have to tell us, if you don't want to," James told her. He was standing closer to the bed now. Lily realized that he didn't have a shirt on. She looked away quickly.
"I'm fine, really," she mumbled. "It was just a dream."
"Lily, you were screaming," James spoke quietly.
"I'm fine, James," Lily snapped.
James stepped away from her. She knew she'd hurt him, but right now she didn't really care. She just wanted to get that image out of her mind. Karen looked between them.
"It's alright," she muttered. "You're safe."
Lily just nodded. Karen looked at James before standing up. She sighed. Grabbing Sirius' hand, she pulled him from the room. James stayed for a moment before he turned and left the room leaving Lily alone.
Lily stayed awake the rest of the night. It's not like she had any place to be. She slowly crept down to the kitchen. She up her ear up to the door. Voices came through.
". . . .you can't make her tell you, James," Karen was saying. "It's not our place to make her. She'll tell us when she's ready. Please, just give her time."
"Can't she see that we want to help her?!" James nearly shouted. "We can't help her unless she let's us in. I don't know what to do anymore. She doesn't talk to me. She barely looks at me. I can't help her. I can't even protect her."
"Maybe she doesn't want you to, mate," Sirius said quietly. "You just have to give her some time. She'll come round."
James blew out a breath. "I don't know what to do anymore, Padfoot." James sounded frustrated. "What can I do?"
Lily didn't stay to hear what Sirius said. She turned on her heel and went outside. How dare they talk about her behind her back! She wasn't some fragile child. She could take care of herself. So she had one nightmare. Big deal. It wasn't like she hadn't had bad dreams before.
Thunder rumbled above her. The March weather warned her to go back inside, but she kept walking. She didn't want to go back inside and face her friends. The clouds looked angrily down on her. The darkness seemed to overtake her. She closed her eyes as a raindrop hit her face.
"Lily!" someone called after her. Lily turned around to see Dorcas running after her. She sighed.
"What's up?" she asked, avoiding Dorcas' eyes.
"What are you doing out here?" Dorcas retorted. "It's going to rain."
"I don't mind the rain," Lily replied.
"Come on, Lily," Dorcas pleaded. "You didn't tell anyone you were coming out here and they're all worried about you."
Lily rolled her eyes. "Fine."
When they were half way to the house, the rain started to pour down on them. Since Lily didn't have a coat on, she was soaked through instantly. Dorcas grabbed her hand and made her run faster. When she got back to the house, Karen wrapped her in a hug.
"Where were you?!" she demanded.
"I went for a walk," Lily told her. "Is that a crime?"
"You could have told us," Karen scolded her. "We didn't know what happened to you."
Lily rolled her eyes. "I'm fine. I don't need to be babysat."
Lily pulled her wand out and performed a drying spell on herself and Dorcas as James, Sirius, and Karen watched her concerned.
"Honestly, I'm fine," Lily assured them. "I just went for a walk. I don't like being cooped up."
Karen nodded. "Just. . . .just let us know next time you go somewhere. We were worried about you."
"Ok, fine," Lily smiled trying to reassure them.
Lily could not find a moment's peace the rest of the day. There was always someone with her everywhere she went. If she tried to get rid of them, they just found her again. She sat in her room listening to Karen prattle on about how Remus and Dorcas should get together and how she'd given Dorcas advice. Lily rolled her eyes. She just wanted to be left alone. Was that to much to ask? What I would give for five minutes of peace, Lily thought bitterly.
She wondered why James hadn't been sent to watch her. It had always been Karen, Dorcas, or Sirius. James had never come to check on her or watch her. She supposed he didn't want to see her. He was with her. Lily sighed as she thought of this. If only she had listened to James when he said he would take her back.
"Are you paying attention to me?!" Karen snapped.
Before Lily could answer Dorcas poked her head into the room. "Karen," she whined, "while I was taking a shower, Sirius stole my bra. I can't find him or the bra."
"He what?" Karen asked. She looked mad. "Excuse me."
She got off the bed and followed Dorcas out of the room. Finally, Lily thought. Some peace. She laid back on the bed and closed her eyes. The door creaked, but she ignored it. Footsteps made their way across the floor.
"Karen, if you want my help catching Sirius, I'm not going to help you," Lily told her.
"If I wanted to find Sirius, I could do it on my own." That voice wasn't Karen's.
Lily shot out of her bed. James smiled down at her. "What are you doing here?"
"This happens to be my house," James retorted.
"You know what I mean," Lily snapped.
James bit his lip before sitting down. He had his back to her. "Tell me," James said simply.
Lily didn't have to ask what he was talking about. She knew he meant her dream. "No," Lily replied.
"I can't help you, if you don't tell me what's wrong," James sounded desperate. "Please, I just want to help you. I can't help you if you won't let me."
"Maybe I don't want your help," Lily snapped.
James' shoulders tensed. Lily sighed. "I'm sorry," Lily apologized. "I just don't like to be looked after is all. I can take care of myself. I've had nightmares before."
"I know you can," James relented. "I just want to make sure you're ok."
Lily nodded. "When are you going back to Auror training?"
"Tomorrow," James told her. "Aurors aren't as kind as Healers."
"Oh, well, hopefully you can get caught up on your training."
James just nodded. "Are you ok?" Lily asked.
He nodded then stood. "I'll leave you to it then," he mumbled.
Lily didn't say anything as he left the room
She moved through Potter Manner and into the living room. Karen sat with Sirius curled into his chest. The black haired girl smiled contently as she stared into the fire. Sirius kissed her forehead and smiled as well.
"Karen? Sirius?"
Karen turned and glared at her. "What do you want?"
"I-I-I-" she stuttered.
"You're not wanted here," Sirius spat.
She turned and ran up the stairs. It couldn't be true. James would tell her it was ok. She knew he would. He wouldn't turn her away.
She pushed his door open and saw James sitting on the bed. "James!" she yelled throwing her arms around his neck.
He gently took her arms from around his neck. "What are you doing here?" he asked quietly.
"Tell me they're lying," she hurried to get out. "Tell me it's all a joke. Tell me I'm wanted here."
"Lily-" before he could finish his sentence Eliza appeared. She looked surprised to see Lily and crossed her arms looking at James.
"It's not what it looks like," James explained. "I promise."
Lily looked at the girl for a moment then it all disappeared and she was falling into darkness.
Lily awoke with a start. She felt strong arms wrap around her. "Shh, it's going to be ok. No one's going to hurt you. It's alright," James cooed.
"James," Lily mumbled burying her face into his chest. She clutched his shirt, refusing to let him go. She couldn't lose him.
"Now tell me what is was about," he said, gently pushing her back so he could see her face.
Tears fell freely from her eyes. She couldn't stop them. "I-I-I was-wasn't wanted any-anymore."
"That's not going to happen. Someone will always need you. You're a good person and the world always needs good people."
"J-James, stay with me," she stuttered quietly.
"Alright," James agreed. He laid down next to her and laid her head on his shoulder.
As she drifted off, he whispered, "I'll always need you."