Author's Note: So sorry for the wait! Senior year is killer! Anyway, here is the new chapter! I know it's a little shorter than previous chapters but I wanted to give you guys something for all the wait! Hopefully I'll upload another chapter soon!

Remember to review at the end of this chapter! Please! I love to hear your opinions!

I will be here
When you think you're all alone
Seeping through the cracks
I'm the poison in your bones
My love is your disease
I won't let it set you free
'Til I break you

Digital Daggers – The Devil Within

King James was a determined man. He wouldn't rest until he saw that wretched girl gone from his castle. From his kingdom!

Every time he saw her was like a slap to the face. He remembered everything Dumbledore had told him about the girl. How she could coerce her way into any man's heart. How she was a sorceress with words. How her beauty could deceive anybody to believing her innocence.

She was everything that was dangerous to his kingdom.

And she had his son fooled!

He paced his room quickly, throwing random things against walls and onto the floors. He pulled his hair randomly and would hiss at the thoughts running through his head.

Dumbledore watches from the shadows and smiles slyly. He has James right where he wants him.

Dumbledore walks out of James and Lily's chambers through a hidden doorway. He crouches his body so that his head doesn't brush against the roof of the tunnel. For that is what it is.

This tunnel was meant for escape. Escape from enemies.

But Dumbledore has been using these tunnels since he became advisor to the Kings of Gryffindor.

He wasn't always so corrupt. He was once a true advisor. It wasn't until he became advisor to the Great King Charles of Gryffindor that he saw how they would ruin this land. The Royal Crown had to be held by somebody strong. Somebody who would do whatever it would take to keep this land fertile enough to survive with a mad king.

King James wasn't strong enough. He cared too much.

You could see it in the way he watched Lily. The way he would watch her when she was brushing her hair or when she showed affection in their son. No, it wouldn't do to have a King that was so soft.

He remembered when he started to administer a potion to James. A potion that worked so slowly that his taste tester wouldn't have an affect until it was too late. And it was now showing its affects.

The irrational fear of his crown being taken away from him; fear of a weak little queen; fear of losing his son and it was all coming to a head with this potion in his bloodstream.

He would soon turn his people against him. And then Dumbledore would swoop in and advise the King to appoint him as head of the crown until young Harry was ready. And then he would start again.

Lily watched closely as James watched their son's betrothed. He watched her so closely, he watched her like she was going to steal the crown from his head and smile while doing so.

She was worried about him. This wasn't the first time she had noticed it either. She noticed it when she arrived, the tightening of his eyes, the pursing of his lips, the clenching of his hands. He didn't like her.

Lily also noticed Dumbledore coming from their room on occasions when James was there. She knows he's the advisor to the Royal Crown, but she can't help but think that something else is amiss. Something she doesn't want to blindside her.

Lily walked quickly towards her chambers, she looks around before entering and then when noting that nothing is amiss, she enters. She bolts the doors shut and looks around the chambers. She notices the things strewn about the floor, some broken and some still whole. She notices one of her ruby necklaces glittering on the floor.

She picks it up and holds it up noticing that it is still intact. "James?" she whispers, while looking around the room.

She sees a foot sticking out from the other side of the bed. She tiptoes to that side and peeks around the bed, what she sees make her gasp aloud.

James is laying in sprawled fashion with his hair in disarray, his shirt un-tucked and wine stained, his trousers unbuttoned. His hands are the most disturbing to see. They're all blood stained and lay lifelessly at his side.

Lily's whole body shudders with anger, "Must you always do this?" she asks rhetorically in a tight voice. She almost kicks his body in anger.

"You used to be a great husband and an even better king, but you've lost yourself to the bottle. I don't know what happened to you. I don't want to know!" she says softly. She turns away and walks to her dressing area to change.

She changes silently. She then turns the lights off to get into bed and leaves the fallen king to his fate.

Author's Note: Okay so what did you think? Do you think Dumbledore is going to do some more whispering in James ear to make James harm Hermione?