For the next two weeks, Lily and James continued dominating the potions class, Lily was enjoying the class now more than ever, James who usually messes up in other classes and used to focus in potions class, but that didn't stop him from having fun and doing some pranks in the class, which Lily enjoyed very much. They had only done one more night pranks due to tight schedules and more work, so this class was make up for it as their main focus was potions.
"Well if I would have known that you two are this good together I would have put you both together before," said Slughorn when they had brewed a perfect pepper-up potion.
The same couldn't be said for other classes other than charms, in both charms and transfiguration they had to do spells non-verbally, which was draining a lot of energy from the students, except for James who has practising non-verbal spells since last year, Lily was next to him as she has practised with him when preparing for the championship.
D.A.D.A. was a simple class, Prof. Murphy knew the stuff but was not able to teach the same to others. In their last lesson, they had begun non-verbal spells, which she displayed to the class but was founding it hard to explain it to students on how to do it.
Lily hoped that James would sit with her in other classes as well especially in Transfiguration as Lily was finding it really hard to understand the theories let alone the spell, the others were finding it hard as well except for Sirius and James who found the class easy, and even Peter was good at this and it frustrated Lily. She had thought of asking James to sit with her instead of Remus, but didn't said as she knew that she was being selfish. But he spends his entire day with them, he can spend one more class with her for sure said a voice in her mind.
Was she developing feelings for James? No. Or Yes. They were just friends, they both had become close friends but Lily wanted to spend more time with him, as most of the time they were together they were surrounded by their friends always.
"I heard you have been made the captain are you holding the quidditch trial ?" Lily saw a 5th-year Gryffindor girl, Keeva asking James and getting very close to him as he sat on the couch in the common room. Lily got angry at Keeva for sitting next to James and being very close to him but dismissed the feeling thinking James was just his friend and he was looking uncomfortable with Keeva so she was supposed to be angry. Or is it Jealousy?
"This Saturday and I have already put the notice on the board, look," he said pointing at the notice board in the common room.
"Oh, I didn't see that, so what positions are open?" Keeva asked moving closer to James who shifted away from her.
"All positions are open, you can check the timings there and participate in the trials," said James, Keeva got up to check the timing and Lily instantly sat there with Felix in her lap.
"So, did you like the 'Two Towers' book?" asked Lily.
"I loved and I was missing Gandalf and then he bloody returned, as 'Gandalf the white', it was very exciting," said James happily, Felix jumped from Lily's lap to James' lap who caught her and started running his hands through her fur and Felix purred.
"She likes you," laughed Lily.
"I know," said James smiling at the cat. Lily saw Keeva arrive back and then made a grunted and left and Lily felt satisfaction.
Remus and Peter were playing exploding Snap against Mary and Marls, but they both lost to the girls.
"Where is Padfoot?" asked Remus, as he cleaned the place.
"Dunno, haven't seen him since evening," replied James.
"Well I am off to get my Charms book I have still had to do the essay and will check if Padfoot is in the dorm," Peter said as he walked up the stairs.
"So, James excited for the captaincy?" asked Mary.
"Yeah, but more nervous, you know this is my first time as captain and I don't want to fail the team, not after we won last year," sighed James.
Marls looked at James and said, "You will do great, and I am sure that. . . . " but the rest of her words were cut down by a shout from up the boys' dorm as Peter came running down with a disgusted face.
All of them jumped up and looked at Peter, "What happened Wormy?" asked James.
"Sirius is in there with a girl," said Peter angrily.
"It's not new, Pete, didn't you saw the tie?" asked James sitting down again and picking up Felix.
"There was no tie and . . . the worst was that when I opened the room they both were doing it on my bed, ON MY BED!" said Peter.
"Eww," said everyone and then they all started laughing.
"Don't laugh that much Moony because I am sure he might have done this on yours and Prongs bed before, he is just caught this time," said Peter with a disgusted look and all of them stopped laughing.
"Eww," said Remus and James.
"We need to change our sheets, oh god I can't sleep on my bed now," said Peter
"Me neither," said James and Remus together.
At that time Sirius came down alone, his clothes not properly dressed.
"Sorry wormy," he said.
"Don't you have your own bed?" asked Peter taking a threatening step towards Sirius.
"Well it was the heat of the moment you know and it was not like the first time and Prongs and Moony haven't complained yet when I use their beds," said Sirius.
And the next thing Sirius was chased down by the other three boys all over the castle.
"Someone needs to put a stop on him," said Mary.
The four of them returned after an hour, Sirius has turned purple from head to toe. James took his seat and others sat on the floor.
"And don't forget that I walked on you yesterday," said Sirius looking at his hands. Lily felt uneasy was he talking about James?
"That was your mistake Padfoot," said James and Lily's heart started sinking.
"Yes, Wormy had put the tie on the door but you walked on him and Sarah," said Remus smirking and Lily relaxed.
"We were just snogging," said Peter turning red.
"Whatever," muttered Sirius.
"Will you try out tomorrow?" asked James to Lily when they left the potions class.
"I enjoy watching quidditch a lot but am not interested in playing, and I am not good at playing too, I like the seeker position Bell is a lot better," said Lily "And I get to watch the best player play"
"Don't feed his head much or his already oversize head will explode," said a voice from behind them and they both turned to see Snape moving past them and in that pushing James with his shoulder.
Lily was about to say something when James stopped her, "Leave him he is just jealous that we beat him in potions today, again," he said so Snape could hear him, Snape turned and looked at them angrily before leaving.
"I appreciate that," said Lily patting James' shoulder.
"What?"
"That instead of fighting like you used to do before, you just replied to his comment with a witty reply," said Lily smiling.
"Well I promised you I would change and I am keeping my promise" grinned James, "And as of witty reply I learned from the best," he said pointing at her.
"How?"
"Well are your witty replies whenever I asked you out, I learned from there," said James and Lily laughed.
Lily then began talking to Marls walking behind James and Sirius as they moved towards the great hall for lunch when a girl came and hugged James, they all stopped walking.
"I was worried about you James that you were attacked James but they didn't let me talk to you that day," said the girl still hugging James whose hands were in the air to move away from the girl. "And congratulations on becoming a captain, I knew you would get it," she said letting go of him. It was now that Lily recognized her as Lucy Mackay.
"Well thanks, how are Mr and Mrs. Mackay?" asked James.
"They are fine, we came to visit your house but your parents said you were out with your friends," said Lucy.
"Yeah, I was," replied James.
"So, see you later then," said Lucy.
"Yeah," said James and let out a sigh of relief when she went away.
"She was giving you a hint man, I have been trying to get her but since the time I left home she isn't interested in me anymore, but she was in you it was an open offer," said Sirius.
"Well she was not interested in me, just my surname," replied James.
"Who is saying about marrying her you git, you can just do it in my way," said Sirius.
"I don't like your way and I am not interested in her," replied James as he took his seat beside Peter.
"Well if you want them to stop doing this you should get a girlfriend," suggested Sirius.
"Yeah, in the morning Keeva was asking where were you and if you could give her practice before trials," said Peter.
"Look I don't want to get a girlfriend just to get away from them, that's not fair," said James.
"Correct," said Marls.
An owl came flying in with a large parcel and dropped it in front of James.
"Excellent, I wrote to my uncle a few days ago for a broom and here it is, a NIMBUS 1200," said James happily upon opening the parcel.
"What happened to the one you brought on Christmas?" asked Peter.
"That got lost and broke in the forest, did you forget?" said James.
"Ohh... yeah," said Peter.
The next day tryouts took 3 hours. James had shouted and also shouted himself hoarse at the many complainers. By the end of the try-out, he was really tired but was pleased to see the new team in front of him.
He, Marlene, Adi Patel, Kevin Bell, and Nancy Robins retained their spot while two new players were Elisa Scott as keeper and Alan Brown as the second beater.
"Well done all of you, you all flew really well and I hope that we will work hard to retain the cup or Minnie would kill me first then you lot, and I don't want to die young, so we will. . . . um practice on next Thursday evening at 4," James said and turned to Peter who was advising him in the selection and they both began walking off the ground while others went to change. "Did you like Scott and Brown?"
"Yeah, mate I think if Brown uses his muscle we will have a better beater than Padfoot, but don't say that to him or he will kill me," warned Peter.
"Who will kill you?" asked Lily as she and Sirius joined the two.
Peter looked at Sirius and said "No one, and by the way, Padfoot that Alan Brown is nothing like you, you were the best," James covered his laughter with a cough.
"I knew it I would have been best," said Sirius.
Moody sat in his office worried look on his face, he looked up at 9 people sitting in front of him.
"Dumbledore has informed me about a possible attack near this orphanage, we can't involve ministry Aurors yet, the order will have to be there first then if the threat is true then only we can send ministry Aurors," said Moody.
"Why to attack an orphanage?" asked Ben.
"Dumbledore has no idea about the intention behind it," replied Moody.
"Well we have to guard the place then," said Gideon.
"Yeah, we can't let them attack innocent kids," said Fabion.
"So, let's move our asses, lads," said Caradoc Dearborn, and all 7 of them got up.
"Inform me as soon as death eaters arrive, and be safe," said Moody grimly.
"Nice joke," said Gideon with a chuckle and Fabian snorted.
Ben was hidden behind boxes along with Doge, night has fallen and the children inside the orphanage were all asleep. The street was completely silent, he stayed hidden, an hour passed then two than 3, then 4, it was 1 in the morning, when Ben heard some movements followed by some hoots of Owls, the warning signal, the death eaters have arrived.
BOOM!
The car parked a few blocks away is blasted, followed by laughters.
Dodge moves out and starts attacking, war cries break, and shouts of jinxes and curses were sent all over the place.
Ben took out a red feather and with a flick of his wand burns it and then moves out of the place into the open street, just 6 death eaters.
Ben immediately engages in a duel with a hooded figure.
"Hello Ben," said the man sending a jinx at him which he ducks.
"Hello" replied Ben attacking the man with a hex.
"So, nice to see you here," laughed the death eater, jinxes being thrown from both ends.
"Nice seeing you too Wilkes," replied Ben ducking the jinx sent at his way.
"THE RATS ARE OUT!" shouted one of the death eater and laughter broke amongst them. Ben suspects something is wrong, he looks around all the order members are engaged in a duel and they are winning then why the death eaters are laughing?
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
There is blasting all around, Ben is thrown off his feet and collides with the wall, but recovers soon to duck a green light thrown at his previous wall the wall explodes, Ben jumps and takes cover behind a car and with every available opportunity throws a curse towards the death eaters.
"We are outnumbered," said a man beside him Egan a fellow order member.
"Aurors are on their way," said Ben sending a stupefying jinx at a death eater who froze and fell to the ground.
"They are fucking late," said Egan sending a curse at a death eater who deflected it to a building which started burning, "Fuck!"
"We need to hold them there are 5 of them against 2 of us. Where are the other members?" asked Ben.
"Fighting in next street there are abo...AAH!" Egon is hit by a spell cutting a deep gash on his shoulder. Ben shoots another jinx and then casts a shield charm.
"Are you okay?" asked Ben.
"Yeah" replied Egon. "Stupefy!"
Their shield explodes and vanishes as 3 spells attack at once and there was a loud screeching sound and silence fell.
Ben looked past the car all death eaters start disapparating, only 1 is left who was stupefied.
"I think Aurors have arrived and so they have flown, let's go and help them in the next street," said Egon.
"There's a death eater we should interrogate him to know their plan," said Ben, Egon considers this for a moment and then nodded.
Wands ready they move near the death eater and remove their mask, he has injuries all over his body.
"He is Hendrick a 19-year-old kid, son of Stuart," said Egon Ben flicks his wand and Hendrick wakes up.
"Please, don't kill me, please" begs the boy.
"Then tell me your intentions of coming here," growled Ben.
"No idea the dark lord just told us to come here and attack," said the boy crying.
"No help you are, tell something important or die," roared Ben, trying fear to get as much information as possible.
"I dunno, he will kill me," cried the boy.
"But you are already going to die for sure if you do not tell us something important, you have a chance to escape death from him but here you are seconds away. I will count till 5,. . . . 1 . .2 . .3. ." said Ben.
"Wait I will tell you, in Malfoy Manor he gave Malfoy a book like a diary and said if Malfoy loses it then he will kill him, it's the key to chambers," said Hendrick.
"How did you know it?" asked Egon.
"I was in the next room, resting they thought they were alone but I heard it he said not to tell anyone about it, but I told you now please leave me, please," begged the boy.
"I will modify your memory so you will not remember this incident," said Ben "OBLIVIATE!" and he moved away from him "Incarcerous!" and the boy was tied in ropes.
"We need to inform about this diary to Dumbledore asap," said Egon and Ben nodded, they were about to turn to move to the next street to help others when 5 death eaters apparated in front of the street, behind them was a hoodless figure, VOLDEMORT.
"Kill them while I meet the children here," he said.
They began sending hexes at the two who both took cover behind a post box.
"You go apparate and inform Dumbledore about the diary it's important, I will give you time to escape, on 3," said Ben and began duelling to 5 at once ". . . 1...2..." and then he attacked a blasting charm and distracted the death eaters and Egon disapparated with a crack. Ben was about to disapparate when one spell hit him and he was thrown backwards, another spell is thrown at him and he was lifted into air.
"Who do we have here?" asked Voldemort after putting the orphanage on fire, enjoying the cries of the children.
"Ben Potter, traitor," replied a death eater, "was going to marry a mudblood but her mudbllod was killed before marriage." All of them burst into laughter. Ben struggled to get free but failed, death was here.
"How touching, I will unite them though," laughed Voldemort "Or, you join us and you will be spared for all your mistakes" hissed Voldemort.
"I will die than join you," shouted Ben
"As you wish," roared Voldemort raising his wand. Image of May, Fleamont, Euphemia and James came in front of Ben's eyes. He smiled as Voldemort opened his mouth. I am coming to see you, May Parker.
"AVADA KEDAVARA!" shouted Voldemort, everything turned green and Ben's eyes closed forever.
"Ben!, Ben!" said a soft voice and Ben opened his eyes and everything was white then they were standing in front of a lake, where they had first kissed, there was a white gate with white light coming out of it in the middle of the lake.
He recognized the woman sitting in the boat, May in her bride dress the last she wore. "It's time to go home."
Ben smiled and sat beside her in the boat and the boat took them across the gate through the light.
Egon arrived at the ministry and ran for Moody's office, he bang opened the door a pale-looking Moody was pacing the room.
"There were two attacks to divert the Aurors," he said sadly to Egon.
"I need to talk to Dumbledore, now, it's very important," said Egon
"Tell me what is it?" asked Moody.
"No, only Dumbledore," shouted Egon. Moody looked at the man, blooded shoulder, several bruises and injuries and sorrow in his eyes. Moody nodded and took out a parchment and wrote on it and attached a golden feather and threw it in the fireplace, there was green fire for a second and the paper disappeared.
After an hour, the clock announced the time '5 a.m.' and then a glum-looking Dumbledore appeared out of the fire,
"Speak," he said to Egon.
"Sorry Moody, but if we can talk alone first," said Egon, Moody nodded and left the office. Egon soundproofed the office and then told about the diary of Dumbledore, whose eyes sparked and then he nodded.
"Any news on Ben?" asked Egin his heart rate increasing.
"By the time I and the rest arrived there he was dead," said Dumbledore sadly.
"And orphanage?" asked Egon tears falling.
"2 children died, the rest were saved," Dumbledore's eyes were wet. "I believe you will not tell anyone else about this piece of information about the diary?"
"Yes Professor, you can trust me," replied Egon, "He hold them so I could escape."
"He was a brave man, I have sent the Prewetts twins to Potter Manor to inform Fleamont and Euphemia, now I must return to school Ben's nephew is there, he will be devasted by the news," said Dumbledore.
"Ben always used to talk about James," said Egon. "Now, I must return home."
Both the men left the office.
James left for the Great Hall for breakfast along with his friends, Sirius has informed about a prank he has planned for breakfast and dragged the marauders and girls early to breakfast. When the first Slytherin entered Sirius alerted them, they all looked like a fourth-year boy moving to the Slytherin table and as soon he sat there, a big tail grew from his back and his face swell to match a monkey, as the others Slytherins sat on their table their appearances start resembling certain animals, birds and fishes. The funniest was Snape who looked like a gnome. The entire Great Hall burst into laughter, their effect only ended if they stood up from their benches. As a result, the entire Slytherin house ate the breakfast standing.
"That was a funny one Padfoot," laughed James.
"Thanks but Moony helped me to find the spell," said Sirius.
"Well the funniest was Liz and Merula both were looking like a Blobfish," laughed Mary.
"And Mulciber was looking like a sloth," laughed Peter.
Professor McGonagall saw the happy laughing face of James Potter as she approached him, she doesn't have the power to break the news to him, not now, but she has to. She acted as normal as possible when she spoke to the laughing boy.
"Potter, my office now," she said in her normal voice.
"I swear I didn't do it, Professor," replied James trying to suppress his laugh.
"I am not in the mood for arguing, come with me now," she said in a strict voice which has taken a lot of effort to bring out.
"As you say, Professor, but I didn't do it," said James standing up, Fuck you Padfoot.
"Sorry mate," said Sirius grinning.
James followed Professor McGonagall but she didn't took him to her office and that wiped the grin off his face and he was now curious, but as soon as she took her to Dumbledore's office he got confused, maybe Dumbledore is interested in the transformation which Sirius did today and would have thought that he did it, James smiled at the thought of Dumbledore's interest.
But as soon as Minnie opened the door and he saw a tired-looking Headmaster sitting on his table, his face sad and purple eye bags under his eyes, the smile disappear from James, and he started panicking. He looked at Minnie who has a sad face now, and then he guessed what must have happened, the worst.
"Have a seat, James," said Dumbledore, James sat and saw Minnie sitting on a seat in the corner herself. James looked at the headmaster whose long fingers of both hands were intertwined together and he was looking at his desk, a grim expression on his face. James has never seen Dumbledore like this there was no sparkle in his eyes or smile on his face.
James saw Minnie looking down at her shoes, this silence of barely a minute confirmed his doubts.
"Who?" James managed to ask slowly. looking straight at Dumbledore, who looked up at James, there was sadness and panic in the hazel eyes, Minnie looked up at took a time to notice James and then replied.
"Ben" his voice was sad but calm.
The world around James seems to be sinking, his insides broken, not know what to do but he would be lying to himself if he says he wasn't expecting it, the Aurors were all dying, people were dying, there's a war going on, but James has ignored the scenarios of death, but now it was in front of him, again, after Aunt May, Uncle Ben has gone too. He didn't spoke for a minute and just sat there with no tears, and was glad that no one interrupted him, he didn't even know anyone was there until a bird flapped its wings, he looked and saw Fawkes.
Dumbledore spoke, "James, I know..." but James cut him.
"When?" he spoke with all his effort, there was a knot in his throat.
"Tonight," replied the Headmaster.
"How?" James wanted to know what has happened that took away the person he loved.
"He was guarding a place on my request and there was an attack, he died so that his partner could escape and give me important information," replied Dumbledore grimly, James shot him a look and fixed his gaze at the old man.
"Do you know who killed him?" he asked a hint of anger in his voice.
"I examined, I guess death eater or probably Voldemort himself," replied the Professor now looking at the table again.
"The killing curse?" asked James instantly, Dumbledore looked at him again and nodded.
So, it was Dumbledore's work his uncle was doing, and he died to give another person time to escape. James sat there for a few minutes just trying to absorb this, his mind was all fuzzy now he didn't know what to do or what to say, he should be sad and cry or be angry and scream he didn't know, his insides felt empty. He stood up and turned to leave, he turned the knob but the door didn't opened, he looked back at Dumbledore this time anger winning over sadness.
"Please talk James. Ben was a. " Dumbledore began to say but James cut him again.
"There's nothing to talk professor, thank you for informing me," said James forcing his voice to be quiet. Dumbledore looked at the boy curiously, he hasn't expected this reaction. He looked at Minnie who was looking at James worriedly. The old man could see the pain, a lot of pain in James' eyes but he wondered how he was controlling it.
"I would request you not to take any actions in anger and sorrow," requested the headmaster.
"I won't," replied James.
"Do you want to go to home, we can arrange it, the funeral is on Sunday, three days from now, you can stay at home," he offered.
"I would prefer staying here," James didn't want to go to his house, not now, where he will be reminded of Ben every time. "Now, can I leave professor?"
Dumbledore nodded and the door opened and James left.
"How can you let him leave like this Albus? His eyes and face showed that he was in very much pain," asked Minnie.
"Everyone has their ways of facing grief and this is James' way. He really is brave to control all of it, I saw in his eyes the love and pain I have never seen before, Minerva. He feels a lot and has capability to love even more, it was much more than I have ever seen. Don't worry I will keep an eye on him to make sure he is okay," said Dumbledore sadly and then got lost in his thoughts.
Minerva watched Dumbledore for a few more minutes and then left.
Dumbledore watched the door closing, he thought about the day May has died, he was there sadly he was so involved in looking at the happy pair that he didn't notice the attacker until it was much late, Dumbledore sighed. The Potters are different and different are the people who they love and who loved them back.
His path ahead was clear he has to enter the Malfoy Manor alone. Has a way opened to defeat Tom Riddle?
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