A/N: A review will be very much appreciated.
Enjoy reading.
James was standing in a country lane bordered by high, tangled hedgerows, few feet from him was standing a boy, who James recognised as Tom Riddle. James followed Tom, passing a sign LITTLE HANGLETON.
Tom moved towards a house, which has a dead snake nailed on the front door, Tom knocked loudly on the door, and a man opened the door he had a wand and a knife in his hand.
"YOU!" the man bellowed. "YOU!"
Then Tom made a hissing sound similar to the sound he has talked to the basilisk, the man spoke in the same hissing voice and then Tom hissed again.
"Where is Marvolo?" asked Tom.
"Dead," said the man. "Died years ago, didn't he?"
Tom frowned, "Who are you then?"
"I am Morfin, ain't I?"
"Marvolo's son?"
They continued to talk a little more and James learned about Tom's parents.
Tom moved his wand and Morfin fell on the ground, stupefied, Tom took the ring from Morfin's hand and examined it with triumph and then wore it with pride. He then took Morfin's wand and proceeded towards a big manor of which Morfin was talking.
James followed Tom Riddle, they reached in front of a big manor, the biggest in the area. Tom blast opened the door, and moved inside, a quite old man came out of the room, he looked very much like Tom Riddle, just older in age.
"Hello father," said Tom in a cold voice, his lips twitching.
"You. . . .you," stuttered Tom's father. "Are you? Merope your mother?"
"Yes, she was, but she was foolish, she died, after giving me birth," said Voldemort.
"How. . . did you found . . came here?" asked the man.
"I have my sources,"
"Your mother was foolish, witch she forced me, gave me some potion," said Tom Sr.
"Love potion," said Voldemort with a harsh laugh.
"You should return, I don't want a connection with you," said Tom Sr.
"Oh I will, I just came here to say goodbye to you," snarled Voldemort.
Two very old people came out, the old man looked like a much older version of the other two men.
"Ohh, grandfather and grandmother are here too," said Voldemort, a devilish smirk on his face.
"You leave my house, I don't want the child of that fucking witch near my house," said Tom Sr. his voice rising.
"He is the son of that scum witch who forced you, jinxed you?" asked the old woman.
"Yes," said Tom Sr. "I don't want him near my house."
"But he is your child Tom," said the old man.
"No, he is not, I don't have any relation with him or that scum woman," said Tom Sr.
"Oh, believe me, I don't want any relations with filthy muggles," said Voldemort before raising his wand.
"You too play with that stupid stick, just li. .. . "
"AVADA KEDAVARA"
"AVADA KEDAVARA"
"AVADA KEDAVARA"
Before Tom Sr. could finish his sentence a green light hit him and he fell to the ground, soon the old man and woman fell to the ground too.
Voldemort let out a harsh laugh and stepped closer to his father's corpse, he did the same thing, he did with Myrtle's body, a black substance left Voldemort's body and entered the ring he has taken from Morfin.
James stood in shock, his blood froze, he has just witnessed three murders at once, his heart rate increased, he began shaking, his throat dry, his body covered in sweat, and he found himself shrieking with horror.
And then he was shaken by someone, he heard a soft voice call his name, he opened his eyes and sat up, panting, still shaking as tears filled his eyes. A sweet familiar smell reached his nose as a soft pair of hands hugged him. James relaxed in them.
"Everything's alright," said a soft voice in his ears.
"I am here with you, everything's alright, it was just a nightmare."
The hands soothed him, rubbed his back, and slowly his breathing normalized, his heart rate returned to normal. He was in a bed and not in a house, it was dark and blurry, he moved his around for his glasses and soon the soft hands placed the glasses on his eyes.
"James, are you okay?"
"Lily?" asked James turning to the figure beside him on the bed.
"Yes," she replied and then the memory of last night returned to him."Here drink water." A glass of water was placed in his hands and James drank it.
"What time it is?" asked James. Lily lighted her wand slowly and looked at the clock.
"3 in the morning. James you were shaking, sweating, and groaning, was it a nightmare?" asked Lily.
"It was one of the memories to be precise, saw Tom Riddle kill his father and grandparents. I see one each night. "
Lily gasped. "And Sirius, Remus, and Peter aren't worried, they should have taken you to Poppy at least."
"They don't know, I place a silencing charm on my bed, I forgot today," said James as he looked at his sleeping friends and placed a silencing charm.
"What?"
"I didn't want to wake them every night, I see the memory wake up and then went back to sleep."
"Ohh James, you are so stupid, you should at least have taken a dreamless potion," said Lily.
"I can't take it each night, overdose will result in poor health in the future."
"You should have told Dumbledore,"
"He knows a little," said James. "But has no answer to curing it."
"Okay, we will talk about it now let's go back to sleep," said Lily and James nodded as he removed his glasses and rested on his back.
Lily laid back too, James placed his hand over her waist and pulled her closer to him, both of them on their side so they were facing each other.
"Are you feeling alright now?" asked Lily in a concerned voice.
"More than alright with you in my bed, cuddling me," said James grinning, though he couldn't see her face he was sure that she was smiling too, soon she kissed him and moved closer to him, he could feel her warm breath on his face.
James tried to sleep but failed, the memory he has just seen was horrifying, and he just lay there thinking about it, according to Dumbledore this was all real incidents of the past. So, Voldemort has already started killing people when he was in school. 20 minutes passed and he was still wide awake, he didn't move even a little to make sure Lily doesn't wake up, he focused his thoughts on her, she is muggle-born and Voldemort and his followers will try to attack her and people like her and people like her parents. He can't let that happen.
"Are you still awake?" asked Lily in a low voice.
"Hmm,"
"Can't sleep?"
"No, I tried but failed."
Lily moved her hand through his hair and then rested her hand on side of his face, gently stroking his jawline with her thumb.
"Talk to me about what you saw," said Lily and James told her about the entire memory. "And now tell me what's worrying you?"
"You know what's worrying me," replied James placing his own hand on her head and gently stroking her hair.
"I know but I want to hear from you," said Lily.
"Just what happened yesterday, people are dying, they are mostly targeting, attacking, and killing muggles and muggle-borns, this makes me afraid," said James.
"You are the bravest man, I know James, you shouldn't be afraid," said Lily.
"I. . . but look at Remus' mum, and others, how can I be not afraid? I am afraid that you will get harmed, or Remus due to his condition, Sirius due to his evil family, Marls as her parents are traitors too, Mary who is a muggle-born like you, or Pete he gets nervous, or Regulus due to his task, I am afraid and worried for you all. I can't let any of you get harmed, I love all of you."
"This is your power James, you love us, you care for your loved ones, and this is your greatest strength. So, don't worry much about it. What's coming will come and we will meet it when it does. Together."
James pulled her closer as if it was possible, "I will never let anyone harm you or my friends."
"I know James, you are my Gallant Hero," said Lily before James kissed her. "Now, get some rest, we have a long day ahead, we will get the memory from Slughorn, it will help to defeat Voldemort."
"Lily, I need a favour from you," said James after some thinking.
"Anything for you," said Lily.
"I need you to brew a polyjuice potion," said James.
"Why?"
"I need it to buy a few books," replied James honestly.
"Books? You can buy books yourself," said Lily.
"No, I can't. The books I need are not available in the school library or at my home, they are not easily available, such books are available in Knockturn Alley."
"What book are you talking about?"
"Books on Horcrux, I searched for it in the entire library but found the word 'Horcrux only in a few books which just say it's a very dark branch of magic. But, to defeat Voldemort I have to know what it is and how to face it."
"If it's not here at Hogwarts then it surely will be very dark, why not ask Dumbledore?"
"Because you remember he ignored the question, anyway I need to buy a few more ancient books about ancient magic and spells."
"Promise me that you will not do anything wrong and use it safely."
"I promise you Lils that I will not do anything wrong and be safe."
"Okay, I will make it for you."
"Thanks," said James kissing her forehead.
Lily woke up in the morning to find strong arms around her, she turned to look at James, his peaceful sleeping face. She looked at the clock, it was 6:30, and she should return to her dorm before the rest of the people woke up, but she didn't mind, it felt safe and comfortable here with James' hands around her, she didn't care about others. So, she stayed and closed her eyes to get little more sleep.
"Remus, are you sure you are fine?" came Mary's voice after an hour, this woke up everyone.
"Yes, I am fine. I just can't believe she is gone," said Remus his voice hoarse.
James heard Sirus and Marls leaving their bed and talking to Remus, he looked at Lily, her head was resting on his chest as she slept. He thought about sliding out slightly to talk and comfort Remus but he didn't want to wake Lily, it was due to him that she was awakened in the night.
So, after deciding that Remus already has other people to comfort him, he decided to stay with Lily while he heard others talking to Remus.
He grabbed the invisibility cloak from under his pillow and put it over Lily, just in case.
After 30 minutes, he heard Lily's and his name mentioned.
"Did Lily receive a letter from her parents?" asked Mary.
"We were down there with her till about 11, but no letter had come, James was there with her, we should ask him," replied Marls.
"He is still asleep, I will wake him," said Sirius and James immediately but slowly removed Lily's head from his chest and onto the bed and covered her entirely with the cloak and then faked sleep, which he was good at.
"No wait, I will go and wake him," said Marls, bless that girl.
Marls walked up to his bed and poked her head inside without removing the curtains, James opened his eyed immediately and signalled her to be quiet, she nodded and then he removed the cloak slightly to reveal Lily was still asleep.
"Did Lily's parents reply?" asked Marls in a low voice.
"Yes, they are all right, now help and clear the area and make some excuse for both of us," James requested and Marlene grinned.
"Did you guys do it then?" she asked with a smirk and James shook his head. "Idiots."
"I can ask for a favour in return for it, whenever I want, and you have to do it," she said and James nodded and left.
James heard Marls making excuses for him and then after thirty minutes, the dorm was empty. James then woke Lily up, it took a lot more effort than he had thought.
"Mmm. . . 5 minutes please,"
After 5 minutes.
"Just a few minutes,"
James decided to get ready, after he exited the bathroom, he found her still asleep.
"Lils, now we will miss breakfast if you don't wake up."
"Marls please 5 minutes," she mumbled.
James hopped over her and started kissing her, "Now, open your eyes Lils, it's me, James, your boyfriend."
Lily's eyes opened for a fraction and a smile appeared on her lips. "I am dreaming," she said and James has to suppress his laugh, he began kissing her and she kissed him back.
James pulled back and she whined, "Lils we will be late, and you are not dreaming."
"I know, just wait for 5 more minutes, please," she said and pulled him back to her, and began kissing him.
The pair entered the great hall and the sad environment hit them. They made their way to their friends, Remus was offered to go home but he denied it and decided to remain with his friends.
They didn't talked much during breakfast, it was Sirius who continued speaking to lighten the mood and cheer up Remus, and to be honest, he was succeeding at it too.
Lily rested her head on James' shoulder, she was awake till late waiting for the letter and then was awoken at night due to James' nightmare. She felt James resting his head against her too. Lily felt bad for him that he had to face those memories each night and that too alone, it crushed her heart.
"You are good at heart Sirius," Lily said when Remus chuckled at one of Sirius' comments. "You are dramatic and behave immaturely but you have a good heart."
"Well thank you Lily-flower," grinned Sirius.
"It doesn't mean I gave you permission to give me a nickname," said Lily.
"Whatever you say Lily-flower," said Sirius.
"I am serious,"
"No, I am Sirius, Lily-flower," said Sirius laughing.
"James, stop him," said Lily and James chuckled.
"He is a lost cause, Lils," said James.
"You two are getting very touchy," snorted Sirius.
"Sirius, we talked about this," said James looking at him with raised eyes.
"Sorry," said Sirius in a serious tone. "It's just . . Lily don't go hurting him, he had been trying to be with you since the 3rd year, and he has cried a lot of times and we have to calm him and reassure him each time you had turned him down, he really got hurt. And now that you are giving him a chance then give him a proper chance and don't hurt him again, or you will have to face me."
Everyone looked at Sirius, he was really serious about it. Lily however felt sad that she had hurt James in past and that he had cried too.
"Sirius, believe me, you don't have to give dad-talk, and I assure you that Lily can never hurt me, what happened in past was necessary because I was an idiot. And we are taking things slow for a reason, so don't say anything about proper chance, I have said it before and I will say again, we need time, okay?" said James, and Sirius nodded.
"Thanks," Lily whispered to James when they made their way to Transfiguration class.
"Sorry, he gets protective over these things," said James.
"It's nice of him to do that,"
"Yeah, it is,"
"I am sorry James, that I hurt you before, I didn't know how good you were, and I thought it was all just a joke to you, I didn't mean to hurt you," she said.
James stopped her and let others pass till the corridor was empty and then cupped her face in his hands, her eyes were watery and James' heart broke at this sight.
"Lily, you are being stupid, I was an arrogant, bully and an idiot back then, and maybe I still am, but I have improved, and you were the main reason for it, you made me realize that I needed to change and think about things more seriously. Don't feel bad for what happened in past. I am glad you didn't agree to go on a date with me at that time. I am glad that you are with me at this time, a better me, a grown-up James Potter. Please don't be sad again it hurts me to see you sad."
"Sorry, I. . just with all this going on, and then Sirius telling me that I got sad and thought how much you have been doing for me, and I haven't done anything like that besides ignoring you," she said and then looked down at her feet. "James you do not have to wait for me, we. . . we can have . . .sex. . if you want, you have been waiting for me and I. . ." she trailed off.
James shook his head and put his hand under her chin and pushed it up so she was looking at him. "Lily, I am not with you for the physical things only, I am with you for who you are on inside, I . . fuck it. . I will say it, you don't have to say it back,. . . . I love you, Lily, I love you so much that I can't express it in words. I can go on without kissing you if it means that I will be with you."
"I love you too, James," she said now her heart lightening, all stupid worries gone. "But don't go on without kissing me it will be torture for me."
"Yeah, now I think of it, it will be torture for me too," chuckled James. "But I want you to know that it's not some hormones or lust, I truly love you."
"I am sorry, it was just Mary and Marls talking about it, and Sirius saying you being a cherry boy and you are holding back because of me, it was just I feel like being guilty."
"Sirius says stuff like that he doesn't mean it though, and I am in no rush and neither should you, take your time, and I must inform you that just being with you is the best thing for me."
Lily smiled at him, "I am such a silly person."
"Silly Lily," smiled James. "Now we should go to class or Minnie will give us detention."
The pair soon found themselves in the potions class, making an antidote to a garish-pink blended potion. Only Lily and Snape looked as though they knew what to do, Lily was muttering instructions to James, who was doing as told.
"Have you got the Felix Felicis with you?" she asked suddenly.
"Yeah, but we shouldn't use that to just get the potion correct," replied James.
"No, you idiot, we are going to talk to Slughorn after the class and the class is about to so you better drink the potion and bring me a bezoar," said Lily with a smug look.
"There's no mention of bezoar here Lils," said James scanning his book.
"Just do what you are told," said Lily as she stirred the potion with one hand and with another hand she waved her wand at the cauldron mouth, while James got back and collected the bezoar and after making sure no one was watching drank a mouthful of the luck potion.
He returned and handed Lily the bezoar as he helped her in adding the final ingredients to the potion.
"Sir, we are done," said James without consulting Lily, it was the Felix felicis speaking now.
Snape shot the pair an angry look as he struggled to finish his own potion.
"Why did you say that? I still have to let it cool and then add shrivelfig," said Lily.
"I have a good feeling," grinned James.
Slughorn approached the pair and observe their cauldron.
"Excellent, actually I forgot to tell you all that the last step of cooling and adding shrivelfig is not necessary at all, it decreases the efficiency of the potion but it looks Ms Evans and Mr Potter already knew about it, take 10 points each," said Slughorn.
"Sir, how about this instead of making the potion," said Lily as she held out her hand, the bezoar sitting on her palm.
Slughorn looked down at it for full ten seconds, before he threw back his head and roared with laughter.
"You really have got the intuitive grasp of potion-making, girl!" taking the bezoar and holding it up so that the who;e class could see it. " A bezoar can certainly act as an antidote to all these potions!"
"Take an extra 10 points," he said before moving to the cauldrons of others.
James noticed Snape scribbling something angrily in his book and his grin widened.
"Time to pack up!" said Slughorn chuckling.
A thought came to James and he removed all his books from the bag and separated a transfiguration book.
"James what are you doing?" asked Lily.
"It's Felix Felicis doing," he smirked as he repack his bag, the whole class was empty now except for Slughorn and James and Lily. "You will walk ahead of me toward the exit but don't leave."
He then took the transfiguration book holding it lightly in his hand and signalling Lily to move. When they were about to exit, James shook his hand that held the book and something fell from it, they didn't notice but Slughorn did as it landed near his feet.
"Wait Mr Potter, something has fallen from your book," came Slughorn's voice and James stopped and held Lily's hand to stop her, she turned around to look at him.
"Close the door when I turn," he whispered to her and she nodded.
James turned to look at Slughorn who was bending down to pick up the thing that has fallen, he then heard the faintest noise of the door closing behind him.
Slughorn picked it up, it was a photo, and Slughorn's face which had a smile suddenly fell, he grimaced.
James moved closer to him, and stood by his side and looked at the photo in Slughorn's hand, Lily followed James and she too looked at the photo, it was a photo of James, uncle Ben and aunt May.
A tear drop fell on the photo, Lily looked up to saw tears falling from James' eyes, and Slughorn too noticed it.
"My dear boy, are you okay?" he asked James who nodded but then broke into sobs.
"I miss them very much," said James in between sobs. "Can I sit, here?" he asked sobbing harder now.
Slughorn immediately led him to the front seat. "I miss them very much," said James his voice hoarse.
"Oh, my dear boy," said Slughorn placing his hand on James' back and rubbing it but James continued crying, Slughorn sat beside him.
"Did you know her sir?" asked James placing his finger on May's image.
"Yes, I knew her dear, she was one of the brightest witches I have ever taught, very talented indeed," said Slughorn sadly.
"I still remember the day when she died, I was very young but I still remember that day clearly," said James. Slughorn's face paled.
"It was her wedding day," said Slughorn in a quiet voice.
"Yes, it was but she never got married, I was standing beside her when she was attacked, she was in her white wedding gown, and she was very happy but then suddenly she fell to the ground," said James crying.
"I. . . I was there my boy, I am sorry, I had talked to that man but didn't recognize him until he attacked May, I was with him moments before but I failed to recognize him, I am sorry," said Slughorn.
James nodded, "It wasn't your fault sir. Can ... can I have something to drink please?" asked James in the most pleading voice.
"Yes, of course, Lily my dear open that cabinet, there are some bottles of mead, butterbeer and other things, it will help him," said Slughorn. Lily immediately took out the bottle and then without thinking grabbed two goblets and gave one to James and one to Slughorn and then poured the mead into the goblets.
Slughorn drank it and James signalled her to fill it so Lily did so as James drank his goblet slowly.
"I saw aunt May's skin turning to black, as she struggled to breathe, she was in pain sir, very much pain," sobbed James.
"I know my dear by I was there," said Slughorn his eyes watery, as he drank another goblet. Lily used the refilling charm on it to prevent it from emptying.
"You know sir when they took her to the hospital, they took four hours before giving us any report. I stayed there at the hospital. You know sir, Uncle Ben, he never cries but that day he was crying, he looked hopeless, sir, he looked as though he was broken," said James as Slughorn nodded his head before drinking another goblet.
"Never I have seen him sad, he always looked happy, and he used to make me laugh many times, Ben was always the one to make others laugh," said Slughorn.
"May was too, I stood by her side, and she asked me to be happy and cheerful, she was in very much pain the healer had told us, she was in so much pain that she decided to die sooner, but when she saw us by her side, she smiled despite the pain," said James and he continued speaking in the finest detail as Slughorn continued drinking and nodding and adding a comment in between.
"She was a friend of my wife, Kelly, there was an age gap between them, but still they used to talk for hours, May was a charming woman, I remember when Kelly had dragon pox, then also May used to come and visit her each week. Kelly was sad to not attend May's wedding as she was ill, but when Kelly heard that May had died she was heartbroken, she cried the entire day," said Slughorn his eyes watering.
"Where is Ms Kelly, now sir?" asked James still sobbing.
"She is at home, she has recovered from the pox but it has become weak, it was thanks to Ben that she is alive today though," said Slughorn, a tear falling from his eyes as he drank another goblet.
"How so sir? Is it about the attack in 1973?" asked James.
"Yes, my dear boy, Kelly was returning from her checkup at St. Mungo's with my son, they both decided to visit a nearby shopping area when death eaters attacked that place, my son was knocked unconscious and Kelly was cornered by two death eaters who were going to torture and then kill her, but Ben arrived there and fought off both the death eaters and returned my wife and son safely at home," said Slughorn before taking another sip.
"But now Uncle Ben is dead too, he was like that, he died saving another person, sir, did you know that?" asked James.
"No, I didn't," said Slughorn horrified as he drained the goblet.
"Yes, he had the chance to escape and save himself but he didn't instead he behaved bravely, and gave time to his partner so he could escape and give crucial information to Dumbledore while he himself sacrificed himself, died, gone," cried James.
Slughorn shook his head.
"Do you know who killed him sir?" pressed James and Slughorn shook his head.
"No, I don't," hiccuped Slughorn as he emptied another goblet.
"Voldemort did," said James.
"Don't use that name," said Slughorn but James ignored him.
"He came along with other death eaters who had captured Uncle Ben, while Voldemort burned an orphanage, he then proceeded near my uncle, he was hoisted in the air, he was already injured and was bleeding. Voldemort asked the death eaters who he was, they replied Ben Potter the traitor and the. .. "
"That's enough my dear, I don't need. . " Slughorn protested but James pressed on.
"Then Voldemort offered Uncle Ben to join his side or die," said James and paused.
"He did? He offered Ben to either join him or die?" asked Slughorn as he took another sip.
"Yes, he did but Uncle Ben rejected it, he said he will die rather than join Voldemort."
Slughorn gasped and so did Lily, she hasn't heard this part, and she was shocked how James knew this much.
"Voldemort replied as you wish and then he raise his wand,"
"Please stop," sobbed Slughorn.
"Uncle Ben had a smile on his face when Voldemort said the killing curse and the green light hit Uncle Ben and he fell like a marionette whose strings were cut," sobbed James, and Slughorn sobbed too.
"He . . . .died. . . like a. . .. brave. .. . hero," said Slughorn between hiccups and draining another goblet.
"Yes he died like a brave hero, he saved your wife and your son, sir. He loved May, the May who you admired, the May who you too saw dying, whose killer you weren't able to recognize resulting in her death, the death of Ben's love, then also Ben saved your wife and son," said James his voice now rising.
"I am sorry," said Slughorn breaking down, his hand that was holding the goblet was shaking now.
"I was like a son to him," said James.
"I know that," nodded Slughorn.
"You owe him, sir, you owe him, he saved the life of your loved ones by risking his own life. Ben died so that a message could be sent to Dumbledore so that Voldemort could be defeated, he died so that one day Voldemort could be defeated and people could live in peace," shouted James.
"I know, I know," cried Slughorn.
"But he died in vain, just yesterday so many people died and so many are dying and will die each day. Ben Potter died in vain,"
"Don't say that, he didn't die for nothing, you know who will lose one day, we have Dumbledore," said Slughorn.
"But he can't defeat Voldemort unless he knows the whole truth, my uncle Ben died to provide him with that information. Sir, you owe Ben, he saved your wife and son, you owe him and May."
"I know but now I can't repay them, they are gone," cried Slughorn.
"Yes, you can sir. You have to be brave like Ben sir, be brave like him and help in finishing the task he died for," pleaded James.
"How?. .. How. . . .. can I? I . . . . .am. . . not a good. . .. fighter," said Slughorn.
"You don't have to go to the battlefield to help sir, you can help now, and pay your debt to Ben," said James.
"How?" asked Slughorn.
James flicked his wand and cast a muffliato on the room."Give me the memory of Horcrux sir, the one Tom Riddle had asked for," begged James and Slughorn's face turned white.
"I. .. . can't," cried Slughorn.
"Why not sir? Why?" James raised his voice and Slughorn sunk in his seat.
"If it were to help of course. . . . . . . but no purpose can be served. . ."
"It can," said James his voice loud and clear. "Dumbledore needs information, the information Ben began to dig in, the information Ben died to give to Dumbledore, don't let his death go in vain sir."
James looked Slughorn straight in the eyes and leaned forward.
"Without that memory, we can't defeat Voldemort, we need the memory."
"I . . .I can't," cried Slughorn.
"Look at Lily sir, look at her she is your favourite student, you admire her, but you know sir she is a muggle-born, and Voldemort and his people want to kill every muggle-born, do you want her to be dead sir," said James in a loud voice pointing at Lily.
"Of course not," said Slughorn shaking as he looked at Lily and then shook his head.
"But they will kill her, just like they killed May Parker your another favourite student, do you want Lily to die just like May died, tell me professor do you want that?" shouted James, tears falling from his eyes.
Lily stood there in shock looking at James.
"I love her professor, I can't see her die, I have seen May dying in front of me, I have seen Ben die and other people are dying daily because of Voldemort. I can't see Lily dying, but she will die, more people will die if you won't help. Please professor I beg you, Lily will die just like May, if you won't help us, please sir," James was not shouting but his voice was loud and clear and there was pleading in his voice.
Slughorn looked at James in shock.
"You owe Ben, you can't let me lose my love just like Ben lost his love. You weren't able to help that day but you can today, you can repay your debt, you can save May Parker by saving Lily Evans,"
"But then . . . my dear boy . . . you're asking a great deal . . . you're asking me, in fact, to aid you in your attempt to destroy. . ."
"You don't want to get rid of the wizard who killed Ben Potter?"
"James, James, of course, I do, but. . . "
"You're scared hell find out you helped us?" asked Lily moving near Slughorn, who looked up at her.
Slughorn said nothing; he looked terrified.
"Be brave like my Uncle, Professor... be brave like Ben Potter."
Slughorn raised a pudgy hand and pressed his shaking fingers to his mouth; he looked for a moment like an enormously overgrown baby.
"I am not proud. . ." he whispered through his fingers. "I am ashamed of what. . . of what the memory shows . . . I think I may have done great damage that day. . ."
"You'd cancel out anything you did by giving us the memory," said Lily. "It'd be a very brave and noble thing to do."
Slughorn and Lily stared at each other, neither of them speaking anything. Then, very slowly, Slughorn took out his wand. He touched the tip of his wand to his temple and withdrew it, so that a long, silvery thread of memory came away too, clinging to the wand tip. Longer and longer the memory stretched until it broke and swung, silvery bright, from the wand.
James flicked his wand and conjured a small empty bottle and handed it to Slughorn, who lowered the memory into the bottle where it coiled, then spread, swirling like gas. He corked the bottle with a trembling hand and then passed it to James.
"Thank you very much, professor," said Lily.
"You both are good students," said Slughorn tears trickling down his fat cheeks into his walrus moustache. "You look a lot like Ben. . . . just don't think too badly of me once you've seen it. . . "
And then he put his head on his arms, gave a deep sigh, and then dozed off.
James and Lily opened the door slowly and closed it without making any noise.
"We should go to Dumbledore," said James, his eyes red.
"James, are you okay?" Lily asked and James nodded not looking at her. Lily pulled him into a hug and James broke down into her arm and let more tears fall from his eyes. "You were very brave today," she said rubbing his back. "I love you, James, everything's alright, I am with you and will be with you until the very end."
James sobbed before pulling back and nodding as he cupped her face and kissed her forehead.
Both of them knocked on the headmaster's door and it opened.
"James and Lily, but we have our next lesson tomorrow at 10 p.m. To what do I owe this early pleasure?" asked Dumbledore.
"Sir. . .we have got it, We've got the memory from Professor Slughorn," said Lily as James pulled out the tiny glass bottle to Dumbledore. For a moment or two, the headmaster looked stunned. Then his face split in a wide smile.
"This is spectacular news! Very well done indeed! I knew you could do it!" he exclaimed.
He took the bottle from James and strode over to the cabinet where he kept pensive, placed the stone basin upon his desk and emptied the contents of the bottle into it, before looking up at the two students.
"Can I trust you both that this piece of information will not go in any other hand other than the 7 of you?"
"Yes, sir you can trust us," said James. "We haven't even told the other 5 about Horcruxes yet."
"Very well, you have to understand if Voldemort finds out that we know his secrets then he will become extra careful and the chance to defeat him will be gone. Now, come let's go into the memory together," said Dumbledore.
James watched as Tom Riddle talked sweetly with Slughorn charming him up. James identified the ring on Tom's finger, he had seen it just today in the night, and he clutched Lily's hand tightly.
"Sir, I recognise that ring," said James and Dumbledore turned sharply at James.
"You do?"
"Yes, professor."
"We will talk about it soon, now focus on this memory," said Dumbledore.
Soon the other students left and only Tom Riddle and Slughorn were left.
"Sir, I wanted to ask you something," said Tom.
"Ask away, then, m'boy, ask away. .. "
"Sir, I wondered what you know about . .. about Horcruxes?"
"Project for D.A.D.A., is it?"
"Not exactly, sir," said Riddle. "I came across the term while reading and I didn't fully understand it."
"No .. . well . . . you'd be hard-pushed to find a book at Hogwarts that'll give you details on Horcruxes, Tom, that's very Dark stuff, very Dark indeed."
"But you obviously know all about them, sir? I mean, a wizard-like you .. . sorry, I mean, if you can't tell me, obviously. . .I just thought if anyone could tell me, you could. . . so I just thought I'd ask . . . "
"Well, it can't hurt to give you an overview, of course. Just so that you understand the term. A Horcrux is a word used for an object in which a person has concealed part of their soul."
"I don't quite understand how that works, though, sir," said Riddle.
James listened to Slughorn's explanation, as he answered Riddle's question that Horcrux is made by killing, which rips the soul apart. James listened as Riddle asked about making seven Horcruxes.
Soon, they left the pensive and landed in Dumbledore's office.
"I have been hoping for this piece of evidence for a very long time," said Dumbledore."It confirms the theory I have been working on, it tells that I am right, and also how very far there is still to go.
"Well, I am sure you both understood the significance of what we heard, at the same age as you are now, Tom Riddle was doing all he could to find out how to make himself immortal."
"You think he succeeded then, sir?" asked Lily. "He made a Horcrux?"
"He made Horcruxes, Yes, but not one, he made more than one, he intended to tear his soul into 7, that means 6 Horcruxes and 1 he himself," said Dumbledore. "I received the proof at the start of this year when we got the diary, from what James told me he saw in the memory and from what I concluded after studying the diary was sure that Voldemort had made a Horcrux."
"The diary was a Horcrux? That's why it was so well protected?" asked Lily and Dumbledore nodded. "But they could be anything, anything in the world."
"The second Horcrux is the ring," spoke James for the first time and then he explained the entire dream he saw tonight to Dumbledore.
"I had heard the news of the death of The Riddle family, but Morfin was blamed for it and was proven guilty too, he died in Azkaban a few years ago, before I could help him," sighed Dumbledore. "But we have progressed now, that the second Horcrux is the ring, and I have been travelling since I found out that the Diary is a Horcrux, contacting people who knew Tom Riddle and who were ready to speak about him."
"So, that's where you used to go to find other Horcruxes?" asked James.
"Yes, to find other Horcruxes, but I haven't succeeded in finding another one yet, but I do have suspicions as to what other Horcruxes are," said Dumbledore. "You both should now return, we will talk more about it later, I will see you both tomorrow in our lesson."
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