Chapter 18 (Old Rivals Return)
James smiled. In that moment, he realized even though he had lost a lot over the years. His parents, his career, his girlfriend….But, he had gained a lot too. He had a wife now. He had a sister. He had a lot of people looking after him as he was a member of the Order.
"They are ready." Lily came inside.
"Coming." He said.
The ceremony was crashed by Death Eaters led by Snape. He came into the backyard and started laughing.
"You held a funeral for her?" He laughed crazily. "You really are weak."
"Get out, Snape." Lily told him.
"Man, she played you well." He laughed, "You were wrapped around her finger then and still are."
"Get out, Snape." Sirius came in front of James, with his wand at the ready.
"I used her." He said, "To get to you. Oh, how easy it was. How easy it was to kill your family. Weak, weak little Potter,"
James Potter pushed away Sirius and stepped ahead.
"Stupefy! Stupefy! Stupefy!" He stunned many Death Eaters, "Stupefy!"
Only Snape was left.
"What? Coward?" He laughed, "Don't have the guts to fight me?"
James came near Snape. He advanced till he was inches away from his face.
"This is for my father. My mother." He whispered, "For Caroline, Snivellious."
"What?"
"Crucio!" James said, his lips barely moved and he didn't need his wand anymore.
Snape screamed in pain. But, James didn't care. The fire in his eyes was scaring Sirius. It was madness. James only stopped when Rainie stepped forward.
"Stop it, James, stop it. STOP." There were tears in her eyes. "This isn't you, James! Stop it!"
James lowered his wand. It was as if he had stepped out of a trance. He looked at the trembling body of Snape.
"I'm……sorry." He stopped. "I………..I have to go."
"James!" Lily came towards him.
But, he disappeared into thin air.
"James!" She shouted.
"Let him go." Sirius said, "He'll come back when he has this sorted out."
"Do you know where he'd go?"
"No." Sirius lied.
But, he just knew that James needed time. Alone. There was nothing Lily could do to fix it. She wouldn't understand. She never had an enemy that wanted her dead so bad the way Snape craved James's death. And, the pressure to look after himself and to protect the ones who he loved was getting to James. Lately, he felt he was losing his mind. And, his solace was on the Quidditch pitch, something he had given up for this never ending war. He was only twenty. This wasn't the life he had imagined. He had been fighting hard for two years. And, it was only getting harder. No matter how much Dumbledore talked of the light at the end of the tunnel, he couldn't see it.
He didn't know what would happen to him. To his family. To his friends. He wanted peace. He was only twenty one years old but he felt as if he was fifty.
"James…." He turned.
Lily Evans stood behind him.
"How did you find me?" He asked. He had shared everything with Lily but he never told her where the Quidditch pitch was.
"Rainie told me."
He smiled. "Of course, that little scamp."
"Why did you leave, James?" She asked.
She was worried.
"I am fine." He said.
"You know when you lie." Lily came towards him, "You can't look at me. And, you aren't looking at me now. Now, tell me. What happened back there?"
"I can't believe it." He whispered. "How can someone be so evil? I understand what she did. She wanted to save her life. She wanted to protect me…..Did you know…did you know…."
Dumbledore had told him only two days ago that Caroline Trent had followed James like a shadow. She had protected him from Snape for years now. Now, that she was dead, there was no one and nothing stopping Snape to hurt James. Sure, James was a talented wizard. But, he never had what Snape had. He never had the heart to dabble in the dark arts. And, Snape didn't have the one thing James had, Lily. He had been so happy when James Potter came back to Hogwarts with a girlfriend. He was sure now that James wasn't bothering her, he would have a chance. But, even though James wasn't interested in her anymore, Lily was now falling for him. For that he designed a plan that would destroy Potter through and through. But, no matter what he did, James Potter came out the other with everything Snape wanted. He had the money Snape never had. He had the fame that Snape never had. He had the family Snape never had. He had the girl of his dreams which Snape never had.
"How can someone hate me so much?" He sat down on the ground, "He has devoted his entire life to destroying my life and I …….don't have the energy nor the time to even think about him."
He couldn't understand how Snape could do that. Yes, they were enemies. They will always be enemies but he didn't think about it at all. He worked for the Order. He fought against him. But, as soon as his duty ended, his mind went to Lily. His thoughts went to plans with Rainie and Sirius. He thought about the next full moon with Remus. He thought about anything but the war. And, certainly not Snape.
"I kind of get it." Lily admitted.
"You do?" He asked, a little horrified.
"You have someone he knows he will never have." She said.
James nodded. She was talking about herself. It always had been James or Snape that ran after Lily.
"How do think I felt when you were dating Caroline?" She asked. "What did you think I wanted to do when I saw you and her in the school…..knowing that I missed my chance?"
James was speechless. He didn't know this.
"How about when I got to know that you were going to propose?" She said, "I wanted to kill her. Just the difference is I am not petty enough. Or we didn't have history like you do with Snape."
"I suppose." He laid down on the grass and sighed. "He might just kill me."
"Oh no, he won't." She laid down next to him. "I will kill him before he gets to you."
James smiled. But, he knew talking about killing a person and actually going through with were two different things. Sweet and soft hearted Lily wasn't actually capable of killing a man who had been her friend. But, Snape would definitely raise his wand to James and kill him without a second thought. James knew that.
(Sorry for posting after so many days)
