Harry Potter Fan Fiction

But now…
Now…
All the tracks had disappeared. Every single shred of evidence had been washed away—every footprint, every track…all gone. And with it, their hope.

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Wonderful.
Absolutely bloody peachy.
Laughter bubbled to his lips, devoid of any trace of mirth. ‘What a way to die,’ He thought humorlessly to himself. ‘I always thought it would be in the blaze of battle, dying a glorious death and taking every one of those sons-of-a-bitches with me.’
But no. His plans were turning out to be slightly skewed in nature.
He was going to die prone at Voldie’s feet, he was willing to bet. He didn’t have the energy or the resources to die facing him like a man.
No glorious death in battle.
He was just slowly going to waste away, bit-by-bit, until Voldemort had the mercy to finish him off.
This was certainly not what James had had in mind when pondering about his death on those lonely nights after a battle. He wasn’t ready to die—after all, what crazy loon really ever was? But at least, he consoled himself, he knew he was going to die saving a life. A life of a woman that he…cared for immensely.
That was reason enough.
But he’d be damned if he left without his dignity.

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Severus Snape watched the redhead retreat in the shadows.
He could do no more. It was up to her to find her way out.
Snape stared at the heads that Lily had been so repulsed by. He had grown used to their presence, scorned and mocked their deaths, even. Now, however, there was a sickening sensation as he looked at them.
He couldn’t even count how many were there because of his hand.
Perhaps he couldn’t help Lily directly. But he could find those who could.

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“Damn it, Remus!” Sirius cried despairingly as he glared at the rain with his furious gaze. “How in the hell do we find them now!?”
Remus shook his head, staring into the woods, equally frustrated. “I…I don’t know, Padfoot,” He said softly.
And then, from the deepest of shadows came, “I can show you the way.”
Sirius turned in an instant, his eyes wild, and with astonishing speed, had Severus pinned against a tree.
Though startled at the display of inhuman speed, Severus simply started at Sirius with a bored, dry look
“What did you say?!” Sirius snarled, pushing him harder against the tree, eyes menacing. The tree began to crack from underneath the pressure.
Icily, Severus stated, “Let me go, Black. Are you deaf as well as stupid? I can lead you to your pathetic comrades.”
“Damn you, you Death Eater!” He roared, “Stop lying!”
Angry onyx eyes glared at him from underneath matted, dripping black hair. “Listen,” Severus snapped, face flushed. “Do you want to find Evans and Potter, or don’t you?”
A calming hand was placed on Sirius’ shoulder, and he turned to see Remus standing there imploringly. Sirius grunted, and quickly stepped back, releasing Snape as if the brief contact had burned his flesh.
“All right,” Sirius muttered. “You’ve got ten seconds, Snape. Make it good.”

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Lily’s pounding footsteps across the cold stone floor slowed, then halted altogether as she glanced behind herself, and then to the door that led to the outside world.
Behind her lay James, and with him, agony and certain death.
In front of her lay freedom. Life.
Could she really forsake her comrade to save her own skin?
What was she supposed to do? Double back and save a man that she had just recently begun to like? Or save herself from a horrifying demise and live another day?
Lily tried to tell herself that she owed Potter nothing. Tried to tell herself that James H. Potter meant nothing to her.
She continued to repeat the thought to herself. And perhaps if she continued to tell herself that, then maybe she’d believe it.
Rational thought had long ceased to exist, and panic had taken control. It was impossible to think about anything other than what was happening in the here and now, and Lily was dictated by her feelings. Her mind was not in control any longer, for her heart had seized the fortress and was in power.
It was unusual.
As a soldier, she had constantly been drilled into not following her emotions, for they could deceive you and get you killed. As a child growing up in a war-torn world, she had never believed any differently and had little trust in feelings, because feelings, in her young mind, had always been connected to pain. Lily had never entertained the thought that emotions would ever cloud her judgment.
But she realized that in reality, emotions hadn’t clouded her judgment at all. They had just made the choice clearer.
The answer was simple, really. This was war, after all.
But it was also life.
She ran.

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“Potter…” His name was hissed, and he looked up through blurred vision to the cold leering face of his foe, and then turned away again, staring with morbid fascination at the crimson that was slowly staining the red carpet beneath him.
Voldemort scowled, and grabbed him by the roots of his hair and pulled. James gasped in pain, as he was suddenly eye-to-eye with the creature. Voldemort leaned in, so that he spoke directly into James’ ear. The foul words tickled his ear and froze his heart in trepidation.
“I’m going to kill you Potter.” Came the softly spoken words, “But not right away. Oh no. You see, you’re Dumbledore’s favorite little boy. I’m going to enjoy your death, Potter.” What frightened him the most, however, was the promising leer that adorned his capturer’s face.
Without thinking, the words slipped out of his mouth like water, and James watched as disgust and anger twisted Voldemort’s face. “You will never be greater than Dumbledore…”
Voldemort released James, sending him crumbling to the floor, and James could not help but cry out in surprise. There was rancous laughter from the crowd, and they spun as the world tilted dangerously.
The creature turned to address the mob, and he spoke with passion and hate as he spurred them all along. “This—this is the fabled James Potter! The one who has eluded me twice! The famous, uncatchable, unmatchable, and death-defying James Potter, as the media likes to say. The man with nine lives.” He kicked the prone body at his feet, and James groaned as he felt another rib crack. “Doesn’t look like he’s altogether that uncatchable to me…I suppose they’ll want to write that on his tombstone, won’t they?”
The crowd roared in approval.
“This man—this one trice-damned-man, is the one who has killed so many in our ranks! The one who feeds your brothers lies in order to convert them over to his dirty side! He disgraces the name of Purebloods!
“And this man,” Voldemort sneered in disgust. “Is in LOVE with a bloody MUDBLOOD!”
The mob jeered and cried out in disgust.
“Now GENTLEMEN! WHAT DOES THIS MAN—THIS MUDBLOOD LOVER, THIS TRAITOR TO OUR KIND—DESERVE FOR THESE DISGUSTING CRIMES?!”
The horde of Death Eaters answered as one, in an enormously deafening howl.
“DEATH! DEATH! DEATH!”

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This was stupidity. Sheer and utter stupidity.
Why was she doing this? Why was she risking her own life to save Potter’s? Emotions were funny things.
Because…Because I…I…
And they were meant to be pondered another day.

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I’m going to die.
The revelation was startlingly coherent in his drifting mind, as he stared at Death in the face through lidded eyes. The chants for his death were ringing all around him, in a massive, spinning bellow.
He found, to his slight surprise, that he didn’t care. I don’t care if I die, anything would be better than this—this is true hell, I want…I want…I want peace, I want to stop the HURT and the PAIN and I already did all that I could have done, I don’t want to keep this charade up any longer I don’t want to keep fighting for every breath for the rest of my life, I just want…I just want…I don’t know what I want…I don’t care anymore…
This revelation was a bit strange, for he had always scorned those who gave up and died, he had always resented them, deep down, and he had sworn—sworn—that he would never die like that. That he would never give up.
It was harder than it looked, fighting for tomorrow.
The revelation came sharply, and he marveled at it absently.
…I…I…want…to die…

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“Hullo there, chap.” Lily grinned.
The Death Eater opened his mouth to sound the alarm, then stopped, giving Lily a suggestive leer as he ran his eyes up and down her figure. “Hello, Poppit.”
Lily mentally grimaced, but gave him a sultry, beckoning pout. “I’m sorry, but it seems that I’ve…” She gave an exaggerated, seductive wink, “…lost my way. I don’t suppose that you’d help me find it, would you?”
The Death Eater licked his lips.
Lily gritted her teeth, feeling very much like a piece of meat. This is necessary, James is worth it, this is necessary, James is worth it…
“Well?” She purred, as she slinked up to him so that they were barely inches apart. The Death Eater’s breathing grew faster as she draped her hands across his neck. He smirked at her expectantly.
Lily smiled back, and then his eyes grew wide with surprise and he slumped into her arms, unconscious. Lily released the pressure points and looked disdainfully at the man that lay before her.
The redheaded witch snorted. “That’s what you get for being a chauvinistic, perverted male pig.”

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Lily took a deep breath. This was it. It was incredibly idiotic, and bordering on the line of moronic, even. It had crossed the line of stupidity long, long ago, and was now happily residing in a land which at any other time would have landed her in the loony hospital. There was not a word in the English language that could describe her absolute damned daftness adequately. She could hear every professor in the academy for Aurors scolding her for her utmost confounded logic. The plan was very much worthless. Unwise, rash, and foolhardy. And there was a very, very high chance of death.
Nervously, she adjusted the hood of the Death Eater’s mask upon her face and glanced at the man that lay unconscious in the small cell. She glanced at her attire, and deemed herself worthy to commence
Taking a deep breath, she pushed open the door…
…And strolled casually into Voldemort’s chambers.

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James was drifting. Unbidden, bits and snatches of the Hogwarts song that he had sung since his first year floated gently in his mind. ‘Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts…’
He remembered his first year. He was cocky, nervous, scared out of his wits. And it was on his first day that he met Lily Evans…
…By pushing her in the lake.
She had just laughed, and smiled. War had not yet stolen away her innocence. It was on that first day that he fell in love with Lily Marie Evans.
Teach us something please,
Hogwarts had taught him so many things. Dumbledore had taught him so many things.
Whether we be old and bald
Or young with scabby knees,
He had been young. Naïve. Cocky. But Dumbledore had put up with all his exploits and pranks, smiling. He had always laughed, and said, “Let them be children.”
And James could have sworn that he had once heard Dumbledore say quietly as he turned away, “They’ll lose their innocence soon enough.”
He had dismissed it then.
But James knew what he meant now.
Our heads could do with filling
With some interesting stuff,
He had learned with ease everything that the teachers had ever taught him. Outside of the school, he had learned cruelty, hate and malice.
James was dumped on the floor and dragged to his feet upon the cold stone, but James was unresisting, limp, as he tried to grasp his scattered thoughts.
For now they’re bare and full of air,
Dead flies and bits of fluff,
Voldemort was speaking to him once again now, malicious eyes gleaming at him, but James could only see the taunt mouth moving, and could hear nothing in the rushing of his ears. He recalled the time when Voldemort had tried to recruit him. But James had turned down the offer, and instead had sided with the man that Voldemort hated the most, and the man that James looked to as a sort of foster father.
He was addressing the mob of Death Eaters that filled every available space in the capacious quarters. They cheered during his speech, but James paid them little mind.
So teach us things worth knowing,
Love. Joy. Friendship.
“Make him bleed!” One called out loudly.
Bring back what we’ve forgot,
Hope. Faith. Peace.
Just do your best, we’ll do the rest,
And learn until our brains all rot.
The Cruciatus. He could see Voldemort mouthing the curse slowly and felt the tingle slowly spread through his body right before it became unbearable, excruciating pain. Voldemort smiled cruelly, and James could hear him say faintly,
“Where’s your precious Dumbledore now, Potter?”
“Hogwarts…Hogwarts…Hoggy, warty….” He smiled, and took pleasure in Voldemort’s furious features while he sang brokenly, underneath his breath. They were his last coherent words for a while.
….Hogwarts…
And as the pain consumed him entirely, he saw out of the corner of his eye, another Death Eater slip into the room, unnoticed.
No…
Lily froze, and the world seemed to go without her from a distance, everything was hazy and the muffled shouts of glee were nearly inaudible. Her gaze was focused on the limp figure that was sprawled at the base of Voldemort’s feet.
He wasn’t moving. Wasn’t taunting. Fear clutched her heat painfully as she strove to get closer—was he breathing?
The seconds ticked by, and Lily could detect nothing. It wasn’t until a vicious kick to the stomach made him flinch and gasp for air subconsciously. She could see the hazel brilliance shine through his lidded eyes on his drawn face. His pale pallor was contrasted sharply only by the numerous multitude of bruises and the dark crimson that seeped out from several wounds, including a shallow cut on his brow.
The sight of his blood incensed Lily, and red-hot fury coursed through her veins. But now was not the time nor place for vengeance. She slithered into the mob, stealthily making her way closer to the center of the room as she blended in with the faceless, dark creatures.
She could not have her revenge now. Not when every action was so crucial to her sanity-be-damned plan.
But Lily swore upon every star on the sky, as she looked upon the masked faces in the room, that she would inflict her revenge on all of them someday. They could be assured of that.
Her emerald gaze caught the dimmed, weary hazel of her partner.
Oh yes, they could most certainly be assured of that.

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James opened his eyes a sliver, and glanced blearily around the spinning room. Every bone in his body hurt, and every vein screamed in agony. But there was no time for such complaints. Not when his very life was at stake.
And as much as James would have liked to pass out, he didn’t. For some inexplicable reason, his gaze was drawn to the Death Eater that was slowly making her way across the threshold, closer and closer to him. She looked up for a moment, and he caught her gaze.
The emerald brilliance was unmistakable.
James had never met anyone in the entirety of his life with eyes so striking as hers. Alarm swept through his body as he glared at her, confounded. How did she get out? He wondered, And more importantly, what is she doing here…? His muddled mind searched for a probable answer, and he could come up with only one. Perhaps she’s here to kill me…? It is important that I don’t give away any of the Order’s secrets… Or maybe she sees this as an opportunity to kill Voldemort…? Either possibility is plausible…
Not once did he think that she could be there to rescue him. He did not allow himself that feeble hope.
To hope was folly. It would only bring heartbreak in the end.
All he knew was that the end was near, and death was at hand. He just did not know whose hand he was to die by—Voldemort’s or Lily’s?

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“…But Voldemort’s lair can only be found by those who already know where it is.” (1) Severus finished in low, even tones as he stared off into the darkness of the trees. The rain had abated, and the forest was silent as the sun peeked through the clouds. Severus took great comfort in simply listening to the tranquil sound of the forest coming back to life, and the moist dewdrops dripping from the leaves of the various trees and plants.
The beautiful serenity was soon ruined however, by a howl of annoyance.
“How in the hell are we supposed to find it then?” Sirius exploded, his face dark and drawn. He turned away from the other wizards, and gave a feral growl, slamming his fists against the trunk of an ancient tree.
Remus, who had been listening intently, also looked slightly disheartened. Severus snorted and rolled his eyes at the hopeless pair. ‘Morons’, He raged, ‘Are they really that thick?’
He opened his mouth to speak, and found, to his utmost disgust, that he was slightly nervous. He had never been comfortable around any of the Marauders, and here he was acting chummy around them. He had sworn his revenge on all of them, but instead he was going to help save the one he hated the absolute most: James H. Potter.
Severus truly didn’t give a whit as to what happened to James. But Lily, on the other hand…
He would not condemn her to her death because of that thrice-damned fool Potter.
“I’ll take you there.” The words were, for once, not arrogantly spoken. They were soft, hesitant, but both the others caught the almost inaudible words.
“What?” Sirius gave a bark of derisive laughter, and turned to Severus with jaded eyes. “You’re a Death Eater,” He felt the urge to remind him, incredulous.
“Really, Black? I hadn’t noticed.”
Remus stepped forward, quite aware of how Sirius’ fists were clenching and unclenching. “All right then,” He said softly, with confidence that he did not feel. “Lead the way.”
Sirius gaped at Remus. “Are you out of your mind? He’s a Death Eater.” Sirius drew the name out slowly, as if it would help Remus comprehend the gravity of the solution.
Remus sighed, and turned to face Sirius once more. “Not all Death Eaters are evil, Sirius. Just like not all werewolves are man eating devils. Unless you believe differently…?”
Sirius held his silence.
Remus smiled, his weary eyes holding a glint of determination. “He has risked his life to bring us this information. And whether it be true or false, we do not know. He’s our best hope right now. So shut your face and follow.”
Remus nodded once to Severus, and he turned, under the cover of the shadows once more. He walked through the forest with quick, light steps, and Remus followed without protest.
Sirius hesitated, and growled irritably. “The fool’s going to get us all killed,” He muttered before following.

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It would have been so easy to let go…
It was quite tempting, as a matter of fact. The will to live was greater than all else, and the will to die, though cowardly, was nearly as strong. It would have just been so easy…
Things were seldom easy anymore.
The world had slowly morphed in his reaching of adulthood. The lines that had so surely divided everything into black and white had blurred, and everything was simply a shade of gray. The choices that he made would affect so many people, so many lives. It was a great responsibility. James was tired, he was weary of being so strong all the time. Weary of being the hero.
If he were dead, he wouldn’t have to meet all the expectations that loomed above him with each breath he took.
No more hiding behind the jester’s mask.
No more having the lives of so many men and women resting in his shaky hands.
No more having to stop repressing his goddamned desire to break down and just kiss Lily Evans.
No more pain, no more heartbreak, no more sorrow. After all, even if he went straight to hell for his crimes, what could hell have on this?
Unconsciousness wavered enticingly at the edges of his vision, but it was soon replaced by another burst of red-hot agony coursing through his veins. Eyes snapped open in wild, feral torment, mouth opening in a silent scream. He couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think.

The Order of the Phoenix.net

24 Hours - Part 6