A/N: I know I have updated after long.. i am sorry for the wait.. thanks guyz for waiting for the new chapter.. i love this chapter... tell me what you think.. i haven't decided whether i want to make this story long.. i know though i haven't been getting reviews you guyz are reading my story. thank you so much.. and enjoy the story!!!
Chapter 10
Lily wrapped her arms tight around James’ waist and closed her eyes tightly as they soared above the ground on James’ broom. She had never ridden a broom after her first lesson on riding a broom in their first year. She was scared, not of heights but of riding on a broom. In spite of having lived in the world of wizards for six full years, she still couldn’t get herself to ride on a broom. She had never tried to fly. She was scared that if Petunia knew she could actually ride on a broom then she would be convinced that she really was a dark witch. So she hadn’t wanted to take the risk. She was a witch of course but not a dark one. Petunia never understood that. She failed to understand that witches weren’t always bad and witches were just another kind of human.
James felt elated. Lily’s hand around his waist felt so good, so warm, so soft and so… right. It felt as if it was supposed to be there at that moment. He was happy, happy that they had chosen night time to go to Hogsmeade, happy that they could fly to Hogsmeade.
The cold December wind blew against their faces sending a chill down their spine. Lily, in spite of having worn a thick woolen jacket shivered and leaned against James back. James felt Lily on his back. He could smell her scent and the wind spread the scent in the air. He felt her cheek resting on his back and shivered. He could’ve fooled himself that he had shivered because of the cold air blowing against them but he knew better. It was almost when they had arrived Hogsmeade that James felt a dampness in his shirt.
“Lily, what happened? Are you crying?” James asked partially turning around to watch Lily with a concerned look on his face and his eyes searching hers.
“No, James it’s just because of this wind. My eyes can’t stand the cold air. They start crying even when I am not,” she made a joke out of it.
But even she knew better. She had really been crying, remembering the beautiful relationship of friendship and sisterhood she had shared with Petunia, the trace of which didn’t even exist at the present time. She didn’t know why she had remembered Petunia at that time. Maybe because she knew somewhere that if she grew weak while thinking about those problems, then James would be there to hold her. This self analysis and its outcome surprised her. Since when did she start trusting James so much? Since when did she start trusting James with her deepest wounds?
“Alright, ready for landing!” James announced. “Hold tight Lily.”
If possible, Lily held James even tighter at they landed on the grounds of Hogsmeade. It was already 10:00 at night. So they hurried to every place they were supposed to go to ensure that every supply reached Hogwarts on the New Year Eve. At 11, they were done with everything.
“Lily do you want to go for a butterbeer?”
“Now, James, I am getting sleepy. Lets go back to Hogwarts. We have school tomorrow! I need sleep, James.”
“Ok. But I would’ve loved to have a butterbeer right now,” James muttered.
“By the way, thanks, James. You were right Hogwarts really looks beautiful at night. I would surely have regretted if I had missed this opportunity.”
“Ok, let’s head back. I can see your tired eyes.”
Just then something inside James’ pocket stirred and he knew Sirius’ message was on its way. He took the mirror out of his pocket and spoke up, “What’s up padfoot?”
“Prongs, Dumbledore asked me if I could pass you the message that you two stay at Hogsmeade today ‘cuz he has something for you two to do early in the morning tomorrow and you have to be at Hogsmeade for that.”
“Um… I have to ask Lily.” He turned to Lily and said, “What do you think Lily?”
“Alright, we could stay at an inn here.”
“Ok padfoot. Tell Dumbledore to owl us informing us what we are supposed to do in the morning. By the way, I am gonna love missing Potions, which is our first class tomorrow.” He laughed and then said goodbye and pocketed the mirror again.
“Wow, I didn’t know you had that kind of mirror James. I am impressed.”
“There are a lot of thing you don’t know about me Lily,” he smiled mischievously and turned away, “Lily lets go to that inn. That looks inviting.”
Lily turned towards the inn and realized that it was actually beautiful. And indeed it looked inviting. They went to the inn, only to realize that the inn was full. They pleaded for 10 minutes and after finally knowing that they were Hogwarts students, the manager managed to manage a room for them.
“Can you manage another room please?” James was politely asking to the manager. “We need one more room. We can’t do with only one room.”
“I am sorry, Mr. Potter. But we really don’t have any other room. I have tried my best. It’s holiday season. So every room is full.”
“James, it’s alright. We can stay in one room for today,” Lily said somewhat hesitantly realizing that no matter how much they pleaded they weren’t going to have another room for them and her eyelids were already heavy.
“But, Lily…”
“James, I am alright with it if you are.”
“It’s not a problem with me, Lily. I thought…”
“James, all I want right now is sleep and any room will do.”
“Ok then. Can I have the key please?” he asked the manager.
They took the keys and went straight forward to their room.
“Lily, do you want the door open?” James asked Lily.
“James, are you crazy? It’s freezing cold. Shut the door fast.”
“Lily, you take the bed. I am gonna sleep over at the couch.”
“Alright, James. I am not gonna argue. I just want to sleep.”
With a swish of wand, Lily changed into her sleeping pajamas and slipped into the bed. James conjured up a blanket and pillows and went to sleep on the couch. Within a minute, Lily was fast asleep. James just lay on the couch, staring at Lily’s peaceful face. She was smiling, probably having a beautiful dream. Her face had a glow that always attracted James. And whenever Lily touched him, James’ whole body would be burning. Tonight, when Lily had leaned against him in the broom, his entire body was burning and he was shivering and sweating at the same time. Lily always did that to him. Within an hour, James too fell asleep but his dream wasn’t as sweet as the reality. He had a nightmare.
It was absolutely dark and dead silent. Not a soul spoke, except the scary noises that were coming from nowhere. He looked around, saw nothing. He didn’t see where the noise was coming from. Everywhere he could see traces of dead bodies, only traces. The bodies had vanished. A big box fell seemingly from air and narrowly avoided hitting him on head. He was running, running towards a white flash of light. He wanted to get there. He was out of time. He had to get his parents out of the place before it was too late. He didn’t reach the white light. Instead a green jet of light chased him. The light missed him.
He ran faster, as fast as his legs could carry him. He reached his parents. He tried to move them out of the light’s way. But he missed them. The tip of his middle finger touched them but the touch wasn’t strong enough to push them out of the green jet’s way. It hit them and hit them hard. They were thrust in the air. He saw them flying upwards and falling on the floor with a loud thud. He ran towards them but their bodies disappeared. Something was written in blood where his parents would be lying otherwise.
Sacred, he went near it and read what was written in there. Death. They are dead. You’re next. He tried to run away but he felt glued there. He couldn’t move his hands, he couldn’t move his legs. Then he saw. A green jet of light was coming towards him.
Lily woke up, startled. She saw James turning in the couch. He was disturbed. His face seemed haunted. She shook him for a full 5 minutes. Then James woke up. He was sweating and panting.
“James, are you alright?”
“Same nightmare,” he muttered.
“What?” Lily asked though she was sure she had heard it correctly the first time.
“Nothing. I am alright.”
“James, don’t lie to me. Did you have the same nightmare before?”
He had no strength to lie. “Yeah a couple of times before. The first one was a year ago but the second one was just a week before,” he said without caring that he hadn’t even told about his nightmare to the marauders. He was just too tired and too glad that Lily was there to wake him up, wake him up before he saw his death for the third time.
“James it’s just 2 in the morning. Have a quick warm shower and you can go back to sleep.”
James went silently to the shower though he didn’t have any hope that he would be able to sleep again. He returned after 10 minutes. He didn’t want to be alone for long.
“James you can sleep here. I will go over to the couch,” Lily offered. “You might be able to get a better sleep in the than in that uncomfortable couch.”
“Lily…” James hesitated to speak more.
“Yeah, James?”
“Would you sleep here in the bed with me? I promise I won’t touch you,” James said hoping against hope that Lily wouldn’t slap him and would agree. He was too scared that he would have the same dream again and Lily would be too far away from him to wake him up again before he died. He also wanted the reassurance that there were people alive in the world other than him. His nightmare had left him alone in the world with dead people everywhere.
“Alright, James,” Lily agreed. She had seen the haunted look on James’ face. She had seen his scared eyes and his doubt about whether he could fall asleep again. She had seen his need for reassurance and more than that she knew what it felt to have a nightmare. She was surprised how she managed to read so much from James’ face.
James was surprised. He hadn’t really expected Lily to agree. He was pleased that Lily trusted him so much. “Thank you, Lily,” he said and managed a quick smile which didn’t quite reach his eyes.
“Don’t mention it, James. Come here,” Lily invited him to the bed.
James slid into the warm bed under the warm blanket and Lily turned off the bed lamp. James was still restless. He was turning over and over again.
“Want to talk about the dream, James?” Lily asked quietly touching his hand from under the covers.
“Not really. I am just glad that you were here, Lily and I am glad that you still are here with me,” James said. “I just hope that I can have a peaceful night now.”
“You will, James. I promise.”
James fell asleep after getting that reassurance from Lily. Lily was thinking that James Potter, the same James Potter, who never seemed to be afraid of doing any stunt at school, had a weak side as well. He also could be scared sometimes, scared for someone. He was human after all. Not long after, Lily fell asleep, still holding James’ hand.
The morning was warm. Sun had illuminated the whole room. Lily woke up and realized that she was still holding James’ hand. She withdrew her hand, trying not to disturb James. She looked at him. He had a cute smile on his face. He was content. She was just thankful that he wasn’t having nightmares anymore. Then her gaze turned to the clock that was on the wall right in front of the bed. And she gasped. It was 8 am already! She would surely miss two of her morning classes ‘cuz they still had to do the work Dumbledore wanted them to do.
James woke up. “Hey, Lily,” he said. Then he realized the events of last night and added, “Thanks Lily, for whatever you did for me.”
“Don’t worry, James. You were really a gentleman.” She smiled. James’ happiness was beyond explanation. “But James, I will miss my first two classes!”
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