Dreams Don't Die

Dreams Don't Die
By Bastet

~Chapter Three~
And They All Fell Down…

He was walking…running. Yes, he was going oh so quickly towards- towards something. He couldn't tell yet. He was bent on getting to whatever it was, though. His feet seemed to move on their own. And then he saw it; that thing that he had been searching for.  It was an old and run-down house. He entered the door and mounted the stairs, bounding up as if he was familiar with the territory. Entering a room on the left side of the hall, he came into the presence of a tall, dark-robed figure. Then, he heard himself speak.

"My, Lord! The Potters have made me their secret keeper…" his voice sounded unnatural and unreal to him.

And the last thing he remembered was the cold, high-pitched laugh of Voldemort.

Sirius woke, sweating and shouting. He shivered and pushed the hair out of his eyes.

God! That was the worst one yet!

The dreams had begun soon after he had agreed to be Lily and James' secret keeper. The spell would be performed in three days. He knew he couldn't go through with it. He would never ever betray Lily and James…but those dreams! So lifelike! So- so utterly disturbing. He made up his mind as he gazed out at the starry sky outside of his window.

*~*~*~*~*

DING DONG!

The door was opened a few minutes later be a very groggy James. Sirius eyed him angrily.

"Why did you just open the door like that? And without your wand?! I could have been Voldemort!"

"Since when does Voldemort ring doorbells? Oh, fine…I'll be more careful. Come in." Sirius and his short companion entered the house.

"What are you two doing here?" James asked, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.

Sirius hung his head, suddenly ashamed of his decision.

"I can't do it James."

"What?" James asked, quite confused as it was about two in the morning.

"I can't be your secret keeper."

"What?!?!"

"I'm sorry!" Sirius said hurridly, "I can't explain why, I have a premonition…I just can't, okay?!" he finished sharply.

Lily came into the room quietly.

 "Are you sure, Siri?" she asked worriedly.

"Yes, Lily, I- I'm sorry. But Voldemort would never suspect Peter."

"True," James agreed, a bit dazed. "But you would never betray us-"

"I know, I know," Sirius broke in, then he had a thought. "Well, Prongs, what if I did?!"

"Well, you- you'd never…" James faltered, trying unsucessfully to picture Sirius going over to Voldemort.

"How do you KNOW?" Sirius countered loudly.

”Know?” James repeated.

"Enough," Lily said. "I respect your decision, Sirius, although I'd feel better if you did it. But why are you here at this time in the morning?"

"I want it done now."

"Now?" James repeated again, like a parrot.

"I just feel like, like he's going to some if we don't," Sirius explained, waving his arms about.

James studied his worried friend. "Very well. I'll get Harry."

Lily turned to Sirius, "It'll be alright, Siri, I know it will! Don't worry about it. Please!"

Sirius nodded, not trusting himself to speak.


*~*~*~*~*Less than a week later*~*~*~*~*

It was a beautiful night. There were millions of stars that twinkled happily in the dark sky. Harry had finally fallen asleep after a lot of desperate coaxing by his parents. Lily was snoozing peacefully, but something wasn't letting James sleep. It was a nagging foreboding. Maybe even paranoia.

Slowly, like a terrible realization becoming suddenly apparent, a feeling came over by James. There was something in the air; the very substance that he was breathing was making his bones tingle. Evil. He'd felt this feeling before, but never this strong. Never this horrible. It could only be caused by one thing.

"Lily! Run!" he shouted at the top of his lungs, "Grab Harry and run!!!"

The stars outside the window that had been twinkling merrily moments before were being clouded over. Lily woke with a start and James wondered if she had even been sleeping. She obeyed him.

Something in her heart was telling her not to leave him with nothing. She was not a pessimist, quite the opposite actually, but she could not just leave him like this. She flung herself at him then and clung to him for a moment that she wished could go on forever. She kissed him fiercely and tears came to her eyes. She delayed no further, however, for she knew her duties as a mother as well as a wife.  Leaving him there was the hardest thing she had ever done.

James looked longingly after her, wishing with all his heart that this would not be good-bye.  A dark cloud engulfed the house. The blackness was nearly impenetrable, so James leaned against the familiar bedpost and tried to breathe slowly. He shivered uncontrollably.

The room cleared and he stood facing him. Man to man. No! Man to monster. This hideous creature had ended the lives of too many good people out there. Would he be victorious again today? It would be a battle to the death and James knew it. He just had to hold him off…

James dove, barely missing the curse. He shot one back, but it was no use. Thoughts ran through his mind rapidly. They'd been betrayed. Peter! He ducked again and thought only of his family and the friends that he had left. Sirius! My friend…Lily…Harry…

*~*~*~*~*

Lily couldn't see at all. She choked on the darkness. The feeble light on her wand has allowed her to reach Harry. Harry. He was the only reason that she wasn't by her husband’s side. Oh how she ached to be with him. Walking away has nearly killed her. She had heard the curses, heard the fighting…Oh God! Harry had begun to cry. Lily was aware of tears on her own cheeks. Now- she turned.

They were face to face. She was facing death. Oh yes, she was looking it in the eyes. Only one thought went through her mind. James was gone. James was gone! Any sanity she had held onto was lost then and there. Her love, her life. James…

Voldemort's words dragged her back into reality.

"Stand aside, woman!" he commanded. Lily had lost her grip on everything. She'd lost James. He COULDN'T get Harry! No, no!

"Not Harry!" she screamed. "Please don't take Harry!" Voldemort stopped for a moment. This was crazy. She was as good as dead if she didn't surrender the child! She must be insane…

"Stand aside, you silly girl!" He was somewhat bemused, but it was quickly fading. He had no time for heroics from mudbloods.

"No, no! Not Harry!" Lily suddenly came back to reality. This time she was herself. She was not some begging, pleading girl. No. James was gone. There was nothing for her. But she could get him back. Oh, yes. She could save her baby. Her Harry.

"For the last time, MOVE!" Rage showed in every inch of his face. His triumph was near now. He could end it. Right now. He had won. He would destroy the Potters.

He raised his wand again.