Firestorm

Firestorm

Prologue

She sped into the forest, her legs burning and her lungs screaming for air. The howl of a nearby wolf pierced the air, and she cried out from fright and exhaustion. She couldn't stop, because stopping wasn't an option. She had to keep running.

She scampered through the heart of the darkness, weaving through great oaks and splashing through icy streams to hide her scent. A root caught her foot and she tumbled to the dirt, breathing heavily and sobbing, tears streaming down her dirty face. After a while she quieted, listening so hard that her ears began to ache.

She jerked herself back up to her feat, the ruined wings heavy on her back. Remaining glitter sparkled on her soiled dress, which was caked with blood and mud. Her dark red hair curtained her wretched, frantic expression.

Halloween had come early that year.

The realization of that night came to her in a full-force blow. She closed her eyes and scenes from earlier replayed in her head. She saw his face again, the one she loved so dearly, as they danced in the moonlight. She had been studying it, that day during the Halloween Ball, the strong features which accentuated his deep eyes. The jet black hair had been so soft as she ran her fingers through it, wisps falling over his pale brow. She had never wanted that night to end. She would have given anything to remain in his tight embrace forever.

She remembered his voice, so gentle when it had whispered, "I love you," in her ear, his hot breath tickling her cheeks. Then she remembered him screaming at her to run, as Voldemort raised his wand and shot out a jet of green light. Oh James, please don't be dead.

Lily leaned against a wall and caught her breath. 'Wait a minute', she thought, 'a wall?' Turning around she noticed that is was thick with vines and branches, which twined over its surface, blending it in to its surroundings. No wonder she hadn't noticed it before. She lifted a slender hand up and drew some leaves away. She blinked at what she saw. It seemed to be an old inscription, engraved in the slate. Lily quickly cleared off more, until the entire wall was bare. Looking more closely, she noticed the writing was in an old language, which she couldn't read. It looked like elfin, and when read aloud, the letters seemed to glow and sparkle like sapphires.

Alfan colanthrea Cellador cellador

Ellamae memoreae rembrees relavor

The writing curved around strange carvings of people dying horrific deaths. Lily shuddered. In the center of the wall there was a handprint in what could only be blood.

She stepped away from the frightening wall, and noticed that it perfectly fit into the large rock behind it, as if the rock had been chiseled to fit its rectangular shape. Someone took a lot of time to create this message. It was a warning.

Her hand lifted as if it had a mind of its own. It hovered over the print for a second, and then pressed over it.

The wall glowed- a hot red, like coals, burning her hand. She jumped back quickly and nursed her throbbing wound. The eerie forest seemed to close around her, and she felt short of breath. She wasn't supposed to- be here. She backed away quickly and tripped over a root, bringing about a crash, which threatened to waken the entire forest.

The full moon glared above her, waiting with her. A loud growl made her jump and she jumped to her feet, spinning around fast.

A wolf had been creeping up behind her. Not just any wolf, a werewolf.

"Remus!" she gasped.

But just as he was about to pounce something astonishing happened.

James appeared right before her.

Except it wasn't James. This boy was smaller, gawkier, and had green eyes, just like hers. He held himself differently; hunched over a little as if he were afraid the world would fall on top of his shoulders at any moment.

He threw his head up toward the sky and muttered a charm, sending a cloud over the moon. Remus shuddered violently and painfully shrunk back into a human. Something was wrong, for though the man crouched before her holding his head in his hands was obviously Remus Lupin, he was no longer a teenage boy. He was a man.