Lily: Nénuphar de Vie

When they reached the other side of the Dark Forest, Voldemort threw Lily into a pond, and many water lilies floated at the top. She ducked underwater, trying to rid herself of the gag and restraint. She did it. The gag floated away and the restraint glittered to dust.

The tranquility of the lake made her feel less strained; she knew she was to be killed at any moment. She opened her eyes underwater and saw lights. She surfaced for oxygen and saw water lilies floating with the current. She wanted to pick one but was more curious of the lights underwater. She ducked underwater again and saw the lights. She swam towards them.

But before Lily could see what they were, a force pulled her out of the water. It was raining. She saw Voldemort's evil, cat-like eyes staring at her. "Time's up," he said lightly.

The rain started pouring. A small puddle from the rain grew and grew until it became a small pond. The leaves from the muddy ground tried to race to the top of the pond, but the heavy rain kept them from reaching the surface.

Lily sensed someone lurking near. It could have been one of Voldemort's Death Eaters, or maybe something worse.

Voldemort approached Lily, his eyes showing a triumph. He cast a jinx to Lily; it hit her shoulder and blood splattered all over her robes.

"You are the same on the inside," he said, "as you are on the outside, for now." He laughed.

Lily was collapsed on the ground, she felt the lurker drawing nearer. She saw red. Then she blacked out. Though she was fainted, she could still hear the voices.

"She's gone," said a familiar voice. "Now you have me to kill, not her."

"Very well," said Voldemort. "My plan has worked. Do you think I'd kill someone so closely related to myself?"

"Yes," said the familiar voice. "You would, and you have."

A loud bang immersed and the sound of dragging through wet leaves and mud could be heard. Voldemort cursed and a loud popping sound, like apparition, happened.

Lily regained consciousness, and she realized someone was holding her. She opened her eyes and saw bright but sad hazel eyes, looking down on her.

"Are you feeling alright?" James asked, worry in his voice.

Thoughts raced through her head. How did James know I was here? Did those dreams--those visions I had just come true? How-- "Yes," she said.

James helped her to her feet. She could barely stand for she was shivering violently. The moon was now bright, and Lily could see James was wearing his Quidditch robes. She saw his face looked as if he had been crying, but it was raining, so Lily couldn't tell. In his pocket a piece of parchment was sticking out.

They were both silent for a moment. Then James said, "Are you well enough to Disapparate?"

Lily shook her head. She had used most of her magic trying to ward off Voldemort. There wasn't enough left to Disapparate an inch.

"Well, we'll foot it, then," he said. "I don't know if anyone saw me leave the Quidditch field. It was all foggy."

Lily pondered over many things. "How--how did you know--?"

James sighed. "I was on the Quidditch pitch, putting away the Quidditch balls and I saw a glow of green. Curious, I was, so I walked over, through the fog and about half way there it vanished and I couldn't see a thing. Then I heard a scream. I began running, but I couldn't find where it had come from. I spent a while looking, and luckily I saw him Disapparate holding you. I heard him say 'on the other side of the Dark Forest,' so there I was to go. Confused, I was, for I knew it was impossible to Apparate or Disapparate on the Hogwarts ground. I tried to Disapparate where I was, but no luck. So I ran over to the tree where he had Disapparated. I tried to Disapparate again. It worked. I was somewhere on the other side of the Dark Forest. I traveled not long before I saw him."

Lily collapsed on the ground. James kneeled down. "Are you sure you're all right?" She nodded.

"Go on, please," she said.

"Well," said James. "I saw him using a rope of magic to thrust you out of the water. I crept closer and closer. When he used the Rompre Sang jinx I lost it. When you fell on the ground I threw my invisibility cloak over you. I then showed myself to him. And--"

"I know what happened then," said Lily. "I could hear you and him talking."

James's mouth twitched into a part-frown.

"What did he mean when he said I was so closely related to him? Do you know?" Lily asked.

James looked into her eyes. Her eyes were bright green, flowing with good vitality; James's eyes hazel and mysterious. James obviously didn't want to be the person to tell her. "I don't know. That's why I erased his memory of it--"

"You erased his memory?" Lily asked, started.

James nodded. "In case my idea was right I didn't want him to know."

"I didn't hear that part. How long was I fainted?"

"A full fifteen minutes," replied James, helping Lily stand again.

"If we're going to walk back, shouldn't we get started?"

James nodded. "Yeah, I--" but he wasn't able to finish his sentence. Lily's head abruptly turned to the other side of the pond with water lilies in it. "What--?"

"Ssh," said Lily. After another moment she whispered. "He's back. Voldemort's back."

James abruptly took his wand out.

"I see you already know of my arrival," Voldemort said, appearing out of thin air. "There is no need to walk back. I shall make it easier for the both of you, by the means of death...for you both, that is."

"Not right now, thanks," said James. "Romeng," he bellowed, pointing his wand towards Voldemort. A long trail of blood was sinking through Voldemort's robes.

Voldemort clutched his left arm which was the one wounded and groaned. He was still able to fight, though. "Avada Kedavra," he roared. A green light soared towards James. He was about to escape the light when he realized Lily was still behind him. He backed up quickly, then used his magic to thrust Lily out of the way. He turned his head an inch to the left, and the curse missed him.

"Potter, I know your secret, I know it well," sneered Voldemort. James flinched. "And Miss Evans, you wonder how I came to be able to kill you? I admit that my plan of planting that book didn't help. I was deeply hoping to save a bit of effort and have my loyal Death Eater, Severus, plant it. He almost refused. I'll share a secret with you before you die. My loyal Death Eater, Severus Snape, he told me about you. It seemed when he realized you were a Mudblood he finally realized how much he really loved you."

Fury rose inside James, and he used his wand to make a smokescreen. He ran to where Lily was. "Lily," he said hurriedly. "Get on the stag, okay?"

"Okay," she said, trying not to cough. She closed her eyes to clear out the smoke in them, and when she opened them back up there was a male horse--or possibly deer, waiting for her. She got on, just as James had said.

They rode for a long time, into the forest. After what seemed like forever, the stag nodded its head for Lily to get off. She did wearily. Once she was off she leaned against a tree. Her face was pale and grave, her eyes tired. Once again she collapsed, but this time leaning against the trunk of a tree. She tried to stay awake, but she was too tired. She drifted off to sleep.

In her dream she saw James transform from the stag who had brought her here to his human, his original form. He walked over to where Lily was and sat next to her.

"Lily!" said someone. "Lily, please, wake up!"

Someone was shaking her. She opened her eyes. It was James.

"Oh," said Lily. "You are an amnigi?"

"Yeah," said James tentatively. Obviously he was in a hurry.

"In my dream," she said. "I just slept and I saw you from a stag to--to you."

James shook his head wearily. "You are a Seer?" he asked. "Yes, I am amnigi. I turn into a stag. That stag that brought you here was me."

Lily nodded. "But I'm not quite sure I'm a Seer...."

"Lily," said James pleadingly, "we must go before Voldemort finds us here."

Lily shook her head. "Can't," she said. James could tell she was exhausted and injured. "Can't move."

James helped her stand. "Lily, Just lean against the tree." He transformed. The stag nodded its head the opposite way, signaling for Lily to get on. She tried. She stepped on top of a large tree root and then got on. She felt James say stay awake if you can. She did. She stayed awake.

Possibly hours passed as James as a stag rode Lily towards Hogwarts. Surprisingly enough few mystical creatures they saw. Lily thought she may have seen a centaur sleeping, and she knew that was lucky for she knew centaurs were prejudice against humans. Once Lily could see the outlines of the end of the forest, James stopped. He signaled for her to get off if she could. She got off.

James transformed back into his human self. He supported Lily so she wouldn't collapse again. "Please don't tell anyone about me being amnigi," he begged.

"I wouldn't tell anyone," she said, she looked even more exhausted than she did before. The sun was risen; it was probably around eight or nine in the morning by the looks of the sun's placement.

"Just so you know, Lily," said James, "I'm in love with you."

Lily looked into his eyes and saw that he was telling the truth. "And I you," she said.

"We need to get you to the hospital wing," he said.

"You, too. You barley have the energy to walk, now."

They were still looking into each others' eyes.

"I didn't know," said James, "that you loved me."

"Yet I knew that I loved you," said Lily.

They kissed softly. James caressed Lily as he felt her lose the rest of her energy.

"You need rest," said James sternly.

"As do you," Lily replied in the same tone as James.

They walked very slowly, for neither of them had the energy to walk very fast or very far. Once they were out in the open, away from the trees, Lily stopped. "I can't go any further," she said. "I just...just can't...." She touched her shoulder where she had been cut from the jinx. Fresh blood was still coming out of it.

James, too, stopped, pulling the piece of parchment out of the pocket of his robe. He murmured something to it. Lily was too exhausted to look. James looked up, and then to his left. He murmured something to it again, and stuffed it into his pocket.

"Someone is coming," he said. "I forgot who."

Sure enough, Professor McGonagall came rushing towards them. The sight of an almost fainted Lily with blood coming from her shoulder made her gasp. "Are you two all right?" she asked.

"I am," said James, "but Lily--"

"I'm fine," growled Lily.

Professor McGonagall could tell this was not true. She glanced at the blood on Lily's shoulder, and Lily's pale face. Lily looked as if she were dying from an illness.

"I'm sending for the headmaster at once," she said, her face grave. She sent red sparks into the air.

Moments later at least a dozen people were surrounding them. There was Amelia, Sirius, Remus, Peter, Dessin, Renee, two Quidditch players from Gryffindor, a few professors, and Dumbledore.

Lily was now barely conscious. She didn't feel awake, but she knew she was. She heard people murmuring around her.

Dumbledore shooed some people back from Lily and James. Dumbledore grimaced a few times, looking at Lily. He whispered to James, "Do you know how this happened?"

James shook his head. "I can only guess most of what happened. I only followed."

Dumbledore nodded. "You both need to go to the hospital wing. You both seem exhausted to death."

When Dumbledore said "death," Lily and James both flinched. Dumbledore was the only one who noticed it, but didn't ask any questions.

"Escort Mr. Potter and Miss Evans to the Hospital Wing at once," said Dumbledore. He strode away, back into the castle.

Amelia and Professor McGonagall supported Lily, as she couldn't even move, to the hospital wing. Sirius and Remus helped James so he wouldn't collapse; he was finally worn out to the bone. The others all followed.

"What happened, Lily?" Amelia whispered as she supported Lily.

Lily could barely shake her head; but she did. "Too--tired--"

"Prongs, what--?" Sirius asked.

"Long story," said James. "And, I'm sorry."

Remus almost hit the wall. "About what?"

"About Lily," said James. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you all sooner."

Sirius and Remus nodded. "It wasn't your fault, Prongs, it was mine," said Remus.

James shook his head. "I'll tell you later."

Lily heard the professors whispering. "If it really was He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named who ambushed her--was it? Lily, was it Him?"

Lily nodded. "Voldemort."

Everyone shuddered at the sound of his name.

James was hearing them, too. "It was VOLDEMORT, and that's that," he said loud enough so everyone could hear. They seemed to get the message.

Sirius grinned and then grimaced. "You sure know how to turn things around, Prongs."

"And all of this excitement without a full moon," said Remus sarcastically.

They'd reached the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey shooed everyone out. "No visitors!" She slammed the door once they were all out. She helped Lily lie down and then got a screen for each. She hustled throughout her medicine cabinets. She brought an armful of potions and laid them on the bedside table next to Lily. She then gave one potion to James. "Take this, the whole thing--then go to sleep."

Madam Pomfrey turned to help Lily. She measured different potions and handed them to Lily. Lily must have taken at least a half dozen. She went under her covers and tried to sleep. But, despite how tired she was, it was still hard for her to sleep. When Madam Pomfrey left, James came over and sat on the edge of Lily's bed. She was asleep by now. He kissed her forehead and brushed a clump of her hair out of her face and behind her ear. He then went back to his own bed and went to sleep.

Though the day was young, both James and Lily slept through the day and through the night, awaking a day later. James was the first to awake. He noticed that it was still early in the morning; Madam Pomfrey would most likely be sleeping for there were no other patients in the hospital wing.

James stood, stretching. He made sure he still had his invisibility cloak and his parchment before dressing, and then walking over to where Lily slept. She looked well rested, or, better than she had been the previous night.

"You can't kill him," pleaded Lily in her sleep. "No--don't!" Tears began leaking down her face into her pillow. James grimaced. He touched Lily's shoulder where Lord Voldemort had struck her. The scar was gone. But as his fingers brushed Lily's skin, he saw her dream through his head.