Chapter 14- Arrival of Fear
The students at Hogwarts had finally been given the break they felt that they deserved. Hogsmeade weekend had finally arrived and the usual pairing off of dates took place. The Masquerade Ball was nearing and Hogsmeade was an opportunity to prepare for the ball. Hogsmeade was a time for everyone to relax and enjoy a good time with their friends. The Marauders almost always had dates but this time around only James had a lady companion. Guys and Girls alike had shared the shock of Sirius' going stag to Hogsmeade. He had refused every girl that had asked him.
It had not taken long for the school to find out about Sirius and Halle's breakup. Girls started stampeding towards Sirius the day after. Halle on the other hand, had not been feeling her best and only left her dorm when necessary. Lily had begun to worry about her friends. They were not their usual, cheerful selves. All they did was mope around and study. Katy and Halle were suffering together and used each other as a back bone to share emotional heartbreak with. They decided that they should go to Hogsmeade together, to avoid staying in their dorm. Lily practically had to beg for them to go to Hogsmeade.
Lily and James had to meet with the teachers to organize the students. The Heads were to assist in bringing students
to and from Hogsmeade. Many 3rd years were very excited as it was their first time going to Hogsmeade.
"Everyone, please, separate into two groups. One group go with James and the other go with me." Lily said.
Many girls shrieked at the thought of walking with James. The 3rd and 4th year girls immediately rushed near him, wanting to walk with his group. Lily gave James a suspicious look but James just rolled his eyes. No matter how hard he tried, the fan club would not leave him be.
The group of Marauders planned to meet at the Three Broomsticks at noon and leave Lily and James to their date the rest of the time. James had planned on taking Lily through the shops and then enjoying a lunch in the picnic area. Then they would meet up with the guys at noon.
The picnic lunch was going great. James and Lily were talking about their future and their dreams. The subject rolled around to the past and they both grew somewhat uncomfortable.
"James, why did you pick on Snape?" Lily said with a hint of fear in her eyes. She knew this was a touchy subject for him and hoped he would say something to explain his arrogant ways of the past.
"Well, Lily, the truth being that me and Snape never got along. He and Sirius both came from Dark Wizard families. Snape respected his family while Sirius despised their hatred of Muggles. So, when school came around, I became friends with Sirius. We became like brothers. I would do anything for him and vice versa. Snape ganged up on Sirius on like the third day back. I heard about it and well, you can guess the rest." he said.
James felt like he had plunged into his mind and taken a piece out of it. He felt in a way, relieved to share with Lily his reasoning. She would never have listened to him before and finally she could understand.
"So you did all that for Sirius? All the hexing and fighting and name- calling for Sirius?" Lily said sounding surprised. She thought James and Snape just had a disagreement once and had not liked each other from then on.
"Yes, Sirius is like my brother. I trust him with my life, as I do with all the Marauders." James said.
Silence grew between them and thoughts filled their mind. The business of Hogsmeade surrounded them. Soon, all was silent. James and Lily looked at each other, both seeming to have noticed the silence. They looked around them to see emptiness within the streets. No one was in the village. The streets were empty, the park was silent and the shops weren't crowded.
James' reaction was to pull out his wand, Lily followed the motion. They heard voices and ducked underneath the table. Lily felt James' arm around her and she glanced around to see the voices. She gasped and saw a man with pale white skin and slit-red eyes. He held qualities of a snake and a chill went up Lily's spine. He was accompanied by 2 men and what looked like a woman, all wearing skeletal masks.
"Master, I see no one. They saw the mark and fled. Are you sure it is safe to attack while Dumbledore is so near?" one of the men asked the slit-eyed man. James looked to the sky and saw a green skull with a serpent protruding from the mouth. He shivered. The Dark Mark. He had seen it only once before and that was on the cover of the Daily Prophet.
"I fear no one. Do you hear me? Dumbledore or not we will find more recruits and we will win." the man said. James tightened his hold on Lily and clutched his wand with fury. He knew who the man was. It was Voldemort, the man who had ruined the lives of so many. His parents, both Aurors, had tried for 15 years to stop this man and had not succeeded. Lily looked at James. Was this Voldemort? The man that killed my mum?, she thought.
"Aren't you glad we got the Potters out of the way my lord?"
"Oh yes. The Prophecy clearly stated that they would be my downfall and I could not risk it. The woman needn't of died but she was going to ruin the plan. Now I need to find the last remaining to finish off the Potter line." Voldemort sneered.
James' face turned white and he prayed they were talking about another Potter family. Deep inside he knew that his parents were dead. Their lives taken by this man who once attended Hogwarts with his parents. Lily looked over at James to see anger forming on his face. She too felt anger. Who could do this to people? He killed her mum and now she had a feeling both of James' parents were dead. How could he do this? Turn their lives upside down by using an unforgivable curse? She peered her eyes over to the man and watched more intently. Voldemort scanned the village looking for the presence of life. He looked over by the willow trees and saw 4 picnic tables lined up. He took another look and noticed a flash of bright green. They were eyes, very pretty eyes, of a girl. He sent a spell towards the table and saw two figures emerge from beneath it. The table split and shards of wood flew everywhere. He saw a tall boy with messy, jet-black hair and hazel eyes with round glasses. He knew who this boy must be. Then he looked to the girl. A very pretty girl with emerald green eyes. The eyes he had seen from the table. She had long fiery red hair and she wore an expression of hatred.
"So, Mr. James Potter. Hiding from little old me? Your parents didn't hide, they were a real tough kill they were. Tell me, are you going to be the same?" Voldemort said with an evil grin.
"You son of a bitch." was all James could say.
"That I am. Now, do you want to go first or would you rather see your lady friend go?" Voldemort said playfully.
"Leave Lily alone! It's me you want isn't it? What do you need her for?"
Voldemort's slits for nostrils appeared to be smelling the air. He smiled and looked at Lily.
"Muggle blood. Now, Jamesie, why wouldn't I want to take Miss Lily is it? She is fresh Muggle prey and if
you've been keeping up with the tabloid, I seem to target Muggles." Voldemort said.
"You killed my mum, you evil bastard!" Lily shouted. She clenched her fists and gritted her teeth.
"Oh really, she must not have been important. Maybe just a kill for fun. Well, with blood like yours she deserved to die." he sneered at her. "But you're quite pretty, I may keep you after I dispose of Mr. Potter."
"LEAVE HER ALONE." James said and sent a stunning spell Voldemort's way. Lily had done the same leaving an unconscious Death Eater. They ran as fast as they could. James sending spells left and right. "Impedimenta! Stupefy! Stupefy!"
While James was stunning and cursing the Death Eaters and Voldemort, Lily had picked up a rock started running once more, and turned it into a Portkey. She motioned to James to touch the rock. He went to place his hand on it but decided to launch one more hex Voldemort's way. His days of hexing Snape were paying off. He sent a jet of red light and placed his hand on the rock and shouted "NOW!"
The two were lifted forward and were back inside the castle. They needed to find Dumbledore and they needed to find him fast