Dangerous Game

At seven they both awoke, and Lily took a fast shower in James room, as he slept for about fifteen more minutes. They both got dressed, and headed down to breakfast. That was the last time they were going to see each other until five at night. “I love you,” they both said, and with a kiss, they went to their separate classes.

Lily found out that she had indeed passed her potions quiz with a perfect score, the only one in her class as a matter of fact. Quickly, she shoved the parchment into her bag and made her way back her room. She needed finish her charms paper, and she wanted to get it done before James was out of class so they could spend some time together.

Bellatrix was waiting down the hall with Severus and Mulciber, when they saw her walk by they followed her at a safe distance. Once she turned down the deserted hall Bellatrix made her presence known.

“’Ello mudblood,” she cooed coming out of the shadows. She had obviously disturbed Lily because she looked like she jumped out of her skin.

“What do you want?” Lily asked her a snip in her voice as she faced her. Her wand was already in her hand in her pocket incase Bellatrix tried to give her any trouble.

“Watch your mouth,” Bellatrix snapped. She heard the couch and splutter of Mulciber, obviously done downing the potion. The plus of having the head of your house being the Potion’s teacher was how easy it was to sneak into the potion’s supply room. “I just have some things to discuss with you, so get your hand off your wand.”

Lily eyed her, and stared into the darkness trying to see who it was choking on the potion, but to no avail. “Fine what do you want?”

Bellatrix snapped her fingers, and Mulciber emerged from the shadows, except he did not look like himself. He had down a polyjuice potion, now he looked just like James. He had nabbed a good chunk of his hair during a Quidditch match a few weeks back, just for this purpose.

“James? What are you doing here?” Lily asked, her hair beginning to stand up on the nape of her neck. Something was not right here.

“She told me to come,” the Mulciber James said. He sounded just like the stupid git. “I don’t know why—arg!”

He was interrupted as pain shot through his body. He could not believe he had agreed to this. Falling to the fall he writhed in pain, his body feeling like it was going to burst at the seams.

“STOP IT!” Lily cried dropping to her knees to grab James. Bellatrix just laughed, and lifted the curse to stare at Lily. She was crying now as she tried to comfort the boy.

Severus was enjoying watching what should have been Potter in pain, now he knew what a treat he was going to be in for once he was able to corner James alone. His heart ached for Lily though, who was crying trying to ease the boys pain.

“Not unless you do what I say,” Bellatrix said sending another curse at the boy on the ground causing him to scream in agony as fresh cuts appeared on his arms.

“What do you want?” Lily sobbed trying to mop up the blood.

“Severus,” Bellatrix called over his shoulder. Lily looked up and saw him emerge from the shadows as well, she glared at him as she managed to clean up most of the blood off of James’ arms. He handed James a vial, which he took and uncorked.

“Don’t drink it!” Lily said trying to grab it from him.

“Stupid girl,” James said his eyes suddenly turning cold.

Lily was utterly confused, and she backed up on the floor, her back colliding with the wall. “What is going on?”

James finished the potion, and his skin began to bubble, and his hair changed. It went from shaggy black to short blonde, and his body shrank in size. There before her sat Mulciber. He stood up joined the other two who were staring down at her.

“Like I said, you have to do what I say,” Bellatrix said.

“Or next time it will really be James,” Mulciber said, his skin suddenly healed.

“F-Fine,” Lily stammered as she wiped her eyes. “What do I have to do?”

Smirking, Bellatrix began to talk, and she could see Lily shake her head no in protest.

“Do it,” she sneered twirling her wand between her fingers. “Or we kill him.”

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An hour later, Lily was sitting in her and James common room staring at the clock. Her charms paper was sitting on her desk untouched, and she stared at the fire. Her eyes red from crying, and her body slumped from sadness.

James burst into the room about a half hour later a smile on his face. “Hey love,” he said collapsing down on the couch next to her. When he saw her eyes though, he knew instantly something was wrong. It wasn’t the redness that gave it away, but her eyes no longer had their sparkle. “What’s wrong?” he asked her concerned putting an arm around her shoulder.

Looking at him was making this more difficult than it already was. She could not do this, she loved him too much, but she reasoned, if she loved him as much as she said she would do this to save him. She shrugged his arm off, and saw the look of disappointment and confusion on his face.

“I—James, “ Lily said staring at the ground then back up at him. She took a deep breath, and hiccupped slightly from all the crying she had been doing. “We can’t be together anymore.” Lily finally got out before tears rolled down her face again, and she buried her face into her hands.

“What? Lily why?” James asked feeling as if something was pushing on his chest so he could not breathe. This could not be happening, not after they had said they loved each other, not after he knew Lily was meant to be his.

“We just can’t James,” Lily said looking up at him wiping at her eyes. Her heart had shattered in her chest when she saw his face. “I know this line is used all the time, but you did nothing w-wrong okay?”

“Please tell me why then, please. Whatever it is we can work through it, we can fix it,” James said feeling tears behind his eyes. According to popular belief, boys were not supposed to cry, but James could not help it he loved Lily more than life itself.

“I can’t! James I just can’t…you just have to listen to me. It is better for the both of us,” Lily said getting up from the couch. She leaned down to kiss him one last time, feeling her lips tremble on his. She did not want to let go, but she had to. Without looking back Lily disappeared into her room, shutting the door behind her quietly. Collapsing onto her bed, not bothering to change, Lily sobbed herself to sleep.

James stared at her door, unable to believe what had just happened. He sat in silence for a while, tears on his cheeks. Slowly he disappeared into his room, sure that this was not happening, but if it was, maybe she could come out of it in the morning.