59

Silently creeping through the darkness, the adrenaline of the broomstick battle in the air began to recede, and James felt a crushing sadness close in on his heart. Mary, dead, he thought. Poor Mary…poor Wormtail…

'Potter, are you alright?' came Lily's voice at a whisper from his side.

Embarrassed, James realized he had sniffed and tears were stinging his eyes. 'No,' he replied truthfully.

'Me either,' Lily replied in a brittle whisper.

He reached out in the darkness and sought her hand. He found it and laced his fingers through hers, squeezing it. After a moment, she squeezed back.

'Stop,' came Frank's voice after a moment and they all froze. They could see wand light breaking through the tree cover up ahead. The trees were so densely packed together that the light seemed to blink in and out of sight before disappearing behind a thicket of bushes and shrubs.

'There was one behind us, too,' Sirius whispered.

'A couple to our left,' Edgar muttered.

'The right was all clear,' Gideon added.

'Just hold here for a moment,' Frank murmured.

Sirius stepped a little closer to James. 'What happened to you two?' he whispered. 'I saw you take off with Rochefort on your tail…'

'We fought,' James said.

'Potter knocked him off his broom,' Lily said with a brave attempt at a smile.

It was a mark of the seriousness of the situation that Sirius didn't laugh, or even smile. He clasped his hand on James' shoulder. 'Well done,' he said. 'Hopefully that did him in.'

'Hopefully,' James agreed.

'Let's move,' Frank whispered, and their group began to creep through the woods once more.

James' thoughts returned to Mary, his mind still reeling in disbelief that she could be dead. He'd known other witches and wizards who had died, but Mary had been one of his friends – a student of Hogwarts. I thought she was safe, he thought.

'What are you thinking about?' Lily whispered, and James realized that they were still holding each others' hands, and he was gripping hers rather tightly.

'Mary,' he confessed.

'Me too,' Lily replied. 'And,' she added in an even lower whisper, stepping closer to James. 'I'm wondering who betrayed us,' she said for only his ears. 'They knew our whole plan, Potter. That can only mean someone leaked it to Voldemort.'

James nodded, and then realized that in the dark it would be virtually impossible for Lily to see that. 'I agree,' he whispered back.

'Stop,' Frank said again. Wand light was all around them once more, and they could hear the Death Eaters muttering to each other. 'Everyone down on the ground.'

They did as they were instructed and laid down on the forest floor. The searching wand lights swept over the air they had just been standing in. James scarcely dared breath – he could hear a number of voices from all sides.

'They can't have gone far,' came a female voice.

'Indeed. They are here somewhere,' Lucius Malfoy's voice replied, and James felt a surge of hatred for him.

The female's voice – was it Bellatrix? – replied, but they seemed to be moving away, and her voice was lost in the thick woods.

'Frank, we need a plan,' Edgar whispered. 'They're all around us. Even if we get to the school grounds, they could be there.'

'I agree,' Frank said. 'Right, here's an idea. I can cast a Patronus – I think casting it off to the side would be best. That can hopefully draw their attention a bit. And once it does, we start to make a break for it.'

'Hang on, everyone show me your wands,' Lily hissed, and she performed a series of quick charms. 'This will point your wands straight to Hogwarts. It'll last until you cast a spell,' she added. 'So unless it's life or death, don't cast anything.'

'That's brilliant,' Sirius said.

'Stick to your partners,' Frank whispered. 'Everyone ready? Set…'

Non-verbally, he cast his spell. – a silvery white fox erupted from the end of his wand and took off at a sprint through the woods, casting a warm glow wherever it went.

Shouts sounded from all around them and wand light pierced the darkness, the sounds of Death Eaters crashing through the trees in pursuit of the Patronus.

'Run,' Frank hissed.

Clutching Lily's hand, James ran, his wand held in front of him so he could feel the direction they were being guided in. The trees were still so dense so as to prevent him from sprinting all out, and their progress was slow. They had to stop and run around thick tree trunks or dense shrubs, and weave in and out of the closely packed trees.

The seconds seemed to stretch into hours. James' lungs were burning and he could hear Lily panting at his side. Somewhere in the darkness, he heard the crackles, bangs and pops of spells being cast – someone was duelling. He stopped, squinting into the darkness, trying to see where it might be, but he could see nothing.

'Should we try and help?' Lily panted from his side.

'I have no idea where it's even coming from,' he whispered back.

As abruptly as the fierce sounds of battle had started, they ceased, and all that could be heard was the shouts of Death Eaters from in the distance.

'We have to hope our side won,' James said. 'Let's go.'

Once more they set off through the trees. They came into a small clearing and stopped dead – two big Death Eaters were standing there in wait. There was a moment's surprise on their faces before they raised their wands.

Arrows flew out of the tree cover and struck down the two Death Eaters before James had had time to react. A centaur stepped into the clearing, his bow held in his hands. He stared at Lily and James. 'Run, children,' he said. 'There are dark men in these woods tonight.'

'Thank you,' Lily gasped and James murmured his thanks as well. They edged around the massive centaur and broke into a run once more through the trees. From somewhere off to their left, a bright flash appeared and then there were yells, loud bangs and sizzling sounds.

'Incendio!' came Frank's voice and a bright flame appeared off to their left. James heard a scream and then saw Frank and Sirius sprinting away from the light and into the darkness once more.

'After them!' James gasped and they started to run once more, but he only got a few feet before something struck him in the stomach, knocking all the breath from his body.

'Stupefy!' Lily called abruptly from his side, but the death eater was equal to the task, blocking her spell almost before the words were out of her mouth.

James non-verbally cast a disarming jinx from the floor and found it blocked as well, and then had a kick delivered to his midsection again.

It was as if a strobe light was going off and illuminating a horror. From one side, James saw Lily moving with a quick savagery, her wand arm a blur as she hurtled spell after spell at their attacker, the flashing light catching his glinting magical eye…it was Rochefort. He was equal to all of Lily's spells. James moved to cast another one but Rochefort stepped on his wand arm with astonishing force, and James was sure he felt his forearm crack. He howled in pain. The next movement Rochefort made was to swiftly block another of Lily's spells and then cast a hex of his own. Lily's shield charm managed to partially block it, but she was blown backwards off her feet and smacked into a tree head first. She hit the ground and tried to get to her hands and knees, but stumbled and staggered.

'Oh, is this not divine providence?' Rochefort said with a laugh, his boot still on James' wand arm. 'You were proud of your little flying tricks, yes? Broomsticks,' he added, the word practically a curse from his mouth. 'The lowest form of wizardry. You probably think you possess some prodigious skill because you are good at flying on a broomstick? A child can fly a broom!'

'And knock you off one, evidently,' James grunted from the floor.

Rochefort's mechanical magical eye flashed. 'I think I have heard enough lip from you, James Potter. I do learn from my mistakes. And now it's time for you to end.'

James set his jaw and stared up at Rochefort. He couldn't move his wand arm, and his other hand was too far from his wand. Lily was still trying to struggle to her hands and knees. Rochefort had them dead to rights. But whatever came next, James was going to meet it head on.

'Go to hell,' James hissed at Rochefort.

The Death Eater laughed in return, pointing his wand at James. 'You first,' he replied. 'Avada—'

A massive shape erupted out of the trees and slammed into Rochefort, knocking him off James' arm. James didn't hesitate, scuttling forward and clutching his wand with his other hand.

It was Professor Zharkov. He and Rochefort were tangled in the trees, each of them clutching each other's wand arm. Rochefort snarled and head-butted Zharkov in the face, staggering the big professor backwards. Zharkov allowed his momentum to carry him down onto his back, and he flipped Rochefort over him back towards James.

'Expelliarmus!' James called, but Rochefort deflected the spell. James had to duck behind a tree to avoid being struck, and a killing curse hit the tree a moment later, causing it to shatter and begin to fall. 'Accio Evans!' James yelled.

With a cry, Lily hurtled into him and clear of the path of the falling tree. 'Potter,' she slurred.

'Potter, take Lily and run! Get to Hogwarts!' Zharkov shouted.

'NO! You will not escape me this time!' Rochefort snarled.

He cast a spell that seemed to shake the very earth under the feet, and then everything seemed to move. Dirt, rock, tree and rose and flew in every direction, trees seemed to expand and explode outwards, and they were all left in a vast crater with Rochefort at its epicenter.

Zharkov leapt between James, Lily and Rochefort, just in time to bat aside a curse that Rochefort had sent his way.

'I will give you one chance to leave,' Zharkov said.

Rochefort laughed. 'You will give me one chance? I'll give you none,' he snarled. 'I gave you your one chance years ago.'

'To the death, then,' Zharkov replied.

The two wizards began duelling fiercely. James scooped an arm under Lily and tried to retreat to the cover of trees, but a wild hex from Rochefort caused him to flatten himself and Lily to the earth once more.

James spun and fired a few stunners of his own at Rochefort as Zharkov pressed the attack, forcing the one eyed menace backwards towards his own edge of the crater. Zharkov conjured a massive bell and struck it forwards magically. Rochefort swirled his own wand and the bell split in half and became two large axes which swung towards Zharkov at head height and foot height.

Zharkov leapt nimbly between the two of them, spinning sideways in the air. He then slashed his wand forward and the axe heads exploded into small metallic shards that launched at Rochefort.

James cast another disarming spell at the same time that the shards were hitting Rochefort's shield spell. The disarming spell rattled off the shield as well but it forced Rochefort back a step, allowing Zharkov to press his advantage.

'Come on, Evans,' James gasped, pulling Lily up with her good arm.

'M'alright,' Lily slurred. 'Impedimenta!' she added, slashing her wand in Rochefort's direction. Rochefort deflected the spell directly at Zharkov, who knocked it aside with a shield charm of his own. 'We need to help,' Lily said firmly.

'Right,' James said.

'Potter, I said go!' Zharkov shouted.

James and Lily both fired a storm of alternating spells at Rochefort. His shield charms were swift and he alternated between those and hexes going in every direction – including killing curses being sent every which way. James had to drag Lily to the ground once more to avoid her being hit by one, and from his back he swung his wand and caused a fallen tree to slingshot towards Rochefort.

Rochefort slashed his wand and the tree split in half around him, and then he repelled another jinx from Zharkov.

Lily swirled her wand in the air and her scalding bubble charm came to the fore, launching towards Rochefort who spun on the spot and expanded his arms in the air. The scalding bubbles went in every direction, James only barely managing to deflect them from himself and Lily with a hastily conjured shield charm.

Zharkov leapt in close to Rochefort once more, blocking Lily and James from casting anything else. He pressed his attack, casting spell after spell in close quarters, Rochefort backing up hastily in retreat and barely keeping pace with shield charms of his own.

Lily took a step forwards and swept her arm upwards in an uppercut movement. The ground under Rochefort's feet launched into the air, taking him with it. Rochefort flipped nimbly through the air, and whilst he was upside down, repelled a jinx from Zharkov right back at him, causing the professor to take leap aside.

James swung his wand left and right, summoning more fallen trees to launch at Rochefort, who spun on the spot, slashing his wand every which way, turning the trees into sawdust as he did so. He deflected a stunner from Lily and then Zharkov had leapt at him once more, pressing his attack.

'He needs to get out of the way!' Lily half shouted.

Rochefort obliged them the next second by casting a vicious spell which knocked Zharkov across the clearing. Rochefort's whirring mechanical eye landed on James and Lily. 'Avada Kedavara!' he shouted, his wand pointed at James.

Lily dragged James to the earth with her, the killing curse just sailing over his head. James blindly swiped his wand, casting he not even knew what in Rochefort's direction, hoping it would give him time to get back to his feet.

Lily cast a disarming spell from the ground that kept Rochefort momentarily on the defensive, and James cast a succession of his own spells. Rochefort was still deflecting those when Zharkov struck from the side, hitting him with a curse that staggered him. Rochefort spun to face him and James cast a stunner of his own.

Rochefort neatly re-directed James' stunning spell at Zharkov, who batted it aside.

Rochefort's follow up killing curse struck Zharkov directly in the chest.

Zharkov seemed to fall in slow motion – a puppet with its strings cut. His wand flew from his hand and he landed in a heap on the forest floor, face up, his eyes staring up at the thick treed roof of the forest.

'NOO!' Lily screamed, her voice echoing what James was feeling. She slashed her wand angrily, a jet of fire launching at Rochefort. James joined in, channeling his own fury, whirling and thrusting with his wand causing a crackling bolt of electricity to fire at him. Rochefort rebounded both spells but James and Lily pressed their attack, alternating spells at Rochefort with such speed and ferocity that Rochefort could not counter attack, he could only back up towards the tree cover once more.

Lily was aiming low and James was aiming high; then they would switch. Then they spread out, so James' spells were coming from the left and Lily's from the right. James felt a savage pleasure in seeing the arrogant grin disappear from Rochefort's face, replaced first by a look of fierce concentration, and then an emotion James had rarely if ever seen there – fear.

They pressed their attack fuelled by anger and vengeance, converging on Rochefort from either side. James waited until he had spun to deflect a spell from Lily and then lunged forward with a two spell strike – he sent a stunning spell at Rochefort's back, and quickly summoned a fallen tree from behind him.

Rochefort deflected the stunner, but was knocked clear off his feet by the tree, which knocked him flat on his face on the earth.

'Expelliarmus!' Lily called quickly, and Rochefort's wand sailed through the air quickly into her hand.

Rochefort quickly scrabbled towards the fallen Zharkov, and James reacted instinctively. 'Accio wand!' he shouted. Rochefort made a mad dive for Zharkov's wand as it whistled through the air – and he nearly caught it – but it landed in James' hand.

'Now wait,' Rochefort panted, a hand held up in front of him. 'Just wait.'

James froze for only a moment, glancing over at Lily who was looking at him with a look of ferocious determination on her face. 'Together,' she said, stepping to his side.

'We've played this game before, Potter,' Rochefort panted, panic evident in his face and voice. 'We both know you don't have it in you.'

'I think between the two of us we can manage,' Lily said coldly from James' side. Together they raised their wands.

The ground in front of them erupted in a massive explosion that sent them both flying. James reached out blindly and managed to grab a handful of Lily's robes. He pulled her to him and they crashed to the ground together. His ears were ringing; stars were in his eyes. But he could see Rochefort was now ringed by a group of Death Eaters – more than ten at a quick count. They were helping Rochefort to his feet. James scrambled to his own, his wand held in front of him.

'We have to go,' Lucius Malfoy hissed at Rochefort. 'Dumbledore is here.'

'We can finish them here and now!' Rochefort hissed as he was handed back his discarded wand.

'Dumbledore will be upon us any moment,' Lucius said stiffly.

Rochefort looked fiercely at him and then back at James and Lily – the look of one being dragged away from something he desperately wanted to do. 'This isn't over,' he growled. 'You are both marked for death.'

And with a series of deafening cracks, the Death Eaters vanished, leaving James, Lily and the body of Professor Anders Zharkov alone in the crater in the forbidden forest.