Ella sprinted up the main stairway with James at her side. Sounds of battle could already be heard from outside and Ella winced as another shrill cry was heard. Pale students stood ready in the halls. Some looked like they were going to be sick while others were fiercely brandishing their wands. Ella gave a affirming nod and they stared at her blankly. "I forgot they wouldn't recognize me" she thought sadly. James helped her up the last step.
"I can't believe we're going to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. That girl is insane."
Ella smiled and shook her head. "She's just very lonely and attention starved." She turned the corner before starting hesitantly. "So how are you and Lily with everything?" It has been bothering her but preparing for a battle seemed an inappropriate time to ask.
James looked offended. "One I'm glad you're so quick to connect me with "lonely and attention starved."" Ella grinned as they made their way to the bathroom. "And two." James stopped and gazed at her carefully "Evans and I had a talk and mutually decided the whole future thing was absolute rubbish." Ella's eyes widened. "Why can't we make our own choices?" The boy raised a mischievous eyebrow "As much as it revolts me, I notice her and Snivellus have gotten rather chummy."
"So you don't fancy her?" Ella asked carefully as they stopped outside the bathroom.
James raised a hand to his heart. "As much as it pains me, that ship has sailed."
Ella grinned and before she could talk herself out of it threw her arms around his neck and kissed him.
It was an entirely different experience, Ella decided as their lips met. To her relief, James didn't pull away and she felt his arms wrap around her, drawing her close. After they broke apart, Ella tried to catch her breath. James looked like Christmas had come early and she beamed. "Is this okay?" She thrust her anxiety down.
James grinned "Brilliant."
Ella slipped her hand in his and stepped into the haunted bathroom. Water was pouring onto the floor from the running sinks and sure enough, Myrtle was sobbing in the corner.
"THEY'RE COMING!" She wailed.
James stepped forward. "Why aren't you helping the others? I'm sure they could use your service."
The ghost looked up with tearful eyes. "Do you really think so?"
"Sure," James encouraged. "You could really make a difference."
Myrtle scrunched her eyes behind her large classes and thought this over. "I suppose I should go. It's rather silly to just sit here, if someone comes I'll be trapped." She gave a little shriek and dove into a toilet.
Ella looked at James in amazement. "You actually got her to cooperate."
James smirked, tugging on a curl. "What can I say? It's the dashing charm. Although," he continued as Ella examined the tap. "I don't see why she's so concerned. It's not like she'll die again."
Ella snorted but felt a sinking feeling at the casualties that lay ahead. James seemed to sense this and got on his knees. "Which sink is it?"
Ella pointed to the one on the right with the small snake inscribed on the faucet. Closing her eyes, she recalled Harry's tone. "Open." She hissed in Parseltongue. The sinks began to scrape apart, revealing a passageway that led underground. James looked at her with a mix of awe and disturbance.
"I don't speak it." Ella defended herself. "Your son taught me." Raising a hand, she beckoned for Fawkes. The scarlet bird soared into the flooded lavatory and landed on her shoulder. Giving James's hand a final squeeze, she jumped and plummeted into darkness.
She slid down the slimy tunnel with a squeak. Just when she thought it was never going to end, Ella landed in the familiar pile of bones. She kicked sludge off her feet. "I hoped to never come here again."
James tumbled out behind her. Adjusting his glasses, he observed the area with a look of disgust. "I can see why. When did you have the misfortune of visiting?"
"Second year," Ella answered bashfully as James looked incredulous. She shuddered. "I hate being underground."
The pair began to make their way through the chamber, Fawkes flying ahead of them. James held his wand out firmly "So don't look in the snake's eyes and it's fangs are deadly. Anything else?"
"I'm not sure exactly how to kill it." Ella bit her lip. "The Sword of Gryffindor was in the Sorting Hat when we used it in the future."
James eyed her skeptically. "Ashes, if we die I'm going to blame.."
His words fell flat as they stepped in the main chamber. The stone snake sculptures were bathed in faint green light and water flooded the area, adding a more ominous vibe.
"Slytherin was one disturbed bloke."
Ella shook her head, her hands beginning to tremble. "James, stay back behind the pillars. Fawkes, you too." She looked at the bird who seemed to understand. "I'm going to try and call it." James opened his mouth to argue but Ella glared at him. "I will stun you."
Satisfied that both were camouflaged, Ella stood in the center of the Chamber. "Come," she hissed persuasively. Hopefully that would be enough.
After a tense moment, Ella's shoulders drooped. "I guess.." She was cut off by the sound of scales sliding on pipe and withdrew her wand. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the massive body of the Basilisk. "Fawkes!" she cried, shooting random jinxes to distract the giant snake. She heard a great caw and then the snake wailed. For a second time, Fawkes had spared her from the Basilisk and Ella opened her eyes to see the snake's bloody face. She ducked out of the way of its thrashing body. "TRY TO STUN IT!" Ella called to James. Grabbing her bag, she ripped it open. "Accio broomsticks." Two brooms came whizzing out and Ella sent one to James. "Fly!"
The chaser didn't need to be told twice and expertly rose in the air. "Come up from behind!" He called.
Ella flattened herself to the wood and whizzed forward. Aiming her wand, she shot several curses at the snake. It reared in anger and Ella dodged to the right as its head lunged. James muttered several curses opposite her. Feeling unsteady, Ella adjusted her grip momentarily.
"ELLA!" James cried.
She whipped up her head as the Basilisk snapped down. A sickening crunch was heard followed by a sharp cry. Ella watched in horror as Fawkes plummeted to the ground in a scarlet blur and Do isn't move again.
"No," she whispered.
Suddenly, the Basilisk whipped around and flung itself at James.
"PROTEGO!" Ella shouted desperately, but she saw James clinging to the broom with one hand. "Come," she tried in Parseltongue and the monster slithered to face her menacingly. Knowing she had to time this right, Ella waited as the fangs leered ever closer. She could hear James calling her name from the other side. It was now or never. "INCENDIO!"
A burst of flames came out of her wand right into the Basilisk's mouth. It gave a horrible cry as the heat scorched its insides before toppling to the stone.
Ella scrambled to her feet as she landed, running to James. Her face paled as the Marauder was clutching a nasty wound on his leg.
"I've never gotten a snake bite before," James winced through short breaths. "I'll add it to my bucket list."
Ella shook her head, examining the wound. Fawkes was gone. There was no way to heal the angry puncture and she desperately took out her wand.
"Ella," James grabbed her hand. "I don't think that's going to work."
Ella blinked back her tears stubbornly. "Of course there is." Her face lit up "TEARS..." Her body quickly scrunched and formed her phoenix. Dipping her head, she let a few tears drip onto James' leg and the effect was instantaneous. The skin regrew until no damage could be seen. Ella let herself morph back and panted heavily.
"You're a bloody genius El," James examined his leg in awe. "Now let's get rid of this rubbish."
Ella smiled and stepped over the Basilisk, retrieving one of the fangs. She examined the sharp tooth with a strange thrill, it gleamed evilly in the pale light. She shook herself and turned to face her most dreaded Horcrux. The diary sat innocently along with the others James had pulled out. Stepping quickly, Ella aimed to plunge the tooth right in the center.
"I don't think that's wise," Tom Riddle's voice taunted her.
Ella tried again, but her arms wouldn't move.
"You should really listen Black," Tom's voice was deadly now and darkness had begun to creep at the sides of Ella's vision.
"JAMES! Destroy them!" she cried, but her voice came out as a rasp. Ella felt the tooth pulled from her hands and Tom gave a shout as James stabbed the Hufflepuff cup fiercely, turning and doing the same to the diadem.
"Stop him," Tom snarled.
Ella felt her hands raise and before she could stop herself, the blonde thrust James against the wall.
"I see you're not completely useless with wandless magic," Tom hissed. "Now kill him."
Ella summoned all her strength and kicked the locket to James who still held the tooth in his fist. With a lunge, the boy destroyed Slytherin's possession in an instant and was staring at her worriedly.
"YOU IDIOT!" Tom cried. "Do as I say!"
The pressure was building in Ella's head and the light even more dim. She shot a spell at James as he dashed toward a broom and mounted it into the air. She watched herself aim several nasty curses toward the Marauder, who dodged them and then dived for Marvolo's ring. Ella felt a sigh of relief as he grabbed it with a scarf and crushed it between the Basilisk's fang and the wall. Her victory was brief however, when her hands shot forward and knocked James out of the air where he fell to the stone. She approached him steadily.
"Do it," Tom hissed.
Ella shook her head, but her feet kept moving.
"Your eyes, El!" For the first time, James looked truly afraid.
Ella remembered the fiery orbs that had scorned Harry. The eyes that watched so many beg for their lives before simply casting them away without a blink. Gone. She would not be that monster. A swell of anger rose inside her.
"I will not," she gritted her teeth.
"I'm not pleased with that answer." Tom's response was followed by a wave of crippling pain and Ella fell to her knees. Stubbornly, she crawled to the diary trying to form even a thought, let alone a plan.
"How ironic," Tom sneered. "The last thing you see before your soul is consumed is the very thing that destroyed you."
Ella narrowed her eyes. "No," she gasped. "It's what destroyed you." With a wave of her hand, she summoned the Basilisk fang from James and stabbed the diary. A great scream roared inside her and she crumbled as she felt something break. She punctured the diary again and again until James put a hand on her arm and she spun wildly.
"Whoa. Elizabeth. Easy." James raised his hands in defense.
Ella's eyes widened and she immediately dropped the tooth. "I'm so sorry." She breathed heavily, closing her eyes and searching herself. For the first time since Malfoy Manor, she felt free. Grinning, she flung herself at James. "WE DID IT!"
Laughing, James spun her in the air. "We did ruddy brilliant Ashes.."
Ella rolled her eyes, but couldn't stop the smile from creeping on her lips. She grew solemn, however, as she remembered what lay in store. "One more to go."
"Old Voldy himself." James tossed her a broom. "Let's go." He still sported a grin, but Ella noticed he didn't quite meet her eyes.
Ella straightened. "James, wait."
"El.."
"No." Ella stood firmly. "James, I'm not afraid," she said softly. "I'm ready for whatever happens."
"You're ready to just accept your death?" James spun around angrily. "You've already given up. And because of some stupid thing someone said?" He hovered over her.
A heavy silence followed and Ella hardly dared to breathe. She carefully raised her hand and touched James' cheek. "I'm sorry. I suppose I just want to be prepared."
"Rule number one of being a Marauder." James shook his head. "You should never be prepared. Normally you'll be sorely disappointed."
Ella smiled softly. James always seemed to find humor in every situation. "I'll keep that in mind."
James leaned in and Ella kissed him. It was just as brilliant as the first and she felt like a dragon was soaring in her stomach as they grabbed their brooms. Ella leaned forward and shot in the air toward the surface. She still couldn't suppress the doubt of James' words, there might not be the easy way out.