Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Lily was almost there. She could feel it. Taste it, even.

It had been days since she had last eaten something and she was absolutely starving. She hoped that once she found James she would be able to eat some proper food again.

Growing ever more impatient to finish her journey, Lily broke out into a heavy-paced run. The wind caused her blazing locks to blow maniacally around her face, making it nearly impossible to see anything at all. Fortunately, she managed to smack into a tree only once.

After half an hour, Lily had finally reached her destination.

The building was haunted and forlorn, located in the south of Albania – a peculiar place for You-Know-Who to keep his prisoners locked up but Lily supposed it added to the 'evil ambience'. She circled the perimeter of the house, noticing fallen rubble and broken ornaments as she went. There were two doors; one locked and the other blocked with what appeared to be a pile of awkwardly-shaped bricks.

"Wingardium Leviosa." she muttered.

The bricks rose one by one and landed in a bush nearby.

Lily kicked open the second door and tentatively stepped inside. It was even worse than the outside. Spiders were crawling everywhere and a strange form of fungi was hanging from the ceiling.

"James?" she whispered.

"Don't even bother."

Lily flipped her head to face where the voice was coming from. A ghost was floating in her direction.

"What do you mean?" she asked, fearful of what the answer would be.

The ghost tilted her head towards what should've been the guestroom.

Lily peered inside and almost vomited. James was sprawled out on the bed, surrounded by a pool of blood.

She looked back at the ghost, "W-w-when?"

"Two or three weeks ago."

"H-how?"

"Suicide."

Lily felt like her heart was about to tumble out of her chest, "Did he leave a note?"

"As a matter of fact, he did. It's addressed to you."

The ghost retrieved an envelope from the bedside table and handed it to Lily:

Lily,

You didn't save me in time – I hate you.

Goodbye,

James

LJ LJ LJ LJ LJ LJ LJ LJ LJ LJ LJ LJ LJ LJ LJ LJ LJ LJ LJ LJ LJ LJ LJ LJ LJ LJ LJ LJ LJ LJ LJ LJ LJ LJ

Lily awoke suddenly to find herself in tears. That was the most awful dream she had ever experienced and so bloody realistic. She checked her watch – it was only 11:58pm. No way was she going back to sleep after that dreadful ordeal.

She quietly got out of bed and tiptoed down to the Gryffindor Common Room. She settled herself into an armchair by the fire that was still crackling merrily away. What was she going to do? James had been kidnapped ages ago and she was still no closer to finding him. Lily was worried that if she waited much longer then he would end up like he was in the dream - gone.

She stared into the flames for a considerable amount of time - just thinking. After a while, an idea started taking shape in her mind.

Lily sprinted out of the Common Room as fast as she could and prayed to Merlin that Peeves wasn't lurking about. She didn't know exactly where to go but she had read about this place before and knew that it could help her. It was called the Room of Requirement.

She began pacing back and forth in front of various different tapestries, hoping she'd eventually find the right one: I need to save James Potter.

A door soon materialised in front of her very eyes.

"It's real!" Lily all but shouted, "I can't believe it!"

She hurried into the room but was disappointed by what she saw – a small slip of parchment paper and a portrait.

She picked up the parchment paper:

Travel towards the peak

An angel you will find

To guide you to the reek

Of an old stale mind

What the hell was that supposed to mean?

Lily looked at the portrait carefully – did the riddle have something to do with the portrait?

She moved closer to it and as soon as she did, it swung open. It looked like it was leading her into Hogsmeade.

Lily shrugged, "I guess I've got to start somewhere."

And so the search began.

A/N – HA! I bet you thought you had seen the last of me but I am back and ready to write. I am so sorry it's taken so long but I promise I'm going to be posting chapters A LOT more frequently. The next one should be up either tomorrow or the next day, depending (if I don't, feel free to pester me until I do). So what do you think? Lily has finally started searching for James, yay! I wonder what's going to happen … please leave me a review – they honestly make my day so much.

Also shout out to the people who left me a review last time: Ash-Caro-Lynn, Lauren Joan, oracle987 and the guests – you guys are amazing!