Always
Immediately after I had heard what had happened, I Apparated directly in front of the cottage and pushed quickly through the gate. The second floor of the left side of the house was blown away and panic flooded me. The front door was barely on its hinges, so I ran straight through, knocking the door completely to the floor, and kept going. Climbing the steps two at a time, I was soon on the second floor, heading towards the site of all the destruction. The dead body of James Potter lying in the hall barely registered with me; my eyes past right over the remains of the man I loathed so much, for they had a greater mission. I saw the rubble at the end of the hall and a light coming out of the last room on the left. My feet dropped into a dead sprint and carried me fast down the hall where I rounded into the room and stopped dead. The sight that greeted me ripped my heart completely in two. I backed into the wall beside the door and slowly slid to the floor; my breathing coming in short gasps and hot tears stinging my eyes. I bent forward and buried my face in my hands, grief overtook every inch of my body until it consumed me in its cold, unforgiving vise. There, dead on the floor, was the woman with red hair and green eyes, whom I'd loved so much. Lilly Potter was gone. The sobs and tears racked my body and I thought my heart was going to explode through my torso. I clawed at my chest, desperately trying to end the pain, but I couldn't. The tears were flowing so fast, I couldn't see anything. I thought about all the times I could have told her, but didn't. All the times I should have told her, but couldn't. And the one time I let my anger get the best of me and I called her a name that ended our friendship. I cried even harder, the sobs making me shake so hard, it was difficult to remain sitting up. I crawled forward and pulled Lilly to me, screaming out in pain to anyone who would hear. I cried into her hair, wishing that the lifeless hands would awake to hold me. But she remained motionless, just as she would from now on. I cried and cried, the sorrow ripping at my heart and numbing my limbs. I forced myself to slow my tears so I could say what I had been longing to say for so long. I gulped hard and whispered quietly into the stale air, "I love you. I've loved you forever and I'll love you forever. Always."