Hi everyone. I saw a Very Harry Potter Musical this week at my university, and got a bit of inspiration. Let me know what you think, I'm not really sure where I'm going to go with the story.

It's sixth year, and Lily and James have actually become friends. He isn't so arrogant, the Marauders have kept their pranks more tasteful and Lily has begun to see why all those girls think James is so attractive. They are sitting together at breakfast, two weeks before Christmas.

The Great Hall is just as loud as ever when the owl post comes through. Lily receives a letter and opens it excitedly. She reads it, and feels her body go numb.

James sees Lily pale, and asks her what's wrong. He sees her hands shaking as she drops the letter, and her body seems to crumble. He grasps her shoulders and holds her up. "Lily, what's wrong? Are you okay? What happened?"

She can't speak. She can't move. She feels her world crashing down around her. She curls into James' shoulder and the tears start flowing. She can't stop them now.

He hugs her and grabs the letter. Her parents died in a house fire? The ministry says there is no conclusive data to prove it was magic or non-magic. So basically, it could have been a hate-crime against Lily and nobody is willing to look into it. Great.

He picks her up, much to his best mate Sirius' surprise, and carries her out of the Great Hall, Marauders in tow. He brings her to the Hospital Wing and quickly explains to Madame Pomfrey the situation. She feeds a listless Lily the dreamless sleep potion, and they all watch as she drifts to sleep.

"I'm fine. Don't worry, just go to class and pick up the homework. I'm not leaving her."

She thinks it's James' voice, but she can't be sure. Why would she hear his voice, she's asleep. That's just silly.

He strokes her hair, hoping she'll wake up soon. He wants to do something for her — anything — but can't figure out what. He can't imagine what her mind must be going through.

Her eyes flutter open. She looks up and immediately sees James Potter's head, sleeping on the edge of her bed. 'I'm in the hospital wing,' she thought. 'What am I doing here?'

It all came back to her in a wave of disbelief. Her parents. The house fire. What's she supposed to do? She began to hyperventilate. She doesn't know how to handle this.

James wakes up to her erratic breathing. "Hey, hey, it's okay." As she shoots up from the bed, he hugs her close, stroking her hair and soothing her in any way he knows how. She starts crying again and he sits down, and pulls her into his lap. They sit together for hours.

She finally looks up. "James, what am I going to do? My parents are… d-d-dead. I don't have anywhere to go!"

"Don't worry about that. Let's just take it one step at a time, okay?"

She nods, then asks, "Wait. What are you doing here? Why are you being so nice to me?"

"I'm not going to just leave you alone," he said. "I'll be here, until you want me to go away. I promise."

She smiles, not fully understanding why the arrogant James Potter she's always known is willing to do this for her, but doesn't want to challenge it just yet.

The next few days are full of catching up in class and funeral planning. Petunia wasn't being any help, and Lily had to figure it all out on her own. Luckily, with the Marauders' help, it was going well. Each night is filled with James sitting with Lily until she falls asleep in the common room; she's still feeling too alone to actually be alone.

The day of the funeral arrives and they travel, with Dumbledore's approval, to the site.

Please READ AND REVIEW! I'm up for any and all suggestions.