i.
Her limbs are heavy, her lungs on fire. Bubbles of precious, precious air escape her lips with every fruitless thrash of her limbs. The deadly water swirls around her menacingly. There's no one to rescue her, and she soon stops fighting the inevitable. She allows the current to pull her downwards.
And then he is there, wrapping his strong arms around her and pulling her towards the surface. It isn't fast enough, though; almost upon reflex she begins to draw breath – only to inhale water instead. Teddy must see this, because he claps his hand over her mouth and kicks upwards even harder.
Burning. Her lungs are burning. She can't breathe; she needs air. The world begins to grow dark, even though logic dictates it should become lighter the closer they get to the surface.
And then her head breaks through, and Teddy's hand releases her mouth. She gulps the oxygen and splutters out a mouthful of lake-water. Behind her, Teddy is saying something, but she can't make it out. It sounds like "Breathe in, breathe out".
ii.
Third year is the first time she realises she is crushing on Teddy. Teddy Lupin; the boy who is practically family. It doesn't seem weird, though - how can it, with that gorgeous, kind smile and those deep, brown eyes that never change, even when the rest of him does?
That smile and those eyes that make the breath rush from her body.
Breathe in, breathe out.
iii.
The shock winds her, and her pale hand grasps tightly at the bannister in support. Her eyes are fixed on the scene in front of her; the scene that involves Teddy Lupin and Victoire Weasley – snogging
She feels like the pair have punched her in the gut. Suddenly, drawing breath is difficult.
Breathe in, breathe out.
iv.
His lips are soft, gentle, caring. They make her head spin – so much so that she can't quite comprehend why he is pulling away, why he is running, fleeing, out the door. Why is he leaving? He'd kissed her. She's so confused, so light-headed….
Breathe in. Breathe out.
v.
"You're a child!" he hisses, glancing nervously at the house behind them, where all their family in the middle of Christmas drinks. "It's not right for me to take advantage of you!"
"You didn't think I was a child when you kissed me," says Lily, trying to keep her voice even. "I'm almost eighteen. That seemed old enough when you fucked me-"
"That was a mistake," he interrupts. "And it meant nothing."
Breathe in. Breathe out.
i.
She pulls him aside during New Year, and he reluctantly follows. He thinks he knows what it is about, but he couldn't have been more wrong.
She tells him the news with her hand over her abdomen, her thumb rubbing so gently over the skin as though the life growing inside might feel her caress.
He collapses back against the wall, unable to speak – or breathe.
Breathe in. Breathe out.