Disclaimer - I don't own it!
A/N - Thanks to my spantabulous beta, the effervescent, Zenny, aka Starry Night Blue! Also, make my day...review!
The corridors of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry were utterly silent, save the occasional snore or sleepy murmur from one of the portraits that adorned the walls. However, the silence was soon interrupted by the sounds of hurried footsteps pounding against the polished floors, and a dark figure rounded the corner, skidding a bit due to his momentum. James Potter slipped into a deserted classroom just down the hall from the Gryffindor Common Room and shut the door, before leaning heavily against it and muttering a locking spell. The messy-haired youth was breathing hard and clutching a great armload of food, which he had pilfered from the kitchens. A closer inspection showed that his pockets bulged with more food and it even overflowed from the top of his school bag, which he had brought along just for this purpose – it was from that an apple had fallen and, unfortunately, bounced down the stairs, coming to a stop at the feet of the caretaker, Filch. As it was a full two hours past curfew, the sixth year boy had been forced to make a run for it.
As his breathing slowed James took a moment to look around and noticed that he wasn't alone. On the unused teacher's desk that had been shoved flush against the wall there perched the girl who had been the object of his affection ever since the hormones had kicked in. She was still in her school robes, had her back leaned against the wall and was hugging her knees to her chest. Her head was bent, brilliant red hair obscuring her face, and she was very still as if trying to remain unnoticed.
"Hey Evans!" he said brightly, his entire face lighting up.
Lily Evans seemed to shrink in upon herself as she whispered, "Please, James, just leave me alone."
"Wow! You must be tired, you forgot to use my last name," the boy teased her, dumping the food unceremoniously on a desk and dropping the bag beside it. He then spent the next few minutes emptying his pockets onto a neighbouring desk, before finally hopping up on the desk next to Lily. "So, my dear, you want to cheer yourself up by going out with yours truly?" he asked merrily, flashing a winning smile at the curtain of hair where her face should have been.
The witch raised her head slowly, hair falling away, and met James hazel eyes with her own. "Please just go," she pleaded, voice breaking. Light fell across her face from the lamps above, and he could see that it was pale and that her green eyes were brimming with unshed tears.
James felt dread in the pit of his stomach; he reached out, touched her hand and was quite surprised when instead of pulling away she gripped his fingers tightly between her delicate ones. She closed her eyes and the tears slowly trickled down her cheeks. The shocked young man sat very still – he had never, in six years and a million horrible, yet hilarious, pranks, seen her cry. Neither had she ever willingly come within six feet of him, much less held his hand.
"Exams are in a week," she whispered. "Summer holidays in three. I've always taken so much for granted…like having a home to go to and parents who loved me."
"What…?"
"I guess it's difficult to appreciate something you've always had until you lose it."
"Did they kick you out? If so, you could stay with me. Mum and Dad won't care. They've taken in Sirius, so I know they wouldn't mind. Mum would probably love to have a girl about the place!"
"They didn't kick me out. My sister sent a letter and a trunk full of things I'd left at home earlier today. My parents died in a car crash last week. Last week!" she cried, sobbing outright now. "She didn't tell me until now; until the funeral was over and they were buried. I didn't even get to say goodbye."
James was at a total loss for words. Lily released his hand and covered her face, rocking slowly back and forth. He merely sat and stared at her, for how long he did not know. He wanted to say something to her to make her feel better about the whole ordeal, but he couldn't grasp the proper words. The young man considered putting a comforting arm around her shoulders, but he doubted that she would like it. Finally, she straightened up and, pulling out a handkerchief, wiped her face dry and blew her nose. She jumped off of the desk and stood in front of him, biting her bottom lip nervously, unable to meet his eyes.
"I'm sorry," she murmured.
"No, Lily, I am," he replied, voice just as soft. James slid off the desk and stepped close to her. "I'm not good with crying women; I never know what to do. Especially with one who tends to yell as soon as she lays eyes on me."
She sighed "I'm sorry for that too."
"Nah, I deserve it…most of the time," he said, grinning at her in an attempt to make her smile. It didn't work.
They were quiet for the space of a few heartbeats, Lily staring hard at her saddle oxfords while James only had eyes for her.
"I miss them already. I didn't go home at Christmas or Easter. I thought, 'Oh, I'll see them at summer break,' and now I'll never see them again." The distraught young woman pressed the heels of her hands against her eyes in an effort to stop the tears. James stepped a bit closer and wrapped his arms around her. She stiffened at first, but she gradually relaxed as he held her tight and rested his head on top of hers, and she snaked her hands around his back, burying her face into his chest. They stayed that way for what seemed like a blissful eternity for James.
She finally looked up at him, the ghost of a smile hovering above her lips. "Thank you, James."
"For what?"
"Caring about me, holding me, offering me comfort, for staying here with me for God knows how long. Sometimes…" her voice trailed off.
"Yes?"
"Sometimes I think you would make a very good friend," she said, nodding in affirmation at her own words. "You're normally so arrogant and aloof, like nothing touches you, but times like now…I see why Remus, Sirius and Peter are so loyal to you. Maybe you're not as much of an egotistical prat as I thought."
He regarded her with an odd expression before whispering, "Maybe not."
She looked at him a moment then hugged him tightly, before stretching up on tiptoes and kissing him on the cheek. "Would you walk me back, James?"
"Gladly, Lily."
The two Gryffindor students then made their way out of the empty classroom, pilfered food still piled on two desks and spilling out of a bag that had been forgotten.
