The library is Lily's favorite place. It's been her sanctuary countless times, and it's become a safe haven. It's also a good place to find a book. Just losing yourself into someone else's world, how nice is that?

Wandering from row to row of books, her footsteps take Lily to her table, the one all the way in the back, in a musty corner with a huge window that looks onto the grounds.

Everyone else is outside, enjoying themselves in the sun.

But not the person sobbing onto her table, blood and tears staining the polished wood.

It takes Lily a minute to realize who it is.

James.

Lily drops her bag, and her books, and rushes over to his side, kneeling by his chair, between him and the window.

"James! What's wrong? Are you alright? Oh James, what did you do to your hands? What's wrong?"

All she gets in return are choked back tears.

Lily is reduced to rubbing circles into James's back, and murmuring assurances that everything will be alright.

Eventually the tears stem, the sobs cease, and James is still. Lily is afraid to ask what's wrong, in case he cries again.

After a few minutes, Lily doesn't have to ask.

"My parents. They're dead."

James finally looks up. His face is tear-streaked, his shirt littered with tear stains and blood marks. His glasses are askew, and his hair looks a bit thinner, as if he had spent some time pulling it out. His knuckles are bloody, and everything about him looks moody and strained.

Lily takes one of his large warm hands into her petite ones. She meets his eyes.

Never has she seen James Potter so broken and devastated. He was always the one with the confidence, and self-assurance, so put together and happy. He seems shattered.

"I'm a terrible person, Lily. I should have been a better son. I never was… and being an Auror was never an easy job, was it?"

James's voice cracks with every word.

"James", Lily starts quietly, but he cuts her off.

"I mean, I know I was a terrible person. There's got to be a reason why you never liked me, seriously, how did I never see it before? Too into myself to realize, I suppose.", he says a bit louder, and harsher.

"I was so pompous, thought I could bloody get away with anything I wanted. Letter after letter was sent home, my mum always gave me an earful about it."

"James", Lily tries again, but James talks louder, even more cruelly.

"My dad, he always told me I wouldn't get anything done if all I did was fool around. I didn't listen to him. Told myself I could be responsible later, but I never was. He was disappointed in me. Now they're gone. They won't be able to see how I've tried to change.", he spat.

"James", Lily says, and he shuts his mouth quickly, jaw clenched, and turns to look at the window behind Lily.

"You aren't a terrible person. I promise. You have changed, and they saw that. How else would you have gotten Head Boy?", Lily's voice is a bit shaky.

She grabs his chin gently and pulls his face down so he'll look at her.

"Your parents loved you. Don't you ever forget that."

He nods slowly, and she moves her hand to cup his face.

"James, what happened to your hands?"

Something about a wall and a mirror was mumbled back at her.

"Let's take you to the Hospital Wing, alright? And then we can do whatever you want."

And with that, Lily swiftly, very quickly, placed a soft kiss on James's lips, pulled him up by the hand, and left the library with James.