Disclaimer: Nothing you recognise belongs to me, it belongs to J.K Rowling.
A/N: This is the prologue to a chaptered fanfiction. Enjoy x

Prologue- Crushed.

I looked down at the parchment in my shaking hands. He wraps his arms around me, stroking my hair and I turn into his chest.

Why them?

Why me?
I grab his t-shirt and pull him down to my level, ignoring the fact that all eyes are on us.
"Are you okay, Lils? What's wrong?"
"I...I...James." I shake, tears welling up in my eyes, and double over, clutching my chest, where a ripping pain tears at my chest.
He picks me up easily and carries me out of the hall, using his free hand to cover my face to shield me from unwanted glances. After a brisk run, he finally arrives in his dormitory. Placing me down on his bed, he gently tugs the paper out of my feeble grip and
reads it, fists clenched, as tears start streaming down my face.
"I'll kill them..." he muttered, one hand on my leg. "Oh Lils, I promise I won't let them hurt you anymore."
"Petunia said it was my fault."
"No Lils... no it's not."
"It is... I'm a witch, I'm a mud blood..."

He grabbed me by the shoulders and pushed a hand under my chin, forcing me to look at him.
"Never say that again Lily. EVER! You are the strongest, bravest witch I have ever met, and you have more magical ability in your pinkie finger than the whole of Slytherin house put together."
"They're dead. James, they're gone..."
"I know, love it's ok..."
"No! No it's not! They're gone!"
I must cross the line then into hysteria, because I can't breathe. "James... Help..."
He picks me up again, but my vision is going black and I just can't stay awake.

When I wake up, I'm aware of a crushing pain in my chest. I can tell that I'm in the Hospital Wing, but it's not until I sit up that I realise why. My back aches, and my head is pounding, and I am vaguely dizzy. It's then I remember:
My parents.
They're dead.
I bury my head in my hands, and let out a whimper, and someone rubs my back; I can tell by their deep breathing that it's James. "I'm here, Lils. Just let it all out." I cry and cry and cry until there are no tears left, and I'm a soggy mess, hiccupping with an aching head. When I open my eyes again, he's moved; now he's sitting in front of me, his hands on my shoulders, and when I look at him, I'm surprised to see rare tears running down his face.
Despite the horrible pain in my chest, I am still worried about him. "James...what's wrong...are you ok?" I cough and look into his bloodshot hazel eyes. He laughs weakly and pulls me close to him, wiping the tears off my cheeks with his thumb. "I hate it. I hate seeing you so upset."

Wiping my eyes, I bite back a fresh wave of tears and gulp. "It's not your fault. I'm being silly. You lost your dad too, last year and you didn't faint everywhere." I know I'm being harsh, but if I pretend I am being weak, hopefully I can forget..
Them.
My mum's long red hair, not straight, but curly, a wild mess around her shoulders. My dad's grey waistcoat and tobacco smell.
They're gone.
I'm never going to see them again.
I'm breathing deeply now, in and out, in and out. "That's it Lily. In, out. In, out." I'm really dizzy now, and there's a loud buzzing in my ears.
"Breathe Lily. In and out." That's someone else, someone vaguely female and concerned. James' arms are around my waist, someone's hand on my shoulder, squeezing reassuringly. My eyes are closed, tears seeping slowly from my lids and my breathing is slowing down, becoming tired. James must lay me down, because when I open my eyes slightly a minute later, I'm horizontal and covered with a duvet. I'm too tired to contemplate staying awake and slip into a restless sleep, feeling James' tears drip onto my bare arm.

Thanks a million,
She-who-loves-fanfiction x