Chapter 2

Disclaimer: Obviously, I do not own Harry Potter. Sad, but true.

A/N: Ok, before you read this chapter, you must understand that I am all for James/Lily and you just have to bear with me until the end. Please R/R!

James awoke bright and early the following morning. He tried to keep quiet as he got dressed so that he didn't wake up the other guys in the room. He headed downstairs to what seemed to be an empty common room. The light was very dim as he made his way over to the couch in front of the fireplace. Halfway there, he noticed a motionless figure lying on the couch. He reached for his wand, unsure of what else to do. He inched closer to the couch, and finally recognized it to be Ray. He gasped as he ran to her side. He was afraid to touch her because from her position it was not evident as to whether or not she was breathing. Finally, he slowly reached his hand out and gently touched the side of her face. He let out a sigh of relief as he felt the warmness of her cheek under his fingers.

"Ray?" He whispered. He surveyed her face while waiting for her to respond and noticed a slight bruise above where his hand rested. Gently, he ran his finger over the discolored area and as his index finger reached the darkest area, Ray flinched and James pulled his hand away. "Ray, wake up. It's James." She still didn't respond to him. "Ray, please, wake up." He moved his hand to her arm and gently shook her until he saw her eyes flutter open.

She looked really confused as her eyes adjusted to the dimness. "James?" She tried to lift her head to get a better look at him, but after feeling the searing pain, decided against it. "What are you doing here?"

"Well, we are in the common room." He said, not sure exactly how to answer the question. Once Ray heard the words "common room" she immediately sprang up from the couch.

"Common room?" She asked as she placed her hand to her head.

"Yes, where did you think we were?"

"The common room?" She asked again. "She looked around the room to see if she could see anyone else in there with her.

"Yes, the common room. Ray, what happened to you? You look like you were on the losing end of a fight."

'You have no idea.' Ray said to herself but just forced a smile for James. "I'm fine, really." She told him.

"You don't look fine. Let me take you to the Hospital Wing. Please."

"James, really, I'm fine."

"You don't look this way when you're 'fine.'" He pointed out. He moved his hand to the side of her face and touched the bruise under her eye. She flinched as his hand gently brushed it. "Where did that come from?"

Ray studied him for a moment as she thought how best to answer him. She never noticed just how much he seemed to care for her. She was always wrapped up in Sirius's opinion but then again, Sirius just wasn't there for her like he used to be. Ray thought about Lily and how she couldn't stand James, and at this moment, couldn't see how this was possible. It was evident that he was such a great guy and she couldn't understand how she had never noticed that before. She studied his handsome features as he continued to stare at her.

"Ray?" She realized that he was still waiting for her to answer the question and quickly snapped back to reality. "Ray?" James said again. "Are you going to answer me or not?"

"James, I'm ok."

"That's not what I asked." He said.

"I know." Ray forced a small smile. "But that's how I'm answering." James waited another minute hoping that she would just give in and tell him what happened. He hated pestering her, but he didn't want to see her hurt.

"Please just tell me what happened."

"James, really-"

"Ray, please. I am asking you to just tell me what happened." He saw her hesitating and added, "Don't make me use Veritaserum on you."

"You wouldn't dare." She mumbled. "You don't even know where to get any."

"In your secret stash. Seeing as how Potions is your favorite class and you're so good at it, you always keep some important ones in stock. And don't think I won't find a way to get it. I have no problem going through your personal belongings."

"That's really comforting."

"Ray, please. I just want to know what's going on."

Ray took a deep breath and said, "You'll laugh at me."

"No, I promise I won't."

"I…" she sighed as she broke down and told him. "I fell down the stairs."

"You what?" He asked, unbelievingly.

"I fell down the stairs." She said simply. She knew there was no way she could tell him or anyone else the truth, and she figured that that was the most logical explanation she could give.

"You're telling me that you look like this all because you fell down some stairs?"

"Now you're just mocking me."

"Ray, look at you!"

"I don't think I look that bad." Ray tried to stand up but lowered herself back onto the couch, because she was still really weak and didn't think her legs would be able to support her.

"You really fell down the stairs?" He asked again, still not believing her.

"Yes, I fell down the stairs. That's all that happened. I couldn't sleep so I went walking and I missed a step and fell down about five flights. And it hurt, a lot. So I'm sorry if I'm a little cranky. But I'm tired and couldn't make it up, so I laid down here."

"And forgot where you were?" Ray looked confused until he added, "When I woke you up? You didn't seem to realize you were in the common room."

"Well, I had just fallen down a bunch of stairs. I was probably a little disoriented when I came in."

"Stand up."

"What?" Ray asked, confused.

"Stand up." James repeated.

"Why?"

"Because I want to see for myself that you're okay. So, stand up." Ray sighed and pushed herself up off the couch. She got to her feet okay, but started staggering after a couple of seconds. She swayed a little and felt her right leg give out and James stood up and caught her. "Don't worry. I've got you." He whispered as he held her in his arms. They both lowered themselves onto the couch and James held Ray in his arms. He had never been that great at the whole comforting thing, but he really wanted to be there for her.

He looked down at her face and saw that she had closed her eyes and was resting her head on his shoulder. He never realized until this moment just how beautiful she really was. Even though her face was partly black and blue, he couldn't take his eyes off her. He thought back to all the time they had spent together and even though the thought had crossed both their minds before, there was always something in the way. This was the first time in a while that Ray and Sirius hadn't been together, and now was the time that she needed someone most. He thought about Sirius and how he would react if he saw the two of them at the moment. It wasn't a pretty thought.

Ray opened her eyes to see James staring at her. She smiled as she slowly lifted her head to look at him. "What?" She asked him.

"Nothing." He shook his head. "You sure you don't want to go to the hospital wing?" He asked, changing the subject.

"No, I really don't. I promise I'm fine." She paused, and then added, "But can we just sit here for a few more minutes?"

"Of course." He whispered as she lowered her head back onto his shoulder. He waited awhile, but then realized how late it was getting. "Ray?"

"Hmm?" She asked without moving.

"People are going to start waking up soon…and coming downstairs."

"Mkay." She mumbled as she sat up. James stood up and offered his hand to help her.

"Let's see if you can stand any better now." He said as she took his hand. He pulled her up and she stumbled a little before deciding to just lean on him. He wrapped his arms around her as he told himself that he was only being a good friend and helping her. But he had trouble convincing himself of that as he continued to hold her.

Ray looked at James and smiled at him as they just stood in the middle of the Common Room. She knew she needed to go upstairs and just go back to bed, but she didn't want to leave the comfort of his arms. She felt protected there, as if nothing could hurt her, not even Lucius. They continued to stare at each other for another minute, and Ray could feel James's breath on her face. As he bent down to meet her lips, she instinctively moved up to meet his. Just as their lips touched, Ray flinched as James's hand went over a bruise on her back.

"Sorry." He muttered. Ray laughed softly and laid her head on his chest. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

"You didn't." She said into his chest. Just as she said that, they heard footsteps coming down the stairs and Ray sat back down on the couch and James took a few steps back.

"Sirius?" James said as he saw Sirius step off the last step.

"Sirius?" Ray echoed.

"James? Ray?" He looked back and forth between the two of them. "What's going on?"