Chapter 3:
Lily took in the morning air, feeling herself swept up in the bittersweet nostalgia of it all again. Now, however, she felt as if something that had been bothering her was finally put to rest, that her questions, though they remained unanswered, could remain that way without disturbing her. A heavy weight had been lifted off her shoulders, and she could breathe the air around her again without inhaling gloom and bitterness as well.
As she walked to the Great Hall, feeling lighter with each step, she noted that it was still early morning, with the sun just beginning to rise- most of the students would still be asleep. That was a good thing, she found, thankful for the few moments of solitude, for once. Pausing before the door, she turned around to take in the view of the sunrise from the large window just outside of the Great Hall.
The sunrise was indeed beautiful, giving hope and promise of a new day. Her eyes straying from the rising sun while the first rays of golden light streamed through the window, she noticed a few small sparrows singing joyfully perched on a small tree nearby. The picturesque scene reminded her vaguely of a poem.
"Hope is a thing with feathers, that perches in the soul," she murmured softly, closing her eyes, simply feeling the warmth of the sunlight upon her face. It was her mother's smile, her father's kiss… it was calming.
"That sings the tune without the words, and never stops at all," a voice behind her finished for her.
Opening her eyes and turning around, she met the smiling eyes of James Potter. Smiling slightly, he murmured, "Hi."
Closing her eyes and opening them again, as if to make certain of his presence, she smiled as well, acknowledging him. He always seemed to appear at the most inopportune- or, maybe, opportune- moments. Returning the greeting, she said softly, "Hi."