The professors did not give the students any less work because the year was winding down, and they certainly weren't going to give the graduating seventh-years any exception to that philosophy. If anything, the teachers became even more irritable. McGonagall would bark out instructions to a very sleepy class, and Flitiwick would assign extra homework to anyone so fast that they wouldn't even realize that they had done anything wrong at all. Sirius had detention with every single teacher this week- save for Slughorn, who Sirius has the good fortune to bring back some mulled mead from the Three Broomsticks.
One day during a particularly funny lunch, McGonagall approached James at the Gryffindor Table. James turned toward her, expecting a reprimand for spraying Remus with pumpkin juice, but instead saw a grave look in her eye.
" Professor?" He asked, getting up from the table at once. Lily was not at lunch, she had a visit with the nurse in the hospital wing, and James immediately suspected that this had to be about her. Was she all right? Was there something wrong? He needed to see her-
" The Headmaster needs to speak with you, James. In his office. The password is melancholy. I'll take you if you'd like."
Sirius snickered at knowing the password, and it was a sign of McGonagall's obvious distress that she did not glare at him. James nodded at his friends, and turned to leave the Great Hall, but before he could, he felt his professor's hand on his shoulder.
Looking at her, James saw that she had tears in her eyes, and she patted his arm in a comfortingly way. This propelled his curiousity and his worriment more, and James sprinted out of the Great Hall. He heard Professor McGonagall running behind him, shouting his name. Instead of heading toward Dumbledore's office, he ran in the direction of the hospital wing, where Lily would be…James heard the skid of McGonagall's shoes when she switched directions so quickly, but she was still following him as quickly as she could.
" Mr. Potter!"
James burst through the double doors and into the Hospital Wing, and Madam Pomfrey dropped her wand, which she was running over Lily's bare stomach. James saw her, and immediately dropped to his knees at the side of Lily's bed.
" James?" Lily asked, running her hand through his hair.
" Are-you-okay?" James was out of breath, but he took in the sight of her, scanning for anything wrong. McGonagall was here now, running toward the bed.
" I-I'm fine…but…what about you? James, oh, James, I'm so sorry."
He was confused, and now Madam Pomfrey was standing over him, her face in a grim line, her eyes sad. McGonagall was breathing deeply, and she turned to Madam Pomfrey.
" Albus is coming now, Poppy, he'll clear all of this up with him..come, James, into Poppy's office…the Headmaster wants to talk to you.."
" What's the matter with Lily?" James asked, stroking her face. Lily's eyes were locked on his and she shook her head.
" Nothing, James. I'm all right."
" Then what's the matter-,"?
Dumbledore was here now, and he was walking quickly toward them. James stood up.
" Sir, what's going on? Is it about the-,"
" Mr. Potter, just come with me, please." Dumbledore's voice matched Madam Pomfrey and McGonagall's- tired, weary, and sad…
" No, what happened? What's going on? Is someone going to tell me-?"
McGonagall exchanged a look with Dumbledore, and then she started to steer him toward Madam Pomfrey's office. " Calm down, Mr. Potter.."
James wrenched out of her grip, and turned to Dumbledore. " Sir, does this have to do with our conversation the other night?" James inclined his head toward Lily, hoping that Dumbledore would catch the hint, and he did, only Lily's eyes darkened and she spoke at the same time as Dumbledore.
" No, Mr. Potter."
" What conversation?"
" Then tell me, Professor, if you are actually planning too!" James's voice was just below that of a shout.
Dumbledore hesitated, and ignored the sound McGonagall made with the back of her throat. He put his hands on James shoulders, and sat him down on an empty bed.
" Voldemort attacked, James. Your parents are dead."
