Chapter 9
As soon as James had entered the Great Hall he quickly slid into his seat beside his friends at the end of the table.
"I hope there isn't any lectures from the teachers today because I'm way to hungry to listen to that junk," said Peter with a hint of anger in his voice.
"Calm down! It's not like you haven't eaten in a week, no reason to get all mad about it," said Sirius with a laugh.
"Oh whatever! I just want some food," replied Peter looking stern.
James sat silently paying little attention to their conversation, and his thoughts began to wonder. Dark things began to float into his mind paralyzing him with fear. He grew very tense and suddenly Sirius turned and looked at him.
"James?" he said waving his hand I front of his face, but James remained tense. Sirius placed his hands on James's shoulders and gave him a hard shake. James's mind flew back to reality and he let out a little yell.
"Hey man you okay?' asked Sirius with concern.
"What…oh yeah I'm okay," said James a little startled.
Remus threw James an odd look of concern.
"Good, because dinner is going to be very soon, and we sure don't need to see you fall face first into your food," said Sirius laughing.
Dumbledore stood up from his slightly raised table and raised his hands, he muffled a few words and food instantly appeared on the table. Automatically Peter dove into the food like a starved animal.
"Slow down before you choke yourself," laughed Remus.
Peter paid little attention to him but continued to pile things onto his plate. James looked at the food in front of him and suddenly remembered his hungry stomach and also began to scoop food onto his own plate. Soon everyone was full and content as they lay back in their chairs.
"Hey Remus, if I didn't know better I would say that Peter looks like a stuffed balloon,' said Sirius eyeing Peter with a smile. Remus gave a laugh and Peter shot them both a look of venom.
"Look who got up on the wrong side of the bed today, oh wait never mind rats sleep in holes," Remus said with a smirk. Peter turned red with anger.
"I least I don't have fangs and walk around like a dog when the moon is full," Peter shot back.
Everyone fell silent and Remus jumped from his seat in rage. Peter also rose and stepped closer to Remus.
"Hey guys, cool it!" yelled Sirius.
James looked uncertainly at the two. Peter and Remus continued to stare hatefully at one another. Finally Sirius stood up and stepped in between the two of them.
"Cool it! We got enough trouble already without the two of you fighting."
The two of them still stood with rage in their hearts but finally Remus sat down again.
"Your right, we don't need any more trouble," said Remus relaxing a bit.
Triumphantly Peter sat back down at the table and silence spread over the four friends. A few minutes later dinner was over and people began to empty out of the Great Hall. As James rose from his seat he felt a sudden emptiness. He missed Lily greatly and wished she would leave the hospital wing soon, but to James's' disappointment no news had come to him lately. James went out into the hall and the others followed. Finally he broke the silence.
"Guys you go head back to the common room, I'm going to go to the hospital wing to check up on Lily."
"No!" said Sirius quickly.
James looks at Sirius sternly.
"What do you mean, No?" he asked.
"ahhh…" Sirius became lost for words.
Remus began to back him up.
"He means that we want you to come to the common room first and then you can go to see Lily."
"Why can't I go now?" asked James suspiciously.
"Because, umm.. We have something we want to show you," said Remus trying to seem normal.
"Something is up with you guys," said James not buying any of it.
Peter sighed.
"Okay smart guy you caught us."
Remus and Sirius shot deadly glares at Peter.
"The truth is that we have a surprise for you, but it's in the common room. So come with us and then go see Lily, okay?"
"Okay, I will come," said James.
Sirius and Remus relaxed at these words and the four continued on their way down the corridor. As they walked James was in doubt, wondering what in the world they could possibly have for him. Soon the four came to the portrait of a lady and Sirius spoke the password and they walked inside. James went over to a cushioned chair by the fireplace and plopped himself down. Sirius also sat down in a chair opposite James, while Remus and Peter disappeared up the staircase to the boy's dormitory.
"Where are they going asked?" asked James.
"They're going to get the surprise," replied Sirius.
"Why would you get me anything anyways? It's not like there is a special occasion."
"Well James it sort of is," said Sirius smartly.
"Don't worry you are really going to like this present. It's going to be the best one you have had in a while."
James looked doubtfully at Sirius for a second and then cast his eyes down and looked into the fire. Meanwhile as he looked into the fire Remus and Peter had crept back down the stairs. All of a sudden the two toppled into two other chairs close to James. He looked up at them with a confused expression for he had expected them to bring something downstairs, but to his surprise they had nothing in their arms. Smirks were upon everyone's faces now and James was greatly confused.
"What's going on? I thought you guys were going to get something," said James questioningly.
"We did!" replied Remus.
"Where is it?" asked James.
"Right behind you," said Peter.
James continued to look confused when he suddenly felt a warm presence behind him, and for some strange reason it filled him with great joy and happiness. He slowly turned around in his chair. James gasped and fell backwards onto the floor. Everyone began to laugh and James was filled with wonder.
"Well I never thought that was how you were going to react," said a sweet voice from behind his chair.
James leapt from the floor and ran towards Lily who had silently stood behind him. James opened his arms and hugged Lily close to him with tears of happiness flowing from his eyes.
"I have missed you so much," said Lily who felt herself falling apart in his arms.
James felt joy returned to his heart and he no longer felt drowsy but fully awake and ready to take on anything that came his way. He slowly pulled back from Lily and looked at here. Her green eyes glittered and sparkled with tears and they slowly rolled down her cheeks. He leaned closer and softly kissed her upon her lips. Memories and feelings swept through both of them and love filled their hearts. Once again he pulled away from her and turned to look at his friends.
"You really have given the best present I could ever wish for. Thank you so much," said James.
"Oh it was nothing. When we heard that Lily had recovered we were the first to talk to her. Then we brought her back her and she has been waiting for us to bring her downstairs to see you," said Sirius.
The others nodded their heads in agreement. Lily smiled back at them with bright eyes. The she sat down in another cushioned chair and relaxed as James and the others began to have a long conversation. Slowly the common room began to empty out as people went to bed. Finally Sirius stood up and stretched his arms.
"Well goodnight everyone I'm going to go to bed," said Sirius and he began to walk towards the stairs leading to the dormitory when Peter and Remus also stood and told him to wait.
"Goodnight you two I think us three are going to bed now," said Remus, and he and Peter hurried up to Sirius and the three of them disappeared up the stairs. Lily and James were now the only ones remaining and Lily stood up and sat on James's lap. She smiled at him brightly feeling very content. Lily still felt a little weak but happiness had flowed through her like medicine when she looked at James.
"This has definitely been one crazy year," James said laughing slightly.
"Yes, it really has been. I can't believe it's almost over," said Lily with distress.
"I almost wish we didn't have to leave, there are a lot of good memories here."
Tears sparkled in her eyes and she looked half-heartedly at the fire, which had begun to burn low.
"Hey you have great things to look forward to Lily," said James softly. She turned and looked into his eyes.
"James, I love you so much."
She leaned closer to him and fell asleep upon his lap as the ambers of the fire burned low and the room grew dark. When the room was silent two eyes shined brightly from the top of the stairs, and malice and danger were in those eyes ever watching the two figures sleeping soundlessly in the chair, and then suddenly the eyes disappeared into the dark.
