A/N: the obvious belongs to the Queen.

No one really noticed that Mr. Potter had passed until a bunch of healers ran into the room looking panicked.

"Oh my!" Mrs. Potter cried, running to her husband's side. Lily felt her eyes water as she saw Mrs. Potter scream and climb into the bed. James, on the other hand, was completely frozen. He couldn't move, couldn't think, couldn't breath. He had just witnessed his father die and there was nothing he could do about it. What am I going to do now? He thought. Who would he turn to for advice? Who would clap him on the back at graduation? Who would tell him to grow a pair and ask Lily out? Who would help him pick engagement rings? James felt completely alone. He would never go to another quidditch game with his father. He would never walk downstairs and find his father sitting by the fireplace, looking at an old family album with a glass of firewhiskey in his hand. He would never get to watch his future wife and his father dance together at their wedding. He and his father would never go house hunting together. His father would never, ever meet James' children. All of the moments they would have shared came rushing into his mind, but there was nothing he could do about it. As he watched his mother scream and cling to his father, he fell to the floor. Crying and shaking, he curled up into a ball and screamed. He screamed for everything he had lost. He screamed for the time he had wasted with his father, whether it be at Hogwarts or fighting. He screamed for the letters he never wrote, the visits he never did, the holidays he skipped. He screamed because he had no one to turn to, not anymore.

Lily, on the other hand, felt completely out of place. She had just witnessed a death and had no idea how to react. She barely knew Mr. Potter, but she could feel James' pain. She could feel how he was hurting and she wished that she could make it go away. When she saw him drop to the floor, her heart broke. She was at his side in an instant, wrapping her arms around him and resting her head on his back. She could feel him shaking with the ferocity of his tears and screams, but all she could do right now was rub his back and let him cry.

After half an hour of mourning, they all got up and stared at each other.

"What now, mum?" James asked.

"Well," Mrs. Potter said, "we need to plan the funeral."

"Am I going back to Hogwarts?"

"No, I'll need you home for funeral planning"

James nodded and started to leave the room, but instead ran to his mum and hugged her.

"It'll be okay mum." He whispered

All he got in response was a whimper and a tighter embrace.

He then left the room with Lily following. Right as they got outside, James pulled her to him. She felt his arms wrap around him, his chin rest on her head, and she felt complete.

"I'm so sorry" she whispered into his chest, feeling his heart beat against her cheek.

"I know," he whispered back.

He pulled slightly out of their embrace to look her in the eyes for the first time since his fathers passing.

"Thanks for being here, Lil. I don't know what I would have done if you weren't"

She smiled and put her hand on his cheek, "I'll always be there for you"

He leaned in and kissed her forehead, and finally pulled out of their embrace completely. Lily felt her forehead burn at the place he kissed, and she wanted nothing more than for him to kiss her again. Unfortunately, before she could act on her impulse, James spoke.

"Back to Hogwarts?"

"Back to Hogwarts."

~A week later~

The week passed with flying colors. Study guides for the final exams were given, papers were written, and Quidditch matches were won. The only problem is the fact that James hasn't been in school since his fathers' death, save when they went back to get some of his stuff. Today was Friday, and the funeral was tomorrow. Lily was obviously going because James asked her to, but the problem is she had nothing to wear. She settled with a black strapless dress, black heels, a strand of pearls, and her hair in a messy bun on the top of her head. Lily was obviously anxious about going to the funeral tomorrow, but deep down she was dying to see James. Even though they'd probably have no alone time together, the fact that they'd be in the same room together was enough. She went to sleep that night feeling excited, but a little scared for what was to come.

The next day Lily woke up bright and early, took an extra long shower, worked extra hard on her hair and makeup, took a while to get dressed to make sure that everything was perfect, and at around 10:15am she left for the Potter house.

James' house was everything you'd expect it to be, large and majestic. It was a mansion made of brick, with ivy growing on the sides. Right in the middle of the driveway was a giant fountain, and the landscaping was to die for. Because of today's event, the place had a very glum feeling to it. Gathering up the courage, she walked to the giant front doors and slammed the knocker 3 times. She was greeted by a house elf named Minnie.

"Are you here for the funeral?" Minnie asked

"Yes I am"

"Right this way,"

"Wait actually, do you know where James is?"

"Master Potter is in his bedroom. Would you like me to take you there?"

"Yes please"

"Okay, follow please."

Minnie lead her up two flights of stairs to the last room on a long hallway.

"Here his room is." Minnie said, giving Lily a curt nod and leaving. She knocked.

"Come in"

She walked into James' room to find him sitting on his bed tying his dress shoes. His room was lovely. He had a four-poster bed, Gryffindor and quidditch posters all over the wall, and a fireplace. The one surprise of the room, however, was the giant collection of books. Lily hadn't pinned James as the reading type but you learn something new everyday.

"Lily" he said, flushing a bit.

"Hi"

"Hi" he replied, smiling for the first time in forever.

"I've really missed you this past week." She said, walking over to lean on the dresser across from his bed.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, classes have been lonely without you."

"Well I'm coming back next week."

"Good."

They paused for a moment, not entirely sure what to say to each other.

"I've missed you too, by the way." James said

Lily felt herself turn pink and gave James a shy smile.

"How are you doing?"

"I've been better." He replied, looking down at his shoes.

"I'm so sorry" she said, not entirely sure how to reply to that.

"Thanks. Lil, I'm really glad you're here. I don't think I'd be able to get through today without you." He admitted.

She smiled again, "Well you won't be alone. Not today."

The funeral service was short and sweet, as was the reception afterwards. Lily went to Mrs. Potter to pay her respects, and the older woman pulled her into a hug.

"I'm so glad you're here, Lily. James has been miserable without you this past week." She said, giving her a slight smile.

"He has?" Lily asked. She was very surprised at her statement, sure she knew that James missed her, but they weren't together. They were just friends. But to hear the fact that he was as miserable as she was gave her a little hope.

"You have no idea how much you mean to him, do you? Merlin Lily, he's been in love with you since third year." Mrs. Potter said.

Before Lily could reply, Mrs. Potter was onto the next guest. Instead of standing there awkwardly, she went on a James hunt. She found him in his backyard, sitting on a bench near another fountain.

"Hey" he said as she walked up.

"Hey yourself" she replied, sitting next to him.

"Have I told you that you look lovely today? Because you do."

"You don't look so bad yourself," Lily teased, shoving him a bit. Luckily he smiled and shoved her back.

"So I read my dads will yesterday," James said

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. I got a crap ton of money and our summer house. I don't really know what to do with it to be honest."

"Buy a quidditch team?" Lily joked.

"Ha, that'd be pretty cool. I dunno, maybe I'll take you to the summer house. You'd love it." James said, looking at her.

"I bet I would."

They stopped talking for a moment, listening to each other's breathing and the sound of the water coming out of the fountain. James took Lily's hand in his, not saying a word. Until he did,

"So graduation is in like 3 weeks."

"Scary, isn't it?"

"Yeah." He said. "We should talk before then"

"About what?" Lily asked, getting more and more nervous by the second.

"Us."

"Okay, brilliant." She said, turning away from him for a moment.

"I'd do it now, but it's just not a good time y'know?"

"James you don't have to explain yourself."

"I know I just don't want you to think I don't care. Merlin Lily, life is really short and dammit I'm not going to waste any more time."

"Then don't."

"I won't. The second I get back to Hogwarts, we're going to talk."

"Brilliant."

And oh my, it would be brilliant.