Chapter 25: Friends and Guards

Lily was released from the hospital the next day with one very sore neck. Her parents had just left and she was ready to be done being scolded.

"Now, Miss Evans, please rest for a couple of days and use this," she handed Lily a salve to put on her almost broken neck, "Don't move too much and just take it easy. Your professors know that you have another day off so it might be smart to stick with that."

"Thank you," Lily croaked as she left the hospital wing. She walked through the silent corridors. Most of the students were busy doing fun things on this Thursday.

Lily sighed. She had been through quite the ordeal and could just go for a regular school year or even a vacation. She didn't like how scary this world was becoming and to be frank, she really just wanted to disappear.

"Lily!" Alice shrieked as the portrait swung open. She ran to her and enveloped the red headed girl in a giant bear hug. Some tears escaped from Lily's eyes, partially from her happiness and the other part from the pain in her body.

"We were just worried sick!" Alice held her arm and helped her into the common room that was almost completely empty but her few friends. A crying Natalie slowly walked up and hugged her as well but Lily only had eyes for the tall boy across the room.

James turned when he heard Alice yell the one name that tore open his insides.

Sirius, Remus, Natalie, and Peter were all sitting by him in the couches near the fire but all James could do was watch that beautiful red head walk into the common room. Her friends greeted her and she moved with precision and slowly.

James ran a nervous hand through his hair then shoved his hands in his pockets as she approached.

Lily's eyes locked with his. She gave him a small smile, which cause him to nervously run his hand through his hair like he always did.

Inside, Lily was so happy to be finally home. She hated being in the hospital wing alone and broken. She felt most vulnerable there and felt so welcome here around all of her friends, even if she couldn't turn her head.

She walked up to James and he whispered, "I'm glad your back." And then put a hand on her lower back as she walked to the couch.

"How are you feeling, Lily?" Remus asked, looking at her with concern.

"I've…um…been better," she laughed a little but then stopped and grabbed her throat because it hurt way too much.

"We're just so glad to see you!" Natalie said, still crying.

"What's wrong?" Lily asked but then immediately regretted it. Everyone's faces dropped and Natalie began sobbing. Sirius helped her up then hugged her as she cried on his shoulder.

"Natalie's brother has been kidnapped by…" Remus coughed, "Um…Voldemort."

Lily sighed, tears coming to her eyes and her body feeling so weak. Suddenly, James was next to her on the couch.

"You need to rest," he said, Lily turned to him but her stare was so blank. She tried to stand but collapsed into his arms, her legs not strong enough. James picked her up, just like she weighed nothing, and brought her up to the dormitory. He placed her in her, covered her up, and then turned to leave.

"Please don't leave me," Lily sobbed, "everyone else has."

James' chest tightened when he heard those words out of her mouth. He walked back to her bed and sat down next to her. He leaned over and kissed her forehead as she closed her eyes.

"I would never leave you, Lily," he whispered, smoothing her hair down.

She fell soundly asleep with James' worried face as the last image in her mind.

Lily awoke to the sound of Alice rummaging. The sun was already up and shining brightly through the curtains. Lily sat up but immediately regretted that decision as her neck protested with a large round of pain.

"What are you doing? Where's James?" Lily croaked, rubbing her eyes.

"Oh good morning!" A flustered Alice answered, "I'm just trying to find this certain outfit…um yeah. James left early this morning. He had to get to class and didn't want to get in trouble but he said he'll see you after a meeting?"

"Oh ok," Lily answered.

"But we have something really nice planned for tonight so I want you to wear this," Alice moved a large pile and then held up a slinky green dress.

"What's the occasion?"

"Well, the boys just wanted to make a nice dinner," Alice smiled and handed her the dress.

"Oh…that's nice of them," Lily inspected the dress. It had a V-neck top and was a dark shade of emerald. It wasn't floor length but it hung just a little below the knees, "This is beautiful Alice, where did you get it."

"Oh I've had it for a while but I've never worn it," She smiled and winked, "I thought it would be perfect for you!"

"Thanks!" Lily hung it up on her bed frame, got dressed, and headed down to the common room.

Natalie and Remus were down there chatting over books and smiled when they saw her.

"You are supposed to go see Dumbledore in his office," Remus noted.

"Ok thanks," Lily answered as she left the common room.

James had been sitting there for almost an hour and was getting antsy. Professor Dumbledore had an important reason for talking to him but he had a lot of things to get ready for the evening.

"So do you understand James?"

"All I have to do is wear this?" he replied, coming out of his daze.

"Yes, and it will work perfectly."

"Ok great," James answered, standing, "I will keep you updated."

"I trust you will," Dumbledore answered sternly.

James left his office and walked down the griffin stairs only to see a flash of red hair and the beautiful Lily at the bottom of the stairs.

"Hi," she whispered to him, her voice still not one hundred percent back.

"Hi," he looked her over, noticed the bruise on her neck first, "how are you feeling today?"

"Alright," she answered, "um…thanks for staying last night."

"Anytime," he answered nervously tapping his foot, "Dumbledore's ready for you." As he walked away he slipped a thin silver chain with a pendant on it around his neck and tucked it under his shirt.

"Come in, Miss Evans," Dumbledore spoke from his desk.

Every time Lily walked into Dumbledore's office she was always astounded. The many moving paintings that covered the wall made small noises and the instruments on the many counters squeaked and spun.

"Please sit," he motioned for the chair in front of him. She sat in the large armchair in front of his desk and peered up at him.

"How are you doing, Lily?" He looked at her over his half moon glasses.

"I'm ok," Lily, answered a little uncomfortable.

"You neck seems to be a little better," he noticed.

"Yeah, it still hurts just as bad though,"

"I'm so sorry for all the trouble that you've been through, Lily. It pains me to see you this way."

Lily smiled and looked down to stop the tears from overflowing in front of the most powerful wizard that she knew.

"I have something for you," he smiled. He got up and returned with a small navy colored pouch,

"Go ahead."

Lily reached for the pouch and opened it. Out came a long necklace on a silver chain. There was pendant hanging from it the color of a deep emerald. It was in the shape of a small oval and held together by engraved silver.

"It's beautiful thank you," she smiled.

"It's called a Lookit pendant. It protects the wearers from harm. You must wear this at all times."

"You said wearers, is there another?" Lily questioned.

"Yes, there is a matching pendant to this one. Each of you will know when the other is in danger, ill, dying, or needs help. They react in different ways to each situation."

"So who has the other one?" Lily asked. She then noticed the many necklaces around Dumbledore's neck. She inspected each one but there wasn't a matching emerald one.

"That is not my place to tell you," Dumbledore answered, "the wearer is the only person who can disclose that information. There is a very powerful and binding magical spell between these necklaces. I feel that this will help you stay safe."

"I hope so," Lily sighed.

"Promise me you won't go anywhere alone and will stay on these grounds unless otherwise instructed?" One of his eyebrows slightly raised and he leaned towards her.

"I promise," she smiled weakly.

"Alright, now hurry along," he looked back to the contraption on his desk.

As Lily walked back to the common room she put the necklace on. When the pendant touched her skin she felt a slight shock that caused her body to tremble.

It must be ready to work, she thought a little confused.

"Time for you to get ready, Lily pad!" Alice screeched as she turned from the mirror. She had just put the finishing touches on her sparkly ensemble, which was a midnight blue dress that shimmered in the firelight.

"Yeah come on, Lily," Natalie peeked around the corner with her hair tangled in the curling iron.

"Alright, alright," Lily sighed, shutting her Potions textbook. She got up and slipped into the emerald gown, pulling her hair out of the back and letting it fall.

"It fits you perfectly!" Alice jumped up and down, pulling her towards a mirror. The person Lily saw in the mirror was someone she didn't recognize. This Lily was beautiful.

"Now sit, I'm going to do your makeup," Alice brought a chair. Pretty soon Lily even had a few curls to her red locks and earrings.

"That necklace is perfect! Where'd you get it?" Natalie asked when she saw her pendant.

"Oh, thanks, it was a gift," Lily picked up the pendant and felt a slight hum in her hands. The final image of the three girls was a pretty one. Natalie had chosen a bright pink dress that matched her bubbly personality and had pinned her curls up. Alice's hair was too short to put up but she loved her pixie cut and so did Frank Longbottom to be more exact.

"Let's go!" they descended the stars.

The halls were empty as students were in their rooms or studying. The firelight in the ever-expanding halls was immense and added to the mood of the night. The girls' heels clicked on the floor and announced their arrival as they approached a large Victorian wrought iron door.

"What is this room? I've never been here before," Lily asked. The other two giggled and Alice knocked.

"Ladies! You made it!" Sirius exclaimed as he answered the door. He was dressed in his partial dress robes: dress pants, a nice shirt, and a bow tie.

"Of course we did," Natalie blushed as he grabbed her hand and escorted her in. Frank was waiting by the door to meet Alice and took her arm.

Lily had never seen anything like this before. The place they had just entered seemed like another world. They were outside and there were small tables illuminated by the strings of twinkling lights above. The sky shone with stars and not a cloud in the sky. A faint quartet played soft music in the background and butlers were bringing out food.

"What do you think?" James had suddenly appeared at Lily's side in his partial dress robes.

"I…don't know…it's…um," she blushed, "It's beautiful." He beamed at her answer. Then jumped a little back and bowed.

"My Lady, May I escort you to dinner?" he winked and looked up at her.

At this silly display, Lily giggled, "Of course, kind sir." James led her to the table where Remus, his friend Grace, Peter, another Gryffindor Sarah, Natalie, Sirius, Alice, and Frank were already seated. He held out her chair and then sat down next to her.

Remus finished pouring the butter beer rounds and then Sirius stood.

"People! Friends,"

"He's attempting to sound like an adult," Remus joked and everyone laughed.

"Everyone at this table but Remus, welcome! I would like to make a toast. To friends, I'm so happy to have you all here and to Lily," Lily looked up a little surprised, "For not dying and killing James in the process and for blossoming into a beautiful flower tonight!"

"Oomph!" Sirius bellowed as Natalie hit his gut, "Oh yes, to the every beautiful Natalie as well. You are radiant in pink! And Alice, I love the blue."

"Well Sirius knows his colors," Peter remarked sending them all laughing again.

"Cheers!" they all chimed, and Lily drank, turning shy. She then caught James' eyes and noticed a certain twinkle in them. She had noted that his new robes looked rather dashing tonight and his silly attempt to comb his hair as well. She smiled at him and then began to eat.

After dinner was completed the music picked up and Sirius stood.

"Oh darling, I shall whisk you away!" he carried Natalie to the dance floor laughing. The music was louder and the two began to dance and the lights dimmed.

The other couples slowly got up leaving Lily and James there alone at the table.

"Are you having fun?" James asked, catching her eyes as she looked up.

"Oh yes," she blushed again looking back at her feet.

"May I?" she looked up to see him standing in front of her with his hand out stretched.

"Why yes,"

James led her to the middle of the dance floor and Alice caught Lily's eye, winking. They swayed to the music; hand in hand and his other on her lower back.

"James Potter I had no idea you know how to dance," Lily noted looking up at him.

"Well, I am a man of many talents," he joked back.

"I never thought this would be one of them. You have many negative ones,"

"I do? How so?"

"Well…I mean, come on James, we haven't had the best past have we?"

"Let's forget about the past at least for tonight," James pulled her closer to him so she was almost laying her head on his shoulder.

"Why would I want to talk about that when I have the most beautiful girl in the room on my arm?" he turned and looked down at her.

"You just love making me blush don't you?" she answered, noticing how close he was.

"It's one of my favorite things to do," he put his forehead on hers and closed his eyes.

Lily didn't want this moment to end, ever. This is how she wanted her normal life to be. No anger, hatred, or Voldemort involved, just her and James. She never knew that she could feel so happy with this boy next to her, especially after their history.

"Come on," he whispered leading her away. He held her hand and led her to an alcove away from the dance floor.

"Spin for me!" he held her hand up above her head and Lily twirled around, the green dress flitting around her feet and swirling out.

He then picked her up and swung her around, causing a fit of giggles. This was James favorite sound in the entire world. Not a tearful Lily, but one that giggles and is having fun with him and no one else. He put Lily on a shelf and then came in close to her.

"I will never forget this moment and how beautiful you look," she smiled at that and wrapped her arms around him. She invited his warm kisses in as he wrapped his arms around her waist.

He then kissed her forehead, her cheek, her nose, and softly; her neck.

"I wouldn't trade anything for this. I hope you are having a good time," he asked, concern in his eyes.

"Of course I am," She answered as he lifted her down and enveloped her in a warm hug and kiss.

Lilly hoped that this moment with her friends would last forever.

A/N: Sorry for the long wait. I had to write something really long so I hope you like it!