"James, I really don't know what to say to you, but I've read somewhere that it's good to talk to an unconscious person, cause it helps them find themselves, or something like that. Apparently they can hear you anyway… even though I'm not really talking to you, I'm talking at you, aren't I? Oh, I'm sorry, I'm babbling. But I do wish you'd wake up." Lily was sitting beside James in the Hospital Wing, her hands still twisting in her lap as she tried to talk to stop herself from being frightened.

She bit her lip slightly, trying to think of something to say – anything to say, "Please wake up." She begged softly, "Please." As her words drained away into silence, Lily's hands worried themselves in her lap, twisting and tangling themselves into a knot.

Suddenly, a light warmth on her fingers froze them. Lily's gaze darted quickly to James's hand, and then to his face. He was still looked asleep but he must have movedunconsciously.

She smiled at his hand, lifting her own as if to cover his, "You awake, James?" but he didn't move again and her lip trembled. Almost as if someone else was acting through her, Lily wrapped her arms gently around him, resting her head on his torso.

Hurried footsteps on the stone corridor brought Lily back to herself. She shoved herself away from him, rocking back in her chair as Sirius burst into the room.

Lily leapt to her feet, "I was just leaving." She muttered and fled the ward. Sirius glanced after her before settling beside James, "Hey Prongs," he murmured, "Sorry I took so long getting my lazy arse here, but you seemed to be enjoying yourself. Holding hands with Evans, eh? I knew you'd be faking it. The whole thing, all the cuts and bruises." He gave a shaky laugh, "Keep at it mate; it's workin' on her. You got her really worried. You know what, I think she likes you. So you just wake up to see it, okay?"

Sirius put his face in his hands, remembering the morning: before the match and during it. He looked up again, "And James? I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled like that. I know I can be overbearing. I don't know why you put up with my traits, but it's too much fun to change. You know how it is." Sirius lapsed into silence.


"Has his condition changed at all?" Lily asked, walking slowly into the ward and peering at James's figure on the bed.

Sirius sighed, "Hasn't moved. How was he when you were here?"

"I'm not too sure," Lily replied honestly, sitting on the edge of the bed, "He may have moved slightly, but that may just have been my imagina…" she trailed off and blushed as Sirius looked at her quizzically, "Nothing like that!" she snapped defensively.

Sirius winked lewdly at her, "I'm sure, Evans. I'm sure."

Lily bridled and would have yelled at Sirius but the concern evident in his eyes. Sirius was already looking back at James. He did appear slightly better: his wounds had been washed and seemed mostly healed. Sirius sighed in relief, "He will wake up, won't he?" he asked anxiously.

Lily nodded, "Madame Pomfrey said he just needed rest."

Sirius expelled his breath in a rush, "Thank Merlin." He said with feeling.

Lily smiled at his obvious relief, "He'll be fine." She assured him.

Sirius looked at his friend, "I hope so."

Lily caught the worry in his tone and clasped James's hand lightly, concern etching lines around her mouth. Sirius watched and, for perhaps the first time in his life, decided to be discreet and tactful. Well, tactful anyway, "I need to go to the toilet." He informed Lily. She barely glanced up. "I'll be right back." He said.

"Right." She said absently, keeping her eyes on James's face. She stayed like that for several minutes, sunken into a reverie, until she heard many peoples' footsteps approaching.

It was the Gryffindor Quidditch Team; she could tell by the chatter. "What a match," one said.

"It was such a bad loss, I can't believe he missed it."

"Yeah," said another, "He couldn't even catch the damn snitch on the way down." They laughed heartily.

Lily's eyes narrowed dangerously. Carefully, she put James's hand back beside his body, turning to face the team as it entered the Ward. Their laughter died a sudden, painful death.

"What did you say?" Lily asked, voice dangerously soft.

"Well you're in Gryffindor, aren't you?" This person seemed to be suicide-bent as he said stupidly; "Don't you think he could have caught the Snitch on the way down?"

There was a hush as everyone in the room turned to look at Lily. Her face was red and she was shaking angrily, "Did I hear you correctly?" she asked icily, "You, an insignificant twerp are asking if he," She pointed her thumb in James' direction,Should have caught a snitch on his hell bent plummet towards the GROUND!" They stepped back as she paused for breath."There's going to be a rematch, you bloody pigheaded BASTARDS! And who cares if he catches the bloody snitch or not! You should be bloody grateful he's in one bloody piece! His life is on the line and all you can say is he DIDN'T CATCH THE BLOODY SNITCH! You care more about the bloody sport, than your Captain's LIFE!" by this time, Lily was so angry that words seemed to have failed her, luckily.

The team stepped back again, looking dumbstruck, then another thought came to her and she opened her mouth to yell again, but a small sound from the bed behind her caused her to whip around, "James!" she exclaimed, her hands whipping to her mouth, "Did we wake you up?"

James grinned, "Don't worry about it." He said weakly.

Lily spun around to face the Quidditch team, "You woke him up." She hissed at them.

One person opened their mouth to disagree, but was quickly stifled by the other – wiser – team members.

"Excuse me." James croaked, "Could I have a glass of water."

"Oh!" Lily gasped, spinning around again, and running to get a glass of water from the pitcher, "Here." She said, coming to hand it gently to James. She glared at the Quidditch team as she turned around, before looking at James and smiling apologetically.

She sat down as she heard another group of people entering the room, "Good thing he didn't catch the snitch, huh? We have the whole season to ourselves!"

Lily seemed to swell again. The Gryffindor Quidditch team took one look at her, looked at the Slytherin team and stepped back to leave her path clear.