Chapter 35

Before anybody knew it New Year had been and gone and the students were back in Hogwarts castle getting ready for yet another term. It seemed that with the exception of Lily everyone had had a good Christmas and were ready for the term ahead.

Lily though hadn't told anyone other than Branwen about the state of her father. She was finding it difficult being back in the wizarding world and away from her family. There was also the fact she knew she'd have to wait for Petunia to get updates on her father's condition that upset her.

She had returned to school along with everyone else on the fourth of January and it had been a week since their return. It was now the twelfth of the month and she was finding things difficult. She had received a letter that morning from Petunia telling her that her father had taken a turn for the worse.

It had been all that she could do to keep things together for the lessons that day. She had sat through Potions, Charms and History of Magic as if nothing was wrong. She had been to lunch and dinner and had eaten her meals, but now at six thirty she was curled up in bed.

Branwen was down on the Quidditch pitch practicing with the rest of the team so she was alone. Her tears wouldn't stop falling but she didn't care. This was where she'd do all of her crying out of the way where nobody could see her.

The sound of the door opening brought her attention to where she was, she tried to go further under her blankets knowing that it was too early for Branwen. Praying that whoever it was would just go away she tried to remain quiet. Her sobs though were too frequent and it drew attention.

"You alright?"

Slowly she pulled the quilt back and looked into another set of green eyes. It was strange that after everything Ginny would speak to her.

"Yeah I'm fine."

"You might be a lot of things Lily but a good liar isn't one of them."

She laughed slightly looking up at the canopy and let the tears roll down her cheeks.

"Ginny I'm so scared."

The bed went down a little as the girl edged closer to her. A pair of arms found their way around her and she cried, cried hard into the girls shoulder.

"Lily what are you scared of?"

"My dad's dying."

Ginny stiffened a little and she just cried harder. The girl began to stroke her hair and rock her gently in her arms.

"No Lily I'm sure he's okay."

"You don't understand Gin, he has Cancer."

She knew that Ginny wouldn't understand what that was Branwen hadn't. So taking a breath she looked up at the girl she had once classed a friend.

"It's a muggle disease Gin and it's almost fatal to everyone. Petunia told me that it's a one in twenty five survival rate. It means that my dad is likely die."

"Shhh pumpkin come here."

Lily was once more wrapped tightly into a hug letting Ginny soothe her as best she could. She had to admit that she needed this. Needed somebody who would just hold her and tell her things were alright. She cried onto the girls shoulder letting the emotions run through her. Sniffing lightly she finally looked up.

"Thanks."

"It's alright."

Ginny stood up and headed to the door but Lily stopped her.

"I'm sorry for everything you know. If I could I'd change it all."

"You did some horrible things Lily; it won't be that easy for you to be forgiven."

"I know and I am really sorry for everything. I'm going to make it up to you, all of you."

Ginny was studying her closely and a small smile played across her features.

"You know the new Lily wasn't all bad."

"Really?"

"Yeah it's good to have confidence in yourself and not let others get you down. But you should let old Lily shine through as well."

"Old Lily is back, I promise she's just a little more mature and ready to face everything that the bad Lily did."

Ginny laughed a little and looked around.

"In that case it's good to have you back. Any chance you're bringing Branwen with you?"

Lily just nodded watching Ginny leave, and then falling backwards onto her bed she let the dream world take away her tiredness.