Scorpius and the Potters gathered around Lily. Scorpius grabbed one of her hands, and Ginny the other. Harry swept the red hair out of Lily's eyes. James and Albus stood behind their father, looking anxiously at their sister.
"Hi," said Lily, managing a week smile "It worked?" Harry nodded wordlessly, and Lily smiled. "Good, good." She closed her eyes and let out a little sigh.
Scorpius squeezed her hand. "Don't leave me, Lily." He met Harry's eyes "We have to get her to Mungo's." Harry nodded in agreement. Lily laughed
"Mungo's? Mungo's can't help me now." Her eyes remained closed.
"Lily." Ginny's voice shook.
"Lily, you can't mean . . ." James couldn't finish his sentence.
"Lily, you can't leave!" gasped Albus "Not after . . . not after what I just did."
Lily smiled, her eyes moving behind her eyelids. "Albus, Albus. I had never dreamed . . . but of course, I suppose . . . I was always so nearsighted." She sighed "Albus, you have quite the future ahead of you. So many talents. Promise me you'll use them."
"Lily," Albus' voice was strained "you say that like . . . like you won't be there."
"Promise me, Albus."
"I – I promise, Lily. I promise."
"James?"
James knelt down beside his sister, stroking her cheek. "Right here, Lils."
"James, I need you to do something for me."
"What?"
"Tell everyone . . . I'm sorry."
"Lily, Lily," a small tear came out of James' eye. "You haven't done anything wrong."
Lily laughed once more "Stop lying, James. I was stupid. I should have gotten backup. Maybe I would have survived."
"You are going to survive!" insisted James. Death was the one thing that truly scared him – either his or someone else's. He was absolutely terrified of it.
"Tell them goodbye for me, James," Liliy repeated.
"I . . . I will, Lils. Now promise me something."
"What?" one of Lily's eyes opened slightly.
"Promise me that . . . you'll wait for me . . . wherever it is that you're going."
"I'll have brownies," promise Lily, closing her eye.
"With icing?"
"And sprinkles."
James bent down and kissed his sister's cheek. "Really gonna miss ya, sis."
"Mum?"
"Yes, honey?"
"Name her after me, won't you?"
Harry and Ginny exchanged a wide-eyed glance. How had Lily known . . . ? "I will, Lily honey, I will."
"Dad?"
"Yes, Lily?"
"Thanks."
"For what?"
"Everything. I always wanted . . . to be just like . . . you."
"Lils . . . that's . . . too kind . . . you don't want to be like me. I didn't save you . . ."
Lily smiled and opened her eyes, meeting her father's. "That was all my decision. I quite remember you regretting some of your decisions. You, however, were lucky. I wasn't. I only wish I was more like you."
"Lily . . . you're braver than me. You better."
Lily closed her eyes and nodded slightly. "Scorpius?" her voice was hurt now, letting the pain show. Whether it was pain from leaving or physical pain, no one knew.
"Lily . . . Lily, Lily, Lily . . . I . . . this is all my fault."
"How so?" her voice was patient.
"I listened to him. The Leader. He appeared in a dream, said he could heal you . . ." Scorpius trailed off.
"In that case, I think what you did was very brave and chivalrous." She opened her eyes "I'm proud of you, Scorpius. You are not the man I knew when I first met you."
"Lily, I . . . it was because of you. I would be exactly like my father if it weren't for you. You can't leave me now!"
"You don't need me anymore, Scorpius."
"Yes, I do!"
"No you don't. You know this, deep down inside of you."
"Lily, you can't leave me! You can't leave your family!"
"I'm not leaving." Her eyes traveled along her family. "I'll always be here. I'll always be alive – in your hearts."
The Potters and Scorpius all touched their hands to their chests. In their hearts. They would preserve and keep her in there forever.
Lily let out a small sigh, and closed her eyes. "Goodbye," she said, her voice but a breath of wind. "don't forget . . ." she let out her last small sigh, and she was gone.