Chapter Forty Nine:
I don't know how long we just sat, enveloped in each other's arms, just feeling the peace. It felt wonderful to hold her.
But how did she find out about that?
Only Sirius and Remus knew, they were the only ones there when it happened. They wouldn't, would they?
She stirred, lifting her beautiful porcelain face up, watching my inner conflict play out on my face.
"What are you thinking about?" She asked, covering a small yawn with an even smaller hand. "Are you alright?"
I nodded, not wanting my voice to betray me. Bending my head, I brushed my lips over her forehead.
Lily's eyes fluttered closed and her sharp intake of breath made me look over my shoulder, even though I knew there was no one there. Even if there was, she wouldn't have seen it as she had just shut her eyes.
She pushed her head into the crook of my shoulder and I grinned inanely, watching my Lily as she nuzzled my neck, wanting to find my warmth. Her lips curved in a smile and I squirmed slightly as I felt them move against my skin, tickling the tender flesh.
I felt her shiver and looked down. Her eyes had closed and she slept peacefully, letting go of all her tension and smiling lightly in slumber. I hooked my arms around the back of her knees and around her shoulders, picking her up and carrying her, pressing her tightly against my body, as if she would be whisked off if I let my grip slacken.
Making my way carefully down the stairs to the corridors below, I looked left and right before moving into the flickering light of the wall sconces. Even though it was before curfew, I still checked for Filch and his demon cat Mrs. Norris.
I swear that thing has eyes in its backside.
Creeping along, holding my angel close, I made it back to the Fat Lady. "Faeries" I breathed, watching the portrait. She shook her head and crossed her arms, not moving forward to let us in. swearing under my breath, I slumped to the steps, careful not to jar Lily, before realizing I needed to wake her to ask the password.
"Lil, Lil, what's the password?" I shook her shoulder gently and smiled lightly as she groaned and turned away, snoring softly for a second, before breathing out and snuggling to my chest. "Lily!" it took all my nerve to wake the slumbering beast.
"Wha?" she pushed hair back from her eyes and glared at me.
"I can't remember the password…" I trailed off uneasily as she stared at me incredulously, before shaking her head in irritation and rolling her eyes. "Sir Nicholas De-Mimsy-Porpington."
The portrait swung forward and Lily stood up, reaching her hand back for me and dragging me through the hole.
