Always

Sometimes James Potter wished he could move on with his life. That's what Remus had told him to do. It wasn't as though he hadn't tried, but for some reason he just couldn't. It was as if even Dumbledore was mocking him, making him Head Boy along with her. Lily Evans. He had spent the entire year getting to know her and actually be friends with her. But he didn't dare ask her out, he didn't want to get hurt again. The last time he had asked her out still echoed in his mind. I wouldn't go out with you if it was a choice between you and the giant squid! He didn't want a repeat of that.

He had felt truly ashamed of what he had done, even if it was to Snape, who still in his opinion, deserved it. He had strived to be better, he had stopped Sirius from hexing random students, deflated his head and he had worked harder, to the immense surprise of teachers. And as a result, Lily had actually trusted him. He wouldn't do anything to break her trust. He hoped she realised that he had changed. He hadn't changed for her, like some people (giggling girls) gossiped. No, he had changed because of her. He had pictured him and her getting together in many ways, but this was definitely not the way it happened.

It all started when he forgot his invisibility cloak, which he had left in the Common Room after one of their full moon ventures. He was late for Transfiguration too, so he was in a hurry. That's when he heard the sobbing. Clearly coming from a girl.

His first instinct was to run. What? It was a survival technique. But then, what sort of Head Boy was he? Maybe he hadn't changed after all. Maybe it was a First Year feeling homesick. So with a sigh, he decided he would try to comfort whoever it was. He knew who she was even before he saw her face, for her red hair was a dead give-away.

Lily Evans sat at the foot of the staircase in Common Room, her copper hair strewn all over the place, her green eyes looking bloodshot and it missed it's usual spark. But something was seriously wrong. Lily never, never cried. It was one of the things he admired about her.

Now, he wished he had run. Evans was not a person to mess with. She was known for her stereotypical redhead temper. And she wouldn't want him, of all people, to comfort her. Maybe he should get her friends, Hestia Jones or maybe Alice Fortescue? But for some reason he stayed, his legs carried him up to her and he sat next to her. He didn't know what to say, so he just sat there. A crumpled paper laid next to Lily, so tentatively he took it and read. She didn't object, which he took as a good sign:

Lily,

Dad and Mom passed away in an accident. I wouldn't be surprised if it had something to do with your lot. I suppose you didn't care about them. The funeral is on the 2nd, that is, if you'd grace us with your presence. I'm staying with Vernon, but I don't know about you.

-Petunia

PS: Your owl bit me.

James froze, with a sinking feeling. Wasn't Petunia Lily's sister? Wow… talk about bipolar. She sounded horrid, yet Lily never complained about her. That's Lily for you. And her parents died? Oh Merlin.

'Oh Lily…' He sighed, and he hugged her. He half expected her to push him away, but instead she clung on to him like a lifeline. He didn't say anything. He knew I'm sorry wouldn't do. Instead he said, 'I'm here.' However, this just made her sob harder. 'No one's ever there for me! How do I know you won't abandon me like Petunia, call me Mudblood like Severus, or die like my parents?' 'Well, I'll be the first to stay put.' He joked, earning him a small chuckle. 'I mean it Lily, I'll always be there.'

For the first time, she looked at him, her eyes pleading and full of hope, 'You promise you'll be there? You'll stay?' James gave her a small smile, unlike his usual cocky one.

'Always.'

Author Note: I don't own Harry Potter or any of the characters in this story.