A/N: WOW it's a day for miracles! I hope you are still around to enjoy this after SO LONG. Let me know what you think?

Also, I have plans to bump up to an M rating (similar to some other fics I've had M rated) in the next chapter. Just as a heads up!

The world is fuzzy, her mind a haze, when consciousness beckons. As she shifts, a sharp pain tightens at her shoulder. Her arm is pinned underneath her at something of an odd angle and the sheets pulled to her shoulders are tucked taut beneath the mattress.

She shifts until she's lying on her back, arm slowly tingling back to life, while she watches sunrays glow on the towering ceiling. Hushed voices sound from somewhere distant in the echoing chamber.

"It must have spilt in her tea!"

"I cannot believe you Sirius, literally cannot."

The first voice, Sirius apparently, sounds again. Slightly more penitant than defensive now. "I said I was sorry."

There's a pause. Followed by a long suffering sigh, heavy with the weight of many such well meant shenanigans gone awry. "I know. But why were the two of you even - "

The voice sounds so devastated Lily can't seem to resist the urge to rise despite the ache that seems to twist through every part of her.

When she's finally worked herself back into a seated position, she's treated to some warm and slightly blinding rays of light breaking through stained glass windows that tower at double her height and fill the majority of the wall at her feet. Two men are huddled together, one with an air of relaxation though his shoulders are tensed where they rest against the stone wall. His companion exhibits no attempt at calm, hair nearly standing on end in wild spikes, hands flailing helplessly. Helpless and aimless, except when they occasionally look like they want to strangle casual-cool.

"This isn't supposed to happen James!"

The tall bloke with the wild hair - James apparently - takes a step forward, growling lowly. His friend glances back in Lily's direction and straightens. " Oh look she's awake."

James nearly trips over the furthest bed, then hops over the last few and skids to a halt at her bedside. He sighs and runs a shaky hand through his hair. "Lily."

Unexpectedly, a small smile lifts her lips, but she's not sure why. Perhaps it's just nice that someone cares that she's alive in the world. But her smile must convey her swirl of confusion and the excitement that had previously lit his features gutters. "Alright Evans?"

It's only now, with him almost in arms reach, that Lily notes the redness around his eyes accompanied by dark circles. Like he's been awake too long, and teary for most of the same period. She tries for an encouraging smile; she might not know why she knows this bloke, but he seems pretty invested. Obviously she must care about him.

His brow furrows as he steps closer. "Evans?"

Apparently her encouraging smile could use work. Maybe she injured it in whatever the accident was that got her here on stiff sheets with apparently large memory gaps.

Finally she sighs and takes the plunge. "I feel like I know you - I'm a professor, Remus got me in here."

James looks at a loss before turning toward his companion and taking a menacing step forward. "Oh bloody hell Sirius I am going to kill you."

His apparent murderous intent is interrupted when Remus enters the wing with long steady strides. He seems adept in the wordless language of Lily's companions and shoots a look at the one named Sirius. "Maybe you should go check your books."

"I don't want to - " Sirius starts, then glances back at James and his eyes widen, "Oh right. Yes. My books."

And without another moment of hesitation, he's across the room and out the door in the most elegantly executed scamper Lily has ever seen. Or at least that she remembers seeing.

Once Sirius has cleared the area, Remus turns his full attention back toward Lily. "I thought it best that your first new memory wasn't the two of them wrestling in the Hospital Wing," he spares a glance at James, "Or perhaps a homicide."

James frowns, "Don't act all superior, when you clearly were eavesdropping."

"You're quite loud, James," Remus replies, unruffled. He winks at Lily and slides a slim book on the table. "Not sure if you're in the middle of something else, but I thought it's always a good time to re-read Emma."

He doesn't linger long, shooting furtive glances at James. Not like he thinks he's a danger. Almost like he's - definitely like he's concerned. Like James might fall apart if they're not careful. Or maybe Lily's projecting her own assessment of the bespectacled not quite stranger stranger.

But Remus apparently finds something in a shared glance with James that leaves him comfortable enough to evacuate the scene. Wind whistles against the towering windows, panes rattling in their metal frames. James paces a bit at the foot of her bed, trainers squeaking when he turns for a new circuit. He pauses to ruffle his hair again - which seems to be a bit of a habit or nervous tic - and looks her way. "Shall I," he stops like the next word sticks in his throat, "Leave?"

Lily's knee-jerk reaction is yes. Yes because I don't know you, Remus brought one of my comfort novels, I'm in my nightgown, and my head feels like it's in a vice grip. But there's a strange tug at her chest when she sees the droop of his shoulders, the way his jaw is tight like he's bracing for her inevitable response in the affirmative. And she somehow finds herself saying, "You could stay, for a bit. Keep me comfortable."

He looks almost as shocked as she feels after saying it. Nevertheless, he accepts the offer and settles in the chair at her bedside, back ramrod straight and hands tucked in his lap like a child waiting for their school photo to be taken. He - James - doesn't look right uncomfortable in his own skin. He looks like the type who should saunter about like he owns the place - whether it's a dingy pub or Buckingham Palace. And yet here she is with him desperate to stay at her side and yet apparently completely uncomfortable in her presence.

She takes a steadying breath and pushes herself up further against the pillows. James leans forward as if to help but restrains himself, only offering a short nod.

Lily smiles again and grabs the book from her nightstand. It might be a bit rude to read while she has a guest. Though she is an invalid of sorts.

"What happened to me."

"Sirius."

"I really want to make a horrible pun joke with that name. It's almost irresistible."

"So he didn't poison your personality at least."

Lily stiffens, none of the trio seemed the type to actually attempt homicide. "He poisoned me?"

"Idiot is a Potions professor and can't keep his damn ingredients straight," James growls, fists clenching on his thighs.

She leans forward and brushes her fingertips over the knuckles of his nearest hand. "Read to me?"

He stares a moment.

Lily shrugs. "My head."

James grabs the book from her lap and settles in more comfortably. "Say no more." He flips the first few pale pages and begins in a low voice, "Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition, seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence…"

A short, sharp poke and a subsequent whispered rage rant, wake Lily to a dark room. James appears, his eyes only leaving her face to shoot a glare toward Sirius, who is definitely best situated to have been her poker. "Sorry Lily, we never agreed on that particular method of rousing."

"It worked, didn't it Prongs?" Sirius shoots back as he plops backward into one of the stiff-backed chairs tucked around Lily's bed.

James shoots a glare at Sirius before refocusing on Lily. "We're springing you, Evans."

Lily's eyes find Remus when he clears his throat and rolls his eyes, a fond smile playing at his lips. "Madame Pomfrey said no need for you to stay once you woke - unspoken caveat was naturally, but we've never been strict rule followers."

A piece of her that had apparently been on edge since she woke the first time unclenches at the familiarity of his face.

"You're ruining the drama, Moony," James says with a long suffering sigh. He pushes his glasses up into his hair, one hand holding his lit wand aloft while the fingers of his free hand rub at his eyes.

Something about it, about the three of them, the weird nicknames, James scrunched up expression - it tickles at her memory. Not quite remembering, not quite deja vu, but almost.

"Alright," Lily says, sitting up and settling her feet on the floor, "Who's got a spare set of trainers?"

Sirius drops a pair on the bed, socks tucked in the left shoe, along with a knobbly oversized cardigan. "Lace up, we've got plans."

Lily grabs the socks first, sliding the soft grey cotton over her chilled toes, bunching the excess around her ankles. "Lucky pick. These are my favorites."

The smell of chalk and chamomile wafts at her side, followed by a warm hand grasping her arm lightly. Remus smiles down at her as they wander from the Hospital Wing - where to, Lily's not currently in possession of the memories that might help decide. "No luck. James makes it a point to remember tiny things about important people."

A chill wind whips through the corridor, carrying the rhythmic tip-taps of James and Sirius' footsteps. At her shiver, Remus pauses, pulling away and twisting. "Almost forgot - can't have you catching cold after all this."

He hands her the oversized jumper she'd forgotten on her temporary cot - a concept that brings an automatic wince to her face now. Thick wool soon envelops her, along with the spicy scent of cinnamon and...broom polish.

Without sparing a thought, Lily's thumb and forefinger find a small monogram on the left cuff of her new garment. JP.

Remus bumps her shoulder with his. "The jumper's a bit big, but we figured it best not to rifle through your things."

"So this is?"

"It was in your room, thrown over the back of your desk chair," Remus shrugs, "James knew which was your sock drawer so - your privacy is intact."

Lily eyes the initials again. "James did?"

For the first time since she woke, Remus loses that easy flow, shoulders rising around his ears and his footsteps briefly stuttering at her side. Finally Remus says, "He's perceptive. Like I said."

Whatever follow up Lily formulated - because that sort of strange reply begs for one - dies in her throat as Sirius cuts in, turning and walking backward. "I have a bone to pick with you, Evans."

Lily laughs, a short scoff of a sound. "From what I gather, it sounds like you have a bit of an 'whoops I almost killed you' debt stacked up with me at the moment."

"Now now, the Lily I know would never - "

James laughs, loud and unashamed and contagious, before shoving Sirius' shoulder with enough force that his shoulder nearly hits the opposite wall. "That is a bold-faced lie."

"Bold Gryffindor from wild moor," Sirius intones, as if that explains anything at all.

Lily grasps Remus' elbow as the foursome enter a hidden passage, dimly lit with a steep winding stairwell. Her steps are slow, cautious, and Remus matches her pace.

Though Sirius' easy chatter stays consistent, mostly complaining about Lily's 'overly restrictive' lesson plans. Lily snorts as they reenter the wide corridors and James trots over to a large oil painting featuring a fruit arrangement. He turns to Lily and gestures grandly. "Care to do the honors and tickle the pear?"

"Tickle the - " Lily steps forward, eyes searching for the faux pear, and finally brushes her finger along the swipes of yellow paint.

A quiet giggle sounds - either from the painting or Sirius - and then the portrait swings open wide. Lily stumbles backward to avoid it and ends up enveloped in a warm and strangely familiar embrace. She glances backward and finds James watching her, not letting go. "Alright there?"

Her cheeks flush and Lily manages to stutter out a quiet 'yes.'

James gives her waist a brief squeeze as she rights herself and steps through the doorway, hoping to give the impression that she half knows what she's doing and definitely doesn't feel like her legs have practically gone limp from one sort of embrace.

"Don't let Sirius fool you," James says as three houseelves appear and immediately zero in on Remus, who is apparently their golden boy, and begin offering various items of food and drink.

"The kitchens?" Lily half asks, though it's clear enough. The large fireplace, long tables marked for each Hogwarts house, pots, pans, and whatever other items you're bound to find in a working kitchen.

James nods with a soft smile. One that doesn't reach his eyes.

"Sorry - you were saying?" Lily tries, "About Sirius?"

James shakes his head, as if to clear his thoughts, and then smiles again with less hesitance. "He's one for dramatics and overselling."

"I gathered."

"Well we haven't abandoned your students to his whims," James says as he leads the way toward a stretch of table marked with a golden lion. "Remus and I do our share of your classes."

"I feel terrible for the inconvenience," Lily answers with a sigh, "I wish there was something I could do."

"Just worry about healing and getting better," James answers as Remus and Sirius sit on either side of the table. Though, as expected, Sirius does what's not quite expected and straddles the bench and prods Lily's arm. "Which coincidentally, will help us all out. Prongs most of all."

Before Lily can ask what exactly that means, Sirius yelps and drags his knee to his chest. "Oi! I don't see what the problem is just - "

"Sirius," James growls, low. His gaze is completely devoid of any of his earlier humor, focused and piercing. "Don't."

Lily looks to Remus who can't manage more than a grimace, though he does do his best to get things turned back to a more jovial feeling. "Lily - you love Quidditch. Nobody recounts a game like James and Sirius."

"I did listen to the Harpies game when you were - there's a wireless in Pomfrey's office and she lets me - "

And for some reason, Lily finds herself stilling his fidgeting hands and offering a half smile. "I'd love to hear about it."

Emma is casually steering Harriet from one beau to another when a short cough sounds and startles Lily from her reading. "James."

"Sorry to bother you," he says, ruffling his hair, eyes darting around like he's nervous to let his gaze linger too long.

Lily gets the unexpected urge to grasp his hand in hers. Instead, she remains in her seat and slips her bookmark into place. "No bother. Just enjoying the sun."

"It is deliciously warm today," James says, lingering outside the beech tree's shade.

She curls her legs beneath her and gestures for him to join, which he does with childlike eagerness. "I do have a reason for stalking you."

"Hardly stalking," Lily says with a grin. "Shared workplace, public area, we're - mates?"

His smile is there, and real, but like a guttered flame. "Right. I mean. That's right. We are."

Lily bites her lip and fiddles with the end of her braid. "So - the reason?"

"Oh!" James jolts to attention, "Right. Here's the last dose up from Sirius."

"No poison this time?"

"He's been thoroughly threatened by yours truly," James laughs. "That's got the Sirius Black guarantee to get you good as new - physically speaking."

"That'll be a relief," Lily sighs as she uncorks the bottle and lets the chalky liquid slide down her throat. "Shockingly, muscle fatigue and hand tremors are not particularly fun."

James lips dip into a frown as he leans backward onto his hands, startling slightly when one palm lands on her discarded jumper. He eyes it for a moment and finally something clicks into place as Lily's gaze follows his. JP.

"That's yours."

He turns his face to hers. "Er - yeah. But it's no problem. Mum worries I'll catch cold, and thinks I'm incapable of buying appropriate clothing."

Lily smirks. "And apparently keeping track of said clothing."

"Not far off on that one since you've obtained possession."

"You can take it - "

"No no." James takes a shallow breath. "I - you don't remember. Not that you need me to tell you that. But point is I sort of gave it to you."

"Oh," Lily feels her face flush, "Well. Thank you, in case I never said."

"You did," James answers almost immediately, cheeks and the tips of his ears going bright red.

Lily's heart pounds in her chest, and she can't decide if it's memory or daydream that has visions rising in her mind of cheeky exchanges, kiss bruised lips, and desperate hands grasping at clothing. But whatever it is, LIly's desperate to shift the topic. "Everything going alright with classes? I feel terrible I've added to everyone's workload."

"Absolutely not your fault," James says, "Though I know you must be itching to get back to it."

"I'm meeting with Dumbledore and Madame Pomfrey later to see if I can be cleared for the classroom."

"Are you hoping they will?"

Lily shrugs and lets her fingers fiddle with the empty potion vial. "I am mostly in the yes camp. I remember all I need to for teaching. And as Sirius said my lesson plans are meticulous."

"But?" James prompts knowingly.

Lily smiles. "What if something unexpected comes up and I do run into trouble from lost memories - how do I know? I can't remember if I forgot something important."

She can't help but laugh at the messy jumble of thoughts and James joins her, before laying a comforting hand on her arm. "You'll be just fine. I know you can't remember, but - well you would probably trust me if you could and I promise you've got all you need. Plus we're not leaving you alone. One of us is always just a corridor or two away."

"I hope I haven't messed the students about too much with all the upheaval."

"You've got nothing to worry about," James answers, easy enough that she can't help but believe him. "They're all so concerned about making you proud they're probably more focused than before."

"What if you're just a more lax teacher?" Lily asks with a smirk.

"Ah - yes," James laughs, "You don't remember how very mother-hen I am with the sprogs."

"I guess I'll just have to re-learn you, James Potter."

Their eyes lock for a minute and Lily's body sways in just a hair without her bidding. He jumps a bit and fumbles in his discarded satchel. Lily can't help but feel disappointed at the lost moment. "I almost forgot!"

After a bit of rustling around, James pulls a paper bag free. "For you. Hopefully mostly intact."

Lily accepts the gift and peers in with just a bit of hesitance. She might not remember their friendships with her, but she does recall Remus' tales of the pranking history of their foursome. Instead of a face full of who knows what, Lily finds a veritable rainbow of sugar quills inside. "Oh."

"I - you told me they're your favorite. And we had a deal about no grand gestures for Valentine's, so I thought brown sack with your favorites," James barely pauses for a breath, both hands now tugging at his hair, "And so I bought them and then you almost died - "

And suddenly, Lily can't resist anymore. Her impulses finally win out and without a thought or a plan in her head Lily pitches forward and grasps his collar with her hands. He startles a bit but doesn't pull away and so she closes the remaining distance between them in a warm, sure press of lips. Something glows in her belly at the closeness and how everything suddenly feels right for the first time since she woke in the Hospital Wing.

She pulls away, only because her lungs beg for air, and finds James grinning widely. "Alright?"

His hands settle on her waist. "I can't believe I got you to fancy me twice."

"Who said fancy?"

"I dunno, I just jumped there when your tongue ended up in my mouth," James says with a laugh."

"Don't get all cocky."

"I can't help it."

"Wow that's a terrible joke," Lily says, rolling her eyes, though she proceeds with settling in his lap comfortably.

"Dirty mind, Evans," James answers as he shakes his head, "I simply meant my Gryfindor 'daring, nerve, and chivalry' tend to show themselves in a cocky, devil-may-care type attitude."

"Mhm," Lily murmurs against his lips, "Where was all that when I had to snog you?"

"That was the chivalry bit," James sighs back as she lingers at his ear.

"And now?"

James slowly leans back so Lily looms overhead. "Now I tell you about the wonders of my Invisibility Cloak."

"Quite presumptuous."

"Well once you realize I still remember exactly what you like, you'll be glad for the camouflage."

His fingers caress her cheek as she stares down at him. "And what about what you like?"

"Oh Evans," he sighs, utterly grave, "That's the trouble with you."

Her heart stutters when he concludes, "I like everything you do - too much."

"Sorry to go above and beyond."

James fumbles for his satchel again, blindly pulling a silken swath of fabric from inside, presumably the cloak. He winks and hands it to her. "How about we put this above so we can both go beyond?"

Lily's laugh comes out like an endeared scoff. "Wow."

"You're welcome for the humor."

"If that's what you call it, Potter," Lily shoots back as she slides the cloak over them both. "Now put that mouth to better use, eh?"