Hey! I feel like I freaked some people out with last week's intro, so let me clarify in case you didn't already see this on tumblr: I see this story as having a happy final chapter, BUT a sad, yet canon-compliant epilogue. So it will be like a choose your own adventure type situation — if you're happy with the ending, great! You're all set. But if you want to cry and know everything that happens after… it'll be there too :)
Also: NO, I didn't reread my whole story again to make Lily's monologue even more poignant, who do you think I am? An obsessed maniac?!
Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns Harry Potter. Art work by the awesome Meg (tumblr: anxiouspineapples)
Things Left Unsaid
Match Day, November, 7th Year
Lily wished beyond all reasonable hope in those following few seconds that she'd devoted her entire existence to being the most powerful witch in the whole universe. No hanging out with friends, no stressing about feelings, just head in the books day in and day out so that she could somehow prevent the man she loved from falling to his death. Instead, she watched in horror as James fell and fell, feeling frozen and useless. But then Sirius noticed the situation and sprung into action, flattening himself onto his broom to chase after his fallen brother, telling gravity to fuck right off. The move awoke a latent reaction within Lily and she saw her wand stretched out in front of her casting the first spell that popped into her head. It was the same spell she'd used on James just last night, but instead of dragging him into a chair, she was willing him to move up, towards Sirius' saving hand. The momentum was too great, so all she really accomplished was slowing James' descent to the ground, but maybe it would be enough. Perhaps it would give Sirius the few precious extra seconds he needed to reach out for James' flailing arm, grip it in his own fist, and catch him. Lily felt like the whole stadium held a collective breath, on the edge of their seats, watching to see if they'd all be able to see Thestrals come morning.
Lily and Sirius' attempts worked — until they didn't. Sirius got hold of James with Lily's help for a split second, only for his wet hand to then slip right back out, leaving James to fall the last fifteen meters into a bonebreaking heap on the ground.
The world hit Lily in sharp, painful bursts after that. She heard Marlene explode into tears beside her. She heard Mary call out to her, trying to catch her wrist as she got to her feet. Then she felt her knees with every landing she jumped upon as she raced to the pitch, feeling like she might have tapped into her earliest form of magic and floated a little on her way down. On the field, she sprinted towards the huddle that had gathered around him, not sure if she'd cleared a path with her wand or they'd jumped at the sound of her voice. She crouched beside him, trying not to get caught up in the odd angle of his neck, or the slight trickle of blood escaping his lips. Lily fought back tears as she felt for his pulse as her own thudded in her ears, pushing two fingers tenderly against the love bites she'd given him just twelve hours earlier. It's weak, but it's there. She quickly conjured up a neck brace and summoned the rickety old stretcher she knew was in the broom shed.
"Evans. Evans—" Sirius' voice was every bit as hysterical as she felt, "—how's— what's—"
She didn't have time to coddle him. As delicately as she could, she levitated his body onto the stretcher, knowing how important it was not to exacerbate any of his injuries by moving him too much. "Clear a path for me, Sirius," she commanded.
"MOVE!" he bellowed, allowing Lily to sprint James to the hospital wing, while Sirius stayed right by his side. If Lily wasn't as hyper-focused on getting him to Poppy, she might have wished to trade places with Padfoot — so she could be the one breaking down with her pain and worry over James' wellbeing while someone else took charge. However, she knew only one of them could do this at a time, and it was not her turn. Now was not the time to fracture — she could do that when James was stable. She had to keep it together, even if it felt an awful lot like holding her intestines in her bloody hands after an explosion, waiting for someone to stuff them back in and patch her up. She hated how much this felt like Christmas.
"Poppy!" Lily yelled, bursting in through the door. She saw the woman jump to attention, previously having been leisurely reading a magazine against one of the cots. "Male, 17, fell from about 100 meters, but was slowed down at around 15." She brought the stretcher to her and watched as Poppy transferred James carefully onto a bed. She gave Lily a significant look as she recognized who it was, but Lily carried on, not allowing herself to go there. She had to remain levelheaded and collected so she could help. "I detected several broken ribs, an arm, and internal bleeding in the brain."
"Lily, I got it from here—" the healer said briskly, but Lily could hear a twinge of gentleness in her voice.
Lily tried pushing through, her own tone bordering closer and closer to frantic. "I recommended putting him in a temporary coma until the hemorrhaging can—"
"You're too close to the situation." Pomfrey turned to Sirius sharply as she summoned what looked like a dozen potions from her cabinet. "Take her outside," she ordered. "I'll get you when I can."
Sirius' turn to be the sensible one had come a lot faster than she thought it would. With one strong arm around her waist, he half carried, half dragged her from the room, Lily fighting him every step of the way. "Let me go! I'm a healer, you idiot! I can help!" she sputtered at him as he closed the door behind them.
"Lily, you did your part. Let Poppy do hers."
"No!" she tried getting around him, but he kept blocking her, riling her up even further. "I need to help him—"
"You did," Sirius reasoned.
"I need to help him!" She banged her fist on Sirius' chest, deciding if she couldn't go around him, she'd just go through him. "I need— he can't—"
He stood there taking her abuse. "I know, Evans. I know."
His lack of defense only defeated her more, crumbling right before him. "I can't lose him, Pads." She swallowed painfully. "I won't do it."
As soon as her tears started falling, Sirius engulfed her in his arms. "You gotta trust Poppy. She works best when not distracted. We've done all we can for him." The sound of his voice made Lily think he'd partially hugged her in order to hide his own face.
Lily sobbed into his jersey, suddenly remembering Marlene's words at the end of last year's game: 'You must be a bad luck charm.' It had been a joke back then, but the feeling of being cursed came flooding back to her. Marlene had been right. Lily didn't think that it was being too self-centered to assume that James had been attacked because of her… again. Our flying date, the talent show, right after he kissed me just now… when does it end? She knew she'd already pushed him away once to try to keep him safe, and not only had they both failed so spectacularly at it, but it had nearly killed both of them. So what other options did they have? Were they doomed if they did, doomed if they didn't? Would they both have to give up their hopes and dreams, future careers, and any semblance of normalcy if they wanted to be together? Lily thought of James — beautiful and free, his whole aura wild and energetic and untamable, lighting up any room with sheer magnetism — being forced to live a life in hiding. Trapped. Held back. Like a Phoenix with clipped wings. It felt so wrong.
But she knew herself better now as well: if she couldn't give James up last year, there was no way in hell she'd ever be able to give him up now. She was much more selfish this year — soaking up every ounce and scrap of affection that James had so thoroughly instilled in her that she deserved — but also, they just needed each other now. She didn't care if it didn't sound healthy, because it was true: they weren't whole without the other, they couldn't function, they couldn't live. It was more than just a craving; he'd become her heartbeat.
If he died, she knew most of her would die too.
She realized Sirius was petting her hair like she was a dog, but she still found it oddly comforting.
They sat outside the infirmary for what felt like days, being joined in shifts by James' teammates and their friends. Lily wasn't even sure who was there, all she could picture was that tiny trickle of blood running from James' mouth, betraying a much worse problem internally. Someone was holding her hand though, and even her compartmentalization allowed her to realize that it felt nice. Her free hand fiddled with the hem of James' jersey that she had put on so proudly for him earlier. He'll come back to me. He'll be fine. She had to believe it.
Madam Pomfrey opening the door made her and Sirius shoot to their feet. She looked like she was going to say only one visitor at a time, but the steely resolve on both their faces made her settle for motioning them in quickly. "He's still in dire condition, but I don't think he'll crash tonight." Lily found Dumbledore and McGonagall already at James' bed, and she was so comforted by their joint presence that she didn't even really ponder how they'd gotten there.
When Lily got to James' side, she gasped. His bare torso was bandaged up, his head had been shaven, and across the dome was a thin line of stitches as though someone had needed to get inside it to fix his brain. The most out of place was a whitish substance, almost like a shiny plastic bag, which was fluttering over his mouth. Lily realized it was breathing for him. It was far more extensive healing magic than Madam Pomfrey had ever taught her. She assumed Dumbledore had played a hand in this.
Instinctually, Lily reached for James, but Pomfrey tutted, slapping her hand away. "No disturbing him. You know this." Lily nodded; she did. If she wasn't so out of her mind right now, the reprimand would have shamed her, but she had absolutely no capacity for that right now.
So she sat there, watching his slow, artificial breathing, Sirius sitting quietly by her side.
It went like this for a while. Poppy tried getting them to leave, to take breaks, but the two teens refused, not wanting to miss the moment when their person woke up. Lily hated that Sirius and her had perfected this routine at Mungos, but as the hours stretched to days, they needed a new strategy. Almost wordlessly, the pair decided they'd take shifts keeping watch over James while the other napped on the nearest cot.
Lily watched hungrily every time Poppy checked his vitals, hoping for any good news. She knew how to perform all the spells herself of course, but her wand hand would shake too hard anytime she considered getting an update, and Sirius had put a hand on her wrist, letting her know not the risk it. So they waited.
And waited.
And waited.
When it became more apparent that James wasn't going to die — even if him waking up was still up in the air — Lily found herself able to have rational thoughts again. She widened his mattress so she could fit, snuggling against him. Pomfrey had taken off his breathing mask, assuring her it had only been a precaution. Lily wanted to ask her if Dumbledore had ever come to a student's aid like this, or if it was because James was in the Order, or…? Lily wasn't naive enough to think he was this invested in the health of all of his students — even if this was something he'd probably never admit in polite conversation. Lily was aware everyone had favorites — favorite students, favorite children, favorite friends — and that everyone involved usually knew it, but no one was typically allowed to verbally acknowledge the preference. But, for some reason, Lily didn't think this was one of those situations. Dumbledore seemed to like James fine, but Lily never got the distinct impression that he was one of his favorites. She felt more like Dumbledore was invested in him somehow, as though James had a secret purpose that he had yet to fulfill.
Then again, maybe she'd been in a constant state of stress for so long now that she'd become a paranoid mess.
She stared at James, face lax and blank. It was nothing like what he looked like when asleep — all peaceful, sweet and carefree. He was just… there. Sorta.
Lily wanted to comfort him. Her hand travelled to his scalp, ready to give him her usual soothing massage by running her fingers through his hair, only to be reminded that he no longer had any. Oh, he's gonna be so pissed about that, she thought fondly. She also knew that he'd jokingly whinge about it for a minute, only to figure out a solution by the next day. She couldn't wait for him to do just that.
She leaned in to kiss his cheek in the meantime.
Words started coming out of her before she could stop them. "You know," she whispered, grabbing his left hand in both of hers, "you always were so much braver than me." She kissed his shoulder, right below her chin, trying to infuse him with her devotion. This felt so much like the time she'd finally told him she loved him when she thought he was asleep. What is wrong with you? Why can't you just admit things like a normal person? It seemed like the block was still there even when it was a situation with absolutely zero risk. She knew how deeply both of them were in love with each other. Obviously, she had told James just how much she loved him since, but she couldn't help but feel like most of her profuse declarations for him had gotten caught in her head. She just wasn't as good at the cheesy monologues as he was. Telling him how much she would do anything for him made her feel weak and stupid, no matter how much she knew, logically, that being with him had only made her a more balanced and stronger person. He'd never had this insecurity — it just wasn't in his nature. "People always tell me I'm so brave for having survived Voldemort, but I think you're braver." She pushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "I'm always brave because I have to be. Because these ridiculous situations are forced on me, but you…" her eyes glazed over with adoration, "you choose to be brave every day. You didn't have to join this war, you're a Pureblood and rich and in no risk of harm, but… that's not who you are. You're noble. You do the right thing, and I love you so much for it." She let out a sad little laugh. "I'm sorry I'm no good at confessing things to you, or… telling you how special I think you are." She tilted her head with a sly smile. "Maybe I think you're confident enough as it is already and I don't want to ruin that, but I mean it, James." She stared at his closed lids, willing herself to see hazel where it should be. "You're special. And I promise that if—" she caught herself, "—when you wake up, I'll learn to tell you this when you're actually conscious. Because you're worth that." She scrunched her nose. "Fuck that was so cringey. I wish you were awake to just laugh at me."
But he wasn't, so she forced herself to continue, finding that getting started was the hardest part. She wondered if this is what it had been like for him. He'd told her once the floodgates had been opened on his affection he could no longer hold back. Nah, she realized, that was just James finally allowing himself to be himself. This is me fighting my nature.
After a quick glance behind her to double check that Sirius was still asleep, she powered through. "I love the way you make me feel. You're an amazing listener, and you never make me feel like I'm being ridiculous even when I know I am. I love how you live your life like there's no tomorrow. I want to be more like that… I think you're making me live more like that. You push me." She chuckled, "And yeah, last year that made me want to throttle you, but I like who I've become with you." Lily kissed his cheek again. "I love the dimple that should be here right now. I love your dumb jokes and how you always need to touch me. I love how I still forget to breathe around you. I love how much you take care of your friends, even when they hate you for it. I love how smart you are without even trying even if it makes me feel stupid sometimes. I love how safe you always make me feel, even when we're doing insane things like donuts in the sky at 120 kilometers an hour because you're just that much of a Quidditch god, but I know you'd never let anything happen to me. I know you'd never let me fall." The words were tumbling out of her lips now, taking on a life of their own. She felt her eyes start to burn. "I love how you love so magnanimously, never expecting anything in return, but when you get it, you act like it's the most precious thing on earth, and protect it and let the world know no one can take it away from you. Because it's yours, and you're dumb possessive." She let out a giggle with her first tear. "I love how you truly don't care about what other people think about you, except those that actually matter. I love how you see the good in situations while I see the good in people." She surrendered herself to her goofy, watery smile. "I love how you think together we're the dream team, because of course you do. I love how you never shut up, no matter how many times I tell you to." She shook her head. "I love that you know how much I love you even though I never stop telling you to shut up in the first place. I love that you completely derailed my life," Lily choked, "and then never apologized for it, because you know that if you hadn't, it would never have been a life that shone even half as brightly as it does now." She could barely even see him anymore, everything so distorted by her tears. "I love that you always know what I need, and are always it."
Lily turned away from him to wipe the snot from her nose with her sleeve. She knew he couldn't see her, but she left his line of sight anyway, just in case.
"There's a lot I have to apologize for too, baby," she breathed. "I'm sorry how long it took me to let you in, and how much time I wasted by not trusting you. I'm sorry I ever doubted your loyalty. But at the same time, I love that you waited for me, even when I myself didn't know I was coming. I'm sorry it took me so long." She leaned over him so she could gently kiss his lips, wetting his face with her tears in the process. "Babe, you've made me so hopelessly obsessed with you, and I'm gonna need you to wake up so I can channel all that love into you again, or I might just go insane here." Her eyes fluttered, looking for any sign that he'd heard her, but found nothing. Then again, her hopes weren't that high to begin with. Lily knew that if James had any awareness of the kind of distress she was currently in, he would move heaven and earth to make it better for her. Lily settled back against his side, clutching his hand. "You're fucking stuck with me, Potter," she whispered.
Suddenly she knew how James must have felt all these times having had to wait for her to wake up in this wing. She definitely hadn't given him quite enough kisses afterwards to make up for his troubles.
Lily gasped when she felt James squeezing her hand back. "Baby?" she squeaked out, elated. It had been weak, but she was nearly positive the hand she was currently crushing in her own had twitched slightly. "James, can you hear me?!"
Sirius jumped up next to them. "What is it; what's he doing?" he asked urgently.
Lily grabbed one of his hands and brought it next to hers around James'. "Feel this! He's pulsing it, I swear—"
"Yes!" Sirius cried out triumphantly. "Fuck yes, Prongs, you fucking move that pinky!"
Lily laughed, not knowing just how closely they'd have this exact same scenario play out a little more than two years from now. Only then, both their hands would be on her stomach, waiting for someone else to start moving. She had no idea that her heart, James, would give her another heartbeat.
Poppy came rushing over with all their commotion seconds later, kicking them out of James' space and drawing the curtains so she could do another check on his progress. Lily and Sirius hugged each other tightly, too overcome with happiness to care about much else — that is, until Lily got a good whiff of him.
"Ugh, Pads…" Her nose scrunched.
"What?" Sirius asked, looking down over his body. "Did I piss myself with excitement or something?"
"No. I mean, I don't think so, but— well, don't take this the wrong way, but you reek."
Sirius shrugged. "Yeah, I probably should have taken a shower after the game."
"Holy shite, you haven't showered since before the game?!"
"No. You've been with me the whole time, doofus. Besides, it's not like you smell like a daisy either."
Lily snuck a sniff at her armpit. Yikes. Her jersey had at one point smelt vaguely like James' pine scent, but clearly this was no longer the case. Yeah, she definitely didn't want him waking up to this. "Should we ask Remus to cover a shift, maybe?"
Sirius contemplated her proposal, looking at his watch. "I guess classes should be over by now."
"Great." Lily sent a Patronus so they could freshen up. She had a very good feeling that James would wake up tonight.
Lily was so giddy at James' breakthrough (He's moving again! This is excellent!) that she ran right into a wizard rounding the corner on the 7th floor.
"Watch it—" His words died on his tongue when he saw who he'd been yelling at. It was Avery.
Sirius snapped at attention by her side. No. Not today, motherfuckers. James is on the mend. You can fuck right off with your soul-sucking energy. Lily sidestepped Avery and Nott, determined to get to her suite, shower, and rush right back to James' side for when he finally opened his eyes. I'll probably still look like shit, but maybe like shit with a little bit of makeup on me.
"Fuck. If the Mudblood's happy, guess he didn't die." Nott's carrying whisper snapped Lily's resolve.
Wound up tighter than a spring, she spun back around and disarmed them in a flash, sending their wands neatly towards Sirius, knowing he'd be quick enough to catch them. They almost made it too easy. Then, she flung Nott against the wall with her magic, lifting him a meter off the ground, his hands clawing at his neck like she was choking him. She realized that perhaps she was; it was hard to process anything past the pure fury pulsating in her veins. "What did you just say?" The acidity of her tone sounded oddly familiar, but she couldn't quite place it.
Avery lunged forward to try to stop her, but she easily took him down in ropes. She looked back at Nott. "Well?" He was sputtering, his face slowly turning blue, but she didn't care. Well, she did: she thought he deserved it. That one little line had just confirmed that the Death Eaters had been the ones to attack James on the pitch, and like hell that they wouldn't be brought to their knees for their crimes. She stalked towards the Slytherin. "You fuckers can come for me, you can torture me and burn me and try to make an example out of me, but don't you ever come for someone I love. Do you got that?" His gags became more desperate yet feeble. "Do you understand?!"
"Lily," Sirius whispered by her side, "you gotta stop."
She whipped her head to him, eyes glowing fiercely. "Didn't you hear what he just said? He's probably the one who hexed James!"
"I know," Sirius replied, staring up at Nott, disgust marring his pretty face. "And he deserves to die for that. I get it, I really do." He shot a silencing spell at Avery, who they were both ignoring anyway. "But James wouldn't want this for you. You know he wouldn't."
His words hit her like a freight train and she felt the shock of adrenaline and guilt making all her muscles fatigued seconds later. He's right. James would never do this. Nott fell to a crumpled heap before her, clutching at his throat as he gasped for the air that had been denied from him.
While Lily was left reeling, Sirius untied Avery and threw their wands over the banister, hearing them clatter as they made their way down the stairs to the ground floor. Avery pulled Nott to his feet, spat at Lily's, and dragged him after their wands.
"I can't believe… I didn't mean…" Lily tried, staring at the wall where Nott had just been in front of her, her brows furrowed severely.
"You know, when I told you I was sticking with the person with the biggest temper, I wasn't aware of just how right I was."
Lily couldn't deal with his humor right now; no, she didn't deserve it. Am I a monster? "I can't believe I just did that." She finally looked at him. "Thank you for stopping me."
Sirius shrugged it off. "It was selfish of me. I wanted to watch you finish him, hell, I wanted to do it myself, but James would have killed me if he woke up and found out I'd let his girl get shipped off to Azkaban for murder."
Murder. What the fuck."I can't believe I just did that," Lily repeated dumbstruck.
Sirius brotherly nudged her shoulder. "We all snap sometimes. No sense beating yourself up about it."
"James doesn't," Lily spoke softly.
"Yeah, well, he's just better than the rest of us." It was a true testament of their bond that he said this without even a lick of bitterness.
"He really is, isn't he?" Lily bit her lip. "Please don't tell him about this."
Sirius shot her a look. "Tell him about what, Evans?" She could one thousand percent see why this guy was James' best friend.
It wasn't until they'd started walking again that Lily realized she'd sounded just as crazy and deranged when talking to Nott as Bellatrix Black. As she showered, trying to cleanse her body of the vindictive rage she'd just displayed, she vowed to be better than the other side. She wouldn't stoop to their level — she had to remain above it. She wouldn't let them take her humanity from her.
Lily needed James to wake up now more than ever.
"I can't see a Merlin-damn thing." James' voice sounded like music to her ears as she rushed back to the infirmary.
Sirius, clearly having beaten her back and already fawning over his best mate, looked up at her entrance. "We left him alone for five minutes, and the git decides it's the perfect time to wake up." He was sporting the biggest smile she'd ever seen on him.
Lily immediately launched herself into James' arms, crushing him into his pillow. "Don't you ever do that to me again, Potter!" she scolded him before pulling back and kissing every centimeter of his face between her hands.
"Easy there, Evans. You might just send him into a love-stupor next," Sirius joked.
James chuckled. "I'm fine, guys. Really."
Sirius snorted. "Says the guy who was just in a coma for five days."
"Bloody hell, five days?" He looked between his friends. "Wait, where's Wormtail?"
Remus looked a little shy when he answered, "He took your absence pretty hard. But I'm sure he'll come visit here soon enough."
"All right, we'll have to cheer him up then." He slung his arm around Lily's shoulders as she settled on the bed next to him. "So, what I miss?"
"No way. You were in a coma. You start talking," Sirius insisted.
"Um." James looked confused. "About what?"
Sirius looked to Remus. "Oh no. He's gotten even more daft." James rolled his eyes, then cringed like it had hurt him. "What was it like? How do you feel?"
"Honestly? My head's just killing me—" Lily made to give him space, but James only pulled her in tighter. "Otherwise it was just… nothingness I guess." He gave Lily a devious smile and she knew she was in trouble. "I did have this dream my girlfriend was crying over my unconscious body though. She was just saying the sappiest of things—" James froze, his hand now on top of his head, ready to cutely ruffle hair that was no longer there. Lily was actually quite surprised he hadn't done it sooner. "Hang on!" His eyes went wide. "Merlin's right bollocks, where's my hair gone?!" He used both his hands to pat his skull down desperately.
"It'll grow back, James," Lily tried soothing.
"Fuck…" he groaned. "This is so embarrassing." He used one of his palms to cover Lily's eyes.
"James!" she giggled. "I've already seen you like this all week."
"That was rude of you to look," he whined.
"Honestly, it doesn't look half bad." Remus' lips twitched.
"Oh, fuck off, guys, this is a disaster."
"Again, says the guy who woke up from a coma not ten minutes ago," Sirius deadpanned.
"I'm bald."
Lily pecked his cheek, over the moon with his petulance. "Guess you'll have to learn another way to peacock for me, baby."
Pomfrey demanded that they all leave so James could get some much needed rest for his recovery, despite James' insistence that that was all he'd been doing so far anyway. Lily quickly went back to their suite, gave some much needed love and affection to Tiger, and wrote a sweet little note to Glob for doing such an amazing job feeding her in their absence. Then she found James' Invisibility Cloak and snuck back into the hospital wing so she could sleep cuddled by his side.
"So I think you may have to rethink this whole flying thing, Potter," she teased when they'd settled into a comfortable position that hopefully didn't too obviously look like was spooning an invisible woman.
James snorted. "It's not my flying, as much as people's inability to hex me for being such a good flyer."
"Sounds like it's still about your flying then."
"You're impossible, woman," James cooed, squeezing her closer to him by the belly. "I missed you."
"You were unconscious, babe. There's no way you could have missed me," Lily reasoned.
"And yet, somehow I did." She could picture his toothy grin behind her so clearly.
There was a long pause where Lily thought of all the things they'd nearly lost. All the moments that had almost been stolen from them. It made her heart physically hurt from the longing it inspired in her. She wanted all that, that life with him, so fucking badly. "Did you really hear what I said?" she asked him softly.
He fumbled for her, trying to kiss the back of her head, but getting her neck instead, making her amusedly squirm at the unexpected tickle. "Yeah. I think most of it. Hearing your voice really helped me fight my way back to you. Gave me a direction to go. Like I knew what way was up again, if that makes sense?" Being lovey came to him as easily as breathing it seemed. "Did you mean it all?"
Lily rolled over and uncovered her face — this was too important for him not to see it etched all over her entire being. "Of course I did. I meant every word." His eyes crinkled with a smile she couldn't help but mirror. "I really do love everything about you, James Potter."
They made out for a lot longer than was probably medically advisable for a recovering head trauma patient. When they'd awoken a few short hours later, his hair had magically returned to its former 6th year glory.
When Lily went back to the Head suite the next morning, James in tow now that he'd been discharged, she nearly had a heart attack upon entering her room. She shrieked, finding tiny red droplets on her floor.
James ambled in a lot slower than usual, still clutching at his tender head. "What is it?"
Lily looked around the room, frantically locating Tiger in her kitten bed. She's fine. "Oh, sorry, there's blood on the ground— and I thought maybe… But Terp's right there, so maybe she just killed a mouse or something?"
Lily didn't understand why James suddenly paled and looked even more panicked as he rushed off to the Gryffindor dormitory.
When he returned and told her Peter was safe and accounted for, she remembered: Oh yeah. Peter's a rat.
Next Chapter: Be That For You
Jily Fan: Aw, yay for telling me! I updated it so you got credit ;) Was a great prompt! I'm so pumped you thought I did it justice :D Hahaaaaa, yeah, I definitely would NOT describe Snape as beautiful, so he's out. And Dana is too immature, and we've already had a bad DADA teacher, I can't do that to you guys again! And right? I would have died. I've never gone to a boarding school, but I'm sure the teachers must know FAR too many intimate details of their students lives. *Oy* And yeah, poor James can't catch a break. It's sorta like Lily feared dating her would be like, isn't it? Thy Uncle: Haaaaa, I did NOT know where that review was going for a second ':D Phew! Sorry I am causing you this much turmoil ;) Lol EllanaWest: Bad shit always does happen in Januarys here don't they? When it rains it pours! I can't live without chocolate either so I HEAR YOU ;) High treason indeed… HAHA, hopefully Sirius wasn't CONSCIOUSLY thinking that! Agreed. Remus has turned into the new Marlene with dating someone terrible for them, but at least Rosier loved her… Remus just thinks this is all he deserves :( Yay to the punishment! :D And wooooot! I really loved that exchange, so I'm glad you liked it too ^.^ Snape had it coming. Had to keep him around somehow even though he basically is forbidden from interacting with Lily… AND YES! James is SO SMOOTH. What a MAN! :'D Gus: Yay, great questions! One of them just got answered (sorta)… the first one is brewing… and the third, HA. Thank you :) I think my writing style is very plot heavy and the rest will follow kinda situation. air-please: Thank YOU for reviewing :) I very much appreciate it! Anna: Not to worry Anna! The ending of the story will not be sad, but the epilogue will be. So if you want a happy ending, I will let you know when there's just the epilogue left! :) Klausoline: Don't be depressed! The final chapter will end on a high note, just don't read the epilogue! Nina: I'm sorrrrrryyy! I don't want to drag at all! Wait… we saw them in February? When'd we see them in February… did I forget something? :/ Yeah, Dana is very annoying. I hate that I've known so many of 'her' in my life. Haaaa, I bet they sleep cuddling. I couldn't do it, but if anyone can, I bet Jily can! XD So much AWK! Yep, gone are the days when James could pretend like he wasn't madly in love with her and I AM HERE FOR IT! She DID make his dreams come true! Sigh. The game started off so promisingly… Guest: No! Don't stop reading now, this is a terrible place to stop! Lol. Drama is coming up for sure, but the only real tragedy is the epilogue. The last chapter ends on a high note, so I recommend ending there if that's your jam! rmmurphy: Why not both ;p Oooo, you want MORE jealousy! :D I feel like Lily completely missed seeing all the angry stares she was getting because she was too busying checking out her man! Dork: Sorry, I'm a real introvert, so I just go through phases. BUT, that means every time the asks are open, you 100 percent know I am super pumped to receive them! :D Breanie: :D :D :D I love love LOVE getting reassurances about smut, so CHEERS! Yeah, the ending was a little mean O:) Me: I'm just a hermit crab pretending to be a person most days. I'm working on it! Jus de Carotte: You are so so SO right about that drawing! I absolutely love it and all of Viria's Jily! Nicely spotted 3 You know, I'm getting kinda excited to reread it myself (fully, not a skimming like I just did, lol) and see if I think I did the story in my head justice! Yeah sorry, the flash forward is super vague since Lily is having a bit of a breakdown, but basically you know that they're trapped somewhere very very bad together o.O Ah, I'm sorry that happened in your friend group as well! I had it happen to me too, but with two of MY 'FRIENDS' on two separate occasions hitting on my boyfriend RIGHT in front of me. And like blatantly too. (One asked for his number so she could send him photos of herself [?] and the other was drunk and he was all like, 'why are you with her, you can do so much better. Like me.' [?!]) Moral of the story: I got better friends. HA, nah, I don't think McG actually wanted an answer. I think she would be a professor who would really TRY to stay out of students' personal drama, but she still has eyes, you know? So she knew James and Lily 'hated' each other that year, so she was like, okay, they're fighting in a closet, weird. But didn't overanalyze it. And then she sees James hitting on Lily and she's like, okay, kinda usual, whatever, Lily seems okay. But then all of a sudden it hits her and she is like oh. OH, and then she feels silly, but at the same time DOESN'T REALLY wanna know, but like… realized what was going on nonetheless and is like, gah. Yeah, they're both in it for the long haul and slipping all over the place! YES, Sirius will definitely be SUPER involved in the wedding planning bc of course he will :D Love fics: They can't catch a break! Haaaaa, yep. As if her originally finding them wasn't bad enough ;) Ughhhh I'm just a sucker for her getting to wear his jersey, I really am. And it really was going so well, and they had PLANS and sighhhh. Angeltuesday: Thank you! I concur. Good job James. Show all them ladies who's your girl. Lunane: I'm digging hearing your thought process here! And it's embarrassing how long I spend combing through Brenton gifs XD Also lol at your deer baby! AGREED. mariaclara1400: Yaaaaay, James knows what he's doing ;) And NO THEY CAN'T! LilllyEPotter: That was such an incredibly nice review, I don't even know how to properly say thank you! So fucking sweet, thank you thank you thank you