Lana
The news of Lily's mysterious disappearance reached the Gryffindor House later that evening, as she had not shown up in any of her classes for the past two days. James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter made their way down to the hospital wing later that evening, prepared for the worst. Rumors were flying, some said she had died, other said she had lost limbs. James found some of them particularly amusing, knowing Lily knew the counter curse to many of the ideas suggested.
Once they reached the hospital wing, James and Remus went in while Sirius and Peter stayed behind. Finding Severus sitting in a chair next to Lily, who was starring blankly up at the rafters, James lingered back for a moment, until Remus motioned for him to join him next to Lily.
"What happened?" Remus asked Severus quietly, taking one of her hands.
"Voldemort attacked her."
Remus and James looked up at him, surprised. "But she's still alive?"
Severus sighed, "He only wanted the baby."
Remus felt as if his body had suddenly turned to ice, "You're shitting me."
Severus turned towards him with an ironic kind of look on his face. "You have no idea how much I wish I was."
James crept forward, touching Lily's warm cheek. "Lily… I'm sorry baby… Are you ok?"
After a moment of silence, Severus looked at James. "She hasn't talked in nearly 24 hours."
"But is she ok?"
"What do you think? She had part of her viciously
ripped out, not only was it part of her but it was her baby. Physically,
she's still hurting. Mentally, I can't even imagine."
Severus looked down at Lily, who was turning onto
her side and drawing her knees to her chest.
"Are you ok?" Remus asked softly, looking up at Severus.
He shook his head, "No, but I'm not nearly as bad as Lily."
"You aren't blaming yourself, are you?"
Severus looked up towards Remus, refusing to answer. Remus shook his head, looking back down toward Lily. "She'll be ok."
"I hope so." Severus answered, gripping Lily's hand. "Lily baby… Remus and James… Can you say hi?"
Lily looked up, right into James' eyes. Her green ones, once full of happiness, were now empty. She then turned towards Remus and her lips slowly formed a forced smile. "Hi."
All three men smiled, "Hi Lily." Remus answered, stroking her cheek.
"Did I miss anything important?" Her voice was weak and her eyes were glazed over with a far off look in them.
"Nothing you can't learn in five minutes' time." Remus answered. She then turned back towards James.
"Did you have fun Sunday night?" Sunday night was the full moon, and Lily knew about the three friends transforming.
"Yes, we did, but we missed coming back and having you nag us." James smiled half heartedly, then glanced up towards the door. He then glanced at his watch and quickly decided something.
"Remus, we have to go. It's nearly 8 and we still have to eat." He turned back towards Lily. "We'll come and see you again later, ok?"
"Ok. Thanks James, thanks Remus," She then turned back over to face Severus, who was still gripping her hand. With that, the two exited the room.
Once outside, Sirius and Peter questioned the two about Lily's condition. Answering as many questions as possible, James and Remus led the two to the Great Hall, where Dumbledore met them.
"I see you visited Lily… Is she awake right now?"
Remus nodded, "She talked too."
Dumbledore smiled a bit, "I'm glad to see she's recovering. Thank you for your time." With that, he made his way out of the Great Hall and back down to the hospital wing, where Lily was now sitting up.
"Lily, I'm glad to see you're feeling better. Do you think you'll be ready to go back to the Gryffindor Tower tomorrow?"
She shrugged and then looked down at her hands. "Do I have to?"
Professor Dumbledore shook his head, "Where else would you suggest?"
Lily looked at Severus, who was now starring down at his feet with interest. "Somewhere that Severus can have access to."
"That would mean you would be living alone, Lily. Are you sure you want that? Being surrounded by friends would be best for you in a time like this."
Lily nodded, "Papa, please. We're both hurting here, and being separated isn't going to help anything."
There was a long pause, and he finally answered. "I'll see what I can do, Lily. I'm not promising anything, however." Dumbledore sighed, "You have six months of schooling left, it would not be healthy for you to alienate yourself from your piers."
"Papa, no matter where I am, I'll be alienated. The whole school's going to know soon enough, and sympathy is the last thing we need. My roommates – they already knew about James, and I was constantly being asked questions. I do not need that, please Papa."
Dumbledore finally agreed with her, "I shall find an appropriate room for you, Lily, and if you're feeling better tomorrow, you shall be moved in to it."
"Thank you Papa." Lily smiled weakly, then laid back down and closed her eyes.
"Severus… A word, if you will." Dumbledore motioned for Severus to follow him outside of the wing. He followed, curious as to what Professor Dumbledore would say.
"Severus, I know this is hard on both of you, but try to be strong for her. I would modify her memory if I thought it would help, but I don't believe it would. This happened for a reason, a reason we might never live to know. As Lord Voldemort grows stronger, he gains more and more enemies. Hopefully you have now become aware of the terrible thing he is capable of. I will move her into a room close to the Slytherin Tower; I wish for you to visit her as often as you can and as often as she wants. If you must miss classes, tell me and I will inform your professors your absences are justified. I do not want James Potter around her, unless she specifically asks for him. Severus, do what's best for her, no matter what the costs. Do you understand?"
Severus nodded, "Yes Professor."
Dumbledore nodded, satisfied. "Very well. I shall make sure no one else finds out what has happened, and meanwhile, I suggest you get some rest."
Severus shrugged, "Madame Pomfrey said I could sleep in one of the beds."
"Very well… I shall see you tomorrow."
"Thanks, Professor."
"You're welcome, Severus. Just take care of her."