(A/N) So it's here. I had a huge writers block on the part of Lily but I hereby announce it as resolved. For your convenience I will continue the practice of medium to longish chapters knowing that I, myself, enjoy that length. I am now warning you that those people who cannot handle madness or depression had best leave now.

Disclaimer: All of the characters related to J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter books are not mine and I proclaim only utilizing them in this story. The characters and scenarios I however claim rights to because it was MY over active imagination that created them. If you wish to use them please contact me for permission, thank you. I will most likely reply positively if you ask. Thanks.

WARNING: ALL Flamers will be handed over to Mr. Filch for severe punishment. And if any repetitions occur, that person will be brought in front of the Headmaster and he or she will have there wand snapped in half and be packed off to live with the muggles.



Chapter 5

A New Hope

The days and nights blended together, uncomprehended by Lily who lay in that hospital bed. There was no response to anything from her forlorn little body, which lay beneath those stark, white sheets. The purpose of living had disappeared from her soul. The loss of her legs had deeply wounded her spirit. The fact that she could never again run or dance, and her mother, the guiding light in her short life had been extinguished, completely shorn any grip on reality, which Lily had once possessed.

Before her unblinking eyes the scene of the car accident, the Doctor informing her of the loss of her legs, and finally, her father's loss of his sanity because of Violet's death ran through her mind. Over and over she watched those scenes take place. Sometimes Lily thought that she heard vaguely familiar voices calling her name.... Lily, Lily... It was her mother; she was there just out of reach. "Mother? Mummy I had this horrible dream, you were dead!" Lily laughed excitedly. I missed you so much! She ran to her mother who backed away. "Mummy? Mummy?" cried Lily suddenly becoming frightened. The apparition of her mother turned and seemed to glide away. "Mummy? Don't leave me! I need you Mummy! MUMMY?" Lily broke down into sobs. "Mummy don't leave me all alone." She whispered, trying violently to keep her mother from slipping away in vain.. A dark gray fog lifted from nowhere and boiled around her shivering form and she was lost again in the darkness.

During this time it was young James' turn to watch the sleeping beauty and notify anyone and everyone if any activity at all was registered. The second that he entered the room, James practically ran to the bed. He looked at her pale face, and it seemed to him that he had met this girl somewhere before, besides when he rescued her. "Lily," he tried out her name. "Lily." The name itself was graceful. She lay there so peaceful. Without warning she began to thrash. "Moth... Mummy... Mummy don't leave me alone!" She screamed.

That sound quite nearly broke James' heart. He unthinkingly put his arms about her trying, however awkwardly to comfort her. She suddenly flung her arms about his chest. Lily had sensed somehow, however dimly, that the person above her would protect her always. So after a slight hesitation and without bothering to open her eyes she gripped him tightly almost pulling him down on top of her.

James tried to pull away briefly if only to call his brother or a nurse but she clung to him furiously not allowing him to leave her. "Please, don't leave me." He heard her whisper through her tears. He knew then that he could and would never leave her side voluntarily. "I wont leave you, Lily. I could never leave you."

It was hours later when James' brother walked into the room. He stared briefly at the scene before him. James was lying with his arms rapped around Lily. Her red hair fanned about the pair. James' glasses had been knocked askew on his nose. They so resembled.. But he was not to think of that now. The only thing that mattered was that the poor child to regain the use of her legs.

Harold had already informed Albus and he was on his way over, in fact, Harold thought, he should be here in five, four, three, two, one. With a small * pop* Albus Dumbledore entered the room. He was wearing the most ridiculous outfit that Harold Potter had ever laid eyes on. He was wearing a yellow, spandex piece of. underwear? With a ruffled peasant blouse and gigantic sandals. The outfit was, dare I say, completed by the bright purple tie-die bandana tied around his head.

"Hello Sir."

"Tisk no formality is necessary Harry. We've known each other to long for that."

"Yes, well." Harold trailed off still looking uncertain.

"Yes nothing. It's a fact my dear boy."

Harold nodded. "Yes. Albus, I suppose you are right." Then as an afterthought added, "My I inquire as to your outfit?"

"Yes, yes, I bought it recently in a muggle shop. shopping mall? Yes that's it. I bought each item in a different store. I did seem to attract some rather odd looks in the Wet Seal? Though many female muggles were shopping there." Albus shrugged, "Besides I am planning on visiting your father in his muggle office, so I must dress appropriately."

Harold coughed delicately, "Albus, I do believe that well. you are dressed in a somewhat informal fashion for visiting my father in his muggle office."

"I will take your advice to heart, Harry." Albus' eyes sparkled with barely suppressed laughter. "Now where is the child? The one who has, most regrettably lost the use of her legs?"

"Ah, right behind you."

"Oh! Well then," Albus spun around and saw the touching scene. "Ah."

"I know, isn't it beautiful?" whispered Harold softly.

"Most assuredly by good friend, it seems so right. I almost don't want to disturb them."

"Yes, if we move quietly they may not wake." Whispered Harold.

Albus nodded to show he understood he took out his wand and murmured "Silencio Automotus." Immediately their movements were silenced by the spell.

'Great." Mouthed Harold, "Now we need to check Lily, and see if there is any indication that she may heal or if there is any spell that might enhance her healing capabilities."

They moved quickly. James was quietly and magically lifted from Lily's prostrate form and laid on a bed opposite Lily's. Then Harold quickly loosed the shift from about Lily and laid her down clothed in her undergarments.

"Electrona Evantium." Harold whispered the stimulatic spell used to test nerve responses on patients. He started at her feet and got a dim response only when he whispered the spell to it's maximum level. It was the same until he reached her lower abdomen. There she jerked when touched with the wand. She even let out a little cry of pain, but did not appear to awaken.

Within minutes Albus and Harold had gone over every aspect of their mutual problem. They reinstated James to his former position and looked at them for a while before they went forth from the sickroom to analyze their respective data and brainstorm possibilities.

"She has lost control of bodily functions below her hips. Her waist and lower abdomen respond to magical stimuli but her legs only dimly respond to it. This does however prove that it may be possible for her to regain the use of her legs. It will take a lot of hard work on her part though." Observed Harold, his dark brows pulled together in thought.

"Yes, and schooling at Hogwarts is strenuous even when the students are perfectly healthy. But," Albus said significantly, "that does not mean that Lily shall be excluded from school. No, that will not be allowed to happen, she will come there is no doubt of that. But as to the healing process what could possibly help her? There is no known cure, in either the Muggle or Wizarding worlds!" Albus pondered.

"Yes, but there are things that may help, exercises and the like, some potions that your Potions Master should have no problem making, and hmm.. Yes perhaps this will work."

"May I make a suggestion?" inquired Albus quietly laughing at the man who was furiously scribbling away on a piece of paper.

"Hmm? What? Oh yes of course!"

"Your younger brother, James. Well, he does seem to be attached to the girl and she to him." His eyes twinkled at the memory.

"Yes? And what of it?" Asked Harold curiously.

"Well, love tends to be the best cure, and if that prophesy is correct and my interpretation of the scene we witnessed earlier, he might be able to do a great deal for the child."

"James?" Laughed Harold. "In love? Albus please this is not a joking matter, James has absolutely no way of helping her! After all what is he going to do? Teach her to sword fight or perhaps sweep her up and gallop away with her on that horse of his?"

"That's it!" Albus was growing excited.

"What's it?"

"The horses! From my experience, all females love horses, so if we get James to agree, he can teach Lily to ride! It will improve her muscle mass and nervous function if she agrees to ride. And if my memory serves me we have an old stable on the other end of Hogwarts, close to a secluded grove in the Forbidden Forest!"

Harold shot Albus a look.

"Oh Harry, the grove is protected by some very powerful magic after all, would I allow any student into a position of danger unless all odds had turned against me and had no choice?" asked Albus.

"No of course you wouldn't, I know. I'm sorry." Mumbled Harold apologetically.

"Its quite all right old boy, I understand."

Harold nodded. "So I suppose you want me to run this by father."

"No, no I have to speak with him any way so I will break the news. Now, why don't you go to the children and wake them up if they haven't awakened. If they have already then ask them to make themselves presentable for My Lord of Norwich's presence."

"Alright. Well you had best be off and so must I, if I am to make them presentable in time." Said Harold.

Albus nodded and then disappeared with a small * pop *.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

In the darkened hospital room, Lily awoke to the strange, hyet comforting feeling of arms around her and a body lying next to her own. She twisted around to see who it was. She gasped, he had to be the most handsome boy she had ever seen, his dark black hair was messy and falling over his face. His nose was straight and the brows were slashes of black on the forehead. His skin glowed the comforting tan of an active boy who was outside messing around and his arms though he was young were firm about her. Though she would swear that they had never met, Lily felt that this boy was strangely familiar though she couldn't quite place why.

An errant strand of hair had fallen across his for head and she reached up to brush it back. At her touch the boy's eyes open and Lily smiled, yes, she was sure that she had seen him before, though she did not know who he was or how she could, she just knew. Those eyes, rich, and chocolaty brown gazed at her and her own eyes met and held for what seemed to be an eternity.

"Your awake?" It was more of a statement than a question but to Lily it was heaven. The voice was young and strong but she had no doubts that this young man was special.

"Yes." She replied softly still unable to break that gaze.

"I trust that you are feeling better?" He was inquiring as to her health she realized and tried violently to hold back the tears forming in her eyes.

"I, I am fine, thank you." The tears that were threatening to spill sounded in her voice.

"I'm sorry." He trailed off obviously not prepared to deal with her tears.

"No, no its all right, I'll be fine, now," She wiped her eyes and tried to maintain control of her emotions, "my name is Lily Salixia Evans. What's yours?"

"My name? Or my title?" He sounded sarcastic, though not at her Lily realized at something or someone else.

"Um, whichever you prefer I know." Lily said.

"The Protector, Lord James Arthur Potter the 3rd of Norwich. But please, I hate the title just call me James."

"Hello. James."

"Hello Lily."

They both looked at each other and laughed. "So James, what are you doing here?"

"Oh well, uh, you see, I, uh, well, It was my turn to look in on you and you were thrashing around and so I couldn't think of anything to do except hug you and you seemed to like that and I, uh must have drifted off."

Lily laughed then and James wished that she would never stop. It was then that Harold walked in. James immediately stiffened. His whole demeanor changed and he abruptly stopped laughing. Harold pretended not to notice this change in behavior. Lily was watching, curious as to why James was acting so strangely.

"Ah I see you both are up! And how do you feel this fine afternoon young lady?" Harold smiled charmingly and James frowned briefly before his face smoothed.

"Quite fine, my good sir." Lily replied wittingly.

"Yes, well James I need to speak to you a moment, if you will excuse us Lily."

James got up, straightened his outfit and walked reservedly up to his brother who turned and walked out the door to his office. "Please have a seat James."

"Thank you my Lord but I prefer to stand." James replied with a trace of bitterness and mocking etched in his voice.

Harold let it slide. "As you wish. Now you know of Miss Lily's afflictions do you not?"

James nodded once.

"We think that there may be a way for you to help cure her. Are you willing?"

Again James nodded but this time Harold caught the glimmer of relief in his eyes. "Good. We, meaning Albus Dumbledore and I have heard that certain sports may strengthen and increase sensitivity in her legs. The one I am referring to is horse riding. That sport combined with the proper medication may gain Lily the use of her legs again. As you are fairly proficient at this sport," here the change in his tone leaned toward admiration, " Albus and I were wondering if you would train her to ride."

"I will." Said James quietly.

"Good, if father agrees we shall take her first to Diagon Alley and then to Goldenrich Stables where she shall purchase her horse. If her family does not have the money, as her poor father seems to be out of his mind, we will pay for it. Agreed?"

"Agreed, now, I must return and inform Lily of this."

"Of course, go right ahead."

James turned and walked into Lily's room. "My Lord Harold informs me that you have a chance to be healed!"

Lily stared at James in amazement. "What? How?"

"Well that is for my father to say, when he comes." He teased her gently.

"Oh James please?" She gave him the sweetest little girl look and his knees melted.

"Oh, I suppose." And James proceeded to tell her everything. With each passing moment Lily become more and more excited.

"I can't wait! Oh James thank you for helping me." She sat up and threw her arms around him. A little awkwardly he hugged her back.

"You'll see," James said "everything will work out fine."

(A/N) So I hope that you enjoyed and are well This Holiday Season. Have A very Happy Holiday and New Year.