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Ch.3 -Understanding

Lily remembered the fire sinking to the ground and becoming whispers of smoke. Then she remembered looking straight into Dumbledore's twinkling eyes, which suddenly changed color to become a swirled brown pair of eyes, surrounded by dark glasses frames. Lily was falling, falling into the brown eyes, when she saw a flash of green light, and heard a high, male voice say Stand aside you silly girl! Then she felt herself crying, to the angry red eyes in front of her, Not Harry! Please...Have mercy...Have mercy! Then the green light flared again as she screamed, and the eyes laughed and laughed.

Somebody was shaking her arm. Not Harry! Please-I'll do anything! Have mercy..not Harry... she mumbled, as her eyes laboriously opened. Bright light reflected off the white surfaces in the hospital wing. She started to see Professor Dumbledore's eyes, once again twinkling above her, this time accompanied by the rest of him. She also noticed a well-dressed older witch watching her, seated on the bed next to hers. Welcome back, Miss Evans. I can assure you that Mr. Malfoy and his companions are all very well, if a little bewildered at how they were bested by a witch without a wand. Perhaps you would like to explain, now that your nightmare has passed?

Professor! I..er...who is she? She pointed at the witch next to her.

The woman smiled, I am Esmerelda Bagshot, with the Ministry of Magic. You may recall we sent you a notice two days ago about an illegal color charm that was performed at your residence? I am here to further investigate how you performed that. Since this current matter also involves magic without a wand, I need to hear your side of the story.

They both looked at Lily expectantly, so she took a deep breath, and with a nod from Professor Dumbledore, proceeded to tell her entire experience, leading up to the flames.

They listened closely, only stopping her to ask for clarification, with expressions of greatest interest on their faces. Lily felt the woman becoming less condescending and more respectful. Dumbledore merely looked at her with pride. When she finished, Dumbledore took her hand and made eye contact while saying slowly, You have shown yourself to be a true Gryffindor through all this, and I apologize for not noticing before how strong you are. It takes great strength of will to wield magic without a wand; It takes great power to keep it from destroying you or others. You are no ordinary witch, Lily Evans.

Lily had been expecting disappointment and expulsion at the very least, so she was shocked. She made herself speak up, But Professor Dumbledore, sir, I hurt those Slytherins! I shouldn't have let them get to me! How did I do that, professor?

Calm, calm, Ms. Bagshot had leaned closer so she could speak confidentially with Lily. You have greater mindpower than most wizards. You were never noticed by anyone because you were so strong that you made everyone believe that you weren't there. When your antagonists broke through that shield, you defended yourself. You are very accomplished in charms, so I believe that you cast charms over yourself with only a little bit of effort. Casting charms on others, like Mr. Malfoy, costs more, so you fainted from the intense mental strain. I don't recommend casting complicated charms without your wand, but you do have that ability. This will grow with practice, and Professor Flitwick will see you trained, so you can control it. She looked at Lily with a mixture of awe and pride.

In the meantime, Professor Dumbledore spoke, please attempt to keep yourself out of intense situations. The staff will be on watch for you, because if that power is unleashed before it is trained, you could kill many people. Strength like this, Miss Evans, is not free. He turned serious, Someday you will have the opportunity to either save lives or take them away- at the cost of your life. This is a hefty burden you find yourself with, but we will support you however we can. Once you are well, try to pay me a visit. Attempt to avoid another situation like this one! He patted her on the back, and offered his arm to Ms. Bagshot, with whom he made his exit.

Lily was trying to soak it all in when she heard a commotion outside the hospital wing.

-let me see her, please?
Is she awake yet?
What happened?

Mr. Potter, Mr. Lupin, Mr. Black, Miss Evans is awake, but she just finished a long discussion with the headmaster. She is tired, and needs rest in order to heal from her ordeal.

Lily was touched that her new acquaintances cared if she was all right. She sat up, and called, Please, Miss Pomfrey, may I see them? Just for a little while? She wanted to ask what she'd missed and see if they really were concerned about her. The nurse caved and the Marauders minus one piled into the hospital wing, for just five minutes.

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James hadn't been worried at first; after all, she was with Dumbledore. But when he waited in the common room for her until midnight, he began to imagine all sorts of horrible things that she could be going through. He normally wasn't a worrier, but he felt somehow that Lily Evans needed people to be concerned about and with her. He had a dream that night of a red-haired someone who reminded him of Lily rushing away with a bundle in her arms as green light burst through the cracks around the door. Lily, take Harry and go! It's him! Go! Run! I'll hold him off- The door burst open and red eyes shone as James heard, Avada Kedavra in a high, cold voice. Then he was dying and the monster was laughing, as he moved towards the room Lily had run into.

James swore he would never let anyone like that near Lily! The dream only made him more fearful of what he'd find when he looked for her. She was so frail and alone. He didn't doubt that she could take care of herself when the time came, but he shuddered at the thought of anything evil near Lily. So when James had found out that Lily was in the hospital wing asleep, he would not believe it until he saw her. Miss Pomfrey was not willing to let him and Sirius and Remus in, until a small voice piped up. James let out a deep breath he didn't know he'd been holding. If she could talk, if she wanted to talk to them, she must be okay. Miss Pomfrey stepped aside, and James ran into the wing, with his friends on his heels.

There she was, with her red locks feathered on the pillow, and her eyes lit up when she saw their ungraceful entrance. Sirius caught his foot on Remus' ankle, who fell right into James. Their carefully choreographed sprawl earned the desired response from Lily, who leaned back for a great belly laugh. Her laugh was high pitched, but musical, almost more of a giggle, and tiny jewelled flecks in her eyes sparkled with merriment. She recovered and gave them a warm smile as they clambered up onto the beds next to her.

Where were you? We heard Malfoy and three other Slytherins had been knocked out, but you couldn't have done that- Sirius suddenly remembered how badly he had misjudged her before and added, could you?

Lily looked down at her hands which were twisting the sheet between her fingers. Ah...well, I'm not sure if I can tell you that. I really want to... please don't think that I'm trying to keep secrets from you! I really appreciate how nice you've been, and I would, but Professor Dumbledore said to talk to him first! At first James was upset that she didn't trust them, or him, enough, but when he heard Dumbledore's name he remembered that it wasn't one of the Marauders he was dealing with. It was Lily, who was a stickler for the rules.

That's all right. Just tell us when you can, okay? James was rewarded with a tearful smile.

Yeah, especially tell James. He was really worried about you, Lily. Remus chimed in.

No kidding. He was all for storming the Slytherin common room to find you, even though he doesn't know where it is! Sirius said mischievously.

I do know where it is! I'm sure I have the right one this time! James retorted hotly, in what was obviously a familiar argument.

That's what you said last time, Remus yawned.

I bet Peter finds it before you do James! Sirius challenged.

A box of chocolate frogs?

You're on! They shook on it, and James noticed that Lily was fading again. He sent the others out of the wing before telling her,

Look, Lily, I...I was really concerned about you, I just hope you can tell me what happened soon. He grabbed her hand in his and squeezed lightly, amazed at how natural that felt.

She looked up at him with so much admiration that he blushed. James Potter, you're my first friend at Hogwarts. I can't tell you how much I appreciate that. Just then Miss Pomfrey bustled over to shoo James away, but Lily put her arms around his middle and gave him a quick hug before he could leave, and whispered, Thank you! into his ear. Filled with a strange tingling sensation they stayed in that position until the nurse barked an order at James, then they slowly released each other.

He was accosted by Sirius outside the door. She hugged you! I'll bet she fancies you James! I can't wait to tell Peter! and he ran laughing away, as James chased after him, and Remus tried to calm the two parties down.