Only One Life to Love You

Disclaimer-HP stuff doesn't belong to me, other stuff does. (a true zippy disclaimer…lol)

A/N: Hello again… I know the romance came a little quick, I know that but… just trust me. Sorry it took so long to update, I had this great brainstorm for this chapter and my twisted mind compelled me to plan it all out before I wrote it. Plus, I had finals to study for… Crappy, no? Now I'm on winter break, I was too damn lazy to write anything. And I've been working on my book whenever I actually felt like writing, but I'm gonna shut up now and get on with it, k? Here goes. btw, means thoughts i couldn't get my comp to upload the italics.

Oh, and responding to a review by Alriadne:
Sorry bout using that word too much. I have gay friends also, and even they use the word in a derogatory manner. I'm just used to it… I'll try to stop myself in future chapters.

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Circumstances rule men; Men do not rule circumstances.
~Herodotus

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Chapter 3- Medical Disaster


"Lils… are you okay? You look a little green." Ria looked at her friend with concern. Lily never got sick. Her immune system seemed to be constantly working overtime.
"Yeah, Ri. I'm fine." Lily didn't sound so sure.
"I think you should go and see Mme Moss. Just for a check." Lily started to protest but Ria cut in. "Pwease Lils? For me?"
Lily sighed. She really didn't want to admit it, but she agreed with Ria. She didn't feel so hot. "Whatever. I will tonight."
"No, you'll go NOW."
"But… I'll miss class!"
"Too bad." Ria dragged her protesting bud out the door and down the stairs. They were halfway across the common room before Lily called out to her. Ria normally wouldn't have stopped but Lily sounded really… crappy, for lack of a better word.
"Wait, Ri. I d-don't… fee… s-so goo…" Lily's eyes rolled back into her head and she passed out before she could finish her sentence.

* * * *

James was sitting by the fireplace with Sirius and Remus when they heard a great thud from behind them. The three boys turned around. Lily Evans was lying on the floor. And Ria was trying to lift her, but she couldn't seem to get her up.
James hurried over to the two girls. He saw that Lily wasn't conscious. "Ria, what happened to her?!"
"I dunno, we were going to the hospital wing when she just… fainted."
James scooped her up into his arms and found that she was really light. For the life of him, he couldn't figure out why Ria hadn't been able to lift her. To his left he saw Sirius and Remus watching him, not saying anything, which was uncommon for Remus and even more uncommon for Sirius. And to his right, he saw Ria looking at him with a mixture of thanks and amazement.
When he set off out the door, the three of them followed. Two in curiosity, one in concern.
"Do you have any idea why she would be sick?" James asked Ria.
"No, she never gets sick." Ria was worried sick, it was obvious. "When we woke up this morning, she was looking a little wilted, so I convinced her to go to the hospital. Like I said, we were on out way when she passed out in the common room."
James was confused. His parents were like feudal leaders; they had an entire village on their land. When James was younger, he had gone around with the healer on calls. He'd seen a lot of illness, but nothing like this. He figured that it was just an advanced form of something ordinary, she just hadn't been treated.
He looked down at the unconscious girl in his arms. She's so beautiful. He thought. He had never realized it before, but she had little rows of freckled across her cheeks and nose, they gave her a fragile, innocent air, made her look like a little girl. How he longed longed to reach out and brush the long, ruby-red tresses from her doll-like face. He wondered what she smelled like.
When they finally reached the wing; Mme Moss, the school nurse, rushed over to them. "Oh my! Come, bring her over here."
James laid her down on a small wooden bed and watched Mme Moss fuss over her. "You all can leave now, I'm sure you have classes to get to." Mme Moss look pointedly at them.
Ria sighed but nodded, nonetheless. "Yeah, let's go." Then she left, the guys straggling after her.

* * * *

When Lily woke up, she didn't recognize where she was. Her entire body hurt like hell. She tried to talk, but her throat was all scratchy, her limbs felt heavy, her head was pounding like a jackhammer. She groaned, feeling like someone had dropped a piano on her and all her bones were broken. Her fuzzy eyes finally came into focus and she saw Ria sitting in a chair next to her bed, looking out the window.
As if her friend could sense her awareness, Ria turned her blue cat eyes upon Lily. "Lils! Your awake!" Ria bounded up fro her chair and bounced onto the bed, jostling Lily roughly.
"Ouch!" Lily yelped. "Damnit Ri! Be careful, I'm in pain here!"
Ria gave her a pouty face. "I sowwy, you fowgive me?"
Lily giggled and patted her rather hyper friend's knee. "It's alright."
Before Ria had a chance to remove herself from Lily's arm, which she had landed on, the door of the hospital wing burst open and in poured Sara, Nichelle and Ayeka.
"Lily!!! Yay! You're awake!" Nichelle squealed.
Lily scoffed at her. "Obviously. Keen observation."
Nichelle grinned. "I know."
Lily rolled her eyes at her extremely daft bud.
"Oh god Lils, you'll never believe who carried you up here!
Lily was puzzled; she figured Ria had dragged her up. "Who?"
"James Potter!"
"Ewww!"
"it was classic. You fainted in the middle, and I do mean middle, of the common room. Then James carried you up here with his friends and Ria trailing behind. What a show!"
Lily was shocked, well not really but she could pretend she was, "Whoa… Hoy, did Mme Moss figure out what's wrong with me?"
"It's the strangest thing!" Ayeka began. "She can't figure it out. You've been in here for almost two weeks and she's still completely stumped as to what has been ailing you."
Two weeks!?!?!?!?!!?!" Lily shuddered. "God, I don't even want to think about the stacks of homework I have waiting for me. But anyway, so what id she going to do about me?"
"Well, she's sending you home for the time being, to a muggle doctor. Moss thinks that maybe one of them can figure it out."
"no! I can't leave now! I have too much work to do! And the committee thing! If we leave planning to James's dumb self, we're going to end up with wall chains and chesty women in leather carrying whips!"
The four girls burst into hysterical laughter. Lily would have yelled at them but her throat hurt like hell, even worse that before.
Mme Moss must have heard the commotion because she peered out from behind one of the curtains around Lily's bed. "Well, you're awake! That's good. You all should probably leave now, if you don't mind."
After Lily's entourage grudgingly departed, Mme Moss brought Lily clean clothing and a brush, then proceeded to fuss over her like a mother hen. "we'd better get you cleaned up. you're parents are coming to get you… well, actually, you're going to them. We can't have them seeming you looking like you've been locked in a dungeon for the past two weeks now can we?"
"But Madame Moss, I can't leave school! I've got too much to do, and what about homework?!" lily was just stalling now, she knew perfectly well that they'd probably come up with solutions for all this anyway.
"Professor Dumbledore is having a general overview of all the information you will need drawn up by your professors. Much shorter than the assignments you would have had to do. Also, Professor Dumbledore has allowed your friend Mirabella to take over your duties to the Ball committee while you're away."
Lily sighed; there was no way she could get out of going home, well, not any way she could think of. Damnit, Petunia in my face is the last thing I need right now. If only she would drop off the face of the Earth, then ,y life would be a whole helluva lot easier. Least I'll get a break from James's ugly face. She sighed heavily then realized something. Oh my! I didn't think about him all lovingly! Yes!!!! I'm cured!!!
She must have been grinning like a fool because Mme Moss shook her. "Are you alright? You look a little strange."
Lily nodded. "I'm fine/"
"Alright then. You'd best get dressed, Hagrid will be coming to take you to Hogsmeade station any minute now."
Lily sighed even more heavily and managed to drag her pained bones out of the comfy bed. She realized that the clothes were hers, not the school's. Ri must have brought them up here.
She quickly slipped into the blue jeans and green tank she'd been given and laced up the red Converse. Her mind was not on her clothing however. what the hell is wrong with me? I'm not even myself anymore. What do I have that's so bad that not even Mme Moss can figure it out? Maybe I'm dying… I can only hope.
"Lily. Hagrid is here to collect you now. Your bags will be downstairs waiting for you."
Lily nodded vaguely. "Alright…" she whispered, lacking the emotional strength to speak louder. She recognized what was going on now. Goddamn depression. Where are my pills? She wondered. Ri will have packed them for me… if she knows what's good for her.
"Ms. Evans…. MS. EVANS!"
Lily's head snapped up. "Huh?" she caught a glimpse of the nurse's stern face. "Oh… right. I'm coming."

* * * *

"Well Ms. Evans. I hope ter see yer back soon. Get better!" Hagrid shouted after her as she reached for the portkey, which was someone's old, dirty sock. (Disgusting!)
Lily nodded faintly at him, barely acknowledging him as being there and talking to her. Before she could offend him further, she felt a tremendous pulling at her belly as off she went.

* * * *

"Lily darling! My baby." Lily's mother's arms enveloped her in a soft, warm cocoon. "My poor dear, you must feel terrible. Well, sheer up. You doctor's appointment is this afternoon. You'll be right as rain and back to school in no time."
Lily barely heeded her mother's words, they were annoying, like a fly in Lily's ear.
That's no way to think about you mother, young lady! The little inside voice scolded.
So what! Why don't you leave me alone?
Because you need to learn some manners!
Go away…
You are much too ride for…
Go away!
Young ladies should be mild mannered…
GET THE HELL OUT OF MY HEAD!
"Goddamn conscience…" Lily muttered.
"What dear?"
"Nothing mother."
Lily's mother looked skeptical. "Alright. If you say so, dear."
Lily stared out the window of her mother's little red Firebird and watched as London flashed passed her eyes.
"Well, I bet you're glad to be home."
Lily shrugged. "I guess."
"Is your depression acting up again, dear? Where are your pills?"
"I dunno, in my bag somewhere I guess." she snorted. "If Ria's stupid self even remembered to pack them for me."
"Why was someone packing for you?"
"Mom, I've been unconscious for two weeks. I don't thin I could pack in that time." Lily answered sarcastically.
"No need to get snippy, Lily. I was merely asking a question."
Lily sighed, but didn't apologize. doesn't she ever shut up? Nag, nag, nag…
Lily dozed of slightly but was awakened, rather rudely, when the car's tires ran over the curb causing the little car to bounce quite unpleasantly.
"Lily, hun. We're home."
Lily opened her eyes groggily, in front of her was her home. No, Hogwarts is my home. My dorm is my home. This is merely my parent's house. This will never be my home again… the thought saddened her. She really did miss it here.
"Lily!" her mother's voice broke into her mind. "Come now. Let's put your things in your room. Maybe after your appointment, you'll call Brielle? She's missed you terribly."
Brielle la Celestyn was Lily's next door neighbor and childhood friend. They were inseparable until Lily got her letter. Lily missed her too…
"Yeah, Mom. I think I will."
The Evans' house was rather large for them being a middle-class family, even upper-middle class if you think about it. It was a huge two and a half story Victorian, complete with wrap-around porch and gingerbread trim. They lived in a rather old neighborhood, most of the houses were of the Victorian period, a few even older.
They house was painted, in following the Victorian tradition, in rich blues and purples with green trim. It actually looked rather well all mished together like it was. Lily's mother's prized yellow roses grew all around and even up the porch.
Lily always loved their home. It had character, as everyone always said. And it did, it wasn't the typical suburban home, pre-fab and impersonal. Lily was glad for that, the house always felt so cozy.
Lily grabbed her backpack from the front seat of the car and headed inside.
"Lily, my baby girl!" Lily was swept up in her father's strong arms.
"Daddy!" Lily grinned at him. He was the parent she took after. While red hair looked just fine on Lily, it made her father look like Bozo the clown, especially since he had a bushy beard and mustache.
"Is my baby feeling poorly? Well, the doctor will fix you right up honey, don't you worry."
"Hopefully not." came a spiteful voice from the top of the stairs. Lily turned to see her extremely funny-looking older sister, Petunia, standing there. The sneer on her face made her look like more of a horse than she already did.
"Petunia Violet Evans! You apologize to your sister this instant!" their father boomed.
"Sorry Lily." Petunia spat her name out like it was poison, then disappeared up the stairs again, obviously not trusting herself not to insult Lily again.
"Don't listen to your sister, Lil. She's not a very happy person."
Lily nodded.
"How about you go put your things away then we'll head of to Dr. Stillman's office."
"Yes, daddy." Lily scooped up her beat-up duffel bag and headed up the stairs.


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A/N: Hey! I finally finished this chapter! I had such a killer writers block over this. I'm over it now… I think. I believe this is my longest chapter yet1 Yay for me! Well, I'm tired of this chapter so you won't find out about Lily's romantic urge for James just yet. Likie? No likie? Please, must… have… feedback…

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