James paced the outside of the double steel doors leading to the infirmary of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Madam Poppy Pomfrey, school matron, had basically locked James out, leaving him in the lone corridor to himself. Not a soul moved in the area until James thought he heard the sound of a cane thudding softly on the cobblestone floor, coming from the direction of the dormitories. Only two men James knew used canes, without actually really needing them at all. Angelus and Lucius Malfoy. Father and son duo, of the worst kind.

"Well, well," a silky voice made James turn. "If it isn't the famous Mr. Potter. Pity you turned down the Applebury Arrows to marry a Mudblood." A sneer crept on Lucius Malfoy's face. "And as I said years ago, a plain one at that."

James kept his tongue, thinking of Lily. He was already in hot enough water with her from the previous night's meeting and the argument earlier in the day, if she caught wind of him giving Lucius Malfoy a black eye, she'd throw a fit. After congratulating him first, though.

"Could have turned pro, not needing to rely on the Ministry and its awful pay. Still have money to feed the mouth of that Mudblood's son, Potter?"

"Malfoy, keep your tongue to-"

"Mr. Potter?"

Madam Pomfrey had interrupted James before he could finish, thankfully. Another moment and who knew if James could keep his hands from around the pale man's throat in attempts to end him. Again.

"We're done," Poppy continued, eyeing both men and the situation. "You can see Lily now."

James didn't say a word to Lucius but turned on his heel and entered the now open door to the infirmary.

Lily looked a small mess on the first bed, but slightly better. Sweaty, red hair knotted on her pillow, Lily smiled up at James, despite the small pain and the feeling of being empty.

"You okay," James asked softly, taking Lily's left hand in his right with a small squeeze.

"Yeah," Lily whispered.

"What happened," James asked, looking up to Poppy.

"Well, how do I say this easily? She lost the baby. She was underdeveloped and struggling, it was for the best. She wouldn't have made it much longer anyway." She paused. "I'm sorry, James."

"James," Lily called softly, squeezing his hand, "it was-"

"No, don't tell me, let's just figure out a name."

"A name?"

"She's still a Potter after all."

This was when Lily knew James didn't care of the true father, it was at this moment she knew why she loved him. It was then that Lily knew why she married James Madison Potter, despite all the turmoil from his family, she knew why now.

"We need to rescue Harry from Sirius too. Who knows how much ice cream he's given the kid already," James smiled, earning a small chuckle from the women. "Feeling all right?"

"I have to be, to keep up with you. Don't I?"