A/N: I KNOW, I KNOW! I haven't updated forever! I am SO sorry! On another note, I don't have a copy of The Order of the Phoenix yet, so I can't alter my story yet. Please, no spoilers. I will get my hands on a copy in a week or so, though. Sorry, again!
Disclaimer: See chapter 1
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James stepped out of his fireplace and quickly dusted himself off. Seconds later, Lily stepped out and did the same. Elayne Potter was waiting only a few steps away.
Elayne Potter was a tall, slender woman with dark brown hair. She looked young, although Lily guessed she was in her mid-forties because of James's age. Mrs. Potter quickly hugged James and then turned to Lily. "It's very nice to finally meet you, Lily. James talked about you non-stop." James blushed slightly. "Although I do wish we could have met under different circumstances ..." A dark look flickered across Mrs. Potter's face, but was gone in an instant. "Lily, if there's anything I can do, anything at all, let me know." And with that, Mrs. Potter held Lily in a warm, motherly embrace.
"Thank you," LIly whispered. "Thank you so much, Mrs. Potter."
"Think nothing of it. James, will you show her the guest room, please?" Mrs. Potter asked, turning towards her son.
James nodded. "I think I can leave these down here, to save myself the trouble of trying to carry them anywhere," Lily said, indicating her trunk and travel bag beside it. She turned to Mrs. Potter for approval.
"That's perfectly fine, Lily," she told her. "Now, I have to go see to dinner, but James will take care of you."
'Always,' James thought. Lily picked up her knapsack, and looked at James for direction. "Lily, I can take that," James said, pointing to her knapsack. Lily began to protest, but the determined look on James's face told her he had made up his mind, and was not about to change it. She handed it over, and followed James down a hall and up a set of stairs. He took her down yet another hall, turning a corner. He stopped at the first of three doors in the hall.
"You can stay in here," James told her, and the room illuminated the instant James entered. They walked in , and James set Lily's bag on the end of a very large bed. The room was decorated in soft hues of gold, and was very elegant.
"The next room down the hall is the bathroom, and then my bedroom." James paused. "You know, Lily, if you ever need to talk, I'm here. I, uh, lost my father when I was twelve, and I know what it's like to lose a parent." Lily looked rather shocked. Apparently, she hadn't known that bit of information. They were both silent.
"Lily, you must be starved," James said, breaking the awkward silence. "Can I get you anything? Would you like to join us for dinner?" he asked.
"No I, I think I need to be alone, James. I think I'll sleep, I'm exhausted," she replied, although she knew she wouldn't be able to get any sort of sleep. She wanted to get away from James. He was so ... so perfect. He did everything Liy could ever ask for, and he had so much /repect/ for her. Now she knew why her mother liked him so much. She thought he was such a gentleman. Her mother ...
"Um, goodnight then, Lily." James had been standing there while Lily was deep in thought. She was jerked back to the present moment, and looked at James. She took a while to answer, but finally mumbled a quick, "G'night, James," and turned her back to him. She couldn't cry in front of him again, he would only try to comfort her. She had to be alone.
She sighed when she heard the click of the door close behind James as he left the room. She wished so much that any moment, now, she could wake up, and walk down the stairs and into the kitchen, and eat breakfast with her parents. She wished her father could congratulate her for the hundredth time on being named Head Girl. She even wished her mother would tease her about James again! What was she supposed to do now? She was a seventeen-year-old orphan, alone in a cruel world. Just then, James's words came back to her.
'Don't think for one second you're alone, Lily ...'
Lily pulled out some shorts and an over-sized tee-shirt, and changed for bed. She folded back the covers, and slowly crawled into the unfamiliar bed. The lights slowly dimmed. She wasn't alone.
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James looked over at the illuminated clock on his nightstand. Two-thirty. He sighed. At this point, James feared sleep would never come. He rolled over, trying to find a comfortable position.
There came a light tap at the door, and it slowly creaked open. Light from the hall creeped in, along with the image of Lily. James quickly sat up, not caring what he was wearing. He looked at her, really looked at her, and his breath caught in his throat. He was suddenly very warm.
"I couldn't sleep," Lily explained.
"Sit down. Please," James requested, but soon regretted it. She smelled so /good/, and she was so close, he could have kissed her on the spot. He edged away from her a bit, his eyes darting around the room. Apparently, it was too dark for Lily to notice.
"I didn't wake you, did I?" she asked.
"No, I couldn't sleep either." '/Why is she here, in the middle of the night? And why do we have to be alone?/' he thought crazily.
"James, how did your father die?" Lily blurted out suddenly.
James was completely taken aback, this being the very last thing he had expected her to say. He took in a long breath, before he began. "Well, it was five years ago. My father was an auror. He had just been promoted, and was invited to attend an International Auror Convention in Zagreb. Some dark wizards showed up, and did their best to afflict as much damage as possible. His best friend, Charles Lupin, and his wife, Julia, were also at the convention. Charles had just been knocked unconscious. My father watched as the same wizard who had caused Charles's unconsciousness turned his wand on Charles's wife. My father jumped in between Julia and the hooded man, and was hit with the killing curse. He died instantly."
James was now looking at his feet, all wild thoughts of Lily gone. Lily had no idea what to say. They sat there for a while, both thinking.
"I'm sorry, James. I never knew," Lily said.
"Don't be sorry. You shouldn't apologize for not knowing. It's not your fault you didn't know. There's nothing to be ashamed of," James told her.
"James, I've kind of pushed you away these past few years, haven't I?" she asked.
"Yes, along with everyone else. Why?"
"I don't know, James. I guess I'm afraid."
"Of what?"
"Getting hurt."
Silence dominated for a short while.
"James," Lily began. "What if ... what if Petunia was right?" It was hard for her to keep from crying again. "What if it is my fault?" She couldn't keep it in any longer. After Lily had thought she had no more tears left, she broke down yet again; and just like all the other times, James was there to save her. He let her cry, slowly rubbing her back in a sooting manor. Unknown to Lily, James also shed a few tears of his own.
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Lily woke up late the next morning, and looked around the Potters' guest room. It was a beautiful room, she had to admit. She would thank Mrs. Potter later.
She got out of bed, and quickly remade it. Lily pulled out a pair of lounge pants and a small tee-shirt, and walked into the bathroom for a quick shower.
Lily let the water run over her, washing away her tiredness, and also some of her newly shed tears. She felt almost calm, with the warm water rushing over her.
Soon Lily was dressed and towel-drying her hair. She quickly glanced in the mirror, and went down the hall, trying to find the living room. She son gave up, and returned to James's bedroom. The door was open, so she stood in the doorway.
"James, I'm lost," Lily said monotonously.
James looked up from his desk. He had been reading a letter. He smiled at her, but since he got no smile in return, it vanished.
"I've already owled Delia, and I just got her reply. She said she'd love for you to stay, and to go over as soon as you'd like." He waited for a response, but got none. He sighed. "Would you like me to help you pack?"
Lily only shrugged.
Taking that as a yes, James got up, and they walked into the guest room. He looked around. The room was practically untouched. "Well, not much for packing then, it seems," James said, trying to lighten the mood.
Lily walked over to the bed and packed up her few belongings. "I'm finished," she said.
James unconsciously took her knapsack from her as they walked out of the bedroom door. James led Lily down the hall, and turned the corner. At the end of that hall, they descended down a staircase. The staircase was located at the end of a hall which began in the living room, James's destination.
"James, your house is enormous," LIly told him.
"Um, my father inherited it. It's been in the family as long as we can remember. I'll get it too, one day," James explained.
James set down Lily's knapsack next to her other things, and turned to Lily. "Do you want any breakfast? I can have our house elf whip something up, if you'd like."
"Er, no, I'm not really hungry," she told him, looking down at her feet.
"You sure?" he asked, concerned. "Really, it's no trouble at all." Lily nodded, and James was satisfied. "So, LIly ... um ... how long ... how long will you be staying here?"
"Not much longer, James. I'm sorry, I, uh, haven't been that much of a guest, I-" she stopped when James put a hand up.
"It's fine. Now, are you positive you don't want anything to eat? You didn't eat anything last night," he pointed out.
"I'm really not hungry, James. Thank you, though."
They both stood there awkwardly for a long while, until Mrs. Potter bustled in.
"Lily, leaving us so soon?" she asked, taking in Lily's bags. When Lily nodded, she voiced James's thoughts. "Well, i do hope you will visit us again, Lily, it's been wonderful meeting you. Although a visit under different circumstances would be a bit nicer ... " she trailed off. She suddenly snapped back to attention, and again looked over at Lily's bags. "Here, it's the least I can do," Mrs. Potter said as she shrunk Liy's things, and then handed them to Lily. Lily pocketed them. "A nice engorgement charm should do," she said.
"Thank you, Mrs. Potter. And James," Lily said, glancing over at him. "I guess I'll see you at school?" James nodded, thinking that the beginning of school was suddenly much too far away.
"Well, goodbye, then," Lily said, as she threw her bit of floo powder into the fireplace, taking one last look at James before shouting, "O'Rileys' Haven," and soon disappearing in the bright green flames.
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Delia-
How's she holding up? Any better than before? Please, keep me posted. (No pun intended.) See you and Liy tomorrow, finally back at good old Hogwarts!
-James
Delia sighed. James had been asking about Lily's well-being so often in the past two weeks, she felt like she was writing him every day, and twice on a few occasions. She turned over James's note and began writing on the back.
James-
I owled you yesterday! Oh, well, James, if you ask, I guess I'll tell.
Lily has been actin as if nothing's wrong, except for the fact that she doesn't eat regularly, still. She won't eat unless you tell her to, or unless she is forced. She's really losing weight and I'm worried about her. If this is how /she/ deals with depression, I'd hate to see what I'd do ...
See you,
Delia
Delia tied the note to her owl's leg. "Hurry fast, Archemedes. He's anxious for this one ..."
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A/N: Another chapter done! sorry about all the spelling errors before, I don't have a spellcheck. I had to use an online spellcheck, and those are VERY annoying, they only hold 5000 characters at a time. Anyway, review, please! And the chapters shouldn't be so boring, one they get back to Hogwarts. Thanks for your support, reviewers, but I didn't want you all to think that this chapter was exceptionally long (compared to my other ones) by filling it up with responses to reviewers. See ya!
Disclaimer: See chapter 1
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James stepped out of his fireplace and quickly dusted himself off. Seconds later, Lily stepped out and did the same. Elayne Potter was waiting only a few steps away.
Elayne Potter was a tall, slender woman with dark brown hair. She looked young, although Lily guessed she was in her mid-forties because of James's age. Mrs. Potter quickly hugged James and then turned to Lily. "It's very nice to finally meet you, Lily. James talked about you non-stop." James blushed slightly. "Although I do wish we could have met under different circumstances ..." A dark look flickered across Mrs. Potter's face, but was gone in an instant. "Lily, if there's anything I can do, anything at all, let me know." And with that, Mrs. Potter held Lily in a warm, motherly embrace.
"Thank you," LIly whispered. "Thank you so much, Mrs. Potter."
"Think nothing of it. James, will you show her the guest room, please?" Mrs. Potter asked, turning towards her son.
James nodded. "I think I can leave these down here, to save myself the trouble of trying to carry them anywhere," Lily said, indicating her trunk and travel bag beside it. She turned to Mrs. Potter for approval.
"That's perfectly fine, Lily," she told her. "Now, I have to go see to dinner, but James will take care of you."
'Always,' James thought. Lily picked up her knapsack, and looked at James for direction. "Lily, I can take that," James said, pointing to her knapsack. Lily began to protest, but the determined look on James's face told her he had made up his mind, and was not about to change it. She handed it over, and followed James down a hall and up a set of stairs. He took her down yet another hall, turning a corner. He stopped at the first of three doors in the hall.
"You can stay in here," James told her, and the room illuminated the instant James entered. They walked in , and James set Lily's bag on the end of a very large bed. The room was decorated in soft hues of gold, and was very elegant.
"The next room down the hall is the bathroom, and then my bedroom." James paused. "You know, Lily, if you ever need to talk, I'm here. I, uh, lost my father when I was twelve, and I know what it's like to lose a parent." Lily looked rather shocked. Apparently, she hadn't known that bit of information. They were both silent.
"Lily, you must be starved," James said, breaking the awkward silence. "Can I get you anything? Would you like to join us for dinner?" he asked.
"No I, I think I need to be alone, James. I think I'll sleep, I'm exhausted," she replied, although she knew she wouldn't be able to get any sort of sleep. She wanted to get away from James. He was so ... so perfect. He did everything Liy could ever ask for, and he had so much /repect/ for her. Now she knew why her mother liked him so much. She thought he was such a gentleman. Her mother ...
"Um, goodnight then, Lily." James had been standing there while Lily was deep in thought. She was jerked back to the present moment, and looked at James. She took a while to answer, but finally mumbled a quick, "G'night, James," and turned her back to him. She couldn't cry in front of him again, he would only try to comfort her. She had to be alone.
She sighed when she heard the click of the door close behind James as he left the room. She wished so much that any moment, now, she could wake up, and walk down the stairs and into the kitchen, and eat breakfast with her parents. She wished her father could congratulate her for the hundredth time on being named Head Girl. She even wished her mother would tease her about James again! What was she supposed to do now? She was a seventeen-year-old orphan, alone in a cruel world. Just then, James's words came back to her.
'Don't think for one second you're alone, Lily ...'
Lily pulled out some shorts and an over-sized tee-shirt, and changed for bed. She folded back the covers, and slowly crawled into the unfamiliar bed. The lights slowly dimmed. She wasn't alone.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
James looked over at the illuminated clock on his nightstand. Two-thirty. He sighed. At this point, James feared sleep would never come. He rolled over, trying to find a comfortable position.
There came a light tap at the door, and it slowly creaked open. Light from the hall creeped in, along with the image of Lily. James quickly sat up, not caring what he was wearing. He looked at her, really looked at her, and his breath caught in his throat. He was suddenly very warm.
"I couldn't sleep," Lily explained.
"Sit down. Please," James requested, but soon regretted it. She smelled so /good/, and she was so close, he could have kissed her on the spot. He edged away from her a bit, his eyes darting around the room. Apparently, it was too dark for Lily to notice.
"I didn't wake you, did I?" she asked.
"No, I couldn't sleep either." '/Why is she here, in the middle of the night? And why do we have to be alone?/' he thought crazily.
"James, how did your father die?" Lily blurted out suddenly.
James was completely taken aback, this being the very last thing he had expected her to say. He took in a long breath, before he began. "Well, it was five years ago. My father was an auror. He had just been promoted, and was invited to attend an International Auror Convention in Zagreb. Some dark wizards showed up, and did their best to afflict as much damage as possible. His best friend, Charles Lupin, and his wife, Julia, were also at the convention. Charles had just been knocked unconscious. My father watched as the same wizard who had caused Charles's unconsciousness turned his wand on Charles's wife. My father jumped in between Julia and the hooded man, and was hit with the killing curse. He died instantly."
James was now looking at his feet, all wild thoughts of Lily gone. Lily had no idea what to say. They sat there for a while, both thinking.
"I'm sorry, James. I never knew," Lily said.
"Don't be sorry. You shouldn't apologize for not knowing. It's not your fault you didn't know. There's nothing to be ashamed of," James told her.
"James, I've kind of pushed you away these past few years, haven't I?" she asked.
"Yes, along with everyone else. Why?"
"I don't know, James. I guess I'm afraid."
"Of what?"
"Getting hurt."
Silence dominated for a short while.
"James," Lily began. "What if ... what if Petunia was right?" It was hard for her to keep from crying again. "What if it is my fault?" She couldn't keep it in any longer. After Lily had thought she had no more tears left, she broke down yet again; and just like all the other times, James was there to save her. He let her cry, slowly rubbing her back in a sooting manor. Unknown to Lily, James also shed a few tears of his own.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Lily woke up late the next morning, and looked around the Potters' guest room. It was a beautiful room, she had to admit. She would thank Mrs. Potter later.
She got out of bed, and quickly remade it. Lily pulled out a pair of lounge pants and a small tee-shirt, and walked into the bathroom for a quick shower.
Lily let the water run over her, washing away her tiredness, and also some of her newly shed tears. She felt almost calm, with the warm water rushing over her.
Soon Lily was dressed and towel-drying her hair. She quickly glanced in the mirror, and went down the hall, trying to find the living room. She son gave up, and returned to James's bedroom. The door was open, so she stood in the doorway.
"James, I'm lost," Lily said monotonously.
James looked up from his desk. He had been reading a letter. He smiled at her, but since he got no smile in return, it vanished.
"I've already owled Delia, and I just got her reply. She said she'd love for you to stay, and to go over as soon as you'd like." He waited for a response, but got none. He sighed. "Would you like me to help you pack?"
Lily only shrugged.
Taking that as a yes, James got up, and they walked into the guest room. He looked around. The room was practically untouched. "Well, not much for packing then, it seems," James said, trying to lighten the mood.
Lily walked over to the bed and packed up her few belongings. "I'm finished," she said.
James unconsciously took her knapsack from her as they walked out of the bedroom door. James led Lily down the hall, and turned the corner. At the end of that hall, they descended down a staircase. The staircase was located at the end of a hall which began in the living room, James's destination.
"James, your house is enormous," LIly told him.
"Um, my father inherited it. It's been in the family as long as we can remember. I'll get it too, one day," James explained.
James set down Lily's knapsack next to her other things, and turned to Lily. "Do you want any breakfast? I can have our house elf whip something up, if you'd like."
"Er, no, I'm not really hungry," she told him, looking down at her feet.
"You sure?" he asked, concerned. "Really, it's no trouble at all." Lily nodded, and James was satisfied. "So, LIly ... um ... how long ... how long will you be staying here?"
"Not much longer, James. I'm sorry, I, uh, haven't been that much of a guest, I-" she stopped when James put a hand up.
"It's fine. Now, are you positive you don't want anything to eat? You didn't eat anything last night," he pointed out.
"I'm really not hungry, James. Thank you, though."
They both stood there awkwardly for a long while, until Mrs. Potter bustled in.
"Lily, leaving us so soon?" she asked, taking in Lily's bags. When Lily nodded, she voiced James's thoughts. "Well, i do hope you will visit us again, Lily, it's been wonderful meeting you. Although a visit under different circumstances would be a bit nicer ... " she trailed off. She suddenly snapped back to attention, and again looked over at Lily's bags. "Here, it's the least I can do," Mrs. Potter said as she shrunk Liy's things, and then handed them to Lily. Lily pocketed them. "A nice engorgement charm should do," she said.
"Thank you, Mrs. Potter. And James," Lily said, glancing over at him. "I guess I'll see you at school?" James nodded, thinking that the beginning of school was suddenly much too far away.
"Well, goodbye, then," Lily said, as she threw her bit of floo powder into the fireplace, taking one last look at James before shouting, "O'Rileys' Haven," and soon disappearing in the bright green flames.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Delia-
How's she holding up? Any better than before? Please, keep me posted. (No pun intended.) See you and Liy tomorrow, finally back at good old Hogwarts!
-James
Delia sighed. James had been asking about Lily's well-being so often in the past two weeks, she felt like she was writing him every day, and twice on a few occasions. She turned over James's note and began writing on the back.
James-
I owled you yesterday! Oh, well, James, if you ask, I guess I'll tell.
Lily has been actin as if nothing's wrong, except for the fact that she doesn't eat regularly, still. She won't eat unless you tell her to, or unless she is forced. She's really losing weight and I'm worried about her. If this is how /she/ deals with depression, I'd hate to see what I'd do ...
See you,
Delia
Delia tied the note to her owl's leg. "Hurry fast, Archemedes. He's anxious for this one ..."
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A/N: Another chapter done! sorry about all the spelling errors before, I don't have a spellcheck. I had to use an online spellcheck, and those are VERY annoying, they only hold 5000 characters at a time. Anyway, review, please! And the chapters shouldn't be so boring, one they get back to Hogwarts. Thanks for your support, reviewers, but I didn't want you all to think that this chapter was exceptionally long (compared to my other ones) by filling it up with responses to reviewers. See ya!