CHAPTER FIFTEEN

I'm standing outside the hospital wing door with Sirius, and Martin. I pull Sirius aside.

"Sirius, why did you bring Martin?" I whisper urgently.

"Sorry, I ran into him on the way up here," Sirius whispers, "Look, James, I'll get rid of him, so go away, then return in about twenty minutes, ok?"

"Fine," I whisper back, "But don't forget what you have to tell Lily, ok?"

"Don't worry, you can count on me," Sirius says, turning to go inside with Martin.

"Oh, I wish I could…" I mutter.

"James, aren't you coming?" Martin asks.

"Nah, I've got quidditch practice," I lie, checking my watch then turning to leave.

I walk just round the corner and watch as Sirius and Martin disappear into the hospital wing. Twenty minutes. God it's going to be a long wait.

~*~*~*~*~*

"Lily, hi! Good to see you up and around!" Sirius greets me brightly.

"Hi," I reply, worried about his enthusiasm.

Martin leans over and we kiss briefly.

"How are you?" Sirius asks.

"Apart from psychologically bruised, I'm fine," I grin.

"I bring to you, compiled with much effort, time and sweat, the greatest entertainment the hospital wing has ever seen-" Sirius pauses to increase suspense.

"Go on," Martin says curiously.

"Funniest school pranks!" Sirius pulls out a tape, "All recorded live footage."

I take the tape from his hands, "Sirius, you make me laugh."

"I live to see smiles," Sirius grins.

"Hey Lily," Martin begins.

"Martin, dude, I forgot to tell you, your sister wanted to talk to you. She said it was really urgent or something," Sirius cuts in.

"Oh, really?" Martin raises his eyebrow, "Alright then, I'll come back later Lily."

Martin gives me a hug and leaves.

"What was that about?" I ask Sirius. I can tell he was lying.

"Lily, I really need to tell you something," for once in his life, Sirius looks really serious.

"What?" I say, curious about what's so urgent.

"Your clothing tag is sticking out of the back of your top," Sirius pokes at the tag.

"That was it?" I say, annoyed.

"Yep! No, I'm kidding."

"Well, get on with it!" I urge.

"First of all, listen hard, 'cause it's all truth, secondly, don't say a thing til I'm finished, thirdly, don't hit me or display any form of violence towards me, fourthly-"

"Sirius, just get on with it!" I interrupt.

"No interruptions like that," Sirius grins. "Ok, I am reminding you once again to not say anything. James asked me to tell you this, but I also would have told you anyway. The big question, why aren't you dead? I mean, everyone was waiting, ready for you to pass away, and yet you survived. Don't get me wrong; we're happy you survived, but how did you? Well, the doctors thought it was a miracle. Then they rewatched the dream. You woke up and only saw the part where James kissed you, but before that, if you remember, in your dream he fell with you and broke the fall for you. That happened in real life. It's kind of like the whole sleeping beauty thing. He saved you. Your dreams reflected on what was really happening, and his kiss made the James in the dream save you. Since what happened, like the cuts and bruises, in the dream also happened in real life, he either had to die with you, or you had to live with him. But James couldn't die, so instead he brought you with him to life. I know it's all confusing, but it's the truth, and you have to know it. James didn't kiss you to take advantage of you. He was saying good bye, and also saved you," Sirius finally finishes.

"Um…" I don't know what to say.

"So basically it's just a little unfair that you're not really very grateful at all for him saving you," Sirius says.

"Are you saying this for James?" I ask. I still hardly believe Sirius.

"No, I'm saying this for you, because you should really know the truth. The doctors thought it'd be psychologically too hard on you, but I couldn't not tell you," Sirius takes some chocolate and munches thoughtfully while I take a moment to digest the last 3 minutes of my life.

"I really was too harsh, wasn't I?" I tell Sirius guiltily.

"Yep. I mean you even hit him. But hey, I think he didn't wash that spot for a week because you touched it," I raise my eyebrow at Sirius, "I'm kidding," he adds hastily, "look, I have to go now, but do not worry, I will not leave you without company."

Sirius gives me hug and leaves the hospital wing, giving an entering James a punch on the shoulder as he goes.

~*~*~*~*~*

For twenty minutes I debate with myself as to whether I should return to the hospital wing. I pass a shiny suit of armor.

"James you're going insane, it's just an apology, how wrong can it go?" I say to my reflection.

"Lily, I am really sorry, I hope you can forgive me," I practise to the suit of armor.

"Lily!? Preposterous! I am neither a flower nor lady! Come back here you crazy man!" the suit of armor waves its sword as I run away towards the hospital wing.

I wait outside for Sirius to come out. Eventually, he comes out, giving me a punch for good luck. I take a deep breath, here it goes.

"Erm, hi," I say. Lily is sitting in her bed looking a great deal happier and healthier than before.

"Hi James," Lily says perfectly cheerfully.

"Hi," I say again.

"Yeah, I heard you say hi the first time. So… is there a perfectly good reason as to why you're here?" Lily smiles at me, melting my insides. Why is she being so nice? I guess whatever Sirius said managed to soften her up a bit.

"Well, if Sirius hasn't already told you, I did not kiss you to take advantage of you. And about punching Martin up, I," I pause and take a deep breath, "Look I've never apologized to anyone before, well not that I can remember anyway, and I'm probably going to screw this up, but I'm really," I take another deep breath, "I really am," if I take any more deep breaths I'm going to hyperventilate, "I am really sorry, ok? And I know saying sorry doesn't fix the problem, but I am sorry, and, well, yeah, that's it. I hope you can forgive me for being so," I pause to find the right words.

"So selfish, such a dick-head, such an idiot?" Lily finishes for me.

"Uh, yeah, that's a good way of putting it," I mutter, looking at the floor.

"But, apart from all that, I am going to thank you for saving my life," Lily adds.

"Oh, ok, no problem," I reply, "so, erm, I'll just go now…"

I turn for the door, when Lily calls out. 

"Wait, James-"

~*~*~*~*~*

AN: cliffhanger?!?! The story draws close to the end… and that's why you should all read my other story on fiction press! Now, replies…

Angelbud2233 – sorry about the chapters being short, I've just been really busy lately.

Alison – he! Yeah, I laughed at it too.

Laura – happier now that Lily knows James saved her life?

Arwen – thank you.

LilynjamesAAF – so have u read my fic press yet?!

Clothespegs_rule – what's with the clothes pegs?

Lilbrat888 – thank you  for a very long review!

Hollow headed hamster – put me on your favourites list then!

Firewalker – now she knows

Tori – I did read it, and I'm now proceeding to read your new chapter!

Da-drama-queen – yep, I will make a mental note to read your fan fic.