Author's Note: Here's a nice and wonderful chunk of cheese for you all.
Heh. I hope you like this chapter, I don't really have much to say, but I'm
glad you are all so enthralled with my story. Here are the people I would
like to thank:
JCtigerwolf4e
Anarane
Ggal- Hmm. I think I'm not going to have to tell you something. I had to do it, so I guess I should apologize and I'm glad you like Catherine. There's more of her to come. *cackles*
Midnights shadow of insaneness- How do you define creepy?
I o u a name- Snape. well, he's odd. Ask me about my Snape theories if you really wanna know, but it would be a bit of a spoiler.
Poetbrit- I try and I will try to get out another chapter this weekend between homework and seeing Underworld.
Voided- Welcome to the story! It always thrills me to get new reviewers! My dad for some reason thinks that if I were to send this to J.K. she'd like it. yeah right, but, I'm happy enough having reviewers like it. I'm also very honored to be on your favorites list.
MegHarts- Whee, another Catherine affectionate, she will be happy when I tell her. More James idiocy . *cackles* I hope you like it.
Laina3- I wonder now if Catherine will be pleased or if she will be disappointed. I'm not sure if she wanted to be hated or liked. I shall have to ask her this weekend.
Zebragurl- Yes, he's quoting Shakespeare, but there are rumors that ol' William was a witch, or affiliated with them, so that could be my random loophole squasher, depending on if you believe it or not. Lol. I couldn't figure out what Snape should say and so I pulled the Shakespeare down and opened it. Right to the page it was on. It fit. I know it's weird and I've had misgivings about it, but it's a one time thing so far.
Littlewhitehorse- I wish I could tell you, but even I am not entirely sure. She's a character, one I can't quite pin down yet, but you will see eventually.
Diana- Thank you, I'm glad you have confidence in my story.
Chapter Thirty Six: Bittersweet Memories
Arabella and Remus walked out of King's Cross station after a through search without any signs of Lily at all. "Let's just go back to my house and wait for the others," Arabella said with a said and they found an empty alley to disapparate from arriving at Arabella's house moments later. Upon arriving they discovered that James and Sirius had already arrived with Frank Longbottom as well. "Did you find her?" Arabella asked hopelessly.
"Yes," James muttered sipping at a drink that smelled suspiciously like Firewhiskey.
"What? Where is she?" Arabella asked wondering if Lily had gone to the bathroom or something.
"On her way," Sirius said quietly looking up from the crossword he was working on wondering if he should tell Arabella who was going to be setting for in her house or if they should just wait for Lily to get there.
"Alone?" Arabella asked outraged at some people's stupidity.
"Not alone, she's with someone and they should be here soon," James said and took another sip of his drink.
"Remus looked at Sirius questioningly eyeing the drink in James' hand. "Is there something else going on?" Remus asked in an undertone to Sirius.
Sirius looked up at Remus and slowly and deliberately said, "You should be able to figure that out," he paused and looked down at his crossword, writing in the margin, 'James is getting himself drunk,' and then erased it quickly, muttering, "Doesn't fit."
Remus' eyebrows rose slightly. The only time James had purposely gotten drunk had ended badly and Remus had a feeling that it would end similarly this time as well. "No it doesn't," Remus muttered quietly.
There was a knock on the door and Arabella ran to open it. "Li- What is SHE doing here?" Arabella screeched when she caught sight of Catherine standing just behind Lily.
"I invited a friend to join us Bella, calm down," Lily said with an eyebrow raised in amusement.
"A friend! How could she be a friend of yours? She's horrible!" Arabella said indignantly starting at Catherine with disgust.
"Alright, goodnight Bella," Lily said and began to turn away to leave.
"What? Where are you going? Will someone please tell me what the bloody hell is going on here?!" Arabella asked turning to look at Sirius, James and Frank, her eyes flashing angrily.
"They didn't tell you?" Lily asked pausing and turning back around. "That's very interesting," she said with a sigh, "But the only way I will come in is if Catherine is allowed as well."
Arabella scowled and then sighed, "Find, but I want some answers," she said and stepped aside to allow Lily and Catherine inside.
"Everyone's arrived just in time for the party," James muttered loudly.
Lily raised her eyebrows at Sirius who made a motion with his hands to imply drinking. Lily turned to James and crouched down near him. "James are you okay?" she asked and James just looked at her with dead eyes. "Damnit James, what is wrong with you?" Lily whispered, she knew he was drunk and didn't expect a response.
Catherine put a hand on Lily's shoulder and said, "Despite my better judgment it might be smart for you to just let him sleep it off."
"Catherine, I allowed you into my house because Lily asked me to, don't make me kick you out," Arabella said quietly.
"Bella don't. What she said makes perfect sense, so don't be rude because you dislike her as a person," Lily said reasonably.
"She insulted James," Arabella said angrily and was surprised to see Lily smile.
"It did sound like that, didn't it," Lily said and looked over at Catherine whose eyebrows were raised indifferently.
"Lily are you okay?" Remus asked quietly.
"Yes Remus, I'm okay. No will someone help me get James to the bathroom?" Lily asked and looked at James who had passed out, empty glass lying on its side just under James' fingertips. Her took of her cloak and threw it over a chair as Remus and Sirius lifted James out of the chair he was in. "Put him in the bathtub," Lily called as they carried James up the stairs.
"May I ask what you're going to do to my nephew?" Frank asked quietly.
"Something similar to what Hagrid did when he got plastered," Lily said lightly and headed up the stairs and into the bathroom.
"You want us to stay?" Sirius asked quietly.
"No I can't deal with James," Lily said and Sirius and Remus nodded heading back down the stairs.
Lily sighed and pulled the showerhead down into her hands and turned the cold water on pointing the spray at James' face. "EEAARRGH!" James shouted attempting to cover his face to get away from the water.
Lily turned the water off and said, "Hi James," in a cheerful tone of voice.
"Why the hell did you do that?" James sputtered wiping at the water that was clinging to his face and dripping from his hair.
"We had a deal, I kept my end of the bargain, you still have yet to keep yours," Lily said and offered James a hand so he could get up.
James was almost tempted not to take Lily's hand but knew that offending her further would be futile, so he took her and hand pushed himself up, almost slipping before he was able to climb out of the tub. "Lily-," James started to say but her fingers came up to press on his lips.
"Remus first," Lily said and raised her eyebrows in something close to amusement before saying, "Or maybe a clothing change before hand."
James looked down, his white tee shirt was sopping wet and his black slacks weren't looking much better. "Sounds like a plan," James said and noticed the corners of Lily's mouth twitch.
"I'll go let everyone know I haven't drowned you," Lily said with a smirk.
"I think Catherine is wearing off on you," James said with a smirk of his own as he pulled off his glasses to dry them on a nearby towel.
"She's been wearing off on me for years James," Lily said quietly as James replaced the glasses on his nose.
"What?" James said curiously.
"I'm remembering more and more James. Catherine was my best friend, not Bella," Lily said quietly. "Bella and I were very close, but not as close as Catherine and I," Lily whispered looking confused at her own statement.
Hearing Lily's words inspired an odd feeling in James and he found himself asking before he could stop himself, "What House were you in?"
Lily looked affronted. "Where do you think I was James?" she asked quietly.
"I don't know, you tell me," James said, his voice even quieter then Lily's.
"Same as you James, Gryffindor," Lily said then asked, "Do you think that I was a Slytherin because I made Slytherin friends? Catherine wasn't the only one either," she turned and walked out of the bathroom leaving James soaking wet and freezing cold.
He muttered to himself, "I'm sure racking up the things I need to apologize to Lily for," and he closed the door to removed and dry his clothes.
Downstairs everyone was waiting anxiously for signs of crashing or banging. All they heard was James' shout as he was doused unceremoniously with cold water and Lily's footsteps as she descended the stairs a few minutes later.
"Did you kill him?" Catherine couldn't help but asked when Lily appeared in the kitchen were where everyone had congregated around the table.
"No, he's alive," Lily said lightly and took a seat to wait for James to head down. She sighed as she sat; wanting to just keep over and sleep for hours but that wasn't a choice she had. She had to wait for James to apologize to Remus and then to her which would probably wind up turning into a spat neither of them wanted.
"Would you like some coffee or tea Lily?" Arabella asked somewhat coldly.
"Coffee might wake me up but it doesn't matter either way," Lily muttered and crossed her arms on the table, resting her forehead on them so she could see her knees. "I just want to get this over with," she muttered and found herself wondering where she was going to stay if she and James' differences were irreconcilable. She imagined Arabella might take her in but she would miss James' house and not to mention the only spell she'd remember was the shield charm to block Malfoy's jinx and it had just come out of her mouth; she'd probably been more shocked then Malfoy could have possibly been.
Around Lily the atmosphere suddenly changed. She wasn't sitting in Arabella's kitchen, but in a room lit by a fire full of red, gold and moving portraits. She was huddled in an armchair with her feet tucked beneath her and a letter in the arm of the chair from Petunia. It looked as if it was hastily written and a few tear stains marred the parchment.
Dear Sister,
There has been an accident. Our parents were killed. I'm sorry that I had to tell you like this. See you at the end of the year.
Petunia Dursley
There were tears falling from her eyes and she wiped them on her robes. The owl had come in the middle of the Halloween feast and Lily had just taken the letter from the owl and pocketed it forgetting about it until just moments before. Her parents were dead, it wasn't believable but Petunia never wrote to her and she wasn't one for gags. Lily was trying to keep the sound of her tears down; she didn't want to be heard in the dormitories.
Suddenly a noise was heard on the boy's staircase and Lily called out, "Whoever you are you should be in bed." She'd just become a prefect and she thought if whoever it was knew her voice they would turn right around and go back to bed. However the footsteps on the staircase only paused at the sound of her voice before continuing lightly down the stairs. Lily made herself smaller in the chair and hoped whoever it was wouldn't talk to her. She wiped her eyes just incase.
"The same could be said about you," said the boy and Lily just wanted to die. James Potter was standing just behind her chair.
"I couldn't sleep and I didn't want to wake anyone," Lily muttered and buried her face in her knees. She heard James move so he was crouching in front of the chair. "Please go away," Lily said and fought to hold back a sob, she didn't succeed. The sob came out loudly and Lily blushed in embarrassment; it was bad enough she was crying, now her face was even redder.
"What's happened?" James asked, there was concern in his voice and it made Lily feel even worse.
"I don't want to talk about it, please leave me alone," Lily said shifting uncomfortably, knocking the letter of the chair and into James' lap.
James tried not to read it, but it was so short that he caught it's meaning in moments. "I'm so sorry Lily," James whispered putting a hand delicately on her knee.
"Don't touch me!" Lily said knocking James' hand away and looked up at him with her tear stained face. She saw the letter in his hands. "You nosy little bastard! You read my letter!" she said in an outraged voice and grabbed the letter from him stuffing it into her robes.
"Lily calm down! It feel in my lap when you moved. I saw the words 'accident' and 'killed'. I didn't mean too, in fact I was trying my hardest not to," James hastily explained as Lily attempted to climb over the side of the chair to get away and she tripped over her robes. James caught her before she feel and helped her to her feet. "Please believe me!" James whispered his hands on her arms as he drew her to her feet.
Lily struggled to get away, she didn't want him seeing her cry, and the situation was already horrible. "Let me go, I don't need your help. You'll just go off and tell the whole school you saw Evans crying," Lily rambled just trying to get James to let her go. She didn't want his help or support and the quickest way to make him go away was to insult him, or so she thought.
"You really think I would do that?" James said quietly the hurt in his voice very evident.
Lily couldn't lie even if she wanted to make him go away she couldn't cause him pain. "No! Just let me go. I don't need your help," Lily said and her legs collapsed under her. James caught her instantly. "I don't need anyone's help," she whispered into his chest.
"Shh, it's okay," James said picking her up and carrying her over to a couch and setting her there gently. She immediately rolled over and buried her face in the cushion while James sat on the floor next to her.
"It's not okay James, my parent's are dead!" Lily shouted into the cushion and it was muffled but James heard every word clearly and the heartbreak that was eating away at her.
James closed his eyes and put a hand on Lily's shoulder. "So are mine," he whispered and Lily's head turned slowly to look at him.
"They are?" Lily asked quietly and James nodded looking grim. "How?" she asked even quieter before sniffling.
James' eyes closed again and he said, "Voldemort killed them last summer."
"Oh God James, I'm sorry I asked," Lily muttered and turned her head back into the cushion her sobbing starting again, but it wasn't only for her parents, it was now also for James and bringing up the similar pain.
"Don't worry about that," James said quietly and paused a moment before saying, "I just want you to know you're not alone Lily and if you want someone to talk to about what you're going through you can talk to me if you want." He touched her shoulder sensitively before starting to climb to his feet.
"Don't go, please?" Lily asked and James dropped back down so that they were looking at each other.
"Only if you don't want me to," James whispered slowly reaching out to brush away Lily's tears.
"I don't want you to," Lily whispered and bit her lip.
"Then I won't," James said and watched as Lily sat up and wiped her eyes.
"Sit on the couch then," Lily whispered and a tear trickled down her cheek.
James nodded and sat so that one of his legs was on the couch and the other was dangling over the side. He tentatively took one of Lily's hands in his and rubbed his thumb gently across the back. Lily leaned against the back of the couch and looked at James. "Thank you," Lily whispered and tried to smile but she couldn't.
"You're welcome Lily," James said slowly and that's when she noticed something.
"You stopped calling me Evans," Lily whispered and James grinned.
"I have haven't I? I guess it didn't seem appropriate considering the circumstances," James said and suddenly turned serious. "But if you want me to call you Evans I can," he said slowly.
Lily shook her head, "I like Lily better," she said and looked at James again.
"Then Lily it is," James said and leaned toward her slowly. "Are lily's your favorite flower?" he asked quietly.
"One of them," Lily said wondering why it was suddenly rather hard to breathe.
James smiled and let go of Lily's hand. He pulled a silver Sickle and his wand from his pocket; he set the Sickle in Lily's open palm and said, "Watch," before whispering something under head breath and the sickle changed slowly from a coin into a white lily with silver speckles on the petals.
Lily gasped. "It's beautiful James," she said just staring at the flower before raising it to her nose and smelling it. It didn't smell like a lily but like Lily's shampoo. She raised her eyebrows.
James hadn't taken notice of her curious expression and he whispered, "You're beautiful too," and he suddenly turned bright red as if he hadn't meant to say it.
Lily blushed and said, "No, I'm all blotchy."
"No. You're not blotchy, just said and I wish I could make you happy again," James said and touched Lily's cheek feeling the fresh tears start to fall from her green eyes.
"Oh James!" Lily said and flung her arms around him, hugging him tightly.
James blushed furiously and wound his arms around her too, one of his hands finding a place enveloped in her hair and was shocked down to his toes when Lily climbed over his bent leg and sat on his thigh all without loosening her arms. "L-Lily?" James questioned as he blinked rapidly.
"C-could you just hold me for a while?" Lily asked looking into his eyes quickly, as if searching for permission or something else entirely.
"If that's what you want," James said and swallowed unconsciously as they both shifted so that Lily was lying between James' body and the back of the couch and her arms were wound around him.
Lily's breathing became steady and even and James thought she had fallen asleep and he whispered into her hair, "I've got to be the luckiest guy in the world to be allowed to hold her while she sleeps." He touched his lips to her forehead subtly and he sighed. "I wish this night would last forever," he said and slowly fell asleep unaware that Lily had heard every word.
A/N: So what do you people all think? Good, bad, stupid? Let me know in a REVIEW!! Oh and sorry for the cliffhanger. ~Frankie~
JCtigerwolf4e
Anarane
Ggal- Hmm. I think I'm not going to have to tell you something. I had to do it, so I guess I should apologize and I'm glad you like Catherine. There's more of her to come. *cackles*
Midnights shadow of insaneness- How do you define creepy?
I o u a name- Snape. well, he's odd. Ask me about my Snape theories if you really wanna know, but it would be a bit of a spoiler.
Poetbrit- I try and I will try to get out another chapter this weekend between homework and seeing Underworld.
Voided- Welcome to the story! It always thrills me to get new reviewers! My dad for some reason thinks that if I were to send this to J.K. she'd like it. yeah right, but, I'm happy enough having reviewers like it. I'm also very honored to be on your favorites list.
MegHarts- Whee, another Catherine affectionate, she will be happy when I tell her. More James idiocy . *cackles* I hope you like it.
Laina3- I wonder now if Catherine will be pleased or if she will be disappointed. I'm not sure if she wanted to be hated or liked. I shall have to ask her this weekend.
Zebragurl- Yes, he's quoting Shakespeare, but there are rumors that ol' William was a witch, or affiliated with them, so that could be my random loophole squasher, depending on if you believe it or not. Lol. I couldn't figure out what Snape should say and so I pulled the Shakespeare down and opened it. Right to the page it was on. It fit. I know it's weird and I've had misgivings about it, but it's a one time thing so far.
Littlewhitehorse- I wish I could tell you, but even I am not entirely sure. She's a character, one I can't quite pin down yet, but you will see eventually.
Diana- Thank you, I'm glad you have confidence in my story.
Chapter Thirty Six: Bittersweet Memories
Arabella and Remus walked out of King's Cross station after a through search without any signs of Lily at all. "Let's just go back to my house and wait for the others," Arabella said with a said and they found an empty alley to disapparate from arriving at Arabella's house moments later. Upon arriving they discovered that James and Sirius had already arrived with Frank Longbottom as well. "Did you find her?" Arabella asked hopelessly.
"Yes," James muttered sipping at a drink that smelled suspiciously like Firewhiskey.
"What? Where is she?" Arabella asked wondering if Lily had gone to the bathroom or something.
"On her way," Sirius said quietly looking up from the crossword he was working on wondering if he should tell Arabella who was going to be setting for in her house or if they should just wait for Lily to get there.
"Alone?" Arabella asked outraged at some people's stupidity.
"Not alone, she's with someone and they should be here soon," James said and took another sip of his drink.
"Remus looked at Sirius questioningly eyeing the drink in James' hand. "Is there something else going on?" Remus asked in an undertone to Sirius.
Sirius looked up at Remus and slowly and deliberately said, "You should be able to figure that out," he paused and looked down at his crossword, writing in the margin, 'James is getting himself drunk,' and then erased it quickly, muttering, "Doesn't fit."
Remus' eyebrows rose slightly. The only time James had purposely gotten drunk had ended badly and Remus had a feeling that it would end similarly this time as well. "No it doesn't," Remus muttered quietly.
There was a knock on the door and Arabella ran to open it. "Li- What is SHE doing here?" Arabella screeched when she caught sight of Catherine standing just behind Lily.
"I invited a friend to join us Bella, calm down," Lily said with an eyebrow raised in amusement.
"A friend! How could she be a friend of yours? She's horrible!" Arabella said indignantly starting at Catherine with disgust.
"Alright, goodnight Bella," Lily said and began to turn away to leave.
"What? Where are you going? Will someone please tell me what the bloody hell is going on here?!" Arabella asked turning to look at Sirius, James and Frank, her eyes flashing angrily.
"They didn't tell you?" Lily asked pausing and turning back around. "That's very interesting," she said with a sigh, "But the only way I will come in is if Catherine is allowed as well."
Arabella scowled and then sighed, "Find, but I want some answers," she said and stepped aside to allow Lily and Catherine inside.
"Everyone's arrived just in time for the party," James muttered loudly.
Lily raised her eyebrows at Sirius who made a motion with his hands to imply drinking. Lily turned to James and crouched down near him. "James are you okay?" she asked and James just looked at her with dead eyes. "Damnit James, what is wrong with you?" Lily whispered, she knew he was drunk and didn't expect a response.
Catherine put a hand on Lily's shoulder and said, "Despite my better judgment it might be smart for you to just let him sleep it off."
"Catherine, I allowed you into my house because Lily asked me to, don't make me kick you out," Arabella said quietly.
"Bella don't. What she said makes perfect sense, so don't be rude because you dislike her as a person," Lily said reasonably.
"She insulted James," Arabella said angrily and was surprised to see Lily smile.
"It did sound like that, didn't it," Lily said and looked over at Catherine whose eyebrows were raised indifferently.
"Lily are you okay?" Remus asked quietly.
"Yes Remus, I'm okay. No will someone help me get James to the bathroom?" Lily asked and looked at James who had passed out, empty glass lying on its side just under James' fingertips. Her took of her cloak and threw it over a chair as Remus and Sirius lifted James out of the chair he was in. "Put him in the bathtub," Lily called as they carried James up the stairs.
"May I ask what you're going to do to my nephew?" Frank asked quietly.
"Something similar to what Hagrid did when he got plastered," Lily said lightly and headed up the stairs and into the bathroom.
"You want us to stay?" Sirius asked quietly.
"No I can't deal with James," Lily said and Sirius and Remus nodded heading back down the stairs.
Lily sighed and pulled the showerhead down into her hands and turned the cold water on pointing the spray at James' face. "EEAARRGH!" James shouted attempting to cover his face to get away from the water.
Lily turned the water off and said, "Hi James," in a cheerful tone of voice.
"Why the hell did you do that?" James sputtered wiping at the water that was clinging to his face and dripping from his hair.
"We had a deal, I kept my end of the bargain, you still have yet to keep yours," Lily said and offered James a hand so he could get up.
James was almost tempted not to take Lily's hand but knew that offending her further would be futile, so he took her and hand pushed himself up, almost slipping before he was able to climb out of the tub. "Lily-," James started to say but her fingers came up to press on his lips.
"Remus first," Lily said and raised her eyebrows in something close to amusement before saying, "Or maybe a clothing change before hand."
James looked down, his white tee shirt was sopping wet and his black slacks weren't looking much better. "Sounds like a plan," James said and noticed the corners of Lily's mouth twitch.
"I'll go let everyone know I haven't drowned you," Lily said with a smirk.
"I think Catherine is wearing off on you," James said with a smirk of his own as he pulled off his glasses to dry them on a nearby towel.
"She's been wearing off on me for years James," Lily said quietly as James replaced the glasses on his nose.
"What?" James said curiously.
"I'm remembering more and more James. Catherine was my best friend, not Bella," Lily said quietly. "Bella and I were very close, but not as close as Catherine and I," Lily whispered looking confused at her own statement.
Hearing Lily's words inspired an odd feeling in James and he found himself asking before he could stop himself, "What House were you in?"
Lily looked affronted. "Where do you think I was James?" she asked quietly.
"I don't know, you tell me," James said, his voice even quieter then Lily's.
"Same as you James, Gryffindor," Lily said then asked, "Do you think that I was a Slytherin because I made Slytherin friends? Catherine wasn't the only one either," she turned and walked out of the bathroom leaving James soaking wet and freezing cold.
He muttered to himself, "I'm sure racking up the things I need to apologize to Lily for," and he closed the door to removed and dry his clothes.
Downstairs everyone was waiting anxiously for signs of crashing or banging. All they heard was James' shout as he was doused unceremoniously with cold water and Lily's footsteps as she descended the stairs a few minutes later.
"Did you kill him?" Catherine couldn't help but asked when Lily appeared in the kitchen were where everyone had congregated around the table.
"No, he's alive," Lily said lightly and took a seat to wait for James to head down. She sighed as she sat; wanting to just keep over and sleep for hours but that wasn't a choice she had. She had to wait for James to apologize to Remus and then to her which would probably wind up turning into a spat neither of them wanted.
"Would you like some coffee or tea Lily?" Arabella asked somewhat coldly.
"Coffee might wake me up but it doesn't matter either way," Lily muttered and crossed her arms on the table, resting her forehead on them so she could see her knees. "I just want to get this over with," she muttered and found herself wondering where she was going to stay if she and James' differences were irreconcilable. She imagined Arabella might take her in but she would miss James' house and not to mention the only spell she'd remember was the shield charm to block Malfoy's jinx and it had just come out of her mouth; she'd probably been more shocked then Malfoy could have possibly been.
Around Lily the atmosphere suddenly changed. She wasn't sitting in Arabella's kitchen, but in a room lit by a fire full of red, gold and moving portraits. She was huddled in an armchair with her feet tucked beneath her and a letter in the arm of the chair from Petunia. It looked as if it was hastily written and a few tear stains marred the parchment.
Dear Sister,
There has been an accident. Our parents were killed. I'm sorry that I had to tell you like this. See you at the end of the year.
Petunia Dursley
There were tears falling from her eyes and she wiped them on her robes. The owl had come in the middle of the Halloween feast and Lily had just taken the letter from the owl and pocketed it forgetting about it until just moments before. Her parents were dead, it wasn't believable but Petunia never wrote to her and she wasn't one for gags. Lily was trying to keep the sound of her tears down; she didn't want to be heard in the dormitories.
Suddenly a noise was heard on the boy's staircase and Lily called out, "Whoever you are you should be in bed." She'd just become a prefect and she thought if whoever it was knew her voice they would turn right around and go back to bed. However the footsteps on the staircase only paused at the sound of her voice before continuing lightly down the stairs. Lily made herself smaller in the chair and hoped whoever it was wouldn't talk to her. She wiped her eyes just incase.
"The same could be said about you," said the boy and Lily just wanted to die. James Potter was standing just behind her chair.
"I couldn't sleep and I didn't want to wake anyone," Lily muttered and buried her face in her knees. She heard James move so he was crouching in front of the chair. "Please go away," Lily said and fought to hold back a sob, she didn't succeed. The sob came out loudly and Lily blushed in embarrassment; it was bad enough she was crying, now her face was even redder.
"What's happened?" James asked, there was concern in his voice and it made Lily feel even worse.
"I don't want to talk about it, please leave me alone," Lily said shifting uncomfortably, knocking the letter of the chair and into James' lap.
James tried not to read it, but it was so short that he caught it's meaning in moments. "I'm so sorry Lily," James whispered putting a hand delicately on her knee.
"Don't touch me!" Lily said knocking James' hand away and looked up at him with her tear stained face. She saw the letter in his hands. "You nosy little bastard! You read my letter!" she said in an outraged voice and grabbed the letter from him stuffing it into her robes.
"Lily calm down! It feel in my lap when you moved. I saw the words 'accident' and 'killed'. I didn't mean too, in fact I was trying my hardest not to," James hastily explained as Lily attempted to climb over the side of the chair to get away and she tripped over her robes. James caught her before she feel and helped her to her feet. "Please believe me!" James whispered his hands on her arms as he drew her to her feet.
Lily struggled to get away, she didn't want him seeing her cry, and the situation was already horrible. "Let me go, I don't need your help. You'll just go off and tell the whole school you saw Evans crying," Lily rambled just trying to get James to let her go. She didn't want his help or support and the quickest way to make him go away was to insult him, or so she thought.
"You really think I would do that?" James said quietly the hurt in his voice very evident.
Lily couldn't lie even if she wanted to make him go away she couldn't cause him pain. "No! Just let me go. I don't need your help," Lily said and her legs collapsed under her. James caught her instantly. "I don't need anyone's help," she whispered into his chest.
"Shh, it's okay," James said picking her up and carrying her over to a couch and setting her there gently. She immediately rolled over and buried her face in the cushion while James sat on the floor next to her.
"It's not okay James, my parent's are dead!" Lily shouted into the cushion and it was muffled but James heard every word clearly and the heartbreak that was eating away at her.
James closed his eyes and put a hand on Lily's shoulder. "So are mine," he whispered and Lily's head turned slowly to look at him.
"They are?" Lily asked quietly and James nodded looking grim. "How?" she asked even quieter before sniffling.
James' eyes closed again and he said, "Voldemort killed them last summer."
"Oh God James, I'm sorry I asked," Lily muttered and turned her head back into the cushion her sobbing starting again, but it wasn't only for her parents, it was now also for James and bringing up the similar pain.
"Don't worry about that," James said quietly and paused a moment before saying, "I just want you to know you're not alone Lily and if you want someone to talk to about what you're going through you can talk to me if you want." He touched her shoulder sensitively before starting to climb to his feet.
"Don't go, please?" Lily asked and James dropped back down so that they were looking at each other.
"Only if you don't want me to," James whispered slowly reaching out to brush away Lily's tears.
"I don't want you to," Lily whispered and bit her lip.
"Then I won't," James said and watched as Lily sat up and wiped her eyes.
"Sit on the couch then," Lily whispered and a tear trickled down her cheek.
James nodded and sat so that one of his legs was on the couch and the other was dangling over the side. He tentatively took one of Lily's hands in his and rubbed his thumb gently across the back. Lily leaned against the back of the couch and looked at James. "Thank you," Lily whispered and tried to smile but she couldn't.
"You're welcome Lily," James said slowly and that's when she noticed something.
"You stopped calling me Evans," Lily whispered and James grinned.
"I have haven't I? I guess it didn't seem appropriate considering the circumstances," James said and suddenly turned serious. "But if you want me to call you Evans I can," he said slowly.
Lily shook her head, "I like Lily better," she said and looked at James again.
"Then Lily it is," James said and leaned toward her slowly. "Are lily's your favorite flower?" he asked quietly.
"One of them," Lily said wondering why it was suddenly rather hard to breathe.
James smiled and let go of Lily's hand. He pulled a silver Sickle and his wand from his pocket; he set the Sickle in Lily's open palm and said, "Watch," before whispering something under head breath and the sickle changed slowly from a coin into a white lily with silver speckles on the petals.
Lily gasped. "It's beautiful James," she said just staring at the flower before raising it to her nose and smelling it. It didn't smell like a lily but like Lily's shampoo. She raised her eyebrows.
James hadn't taken notice of her curious expression and he whispered, "You're beautiful too," and he suddenly turned bright red as if he hadn't meant to say it.
Lily blushed and said, "No, I'm all blotchy."
"No. You're not blotchy, just said and I wish I could make you happy again," James said and touched Lily's cheek feeling the fresh tears start to fall from her green eyes.
"Oh James!" Lily said and flung her arms around him, hugging him tightly.
James blushed furiously and wound his arms around her too, one of his hands finding a place enveloped in her hair and was shocked down to his toes when Lily climbed over his bent leg and sat on his thigh all without loosening her arms. "L-Lily?" James questioned as he blinked rapidly.
"C-could you just hold me for a while?" Lily asked looking into his eyes quickly, as if searching for permission or something else entirely.
"If that's what you want," James said and swallowed unconsciously as they both shifted so that Lily was lying between James' body and the back of the couch and her arms were wound around him.
Lily's breathing became steady and even and James thought she had fallen asleep and he whispered into her hair, "I've got to be the luckiest guy in the world to be allowed to hold her while she sleeps." He touched his lips to her forehead subtly and he sighed. "I wish this night would last forever," he said and slowly fell asleep unaware that Lily had heard every word.
A/N: So what do you people all think? Good, bad, stupid? Let me know in a REVIEW!! Oh and sorry for the cliffhanger. ~Frankie~