Disclaimer: I always forget to put this, but I'm pretty sure you all realize that I don't own these peps in the story. Thank you J.K. Rowling for such a cool story. If any of you get a chance check out her official website: www.JKRowling.com . It's totally wicked and has cool info like: did you know that Ginny is short of Ginevra and not for Virginia?

And she answers the question: Is Dean Thomas really a muggle-born?

Find all this and more at her website!

Chapter 6- Home for the weekend

It was Lily's fifth time going home on the weekend with her family. She had enjoyed the past experiences, but was a bit nervous when she was told that she would have to go do Chemotherapy that weekend. Lily had done all the research she could, from the Hogwarts library, but that wasn't much. Cancer, as Lily had discovered, was a muggle disease, and the only reason she was able to get it was because she was a muggle-born. Violet had been taking things rather well, in Lily's opinion, and had tried her best not to show how she really felt in front of her daughters. Lily was in the earliest stages of kidney Cancer, and therefore hadn't felt the full effects of being ill, but it wouldn't be helped by the chemo.

Lily wasn't concerned about herself though. The doctors had only estimated four more months of her mother's life, and this distraught Lily more than anything else. She was grateful to have a room of her own, because of the Head Girl position, because she often felt like going into the room and crying for hours. She went through a range of emotions; anger, self pity, sadness, hurt, and hope. Hope was the emotion she tried to hold onto. Hope that in one of the books in the library she might find something, some potion or charm: a charm would be best, Lily was the best at charms, but it didn't matter what it was, just something to save herself, to save her mother.

Lily got ready to go to Hogsmeade. That had been what Dumbledore had arranged. Every Friday night Lily would get a coach to Hogsmeade and use floo powder from a home there. A person Dumbledore knew owned the home, and was very kind to Lily every time she came. The lady was a widow with no children of her own, and simply adored Lily's company. Sometimes Lily would go early, just to talk and have some tea with Mrs. Figg. Her husband had died, but she stayed in their Hogsmeade home, none the less. "I really should move to the muggle community, it is difficult to do anything here by myself," she told Lily once. Mrs. Figg was a squib, which Lily imagined would be very difficult in a place like Hogsmeade. After that, Lily would help her do the magical chores while she was there.

As she got ready, she heard a knock on her door. The Head boy and Head girl rooms were rather close to each other because the founders figured if someone is made Head boy, they were less likely to 'take advantage'. Lily opened the door and saw James standing there. "Can I help you?" Lily asked.

"Just wondering where you've been lately, haven't seen you around a whole lot."

"I've been busy in the library," Lily informed him, moving to her bed where she was packing things up. She wasn't thinking straight, or she would have hid the fact that she was packing.

"Goodness, Evans, you had better be careful or you might just turn into a book one of these days. Hey, what're doing?" James finally took note that she had a suitcase on the bed.

"Nothing," Lily didn't try to hide what she was doing, what would be the point now, but she certainly didn't want to get into the details of anything.

"Running away?" James asked, teasing her.

"No, I'm just going home for the weekend," Lily said shortly, "quick visit with my family."

"Didn't know they let you do that here, maybe I should go on the weekends too," James said.

"Don't be dense, I had to get special permission," Lily tried to put this in a way that wouldn't arouse suspicion in any way.

"What for?" James asked, seriously.

"No reason," Lily said.

"Well if it's 'special permission' there must have been a reason. Come on Lily, what is it? Getting homesick?"

"Shut up, Potter," Lily said with a warning that even James picked up on.

"Fine, fine, calm down. I just was curious-"

"Yeah, well curiosity killed the cat," Lily stated as she got onto task again.

"And satisfaction brought him back," James retorted.

"Just get off my back, won't you," Lily said looking at him.

"Alright, if that's how you want it. I was only wondering about the Yule Ball that was suggested by the prefects. Do you want to do it?"

"I don't know," Lily answered honestly. "It's a lot of work, and I don't know if I'll feel up to it by that point."

"Well, it was the prefects idea, so we can let them organize it, and there will still be six months after Christmas for you to study for the N.E.W.T.s. I don't think it will be bad to allow them to have some fun."

Lily didn't bother correcting him on why she might not be up to it. Right now she just was concerned with making it through the weekend, and what did she care if James thought she was more concerned with the N.E.W.T.s than a ball. "Fine, as long as we aren't completely in charge," Lily told him.

"We'll just supervise, how does that sound?"

Lily closed up her suitcase, "just peachy."

Lily started to leave her room. She entered the small common area. There was only one couch and a desk in the back. Both found they spent more time in the Gryffindor common room with their friends, but Lily did like the privacy it provided when she wanted to get away. "Wait Lily," James said as she was making her way toward the exit.

"What?"

"Why are you being like this tonight? What did I do to you?"

Lily realized that she was being distant, and this probably wasn't coming off the way it was really going on inside her own mind. " I'm sorry, James," Lily said, warming her tone a bit. "I just have a lot on my mind right now, I don't mean to be rude."

"We've all noticed there's something up, but you haven't told anyone, even Sam, from what we can tell. Why won't you let us help you?"

Lily thought of this for a moment. Why hadn't she let them in on what was happening. She knew why; Lily didn't want them to pity her, or think her any weaker just because of this. She was already pleased with the fact that Dumbledore hadn't taken away the Head Girl position from her because she might get sick, or have to go away on weekends. Lily knew she couldn't endure others looking down on her. She also knew some of the people here wouldn't really understand what it was she had. She thought about how to answer James, but had obviously taken too long, because he talked again before she could invent a proper excuse.

"You can tell me, Lily. I have tried to be your friend, but I suppose you don't trust any of us."

"It isn't that, it's just-"

"I guess until I prove it to you, you won't trust me, so I'll try to do that," James said and went into his room.

Lily sighed and left, knowing that if she waited any longer, she might not get to help Mrs. Figg.

When Lily got home her family all played Trivial Pursuit. Petunia had even brought her boyfriend, Vernon, over, although Lily wasn't entirely impressed by him. He seemed rude and judgmental, but she didn't tell her sister this, because Petunia seemed enamored with this guy. Lily didn't want to burst her bubble, but Vernon reminded her of a slightly whiter version of Grimace, the purple cookie guy from McDonald's.

Violet stayed up with Lily until nearly two in the morning talking about anything. Lily was telling her about the poor first year that was afraid of James because some older student told them about some of the pranks he had pulled, and when James tried to help the boy out, he ran away in the opposite direction. "Oh that poor boy!"

"Don't feel sorry for James," Lily said amid the laughter between her and her mother.

"I meant the first year, but why do you suggest feeling sorry for James," Violet asked with a sly grin. "What do you think about him anyhow?"

"He's mean spirited at times, but he has gotten better," Lily admitted. "I don't think much of him other than the fact that we work together because he's Head Boy."

"It sounds to me like there's more to it," Violet said accusingly.

"Maybe," Lily admitted for once. "He has seemed to come down off his high horse, but that doesn't mean anything's going to happen."

"How did your friends take the news?" Violet asked.

"About what," Lily wasn't sure what the reference was to.

"The Cancer," Violet got straight to the point.

"Fine, they took it fine," Lily lied seeing as her mum expected that she had told them.

"Good, because with a time like this, your friends and family are all you have, Lily, and you have to trust them." This hit a chord to Lily. "You can't hide behind something, and pretend like nothing is wrong."

"What about you, Mum, you've just kept going with what you do," Lily said.

Violet took a deep breath. "I emerge myself in what I am doing, yes, but you don't see during the week when I have to let your father help me get a book, or lift a heavy object. I have to keep living, Lily, but your friends will help you at school, I know." Lily was nearly in tears. "I know you don't want me to go, and I don't know that I'm going yet, but you have to trust that I will always be around in one way or another. You have to keep hoping for yourself too, Lily. It might seem hard, but I know you can do it. You're made of something stronger than I've ever seen before."

"But what if I'm not? What if it's all a facade?"

"Don't you think I know my own daughter by now?"

Lily attempted a grin. "What will we do without you, Mum?"

"You won't be without me, Lily. You will always have me here, with you," Violet pulled her younger daughter into her, thankful that this discussion had gone so well. She had tried with Petunia, but she was just angry at what was happening. "Just make every day better than the one before, Lily." She pulled away. "Oh, and I have something for you."

Violet went over to the bookcase, and brought a box over that had been lying on one of the shelves. "What is it?"

"Open it, silly girl, and find out," Violet wiped away a small tear, and watched her younger daughter open the little treasure.

Inside was a sapphire necklace on a silver chain. The sapphire was cut pear-shaped, and was surrounded by silver petals, each embedded with a diamond. It was in the shape of a flower. There was also a pair of earrings to match. The bracelet that completed the set had several of these flowers, no diamonds or sapphires, however, was on this piece. That was plain silver. "Mum, these are Grandma's," Lily said, stunned.

"I know, and she gave them to me when she passed, but I want to see you wear them, first. Here let me put them on you," Violet came over and helped with the necklace and bracelet. As Lily was putting on the earrings, Violet smiled. "You look beautiful in them," she said.

When Lily finished putting them on, she stood up and hugged her mother. "Thank you," Lily whispered in her mother's ear.

"Well, you better be off to bed, tomorrow might be a long day for you."

A/N: Okay, this is a long chapter, but kinda sweet, don't you think? Hope you like it, there will be more with James in the next chapter, and she will tell them…eventually. I know some of you are probably mad at me for giving Lily cancer, but I had to peps. I had to =( OH and if any of you want to know what I feel Petunia's problem is, read the fic I posted today. It's a one-shot and it is entitled Resentment.

Thank you to:

Hearts: Yeah, it does suck, but that's how the plot cookie crumbles =)

Lady Jade Green: I will try and edit soon. Sometimes it's hard when you edit your own things, because you know what you're saying, so you tend to miss big things. Hope it isn't too annoying for you to get through them.

Stridybarius: James really is getting to be sweet. Still a bit self centered but getting to be less so.

LilyPotter: Yes she has cancer. I don't like doing that to Lily, but we all knows that this isn't how she goes =) (Big Fish line) Hope you like this chapter and FYI I ALWAYS update soon!

Mione-xavier: Yes I'm sure! What kind of writer would I be if I wasn't sure???? =) read above comment for hint on how this generally ends.

JamieBell: I think I answered all of your questions, but I must say BAD if you've read this before you're done with your homework! Good if you review, but bad if you read this first! Good luck on finals, again, and I will update soon, so don't check anymore of my updates unless you don't have anymore homework…And that's an order missy =)

Hyper penguin: Hope I meet your expectations with this chapter, and thank you for reviewing!

Elspeth Renee: Thank you! There's still more…hehehe

DK lili: Yes they are getting closer. I like to follow what the books say, so you all know they'll be dating sometime in this year.

Imbecile: Thank you for the advice, I am trying, tell me how I'm doing please. =)

ALSO THANK YOU TO:

Bubbleangel and anyone else who is going to review (that means you buddy!)