~*~ Chapter 14 ~*~
Lily found out that really, she was thankful for the boys pulling the prank on Gustov because it had been almost a month since the incident and he hadn't even brought himself to make eye contact with her. It was heaven. Well, it would be heaven if Sirius would quit bugging her about the 'great muggle contraption' that she took away from him. After a while though, he realized he wasn't going to get it back.
Her grades at school also began to go up a little. She was in a better mood since she didn't have stalkers anymore. Gustov was out of the picture and Sirius, Remus, and James seemed to have just about given up on her.
Everything was great, except for the fact that she was called to Dumbledore's office again, but this time, it was on Ignatius' behalf. Ashley had left their dormitory door wide open and he had just wandered out. A prissy girl named Tricia Kuderogianis saw it, screamed, and told McGonagall that there was a fire-breathing reptile in the common room. Dumbledore laughed when Lily explained that it was just her harmless Ignatius. She could keep him, just as long as he stayed in her room.
All of this halfway normal life of hers turned into disaster on March 21 in Defense Against the Dark Arts...
That day, March 21, in her Uncle Odysseus' class, they were being introduced to dementors. This was usually a lesson taught in 3rd year, but he felt it was necessary for them to learn sooner because dementors were becoming popular guards for banks and other important buildings.
"Class, I've transfigured a coat rack into a Dementor. This fake one can't suck your soul, so no worries. All id can do is make you feel cold and depressed like a real Dementor would. It is important to be able to handle on of these creatures. It can have a bad effect on your mind. I'm going to release it so you can see what it feels like, and then we'll learn how to protect yourself from it. Here we go!" He flung open the door of the cabinet and a dark, shadow-type figure stepped out.
Lily felt a rush of ice hit her body, like an ocean wave, as soon as her uncle let it out. It was colder than anything she had ever felt before. Was it supposed to feel THIS cold? It was like her organs were freezing and collapsing inside of her.
"Uncle Odysseus..." She said softly. "I'm turning to ice. I don't think I'm...supposed to feel...this...cold...I..." She couldn't even finish her sentence because her brain started to freeze up, she lost all color in her face, and she fainted, landing hardly on the floor.
"Oh my god! Lily!" The professor yelled and rushed to her side, along with the rest of the class.
She was completely white, her eyes were rolled into the back of her head, and she was twitching violently.
"She's having another seizure!!!" Kristy shrieked and covered her eyes, crying.
"Everyone! Get out of the way and go into the Great Hall! POTTER! Run and find Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore and tell them to go immediately to the hospital wing!!!" Professor Evans yelled, levitating Lily as fast as he could down the corridor as James took off down the hall in the other direction towards the transfiguration room.
"PROFESSOR!" He threw open the door to McGonagall's classroom, panting.
"What is it, Potter?"
"Go to the hospital wing! Lily! She looks like she's dead! She fainted!"
"Great scott Potter! Move! And go get the headmaster!" She jumped out of her chair and ran out the door, not even worrying about her class.
James was sprinting to Dumbledore's office, which was all the way on the 6th floor. He was so tired; his pace was almost down to a jog. He couldn't breathe, but he had to keep going as fast as possible.
He was on the 5th floor when he ran into someone who was humming.
"Dumbledore!"
"Whoa, slow down! Where's the fire?"
"It's...LILY!" He had a hard time talking because he couldn't catch him breath.
"What about her?" Worry was written all over his face.
"Her body...turned to ice...fainted...seizure...she...looks like she's gonna die!...HURRY!"
At those words, James collapsed. Dumbledore levitated him and ran to the hospital wing.
"POPPY! Get this boy a bed! He fainted when he was telling me about Lily. Probably from exhaustion. He could hardly breathe."
"Yes sir!"
"He'll be fine, but where's Lily?"
"Right over there." She pointed to a corner of the room where Professor Evans and Professor McGonagall were.
"Where was she when this happened?"
"My class."
"Explain to me exactly what happened, Odysseus!"
"We were studying dementors, so I released a fake dementor so they could see what it feels like to be around one. Lily turned pale, fainted, and had a seizure. She's unconscious now and her whole body is ice! Literally!"
"Calm down, Odysseus!"
"She's barely breathing! Her pulse is wavering! I should never have introduced them to a dementor at so young an age!"
"Odysseus, PLEASE! It is NOT your fault! Lily has a certain personal ailment. It is very rare."
"What is it, Albus?" McGonagall asked.
"I'm afraid I can not say. It is very secret. Her parents don't know. Not even she HERSELF knows! In fact, only I and another student are aware of the situation."
"Another student!?"
"Yes Minerva. Her secret could put her in grave danger. Unfortunately, she'll find out soon enough. Then, it will be another matter and completely up to her to who she tells. For now, it must be strictly confidential."
"Yes sir, I understand."
"Please professors!" Madame Pomfrey came scuffling in with her hands full. "Don't stand around chatting! We've got to keep her stable! This is a serious condition! I've NEVER in all my years of nursing seen something like this! Minerva, please help me!"
"Odysseus, please come to my office at lunch. I must make you aware of the situation we are in." Dumbledore whispered to him.
"Yes Albus. I will be there."
"ALBUS!" Madame Pomfrey yelled for his attention. "Her pulse stopped! We have to shock her!"
"Oh Merlin!" He sped over to her bedside with Odysseus who was panicking.
"Take out your wands! On my count! 1...2...3!"
"GRITALUM LIVERIA!!!" They all said together. Lily's pale body contracted into the air from the force of being shocked. They all looked at the magical pulse meter. Her heart line was flat, red, and blinking in alarm.
"1...2...3!!!"
"GRITALIUM LIVERIA!!!"
She was shocked again, but still, no pulse.
"It's not working!"
"Keep trying!"
"1...2...3!!!"
"GRITALIUM LIVERIA!!!"
James had woken up. He could hear voices yelling, panicking, and crying. He looked over, saw Lily's lifeless body being shocked, saw that her heart rate was gone, and felt tears start to flood down his face.
"No...no...not her! Please!...No! Lily...you can't go...you can't leave me...you can't die...no....NO!!! LILY!!!!!"
Madame Pomphrey ripped open the curtains around his bed. "Mr. Potter, are you alright!?"
James' eyes flew open and remembered why he was there. He was sweating from the dream he just had...but it wasn't just a dream. It had really happened. He could feel his face, as salty as the ocean, from crying himself to sleep last night. "Lily! Where's Lily!? IS SHE OK?!!"
"Calm down Potter! She's alright! Well, as good as she can be after basically coming back from the dead last night, but she should -"
"YEEESSSSSSSS!!!!! SHE'S ALIVE!!! Thank Merlin! Where is she? I've gotta -"
"POTTER!" She shoved him back into his bed. "She is in NO condition to be bothered right now! She had a rough night, as you yourself did. You need rest as well. Drink this and sleep!"
"But -"
"No buts Potter! You're tired and she's barely conscious. NO ONE is permitted to see her yet."
"Oh fine..." He grumbled quietly and closed his eyes.
Last night had to be the worst and scariest thing he had ever seen. He couldn't even put into words what he had experienced. The image of Lily being shocked was still looming in his mind. It was awful. But at least she was going to be alright. At least Lily was alive.
He fell asleep and woke up yawning some time later. "Madame Pomphrey," He mumbled, stretching his arms. "When do I get to - AHH!!!" He about jumped out of his skin when he saw someone sitting next to him.
"Why hellp, Mr. Potter. I was hoping you'd wake up soon. I've been waiting for a long time."
"Headmaster!"
"Yes, James. Sorry to have scared you. You have been sleeping for almost 3 days, but that is understandable. You really wore yourself out."
James couldn't believe he had slept that long! He hated sleeping. It was a waste of life, in his opinion.
"I know exactly what it is you want to ask me," Dumbledore smiled. "And the answer is, yes, you may see Lily. I know that it's very important that you do. Sirius and Remus have already been here to check on your two. It is rewarding for you to have such caring friends."
"Hold on, Mr. Potter. You must realize that Lily may not be able to return to classes for a while. Right now, she is still in semi-critical condition. She's doing almost perfectly fine, but if one thing turns around, she could be here for a while. It all depends. Be quiet and calm around her. Do not get her too excited. If she is asleep, do not wake her. You have 5 minutes. Then you must leave. You are excused from today and tomorrow's classes. Use that time wisely and rest."
"Yes headmaster." He started to walk out when he turned around. "But...only 5 minutes? How about 10?"
Dumbledore laughed. "7"
"9?"
"8"
"8.5"
"8"
"Ok fine...8" He smiled and went over to Lily's bed. "Hi Lily."
He frowned at what he saw. She was asleep, which was a real bummer because he wanted to talk to her...IF she would agree to talk to him, that is. The other thing was that she had a magical oxygen bubble around her head to make sure she kept breathing and a heart monitor was next to her.
"Well, Professor Dumbledore said that all I had was 8 minutes, so I won't be long. I'm not sure if you're happy about that or not."
It would seem really strange to talk to someone when they're asleep, but this actually made it easier for him. He didn't have to worry about her blowing up at him or getting mad. He could just talk, care free.
"Lily, you have no idea how worried I was for you. My mind was screaming, not knowing what to do, and thinking that you might die if I didn't make myself go fast enough. The sight of you like that was unbearable. You may think that I sound crazy, but I don't know what would happen to me if you would have died. You mean so much to me, even though I don't show it sometimes. I can't wait for you to wake up because I want to tell you all about your turtle. I know you'll love it."
He sat on the stool beside her bed, put his hand over hers, and stared into her eyes for a while. He loved watching her breathing. It comforted him to know that she was still able to breathe.
"You know Lily...Remus, Sirius, and I have really missed you hanging around us. I know that we excluded you a while, but we were working on something. Something awesome. We didn't want you to know about it because we'll probably end up giving it to you. Please forgive us. We didn't mean to ignore you."
"Mr. Potter! 8 minutes is up! Time for you to leave. You can tell your friends how she is doing, but it'll be three days until she is allowed any more visitors. It is neccessary that she isn't riled up and that she gets a lot of sleep."
"Yes, Madame Pomphrey," he groaned. But 3 days?! He trudged up to the common room and was bombarded by his friends.
"James!"
"Superman!"
"Hey man! We were really worried about ya!"
"Oh, we knew he'd pull through, Remus! He's only the hero of the most dashing woman in our year!" None other than Sirius said.
"Sirius...please shut up. I am no hero."
"What do you mean?"
"It's nothing. If only I had told Lily about the turtle...it would have helped her."
"But she's fine now, right?" Remus asked.
"Well, she is now. But she was dead!"
Sirius and Remus' eyes widened. "Dead?"
"Yes! DEAD! I had to lay there and watch her being shocked back to life! I saw her dead! She wouldn't have died if I would have told her! The turtle could have -"
"JAMES!" Sirius pushed him really hard into the floor. "It's not your fault! Plus, she's doing ok! Don't sweat it! It's over and done with now."
"Yeah, quit beating yourself up about it."
James just sat there in the floor for a minutes. "Ok, thanks guys. I'm going to go sleep. I don't have to go to class, but would you put the no-nightmare charm on me? I don't think I could handle to re-live that night again."
"No problemo."
It was well past noon when James woke up to an empty room the next day. Having nothing to do, he wrote his parents a letter telling them what happened, even though he figured Dumbledore had already done that. Then, for the next few hours, he finished homework and buried himself in "Quidditch Through the Ages".
He was almost finished reading it for the sixth time when Sirius and Remus came in at 5, levitating tons of food.
"ICE CREAM!" James leapt off the couch and seized a tub of ice cream out of the air. "I am starving! I haven't eaten all day!" He opened the lid. "YES! My favorite! Mackinac Island Fudge!"
"Glad you apparently like it. We didn't know what it was. What is 'mackinac' anyway?" Remus asked James who was scarfing down the 5 gallon tub.
"It's not 'mackinac', Remus. It's pronounced MackiNAW. It's Indian."
Remus and Sirius looked at him strangly, but he didn't notice.
"I can't believe they actually have this stuff! It's only sold in Michigan in America. We went there on vacation once. I tried it and fell in love with it on the first bite..."
"Ok Jamsie, lets not go overboard with the ice cream. It might give you a brain freeze and we don't want you going more psycho than you already are," Sirius teased.
James was about to make a come-back when McGonagall threw open the door, he face red with exhaustion and fright.
James set aside the ice cream. "What is it, Professor?"
"It's Lily! HURRY!"
The four of them darted through the castle, McGonagall explaining on the way.
"Her heart rate...dropping quickly. She turned cold all of a sudden again...Dumbledore, he said that he needed you three. For what reason, I don't know. We don't know what's going to happen to her. Come -"
"Minerva!"
"Albus, I -"
"No time to chat, Minerva! Take these two to Lily! Have them hold her hands. James! Come with me!"
"Professor Dumbledore and James ran back up to the common room. James couldn't believe that a man as old as the headmaster could run around 4 floors like he was.
"Headmaster, what is this all about?"
"She froze up. Her blood temperature completely dropped and if she doesn't get warm, she'll probably die. We've tried tons of potions and everything possible with our wands, but nothing so far has worked."
James ran silently, soaking everything in. What were they going to do?
"Does Lily still have that turtle you gave her?"
That was it! THE TURTLE! "Yes sir! She does!"
"Well what are you waiting for? Go get it! I'll meet you back in the hospital wing! Make haste!"
James grabbed her turtle as fast as he could and in a few minutes, was at Lily's side. "Move everyone! I can save her!"
"What!?" Sirius and Remus gasped.
"Boys, just listen and give him some room," Professor Dumbledore ordered.
James touched her. She was as cold as ice and there was no color in her face. 'Oh please let this work...' he prayed. He took the little turtle and put him in Lily's chest, right about her heart...and waited.
Ignatius' eyes popped out up feeling the extreme cold coming out through Lily's clothes and onto his soft belly. His red, orange, and yellow scales on his back started to glow and a red mist protruded from inside his shell. The mist was so thick that it seemed Lily was swallowed be a red cloud. They couldn't see through it. The only thing visible to them was Ignatius' glowing body. The fog was like a wave of heat. It felt as if they were on the surface of the sun.
It was like that for a couple minutes. Nobody moved; they just watched and sweated from the heat. Then, all of a sudden, her heart rate started.
"She has a pulse!" Everyone smiled and let out a sigh of relief. James could have jumped a mile in the sky.
"And look! Her temperature shot up like a bludger!" Sirius exclaimed and felt her hand. It was really warm.
"Thanks to this little turtle here. She'd probably be beyond our aid if, by fate, James hadn't given it to her on Valentine's Day."
James smiled, not knowing, or even caring, how to respond. Nothing mattered. Lily would live.
"Stop congregating around her! She's still unconcioius, so out! Out! Shoo! She musn't be bothered yet! And this strange turtle is staying with her! Now out!"
After Madame Pomphrey pushed them out the door, James started skipping down the corridor.
"Uh...James? Are you alright?" Remus asked him, not ever having seen this side of James' personality before.
"Couldn't be happier!"
He continued prancing and waving at the portraits all the way to the common room. He even blew kisses to the ladies. His friends just observed, keeping their opinions to themselves.
When morning came, James couldn't believe how fast rumors spread. Some people knew the truth, but most had some completely ridiculous beliefs.
"So James, I heard that you had to kiss Lily in the hospital wing," A Hufflepuff asked him. "It made her warm again."
"Uh...no..."
Another person joined in the conversation. "Well, that's what I heard too! You're just denying it. So, was it a kiss on the cheek? Or the lips?"
"I did not kiss her!!!"
There were many other scenarios as well:
"Hey James! Someone told me that in DADA, Gustov Wind got mad at you and Lily," an older Ravenclaw said. "And that he cursed you two. Lily died and you were left, barely living, on the brink of death! Is it true?"
"Where do you people hear this stuff?!"
"Hey Potter, what's this about you trying to kill my girlfriend?"
"What are you talking about, Snape?" James faced him.
"You heard me. Don't think the whole school doesn't know by now. She refused to talk to you, and you tried to kill her!"
"Your girlfriend!?"
"Ya..."
"Snape, that is the sickest thing I have ever heard."
"Yeah, well, I suppose your father will have to throw you in Azkaban for this, even though he is minister. Title doesn't help when your son tried to convict murder."
"I did not try to kill her you freak!!! I would never do anything like that to her! Plus, she's more my girlfriend than yours any day."
"Sure Potter."
"Just don't get jealous and land yourself a cell in Azkaban, now Sevvy." James said in a baby voice. "Lily wouldn't want that, now would she?"
"Get out of my way, Potter. And if you ever call me Sevvy again, you'll regret it."
"Oh, I'm scared...Sevvy," He muttered behind his back, but evidently, Snape still heard.
"Watch your step, Potter," he spat and left.
In charms, they were learning the spell 'Lumos' to light the end of their wands when Professor Evans entered the room.
"I'm sorry Professor Flitwick, but I need these 3 boys now! It's important!"
"Of course," Flitwick agreed and went back to teaching.
Professor Evans led James, Remus, and Sirius out into a corner in the corridor.
"What's this all about, Professor?"
"Shush and I will tell you. I have some good news."
The boys smiled as soon as Evans' face fell.
"As well as some very bad news," he added.
"Thanks for putting it so bluntly..." Sirius whispered.
"Nevermind that. What I tell you, I don't want you to tell anyone! The whole school will find out soon enough and I don't want rumors flying around before it is announced."
"Ok."
"First, the good. I'd rather put off the bad for as long as I can."
"Professor, not to sound disrespectful or anything, but could you please get on with it?!" James tried to say politely.
"Yes James. The good news is that from that turtle, which I've heard has been named Ignatius...because of Ignatius, Lily's body temperature has been perfectly stable."
They all let out a sigh of relief.
"Thank you Merlin!"
"Ok, now for the bad news..."
They could all tell that this was very hard for him to say.
"Listen. I am only telling you this because I'd rather you find out by me telling you than by some stupid rumor that makes you panic..."
"What is it!?"
"Lily...she went into a coma this morning."
James' face was that of complete shock. He couldn't move.
"Oh dear Merlin!" Professor Evans cried out when Sirius started shaking and fainted. 'These poor kids...they can't keep from fainting! Thin blood no doubt.'
James still hadn't moved. His body was filled with the lead of sorrow.
"James! I guess I can't just leave you here to go into shock either. You'll probably faint too. Come on." He levitated Sirius and started down the hall. "JAMES!"
He was rooted to the spot, not blinking.
"For heaven's sake!" He threw up his hands in defeat as he levitated James as well.
Halfway to the hospital wing, James snapped out of his trance and screamed when he saw that he was floating in the air. "AHH! PUT ME DOWN!!!"
Professor Evans rolled his eyes as he put him right. "Glad to see that you're not going to faint on me after all. I have to take Sirius to the hospital wing. He fainted. Then I'll escort you back to class."
"Ummm...ok." James had no remembrance of what had happened, but perhaps that was a good thing.
"Poppy!"
"Oh my!" She saw Sirius and ran to his side. "These students are dropping like flies!"
"No no. This is nothing serious. He fainted after I told him about the...uh...circu-mstances." Odysseus explained.
"Ok. He'll be fine in a couple of hours."
"Well, come James. You can talk to him this evening then." The professor followed to what James' eyes were focusing on. "Don't worry, she'll be ok."
James couldn't help but worry when his memory of recent events came flooding back into his memory. And seeing her laying on a cot in the corner with tons of machinery and spells whirling around her, keeping her stablized was more than he could handle.
Sirius, as expected, awoke that night with a splitting headache and the memory of Lily's condition. No matter how much they pleaded, Madame Pomphrey wouldn't permit them to see her yet.
"I will allow you three to visit her in two days. NO ONE else."
The nodded in agreement.
"I am only letting you do this because I am told that you are very close friends."
'Unfortunately, no. She hates us.' James said to himself, but thought it wisest to not say it aloud.
The two days went by as slowly as could be, but finally, the time came that they could go see her.
"Now boys," Madame Pomphrey warned. "She is still in a deep coma. So don't faint again when you lay eyes on her. She'll look better as time passes, no doubt. Talk to her as you normally would. Act as if she were awake."
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Alrighty."
"Can we PLEASE go in now?" Remus said, not being able to wait any longer.
They didn't even stick around for an answer; they just ran right through the room to the door of Lily's own, private hospital room, and opened it.
It wasn't the greatest sight to be beheld, but it was somewhat better than expected.
Lily was in a bed, eyes tightly closed in a deep slumber. She was wearing an oxygen mask and had an IV needle in her wrist, just in case. There were also some other muggle electronics, plus an ellipse of gold continuously circling her body. It was a medical spell. Ignatius was sleeping peacfully on her stomach.
"Hi Lily," Remus said.
"Hey Lils!" Sirius said, much cheerier than Remus. After all, he was trying to act as he ususally would around her.
"Lily, if I've ever done anything to hurt you, I'm -" James was cut off by Sirius elbowing him.
"Of course you have, knucklehead! Why do you think she refuses to talk to us? And anyway, quit being so solemn! She's not going to die!"
James glared at him. Those words cut him to the core. It was possible...
"OK!" Remus unzipped his bookbag and pulled something out to break the tension. "Let's play a game of wizard chess. Lily's a great chess player."
"No kidding! She's invincible!" Sirius agreed.
"Alright, but I'm playing." James demanded.
"Fine! I'm playing you. Sirius can watch."
"No, you're BOTH playing me. You're going to need all the help you can get. After all, it is the great James Potter that you're trying to beat. I'll smash you into the ground."
"Wanna place a bet on that, Potter?"
The days steadily slithered by. So many days that those days turned to weeks. As those weeks became a month. Gossip, being what it is, went around like a tornado almost daily, spreading false news that Lily kept getting worse. Though, she wasn't getting any better either. She just was there in a state of balanced unconciousness.
No matter what rumors went came their way, James, Sirius, Remus and Peter remained faithful to her. They weren't going to let her die. Nothing seemed to damper their spirits. They visited her every single evening from 7 - 10, even after the rest of the school had given up on her.
"Do you think she's ever going to wake up?" Peter asked one night while they were visiting her.
Remus hit him hard over the head. "Don't say that you idiot! Especially not around her!"
"Ouch...sorry...but do you?"
"OF COURSE SHE WILL!!!" James yelled. "It's just a matter of when!"
"Well guys, I'm turning in," Remus grabbed his books. "Coming with me?"
James and Peter stood up, said goodbye to Lily, and left with him. Sirius wanted to stay.
He read her a "stupid and mushy" Shakespearean sonnet then yawned.
"Goodnight," he said to an unconcious Lily, then stopped as he was about to go out the door and walked over to her. "You know, I really really miss you. Please wake up soon. I'll see you tomorrow." And he kissed her cheek and left.
James woke up early the next morning so he could go to the library, search for a book, and take it up to read to Lily before classes. He didn't even bother to wake up friends up because he wanted to go by himself for once.
"Hey Lils!" He greeted her. "yes, I know. It's a little early. Ok...so the sun hasn't even risen yet...and Madame Pomphrey doesn't know I'm here...and I'm in Quidditch Pajamas. So what?" He saw that her face was facing his shorts. "Ok...no looking at my boxers like that!" He laughing. "Just kidding! Sheesh! No need to get fiesty!"
James was really good at pretending that she could hear him. It made him happy to think that she could, so he always said things that would normally make her laugh and smile.
"Well, I know what you love being read to, so I brought you a book. I was also feeling particularily generous, so I'm going to attempt to read a book in this wierd 'Spanish Mumbo-Jumbo' since it's your favorite language. I have no idea what it is I'm reading. I'm not even sure on how to pronounce nearly all these words...but bear with me."
He opened to the first page of the worn, old book. He wasn't surprised when a cloud of dust formed in the air. This book was probably never read...who in their right mind would read a book in a foreign language when they could read it in English anyway? 'That's right...' he thought. 'Only Lily.'
He began. "Ahem...Pensamiento ser la mayoría extraño y interesar del animal sexual reproducción es eso de flobbergusano."
He was really stumbling over the words when he heard a muffled voice come from next to him.
"James Potter. What in Merlin's name are you trying to do!? You're mispronouncing everything!"
"Oh my gosh! LILY!" James dropped the book and swooped her up in an engulfing hug. "I'm so happy you're awake!"
"Well of course I'm awake." She muffled and pushed James off so she could breathe. "What did you expect?"
"You've been sleeping for a long time Lily."
"It is healthy for one to get 14 hours of sleep once in a while, Potter."
"Oh, you got 14 hours of sleep all right...quite a few times over."
"What are you talking about?!"
"You went into a coma."
Her eyes enlarged.
"For three weeks now," he continued.
"Oh my gosh..." She put her hand on her forehead as if trying to remember everything and not having any luck.
"But you're ok now!"
She laughed. "Yes James, I'm fine. But what's Ignatius doing on my stomach?"
"Oh, he saved your life. That's his special trait. He provides warmth for both the body and soul."
"Thank you James."
They went silent for a minute, just thinking, until Lily sighed and James held her hand.
"Ok Lily. I'm just going to come out and say it..."
"Say away James."
He took a deep breath. "Lily, during the past 3 weeks, Sirius, Remus, and I have been spending every waking, non-school hour with you. We were really worried. You have no idea how much. I don't know if you remember, but you've been refusing to talk to us for the past few months. It's been awful. You've been so secluded and depressed. All you did was avoid us. And seeing you like that hurt. Believe it or not, you really do mean a lot to us. I just hope...that you'll forgive us. I can't handle fighting with you any longer...So what do ya say?"
Lily just stared at him, searching his eyes.
Suddenly, tears welled up in her eyes and she flung herself at him, hugging as hard as she
could. "Oh James!"
He was a little taken-aback and didn't quite know how to react to this, so he just smiled
with joy while awkwardly patting her on the back. "So I guess this means I'm forgiven?"
She grinned, wiping a stray dropplet of water off her cheek and hugged him again. "Of
course you are! It is me who should be apologizing. Me and my stupid pride...I'm so
sorry for everything James."
They both remained in a friendly embrace for a long time until James asked, "Uh...Lily?"
"Yeah?"
"Why exactly did we get in this fight anyway?"
She rolled her eyes toward the ceiling in serious thought then burst into merry laughter. "I
don't even remember, it was so long ago!"
During the next hour, James gave her the Hogwarts Social, Academic, Prank, and
Quidditch updates, and surprisingly, the prank discussion was the shortest.
"Come on James! Tell me everything you did to Malfoy and Snape while I was asleep!"
"I just told you!"
"You're lying you tormentful devil," she teased.
He laughed. "Am not! I swear."
"So you're trying to tell me that all you did during the past 2 weeks to the Slytherins was
give them fake wands and plant dungbombs in their clothes?"
He nodded yes.
"You're losing your touch, Potter," she tsk'ed. "That was painfully amateur."
He shrugged in defeat as she counted on her fingers.
"Wait! I was in the coma over April Fools Day! Don't tell me you didn't at least ransack the Hufflepuff Common Room or paint Mrs. Norris to look like a skunk..."
"Nope, we didn't pull a single, solitary prank."
Her jaw dropped. "Why!? That's your favorite holiday!...Well, except National Quidditch Day."
"We were too worried about you. To tell you the truth, April Fools Day never crossed my mind until you just said it."
"You four blow my mind! Well, not really Peter. He's as whimpy as a wartfly. You have to bribe him to sneak out at night."
"Yeah, but he's essential for giving us Slytherin passwords and keep Professor Snape from giving us detention 4 times a week."
"James...you ALWAYS have detention AT LEAST that many times a week anyway." She accurately pointed out, smirking.
"Oh, right." He said stupidly, making her laugh.
"Before I forget, what exactly were you reading me when I woke up?"
"This..." he blushed as he picked up the ancient volume off the floor. "Kristy told me you love Spanish."
"And so I do, but apparently it's not your prominent language." She giggled.
"That obvious, huh?"
"Somewhat," she replied sarcastically. "I've got a deal to make with you."
"What kind of deal?"
"If you teach me how to REALLY play Quidditch, I'll teach you Spanish."
"And why would I want to learn the sissy language?"
"For one, women love a bilingual man."
"You have got to be kidding me..."
"Take my advise. The ladies love it." She knew she hit a pressure point. James was so intent on becoming the ladies-man his father was.
He rolled his eyes. "Fine"
"Good!"
"But not a word of this to the guys! I have a reputation to protect, remember."
She chuckled. "Don't worry Mr. SuperEgo. My lips are sealed."
"We have a bargain then."
"We'll start today with this book of yours. Here, hand it to me." When she saw the title, she burst into uncontrollable laughter. "Oh my gosh James!"
"What?"
"Do you have any idea of what this book is about?"
He looked at her strangely while she was wiping away tears from laughing so hard. "No, why?"
"El arte de Flobbergusano Reproducción."
"Yes, that's the title, but what's it mean?"
"The Art of Flobberworm Reproduction!" She started laughing even harder.
"Oh," he blushed a deep scarlet. "How was I to know?!"
Suddenly, Madame Pomphrey opened the door. "Oh my goodness! Miss Evans! You've awaken! I thought I was hallucinating when I heard laughter in here. I must alert the headmaster!" She ran out in glee, leaving them in there.
"Come on. Grab Ignatius and let's get out of here. Sirius and Remus will want to see you." James suggested.
"But I'll probably get in trouble if I leave. She didn't say I could."
"True. She didn't say you could leave...but never did she say you couldn't." He grinned evilly and Lily rolled her eyes.
"James Potter. Always looking for convenient loopholes. But, you are right. Let's go."
They left the hospital wing and headed to the Great Hall where everyone was eating breakfast. James had his arm around her waist the whole time because as soon as she stood up, she fell, and was having a really hard time supporting herself. After all, she hadn't used her legs in weeks.
"Uh, James? I just got out of a coma and have a very bad temper. So, if I were you, I would watch your hand and not even think about getting fresh with me at a time like this."
He gasped disbelievingly. "Never Lily dear! I was planning on waiting until you were able to walk so we'd cause a scene."
She was just about to reply when they walked into the Great Hall. Everyone went silent. Remus, Sirius, Kristy, and Ashley ran and gave her a huge bear hug while Dumbledore smiled and chuckled at what he saw.