Lily's tears dried up, and she felt herself drifting. She was so tired. She began to dream, an old dream, in which she and James were torn apart by a land-shaking quake, severing their connection forever. And only then did he call across the chasm and say he had always loved her. Her familiar ache of loss was halted when, suddenly, she was in a new dream, and James stood in front of her, an unfamiliar look in his eyes. She had thought she knew his every nuance, but this one escaped her. It reminded her a bit of his flying face, when he played quidditch. He bent over her, and traced the sticky spots on her cheeks, from the saline of her tears. She leaned into his touch, fresh drops making her eyesight blurry from the cruelty of her subconscious. His touch sent shivers through her.
"Are these tears for me, Lily Evans?" His voice was not taunting. He sounded gentle.
Lily nodded, unable to speak and nuzzled his hand with her cheek. If she couldn't have James Potter, then a dream him would do. Knowing James' record, the dream James would probably be better.
"For shame, Lily Evans." The compassion in his eyes was so foreign that she was mesmerized. "I would not have you crying for me."
Lily was suddenly angry. "Y-y-you..." She collected herself. "You don't care whether I cry or not. You enjoy making me cry."
"Lies, all lies." His fingertips drifted to the slope of her neck, gently tickling her there.
"No..." She was breathless, and her eyelids drifted, shutting out his frightening stare.
"Truth. For I never knew till I saw you cry what it is to feel your own heart break. Does that sound like the words of a man who delights in your pain? My heart has lied to me all these years."
Lily's eyes opened slowly, "W-w-w-what are you saying?"
"Do you love me, Lily Evans?"
She looked at him wordlessly. How could she deny it, when he looked like that? And it was only a dream, what was the harm?
"Lily, I cannot apologize for my past actions in any way, except to always be sure that you are as loved and respected by the rest of the world as I love you right now. To some that might seem like an impossible feat, but I find it is manageable, since my affections, if such a small word can account for the tempest tearing to pieces right now, are growing exponentially, and my happiness grows with every passing second you look at me like that."
Her heart soared. But, this was a dream! It was so cruel. She couldn't escape the spell of his eyes, and allowed him to lean forward and kiss her.
It was cruel indeed when she awoke to find James Potter staring at her from the end of the hallway.