Butterfly wings

Disclaimer: Roses are red, violets are blue, I don't own Harry, so you do not sue.

Chapter Six

James, Sirius and Remus were sitting on the deck in front of James' new beach house 3 weeks into summer vacation sipping Guinness's.

"Have you heard from Lily?" Remus asked James

"No," James replied, a note of worry in his voice, "Have you?" Remus shook his head. Silence followed, all the men were contemplating on how odd this was, Remus being Lily's best friend and James her boyfriend.

"Have you heard from Tonks" Sirius asked, breaking the unusual silence between the friends.

"Yah, I have a date with her on Saturday" Remus replied happily. Tonks, Lily's other best friend, was dating Remus, the fact she was 16 and both Remus Lilly were 18 never seemed to matter.

"Without dear Remy to keep us in line Prongs" Sirius said grinning as Remus' face turned bright red at the mention of his hated nickname, "I guess were gonna have a boys night out!" Sirius took a swig of his beer. James grinned evilly for a second till his thoughts settled on Lily Evans disappearance. She had promised she'd call him or see him but that was 3 weeks ago. He'd been worried at how quiet she'd been the whole train ride home; mind you she was normally quiet on the ride home. Was something wrong at her house? Family problems? His thoughts were sharply interrupted by the sound of a whip cracking the air. With a gentle thud something landed on the stairs leading up to the deck. A pale white hand with long fingers landed softly at the top. Remus' and Sirius discussion on the beauty of the sunset reflecting on the water too had stopped when they saw the face of the body lying on James' stairs.

It was Lily Evans.

She was lying unconscious looking badly beaten, her hair caked with blood. James ran toward her, reaching for her neck to check for a pulse. When he found one he breathed a sigh of relief. She was alive. Tenderly James picked her up and carried her inside. She must have been dieting because she was as light as a kitten, James thought as he placed her gently on his bed. After grabbing water, clean cloths, bandages and Murlap Essence from his pantry James gently cleaned and bound Lily's bleeding gash on her head, arm and leg. Lovingly James bathed her black eye and banged up shoulder in Murlap Essence, as well as her speckling of bruises. James softly brushed a stray curl from Lily's face, asking, "What happened to you love, what did you do?" With a sigh James rose from his bead, covering her well and walked into the hall where Remus and Sirius were anxiously waiting.

"Is she alright?" Remus asked immediately

"She'll be OK" James wearily replied

"What was wrong with her," Sirius questioned

"She's thoroughly messed up right about now," Was James sharp reply.

"Did she tell you what happened?" Remus wanted to know

"No, she's still out cold" James resignedly replied. He could tell Remus and Sirius wanted a better answer than that, mind you so did he. His girlfriend he hadn't seen of heard from for 3 weeks turns up on his doorstep, literally, almost dead. What happened? Who did this? Why? What wasn't Lily telling him about her home life? Rubbing his aching head James returned to his bedroom. Staring at the sleeping girl in his bed James plunked down in the large leather chair beside the bed. As Lily shifted in her sleep he could almost make out the hand shaped bruise on her neck. Wait a second, James thought, had someone tried to kill her? That hand shaped bruise, did that mean someone tried to strangle Lily to death? James knew her family wasn't the most caring, any money Lily had she earned herself, everything she owned she'd bought for herself, she never got any presents, cards or letter from any family members, not to mention he'd never seen any of her family to pick her up at Kings Cross station. Even when Lily was only 11 she took the train to Surrey home. Sure no one picking her up at Kings Cross was odd, but maybe her family didn't have a car, or everyone was busy. Yet getting no mail from her family ever? Even Sirius, who hated most of his family, still got some mail. James shook his head, clearing it of thoughts about Lily's family. It was really none of his business, and he knew that. However his girlfriend appearing on his porch, unconscious and really beaten up was his business. He couldn't think of anyone that really hated Lily at Hogwarts, sure Snape and Malfoy though she was scum because her parents were muggles but they didn't really hate her. It was probably gang related. England is having more and more problems with gangs these days, and from the train Lily takes home every summer James could bet she didn't live in the nicest neighborhood. James propped his head up with a large hand as his head began to pound. This was all to complicated, he'd just have to wait till Lily woke up to answer his questions, James thought as Lily' stirred under his covers. She's such a beautiful girl, James reflected, sweet and pretty and smart, why would anyone want to hurt her? Glancing at Lily's bruises and cuts someone obviously did.

All right now that you, my delightful reader, have gotten this far you'll never guess what time it is!!!!! REVIEW TIME!!! You will be my best-est best friend it you press that little button…come on now don't be shy…pressing that button won't hurt it…it wants to be pressed… the whole purpose of the button it to be pushed by people like you…so help this little button achieve its life goal and review review review!!!!!

-Thanx Prongs