Yay! Two chapters in one day! Warning: Sadness and a tale of death...

Chapter Seven: The Stories

I'm not exaggerating when I say this, but, both me and James' jaw's dropped. I was so amazed James had gotten into their good graces that fast and I guess James was just surprised. But either way, I was extremely surprised.

"Would that be alright, Lily?" My mum turned to me. She probably thought by the way I was acting I didn't want James to come. But...did I really want him to come? I mean, a week ago I would've asked my mum if she were feeling okay, but now...I don't know I felt different for some reason. Strangely, it wasn't pity that was rolling around in my stomach. I think I'm actually warming up to James...

"No, no, it would be great." I said quickly and my mum smiled at me. James turned to look at me as well, surprise written all across his face.

"Well, we should probably get going. You two meet us at the restaurant at 7:00. Don't be late, you know how your mother is with punctuality." My dad winked at me and I rolled my eyes as they gave us a wave and headed over to a set of portkeys that muggle parents could use to get home.

As soon as we saw them pop out of sight James turned to me. I bit my lip, hoping he wasn't mad at me. I, honestly, had no idea how he would react to this. It's not like I asked my parents to invite him to dinner.

"Why'd you do that?" James asked me and I shrugged.

"I don't know...I wanted you to meet my parents. You don't have to go if you don't want to. I can make up an excuse or something and they'll undersand-" He cut off my rambling with his hand over my mouth. They smelled like watermelon...

"Lily, I would love to go to dinner with your parents. They're really nice." I frowned, was he lying just to be nice to me?

"But what about..." I stopped, bad time to bring up his own parents. Great job, Lily, really bloody wonderful.

James sighed and then started walking towards the castle, just leaving me behind. Did I say something? I mean I know I said something...but I didn't think he would be that affected by it.

That's when he turned around and nodded his head at me. Oh. He was telling me to walk with him. Men these days, why can't they just use words instead of head nods.

I followed him, leaving behind the crowd of students and parents. We walked to the castle doors and James ushered me inside. I had no idea where we were going and so i just followed him, uselessly. Eventually I realized we were going back to our room. Which was fine by me, because I wanted to get these shoes off, real fast.

We came to the portrait of the dolls and James mumbled the password. He grabbed my arm and gave a light tug so that I was right behind him. He slumped onto the couch as we walked into the common room.

I slid into an armchair across from him and slid off my shoes, stretching my legs by the fireplace. I watched as James fiddled with his tie.

"Lily, I think I need to explain something about my parents to you." he started and I immediately looked up at him. His face was completely serious, not a trace of the old James was left in him at the moment. I nodded in acknowledgement and he continued to talk.

"Well you see, my parents and I...weren't very close." He paused for a moment as I thought this over. He had pictures of his parents in his room...he told stories of how his dad taught him how to fly his first broomstick and how his mum made the best pie in the world. He had actually sent me a slice one Christmas holiday. Of course I had given it to Abbey so she could make sure there were no jinxes or anything on it, but I had a bite and it was very good.

"You see I used to be close to them up until, maybe, fifth year or so. Then they began working a lot more. When I came home on breaks I never saw them, when I did they were going to bed. On Christmas, I actually opened my presents alone, while they slept in until three then went straight to work. I began to get used to not seeing them so I just ignored it and began to think 'Wow aren't I lucky? I have the house to myself!' But I never felt that way. Then, Sirius began to live with me and I wasn't as lonely. I still missed my parents though. Then after Christmas Break this year I told my parents that I hated them and they didn't even know me. I don't know why I said it, I just had a lot of built up rage against them I guess. I figured, at the time, I would just write an owl apologizing or something, but I never did. Now it's too late.."

I was actually sniffing back tears. James said this, while staring at the fire intently, with such...emotion? I know that sounds girly but it's true. Well, manly emotion.

We sat there in silence for about ten minutes before I decided to speak up.

"James, they knew you loved them. How could they not? You're their son, they loved you and you loved them. Don't blame yourself for not apologizing. You didn't know that this was going to happen to them. No one knows when these kinds of things happen." I said quietly, not knowing what else to say.

"Easy for you to say..." James mumbled angrily. I frowned, he was the one who told me all this and expected me to cheer him up. How the hell would he know what I've been through. I've lost people just as important to me.

"Easy for me, isn't it James?" I asked quietly, looking him in the eye.

"Perfect, Lily Evans, head girl has no problems, isn't that right?" I asked a little louder. He looked like he was either going to start screaming at me or just leave. But I wanted him to know the truth.

"I lost my brother, James. I lost my frickin younger brother. So, don't tell me it's easy, because I know it's not." I exclaimed angrily and James looked taken-aback. But if I were in his place so would I.

I turned away from him and looked into the flickering flames. I felt like leaving but I knew James would just follow me, so what was the point.

"How?" James asked, almost so quietly I couldn't hear him.

"I was thirteen," my voice returned to normal. "And I was babysitting him. He was nine at the time. His name was Ben and he always wanted to be a wizard after I got my letter to Hogwarts. Every summer he would ask me to tell him all of the wonderful things that happened here at Hogwarts and we would stay up late talking about magic. Well, one day my parents and sister left the house and I was supposed to babysit him. We were in the house and I was yelling at him because he had, somehow, gotten playdoh all over the television."

I smiled sadly at the memory.

"I got so mad because he wouldn't clean it up so I told him he couldn't play until he cleaned it. Of course, being stubborn like he is, he wouldn't listen. So I cleaned it up, vowing I would tell my parents and he would get in trouble. While I was cleaning there was a knock at the back door and I told Ben not to answer it, because we weren't supposed to "talk to strangers". But he ignored me and opened the door. That's when I heard him yell out and I ran to the doorway, a tall man had a gun pointed to his head and told me not to move or Ben would die. Of course I freaked out and froze, then the neighbor's car alarm went off and scared the man. He shot him, on accident...I guess, I really don't know. All I remember is seeing red. Then when I woke up I was in the hospital. Ben hadn't made it."

I stifled a small sob and continued to look anywhere but at James.

"Did they get the man?"

"No." I whispered and I felt something light touch my knee, I looked down to see James sitting in front of me, leaning up against the chair.

"I'm so sorry." James said sadly and I just nodded.

"It's hard James, but it'll be okay in the end." I told him, putting a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

Then James whispered something I don't think he wanted me to hear, but I did.

"Only if you're there."

Sadness...:( Just so you know, Lily's parents ARE NOT dead..at the moment.

THanks to all my reviewers!!

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-A lesson before dying