Disclaimer: JK Rowling is my hero, my idol, my favourite author, but unfortunately, not me. It is she who owns the wonderful world of Harry Potter, its characters settings, etc, again, not me. I am merely borrowing for the sole purpose of this fic.

Well. What a road we have traveled, my friends. A journey is seldom enjoyed at its end, but as all journeys must eventually expire, it seems this one has finally found the steps home at the end of the pathway. I must say I have thoroughly enjoyed writing this fic, and I'd personally like to thank you all for sharing it with me, especially all you wonderful people who have left me reviews at some point or another.

I'd like to take a moment to list those people now, in order of reviews received (but only mentioned the first time I received a review, many of you have submitted multiple reviews…mwah!) :

Empress Genevieve, Imaginator, babyhalo19, Reader, Rainwolf, Clearbrook, bertiebottsgeorge (especially as she inspired this story), Slytherin Rogue, Jewels, Didaskaleinophobia, Dark Child Productions, Holly Lamere, Millie mezza moo moo, Godric's Angel, Mermione, leo, mystikalolo (special mention here, for one of my loyal readers who always leaves essay length reviews!) Pick Boy lover, Why must I be Omelette (closest thing I've ever had to a flame!) Fancy, Seraph, Alie, pixie, Nikki Black, crazyForJames, C, dancer24, FiLLii (hee, hee, she pronounces Lauren like I do!!) mrs.prongs, ProngsMoony, Gwen Eos, s, HiThere, krissy, No Name, RedRaspberry, bav, supafreak,J.E.A.R.K.Potter, EmeraldxxEyes, Elven Heart, Roland Pendergrass Jnr, xmasfreak9, Ella-Watson, Amiala, and whittchan. (Sorry to anyone who has since reviewed – know that I appreciate your review as much as any other.)

You could not possibly understand how much joy you people have brought to me through your reviews. As you may or may not know, I am hoping to publish a novel and to know that people actually like what I write is a gift far greater than any words I can muster here.

Oh dear. I'm getting misty eyed.

Anyway. Thanks again. I wasn't going to update as quickly as this but I finished and thought – why not? Here's the conclusion to this little ficcy, the first fic I have finished that was not a one-shot. HOORAY! I hope you all enjoy it, and if you feel like giving me reviews I will luv ya forever.

(Just a note. A couple of you asked why that last chapter was called The Realisation. Partly because the contents of this conclusion were intended to be included in that last chapter, then I changed my mind, and put them here instead. It works better this way.)

The Conclusion.

It was dark. Lily awoke, warm, aching, with a skull splitting headache but, miraculously, alive. It was a moment before she realized she was in the Hospital Wing. Wincing, she sat up, surprised to find the figure of James slumped in an armchair at the end of her bed.

He looked exhausted beyond his years, but Lily's heart swelled with a happiness that made her head ache even more to see him there, clearly alive.

He stirred, as though her pain had hurt him too, and Lily felt a happiness infuse her as he opened his eyes and smiled at her, a smile full of a pained relief and a burden relinquished.

"Lily."

His voice underlined the relief on his face.

Lily was confused somehow by the pain she saw in him.

He answered the question in her head, as though he had read her mind.

"I thought you were dead."

Lily ached for him, understanding now his grief.

"I never would have forgiven myself, if you had died to save me." His eyes were unseeing, his words cracking in pain. And suddenly he was back, and he launched himself towards her, catching her in a fierce hug that winded Lily. She didn't mind though, as she felt an intensity inside her that made her feel as though she would burst. She realized she could not imagine ever loving anyone so much as the man who now held her, so consuming was her love.

Pulling back, James wiped his eyes, and Lily saw. She couldn't suppress a smile, and James saw this and smiled also. He then leaned in and pressed his lips to her, in a kiss that told her what she had seen in his eyes, a kiss that was tender and caring, and that told her she was loved.

Pulling away, she broke into tears, and James gathered her into a hug, holding her to him as though nothing could ever tear them apart. They stayed like that for some time.

And finally, James pulled back, and pressed his forehead to hers, so their noses touched and their breath mingled.

"Lily?"

"Yes James?"

"I love you."

Lily smiled a watery grin, "I love you too, James."

"Lily?"

"Yes James?" (She didn't know why she was whispering)

He pulled something out of his back pocket.

"Will you marry me?"

Lily's world melted in an instant as James opened the object to reveal a beautiful ring with a single diamond, glinting at her in the dark.

Lily felt her tears begin to fall as she pressed her mouth to his, once more.

"Yes James. I will."

And the rest is history.

And that, dear friends, is the story, of the ultimate fairy tale.