Authors Note: Sorry this took much longer to write then I thought it would it was a really hard chapter to write as it was. The next chapiter is written I just have to type it up. Probably get it posted by Monday but don't be disappointed if it isn't. I'm not sure what to write for it see I got some stuff for the Christmas ball and right before the Christmas Ball but I need something in between to linked the two. So if you have any ideas just tell me in a review okay.

Disclaimer: I own nothing pertaining to Harry Potter.

Chapiter 5: James in Pain

James walked to McGonagall's office, his mind was numb. He could have found her offices with her eyes closed, he couldn't remember how many times he had been there. He felt as though he walked the footsteps of doom, he was sure he knew what awaited him in her office. This visit wouldn't end in a detention he was sure. After what seemed like an eternity James knocked on the door of Professor McGonagall's office.

"Come in James," a voice called from inside the office. It wasn't McGonagall's voice James realized, it was the voice of Headmaster Dumbledore. James walked into the office seeing Dumbledore and McGonagall sitting by the fire.

"Is she gone? asked James not wanting them to try and break it to him easy, it would be harder that way.

"Not yet James. I got an emergency owl from St. Mungo's just before the Gryffindor vs. Slytherin game began. Your mother took a turn for the worst. She has been asking to see you. Therefore you will flue to St. Mungo's with Professor McGonagall today, in about an hour actually. The doctors think she has about a week at the most." Dumbledore informed him.

"When do we leave?" asked James in a completely flat monotone voice.

"Soon I want you to go down to the kitchen. I trust you know where it is," James nodded. "Get something for lunch I'm sure your hungry after the game. At 2 p.m. we will flue to St. Mungo's." Said McGonagall.

James left for the kitchen in a calm numbness leaving McGonagall and Dumbledore alone talk. "Will he be okay? He's taking it so much calmer then I expected him to." McGonagall said to Dumbledore.

"I think he has expected this soon. He knew that she didn't have much longer and didn't get his hopes up for a miracle. I noticed that he has become friends wiht Lily Evans. She will help him get over this she has been through so much herself." Dumbledore mused. He often noticed things about his students. He always kept an eye on Lily. She was invisible to society and it intrigued him how peoples eyes passed over her without even noticing her presence. Even teachers never called on her in class.

"Yes I noticed he had. That little red head, Lily, its nice that she has a friend she's always alone. She's a interesting person, losing her parents in the manor she did. I hear her sister whom she lives with during the holidays isn't pleasant and she is so quiet. I never really notice her. the other day potter say with her in class. I had to tell him to stop talking to her." McGonagall smiled thinking about the young people discovering the world.

James' P.O.V.-------------

James arrived at the fruit bowl painting before he knew it. He was in a kind of daze and had been walking with out thinking about where he was going, his feet had just carried him there. He tickled the pear and the door swung open to reveal the huge Hogwarts kitchen. The house elves gave hi a basket of food. James thanked them and walked back up to McGonagall's office while absent mindedly nibbling a pasty. Everything was numb, he was not eady to cry but he also felt like he would never smile again.

James sat in McGonagall's office for about a half hour while she made some last minute arrangements. He ate some of the food in the basket not much though, he wasn't feeling that hungry. They flued out to St. Mungo's at exactly 2 p.m. It took them about an hour to get permission to visit Arialyn Potter ( James' mother).

When they entered the room they found that Arialyn was awake and coherent but she was very weak, a wraith of what she used to be. It broke James' heart, he had always admired his mother's strength.

"James, is that you?" asked Arialyn in a voice no more then a whisper.

"Yes Mother, I'm her. Professor McGonagall is as well." Arialyn Potter and Minerva McGonagall had been in the same year at Hogwarts. They had both been Gryffindors and had been best friends since first year.

"I'm glad I get to see you one more time James, Mini." James took his mother's frail hand in his.

"I love you, Mom."

"Ari, you are the best friend a girl could ask for," said McGonagall.

"So are you, Mini."replied Arialyn.

"I'll leave you with James now," said Minerva McGonagall whoo was on the verge of tears something James had never seen before. "Goodbye Arialyn."

"Goodbye Minerva." There was a finality in their farewells that almost brought James to tears. With that McGonagall left the room.

"James, I know I don't have long but some how death doesn't scare me anymore, its more like rest. I feel awful leaving you alone in the world but I can't hang on much more. Melany Black came to see me. We had a long talk and decided that its best you stay with the Blacks this summer. There is more then enough money in Gringotts for you to live on for the next two years. I'm not worried about you surviving but I'm worried that you will let my passing hurt you beyond recovery. James I love you. I don't want you to mourn me over much. I want you to find love in this world. Never shut you heart away James. Promise me that, if nothing else." Arialyn reached out and touched her son's cheek.

"I promise Mom. I love you." James felt a tear run down his face.

"I love you too." Arialyn's eyes shut and she took one last shuddering breath and her spirit left her body her chest was still. James knew she was gone, he bowed his head and let his tears flow free. After a time James didn't know how long he pushed the button that summoned the nurse, and a little dumpy witch came in.

"She's gone," James said quietly the nurse nodded that began to cover Arialyn's body with the cover on the bed. At that moment McGonagall entered she place a gentle hand on James' shoulder. He looked up at his mother's best friend with red rimed eyes and a tear stained face. For the first time he didn't see her as the strict transfiguration professor who was the Head of Gryffindor House but as a woman who was grief stricken by the passing of her best friend.

"She isn't in pain anymore, Professor," said James trying to convince himself just as much as McGonagall that this was a good thing.

"Come James. There are thing that we must attend to before we leave London." McGonagall began to walk out of the room with James in tow. He looked once more at his mother's still form under the white sheet, and then he too left the room.

They went first to Potter Manor in Godric's Hollow. There they found hi mother's Will which stated in all legality that James Potter was the heir to the Potter Estate exempting a few items that were to go to friends and family. They then went to the Ministry to arrange for Arialyn's cremation. She had stated in her will she wanted her ashes mixed with those of MacKenzie Potter (her husband and James' father) and put in the lake at Hogwarts. Dumbledore met then at the Ministry and told them he would make the arrangements for Arialyn's memorial service which would be held at Hogwarts the next week.

It was at this point 6 p.m. and James was exhausted. He walked back to the Leaky Cauldron with Dumbledore and McGonagall. As they entered Dumbledore suggested they all get something to eat before heading back to Hogwarts. So they gave their orders to Tom the bar keeper and sat down at one of the tables. It was a silent meal, no one felt like talking much.

After the meal they floud bakc to Hogwarts from the fireplace in the Leaky Cauldron. They fellout of the fire place in Dumbledore's office. It was about 8 p.m. and all James wanted to do was go back to Gryffindor Tower and crawl up to his bed before he fell asleep on his feet.

"James, I know you're tired and wish to go back to Gryffindor Tower but I think there is something you need to see first." Dumbledore said after McGonagall left for her own quarters. James sat down on one of the chairs in the office and looked up at the Head Master. "Your mother left these in my care after your father was killed" Said Dumbledore handing James two long pieces of parchment. (AN: James' father was an Auror and was killed while on duty).The shorter of the two was the Potter family tree tracing the family from himself back ten generations. the longer piece to his surprise was his mothers. It showed that through his mother's mother it could be traced back over a thousand years.

"Back to Godric Gryffindor," muttered James.

"Yes, your mother's mother was a Gryffindor and an only child before she was married to Jonathan O'Keen. You are now the heir of Gryffindor, James. I thought you should know that." Dumbledore smiled at the boy. "You may go now, oh, and take those with you they may be important eventually."

James never knew how he managed to get back to Gryffindor Tower that night but he was thankful the common room was empty when he got there. At least he thought it was.