Authors Note: I'm sorry this didn't get posted on Monday and I'm not making any more promises about what day I'm going to post what because I know this world is against me and generally when I sit down at a computer it is to do homework. I've got individual study projects coming out my ears. So wait till August then I'll write tones promise.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything pertaining to Harry Potter.

Chapter 6: A day of worrying, a night of Comforting

Lily's P.O.V.-------------------------

Lily walked slowly up to Gryffindor Tower after leaving James at the Grand Stair Case. She finally reached the Portrait Hole and gave the password (quidditch) to the Fat Lady. Upon entering the common room she was greeted b a blast of noise from the party the Gryffindor had to celebrate Gryffindor's victory over the Slytherins. No one noticed Lily enter the room as was usual even though they were all keeping an eye on the Portrait Hole hoping James would show up soon to join in the celebration.

Lily walked over to where the Marauder's minus James were standing. She began to try to get Sirius' attention. A very difficult task seeing he was talking to Marobin Watson a pretty seventh year. "Sirius," said Lily timidly. "Sirius, listen to me." Finally Sirius looked up and saw Lily. When she said " Hey Sirius James isn't coming.

"Hey you're James' little friend what's your name again? What do you mean James isn't coming? James would never miss a party I threw."

"Lily. Sirius, James had to go see McGonagall I think it's about his mother. This is his broom could you put it away for him?" Lily handed Sirius James' broom and walked up the girl's staircase. Sirius didn't even notice her leave. Arialyn Potter had been like a second mother to Sirius ever since he was a little kid. Sirius had always thought that she would recover from her stroke but now he wasn't so sure.

Lily spent the rest of the day working on school work in one of the window seats in the Common room, from this vantage point she could watch and see if James came in as well as be out of everyone's way and get some work done. Karolyn one of her room mates nearly sat on her once but other then that no one paid any attention to her.

Slowly the Common room began to empty people drifted off to their dorms and to the Great Hall for supper. About 6p.m. Lily went down to the Great Hall herself. She ate quickly and brought back a couple of pumpkin pasties to the common room with her so she could snack on them while she worked on a research project she was doing for extra credit is Defense Against the Dark Arts. hours crept past and Lily began to worry more and more about James. About 8 o'clock the common room was completely empty and James had yet to return Lily was really starting to get worried. Then about a half hour latter James stumbled through the portrait hole collapsing on to a couch. He dropped his head into his hands and cried.

Lily was distressed to see James so upset. She got up from her work and walked over to James sitting down gently beside him and laid a gentle hand on his arm. Her heart reached out to him. she wanted nothing more then to hear her friend laugh and see him smile again.

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

He collapsed into a couch. He didn't feel like he had enough strength to make it up to the boy's dorm. The couch was the closest thing to the portrait hole on which to sit. He dropped his head into his hands and felt the unwanted tears come, he didn't bother to ebb the flow. They didn't ease the pain mush but they helped. He felt ashamed of his tears. He never let his emotions get the better of him but this last month there had been more tears then in his whole life previously.

Suddenly he felt some on sit down beside him. Somehow he knew it was Lily. He felt a gentle hand rest on his shoulder. It wasn't demanding or abusive just letting him know she was there, and that she cared. That was all.

He looked up at her bright green eyes. "She's gone, Lily," he said softly in a shocked kind of voice. "She died with me right there holding her hand. She told me she loved me and then closed her eyes and died."

"She isn't gone. Part of her will always be with you James. As long as you never forget her she will always be part of you." Lily knew she wished someone had told her that when her parents had dies. Instead it had taken her about a year to figure it out.

"Lily, why do you always know the right thing to way?" James asked her inquisitively. "when she died I felt so alone. we went back to my house afterwards to sort out the will. The house felt so empty, so big. It didn't feel like home anymore. I think she had been clinging to life just to talk to me one more time." James just stared into the fire his eyes deep wells of pain. Lily put her arm around his shoulders and laid her head on his back. "the world was empty and I was alone," he murmured softly.

"No James. You're not alone. Your friends will always be her fore you. I will always be there fore you. Nothing will ever keep your friends from you when you need them most." Lily said in a quiet southing voice.

"Thank you Lily for being here," he looked into her green eyes and Lily could see that his eyes were still pools of unshed tears.

"James, I think you should go to bed. Its been a long day for you, emotionally, physically and mentally. And you're still in your quidditch robes." James realized that he was still indeed wearing his red Gryffindor Quidditch Team uniform. he hadn't even had time to change after the game let alone have a shower after the game and he hadn't even noticed till Lily pointed it out.

"Where are Sirius and Remus?" he asked knowing it was way too early for those two to be in bed.

"They left around 5 o'clock. Seeing that it's the full moon tonight I guess Remus went to transform." Lily said knowing that James knew about Remus.

"You know his a werewolf!" exclaimed James.

"Yes, he told me himself back in second year. Probably doesn't even remember though." Lily said out of hand. She remembered seeing Remus brooding in the common room. It had been the first time she had found herself comforting another student. Remus told her everything, about being bitten as a child, becoming a monster every month. how he wanted to make friends but he was afraid they would discover who he was and turn against him for it.

"I'm not with them! What if they need me?" worried James.

"Shhh....I think they'll be fine with a rat and a great black dog. They won't need the stag tonight I'm sure." replied Lily rubbing his back reassuringly.

"You know we're animagi too? are any secrets safe from you?" asked James wonderingly.

"Remember no one notices me. People talk bout things in front of me which they normally wouldn't. you and your friends were never an exception to that rule. I know more inside stuff about the Gryffindor then anyone. Even Dumbledore."

"I was right, nothing is safe!" James exclaimed again with a yawn. He looked like he had been run through the mill.

"James bed, and if you go down to Remus tonight you're going to get hurt and how do you think that will make Remus feel. You are too tired and one mistake around a werewolf could cost you your life. Remus will understand, James go to bed." Lily said knowing that sleep would be good for him.

"You're right lily. You always seem to be right. You are one of the best friends a guy could have." James gave her a weak smile then getting up he walked up the stairs to the boys' dorm. "Goodnight Lily, thank you." He called behind him as he walked up his stairs.