Lily's mouth dropped open, and she blinked several times. She didn't know whether to cry or to feel relieved. "Wow."

"Wow?" James asked quizzically.

Lily breather deeply. "Did he really?"

"Yeah," Lina promised. "You should've seen James; I would've tried to kill Tyler myself, except James had sent so many curses at him that there wasn't much left to do."

Lily raised her eyebrows, surprised. James was blushing again. He handed her the note, and as Lina sat down to read it, Lily studied James. "Why? After everything I did to you… I didn't even really like him…"

He shrugged his shoulders and looked at the floor awkwardly. "I just didn't want to see you hurt anymore."

Lily looked into his eyes, searching to see if he meant it. He did.

Lina stood up, breaking the silence. "Oh, Lily, I'm sorry!" She flung her arms around Lily in a hug, then handed her the note. Lily looked over it again.

Dearest Lily,

I have some bad news for you. Your mother has died. I need to make arrangements for the funeral. I don't think it's a good idea for you to come home just yet; maybe over Christmas. You can pay your last respects then.

Love always,

Dad

Lily shook silently. "I still don't get it though… why wouldn't he want me home? If I don't come until Christmas then I'll miss the funeral and everything…"

James looked at her. "It is odd… Maybe his is a messy state; doesn't want you to see him."

"I know but… that can't just be it… you don't think… you don't think he hurt her, do you?" Lina asked, almost reluctantly.

"No!" Lily gasped. "He wouldn't do anything like that…"

"I was just wondering," she replied hurriedly, trying to clear the air. Another bell rang, and Lina hugged Lily again. "I'm so sorry… I'm sure everything will be okay… I've got to go, but I love you, girl."

As she left, she decided that she'd do anything to see her friend happy again.

••••

"James?" Lily whispered, as the night had fallen and a sixth year a few beds over was trying to sleep. They were still in the Hospital wing, and James hadn't left her side since earlier that day.

He picked his head off of his shoulder and yawned. "Yes?"

"I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for everything that I've put you through… I was so mean. Thanks, though."

"For what?"

"For staying with me," she hugged him, and was relieved that he was on her good side again.

••••

The next two months flew by; Lily had written her father on several occasions, with no reply. Before she knew it, Professor McGonagall was passing around a sheet, asking students to sign it that were stating for the holidays. Lily did not put her name on the list. She knew that her family needed her, so she went upstairs to pack her bags. It would be nice to return home.

She was almost done when she heard a knock at her dorm door. "Come in!"

Peter, Remus, James, Sirius, Malfoy, Snape, Tyler, Lina, Christy, Mary, and Maria all entered.

"Wha-how'd you get in here?"

James shrugged his shoulders, then turned around and acted in mock surprise. "Oh, look, people from other houses are in here! Well, while were all here…"

He handed her a large box with red wrapping and a gold bow on top.

"What's this?" Lily asked, taken aback.

"Your Christmas present," Sirius said. "It's from all of us; the gits here actually chipped in!"

Lucius shot Sirius a dirty look. "Of course we did; my family has a plenty of gold…"

"Shut up before you choke on your own ego," Tyler hissed.

Lily sat on her bed. "You guys didn't have to do this."

"Ah, but we did," said Remus, tapping his nose. "So you might as well open it."

Lily grinned then carefully tore off the paper. Inside was a finely furnished wooden ox. Noticing a hinge, she opened that also. A beautiful diamond necklace with matching earrings gleamed happily at her. She felt her jaw drop. "Oh my gosh, you have to be joking me! Thank you so much everyone!"

Lina smiled, looking extremely satisfied. "There's more."

Lily's eyes grew larger, and she looked disbelieving. She dug back into the box and pulled out a soft white dress. She held it up to her chest, and the hem tickled the floor gracefully. "Oh wow, everyone! Thank you so much… but whatever will I use this for?"

James smiled knowingly. "I'm sure you'll find a use…"

She threw her arms around each of her friend's necks. "Oh thank you… everything had to be so expensive though…"

"It wasn't so much with everyone chipping in," James replied. "And anyway, mum said I could spend up to one hundred galleons each, so don't worry about us over spending."

Everyone glanced at James in disbelief, except for Malfoy, who just rolled his eyes.

After some muffled discussion, everyone left except for James.

"I've gotten you something else, too."

He handed over another present.