"Lily? Lily?" Lily heard as though from a far distance.
Her eyes fluttered open to the sight of James' worried face gazing down at her just like they had at Kings Cross. This time Lily didn't have the strength to get out of James' hold so she started to close her eyes again. She knew James would worry, so she whispered slowly just loud enough for him to hear, "Its okay James I'll be fine. I'm just so tired."
She then felt her feet being lifted off the ground and relaxed her body completely into James' gentle but firm hold. He carried her hurriedly all the way to the hospital wing managing her weight easily in his arms. As he reached the hospital wing he laid her down in a bed and rushed to find Madame Pomfrey in her office.
The nurse came out and looked gravely upon Lily. "Mr Potter, thank you for bringing her here but I'm afraid you have to leave now."
"I'm not going anywhere until I know she'll be alright," he responded stubbornly.
"Mr Potter I need to examine Lily, but if you do me a favour I will permit you to stay tonight if Lily does not mind."
"What kind of favour?"
"Just go and fetch the headmaster from the Great hall and bring him straight back here please."
James didn't even bother giving a response he dashed from the hospital wing and arrived at the Great hall in record time. He rushed to Sirius, who was talking to the lead singer of the hobgoblins. Out of breath, bent over and holding on to Sirius' shoulder from behind, he gasped, "Where's Dumbledore?"
"What is it James? The lead singer of the hobgoblins is leaving the band and he's considering me as a replacement," Sirius said exasperatedly before turning around to look at James after which his expression immediately became more concerned and he looked shocked at James for a minute before saying, "Are you okay James? What happened?"
James shook his head and replied pleadingly, "Just tell me where he is?"
"Over there," Sirius told him looking puzzled whilst pointing to the doors where Dumbledore was talking to Professor McGonagall.
James ran quickly over to him and panted, "Sir, Lily, hospital wing, Madame Pomfrey, see you now."
Without a word, Professor Dumbledore headed straight to the doors and made his way to the hospital wing taking long strides and managing the corridor quickly.
James took a second to catch his breath. He turned around slowly to tell the group about Lily and found himself face to face with Rose. He looked at her wistfully before saying, "Look, Rose I really like you but this just isn't working for me."
She smiled at him knowingly and said, "I understand, you like her don't you?"
"Yeah, I just which the feeling was mutual," he replied slightly depressed.
"I wouldn't be so sure," she answered with a twinkle in he eyes before turning around and heading to talk to some of her friends.
James stood there for a second a little confused before remembering what he was there to do and hurriedly rushed off in the direction of Sirius, Remus, Kiara and Lisa. Getting his breath back a little now, "It's Lily, she fainted in my arms and wouldn't wake up, I've taken her to the hospital wing and Madame Pomfrey's examining her now."
A look of shock appeared on the other four's faces before all of them made their way hurriedly out of the great hall in a hurdle.
James was playing the sheep dog herding the others out, bringing up the back when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around to come face to face with Benjy Fenwick. "Where are you going? And where's Lily, she hasn't come back from the bathroom yet?" he had a questioning and yet hopeful look on his face as he looked over James head and pass the group in hopes of seeing Lily.
He brought his head back down when James began to speak, "I'm sorry Benjy, she was feeling ill, I took her to the hospital wing. That's where were going now."
Benjy suddenly had a worried expression on his face and he asked frantically, "Is she alright? Is it serious?"
James looked him up and down and then inclined his head to the where the group were walking to the hospital wing then turned around and started walking himself. Benjy followed.
They stayed a few steps behind the rest of the group pretty much all the way there and when they arrived at the door of the hospital wing they witnessed Madame Pomfrey fighting off the other four who were trying to get inside to see Lily.
"…she isn't ready for visitors yet. I said only Mr Potter could see her now." She then caught sight of James and gestured for him to come in. As he entered he turned to the rest of the group's pleading faces and gave a small nod to let them know he would get them inside to see Lily.
His heart gave a jump as he saw Lily looking so helpless on a hospital bed. She was as white as a ghost and the contrast of her hair and skin colour gave her an ill look that she rarely ever possessed. She looked almost dead in the way she was lying on the bed, her eyes tightly closed but it looked like as she lay there, clear and silent tears were escaping her.
Madame Pomfrey noticed the terrified expression on James' face and said soothingly, "It's alright; she'll be fine in the morning. She's had some potion, now she just needs rest."
James nodded soundlessly and made his way to the chair positionedby the side of her bed and sat down slowly. He gently took her pale hand in his own and a silent tear trickled down his cheek. As he looked at her, lying there, he felt physically sick. He had loved being friends with Lily and he thought that was all that he wanted but as he saw her he knew that if anything ever happened to Lily, it would hurt him more so than anything else on Earth.
A noise from outside awoke him from the gaze he held upon Lily and he remembered he had to get the others in to see her. He wiped the tear from his face with his finger and as he slipped her hand out of his placing a gentle kiss upon it he heard a small noise escape her lips, "James?" the sound was so soft and barely audible but James had heard. He looked into her face that he could only describe as pure beauty but only saw the still sleeping and silently crying Lily although she had not shed as many tears when James had been holding her hand.
He left her regrettably to get Madame Pomfrey who with reluctance said that the others could see her. They entered quietly and Benjy rushed to join Lily's side. But when he touched her she started crying more violently and shaking. Her chest was falling and rising very rapidly. Rasped noises escaped her giving the impression that she was having difficulty breathing.
Madame Pomfrey, who had been overseeing the visit, stepped forward immediately and said quickly but consolingly, "I'm sorry dear, but I'm going to have to ask you to step back. She's very distressed."
Benjy did so immediately but looked very down hearted. He looked at the floor as he stood with the rest of the group. Next Kiara stepped forward with Sirius by her side. Kiara bit her lips in anticipation worrying that Lily would do the same to her as what she did to Benjy. Unfortunately the same thing happened. Lily's breathing became very fast and they both stepped back, Kiara crying into Sirius' shoulder whilst he held her close and tight to him.
Lisa and Remus tried next, yet the same thing happened but this time Lisa ran out of the room crying and Remus had to follow her.
This seemed to be the final straw for Madame Pomfrey, "I'm sorry but I'm going to have to ask you all to leave," she was starting to sound a bit angry.
James still could not take his gaze off Lily and asked Madame Pomfrey quietly, "Can I stay with her tonight please?"
Madame Pomfrey considered him for a moment; she looked as though she was against the idea but then replied, "If you must."
This caused Benjy Fenwick to argue, "Why should he get to stay and not me? I'm her date."
"I'm sorry dear but that's just the way it is. James seems to be the only one Lily does not get distressed around when he's near her. I'm sure its nothing personal, but now I am afraid either you leave or I get the headmaster. And having just come up here I'm sure he doesn't want to revisit quite so quickly."
Benjy reluctantly left the room and James went once more to sit by her side. He once again took her hand and he heard that barely audible sound escape her lips again of, "James?"
"It's alright I'm here," he said quietly as a few more silent tears escaped him.
Lily's eyes opened to see the ceiling of the hospital wing instead of the usual comforting ceiling of her dormitory room. She took a moment to get her bearings and she lay still for a few seconds. When she eventually moved she felt something by her side and as she sat up she looked down to see James Potter asleep, his head resting on the side of her bed.
His face looked tear stained and as Lily watched him she felt a surge of compassion. He must have stayed here all night with me,she thought.For some reason this gave Lily more comfort than even the fact that she was in the hospital wing.
She gently nudged him awake and he raised his head gently and looked into her eyes. "Lily, you're awake!" and with that he flung his arms around her and embraced her in a tender hug. She was caught by surprise but pleased all the same. He was so genuinely happy. She smiled.
"Did you stay here all night with me James?" Lily asked.
Though the smile was evident on James' face he still bore signs of worry in his facial expression. He gave a small nod in reply.
"I'll be fine James," Lily told him starting to feel guilty for making him worry. There was silence in the room for a few seconds before Lily said, "So where are my friends and "get well soon" presents then?" and she gave James a playful expecting look.
Meanwhile out in the corridor Benjy Fenwick had just turned around to go back to his common room after coming to visit Lily in the hospital wing. He had brought flowers and chocolates and didn't hold Lily's distress with him the previous night over her. But when he witnessed how she was with James and the way James was with her. He knew he could not fill the place of her boyfriend. He was not upset for he normally had inklings about this kind of thing. And even though James and Lily didn't know it, they would be in for a big surprise very soon.
Lily was kept in the hospital wing over the next few weeks and was only let out during late January after only just having returned to her normal colour although now her "normal" colour was a lot paler than previously. Over the last few weeks she had spent in the hospital wing she had been sick nearly everyday and she thought she would never get better. The only thing that sustained her was getting visits from people. Or to be specific one person kept her going. James.
They had been spending a lot of time together whilst she was in the hospital wing. He would visit her during breaks, lunches, free periods and if he could fit it in, between classes too. She was very grateful as he was bringing her the workload from the classes she had missed so she could catch up more easily. But he always had interesting tales to tell when he got there too which kept Lily amused. They had become even closer over the last few weeks and now knew nearly everything abouteach another. He had been her most frequent visitor although she had had plenty from her other friends as well. She always enjoyed his visits the most though.
It was February 14th and Lily had been out of the hospital wing for just over two weeks now. She made her way into the Great hall for breakfast and sat down next to James who was smiling about something and wouldn't give her an answer as to what when she gave him a questioning look. She glanced up from James to see Benjy Fenwick walking across the Great hall. He saw her and gave her a small smile which she returned. She hadn't really talked to Benjy since their date at Christmas she had wondered why he had never visited her in the hospital wing but it never really upset her. She had so many visitors already.
Today was Valentines Day and although she hadn't said anything to anyone she was desperately hoping for a specific something from a specific someone. She didn't know why because everything she had got in previous years she had despised although she never actually despised the gifts themselves just what they represented.
She looked up hopefully as did many other girls when the owls came swooping in to deliver post but as many others were, she was disappointed having had no owl land in front of her. Her heart sank, she couldn't believe this, her final year at Hogwarts, would be the only year she didn't receive anything for Valentine's Day.
She had just begun to eat her breakfast when the raising of many students heads distracted her. She also looked up to see a magnificent snowy owl flying in with something red in its claws. It landed in front of her and her heart surged of happiness though she tried not to convey it through her face. And contrary to many beliefs she was actually a very good actress.
The owl placed a red heart shaped card in front of her, with a long stemmed red rose beside it which had exactly seven thorns. Lily remembered in her first year when she had got one with one thorn in. She had been so embarrassed. The next year however she had received another one this time with two thorns. And the next year one with three thorns. By their sixth year she had cottoned on, a thorn for each of their years at Hogwarts together.
Instead of smiling however she turned to face James and with a questioning look and her eyebrows raised she just said, "James, care to explain?"
"What? Can't break tradition on our last year can I. Read the card?"
Lily had the feeling she knew what was in it. But rather being angry she found the whole situation very amusing and knew that James was just playing now.
She picked up the card, opened it and read in her head what was inside it, Will you go out with me Evans? Exactly what she had expected. She put the card down and said quietly to James, "Well if its tradition you're after…"
She pushed her chair back and stood up making herself much taller than James who remained sat and looking puzzled as to what Lily was about to do. And then she started shouting, "POTTER! GET IT THROUGH YOUR THICK SKULL! I WOULD NOT GO OUT WITH YOU IF YOU WERE THE LAST MAN ON EARTH! ACTUALLY FORGET THAT, IF THERE WAS JUST YOU AND A BLAST ENDED SKREWT LEFT ON EARTH I'D CHOOSE THE BLAST ENDED SKREWT!" and with that she left the Great hall pretending to be fuming. On her way out she passed Lisa, Remus, Kiara and Sirius who looked at her red face bemusedlybut then decided to carry on into the Great hall to see what had happened.
Everyone was looking at the Gryffindor table where James was smiling sheepishly before he got out of his seat and followed Lily out of the hall. He found her a little way along the corridor keeling over with laughter. As she saw him approaching she managed to get out whilst clutching her stomach, "You should've seen your face. Priceless."
"Actually I thought it was quite embarrassing. But I can't deny it; that was good stuff." And he too joined in her uncontrollable laughter.
When it seemed they had no more breath for laughter. Lily said sincerely, "James that was really sweet though, I really do appreciate it."
James just smiled and shrugged his shoulders in response.
"What do we have first?" he asked her.
"Defence against the Dark Arts."
"Okay class," Professor Adams began. "This is going to be like a practical exam. But remember these are real dangers you will be facing. You must be able to protect yourselves. You will enter the forest with a partner until you encounter at least one obstacle the forest presents you with."
The classmates were looking around at each other, nervous looks on all but four faces, the marauders, surprisingly including Peter, didn't really look nervous about this challenge they were just smiling. But only they knew why.
"You will have to remember which spells will come in useful when presented with the task you will get. But if you do find yourself in trouble just send up red sparks and someone will come and help."
"As I said you will have to work in pairs. So choose your partners."
James looked around at the class. Remus and Lisa were holding hands so he assumed they would go together whilst Sirius and Kiara were all over each other and he didn't really want to intervene there and this wasn't the kind of thing where he would want Peter as a partner. He didn't want to be a mean friend but anyone who knew Peter would understand.
He noticed Lily was looking around too and she soon caught his eye. "Shall we?" James asked her.
"Why not," she replied and they both walked into the forest side by side.
They had walked to where the forest was starting to lose a bit of its light within 10 minutes. "Shouldn't we have met something by now," Lily said. She was starting to feel cold and not very well as they entered darker territory.
"James. I don't feel so good," she said as she started to shiver.
He was a little way in front with his wand out ready to defend them if anything were to happen. He turned around and saw Lily stood there. She once more had that scary, pale, dead look and she was shivering and taking shortraspy breaths. "James I'm scared," she stammered.
Her breathing became even faster and more erratic as her eyes started to flutter and she collapsed onto the forest floor.
James stood a look of shock horror on his face before realising that he had to help her. As he got closer and knelt down by her side he noticed something was missing. The rising and falling of her chest. She wasn't breathing.
He knew what he had to do; he leant down to her and placed his lips on hers breathing oxygen into her lungs for her. He did it again but now he knew they needed help. He sent up red sparks but continued the mouth to mouth afterwards. I have to get her to breathe, he thought desperately.
After two more attempts Lily's eyes fluttered open. James stayed where he was hovering a few inches above her not daring to speak. And as they looked into each other's eyes they both felt a connection between them. A connection that told James what he was supposed to do.
He slowly leaned down to Lily, their eyes still locked. He was nervous but he did it anyway. He once again placed his lips on hers but this time she responded and started kissing him back, with slightly opened mouths, their tongues started intertwining. The passion was incredible. Her emotions taking control as she closed her eyes and embraced in the kiss. She gently put her arms around James' neck and pulled him closer into her wanting the kiss to continue forever. It was the best and most romantic kiss she had ever had in her life.
James felt exactly the same. It was like they were the only two people in the universe and only they mattered. They forgot completely about being in the forbidden forest, James held the same position above Lily as he ran a hand gently down her side as they kissed. Tongues touching, their passion uncontrollable. They continued the kiss breaking apart every so often but then resuming. It felt like their desire had finally been met by something real until they heard voices close by. It was Lisa and Remus.
They both scrambled off of the floor and began brushing themselves off.
"Hi," Lily said.
"What happened to you Lily, you're as white as a ghost?" Lisa asked very worriedly as the last time she had seen Lily that shade was when she was lied on a hospital bed.
James and Lily shared a secret look and smile before Lily told them, "Nothing really, just got a bit of a fright."
"We saw the sparks! Are you sure your alright?" asked Remus.
"Yeah, I'm fine thanks Remus."
"Okay, well we're about to head back. Do you want to come with us?" Remus asked them.
"Sure," James told him.
They made their way back out of the forest. Lisa and Remus walking in front holding hands and Lily and James walking side by side with James arm around Lily's waist. They kept looking each other. Having so much feeling for something made it feel like their soul was spilling over the edges of their bodies.
A/N I have been waiting so long to post this. This is either my favourite or second favourite bit of the story. Did you like the joke at the beginning about Sirius being the lead singer of the hobgoblins. lol I was trying to get a balance between being sweet and filled with passion in the kissing scene so please tell me if I managed it. Did you think it was sweet? Did you think it was passionate? Please answer these questions for me and to do so you'll have to leave me a review. So please people, read and review! Lol
Thanks to all my reviewers: Fairy-GYAKUTENNO-MEGAMI, Abarraine, Hails, Lucy, cylobaby, MIDNIGHT-PIXIE and Shang Warrior Phoenix.
Your reviews mean loads to me so keep em comin! lol