Chapter 19

Lily lied awake with her eyes closed. Alice had sent a bouquet of fresh Easter lilies (appropriate, as it was the spring holidays). Lily clipped one of them and plaited it into her hair. The end of the lily twined magically and held firm, a white-fresh morning ornament.

"Lily," a male voice announced his presence. Lily's eyes fluttered open and looked at James' face. "I wanted to see you after you were well, but I couldn't help-"

"Hush," she whispered, closing her eyes again. "Let me speak."

"All right."

"You know, in all this time I spent in the hospital wing, you were the only thing I thought of. While I was both awake and asleep. Did I love you? Could we ever be friends after you said those things? What did the future hold for both of us? And, you know, I didn't know until about five seconds ago."

"And?"

"I had to see your face. And it's so deeply etched into me that my heart recognized it right away. I love you, you know. I choose you over anything else this life has to offer."

"It's kind of funny," said James with a small smile. He sat down on her bed where her frail body lay and took her hand. "I always thought this moment would strike up a chorus of angels in the heavens and doves would fly down from the rafters and violin music would start filling the room. But you know, this is enough. This is perfect."

"Isn't it?" asked Lily, and she closed her eyes again. He kissed her on the forehead and left her to rest.

"Miss Evans," announced a deep and knowing voice. Lily opened her eyes, sat up quickly and saw Professor Dumbledore in his splendid robes of scarlet. Yet he stood quietly and did not draw more attention to himself than needed.

"Headmaster," she said quietly, bowing her head a bit and sitting on the edge of the bed.

"I asked Madam Fetching if she would allow me to honor of releasing you back into your society."

"Thank you, I think," replied a confused Lily.

"It is a very burdensome thing indeed," said the Headmaster as he strode over to her, "To be under the influence of a such a power potion for as great amount of time as you did."

"It was okay," said Lily meekly.

"It was not. Stress of that caliber creates a vast amount of pressure that you bear. And it feels worse when that pressure is released, for it confuses your true emotions and judgment."

"I know."

"But you will be better for it."

"I don't see how."

"The human mind is truly an amazing thing, not to sound too egotistical. We are capable of learning and absorbing so many things. We are versatile and can adapt to nearly anything. And best of all, we can learn from our worst experiences, and be better people because of them, as long as we learn. As a person or as an entire race."

"You mean the acts against my people. The Muggle-borns."

"Those that think of themselves as having pure blood will one day understand that the division between them and those without magical family is not as meaningful as they would think. To what cost this lesson, I know not. But it may be extreme, and I cannot guarantee that no lives will be lost."

Lily wanted to ask if she would be one of the ones that would die, but she was afraid of the answer.

"Headmaster, I think I am well enough to be able to leave the hospital wing now," she said instead.

"That's good. I think you're well enough too," he replied. She smiled broadly and walked with him to the door.