Chapter 6

Lily did not sleep very well that night. Once more, she found herself dreaming of her parents, her sister and James.

When Lily woke up, she automatically looked at her clock next to the bed. It read 7 a.m. Lily groaned and rolled over, but was unable to sleep any longer. After changing into some decent clothes, the red-head made her way down the stairs and into the yard.

She walked over to the willow tree and sat down, laying her head against the hard bark.

Why did she have to endure the funeral today? She knew it would be hell. But she wanted to – no, HAD to- say good-bye to the people who raised her.

She closed her eyes and relaxed, breathing in the crisp morning air, trying to calm her raging thoughts.

---

James woke up, hearing Lily walk past his door. He decided to follow her, at a far enough distance though so that she did not catch him.

He did not want to see Lily hurt again. He loved her too much. Lately, he would follow her with his cloak, but Sirius had taken it last night to go see the girl next door.

He saw her go into the back yard and sit next to the willow tree. She looked so peaceful on the outside, but he knew what ongoing struggle was going on inside of her. James wanted to help Lily so much, yet he did not know how. He was there for her, but she had not told him what she needed.

He quietly walked towards her. He sat down next to her and she opened her eyes.

"Why are you out here this early?" asked James.

Lily stared at his chest. He had forgotten to put a shirt on. "I came out to get some fresh air," she replied, moving her eyes from his chest to his eyes.

"Are you okay?"

Lily scoffed. "Potter, you do realize that today is my parents' funeral? My sister will be there with her blubber for a boyfriend, who will insult and blame me to no end. And the few relatives that I have will be asking all sorts of questions, including if you're my boyfriend. They won't believe me if I say no and if they do, they'll tell me it's because I'm too ugly," she said.

James shook his head. "Lily, don't let any of these things get to you. You're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen," he said. Lily blushed. "You are and if it will make you feel better, I'll be your pretend boyfriend," he added.

Lily smiled. "Thanks, James." She snuggled closer to him and fell asleep in his arms.

James watched the peaceful-looking girl in his arms sleep. Lily looked so happy, so content. But he knew that that would all go away when she woke up. He wanted to help her so badly, but he did not know how.

----

James was coming closer to Lily. His arms snaked around her waist. She saw lust, passion and desire in his eyes. She stood there, unsure of what to do. Her common sense was telling her to move away, slap him.

"Lily."

But something, in her heart perhaps, was making her stay there. He leaned closer and closer. Their lips were inches from one and other. Her lips were tingling in anticipation.

"Lily."

He came closer; their lips were so close together that a hair could not pass through.

"Lily!"

She opened her eyes and looked around her. James was not in front of her, inches away, but to the side, holding her. She must have fallen asleep. Her lips still tingled for a few moments. What had that been?

A dream of her and James, obviously. Was it the same one she'd been having since the beginning of the summer? She couldn't remember.

Lily quickly pulled herself away from James. "I'd better go get ready for the funeral, she said, then she hurried away.

James watched Lily retreat back into the house and sighed. He had better follow and get ready for the funeral too, even if it was at 10 am.

Lily looked through her clothes and found the perfect dress. She had loved this dress when she bought it. But now, she would not be able to wear it without thinking of today, the funeral. She decided to first take a bath.

Lily turned on the water and waited for the tub to fill. Once the water was high enough, Lily stripped down and got in. She submerged herself, holding her breath until she couldn't anymore and came up for air. She did this a few times to clear her mind before washing her body.

---

James got into his room and lay on his bed. He suddenly sat up when he heard the tub turn on. He realized he had to go to the loo. He quickly got up and went into the hall. Hoping it was Sirius or Remus, James tried the door. Luckily for him, it was unlocked. He hurried in and shut the door.

Lily heard someone come in. "Oh my god! Who the hell is that?" she thought.

She dared not peak out of the curtain.

What if it were Mrs. Potter?

Or Remus?

Or Sirius?

Or even worse, James?

She knew what she had asked him last night, she had remembered that much and what she would have seen if they had followed through. Lily heard the door close once more and she sighed in relief.

After Lily got dressed, she looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes had eyeliner, which made her look even sadder. Her dress was black, and knee-length. It was sleeveless and was a v-neck. She put on her black sandals and headed down stairs.

----

James couldn't decide what to wear. He had to find some Muggle clothes, since Lily had told him that none of the family knew she was a witch. Indeed, he was not sure how the deaths had been explained away, since none of her relatives, except possibly Petunia, knew about Voldamort. He found a pair of his father's old black trousers and a black t-shirt. He looked at his reflection in the mirror. He could not believe he was wearing black once more.

He went downstairs and Remus was sitting in the kitchen, reading a book.

"More studies, Moony? School is practically one and a half months away!" exclaimed James.

Remus looked up from his book. "I'm just reading a fiction book. You know James, it wouldn't hurt you to pick up a book once in a while," Remus said.

"I read!" James defended himself

"Picture books don't count."

Lily came down the stairs and James was waiting for her in the kitchen. Sirius was nowhere to be seen, and Remus was keeping James company.

"Hullo, James," she said.

James jumped a little. "Ah, so I'm James again?"

Lily rolled her eyes. James seemed to be entranced for a few moments.

"Where's Sirius? I haven't seen him yet," asked Lily.

"Miss me, luv?" asked Sirius, coming in through the back door.

Lily rolled her eyes again. "No, I did not. And if you want to call me 'luv' once more, I will not hesitate to hurt you," she said. "So, where were you?"

"Next door," replied Sirius. Lily gave him a look.

"Lily, I don't think you want to know," said Remus. Lily's eyes grew wide and she almost choked on the glass of water she had just began drinking.

At quarter to 10, James and Lily bade farewell to everyone and Apparated.

They arrived at the cemetery right as Petunia and Vernon arrived. Luckily, James and Lily had materialized at the back of the church, so no one saw them arrive. Lily tried to avoid Petunia, but she wasn't able to. Petunia came up to her and began yelling at her.

"How dare you come here! You killed them! You and that freak world you live in! And who is this! Another freak? How dare you bring one to Mum and Dad's funeral!" Petunia screamed.

"I didn't kill them! Dammit, Petunia, the 'freak' who killed Mum and Father was a murderer! He kills people for fun! And James is not a 'freak', nor am I," Lily yelled back.

"Lily, let's go," said James.

"No!" she replied. "I've taken her shit for too long!" Turning back to her sister, she said, "Petunia, I hate you, and you hate me, but let me stay here and bid my parents farewell. You will never have to hear from me again."

"Lily Evans, you are a disgrace to this entire family! I wish you never went to that freak school and I wish you were never born! I wish you had died instead of our parents!" Petunia yelled.

Lily was red in the face. "How dare you!" Lily replied. "Who covered for you all those times you broke something? Who helped you pass Maths? What happened to the sister I had until I turned 11?"

"She died when you got your acceptance to your freak school."

The red-head went up to Petunia and slapped her. Hard.

"Bitch! How dare you touch me!" screamed Petunia. She advanced on Lily and was about to slap her back, when James stepped in.

"Stop it both of you!" he said as calmly as he could. Lily stopped, but Petunia advanced.

James was about to grab a hold of Petunia, when Vernon walked in front of Lily.

"You are to never touch my fiancée ever again!" he said. He was about to strike Lily, when James went in between the two. James was the one to receive the punch.

He wiped off the blood from his nose. He pulled out his wand and muttered a hex. Vernon suddenly grew a piggy tail. He clasped his hands over his big bottom and began jumping about.

James casually flicked his wand and the tail disappeared. "If you ever as so much come near us again, I will make it permanent," he spat. He took Lily by the hand and directed her inside the church.

Inside, Lily gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you James," she said. James gave her a small smile, before sitting down in a pew next to her.

The funeral was long and many people were crying. James held Lily's hand the whole time, letting her squeeze it whenever she needed.

Lily cried silently the whole time, even as she spoke about her parents in front of all their friends. She could not believe this day was actually happening. James was being such a sweetheart. She did not know how to repay him.

After the ceremony, Mr. and Mrs. Evans were buried.

----

Lily and James got home late, for Lily had wanted to go back to her house and grab a few more things, since her sister was going to be living there. But they could not leave as soon as they hoped for some of their friends stopped by, wanting to see how the two girls were.

Only Lily was at the house, for Petunia had returned with Vernon to his parents' house.

Lily had to endure them talking about the mysterious death of her parents. They talked about how much they were a perfect family. It took everything in Lily not to tell them off, tell them about her father's drinking and abuse.

Eventually, James and Lily were able to leave.

-----

Lily was exhausted and fell asleep on the sofa. James brought her upstairs.

He dared not undress her. She would be peeved if he did.

He just laid her in her bed and put the blankets on her.

She stirred slightly as he gave her a kiss on her forehead, before he sat down on a chair. He loved to watch her sleep.

She looked so beautiful laying there, still in her dress, her hair sprawled out, the moonlight reflecting off her.

Eventually James fell asleep in the chair.

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Authors Note: Thanks for the reviews for the other chapters. Please do remember this is supposed to be an angst fic, not a happy one! Please review, and remember: if you have nothing good to say, why say it at all?