Time
By EllaWatson
"Wow! This is so cool!" Jamie exclaimed as she walked into their common room, "Do you have this all to yourself?"
"No," Lily said, "I share it – with James, do you know him?"
"Oh, yeah, he's the Gryffindor Chaser. He's cool too." Jamie said, as she sat on the sofa, "Is he here?"
"Er, no, but he'll be here, I told him to meet you and I here." Lily said as she sat down beside her.
"Cool."
At that moment, James had come in; he gave Lily a smile and turned over to Jamie.
"Jamie, ain't it?" James asked.
Jamie beamed, "Do you want to sit with me?"
"Sure." and he sat on her other side.
Jamie took turns staring at James and Lily. "Do you like each other?"
"Um –"
"Well –"
Noticing that they were both uncomfortable, Jamie said, "Never mind."
"Good." James and Lily said.
"This is a great place, by the way." Jamie said, still beaming.
"Well, Jamie, you should try and become Head Girl too." James said.
Jamie's smile faded, and she put a happy face on again, "Nah, no thanks."
X-X-X-X
The next day, Saturday, Lily met James in their common room. "Good morning." She greeted.
"Yeah, same to you." James replied, "Well, I was wondering, do-you-like-me?"
"Well…" Lily said, seemingly interested in her shoes, "yeah. I guess."
"Good – I like you too." James said, "So do you want to go out?"
"Why not?" Lily said, "Breakfast?"
"Yeah, sure."
While having breakfast, Lily was wondering what took Jamie so long. She has not seen her all morning and Jamie hadn't sat next to her yet. However, she kept on eating, knowing she will see Jamie another part of the day.
"Well," Lily said, as she finished her meal, "I'll be off to the Hospital Wing – healer training."
"Oh, when would you be out?"
"Maybe in an hour, I'll see you then." Lily said, as she gave him a kiss on the cheek.
She walked into Madam Pomfrey's office. She looked up as Lily came in, "Miss Evans, great, I want you to look after Miss Nick today."
"Jamie?"
"Yes, Miss Evans."
"What happened?"
"She has leukaemia, found it a couple of years ago, poor thing." Madam Pomfrey said, "Hasn't she told you?"
"No." Lily said, "She hasn't."
That whole time, Jamie was asleep. Lily watched over her the whole hour. Why didn't she tell me? Jamie's face was pale, but she looked peaceful while she slept. That why she wants to know people – she want to make the most of her life before she…dies.
X-X-X-X
"She has leukaemia?" James asked as they sat together on the roof. "Why didn't she tell you?"
"I don't know."
"Well, she's going to be okay, right?"
"I don't know." Lily said as she laid her head on James shoulder, their hand fiddling with each other. "But I want to take her here. Is that okay?"
"Yeah. Anything."
X-X-X-X
On Sunday morning, Jamie sat in between James and Lily, "Good morning!"
"Yeah, you too." Lily said.
"Did you know that most dogs are immortal?" Jamie said, "I read it in The Quibbler."
"Cool. Where'd you read that?" James asked.
"The Quibbler."
"Yeah, I forgot."
-
Lily and Jamie sat on Lily's bed looking at picture books. Jamie was sleeping in her room for the night.
"Did you know an ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain?" Jamie said, suddenly. "Sorry, you hate it when I do that."
"No – I don't. Those facts are great."
Jamie sighed. "So…er…who told you?"
"Told me what?"
"You found out, didn't you?"
"Well – do you know any other facts?" Lily said, trying to change the subject.
"It's called leukaemia." Jamie said, "And I do have other ones. Or are you asking me just because you feel sorry for me?"
Lily shook her head, "No, my mom went through it as well. Don't worry; count on me to visit you when you're in the Hospital Wing with James, okay?" Lily said, putting her hand on Jamie's shoulder. "C'mon, I've got something to show you."
-
"This looks so amazing!" Jamie exclaimed when Lily showed her James and her spot.
"Yeah, wait, I'll go get James –" Lily said, and she tapped on James' window, after a minute James crawled out.
The three of them sat there, looking at the stars.
"Lily, James, do I annoy you?" Jamie asked.
"No, of course not!" James and Lily said.
"Well, a lot of people say I'm annoying."
"No, don't mind them, Jamie." James said.
There was silence.
"Was you're mum scared, Lily. When she went through this?" Jamie asked.
"No. Are you?" Lily said.
"Not of dying really. What I'm more afraid of, time." Jamie said, "Not having enough of it. Time to figure out what I'm supposed to be, and to find my place in the world before I have to leave it. I'm afraid of what I'll miss."
Jamie started to cry, James and Lily hugged her, not knowing what will happen to Jamie – but they were both scared of what might.