Disclaimer: I wish I owned Lily and James…however I add my own spice into their lives as well as my own plot…and

Chapter 9: The Shock and Guilt of It

Melissa looked at James with horror. James had a sinking feeling in his stomach, but he approached Chris.

"Did Evans magically disappear or something, Cantore? I could've sworn that she was in your arms about two seconds ago," James said to Chris.

"What is it to you Potter?" Chris asked and then turned around and continued walking.

James calmly walked to in front of Chris, to prevent him from walking off.

"If you hurt Lily Evans and then just decided to stuff her into some broom closet, I swear that you won't be seeing the end of your seventh year in one piece."

Chris laughed, "Ok, Potter. You do that. I have better things to do with my time now."

"Where do you think you're going?" James asked. "If you think you're so tough, then let's take a look in there right now. Melissa open the door."

Chris looked more than a little apprehensive and figured that he needed to act quickly. He took out his wand and hit Melissa with a jinx while James's back was turned. James turned around and whipped out his wand, but Chris had already taken off.

"What a scoundrel," James said to himself while walking over to Melissa. He took a look at her and saw that her hand was covered with boils. James quietly muttered the counterjinx and turned to the broom cupboard. He was actually really scared to open the door and see what was inside. He knew though that Lily was really hurt, and the longer that he waited, the worse off she was going to be. Melissa walked over to stand next to him, and she decided to open the door. When she opened it he let out a gasp and Melissa shrieked.

Lily's limp form was laid out on a pile of boxes. Her face was bruised all over, her leg was bent at an odd angle and she had bruises running all up and down her arms. There were cuts on her legs and there was a bite mark on her neck that was bleeding slightly. And that was only the visible damage. James imagined that there was a lot more unapparent damage.

Melissa stood there stock still. Tears were streaming down her face, but she didn't move. It looked as if she was rooted to the spot.

James looked at Lily, lying there, hurt and damaged. He was scared to death for her. He went to her unconscious body and picked her up into his strong arms. He held her fragile body close to him gently. He hoped that she would be able to feel warmth and love emanating from his body.

Sirius and Alexis ran up to James and Alexis stopped dead in her tracks when she caught sight of Lily. Sirius slowed down and walked over to James and Melissa. He looked at Melissa. She still hadn't moved from her position when James had first opened the door, and she was still crying.

Sirius looked from Melissa, standing motionless crying, to James holding Lily in his arms and just looking down at her with his face full of fear, to Alexis, who was standing some distance away from them all with her hand covering her mouth. Sirius realized that he needed to snap them all out of it and get Lily help, fast.

"James, mate, snap out of it. You need to put on this cloak and take Lily to the Heads' room. We can't bring her to the hospital wing. We need to get her somewhere fast though. She needs help, James. You can't be seen. Prongs, mate go quickly."

James looked up at Sirius shook his head and nodded. Sirius put the cloak over them both and James headed towards their common room.

Sirius walked over to Alexis and put a reassuring hand on her shoulder, "Alexis, listen to me. You need to be strong. Lily needs you. You're going to need to go and get your potions kit and all of your herbs for healing. You know that's your specialty. Bring all the materials you need, and be quick. Meet in the Heads' common room."

Alexis just looked up at Sirius, her eyes wide with shock. Sirius shook her, "Garcia, your best friend needs you. Don't let her down. I promise we can make her right."

Alexis hugged Sirius and ran towards the Gryffindor common room.

Then Sirius turned to Melissa. She still hadn't moved.

"Melissa," he called her name quietly.

She still didn't respond.

He tried again, "Melissa?"

Again she just looked ahead.

Sirius knew what he needed to do. He put his arm around her waist and guided her towards him. She followed as if in a trance. He headed towards the hospital wing with her. Once there he quickly persuaded a younger student to go in and distract Madam Pomfrey so he could get into her medicine cupboard. Once Sirius saw her tending to the small boy he quickly went in and found her stock of potions for shock. He grabbed a handful of the small vials and left the hospital wing, guiding Melissa along towards the Heads' dorm.

Xxx

Once he arrived at the Head's dorm James opened it up for him and he saw Alexis looking down at Lily, her eyes frantic. Out of the three of his friends, Alexis needed the potion the quickest because she needed to tend to Lily, and fast. Sirius walked over to her and faced her to him.

"Alex, drink this. Remember, Lily needs you."

Alexis took the potion from Sirius and drained the vial. She closed her eyes for a moment and then let out a long sigh. When she opened her eyes Sirius saw a flicker of determination cross them. He gave Alexis a small pat on the back, knowing that she would be able to handle herself and Lily from here on.

Next, Sirius walked over to his best mate. James looked as if he was beside himself. His eyes looked tortured.

"Prongs, you need something for the shock mate. Drink this," Sirius said while handing him the vial.

James downed it and shook his head. His eyes still carried the same tortured look and Sirius recognized it for what it was. Grief and guilt.

"Mate," Sirius said slowly, "It's not your fault. You didn't do anything wrong, and you helped her out and gave her the care that she needed. You couldn't have done much more than that."

James just shook his head and walked into the bathroom. Sirius heard the water turn on and figured he just had to leave James alone.

Then, last but not least, Sirius turned to face Melissa. He looked at her and took in all her beauty at once. Even in the state she was in she was beautiful on the inside and outside. He wished he could back the pain and hurt that he caused her before when they had gone out previously. He had been in love and scared, and now he was still in love with her, but this time he was ready. He just wished that he hadn't blown it before because now he didn't stand a chance.

"Meliss, take this and drink it."

Melissa just kept staring straight ahead.

Sirius turned her to him and put his finger under her chin to turn her face to him, "Meliss, Lily needs you now, even if you weren't there before. You can make it up to Lily now by being strong and hanging in there for her now. The past is done, just work on fixing the mistakes that were made before."

Melissa looked at Sirius, her eyes were bright and glistening from the tears in them. Sirius handed her the drink and she downed it and then collapsed into his arms. Surprisingly enough, in his embrace she felt comfort and security. She felt safe. Sirius was shocked, but nonetheless held her close to him and tried to make her feel his love through their embrace.

Short chapter I know, and not the best either…I'm sorry. I had no idea where to go once I was halfway through the chapter.

I know you saw a new side of Sirius. Amazing I know. I hope it was okay and I'll try to update soon. Thanks to all my reviewers and readers that have stuck with this story. It means a lot ) Thanks guys.