"So, fancy seeing you he-OH!" James was cut off by his own feet as they slid across the floor on the honeywater, until they eventually gave way, leaving his skull to cushion his fall. A soft darkness crept over his vision, and the last thing he saw before he couldn't see anymore was Lily Evans, crouched over him, moving her mouth with no sound coming out.

Two hours, a couple of discreet tears (courtesy Lily Evans), a visit from the Marauders, McGonagall, and Dumbledore, and a full check up by Madame Pomfrey later, James Potter still laid on a bed in the hospital wing, looking as knocked out as a 90 pound boxer fighting in the 300+ weight division.

Lily had skipped dinner, realizing that there was no way she could eat with Potter in this situation. Was it her fault? Had she caused this? He wouldn't have slipped had he not been in the Potions classroom to see her. "Fucking hell, Lily. You really buggered this one up," she mumbled to herself.

Then, from out of nowhere, a deep and sleepy sounding voice from next to her whispered, "Couldn't manage to kill me, eh?"

"JAMES!" Lily shrieked, before composing herself and squeaking a much quieter, " You're awake?"

He smiled at her outburst, attempting to sit up. Dizziness took over and his arms gave out, unable to take his weight. He groaned, immobilized. He felt a gentle touch to his shoulder, and after he didn't flinch away, the touch became two, and Lily slowly helped him lie back down.

"You hit your head really hard. You probably shouldn't sit up just yet."

James smiled sheepishly. "So much for a grand entrance. Just my luck, right?"

Lily smiled without hesitation, honestly just relieved he woke up at all. Obviously, he only bumped his head, but she was a worrier, and two hours at his bedside had allowed her to imagine up the worst possible scenario, entitled Mr James Potter vs The Floor. "Yeah, it's clear to me now that the universe is still holding a grudge about your behaviour these past 6 years, and is now paying you back for all your damage and destruction."

James smiled a little, but didn't laugh at her joke. He only stared at her eyes as they looked down at the tiled floor, and then up at the curtains, drawn haphazardly around one side of his bunk. The evening light was coming in right through the window above his head, and illuminated her red hair, making it glow. She looked back towards him, and he saw specks of gold in her eyes. God. How is she possible. She shouldn't be possible.

Her brow furrowed before she blurted out a quick and loud "I'm sorry." James looked confused.

"For what?"

"For hospitalizing you."

James laughed for a second before he had to stop, holding onto his head in pain. "Ow, haha, Lily! How the hell was this your fault? I slipped on some shit on the floor. That's really not your fault. If anything it's my fault for not watching where I was going. Or whoever left the mess there in the first place. Not your fault. Never."

Silence fell between them, and they watched each others' faces for a moment until a shuffling was heard nearby, followed shortly by the curtain being pushed aside by none other than Madame Poppy Pomfrey.

"Hello, Mr Potter. Glad to see you're awake at last. Had me worried there for a moment," she said.

"Ah, well, glad to know I'm not dead, too, Pops," he responded, teasing in his eyes. Lily couldn't help but chuckle. James couldn't help but notice.

As Madame Pomfrey went about tending to his sizable bruise and probable concussion, James and Lily didn't say a word. Instead, Lily sat on the edge of James' bed, and by the time Madame Pomfrey had finished assessing James' situation, her fingers had wrapped themselves around James's own.

She smiled and whispered, "Suppose I'm glad you're not dead, Potter."

He grinned and replied, "Ah yes, because then you'd have to run prefect meetings on your own. What a terrible ordeal for you, I'm sure."

She rolled her eyes and laughed, placed her other hand over their already linked fingers, and sighed.

James sensed that the time for joking was over. He glanced down at their hands, bound together and pulsing gently. "Lily, I just wanted to tell you that I really li-"

"PARCEL FOR POTTER! Anyone? Parcel for Potter? It's a pizza, Madame Pomfrey, we thought it might brighten him up, we'll be quick!"

Before they knew it, the curtain was thrown back, and there stood Sirius, Remus, and Peter, all staring down at the odd sight of James and Lily sitting together peacefully, holding hands.

Sirius breathed in heavily before exclaiming, "Fucking finally!"