Lily and James took the Knight Bus to Cokeworth from Kings Cross Station and after a ride full of whiplash and trying not to fall over, Lily and James were in front of Lily's house. It was just as Lily had remembered it last. It was in the middle of a street with brick terraces all in the same style. The front door was on the right side of the house with a bay window on the left. Gardenias bloomed under the bay window and the grass was muddy from the rain that slashed down.
"How do you remember which one is yours?" James remarked and Lily smiled, before they both made a mad dash to her front door which had a small roof for cover.
Lily rang the door bell, using her other hand to try and fix James' hair. James quickly pulled his wand out and conjured up a small bouquet of sunflowers and white lilies. Lily beamed at him as he stowed his wand away.
Lily's mother opened the door. Her long ginger hair was pulled up in a ponytail and a black bandana was wrapped around her head keeping her hair off her face. Lily could tell her mother had been crying, her eyes weren't red but they were puffy.
"Hi mum," Lily greeted hugging her mum. When she pulled away from her mum she gestured towards James and said, "This is James Potter. My boyfriend."
"Hello Mrs Evans. It's a pleasure to meet you," he said and Lily felt relieved for some reason. He handed Rosie Evans the bouquet of flowers.
"Likewise," Rosie smiled. "Though the circumstances could've been better, John and I are thrilled that Lily's finally found someone. And aren't these just gorgeous. Sunflowers are my favourite you know."
Rosie turned and led them into the house and James turned and winked at Lily, who stifled a giggle. The house was smaller than James was used to. There was a narrow hallway with stairs on the left that led upstairs. On the right there was an archway that led to a medium sized living room and an archway further down that led to the kitchen and dinning area. At the end of the corridor there was a screen door that led to a long and skinny grass yard. The house had simple furniture – a wooden dining and coffee table red couches and vinyl kitchen. There was a fireplace in the living room and the mantelpiece was filled with several photo frames. James walked up to them and when he saw a photo of a small, red headed toddler spraying a small, blonde haired toddler, with a hose, he asked, "Is that you, Lily?"
Lily looked to the photo and laughed. "Yeah with Petunia. I was about, uh, three maybe four – mum! How old was I in this photo?"
Rosie inspected the photo, "Three. Summer of sixty three I believe."
"You were cute," James mused and Lily laughed.
"Is Petunia around, mum?" Lily asked as they sat down on the couches. James noticed everything. The house was clean and neat, not a magazine out of place. The walls had floral wallpaper and the window facing the street was actually a window seat as well.
"She's with Vernon visiting your father at the hospital. She's staying at his parents house tonight to help Marge prepare the bridal shower."
"Bullocks," Lily muttered to James. "She just doesn't want to see me."
James linked his pinky with hers in a comforting gesture.
"So James," Rosie said from the kitchen where she was organising the bouquet into a vase. "Do you have any siblings?"
"No, it's just me though my best mate Sirius might as well be my brother."
"You two are close?"
"Very," James agreed. "He got into a falling out with his parents last year, my parents and I are all he's got."
"And your parents are wizards?"
"Yes ma'm. My parents are, well, more of socialites, I guess. They throw benefits for worthy wizarding causes and now my mum has even started a movement against Voldemort."
"It's good you lot are fighting back against that looney's campaign," Rosie exclaimed and James frowned looking at Lily. She gave him a warning look and mouthed 'shut-up' at him.
"And his dad, was a potioneer before he retired," Lily added and James nodded.
"You know, your daughter beat me in a duel earlier this year? She's quite a smart witch."
"Oh hush, James," Lily said embarrassed, "I've still got a lot to learn."
"Lily's being modest. She encased my head in a pumpkin!"
Rosie laughed in delight and asked, "Did you really?"
Lily shrugged, "It was quite easy really. Your reflexes were quite slow."
"What else have you been learning at school?" Rosie asked and Lily and James started going into detail about Polyjuice Potions and conjuring cats.
"What's your favourite bird, Rosie?"
"Oh, umm, a yellow canary I guess."
"Alright then," James said and Lily rolled her eyes as he pulled his wand out and focused for a few moments. A bird appeared as though it were being drawn into the air. Lily's mum clapped with excitement as Lily conjured a cage around it.
"You didn't even mutter a word!" she exclaimed and Lily laughed and said, "We've been learning how to do spells non-verbally. What do you want to name the bird, mum?"
"It'll stay?"
"It should. Our gift to you," James said.
"I think, I'll name it … Ollie."
The rest of the night went surprisingly well. Rosie absolutely adored James and Lily was feeling better now that she was home. The sleeping arrangements were a little awkward but in the end Rosie agreed it would be best if they just conjured up a mattress in Lily's room for James.
Once Rosie had said goodnight Lily and James went up to Lily's room, levitating their trunks up.
"So I think your mum liked me," James stated and Lily smiled.
"How could she not?"
"So I'm finally going to see Lily Evans bedroom."
"Shut up," Lily said, "And no snooping!"
"Wouldn't dream of it," James said as they reached the top of the stairs. Lily crossed the hall and opened the door to her room.
"Come on, Jems," she said nodding her head towards her room.
In ten minutes they had gotten ready for bed and in another five they had conjured up a double sized mattress which just fit between Lily's bed and desk. Lily made the bed with white sheets and a thick, fleecy red blanket.
"If you get cold, there's another blanket on top of my wardrobe," she said pointing to the wardrobe and sure enough there was a green blanket neatly folded on top of it.
They climbed into their respective beds and after five minutes of silence James broke it.
"So your parents don't know about the war?"
Lily turned over to face James. "I can't bear to tell them. I don't want them to live in fear. So I've just said that he's campaigning."
"That's putting it lightly."
"I know but I don't want them to worry about me."
"They're your parents, Marie."
"I know but there are just some things that you have to protect your parents from."
"Do they know what happened to you a few weeks ago?"
"No and you're not to utter a word!"
"Lily!"
"If my parents knew what was happening they wouldn't let me go back. It's better this way."
James frowned. He wasn't so sure. Parents had the right to know if their kid was in danger. It was their job to protect their kids. Not the other way around.
"Move over," Lily ordered. "I want to sleep with you."
"Lily," James protested, "Your mum is in the other room!"
"We're not doing anything other than sleep. I'll wake up in the morning and move back to my bed so she doesn't notice." Lily climbs under the blanket and snuggles up to James. "Promise."
"When did you become so sneaky?"
"Since I realised life is short … it's so sad about Charlotte Blake, isn't it?"
"It's terrible," James agreed. "Are we visiting your dad tomorrow?"
"Yeah. Mum said she had been at the hospital all day today so I didn't want to make her go back besides we were worn out from the travelling. Better to go tomorrow when I can pull myself together more."
James nodded and they fell into a silence again. It's funny. James Potter had never thought he'd actually be in this position. James Potter had never thought he'd be the one Lily Evans turned to for comfort. That he could be the one to make her laugh when she was upset beyond despair. He never thought Lily Evans would love him but here he was in her room with her lying next to him.
"James?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you think there'll be a magical way to cure my dad?"
James paused, he had never heard of magic curing muggle diseases. Only muggle sicknesses like the flu and still those remedies were for wizards. He had no idea of the effect they'd have on muggles.
"I don't know, Lils. I think if magic could save muggles who were as sick as your dad, there'd be a lot more muggles still alive."
Lily nodded. "Right. Magic can't bring back the dead."
"He's not gone yet, Lily."
"He will be soon."
James stroked Lily's hair and kissed her forehead lightly. He didn't know what to say to someone who knew their father was going to die. He just hoped that she knew he was there for her. Whatever she wanted, he'd do it. If only to see a glimmer of a smile.
—
It was odd without James and Lily around. He'd expected it with James, he was with James three hundred and sixty-five days of the year but missing Lily surprised him. She was now an irreplaceable part of their group and Sirius wondered when exactly that had happened. Was it when she'd saved James' arse from Azkaban? Was it when she found out all their secrets and swore to keep it? Was it when her and James started dating? Sirius couldn't know, all he did know was that she was a part of them now.
"Mr Black," McGonagall spoke up, "Could you tell me the main risk associated when transfiguring cross-species?"
"The two anatomies of the species need to be compatible, or else accounted for. For example, it's harder to transfigure a warm blooded species with a cold blooded species though not impossible. It would also be harder to transfigure a cross-species of snake and monkey or fly and elephant."
"Excellent," McGonagall praised. "Two points for Gryffindor."
Sirius shrugged and went back to not listening as Professor McGonagall continued her lecture.
"Psst," Peter whispered. "Is James going to be back for the full moon?"
Sirius froze slightly. With Lily's tragedy everyone had forgotten about the full moon which was only a week away but surely James would apparate back for the night. If not, Sirius and Peter would just have to keep Remus company in the Shrieking Shack instead of in the Forbidden Forest as they normally did.
"We'll sort it out," Sirius whispered back.
"Shh," Remus hushed them.
Sirius rolled his eyes but made an effort to pay attention to McGonagall as she explained the theory behind spells capable of transfiguring cross-species. He even wrote down notes from the textbook to owl to James and Lily as they'd need to practice if they wanted to keep up with work whilst they were gone.
"Oi, Black!" Dearborn shouted after him at the end of the lesson as he attempted to leave. He turned as she reached him. "Where's Lily?"
"Why do you care?" he retorted.
"She's our friend," Dearborn said defensively.
"Could've fooled me," Sirius said coolly and he turned back around and walked off, catching up with Remus and Peter.
"Look," she jogged to keep up with them. "Della's been a bit worried. No one can find her."
"Lily?" Remus asked.
"Outstanding observation, Moony."
"Yes, Lily," Ella confirmed. "You know where she is?"
Sirius shook his head at Remus slightly and Remus pursed his lips.
"Lily had a personal matter and has gone home for two weeks."
"Oh," Ella said. "Is everything all right?"
Sirius stopped walking to face her. "You know, for someone who refuses to talk to her, you seem pretty concerned. Perhaps you should owl her," he suggested. "Pete, Remus, lets go — we've that star chart to solve."
"You don't do Astronomy," Ella huffed.
"Never said I did," Sirius agreed. "There are some owls up in the Owlery if you didn't know."
"Obviously I know that."
"Good, then get your butt up there and start writing a letter instead of pestering me."
Sirius walked off, Remus and Peter right on his heels.
"That was rude, Sirius."
"Yeah, she was just worried," Peter added.
Sirius rolled his eyes. If Ella Dearborn was so worried about Lily, she could, like he'd suggested, go to the owlery and send her a letter.
"Yeah, yeah but speaking of owls, we gotta talk to James about the upcoming time of the month."
"Oh. Oh!" Remus paled. "It's okay I can do this month alone."
"Absolutely not," Sirius said immediately. "If James can't get away from Cokeworth, we'll just stay in the shack."
"You'll get hurt," Remus protested. "You and James manage all right together but we've never done it with only one of you and James' is a larger animal than you."
Sirius yawned. "That's why I said we'll stay in the shack. We might get a bit banged up but it's nothing we can't handle."
"If Prongs can't make it, we aren't doing this."
"Who's going to stop us?" Sirius challenged. "You'll be transforming."
Remus pursed his lips.
"I'm sure James will be able to apparate here for one night," Peter assured Remus but Remus did not look so sure.
—
Lily woke up feeling disorientated and it took her a moment to figure out why. She felt too high. She sat up in bed and realised James must've gotten up earlier and moved her to her bed. The bed squeaked a little as she peered over the bed to see James' bed empty. She got out of bed and pulled on her old blue robe then headed downstairs. As she walked she could hear James and her mother talking and laughing.
Lily walked into the kitchen to see James cooking breakfast. She was always so use to James stealing food from the kitchen that she hadn't bothered to ask if he could cook.
"Good morning, Lily," her mum greeted. Lily went and gave her mother a quick hug before settling down on the table next to her.
"What are you making, James?"
"Just eggs and bacon."
Something seemed slightly off about the scene. Lily and her mother were sitting down, James was behind the stove and there were dishes from last night washing themselves in the sink!
"You're going to spoil my mother with all this magic, James!" Lily laughed.
"Oh hush," Rosie said, "How come you never do this stuff for me?"
Lily shrugged, "Tuney's always around and you know she doesn't like it when I do magic."
"Oh darling, I think you put too much consideration towards your sister and between you and me, she doesn't deserve half of it. This is your house too. You can do any magic you like especially if it helps me with housework."
Lily smiled and said, "Sure mum. When are we leaving for the hospital?"
"We are leaving in an hour."
—
Marlene wasn't the type to wander around the corridors on her own, or maybe she was but she'd just been too scared to, either way, she found herself alone on the sixth floor, wandering and it was all because of Nathaniel McKinnon. He'd told her Mia Scott had broken up with him, and whilst Marlene had never been fond of their relationship, she found herself elated at the news and then she decided she was a terrible friend because Nate was in pain and she was happy.
Then she started thinking about all her friends, in particular Lily. Guilt rose up in her at the slight mention of Lily. She had never imagined that this fight would go on so long and maybe she was a terrible friend for not being the bigger person. Sirius Black certainly thought so. He'd said us much to Ella yesterday and he'd said it to her once before as well but could Sirius Black really be the best judge of character? Kind to only those he was friends with, stand-offish with everyone else, downright cruel to Slytherins. No, he wasn't the best person but maybe that made him an even better judge of character because if Sirius Black with all his faults thought she was a terrible friend, then she'd probably done something wrong and she was ready to admit that she'd taken it too far with Lily. Lily had been pulling away but they shouldn't have shoved her out the door.
That didn't help much with her situation with Nate however because she was glad, happy even, that his relationship with Mia Scott had ended and it was even more terrible because Scott had been attacked a few weeks ago and that was probably the reason she'd broken up with him. But she couldn't help it. Nate deserved better than some little fifth year girl.
"What are you doing, Reg?"
Marlene paused, that was Sirius' voice.
"None of your business," Avery sneered back. "Run along, Black. We'll take care of your brother."
Walk away, Marlene begged in her head knowing it was futile. Sirius Black never stood down from a fight, especially if it involved his brother. She gripped her wand, pulling it out of her pocket.
"Reg, let's go," Sirius ordered.
"So now you want to be my brother?" Regulus Black retorted. "No, thanks, I'd rather stay with my true friends."
Marlene leaned slightly around the corner and cursed, the situation was worse than she'd thought. Sirius stood facing his brother, Snape, Mulciber and Avery flanking him.
"And Snivellus is your true friend, is he?" Sirius bit back. "Come on, Reg — you're smart, I know you are so I know you know that they mess around in dark magic. Do you really want to go down that path?"
"That's subjective — all magic can be used for the wrong reasons, doesn't make it dark," Regulus said.
Sirius laughed bitterly. "Who are you kidding? Even Bella doesn't believe that! Why do you think Andy left?"
"She wanted to be a blood traitor, that was her choice."
Sirius laughed again. "Always so naive. Andy didn't leave because of Ted! Andy left because her sisters were getting mixed up with the dark arts. She'd been looking for a way out for a long time so don't delude yourself with that subjective nonsense. Dark magic is dark magic!"
"Is Remus dark then?" Regulus asked quietly.
Marlene held back a gasp when she heard the sound of knuckles meeting bone and no sooner than Regulus exclaimed, "You broke my nose!" did Marlene hear the first hex being thrown.
"Furnunculus!"
"Sectumsempra!"
"Protego! Did you know, little brother, that sectumsempra is the very spell being used to attack muggle-borns in our school?"
"Deprimo," Snape's voice shouted and there was a cracking noise, Sirius yelped, his wand falling out of his hand.
Marlene steeled herself before throwing herself into the corridor, summoning Sirius' wand before they could get to it, she shot hex after hex at the group, landing a petrifying spell on Snape before he could fracture another one of Sirius' bones.
"Can you walk?" she muttered to Sirius who nodded. "Let's go." She handed him his wand and he took it with his non-dominant hand and turned back to Regulus.
"You can still back out," Sirius pleaded. "You don't have to do anything you don't want to do."
"That's just the thing, brother. I want to do this. I went to them."
Sirius shook his head but let Marlene lead him away, down the corridor she'd come from.
"That was incredibly stupid, you know," Marlene told him as they walked. "Show me your hand."
"Remus will fix it up for me," he brushed off, but he held his slightly deformed hand out for her anyways.
Marlene rolled her eyes, and tapped her wand to his hand. Slowly, the bones cracked back into place and Sirius closed and opened his hand to test it.
"Didn't know you were any good at healing spells," he commented.
Marlene shrugged. "Is that your version of a 'thank you'?"
"I didn't need your help."
"Seemed like you did. Maybe call James for back-up next time you want to take on your brother and his mates."
Sirius scowled. "They aren't his mates and James is away."
"With Lily?"
Sirius shrugged so Marlene took that as a yes. She wondered what personal matter of Lily's could have both of them leaving the castle. Perhaps Petunia's wedding but last Marlene knew that was happening in January and she didn't think McGonagall would allow both head students leave for a wedding.
"What were you doing up here alone anyways?" Sirius asked. "You know the castle isn't safe."
Marlene shrugged. "I was thinking about things."
"Uh-huh. Well, as interesting as that sounds, I'm going to leave you to it." And he disappeared behind a tapestry she hadn't even known had a secret passage.
—
Lily was standing in front of the hospital with her mother and boyfriend. She didn't want to go inside because if she did that would make it true. It would mean her dad really was dying. Up until now she'd pushed it to the back of her mind. She told herself that she was just introducing her boyfriend to her mother. No big deal, she had told herself. But now walking into the grim hospital where people came to die, she could feel her heart beat in her chest.
James linked his little finger with hers and they walked in behind Rosie.
"James," she whispered, "I'm scared."
James looked at her and whispered, "It'll be okay."
Lily knew that it wouldn't. Nothing would be okay. Her father was dying and despite her abilities she was powerless against it.
Lily thought the hospital was a horrible place. It was all white, too clean and smelt like old people. In her opinion it was a horrible place to die, mediocre even. Lily always hated the idea of dying in a hospital. She had always thought that if she could choose how to die, that she'd want it to mean something. Like dying in a war or sacrificing yourself for another but deep down she knew that she was silly for romanticising something like that. Death is death and whatever the cause of it, it was still horrible and nasty.
"Why don't you go in first, Lily?" her mother suggested. "We'll wait out here for a bit. You can tell dad that someone's here to meet him. He'll be thrilled!"
Lily flashed a weak smile and nodded. James gave her a look of encouragement that told Lily that she could do this. She could be there for her dad. He wasn't dead yet. She pushed open the door and walked in.
Her father was lying down in the creaky, metal framed hospital bed and propped up by two pillows.
"Lily, is that you?" he asked and Lily swallowed back the tears at the sight of her father. He looked so different from when she left him two and a half months ago. He'd lost so much weight that his face looked gaunt and pulled back. His frame looked too small under the blanket – not the same man who use to throw Lily over his shoulder when she was being cheeky.
"Hi, dad!" Lily greeted, swooping down and planting a kiss on his forehead. "How are you?"
"Fit as a fiddle, darling."
Lily laughed at her father's insistence that nothing was wrong. She grabbed his hand.
"I've brought someone for you to meet," Lily told him. His eyes lit up.
"Potter?"
"Does mum tell you everything?" Lily giggled and her dad said, "Afraid so. Well what are you waiting for? Bring him in then. I want to meet this young fellow!"
"Are you sure you're strong enough? We can come back tomorrow. I don't want you getting exhausted."
"I'm fine, Lily. Now bring the fellow in before I croak!"
"Dad!"
"I'm joking," he insisted and Lily shook her head. Her father always did have insensitive humour. At Grandma Ellie's funeral, he cracked funeral puns the whole day. Her mother was quite furious with him but Lily knew it was just his defence mechanism.
Lily went and told James and her mother to come in. James waited until Rosie had kissed her husband hello before introducing himself with a light handshake. Lily noticed how her father's hand shook the whole time. Another reminder of his frailty.
"I heard you're dating my daughter," Johnathan accused.
"Yes, sir."
"Now don't go breaking her heart or I might have to come back to the land of the living to haunt you."
"I wouldn't want to mess with your afterlife," James said lightly and whilst Lily and Rosie rolled their eyes the boys laughed at the joke.
At lunchtime the doctors came and they talked Lily through what was happening to her dad. His cancer had spread so much that his organs were slowly shutting down and they believed he only had a few days to live as his kidneys had already begun to shut down. Lily went to the bathroom afterwards and cried for ten minutes before she went back to his room with a smile on her face.
"Show me some magic, Lily," her father requested.
Lily hesitated, "Dad we're in a hospital full of muggles."
"Come on, Lils," James urged with a sly wink, "We'll lock the door." James flicked the lock and said, "See?"
Lily smirked and said, "All right dad. What would you like to see? I can encase James' head in a pumpkin if you'd like."
"One time that happened," James shook his head and Lily stuck her tongue out at him. "Can you do a Patronus charm?" James asked Lily and she nodded. "Why don't we show him that?" They pulled their wands out of their pockets.
"They are quite pretty, aren't they?"
James agreed and on the count of three they both exclaimed, "Expecto patronum!" Immediately silver-blue light emitted from their wands. Lily's formed into a doe whilst James' turned into a magnificent stag. Lily looked at the patronuses in wonder. They matched! A doe and a stag. She looked at James and noticed that he had a dumbstruck look on his face too. She linked her little finger with his and smiled. They sent the doe and the stag galloping around the room for a few minutes and Lily's parents eyes were wide with amazement. Lily laughed at them – if only they could see Hogwarts, she thought to herself. For the next hour, Lily and James showed her parents as much magic as they could – they transformed the furniture, conjured birds, charmed objects to fly, painted flowers onto the walls and made themselves invisible. There was a knock at the door so Lily and James undid their magic and stowed their wands away before Lily unlocked the door. The nurse was here with her dad's afternoon medicines.
"Is it that time already?" Rosie sighed. "We best be off. We'll be back tomorrow."
Johnathan nodded and they all said their goodbye's before leaving. At home James insisted on making dinner so Lily and Rosie sat and watched. Rosie was amazed at how James never had to look for anything, just a flick of his wand and a draw would open and a knife would zoom out. Or how the pots stirred themselves.
Half way through cooking, an owl appeared at the window. Lily recognised it as one of the school's barn owls. She opened the window and grabbed the letter out of it's beak. It was addressed to her and James.
She opened it and read out loud, "Prongs and Lily, hope you're doing well. Prongs I hope you haven't been a git in front of Rosie and Johnathan. And stop being a show off!" Lily laughed. "I've attached homework from our classes. Scrivens wants us to write a twenty inch essay on dementors!"
"From Padfoot?" James asked and Lily nodded.
"And McGonagall wants us to write an essay on Metamorphmagus! Sirius says we're going to be taught how to transfigure our appearance!"
"That's brilliant! I can make Sirius look like an old man!"
Lily shook her head. "We're going to miss so much school work."
"We'll catch up. Sirius will help."
Lily frowned.
"It really is amazing what you learn at school, Lily," Rosie gushed.
The rest of the night was filled with James telling Rosie stories about Hogwarts and the wizarding world with Lily adding input here and there but mostly she just enjoyed listening to James talk.
—
James had been surprised how easy it was to impress Lily's parents and was even more surprised at their easy and welcoming acceptance of him. He had been sure that Lily had been serious when she'd said she may have to her parents that James Potter was an arrogant toerag but her parents seemed un-phased by Lily's change of heart if that had been the case. Truth be told James wondered if they would be as welcoming and accepting of James had there not been more pressing issues on their minds such as Lily's father's imminent death. Lily assured James that her parents adored him – she admitted, reluctantly, that her mother had called James a 'charmer'. She regretted it instantly as James used it against her every time they were alone and having a squabble. "Now, now Lily," he'd say, "Surely you aren't accusing a charmer like me?" when Lily's Arithmacy textbook went missing (Lily proceeded to throw a well aimed hairbrush at his head – he ducked and it hit Lily's wardrobe leaving a dent to Lily's dismay).
They'd been staying at Lily's house for four days when the hospital called at an unusual time – not late enough for them to be panicked but late enough in the afternoon that Rosie thought it odd that someone would be calling – and had informed her that the time was here. He was at his final hours and has been requesting to see his family.
There was a mad rush to the hospital – Lily barely let go of James's hand the whole time and stayed quiet. Rosie had lost all composure and could barely pay the taxi driver – James had to take over, "Here, I'll do it," he had said taking the money off of Rosie, and he had quite the trouble figuring out the muggle currency but eventually he got it.
Rosie went in first and came out tearful. James had never seen such sorrow on a woman's face before. Her eyes looked glazed, her eyes and nose both red from the tissue scrunched in her hand and her mouth tight lipped barely opening when she announced that he wanted James and Lily to go in together.
Lily's gripped tightened on James' hand and he gave it an encouraging squeeze before leading her into the hospital room.
"How's my favourite Lily?" her dad croaked from the bed and Lily finally started to cry. She went over and sat on the bed, letting go of James' hand and grabbing her father's. James stood at the end of the bed, trying to give Lily the space she needed to say goodbye.
"Oh dad!" she wailed and he patted her hand.
"Now, now what have I said about tears?"
"Today's an exception," she sniffed. "You're leaving us."
"We've known that now for quite some time."
Lily shook her head and wiped a tear away and cried, "It doesn't make this any easier!"
"I know but you have to be strong for your mum and for Petunia. Make sure she gets married in January!"
Lily nodded, "I will."
"And make sure you do well at school. You've always said how important these last exams are don't let me distract you from them. I'll be gone and there'll be nothing to change that okay? So grieve and then live your life."
Lily nodded again. "I'm going to miss you so much!"
Her dad held a shaky, frail arm out and Lily leaned down to give her dad a hug. James thought Lily was never going to let go but Johnathan tapped Lily's back and said, "Okay now, go check on your mother. I want a quick private word with James."
James was taken aback. He'd only known the man for a few days. What could he possibly want to tell James on his deathbed? Even Lily looked a little surprised and when James cocked his head slightly at her she slyly shrugged her shoulders. Lily planted a light kiss on her father's head and then went outside the room with Rosie.
"Come sit," Johnathan said gesturing to the chair next to his bed. James moved quickly and sat in the chair. "I know I've only known you four days and that your relationship with Lily is quite new but sometimes a parent just knows."
James drew in his eyebrows a little. What did Lily's dad know? Johnathan grabbed a small red box from under his bed sheets where it was hiding out of sight and handed it to James.
James opened it and saw a white gold banded ring with a circle, medium sized diamond in it. The band surrounding the diamond was intricately designed and sported smaller diamonds.
"It was Lily's grandmother's – my mother's – wedding ring. My dad and her were married for almost sixty years but unfortunately they passed on about five years ago within months of each other. Lily loves this ring, she use to steal it off Nana's bedside table just to wear it and try it on.
"I know marriage probably is a long, long thought away in your mind, James. You and Lily are still so young. But sometimes a parent just knows. When you are ready to get married I hope you'll use that ring so that a part of me can be with her always. Until then, keep it safe. And make sure she doesn't find it," he winked.
"How can you know?" James asked. He was surprised at how much Lily's father seemed to guess over the last few days, because James had every intention of marrying Lily when the time came. It was just last night when James and Lily were washing dishes – the muggle way – and the thought had crossed his mind that he could do this for the rest of his life.
"You and Lily may have only been dating for a month but you have known each other for almost seven years, James. Lily has never brought home a boyfriend apart from yourself and she did it even under these circumstances. There's no doubt in my mind that her feelings for you are very, very deep."
"You're very perceptive," James commented and Johnathan laughed.
"I just know Lily. Promise me you won't let her get too upset. Show her that she can still laugh and have fun in a world without me in it."
"I'll do my best," James promised. "It may take some time though. She's losing a pretty great dad."
"Thank you, James. Can you send in Petunia and Vernon, please?"
James nodded and he placed the small box inside his coat pocket.
"I'm sorry … that this is happening to you. If there was any way we could have fixed this, I would've done it but as my dad always says, even magic has its limits."
Johnathan just waved a hand and said, "Just look after my little girl." James hovered for a moment before leaving the room. He saw Lily standing on her own, leaning against a wall. Rosie was hugging a bony woman with blonde, curly hair. She had sharp blue eyes and they were a little red. James assumed this was Lily's sister, Petunia. She was wearing an ugly, salmon pink skirt suit.
There was a man standing slightly to the side of them was a puffy man. He had a neatly combed over hair and was wearing an ugly brown, sweater vest thing. James was correct in guessing that this was Petunia's fiancé, Vernon.
"What did dad want?" Lily asked James with a sniff.
"He wanted me to send Petunia and Vernon in."
Lily went over to her family and informed Petunia and Vernon that their dad wished to speak to them. She came back to where James was standing, James held an arm open and she fit herself nicely under it, leaning her head on his chest and grabbing the hand that was hanging over her shoulder.
Petunia and Vernon came out. Tears running down her face, she shook her head and everyone knew. Johnathan Evans was no longer with them.
X
X
X
A/N: Hi everyone, sorry for the late update! Enjoy! Review, Fav, Follow! Thanks for reading!
-Natalie x