It is a curious feature of emotions that often when traumatic experiences occur, other things in life that once seemed important do not really matter in the slightest anymore.

For Lily, this meant that completely ignoring James was no longer a priority in her life. Perhaps she did not have the energy to fight him, or it may have been that just the notion of a familiar face so close to her at the time was extremely reassuring.

Whatever the case, the memory charm that Madame Pomfrey had placed on her to temporarily calm her the day before was beginning to wear off, and Lily was not fully cognizant of what had happened. All she knew was that something very bad had happened and that she needed desperately to just be with someone.

As she looked around, the only someone in sight was James Potter, and she had never in her life been so glad to see him.

Leaping off her bed and towards the similarly confused-looking boy, she called out, "James!"

James only blinked and did not bother to move out of her way as she pounced on him in a tight embrace.

"Hi, Lily." He stared blankly at the girl and patted her head awkwardly, confused as to why she was now in his bed.

"I feel positively wretched right now, and I haven't the foggiest as to why," she proclaimed. The tears began to silently pour down her cheeks again.

James held his finger up to catch all the ones that dripped off her chin and looked anywhere but at her face. He was already in enough pain.

A few minutes later, as Lily must have run out of tears, she asked, "So what are you doing here?"

"I…it's the oddest thing really, I don't quite believe it happened and I haven't seen them in a month so how was I supposed to know and I never got to say goodbye and who the hell does this killer think he is and why them and is this hardly fair I don't think so I should probably stop talking now shouldn't I."

James' mouth closed as quickly as it had opened to blurt out the entire explanation. His eyes lost their focus again. Lily moved her right hand to cover them, so dazed that she had not comprehended a single word that he had said.

"Shhh…Don't look at anything…Close your eyes, it will all be better." It might have been a stupid thing to say, but Lily just felt like saying something. She gently tugged on his head and dragged it down to the pillow, where she began to draw patterns on his back.

"They're my fucking parents!" he burst out, finally letting the tears fall.

And then Lily remembered. Clapping her hand to her mouth, she let out a scream that surely echoed throughout the entire castle. She remembered that her parents were dead, and she remembered that she hated James Potter.

Flailing around in the sheets in which James had wrapped her (she had no recollection of this), she fell off his bed and squirmed over to hers, climbing into it, collapsing, and staring at the ceiling.

Madame Pomfrey and Albus Dumbledore rushed into the room.

"Miss Evans!" shrieked Madame Pomfrey. "Are you all right?"

She received no answer. Lily refused to talk.

Dumbledore decided, "If it would be agreeable, I'd very much like to be left alone with these two students."

Madame Pomfrey bowed her head obligingly and walked out.

"Lily, James…" he began, a certain melancholy tone in his voice. "I don't pretend to overlook the extreme shock and pain the news you have received has caused you. I do offer my most sincere condolences."

The Head Boy and Head Girl had both flipped onto their stomachs with their faces pressed into their pillows, clearly uninterested in what anyone had to say.

"But," Dumbledore continued in the most stern of voices, which made them immediately realize who they were talking to (or, rather, listening to) and sit straight up. "It may be rather harsh to say it, but you mustn't let this disturb you. Your parents would have wanted you to be happy."

"You don't even know my parents." Lily had finally decided to speak up.

"That is true, but I do know that any mother or father would want that for their children."

The three contemplated the heaviness of the statement in silence.

"Now, what I'm about to discuss here is of utmost importance, and it really only applies to you, Mr. Potter."

When James did not reply, Dumbledore conjured up a chair and sat down in between their beds.

"Mr. Potter, do you or do you not particularly care that Miss Evans will be listening in on our conversation?"

"I really couldn't give a flying-"

"Mr. Potter!" exclaimed Dumbledore sternly. "I realize you are upset, but you really must watch your mouth."

"My apologies, Professor."

"Very well, then," Dumbledore pressed on, clearly not phased. "I shall not ask Miss Evans to leave."

Lily turned her back to them to allow them some privacy, still wondering what they could be talking about.

"James, I do not wish to alarm you," the wise old man began cautiously. "You may have heard of a rather powerful wizard by the name of Lord Voldemort."

"Nope."

"If you read the Prophet, you may have seen an article about He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?"

"Err…yeah, now that you mention it, yes."

"Well, that is just a name the wizarding world has decided to bestow upon Voldemort for fear of him. He is, James, the one who murdered your parents, for reasons we are not quite sure of yet. In recent months, I have been organizing a group by the name of The Order of the Phoenix to begin to combat Voldemort's dark forces. Now, as I understand from one of our conversations, you are interested in becoming an Auror. You are indeed enrolled in the prerequisite classes for that career. Is it safe to assume that you will act upon this interest?"

"In all honesty, Professor, I couldn't see myself doing anything else."

"Aha…" Dumbledore rested his chin upon the fingertips he had carefully placed together. "I only come to you for help for two reasons. One, on the most basic level, I think it is safe to assume that you will now seek revenge for your parents' murder."

James' eyes lit up with rage at the comment.

"Also," persisted Dumbledore, "you display qualities highly reminiscent of a most bold and valiant young man."

Lily snorted, nonetheless absorbed in each of Dumbledore's words.

"The Order will need people like you to help, and as an intelligent wizard with an extraordinary capacity to rise to the occasion, I cannot help but think that you would be able to help me very much indeed. Consider this my official plea to you."

Without thinking, James blurted out, "Of course I'll do it. I don't care if I get hurt. Voldemort needs to die."

One of Dumbledore's light blue eyes seemed to twinkle. "I always knew I liked you, James."

"Sir, I want to do everything I can to help."

"I understand that, James," Dumbledore grinned. "I will contact you later so that we can discuss this more fully. Now please rest up."

Dumbledore stood up, vanished the rather comfortable-looking armchair in which he had just been lounging, and exited the room so quickly it was as if he had vanished himself as well.

A mere two seconds had passed in Dumbledore's presence after which Lily jumped out of her bed, still wrapped in sheets, and ran after him.

Struggling to catch up to him at the end of the corridor, she yelled, "Sir! Please wait!"

Dumbledore turned around and looked at Lily with a most curious expression on his face. "Yes, Miss Evans?"

"I want to help," she begged. "Please."

"Miss Evans, this really does not concern you," protested Dumbledore.

"Sir, I am well aware that I am the only witch in my entire family, but I know a good cause when I see one. Ever since I first read about Aurors from the career pamphlets we were given a few years ago, I knew it was the only thing I could ever do. It can't possibly be just or fair that this man is going around killing innocent people. I want to help stop him. Please just give me a chance."

No sane man could have disregarded the impassioned speech Lily had just made.

"Miss Evans, I do say, one would not think just by looking at you…"

"With all due respect, Sir, you said you were looking for intelligent people. So here is one."

"Miss Evans, I truly would be honored. Please return to me once you have fully recovered."

Satisfied with the results, Lily turned around and slowly walked back to the Hospital Wing.

James stared at her with the most curious expression on his face.

"I have a question," Lily started, before he could open his mouth. "Was I really just in your bed?"

"Err...yes, I do believe so," responded James.

"Hmm…and how did you like it?" asked Lily.

"I…I wasn't really too conscious…" explained James. "I wasn't really disturbed by it, though."

"James, I'm about to ask you something you will never repeat to another living creature so long as you live, do you hear me?"

He only continued to stare at her with the same questioning look.

"Do you think I could possibly join you again?"

-----

"What do you think happened?"

"I'm not sure, but why are they lying like that?"

"I can't believe this happened."

Lily awoke with a splitting headache but did not open her eyes. She remained as still as she possibly could, listening to the conversation taking place around her. Feeling extremely warm and wondering why, she realized that James' arm was wrapped around her waist like a seatbelt and that his breath was hot on her face. She didn't think she had ever been this close to another human being before. She sat up with a start when she realized this and also the fact that the voices belonged to Sirius, Remus, Peter, and Audrey.

Lily sliding out of James' embrace immediately disturbed him, and he jerked awake as well.

"Well thanks for deciding to wake up," joked Sirius. "I will temporarily push aside the question that entails me wondering how the hell you two became so chummy and promptly inquire as to how you're feeling."

"I've been better," shrugged James. You wouldn't dare tell them what you're actually thinking, the voice in his head nagged. You're actually feeling ridiculously guilty right now because, although your parents were just killed, you're feeling a lot better already because of Dumbledore and, oh yeah, the fact that you were just napping with Lily in your arms.

"And you, Lily?" inquired her best friend, reaching down to give her a tight squeeze.

"You know…" said Lily. "I'm dealing with it."

"Well, you both look a lot better than you did the last time I saw you," laughed Remus, glad the mood wasn't too somber.

"Yeah, considering I was passed out," smiled James.

"And I was hurling everything I've eaten while at Hogwarts," snickered Lily.

"Okay okay," interrupted Sirius. "Now that I see you're not dying anymore…WHY ARE YOU TWO IN THE SAME BED?"

As if they had suddenly realized this fact, Lily and James scooted as far away as they could from each other, which, because they were obviously in the same bed, only amounted to about six inches.

"Hmmm?" demanded Sirius, the most enormous, sly grin on his face.

Lily looked from James, who looked as if though someone had just Transfigured him into a tomato, to Sirius, who was positively beaming, to Audrey, who had just released a ridiculously girly "Awww."

"I'll let you know once I figure it out myself."

-----

Woooo. Wow. That chapter was pretty intense. I am already dying to write the next one. REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!!!!

-Marina