Chapter Four

Disclaimer: Everything in the Harry Potter world belongs to JK Rowling

The purple fire crackled in the fireplace as Lily Potter lay on the couch wrapped in a furry white bathrobe, sipping a cup of hot chocolate while a storm brewed outside the small seaside cottage.

"I hope this storm is not going to last," called Lily to her husband in the kitchen.

"Well if I get to stay barricaded with you inside for a week, I'll be a happy man," James drawled, as he sauntered in and pressed a kiss to her bare collarbone.

"Prat."

James grinned cheekily. "Don't say you haven't thought about it."

Lily placed her hot chocolate on the table and kneeled up so her lips could meet his. The teasing atmosphere changed. James' gaze intensified and he practically lifted her off the couch as he kissed her feverishly. Lily wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her slender body to his as James' avid hands engulfed her body. Her bathrobe slipped slightly off her shoulder, revealing pale white skin.

So engrossed were they in their passionate encounter that they did not register a loud pop and a spray of ash that littered the ground in front of the fireplace.

"Prongs!" said a familiar voice that was filled with urgency.

The couple's heads snapped immediately to the fireplace, identical expressions of shock and annoyance on their faces.

"Padfoot," James growled at the face in the fire as a red-faced Lily pulled up her bathrobe. "You better have a good reason for—"

"Prongs, your mum's seriously ill."

James' face paled. "What happened?"

Sirius' face was strained. "I was having dinner with her when she suddenly collapsed. Ever since then, she's become delirious and just—just rambles about things from the past and the doctors don't think she has long before she—"

"I'm coming home now, Padfoot," James said in a controlled voice. "Are there any doctors there with her?"

"One is. I haven't left her side."

"I'll apparate home in ten minutes…I need to put my things together and…"

"I'll take care of the packing," Lily said calmly, keeping her own emotions tightly under control for James did not need her to fall to pieces. Her head was spinning. Only two minutes ago, she and James had been on a blissful honeymoon and now they were brought back to reality. Hard.

"If there's any change—"

"I'll notify you as fast as I can," finished Sirius, his own voice trembling slightly but staring unwaveringly at James. A quick, unvoiced exchange flew between the two best friends that Lily did not comprehend and then with a pop, Sirius' head disappeared.

James turned to face his wife and Lily felt chilled by his deliberately blank gaze.

"James—"

"We better pack," James interrupted dully and stalked into their bedroom. Lily winced as she heard the cupboard door slam open and rapidly followed her husband in. James threw his clothes into his suitcase with careless abandon, pulling drawers onto the ground roughly and not caring if he shoved Lily's clothes in with his own. Lily followed suit, albeit in a more rational and deft way.

Within five minutes, everything was packed and James still had not spoken. His face was taut with anxiety and his eyes tense. He merely yanked up both his and Lily's suitcases, not bothering to ask her if she wanted to carry her own, and strode over to the fireplace.

Lily touched James' arm. At her contact, James stopped and she could hear his shallow breathing. "You apparate first," she said softly. "I'll follow you and take the suitcases."

"But—"

"No, James. We are doing this my way," Lily said firmly.

James opened his mouth as if to argue but then he clamped it shut, his shoulders slumping in defeat as he nodded mutely. He then squeezed her hand tightly and apparated.

James stood at the entrance to his mother's bedroom with Lily standing close by him. The room was dark and only a sliver of light sliced through. Faint murmurs reached his ears and he could make out the shadow of Sirius standing up from the chair by Mrs. Potter's bedside and making his way over to the pair.

"Oh Merlin, Prongs and Lils! I am so glad to see you!" Sirius said quietly, his face white with worry.

James gripped his best friend tightly. "I'm so glad that you could be here."

"Don't thank me at all. It's the least I can do for you," replied Sirius intensely.

"How's she doing?" Lily asked, barely managing to keep her voice level.

Sirius glanced back at James then to Lily again. "Not well…she can't remember who I am and is speaking of things from the past…"

James took a sharp intake of breath and it appeared to Sirius and Lily that it was taking all his self-control to keep his emotions in check. "How can it be?" he said hoarsely. "She was fine a week ago. This is not my mum—she—she wouldn't decay like this…she's always had a sharp mind…"

"James…"

James shook himself. "I just need some time alone with her—just me and her, please?"

"Of course," Lily murmured, though she longed to accompany him and could tell that Sirius thought similarly to her, as he glanced at Lily with some trepidation at allowing James to see his mum in such a decline on his own.

"We'll wait for you out here, Prongs," offered Sirius, squeezing James' shoulder.

James nodded almost absently as if he hadn't digested what his wife and best friend had said and stepped into the dark bedroom, suddenly assailed by the suffocating odour of decay and death. His mother lay on a bed of white sheets, her hair plastered to her head by sweat. Her eyes were wide and glassy and James could barely contain the desire to just sit down and weep like a child and for the second time in his life—the first being the loss of his father—he had never felt so lost.

"Harold?" Mrs. Potter croaked, stretching out a trembling hand, "I'm so glad that you could come back from work early. Since our little James has just started his first year at Hogwarts, the house has been so lonely without him."

James blinked and felt his heart clench at the mention of his deceased father. Surely his mum did not think he was his dad? His stomach churned as his mother continued talking, his fear becoming realised:

"Why are you standing there so white, Harry? I know I don't look ravishing at the moment, but I will get better. I think I have that dreadful chill that little James had that week before he left for Hogwarts. Remember how he was so afraid that he would miss out on going to Platform 9 and ¾ because of the chill? He was so adamant that if he was still ill by that time, he would fly to Hogwarts while we were still asleep!" Mrs. Potter laughed, though it sounded as if she was hacking wood.

James felt hot tears sting his eyes and bit his tongue to keep them from coming.

"Don't stand there like a stunned mullet, dear. Do sit down beside me."

James dumbly followed his mother's orders, his mind swirling turbulently.

"I have just met a most charming fellow—Sirius Black, I believe his name is. He says he knows our Jamie and will look after him for us."

"D-d-did you?"

"Yes. He told me lots of stories about Jamie…like how talented he is at Quidditch, how popular he is…Merlin! James has only been at Hogwarts for two weeks and look at the marvellous impression he has made upon the student body!"

"T-that's good."

"You are rather short of words at the moment, my love. I was rather gobsmacked when that young Black told me, but not surprised, for our James has always been such a talented and bright boy. I wouldn't have expected anything different."

James let out a strangled sound and bit his lip hard to control himself.

"Black really seems to care about our son and I feel happy that he is around to make sure doesn't get up to too much mischief."

A sound that was a cross between a laugh and a sob erupted from James' throat as he clasped his mother's clammy hand in his own. "I somehow doubt that Pad-uh-Sirius w-will keep James out of t-trouble for he seems the type to—to always be in the thick of it."

"Are you feeling well, Harry? You sound as if you're crying," Mrs. Potter asked concernedly. "Here I am talking about how ill I am, when you do not look healthy yourself. I feel so selfish."

James brought his mother's hand to his lips and said in a voice that was rich in trembling emotion: "You are the least selfish person I have met in my life…there is no one more giving and self-sacrificing than you."

Mrs. Potter coughed again and her frame shook. James tightened his hold on his mother's hand and placed his free hand on her forehead, gently stroking the hair off her face.

Her eyelids began to droop and her shaking hand slackened in his. "Harold, please bring in Sirius for me—I need to ask something of him," she gasped out.

"Of course," James said hoarsely.

Before he could get up, the door opened softly and Sirius and Lily treaded quietly in. James had never felt so glad to see them in his life and felt a stinging sensation in the back of his eyes. He bit down on his tongue in order to compose himself and could taste the thick metallic tang of his blood that trickled from his tongue.

"I'm here, Mrs. Potter," Sirius said, his face stricken.

Mrs. Potter blinked and she attempted to hold up her free hand for him to take. Sirius immediately enfolded his hand around hers, tears already falling freely down his cheeks.

"I want you to look after my little James for me…he is at Hogwarts at the moment—first year, can you believe it?—and I did not call him as I didn't want him to worry about me. You look like a trustworthy, loyal fellow and I know that you-you will…protect…him…"

"Of course I will!" Sirius vowed fiercely, wiping tears out of his eyes with his free hand. "By my very life blood, Mrs. Potter, I will protect James at whatever cost."

James buried his face in his mother's hand, his shoulders trembling violently.

Mrs. Potter's breathing became more laboured and her pupils dilated as she focused on the figure of Lily. "W-w-who is this beautiful girl?"

"I'm Lily…Evans—one of James' very good friends," Lily said in a shaking voice, her green eyes wet with tears.

"Well I'm glad James has such a dear friend like you," Mrs. Potter breathed as her hazel eyes clouded over, the light departing from them and her body stilling.

James let out an agonised guttural cry, a cry that only a son could make to herald the departure of his mother, his life-giver and blood that pierced the heart of Lily and Sirius.

Mrs. Potter was dead.

Leave you on a cliff hanger! Please review and tell me what you think as it would be very much appreciated!

Mango Shmango :-)