Chapter Two : The Awakening

It had been four days since the attack and the Potters were still at St. Mungo's. They were being extremely well looked after by the very best of the healers. Lily woke the day after the attack and was feeling fine, but exhausted. She had to take a "Strengthening Potion; for the Mind, Body and Soul" every 2 hours as not only was she physically drained, but mentally as well. She spent a lot of the time asleep, however, did spend her waking hours with James, while cradling Harry protectively. Unlike Lily, James has not yet awoken since the attack, although his condition had been confirmed stable bu the head healer, Charlie Rimport, he has not actually awoken. It seemed that the attack has been most draining for James, and Lily was finding it hard not having him there to talk to and simply be with. She has become exceptionally emotional and tears were seen gliding down her cheek when she was sitting with James. As for Harry, his health seemed to be doing well, although it was hard to ask a one-year-old boy how he was feeling.

Although Lily has asked Dumbledore and many of the most advanced wizards, witches and healers to try and remove the scar slashed across her son's forehead, all has been unsuccessful, the only result of their attempts was usually a hysterical Harry screaming his lungs out. Dumbledore has then spoken up and warned Lily against any further attempts at the removal of the scar. Lily has apprehensively agreed and instead of trying to rid her son of his scar, she began questioning Dumbledore. This however, was some thing that he had been expecting and was prepared to answer any question of Lily's that he could

Sirius was with the Potter's for the majority of the time and Lupin has left just today, since it was nearing the arrival of the full moon. Many others had visited, including James' family, his mother Sarah, his father George and his two younger sisters Claire and Ava. Many Hogwarts staff has also visited and all of the Potters friends from Hogwarts has either come in or sent owls. The Ministry has been pestering Lily since they had arrived at St. Mungo's and Dumbledore eventually put a stop to them entering the ward as it was causing Lily too much pain to re-live the night of the attack.

There were dozens of questions Lily was itching to ask Dumbledore but she wanted to wait for James to be there too. Lily has taken station in a chair next to James' bed, holding his hand in one arm while nursing and humming to Harry in the other. She sometimes placed Harry in James' lap when she needed a small break from him. It was around 8 o'clock when Sirius walked in, looking sleep ridden and frail. He had not taken the attack of his best friend's family well at all, but then who would?

"Hey Lily," he whispered softly as she stood up and he embraced her in a tight hid. He kissed her on the head softly before pulling away and looking down into her sad eyes,

"How are you feeling today?"

Lily spoke up, but it was no more than a once sweet, but now broken whisper,

"Same as yesterday," she began, and then continued, "and the day before."

Sirius nodded in understand and stepped toward the bed before grasping for his best mate's hand, then looking up to Lily.

"Any change Lil?"

Lily looked up, her eyes glassy with fresh tears and shook her head before taking her previous post next to James. Sirius released his grip on his friend's hand and moved toward the smiling Harry. He picked him up and swung him out in front of him.
"Look at you," Sirius spoke, his own words etched with sadness, yet a hint of respect, "goofing around and drooling all over the place, you don't have a clue what's going on, go you bubs?" Sirius asked the baby, when he got no response he continued on, "you have no idea that you just defeated the most powerful dark wizard for centuries/of all time!" Sirius continued to marvel and gaze, amazed at the boy held before him,

"Little Harry Potter, the boy who lived," Sirius finished, with an emphasis on the word lived. He touched his hand to the scar on his forehead, "and to think…" Sirius muttered, before drifting off into his own thoughts. He placed the young boy back in his sleeping fathers lap before taking a seat on the other side of James' bed, and again clutching his free hand. Harry crawled awkwardly up on to his father's chest and lay down, apparently sleepy, as his mother and godfather grasped his father's hands.

Nobody in the room seemed to notice the arrival of Albus Dumbledore in the room, as he stood watching the scene before him, the scene that seemed to earn a place in this marvellous mans heart. Staring intently at James, Dumbledore could have sworn he saw James' eyelids flutter. Then Lily stood, still hanging on to her husbands hand and kissed him, before muttering something to Sirius about, "…time for my potion, got to feed Harry, I'll be back soon." She was just about to let of her grip on James' hand when he eyelids did indeed flutter open, Dumbledore stood quite as silent as before, still observing. Sirius, whose gaze has shifted to Lily picking Harry up, hadn't noticed either. Just as Lily was bending down to pick Harry up, James gave a heavy breath and the word "Lily" tumbled out into the side of her face. She snapped her head around immediately, sending her red hair flying, as did Sirius and spoke, with the sweetness that hadn't been heard for days, "I love you." James gave a weak but true smile.

And so it was that James Potter awoke after nearly five days of slumber, in the presence of the powerful love of the four most important people in his life, and heart; Sirius Black, his fellow Marauderer and lifelong best friend, Lily Evans, his one and only love and wife, Professor Albus Dumbledore, one of the most marvellous wizards of the time and ever loyal friend, and of course, his son; the extraordinary Harry Potter. The boy who lived.