Chapter 17: Tears on the Wind

The last thing Lily remembered was a worried James Potter telling her everything will be ok. After that, the world went completely black.

Am I dead? Lily thought confused. Well first of all it was completely not true to be thinking anything if you were dead…well no one really knows what happens when you die…but I highly doubt that anyone would be thinking anything.

If I'm not dead…then where am I? The fight to open her eyes was harder than she thought, but when she did the light of the place almost blinded her.

I know this place… It's the infirmary at Hogwarts…but it's Christmas Break…

The room was completely silent. There were no other patients occupying the beds and no outside noise of students talking with friends and running to get to class on time. Lily was utterly and completely alone.

She silently moved the covers of her bed and swung her legs over the edge. Attempting to stand was really difficult, the world began to spin and she fell back on her bed, covering her eyes from the sight. When she removed her hands, one of them had a red tint to it, blood. There was a large bandage on her head, that was obviously old and the wound had seeped blood through it.

Another obstruction in my quidditch career…she sighed and got up again, regaining her balance.

Lily didn't really know where anyone was or what was going on, but she just wanted to get away. Hogwarts had always been her home, but she just survived an attack from Tom Riddle and really needed to sort things out in her head.

Walking directly outside the infirmary, there was a little ledge in the sunlight just waiting for her to sit on. Things had really changed recently and Lily wasn't sure if she was ready to adjust to these things. First of all, Tom Riddle is messing with everyone's lives…in a bad way. The Marauders used to be annoying twits, especially Mr. James Potter, their leader and womanizer himself. But, since everything that had happened with the quidditch team and lives being endangered…it was almost too much to think about…

"Escaping the infirmary already?" Lily smirked at the sound of that voice and looked down, the wind carrying her hair with it as it sailed by, "I would expect Miss perfect student to endure the torture Pomfrey gives in silence. The teacher's pet Lily Evans would never ever escape…but this? You're looking like a true Marauder to me now."

"Ok, I am not a teacher's pet," Lily argued.

"Not a teacher's pet? I don't believe that rubbish!" James walked down the steps and stood next to her.

"Sorry to break your evil little heart, but I don't think I'll ever agree to be a Marauder anytime soon…"

James laughed at this comment, "You never know Evans, that's some pretty big temptation if I say so myself." But, when he looked up, his eyes didn't meet the Lily he knew who wanted to cut him up and bake him in a pie, or the Lily who was one of the most amazing quidditch players he had ever seen. This Lily was hurt and he could see it in her eyes.

"I…I'm sorry," she stuttered looking away from him and out into the distance, "I'm just not used to having the old, annoying Potter back after everything that's happened."

He sighed, unable to avoid this discussion, "I know…but I'd rather not dwell on how many times you've almost died this school year, thanks." He started up the stairs.

"Wait," the word suddenly escaped her lips, "Please, don't…I'm sorry…just trying to regain my thoughts…I…um…don't remember much."

That thought crushed James. Even though Lily knew he was annoying and always asking her out, hunting her down, and always doing stupid things to impress her, there was nothing worse than how he saw her last night lying on the floor…

"I'm sorry Lily," he whispered, barely audible. She turned to look at him, completely confused.

"It's my fault," she admitted, something that never happened.

"What?" he was completely stunned at her confession.

"I said it's my fault," a silent tear slid down her face and she stared at the ground, "It's my fault for everything's that happened. If I would have been smarter or stronger I probably could have defended…"

"Don't even think that, Lily," he interrupted her, coming down the stairs and looking into her eyes, "These things…these…people are doing this because they have hatred inside them. It's not your fault at all. They just choose to take it out on you."

She sighed, pursing her lips, silent.

James stood silently watching her, but he didn't really know what to do. He had almost lost her and it felt like forever since he had been able to actually see her and now to see her crying and not the feisty Lily he knows and remembers; he was completely stumped.

Lily didn't know what to do. The moment wasn't awkward, but she felt like she should say something or move or hug him. But, the more she thought about it, the longer the silence grew and longer she sat there just thinking about it.

A small cold touch caused her to close her eyes.

James placed his hand on her forehead. She was warm, almost too warm and her head was still bleeding. But, under his touch, she relaxed and calmed down.

"Will you please come back inside with me?" he whispered.

She opened her eyes and tried to read his face, but the only thing she saw was sincerity. She took a deep breath, lost in his eyes, and nodded getting up.

Not a good idea. The world was spinning again.

Lily slammed her eyes shut, but it didn't help. She couldn't tell which way was up.

"Lily?"

She opened her eyes, only to see James' face and only his face.

Suddenly, Lily closed her eyes and began to sway. James didn't need to think anymore when Lily was in trouble and he was there.

She tipped over, but he caught her, lowering her softly to the ground in his arms.

"Lily?" he asked, worried. She opened her eyes.

"Sorry," she mumbled, blinking a few times. I'm so pathetic. I can't even walk straight without being helped…how embarrassing.

He helped her up, but didn't let go of her arm as they walked back in to infirmary.

"Lily!"

The redhead looked up to see her two best friends Natalie and Alice running straight for her and braced herself. They engulfed her in hugs and the usual "are you ok?" "we thought you died!"

"Miss Evans!" the girls' jumped aside and even heroic Potter lost all the color in his face, "I should chain you to a bed and never let you see the light of day!" Madame Pomfrey's face was beet red.

Lily sighed. She knew this was coming.

"Madame Pomfrey, please control your temper," Professor Dumbledore was suddenly at her side, an arm on her shoulder, a twinkle in his eye.

"Miss Evans, I would like to speak with you," everyone in the room, including the Maraudars who Lily hadn't seen before, looked her direction.

"Albus, she is not in the best health to be leaving my care,"

"She will be fine with me for only a moment," he walked toward her.

"Can you walk?"

"Yes, sir,"

Every eye she caught as she left the room had no smile in it.

"Please, sit," Dumbledore moved a chair for her and then went and sat down behind his desk.

It was peacefully quiet for a bit. Dumbledore was in deep thought and Lily sat waiting for him to begin.

"Miss Evans, can you describe to me what happened after you were taken?"

Lily took a deep breath and tried to remember back…

"I don't remember getting there or the way there at all. I must have been unconscious up till then. But, I do remember waking up. The room was dark, I didn't know where I was, and Natalie and Alice were tied up with me. Then, I heard a small voice. It wasn't loud but I could hear a sort of mumble and that's when I found the mirror and contacted James."

Dumbledore listened intently as she spoke, not interrupting.

"After James told me it was going to be ok, we heard footsteps coming closer. It was Bellatrix Lestrange. The last thing I remember was horrible pain…the worst pain I've ever felt…and then I woke up today…"

Dumbledore watched her face as she talked. She betrayed no emotion or any grimace about what had occurred. He smiled inside at the thought of how strong Lily Evans was with everything she had endured so far.

"Lily, I brought you up here to not only hear your account but to help you understand what's going on in this terrible world. Tom Riddle is an evil man and wants to 'purify' the wizarding world. He picks on you because you are a model student here and wants to make a demonstration of you. But, now that you have escaped him numerous times, he is getting angry. He will come after you and he will kill you if you aren't prepared. He does not like leaving a job unfinished and I felt the need to warn you that this is not going to stop."

Dumbledore had not told Lily, but he had asked James, Natalie, and Alice to wait outside his office for her. He hadn't given them any other information, but to stay there, so they assumed it was bad.

"What do you think he's telling her?" Alice asked, quietly.

"I don't know," James commented, stopping his pacing to answer.

Silence engulfed them for a while.

"I hope she's ok…" Natalie said to no one in particular.

Suddenly, the door opened and Lily fell out. James jumped forward catching her before she slammed her already hurt head into the floor. Lily's sobs and tears wet his robe as he looked up to see that Dumbledore had also shed a single tear.

A/N: Sorry it has taken me so long to update! I'm just starting out in my first year of college and it has been really hectic! I hope you enjoyed this chapter and please review, I love feedback!