James followed the zigzagging trail Lily had left with more than a bit of worry. She was unfamiliar with the forest and its dangers, and her path was leading her straight toward the acromantula colony. The one time that the Marauders had been unluchy enough to run across the spiders, before they knew to avoid that portion of the Forbidden Forest, there had been an incident in which they had been lucky to escape with their lives. Eventually the tracks ended, half a Quiddich field from the border of the acromantuals' territory and James found Lily collapsed against a tree, sobbing into her hands. He felt terrible, a pit forming in his stomach as he knew that he had been the one that caused her to become this miserable.

"Lily?" He asked quietly, moving to sit beside her on the ground, waiting. She didn't respond, but her shoulders tensed. "I'm sorry, Lily." He whispered sincerely, trying to get her to understand his regret.

After a time she lifted her face from her hands to look at him through red, tear-filled eyes. Lily stared for a minute and then sniffed, turning away as the tears began to track down her cheeks again. James transfigured a leaf into a handkerchief and handed it to her. "Thanks." She whispered hoarsely.

There was silence for a while, and then James spoke. "I didn't mean what I said. I promise. And I am sorry." After watching his face for a minute, Lily bit her lip. He met her eyes, pressing. "What happened?"

She drew in a sharp breath and shook. "They're dead. My mum and dad, I mean." Her eyes became haunted and she crossed her arms across her chest, hugging herself as she began to rock. "Last summer they were in a car accident and my dad died instantly. My mum lived for a day in the hospital, and before she died too." Lily wiped her eyes and sniffed again. She fell silent and seemed to be finished, but even as James made to speak, she took a breath and continued. "I had nowhere to go. My grandparents weren't living except for my mum's dad, and he is in a nursing home. He doesn't even remember my name anymore, and my aunt is ill. I couldn't go to live with her. I should have lived with Petunia, but…" Lily broke off whatever she was about to say and started to cry again. James reached over and took her hand, waiting silently for her to be ready to continue. Lily wiped her eyes with the handkerchief and swallowed. "She hates me. She thinks I'm a… a freak and she hates magic too." Lily paused again, her voice becoming even quieter. James had to lean closer to catch the rest of what she was saying. "I live at an orphanage when I am not at Hogwarts." With the last being said, Lily lost the last of her composure and pulled her knees up against her, sobbing.

Unsure, James scooted closer and put his arm around her. She trembled and tried to pull away, but when James didn't let go she gave in and let him take her into his arms. He didn't speak for a long time as James held her.

"James?" She began hesitantly, looking up at him closely. "Are you alright?"

James squeezed his eyes shut and took a shuddering breath, his arms tightening around her involuntarily. He didn't answer and then began in a level, emotionless voice. "The Death Eaters attacked my parents while they were out shopping." He said quietly. He spoke flatly, as if he were telling of the misfortune of a stranger or a character in a novel he was reading, attempting to hold the pain at arms distance, avoiding the truth that he would never again see his parents, that they would never be there to see him graduate, to see him get married, to be a part of his life.

Lily waited and then spoke. "You can't pretend they aren't gone, James, I know better than anyone." He pushed her away from him, trying to block her words. "It hurts, James, I know it hurts, but you need to let go." His breathing was raged and his hands clenched at the ground painfully. Lily reached out to touch his cheek, catching the single tear that streaked down it. For a moment his expression became more cold and controlled as he tried to shut away his grief, but then it broke. A broken cry passed his lips and hot tears ran down his cheeks. Lily shifted returned to where she had been in his arms, wrapping her own arms around him as tightly as she could from where she was sitting.

She continued to hug him as he finally allowed himself to cry. Time became irrelevant as they took comfort in each other, knowing that the other could relate to them and shared the same pain. The only mark of the passing night was the arc of the half moon that followed its age-old journey across the starry sky. Every once in a while a noise from the forest would disrupt them, but not once did either give any inclination of moving, each lost in their own memories.

An hour before dawn, Lily still sat encircled in James' arms. He finally moved and looked down at her, slight confusion displayed in the small frown on his face. "Why'd you come, Lily? You've always hated me." Even as he said it, his expression closed off and he pushed her away, standing up.

Lily grabbed at his hand, but he stepped away from her. Lily sighed. "I don't hate you, James." He gave her a skeptical look. Lily looked out into the trees to avoid seeing him. "Not anymore." She relented. When he watched her, demanding for more, she took a breath. "Before this year I couldn't stand you, and you were an awful bully." He stared at his feet, stricken by the brutal honesty in her voice. "Something changed this year, I don't know what it was, but you haven't been like that, it was as if you were someone else. Last year I would have not believed you were capable of being kind, but…" Lily gave him a small smile. "I saw you helpnig the first year Slytherin girl last week with her homework in the library." She gave a nervous laugh. "I suppose what I mean to say is that you've changed."

He nodded, looking down. "What you said to me at King's Cross last year, that I was treating them exactly the way I accused them for treating others, finally got to me, I think." He yawned tiredly and looked at the lightening sky. "Wonderful example we'll set today, Head Boy and Girl sleeping through all of their classes."

Lily nodded. "I don't think anyone expects you to go." She said quietly.

James grimaced and looked away into the darkness of the forest. "If I don't go I will be alone. I know if I am I think to much. I want to be busy."

She didn't respond, but then her eyes darted around. "james, we're lost. It's the Forbidden Forest." Her voice grew anxious as her panic grew. "We spent all night here. Do you think they are already looking for us?"

Despite himself, a smile formed on James' lips. "Lily, calm down." Her head snepped around to stare at him. He took her hand reassuringly. "I know how to get out." She looked up at him, clinging to his words like a lifeline. She had never before been in the forest. "I know the Forbidden Forest like my own backyard. You have no idea how many times we have been in here."

James chuckled then at the look on Lily's face. It was torn halfway between disapproval and gratitude. She bit back any reprimands that she usually would have voiced and followed his lead into the winding darkness of the forest. As they left the last trees that made up the fringe, the sun was breaking over the horizon, red, orange, and yellow light reflecting off the mirrorlike surface.

"It's beautiful." Lily remarked quietly, observing the scene with amazement.

James nodded, still holding her hand. Lily stepped closer to him, leaning her head on his shoulder, her side pressed closely against his, as they stood there in the brisk morning air, treasuring their last moment of the peaceful calm before they would reenter Hogwarts and become lost in the day to day chaos and noise. At last, as they turned toward the castle, Lily looked up to smile at James. "I'm glad you were there with me tonight."

James looked down to see her and squeezed her hand lightly. "Thank you for everything, Lily. Friends?"

A smile spread across her face and she nodded. "Friends.

A.N. Alright, that is the end of this, and I hope that you liked it. Please tell me what you thought. Thank you for taking the time to read my story.