Chapter 9: Full Recovery

Lily awoke with a start. She was in a bed that wasn't her own. It was very... Lily struggled to describe her surroundings she was still weak and groggy. She was alive though. She blinked but even that hurt. "It's clean" she muttered before falling out of conscious once more.

There was someone holding her hand when she next awoke. She was still sore but a little bit better. She managed to move her head a little. The person was someone very familiar. "James?" She whispered not trusting her own voice. What was James Potter doing in the girls dormitories and what was he doing holding her hand?

The figure heard her speak, and looked at her with concerned eyes. "Lily?"

The figure became clearer the more times Lily blinked. It wasn't James Potter at all it was her mother. "Mum."

Mrs Evans was smiling, her daughter was awake. "Eric go get Joanne. Our little Lily is awake."

Lily turned slightly to see her father sitting on a chair at the end of her bed. "Hi daddy." She whispered reverting to her childhood.

Eric Evans was gone for about two minutes when he returned he was followed by a short witch with brown hair tied in a bun. Lily couldn't place where she seen her before.

Gillian Evans saw her daughters confused look. "You remember Joanne don't you dear. Marlene's mother?"

Realisation dawned and Lily nodded slowly giving her best friend's mother a warm smile.

The smile was returned and a bright light was shone in her eyes checking her reactions. "I'm going to ask you a few questions." Her voice was a lot calmer then when she last heard it but Lily could still hear her accent. She nodded. "Can you tell me what your name is?"

"Lily" Lily replied, "Evans" She added when she remembered that her mother had called her Lily when she first woke up.

"Good. Do you know what year it is?"

"1976. No wait 1977."

Her mother chuckled. Relived her daughter was acting normal.

"How's Petunia?" Lily asked once Joanne had helped her sit up and given her something to drink – which Lily recognised as a Draught of Peace.

Her mother and father shared a look. "They are safe. After being tended to by your doctors they left saying they were packing and leaving for Vernon's. He has a house down in Surrey." Eric said stroking his daughters head.

"Oh." It was all Lily could say. She wasn't worried, but that was the potion talking, she felt calm and as though she had slept for days. "How long have I been..." She couldn't bring herself to say unconscious.

"It's Tuesday. You slept all day yesterday.."

Lily looked up shocked. "We missed the train!" She exclaimed.

Gillian smiled, "The Ministry sent a letter to Professor Dumbledore explaining what has happened. He says he has briefly explained where you are to your classmates, but has told them that when you return they are not to ask questions."

Lily nodded, she couldn't believe she'd been in hospital for nearly two days. She couldn't really remember much from Sunday night, but she was glad Petunia was okay. She wondered where Marlene had taken them. Lily had a sudden thought. Was Marlene okay? A memory of her friend lying on the cold pavement, hurt and bleeding came back to her. "Where's Marlene?" She voiced to whoever was listening

Her parents exchanged another glance and Joanne busied herself with another patient further down the ward.

"She hasn't woken up yet." Eric nodded to the bed next to Lily's where a small brown haired girl was sleeping peacefully.

Lily hadn't noticed Marlene before. She was like - like herself – covered in bandages and cuts from the fight.

Marlene suddenly twitched as if she knew she was being talked about and Lily let out a small gasp. Joanne looked over and saw that her daughter was moving.

"Marli? Hunny?"

Marlene stirred and gazed up at her mother then over at Lily giving her a small, but relived smile.

Joanne smiled back and sat on the edge of Marlene's bed asking her similar questions to Lily's and checking how she was.

Lily suddenly appreciated the privacy Joanne gave her and her parents when she first woke up and wanted to do the same. She tapped her mother on the shoulder. "Any chance I could go for a walk?"

Joanne had heard and looked over nodding in agreement. "That's a good idea, gets the circulation and the muscles working. Will you be okay?"

Lily nodded, "Yes thank you, I'll speak to you later Marl." She added. Her mother helped her out of bed and her father handed her a dressing gown.

Lily had really needed the walk. Her legs were weak from being in bed for a day, it also gave Marlene and Joanne time to chat. The talk must've gone well because when Lily and her parents came back Marlene was smiling happily and Joanne was back at work whistling songs from a Muggle Musical.

Lily's parents said hello to Marlene then went over to talk to Joanne. Leaving the girls to talk in peace.

Lily gave her friend a quick hug and sat on the end of the bed. She was feeling much better her walk had cleared her head and although she couldn't walk very fast she had mentioned that she felt ready to go back to Hogwarts tomorrow.

"How are you?" She asked but stopped when she saw the flowers. "Who are these from?"

Marlene raised her eyebrows. "Guess."

Lily looked around, on the cabinet between their beds was a card that had been signed by what looked to be everyone in the school. Even the teachers had signed it. Next to the card were six vases. Three were full of Alyssum and the others were full of Chrysanthemums. She smiled, "Least they didn't send us anything embarrassing."She said picking up the card to take a closer look.

"Famous last words." Marlene muttered before grabbing a pillow and placing it over her head.

Lily didn't notice and opened the card. As soon as she opened the card, four voices spoke loudly carrying the words of a poem that sounded like it had been written by a child.

We at Hogwarts hope you get this card.
We spent ages and tried so hard
to make this present perfect and kind
and in all our effort we hope you don't mind.

You surely showed Gryffindor spirit
by being brave and full of merit,
The Eagles and Badgers join our plight
and hope you don't go towards the light
(However the Snakes are just pissed
that the bad guys missed)

Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs
say they love you and don't be too long.

The poem ended with the four voices singing in opera voices: "Get Well Soon!!!!!"

Lily quickly shut the card and the singing stopped. She placed it under a vase and turned to Marlene. "You could've warned me that they had charmed it to sing and recite embarrassing poetry."

Marlene smirked; "It is bad isn't it? But very thoughtful, I managed to read some of the messages before the voices looped and everyone is sending their regards and well wishes."

Lily nodded thoughtfully, "I said to my parents that I want to go back soon."

"Yeah I said that too. We've got to go to the ministry before going back to school though. We need to give our statements in."

"Mother said that you're dad is running the investigation?"

"Yes, he and a couple of others were first on the scene after the distress signal was sent out."

"I don't really remember much."

Marlene sighed. "Neither do I, but we'll get there." She added smiling.

Lily had never been to the Ministry of Magic before and she looked around in awe feeling like she did when she saw Hogwarts for the first time.

After a good nights sleep both her and Marlene had made a full recovery and had been told they could go back to Hogwarts tonight. They were still covered in small scars but they no longer winced in pain every time they made a sudden movement.

Looking forward to going back to Hogwarts Lily had given her statement quickly, she remembered more now than she did yesterday morning, they had spent yesterday evening once their parents had gone home, talking it through and filling in the gaps. She had learnt how Marlene had charmed Vernon and Petunia to sleep and locked them in a phone box with muggle-repelling charms and protection shields on it. She also found out the the distress signal consisted of dialling 999 and saying five magic related words into the phone, where a trained ministry official would pass it on to the correct authorities. It was a fairly new system and was expected to be rolled out to both muggles and wizarding families later that year.

Marlene was giving her statement to a young ministry official and Alastor Moody. A celebrated Auror who had answered the distress call. While she waited for them to finish Lily pulled a book out of her bag and settled down to read, ignoring the curious looks of wizards and witches going about their daily business.

Lily and Marlene had said goodbye to their parents earlier that morning and their trunks had been sent off to Hogwarts earlier that week. They were both flooing to Marlene's late on tonight then walking to Hogwarts in the morning. They had one bag between them a small handbag - that with a bit of magic – had clothes, some books and the get well soon card all neatly folded. Their wands were in their pockets, reluctant to be parted with them.

Marlene didn't take too long but came out looking a bit downhearted.

"What's up?" Lily asked standing up and allowing Moody to walk them to the lift.

"They asked why I couldn't off just taken you and Apparated out of there and avoided this whole mess."

"Side a-long Apparition?"

Marlene nodded; "To be honest the thought never even crossed my mind and I don't think I would've had enough time to concentrate on getting us out of there."

Lily thought back; they had hardly enough time to breathe let alone actually think about what they were doing.

"Still." Marlene continued brighting up as they entered the atrium. "Least they didn't tell you off for using under-age magic."

Lily let out a small laugh. "They had to let it slide really." She handed her visitor badge to the blonde wizard standing at the security desk.

"Very true." Marlene replied also handing in her badge and making her way over to the fireplaces.

The house was dark and empty, both Marlene's parents were working the late shift and wouldn't be back until midday tomorrow. Elenai the house-elf was also absent having been sent on a errand for Joanne.

They hadn't realised it was so late and by the time they arrived at Marlene's it was nearing nine o'clock. They had spent the whole afternoon at the ministry.

"I hadn't realised how creepy my house is when no-ones here. Even my ancestors are asleep. I think after 3 nights in St Mungo's I think I just want my lovely four poster bed at Hogwarts."

Lily nodded in agreement. She also fancied a nice warm bath that only the bath in the prefects bathroom could give.

"It's not too far and the moon is full, we could probably walk to Hogwarts and be back before curfew."

Lily looked worried, as a prefect she knew that wondering the grounds of Hogwarts at 9 o'clock at night wasn't the best plan, but Marlene was right after three days she just wanted to go back to Hogwarts. "Okay."

Marlene gave her a reassuring smile and led the way into the front hall. Locking the door behind them the girls wrapped their coats around them and gripped their wands tightly.

It had started snowing again and although Marlene was right about the full-moon it kept drifting in and out of cloud banks so the girls reverted to navigating with their wands.

Ignoring the howls coming from the Shrieking Shack the girls walked quickly and reached the gates within fifteen minutes. As a Prefect Lily raised her badge to the gate and whispered the school motto, whilst glaring suspiciously at Marlene.

"There's a passage in one of these bushes my brother used to use it all the time when he was here." she said straightening up and walking through the gate so Lily could lock it behind her. "I had forgotten you knew the password."

Lily sighed and started walking towards the castle she could see the castles light distance and was looking forward to feeling safe at Hogwarts once more.

They walked in silence, eager to get back, the only noises was the wind rustling the trees.

A tree branch snapped.

Marlene stopped and turned towards the forest. "Strange." She said raising her wand to see and taking a step towards the forest. They were near the whomping willow, its branches cracking through the air like a whip being struck on the floor. "I didn't know there were wolves in the forest."

Lily stared at her, "Compared to what, Hippogriffs and Threstrals?"

"Well wolves are a bit muggle don't you think, a bit tame?"

"I'd rather a wolf than an Acromantula."

Marlene turned back and they started towards the castle, she looked up at the moon, "Do you remember question ten in our Defence Theory back in fifth year?"

"I had enough on my plate that day then remembering exam questions." Lily said bitterly.

Marlene remembered that day as well, Snape had never forgiven her for slapping James and saving him from having his underwear displayed to a crowd of students. "I meant the Werewolf question."

Lily stopped and glanced at the moon. "You don't thing there's an actual werewolf do you, you're as bad as..." Who Marlene was as bad as she never found out because at that moment a huge animal burst out of the forest it let out a howl and ran towards the girls.

The two girls just froze, they stared at the huge beast hurtling towards them. Lily couldn't move she could see the thing rushing towards them and could only imagine what it was going to do. She wanted to move out the way just couldn't bring herself to do it. She could see Marlene frozen to the spot as well. Lily grabbed her friends hand and tried to get her brain working. As the beast got closer useless information kept getting stuck in her head; like the differences between wolves and werewolves and for some funny reason James' face.

There was another growl from the forest and a second beast, smaller this time, ran out of the bushes and chased after the first beast easily overtaking it leaping into the air. It's front paws hit Marlene on the chest and pushed her down to the ground, Marlene pulled Lily down with them.

Lying on the snow covered path, Lily could see that the second beast that was now standing over Marlene - protecting her, was a huge scraggly bear-like dog. A third animal came out the forest, and galloped over to where the girls lay. Lily had to gasp it was the most beautiful Stag she had ever seen.

Lowering its head the Stag intercepted the beast before it could hurt the girls and chased it back into the forest. Stopping at the forest boarder it took one last look at Lily almost bowing regally to her before following the beast into the overgrowth.

Lily stood up her knees shaking, all she wanted now was her bed, she'd had enough excitement for one year, and it was only January.

Marlene was on the still on the floor staring at the big dog, her hands were holding its face and she was looking into it's eyes; "Sirius?" She whispered.

The dog whined and pulled out of Marlene's grasp. It looked towards the forest, then up at the castle. It then walked around and nudged Marlene in the direction of the castle away from the stag and the beast.

"I understand." Marlene said softly patting the dog on the head and kissing it lightly on the nose.

Lily looked down at the dog, she had borrowed Mary's Divination book in 3rd year for a bit of light reading and remembered that the dog that had undoubtedly saved their life, looked very much like a Grim. An omen of death. Grabbing Marlene's hand she pulled her friend up and half dragged her towards the castle.

Together they ran up the steps and stood catching their breath before opening the doors.

Suddenly Marlene let out an ear-splitting scream. Lily whirled around. "What? It's not back is it?"

Marlene shook her head. "Stupid, vile peace of vermin, scary, dark lord follows, never trust them." She muttered as she shot a jinx after a tiny animal disappearing into the darkness.

Lily raised an eyebrow, "It was a rat." She stated.

Marlene shuddered and hurried through the front door. "Give me werewolves and death eaters any day. Just not rats."

Marlene shut the main doors and went hurriedly towards the stairs. Lily followed quickly.

"Who screamed?" Came a voice from the grand-staircase. Professor McGonagal went pale when she saw the girls and where they had come from. "What did you see?" She asked quickly gathering them and pulling them away from the door and up to her office.

Marlene shook her head. "A rat, stupid vile creatures." She added under her breath,

Lily nodded confirming that it was a rat and nothing more. They were probably in enough trouble as it were.

"What were doing out there at this time of night. We were under the impression that you weren't back until tomorrow." McGonagal asked gesturing to two armchairs beside a roaring fire and a tartan biscuit tin.

"We didn't feel safe at my house, my parents weren't in and with everything that's happened over the past few days we just wanted to get to Hogwarts as quickly as possible."

Professor McGonagal nodded sympathetically, "I must alert Professor Dumbledore that you are hear, I know you are tired but he'll want to speak with you."

By the time the girls reached the Gryffindor common room. It was nearing midnight and the place was empty. McGonagal had told the girls to miss their morning classes tomorrow and start back after lunch – for which they were silently grateful. They both felt like they could sleep for days.

Professor Dumbledore had also managed to extract what had happened in the grounds and had sworn them to secrecy.

"It would explain Remus' illness." Marlene had reasoned as they made their way up the stairs to the dormitories.

Lily nodded, her mind wandering back to fourth year when Severus had tried to tell her something, back when they were still friends. "What made you think that Grim was Sirius?"

Marlene shrugged and hesitated before entering their room. "His eyes. When it knocked me down I thought that was the end, but it looked at me with such sadness, like it was worried about me. They way it stood over me protecting me from... Moony." She whispered Remus nickname.

Lily nodded, "It certainly explains those weird nicknames they've been calling themselves. But do they realise how dangerous it is?"

"I don't think it matters though as long as they are together. Come on lets see if we can sneak in and have a nice sleep without Becky and Mary knowing we're back."

Lily nodded, she was looking forward to her four poster bed and a long sleep.

A/N: Wow 8 pages a new record :D I'm going to keep this brief and advertise if you like my random ramblings check out my live-journal account: nimzy (dot) livejournal (dot) com I hope you enjoyed this chapter I've wanted them to find out about the marauders for ages. Poor Lily looks like she's got James on the brain. Oh well Till next time :D