AN: First of all, I would like to thank any of my real friends who are reading this; I love you. :) Secondly, I changed the title (and summary), in case you didn't notice, for a reason that will become apparent later. Thirdly, you probably won't get very many (if any at all) chapters in November because I will be participating in NaNoWriMo. Fourthly, I would like to remind you that my contest is due December 1st, and I haven't received any entries yet... Fifthly and finally, on to the story!

Chapter 23: Recovery Uncertain

James' POV:

Weeks past.

I finally went to visit Lily, but by then she had been moved to St. Mungo's.

My grades dropped and I ate less than I had when Lily had started going out with Padfoot.

Padfoot got skinnier too.

It was mid-November when Lily went into her coma, and there had been no improvement by the week before we were to leave for the winter holidays.

Though it had been so long, the awful words still appeared in my mind.

Recovery Uncertain.

Perhaps it was the very longevity of Lily's unconsciousness that kept them branded there.

Recovery Uncertain.

The day before we left, Lily and a couple other muggleborns who were also in comas were moved back to the school because St. Mungo's was busy with holiday injuries. They sent a healer that was to remain at Hogwarts over the break to take care of the three unconscious students.

I hadn't seen Lily since that night, but I knew that I wouldn't want anyone around when I did visit her.

Without telling anyone, even Padfoot, I decided to make a nighttime excursion to the hospital wing.

Recovery Uncertain.

Lily's POV:

I was barely conscious; though my eyes could open and close, I rarely processed what went on when they were open. I could hear, but again, I almost never understood what was said.

I lay there, feeling… nothing. No more pain. Nothing. This was an interesting concept, as all I could remember from the time "before" was the pain. I don't know how long I had been in a painless state, but it was still odd.

But there all of a sudden, interrupting my thoughts, was a light! Where did it come from?

Voices, no, one voice, whispering.

"Muffliato."

I closed my eyes. It was only another vision I was having. I fell into sleep, only waking up to find the intruder still there, talking to me. That's funny. Who would be talking to me? After all, I can't exactly respond, can I?

"-and Lily, I promise never ever to go after you again, I'll let you be happy with Sirius, I'll be happy too, just get better! Lily-"

I wondered who Lily was for a moment and why the person had come here to talk to them, but then I remembered that that had been my name.

Before.

I drifted in and out of wakefulness, hearing, though not entirely processing, snippets of what the unknown person was saying.

"I'm wasting away, Sirius is wasting away, everyone miss-"

"Lily, wake up, wake up! You need to wake u-"

"I promise I won't tease you or make you uncomfortable or anything, just get bet-"

"Don't die, please, Lily, pleas-"

"I love you, Lily."

I don't know at what point the nameless person had started crying, but as they bent over my face I felt a drop land on my cheek. This jolted me into awareness, and I heard what they said next.

"If muggle princes can do it, why can't a wizard?" and the unknown student pressed their lips to mine. My heart fluttered, but my eyes did not open, and I did not stir.

The person straightened up, then sighed and walked away. As they neared the door, I heard them whisper, "Please, Lily."

What were they asking me for? Who was asking?

As I drifted back into my dreamless sleep, one word crossed my mind.

James.

AN: This part was interesting to write. Thoughts?