Lily jumped at the sound of a steady tapping at her window. She looked up from her book to see a small paper airplane crashing insistently against the paned glass. It was late at night and Lily had been sitting in bed, reading by wand light so as not to disturb the other girls in her dorm. She sprang out of bed and tread across the floor lightly. She pushed the window upward and the airplane sailed into the room. She picked it deftly out of the air before opening it curiously.

Are you up?

-J

Lily stared at the paper intently. He wouldn't try to wake her unless he needed her. She could tell he didn't want to outright ask her to go up to the dormitory but she knew something was up and it was important. She frowned slightly before grabbing her wand and slipping through the door. She made her way down the stairs, padded across the common room and clambered up the steps to the boys' dormitory.

The door was left ajar and she peered through the crack cautiously. She could see what she recognized as James' silhouette leaned against the window. The snores of the other boys filled the room so he didn't hear her as she tip toed toward him. His face was bathed in the moonlight and it was with a troubled, wearisome look that he stared out across the grounds.

She reached up, tapping him lightly on the shoulder and causing him to jump. He whirled around but heaved a sigh of relief when he saw her.

"You came," he whispered in surprise.

She gave a very small nod and looked at him questioningly.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"You ever get those nights when you just can't sleep?" he asked her in his soft, husky whisper. "You try to, but you've got so much to think about and no matter how hard you try to stay in bed you keep ending up at the window?"

"Yeah," she responded after a pause.

"You do?" he asked in disbelief.

"Yeah, I really do," she reassured him. "The worst was the night I had to stay in London when my mom was sick in the hospital," she said in a whisper. "I was up worrying about her and went to the window just to look out, but it was London so there were no stars. All the light pollution and fog I guess. . ." she trailed off uncertainly. "I know it sounds silly but it was so uncomfortable looking out and not seeing a thing in the sky."

He nodded solemnly and she felt this strange, soothing feeling wash over her. She didn't know if it was the white light streaming through the window or the bluish hue of the dark night or their soft whispers but she just felt more at ease than she had in a long time.

"Will you stay with me for a bit," he asked tentatively. "You don't have to if you don't want to," he added hurriedly.

She chuckled. "When have I ever done something for you that I didn't want to do."

He smiled faintly before brushing past her towards his bed. She followed and they sat down, backs against the wall, side by side. Lily crossed her legs, Indian style, and turned to look at James who had leaned his head back against the wall.

"What are you thinking about?" she asked carefully.

He turned towards her, surprised at the directness of her question.

"I'm worried," he told her hesitantly.

"I gathered that much," she said with a small smile which he returned quickly before turning sombre again.

"I just don't know. . ." he started while shooting a look at Remus' bed, "how much I can tell you."

She followed his gaze to Remus' bed and inhaled in sudden comprehension.

"I know about Lupin," she said quietly. "And I know you're an animagus."

James' head shot around to look at her shock.

"How?" he demanded.

"Sev told me," she shrugged. "After that one night. . .he told me but he didn't tell anyone else and neither have I," she explained.

James sighed in relief and rubbed his face in his hands.

"I've just been thinking," he said slowly, "about whether we're doing the right thing. I mean that time with Snape was too close," he shook his head. "Moony's one of my best mates and I want to be there for him every time but I don't know if we should all run around the grounds any more."

"I get that you want to be there for him- and if it were Dorcas or Alice or Mary, I'd probably do the same thing," Lily said emphatically, "but has he ever. . .hurt you?" she asked in a small voice.

James tucked his legs upward and leaned his elbows on his knees, not looking at her.

"There have been accidents," he shrugged, "but he can't really hurt me too much when I'm transformed," he said avoiding her gaze. "Its just I can't imagine how I'd feel if one day an 'accident' happened with someone else." James said shaking his head. "Moony, he didn't want to go through with all this. Sure, he likes our company and enjoys it when we're out with him but if anyone ever got hurt because we pushed him to leave the Shrieking Shack?" James exhaled deeply. "I don't even know," he shrugged again. "All I know is that night with Snivellus was way too close."

"Sorry, mate, I'm not much help."

"Yeah you are," James said in surprise, finally turning to look at her again.

"Aha, don't worry about it," she waved him off. "Not going to offend me, I know I'm not great with the advice and I'm not coming up with any great solutions that'll get you to bed faster," she grinned.

James breathed threw his nose and shook his head. "You really don't know, do you?" He asked with a smile.

"Know what?"

"Nothing," he ducked his head down again but still with that odd little smile.

"No, tell me," she demanded, knocking his elbow with hers.

He sighed, trying to find words.

"How reassuring it is," he said quietly, "just to be with you," he said giving her a sidelong glance.

She looked at him thoughtfully, taking in his bowed head, the slightly upturned corner of his mouth, and the way he cradled his arms against his knees.

"In that case, I'll have to stay a while," she said, rocking her shoulder gently into his.

"Really?" he asked, looking up in surprise.

"Yeah," she nodded. She didn't know how to tell him that she found his presence to be as reassuring as he found hers, so she stayed silent, sitting next to him, side by side.