A/N: Thanks very much to the 8 people who reviewed the last chapter! The general question was what was with it not being a DE attack… well you'll find out eventually! Thanks for the compliments about how I'm developing their friendship as well – that's something I found really hard to do in a way that's believable so I'm glad you all liked it!
Can I just say I'm very sorry about the length of time it took me to get this chapter out? iHiHides and it's not my longest chapter either – I'm sorry but it just seemed like the right time to end it. Thanks for sticking with me even thought I'm making you wait!
Just got one more thing to say… I don't normally say things like this because I'm happy with the reviews I get but I looked at the stats page and I'm getting about 4000 hits on this story and it's on 41 people's alerts … so why are only 8 people reviewing? If you take the time to read my story then please review, it would only take a few seconds of your time to say you liked it or you didn't and why and it would be very much appreciated – so thanks!
Mel xx
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9: Receiving the Bad News
Lily woke slowly the next morning, stretching out luxuriously under the covers as she yawned widely before opening her eyes. A glance to the clock on her bedside table told her that it was already half past nine. She sat up hurriedly, her covers falling from around her as she swung her legs out of bed and began to get dressed. It had not been her intention to sleep so late, she had wanted to get to the hospital by nine. She swore quietly as stubbed her toe in her haste to get her socks on and silently blamed James for not waking her up.
As she was tugging a comb through her unruly locks she heard the doorbell ring downstairs. Pausing in her task, she curiously strained her ears to see if she could identify the caller. When all she could make out was muffled talking and doors closing she finished her combing and began to head downstairs.
With the intention of berating James for not waking her up, she paused in the hall before hearing soft sounds of laughter coming from the kitchen and heading over. She briefly wondered why James always sat in the kitchen when he had the largest house she'd ever seen to wander about in but shrugged it off when she entered the kitchen and discovered that it had been Remus who was at the door and he was, at that moment, sat with James at the kitchen table laughing at something his friend had just said.
They both looked up when Lily entered and she was immediately reminded of being in a similar position a few days previously, only it had been Sirius not Remus who was sat with James.
"Hello, Lily." Said Remus, smiling warmly at her
"Hi, Remus." She smiled back. Out of all the Gryffindor boys he was the one she got along best with, "How are you?"
"Not too bad, thanks – you?" He looked slightly tentative and Lily supposed James must have told him about her situation.
"I'm alright." She replied with a slight shrug before turning to James, "I've got a bone to pick with you." She said sternly.
James looked genuinely shocked, "Me? What have I done?"
"You didn't wake me up this morning – I told you I wanted to be at hospital for nine."
"Ah," James replied looking sheepish, "Sorry. I didn't want to wake you; you looked so peaceful…" He had been watching her sleep? Lily was surprised to see him turn slightly red, she didn't think she'd ever seen James Potter blush, "and well, you know, I thought you could do with the sleep…"
"Smooth, James." Remus said, chuckling.
Lily was about to say something else when the door opened behind her and she was grabbed from behind, hands placed over her eyes.
"Guess who!" Sang a voice.
Lily laughed slightly, "Get off me, Sirius."
"How did you know it was me?" Pouted Sirius after he had taken his hands off her eyes and moved round to sit at the table.
"Lucky guess." Said Lily with a smirk.
Sirius turned to James, "Is Peter coming?"
"He said he was – I expect he'll be late."
Lily cleared her throat and all three boys turned to look at her, she felt herself go hot, she had not meant to attract all of their attentions.
"Erm," She started, "I'm going to the hospital now – I'll be back about lunchtime I think."
James smiled at her, "See you later."
"Bye Lily." Said Remus
"Cia." Supplied Sirius with a little wave.
Lily smiled and as she left the kitchen James's excited voice carried over to her, "So, who's up for Quidditch?"
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As Lily walked through London she found her thoughts drifting towards her friends. Seeing James and his friends together made her realise just how much she missed them. She sighed quietly, as much as she appreciated James's hospitality and her new found friendship with him, there were just some things she'd love to be able to talk to her girlfriends about.
She started suddenly; her body had unconsciously taken her all the way into St Mungo's while she had been deep in thought. Collecting herself together she swallowed hard to dispel the lump that was forming in her throat and treaded the familiar path up the stairs towards the rooms that her parents were in.
It wasn't until she was outside her dad's room that she realised something was wrong. There was no light coming from the room and the usual bustle of Healers coming in and out was distinctly lacking. She frowned, a heavy feeling settling on her heart as she reached out to push open the door…
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Lily stood by the edge of the lake, gazing out across its slightly rippling surface and musing on years gone by when her dad used to take her on long walks in the park amid the autumn leaves, the summer sun and even the winter snow. They had always tended to end such walks with a visit to that very lake where they would feed the ducks. Lily closed her eyes and could almost transport herself back in time, clutching her dad's hand and nervously throwing bread out to the ducks, shrieking and giggling when her offering was devoured.
She opened her eyes slowly and as a gust of wind tore across the park and an ominous rumble of thunder sounded around her. She remained perfectly still as the heaven's opened and a steady downpour of summer rain soaked through her clothes and her hair. Sniffling once, very quietly, she watched a line of ducks swim across the far side of the lake.
Somewhere in her mind she registered the sound of footsteps behind her, but it wasn't until a cloak was thrown hastily around her shoulders that she realised she had company. Wrenching her gaze away from the ducks, she turned her head slightly to see James, cloak-less, standing next to her.
"James …" She whispered, "James … my dad …" She trailed off, unable to continue.
"I know," He replied softly, "I went to the hospital looking for you."
Without another word he drew her into his arms, holding her so tightly Lily felt she might break, but she didn't care. Suddenly overcome with emotion she wrapped her arms around him, buried her face into his shirt and began to cry.
She wasn't sure exactly how long they stood like that in the rain, but all too soon she felt James gently pushing her away from him.
"Come on," He said quietly, "You need to get out of the rain."
Lily nodded silently and pulled James's cloak tightly around herself, at the same time noticing that he was now soaked through as well. He put his arm around her shoulders, once again pulling her close to him as he began to lead her away.
Lily remembered very little of the walk back to James's house, she barely registered that she was putting one foot in front of the other. The only thing that was clear in her mind was James's presence and his comforting arm wrapped around her.
Almost immediately after they had entered the house, rain sodden and dripping on the ornate wooden floor, than James's mother appeared and gasped at the sight of them.
"What on earth?" She exclaimed.
James moved forwards slightly with his arm still draped protectively around Lily.
"Her dad…" He said softly before shaking his head.
Mrs Potter's eyes widened as she took in her son's meaning and she immediately pulled Lily into an embrace, stroking her soaked hair.
"Oh you poor dear." She murmured.
Lily, squashed into another caring embrace, squeezed her eyes shut and leant into Mrs Potter's shoulder as the tears began falling freely again.
"Come on dear, let's get you out of those wet things and sorted out." She said kindly.
Lily sniffled as she pulled out of Mrs Potter's arms and glanced at James who was still watching her with sad eyes.
"I want to stay with her." He said to his mother.
"No, James. I think she's better off with me for the moment. You go and get changed then go and see your father in the drawing room."
James turned his gaze back to Lily as if asking her without words if she would be alright with his mother. He must have seen the assent in her eyes for a smiled briefly, sadly for a moment before uttering, "I'll see you later." and she nodded, not trusting herself to speak without croaking.
Still in a daze, she allowed Mrs Potter to lead her upstairs to her room where she helped her get dry and changed.
"Thank you." She said quietly as she tugged her now dry hair into a loose ponytail.
"Your welcome." Mrs Potter replied in the same tone, "If you ever want to talk to me, I'm here." She added.
"Thank you, I appreciate that." Lily told her sincerely.
"Is there anything you need now?"
Lily bit her lip unconsciously, "I'd like to see James, if that's okay."
"Of course, dear, I'll show you where the drawing room is."
Mrs Potter beckoned to Lily and Lily followed her back through the grand house, barely paying attention to the route.
"Here we are." She said, pushing open the door to the drawing room and standing back.
Lily stepped slowly into the room and saw James sitting on a sofa, talking quietly with his father. As soon as they noticed her James got to his feet and crossed the room to her. He paused for a moment, looking her in the eyes before he pulled her into his arms again. Lily responded gladly to the embrace and moved her own arms to grip James as tightly as he was gripping her, and buried her face into his chest, breathing in the comforting scent of his shirt.
Somewhere in the back of her mind she registered the soft sound of footsteps and heard the door click shut quietly, realising that James's father had left them alone. Unwilling and feeling quite unable to remove herself from James's comfortable embrace, she whimpered quietly when he tried to pull away to look at her and held onto him more tightly.
"Shhh." He whispered, holding her close and rubbing her back in small, comforting circles, "It's okay … it's alright ..."He sighed suddenly, a great exhale and Lily felt it rumble through her body, "Shhh," He said again and Lily realised that her crying was becoming steadily more hysterical and she could barely control her heaving shoulders.
He stopped rubbing her back and just held her for a moment before surprising her by dropping a soft kiss to the top of her head. The mere shock of his act caused her to calm slightly and James took the opportunity to move them slowly over to the sofa.
In her new position Lily wriggled, tucking her legs up beneath her and burying her blotchy tear-soaked face into James's shirt. She felt James move slightly next to her as he shifted so as to wrap both of his arms comfortably around her. She sniffled and choked up again as she felt the tears begin to renew their falling. James must have felt her body shake for he resumed his rubbing of her back and murmured soothing shushing noises against her ear.
Looking back, Lily supposed that was how she had spent much of the night, crying in James's arms, and he had stayed up with her, holding her and soothing her until she had no tears left to shed.
