The Broken Children

-Lily-

She smiles at him as he walks into the ward, a faint vestige of colour returning to her face as she recognises him, even though she's forgotten his name. He's important to her though. That much she does know, despite her not being able to place why it is that his presence holds so much value to her fragmented mind.

"Hey, Lily," he says softly, reaching out to stroke her cheek, causing her to preen slightly under the attention. She doesn't get many visitors; it hurts mummy and daddy too much to see her like this so they stay away for the most part. It's lonely though, with only the healers for company, especially since she lacks the abilities to entertain herself anymore.

It isn't that her mind is broken; it's that most of it has shut down and only a spark remains, the treble of light that lets her exist in her own simple way. She gifts him with a toothy grin and sticks her tongue out, the tip poking at his fingers and causing him to chuckle sadly at her in response.

"Orion said his first word today," he sighs, stroking her arm as she stares at him in confusion. Who is Orion? The name sounds familiar ... but she cannot quite put a face to the name. Maybe if she sees him, she'll recognise him.

"I know you're proud of him even if you can't say it," the man adds, white-blond hair framing his pale face, making her reach out to pull at it, just a little.

"I'm going to make sure he grows up to know that his mother was the bravest woman in the world and that she stood up for what she believed in no matter what," he continues, tears glimmering in his haunted grey eyes as he nods at her. She doesn't understand.

"I ... Lily, I don't know if you can hear me anymore -" She interrupts by nodding fervently and pointing at her ears, then shaking her head so fast that it's like to fall off. Hearing him isn't the problem... she just doesn't know what it is that she's hearing. Why can't he, this man who she associates with comfort, not just sit with her and maybe play a game of cards. It's awfully fun to scrunch them up and throw at the healers, at any rate.

"They're going to give Rose the kiss," he finally says, and Lily feels a burning rage within her for some strange reason when she hears that name. "They're going to take her soul for what she did to you." Lily nods, because that does sound agreeable... Not that she comprehends what he's talking about. He's just speaking in such a passionate tone that she can't help but nod along.

The door creaks open, but she doesn't hear, content to feel the blond man's face and nod every so often as he speaks, trying to discern what he's telling her.

"Scorpius, we've got to go," comes a voice from the doorway and Lily turns to see another blond man, a spitting image - if older - than the man sitting on the bed beside her. Then she sees it and her heart breaks because she can't remember him, even though he just over a year old and clinging to the old man's leg, peeking out to look at her through widened eyes.

Lily rushes forward, stopping only to dig into her bedside drawer for a few minutes falling to her knees beside the child. Her wispy red hair flutters around her, pale face almost ghostly in the harsh light but she holds out her hand and presses something into his hand. The man on the bed is crying, the elder is shaking his head sadly whilst she beams at the boy, who simply looks down in confusion to the single bubblegum wrapper she's pressed into his hand.

It's all she has left to give him, after all