While the start of learning Ancient Runes had gone well, they were now interrupted by an owl.
Lily recognized the brown owl at once. It was hers.
"Mario?" said Lily nervously.
Normally, Lily would have been happy to see her owl. But Mario coming at this time gave Lily a nasty sense of forbidding.
Mario dropped a letter into Lily's lap and then pecked her right ear in an affectionate way.
Lily unfurled the letter and read it to herself. By the time Lily had finished reading the letter, she was crying.
"Lily, what's wrong?" asked Harry in a concerned voice.
"Something sad that could have been avoided if my family had more money, " said Lily shakily.
"You can tell us what happened, " said Hermione encouragingly, "What you say in this room will stay in this room."
"And you don't have to tell us if it's something too personal, " added Ginny.
"We'll support you either way, " promised Sirius.
"The thing is, " said Lily ruefully, "It's not something that happened, but something that won't be able to happen."
"What do you mean?" asked Harry urgently.
"It's my mom, Daisy, " said Lily in a heartbroken voice as tears continued flowing down her cheeks, "I'd prefer to keep the details to myself for the time being. "
"We respect that, " said Sirius, Harry, Hermione, and Ginny together.
"The long and the short of it, " said Lily sadly, "Is that my mom is going to die because she's not going to be able to have a surgery she needs to save her life. I don't feel up to sharing what's wrong with her just yet, but her life could be saved by surgery. However, our family does not have the money that mom would need to pay for the surgery. What's really heartbreaking is knowing that the medical technology needed to save her does exist and that we just can't afford the medical bills."
A few minutes of sad and tense silence passed as Sirius, Harry, Hermione, and Ginny took in what Lily had said.
Finally, Harry stood up and walked over to Lily, placing a comforting right arm around her right shoulder. This made Lily feel a little better, but there seemed to be no getting around her inevitable loss to come.
Harry realized now what he needed to do.
"Lily?" said Harry quietly, "It's going to be okay. You and your family may not have the money to pay for the medical procedure your mom needs. But guess what, I do. I have several lifetimes of gold in my vault at Gringotts. I'd be happy to provide your family with the needed funds so that your mom can get her life saving surgery."
Lily looked at Harry, stunned. Was she hearing what she thought she was hearing? Was she hearing it correctly?
"Y-you w-would do that f-for me?" choked up Lily, looking Harry eye to eye.
"Lily, I have more than enough money in my vault at Gringotts to last me several lifetimes. There's no reason for me to be greedy with it. As I now have a friend in need, this is a perfect opportunity for me to put some of my fortune to good use, " said Harry clearly.
"You are sweet and kind, Harry Potter, " said Lily emotionally.
"I'm doing exactly what I should do, " said Harry fiercely, "Friends help out friends in need. I will have the money your family needs for your mom's surgery transferred from my vault at Gringotts into yours."
Lily rose from her seat and walked to Harry, embracing him in a tight hug.
"Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Harry, " sobbed Lily, "You know that I'm very close with my mom."
"Yes, " remembered Harry, "I've heard the story about how much you missed her when you started at Hogwarts and I remember you telling me at my birthday party when you gave me that sweater how you had bonded with your mom over a common love of sewing."
"He remembers, " said Lily emotionally, "After reading the letter Mario brought, I thought mom and I would never have another sewing session ever again. Harry, your kind heart means that I will."
"Harry, " said Sirius proudly, "I'm really proud of what you're doing here, especially since you've never even met Lily's mother. You just know someone needs help and that you're in a position to give it to them and are using that position. I couldn't be prouder of you Harry."
"Lily is my friend, therefore the things that matter to her matter to me, " said Harry fiercely, "My friends' issues are my issues."
"I will eventually tell you what has happened, " promised Lily, "I'm just not ready to fully talk about it yet."
"Take all the time you need, " said Harry calmly, "Whether and when you choose to disclose the story is your personal decision."
"Thank you for respecting my space, " said Lily gratefully.
"As a curiosity?" Harry asked Lily, "Is your family big on flowers? Your name is Lily, your mom's name is Daisy-"
"My maternal grandmother's name is Rose and her mother and grandmother are named Tulip and Violet respectively, " said Lily fondly.
"So, the female side of your family has always been named after flowers?" said Harry.
"For centuries, " said Lily fondly, "it's a source of quiet pleasure for me as myself am fond of flowers."
"Well, " Harry told Lily, " I really hope your mom's surgery goes well. I'm pulling for your family to get through this."
"The surgery my mom needs to save her life is not that dangerous, though any kind of surgery always comes with a side of risk. The real issue was cost. Harry, you're going to keep my family together by paying for my mom to get that surgery. "
"The fewer families torn apart for any reason, the better, " said Harry fiercely.