A/N: Really not Rowling

"I can't do this, James, I really can't."

The wind whipped Lily's hair around as she and James stood at the top of the astronomy tower. Tears filled her eyes as she backed away from him.

"Lily…" he said, reaching out to hold her.

"No." she shook her head, staring at his hand as she started to cry, "I can't put you in this position. It's not fair. Don't you see?"

"Lily, this has changed nothing for me."

"It should! This act is certainly going to ruin my life, and I can't have it ruin yours by association. Please, for me, find someone else. Be happy, James. Live an easy life. Without me."

"I don't-" his voice broke, "I don't want to."

She laughed half-heartedly as tears streamed down her face. "You'll be happy eventually, and you'll realise that this was the right decision."

"No." he said firmly, taking a step towards at her. She immediately jumped back, "Lily, please, Don't leave me. We can make this work. We can be happy! I-"

"Don't say it, James."

"I love you. I want to be with you. I never want to not be with you."

Lily shook her head and let out a broken sob, "They could kill you!"

"I was always going to fight!" he shouted angrily, "This won't put me in any more danger than I was already going to be in, or I already am in."

"Us being together would make them so angry! The tainting of the great Potter line! They'll never allow it."

"And?! It's only me and you that matters to me."

"Oh, you know that's not true." she retorted, glaring at him through her tears, "What about Sirius? Or Remus? Peter? Marlene? They're also your family. Don't you want to protect them? "

"I-" he said, running a hand through his hair, "that's different, Lily. Of course I want to protect them but, they can make decisions for themselves. We're supposed to be a team though. Me and you, together."

"I can't ask you to do this."

"Merlin, you're not asking! I have never wanted anything more than this. Please just give us a chance."

"It would break me if anything were to happen to you!" she cried. "I wouldn't be able to live with myself."

"And creating distance between us isn't going to stop that, because you love me too and that isn't going to suddenly change."

"Why won't you let me protect you?! Why do you get to decide to protect me?"

"It's who I am, Lily."

"Please, James," she said softly, staring at him beseechingly, "Let me go."

He stared back at her obstinately, tears rolling down his cheeks, "Please… stay with me. I'm not ready for the end."

She shook her head lightly and gave him a small smile. "Goodbye, Potter."

Lily then slipped through the door and he heard her footsteps gradually fading into the distance. For a moment, he just looked at the spot she had been standing in, before he fell to the floor, head in his hands. Rain pounded down outside as he wept, shoulders shuddering as he struggled to breath. Somehow, he had managed to let it all slip through his fingers.