After finishing the Magician's Nephew, which she enjoyed immensely, Lily decided to read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe as well. Lily enjoyed the second Narnia story even more than the first one. Her spirts were starting to lift.
But what REALLY lifted her spirits was what a house elf brought to her room the next morning.
The house elf was carrying a letter and a cassette tape.
"Lily, " said the house elf, "Those closest to you wanted me to deliver this letter and cassette tape to you. I was the one who wrote out the letter and handled the buttons and such to when the cassette tape was being recorded so no human hands have touched them."
"Thank you, " said Lily politely and the elf bowed and left.
Dear Lily:
Lily, look we're really sorry we can't be with you right now but we want you to know that we all still love you, we're all still thinking of you, we're all still behind you 100%, and we can't wait to be able to see you again. Life at Hogwarts has been eerie and empty without you. We know how torturous the loneliness must have been for you in recent days, so we wanted to send you something you could experience on Sunday that we hope can bring a little joy and cheer in the darkest and most difficult time of your life. You always say that the support of family and friends is the best way to get through adversity. We wanted to provide that support to you even if we can't physically be with you. We therefore have made a cassette tape with messages for you and a few of us even sing on it. Lily we all love you and we all have your back even if it's from a distance. Be safe, be strong, be secular, and enjoy our cassette.
-your closest family and friends.
Lily placed the cassette tape into her cassette player and hit player.
"Hi, Lily, " came James's voice first, "We all miss you so much. Hang in there buddy, I'm sure you'll come out stronger on the other side, just like a phoenix rising from the ashes. The toughest person I have ever known is my hero, my soldier, my sister, Lily Luna Potter. Now enjoy this song:
And James began to sing.
Puff the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honali
Little Jackie Paper loved that rascal Puff.
And brought him strings and sealing wax and other fancy stuff
Oh, Puff the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honali
Puff the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honali
Together they would travel on a boat with billowed sail
Jackie kept a lookout perched on Puff's gigantic tail
Noble kings and princes would bow whene'er they came
Pirate ships would lower their flags when Puff roared out his name
Oh, Puff the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honali
Puff the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honali
A dragon lives forever, but not so little boys
Painted wings and giant's rings make way for other toys
One gray night it happened, Jackie Paper came no more
And Puff, that mighty dragon, he ceased his fearless roar
His head was bent in sorrow, green scales fell like rain
Puff no longer went to play along the cherry lane
Without his lifelong friend, Puff could not be brave
So Puff, that mighty dragon, sadly slipped into his cave
Oh, Puff the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honali
Puff the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honali
Lily smiled the first genuine smile she had since her quarantine had begun. Sure, Puff the Magic Dragon was a bittersweet if not outright sad song, but it had always been one of Lily's favorites and James had sometimes sung Lily to sleep singing it when they had been younger.
"Hey, Lils, " came the voice of Albus next, "We all feel your absence, but you probably feel ours even more. We sincerely hope that getting to hear the sound of our voices helps to fill the void at least a little bit.
And now Albus sang a song.
It started out as a feeling
Which then grew into a hope
Which then turned into a quiet thought
Which then turned into a quiet word
And then that word grew louder and louder
'til it was a battle cry
I'll come back
When you call me
No need to say goodbye
Just because everything's changing
Doesn't mean it's never been this way before
All you can do is try to know who your friends are
As you head off to the war
Pick a star on the dark horizon
And follow the light
You'll come back when it's over
No need to say goodbye
You'll come back when it's over
No need to say goodbye
Now we're back to the beginning
It's just a feeling and no one knows yet
But just because they can't feel it too
Doesn't mean that you have to forget
Let your memories grow stronger and stronger
'til they're before your eyes
You'll come back
When they call you
No need to say goodbye
You'll come back
When they call you
No need to say goodbye
"Wow, Albus, that's beautiful singing, " said Lily, who next heard Devon's voice:
"Lily, you have a very dominant presence in an incredibly positive way. We simply aren't whole without you. You must be shattered without our company but listen to this song about friendship and let it remind you that we're in this together.
And Devon began to sing:
It's a world of laughter
A world of tears
It's a world of hopes
And a world of fears
There's so much that we share
That it's time we're aware
It's a small world after all
It's a small world after all
It's a small world after all
It's a small world after all
It's a small, small world
There is just one moon
And one golden sun
And a smile means
Friendship to everyone
Though the mountains divide
And the oceans are wide
It's a small world after all
It's a small world after all
It's a small world after all
It's a small world after all
It's a small, small world
Lily felt her heart warm at this simple song. The line "a smile means friendship to everyone" gave Lily goosebumps. Devon was right about this song's meaning. After listening to it, she felt less alone than she had since her quarantine had begun. She was now feeling how her family and friends were still with her even if from a distance.
Hugo's voice came on next:
"Lily, at the end of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry says, "there's no Hogwarts without you, Hagrid. Well, we've learned the hard way this week that there's no Hogwarts without you, Lily. You probably feel like there's no you without us, we wanted to make this cassette for you to hopefully act as a small antidote to your loneliness. We know it can't compare with seeing us in person but as that's not possible right now, we hope this can be the next best thing.
And Hugo began to sing:
When you wish upon a star makes no difference who you are anything your heart desires will come to you. If your heart is in your dream no request is too extreme when you wish upon a star as dreamers do. Fate Is kind. She brings to those who love, the sweet fulfillment of their secret longing. Like a bolt out of the blue fate steps in and sees you through. When you wish upon a star your dreams come true.
Lily's smile widened and heart glowed. When You Wish Upon a Star was her favorite song and Hugo's rendition was majestic. In this nanosecond it also felt like a message of hope. A message of hope that better days were ahead.
Ainsley's voice came next:
"Watch out, Lily, we're planning a huge prank on you. In all seriousness, we really do hope you're feeling better. COVID-19 is no picnic. You may be away from us because health is more important than happiness but try to enjoy this soothing song.
And Ainsley began to sing:
SI
Oh, give me a home where the buffalo roam
Where the deer and the antelope play
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word
And the skies are not cloudy all day
A home, A home
Where the deer and the antelope play
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word
And the sky is not clouded all day
Oh, give me a land where the where the bright diamond sand
Throws its light from the glittering streams
Where I am alone with the graceful white swan
Like the fate in her heavenly dreams
A home, A home
Where the deer and the antelope play
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word
And the sky is not clouded all day
Oh! give me a gale of the Solomon vale
Where the life streams with buoyancy flow
On the banks of the Beaver, where seldom if ever
Any poisonous herbage doth grow
A home, A home
Where the deer and the antelope play
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word
And the sky is not clouded all day
How often at night when the heavens were bright
With the light of the twinkling stars
Have I stood here amazed, and asked as I gazed?
If their glory exceeds that of ours
A home, A home
Where the deer and the antelope play
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word
And the sky is not clouded all day
I love the wildflowers in this bright land of ours
I love the wild curlew's shrill scream
The bluffs and white rocks, and antelope flocks
That graze on the mountains so green
A home, A home
Where the deer and the antelope play
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word
And the sky is not clouded all day
The air is so pure and the breezes so fine
The zephyrs so balmy and light
That I would not exchange my home here to range
Forever in azures so bright
A home, A home
Where the deer and the antelope play
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word
And the sky is not clouded all day
Lily felt a happy sense of calm peace as Ainsley sang. It was a soothing feeling, like relaxing on the beach while listening to the water to hear Ainsley pull off her perfect rendition of this classic.
Stephanie's voice came next and said.
"Lily, we're sorry to hear about your sickness and are keeping our fingers crossed for a full recovery. For now, let's have some fun with a catchy song.
And Stephanie began to sing:
My Bonnie lies over the ocean,
My Bonnie lies over the sea;
My Bonnie lies over the ocean,
Oh bring back my Bonnie to me.
Bring back, bring back,
Bring back my Bonnie to me, to me,
Bring back, bring back,
Bring back my Bonnie to me.
Last night as I lay on my pillow,
Last night as I lay on my bed,
Last night as I lay on my pillow,
I dreamed that my Bonnie was dead.
Bring back, bring back,
Bring back my Bonnie to me, to me,
Bring back, bring back,
Bring back my Bonnie to me.
Blow the winds, over the ocean,
And blow, the winds, over the sea;
Oh, blow, the winds, over the ocean,
And bring back my Bonnie to me.
Bring back, bring back,
Bring back my Bonnie to me, to me,
Bring back, bring back,
Bring back my Bonnie to me. winds have blown over the ocean,
The winds have blown over the sea,
The winds have blown over the ocean,
And brought back my Bonnie to me.
Lily was actually feeling upbeat now. Her circle had done things in the right order. They had started with a song to bring a smile to Lily, then gave her a few inspirational songs, then a soothing song, and now an upbeat song.
But there was one to go.
Samantha's voice came on and said:
Lily, I just can't even fathom going through a fever, cough, fatigue and loss of sense all at once. But do know that there are happy endings. Let the following song with a happy ending remind you of that:
And Samantha belted out:
You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen
Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen
But do you recall
The most famous reindeer of all?
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Had a very shiny nose
And if you ever saw it
You would even say it glows
All of the other reindeer
Used to laugh and call him names
They never let poor Rudolph
Join in any reindeer games
Then one foggy Christmas Eve
Santa came to say
"Rudolph, with your nose so bright
Won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"
Then how the reindeer loved him
As they shouted out with glee
"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
You'll go down in history"
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Had a very shiny nose
And if you ever saw it
You would even say it glows
All of the other reindeer
Used to laugh and call him names
They never let poor Rudolph
Join in any reindeer games
Then one foggy Christmas Eve
Santa came to say
"Rudolph, with your nose so bright
Won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"
Then how the reindeer loved him
As they shouted out with glee
"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
You'll go down in history"
Lily smiled and felt hopeful. Perhaps a happy ending for her in the cards after all.
The last thing Lily heard on the cassette before it finished was James, Albus, Devon, Hugo, Ainsley, Stephanie, and Samantha all chorusing a single message.
"WE LOVE YOU LILY!"
That summed it up perfectly.
Lily wasn't so alone after