“James!”
The forlorn, frightened cry sounded as if torn from the innermost crevice of someone’s soul. It jarred James instantly out of his light doze. He sat up straight and sleepily rubbed his eyes. They settled on the figure that had been tossing and turning under the covers of the small cot. She was sitting upright as well, her bandage askew over her red hair mussed from sleep. Her eyes that had previously been leaking fat tears found James seated beside her bed. She reached out to him as he stood to embrace her.
“Lily,” he said concernedly as she buried her recently repaired head into the front of his robes. “What’s the matter? What’s happened?”
“Oh, James!” Her voice was barely distinguishable. James had a feeling that she was shielding her face to cover the fact that she had been crying rather than to cover her grief. “The dream-”
“Again? It will be all right, dove. I’m right here,” James said soothingly.
“You were in it this time.” Lily removed her face from his wet front and twisted her head upwards. “You really died, James.” Her voice was very quiet and scared.
Though not the first time he was hearing of his death, James was jarred by Lily’s words. Nonetheless, he kept using his soothing tone.
“We’ll cross that bridge-”
“This can’t happen,” Lily whispered. Her voice quavered. James thought that he had never seen his calm Lily so shaken. Her eyes were wide and over bright; she was shaking; and her fiery hair was standing on its end.
“It will, but right now-”
“It can’t happen because…because I love you, James!” Lily exploded fiercely. “I love you so much, and I would fall apart if anything happened to you!”
James sank onto Lily’s hospital bed. Speechless, yet beaming, he put his arms round Lily.
“I love you too, Lily,” he said softly, pressing his lips to her forehead.
***
Charms was one of Lily’s favourite classes, and she revelled in the challenging class work Professor Flitwick assigned them. On top of that, she loved to take notes on Flitwick’s lectures, which meant that she had volumes upon volumes of seven years’ worth of scribblings on Summoning and household cleaning charms, and diagrams for the more complicated spells like the Fidelius and other charms.
However, today, Lily was writing a different sort of note. James had unearthed the boys’ communication parchment”that he referred to as “Instant Notes””and thought it would be fun to chat in Charms class. Lily was resolutely against the idea, with NEWTs approaching quickly, but she was itching to find out exactly how the “Instant Notes” worked. So against her better judgement, Lily, James, Sirius, Peter and Remus were all engaged in a discussion inspired by the news in that morning’s Daily Prophet.
Lily, it was only goblins, wrote Sirius. It’s not as if they were people or anything…
Lily, of course, bristled instantly.
Sirius! That is terrible! They are living, breathing beings! What a stupid thing to say-
Lily, Sirius is only winding you up, Remus cut in. Look over here. He loves goading you. Keep humouring him and he will wet himself.
Lily glanced over at the boys. Sirius did indeed look as if he was about to explode with mirth.
Padfoot, appeared James’ messy scrawl. Control yourself and leave Lily alone. Only trained dogs are allowed inside Hogwarts, don’t you know that?
There was a minor disturbance at the Marauders’ table, earning Sirius and James a reproving, “Boys!” from Professor Flitwick. They settled down and resumed their conversation with Lily.
So much for allying himself with the goblins, Peter scribbled.
What d’you suppose Voldemort wanted with the goblins, anyway? posed James.
Yeah, put in Sirius, They’re not interesting in helping wizards. They just like their gold.
That is probably why that family was killed, reasoned Lily.
Hey, Lily, wrote Remus abruptly. Isn’t that your owl at the window?
Lily looked up. That was definitely her tawny owl outside the classroom window.
Yeah…Wonder what she is doing here…
Aspen tapped on the window loudly, successfully interrupting the Charms lesson.
“Whose owl-?” asked Professor Flitwick squeakily.
“Mine, sir!”
“May I-?”
“Quickly. But please wait until after class to read your mail, Miss Evans.”
Lily took the letter from Aspen, who clicked her beak affectionately before flying off to the owlry. Lily returned to her desk, turning the envelope over in her hands. She recognized the writing at once, but was puzzled. Why would she voluntarily write to Lily?
As soon as the bell rang at the end of class, Lily bolted out of the classroom and down to the Great Hall, not even bothering to drop her bag off in Gryffindor tower. She dropped onto the bench at the Gryffindor table and tore open the letter.
Lily,
I will not waste words and space on niceties. There was a car accident yesterday. Our mother is dead. The doctors say that dad probably will not make it through the night. He has asked for you; I would not be writing to you out of my own free will. He should see you before he passes. The funeral is in two days.
Petunia Dursley
In shock, her brain barely registered the Marauders sit down on all sides. James’ voice seemed to wake her.
“What’s wrong, Lily?”
“I need to see Professor Dumbledore,” she said numbly, rising unevenly from the bench.
“What is it?” James asked again, concern in his voice.
“There has been an accident.”
***
“Oh, Dad,” whispered Lily, stopping shortly after stepping through the doorway.
Electronic machines whirred softly in the room. The air was saturated with the smell of hospitals and medicine and…death.
And in the midst of it all was her father, adorned with tubes. Lily noiselessly approached his bed.
“How is he?” she asked her sister.
“The doctor said that his health is rapidly declining,” answered Petunia stiffly, sniffing. Her eyes were red and puffy. “There is a very slim possibility that he will survive. His injuries were fatal.”
“Oh, Daddy,” Lily murmured. Her own eyes were filling as well. “Has he woken at all?”
“Just once before slipping back into his coma. That’s when he asked for you.” Petunia rose. “I’m going to get coffee.”
Lily sank into the hard chair her sister had just vacated. She stared at her father. “Could I have prevented this if I had been here, Daddy?”
No answer but for the beeping heart monitor.
“They could heal you at St. Mungo’s, no problem.” Lily tried to distract herself from the seriousness of the situation, but to no avail. “The doctor said that you won’t make it through the night. I’m sorry, Dad. Please forgive me for anything I have done to wrong you. Because of Hogwarts, I haven’t seen as much of you as I should have. But I love you. You knew that, didn’t you, Daddy?” Lily hid her face in her hands, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Please don’t go, Dad. We have lost Mum; Nia and I can’t lose you too. Please don’t go!”
Petunia stepped back into the room, a steaming cup of coffee in her hands. At the same instant, Michael Evans’ heart monitor gave two quick beeps, then went flat.
“No, Daddy, come back!” Lily cried, close to hysterics. She clutched his hand desperately. Petunia ran for a doctor. “Daddy…” Lily touched his bandaged cheek. “I love you. Please don’t leave us…”
The nurses and doctors rushed into the room, pushing a sobbing Lily aside. She watched as if in a dream. Time seemed to yield. Petunia entered slowly, her eyes wide, her pink blouse stained with coffee. The medics bustled about, but the heart monitor remained a never-ending, high-pitched beep.
***
James came for the funeral. He didn’t attempt to comfort her, knowing from experience that his words would seem empty and inadequate. So he just held her.
The funeral was brief. James stood with Lily as she and Petunia received condolences from distant family members at their home. Petunia thanked each person when he or she expressed their sorrow at the sisters’ loss. Lily just gave them all nods while grasping James’ hand tightly to keep from breaking down in sobs.
When everyone but James had gone, Lily collapsed onto the sofa.
“That was horrible,” she muttered, putting a hand to her head.
“I know,” James said sympathetically, stoking her long hair.
“Thank you for being here today, James. It meant so much to me.”
“Of course, love.” James joined her on the sofa and enveloped Lily in his arms. Lily loved that about James; when he hugged her, he didn’t simply wrap his arms around her, he enveloped her. But this was too much for Lily on an emotionally tolling day such as this. She screwed up her eyes and hugged him back forcefully, fighting down the tears and the scream of utter, soul-tearing agony that were struggling to be released.
“Lily.” Petunia’s crisp voice snapped into Lily and James’ moment like a whip. Lily jumped, and she and James broke apart, looking at Petunia expectantly.
“What is he still doing here?” Petunia demanded rudely, avoiding looking at James, or even mentioning his name.
“James is staying for a while, Petunia, as my guest.” Lily’s voice hardened.
“Fine,” Petunia said harshly. “There are some things we must discuss.”
“Yes?” said Lily wearily.
Petunia adopted a business-like tone. “As you know, our parents divided their rather large sum of money between us, but the house was handed to me as my responsibility. As Vernon and I have already purchased a house in Little Whinging, and you are living in your little freak world, this house will not be necessary.”
“What are you saying?” asked Lily uncertainly.
“I’m selling the house, Lily.”
“What?” Lily said, aghast. “But where will I live after I get out of school, Nia?”
“How should I know?” Petunia snapped. “That’s not my problem. And don’t call me by that ridiculous name!” Their father had used that as a pet name for his eldest daughter. “You have two days to move all of your things out.”
“Two days!” Lily cried, standing. “Petunia, that’s crazy! I can’t possibly-I have nowhere to go! Can’t you-”
“No,” she said flatly. James, on the other hand, looked livid.
“Two days?!” he said angrily. “Lily is your sister, Petunia! Don’t you have any compassion at all for her? Your only living-”
“No!” she screamed at him suddenly. “I have had it with her.” Petunia jabbed her finger accusingly at Lily. “I will NOT tolerate her and her unnaturalness any longer! I was only as decent as I was because our parents wished it. Now that they’re gone, no formalities are necessary.”
“Your treatment of Lily can hardly be called decent!” James shot back furiously. “My only sister is dead, and I would give anything and everything to have her back! Why can’t you appreciate the only family you have left? Lily is amazing and-”
“Get out! Never step foot in this house again!” Petunia screamed at James, beside herself with anger. “Get out of my house!”
“With pleasure!” He stormed out the front door, Lily hot on his heels.
“James!” Lily called after him. “James, please wait!”
“She’s terrible, Lily!” he declared, and Lily could almost see the steam coming from underneath the collar harbouring his neck flushed with anger. “How did you stand that for seven years?”
“She is my sister, James,” she said softly.
“I know. I’m sorry,” James said grudgingly. He tried to steady his breathing to calm himself down, and ran a hand through his messy black hair. “Where will you go?”
“I have no idea,” Lily said hopelessly. “I suppose I could just ask Professor Dumbledore about staying at Hogwarts-”
“Students aren’t allowed,” James reminded her immediately, gently.
“-or maybe I could stay with Mum’s cousins. They’re distant, though. Today was the first time I’ve met them. I just don’t want to burden anyone…”
“I think I know somewhere you can stay,” said James carefully, “where you definitely wouldn’t be a burden.”
“Where?” asked Lily sceptically, though she thought she knew what he was going to say.
“With my parents and I,” he said, smiling with satisfaction, apparently pleased with himself.
“James, I couldn’t-” she protested.
“Yes, you could! It’ll be fun, Lily! C’mon, you know you want to!” he said in a singsong voice.
“Talk to your parents first, James, and then we’ll see,” Lily allowed after some hesitation.
“Woo hoo!” James whooped. “They’ll love you, Lily!”
“James,” Lily said, smiling at his enthusiasm. “I do have an awful lot of stuff, are you sure-”
“We have lots of room, don’t worry!”
***
Did they ever have a lot of room! Lily was astounded by the sheer vastness of the Potters’ residence. It was beautiful…The outside of the structure was built with pale stone, except for the roofs, which were a deep red. Half a dozen towers shot up at various points inside the wall. If the exterior was impressive, Lily couldn’t even imagine what the inside would look like… “You didn’t tell me that you lived in a castle, James,” said Lily, awed, craning her neck upwards to look at the mansion’s magnificent towers.
“Slipped my mind,” James said carelessly. He was preoccupied with making Lily’s luggage dance in midair. He stopped when they reached the front door. It opened for them.
“Master James,” something squeaked excitedly. Lily looked down.
“Hi, Dolly,” James greeted the house-elf. He could see Lily swelling like a bullfrog, preparing to give him her opinion about the enslavement of house-elves that he had heard a million times before. Luckily, his mother saved him.
“Hello, darling!” said Mrs. Potter, embracing her son.
“Hi, Mum,” James allowed his mother to kiss him on the cheek before detangling himself to introduce Lily. “Mum, this is Lily Evans.”
Mrs. Potter turned to Lily, who was a bit intimidated by this formidable-looking woman. Her dark hair was pulled back into a loose bun, reminding Lily of Professor McGonagall. There were laugh lines around Mrs. Potter’s eyes and mouth, so at least she was not lacking in a sense of humour like the Professor. Though Lily had been surprised by the woman’s age, James’ mother did not act like an elderly woman. However, sixty-one was hardly old, especially for a witch.
From behind oval spectacles, Mrs. Potter’s grey eyes looked Lily over. “So you’re Lily, are you? I’ve heard much about you…I’m Harriet Potter.” Lily accepted the proffered hand. “My husband is working at the Ministry at present, but you will meet him at supper.”
Lily snuck a glance at James, whose expression was determinedly unreadable. “Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Potter.”
Harriet scoffed. “Please call me Harriet, dear. ‘Mrs. Potter’ makes me feel so old.”
Lily laughed at the irony of this statement. “Alright,” she said.
Harriet paused to give her one long, piercing look. “I like her,” she declared to James. “She has a musical laugh.” Lily blushed and James chuckled at her.
Harriet swept down a corridor to the right. “Leave the luggage, James. Dolly and Lycra will attend to it. We will show you to your room, Lily.” Lily, torn between politely obeying James’ mum and her desire to treat house-elves as equals, just stood uncertainly in the entrance chamber. James put his hand on the small of her back and Lily reluctantly set off down the hallway.
“See,” he whispered to her as they followed Harriet. “I told you she’d like you. You had nothing to worry about.”
Lily gave a short chuckle. While Harriet Potter had seemed to accept her, Lily still felt nervous. She supposed that would fade with time.
“Here you are,” announced Harriet, stopping outside a door. James hastily opened the door for the women, and Harriet entered after him. Lily followed and her jaw dropped. The room was probably the most gorgeous room that she had ever been in. It was almost like being back at Hogwarts, with the copious amounts of red that most of the room was bedecked in. The ceiling was very high, and rose to an almost peak that ended in beautiful skylight windows, letting in the warm afternoon sun. The king sized bed was hung with heavy velvet drapes that matched the long curtains just barely trailing on the thick French carpet. The honeyed oak furniture gleamed in the soft light of the gently flickering floating candles.
“Now,” said Harriet briskly, interrupting Lily’s gawking at the elaborate furnishings over the fireplace. “I realize that you are both of age, and as such, I do not expect either of you to act irresponsibly or foolishly when left alone. I trust that the two of you know to what I am referring.”
Lily again blushed a deep crimson. Mrs. Potter thought that she and James would actually--? Under his parents’ own roof?!
“I hope your stay here will be comfortable, Lily,” Harriet told Lily, not embarrassed in the least by her insinuating warnings. “If you are in need of anything, do not hesitate to let someone know. I will send you up a house-elf exclusively for your personal usage.”
“Oh, that won’t be necessary-” Lily began, but Harriet waved away her protests.
“Don’t be silly; of course it will. Dolly and Lycra will soon be in with your luggage, Lily. James, could you come with me for a moment, please?”
“Yes, Mum.”
“Thank you for your hospitality, Harriet,” Lily said as Mrs. Potter started to leave the room.
Harriet gave her the first genuine smile Lily had seen directed at herself. James’ smile. It seemed to take ten years off her face.
“You’re most welcome, dear.” Harriet took Lily’s hand in her own and pressed it warmly. “I am truly sorry for your loss.”
Lily swallowed. “Thank you,” she said softly.
“Come, James.” Harriet exited the bedroom.
“I’ll be back in a moment, love.” James kissed Lily gently and left the room.
Lily sank onto the bed as she watched him exit, suddenly very fatigued. Mrs. Potter’s comment had suddenly and completely reminded Lily why she was at James’ house in the first place. Her eyes filled with tears. My parents are dead.