Turbulence

Chapter Eight - Confrontations

Okay here is another chapter. A huge thanks to those who have commented, it was awesome to wake up to! I had the day off school so I've been busy writind :') hope you guys enjoy! xx

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When Lily came round she tried to sit up but discovered she couldn’t. It hurt too much. She felt someone move next to her. She tried to remember what happened before she woke up here... She didn’t exactly know where here was. She was laying on something soft. A bed? Lily opened her eyes. Her vision was blurred but cleared eventually. She was in the hospital wing. Again, she tried to sit up, a little more successful this time. No one was here with her but there were a bunch of flowers and chocolates at the end of her bed. She wondered who they were from.

            Madam Pomfrey came rushing over. “Don’t try and sit up, dear. Here, drink this.” She handed Lily a bottle of thick potion. Lily drank up, eager for some sort of relief. As the icy cold potion slide into her stomach, her headache eased and the sharp, stabbing pain in her bones went away.

“What happened to me?” Lily panicked. She couldn’t remember anything.

“Hit with a terrible curse... A terrible dark curse. I healed most of the scarring but I’m afraid you will be stuck with the faint lines on your stomach.” Madam Pomfrey said sadly.

Lily quickly ripped the covers off and yanked up her shirt. On her stomach were four light pink slashes. It looked like she had been ripped open with a knife. “Who did this to me?” Lily asked quietly.

“I’m afraid I don’t know much more than you do, besides the fact that Mr Potter carried you in here and refused to leave –,” she began.

“Wait – James Potter?” Lily asked. She couldn’t believe it. James was the one that saved her?

“The very same,” Madam Pomfrey nodded. “He refused to leave and only left when I went to get the Headmaster.”

About one-hundred questions were boiling up inside her. “How long have I been here?” Lily asked. She looked outside. The sun was low in the sky, probably late-afternoon she figured.

“All night and most of today. I’m sorry, dear, but I’m going to have to keep you in here tonight as well.” She gave Lily a sad smile and a pat on the shoulder. “Classes will be over soon. I’m sure your friends will hear you’re in here soon enough.” She walked back to her office.

            And sure enough, Madam Pomfrey allowed her friends to see her about twenty minutes later. Louise and Morgan came running in, books still in their hands, and their cheeks as white as paper.

“Lily, what happened?” Morgan screeched.

“Are you okay?” Louise squealed.

“Yeah, I’m fine now. I don’t know what happened – I can’t remember a thing.” Lily said quietly. She was ashamed of herself. How did she get in such a stupid situation? Seven years at Hogwarts and she had never been to the Hospital Wing until now. She was disappointed she couldn’t remember what happened. She only knew one thing: James was involved.

“Where’s James?” She blurted out. The girls looked at each other.

“Why?” Louise asked.

“Madam Pomfrey said he carried me in here.” Lily told them.

“I’ll go and get him right now.” Morgan said quickly, getting up from beside Lily and rushing out.

            Louise held Lily’s hand and sat with her until James returned. When he came striding in, Louise moved aside for him. James took Lily’s hand, which surprised her, but she didn’t reject it.

“I thought – oh Merlin. I don’t know what I thought.” He said shakily. Lily noticed his eyes looked a bit wetter than usual.

“Don’t worry; I’m fine.” She said gently. James put his head on the bed next to her hand.

“We’ll come back soon, okay Lils?” Morgan said, dragging Louise away with her. Lily nodded.

            James and Lily sat there in the same position for a while, for so long James could have been asleep for all she knew.

Lily breathed shakily. “What happened to me?”

James looked up. “You went to Hogsmede with Alex –,” Lily stiffened. He didn’t have to say any more. It all came rushing back to her like a lightning bolt. Going to Hogsmede... Kissing Alex... Running with him... She started trembling.

“Are you okay?” James asked.

“Yeah, I just remembered everything...” She said, hanging her head. James put his head back down as well. They were still holding hands. Lily realised she was warned about this... By James. Again, she felt so awful for being too arrogant to listen to him.

“James, I’m so sorry. I should have listened to you. I’m such an idiot.” Lily said, trying not to cry.

James rubbed her hand with his thumb. “It’s okay; it’s not your fault. That guy is a jerk.” He said darkly.

“But I should have listened to you!” She cried, a tear spilling down her cheek.

“That doesn’t matter. You’re okay so I’m happy.” He told her. Lily squeezed his hand gratefully and James smiled. It was dark now and all the students were probably at dinner. Lily’s stomach rumbled as she thought of food.

James chuckled. “I’ll get you something to eat. I’ll be back in a second.” He stood up and strode out of the Hospital Wing. Lily was a bit taken aback but didn’t say anything. She was starving. James returned soon after, carrying an armful of food. Lily stared at him.

“Where did you get all that? You didn’t just walk into the Great Hall and take it, did you?” She laughed.

“Nope,” James grinned, “I went to the kitchens.” He was somewhat proud of himself, puffing out his chest. He had brought her favourite; sausages and roast potatoes on what must’ve been a spare plate from the kitchens.

“How did you guess?” She asked, smirking. He shrugged modestly and winked at her. He brought some for himself as well so they sat down and ate together.

“You can go to the Great Hall if you want, I don’t mind.” She told him. Okay, maybe she did mind... She didn’t feel safe anymore. James’ presence comforted her.

“No, I want to stay.” He said, not quite looking her in the eye. Lily smiled to herself. She really didn’t deserve James’s... friendship? She was horrible, and he was far too nice to her.

They ate in silence. Lily sat back in her bed, stuffed like a pig. They sat for a while, until it started to get awkward. Lily wondered if he’d stay with her tonight. She dismissed the thought. She didn’t know what the answer would be. She couldn’t possibly ask him to stay here all night in that uncomfortable chair. On the other hand, she didn’t think she could sleep without him here. Madam Pomfrey wouldn’t let him anyway...

“Well – ah, I’ll let you sleep... See you tomorrow. I’ll come straight back.” James said awkwardly. He didn’t want to leave, but he knew Lily probably didn’t want him to stay.

Lily’s arm shot out instinctively and grabbed his wrist. “Please stay.”

How am I supposed to resist that? James thought. He sat back down again. Lily still hadn’t let go of his arm.  She was cold and shaking, which James realised. He pulled the covers up higher and captured both her hands in his, warming them.

            Lily turned on her side to face him. She smiled and whispered, “Thank you for saving me.”

James grinned. “Always a pleasure.”

“Good night, James.”

“Good night, Lily.”

She closed her eyes and fell asleep in the next two minutes. After yesterday, she felt no one could harm her as long as she was with James.

            James waited until she was deeply asleep. He looked around and noticed Madam Pomfrey had gone to bed, forgetting he was there. He kissed Lily’s forehead and closes his eyes, falling asleep as well. Maybe there was hope. All he had to do was keep saving her life and he would be rolling.