ALWAYS

Hold On

The next day Lily woke up in James's arms, who was fast asleep.

She tried getting up to go freshen up, but James's arms were tightly wrapped around her and he didn't look like he was going to let go of her anytime soon.

She smiled, and relaxed. She sunk back into his chest and gazed at the ceiling. She thought about her parents.

The fact that they were no more, that her mother would never be there to welcome her home, her father would never be there to give her his warm hugs, had just soaked in.

She thought about Petunia.

Would she finally take Lily in as her sister or would she push her further away blaming her for her parents death?

Was she responsible for her parents death?

"Yes" a voice in the back of her mind said.

It struck her, it was her fault. If she wouldn't have insulted Voldemort in front of anyone her parents might still be alive.

Her thoughts came to a halt when she heard James. "What are you thinking about babe?"

"Nothing" she lied.

James knew she was lying but decided to let it go, for which Lily was grateful.
*********
They got up and took a bath. By the time she had come down James had already made coffee and breakfast.

James handed her a cup of coffee and a plate of scrambled eggs.

She shook her head. James's eyes reflected concern, "You have to eat Lils. You need the energy. Your parents-"

"would have been alive today James. They would have been alive today if I wouldn't have insulted Voldemort. I killed my parents" she yelled.

James flinched as she yelled. He had never seen Lily like this.

Her eyes lifeless, her voice full of sorrow. She was dejected and it was like a dark cloud was looking over her, blocking out all the sunshine. She sounded broken.

He slowly neared her, her eyes full of tears.

He pulled her closer, wrapped his arms around her.

"Lils it's not your fault. I think your parents would rather die than watch their daughter join the most evil dark wizard and kill hundreds of innocent lives. Don't beat yourself up" he said gently.

She looked up at him and nodded.

She wiped her tears and put up a brave face. James was right. Her parents would want her to stand gor the good and not for the bad.

"My parents would have wanted me to stand for justice. Stand with the good people against the bad. They wouldn't want me to join the death eaters just so they could feel safe. That is not how they raised me"
*******
They went down to Hagrid's hut. They were supposed to meet McGonagall there. Sirius, Marlene, Alice, Remus and Peter had all met them outside the Great Hall.

Alice and Marlene hugged her together and wouldn't let go of her until she assured them that she would owl them if she needed anything.

Remus and Peter too hugged her and said a few reassuring words.

When Lily said she was all alone now that her parents were gone, Sirius pulled her into a hug, "Never say you are alone Lily Flower. It breaks my heart to see you like this. Besides what about us? What about James? We're all there for you and you ain't getting rid of us so easily" he said.