A disclaimer: I don't own any characters, from the Harry Potter Series, just the ones I make up.

Harry Potter

Saving Lily

Chapter 4

***Severus POV***

I stir the new potion slowly. I take hold of the vial of phoenix tears; that I have collected from Fawkes with Dumbledore's permission. Pulling the cork off the top of the vial, I pour the tears into the thick purple liquid. Once it simmers a little longer, the potion that will cure Lily will be ready. I spoon the purple liquid into a new vial and place the cork back onto the top. My black robes billow behind me as my footsteps echo through the corridor. Every step leads me toward the infirmary where Lily lay in wait for the potion that will help her.

As I enter the infirmary, Madam Pomfrey is attending to another student. I nod at her as I walk to the privacy curtain that has Lily hidden away behind it. I pull the curtain open and close it behind me. I gaze into the face of the only person who had ever truly been my friend. I sit next to her on the edge of the bed. I lift her into my arms to elevate her a little higher. I want to keep her from choking on another potion. Her eyes flutter briefly, but they don't open. I pull the cork out of the bottle, holding it to her lips.

"This is going to help you. Can you drink it for me?"

I gently touch the rim of the vial to her lips. Her pale lips part just enough for me to get the elixir into her mouth. She coughs a little, so I raise her higher. It takes a little coaxing, but I finally get her to drain the contents. Once she finishes the vial, I set it on the neighboring nightstand. I gently return her to her original position. Her small whimpers of pain are not lost on me. I conjure a chair with my wand and sit down next to her. I gently brush the strands of red hair from her face.

I will stay with her a little longer before my class begins. I have a few hours before I need to start getting things ready for the students. I prop my head onto my fist as I lean into the chair arm.

My brain consumes itself with the struggles that she will face; when she finally awakens from the sleeping draft that Madam Pomfrey has given her. It helps her rest and makes it easier to deal with the wounds that mar her body. My elixir will easily be able to deal with the physical wounds that have caused so much strife. It could not, however, deal with the mental aspect of what she has experienced, nor what she will experience when she learns of her devastating new reality. That is the one thing I cannot heal, no matter how many potions or spells I may know. The great loss she will endure when she awakens is something she will have to face alone.

I, however, will be there to help her if she allows me to be. Which I highly doubt. I do not expect her to ever want to see or speak to me again. I can't say that I blame her, though. This fact, however, does not and will not change my resolve. I am going to help her in any possible way that I can, until the time comes, that she does not need, nor want my assistance.

When she shifts stiffly, I sit up a little straighter.

"Lily?" My airways grow tighter. "Can you hear me?"

Her head starts shifting ever so slightly toward my voice. I take her hand into mine as I stand and lean in a little closer. I want her to know that she isn't alone. If I can help it, I don't want her to wake up in the infirmary by herself. I thought it better for her to know that someone is with her.

"Lily?" I try to keep my voice soft and reassuring as I say her name.

Her eyes slowly flutter ever so slightly open. Relief washes over me as she smiles softly in my direction. My relief dissolves with one simple word. The realization that I may have to be the one to send her world crumbling down around her; collides into me with relentless force.

***Lily's POV***

Everything hurt, even places I didn't even know could hurt, hurt. My body doesn't want to do what I want it to. My muscles throb in resistance, to even the smallest attempt at motion. My brain feels fuzzy. The thoughts in my head are distorted and fractured. The throbbing pain radiates from inside my head. I feel something warm against my hand.

"Lily?" The voice sounds strained, "Lily, can you hear me?"

I carefully turn my head toward the voice and wince. Motion in any form should not be this painful. For a moment, my eyes flutter open. I can feel the edges of my consciousness shrinking in on me. My vision is blurry as the lights surrounding me are blinding.

"Lily?"

I shift my blurry vision away from the lights, to the voice softly calling my name. To no avail, the person never comes into focus. Something about the blob of a person feels familiar. With all the strength I can muster, I squeeze the warmth against my hand gently. There is only one person who would show this much concern for me. I smile at him weakly. I can feel all the edges of my world slipping. I must reassure him before my consciousness is once again devoured by the dark abyss.

Just as the darkness at the edges of my vision consumes me, I breathe, "James."

A/N: I really hope you enjoy reading this chapter, everyone. I hope I can get the next installment up really soon. Until next time. Please review and have a great day!