Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize. All characters belong to a woman with a great imagination and determination, capable of creating this world that is the center of so many stories.

Chapter 1 – Three Days Ago

James ran to the train, hoping his extreme lateness would have driven his friends on the train already. In fact he had been at the muggle station since nine this morning, but had chosen to sit on a bench and watch the muggles. He faintly regretted giving up muggle studies. He spent nearly two hours watching them and discovered he found them quite amusing. But he could not afford to run into his friends. Not yet. First he had to make sense of it himself, and she was the only one who could help. He only wished she was Head Girl as he made his way to the Heads' compartment, not lingering so people wouldn't notice him. If she wasn't there, he would have to find her. He needed her to explain to him what had happened three days ago. When she had done something completely unexpected. It was important he knew exactly what had happened, for it did not seem like a matter that could be taken lightly. He opened the compartment door and breathed a sigh of relief as he saw the vivid red hair, pulled tight in a bun except for one curly strand in front, too short to be grabbed. Her bright emerald eyes left the book and fixed themselves on him. They widened as the girl they belonged to drew back slightly when he entered. He stored his trunk and then took the seat opposite of her as her book traveled so that it would block her face.

"Congratulations on becoming Head Boy, Potter," said the girl, from behind the book.

"Thanks. And nice job on becoming Head Girl."

The book thanked him. After a couple of minutes it was obvious that was the end of the conversation as far as the girl was concerned. James ran a hand through his hair and leaned toward the book, but in his mind he was leaning towards the face of the girl who had showed up with his dad three nights ago in his fireplace and spent the night crying in his arms. The same girl who just referred to him by his last name, as if saying his first would imply that they were somehow friends. The most beautiful and puzzling girl on this planet, according to him. And now he needed to piece the puzzle of three nights ago together before he even said a word about anything remotely concerning it to anyone else. And even then James wasn't sure if he would say anything. He didn't know what had happened, just that she had been broken, maybe beyond repair.

"Look, Evans…Lily," he started. "Are…are you okay?"

"Perfectly fine," Lily said from behind her book.

"Well…were you okay?"

"What in the world are you talking about, Potter?" Lily snapped, slamming the book shut. The door opened and both of them watched as eight stunned fifth-year prefects looked at them in a mixture of wonder and awe. Lily stuffed the book in her bag at her feet and motioned for the prefects to come in. After collecting passwords, assigning patrol routes and times, giving instructions and guidelines and reminding everyone of the rules, they reluctantly left again and Lily took out her book once more. James carefully held it by the top of the spine and Lily gave him an inquisitive look. "What is it that you want?"

"An explanation would be greatly appreciated."

Lily's eyes betrayed her mask of composure by showing the moment of fear she had as he said that. "Of what?"

"Of what happened."

"What do you mean? What happened when?"

"What happened that night three days ago. That night my dad came back from the ministry after being called out during dinner with you at his side. How did you get there? And what caused all that sadness?"

Lily's eyes filled up with what were obviously tears. "Must we talk about it now, James?" she whispered.

"I have to know. I have to know now, Lily. Look," he said and enchanted the door locked and shielded. "See? Now you're only talking to me."

"Look, something horrible happened that day, okay? It doesn't concern you."

"Lily, it concerned me from the moment that a tear escaped your eyes. Now please tell me what happened. This is something I need explained to me now; because it's not something I can forget about. Now please tell me what happened."

Lily sat back in her seat and brought up a hand to catch a tear before it fell. She looked out the window to avoid looking at James. "My parents were killed three days ago, James. That's the reason I was at the ministry. Deatheaters did it. And to think my sister had a fit about you talking about dementors at a muggle train station end of last year."

James looked at her, shocked and at a loss for words.

"My little brother is a soul-less shell thanks to those stupid Azkaban guards and my dog was chewed to shreds by a werewolf. A giant came by and paid a visit to my house, which he promptly smashed the right side of. About the only one that was okay is my sister because she was on her honeymoon with her revolting new husband, and when I told her the next day about what had happened, she yelled at me and said it was all my fault and I don't blame her. That's what happened three days ago."

Lily got up and, with James's shocked eyes on her, walked out of the compartment and straight into the bathroom next door, at which point he heard the door being bolted in every way possible. Every so often a loud sob could be heard from the bathroom. James hadn't even moved to close the door. He sat there, staring at the spot where she sat and the tear stain on the cushion, not realizing that his own eyes were close to shedding tears. Tears of anger at how helpless she was and how he couldn't make it better. Most of all, tears of anger at himself for making her relive it. He wiped the tears away and put his head in his hands. Just then three shadows were cast by three boys standing in the doorway of the compartment. If James had looked up, he would have noticed only one of the three advance and the door close. The shadow's owner sat in the seat opposite of him, where Lily's book lay open with tearstains on practically half the pages.