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Title<\/b>: As Long As It Takes [Lily, MWPP]
\nRating\/Warnings<\/b>: PG-13 for extreme drunkenness.
\nSummary<\/b>: Lily’s woken up in the course of Prefectly duties.
\nA\/N<\/b>: Based on a real incident with my residents as an RA during one alternately terrifying and touching evening. Consequently discovered by my residents and taped to the wall for all to see. <\/p>\n
As Long as it Takes<\/b><\/p>\n
\tLily woke suddenly as someone shook her shoulder roughly.<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Wazzat?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d she asked muzzily, picking her head up from off her Transfiguration essay.<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I think we need you,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Peter said, voice sounding a bit blurry. Lily blinked a few times and peered at him.<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Have you been drinking?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d she asked.<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153James is sick,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Peter tugged on Lily\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s arm. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Remus said you should come look, maybe.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\tLily sighed and pushed back her chair to stand up. It had to be bad if Remus was sending a drunk person to get her.<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Let\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s go then,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d she said. <\/p>\n
\tAs she followed Peter up the stairs to the boys\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 dormitories, he started muttering half to himself and half to her in a mellow sort of manner.<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m so pissed off\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m buzzed and I should be having fun\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6this sucks\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6there should be a rotation\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6man, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m so mad\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\tLily just sighed, knowing she should say something as a Prefect, but was too busy being amused by Peter\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s mellow \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcrage\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 to deal with him.<\/p>\n
\tPeter didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t lead her to the Sixth Year dormitories as she expected, but in fact to their bathroom. He pushed open the door and held it open for her to go through. The echoing sounds of dry heaving bombarded Lily as soon as the door was open.<\/p>\n
\tIn one of the stalls, Remus was struggling to hold James upright as he retched, swaying back and forth heavily.<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153How bad is it?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Lily asked, putting a hand on Remus\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 shoulder. The stall was too narrow for her to really help him hold James up.<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Bad,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Remus answered tightly. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We put him in the shower, but it didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t help. He\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s been throwing up for nearly an hour\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6no, James!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\tRemus made a desperate grab as James pitched forward again, narrowly keeping him from cracking his head open on the toilet or the tile or both.<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Go get a dustbin,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Lily said to Peter. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re going to take him downstairs and sit him in a chair before he smashes his skull in.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I can barely keep him awake,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Remus said to Lily. James moaned suddenly and heaved, but it was clear there was simply nothing left for him to throw up.<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153What did he have?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Lily asked.<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153No idea,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Remus shook his head. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153He went out with some Ravenclaws, but they left him somewhere\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6some Hufflepuffs found him and brought him back, but I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve no idea what he was drinking.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153It must be bad,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Lily said grimly, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153James\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 tolerance is fairly high, thanks to Black.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153This is NOT Sirius\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 fault,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Remus began to argue, but just then Peter returned with the dustbin.<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153We\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re going back to the Common Room, James,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Remus told him loudly.<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153No!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d James regained a fraction of cognizance. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Feel sick!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d As if to prove his point, James managed to spit a little bit.<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Come ON, Potter,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Lily reached around Remus and pulled both of them out of the stall firmly. She and Remus each put one of James\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 arms around their shoulders and Lily held the dustbin underneath his drooping head as they half-carried him down to the Common Room and sat him on one of the chairs. James\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 head lolled back against the arm and Remus jerked him upright.<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153James!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he shouted. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153James, stay awake!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153M\u00e2\u20ac\u2122wake,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he mumbled. Remus dropped into the couch immediately beside the chair and Lily perched on the arm of James\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 chair.<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Open your eyes, James!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d she commanded. James\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 eyes opened a fraction and rolled around a bit before focusing on Lily. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Can you tell me where you are?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Dricslow,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he said, his eyes closing again.<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153No!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Remus shook him again. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re not in Godric\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Hollow, you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re in Gryffindor Tower, James. Stay awake!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153He jus\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 needs to throw up some more,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Peter put in, having slumped into a nearby chair. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We can do it together, man, c\u00e2\u20ac\u2122mon\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6one\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6two\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6three\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6bleeeeeeeeeeah\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\tRemus and Lily snickered anxiously at what Peter obviously thought was a good sound effect to represent puking. James slumped over the dustbin, but crossed his arms in front of him. Lily tried to make him hold on to the edges instead, but James pushed
\nher away and recrossed his arms, seemingly bent on throwing up all over himself. Again.<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Try to imagine you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re upside down,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Peter told James. <\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m sorry,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Remus laughed tightly. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not really funny at all\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s funny like a trainwreck full of clowns,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Lily told him and they both laughed
\ndarkly. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve got to keep him awake.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153James! Wake up!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Remus shouted into his face. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153What\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s your first class, James?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Sharms,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he said.<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Who\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s your professor?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Lily prompted.<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Donrember,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d James said with irritation.<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Sure you do, who is it?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Remus asked.<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Donrember!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d James said louder, eyes fluttering open for a second. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Leemesleep\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153No!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Lily said sharply, yanking him back to sit up rather than lean on the dustbin. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Who\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s in your class?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153S\u00e2\u20ac\u2122rius,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d James murmured. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Sndrew\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6Leesha\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6\u00e2\u20ac\u009d James drifted off again and Lily shook him roughly.<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Ask him something he has to think about!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d she demanded.<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Count to a hundred by threes!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Remus said randomly.<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Threesixninetwelve,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d James responded promptly without opening his eyes. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Fifteeneighteentwentyonetwentyfour\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Try a harder one,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Lily suggested. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153By sevens, James, do it by sevens!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Sevenfourteentwentyonetwentyeightthirtyfive\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s no good,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Remus said in frustration, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s got them all memorized, he could do it in a coma. Pick something harder, something he has to think about!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153What are the five signs of a werewolf?!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Lily exclaimed desperately. She missed Remus\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 sudden look of alarm as she concentrated on James.<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Wearn m\u00e2\u20ac\u2122clothes,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d James began to giggle suddenly. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Sin m\u00e2\u20ac\u2122chair.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I think he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s getting worse,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Lily was starting to look a bit panicky. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Remus, I think we might need Madam Pomfrey.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Just wait a bit longer,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Remus tried to sound more reasonable than he felt. <\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153James! James, you need to tell us what you had to drink!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Shots!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d James announced suddenly. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Lossa shots\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6\u00e2\u20ac\u2122vecleer\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6dr\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ice\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Did he just say Everclear and dry ice?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Lily demanded, eyes widening.<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Maybe,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Remus shook his head. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t drink, what\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s that?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153You don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t drink?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Lily was distracted for a moment. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Really?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t get drunk!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Peter informed her loudly and Lily started slightly because she had forgotten he was even there. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Lousy bugger\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6man, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m buzzed\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6and pissed off\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\tLily turned back to Remus as Peter trailed off again.<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Everclear is like 190 proof,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Lily told Remus, shaking James vigorously, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153And dry ice burns off everything that ISN\u00e2\u20ac\u2122T alcohol.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Oh shit,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Remus snarled. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153When I get my hands on those Ravenclaws\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153James! How many shots did you have?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Lily yelled at James.<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Thirty!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he told her, opening his eyes finally.<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153How many?!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Remus looked horrified.<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Forty!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d James said.<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Seriously, James!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Lily jerked his head to look at her. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153How many shots?!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Fifty!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d <\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Stop asking!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Remus exclaimed. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Every time you ask him it goes up!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153James, for the last time! How many shots?!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\tJames counted laboriously on the fingers of one hand.<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Sixty,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he said proudly before his head slumped over again.<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Pomfrey,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Lily said, an edge of hysteria creeping into her voice. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m not kidding!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Just wait,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Remus pleaded.<\/p>\n
\tRight then the portrait hole swung open and Sirius stepped in, a little glassy-
\neyed, but walking reasonably enough.<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Hey, Lils and Moony!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he called cheerfully, then noticed James and sobered. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153What\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s wrong with James?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153He\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s really sick,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Remus said. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153He went out with Ravenclaws and they left him somewhere and he won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t stay awake.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153He says he had shots of Everclear and dry ice,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Lily told Sirius, who swore a few times, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153but he can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t tell us where or how many.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Seventy!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d <\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Shut up!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Lily yelled at James. Peter giggled.<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153S\u00e2\u20ac\u2122my turn next weekend!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he called. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Rotation!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153You get Peter to bed,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Sirius tugged Lily off the chair arm and pushed her towards Peter. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll see what I can do.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Come on, you,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Lily yanked Peter to his feet a bit more roughly than was strictly necessary. <\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Pissed off,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he said again, but allowed Lily to propel him upstairs.<\/p>\n
\tWhen Lily returned, Sirius had taken her place on the chair arm, so she sank into the couch seat beside Remus and glanced over anxiously at James.<\/p>\n
\tSirius had James drinking out of water bottle he had scrounged up somewhere and was rubbing rough circles on his back.<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153We think he might get better if we can get him to vomit again,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Remus told her. She shrugged; nothing else had worked.<\/p>\n
\tThey ran through a hundred more questions trying to keep James awake, and eventually the inquiries became a bit unorthodox, although James did seem to be getting slightly more conscious.<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Name all the places on you that are hairy!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Lily called out at one point.<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Arm\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6arm\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6\u00e2\u20ac\u009d James slapped clumsily at the places he was mentioning as everyone else snickered tiredly. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Head\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6chest\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6diaphragm\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Diaphragm!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Lily repeated, laughing harder.<\/p>\n
\tSirius rubbed James\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 back and encouraged him tirelessly.<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153C\u00e2\u20ac\u2122mon, mate, you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll feel much better, just give it another go\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6\u00e2\u20ac\u009d James produced nothing but a hiccup and Sirius made him drink some more water. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Tell me about your parents then. What\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s your dad do?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153San Auror!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d James slurred. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Gets Detheaters\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6kick sarse\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Good man,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Sirius picked up easily when James started to run out of steam. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153What about your mum then?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Doesall kindsa things,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d James said. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Take scare astuff\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6take scara me\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Not here now though, is she,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Sirius said.<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153No,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d James answered. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Yourta ken cara me.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153That\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s right,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Sirius patted James on the back. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m taking care of you. Cause I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m your roommate.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153M\u00e2\u20ac\u2122bes mate, Pafoot,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d James lolled his head back to look at Sirius and threw an arm around him in a clumsy hug. Sirius ruffled his hair and pushed his glasses slightly more back into place.<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m staying with you, Prongs,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153for as long as it takes to get you better. All night if I have to. That\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s what roommates do.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\tLily, who up until that moment had harbored a deep and festering hatred for Sirius Black, was so touched by what he had just said to James that she nearly started to cry.<\/p>\n
\tLater on, she would chalk it up to stress.<\/p>\n
\tFinally, after drinking nearly two bottles of water with no sign of further vomiting, Sirius suggested they stand James up and walk him around a bit. They had taken barely three steps before James turned green and Remus made a lucky dive towards him with the dustbin. He cleared up nearly immediately afterwards, enough that he could tell them where he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d been and with whom. With an immense amount of relief, Lily and Sirius agreed that they could probably put him to bed, so long as someone stayed up to make sure he kept breathing.<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I will,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Sirius said without hesitation, throwing James\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 compliant arm around his shoulders and helping James towards the stairs. She watched their dark heads bumping against one another and wondered if her new feelings of not-hatred for Sirius would outlast the good long sleep she intended to have more or less immediately.<\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Thanks for helping me, Lily,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Remus touched Lily\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s arm briefly, and she shook off her pensiveness. <\/p>\n
\t\u00e2\u20ac\u0153You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d better keep an eye on them,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d she said. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s somebody else\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s turn next week.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\tThey exchanged wan smiles before Remus trailed Sirius and James up the stairs to their room. <\/p>\n
\tEven after she had put on her pajamas and pulled her curtains shut, well after 5 AM, Lily didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t fall asleep immediately. She stared at her ceiling mulling over what had happened.<\/p>\n
\tShe\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d been really frightened for James, and even though it had all worked out in the end, she wondered if she should have called Madam Pomfrey much sooner. She shouldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have second-guessed herself, no matter what Remus had said to her. James had been more fucked up than anyone she had ever seen before. If she had found James herself, she would have gotten help immediately. She probably should have anyway. Lily wondered if she\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d been a particularly effective Prefect that night.<\/p>\n
\tWhat Sirius had said to James stuck with her as well. Lily didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t know quite what to make of this sudden admission of feeling from someone she had always assumed was patently shallow. The look on Sirius\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 face stayed in her mind\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s eye as well, his expression rather nonchalant, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world that he would stay with James no matter how long it took or how sick he was. <\/p>\n
\tLily rolled over, pushing the thoughts out of her head as best she could so she could sleep, even though she hadn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t sorted them all out yet.<\/p>\n
\tLily just hoped that someday she would have a best friend who cared about her as fiercely as Sirius did for James.<\/p>\n