The Empath

"I can't believe you just said that to Malfoy," Harry told Lily when they sat down at the Gryffindor table.

"Yeah, that was wicked. It's about time that someone told Malfoy off like that," Ron added.

"Lily?" Harry said hesitantly.

"Yeah?" she replied.

"Did you er - did you mean what you said, or were you just trying to upset Malfoy?" Harry asked her, pushing his food back and forth on his plate with his fork.

"I meant every word," she told him happily. Harry's face lit up, and he smiled at her. He began to eat his breakfast.

"Well here are the schedules," Hermione said as she passed one to Harry, Ron, and Ginny.

"Why do we have so much of everything?" Ron asked with a mouth full of food and pieces flying out as her spoke. "I'm mean just look at this." He swallowed. "On Wednesday we have double Defense Against the Dark Arts classes, then a study period for an hour, then double Defense again."

"We're studying for our N.E.W.T.s Ron," Hermione reminded him.

"Yes, but it still seems like a lot. There's a whole day devoted to Potions. Do you know what that means Hermione?" he asked her as if the answer was obvious. "It means a whole day with Snape!" Hermione slapped Ron. "What was that for?" she nodded in Lily's direction. "Oh, sorry Lily."

"It's okay. You don't have to like him. He's your Professor," she told him.

"Lily, here's your schedule," said Paris from the opposite side of the table. "It looks like we both have Occulmency with Gryffindor and Muggle Studies with Slytherin today."

"People from Slytherin actually take Muggle studies?" Ron asked shocked.

"Yeah, they have to. Some couriers require a N. E. W. T. in Muggle Studies," she told him.

"What courier would that be?" he asked her.

"Well, your dad's, Improper Use of Magic, and Underage Wizardry officials because they have to deal with Muggle borns a lot, but most of the Slytherins there are only there because they have to fill their schedules and all the other classes were already filled."

"Oh, which one is that for you two then?" he asked Lily and Paris.

"I have to fill my schedule, and I thought that Muggle Studies would be the easiest to get into and rather fascinating," Paris answered him.

"And you?" he asked Lily.

"I need to fill my schedule," she answered him. "I must admit I'm a little nervous about it. I don't know a thing about Muggles, besides the fact that the windows to the bedrooms are very small," she said rubbing her head.

"Well, whatever you need to know you can always ask me or Hermione. We were raised by Muggles," Harry told her.

"Good, I wouldn't want to get a bad grade even if it is a class to just fill my schedule."

"Lily, would you like Emily, Justin, and I to wait for you after breakfast to head to class?" Paris asked her.

"Wait, did you go to see Madam Pomfrey yet?" Harry asked Lily.

"No, I thought I would go before class."

"I could go with you and then show you where the Occulmency classroom is before I go to Charms," he suggested.

"Alright, that sounds good to me," she said happily.

"Why do you have to go to see Madam Pomfrey? Are you sick?" Paris asked her.

"No, I think I pulled a muscle when I threw that Slytherin git into the wall," she told her.

"Oh, alright then, I'll see you later."

"Alright, bye."

"Bye," Paris said before returning to the Hufflepuff table.

"So, you're not going to tell anyone about your empathy?" Ginny inquired

"Not yet. When I get to know everyone a bit, then I'll tell them, but I just found myself, and I don't want anyone to think that I'm some sort of freak," she told her.

"You're not a freak," Harry told her insistently.

"I know, I know. I'm new, and I just don't want anyone to be at all apprehensive about getting to know me."

"Mail's here," Hermione announced as hundreds of owls flew in and delivered their mail to the recipients.

"Hello Hedwig," Harry greeted his snowy owl. He took the letters from her and gave her a piece of his

toast.

"Wow, you got a lot of mail for the first day of school," said Ginny as she helped Lily get all of the letters

from the five owls that were all trying to deliver theirs first.

"The only letters I've ever gotten were either letters from the Headmistress telling me that I did something wrong or from Uncle Severus." The owls flew off after they delivered their letters.

"Who are they all from?" Ginny asked curiously.

"This one's from Professor McGonagall, these are from my friends from France," she said as she looked at who each of them was from. "This one's from Madam Malkin."

"Pig, not here. Ron's over there," Harry said, pushing the small energetic owl over to Ron and taking his letter from Sirius and reading it.

Dumbledore told me of your good news. Quidditch Captain!!!!! That's wonderful, your father would be so proud of you, as I am. I'm sure you're glad to be back at school, and it's good to hear that you and Lily are getting on well.

Have fun Harry,

Snuffles

"What'd Snuffles want?" Ron asked.

"He just wanted to congratulate me on become Gryffindor Quidditch Captain," he answered him.

"Fred and George want me to work for them again over the Christmas holiday," said Ron after reading his letter.

"Christmas isn't for another three months, and they're already asking you to work for them?" Harry asked him.

"Yeah, well they say they want to get it out of the way, but really it's that they can't wait to order me around again. I think they enjoyed it a little too much over the holiday," Ron told him.

"Here's another one to add to the pile. It's from Snuffles," said Harry, handing here the letter.

"Who's Snuffles?" she asked him.

"Sirius," he whispered in her ear. "He sent it along with mine."

"He's says he hopes that I'm enjoying myself and that he's glad that he doesn't have to worry about any

"Yeah, I'm done. Let's go," he told her happily.

"Lily, come here for a second, will you?" Katie called over to her.

"Go on, I'll come over in a minute," Harry told her. Lily left for the Hufflepuff table, and Harry went over to Hermione. "Hey, Hermione, where the Occulmency classroom?"

"Honestly Harry, this is your sixth year at Hogwarts, and you still don't know your way around?" Hermione teased.

"Why don't you just go and get the map, mate?" Ron asked.

"I don't think I have time," he said trying to hurry things along.

"Go to the East Tower, and when you get to the stairs to climb up to the Astronomy Tower, instead of climbing up the stairs, turn left and walk down the corridor until - you know what, why don't Ron and I meet you at the stairs to the Astronomy Tower and we can all walk together from there?" she asked him.

"That would work," he said smiling at her. "Thanks Hermione, you're the best," he said and then leaned down and kissed her on the cheek.

"Harry, step away from the girlfriend," Ron said in mock anger.

"You're just jealous that I've kissed her before you did," Harry teased.

"You never kissed Hermione!" Ron insisted.

"Think whatever makes you comfortable Ron," Harry said as Ron's face went from a joking smile to a

scowl.

"Hermione?" he said worriedly.

"Ron, Harry's never done more than a peck on the cheek," she assured him, though she was enjoying Harry making Ron squirm.

"Oh go on to your own girlfriend, you stupid git and leave me and mine be," said Ron sounding annoyed.

"Yes, a peck on the cheek, but it's still more than you ever did until recently," he teased and ducked away from the piece of toast that Ron threw at him. "I'll see you guys later," he told them before heading over to the Hufflepuff table.

"Hey Harry, what you doing over there kissing Hermione?" Ernie asked him jokingly.

"I just thanked her for something," he told him.

"Are you going to start the DA again this year? Merlin knows we could use it. From the looks of it, we did the best out of the whole school on our Defense Against the Dark Arts O.W.L.S."

"Yeah, and we have permission this time."

"It's good to have Dumbledore back," Paris added. "I'd like to join the DA this year if you don't mind, Harry."

"No, not at all. Anyone can join, so long as they want to."

"We should get going so that we aren't late for class. I'll see you guys later," Lily said to them before leaving the Great Hall hand in hand with Harry.

~ ~ ~

"Welcome back to Potions sixth years. Now that you have had the summer holiday to frolic about doing absolutely nothing mind stimulating, leaving your brain to rot, you can now get back to work," said Snape after his N.E.W.T. class filled in and took their seats on the first day of school. "You have all surprisingly enough managed to receive an Outstanding on your O.W.L.S because you are in this class. If you managed that, then I'm sure a few of you can manage to pass my N.E.W.T.S class."

"Well isn't he a little ray of sunshine," Ron whispered to Hermione who smiled back at him.

"Mr. Weasley, I'm not quite sure what it is exactly that you think this is, but I assure you that it is most defiantly not a dating service, this is a Potions classroom! Five points from Gryffindor. Switch seats with the transfer student, now," he spat at Ron and looked at a book that was on his desk. "Yes, Ms. Black is it?" he asked Lily after she sat down next to Hermione, leaving Harry in front of her next to Ron.

"Yes, sir, it is," she confirmed.

He took a piece of paper off his desk and walked over to her. "As I am your new teacher, I have no idea what-so-ever of what you are capable of, besides the fact that you received an Outstanding on your O.W.L.S, you will need to prove to me that you are capable of handling this class."

"Yes, Professor."

"Here is a list of the essays that I would like you to do. They are all to be handed in to me buy next week. Do you understand?" he asked her condescendingly.

"Yes, sir." Harry was reminded of their conversation that they had in the kitchen, except this time neither of them showed any emotion.

"Good," he said and then turned around and started to walk back to his desk. "The ingredients for the potion you are going to make are on the board - he pointed his wand at the board and the ingredients appeared - when you're finished, I would like you to write an essay on what the potion is called and the effects it has upon drinking it. Get started now."

Before Snape sat down there was a nock on the door, he walked over to it, and opened it.

"Yes?" he snarled.

"Hello Severus, I was wondering if I might have a quick word with our new transfer student, Ms. Black?" Professor Sprout asked excitedly.

"Yes, of course," he said and turned around. "Ms. Black, Professor Sprout would like a word."

Lily got up and walked out into the hall with Professor Sprout. She returned with a big smile on her face. Harry looked at her questionably.

"Mr. Potter, I understand that you're a teenage boy with raging hormones, but I trust that you will pay more attention to your assignment than to a pretty girl. As I said to Mr. Weasley, this is not a dating service, this is a Potions classroom. Any objections and you can leave this class permanently," Professor Snape seethed.

"Five more point from Gryffindor."

Harry glared at him with hatred until Ron nudged him with his elbow and they tried to focus on the task at hand.

~ ~ ~

"That was a great day," said Ron, his words dripping with a mixture of sarcasm and anger. "I can't believe that we have Double Potions almost everyday this week."

"How did you two know what that potion was?" Harry asked Hermione and Lily.

"If you've forgotten already, Professor Snape raised me. I've making potions since before I can remember," Lily told him.

"And Hermione knows everything," Ron added.

"You would have known too Ron, if you had paid half attention in class last year. It was one of the last potions we made before taking our O.W.L.S," Hermione reminded him.

"And we're supposed to remember that?" Ron asked.

"You should," Hermione insisted.

"I have an idea. How about you remember it, and then when I need to know it, you remind me?"

"Your impossible, Ron," she rolled her eyes at him before he put his arm around her.

"Alright, so I talked Professor Sprout this morning before I came down for breakfast. She wanted to know

"Really? Cool!" Ron said excitedly.

"Sure, do you want to head out now?" Harry asked her.

"Yeah, I just need to go and find Emily and Katie to see if they want to come. Why don't you go and get your brooms and find Ginny and ask her if she wants to play, and I'll meet you guys at the pitch in a few minutes?" she asked them.

"Can you find your way alright?" Harry asked her.

"I can find my way to Hufflepuff tower, and then Emily and Katie can show me how to get to the Quidditch pitch."

"Alright, we'll see you in a little while then," said Ron, and then they went their different ways.

~ ~ ~

"I hope you don't mind, but we brought some more people with us," Harry told her when they all got there.

"Good, it looks like we can play an actual game," said Lily as she put on her Quidditch gear. "So direct us captain."

"Harry, I think we have enough to go Hufflepuff against Gryffindor if we split up the two Ravenclaws," Ron said while counting everyone up.

"Aw, now none of that. This is just for fun, right?" Lily asked him.

"Yeah," he replied dumbfounded.

"Well then, let just split up as Quidditch players and not houses," she suggested.

"Alright then, let's split up so that we can see who we have here, since there seems to be new players. Chasers over here, beaters stand over there, keepers stand there, and seekers right here," he directed them into their sections. "It doesn't come out even, we need another chaser, there are only thirteen."

"Hey Hermione, want to play?" Rom asked playfully and put his arms around her.

"I'll be the referee thank you very much, Ronald," she teased back.

"How about Denise, Harry?" Colin suggested. "He's never played on a team before."

"Sure, can you go and get him?" Harry asked him.

"Yeah, sure, he'll be very excited," Colin said before dashing off the Quidditch field.

"So, Justin, you and I are Seekers, so we can pick our teams," Harry told him. "Start with beaters and keepers."

"Alright, I pick Finnigan."

"McClain," Harry said looking at one of Lily's friends.

"I'll go with Colin, when he gets back." Justin told Harry.

"Alright. Tarone." Lily's new friend Emily skipped happily to Harry

"Patil as Keeper." Parvati ran over to Seamus and jumped in his arm excitedly.

"Well, I guess that makes me stuck with Weasley," Harry said mocking complaint.

"Well, I guess so. Now pick the rest of our team you stupid git," Ron yelled at him with a grin on his face,

"That's the second time today that you've called me that," Harry complained.

"What can I say, I'm an honest man."

"Thomas as Chaser," Justin announced. Dean kissed his Ginny on the cheek and joined his teammates.

"Very good choice mate. If you would have chosen Lily, I think that Harry here just might have killed you," Dean told him making everyone laugh.

"Black," Harry said smiling at her, she smiled back at him, kiss him on the cheek, and joined her team.

"Weasley."

"You see, there was no reason to kiss me goodbye," she told Dean when she reached him.

"Bell," said Harry and Katie walked over next to Ron.

"Patil." Padma smiled and blushed brightly as she passed Justin.

"And I'll take Denis when he gets back," Harry told him.

"Okay let's get the balls then," Justin suggested.

"Alright, we'll be right back," Harry told them all and left with Justin to get the Quidditch balls.

"Hey Harry, do you think Padma might like me?" Justin asked him.

"I dunno, why don't you ask her?" he suggested.

"I don't know if I'd ever be able to get up the nerve to do that. How'd you tell Lily?" he asked.

"I didn't. Well, not really. She kind of told me that I liked her actually. She already knew," Harry told him.

"I wish Padma would do that," Justin sighed.

~ ~ ~

"Parvati, let him get one in just once. You can at least give him that," Katie Bell pleaded with Parvati. "I mean just look at the poor bloke."

"Did you see that Colin? I had the Quaffle for a long time before Ginny got it from me. Did you see that Colin?" Parvati and Katie watched Denis Creevey excitedly tell his older brother.

"Alright," she agreed. "Tell the other Chasers. We'll make it look he did it on his own, but when he dies of shock when he actually scores, don't yell at me for letting him."

Katie thanked her and flew over to Lily.

"Lily, get the Quaffle to Denis," Katie told her before Ginny flew over to them.

"I know we're playing with some amazingly good-looking chaps here ladies, but we are trying to play a game of Quidditch here," she said sternly, reminding them a little too much of Professor McGonagall as a wide grin spread across her face. "Now, who are we talking about?"

"Parvati's going to let Denis make a goal," Katie told her.

"He does seem a little pathetic out there, doesn't he?" she asked. They all looked at Denis.

"Harry, Harry, did you see that, Harry? I got hit in the arm with a bludger, just like you in second year, only

my arm didn't break!"

"That's great Colin, really great," Harry humored him and continued to look for the snitch.

"Alright, well let's clear the way then shall we?" Ginny said readily.

"You're not even on our team," Lily reminded her.

"Desperate times call for desperate measures. "Are you feeling alright, Lily?" Ginny asked her, concernedly.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I think it's just the rain. It's gotten pretty hard. It's just making me a little tired I guess," she assured her.

"Alright, let's go then," she said before flying off.

"Yes, another goal!" Justin yelled excitedly.

"Damn, that's not fair," Harry complained.

"Harry, it's Quidditch, when you make a goal, you get a point."

"Yeah, but two of my chasers are God knows where, and I think my other one has a concussion," Harry

pointed out.

"They're back, see Lily's got the Quaffle," Justin showed him.

"Denis, go down to the ground as close as you can, near the middle goal post, then fly straight up into the air. Parvati will think that I'm going to make the goal and she won't see you coming, so I'll throw the Quaffle down to you, and you can make the goal, alright?" Katie asked Denis.

"Will do, you can count on me," he said and then saluted her, lost his balance on his broom, and almost fell off it. "Wow, that was a close one."

"Yeah, now go," she told him and they both flew off.

After Lily scored a goal, Ginny flew behind the goal post and grabbed the Quaffle. She passed it to Dean and as he passed it to Padma Lily intercepted it and flew back toward Parvati. She spun around quickly and threw it to Katie. Katie flew to the left goal post, stopped, and threw it straight down to Denis, who caught it, flew in behind Parvati, and threw it into the middle goal post. Everyone stopped flying and looked at him in amazement.

"Did you let him do that?" Katie asked Parvati.

"No, I didn't even know where he was," she said, still shocked.

"He must do better under instructions," Ginny added.

"Wow, great job Denis. That was brilliant!" Harry yelled to him happily.

"Thank you, Harry. I - "

"Sorry, Denis, the snitch calls," he said before flying off after the snitch. Justin followed him closely,

leaving the excited Creevey brothers below.

Justin was following Harry so closely, Harry didn't know if he was going to be able to catch the snitch or not. He sped up quickly, spun around, upside-down, reached up - his legs tightly rapped around his broom and his left hand holding tightly onto it's handle - and grabbed the small, struggling, golden snitch, in his hand. Relieved that he had caught it, he spun back around, and flew to his cheering teammates.

"Way to go Harry!" Lily told him, smiling brightly.

"That was amazing Harry, I would have never of thought to do that!" Justin said excitedly.

A loud thunder roared from above them.

"Just in the nick of time really. The weather's getting pretty bad!" he sad before they all flew to the ground.

When they went into the castle, everyone went their separate ways.

"Are you feeling ill, Lily?" Harry asked her worriedly.

"I'm just a little tired, but really I'm fine. No need to worry," she assured him. "Now how about a tour around the castle?"

"Sure," he said, taking her hand and leading her down the corridor.

They walked around the castle for hours and talked about everything and nothing. Harry was reminded of the times they spent together at Black Manor.

"Are you sure that you'll be alright?" Harry asked her again as they stood in front of a large portrait of a very lovely woman with long brown hair, riding a unicorn.

"Yes, I'll be fine I just need a bit of sleep, that's all," she assured him for the second time that evening.

"Are you sure you don't want me to stay with you a while longer?" he asked her.

"Well, actually - "

"Mr. Potter, Ms. Black, what are you doing walking around the corridors at this late hour?" Professor Snape spat at them, to Harry it seemed at if he came out of nowhere.

"Nothing sir. I was just walking Lily to Hufflepuff tower," he said innocently.

"Curfew is in five minutes Potter. It will take you a lot longer than that to get back to Gryffindor Tower. Would you like me to give you your detention now of then?" Snape seethed.

"Uncle Severus, I wasn't fee - "

"It's Professor Snape, Ms. Black!" he demanded.

"Sorry Professor, but it's my fault. Harry was just showing me around the school, and I don't feel very well, so I asked him to walk me to the Hufflepuff Tower," she explained to him, the whole time looking at the floor.

"If you are ill, Ms. Black, you need to go to the hospital wing. The fact that Mr. Potter kept you out too late is not my problem, but upholding school rules is," he said glaring down at her. "Goodnight, Ms. Black!"

"Yes Professor, Goodnight. Goodnight Harry," she said still looking down.

She quickly turned around, muttered the password, and disappeared behind the portrait without looking at anyone.

"Come with me Mr. Potter," Snape said glowering at him.

Harry followed him down to his office. Taking one long stride after the other. Normally, he would have noticed how fast he was going, but right now he was too angry with Snape to notice anything. He had never seen anyone treat Lily so harshly or seen her cower and become so scared so easily. Sure Snape can make just about anyone break out into tears, but Lily was different. She was brave and kind, and no one should be able to hurt her in any way, physically or emotionally. When they got to Snape's office, Snape paused, waiting for Harry to enter first. When he did, Snape slammed the door behind him.

"Listen to me Potter, and listen to me well," he warned him. Harry had only seen Snape this angry once before and that was when he caught Harry watching his memories in Dumbledore's Pensieve. "Stay - away - from - Lily!"

"And why would I do that?" Harry asked him, his voice matching the tone of pure hatred that Snape was using.

"Because she deserves better than that!"

"She deserves to make up her own mind!"

"She deserves to live a happy life without danger and death!"

"Like the life you gave her? I can see how happy that made her. Locking her up and throwing away the key!" Harry could feel all of his anger toward Snape coming out right now.

"I was protecting her!" Snape spat.

"YOU WERE PROTECTING YOURSELF!!!

"YES, I WAS AFRAID. I WAS AFRAID THAT VOLDEMORT WOULD COME BACK, FIND OUT ABOUT HER, AND USE HER THE WAY HE WAS GOING TO IN THE FIRST PLACE!!" Snape yelled.

"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?" Harry shouted.

"IT IS NONE OF YOUR CONCERN POTTER!!" Snape shouted back. "NOW GET OUT OF MY OFFICE, NOW!!"

Harry felt his anger rage through him as if he were a time bomb ready to explode. He turned around and walked to the door.

"And by the way Mr. Potter." Harry stopped at the door without turning around. "You're out past curfew. Twenty points will be taken from Gryffindor, and you will receive two weeks of detentions."

Harry stormed out of the classroom, slamming the door behind him.

'Stay away from her? Stay away from her? What right does her think he has to tell me to stay away from her?"

He was at the portrait hole of Gryffindor Tower within minutes, without realizing that he had even gone that far. Before he could give the Fat Lady the password, the portrait swung open.

"Oh, there you are, Harry. We've been looking for you," Professor Dumbledore told him simply. Harry was so angry he didn't want to deal with Dumbledore because it probably had something to do with the Order or Voldemort. That's all anyone ever wanted from him anymore anyway. Forget letting him be happy for once.

"It's about Lily." Harry forgot about his anger and looked up at Dumbledore as his heart sank to the floor.

"What's happened? Where is she? Is she alright?" he said worriedly without taking a breath. "I knew I shouldn't have left her. I could tell that there was something wrong. So what is?" he spat impatiently. "Oh, I'm so sorry Professor I didn't mean to -"

"Harry, Harry, calm down," he said while putting a hand up to get Harry to stop talking. "Come with me. I'll explain on the way."

Dumbledore walked past Harry, and he rushed to quickly catch up to him. It was a lot harder for him to keep up with Dumbledore than it was for him to keep up with Snape. Right now he just felt like crawling up in the corner and slamming his head into the wall. He felt so stupid for being so preoccupied with his anger for Snape, when he should have gone to Madam Pomfrey and made her go and see Lily.

"Professor, what's happened?" Harry said breaking the silence.

"It's amazing the effect the weather has on us, isn't it Harry?" Harry was getting very impatient. He wanted to know what was going on with Lily, not talk about the weather. "On sunny days, it feels as if our heart has been lifted, and there are no cares in the world. Have you ever noticed how during the day, you're never frightened that something will hurt you or come out and attack you? It's almost as if there's an invisible boundary separating safety and insecurity, for when the skies go dark, the heart grows heavier and weaker."

"Sir, what does this have to do with Lily?" Harry asked impatiently.

"Lily is an Empath, Harry. She feels the feelings that everyone around her embraces. Even if she takes her potion, these emotions weaken her. She is usually strong enough to handle it. However, on dark stormy nights like these, her emotions wheeled her mind into her worst fears, and she cannot awaken herself from them until she feels safe," Dumbledore explained to him.

"Yes, but sir, what can I do?" Harry asked him helplessly.

"The same thing happened to her mother. She would spend countless nights in the hospital wing under Madam Pomfrey's watchful eye, and then up to a week in the hospital recovering from the trauma. One year it just stopped or so I had thought. In reality, it hadn't stopped, in fact it had gotten much worse, but she found a way to make herself feel safe."

"And what was that, Professor?"

"Sirius," Dumbledore paused for a moment, and then continued to explain. "I didn't find out about this until recently. Sirius warned me that we might have to keep an eye on her, and he told me everything. He would hold her in his arms, and she would feel instantly protected and safe. She would be perfectly fine. I'll warn you now Harry, she's in an atrocious state right now. Magical harmony," he said when they reached the portrait hole, and it swung open.

"But Professor, what if I can't help her? How do you know that I'm the one who makes her feel safe?" Harry asked, feeling very venerable.

"Because she's calling for you," he said with a wink.

"Profess, wait. We can't walk up those stairs," Harry warned him, remember all to well about the time when he and Ron tried to go up to the girls dormitories to find Hermione.

"I took care of it the last time in was in here. It's safe," he reassured him.

They walked into the sixth year girls' dormitories. Harry saw Lily sitting up in her bed hugging her knees close to her, but she wasn't awake.

"Harry? Harry, where are you?" Lily cried. "Harry, I'm so scared, please find me!" She fell to the ground sobbing into her hands.

Without thinking Harry ran over to her and picked her off of the floor. She instantly stopped crying and laid motionless in his arms. She was as cold as ice, and was so pale that it looked as if she were dying. Her body was drenched in sweat, and even though her eyes were closed, Harry could tell that they were swollen because even her eyelids were bright red.

Madam Pomfrey rushed over and pulled back the blankets on her bed. Harry tried to gently place her in bed, but without waking up she clung to him as if she was an inch from death and he was the only thing keeping her from harm.

"You can stay here with her for the night Harry," Dumbledore told him in a whisper. "Professor Sprout has already told her fellow housemates that she's an Empath. I imagine that they are still quite worried about her. I'm going to go and let them know that you will be staying here with her for the night. Goodnight, Harry, sleep well."

"Harry dear, when she wakes up, have her drink every last bit of her potion. It's on the table there next to her bed," Madam Pomfrey told him apprehensively.

"Come, Poppy. They need their rest," Dumbledore told her, and they both left the dormitory.

Harry slipped of his shoes and laid down on the bed with her still clinging to his chest. He kept one arm around her, and used his other arm to pull the blankets up around them. He laid there, holding her in his arms tightly hoping that he would never have to let go.

A few minutes later, the door opened and the sixth year girls came in. They were all already in their night things, and all looked as if they had been crying. They looked over at Lily sympathetically.

"She's going to be fine," Harry assured them in a hushed voice.

"We know, Professor Dumbledore told us." Paris snuffled.

"Is there anything that we can do?" Emily asked him.

"No, she just needs her rest. She'll be fine in the morning," he told her.

"Do you need anything?" Hannah asked him.

"No, thank you."

"Alright, goodnight, Harry," Katie said tearfully, trying to put a smile on her face.

"Goodnight."

They all climbed into bed, and with a wave of Katie's wand, the room went dark. Harry took off his glasses, and put them on the bedside table next to Lily's potion and held her tightly as he drifted off to sleep.

"Harry?" Lily called when she woke up a few hours later.

"I'm right here, darling, no need to fret," he whispered to her. "You need to sit up and drink this."

He helped her sit up, reached for the goblet on the bedside table, and gave it to her. She drank it down quickly and gave it back to him. After he put it back on the table, they laid back down on the bed. Lily buried her head into his chest, and then looked up at him.

"Thank you," she said softly.

"You're welcome," he replied simply. "Lily?"

"Yes?"

"I - I love you, Lily. With all of my heart," told her sincerely.

"I love you too Harry," she told him as tears streamed down her face.

She put her head back down on his chest and fell asleep. Harry smiled to himself, and he held her tightly.

Recalling the day's events, it was amazing to think that just a few moments ago he was in Snape's office listening to Snape tell him that he needed to stay away from Lily, and now he was holding her as she slept.

She needed him. She was in harms way, and no could protect her but him. No one else needed to protect her.

She loved him and he loved her. He could hold her in his arms forever and never let go. It was all up to him to protect His Lily.