This is Part II. Enjoy!

PS: Thanks for the reviews, guys! By the way, LaBOBuran, James was a Chaser (J.K. Rowling mentioned it in an interview that is posted on the Internet; if you want the link, you can email me). The movie was incorrect.

CHANGED: Part II

It was Christmas Eve, nearly four months since the death of James' brother. Sirius had come up to Lily earlier, asking her to talk to James: he wouldn't listen to any of his friends.

So here she was now, standing at the bottom of the staircase that led to the Head Boy and Girl's private common room. James was sitting on the couch, staring into the bright fire in the fireplace.

Lily wondered for a fleeting moment why James wasn't at home with his parents, but then figured that it was too hard for him. Lily hadn't gone home for Christmas her first year because of her sister, who had begun to hate her.

She took a deep breath, stepping into the room. James didn't notice. "Pot– James?" she asked, correcting herself mid-word.

James looked up, looking tired and older than seventeen. Lily suppressed a shiver at the haunted look in his eyes. Those hazel eyes had once sparkled with mischief and joy, no worry in them at all. Now they were just... dead.

"Oh. Hey," he replied quietly, turning back to the fire. Lily sighed, walking over to where he was sitting, and sitting next to him. James looked slightly surprised, but a indifferent mask overtook his face and he avoided Lily's eyes.

"James?" she said again. "Er... I'm sorry about what happened."

"What do you have to be sorry for? You didn't kill him," James murmured, not looking at her.

"I know," she said, "but I'm still sorry. I can't imagine how you feel. But James–" She paused, and James turned towards her. "James, you have to keep living! Your brother wouldn't want to see you like this. You aren't yourself anymore!"

"I can't be myself!" James suddenly burst out. "Mike shouldn't have died, Lily! He was supposed to come to Hogwarts! He was supposed to be in first year! Why should I have a life at Hogwarts if he can't?" He turned away hurriedly, trying to hide the tears beginning to drip down his face.

"Because he would want you to live, James," she whispered, realizing that she had tears running down her face as well. "He wouldn't want you moping over him. He loved you."

James turned to face her again, and Lily wiped the tears off his face. "C'mon," she coaxed. "Sirius said they're having a Christmas celebration in the Gryffindor common room. He wants us to come."

James looked away. "I dunno..." he said uncertainly, and Lily wrapped her arm around his shoulder, squeezing it reassuringly.

"Whenever you're ready, James," she whispered, standing up. She did something James wasn't expecting: she hugged him.

Just as she turned to leave, James stood up. "I think I'm ready," he said quietly. "I think I'm ready to live."

Lily smiled, took his hand, and led him out of the Head's common room.

Fin