Lullaby by blue_moony (PG-13)

[musesfool.livejournal.com]

Fandom: HARRY POTTER
Pairing: James/Lily
Author on LJ: blue_moony
Author Website: blue_moony
Why this must be read:

An absolutely stunning, breathtaking Lily story. I mean breathtaking literally. I don't think I breathed through the whole thing. Lily faces death and new life and a war that's closing in -- everything seems to be moving too fast, and she can't quite catch up, can't quite get control. James tries but there are some things he can't understand, but Lily finds in herself the strength to deal.

A quote:

It’s morning, and the toilet won’t flush. Outside November lingers a dirty, forgotten child, late and dribbling cold - wet where there should be snow, and white. The patches of mud play false, shifting time capsules to life, and even the trees seem to twist from the air. There’s a sickness on it, a sickness near it, and Lily is sick, so sick, and the toilet won’t flush so she can smell it, the acrid taint, a confession not to be denied and - oh James, James, I hate you, she thinks, desperately, and not today, please, not like this she thinks, too. Outside their footprints haven’t quite faded – supper last night, you know, and dear, dear Lily, we’re going to see your sister next week, won’t you join us? Waving from the driveway in that automobile James so admires, and Lily on the porch with her hand to the banister, just smiling as she sees them off. Crescents of fingernail in the white paint this morning, after the owl flew in with unwanted word.

James will be home soon from the Ministry, where he’s taking care of arrangements already, and he’ll see Lily here, kneeling between tub and radiator, or he’ll smell this, the sickness, and he’ll think he knows why she aches and aches, and she’ll only be able to heave wet breaths against him, shaking in his arms as he says I know, Lily, I know and tries to sooth the hurt with hand and heart. But he won’t know - not today, please, not like this - and so she sets the lid down, folding her arms overtop, burying head against cool porcelain. Her knees are going numb against the ceramic floor tiles, and she starts to cry.

This fic is exquisite, painful, beautiful and true.

Lullaby by blue_moony