There's going to be a lot of snot, stuffed noses, and blotchy faces after this. Crying is such an exhausting business, and it's even worse in Harry's arms because she'd been stretched so thin within the last few hours. Dying, James, Sirius. So much worrying and fretting about Harry. Blaming herself for not protecting him. It almost seems wrong that she should be allowed to hug him right now.

"Sirius was right," she says with a shaky laugh, leaning back to drag her thumb along his cheek to swipe away some tears. Lily looks at him now as if this is her only chance to. It might very well be. "You are perfect."