It was a windy spring day, and most of the students at Hogwarts were inside studying. Exams would be given in a month, and out of all of the young witches and wizards, the fifth and seventh years spent every possible moment reviewing material. Lily Evans was one of the exceptions. She sat alone by the Quidditch pitch reading her potions book, her red hair falling out of a long braid.

"Are you ready, Lily?"

She jumped at the voice behind her. "James," she said, playfully hitting him with her book. "We really shouldn't be out here. The NEWTs will be here in a month, and-"

"And it won't matter how we do on them because we're going to fight Voldemort," James interrupted. "Have you told McGonagall yet?"

Lily shook her head. "I'm afraid that she'll be a bit disappointed that I'm not setting a career path."

James laughed. "I think she knows that it would be hopeless for me and Sirius to settle down, so she shouldn't be too upset." They were now in the center of the pitch. "It's a good day for flying."

"It could be pouring rain and you'd think it was a good day to fly," Lily teased.

"Of course I would. When I'm up in the sky, I can relax, be free. There's nothing to worry about up there."

"Except falling off your broom."

"And that's why we're here today. You're not going to be afraid anymore by the time we go back to the castle."

"We'll see about that."

James slung his broom off his shoulder and mounted it. "Okay, Lils, get in front."

Lily stood in front of James, the broom between her legs. She was suddenly grateful that she wore jeans. James wrapped his arms around her waist. "When I say three, kick off. Ready?" She nodded. "One, two, three!"

Lily kicked off the ground and found herself in the air, traveling higher and higher. She steered left, and felt the wind shift around them. Laughter escaped her lips, and she felt the stress leave her shoulders. She felt James's lips against the back of her head. "I'm trying to stay focused on not crashing," she said.

"I'm not letting you crash my broom," James answered.

"Oh really?" Lily tipped the front of the broom down, and they soared to the ground.

"Lily!"

She laughed as she pulled the handle up with plenty of time to spare. "I'm not going to wreck your broom, Potter. Relax."

They zoomed around the pitch, soaring around the hoops at the ends of the field. The weather may have been damp, but Lily's spirits were too high to notice. James was right; flying let her be free. She felt empowered as she flew. The grounds looked beautiful too. Waves gently rolled against the lake, and the buds on the Willow swayed in the wind.

The weather soon turned colder, and the sky began to darken. Even though James was holding her close, Lily felt goosebumps form on her skin.

"James, can we head inside?"

"Yeah, just gently land."

The ground was soon under Lily's feet, and she dismounted the broom.

"Thank you," she said, taking James's hand.

"You're welcome," James answered, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. "Feeling better?"

Lily smiled. "Absolutely."