The students of Hogwarts ran around the grounds, girls screaming about their hair and ducking for shelter, the boys stomping about in puddles and being subject to Filch's wrath for spreading their mud aroung his nice clean castle. The rain was falling thick and fast and quickly drenching all in its path. James was staring out of the library window, his head in his hands, watching Lily walking through the grounds, she wasn't squealing or screeching like the other girls, nor running for shelter, in fact, she appeared to be enjoying it, and yes, James saw it with his own eyes, that was unmistakeably an impromptu twirl! James learnt more and more about this girl everyday, all of which fascinating in his opinion, from her favourite song to what colour socks she was wearing that day - grey, but that's not important. One of these days, James vowed, I'm going to tell this girl just how fascinating she is, he imagined she'd like that, she likes all things fascinating.

Where Lily going anyway? She'd walked right past Hagrid's hut, past the lake and straight to the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest. Whoa, Lily Evans? Doing something FORBIDDEN? James had to investigate this new occurence, after all, he was a prefect, plus the forest is dangerous, what kind of gentleman would he be, letting her waltz into the forest unescorted? A terrible one, that's for sure. James leapt up from his seat by the window, with perhaps a bit too much vigour, earning him a glare from Madam Pince. He stopped at the table at which his fellow Marauders were seated, two of which, bored from studying, had fallen asleep.

'Moony, when Pads and Wormtail wake up, tell them I've gone investigating something.'

'Investigating WHAT exactly?' Moony raised his eyebrows.

'Nothing important.'

'You want to take my umbrella?'

'Nahh, thanks though.' James wasn't going to take an umbrella, If Lily went without one that

what sort of light would it put him in? Or, he could offer it to her, like a gentleman, then she'd love him for sure, women love gentlemen!

'On second thoughts, why not? Thanks again Moony' James called the last part whilst sprinting from the library. Meanwhile, Madam Pince was yelling at him for running in the library, and several Ravenclaws' were shooting death glares at his departing back.

'LILY! Lils! I brought you a- WHOA is that a rope swing? That's so cool!'

Lily jumped and swerved around. 'Huh? Oh it's just you Potter, don't sneak up on me like that! I thought you were McGonagall.'

'Aw c'mon, even if I WAS McGonagall, she'd let you off lightly, she practically loves you.'

'I think you'll find it's YOU she loves Potter, You're best at Transfiguration, and as much as she hates the stupid pranks you and your friends play on the Slytherin's, she always lets you off lightly.'

'Nonsense, I've had more detentions than anyone in school.'

'That's because she doesn't want to show favouritism, it's obvious she loves you though.'

'Can't blame her' James grinned. To his surprise Lily actually laughed at one of his jokes, for the first time in the history of forever.

'So when did you set up this swing?' James asked, curiosity evident in his tone of voice.

'A few hours after the Levicorpus incident, when Severus called me a - I don't want to say it.'

'You can call him Snivellus like the rest of us, Lils, he deserves it more than anybody.'

'I'm not going to stoop to that level.'

'thanks..' muttered James, not quite meeting Lily's eyes.

'Sorry, but it's just not what I'd do.'

'So, why did you set up this swing here anyway?'

'I would come out here and read when I was upset, and I thought putting a swing up would be fun, I used to love swings, well, I used to love jumping OFF of swings, it made me feel free.' She never thought she'd tell that to anybody, why was James Potter making her spill all her secrets?

'Did you come out here today because you were upset?'

'No, just to read.'

'... Then where's your book?'

Urgh! Lily thought, how could she forget the book, sometimes she was so stupid.

'I.. came out here to think.'

'Penny for your thoughts?'

'I think I like someone, but I can't tell them, not yet anyway.'

Why was she telling him all of this? One look into those hazel eyes and she was putty in his hands. Lily hit herself mentally.

Meanwhile James was gutted, his heart sank and his next few words were barely audible, Lily had to strain to hear them.

'I know how you feel' James said, staring out onto the lake, having just sat on the floor near Lily's feet.

Lily looked down at her hands clasped in her lap and dropped them by her sides, still sitting on the swing.

James took her hand

'It's okay Lils, soon the day will come when you can tell him, and he'd be the luckiest man alive,

no-one could refuse, not unless he's mentally deficient, or she, I'm not prejudice.' He said, giving her hand a gentle

squeeze and smiling, actually SMILING not smirking for once, he had a really nice smile Lily thought to herself.

Lily's heart skipped a beat and she almost forgot how to breathe, how could James Potter make her feel this way.

Maybe he'd changed?'

'Wanna push?'

'Go on then' Lily giggled.

James was surprisingly strong and pushed Lily on the swing so high that the tips of her shoes brushed the leaves on the tree Lily had attached the swing to, by magic of course, climbing was something Lily was not going to attempt in a skirt. Ever. James then climbed onto the back of the swing, with his feet either side of the rope.

'This was actually an amazing idea Lily.'

'Please don't tell anyone it's here, James.'

'You have my word as a Marauder. You know Lils, you can call me Prongs, that's what the other three do.'

'Why do they call you Prongs?'

'uhh..' C'mon James! think of an excuse! James' brain practically screamed at him. 'Because my patronus is a stag, you know, antlers?' James said with his hands raised to his head in a pathetic attempt at antlers, before stopping himself from falling backwards, letting go of the swing was a bad idea.

After about an hour of swinging and talking about whatever came their minds (Lily was amazed by the lack of awkward silences), James checked his watch and leapt of the swing.

'It's six o'clock! How can it be six o'clock? The others will be wondering where I am, I've gotta run Lils, it was nice hanging out this afternoon.'

It WAS nice, Lily thought, Nicer than she thought it would be. It wasn't until James had sprinted off in the direction of the castle that Lily realised he'd left his umbrella behind.

'James! Your umbrella!' Lily shouted,

'Keep it!'

Lily was grateful for the umbrella, as the rain came rushing down, almost peeling off the label reading 'Property of Remus J Lupin'. Lily read it and chuckled, walking off towards the castle, all the while thinking of James.

At the feast that night, nobody could get a word through to James, he was staring into space, not touching anything on his plate, which was unlike him, he usually wolfed down his food without it even touching the sides of his mouth.

So James, where's my umbrella then?' Remus was met with a blank look, what HAD he done with Moony's umbrella? Oh yes, Lily had it. Ah Lily, and James was dead to the world again.

Remus turned to Sirius who was sat on his other side. 'Remind me never to lend him anything ever again.'