A thunder clap echoed around Hogwarts, making our class go silent. I was sitting in Transfiguration class next to Neil and his friends, and it was raining heavily outside.

Since last week, when we had gone to Hogsmeade together, my fame had grown even more. People stopped me wherever I was to congratulate me, and it made me feel good to be appreciated. It was a new sensation, but I knew I liked it.

My confidence had grown slightly too, now that I was hanging out with Neil. He made me realize that no matter what's wrong with you, you can always have friends. I was getting really fond of them, and they seemed to like me too.

Scorpius had barely even passed through my mind, and he was one of the only people who had not congratulated me. It didn't bother me much at first, but after I thought about it for awhile, it began to really haunt me. Did he not like my story? Had he even read it? Or was he just too busy with Rose to even read the paper anymore?

I sighed, propping my head up against my hands. As much as I liked Neil and his friends, I still missed him. Why does he mean so much to me? We were only friends for one semester!

Neil nudged my arm, and pointed up at McGonagle. I nodded, and continued taking notes. Class was almost over, but if I missed out on one little detail, I would be unable to complete my homework.

Class dragged on, but the rain made it more bearable. Rain always made things more bearable to me, though I am not sure why. I glanced over at Jake and Will, who were sitting in front of us, and stifled a laugh. They were having a whispered argument on whose paper airplane would fly better.

"Mine totally will!" Jake hissed, his voice coming out louder than he probably thought.

"No, mine has better wing traction," Will argued, his voice low. "Want to see?"

Neil shook his head, prodding Will in the back. "Wait till after class- McGonagle would be mad if she saw you playing with airplanes."

I nodded. "You could get detention," I added, my voice barely audible.

Will muttered something under his breath, and stuffed his creation into his bag as the bell rang. Weren't they too old to be playing with paper airplanes? I laughed quietly, putting my book into my own bag. I glanced over at the clock; 12 o'clock.

"Lets go to the grounds," I suggested.

Neil blinked in confusion. "Are you kidding? It's raining out there!"

I laughed. "No way!" Will exclaimed sarcastically, looking out the window. "We'd get wet... you really sure about this, Lily?"

I shrugged. "I could go alone- I like the rain." It was true; I had always loved walking in the rain since a young age.

Neil looked over at Jake and Will, seeing their scowls. "I'll go with you," he offered.

I grinned. "Really? That would be really nice of you." I'd love the company.

Neil smiled too, and waved at his friends. "We'll meet you in the Great Hall in half an hour or so." They nodded, and began to walk towards the Great Hall, Will throwing his airplane. It flew for a little bit, then fell with a crash. I couldn't help but smile as Will grumbled, and stuffed it in his bag as Jake roared with laughter.

We walked silently through the halls, smiling and saying 'hello's to people we knew. Most of them smiled and waved.

As we were reaching the door to outside, we saw that it was blocked by a group of sixths year girls, their eyes full of anger as they spied us.

I instantly felt intimidated. Why do they look like they hate me? I had never even seen them before, and they were glaring at me as if they wished I would drop dead.

Neil noticed their anger too, and he walked up to them, looking the leader in the eye. "We'd like to get by," he said in a strong voice.

I, the coward, stayed quiet. My hear was beating loudly and quickly, and my breathing was shallow.

The edges of the girl's lips curled into a smirk. "I don't think so," she said primly. "We never got to tell Lily how wonderful her story was yet."

I gulped. Their tone wasn't nice.

Neil glared at her. "Back off, Irene," he hissed, his voice full of anger.

Irene laughed out loud. "Oh I'm so scared! A puny little author, and her wimpy boyfriend!"

I glared at her. "He's not my boyfriend- and- and-" I couldn't express myself, and I felt my newly-born confidence go down the drain.

"And-and and!" Irene imitated, adding scared antics. I blushed, looking down at my feet.

Neil clenched his hands into fists. "Let us by, or you'll be sorry," he threatened. I didn't want him to fight. "Maybe we should go another way," I whispered to him. He shook his head. "No, Lily- you can't be pushed around by bullies." He sounded angry.

Irene took out her wand. "You want a fight?" she breathed. "I'll give you one."

Neil took out his own wand, and I bit my lip. "What do you want from us?" I asked Irene angrily, my voice quiet.

Irene smirked. "I want you to stop thinking you're so great because your stupid story won that contest." I blinked.

Neil raised an eyebrow. "You entered, did you, Brown?" he asked boldly. "And you're mad because your story didn't win?"

Irene blushed. "No!" she snapped. "I just.. didn't like her story."

"Suuuure," Neil smirked. "Well if that's all, you'll let us by."

Irene angrily pointed his wand at me. "No," she said simply.

No? I swallowed. Were they going to bully us?

Irene's friends were glaring at us, ready to fight if they needed to. Why did they care so much about me to be bullying us? "We just want to insult Lily's story a bit before we let you both go." Her smile widened. I shivered inwardly.

"It's not your place to do that..." My voice trailed off. "Does this mean so much to you that you're going to waste your time talking to us?" I tried to get them to let us go, though I had little hope it would work.

Irene shrugged. "What can I say- it's break time- I have nothing better to do." She took out a crumpled piece of newspaper, and cleared her throat. "`It was dark- the clouds covered to moon, casting a ghostly shadow over the forest'," she read mockingly. "Oh, how eery!" she sneered.

Neil attempted to grab the paper out of her hands, but she pulled it out of her grasp. "Just a second- I'm not done yet," she said slowly.

She held the paper in front of her again. "A lone girl sat in a small clearing, her hair billowing around in the wind... This is awful- how could it have won?"

I felt tears in my eyes. "Stop," I said suddenly, my voice quiet. "Please stop."

Neil snatched the paper from her and ripped it up, throwing it into Irene's face. "Now you can't read it," he hissed, his face inches from hers. "Now scram before I really hurt you." He was livid with anger.

Irene laughed out loud. "How scary!" she exclaimed in mock fear. "I'm frightened out of my skin." She smirked. "But I'll leave you for now, as Lily the coward is too scared for me to continue."

I glared at her. "I'm not a coward!" I snapped, my temper rising. "I'm-"

"-a scaredy-cat? Like that's a step up?" Irene flipped her hair, and nodded at her friends. They departed, leaving me there with Neil, me shaking with anger.

Neil touched my arm lightly. "Lily- are you okay?" he whispered, seeing my tears.

I nodded. "I'm fine." My voice shook, and without another word, I walked out of the castle, into the rain. I cried softly, glad that the rain was masking my tears.

Neil followed me, his eyes full of worry. "Lily- you didn't actually get offended by those trolls, did you?"

Offended? They had broken my spirit. I shook my head, looking up at him, my face stained with tears. "No," I whispered.

He sighed, and hugged me. I sobbed into my chest. "Their opinion isn't important," he whispered into my hair. I shivered at our closeness, but my tears continued to fall.

We were drenched, but I didn't mind. My hair was dripping with rain water, and he patted my back. "You don't always have to listen to what people say, Lily," he said quietly, pulling back and looking into my eyes.

I shook my head, wiping my eyes with my hand. "No- I..." My voice trailed off, and I finally realized how grateful I was for Neil's friendship. "Thank you," I whispered, leaning forward so that he could hear me through the loud rain.

He smiled slightly. "For what?" he asked weakly, his eyes not straying from mine.

I usually would feel intimidated by someone being so close, but now... Now it was different. "For standing by my side when I needed you most- for being my friend when no one else would."

"I would do anything for you, Lily," he whispered.

I felt my pulse in my throat, but I didn't pull away. He leaned forward slightly, and suddenly I felt trapped. I pulled back, taking a step back. Fresh tears streamed down my face. "No- Neil... You don't want this..."

He looked hurt. "How do you know what I want?" he asked in a pained voice. "I... I love you, Lily." His voice was barely a whisper. He looked down at the ground, his eyes dull with sorrow.

I breathed in sharply. What did he mean? He didn't love me! "No- Neil, you don't mean that..." What about our friendship? I hated myself for pushing him away- I wanted this too.

Neil met my gaze. "Then say it, then," he whispered. "Say you don't love me, and I'll leave you alone."

I sobbed. "Neil I'm not right for you..." My voice trailed off, but I approached him again, unable to see him like this.

Neil looked down at me, and sighed. "I'm sorry," he whispered.

"For what?" I asked quietly, putting my hand on his face. "For loving someone?"

Neil shook his head, not meeting my gaze. "For loving my friend."

"What's wrong with that?" I asked him quietly, removing my hand from him. "Neil- I love you too."

His eyes widened. "You... you do?" he whispered, his voice full of joy.

He made me smile. "Yes," I replied solemnly. "I always have." Except for when I loved Scorpius, but that feeling is gone. It was gone; Scorpius had never loved me, and I realized now, as I looked into Neil's eyes, that I had never really loved him.

"I always have too," Neil said, smiling. "I promise I won't make you cry- ever." Was he remembering the time when he had comforted me when I had figured out Scorpius was with my cousin?

I smiled, hugging him. "Thanks," I whispered over his shoulder. "I'll try not to do it to you either."

Neil pulled away, looking down at me. He leaned forward. Our lips met.

I had never felt so happy in my entire life.