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IF I FELL

The weather was awful. Wind whipped past the windows, rattling them in their frames and leaking through the stones of the tower. Lily sat curled in her window, a thick wool blanket draped over her lap and a thick book in her hands.

There was a Quidditch game happening out on the Quidditch pitch- the first one of the season- and James was playing. Lily didn't want to be out in the cold and wet, so she skipped it. Plus, there was no reason to see it, Gryffindor would easily dominate the Hufflepuff team.

She looked out the window, watching the rain pour and the thunder crackle. Suddenly, there was a flash of red and gold, and the tiny snitch appeared out her window. James, who was standing in as Seeker for Hestia Jones, for her had played in 1972 as a second year, appeared shortly after. He grinned at her, reaching out for the snitch, when his hand slipped off his broom and he fumbled to get a hold. Lily's heart stopped, her eyes widening as he fell, disappearing into the fog.

Lily got up, rushing through the door, and out into the commons. She grabbed her shoes and the nearest coat she could find- James's Quidditch Captain jacket. She ran down the stairs, tripping and stumbling, her only hope was to find James alive and not shattered into a million pieces.

She was terrified. Almost as scared as she was when Harry died. She had no idea what to do.

There was a communal courtyard outside the staff quarters and Lily's window overlooked it. She ran to the open window and climbed through it, into the courtyard. James lay motionless on the ground, his Quidditch robes spread around him like graceless angel wings.

"James!" She screamed, rushing to his side. He groaned, looking up at her.

"James, are you alright?" She asked, setting her hands gently on his shoulders. He flinched. "Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to hurt you!"

"Hey, Evans. You- you called me James." He said brokenly before his eyes fluttered shut.

"James?" She whispered, patting his cheek. "James, wake up!"

He didn't respond.

"Help! Help, somebody help!" Lily yelled. Two professors walked by, huddled in thick robes and hats. "Professors!"

They looked over, their eyes widening with fear when they saw the Head Boy lying on the ground.

"Evans! What happened?" Professor Culkin asked.

"He- he fell!" Lily sobbed, wiping tears from her cheeks.

"Well, let's get him to the Infirmary, quickly, quickly."

The professors Levitated him down the hallway at a brisk pace, Lily shuffling behind them, shrouded in James's jacket. She sniffled, brushing the tears away. She'd picked up James's glasses and wand and was clutching them tightly, the wire rims leaving marks on her palm.

"Madam Pomfrey? Madam Pomfrey, may I please see him? Please, I just want to see if he's alright," Lily asked again.

"Miss Evans! You may see him when he wakes up! Why don't you take this, it's an anxiety potion." Madam Pomfrey handed the teen a shimmering blue potion, to which Lily waved her hand.

"No, thank you. I'll just- I'll just wait." She resumed her pacing, back and forth in front of the door. Back and forth, back and forth.

"Evans!" Sirius ran down the hall, Remus and Peter following closely behind. They were covered from head to toe in mud and rain.

"Sirius!" She said, hugging him tightly. He seemed surprised, but hugged her back, patting her back awkwardly.

"How is he?" Sirius asked after she released him.

"I- I don't know. Pomfrey won't let me see him."

"What happened? He caught sight of something and disappeared."

"He fell outside my window. Professor Culkin and Professor Andrews helped me bring him here."

"Did he say anything?" Remus asked.

"Um, yeah. But nothing important."

"Well, what did he say?" Peter asked.

"Nothing important!" Lily snapped. The boys looked at each other suspiciously, but ignored it.

Sirius banged on the door until Madam Pomfrey opened it with a scowl. "Oh, Black. Is there anything you need? It's not a full-"

"Poppy, darling, we really need to see Prongs. Evans is becoming hysterical."

"I was just coming to tell Miss Evans that he had awoken. You may see him now." Madam Pomfrey frowned and opened the door just enough for the Marauders to squeeze through.

They tumbled through the door, smiling when they saw James, his foot set in a sling and his arm in a cast. His fingers were thick and bruised, and his head was wrapped in a thick piece of cloth.

"Prongs!" They shouted, stumbling towards his and falling upon him. He groaned in pain, but smiled happily.

"How are you?" Remus asked.

"Lucky to be alive." James's eyes scanned the room, landing on the timid redhead by the door. She smiled shyly, raising her hand in a wave.

"I'm hungry," Peter complained after awhile. He'd turned almost every surgical instrument into candy.

"Alright, Prongs, we better get some food. Want me to bring you anything?" Remus asked.

"Nah, that's alright." James clapped Peter on the shoulder before wincing in pain.

The boys looked concerned, but James waved them off and sent them on their way. The filed out and James lolled his head to look towards Lily.

"You're wearing my jacket," He said, smiling.

"I didn't think you could tell. You're near blind without your glasses." She walked forward, opening his hand and setting his glasses and wand in it.

"Thanks. Why are you wearing my jacket?" He asked, but he made no move to put the glasses on.

"Well, when you so rudely fell outside my window, the only jacket close enough to the door was yours because you never pick it up."

"Sorry. Um, can you help me? I, uh, can't really move my arm."

"Oh, yeah." She slipped the glasses onto his face, her hands resting gently on the lenses. "Um, do you want your jacket?"

"No. No, it, uh, looks better on you. I'll get it another time."

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm alright."

"James."

"You called me James again."

"Is that not your name?"

"You've never called me James. It's always Quidditch King or Peevishly Perverted Potter-"

"No, it's Peevishly Perverted and Patronisingly Pathetic Potter!" They laughed, and Lily's hair fell from its beanie onto his bed covers. She tucked it back gently, still smiling.

"Thank you," He said softly, reaching for her hand.

"You would've done the same for me." She squeezed his hand back.

"And I'm sorry."

She frowned. "What for?"

"I've been horrible to you. Ever since First Year and I'm sorry."

"You were a child. We all grow up sometime, some of us just take longer than others." She smirked, pushing his shoulder gently.

"That jacket really does look great on you. Especially the back."

She peered over her shoulder at the lettering. It read POTTER in big, bold letters. "You git!" She laughed, smacking his forehead with the palm of her hand.

"Ow!" he said sharply.

"Oh, my god. I'm so sorry!"

"I'm only joking, you couldn't hurt me if you tried."

"Wanna bet?" Lily smirked.

"No, thank you."

They smiled at each other, Lily's hand still wrapped in James'.

xoxo

Hey! I added another chapter today because it's been FOREVER and also I didn't add an A/N on the last one nor a disclosure, so here we are!

These characters DO NOT belong to me, but you all know that!

Second, I'm hoping this story will focus more on Lily and James' relationship and after Hogwarts, so if you're looking for a slow burn, this is not it! I read too many slow burns and I wanted one more about the development of their romantic relationship during and after Hogwarts.

Finally, this is a fanfic. There are things I will get wrong, but I really wanted my adaption of the characters to shine through, so there are a lot of things that won't be mentioned that are canon. Please just enjoy my semi-original work!

Have a great week!