House: Slytherin
Category: Drabble
Prompt: Umbrella [Object]
Word Count (excluding A/N) : 881
A/N: For The fanster, who had better come back next round — otherwise, I chase her down and set Peter on her. Anyways, this is my attempt to take up the Jily mantle in her stead. Enjoy!
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
The sky was dark, thick with menacing black clouds, and Lily stifled a curse. This was definitely not the time to be out in a deserted part of Hogsmeade. She glanced at the Shrieking Shack, but even she wasn't that desperate — yet. Clutching her books even more protectively to her chest, she hurried past the decrepit building and under a tree. There, she balanced her purchases on her knee, reluctant to rest them on the muddy ground, and dug through her purse for her wand.
Just as her fingers closed around the smooth polished wood, a crack of lightning split the sky, followed instantaneously by the deep boom of thunder as it began to pour.
"Crap!" Lily shouted, hastily casting Impervius over herself and her belongings. There were a few seconds of blessed escape from the rain; then, to her surprise, the fat drops of rain began to hit her skin, hair, and clothing.
"What the heck is going on?" she cried. She may be a witch but she wouldn't melt in this rain — however, those books were ancient! Priceless! She'd spent a pretty penny getting these Animagi books to further her studies! Not get ruined in the rain! (And certainly not to provide conversation material with James, who she vaguely remembered being interested in Animagi in fifth year). "Drat! Impervius!"
This time, the spell fizzled out even quicker. Lily began to panic. "Fuck! I mean, truck! Truck and luck and duck and muck and oh those bloody stupid books!" she cried, trying desperately to shield the books with her body.
A low chuckle sounded on her left, and when Lily pushed her sodden hair from her eyes she saw a smug James Potter holding a deep red umbrella and smirking down at her. His hazel eyes were warm as he looked at her, his hair practically begging to flattened and tamed by her hands, and his robes— his robes were spotless and dry as a bone. "I didn't know you had it in you to curse like that," he remarked, raising an eyebrow. "What else lurks behind that goody-two shoes muggleborn Head Girl façade?"
Desperation made her blunt. "Potter," she growled, "Help me and I'll do anything!"
"Anything?" he asked with a roguish grin, waggling his eyebrows at her.
Irritated by his insinuation, she huffed and shoved her books at him, watching with unholy glee as he staggered under their weight. "Almost anything," she qualified.
"Would you carry these books back to castle for me then?" James groaned. "I'm going to put my back out— what are these, anyways?" He peered at them and she watched his face change as he read the title of the top one — Animagi Through the Ages. His eyes widened, then he said hesitantly, "Why'd you buy this, Lily?"
"It's just a little light reading," she answered with a sniff. "Now help me up."
"This is anything but light," he laughed, groaning as he held the books and his umbrella precariously in one hand and helped Lily to her feet with the other. Then, Lily took the umbrella and together the two walked back to the castle. They didn't speak much, just stole glances at one another, but as they walked through the entrance hall James suddenly spoke.
"Shit, put this on," he said, shrugging out of his robe and handing it to her.
She gaped at him, taken aback, then looked down at her beautiful lacy white top.
It was translucent from the rain.
She froze in shock, and then her shock transformed to anger as she realised why James had been stealing glances at her. Or, more accurately, her bra. "J-J-James—," she sputtered, almost incoherent with rage.
"Just enjoying the view," he smirked.
"James Potter, you arrogant—"
"Don't forget, I saved your books," he interrupted. "Now, I think I'll claim my reward…"
And he leaned over her, the books forgotten on the floor, the umbrella falling with a clatter as he kissed her in the entrance hall. It was a chaste kiss, only on the lips, but then Lily snaked her arms around his neck and ran her fingers through his hair and molded herself against him; in face of such temptation James was unable to hold back, and before either of them knew it they were full-on snogging in the Entrance Hall.
. . . . . . . . . .
When James woke the next morning, Sirius, Remus and Peter were sitting on his bed. "Spill," Sirius directed. "We spent our entire Hogsmeade evening in the Shrieking Shack."
James leant back but said nothing.
"Well, it wasn't a total waste. I enjoyed seeing little Lily-flower in a translucent top," Sirius drawled, winking at Peter, who flushed. "And I think Pete did too."
James sat bolt upright. "Don't ever talk about my girlfriend like that," he threatened. "Or I'll make sure you can't ever talk again."
Sirius laughed. "Oh, so it's official! Congratulations, James!" While slapping his friend on the shoulder, he pulled out bottles of butterbeer. "I think this calls for a toast."
Grinning now, James took the proffered bottle. "A toast to us, Marauders."
"And a toast to Remus, who thought fast and reversed the Impervius."
The four clinked their bottles together and drank, awash in self-satisfaction: James had finally got the girl.