Chapter 28: Rain Dance
"Are you going back to waking up like a prefect?" Dorcas mumbled to Lily sleepily. Lily shrugged and grinned before closing the dorm door behind her, Dorcas's light snores returning once more. Lily looked down at the article that was still amongst the talk around the school. Her story had been a success- and although Irma suspected Lucinda and Lily, she had no proof against them. Lily and Lucinda met early in the morning, in secret, to plot new ideas for their stories. Weeks had gone by but Lily still hadn't lost the thrill of writing-
"Mary?"
Lily neared the couch where her dark haired friend was fast asleep, parchments and quills were strewn in a mess around her, along with a bag of untouched Bertie Botts every flavor beans. Upon closer inspection she found that the parchments were all letters that Mary had written...to her dad.
Lily looked at her friend and sighed as she bent down and began to stack them away neatly. Ever since Mary had planted in herself idea that her dad was going to die in war she had started a spree of writing letters to her dad in the hopes that he would write back and prove he was alive. So far none of them had been answered, but her friend hadn't lost hope. Lily didn't know much about the Vietnam War except that Mary's dad was still there and she was worried sick about him.
Lily thought of maybe helping Mary- but as stubborn as she was, Mary was proud too. She still hadn't confided in Lily about her dad as Lily had hoped she would. Lily knew it was hard, but they were best friends right? Thinking back to it she supposed she was jealous of the other girls and how close knit they were to each other than they were with her. It was common knowledge that she and Marlene didn't get along but she didn't think that Mary and Dorcas would exclude her out of their summer plans because of Marlene. She remembered when Dorcas had lightly mentioned it at Diagon Alley but Lily had felt more hurt about it than necessary. Perhaps she should try to get along with Marlene, after all Lily didn't hate her, they had just gotten off on the wrong foot at the beginning of the term. Marlene was bold and tenacious about her beliefs and she didn't easily sway or open up to others. But Lily wasn't like that. Sighing, she shook her head and grabbed the last parchment, pausing as she caught her name in the midst of words.
Sometimes I wish I could tell Lily but every time I walk towards her, I turn back thinking that she would find a way to tell me that I shouldn't worry and that everything will be okay. But it's not. I miss you dad and to think every day that you might not come back- it's not easy for me. Lily is my best friend and I love her to pieces but sometimes I just want a shoulder to cry on, not a voice that tells me it will be fine. I know Lily loves to make people happy but for me...I'm scared and tired of people telling me I can't do things that I want to do. I don't want to be weak, I don't want to show people I'm scared, I want to be brave and that's why I just can't tell Lily. I'm afraid she'll see me for who I really am and I won't be brave anymore...
Lily's eyes dropped and she looked at Mary..
"Oh Mary." Lily dropped next to her friend, curled against the sofa, sleeping soundly under all that bravado.
"I wouldn't. She just about fell asleep."
Lily stepped back quickly, looking towards the tall Prewett brother who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere. "How is she?"
Gideon sighed. "She was up all night writing- Fabian and I offered to help her but she insisted she was fine. Tough cookie, that girl."
Lily nodded. "That she is." She looked up to Gideon. Looking at him honestly for the first time. Like his brother Fabian he was tall but not lanky. They both had the same orangish hair with hints of red and a smile that could put anybody at ease. "Thank you for being with her. She needs someone right now."
Gideon nodded. "She reminds me of my sister, Molly." He smiled fondly at the mention of her name. "Stubborn, feisty and a love for anything sweet."
Lily laughed. "She just can't seem to get enough of it."
She was headed towards the portrait hole. "Let her come to you, Lily," when Gideon said. "She will when she's ready."
Lily nodded and escaped into the dark corridor. Only prefects patrolled around this time, so she was safe. Humming to herself she made her way towards the towers.
"Hey." Lucinda greeted her coming out of the Ravenclaw common room before Lily could touch the bronze knocker on the door.
"Hey." Lily smiled. She looked towards the bronze eagle knocker, "-interesting knocker, is there a password or a specific way to knock it to get in?"
Lucinda grinned. "It's a riddle you've got to answer."
"A riddle?" Lily repeated surprised, she didn't know what she expected. "So if you guess it, you get in?"
Lucinda nodded and handed Lily a stack of parchment. "So then anyone could get in, couldn't they?"
"Maybe." Lucinda shrugged sticking a large eagle quill behind her hair, as they headed towards the library where they usually had their secret meetings. "But no one's been able to get for the last century or so- I think we're good."
Lily hummed to herself once more as she and Lucinda found themselves a nice table near the fire, the winter this year had been unbearably cold, and Lily couldn't imagine summer coming soon enough.
She looked out the window where the white snow had covered the grounds like a soft white blanket. The sky was a pristine shade of white, much like the ground, but with a small glow of the sun trying to shine from behind the clouds.
"I was thinking of some ideas for our next story," Lucinda started. "but we'll have to be careful of Damion. He has a habit of creeping up where I least expect it."
"Could I ask a personal question?" Lily asked and before Lucinda could answer she went forward with her burning question. "Why do you and Damion hate each other so much?"
Lucinda looked up her blue eyes, looking away away from Lily. Lily continued. "I mean there's enough hate in the world, why add to it over something so small?"
Lucinda crossed her arms. "I don't know honestly. Sometimes I can't help but feel jealous of him- by the way if you ever mention this to him, you're dead."
Lily nodded and zipped her mouth, earning a laugh from Lucinda.
"He's been in The Holy Grail longer than me, I started last year like you when Damion was just a fourth year- and I was in awe of his writing. I tried to ask him for help and get him to help me but he always told me to go away, and then somewhere between that I got jealous that Irma preferred his writing over mine..."
"That's no reason to hate anyone, Lucinda," Lily said gently. "And as for feeling jealous of Damion, I don't think anyone in the Holy Grail can write gossip better than you."
Lucinda smiled. "Thanks Lil-"
There was an echoing scream coming from outside and Lily and Lucinda's eyes met briefly before Lily ran out, Lucinda trailing her with a parchment and a quill.
"That way!" Lucinda pointed to the right and Lily turned around the corner not exactly sure what she was going to see. Certainly not the lifeless body of a 1st year Hufflepuff girl, withering on the floor, now silent. The older boy who was trying to awake her turned and Lily recognized him as Colton Breckbridge, the Gryffindor Quidditch captain.
"What happened to her?" Lucinda asked quickly inching forward, her quill ready in her hand.
Lily wanted to say that she was being a bit indifferent and thoughtless by thinking of the story rather than the girl on the floor first but Lily supposed it was a habit that came to writers naturally.
The Quidditch captain turned around surprised. At the same time a blond girl and a dark haired boy were making their way towards them, pausing as they saw Lily and Lucinda.
"Elvis?" Lucinda whispered looking at the boy oddly. "What is he doing here?"
"You know him?" Lily asked, looking at the lanky Ravenclaw with square glasses recognizing him as one of the older students that had helped her carry Remus to the hospital wing.
"Elvis," Colton asked looking towards Lily and Lucinda nervously. "do it now."
"Is she okay?" Lily asked muttering the courage to speak-for some reason she felt uneasy around the three others and wanted to get back to writing with Lucinda. "Lucinda, I really think we should get going- I think they've-"
The dark haired boy, Elvis suddenly pulled out his want. Lily thought he was going to help the withering girl on the floor and was surprised when he pointed his wand towards her and Lucinda. Lucinda's eye's widened and she grabbed Lily's hand. "Lily we should-"
But Lily didn't hear what Lucinda wanted her to do as a white fog clouded her vision and Lily fell back, dreams of her mums chocolate chip cookies and white clouds engulfing her mind.
Lily woke up, lying in the Gryffindor common room.
"About time you woke up." Mary grinned across from her. "I thought Dorcas's singing might have woken you up-ow just kidding, you've got a beautiful voice, Dorc."
"I better." Dorcas turned to Lily who sat up wondering where she was. "I thought you were going to practice patrolling- when did you fall asleep?"
Lily blinked. She remembered waking up but everything after that was a blur- and Lucinda! She was supposed to meet Lucinda!
"I fell asleep!" Lily cried horrified looking at the time. "How could I?"
"If I woke up at four am," Dorcas told her like it was obvious. "I would be asleep too."
"No, no no no!" Lily internally screamed. Lucinda was probably waiting for her in the library and if she didn't explain why Lucinda would think she wasn't serious enough to write. "I've got to go!"
She made a run, jumping off the couch and swung open the portrait door only to come face to face with James Potter.
"Hey Lily." He said.
"Out of my way, James." Lily said pushing past him.
"Could I at least get a please?" James called after her but Lily only rolled her eyes and sprinted past the halls to the towers where the Ravenclaw common room's entrance stood. Before she could knock the bronze eagle knocker, Lucinda Gilmore herself stepped out.
"Hey Lily I'm sosorry I dozed off and I couldn't meet you in time-" Lucinda said quickly. "I don't know what happened- I'm usually good with time."
Lily let out a shaky laugh. "Me too. I thought I was keeping you waiting actually."
Lucinda laughed. "Tomorrow then? We can just skip it today and enjoy the Sunday sun."
Lily laughed. "For sure!"
"Luce?" Someone called and Lucinda rolled her eyes. "That'd be Elvis- see you!"
Lily bade Lucinda good bye and headed towards the Great Hall to find Severus. She felt like she had lost so much of the day sleeping, and wanted to make the most of the beautiful Sunday morning as it was.
She spotted Severus sitting at the Slytherin table discussing something with a few older students. Though they were far apart their faces were tense and Lily wondered idly what they were talking about. She didn't know much about who Severus hung out with when she wasn't with him- come to think of it she almost alwaus saw Severus by himself when he wasn't with her.
"Micheal?!" Lily spotted the boy ducking under the table and instinctively joined him her writer instincts forcing her to investigate.
"Lily?" Micheal looked at her and put a hand to his finger. "Shhh."
Lily silenced herself and pointed to the small black dog Micheal was cradling in his arms. "That's a-oh Michael you brought it back again?"
"I couldn't just leave it at home!" Micheal protested petting the small black puppy. "And thank Merlin I found it before anyone else did."
"It was loose in the school?" Lily gasped imagining the small dog sprinting past the halls and surprising those who saw it . "Micheal there are people allergic to dogs here!"
"And others are allergic to cats!" He protested. "I just don't see why we can't bring them when we can bring cats and owls and toads- who willingly carries a toad around school?"
"I don't know," Lily admitted. "But you do realize you're breaking so many rules with this. I should be-"
"You're not going to tell McGonagall are you?" Micheal asked quietly. "Like you did with James and the Marauders?"
"You knew-I mean-what," Lily sighed and folded her arms. "W-what do you mean?"
Micheal shrugged. "I only know one person in the entire school who calls James Potter a toe rag."
Lily bit her lip. "I couldn't help it." She looked at Micheal and sighed. "Okay fine. I didn't see anything- but make sure it stays in the common room. If anyone else sees it I don't think they'd be as lenient."
He nodded, "Thanks Lily."
"You're welcome-oh by the way what's his name?"
"Charlie."
"Charlie." Lily found it hard to not smile whilst looking at it. "You better say hidden Charlie," she told him, "McGonagall isn't as nice as me."
Michael cradled Charlie and covered it with his robes. "Thanks, see you around Lily." and with a glance at both sides he crawled out and made a run for it. Lily too slid out from under the table and out into the open in time to see Lucas Anderson looking down curiously at her.
"Red?" Hé feigned surprised "What were you doing down there?"
"I-I was looking for something."
"Down there?" Lucas pointed under the table.
"That's right." Lily said quickly. "It wasn't there."
"The thing you were looking for." Lucas clarified looking at her curiously.
Lily nodded. She wanted to say something else before the conversation died but a short girl wearing Hufflepuff robes quickly tugged on Lucas's sleeve.
"See you around, Red." Lucas winked at her before turning to the girl. "Now, what is it Em?"
Lily's blush was short lived as a hand pulled her away and out of the Great Hall.
"Sev?" Lily pulled her hand away before realizing it was Severus. "What are you doing? Where are we going?"
Severus paused. "You were looking."
"I'm sorry?" Lily asked, confused.
"You were watching me at the Slytherin table."
"I was about to come over if that's what you mean." Lily told him. "Why, what happened?"
"Nothing." Severus blinked. "Just don't come to the Slytherin table."
"Why?" Lily asked curiously. "Do your friends not like me?"
"No!" Severus said quickly. "I just- they'll laugh at me if they see a girl come up to me."
"Since when do you care what other people think?" Lily asked.
Severus paused. "I don't. They all just think it should be the other way around, it's more proper that way."
"You sure have a bunch of weird friends." Lily laughed. "But I suppose it makes sense." She turned to him and asked. "That's the only reason then?"
Severus nodded. They had made their way towards the Great Lake like they always did, taking a seat by Lily's favorite crooked tree.
"Sev," Lily started "Do you really think it's silly of me to join a club?"
Severus was silent for a moment before he responded. "No."
Lily looked at him. "But you said-"
"I'm thinking of joining a club too." Severus added.
Lily gasped. "What?" She shook Severus. "What type of club?"
"It's more of an exclusive Slytherin club but it's a club either way."
"So I can't join?" Lily asked, laughing. Severus looked towards her oddly. "Relax." Lily said. "I was only joking. I wouldn't want to join any Slytherin club. What gave you the change of heart?"
Severus looked into the distance. "Something about it just made sense and it clicked."
Lily nodded. "That's how I feel about the Holy Grail too. Maybe we can join clubs sometimes."
Severus didn't comment on that but Lily smiled. "So you don't think I'm crazy for being in a club then?"
"No." Severus said. "Never."
Lily felt a drop of water hit her forehead. Tiny droplets of water were falling from the sky above her and Lily suddenly didn't want to move. Severus scrambled up covering himself up with a hood and some type of water resistance charm that Lily didn't herself know. He pointed his wand at her about to do the same.
"No." Lily stood up and threw her head back letting the rain soak into her hair and clothes. She closed her eyes enjoying the feeling of the cold and icy rain on her warm skin. Taking a step forward Lily twirled around letting her robes spin around with her.
"Not again, Lily." She heard Severus grumble but Lily ignored him and spun around once more.
She had only done this once before, after receiving her Hogwarts letter. In that moment, Lily imagined everything was going to be alright. She wasn't a freak, she was going to a school of magic with her best friend, Petunia had left for camp leaving Lily free to do whatever she wanted all summer. And today Lily felt that same euphoria she had that day. Severus was joining a club, Lily had found the perfect club for her, somewhere she fit in, she had also ousted the Marauders and James Potter, and Lucas...
"Lily!" Severus protested. "You're going to get sick again!"
"I don't care!" Lily twirled around. "I'm happy, Sev. I'm so so so happy!"
She pulled Severus from under the tree and twirled him around in the rain. If it had been Mary she would have stayed and joined Lily but Severus only shook his head and ran back to their spot under the tree.
"I'm going to sit here until you stop." He said shaking his now wet hair and sitting on the soaked ground, looking quite disgruntled but not mad.
Lily grinned throwing her head back up at the sky one more. "Then you know that's going to be a while, Sev."
And Severus Snape who knew her better than anyone else simply nodded. "I know."
As she spun around shouting his name she could have sworn he was smiling at her, and Lily had never truly felt much happier.