Would you believe that I actually dreamed about the second part of this post? You know that you're starting to lose it when you dream about Harry Potter fanfiction, heehee.

FYI- I think the Rayven/Remus scene was lightly inspired by Tina's beautiful artwork "Rain Rain, Go Away", because I was viewing her artwork the day before I dreamed about it. You can find it at her 'Maleficium' website.

And the song at the beginning is "Iris" by the Goo Goo Dolls; I was listening to it this morning and I thought "Woah…Rayven and Remus' theme."

And I'd give up forever to touch you
´Cause I know that you feel me somehow
You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be
And I don't wanna go home right now

And all I can't taste in this moment
And all I can breathe is your life
And sooner or later it's over
I just don't wanna miss you tonight

And I don't want the world to see me
´Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

As Lily walked back to the Head Tower, she felt slightly lightheaded. What was wrong with her? She'd just agreed to go to the Halloween Ball with James Potter. The boy had made her life a living hell since she'd arrived at Hogwarts. First year, he'd put a lock of her hair in ink. Second year, he and Sirius Black had put a spell on her notebook to scream "KNOW-IT-ALL" every time she spoke in class. Third year, James made her trip and fall flat on her face in front of Gideon. Fourth year, James started asking her out every five minutes.

Fifth year…ugh, fifth year.

Fifth year, there had been the OWL incident outside. Sirius and James had been acting like prats, as usually, and when Lily tried to stop them, James threatened to hex her. Sixth year, James asked her out every second, and when she refused, he would get mad and curse someone.

But seventh year…well, Lily had to be honest. James had been decent this year. He'd been downright pleasant, calling her "Lily" instead of "Evans", not asking her out constantly, not hexing people in the hallways. In fact, he was on the border line between pleasant and pathetic. He was sugary sweet to her, complimenting her and holding doors open. On some boys, like Remus, it was attractive. On James, it seemed horribly out of place.

Lily shook her head. She couldn't believe she was absorbed in thoughts about James Potter. Even if James was starting to be a friend, she wouldn't give any extra thought to him more than necessary. Lily was making her way up the stairs when she heard someone call after her.

"Lily?" Gideon Prewett was standing at the foot of the stairs. He rubbed the back of his neck for a second. "Can I talk to you?"

"Sure," Lily came back down the stairs and smiled brightly at him. "So, um…how are you?"

"Oh, I'm good," Gideon rubbed the back of his neck again. "Look, about the Halloween Ball…would you want to go with me?"

"Oh…" Lily felt her stomach lurch. "I uh…I'm already going with someone else."

"Oh," Gideon looked crestfallen for a second then forced a smile. "Well, you'll have fun. I guess…I'll ask someone else."

"Sorry, Gideon," Lily felt horrible. She felt like she should say something else, but a lump was caught in her throat. Gideon started to walk away. Lily's lightheadedness came back. She put a hand to her forehead.

"Gideon…" Lily murmured weakly, she reached out blindly to grab hold onto something.

Gideon looked back at Lily, concern etched on his handsome face. "Lily? What is it-"

No sooner where the words out of his mouth, that Lily collapsed into his arms from the stairs.

"So…you and Gari," Remus said to Sirius as they walked through Hogsmeade. They were a few yards behind Rayven and Gari, who occasionally would stop and look in the store windows.

Sirius cast him an amused look. "Yeah…me and Gari."

"You haven't spoken to Lynn at all," Remus continued, more as a statement than a question. When Sirius didn't reply, Remus sighed. "Sirius, what are you playing at-"

"I'm not playing," Sirius interrupted. "I likeGari. I want to be with Gari."

"She'd want you to be honest with her," Remus argued. "You should tell her that Lynn thinks that the two of you are involved."

Sirius scowled at his friend. "For all I know, Lynn thought it was just a snog at that's all."

"You're just making excuses," Remus said, trying to keep his voice down so that the girls didn't hear.

"Speaking of excuses, what's going on with you and Rayven, oh relationship guru?" Sirius said reproachfully, smirking when he caught Remus off guard.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Remus replied mildly.

"Oh come off it," Sirius rolled his eyes. "I know you're mad about her. And have you seen the way she looks at you?"

"Just friends, Sirius," Remus avoided his friend's eyes. "We're just friends."

"Yeah, friends who want to snog each other senseless," Sirius shot back. "Admit it, you're crazy about her, but you're going to go and pull this nobility shit-"

Remus stopped Sirius and glared at him, amber eyes flashing. "It isn't 'nobility shit'." His tone startled Sirius. "You don't know...you have no idea…" Remus muttered under his breath angrily.

Remus started walking again, but Sirius grabbed his arm and looked at him accusingly. Sirius spoke more calmly this time, but with an edge to his voice. "You're right. I don't know. But I do know that it's stupid for you to act like she means nothing to you. I know that you should do whatyou want for once. I'm sick of you letting the wolf control you."

Before Remus could reply, Rayven and Gari were back with them. Gari glanced from Sirius to Remus. "Everything all right?"

"Yeah," Sirius didn't take his eyes off Remus. After a moment's hesitation, he turned his gaze to Rayven and Gari. "You all want to go inside now?" He motioned to the Three Broomsticks, which they were standing in front of.

Rayven shook her head. "I was going to go back to the castle. Lily should be done by now, so I think I'll go give her some company."

"I'll go with you," Remus offered, looking back at Sirius and mouthing at him: "Talk to her." He motioned to Gari behind her back.

Rayven smiled at Remus, then glanced back at the other pair. "Have fun." She winked quickly at Gari before turning with Remus and leaving.

Gari rolled her eyes at her friend's retreating form. She turned back to Sirius, and she instantly felt his lips press against hers. When he pulled back, he was grinning at her.

"Been waiting to do that all day," Sirius murmured. He glanced at the pub behind them. "Let's go inside."

"Alright, but I don't want to see you checking out Madame Rosmerta," Gari replied jokingly, smiling at him.

"Don't worry, I can behave when I want to," Sirius responded and smiled cheekily at her as they went inside.

Thunder boomed overhead, and Rayven heard the other students making their way back to Hogwarts groan.

"Great, rain," Rayven heard a third year Hufflepuff girl whine.

She and Remus exchanged slightly amused looks and continued to trek back to towards the castle. Sure enough, as they were making their way past the Great Lake, rain drops began to pitter patter down all around them. Rayven sighed as she felt the rain drip down her face. It poured harder, and soon everyone was soaked. Rayven saw kids run for cover and was about to do the same, when suddenly the rain stopped coming down on her. Rayven looked to her side to see Remus smiling at her, holding his jacket above both their heads.

She simply stared at him for a moment. His shirt was soaked through, and she silently thanked any higher power than he wore a white shirt, allowing her to see the skin underneath. Rain dripped from his hair down onto his face, where it made a slow path down his cheek, then throat.

So, clearly, looking as beautiful as he did in that moment, she could not be held responsible for her next actions.

Throwing "just friends" and caution to the wind, Rayven grabbed him by the front of the shirt and brought his mouth down to hers.

He's kissing me back…Remus is actually kissing me, Rayven thought giddily.

His kiss was gentle and sweet, but there was something intense and primal behind it. Remus kissed the way he was. He tasted of chocolate and spice, an intoxicating combination that she loved.

Remus was in heaven. It was a clichéd thought, he knew, but it was true. This was what the poets and the songwriters went on about. He was only aware of himself and Rayven and the rain pouring around them. One of her hands cradled the side of his face, and he leaned into her more, pouring every ounce of love and passion he'd buried deep inside.

But then her other hand drifted to the spot where his neck met his shoulder, caressing the large scar there.

The scar. The one that had changed his life forever.

He let out a hoarse cry of anguish and pulled away from her. He shook his head, tears stinging his eyes.

"Rayven…Rae, we shouldn't-"

She silenced any words he would have said with another kiss. Remus' mind was torn between pulling away again and losing himself in her. The latter won out as the rain continued to fall.

Hmm, I seem to have a fetish for wet Marauders, lol. So that's, er, two couples down (hopefully) and one to go. And feel free to go "What did you do to Lily?"