Disclaimer: Today I got caught in the rain. I watched the storm clouds saunter in, the dark blue clouds let go of their weight and drop it all on me. I twirled and skipped, each drop tickling my cheeks. I'm just too happy in the rain to worry about ever owning anything: other than May and Joe and all the aforementioned names, I, also Charmelite, own nothing.

Enjoy. Please review we greatly appreciate it.

Charmelite and Abarraine. 2005.

When She Smiles:

Saving Grace

.¸¸.·´¨»«´¨·. ¸¸..¸¸.·´¨»«´¨·. ¸¸..¸¸.·´¨»«´¨·. ¸¸..¸¸.·´¨»«´¨·. ¸¸.

3 November 1983

"The Gumming is a specific kind of Lark. It feeds on the small- not weak, just small. What I mean by 'feed' is this; they bite their victim somewhere on the leg, usually the left, around the knee... about here...they leave three puncture wounds about the size of a nail head. Inside the wounds is where the 'magic' if you will, class, takes place. Injected by the Gumming are three types of Speilings- a thorn covered in microscopic critters- the Speilings let the critters loose and they travel into the small victim's bloodstream. Upon reaching the heart, they plug it. And that class, is why you should never wander into the Forbidden Forest! Who knows when the Gumming could bite!"

"That's just making me sick." Lily whispered into May's ear as they sat in their usual seats at the back of the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. Lily shivered, watching Professor McConnely tease the Gumming in the clear container.

"Yeah, I mean, Lil, your quite small." May turned halfway in her seat to look at Lily with a concerned face. "Wouldn't that be a horrible death?" Lily gulped and looked back towards McConnely. She shook her head slowly with a disgusted look on her clear face.

May shifted in her seat. Today had been the longest day ever, and it was only 10:24 am. 'Just 36 more minutes 'til break...' May turned her pale face towards the window to her left.

Dark clouds gave off an ominous feeling. May gulped as she glanced over to Sirius Black. She quickly diverted her gaze as their eyes met and he smiled. She felt so guilty. 'It was my ignorance that got us all in this terrible mess...'

Again she looked out the window, a v-shape formation of birds were flying south to the Mediterranean. The wind whistled through the trees and the pond rippled and was layered with foreign leaves.

May was suddenly brought back to the present when she heard Lily's chair scrape the ground and she stood up. May looked on quizzically then her eyes widened in fear as Lily approached the Gumming's container.

"Miss Evans, why would I make you come up here?" McConnely asked with a twirl of his wand. Lily looked at him then back to May, who bit her lip and shrugged.

"Because I have a nack for almost getting myself killed?" Lily replied innocently. Her eyes searching the Gumming's face. McConnely laughed and replied with a silky voice.

"Ahh, another try?" Lily glanced around again, this time her nervous eyes rested on James.

He was doing something with his hands. 'Fat...skinny...skyscraper?...tall! Oh short!' Lily smiled at him and turned around.

May saw James' face, the moment Lily turned, his face broke into a lop-sided grin and his eyes never left her.

"I'm the smallest here."

"Correct you are!" McConnely clapped his hands and swiveled around to face the Gumming's cage. Lily stood her ground wondering what that mad man was about to do.

James looked angry, what was McConnely playing at? Sirius was staring at May. May looked just as worried as James, her lip starting to hurt. Remus was looking stumped. Peter was eating a whizzing whiz-bee.

"Miss Evans, come... tell me, what does this little guy looks like?"

"A squirrel with horns."

"Oh, right that too."

"Professor, why am I up here? Isn't this a little dangerous?"

"Extremely, that is why I have this vial ready in case he bites you."

"But... he's staying in that cage, right?"

"If he wants too, he seems to like you." At this McConnely turned to his class. "Now class! The most wonderful thing about a Gumming is they can see into your heart, that is why they affect your heart. Now, please, hold all questions! They see your inner being, if you will, your innocence, love, compassion, yadda, yadda, yadda. And if they see all these good qualities, they will become a loyal companion. Constantly by your side, never allowing harm." McConnely turned back to Lily. "Miss Evans, give him your hand."

"My hand. Like hold it in front of his mouth?" Lily asked looking at her insane teacher.

"No, great goodness! Curse my being dyslexic! I meant, give me your hand." Lily held out her hand towards McConnely, and in a flash he had grabbed the evil Gumming and set it in her petite, out stretched, hand.

Before Lily could shake the mad, horned creature off it had climbed onto her shoulders and begun sniffing her hair. Lily stood frozen in horror, she couldn't even scream. The whole class had their mouths open wide, who wouldn't? They had just spent a good hour learning about the painful death of a Gumming's bite.

Slowly the Gumming began combing through her hair like an ape, it sniffed her ear and moved across her shoulder, looking her square in the eyes. Suddenly the red in the Gumming's eyes died away and was replaced by a brilliant green.

"Well, my dear, I see you have been found worthy of my Gumming. You shall indeed have his protection. Now please take a seat." The Gumming had situated itself on Lily's shoulder and laid its horned head between her chin and chest.

"But, Professor- don't you need him? Won't he attack the other students?" McConnely smiled at her.

"My dear, he is no longer evil. He has no use for others. He would not hurt a fly unless you were being hurt. And no, I don't want him, he doesn't like me. I've had to have four doses of that vile just this morning. Nasty little bugger."

With those words, Lily looked down at the sleeping Gumming on her shoulder, she did a double take and noticed that its horns had disappeared and in place, grew soft, almost like a dogs', ears. Lily smiled and went to her seat.

.¸¸.·´¨»«´¨·. ¸¸..¸¸.·´¨»«´¨·. ¸¸..¸¸.·´¨»«´¨·. ¸¸..¸¸.·´¨»«´¨·. ¸¸.

"He's the most adorable thing I've ever seen! Ahh, look how he curls up on your shoulder, ahh, Caroline, isn't he sweet?" Some Airhead was shoving her bleach blond hair into my face. I tried to see May, but I couldn't through the mass of psychotic witches crowding around me.

Suddenly I felt two strong arms wrap around my waist. I sighed in relief, as I was drug away from the whirlwind of giggly girls.

James had pulled me away. He smelled wonderful, I had to shake my head to snap out of my reverie. I turned around and said thanks to him. He smiled his usual cocky grin and grabbed my elbow, leading me to lunch.

In front of me, I saw May and Sirius walking next to each other. Sirius was whispering something in her ear that made her smile and hit him over the head. I laughed. What would May do without Sirius?

"So, when are you gonna take that thing back to the forest?" Came a voice behind me, I turned my head and saw Peter. He was eying my Gumming with dislike.

"You heard McConnel, he said tomorrow I should."

"I still can't believe he did that, I was about to send him the death curse." James laughed looking at me. May suddenly whipped around and glared at him.

"You'd use Avada Kedavra on him? Can your minuscule brain even comprehend the damage that would do? What would his family do?" With that, May pulled away from Sirius' hand, which he had placed on her shoulder, and ran through the doors of the Great Hall. I quickly followed her, I would have gotten farther, except for the arm that grabbed me.

"Lil, what was all that about?" James asked confused.

"Maybe later, James, but really, the death curse?"

May and I left the Marauders stumped, but maybe they actually thought it through.

.¸¸.·´¨»«´¨·. ¸¸..¸¸.·´¨»«´¨·. ¸¸..¸¸.·´¨»«´¨·. ¸¸..¸¸.·´¨»«´¨·. ¸¸.

Lunch seemed to relax everyone, and once again, there was a huge variety of conversations.

"May, pass the mustard, por favor." (Sirius)

"What is that?" (Peter)

"Peter, can you pass me the sausage?" (May)

"Peas, Peter, they grow on a plant that's green. They're what some educated people call vegetables." (Lily)

"Is that an orange or a grape fruit?" (Remus)

"And a grape fruit would be?" (Peter)

"Pete, the sausage." (May)

"Grapefruit, it's bigger." (Lily)

"Coconuts!" (James)

"WHERE?" (Peter)

"Sorry guys, just had to do it." (James)

"Sausage, can you handle that Peter?" (May)

"Hey! Does anyone know why Swiss Cheese has holes?" (Sirius)

"Why, because some ant colony got hungry in the Alps?" (Remus)

"Did they have coconuts?" (Peter)

"Let me guess, so you can see the bludgers coming at you when you eat it at practice?" (James)

groan (May and Lily)

"What do you guys take me for? It's the bacteria! It eats it away!" (Sirius)

"Umm, guys? Who's that?" (Lily)

.¸¸.·´¨»«´¨·. ¸¸..¸¸.·´¨»«´¨·. ¸¸. (Lily's POV) .¸¸.·´¨»«´¨·. ¸¸..¸¸.·´¨»«´¨·. ¸¸.

Dumbledore talked to Sirius today... and his family. His parents arrived during lunch. They were pretty scary. They walked right up to Sirius and pulled him out of his chair by his hair. It would have been funny except for the fact that they looked ready to kill.

Sirius left with his parents and Dumbledore and didn't come back until dinner-- but he did come back!

We were all so worried that'd he'd been expelled and sent home with his parents without even getting to say goodbye to us.

He got a months detention and Amos got two months because Sirius argued self defense. Plus Amos is just evil. I mean taking advantage of someone so innocent! What is this world coming too?

Joe came up to me today, during my break. May and the Marauders were in Muggle Studies, quite irrelevant for me to take that class.

I was in the library, looking up vocabulary for my potions essay due Thursday when a shadow came across my notes. I looked up to find Joe sitting in the chair in front of me. Just smiling. Quite unnerving when all they do is smile. No words, just that smile.

"Hi Lily."

"Hello." He smiled even wider, making my cheeks turn a dull pink.

"Having trouble? I could help."

"No, I've got it, thanks though."

"Hey, Lily, I haven't seen you at practice much, why's that?"

"Oh, didn't you hear? Malone says I'm too much of a distraction..." I play second keeper, behind Joe. Most of the team thinks I'm more capable than him, but since he's in 7th year, I'm immediately disregarded. Now, on top of all that, I have Joe... stalking me, if you will. I really don't want a thing to do with him!

"For whom?" He laughed at that, and it was a sick laugh, the kind you do when you want people to notice you.

"Yo-May." Malone thought I was a distraction of Joe, it's not my fault he can't keep his bloody beady eyes off me!

"Oh that snarks it, you are so good. Maybe you and I could get together and practice sometime."

I think my brain stopped, I didn't know what to say!

"Uhh, sure."

"Here, this one's Phyloomun, that's the scientific name for Dragon spleen." He reached over and brushed his hand on mine. I almost jumped back but quickly caught myself.

"Thanks." I scribbled down the word, knowing in the back of my mind it would come in handy for my essay, and started to pack my things.

"Where are you going?"

"Oh, I have to grab my other books before class."

"Right, talk to you later?"

"Sure."

I don't think I could walk out of that library fast enough, just feeling his eyes bore into the back of my skull-. I can still feel the shivers down my spine. Now off to History of Magic.

.¸¸.·´¨»«´¨·. ¸¸..¸¸.·´¨»«´¨·. ¸¸. (Later, Still Lily) .¸¸.·´¨»«´¨·. ¸¸..¸¸.·´¨»«´¨·. ¸¸.

May and I decided to chill in the dorm tonight, being followed constantly is really getting on my nerves.

"Lily. I've been thinking way too much lately, and I need to get it all out. Tell me exactly what you think. And don't you dare say something just so it will make me feel better." May looked over at me. "Promise?"

"Promise." I sighed, these talks were never good, however we did our secret handshake before picking up a handful of Bertie Botts Every Flavour Jelly Beans and leaned against our conglomeration of pillows.

"Was Sirius with another girl on Halloween?" I looked at her through the darkness and nodded dejectedly.

"He was, but May, I think he saw you with another guy and put two and two together, even though that seems unlikely for such an airhead." I said, trying to make what Sirius did not seem so bad.

"But he was still with another girl. Were they kissing?"

"I don't know." I replied in all sincerity.

"Lily, do you really think he knew I was with another guy and then decided not to bother me?"

"I really do. I mean, Sirius may be something of a player, not that he'd sleep with anyone, but I know for a fact that he likes you."

"How? How can you know? Has he said it to you? Lily, I've been through enough pain in my life, and I don't think he's worth getting hurt over. He probably is just taking pity on me-"

"Why? What reason does he have to pity you or us for that matter? He doesn't know about our home lives, our humiliations, our goals in life. I think he's only ever seen me at my lowest point-"

"What? When?" She looked up from drinking her shake through her straw.

"Oh, last year. Ummm, it was the last day before holidays... I was feeling sorry for myself and I was crying in the common room late at night. It was Petunia, and I was just so strung up from exams and not being able to see you all summer that I just cracked."

May looked at me with sympathy. "They unfortunately walked in on me and wanted to know if I had over heard them talking about some prank. Remus saw me crying, they all walked around and looked at me, Remus asked me why I was crying- I've never cried in front of anyone since..."

"I didn't know that."

"Yeah, so I really don't think he has any reason to pity you. So, May think about it, why else would he like us?"

"Because James likes you."

"No May, I've seen the way he looks at you, even if you can't see it. He doesn't look at anyone else like that. I truly think he cares. You must remember this May, he went searching through the whole castle to find you when he heard you might be in trouble. And he almost got expelled for you. I'd give him another chance. May, he's a guy, which unfortunately doesn't say much."

"Thanks, I needed to hear that." She leaned her head back and glanced at the pictures on my desk.

"So, you'll give him another chance to redeem himself?"

"I suppose." May shot up and whirled around at me. "Now! Lily! On with you!"

"Me, well, ummm, what's to say about me?" I fidgeted where I sat, surrounded by enormous pillow.

"Lets see, James, Joe, quidditch..."

"Oh. yeah."

"Okay, quidditch first, since I can tell all the topics are a little sensitive."

"We really don't have to get into this..."

"Nuu uhh, Miss Lilea Kensley! You are answering my questions. You have single handedly helped me get through this now you are doing the usual, pushing your feelings and problems aside to help me. Not tonight doll." I grinned at her use of 'doll'.

"I dont do that!"

"Liar" May coughed, none so subtly. I just glared at her and heaved a sigh. She knew that I hated to talk about things. It's just my nature, I write it down. But then she has to come and corner me into professing my feelings. Curse her.

"Joe. What's up with him?"

"I guess he likes me." I looked forlornly at the quarter moon.

"And James?"

"He likes me." I couldn't help but blush.

"And Malone?" I could hear a bit of laughter in her sweet voice as she asked me about our quidditch coach.

"He thinks I'm a distraction, thus he doesn't like me."

"And how do you feel about all this?"

"Well, doctor, I like it that James will wait for me. I don't like Joe, I have no idea what he's trying to get from me and he took my spot in quidditch."

"Any further thoughts? For someone who has such a profound mind, you're lacking in intelligence."

"hmff. I have brain damage." I pointed to my head, signifying the damage.

"right. Talk lassy!" May was never one to go along with a story.

"May, I don't have anything to say! I don't want a boyfriend, I want to throw something- someone, preferably Malone, because I so want to be on the team, and I want Joe to forget about me. Good enough? Suit your standards?"

"For now."

If you have any questions, please email me along with your review. We'll understand where the questions come from because this story starts in the middle. Thanks for reading!

Please Review.