Remember when it rained

Chapter1: THE DATE

There James was, a bit bored as he zoomed around the deserted Quidditch pitch, trying to release all thought and emotion. Especially that really confused feeling that dared fume inside him.

Poor, Remus. He and his friends couldn't help but think of that recent night's events, but none of them wanted to talk about it either. After they had forced Lily to keep the secret of Remus's transformation, all of them had been a bit quiet about it. Unsure whether or not she'd tell. What was he so worried about? He was going on a date with Evans! After he had walked her back to her dormitorie 'that night', he had asked her out. She of course, still refused him. Until he brought up the fact that he had saved her life. Looking absolutely outraged, she grudgingly agreed seeing as there was no way around it. He thought he would just die right then and there. His heart kept skipping beats at the thought of dating Lily Evans. James had told her to meet him on the Quidditch pitch, but so far she was no where in sight.

And just as worry began to fill his mind, there she was. Up in the empty stands, watching him fly. He suddenly burned red with embarrassment, for he didn't know how long she'd been watching.

They made eye contact and Lily headed of the stands toward the field. James did a double loop in the air just to impress her before he landed.

He hesitantly walked toward those deep, bright green eyes that he could have spotted through a crowd. Finally, they were standing a few feet apart, and she was looking at him with an expression he had never seen on her face before. It wasn't one of disgust or hate. One more rather of nervousness or confusion.

For a moment, neither seventh year said anything.

Finally, Lily pulled her gaze away. "Err, Potter, listen, about what happened last night-"

"Would you like to go flying?" interrupted James politely, saying it so airily that it seemed he hadn't even been listening.

"What? Oh, no- I couldn't. I-I don't know how." Lily mumbled bashfully.

"How, do you know? Have you ever ridden one?"

"Well," said Lily, really thinking about it. "No, but-"

"Well, come on then." Whisked James as he grabbed her wrist and pulled her over to his broom.

"Potter, I know you're just trying to settle my nerves, but this is not helping."

"Hop on, I'll teach you." Said James, pretending once again that she had not said her last sentence.

Lily finally decided James would never give her a straight answer about last night's werewolf attack if she didn't ride. So, giving a sigh, she walked toward the broom. "Fine, let's just get this date over with." She mumbled rashly.

"Alright, now, if you feel to nervous trying to control it, then I'll just let you get the feel of riding it first." Said James, swinging a leg over the broomstick.

Lily nodded and hesitantly got on behind James.

"Ready?" came James's voice in front of her.

"I think so." Muttered Lily, preparing to close her eyes.

James waited a second as though swallowing her words, and then kicked off from the ground. They jerked a bit as they took off, and a startled Lily quickly clasped her arms around James's waist. She pressed the side of her face into his warm back to shield herself from the wind.

As lily's arms tightened around him, James felt the knot he had had in his stomach since last night's disaster loosen greatly. And he couldn't bring himself to believe that he was sitting by Lily, that she actually had her arms around him. She had usually looked at him as a repulsive piece of scum. But today was different. She was patient with him. She hadn't yelled at him, taken points, or rejected him in anyway. Perhaps, thought James, he had finally discovered the secret the Lily Evans.

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Sirius, Remus and Peter sat at the Griffindor table staring at their dinner tiredly. Each one hadn't slept. They couldn't stop thinking about the night before. Moony's secret revealed, and out of all people it had to be Evans. Great, first Snape now Mrs. Headgirl. Remus and Lily usually got along fine but even he seemed a bit worried.

Sirius, determined to return to his carefree nature, began flinging chunks of kidney pie off his fork at an occupied Peter who was sitting across from him. It took Peter quite awhile before he actually noticed.

"Do you think we should tell Dumbledore?" Requested Remus quietly, speaking for the first time that evening.

Peter wiped the porridge off his sleeve and looked at his weary friend.

"Perhaps. But we should get Prongs's opinion on the matter first."

"Yes," muttered Remus as he spooned his pudding up and then watched it slop back into the bowl. "But where is he?"

James had already gone when they returned form their final class of the day, and all three noticed that neither James nor Lily was there that evening.

"Probably on the Quidditch pitch." Sirius knew very well that James always flew to relieve stress.

"Find him would you?" asked Remus rubbing his hands down his face wearily.

"Aren't' you coming?" squeaked Peter.

"No, I want to try to get some rest." Sighed Remus. He stood up, and left.

"That's probably best." Said Sirius. "Well, come on then, Wormtail." He said, standing up and stretching.

"Aw, but Padfoot-" said Peter downtrodden as he had just been about to start on another bowl of pudding.

"Come on, Wormtail, your 17, act like it." Sirius began walking toward the door. He smirked delightfully at himself. He himself certainly didn't act his age, but anything you said got to Peter, and Sirius couldn't help but enjoy himself a little in teasing him.

The two Marauders stepped out into the warm air. When they made it out into the pitch Sirius just about had a heart attack.

"Dost my eyes deceive me?" he whispered to himself with a grin. He couldn't believe it; his best friend was on a broomstick with Lily Evans! Peter stood there gaping, mouth hanging open so far that drool was in danger of escaping.

Up in the air, James and lily hadn't even noticed them.

"What are you just standing there for?" Sirius asked Peter still smiling. "Get the omnioculars!"

But Peter was still gaping.

"Oh, never mind! Accio Omnioculars!"

They flew lightly into his hand. This got Peter's attention.

"Let me see!" Peter shrieked, now smiling to. He tried to grab the omnioculars from Sirius, but to no avail, Sirius pulled them away and began looking through them intently.

"Come on, Padfoot!" Yelled Peter, desperate not to miss out on any of the action. Peter's hand lunged for the spying device and he looked through it.

"Wormtail! Sod off!" Sirius said angrily. Who knew what he was missing out on?

For a few moments the two of them fought over the omnioculars like first years, each barley being able to catch a glance. By the time they had both agreed to each share an omniocular eyehole, James was flying with Lily over the trees of the forbidden forest.

"Great we lost them! No thanks to you!" Sirius yelled, nudging Peter on the shoulder as he headed back toward the castle.

"Where do you think their going?" Asked Peter once he had caught back up with Sirius, not even slightly aware that his friend was mad at him.

"I don't know." Sirius sighed. It was hard to stay mad at Peter. (A/N: unless you're me of course. That slimy, traitorous git! Sorry- back to the story)

"I just want to know the result." Sirius said to Peter, his smirk returning. "And you," He said, rounding a bit hard on Peter, "Need to keep your mouth shut when Prongs comes back. He can't know we saw. Not yet anyway." His grin grew wider. "I can't wait to tell Moony about this."

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James and Lily soared through the air; over the many whistling trees who's branches billowed in the evening wind.

"Still think it's frightening?" James asked with a smile. Not his usual smirk, but I soft friendly one.

"Of course not. I never said I was frightened in the first place." Lily said a bit placidly. She turned away with a wind of hottiness about her attitude. She was trying hard to regain her 'I'll never like you, James' composure. But she guessed it might be a little late for that, since she was now on a broomstick with him.

They flew over Hogsmeade and then toward the hills not to far from it. James landed as softly as he could and hopped off, after which, he helped a shaky Lily off to her feet. Lily looked out over Hogsmeade, squinting her eyes in the sun.

"James, we out off the Hogwarts boundaries!" Lily said shockingly.

"Yes, we are. What are you going to do? You can't take points from me. I'm Headboy." James said proudly, puffing out his chest just a bit as to show off his Headboy badge.

"Yes, well, I wouldn't mind improvising. How about a whack across the head with that broomstick of yours?" Lily said sourly.

"Now Lils, I'm hurt." James said in mock-sadness. "Wouldn't you rather just look at the view?"

James took Lily by the shoulders and turned her around the other direction. Lily gasped as she looked out at the large Hogwarts castle. The lake rippled from the breeze and the green hills surrounded it all, with the sun just peaking over them as it set. They were so high up. But fear was nothing now.

"It's-it's beautiful!" Lily said as she let her intake of breath finally escape.

"Still want to whack me?" James said with his phony lop-sided grin.

Lily looked at him trying to hide a smile. She sat down on the grassy slope of the hill, and James sat down rather close beside her.

"Hogwarts looks so small form here, Potter." Lily said as she continued to gaze at the magnificent view.

"James." Said the headboy as he gazed at her.

"What?"

"You can call me James."

"Oh," Lily didn't look at him. Why was she turning red? Why? "It really is beautiful." She said quietly, trying to change the subject to give her cheeks time to return to their normal shade.

"Not nearly as beautiful as you."

As Lily let James's words sink in, she tried as hard as ever to hold the normal colour to her face. But her forehead was burning. This shouldn't be happening! She hated James! But then, why did she suddenly want to scoot closer? She couldn't figure it out. Snap out of it Lils, she told herself mentally. I hate Potter, remember? James I mean, I hate James. Wait- no Potter! It's Potter! I promised myself I'd never call him James. Yet, it is quite delightful to say-

"Why do you hate me Lily?" James asked suddenly. He was much to close now.

"I, well, I- I dunno." Lily couldn't believe that's all she said! Earlier this week she could have thought of a million mean things she could have said to answer that question. He was arrogant, prideful, self-centered… was… What was she thinking? He still is! He's rude, and hotheaded, a bit charming, handsome, funny… Ah! There I go again! Thought Lily. I do not like James Potter! I can't!

"Don't hate me, Lily. Please?" James said sadly. Lily knew very well he was trying to make her soften up a bit. To feel bad. She wished it wasn't working.

Lily took the chance of looking at him straight in the face. She gazed into his hazel eyes. And he gazed back in to her emerald ones. Her dark red hair blew against her face like flames. And James wanted nothing else in the world than to be caught in it.

Potter charm; don't fail me now, James thought pleadingly to himself. He leaned in toward Lily. He'd been waiting for this since he was 11. Even to be sitting next to her was a dream come true. Let alone her actually looking at him, not turning away, with hate in her eyes.

Lily closed her eyes. Wait! This is James we're talking about here! Lily's conscience whispered to her frantically. You can't kiss James after all those years of loathing him!

And right as James's lips were about to collide with her ruby red ones, she pulled away. She hastily turned away and ran her fingers through her hair.

"We-we should get back. Our classes will be starting soon." Said Lily as she stood up. She tried to say with her normal 'as-a-matter-of-factly' tone, but she was finding it difficult to even swallow. James said nothing. He just helped her on the broom and they took off, a little faster than before. You did the right thing Lils, her mind said. If it was so right, why did she still have butterflies in her stomach? And for once, Lily really wished her conscience would just sod off and shut-up.