A/N: Hello Hello! Happy Summer everyone! School is out, the sun is shining! And I'm posting a new chapter! Yay!
Chapter 21: Catch a Falling Star
Lilly was walking down a deserted corridor when James approached her.
"Oh, hello James" she said.
Without responding he swept her up, pinning her against the wall, his lips crashing against her own.
She closed her eyes, savoring the taste of him, and the feel of his kiss.
He pulled away and said,
"Lilly! Lilly, wake up! Lilly!"
She opened her eyes to find herself in her room, her feet at the head of her bed, with the blankets tangled around her limbs, James staring at her curiously.
As if he knew what she was dreaming, she began to blush furiously, her cheeks becoming the color of bright, fall apples.
"What time is it?" she asked groggily.
"A little before 3 in the morning."
"Why are you waking me up?"
"You'll see, come on."
She stood, glad she was wearing a very flattering emerald pant and button up shirt set, rather than the stiff, white, high-neck nightgowns her mother always bought.
"You sleep in an . . .interesting manner." James commented lightly.
"I swear, I've never slept that way before in my life."
"Sure you haven't"
They continued down the halls, laughing and joking, James occasionally steering Lilly in the correct direction when she sleepily got confused.
They emerged on the roof of the astronomy tower to meet Gretchen, Sirius, Tabitha, Remus, Alice, and Frank.
"We tried to wake Peter, but he told us to bugger off, so . . ." Sirius said.
Gretchen looked up. She was very messy looking, with sleepy eyes, and bed-head. Taking in Lilly's appearance, she said
"Don't you look cute and put together."
"Alright, why are we here?" Alice asked.
"Look up" Frank said.
The sky stretched out before them like an endless canvas of velvety midnight blue. The stars twinkled in their places, sketching pictures and stories for the educated eye. Shooting stars began to fly across the cold, dark February sky. They dropped like presents to insomniacs, and those wise enough to wake for their early morning show.
"It's beautiful"
Lilly stood staring at the sky, mesmerized by the glittering lights. Breaking from her trance, she glanced at her friends, each transfixed. She tried as hard as she could to fix each in her memory, a precious morsel of her closing childhood as it slipped away.
Alice leaned against Frank, his arm around her shoulders as they stared at the sky's performance contentedly. Sirius and Gretchen sat against a wall, bickering and shoving and poking in their fashion, Sirius occasionally pointing out constellations. She couldn't see Remus or Tabitha, but she knew they were in the shadows, discussing one thing or another. Finally, her eyes landed on James, standing straight and tall against the dark night.
She wandered over to him, standing shoulder to shoulder and watched the sky. James turned lightly, placing Lilly slightly before him. He bent his head lightly, thought a short prayer, and whispered in her ear,
"Make a wish, Lilly"
Lilly looked up into his hazel eyes for a moment, before glancing at Frank and Alice. Frank was resting his chin on Alice's shoulder, his arms lightly wrapped around her. Alice had a look of contentment on her face that Lilly had never seen before. It was the look of someone who knew exactly where they belonged in life, and were perfectly content with how they were. She turned back to James.
Maybe it was the moon. Maybe it was the beauty of the stars, bewitching her with their silent journeys of silver across the moonlit sky. Maybe it was the lack of sleep the clouded her overly-cautious nature.
Whether it was exhaustion, the moon, or the stars, she turned, and leaned back against the railing of the tower.
James swallowed, his eyes widening at the twinkle in his Lilly's vixen eyes. His eyes closed at the touch of her soft palm on his cheek.
Lilly's hand shook as she lightly brushed his cheek. Drawing a breath, she threw caution to the stars as she tilted her head up, lashes sliding closed over emerald orbs.
James stood thunderstruck as Lilly's lips gently touched his, like a flower petal drawn across his lips. She pulled back and looked down, blushing lightly. She looked up, emerald eyes peeking through thick black lashes.
"Did my wish come true?" she inquired.
James grinned as he looked down at her.
"I reckon so."
"Wow, look at that" Tabitha said.
Remus glanced over in the direction of Tabitha's pale fingers gesture. Lilly was wrapped in James arms, laughing softly as he lightly kissed her neck.
"We both knew something would happen."
"I'm glad it did, though"
Tabitha shivered lightly, rubbing her arms against the cold.
"Are you cold?" Remus asked.
"Only a little."
Remus took off his warm, woolen cloak, and wrapped it around her thin shoulders.
"Oh, Remus, I couldn't. . ."
"Tabby."
Violet eyes met blue, the violet searching, the blue reassuring.
"Just take it" Remus murmured softly.
Compromising, she wrapped it around both of them, lightly leaning her head against his chest, and felt his fingers gently twine in hers.
It wasn't warm and fuzzy, like Frank and Alice. It wasn't destined and romantic, like Lilly and James. But for Remus and Tabitha, as they stood silhouetted against the sky, fingers entwined, wrapped in Remus' cloak, it was perfect.
