A/N: I know, I've been gone forever. If anyone is still reading this story, I'm really terribly sorry. I've been suffering some major writing block, and a crazy schedule. Oh, and the idea for this chapter has been shamelessly stolen from the movie Wimbledon, so please don't sue! So, here we go!

Chapter 27: In which Lilly gets some Sirius Help

Rain poured down relentlessly upon spectators and athletes, drenching everyone and everything is sight. Water dripped down Tabitha's nose and hair, and pooled in her hands, which were clasped tightly with Lilly's.

"I despise you" Tabitha said wetly to the only slightly damp Lilly.

"Hey, it's not my fault I dry quickly."

"And James Potter has the seen the snitch, he's headed for it, and he- OH!"

The Gryffindor side of the pitch let out a moan of discouragement as James lost sight of the snitch for the fifth time in the match.

"And the Gryffindors continue to trail the Slytherins 40 to 180. James Potter, sorry mate, is not doing his best today. The Gryffindors will need a miracle to get out of this one." Remus said with a sad shake of his head.

Remus stood in the commentator's box with McGonagall, who was having a frenzied discussion with Madame Hooch. Turning, McGonagall whispered frantically into Remus' ear. His eyebrows rose swiftly, before clearing his throat and nodding decisively.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, for the first time in Hogwart's history, officials have decided to postpone the Quidditch match until the rain lets up, due to constraints on visibility. Please return to your dormitories until further notice. Thank you."

Grumbling, the stands began to empty. Lilly stood, yet remained where she was to watch her disgruntled and disheartened Quidditch team head to their changing rooms. After watching James' bowed, dripping head leave the pitch, she began the slightly treacherous trek down the rickety stairs. Halfway down, she felt something small strike the back of her head.

"Psst. Lilly! Lils!"

Turning her head, she glanced around until her eyes lit upon Sirius waving at her from the very edge of the pitch.

"What is it?" She said, surprised that he was speaking to him. He, with reason, she supposed, had been slightly chilly towards her after the 'incident'. He gestured that she come closer, and when she did, he pulled her gently down onto the pitch, and pulled her into the shadows.

"Look, I'm tired of this. I know you love him, why don't you just tell him?"

"I . . . what?"

"James. Why don't you tell James that you love him?"

"Sirius! I . . . I don't know . ." She paced back and forth, her hand against her forehead.

"Oh, come on, Lilly! How difficult can this be? Why don't you just tell him!"

"I don't know what love is! Alright! This isn't some stupid feeling in my stomach just like everything else! And in case you haven't noticed, this is hardly the best time to fall in love."

Sirius looked at her incredulously. "You can't decide when to fall in love, it just happens! But just because the time isn't right, that doesn't mean you deny its existence!" He turned away for a second, before turning back and moving closer to her. "Look. How do you feel about him? When you think about him, how do you feel?"

Lilly shook her head, exasperated. "I don't know! I . . I want him to be happy. He's . . I don't know. I just . . . I don't know!"

Sirius nodded. "That's love. Love is feeling so strongly about someone you can't express it. They're so wonderful and flawed that you can't deal with it in words."

"I . . "

"Can you live without him?"

She paused, and closed her mouth, pensive.

"You're unhappy. We all see it. Let yourself be happy, Lilly. You both need each other."

Lilly nodded slightly, squaring her shoulders, before pausing slightly. "How do you know so much about love?" She asked curiously.

Sirius looked down, a little ruefully. "Just trust me, ok?" Taking her gently by the shoulders, he turned her around and propelled her toward the door that leads to James. As she reached for the door handle, Lilly turned around.

"Sirius?"

He looks up from where he's leaning against the wall, watching the rain pour down. There was something in his face she'd never seen before. It held a deep sadness, an almost haunted look that broke her heart.

"Thank you. You really care about James, don't you?"

He smiled slightly, breaking out of his melancholy.

"You think I'm doing this for James? I just want to win this match. I'll be damned if we lose the Cup to the Slytherins."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

James Potter sat, secluded from the rest of the team, his head on the wall. A sodden towel was wrapped around his neck, having proved utterly worthless in the attempt to dry his drenched hair. His foot was propped on the bench next to him, his arm resting against it. His eyes were closed, in a picture of defeat.

"Having a bad day?"

James' eyes popped open at the sound of Lilly's voice, his neck cracking like a whip as he turned to observe her.

She stood leaning against the pillar, her green shirt soaked and sticking to her body. Her long auburn hair was damp, drying in small ringlets due to humidity. He gulped slightly, before looking back down again.

"I reckon you could say that."

"What's happening out there?"

"Thinking about other things, I guess. It's hard."

"What's hard?"

"Having people expect things from me. I want the team to be proud of me." He hesitated, before shrugging slightly, "I want you to be proud of me."

Lilly moved toward him, taking his hand, "don't worry about what I think, I love you. That won't change with one Quidditch match. Just worry about the snitch."

"I- wait, what?"

"I said, just worry about-"

"No, the other part."

"I said I love you. I'm just sorry it's taken me this long to figure it out."

A voice interrupted. "Rains stopped, playing must resume immediately!"

James looked down at her for a second, his eyes filled with determination.

"James, I- " But he had already left, grabbing his broom as he exited. Frowning slightly, and more than a little depressed, Lilly Evans made her way back up the stands.

"Alright, Ladies and Gents, the sun is trying to peek through the clouds. Maybe the sun will bring some hope to the Gryffindors." Remus and McGonagall stood tense in the box.

Slowly but surely, the Gryffindors began to climb out of their hole. Gretchen and Sirius managed to pull a spectacular Doppelganger play that would surely go down in the Hogwarts books. Alice and the other Chasers passed and caught within renewed precision, and Frank seemed to guard the hoops with new energy and confidence.

"Oh no! Snape has seen the snitch!"

Tabitha and Lilly leapt up from their seats in horror as they saw James tear after Snape in what seemed like a hopeless attempt for the snitch. On Snape's face there laid a horrible grin of victory and the knowledge that his win would crush James Potter. Suddenly, Lilly filled her lungs with air and yelled out across the entire pitch.

"Come on, James, I know you can get this!"

Suddenly, a new burst of speed seemed to come over James, and he stretched out his arm just a touch further, knocking Severus' hand away just as it began to ensnare the snitch's glittering wings. Pulling out of his dive, James held the snitch aloft, beaming.

"YES!" Professor McGonagall danced about the Box, dragging Remus with her, whose hands were caught in her vice-grip.

"Professor? Professor, my hands . . um"

The Gryffindor quidditch team had collapsed to the ground in a many armed hug that seemed to continue for ages. Severus Snape landed and chucked his broomstick away from him, glaring at James. Looking up, James mounted his broom and flew out over the crowd.

"Well, folks, it looks like he's searching for someone" Remus said bemusedly, messaging his hands.

Landing, James stood grinning in front of Lilly, releasing the snitch to hover between them. There was a flash of movement, and the snitch flapped helplessly between Lilly's thumb and forefinger. A grin spread over her face.

"Gotcha."

Three-fourths of the stadium erupted in cheers as Lilly wrapped her arms around James' neck and kissed him as if there were no tomorrow.