Author's Note: Hey everybody! Here's the next update! I would have put it up sooner but my computer monitor was broken last week. Sad day right? I'd like to thank I am Siriusly loving Snape, lexi427, The Sky's the Limit, andWeasley-and-Proud for your wonderful reviews! They make me really happy! You guys are awesome! Now enjoy chapter three.

Chapter Three: A Touch of Light

Two weeks. It had only been two weeks since my mother's funeral and I was already back at Hogwarts. I didn't want to be here. I didn't want to be at home either. I didn't want to be anywhere really. I wanted to cease existing. Perhaps then the pain would go away.

"Lily!" Mary cried when I entered our room, pulling my trunk behind me. "Oh I heard the dreadful news and it's just terrible! You poor dear!"

She leapt across the room to smother me in a hug. I stood board stiff. Her arms felt odd around me, not like my best friend's but like a strangers, and the constant stream of condolences that she kept up throughout the uncomfortable hug annoyed me. Mary didn't seem to notice my response as she let go. Carter did though and she hovered nearby looking worried.

"I'm just so shocked that this happened." Mary was still talking. "This whole thing is just awful. Don't worry though you'll be better soon. We'll help you through this."

I shrugged away from Mary and sat on my bed staring straight ahead, my gaze empty. Mary asked me something but I barely understood. My attempts to tune out her stupid chatter finally seemed to be working.

"Lily! Are you alright?" Mary's shout finally broke through my haze as she shook my arm.

"Don't be stupid. Of course she isn't alright," Carter snapped.

"I…I just… Why isn't she talking? Did something happen to her?" Mary whimpered.

"I've heard of this happening to other people. Sometimes when someone goes through a big emotional trauma they lock away their words. I think that's what happened to Lily," Carter explained.

"Oh Lily!" Mary cried. "You poor thing!"

I knew that she had good intentions but her words were seriously starting to piss me off. I'd arrived at the school late and I was tired. I pulled my pajamas out of my trunk and changed into them, then slipped beneath my covers.

"Goodnight Lily," Carter's voice was gentle and sad.

"Ya, night," Mary added.

I didn't reply. They didn't expect me to.

I closed my eyes and waited for the nightmares to begin. They'd haunted my dreams frequently since my mum's death and I knew they'd most likely have me waking up screaming again tonight.

The next morning I ate breakfast as my two friends chattered nonstop. I looked up at the enchanted ceiling that reflected the weather outside. It was raining. Without really thinking about what I was doing I stood up and headed toward the exit.

"Lily!" Mary ran to catch up to me. She grabbed my arm. "Where are you going? We have class in like five minutes!"

I stared at her until she shifted uncomfortably and dropped my arm. I walked away, leaving her standing just outside the Great Hall looking confused and worried.

As soon as I was outside the rain drenched my skin and hair and clothes. A flash of lighting lit up the sky with a burst of beautiful light followed by a rumbling roll of thunder. I thought I smelled my mother in the air. What if these raindrops were her tears? I could just imagine my mum up in heaven, crying for my pain. Did she miss me too?

I closed my eyes and let the rain soak me through.

"The storm's beautiful isn't it?"

I slowly opened my eyes. James Potter stood before me. He wasn't in his uniform but a pair of jeans and a white t-shirt, like he didn't plan on going to classes today. His head was tilted back as he stared up at the sky. "It sort of feels like you're falling when you look up at the rain," he commented, his voice full of wonder.

There was a brief moment of quiet before he spoke again, still looking upward, letting his face get soaked. "My parents used to go outside during the gentler rain storms and dance together. It was a strange tradition but one that they enjoyed. I would always stand in the doorway and watch. My dad would tell my mum how beautiful she looked even when her makeup ran down her face, leaving her looking like a smeared painting. She'd laugh and tell him that it was just the rain because the rain could make anything, even sadness, look beautiful in its own way." James finished and tilted his head down to meet my eyes with an expression I couldn't describe.

I liked his story, as odd as it was it was rather romantic, though I wondered at his use of past tense. Were his parents divorced? Had one of them died? I didn't really know much about James or his family. I wanted to ask him about it but the words still wouldn't come and I stayed silent.

"Do you hear the music?" James asked suddenly.

I listened but all I heard was the patter of rain. I shook my head, my brow furrowed in confusion as I questioned James' sanity.

"I hear it. It's in the sound of the rain and the wind in the trees. It's in the sound of our breathing and the beating of our hearts. I hear it, and it's beautiful." He took my hand and pulled me towards him. I stared at him curiously as he started to sway. Before I knew it we were dancing. It was strange, random, spontaneous, and… nice. Soon we were spinning around, our feet splashing in puddles.

For the first time in my life I really looked at James Potter. His messy black hair stood up in the back still, even though it was wet. He blinked rain out of his stunning hazel eyes and smiled the way one might when reliving a happy memory they'd had with someone who wasn't around anymore. He pulled me closer to his body as we stopped spinning and began to sway like the song had become a slow love ballad. I realized just how nice and well toned the muscles of his arms and chest were as his wet t-shirt clung to his skin, going transparent. The warmth of his body broke through my cold, distant shell and I let out a sigh of relief.

I'd never really paid enough attention to James. He'd always just been that kid who asked me out a lot, was rather annoying, and could be a little funny on occasion. Now suddenly he was the only person I did notice. James' mother was right, the rain really did make everything more beautiful because he seemed to be glowing from within.

In my world of darkness James Potter had a touch of light about him.

The corners of my lips twitched upward and I smiled for what felt like the first time in a long time.

Ending Note: So what did you think? Please review!