Chapter 4: Swimming/Caught in the Rain Again

"Alright, Mr. Show-Off-Quidditch-Champ, how are you at swimming?" I ask, tilting my chin up in challenge.

Potter grins, eyes glinting to life. "A challenge is it? Wanna race?"

"To the other side?"

"Sure...See who Muffin pulls under first."

I watch the water warily. "Muffin? Maybe we should go to where we can still touch."

"Touch what?" he grins. Three months ago, I would have hit him for the implication...

"We'll just go out 6 meters and turn around."

"Any wager?" he asks, already pulling off shoes and socks and reaching for his Quidditch jersey to bring over his head.

"We're swimming in our underthings," I say breezily. "What other reward is necessary?"

Potter laughs. "And you accuse me of having a high opinion of myself." He chuckles again, unbuckling his belt and letting his pants fall, stepping out of them easily to stand only in his boxer shorts.

I squint. "Are those snitches on your drawers?"

"You're welcome to take a closer look."

I turn away instead, making a neat pile in the grass of my skirt, shirt, stockings and shoes.

Potter nods his appreciation when I turn around to face him in my pale blue matching underthings. "Shall we?" he asks.

"I'm...I'm not a grand swimmer so don't pull me under as a joke."

"I wouldn't. That's more Sirius's style." He chucks his glasses onto his pile of clothing before grabbing my hand and racing for the lake.

The water cuts into my lungs like ice. I emerge, gasping for breath, and floundering to wipe the water out of my eyes.

"Easy," Potter says, arm around my waist to calm me. "If you struggle, you're likely to get a cramp."

"It's cold!" I gasp. If I stretch, the tips of my toes reach the bottom.

"Who's bright idea was this anyway, Evans?" He uses his free hand to wipe the remaining water from my face and eyes. "There now. Try that."

I open my eyes, moonlight turning the droplets left on his hair and face silver. I suck in my breath. "I've...This is the first time I've seen you without your glasses."

He laughs, hauling me closer toward shore so we can both stand flat-footed on the bottom. "This is the second time I've seen you soaking wet and in your skivies. Not that I mind the repeat--oh, no!--it's just..." He stops, voice dropping and face suddenly going serious. "You look beautiful in the moonlight, Lily. I wanted you to know that."

"I...thank you...James."

He moves his hand to my cheeks, fingertips curling around my wet hair. "I've...I've loved you so long I don't remember when I haven't. On the train, going to our first year, I saw you with some girls. That's when I want to say I was born. When I truly started to live." Potter--no James, I'll call him James--sighs. "Do you know how hard it is when the one girl you fancy beyond life itself thinks you're horrid? I would die for you, Lily. Without hesitation. I would."

"I...thank you...James."

"And you may think I've pursued you over the terms cause I'm a horrid, brutish lout, but I do it, Lily, because I don't know how to get on without you. I love you. Honestly. I don't say that out of ego or pride but because it's true. It's always been true." He wipes my tears away. Maybe I can pretend it's rain...Rain?

"Oh, bugger!" I mutter, making a scramble for shore. "It's raining!"

"Why are you rushing?" he asks, trying to get a firm grip on my wrist to pull me back. "We're already wet."

"Our clothes aren't!" I grab the first thing I can find--his Quidditch jersey--and pull it over my head, working into my skirt second. James is left with just his pants.

"I doubt that will fit me, love," he says, nodding toward my shirt.

"Can we...Can we sneak in without anyone noticing?" I ask. "I know it'll look suspicious, but--"

He shrugs. "I can have Sirius throw down my cloak."

"But it's...it's too high. He'll never be able to hear you call up."

"He's probably not there anyway."

I jump, startled, when lightning flashes. "Do something! I don't want to get caught!"

"Cottage."

"What?"

"There's the cottage," he repeats. "Those friends of yours will cover if there's a bed check, right?"

"I...I think so."

"And mine would never sell me out." James takes my hand, lacing his fingers tight in mine. "It's out of the storm and we can get back before breakfast. Will you go?"

He's asking? Three months ago, he'd just haul me off. I nod in reply and James smiles.

"Great. We can dry off too. If I remember right, that fire was awful cozy."

"You cover the fire, I'll make sure we wake up early."

The rain picks up, so we decide to run for the little abandoned cottage. James gets to work on the fire instantly, and I cast an alarm spell to wake us up at exactly 6:04. He turns to smile at me.

"Back out of the wet clothes again. We seem to keep doing this."

It's slightly strange, but oddly comforting to see our clothes hanging next to each other on the line. I smile too, feeling sleepy as I sit next to James in front of the fire.

"Those are Golden Snitches on your drawers!" I exclaim, pointing triumphantly. "Do you got ones with Quaffles and Bludgers too?"

He laughs, putting an arm slowly around my shoulders as if testing my reaction. When I don't pull away or even protest in the slightest, he draws me against him. I lean my head on his shoulder, watching the fire.

"I'm going to be most put out in the morning if you hate me again," he says.

"I don't hate you. I won't in the morning either."

James presses several kisses into my hair, arm tightening slightly, trying to gauge my reaction to each bolder step. When there's still no protest from my part, he shifts slightly to face me, the action forcing me to lift my head off his shoulder. He flushes, words barely audible.

"I've waited...I've waited forever."

He kisses me--giving me no time to think as his mouth pulls greedily at mine. I put my hands on his shoulders, whether to push him away or ask for more, I do not know. Everything is reeling...

James decides for us, pushing himself away and standing to create even more distance, hands shaking when he pushes them through his hair.

"Gotta stop...Gotta stop before I can't stop."

I stand, taking his now dry Quidditch jersey off the line to sleep in. "Good night, James."

"Good night, Lily."

I feel the bed sink next to me under James' weight, opening my eyes to see him laying on his back, hands behind his head.

"What just...What just happened right now, Lily?"

"James Potter, if you need to ask--"

"No," he interrupts. "What would have happened if I hadn't stopped? Would you have...Would you have let me...do...more?"

I smile. "I don't know. You didn't try."

"Don't tease me now, Lily, this is serious."

"Next time try, James, and then see for yourself."

He turns his head toward me. "That an invitation?"

I close my eyes. "Good night."

"That would be a no then..." He sighs. "Hey, Evans? Remember when you said you'd never wear my jersey? Well, you're wearing my jersey."

"It's comfortable."

"Could have had it years ago."

"Didn't want it years ago."

"Do you want it now?"

I smile, opening my eyes half-way. "To sleep in, yes."

"No. To keep. To wear. To remind you of me."

"Mm...Possibly. Ask in the morning, Potter. I'm likely to say 'yes' to anything tonight."

"Do I have to sleep on the floor?"

"No."

"Can I kiss you good night?"

"Yes."

James presses his lips to mine. No more, no less. "Good night, Lily."

"Pleasant dreams, James."