A/N: Only three reviews? Well, four, but… Come on, guys! Please, if you read, review!

I finally gave into my inner romantic with this chapter… I hope you like it!

Disclaimer: Yeah, I'm totally J.K. Not. And there's a line in this chapter based on the song "Love Remains the Same" by Gavin Rossdale.

And Then Came the Rain

Chapter Thirteen

The Yule Ball and the End of Denial

Lily

The sun shining on my face gently roused me to consciousness the next morning. I yawned and turned over, not quite willing to wake up.

Suddenly, I felt the bed sink down next to me, and someone's hand in my hair. I opened my eyes, and gasped, rocketing into a sitting position. "James!"

James laughed. "This is like déjà vu… you sleeping, I wake you up, and you jerk upright and go, 'James!'"

I grinned tiredly at him, still drained after my cry the night before. "Yeah, well, you shouldn't surprise me in the morning."

He laughed and then stood, holding out his hand. "Are you feeling well enough to come to breakfast?"

I nodded and pulled myself out of bed. James left the room and I quickly showered and pulled on a pair of sweatpants and a tee-shirt, grateful it was Saturday. Fifteen minutes later James and I walked down to breakfast.

Already seated at the table were Alice, Frank, Colleen, and the Marauders. When I sat down, they all pushed in close, each reaching out a hand to touch my own, each whispering condolences. I smiled sadly before looking at James. "You told them?"

"They deserved to know," he said, his hazel eyes unfazed. I contemplated getting angry at him, but truthfully, I was tired of being angry with him.

"Yeah." I turned to my friends. "I'm sorry, guys… I really… should have…" and I dissolved into tears, turning and unconsciously burying my head in James's shoulder. He stroked my hair. Remus and Sirius, on my other side, reached over to touch my back, while Alice, Frank, Peter, and Colleen stretched across the table to touch my arm. Finally, James helped me up and took me back to my room, where I curled up.

"When will it stop hurting?" I whispered, touching the place under which my heart beat. James sighed and stroked my forehead.

"Soon," he murmured. "I promise."

))((

James was right. When Thanksgiving rolled around a week or so later, I was managing to make it through the day without collapsing. Nights were plagued with nightmares and sobs, but the days were full of light again.

At Thanksgiving dinner I ate my fill of turkey, potatoes, stuffing, gravy, and treacle tart, enjoying the company of my friends. After the festivities, James and I went back to the Head Tower.

James yawned and started to go up the stairs, but then paused and looked back at me. "Lily? Aren't you coming?"

I shook my head. "I… don't want to go to sleep, yet," I whispered. His face instantly showed his understanding.

"Ah," he responded, and then he came down the stairs and sat next to me. My eyes widened.

"You don't have to stay!" I gasped. "I wasn't trying to guilt you into-"

James cut me off by placing a finger on my lips, silencing my words and effectively shutting down all of my normal functions. He removed his finger and said, "Listen, I'm staying because I'm your friend, okay? You didn't guilt me into staying, I promise."

I searched his hazel eyes behind his glasses, but only found earnest affection. Sighing, I leaned back against the couch. "Okay. I believe you."

He grinned. "Excellent." He leaned back against the sofa as well. We sat in silence for a moment before he said, "Hey."

"Hey what?" I answered.

"Let's play Word Association," he responded.

I blinked at him. I wasn't sure exactly what answer I'd been expecting, but it certainly hadn't been that one. "Uh… sure."

"Okay, you start," he grinned.

I blinked again. "Uh… Chair."

"Table," James responded.

"Homework."

"Moony."

"Wolf."

"Padfoot."

"Sirius."

"Remus."

"Deoxyribonucleic acid."

"What the hell is that?" asked James, effectively ending the round. I laughed.

"It's DNA… you know, your body's code," I explained. "I'm sure you've read about it somewhere, in one of the Muggle books the library has."

"Yeah," he answered. "But… what does that have to do with Moony?"

"He was reading a book that mentioned it yesterday, and showed me the passage."

"You nerds."

I glared half heartedly at him and he grinned. Yawning, he started the new round with, "Portrait."

His yawn infected me, and through one of my own I responded, "Fat Lady."

"Gryffindor Tower."

"Marauders."

"Brothers."

"Boys."

"Girls."

"Make-up.

))((

Five games of Word Association later I fell asleep. James carried me up to my bed, where, thankfully, I had a dreamless night.

))((

November finished rapidly, leading into December, and Christmas, my favorite time of the year. Hagrid started hanging up hundreds of wreaths, Christmas trees sprang up in the castle daily, the teachers started giving out more homework than I had ever seen, and Peeves began carrying around mistletoe.

Two weeks before Christmas, James, Remus, Alice, Frank and I were all studying in the library, while Peter, Sirius, and Colleen, being much less studious and wanting to take advantage of the frozen Lake, had opted to go skating.

Suddenly, a prefect named Katherine Scott came to our table, pressing a piece of parchment into my hand before hurrying off. I glanced after her before looking down at the parchment and blanching.

It was a poster for Yule Ball.

I poked James, who was sitting, engrossed in his Potions textbook, next to me. He started and looked up. I pointed to the parchment. He scanned it and then grimaced.

"Ah well," he whispered in my ear, making my hair and my heart flutter. "It was sort of fun last year."

"Sort of being the key word here," I whispered back.

"Sort of is two words," James muttered before turning back to his book. I glared at him.

Finally, Alice, Frank, Remus, James and I decided that we'd had enough studying. James and I trooped to the Head Tower, our books under our arms, when suddenly Peeves swooped down over us. I shrieked and James swore, but Peeves didn't drop anything on us, he just hovered above us cackling.

I glanced up and swore worse than James had. "Peeves! Get away from us with that thing!" I shouted. Peeves howled with laughter, shaking a piece of mistletoe.

"I don't think so, ickle Head Girl. Time for you to pucker up with wee Potty, eh?"

James shook his head. "I think not, Peeves." He grabbed my hand and tried to pull me down the hallway, but Peeves swooped down again, with a cane appearing in his hand, hitting us sharply in the midriffs. I gasped and glared at him, ready to kill him (had he been living. He wasn't, though, so I was stymied in that respect...)

"You won't get past me, ickle Heads." Peeves cackled again. James sighed and looked at me.

"Let's just do it, okay? He'll leave us alone if we do."

I stared at him in shock, but before I could protest, James had taken my upper arms in his hands and had pulled me into him, crashing our lips together.

I didn't even hear Peeves swoop away as James's lips effectively erased all thoughts from my head. I went to deepen the kiss, but suddenly, James pulled away, looking up. I realized what I had gone to do and blushed, rapidly stepping away from him. James's face was also red, his eyes wide, but a moment later he grinned and said, "We should really speak to McGonagall about him."

I laughed with him, but inwardly, my stomach clenched. Every day it was getting harder to keep my affections a secret.

Plus, after my parents' deaths, I felt like I should live by those age-old clichés of "Live every day to the fullest" and "Never have any regrets".

But regrets seemed inevitable when it came to James.

))((

The next day, McGonagall summoned me and James to her office. We left Potions feeling slightly apprehensive, a feeling which only grew when we saw old record player in the corner of the room.

"As Head Boy and Girl," said McGonagall, startling us as she came in from her living quarters, "you will open the ball with a dance. I am here to provide lessons for you so that you don't embarrass yourselves."

I stared at James, who stared back. Lessons? To dance? Oh crap.

"Uh, Professor, I really don't want to do this," I said urgently, but McGonagall tutted.

"You do not have a choice, Miss Evans. Now, Mr. Potter, place your right hand on Miss Evans' waist." James looked at me before hesitantly setting his hand on my waist. "Fine. Miss Evans, left hand on Mr. Potter's right shoulder." I bit my lip and placed my hand on his shoulder, which, even through his robes, I could feel was muscled and strong.

"Now," said McGonagall, thankfully interrupting my train of thought, "put your other hands together… good. All right, watch me, now step two three, step two three…"

Slowly, James and I got the hang of it, soon moving around with room with ease, if not with speed. McGonagall stopped us a little later with a small smile. "Well done. You may go."

"Uh, can I talk to you about something for a minute, Professor?" asked James. I glanced at him but he shook his head.

"Of course." McGonagall turned to me. "Miss Evans, you are dismissed. I shall see you later."

"Good-bye, Professor," I answered, and I left, wondering what it was James had needed.

))((

The week before Christmas, and Alice, Colleen and I were in my room getting ready for e for the Yule Ball.

Or rather, Alice and Colleen were ready, and trying to get me ready.

I squirmed away from Alice's hairbrush, which she was attempting to run through my hair, and tried to hide behind my bed curtains. Colleen swore and leapt across the room, an impressive feat in her tight fitting red dress.

I sighed as I was heaved into the bathroom. I really did not want to go to the Yule Ball. It was a waste of my time. Alice and Colleen, however, did not see it the same way.

"Lily, this is your last Yule Ball. You will go, you will look gorgeous, and you will have a good time. So shut up and let Alice do your hair," snapped Colleen. She stomped out of the room to get my dress ready as Alice gently pulled my hair back with a jeweled clip, arranging it, in her own words, "tastefully".

After she had applied a small amount of makeup, she shoved me into the bedroom, where Colleen was holding a dark green dress. She helped me into it as I complained. "It's like this is my wedding!" I groused as Colleen zipped up the dress. She muttered something rude sounding under her breath as she slipped a pair of black robes over my dress.

"Look at yourself," she snapped, pushing me in front of a mirror.

I complied, turning to face myself. I blinked and smiled. I had to admit, I looked pretty amazing. I turned and hugged Colleen.

"Thanks, babe," I whispered. Colleen laughed.

"You're welcome… and it isn't like your wedding, your dress only come to your knees," she answered. "And you'd be in a better mood." I grinned and then turned to hug Alice as well as she came out of the bathroom.

Finally, we were ready. I slowly followed my friends down to the Great Hall. In the corridor in front of the Great Hall were hundreds of people. I smiled as Frank hurried over to Alice, looking dashing in his dress robes. I soon lost sight of them and focused on Colleen, who was talking animatedly with Mary McDonald.

Suddenly, someone whistled behind me. "Look at this, Moony. I think we've found ourselves a rare Lilyflower."

I rolled my eyes and turned to face Sirius. "I'm glad you approve, Black."

Remus laughed and hugged me briefly. "You do look lovely," he smiled. "Padfoot isn't lying."

I grinned back at him. "Good. Seeing as I went through hell to look like this."

"It was worth it," Peter's soft voice promised. I beamed at him.

"Thanks, Peter," I said. I glanced around. "Where's your errant partner in crime?"

"Looking for me, Lily? How sweet!" came James's voice behind me. I turned again and blinked.

He looked amazing. His robes were clean and neat, and the black and white matched his hair, making him look incredibly sophisticated. To cover my shock, I asked, "How did you get into the Great Hall without us seeing you?"

"I've been in there for a while," he answered, coming to stand next to me. He looked me up and down before leaning in and whispering in my ear, "You look amazing."

I blushed and Sirius smirked. Apparently, though, it was more fun to make fun of James, because he ignored our exchange and said, "He was just raring to go. One would think he was eager to waltz around in his robes, hm?" He nudged Remus, who chuckled. James smacked Sirius upside the head with a scowl and I shook my head, smiling.

Suddenly, McGonagall's voice crackled through the Great Hall. "Will the Head Boy and Girl please proceed to the dance floor to open the ball?"

I blanched and froze, but James grabbed my hand and pulled me through the crowd, which parted for us, whispering as they saw our hands. Finally, we reached the center of the dance floor and the crowd closed around us.

My heart felt like a caged bird as James smiled reassuringly at me. "Don't worry, Lily," he whispered. "You can do this." I bit my lip but placed my hand on his shoulder while he took my other hand. When his hand found my waist, the music started.

James led, twirling us slowly around the dance floor, just as we had in McGonagall's office. After a moment, James leaned forward and whispered," Do you want to go faster?"

"Can you go faster?" I murmured back. He blushed but murmured, his breath tickling my ear, "I've practiced extra with McGonagall."

And then suddenly, he started stepping faster, guiding me. I gasped, expecting disaster, but… he was good at it! We moved rapidly around the floor, and after a moment he whispered, "I'm going to spin you."

Before I could protest he released me and spun me around under his arm, both of us (by some miracle) still moving forward with the proper steps. The crowd around us cheered as James's hand met my waist and mine his shoulder. I grinned at James, all my fears alleviated.

Finally, the song ended and other couples joined us on the floor. I sighed as we separated, grinning at him. "That was fun!" I said, as we were buffeted around, soon reaching the snack tables. He smiled down at me.

"I'm glad," he said. "I've been practicing that for a long time."

I took some punch and sat down, not realizing until I had done so that James had been grabbed by a blonde Ravenclaw girl, who was talking to him earnestly, a hand on his arm. I turned away, feeling jealousy, bitter and vile, in my throat.

"You should tell him how you feel."

"What the bloody-" My head snapped up and I sighed in relief when I saw Remus and Sirius sitting down across from me. "What does that mean?" I asked, once I regained my composure.

"We've seen you watching James, Lily," answered Remus quietly. "If you don't hurry, he'll think you don't like him anymore, and he will finally move on to someone else."

I snorted. "Psh, like he hasn't done that already." I motioned to him, still deep in conversation with the Ravenclaw girl.

"He hasn't," said Sirius, sounding exasperated. "That's one of the girls who was in charge of decorating the Great Hall. She's checking to make sure he likes the decorations. He is Head Boy, you know." I blushed and Sirius chuckled. "You're soooo jealous."

My eyes narrowed. "I am not! Both of you are mistaken."

Remus groaned. "We aren't, Lily. Come on. For years, James has put himself out there, and gotten beaten down by you over and over again. Maybe it's time you put yourself out there, huh?"

I blinked but then snorted. "Yeah, right, Remus. Pull the other one."

Sirius suddenly growled at me, sounding much like Padfoot. My eyes widened as he leaned forward. "Listen, Evans," he hissed. "Listen very closely. James Potter is my best mate. He has been beaten down by you long enough. We've watched you, me and Moony. You like him. Maybe even love him. And yet you continue to deny it. It's time to end the denial."

I frowned, but Sirius was right. I did like him. Love him, even. (Him meaning James, of course. Not Sirius.)

But were they right? Was James still holding out for me? Did I still have a chance with him?

These thoughts were too confusing for me. I stood quickly. "I… I'm going outside," I muttered, before practically sprinting towards a small side door and out onto the grounds. As I fled, I thought I heard Sirius whisper, "D'you think I overdid it?" and Remus answering, "No. She had to admit how she felt sooner or later."

I rushed out into the dark, running until I had passed the light being given off from the windows of the Great Hall. I stopped and closed my eyes before realizing that my feet were getting wet. I opened my eyes.

Snow! It was snowing, the first snowfall of the year! Finally! I laughed and spun around, my dress and robes swirling around me, until I collapsed into the light coating on the ground, instantly getting my robes soaking. I leapt up and swore, shivering, until someone draped a pair of robes over my shoulders. I looked up, surprised, and smiled.

"Hey, Lily," smiled James. "You look a little cold."

I bit my lip. What should I say? I thought of Remus and Sirius, and my own twisted feelings and promises, and then made my decision.

"Not anymore, I'm not," I whispered, and then I stood on tip-toes and kissed him. My fears that I was being to forward were alleviated, as James immediately began kissing me back, pressing me against a nearby tree.

After a moment, we broke apart, resting our foreheads together. James had a deadly serious look in his eyes. "If you tell me to forget that, Lily," he growled, "I swear to God I will hex you from here to the afterlife."

I smiled and reached up a cold hand to cradle his warm cheek, which flushed under my touch. "James… I… gosh, this is hard to say." I looked down, dropping my hand, but his own hand lifted my chin.

"Say it," he whispered. "I promise I won't laugh."

I bit my lip and then sighed. I had to come clean. "You should laugh," I started. "You see, I have been unfair to you. Well, you deserved it years ago, but I should have been nicer to you in the past couple years. And, well, I know you probably don't like me anymore, because I was such a prat, but, I really like you, James, and I know you-"

James put his finger on my lips and I snapped my mouth shut, blushing, knowing I had been babbling. I glanced up at his eyes, but his face was blank.

"So," he said, slowly, "you're saying that you're sorry for being mean to me, even though I deserved it sometimes, and that you... fancy me?"

I nodded, blushing harder. "That's about the gist of it," I said, when he removed his finger from my lips.

"And do you mean that? Really mean it?" James asked, his voice soft.

"Yes," I whispered without hesitation. "I do. But…" I bit my lip. "I know it futile. After all… you can't still like me, right? Everything's changed. That Wizarding world, us, our friends..."

James smiled gently. "Yeah, everything's changed. But that love remains the same."

Then he leaned in, covering my mouth with his own. I responded warmly, unable to believe that we were kissing, really kissing, and that I had just admitted to James Potter I fancied him.

Finally, James leaned back again. Panting slightly, I asked, looking into his eyes, "So what does this mean?"

"What do you think it means?" he asked, smirking.

"Uh… that we're together?" I answered, and James's face lit up.

"Really?"

I laughed. "I'd say that yes, snogging the way we just were tends to mean that people are together."

James whooped and kissed me one more time, before grabbing my hand and dragging me back into the Great Hall. Once there, he stood on a table, pulling me up as well, motioning for the band to stop playing for a moment. They did and then James whistled loudly.

Everyone turned from the center of the room to face us. I blushed and James took my hand reassuringly, before pointing his wand at himself. A moment later his voice boomed out.

"I have an announcement to make," he said, and everyone started whispering. "Quiet, please. I would like everyone to know that, finally, Lily Evans has agreed to go out with me!"

There were shrieks of fury from his fan club, whoops and catcalls from the guys, and cheers from our friends. I heard Alice shout, "No way, Lily!" and decided to prove to everyone that I had done the unthinkable.

I glanced at James, who had heard Alice, too. He winked and me, and then grabbed me, dipping me back to kiss me. Everyone cheered, and when he let me up, I noticed Dumbledore and McGonagall smiling, Remus, Sirius, Frank, and Peter shouting and clapping, and Alice and Colleen shrieking with glee.

James helped me down from the table and led me back to the dance floor. We danced together until the very end of the ball, when, exhausted, we staggered to the Head Tower.

After one more kiss, we fell asleep next to each other on the couch of the Head Common Room, my head resting on his shoulder, our hands intertwined.

A/N: Finally! They're together!

Don't worry, that doesn't mean the story's ending. Even if people don't like it, I enjoy writing it.

So please review, and if you like Ron/Hermione and Harry/Ginny, try my story "Impossibly Insufferable."

))Riiko Shea((