Chapter 17 – The Storm

Oh hi there!
So lovely to see you. It has been years since I have written anything for this story, and then in 2021, a stray anon came all the way over to my writing tumblr to ask about this story. I have been thinking about it since then, and feeling bad that through my PGCE and job hunt over the summer I couldn't find time to work on it. However, today is the first day of my first half term as an actual teacher and so many people have told me to just rest and not work, so that's what I'm doing! I am resting and writing. And thus, a new chapter was born. So, thank you to that anon, I honestly can't appreciate you enough. And thank you to anyone who has told me to rest because I am so exhausted. Teaching tiny humans is no joke, guys.
Thanks for reading, and if you've made it this far then goodness me, you're amazing.

I really think I've leaned into the italics in this one, so there's that. Other than that, I'm not sure how much of a difference a few years had made to this story and my writing, so please let me know what you think!

. . .

In the haze that sits between June and August where soft summer memories are made, there is always a day when the sun stops shining. The heat that lays so heavily over the land that it suddenly feels oppressive and far too close. Its grip on the season slips and it snaps into a thunderstorm. The city streets flood, fields are swallowed up, and little villages like Porthead are consumed with sheets of driving rain and loud barks of thunder. Holidaymakers hide themselves under eaves at first - hoping that it's just a summer shower and they can laugh it off when it finishes in a rainbow - but locals know better. They can see the darkness hovering over the rolling waves, and don't wait to be caught in the crash. They retreat to their homes, bar the doors and – just for an afternoon – pull the winter blankets from the cupboard.

The Potters, as proud Porthead natives, were usually among the sensible souls who stayed far from the front. Their family tradition was to gather in the master bedroom together. With the balcony doors shut tightly and the curtains flung open, they would watch the waves climb the cliffs behind their house. There was often popcorn and laughter, and sometimes a pillow fight.

Unfortunately, this afternoon the only Potter around to advice everyone was Alice, and she was in no way inclined to help to her brother's friends, those big-headed imbeciles.
She watched from her own room as they laughed at themselves, caught in the rain. She noted the empty driveway and the quiet left by her brothers' absence and said nothing.

"Pete, you wanker! You could have said it was going to rain!"

"I'm not blinking Michael Fish, why'd you think I'd know?"

Remus was also tucked up indoors, and like Alice he was watching his friends race towards the safety of the house, only he wore a wry smile. Sirius with his hair plastered to his head, Pete hiding beneath his fabric tote bag. Excellent blackmail material. He snapped a few pictures before sliding his phone back in his pocket.

"Bit wet out, isn't it?" he laughed, as the two boys dripped over the mat by the back door.
Lily had sensibly asked Remus to take charge of pre-heating the oven for dinner, and so the kitchen was pleasantly warm and waiting for them.

"What's cooking?" Sirius sniffed, looking around at the empty surfaces.

"Nothing yet, they're bringing it back with them after rehearsal," Remus replied, offering a towel to each sodden soul.

"When are they back? I'm starving," Sirius grumbled, shaking his hair out like a dog before wrapping it up in the towel.

Remus glanced up at the clock and frowned. Half past seven. "Should be any minute now."

. . .

"Won't be long, I just need to grab a few bits," Lily told them as she clambered out of the car, leaving her head in till the last second to look at James and Jon as she spoke.

"No worries!" James waved her off, "We'll be here."

He tapped his fingers against the steering wheel as she slammed the door and dashed across the car park. One of his hands went to the door-handle as he watched her struggle to pull out a decent trolley, but he stayed put as she had made clear she wanted. No need to fuss, she had said, only bits and bobs. The faint dusting of her cheeks made James think it might be feminine hygiene related, but he obviously didn't want to ask outright. But still, he wouldn't have minded walking round the supermarket with her. No more than he minded waiting in the car with his brother.

"No worries!" Jon mocked, making his voice as high-pitched and jolly as James' had been, only now it had a nasty edge to it.

"What? I was only being nice," James scowled at his brother through the rear-view mirror.

"A bit too nice to her," Jon muttered.

"What's your problem, Jon? Lily's been nothing but nice to you,"

"Yeah, right." He huffed, curling up in the back seat, tucking his head into his hood, his hands deep into his pockets.

James turned around to look at his little brother properly, his leg bent under him awkwardly, elbow on the back of his seat, but ignoring the discomfort in order to set a real glower at his little brother, "What? She has been. There's no need for this attitude, Jon," James was frustrated that his brother had apparently decided today was the day to become a real teenager.

"Just because they left you in charge of the house doesn't mean you have to turn into Mum and Dad."

"I'm not! You're just being a brat!"

"Well, she started it," Jon rolled his eyes, and James had to take a deep breath.

"How?" James demanded after a moment, doing his best to be the calm and sensible one, "What did she do to make you hate her?"

"Hmph," Jon picked his feet up and stabbed them into the back of the seat, hunching himself up into an even smaller ball. "I don't hate her; I just don't think she's this paragon of virtue that you all do. I mean, come on, you're wrapped right around her stupid little finger."

"Paragon of virtue? What are you on about? Who's- Where've you gotten that from? Jon, she's a nice person who's doing us a favour, and doing Marley a favour. We're lucky she hasn't seen sense and gone home yet."

"Bet you'd hate that, seeing her leave," Jon grumbled, scrunching his nose up.

"What are you talking about?" James asked not bothering to hide his exasperation this time.

"You fancy her!"

"So? I – er – I mean, no – I," James spluttered at the accusation, "So what? She's nice, and funny and we get on, why can't I fancy her?" He pulled himself up to his full height, pretending not to be embarrassed, valiantly ignoring how red his ears were turning.

"Oh come on, James you can do better," Jon scoffed, "She prances around showing off all over the place, and then smiles and pretends to be nice." He waved his arms around as he spoke, as though mimicking Lily's prancing. It wasn't particularly flattering.

James was angry now.

"What the fuck is wrong with you? Everything she's done so far has been genuine. Everyone else likes her, nobody else has this problem – and you didn't until 5 seconds ago!"

"That's not true, Emmeline doesn't like her either," he spat smugly, kicking the back of the chair again, this time pushing himself up straighter, tall enough that his hair brushed the roof of the car.

"As though that counts for anything!" James cried, and he couldn't stop himself from laughing, "Emmeline hates anyone who has anything good to say about Marlene, no matter how nice they are to her. I don't even know why she said yes to doing the flipping show, she's so sour."

"She said yes because Lily guilted her into it!"

"Oh, for fuck's sake, Jon, can you actually see Lily guilting anyone into anything? She apologises to flowers for stepping on them," James rolled his eyes this time, and Jon's jaw jumped as he clenched it, "and Emmeline's not some wilting flower, she's a person with her own will and could absolutely have said no. From what I hear she's just jealous that Marl sorted herself out and we're all still friends with her, while Emmeline's been stewing away."

"That's not true," Jon's voice was cold in its confidence, but James didn't notice.

"How would you know?" His voice rose higher than he thought possible, completely unbelieving that his brother would inject himself into a decade's old argument about nothing significant. He shook his head, laughing. "Jon, this is all about some old argument between Emmeline and Marlene from primary school. Marl's apologised, Em said it was fine, and they went their separate ways. If Emmeline is still hurt over it, she should talk to Marlene. She shouldn't be bitching about it to you."

"She's not bitching about it, she's just shared some perfectly valid opinions about who Marley – and you – decide to spend your time with. Uptight, big-headed-"

"-talented, hardworking, kind people who have never said a bad word about anyone and have been trying really hard to get to know you all summer. She doesn't deserve this- No," Jon opened his mouth to interrupt but James raised his voice, his hand becoming a pointed finger wagging in Jon's face, "when Lily comes back, you're either going to be nice to her or you're going to be quiet. I'm not having this rubbish. Sort yourself out before we talk again, yeah?"

It was phrased like a question, but James immediately turned around in his seat and flipped the radio on, not giving his brother a chance to respond. He turned the engine on, suddenly realising how heavily it was raining. The windscreen wipers screeched across the window when he turned them on, clearing the layer of rain away for less than a second before it was replaced.

"I'm going to move closer to the entrance, put your seatbelt on." James flicked the lights on and reached for his own, but by the time he had clicked it in place the passenger door had opened and Lily tumbled inside.

"It is raining stair rods out there! Oh my days!" She laughed as she shook her hair out of her face, looking far too excited for someone who had just run across a supermarket car park in torrential rain.

James managed a tight smile, "Yeah, it's come on quick."

Lily rubbed her hands together to warm them, and glanced from James' tense expression back to Jon, now hunched into his hoodie, face hidden, feet dug into the back of her chair.

"Well, we have been due a storm," she shrugged, "The lady at the checkout was ecstatic when I said it was picking to rain. I just hope it doesn't last too long."

"Nah, it'll probably be gone by morning. You know what summer storms are like," James muttered, leaning forward to fix his eyes beyond the wipers on the window.

"Are you sure you're okay driving in this? We can wait here until it calms," Lily suggested, but James shook his head quickly.

"It's not that bad. It's only ten minutes to home."

It was a tense ten minutes.

They were close enough to the house that Lily could see the cliffs. The road wound down towards the driveway, and the house was tucked behind a crop of trees, but she could clearly see the way the waves swept up and over the vertical drop. She could only imagine what the path down to the little beach looked like now. She shivered at the thought.

"Do you want to turn the heating up?" James asked, glancing sideways at her.

She shook her head, "No, it's okay. We're almost back now. I'll just pull a thousand jumpers on when we get in,"

James snorted, "Planning to bury yourself in wool?"

"Something like that. I know it's summer, but I still remembered my knitwear. I actually think it's multiplied," Lily scrunched her nose up at the curious thought.

"Yeah?" James asked, distractedly. There was a tractor coming the other way with a row of traffic behind it, all looking to overtake by swerving into his lane. If they would just hold on-

"Yeah, I found a jumper that I thought was mine in the living room the other day, but it was too small when I put it on. I think Dorcas or Emmeline must have left theirs behind the other week. I'll have to remember to take it to practice for them."

"Give it to Jon," James muttered sourly.

"What?" Lily asked, turning to look at him, her eyebrows pulling together. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Jon's foot dart across the car into the back of James' seat.

James jumped like he had been shot and span in his seat to shout at his brother, forgetting for a split-second that he was driving in torrential rain and there was a queue of traffic on the road beside him.

"Will you cut it out?"

"I didn't do anything!"

"Watch out!"

BEEEEP!

Lily's scream was lost in the noise of the other car's horn. She hadn't meant to. But then, none of them had meant for this to happen. The sound had jumped from her on instinct, much like her hands had reached across James, elbowed him out the way and grabbed onto the steering wheel.

They had passed the tractor, luckily, and the car behind had been so desperate to overtake it had left a ten-foot gap, perfect for James' car swerved into. Lily pulled it back just in time but couldn't stop it from slamming into the hedge on the other side and skidding a hundred feet down the road before James managed to get his foot back on the break. The car slammed to a stop half in some poor farmer's field and with a heavy silence inside.

. . .

Lily could hear her heart beating loudly but her head hurt and there was a ringing noise. Someone's phone's ringing, she thought, and someone is shouting too. They all needed to be quiet so Lily could sleep. She was suddenly very tired.

. . .

"What the fuck happened?" Marlene was not in the mood to mince her words, "Did you totally forget how to drive, dickhead?"

James didn't answer. His head was in his hands. He couldn't look Marlene in the eye. He hadn't been able to look anyone in the eye for the past hour since Lily had been taken through to see the doctor. She had been conscious at least, but the gash on her head was bleeding and she wouldn't look at him properly. At least he hoped it was wouldn't and not couldn't. James pulled at the strap on Lily's bag, pushing it back and for through the buckle. It was brown leather and shiny and the only thing in this room not blaming him.

"What about you? You've been awfully quiet." Marlene turned her attention to Jon, sat on the sticky blue seat beside James. They had tucked themselves into a corner of A&E that was mercifully quiet. Or had been before Marlene had arrived. James had called her as soon as he had clambered out of the car, pulling Jon with him, desperately trying to get to the other side where Lily-
One of the other drivers on the road had pulled over and called an ambulance, and with that had come police to manage the site of the accident.

Accident. Far too kind a word for what had happened. James had been stupid – beyond stupid, pathetic, childish, idiotic – and he had driven the car off the road.

"Idiots, the pair of you," Marlene said in disgust. She threw herself down on a chair opposite, arms and legs folded, glaring at the Potter boys.

"I know," James mumbled through his hands, finally pulling his head up, "I was stupid, and now Lily-"

"Lily'll be fine," Marlene said sternly, the attitude hiding the shake of her hands. She had been so scared when James had told her down the phone that Lily had been taken away in an ambulance, "They're doing a CT scan to make sure there's no fractures or bleeding, but they think it's just a mild concussion. But you are so lucky, you absolute pillock." The last bit was delivered with some fire behind it, and James knew that there was a lot Marlene wasn't saying.

"I know," James said again, forcing himself to meet Marlene's eyes. He was surprised to find tears floating there.

"Marl, I'm sorry," he whispered. His voice couldn't quite make the journey up his throat right at that moment, so whispers was all he could offer.

"Good. You should be." She still sounded furious, but she reached across the aisle to kick him gently enough that she really just tapped his knee with her toe. Marlene-style comfort.

Next to him, Jon was silent. Marlene hadn't even bothered speaking to him. He hadn't been the one driving. Just to look at him James knew his brother was as upset as he was, and probably blaming himself just as much. But James wasn't ready to have a restorative conversation yet, so he just let the silence sit.

The hospital around them was far from quiet, with loud voices and banging doors, so it was no surprise that Mrs McKinnon managed to sneak up on them. Her bag was still on her shoulder, and her coat slung over her arm.

"Well, aren't you a sad sight," Mrs McKinnon looked like she was trying not to laugh at the three of them.

"There, see - all angry at each other, not talking, waiting to come pray at my deathbed," Lily rolled her eyes as she reached for her bag.

James jumped up at the sound of her voice, looking her over. She had a bandage on her head, and was a little pale, but she was walking and talking and rolling her eyes at them so she wasn't dead. He tried to meet her eyes, but she wouldn't look at him. She pressed her lips into a smile and glanced at the wall just behind his head before turning back to Mrs McKinnon.

"Do you mind waiting until we get home before calling my parents?"

"Yes, that's no worry, pet. I'll take you all home, and we'll see about getting this all sorted then, is that alright?" She aimed the last question at James who nodded mutely.

It was still raining when they stepped outside, but no longer in Biblical proportions. James and Jon were mostly still damp from earlier, and so didn't mind the fresh coating of raindrops, but Marlene dashed through the car park. Ms McKinnon laughed and followed her to open the car. James took stepped closer to Lily and tapped her on the shoulder.

"Are you alright?" he asked, quietly, hating that she wouldn't look at him.

"Hm," she nodded, "I'm okay. Just a bit concussed. My head feels all foggy."

"I'm really sorry," James muttered. It was all he could get out, but he knew she deserved much more than that.

"I told Mrs McKinnon that a fox jumped into the road and you swerved to avoid it. I thought that was better to say than whatever actually happened," She frowned as if she wasn't sure, like she was trying to remember. "Were you and Jon arguing?"

"Uh- yeah, we were- we were arguing while you were the shop and then I said something stupid and he kicked the back of my chair and I turned around while I was driving." He said it quickly as though that would get rid of it.

"That was a stupid thing to do," She said it plainly, not teasing, not angry, but James still felt ashamed.

"Yeah. I know."

They fell silent and James could feel the moment going. It felt as though he needed to say something now or they might never talk to each other again.

"Thanks for not telling Marlene's mum, you didn't have to do that."

Lily just shrugged, "It's not like I really knew what had happened. It wasn't proper lying."

"Yeah, but still-" James didn't know how to finish that sentence in a way that properly summed up how grateful and how sorry he was. There probably weren't the words anyway.

They were near the car now, so Lily just shrugged and walked away. She moved to the other side of the car and climbed in behind Marlene.

James let Jon climb into the middle, filling the space between them.

Marlene was still complaining about the rain when Mrs McKinnon pulled out of the car park.

"It's meant to be summer, why are we suddenly freezing cold and wet?"

Mrs McKinnon laughed at her, "It's only rain, love, you're not made of sugar."

"You don't know that, maybe I am," Marlene sniffed haughtily.

Mrs McKinnon laughed, and out of the corner of his eye James saw Lily smile through her confused haze.

"I just wish the sun hadn't gone – I was still working on my tan," Marlene held her arms out for her mum to see how brown they had turned. James couldn't see any different colour in them, not in the dark of the car.

"It's okay," Lily said quietly, and James felt his stomach twist as she glanced across the car, finally looking at him. Those green eyes which had never yet lost their glint were now looking dull and tired in the early morning light, "it always comes back."

. . . .

The house was a mess when they got back. There were leaves strewn across the lawn, branches across the driveway and chocolate bar wrappers littered across the living room.

"And what time do you call this?" Sirius voice was loud and full of humour that was quite clearly covering up his worry. He burst into a grin at the sight of Jon and James – still damp, still miserable – and started laughing when Mrs McKinnon came through the door.

"Did they do something naughty, Mrs M?" he asked, laughing when Marlene punched him in the arm. She moved to flop down on the sofa next to a snoozing Peter. He jolted awake and his face twisted into a confused frown.

"Whazzat?"

"Don't worry, Pete, only our friends who have been missing for over twelve hours. Don't bother yourself," Sirius' voice too loud and despite the grin on his face, James could hear the undercurrent of worry and anger.

"Sorry, mate, we- there was an accident," James started to explain, but Sirius brushed it aside.

"Nah, don't worry telling me now. You didn't need to twelve hours ago, why bother now? Anyway, you alright?"

"Yeah, more or less. Lily's a bit banged up, but not too bad, right?" James turned to look at Lily, to encourage her to confirm that she was okay, but she had already left the room.

"She's alright," Mrs McKinnon reassured them, resting a motherly hand on James' twitching shoulders, "She just needs a bit of rest."

"We'll take care of her, Mum, don't worry," Marlene wrap an arm around each of Peter's and Sirius' shoulders and turned to give her mum a big grin.

Mrs McKinnon fixed her with a stern look, "You better had – a concussion is no joke." She reached for Lily who was still standing in the doorway, "Your only job for the next 24 hours is to rest. Don't let this lot pull you into shenanigans, d'you hear?"

Lily couldn't help but smile at her. Mrs McKinnon had been her second mother since she was thirteen. Far from home, cold, hurt and feeling sorry for herself she was overwhelmingly grateful to have a hard motherly look fixed upon her.

"I promise." She answered, leaning into open arms.

"Shit, that means I have to cancel rehearsal," Marene muttered from the sofa.

"Yes, it does," Mrs McKinnon said over the top of Lily's head, "Get that phone of yours out, my girl."

Marlene sighed, "Yes, mum." She stood and swept across to the hall, holding the door open for Remus who came bearing a steaming tray.

"Tea anyone?"

"Ah, Remus, you're a darling!"

They saw Lily settled with perhaps more fuss than she thought the situation warranted – Peter found four blankets to wrap around her, and Sirius propped her up on the sofa surrounded by all of the throw cushions. Although it was a little annoying, Lily couldn't help but feel a rush affection for these boys. Silly, loud, childish, welcoming, hilarious boys. Boys who gave her a solid excuse not to look towards James or Jon and instead sip her tea and let herself be amused.
The Potter boys were sat on opposite ends of the second sofa, not looking at each other. There was a conversation to be had here, but Lily refused to get involved. There was enough drama around her as it was.

"Tragedy has struck!"

Marlene crashed into the room, phone held aloft, eyes wide.

"What's that, darling?" Mrs Mckinnon asked, reaching for a biscuit off the tray.

"Tragedy! Ruin! Devastation!"

"Are you alright, Marl?" Lily sat up in her cocoon, face creased in worry. Sirius was also looking at Marlene with concern, but more the sort that was for her sanity than anything else.

"The Great Storm has claimed a victim."

"Do you know what she's talking about?" Peter leaned over and whispered to Remus, eyes swivelling around the room as though there was a joke he was missing out on.

"Not a clue – Marley, will you speak plainly for us mere mortals please?" Remus raised a delicate eyebrow at their resident drama queen as though daring her to continue with her nonsense.

"The storm yesterday – last night – whenever – there was too much water. The tide came in, the wave broke the banks, but also the rain. A record amount fell in one night and now it's going to take- it'll be so long – months before- before-"

"Before what?"

"Before the halls sorted."

"The hall?" Lily leant forward, "Do you mean that there's a problem with the community hall?"

"Yes. It flooded last night and is completely unusable," she stared at Lily in despair, eyes still wide, breath coming in gasps. She was clearly more upset than she wanted to let on. Her silliness was covering everything she couldn't quite articulate. Lily knew what she was going to say next, but still felt like she was being punched in the stomach when Marlene said them:

"We'll have to cancel the show."

Hello! This is end-of-the-chapter Rebecca writing. While I did start this chapter last October as I said at the top, I've only just finished it now in April 2023 because half-terms do not last long enough and so I didn't have sufficient time to finish it then. Easter holidays are similarly not long enough, but I have found a little bit of time to squeeze out a chapter. I've let it sit until now because I wanted to check it over and this (July – Summer Holidays!) is the first chance I've had.

This feels like the place in the story where things are actually happening and all those strings are being pulled together finally. I make no promises about finishing another chapter any time soon, however, I am on summer holidays, so who knows? Maybe! Comments will 100% encourage me. But please know that I have not abandoned this and still am very fond of this story.

I hope you are all well and find time to rest and return to the old things you love.

Xoxo