Two hours

Two hours ago. Just two hours ago, James Potter got a letter from St. Mungo’s informing him that his parents lost a battle against dragon pox. Suddenly the music around him wasn’t there anymore, neither was the warmth of the Gryffindor common room, nor his friends. He couldn’t imagine talking to them right now, telling them. Saying those words. It would make It all… real. He wasn’t ready for It to be real. He took a bottle of fire whiskey from the party that was thrown in honor of their win against Ravenclaw and went down to the quidditch pitch. He couldn’t care enough to take the cloak or the map, he just went and went. Suprisingly, he reached his destination without any encounters with Filch. Once he was seated in the stands he reread the letter. He started drinking realizing he didn’t get the chance to tell his father every detail of the game like he usually did. He never will again. He realized he will never hug his mom again. Never look into the eyes he inherited and talk to her again. He closed his eyes.

I regret to inform you.

Dead.

The will shall be discussed after the funeral.

Dead.

My deepest condolences.

Dead.

It should have hurt. They were gone It should hurt, but It didn’t. He just felt numb. Even the fire whiskey couldn’t do anything, he didn’t feel it, he didn’t feel it reach his stomach, not even the burn in his throat. Nothing.

After a couple of minutes he felt someone sit on the seat next to him. It didn’t take long before he recognized her perfume.

He knew Lily Evans was a natural when It came to comforting people. She never pushed people to talk to her, she just made everyone feel safe around her. In sixth year, she discovered to never ask James to elaborate. She knew he would come to her. She knew she should let him make the first move.

And he was grateful for that until…

“Come on.” She said grabbing his hand

“No, thanks, Evans”

“That’s cute. You think you have a choice.”

James looked at her.

“I’m not letting you sit here on the stands in the rain drinking fire whiskey. If you were celebrating something with your mates, fine, but not with that frown on your face. Come on!!” She continued.

“I’m not frowning.”

“You’re not grinning like an idiot and celebrating the win either! Aren’t you supposed to be the happy one?” She had a spark in her eyes while she teased him. “You being sad about something is like… I don’t know. Sirius not being dramatic,” the edges of James’ lips turned a bit up at that, so Lily continued “or, or seeing Alice and Frank not snogging each other’s faces off, or…”

“You not being the best at potions”

“See! You’re getting the hang of it!”

Despite himself, James chuckles.

“You’re never sad. I’m not saying you’re not allowed to feel like that, but whatever happens you always find a bright side to it, and I’m sure there is a bright side to whatever happened now as well. You just ran out of solutions right now, but that’s ok because tomorrow when you sober up-“

“I haven’t actually drunk a lot.” He pointed at the almost full bottle of firewhiskey.

“Great then! Tomorrow when you wake up I know you’ll find a solution to whatever this is, that’s just how you are…” she looked into his eyes and smiled shyly.

He was convinced that Lily’s smile could make anyone smile back even in their worst.

“There it is” she whispers.

“What?”

“Well, I made you smile. That was my mission for tonight, but I changed my mind.”

“Okay… what’s your mission now?”

She grinned at his slightly confused expression. “Like I said before, tomorrow, you’ll find a solution but now… we avoid and dance.”

“Come again?”

He was definitely confused now.

She stood up from her seat in the stands and extended a hand to him.

His eyebrows went up. “Umm Evans, I’m really not sure where you’re going with this.”

“My name is Lily, you’re James and we are going to go down there and dance until that frown is gone and you’re back to your old idiotic grinning self.” She said pointing at the quidditch pitch.

“It’s raining.” He was trying very hard to suppress his smile now.

“You aren’t going to melt, James.” She rolled her eyes playfully. “Come on, I’m not going away until we’re down there and you’re happy. I’m serious.”

“No, you’re Lily.” He smirked

“He’s back!” Lily exclaimed and then laughed.

He got up, took her hand and smiled at her. She smiled back and off they were to the center of the pitch.

James was soaking wet in seconds. His hair fell flat and he could hardly see through his glasses. He quickly grabbed his wand to cast an impervius charm to allow him to see in the rain.

He saw Lily twirling in the storm, her red hair plastered to her red and gold jumper. Water dripped down her face to her dazzling smile. It was the most beautiful sight.

“Isn’t this great?!” Lily shouted so he could hear her in the pouring rain and continued dancing goofily.

James laughed. He felt the parchment in his hand getting soaked, so he held it up and shredded it. He began to dance and Lily cheered.

Soon enough they were holding each other close, laughing, jumping, singing, shouting really… and James completely gave all of himself to the wonderful energy that was Lily Evans. They finished the song and Lily, tired of all the jumping, sat on the wet ground. James laughed at her frown when the wet grass beneath her made a sound and he sat beside her.

He looked into her eyes, admiring the emerald green, and smiled his truest smile.

“Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me,” Lily smiled “I was simply doing the world a favor. I can’t picture anything right in It while you’re sad.”

He chuckled.

“So, now that you’re smiling. Wanna tell me what was in that letter?” Lily asked softly taking his hand.

They were both freezing from the rain, but her hand on top of his felt like fire. James swept his thumb over the back of her hand and whispered “tomorrow”

“Okay” she whispered back.

They were looking at each other then. Hazel met green. It took everything he had and he cupped her cheek in his hand while the other stayed under hers. Her eyes widened a little but her smile never left.

He couldn’t Hide under her gaze. He couldn’t lie to those eyes. He’d tell her anything and everything She’d want to know in a heartbeat.

“I still Like you.” He paused and took a deep breath. “I know I said I got over you but I lied. The last year and these 2 months being friends with you, actually being someone in your life, have been the best time of my life but I can’t lie to you or myself anymore Lily I-“

She put her other hand on his beating heart and came closer. She closed her eyes and pressed her lips to his.

Her lips were gone instantly and she rested her forehead against his.

They both let out breaths they were holding in.

She let go off his hand and moved it to cup his face, her other hand followed.

“James” she whispered looking into his hazel eyes.

He closed them and shivered at the sound of her voice.

“I like you too.”

His eyes flew open.

“A lot. I really love being your friend but I don’t want-shit I don’t even think I can do it anymore.”

She was looking at him with a small smile on her face and he felt his heart accelerate.

“James, I want to be so much more than your friend.” She whispered.

He beamed, her smile grew and neither of them knew who made the first move, but soon enough they both sighed into the kiss and her arms wrapped themselves around his neck. She licked his lower lip and he opened his mouth. His arms went around her waist and he pulled her closer.

There was warmth within them both. There was fire where their mouths connected that went through their whole bodies to their toes.

After what could have been a couple of seconds or a couple of hours, they separated their lips, foreheads still attached and eyes closed.

They both opened them to find the other with a huge smile on their face.

Meanwhile, the rain stopped and they lied back on the grass holding each other.

Their legs were intertwined, his arms around her waist and upper back, her arms around his torso and her head on his chest listening to his heartbeat.

James suddenly knew he’d tell his friends about the letter tomorrow, knew he would face reality, but for now, he’d live in the moment. Tonight he had danced in the rain with the girl of his dreams and she felt the same way.

Just two hours ago, he was numb, but now he felt. He was at peace. 

She made It all go away.