Rain
January 1978
Rain beat persistently against the castle windows. Lily wiped away the condensation with her sleeve but trying to see out to the quidditch pitch was impossible. She could hardly believe that James had scheduled a practice in this weather.
Marlene would be in a foul mood all evening now, and he didn’t have to share a dormitory with her. A flash of light illuminated the Hogwarts grounds followed immediately by a deafening roll of thunder.
Her father had once explained to her how it all worked, but she couldn’t remember now. She was sure that the closer they were together, the closer the lightning was.
It hardly seemed safe for them to be flying around out there.
Lily pulled on her coat – though it would probably stand little chance against the storm outside – and slid down from the fifth floor windowsill that she’d been sitting on.
She paused briefly at the doors, seriously debating staying where it was dry, before taking a deep breath and hurrying down to the quidditch pitch. It occurred to her that running might not be the best course of action, she'd wanted to get there as quickly as she could but mud was splashing up her clothes and her feet sloshed around her boots as the rain seeped in.
“James!” She called, slipping slightly as she stopped on the grassy pitch. There was no way he’d be able to hear her over the wind and rain however. Lily raised her wand in the air and fired red sparks into the sky.
It did the job and the team landed miserably in the mud in front of her.
“What’s wrong?” He asked, rain was bouncing away from his glasses, at least he could see who he was talking too.
“You’ve been out here long enough now, the weather isn’t easing up.” Lily sighed. “One of you is going to get hit by lightning if you’re not careful.”
“You’re ending practice?” James asked, he started tugging at her coat and she swatted his hand away. “I was just looking for the Captian’s badge.” He smirked.
“I’m making an executive decision as Head Girl.” Lily said.
“Ah, but I have two badges, I think that means that I outrank you.” He said, and Lily raised her eyebrows. Not bloody likely.
“Keep telling yourself that, Jamie.” Marlene muttered as the team hurried off in the direction of the changing rooms. James wrapped an arm around Lily’s waist and tugged her to him.
“You need a bath.” Lily grinned, trying to flick a drop of rain from the tip of his nose. His skin was like ice.
“The changing rooms only have showers.” He said, his eyes on her lips.
“There’s always the prefects’ bathroom.” Lily said, her breath catching in her throat; she could join him.
“You’re wet too.” James grinned as though reading her mind. Lily felt her cheeks grow warm, that hadn’t been what he meant, but her mind had gone there all the same.
“Yeah I am.” She smirked. “Meet you in there?”
“I’m five minutes behind you.” James said, he kissed her quickly before sprinting back to the changing rooms – she tried not to laugh as he slipped over in the mud.
Lily turned on her heel and hurried back to the castle, hoping that the bathroom wasn’t already in use. She’d use her head start to make sure that the swimming pool of a bath was full of hot water and bubbles.