The Safety of an Umbrella

Many people were out relaxing on a fine April Friday afternoon. Most were talking about what they would be doing the next day on their trip to Hogsmeade. Five Gryffindor seventh year girls were sitting under the shade of a tree by the lake. Three were having an animate conversation while two were whispering to each other a private conversation without the other three noticing.

"Amos and I are going to definitely go to Honeydukes and Zonko's. We're also going to that new teashop at the end of the road. It supposed to be cozy and romantic for young couples. Not really my style, but I'm not going to tell him that," thought Mary McKinnons, a mouthy tomboy that was a chaser for the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Her shoulder length, light brown hair was tied back into a high ponytail, her hazel eyes as clear as a summer's day.

"Oh! Shut-up! You and Rachel are the only ones here who have dates tomorrow," grumbled Melody Sanders, usually your bubbly blue-eyed blonde. She was grumpy because she usually always had a date.

Rachel Herman was the third girl in the animate conversation. She was a quiet, smart, responsible girl with dirty blonde hair tied into a bun and brown eyes. She was also going out with none other than Remus Lupin.

"I can't believe you two haven't snogged! Next time you see him just put your hands behind his neck and plant one on him. Do it for me! Okay?" Mary asked while Rachel burst out laughing and nodded. The three went silent for a moment and caught a piece of the whispered conversation by a red head and a brunette, who didn't realize they had listeners.

"... He's funny, responsible, not hexing first years, but defending them! He cares more about people's feelings. He's matured. You know how he used to ask me out every two days? Well, this year he hasn't asked me out once. I mean, we've become friends, but I don't think he likes me the other way anymore, so I'm to afraid to tell him how I really feel because he'll just say, 'Sorry, Evans, but me asking you out every two seconds last year was just a joke. I never liked you that way and I never will!'" fumed a beautiful, smart, courageous, kind, Lily Evans, the red head with sparkling green eyes.

"Just tell him! If he means that much to you take a risk and tell him!" exclaimed Samantha McBride, the dark brown haired brunette with ocean blue eyes. She was effortlessly gorgeous, smart, witty, and bold. "Heck! We have less then three months left at Hogwarts!"

They both went silent and looked at their other three friends, who were staring at them, shocked that they had been listening.

Melody broke the silence, forgetting her grumpiness. "So, who's the lucky guy, Lils?"

"Errr..."

"You can tell us, we've been your friends since first year!" Rachel said.

Lily sighed, deeply. "I've fallen for James Potter. Happy!" Melody, Mary, and Rachel squealed in delight.

"You know James has seemed depressed over the past month. But Samantha's right, you should totally tell him! Speaking of James, those Marauders look like they're up to something." Mary looked across the lake to where the Marauders were talking quickly. Sirius and Peter looked pale and nervous when they spoke while James stared at the ground sadly, barely speaking at all.

"I wonder what it's like to go out with a Marauder. James, I kind of always saw with Lily. Remus, not my type and now he's Rach's. Peter never had the guts to ask me. And Sirius was always in to..." Melody mused before Samantha interrupted.

"Please, don't finish that statement!" Samantha snarled, before everyone went silent again. Samantha and Sirius had been dating since the end of fifth year and became boyfriend-girlfriend in October of sixth year. They were a match made in heaven. Unfortunately, Samantha broke up with him because it was the third time he'd forgotten to meet her somewhere and it was the third time she'd gotten a week's detention with Filch for being out after hours because of it.

A moment later, the Marauders came up to them. Rachel stalked over to Remus and snogged him. At first he seemed shocked at Rachel's burst of boldness but then wrapped his arms around her back. When they pulled apart, Rachel returned to her spot on the grass while Remus stayed where he was.

Then Peter walked up to Melody, a nervous look on his face. "Melody..." he stammered. "I was wondering... if you would go with me ... to Hogsmeade...tomorrow?"

Less then a second after, she practically screamed, "Yes! We'll meet after breakfast!" Peter nodded looking satisfied and surprised at how easy it was. Then he walked back to his friends. James, still looking depressed, and Sirius were whispering frantically to each other. Finally, Sirius gave up and walked over to Samantha.

She was sitting on a lower branch of the tree with Lily. She pretended to look right past him, until he kneeled and broke out in song.

Baby, Come Back!

Any kind of fool can see,

There was something in everything about you!

Baby, Come Back!

You can blame it all on me!

I was wrong and I just can't live without you!

When he finished, they stared at each other until Samantha burst out laughing. "Are you actually crying, Sirius?" It was true he had a tear going down his cheek. "Merlin! A girl never has broken up with you!"

"He obviously can't stand to lose you, Sam!" Lily nudged her in the side. She stood up and he followed suit. He was only three inches taller then her, so she almost could look him in the eye. She threw her arms around him and embraced him. He followed suit, once again.

"I've missed you! I'll never forget about you again!"

"You better not! Otherwise I won't even scream it at you in the Great Hall! I'll just give you the cold shoulder!" It began to rain, causing them to break apart. Sirius said something to James but James just shook his head and started to walk back to the castle, while Sirius looked at him like he'd gone mad. Everyone conjured umbrellas; Sirius shared one with Samantha, Remus with Rachel, and Lily, Melody, and Peter had separate ones. They began to walk back to the castle as well. Sirius had his arm around Samantha explaining why he'd forgotten to meet her. Remus was whispering into Rachel's ear making her laugh. Peter and Melody, although under separate umbrellas, were talking animatedly. Lily, knowing Melody, knew that relationship wouldn't last long. Mary had run off earlier when Amos Diggory called to her.

Lily saw James up ahead without the safety of an umbrella, soaking wet, and all alone. She felt like running up to him and offering protection under her umbrella. But she thought better of it; she was afraid he'd reject the offer. Then she looked at herself. She realized she was also lonely with three happy couples and a solitary depressed person around her. Now Melody and Peter were holding hands and Lily's umbrella went inside out. Now both her and James were without the protection of an umbrella and the happy couples umbrellas stayed together perfectly. All this perfect romance was too much for her.

*

When she went to bed that night, Lily knew she wouldn't be going to Hogsmeade, not wishing to go alone. All her friends felt bad and said she could go with them but she declined. It would've been weird. She wondered if James would be going alone or staying. She wondered why he looked so sad lately. She wished she could help him. Help him bring back the smiling James. She missed the mature James she'd known over the term. She wished she could tell him her feelings but she was afraid of getting hurt. 'Merlin,' she thought, 'I've fallen hard for James Potter.'

*

After everyone left for Hogsmeade, Lily decided to take a walk around the lake. Since it was still raining, she once again used an umbrella.

She had not seen James at breakfast. His three mates looked concerned, but must have known where he was or they wouldn't have left.

She walked to a side of the lake she'd never gone before. It was very secluded. She walked as far as she could before trees blocked her path. She looked over the lake to the other side where the Forbidden Forest was and even though it was raining the scene was beautiful, as the wind breezed through her hair.

"Pretty isn't it?" said a voice from behind her. She dropped her umbrella and spun around. Sitting on a boulder was James Potter.

"James! I didn't see you! How long have you been here?"

"Since about five a.m. Let me guess, you didn't go to Hogsmeade because all your friends had dates?"

"Yup. Is that the same for you?"

"Kind of. Kind of not."

There was an awkward silence between them. Lily took a deep breath and spoke.

"James." He looked up at her. "You don't look so great. I mean...you haven't smiled or joked in a couple months. You look pale. You always seem depressed. Your friends are worried about you. I'm worried about you. If you need someone to talk to, I'm here." He was staring at her intensely as she kicked a rock. Several moments later he sighed.

"As you know our Hogwarts days are numbered and there is a girl. We've become friends and she should know I like her but I don't know. I don't think I'll ever get to see her again once Hogwarts is over and that makes me sad. I want to tell her how much I love her but she'll think I'm a joke. So, she'll get mad at me, think I'm going back to my old ways, we won't be friends anymore, and I definitely won't see her after Hogwarts."

Lily's heart sank. She was trying to figure out who he could be talking about. He couldn't be talking about her. He just couldn't be. "Well, whoever she is, she is lucky to have someone like you loving her," she mumbled.

At this, James perked up and jumped off his rock. "Do you really mean it?"

"Yeah...I mean...Why wouldn't I? You're funny, charming, smart, brave...handsome."

"Err, Lily? Are you on drugs or maybe had too many shots of Firewhiskey?" He grinned cockily.

"Of course not!" she answered seriously before she burst out laughing at the look on his face.

"Did you seriously mean that?" he asked, now serious.

"I meant every word of it. Yes, James, even the part about being handsome!"

He grinned again. "You know a few moments ago, when I poured my heart out about some girl? Well, that girl is you. At the end of fifth year and through out sixth year, me constantly asking you out was the immature James way of telling you how much he liked you. This year, me backing off, maturing, and becoming friends with you was the mature James way of getting to know you and finding out he loved you. I didn't do anything because I was pretty sure you knew I liked you and I didn't want to push you. So, I was waiting for you to make a move. When you spoke about me a moment ago, it sounded like you were in love with me or something. If that is correct then you just made the move that I've been waiting for. Is that right?"

Lily took a few steps closer to him, cupped his face in her hands, and kissed him on the lips, briefly. "Does that answer your question?"

"Yeah, it does. You know your eyes are even more beautiful when they're this close," he breathed as he pulled her into another kiss. When they broke apart, she grabbed her umbrella and dried them off with a wave of her wand.

"Sirius will be happy to hear. He's been bothering me to ask you out since Christmas. Especially yesterday. So, you want to get a Butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks?" James asked.

"Yes, I'd like that. And James?"

"Hmm?"

"I love you."

"I love you, too, Lily." James kissed her on the top of the head before taking her hand and leading the way to Hogsmeade under the safety of the umbrella.

I need to make some references.

"Baby Come Back" is a "Players" song not mine. I'm not making any money and am not copyrighting it. Thanks for being great.