Inevitable

Chapter Fourteen

Rain

If at first you don't succeed... pretend that's not what you were trying to do in the first place- Anonymous

The rain beat heavily against the windows of the Gryffindor common room. Great, driving raindrops that streaked down the glass and created a sound of constant drumming. There was no thunder or lightning; the sky was a monotone grey as far as the eye could see, unbroken and unwavering. Wind swept at the treetops of the Forbidden Forest, but its force was nothing compared to the sheets of giant water droplets that battered against the castle, relentless in their efforts to drown all who left the safety of their common rooms.

Such had been the weather for the month of March, and now the first week of April as well. Yet the spirits of the Gryffindor Quidditch team couldn't be dampened. They practiced in this rain, maneuvering and fighting the elements as well as the Bludgers, as they trained to perform at their best in any weather. That was James' great strategy, if they could play at their best in the heavy rain, they would be unstoppable once it let up. Of course, they had to survive this training first.

Lily stood at the window facing the Quidditch pitch, her fingertips pressed lightly against the glass as she attempted to see the seven red blurs being tossed around. The warmth of her hands fogged up the glass around the places where she touched it, and as she lowered her hand to her side once more, left streaks. She couldn't even see the Quidditch pitch, let alone the players. She sighed, hoping that they lasted to the first match of the new year.

Despite what James kept saying, all this practicing in the rain was taking its toll on the team, as she had noticed in the past few days. Michelle had a horrible cold, which the dampness wasn't helping in the least, and Pepper-Up potion wasn't relieving, as she kept going out into the rain again. Chris Ryan, the Keeper, had been up to the Hospital Wing after half of the practices, having been hit by Bludgers he couldn't see through the rain, or when the wind rammed him into one of the hoops. Sirius seemed unaltered by all this, except for the fact that his hair was always wet, dripping, and soaking everyone around when he shook her head like a dog. Holly Jacobs kept glaring across the room at James, as if it would make him cancel practices. Blake Thomas and Nathan Oberholzer (the other Beater) were both permanently stuck in annoyingly positive attitudes, convinced that their captain was making a good decision. James himself was enthusiastic about their chances, although he admitted that Slytherin had put together a very strong side.

Gryffindor, so far, had beaten Ravenclaw in their only match. Ravenclaw, in turn, had beaten Slytherin, but barely, with a score of 170-130. Slytherin had clobbered Hufflepuff, and the Gryffindor-Hufflepuff match was in a few weeks.

Lily sighed again, she was so sick of being inside all the time. She would have given anything just to run through the rain, across the grounds. Presently, however, she had a meeting with Professor Dumbledore and Greg Kane, the Head Boy.

Stepping through the halls, she noticed the obvious lack of people as her footsteps echoed loudly. Classes were over for the day, but there were usually groups standing at corners, couples dashing to some private broom closet. Shrugging, telling herself that it was just the weather, Lily gave the password to the gargoyle and stepped onto the staircase that would take her up to Professor Dumbledore's office.

Professor Dumbledore and Greg were already waiting for her when she stepped into the office.

"Lily," Professor Dumbledore said, "how are you today?"

"I could be better," she admitted. "I just wish that I could go outside again."

"Most of the school agrees with you on that," Greg muttered. He turned to address Dumbledore. "Sir, I can't speak for the other houses, but the Ravenclaw common room is becoming unbearable. We've been cooped up all week, I've had to break up countless petty fights just because we're all so sick of each other!"

Lily nodded. "The only people in Gryffindor who have left the common room are the members of the Quidditch team, and they all come back injured, so it doesn't help the mood."

Professor Dumbledore smiled wistfully at his Head Boy and Girl, his eyes twinkling over the rims of his half-moon glasses.

"I'm afraid to say this, as it rather ruins my all-powerful image, but I have no control over the weather. I cannot make the rain stop."

"We know that," Lily said quickly. "But if there was only something we could do to get people's minds off of everything, too much time together is straining everyone's patience."

"Especially the Hufflepuff Prefects," Greg said. "I've had all but one of them come up to me complaining about how annoyed and bored everyone is."

"The Slytherins have been complaining as well," Lily said.

Well, she thought, complaining is one way to put it. Moaning constantly that I have no power over the weather and that Muggleborns have no right to be in positions of power is another.

"Yes," Professor Dumbledore reiterated, "I know that being cooped up in one's common room can be trying. However, I have no control over the weather. If indeed the students wish to go outside, they may. Today we have graver things to discuss, I regret to say."

Lily moved forward in her seat, so that she was perched on the very edge of it.

Professor Dumbledore continued, "Voldemort-" Greg looked away suddenly "- has struck again. He has killed Guido and Fiona Gardinia, parents of Heather Gardinia, a Hufflepuff fourth year. If you could please bring this up at the next Prefects meeting and be there for Heather. Professor Webber is breaking the news to her."

Professor Dumbledore paused, he looked sadly on at Greg and Lily. Greg was unable to meet his eye, staring at the floor with his eyebrows scrunched up. Lily looked wide-eyed back at Dumbledore, tears welling up in her eyes.

"When?" she asked weakly.

"Yesterday afternoon," he replied. "Yet another reminder of how quickly we can lose those that we love."

Greg nodded, still staring fiercely at the ground. "Eighty-two," he said quietly.

"Pardon?" asked Professor Dumbledore.

Greg looked up, his eyes shining. "Eighty-two. That's the eighty-second time we've had this conversation this year. The eighty-second death of someone's parents, or one parent, or another relative."

Lily forgot all pride and allowed the tears to fall.

"Are there any other matters that need to be addressed?" asked Dumbledore quietly.

Lily thought of how she had been asked to petition the headmaster for an extra Hogsmeade weekend, and how Peeves was finding his way into Gryffindor Tower much more easily and often in the past few weeks.

"Nothing else," she said.

"Me neither," Greg said.

"I think we will leave it there then," Professor Dumbledore said.

Looking more closely at him, Lily noticed that he seemed rather worn out. She hung back as Greg left.

"Professor?" she asked quietly.

"Yes?"

"How much control does He really have?"

He sighed, "More than I can tell you. We just need to keep fighting, keep hoping. This is a war we can win Lily, you know that."

She nodded. "We just need to stick together, right?"

"Correct." He smiled at her. "Right now, however, I think you are needed somewhere else."

Lily looked at him quizzically.

"If I am not mistaken, the Gryffindor Quidditch practice will have ended by now?"

Blushing, Lily nodded. She left the office, and made her way down to the Entrance Hall. The halls were empty; everyone was in their common rooms. Several portraits called out to her, bored with their own company, they hadn't been able to watch the students live their lives lately.

The Entrance Hall was also deserted, but Lily didn't want to wait there. As she gazed out one of the windows flanking the doors, she was overcome with the need to get out of the castle. The rain was a heavy as it ever was, but she couldn't stand being inside any more.

Flinging the doors open. Lily burst out into the rain, soaked to the skin in seconds. She could hardly hear, the rain was so heavy, nor could she see very well. Walking in the direction of the Quidditch pitch, she spread her arms wide and twirled around. The wind and rain beat against her, but she felt fine. Better than fine. Alive. It felt as though her gloom was being washed from her, like she couldn't help but be happy, despite the horrible news she had just received.

The pitch was also empty when she arrived, but then Blake came out of the change room, holding his bag over his head as he ran back to the castle.

Smiling, Lily leaned against the wall beside the door to the change room. She waved to Chris, Nathan and Michelle as the made their way up to the castle.

Just as she was beginning to think she had missed James, and that he was already back in the Tower, he came out. Not seeing her, he went straight towards the castle, muttering to himself. He was soaked. His hair, which usually stuck up in all directions, was plastered to his head. His robes looked as thought they weighed fifty pounds. His eyes were squinting, and he held his broom in one hand.

Smiling to herself, Lily decided to follow him until he noticed her. Sneaking up right behind him, she walked within two feet of him about a quarter of the way back before he realized that he wasn't alone.

He tensed as he kept walking, then, suddenly, spun around, his wand a centimetre from Lily's nose.

"Are you going to curse me, Mr. Potter?" she asked, raising her eyebrows.

He laughed. Tucking his wand back into his robes he said, "You are wet."

"You're not to good looking yourself, at the moment," she replied, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Is that so?" he murmured, pulling her closer.

"Mmm."

As Lily looked up at him, he kissed her. She heard the broom drop to the ground as James wrapped his arms around her waist. She ran her fingers through his hair, soaking wet as it was. His hand moved up her back, cradling the back of her head. The idea of the stereotypical kiss in the rain floated through Lily's mind, but soon all thought was wiped away.

"Whew!" Sirius Black appeared behind Lily, whooping.

Spinning around, Lily clapped a hand over her mouth.

Sirius doubled over, laughing. "The looks on your faces..." he said.

Lily felt her face turn red. "Don't do that!" she exclaimed, her face burning.

James laughed with Sirius, his arms still around Lily, although she wasn't facing him anymore. "Come on," he said right into her ear, "let's go dry off."

"Hot chocolate?" she asked, her face still beet red in embarrassment.

"Of course. Cake?"

"Possibly."

"What!" Sirius butt into their conversation. "Aren't I invited?"

James looked down at Lily. She rolled her eyes, then nodded.

"Fine."

"Good. Just no more of that-" he put on an overly sentimental expression "-'you're the reason I breathe' crap."

Lily grinned, peeling a strand of sopping red hair off her cheek. "James, I love you."

"You're my reason for living."

"You're the reason I get up in the morning."

"Ahhh!" Sirius tore off to the castle, as though he had just witnessed something thoroughly disgusting.

Lily and James both burst out laughing.

"Let's go," he said. "I'm freezing."

*

Lily, James, Sirius and Marlene sat on the floor in the kitchen, each with a mug of hot chocolate. A large platter of cookies was in the centre of their circle. Lily and James had met Lene on their way to the kitchen, and invited her along. Sirius was already there when they arrived.

"Will Sir be needing anything else?" a house-elf asked Sirius.

He looked around, and everyone shook their heads. "Some butter tarts would be brilliant," he said.

"Sirius!" Lily reprimanded once the house-elf, Tibby, had scampered off.

"What?"

"You just... aren't you full?" Lene asked.

"We'll bring them to our dorm and eat them later," James said. "Could you bring some more of those cupcakes while you're at it?"

"That's what you think," Sirius said. "These are all for me."

"You're not sharing?" Lene pouted teasingly.

"Maybe with you. But not these two, they don't respect me."

Lily laughed as James punched Sirius on the shoulder. She caught Lene's eye and raised her eyebrows. Flirt, she mouthed.

Shut up, Lene mouthed back.

"You know what I think?" Sirius said. "We've been far too quiet lately."

"Meaning?" Lily raised her eyebrows.

"Sorry," he said, eyes twinkling. "You're evil, can't tell you."

Lily stuck her tongue out at him.

*

Lily and Lene lounged beside the fire, happily discussing the male models in a Witch Weekly magazine, and their exceptional male attributes.

James, Sirius and Remus were across the room, their heads bent together. Lily had tried to approach them, but had been brushed away, which could only mean one thing. They were planning something.

"But look at his eyes," Lene said, gesturing to one wizard.

Lily shook her head. "Okay, he has eyes. But come on," she flipped the page to another, and jabbed her finger onto a page. "This one is perfect."

She wrinkled her nose. "He would be alright if he didn't look so... clean."

Lily raised her eyebrows.

"Look at him, Lil!" Lene exclaimed, trying to explain herself. 'He's too clean-cut, his teeth are too white, his hair is too perfect. Maybe if he didn't get a haircut for a few months... or if he didn't look as though he just hopped of the assembly line..."

"He doesn't look lie he hopped off an assembly line!"

"No one has skin that perfect. I would kill for skin that perfect."

Quite suddenly, the portrait hole burst open and Peter, panting, ran over to his friends. They all looked up at him for a moment, and he said something to them. Before anyone knew what was going on, James had one of his arms and Sirius had the other, and they were dragging him up the stairs. Remus followed, glaring as he walked backwards, daring anyone to follow and eavesdrop.

Exchanging glances, the girls silently debated whether or not they should do just that. Lily won.

"Just half an hour," she said consolingly.

"In half an hour it could be over," Lene debated.

Lily thought this over. She had a point. "Fine," she said, "fifteen minutes."

Thankfully for Lene, who had no patience whatsoever, James stormed down after five, and flopped down angrily beside Lily.

"Hey," she said softly, "what happened?"

"Pettigrew, the bastard, lost something very important."

Lene looked over. "What?"

"Something that took over a year of our hard work. He got it confiscated." James slumped down, furious. Suddenly, he grabbed Lily's hand. "Come on, let's go to Hogsmeade."

She raised her eyebrows. "Now?"

"Well, I can't go to dinner and look at Peter or I'll kill him, I can't go to the kitchens and talk to Sirius and Remus or we'll make a plan for killing him and Remus can't stop both of us, and I can't starve, so what would you suggest? Oh-" he turned to Lene "- Sirius wants you to wait for him and Remus."

Lily gave an apologetic look to Lene, then stood up. "Alright then, but you'll have to tell me all about it."

"I s'pose. Let's go." He stood up as well. "Later, Lene."

"Later James. Bye Lil."

Once they were in the hall, Lily rounded on James.

"What happened?"

"The map. Lil, he got the map confiscated!" James looked close to exploding. Or crying.

Lily didn't know what to do. She knew how important that map was to all of them. It symbolised all the work they put into becoming Animagi for Remus. It was a symbol of their friendship.

"Can you get it back?" she asked, slipping her hand into his.

"No," he said glumly.

"Who took it?"

"Filch."

"Oh." That was a problem. As Head Girl, Lily could have convinced a handful of the teachers to give her whatever they took, but Filch was another case entirely.

"Lily, what're we going to do!"

She bit her lip. She had no idea what they should do. "I guess we should just go get a Butterbeer, and figure something out."

*

The rain had finally let up. One Saturday morning, the three Gryffindor seventh-year girls awoke to light pouring into their window. Actual light!

"Sunshine!" Lene exclaimed, skipping around the room, grinning like mad.

"No more rain! We have to go out to the grounds," Lily said enthusiastically.

"Definitely," Lene agreed, pulling a sweater over her head. "First though, I need to finish my report for Transfiguration

"I have one for History of Magic that I need to get done." Lily flopped back down on her bed, pulling the pillow over her face. "Pat, are you going to come?"

There was no response from Pat's bed, where the hangings were still drawn.

"Pat?" Lene walked over.

Lily sat up, looking worried. She nodded at Lene, and Lene pulled back one of the hangings.

Pat was slouched in bed, looking miserable.

"Oh, what's wrong?" they both asked.

Pat sniffled. "He broke up with me."

Exchanging glances, Lily and Lene crawled up beside her and each put an arm over her shoulders.

"That's horrible," Lily said softly. "Just last night? Why didn't you tell us?"

Pat shrugged, obviously fighting tears. "I was upset," she said in a squeaky voice.

Looking over at Lene, Lily could see that although Lene showed no trace of a smile, her eyes were another story entirely.

"I'm so sorry. Why don't we go and get you some chocolate?" Lene asked quickly. "And all the other sweets we can carry."

"Yeah," Lily said, "we'll be right back, okay?"

Pat nodded, and sniffled again.

"Are you going to be okay?" Lily asked. "Do you want me to stay while Lene gets the food?"

"No," Pat said. "I'm fine. I just - I guess I'll have a shower or something."

"Oh, use my citrus shampoo," Lene said. "It smells really good, you'll feel much better."

Pat smiled weakly as the other two went on their mission for chocolate.

"I'm going to kill you," Lily hissed as they closed the door behind them. "You were practically laughing at her!"

"No I wasn't," Lene defended, "I'm really sad for Pat, she looks so upset. Don't worry, I'm not going to throw myself at him or anything. I've given up. If something happens, he has to start it. And he won't, so nothing'll happen. Don't worry."

Lily rolled her eyes.

*

Tapping her quill repetitively against her chin, Lily stared down at her parchment, willing a report on the development of the wand core to write itself. She read over what she had.

The wand core, most commonly a substance made of unicorn hair, phoenix feather, Veela hair, or dragon heartstring, was developed slowly. The original wands were all made of hazel, but slowly and surely wand craftmen began experimenting with different types of wood, and combinations of cores.

That was it. Of a five foot essay, due in two days, Lily had two sentences.

"Urgh!" She slammed down her quill, glaring at the wall in front of her.

"Interesting word," Lene said, sliding in beside her. "Very expressive vocab."

"Lene, do me a favour?"

"Depends."

"Shut up."

"Nope, can't do that one." Lene reached across the table and took Lily's essay from her. "Interesting. But boring. What do you think of my new jeans?" Lene stuck her right leg out, showing off the lyrics to the entire song "We Are The Champions" written down the leg, in ink charmed to change colour every few seconds.

"Unique," Lily said. Sometimes, Lene could be just too weird.

"I can make you a pair if you'd like," Lene said quickly. "I got the lyrics to all these great Muggle songs... There's one called Queen, but it's funny 'cause they're all guys... and the Beatles, but they broke up-"

"That's all right. I don't want a pair."

"Oh. That's okay. Then I wouldn't be the only one! Of course, after I wear these to Hogsmeade next week all the third years are going to come up with their own, them I'll need to come up with something new."

Lily nodded in agreement. Nearly all of Lene's statements were soon adopted by younger girls, forcing her to go back to the drawing board.

"Of course," Lene continued, "I'm still the only one who uses her tie as a hair ribbon, and no one else pins stuff to their bag... I need to get some more Quidditch ones. Do you think that McGonagall would let me in class if I ripped the sleeves off of my blouse? They're way to hot in the summer..."

Sirius barged through the portrait hole, looking around desperately. Spotting Lily and Lene, he hurried over to them, not bothering to go around the couch, but simply vaulting over it.

"Come. Now. Dumbledore. Order. Trouble. Can't. Breathe."

"Sirius, calm down," Lily said, standing up.

"What happened?" Lene asked.

"Dumbledore said to get everyone, ran the whole way without breathing."

"Why?"

"Because I had something he wouldn't like, so when he came by I shoved it in my mouth, so if I opened my mouth to breathe, he would have seen it."

Lily tilted her head, a confused expression on her face. "Where is it?"

"I swallowed it when I jumped over the couch."

"Why didn't you breathe through your nose?" asked Lene.

"Don't bother me with particulars, woman!" Sirius yelled, turning a brilliant shade of red. "We're dealing with an emergency situation here!"

Rolling their eyes, the girls followed Sirius out of the common room to Professor Dumbledore's office.

As they arrived, there were many members of the Order whom Lily recognised, and some that she didn't. All were standing nervously, talking in hushed voices to those around them, confused. Some were pacing, some twiddling their thumbs, some were muttering to themselves.

Lily joined Remus and Peter beside a table, and Lene squeezed in beside her.

"What's going on?" Lily asked.

"Dunno yet."

"Oh."

Lily leaned against a wall and twiddled her thumbs for a few minuets, watching those around her. Lene picked up a book and flipped through it several times, not reading, just for something to do. Remus and Sirius were arm-wrestling while Peter goaded them on. Something wasn't quite right...

"Where's James?" she asked suddenly.

Sirius looked over at her, losing concentration just long enough for Remus to win. "He's with Moody," he said, "at least, he was last night. He probably should have been back be now though... He probably stopped to get food, or at Zonko's or something."

"Yeah," Lily said absently, "yeah... you're probably right." James had told her that he was going with Moody, but had assured her that he would be back by late morning.

The door swung open, and Professor Dumbledore stepped into the room. All heads swivelled towards him, conversations and fidgeting ceased.

"I'm afraid that I have some bad news," he said weakly. "Yet another raid has failed, once again resulting in death and disappearance."

Lily's eyes shot open.

Dumbledore continued, "There was a gathering of Death Eaters in Hogsmeade this morning, four members of the Order were sent to gather information and hopefully capture whomever was leading them when the meeting ended. Our plans backfired."

Everyone inhaled.

"Charles McKinnon is dead."

As most people processed this, Lene slid down to the ground. Charles McKinnon was her uncle. Lily felt frozen in place as she watched her friend. Lene was on her knees, looking overwhelmed. Lily had no idea what to do.

Sirius was the first to recover himself. He knelt down beside her and put his arms around her, and instantly she gave in, shaking silently in his arms.

Professor Dumbledore, who couldn't see over the heads of the other members to where his students were standing, kept speaking.

"The other three have been captured: Dedalus Diggle, Ivy Reposo, and James Potter."