James tried to give her a reassuring smile, “He’ll be fine, he’s slept through worse.”

Lily scowled, “I know he’s a deep sleeper, but this is the worst storm we’ve had in years.”

Nodding, James glanced over to the window, before looking back over at his wife. “You used to love this weather,” he remarked softly.

Lily stood up, taking one last glance at her son before moving to stand by James at the window. She smiled fondly at the storm, entangling her husband’s fingers between her own. “I still do. It’s just, different now. When we were younger, storms were wild because we were. Now I feel like they’re a bad omen, like he’s becoming even more powerful, like he’s coming...” Lily’s voice faded off into the distance, and as she drew her eyes away from the rain, she realised James was staring at her.

He leant forward, placing his lips on her forehead, his voice only a whisper, drowned out by the thunder outside. “I’d tell you off for worrying, but I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t felt it too.”

For a moment, there was nothing but fear in the air, almost consuming them in the silence; that was, until Lily smiled. “Do you remember the last time there was a storm this bad?” she asked quietly.

It only took an instant for recognition to flash across James’ eyes, “How could I forget?” he asked, his voice returning to its usual volume, as his famous grin flashed over at Lily.

_________________________________________________________

Four Years Earlier

It had been pouring with rain, and Marlene McKinnon had sworn it was the worst storm in twenty years.

“So...” Mary McDonald started, wearing a grin that could ruin the lives of anyone who tried to cross her. “How shall we keep ourselves entertained during the storm?”

Alice Tripe rolled her eyes, not bothering to move off the couch. “Mare, your idea of ‘keeping ourselves entertained’ usually involves everyone getting drunk.”

But Mary simply grinned over at Alice, “Exactly.”

The four seventh year Gryffindor girls had spread themselves out in the common room, a bottle of firewhiskey keeping them company. Most of the younger students had cleared out to their dorms, despite it being a Friday night, the rain had decreed an early night for most. All, except the seventh years.

When the firewhiskey had warmed their laughter, James Potter and Sirius Black found themselves marching to the common room with the intention of telling off a group of giggling first years. They had only been too surprised when they discovered the giggles were coming from their classmates.

So shocked by the current situation, they took so long to return that Remus and Peter came to find them, and with all four marauders standing around, they decided to do what they do best and join in.

On their third bottle of firewhiskey, Sirius broke the unintelligible conversations with a bright idea: “Let’s go have a picnic!” He shouted, standing up.

Everyone fell silent, starting at him. Marlene was the first person to speak, “Sirius, it’s raining.” She pointed out.

“That’s what’ll make it fun!” he exclaimed. “We’ll set up the quidditch pitch, there’s a charm for keeping us dry, I’ve just had too much to drink to remember it. Now, who’s with me?”

The group of teenagers started at Sirius for a moment, no one sure how to react to his proposal. Until James jumped up next to him, “I’m in!”

There were a few groans of disapproval, but they all knew that once James and Sirius had an idea, they would be stupid to it sit out. ___________

A simple Imperturbable charm was able to create a shield that would keep a small area of the field dry. As the group of seventh year Gryffindors began to set up their picnic, Lily paused, looking up at the rain. It pounded down against the invisible barrier, keeping them dry in the midst of a storm, Lily could not help but appreciate how lucky she was to have magic in her life.

James sat down between Lily and Remus, accompanied by a bottle of firewhiskey. “Padfoot,” James started, “If your plan was to bring us out here so we could continue to get drunk, we could have just stayed inside.”

Sirius looked appalled. “You do not question the magical picnic, Prongs.” He retorted.

Marlene rolled her eyes, piping in, “He’s got a point, you know, Sirius.”

Lily could not help side with Sirius, “You guys don’t seem to be valuing the fact that we’re sitting in an open field in the middle of a storm and yet remain completely dry.”

Unable to help herself, Alice laughed, “Trust Lily to get all deep on us.”

“Muggleborns.” James said, shaking his head, earning himself a shove from Lily.

Sirius grinned, taking another sip of his drink, when another bright idea hit him. “Let’s play truth or dare.” He announced.

Peter looked a little too excited at this, but Marlene only scowled. “We could have played that inside, Sirius.”

The young wizard eyed Marlene, unimpressed with her negativity. “Truth or dare, Marlene?”

“Merlin,” she mumbled, “Fine. Truth.”

“Boring.” Sirius exclaimed. “But... enlighten us, Marly dear, is there a boy in your life at the moment?” Sirius added a wink for good measure. 

Marlene, burning red, had lost the ability to communicate momentarily. Mary and Lily exchanged a worried glance, but before neither of them could intercept, Marline mumbled, “Yes.”

Sirius looked delighted, “And who might he be?”

This time, Lily was prepared. “You can only ask one question, Black, leave the girl alone.” Marlene looked relieved, until Lily turned back to Sirius. “I suppose it’s your turn now, truth or dare?”

He considered the question for a moment, “Dare.”

Lily paused, thinking, but James seized the opportunity. “If you don’t mind, Evans dear, I’ll take this one.” James grinned at his best friend. “Do a lap of the pitch on your broom,” James paused, giving everyone a moment to take in the dare and object. His grin grew wider as he finished, “Naked.”

Five minutes later, Sirius threw is uniform into the quidditch supply room, and kicked off using one of the school’s old brooms. At first he had a cocky air about him, waving elegantly to his friends in the centre of the pitch. But it took all of a few moments in the rain for his skin to burn with every drop that touched his skin. The rain was violent and heavy, and the quidditch pitch had never seemed as large as it had in that lap, Sirius was only too thankful that his friends were in the middle of the field, and unable to see how much pain he was in. By the time Sirius returned to this picnic, his whole body was burning red, and he scowled at James as he sat down.

Cold, wet and in too much pain to feel embarrassment for what he just did, Sirius turned to James, “Truth or dare,” he asked, with an evil grin.

James paused, unsure of which would be the safest option. “Truth.” He answered slowly, trying to sound more confident than he felt.

“Good.” Sirius said plainly. “James, care to tell us all about the girl you’re in love with?”

The group fell silent, everyone slowly turning to stare at James, while Lily cast her eyes down to the ground. “You can’t be serious.” James demanded.

“Sirius,” Remus said sternly, “That’s hardly necessary.”

Sirius smiled bitterly, “My balls are blue.” He said between his teeth. Mary and Marlene tried to pass it off as a joke, and laughed softly, but the atmosphere was not to be broken so easily, and Sirius was as stubborn as he was proud.

James scowled, staring down at the group. “She’s beautiful.” He let out a loud sign, and glanced over at Sirius, who gestured for him to keep going. James glanced over at Lily, who was still not looking at him. “She’s enthralling and clever as hell, and she can keep her head above water when the best of us have already drowned, and Merlin knows she can look after herself in a fight.” James tried to avoid the eyes on his friends, and he felt positively sick. Sirius made a face that demanded just the smallest bit more. “She puts up with so much and gets so little in return, but she still manages to be unbelievably kind. She can see the best in everyone,” James looked up, and noticed Lily was watching him, he gave her a small smile, as her cheeks flushed red. “Even me.” 

James fell silent, and Sirius, still wearing his smug grin, began to applaud James slowly.

But before anyone could speak, the charm that was keeping the rain off them wore off, and the students were suddenly standing in the middle of a thunderstorm, completely unprotected. Mary screamed, driving for the picnic blanket that would act as an umbrella for her, Marlene and Alice as they sprinted back towards the castle. Remus grabbed their picnic basket, while Peter picked up their empty bottles. Sirius laughed his hysterically, following Moony and Wormtail to the shelter of their school. James was about to break out into a sprint behind his friends, when he noticed Lily had not moved. She was standing in the centre of the pitch, beaming up at the sky.

“Are you mad?!” James shouted, trying to make himself heard over the rain.

Lily laughed, “I love this weather!”

“You are mad.” James retorted, shaking his head. He was about to leave when Lily turned to him.

“Did you really mean what you said?” She asked slowly, both her hair and her clothes stoking wet.

James hesitated. “Yeah,” he said slowly, running a hand through his dripping hair.

Lily fell silent. “I didn’t know you still felt that way.”

The wizard let out a hollow laugh, “Lily, I’ve always felt that way.”

She did not need to say anything else. Lily Evans stepped forward, closing the space between them off. She leant forward, placing her hands on the collar of James’ coat, pulling him down towards her, and pressed her lips against his.

James was so stunned that it was not until he heard the distant sounds of Sirius cheering that he it occurred to him he was as good as standing there, so he wrapped his arms around Lily’s waist, and kissed her back in a fashion that he had only dreamed about for years. _________________________________________________________

James and Lily Potter sat on their front porch in Godric’s Hollow, admiring the storm.

Lily’s held James’ hand, as she leant her head against his shoulder. “I can’t believe it’s been so long since our seventh year already, it only seems like yesterday.”

James nodded, nearly down to kiss her on the head. “I can’t believe how much has changed.”

Rather than acknowledge the darkness in the world now, Lily turned back to the storm. “I’ve always loved the rain.” She said, breathing it in.

James smiled, “I know.”

Unable to help herself, Lily reached up to place a kiss on his cheek. “It seems almost fitting, you know,” she said quietly, “A violent storm like this the night before Halloween. It just works.”

Rolling his eyes, James laughed softly. “Even for a witch, you’re far too superstitious.”

“It’ll be lovely though. Harry’s second Halloween. But it will be his first proper one, he was too young the first time.” Lily smiled fondly at the thought of tomorrow. “I do hope Sirius is able to drop by again soon, the house feels so much quieter when he’s not here.”

James nodded, “I’ll owl him tomorrow, see if he wants to come by for dinner, I know Harry’s been missing him.”