You & Me ~ a Jily short story {Harry Potter fanfic}

James Potter ran through the grass, his heart thumping in his ears, cold raindrops rolling off his skin. The sun had gone down hours ago, but their lighthearted spirit was as strong as it ever was. "Tag! You're it!" he heard Sirius Black yell in the distance. He kicked off his shoes and continued running.

Lily Evans shrieked playfully as Sirius caught up to her and tagged her in the shoulder. She ran after him, her drenched, red hair whipping out behind her. She pulled her Gryffindor robes up to her knees and ran faster.

Remus Lupin stood under the shelter of a large tree, a thick book tucked under his arm. He sat down and opened his book, shaking his head at the others.

"Come on, Moony," James called to him.

He looked up from his book and frowned. "This is a stupid game."

"Shut up," said James jokingly, throwing a shoe at him as he ran by.

The shoe hit him in the chest and fell onto his book. He looked up at James. "All right," he muttered. He pushed the book off his lap, standing up and removing his robe. He threw it onto the ground, now only wearing a white button-down, black dress pants, and his striped Gryffindor necktie.

Marlene McKinnon hid behind a tree as Lily passed by, trying to stifle her laughter. She shivered in her soaked, heavy robe, but continued to smile. She hadn't expected such a childish game of midnight tag to be so fun.

Lily spotted James hiding behind some bushes and went after him. He took off, trying to keep the sopping hair out of his eyes while he ran. When he passed a tree, he pulled some leaves and threw them over his shoulder at Lily, laughing.

"Gah!" she exclaimed as the leaves stuck to her face. She peeled them off and continued running after him. She reached out to tag him, but her bare feet slipped on the slick ground and she tumbled into the grass, grabbing his hand and pulling him down with her.

James sat up and pushed Lily playfully into the grass again. She smiled and tried to catch her breath. She had known how he felt about her since their third year here at Hogwarts. Now in their seventh year, Lily blushed as she realized she had the same feelings for him.

They laid down on their backs and let the rain fall on their faces. She looked at him with adoration, her cheeks flushed pink. He placed his hands behind his head and closed his eyes, raindrops collecting on his glasses.

She began to tremble slightly in the cold. James removed his robe and placed it over her. The half-moon cast a dim blue light on her face, and he could see it reflected in her striking green eyes.

He scooped her up in his arms and carried her back to the castle. The others followed, shivering and laughing.

--

Everyone was warming up in the Gryffindor Common Room. Remus was sitting in his favorite spot next to the firelight, an open book in his lap. Lily and Marlene were chatting quietly beside the fireplace, and Sirius was laying on the couch, almost asleep.

James descended down the stairs from the dorm and ran to the couch, jumping over the back of it and landing on Sirius.

"Oh my God, James," he yelled and shoved him off the couch.

James grabbed Sirius's wrist and pulled him onto the floor with him. Sirius pushed him over and climbed back onto the couch.

James stood up and flopped onto an armchair next to Remus, stretching and yawning obnoxiously.

"I learned how to conjure a Patronus today," said Lily. "Would you like to see?"

Remus looked up from his book, but did not say anything.