Disclaimer: Well… I'm neither 40, nor am I European or whatever it is Jo is… So therefore I'm not her…: P

James' POV

I led her down to the kitchens, grinning. Something really weird about the potters is that all the males have black hair and most of their wives have red. I had known for 11 years that I was probably going to marry a red head and now for the past 6 years, 3 weeks and 4 days, I have known it would be the particular red head beside me.

We walked in silence for awhile. I was silently doing a victory dance in my head. She was actually walking next to me, and not in a huffy silence but a comfortable one. Moony would be so proud of me! We finally reached the kitchens. We walked in and I asked Twinky if I could have a picnic basket and a mudcake (Lily's favourite). As Twinky started packing it up Lily walks over to me from where she'd been talking to the house elves.

"Look James, I'm sorry…It's just…" I hushed her explaining we would talk more outside. I grabbed the basket off Twinky and we headed outside.

Lily's POV

It was a really nice day in early autumn. The big Whomping willow, which was planted for Remus' purposes, was swaying slightly in the breeze. I had had a pretty lousy start this year, I mean sure it had been fantastic becoming Head Girl, but I had been with my boyfriend for like two months and then I found him in a broom closet with some Ravenclaw and all he said was that he'd rather end on his terms not by "a mysterious something", which I might add I have no idea what that is, and I don't care, he's not even worth my time. But it had still hurt like hell to see him and Penelope in there.

After we had sat down under a tree near the lake that was exactly what I told James. I felt kinda weird talking to James of all people, but he's a good listener. At first I felt a little awkward seeing as James had supposedly liked me but that was an old game of his. Now he is content being friends- or at least I hope he is. After awhile I had exhausted the topic of my ex, and had eaten all the mudcake, we were quiet for awhile.

"Hey, what's the date? James asked suddenly.

"Um… the 28th I think," I said. I studied his face and saw the small frown on his forehead.

"The full moons in two days," I said quietly. He looked up sharply and looked at me.

"He was my prefect partner for two years; don't you think I'd know about his 'furry little problem'?" I said laughingly.

"He's a good person. Pretty quiet but a damn good listener. He can get pretty aggressive when he wants to too," I muttered and had the pleasure of seeing his head snap back again as he once again looked at me.

"Whatdoyoumean?!" he said, very quickly. Taking a breath he said much slower "What do you mean, aggressive? Towards you?!" James looks aggressive right now.

"No James," I say starting to- albeit nervously- laugh, "I mean if some idiot wouldn't just go when I told them to and instead tried to hex me, he'd get pretty agro then. He used to say "someone would kill me if one of them so much as breathed your air." Aw Remus. Hey does Remus talk about any particular girls? Like for instance Em?" Em or Emmaline is my best friend as Remus is James'.

"Em? Uh… now that you mention it, yeah, he often does! All good things, obviously, but… Remus and Em… sweet! So that's frank and Alice, Em and Remus… who for Peter and Sirius?" listed James, referring to his other best friends Peter Pettigrew and Sirius Black.

"Hm… How about Briana? They could both cheat on each other and not care. Hey, what about you and me? You paired everyone but you and me!" I said. I didn't miss the weird look in James' eye when I said 'you and me', but I assume- ok hope- its just coz he thinks it sounds funny. James looked amused for a moment then stretched leisurely out on the grass on his back, hands behind his head, looking at the sky.

"Briana? That… man-eater from Hufflepuff? I couldn't do that to my best mate! And as for me, I've already got myself sorted out, and I don't know about you. Even if the girl herself doesn't know it, I'm gonna marry her." I was silent for a moment. I had just had an odd feeling in my stomach… it felt like I'd just been on a rollercoaster.

"So who's the unlucky girl?" I asked. James shook his head looking bemused.

"All I'm saying is its hereditary," he said. I gave him the weirdest look I could. That makes it sound like they are related! What on earth?!

"So what's wrong with you James?" after getting a questioning look in return, I tried a different tact.

"You don't look your normal self. Your being quieter and more… considerate then usual. It's so strange to see you breaking up fights instead of starting them. Even more strange is when you defend the kids! You, James potter defending someone!" I put my wrist to my forehead and fell backwards onto the grass. James started laughing and stood to help me up. When he reached down however I pulled him down too.

Because he hadn't been expecting this he fell and rolled, so he didn't land on me, but rather pulled me on top of him by 'accident'. I looked down one eyebrow raised.

"I don't know you very well. Wanna play 20 questions?" James asked innocently. I started laughing and nodded. I began to get up and he was just relenting when I knelt on his… "Male reproductive parts" as Peter calls them. Oh dear! Note to self: disinfect knee later.