Sorry in advance for any mistakes. I just realized that I accidently posted a chapter that I didn't mean to...so if you still remember it just disregard that. This was supposed to be the next chapter. I know it's been forever and ever and I'd be shocked if anyone was still reading this...but if you are. I love you.

One Year Later.

"JAMES!"

James Sirius Potter bolted up, falling off the side of his bed and banging his left elbow quite painfully on the oak floors. He groaned and rubbed his eyes, staring up at the petite seventeen year old girl standing over him with her hands on her hips and a bag slung over her shoulder.

"What do you want?" He groggily propped himself up on his elbows.

"Well come on, James. Get up, get dressed. It's already ten thirty." Anna stepped carefully around him, placing the Quidditch magazine he had been flipping through the night before on his bed side table. James tilted his head back to look at her.

"What the hell are you talking about?" James groaned. He was tired and his room was far too bright and he did not want to get up.

"School. Hogwarts. Get up!"

"Nice try, Annie. I've already played that one on you, twice." He smirked.

Anna crouched down so that she was eye level with the older boy. She spoke very seriously, her big brown eyes open wide.

"James. Not you, you idiot. My seventh year starts tomorrow and you need to get up and get dressed and get to platform nine and three quarters because you promised you'd see me off! Okay? Okay."

James sat up, nodding to himself. Okay so she was not kidding. That meant he could not actually go back to sleep. Which was really upsetting.

Anna offered James a little hand which he took, allowing himself to be pulled to his feet. Then he rummaged through the pocket of his jeans, which lay on the ground in a pile of clothes next to his bed, for his wand. Once he had fished it out he waved it around, cleaning up his room, so that his mother would not yell at him. His cauldron nearly hit Anna and she fell flat to the ground to avoid it with a scream. James laughed at her.

Being able to do magic made James' s life so much easier, and being young for his grade he had only just come of age in June. The Summer had been positively glorious-magic whenever he wanted. He could just apparate to the kitchen instead of having to walk all the way down the stairs. With a flick of his wand and some well said words he could make his life so much more enjoyable. James could barely remember not being able to use magic.

"Accio tee-shirt." James lazily flicked his wand at a pile of neatly folded laundry. He caught the white tee-shirt and pulled it over his head, pulling his laundry basket out of the room and into the hall for his mother to deal with.

"James? You're not going like that? You can't wear pajamas out! Your mother will hex you."

James transfigured his flannel pajama pants into a pair of jeans. "Better? Now come one, I don't have all day here"

"Well don't act so excited now."

Anna led a still sleepy James down the stairs. He was groggy and tired and feeling grumpy. Lately James had been in a rather bad mood. Anna was dating some snarky, annoying Slytherin and James was still shagging Holly Pearson to get his mind off of the feelings he had for his best friend. He refused to tell her for fear of ruining their friendship, but seeing her with someone else was killing him. Especially now that he wasn't going to be there everyday to keep an eye on her.

He was going off to auror training, all by himself. And the prospect of something so unfamiliar was quite frightening. But of course, he wouldn't say anything. James didn't get scared or nervous. Nothing could shake his confidence, or so he liked to think. In reality, he was scared out of his mind.

Albus and Lily were both sitting on the kitchen counter, clutching their trunks and owls as Ginny fussed over them. Albus looked wide awake, his black hair messy, his green eyes alert. Lily looked tired but she had combed her long orange hair and her socks were at least matching.

"Mum!" Albus caught his mother's wrist as she fixed his hair. "We have to go!"

"Oh, okay, alright." Ginny said. "Oh! Hi Anna, I didn't even see you come in! How are you?"

While Anna and Ginny chatted, James took the opportunity to make his way toward the refrigerator. His stomach was rumbling and the Potters really needed to go grocery shopping. There was nothing but expired turkey, a pint of blueberries, and a jar of marmalade in the fridge. James finally settled on the pint of strawberry ice cream hidden beneath a bag of frozen vegetables. Albus hopped off the counter, holding a spoon out to James and they both started eating the freezer burnt ice cream. The Potter boys were known for their ravenous appetites. One time when they had really been lacking food James and Albus had sandwiched peanut butter and American cheese between frozen waffles. The combinations they came up with were infamous.

"Let's head out! Harry!" Ginny called up the stairs.

Harry Potter came tumbling down the stairs, buttoning his shirt, his shoes still untied. He stumbled into the kitchen, straightening his glasses. Ginny flicked her wand, tying her husband's shoes and straightening his shirt.

"Oi boys! Ice cream in the morning!" Harry wrenched the spoon out of James' hand.

"Dad!"

"I'm hungry too!" Harry complained through a mouthful of strawberry ice cream.

"Well get your own spoon!"

The girls rolled their eyes.

"You can eat on the train. That's like six years old anyways. Come on." Lily hopped off the counter.

"Okay, Albus you grab my arm. Lily-Dad. James, you've got Anna?"

"I've got, Annie." James smiled down at her. Anna wrinkled her nose and gave him an affectionate shove.

Ginny and Albus were the first to go, then Harry and Lily. who was squeezing her eyes shut tightly, preparing for the nauseating feeling that came with apparating.

"Come on, Annie." James grabbed her trunk in one hand and her hand in the other as he felt the familiar tug behind his navel.

Anna straightened her dress and allowed James to pull her through the busy crowd towards platform nine and three quarters.

Hand holding wasn't abnormal for friends, right? Was it strange that she preferred spending time with James over Andrew, her boyfriend? Wasn't there something wrong if James holding her hand turned her on more than anything Andrew did...Merlin. She needed to do something about this. Being in love with her best friend and not saying anything was getting terribly old.

The station was busy today and they could barely move. Muggles were bumping into owls and Hogwarts students were rushing madly toward the brick wall. Anna and James leaned casually against the wall, falling right through it, to the platform where the Hogwarts Express was gleaming in all it's glory.

An intense wave of sadness suddenly washed over James. He wasn't going back this year. Never again would he step on that train and make mischief in the corridors or buy a pumpkin pasty from the plump little trolley witch. Never again would he be called into "Minnie's" office for a little chat about whatever prank he had pulled that day. Never again would he serve a detention with Filch and Mrs. Norris. It was rather depressing and he didn't know why it hadn't hit him earlier.

"James! Anna" Rose called through the smog, pulling her cousin out of his thoughts. She tugged Scorpius, sleepy eyed and distinctly tousled, after her.

"Rose!" Anna pulled the taller girl into a tight hug. The two had become great friends as they had spent weeks at the burrow together.

"Scorp you look like shit." James thumped Scorpius on the back. He grunted and shrugged.

"I'm jet lagged. We went to Australia."

Rose slipped her hand into his and whispered something that made Scorpius give a dimpled smile and hug her closer to his side. James and Anna backed away, leaving the couple alone.

glanced down at his watch- 10:53. He had seven more minutes left with his very best friend. He wasn't going to see her till Christmas and the thought made him sick to his stomach. No one would be there to watch over her with that annoying Slytherin boy and who was he supposed to go to with all of his issues? It didn't help at all that he fancied her more than any girl ever. He was going to miss her.

James looked up from his watch and found Anna staring intently at him, tears welling in her big, brown eyes.

"James-" She started. She gave a little sniffle and wiped away a tear. James quickly pulled her into a fierce one armed hug. She was so tiny and perfect. She fit. He didn't want to ever move. He'd be perfectly content to stay in this embrace with her auburn curls smelling so sweet and flowery and his hand on her waist.

"I'm going to miss you." Anna said, pulling back slightly and giving a watery smile.

"Of course you are." He grinned cheekily.

Anna attempted to push away from him, but he kept his tan arms locked tightly around her. She gave up her struggle and pressed her cheek to his chest. His heart thumped against his rib cage. "Jamesie. Just say 'Oh Annie, I'll miss you so much too. I promise to write everyday. Love you.'"

James chuckled. "Annie. I'm going to miss you." James hugged her roughly. He didn't want to let go. They had two minutes. "That's all you're getting, so run along."

"Oh shut up." She smiled against his shirt. "I know you love me."

James only grinned into her hair and gave her a quick squeeze, lifting her off the ground quickly. But Anna understood what he wasn't able to put into words. She could practically read his mind.

Anna pulled back and picked up her trunk. She wagged a finger at him. "You promise you'll write?"

"Cross my heart and hope to die." James nodded solemnly.

"I don't believe you." She laughed and turned to get on the train. James caught her wrist. "What?"

His expression was more than serious. It was so intense that she almost shrunk back "Anna. Don't forget about me, okay? I- I lo- you're my best friend and I know I don't say it enough. So, just...just." He didn't have any more words. He pulled her into another hug and kissed the top of her head.

"James. I have to go!" She laughed into his shirt.

"We have time. We- Annie-"

"James! It's eleven! I actually have to go. I'll write you as soon as I get there, okay?" She peeled her best friend off of her and stepped onto the train.

James watched her go. He watched her blow him a kiss out the window and wave until he couldn't see her anymore and he spent the rest of the day kicking himself for not mustering up the courage to say "Anna. I love you."

Pretty please review. Updates will be more regular now that I'm on break.

XOXO