Chapter Ten
"Strawberry Bonbons," said James, to the statue of the gargoyle that guarded the headmaster's office. James couldn't help but think that Dumbledore's password choice was strongly influenced by a sweet tooth.
It had been two weeks since James first taught Lily how to do a Patronus charm and James still hadn't to find anything out about soul mates and Patronus'. He'd scanned through all his books he'd brought with him and he couldn't be bothered going through the ones at the library cause there were just too many. Dumbledore was the easiest option; the guy knew everything.
He couldn't count the number of times he'd had to come up to this office as a student. Him and Sirius had a private competition between them - who could get the most detentions each year. James still had no idea why Dumbledore made him Head Boy in his Seventh Year. He wasn't exactly the most appropriate candidate after all. He was reminiscing that much he didn't realise that the spiral staircase had brought him up to the top. He knocked on the highly polished door with his usual inherited Potter confidence.
"Come in James," called out Dumbledore, from within the office, leaving James dumbfounded as he entered the room he remembered fondly.
"How did you know it was me?" asked James curiously, as he sat down opposite the headmaster, helping himself to some sweets that were always in a bowl on the desk.
"The way you walk," replied Dumbledore, with a twinkle in his eye before explaining further after seeing James's bemused expression. "You have a sort of… swagger one might say."
"I don't swagger," chuckled James defensively.
"You do, James," said Dumbledore, with laughter in his sparkling blue eyes. "I've noticed that it's a trait amongst Potters; you're confident, honourable men. Be proud of your swagger. It's only arrogant depending on what you say." James laughed, knowing that it's true he probably did have a bit of a swagger but it was nothing on Sirius's. "But I have a feeling you didn't come up here to talk about your swagger."
"I actually wanted to talk to you about Patronus'."
"Oh really? What about them?" asked Dumbledore, inquisitively.
"Well, as you know, I taught my Seventh Years how to do a Patronus a few weeks back and it reminded me of a girlfriend I once had. Her Patronus was a doe and everybody knows my Patronus is a stag. I was just wondering whether because our Patronus' are animal companions whether it means anything significant," explained James. He watched as Dumbledore clasped his hands in thought, conjuring up some kind of mind blowing phenomenon.
"How did you and this girl 'break up'?" asked Dumbledore, the imaginary cogs in his head still turning.
"It wasn't through choice," lied James, although keeping to the truth as closely as possible. It always easiest to remember the truth, he remembered from Auror training. "We were both just… at different points in our lives. It was impossible to be together even though it's what we both wanted."
"You shouldn't have let her go, James," mused Dumbledore.
"Why?" he asked astonished. "Do the Patronus' mean anything?"
"I just need to know one thing," announced Dumbledore. "Was her Patronus a doe before or after she knew yours was a stag?"
"She never found out."
Dumbledore wistfully. "The Patronus' changing to be the same is often a sign of love but two Patronus companions is what we would define as 'soul mates'."
Lily was his soul mate? Sure, they got along great but did he even believe in soul mates? He couldn't say; until now he had no need to decide. What would he say to Lily if indeed anything at all? Thoughts were whizzing about his head muddling him up but his heart, his heart felt warmer.
"But," continued Dumbledore, interrupting James' stream of thoughts. "There is no actual evidence; only theories. Only until we know whether soul mates exist or not, we don't have any conclusive evidence to support this theory. Of course there are some documented evidence especially some very old diaries where people have written about finding out their partner has the equivalent Patronus and that they were in love i.e. soul mates. But people can love a person without that person being their soul mate. It's a very straightforward theory that is made complicated by emotions and maybe one day we'll be able to prove it either way. If I were you James, I would get in contact with that girl."
"I will," said James. "Thanks for all the help, Professor. Sir, do you believe in soul mates?"
"The world is a lot happier place with them; so yes I do," answered Dumbledore, smiling. "But do I think that everybody finds theirs; no. Therefore people like you should feel lucky that they met theirs for a fleeting a chance and be happy if they find a way to live the rest of their lives with them. Oh and James, I hope you've already started planning the ball."
"Alright class, settle down," shouted James, over the noise of his Third Years. "It's only homework, it won't kill you. I want a foot long essay all about Hinkypunks. It needs to include appearance and how we identify them, their habitat, what they do i.e. why they're dangerous and last of all what we can do to protect or defend ourselves against them. Please note that this essay is worth doing properly because Hinkypunks will feature on the end of term test and quite possibly on the end of year test."
James laughed as the class groaned at the news of tests. "I've done this test and all the other ones to come and believe me; be thankful you're still in Third Year. We have fifteen minutes left so I'll let you start researching your homework with the textbooks but I advise you to get a book from the library because the more detailed the better. I need someone to do a job for me, please." Nobody raised their hands or voices to help. "All I need is for somebody to go to Professor Slughorn's Seventh Year class and give Lily Evans, the Head Girl, a message for me."
Suddenly more than half the class raised their hands; all boys. James raised his eyebrows and flit of jealously ran through him. Now he really was being foolish, feeling jealous because a herd of Third Year boys fancied a girl he didn't even go out with.
"Err… Damien you go you're a fast runner," said James, disappointing a lot of young teenage boys. "Just tell her to come to my office after class. She only needs her wand. You might as well take your stuff because by the time you get back the bell will go." He watched as the boy quickly packed away his work and jogged out of the room. "Alright class, I'll let you go early but no loitering in the corridors. Either go straight outside or to your common rooms please."
His class packed away their books appreciatively and walked out the door, some saying thanks others just with broad smiles. He grabbed his own stuff and stuffed into his briefcase scruffily before clasping it shut. He did a quick check of the classroom; making sure it was generally tidy and that no one had left anything behind. He waved his wand and the writing on the chalk board disappeared. Why should the house-elves do all the work, he thought as he started to climb the stairs to the Second Floor where his office and sleeping quarters were located.
Although spacious his office wasn't suitable for wand practise like this. Too much furniture was in the way; it was dangerous. Towards the back end of the year he would put the Seventh Years through a sort of obstacle course. This was because in the real world if fighting a Death Eater, walls and furniture would be in the way. He'd have to teach them how to use these to an advantage instead of making them hinder their performances. However, he didn't want to teach Lily this until he taught the rest of Seventh Years; he wanted them at the same standard.
Putting his wand down for a change, he rolled up his shirt sleeves and bent his knees slightly as he started to push the enormous, heavy, wooden desk back towards the wall. His muscles bulged, his teeth grinded and his face went red. The desk made an awful shriek as it scraped across the slabs of stone floor. He was rewarded as the desk hit the wall with a dull thud and it was all over.
"Wow, you're strong," he heard a voice say from the doorway. He looked up to see Lily leaning against the doorframe with a sparkle in her eye. "A real macho man."
"Ha ha ha," said James dryly, loosening up his tie as the strenuous pushing had made him feel hot. "I didn't want to use my wand."
"Why?"
"Because l felt like using my hands," grinned James. "That and now I'm a professor I don't work out as much as I used to do when I was an Auror."
"You're getting lazy in your old age," smirked Lily, before dodging from a red spark he sent her way.
"And you're getting far too cheeky in yours," laughed James, sitting on the desk. "So what do you want to do?"
"You mean you haven't got anything planned?" asked Lily in disbelief. Usually he would have a plan of sorts.
"Well we've finished Patronus' now, theory and practical work. You know everything about them, you know how to conjure them, you can use yours to fend off Dementors and send messages and so can the rest of the class. We need to move on."
"Teach me what we're doing next then," suggested Lily.
"There's no practical work so it would be pointless starting it," said James, with a slight frown as he tried to think.
"Do you want me to go then?" asked Lily politely.
"No of course not," smiled James. "Is there any spells or anything you want to go over or have a go at?"
"I can't really think of anything," replied Lily sheepishly. "It looks like you moved that desk for nothing."
"Oh well, it can be my daily exercise," said James with a laugh, tapping the desk with his wand so it went back to its original place. "You're common room is so much nicer than in here."
"That's because I'm more special," teased Lily, sitting cross legged on the desk as James decided to lounge on his desk chair instead. "Is there anything I can help you with then? Marking?"
"I usually do that in class," said James with a guilty look. "But there is something you can help me with actually. As Head Girl you'd have to help me later on with the prefects but seeing as you're here now. You can help me plan the Halloween Ball."
"Hogwarts has never had one of those before," said Lily bemused. "Why now?"
"I think Dumbledore wants to boost the morale of the students," explained James, running a hand through his hair. "With everything that's going outside he wants everyone to be happy in here. As the youngest professor I've been given the honour of organising it."
"And you want my help," smiled Lily.
"Yeah you're a girl," grinned James. "I don't have a clue what to do."
"I don't think it should be a ball per say," said Lily, getting excited. "I don't think it would interest the boys but a dance would. Like a big party. We could hire a popular band like the Fizzing Acid Pops; everybody loves them. Instead of dress robes we can have costumes. It is Halloween after all."
"That sounds amazing," said James with a huge smile. "It'd be like a masquerade party. Everybody in costume and no one will know who people are. We'll have a Hogsmeade weekend a week before so everybody can get their outfits if they're not ordering them."
"Yeah and we can contact some costume shops in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade and get some catalogues so its easier for the students to order them."
"Instead of a sit down dinner, we can have a buffet with different sweets and cakes and drinks," suggested James. "Anything that can rot teeth."
Lily laughed. "Do you want me to write all of this down? So we don't forget." He nodded and watched as she grabbed a piece of parchment and dipped his quill into ink and started to write down everything they had suggested. Her handwriting was so much nicer compared to his quick scribble; it was elegant and slanted. "Lily, do you believe in soul mates?"
She paused and looked up with a cute expression on her slightly tilted head. "Why do you ask?"
"It's just something Dumbledore said."
"I think I do," said Lily, thinking about it. "It's a comforting thought that somewhere in the world there's a person who's perfect for you and just for you."
"I think I've found mine," mused James.
"Really?" asked Lily, looking slightly saddened. "Who?"
"You."