The Great Hall was loud with spirit. The first years seemed timid, but the bright sparkle in their eyes suggested otherwise. The not-so-timid second years were annoying little berks, so sure of themselves and definitely the loudest of the four houses. Third and fourth year seemed to harbor the more 'cool' demeanor that it honestly seemed quite boring. The fifth years on the other hand held themselves with such certainty, it could be interpreted as armor. Their cockiness and immaturity was their sanctuary. They wielded their ignorance for good and bad. Sixth years were grasping the ideas of the world and looked beyond what they couldn't see before. They were less ignorant and knew more but were blinded by the grudges they hold. The seventh years couldn't have looked more content as if they had not a worry in the world. It was as if they were in such denial about the year before them they masked their fear nonetheless you could see the forming worry lines around their delicate and naive eyes, only slight, but enough to know that there is a much bigger and harsher world beyond Hogwarts gates.
Now a seventh year, James Potter saw himself in each of those years. He remembered how timid he was in first year, and how his companion Sirius changed that. His untimely attitude for trouble marked his name in second and third year and constantly found himself in situations of adventure. Forth and fifth year came about with the forming of the 'Marauders' when they had discovered Remus's fury-little-problem and decided to help him by studying to become animagus. It all seemed a bit of fun and games for him and the Marauders could give him the sense of adrenaline he craved. Outside his group however, his devil-may-care attitude was his mask. You could say his guard was up. Picking on the younger and more vulnerable years also gave him that. In spite of that James unconsciously would slip off this mask only around Lily Evans. Lily Evans was James Potter's ever-present weakness. While she just thought she was another one of his bed-knobs, among the other innocent rendezvous who unlike Lily, was drawn to James like a moth to a flame. James blatantly loved his popularity. Nonetheless his love for it dwindled in sixth year. He saw past what was fun and the ever-present dark arts haunted his judgement. James began to realize what was right in the world he lived in. What the current world offered him; essentially Voldemort, war and all such things surrounding that was being forced upon him. James was resolute with the overwhelming feeling that opposed what was offered to him and what he saw around him. James saw the numerous amounts of pureblood maniacs and slytherins that chose the trip the of unfairly given and corrupt power and percieved it as an abomination. This turned to such bitterness and into great disslike. He shared this feeling with many of his cohort. Now in James's seventh year the bitterness that he felt fashioned into such pity but the anger remained. He was able to feel contented by the fact that many others shared the same feelings as this. James was living his life as much as time would give him until he faced the real world and as he looked around, he noticed how each and everyone of his friends were going through the exact same situation. All were living their last 'free' days before entering into the 'real' world and the loyalty he held for those were so fierce, he couldnt help but stay strong to them. As James reflected on all of this, he was happy about the fact he wouldnt face adversity such as this alone and the foundations of his personality wouldnt pull him to the wrong sort of power and his attitude towards life would be left untouched. Jokes and pranks and love and happiness continued to flourish around him and as he looked to his left, past the varies types of desserts at the opening feast he beheld the sight of a girl, red freckles splashed across her face and red hair running wild, framing her face as her cheeks flushed from laughter he couldnt help but be intrigued by the hope in her eyes. The encounter alone was enough to baffle him. but when she looked into James eyes, for the first time, she looked at him with friendship. James winked at her, and instead of anger filling inside her from his arrogance, Lily realised, its just James. Thats what gets him through and a genuine smile formed on her face, teeth exposed and all. From that reflection and one glance, they both knew there was so much more to this world than what they were confronted with.
Sorry for a two year wait guys, even though you probably don't care and have forgotten all about this. School and my social circle had pulled me away from something i loved (corny i know, try not to be sick). Anyway i couldn't be bothered with my part two and i randomly threw this together and hey i thought it was alright enough to share. So throw it at me; reviews! Dislikes, likes, constructive criticism. Ill have it all, i'm doing my hsc anyway, i need to get used to it. Tell me what you think. Its been a while if written for myself and not for school, its so refreshing. Anyway hope you deemed this little fanfic readable. xxx