I'm glad those of you who reviewed enjoyed the last chapter…it was my favorite part of Order of the Phoenix.

I apologize to those of you who have tried to read this chapter when a few things were messed up. There were technical difficulties. I hope it's easier to read this time! =)

And on goes the story…

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Chapter 12: Summer Vacation

By the end of the day, Lily had heard all about James taking Snape's pants off. She couldn't help but smile though. Anyone who called people Mudbloods deserved to have their pants taken off. She couldn't stand Severus Snape, but she stood up for him every once in a while because he was innocent in most situations involving the Marauders. Not quite all.

The rest of the O.W.L. exams and practicals went extremely well for Lily and her friends. Before they knew it, it was time to go home for the summer.

"Ready to go yet, Lily?" Addison asked, standing in the doorway of the girl's dormitory.

"Yep," Lily replied, closing her trunk. She sighed as she scanned the room one last time.

"I doubt you forgot anything Lils, you checked like five times! And it's not like we're not coming back here!"

Lily laughed. "You have no patience whatsoever, Addi." She grabbed all of her bags and assorted belonging and followed her friend out of the room.

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Sirius propped his feet up on the seat across from James as the train pulled out of the station. "Prongs…guess what?"

James looked down at his friend as he shoved some of his bags on the rack above. "What?"

Sirius smiled angelically. "You owe me another five galleons, mate."

"No, the year isn't over yet. When the train ride's over, then I'll possibly give you the money." James corrected.

"You seriously think Lily will agree to date you before we pull into King's Cross?" Remus asked skeptically, looking up from his book.

"It's worth a try," James said, leaving the compartment and closing the sliding door behind him. He walked down the aisle until he got to the open compartment where Lily, Addison and Jo were sitting.

The latter two were playing Wizard's Chess while Lily was reading.

James cleared his throat. Lily looked up with a glare. Somehow she figured James was going to make an appearance before they reached King's Cross.

"Can I talk to you for a second Evans?" he asked.

Lily stood up and put her hands on either side of the doorway. She raised her eyebrows expectantly. Addison and Jo paused their game to watch.

"Would you want to go—"

Lily slammed the compartment door—she'd heard enough.

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Sirius smiled when James entered the compartment again. He held out his hand and James dropped five galleons into his palm.

"Hmm…let's see…you have given me a total of 15 galleons this year, Prongs…you don't want to keep this bet going…do you?"

"I've got a proposition for you Padfoot. When I get the date—"

"If you do," Sirius interrupted.

"—you give me all the money back that I gave to you…Fair?"

"And what if you never get the date?" Sirius asked.

"Then you keep all of the galleons I give to you. The bet goes until the end of seventh year." James was not giving up. "The pay dates are Halloween, Christmas, and each year's end until time is up. Deal?" he asked, sticking out his hand.

Sirius considered the deal for a moment before shaking his hand.

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For Addison's birthday on July seventh, her parents gave her four tickets for her to go to a Dragon's Breath concert. Of course, she wanted to take Lily and Jo with her, so the last ticket went to Meredith. She was the only other person in the family that liked the group. (Not to mention her friends would be at the concert too.)

Lily and Jo spent the night on the sixth, and on the morning of the seventh, their O.W.L. results arrived. They were enjoying a nice calm breakfast, when three tawny owls suddenly flew in the window near the ceiling designated for mail delivery.

Lily stood up, knocking her chair over. "Oh, no!" she whispered. One of the owls dropped a large square envelope into her hands.

"Oh, good! Your O.W.L. results!" Miranda said happily, putting down her coffee mug. "Well, hurry up girls! See what you got!"

Lily stood motionless, staring blankly at her letter.

"Oh, just sit down Lils," Jo said casually, opening her own letter.

Lily slowly sat back down and opened her envelope carefully.

The dining room was silent.

Lily unfolded the parchment once she opened her letter.

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Ordinary Wizarding Level Results

Pass Grades:

Outstanding (O)

Exceeds Expectations (E)

Acceptable (A)

Fail Grades:

Poor (P)

Dreadful (D)

Troll (T)

Lily Madeline Evans has achieved:

Astronomy…E

Care of Magical Creatures…E

Charms…O

Defense Against the Dark Arts…E

Divination…A

Herbology…O

History of Magic…E

Potions…O

Transfiguration…O

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Lily was too shocked to speak. All pass grades! That's nine O.W.L.s!

"How'd you do? Here, look at mine," Jo said, passing her paper to Addison and taking Lily's. Addison gave her parchment to Lily.

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Addison Sophia Walters has achieved:

Astronomy…E

Care of Magical Creatures…A

Charms…E

Defense Against the Dark Arts…O

Divination…P

Herbology…E

History of Magic…A

Potions…O

Transfiguration…O

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"Nice job, Addison," Lily managed to say. Jo then threw hers at Lily.

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Josianne Olivia Bellamont has achieved:

Astronomy…E

Care of Magical Creatures…E

Charms…E

Defense Against the Dark Arts…O

Divination…D

Herbology…E

History of Magic…E

Potions…E

Transfiguration…O

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"You did well too, Jo," Lily said, handing her results back.

"I can't believe you got nine O.W.L.s Lily! And four of them are Os!" Addison exclaimed, still looking at Lily's paper. "And how did you manage to pass Divination! Nobody understands that load of bull shit—"

"Addison Sophia!" Miranda exclaimed. She was over at the counter pouring more coffee into her mug. "Don't let me hear you say that again!"

Addison blushed. She forgot her mother was still in the room.

"Now let me see your paper…" Miranda said sharply. Addison tentatively gave the parchment to her mother. "Hmm…" Addison looked at her feet. She knew her mother was comparing her results to her siblings. "You did wonderful, Addison," Miranda said smiling. Addison looked up in surprise. "I'm proud of you!" She pulled Addison into a hug and kissed her cheek.

"Mom…" Addison said with disgust, wiping her cheek.

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At the Potter mansion, only twenty miles away, the same anxiety was present. Remus, Sirius, and Peter were all at James's house.

The boys all stood at the counter, silently reading their parchments.

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James Anthony Potter has achieved:

Astronomy…A

Care of Magical Creatures…E

Charms…O

Defense Against the Dark Arts…O

Divination…D

Herbology…E

History of Magic…E

Potions…O

Transfiguration…O

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The boys all swapped papers when they finished looking at their own.

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Sirius Orion Black has achieved:

Astronomy…E

Care of Magical Creatures…A

Charms…E

Defense Against the Dark Arts…O

Divination…T

Herbology…E

History of Magic…A

Potions…E

Transfiguration…O

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Remus John Lupin has achieved:

Astronomy…E

Care of Magical Creatures…E

Charms…O

Defense Against the Dark Arts…O

Divination…A

Herbology…E

History of Magic…E

Potions…E

Transfiguration…O

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"How did you scrape an A in Divination!" James cried out in amazement while looking at Remus's paper.

"He WHAT?" Sirius exclaimed, grabbing the paper out of James's hands. Remus pretended to be engrossed in James's paper, his ears pink with embarrassment. He didn't like talking about his grades any more than Lily did.

James handed Remus his results back and paused. He was afraid to look at Peter's.

"Go on," Peter said somewhat cheerfully. "Take a look." He held his paper out to James.

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Peter Patrick Pettigrew has achieved:

Astronomy…A

Care of Magical Creatures…A

Charms…E

Defense Against the Dark Arts…E

Divination…T

Herbology…E

History of Magic…P

Potions…A

Transfiguration…E

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"It's better than I thought it would be!" Peter said excitedly as James handed the paper back.

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That evening, Meredith walked with the girls to Diagon Alley where the Portkey was. It would take them to northern London where the concert would be. A security guard stood by the tin can Portkey checking tickets.

After getting the okay, the four girls put a hand on the can and it took off. Lily had used a Portkey before, but she would never get used to the feeling of losing her stomach. The three younger girls had to regain their balance and composure before they could continue across the street to what looked like a tiny, broken-down movie theater. The metal frames around the doors were rusty and all of the windows were boarded up.

Meredith knew what to do, so the girls followed her. She walked right through the glass doors. The other side was a completely different world. Bright lights, deep burgundy carpet, mahogany doors, people everywhere, and several more security guards.

The four had to show their tickets once more before they could proceed into the auditorium. In the back there was a bar and several tables, but closer to the stage was packed with people.

"I'm going over by Aubrey and Luke," Meredith yelled as the band started up. Addison nodded.

"Let's get closer!" She yelled to Jo and Lily as Meredith walked away.

The girls rushed into the crowd by the stage excitedly.

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"Are you sure they're here, Moony?" James asked for the tenth time. He looked around the hall warily.

"Positive." Remus shouted over the music.

They waded through the crowd and sat down at the bar.

Sirius and Peter ordered Butterbeers immediately. James lounged back against the bar as he continued to scan the crowd for Lily.

"Jo said that Addison got tickets." Remus told him.

James nodded.

"I really don't understand why we had to come along too," Sirius complained before taking a swig of his Butterbeer.

"I told you Padfoot, I'd look stupid, showing up alone at a Dragon's Breath concert. This way it doesn't look like I'm following her," James explained.

"More like stalking," Sirius muttered.

"This is a bit stalker-ish," Remus commented.

James glared at them. "I have until Halloween to get Lily to go out with me. I just want to get my money back!" He continued to look out into the crowd. Finally! He spotted Lily dancing with Addison and Jo near the stage. With a smile, he turned to the bar to order a bottle of Butterbeer.

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"You guys want something to drink?" Lily yelled as the next song began.

"Sure! I need a break anyways," Jo answered.

"Yeah, let's go find a table Jo," Addison said.

Lily wove her way through the crowd to the bar.

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"Uh, Prongs," Remus said, hitting James on the arm.

"What?" James asked.

"Here she comes." Remus said. He, Sirius, and Peter moved to the other side of James so Lily wouldn't see them.

"Three Butterbeers, please," she told the bartender. Lily glanced around at the bar as she waited. She spotted James and his friends sitting a few chairs down facing the stage. He was meticulously ignoring her. She groaned and rolled her eyes. After getting the bottles she headed over to him. "If you're planning on asking me out again, you might as well just get it over with."

James pretended to be absorbed in the music. "Would you mind?" He said. "You're kind of ruining this for me." He stood and headed into the crowd. Lily stood stunned for a moment before rushing after him.

"I didn't know you liked Dragon's Breath!" She exclaimed.

James nodded. "I was watching you out there before…" he said. As the song ended, there was a moment of silence in the hall, but James continued to talk just as loudly as before. "I've never seen you look so sexy."

A few people in the crowd around them laughed. James grinned, slightly embarrassed.

Lily covered her eyes with her hand and laughed, embarrassed as well.

"Come to the Christmas party at The Three Broomsticks with me." James said, turning to face her.

"That's four months away!" Lily exclaimed.

James shrugged.

"You never give up, do you?" She said, amused. The music started up again. She turned and started to walk through the crowd to the table Addison and Jo found.

James called after her. "Was that a yes?"

Lily shouted over her shoulder, "No!" James saw she was grinning.

"Well, was that a no?" James asked.

"Yes!" Lily laughed.

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"Do you guys know why Potter, Black, Lupin, and Pettigrew are here?" Lily asked her friends when she reached the table. She handed them their Butterbeers.

"No," Addison said confused, opening Jo's bottle for her.

"Oh…" Jo said looking guilty. "I wrote to Remus that we were coming here for Addison's birthday…"

Lily frowned at her as she took a seat. "Since when have you and Remus been writing?" she asked, taking a sip of her drink.

Jo blushed. "Well, we've become friends from Prefect stuff and all…"

Addison and Lily exchanged a look.

"I'm sorry Lily, I didn't think that they were going to actually come here. Did James ask you out again?"

Lily just looked at her. "What do you think?"

"Aw, c'mon Lily, I think it's sweet James wanted to come here because you would be here!" Addison joked, stroking Lily's hand. Lily smacked it away.

"You would," she replied. "He wanted me to go to The Three Broomsticks' Christmas party with him." Lily said, taking another drink.

"Yeah, did you guys hear about that?" Jo said excitedly. "It's on Saturday the twenty-first, the first day of Christmas break. I've heard that Dumbledore's scheduled it as a Hogsmeade weekend for those who want to go and who are staying at the castle during break." She explained.

"We should go…it sounds fun," Lily said.

"You mean you're not going with James?" Addison asked in mock surprise. Jo grinned. Both of them clearly enjoyed teasing Lily about the whole thing.

Lily glared at her friends, shaking her head slowly. "Laugh now…laugh now…"

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AlannaDragon