Slowly but surely this story is now approaching its end. After this chapter I believe there is only one or two more left. Thank you so much once again to all who have reviewed, favorited, or subscribed to this story. It really means the world to me!

The winter holidays passed quickly and before anyone knew it, the grass became greener, and the flowers began to brighten the gardens. The trees were no longer bare, and the smell of freshness filled the air once again. Spring was in full bloom. But for the students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, that also meant exams were only weeks away.

The seventh years were working harder than ever, using the last few weeks left to study for their NEWTs. The library was more crowded than ever and the number of study groups meeting around the castle had gradually increased.

Needless to say, such was also the circumstances James and Lily were currently in.

The two not only had NEWTs to worry about, but also their Head duties. Apart from patrolling the corridors at night, they were both still working on organizing the Farewell Dance for their graduating class.

James was now spending any time he could get out on the field, practicing for the upcoming final Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Slytherin. Gryffindor had managed to win three more games after their loss against Ravenclaw, and were now in the running for the Quidditch Cup. James was doing everything in his power to make sure his team was ready for this game.

Lily of course was also busy, working with the Slug Club and helping Slughorn upon his request to tutor some students that needed help in potions.

Overall, both Lily and James were in the middle of quite chaotic weeks. And the only thing that was making it all bearable was each other's presence. Between all their duties, the two still found time for each other. Or rather, they longed to spend time together because it helped them forget about everything else. You couldn't keep the smiles off of their faces whenever they were together.

It wasn't long before the week of the exams finally arrived. Lily was walking briskly out of the Great Hall having just finished her final NEWT for Transfiguration. In her opinion, she thought she had done brilliantly. She of course had James to thank for that, who had spent an endless number of hours helping her, making sure each of her transformations had turned out perfectly before teaching her another one.

She longed to go to him right now, but she knew he was probably still in the middle of his D.A.D.A examination. With a different plan already forming in her mind, she instead headed over to the Heads common room, excited to see if she could pull off what she was thinking about.

Two hours later, Lily was on her way to Slughorn's office. In her bag, she now carried her new creation, too excited and still in a bit of awe over the fact that she had been able to create what she did.

Along with that thought, the relief that came with the end of the NEWTs and the thought that now the only thing left before graduation was the Farewell Dance, Lily was walking with a bit of a spring in her step and a huge smile across her face.

She reached the door to Slughorn's office and had just raised her hand to knock on the door, when it flew upon.

"Oh ho, Lily, m'dear!" Slughorn nodded in greeting.

"Oh, good evening professor. Were you heading out somewhere? I can come back later."

"No, no. Come on in. I was just going out for a walk around the castle, but I'd rather hear how your exams went. I believe they went excellently by that bright smile on your face!"

Lily nodded as she walked through the door that Slughorn now held wide open. "My exams went great professor, and I just wanted to thank you. You've been so supportive to me through my years at Hogwarts. I've learned a lot from you, and I really appreciate everything you've done for me over the years."

At this, Lily pulled open her bag and held out her new creation to Slughorn. "This is for you, professor."

Slughorn cautiously approached the object that was being held out to him. He lifted the glass bowl and peered inside to find a small petal from a lily floating inside. He looked at Lily, smiling, but sill a bit perplexed.

"It's to remind you of me," Lily explained. "I don't want you to forget your favorite redhead student who loved being a part of the Slug Club and loved brewing potions just as much."

Slughorn nodded, his smile growing, "You're a very talented witch, Lily. And I'm glad I could help you in any way that I could. I wish you all the best in what I'm sure is a very bright future for you."

Lily smiled and thanked the professor before walking out of his office. Before the door closed however, she added, "I hope you find the petal intriguing professor."

Now it was time to find him. Her heart was thumping loudly inside her chest. She couldn't believe she had done it. But she had.

Her feet seemed to know exactly where he would be, because they carried her off on their own accord straight outside to the Quidditch pitch. She saw the team dismounting off their brooms, and realized she had come just in time. Practice had just ended. Her eyes scanned the players, trying to find James but when she didn't see him, she began to panic.

Where was he? Surely he had finished all his exams by now. And the team wouldn't practice without the captain would they? She continued looking around the field trying to find him, when she suddenly felt an arm wrap around her waist from behind.

Lily let out a loud squeal as she realized she was being lifted into the air and before she knew it, she had been dropped down onto a broom right in front of the person she had been looking for.

"JAMES! Put me down! You know I'm terrified of flying. Put me down!"

"Shhhh"

Lily felt the goosebumps rise on her skin at the sound of his voice so close to her ear. She realized her back was pressed against his chest, the wind cold on their faces. In a few moments, James had steered them over to the other side of the field, hovering in midair so that Lily could see the view.

Lily's breath caught her throat as her eyes met the sunset. They stayed like that for a few minutes, mesmerized, before James finally spoke.

"So what do you think about flying now?"

"It's gorgeous," Lily breathed.

James laughed, tugging on her waist, asking for her to turn around and face him. Lily did as she was asked, though very cautiously and carefully as she wasn't sure when the broom would decide to tilt over. When she had finally turned around enough to see his face, she realized he was watching her with an amused expression.

"What?" she asked defensively.

James just shook his head, but continued to grin, "You wanted to tell me something?"

Lily nodded, but out of the corner of her eye something caught her attention. Something gold and moving quite rapidly.

"James, the Snitch. It's still out."

James turned around to see the little blur of gold zooming from one place to another. "Ah, Nott must have forgot to put it back in the box once practice ended. I'll just put it back later though. You were saying?"

He turned back around, his attention once again on Lily.

Lily smiled as the excitement slowly came back to her, "James, you wouldn't believe what I gave to Professor Slughorn today!"

James cocked an eyebrow, "Um, not really what I was expecting…but what?"

"Well you remember everything you taught me about transfiguration? Let's just say you taught me a lot. Probably even more than what I needed to know for the NEWTs."

James smiled sheepishly, "Well I just wanted to make sure you did good."

Lily nodded, "and I'm glad you did. I didn't have any trouble during the exam. But I was thinking about everything else you had taught me, and well, I wondered what would happen if I put a few of those spells together."

James continued to look at her, still confused, so Lily went on.

"I gave Slughorn a small lily petal in a bowl of water. However, I had transformed the petal to start sinking as soon as I left his office. Once it gets near the bottom of the bowl, the petal transforms into a red fish. And well, I was able to enchant the fish so that it lives as long as I do."

Lily finished, her breathing a bit fast with excitement. She waited for James's response, and she couldn't help but smile at the look on his face.

"Lily…that's…that's incredible magic. Really powerful spells."

Lily nodded, her smile widening as James continued to look at her in disbelief.

"How did you…?"

"You taught it to me, James. You taught me all the spells that I used. The only thing I did was put them all together."

It was another moment of shock for Lily as she felt the broom move once again. She clutched to the front of James's shirt, as they began to fly higher and higher. His roaring laughter filled the night sky.

"JAMES POTTER, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"

"You're mad Lily! MAD! You perform such incredible magic, and then you give me all the credit! Barking mad, Lils!"

"James, stop this broom right now!"

James however, continued to ignore her, laughing once again. Lily tried to keep a straight face, but the exhilaration of the moment caught up with her, and she couldn't help but break into laughter as well.

They continued flying for a while until James turned the broom around and flew back down and around the Quidditch pitch before he finally stopped them right in front of the Gryffindor stand, leaving them floating in the air once more.

Their faces were flushed from the wind, and their heartbeats fast. James looked at Lily, and she noticed the way his eyes changed in that one moment. He had learned the meaning behind this feeling a long time ago, but had never had enough courage to say it out loud. Today though he felt free, liberated. Here she was with him, and never before had he felt so right. So complete.

Knowing now more than ever, that this was true, he whispered the words he knew he could no longer keep inside, "Incase you didn't know this Lily Evans, I just want to make it clear, that I am madly in love with you."

Lily felt her heart skip a beat. A warm feeling developed inside her at his words. He loved her. He loved her. He loved her. The full extent of the statement hadn't even fully formed in her mind yet, before she lunged at him, pulling him close and into a deep kiss. A kiss more passionate than she had ever experienced. A kiss through which she wanted to tell him so much more than what she had. She wrapped her arms around him, and felt his snake around her waist, pulling her in closer.

The two stayed that way on the floating broom, lost in each other, lost in contentment…in the middle of the Quidditch pitch, with the long-forgotten Snitch still zooming around them.

Yes, I realize Lily hasn't said the words yet…but it's taken her longer to realize her feelings than it took James, so I thought it only made sense for him to admit it first. Don't worry though, she'll get there ;)

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