Hey everyone! I'm on a roll! Three posts in a week! Only one chapter left, and potentially an epilogue. It's sad that it's coming to a close. I'm still on the fence about the sequel, since I'm getting hardly any feedback. Thanks to those of you who did review, though! I hope you enjoy this one!

The Special Two

Chapter 25

Lily sat on the rug in the Head Dorm, somewhere she hadn't been in a while in her attempt to avoid James.

He had left a photograph of himself and Clara on the table. Lily's heart stung when she saw it, but now couldn't take her eyes off of it. It was from a Daily Prophet article about how she had earned some scholarship, and she couldn't have done it without the help James had given her. In the picture, they both looked happy. And gorgeous. They radiated confidence and beauty. It was almost sickening.

She jumped when she heard footsteps behind her.

"Jesus!" she whispered, trying to catch her breath again when she saw it was only James.

"Hey Lil," he said tentatively.

She grimaced, standing up. "You two look really great together," she threw the picture down.

He rolled his eyes. "We aren't together. I've been trying to get you alone to talk about this for days."

"I don't want to talk about it. You know, it makes sense why you'd want someone like her over me. Just look at her. People like you were made for each other."

"People like us? What is that supposed to mean?" He was getting angry. "You know I never wanted anyone but you, Lily. I can't believe you'd think so little of me."

"Are you denying that you kissed her?" Lily raised an eyebrow, knowing the answer.

"No. I'm not. It happened. We can't change it. But I wanted nothing to do with it."

"Suuuure," Lily crossed her arms. "Why don't you just go back to your perfect new girlfriend who fits right into your perfect life?"

"Lily. You're being unreasonable."

"Unreasonable? Better than unfaithful."

He threw up his arms in frustration. "God! It's not like that! You're a smart girl, why can't you see?"

"Maybe because I'm blinded by the image of you kissing another girl."

"You're being a heartless bitch, Lily. You won't even hear me out."

Her mouth gaped. "I'll get out of your way, then, until you find some respect for me." She nearly ran out of the room.

"She kissed me!" He called after her, not sure if she heard or not.

"Lily hates me," James whined, flopping face-down onto Sirius' bed, ignoring Sirius, who was performing a sun salutation.

"Why do you say that, Betsy?"

James continued without questioning his new name. "She won't listen to me. It's so unfair!"

"That doesn't mean she hates you."

"She treats me like I'm the one who did something wrong."

"I would kindly like to remind you that you did," he said from a downward dog position.

"Clara started it."

"Bets, you're going to have to accept responsibility for this one, or it isn't going anywhere."

"I will not apologize! I did nothing wrong! Ugh, I'm so misunderstood."

"I'm telling you, girls love it when you take the blame. Solves all your problems."

James thought for a minute.

"I also called her a bitch. I don't think she liked that too much."

"Oh, way to go and destroy any chance you had at recovery."

James buried his face in the blankets. "My life is ruined!"

"It's okay, Betsy."

James looked up, frustrated. "Will you stop calling me Betsy?"

"Will you stop acting like a pubescent girl?"

James stuck his tongue out at the man who was now sitting in child's pose.

"Since when do you do yoga, anyway?" James asked.

"Anna kind of got me into it."

"You must really like her to be doing yoga."

"Lay off me! It's a tension reliever."

"My sensual massages weren't good enough for you?" James asked, feigning hurt.

"Prongs? Can I talk to you about something serious?"

"Sure, Sirius." He laughed at his little joke.

Sirius jumped up on the bed next to him, sitting cross-legged like a teenager at a slumber party.

"That joke isn't funny anymore."

"Are you serious?"

"Of course I am."

They stared at each other, not breaking eye contact or saying anything until James blinked, 2 minutes later.

"Damn. What is it you would like to discuss, Padfoot?"

"I've been thinking a lot about my relationship with Anna lately—"

"We are not having another conversation about your girlfriend's skills in bed!"

"Ha. No, I've been thinking about the next step. Where do we go after graduation? Before, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. But it seems ridiculously clear now. I want to marry Anna."

He left the comment dangling in the air. James stared at him with his mouth open.

"So…what do you think? Is it a good idea? A terrible one? James?"

James started to pretend cry. "I think it's romantic. I can't believe my little boy is all grown up!"

"Aww, mum, don't cry. I'll always be your little boy."

James reverted back to normal. "Have you asked her yet?"

"No! That's why I wanted to talk to you. Do you think she'll say yes?"

"Padfoot, I am going to set aside all manliness," he proceeded, ignoring mutters of 'what's new?' "when I say there is nobody more perfect for each other than the two of you."

"Except you and Lily."

"If you will recall, she hates my guts at the moment."

"Will you sneak into Hogsmeade with me tonight to get a ring?"

"I'd be honored," James started to fake crying again. "I'm so proud of you."

"Where are the two of you sneaking off to?" Remus asked as he saw James pulling out the invisibility cloak an hour later.

"Hogsmeade. We would invite the two of you, but we need your help here. Anna cannot, I repeat cannot be suspicious of us. Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to keep her busy, and unaware that we are missing. This tape will self-destruct in 5 seconds."

"I think we can handle that. Be careful, though. After the attack, who knows what it's going to be like—AAHHH!" Remus yelled as Sirius jumped back, falling to the floor, in a poof of smoke and red light.

"Thank God, I've been waiting for him to self-destruct for 12 years," James said, stepping over Sirius.

"What about this one?" James asked, pointing to a ring that looked like a clump of diamonds.

"I said bold, not tacky. And remember? I don't have quite your bank account, rich guy."

"Oh, well then how about one like this?" James held up a twist tie he had twisted into a ring shape. Dirt cheap. And a classic. They don't make them like this anymore."

"I'd like to place an offer. I will pay half a knut for it!"

"That's the best offer we've ever received! It's sold! You're a lucky man!"

"Excuse me? Can I help you boys?" The salesman came out from behind a curtain leading to the back room.

"Yes, we're looking for an engagement ring."

"Ah, just for one of you, or are you exchanging?" he beamed at them.

James snaked an arm around Sirius' waist, which Sirius immediately smacked off.

"It's actually for my girlfriend," he explained. "I need something as beautiful as her."

James snorted. "Laaaame. Ouch!" He was smacked again.

A half hour later, they left the store, Sirius pocketing the little velvet box. He was practically skipping, though this wasn't unusual for him.

"You're going to have to calm down or she'll know something's up," James scolded.

"Weee!" Sirius spun around.

"Isn't it kind of creepy here? It's like everyone vacated after the attack. He's not going to attack the same place twice, so I don't know why they left…"

"Who cares? Nobody gonna break my stride, nobody gonna slow me down, oh no! I've got to keep on movin'!"

"I know you said this topic is off limits…" Lily started as she and Anna walked, arm in arm, down to the common room the night before the Ravenclaw game.

"Then you best not speak of it, correct?"

"I got a letter from the Charm Research and Development Department at the Ministry. They'd like me to join their team."

Anna jumped up and down. "You're allowed to talk about it if you're staying around! I just didn't want to get all upset if we were going to be in separate countries! Wait…are you going to take it?"

"I'm seriously considering it. It's something I've always wanted to do. But how do you know you'll be staying in London?"

"Well I don't for sure, but I want to stay in my parents' house for a while, I think."

Lily gave her a sympathetic squeeze on her arm, but stopped abruptly, throwing Anna off of her as she ran forward yelling "EMILY!"

She hugged her other friend, and wouldn't let her go. "We've missed you so much!" Lily squealed.

Anna peeled Lily off and hugged Emily herself. "How long are you staying?"

"Just for two nights, then I have to go back home and take care of my mum. She's not doing so well with this whole thing…"

They sat down on the large couch in front of the fire, each on one side of Emily, chatting about everything that had happened in the past few weeks.

"I can't believe you've never tried to wake him up before."

"I didn't say never…just after that time he bit me, I never wanted to try again…"

"Sirius! I baked cookies!"

No response.

"Sirius! Quidditch today!"

No response.

"Sirius! Anna's naked!"

He shot up in bed, smoothed his hair, and searched around the room. "LIAR!" His head hit the pillow again.

"Let's put it this way: if you don't wake up right now, we're stripping you down and dragging you to the pitch by your ankle," Anna told him.

"Sirius! Get it together!" James yelled during their warm-up.

Sirius grumbled. "If you and that girl hadn't pulled such a stunt, I mightn't be so humiliated, and I would be able to focus on the sport."

"That girl?" Anna asked incredulously.

"You had fair warning," James told him. "Get over it. Plus, most everyone looked away in shock and disgust anyway."

"Thanks, mate. That's a relief." He flew toward the locker room. Students were starting to arrive, and he knew James would want to make one last speech as Captain.

The team followed him and sat on the bench, waiting for James to start.

But he didn't. He just stood there, beaming at his team.

"I'm so proud of you guys. This has been the best year of my life."

"Get to the point, Bets," Sirius called.

James glared at him. "Since Hufflepuff beat Slytherin last week, The only way we can lose the Cup is if we lose by over 300 points. But for the sake of our pride, let's not try for that. Do it for those of us that are graduating. Let's get out there and squash those pizzas!" Everyone but Sirius (who cheered) looked at him like he was crazy, but they jumped up, grabbed their brooms, and ran onto the pitch.

"And Ravenclaw's Seeker catches the snitch by a hair, but Gryffindor wins!" Remus announced to the spectators. "And I, Remus Lupin, tell you to celebrate responsibly one last time." He undid the spell on his throat and joined his schoolmates on the pitch.

He found Sirius and Anna, snogging, Lily and Emily talking to Toby, and James and Peter celebrating among the throng of students, and joined them.

James looked up as Remus approached them. "Hey Moony! Fun game, huh?" He lifted the Quidditch Cup above his head in triumph.

"It was great," He agreed.

"I can't believe it's over!" Anna cried, she and Sirius joining them. They nodded sadly.

"Hey! Look who it is!" Sirius called.

"Hello, son," Mr. Potter said, placing hands on Sirius and James' shoulders.

He was engulfed in a hug by James, Sirius, and Anna before he could speak another word.

"I'm surprised you hadn't figured out I was the surprise, James," he said, shaking his head disappointedly. "I expected more from you."

"Always the disappointment," Sirius scolded.

"Why are you here?" James asked, unable to contain his excitement.

"Well, a lot of the parents are staying around the school before graduation. I just booked a room a few days earlier so I could come see you fly. Where's Lily? Still upset with you?" He asked, looking around.

With a 'catch up with you later' look at his friends, James walked his father off, explaining their latest conversation.

"Ready to head back to the party? I assume they're expecting the guests of honor," Sirius asked the others.

"Can we skip out?" Anna asked unexpectedly.

"Why?" Remus asked. It was so unlike Anna to not want to attend a party.

"I just want to spend one of our last nights with you guys."

Sirius nodded, and he and Anna went to shower and change, and met up with the group again, and they went down to the lake.

The moon was coming up and the friends were sprawled out on blankets they had spread by the shore. Anna was laying next to Sirius, her head nesting in his shoulder, and had her legs draped over Remus, who lay on his stomach, facing Peter, who was laying the same way, Emily laying her head on Remus' back. Lily lay on her back, with her head resting on Sirius' leg, and he played with her hair, practicing his braiding. They were going back and forth, laughing about their favorite memories from their seven years at school. The tone was light, but heavy at the same time, because though they laughed, the fact that this could be the last time they sat all together like this weighed on them. No one said anything, but they all felt change coming.

"Remember that time second year when Sirius put a spell on Snape and some unsuspecting fifth year girl that glued them together for twenty-four hours?" Peter laughed.

"Or when James slipped an anti-gravity potion in Flitwick's morning drink?" Remus shook his head.

"That was hilarious, the other professors trying to get him down!" came James' voice from behind them. "Dad just went back to Hogsmeade." He scanned the group for the best place to sit down, and he settled on sitting cross-legged by Lily. Anna lifted her head, silently asking Lily if she wanted him to be moved, but Lily shook her head. Anna had heard James' side of the story, and believed him, and had even tried to convince Lily, but if Lily wanted her help, she would give it to her.

They continued their conversation, without James or Lily contributing anything. Their eyes were locked on each other.

James sat close, but not touching her, and he yearned to be closer. This was the first time she had looked at him since their argument the other day, and it broke his heart. She looked sad, and he knew it was partially his fault. He tentatively placed his hand on hers, and she pulled it back sharply, looking away. He sighed. He really missed her.

She also wanted so badly to be back to normal with James, but even after Anna insisted that James was telling the truth and Clara had done the kissing, she still couldn't forgive him for getting into that situation. And then calling her a bitch. When his hand touched hers, she felt the familiar shock of energy flow through her, but she pulled it back. She was still angry.

"Anna, what was your favorite part of our school days?" Remus nudged her leg.

"I'm going to say this morning when we dragged Sirius across the grounds by his ankle with no clothes on!" She laughed, dodging his swat.

"We agreed never to speak of it again!" He groaned.

"Do you think anyone noticed we're gone?" Peter asked when he had finished laughing.

"Maybe not you, Pete…" Sirius chuckled. "They're probably sitting around bored, staring at each other. Poor kids need a lesson from us in how to throw great parties before we leave."

"Can we steal food from the kitchens?" Lily asked.

Nobody spoke, but everyone either turned or lifted their heads or both to stare at her.

"What?" She asked innocently. "We missed dinner and I'm hungry."

James looked at her with the utmost adoration. Sirius disentangled himself from Anna, and pulled Lily up with him.

"You're not going to regret this decision. I'll show you everything. You're about to be extremely upset you never went with us before and always berated us because it was so wrong." He toted her along behind him, holding her hand.

Everyone else laughed at them.

"Never thought we'd see the day."

"Em, do you have to leave in the morning?" Lily whined. Everyone was back in their respective dorms.

She nodded sadly, munching on a cookie Lily had nicked. "Trust me, I wish I could stay with you guys. You don't know how hard it is to look after so many children!"

"I do," Anna said seriously. "I've been babysitting the boys for twelve years."

The other girls giggled, Lily's was mixed with a yawn.

"Tired already?" Anna asked her.

"Already?" Lily shrieked. "It's midnight and we have N.E.W.T.S. in the afternoon!"

"Got to get up early to study!" Anna exclaimed.

"Stop mocking me," Lily yawned again, curling up against Emily's side.

Anna flipped upside down, Emily shouting, "Ew! Your feet better not smell!"

Anna responded by placing a foot on each of Emily's cheeks, and falling asleep that way.