Chapter Twenty-Eight

James glanced outside as he stepped away from the Apparition point in King's Cross. It was cool, but clear, without a cloud in the sky. The holiday snowfall had melted, washed away by icy rain on New Year's Day, leaving the streets dirty and grey. The sun tried hard to warm the pavement, but until another snowfall covered the streets in white, the world remained cold and colorless but for the brilliant blue sky above.

Shaking his head as he remembered what Lily had once said about the weather and their relationship, James hurried toward the Hogwarts Express. He was determined to be one of the first aboard the train; he had something to do and no amount of ribbing from Sirius would deter him. He managed to finish his task before more than a few students had boarded and met Sirius and Remus back on the platform, where they were waiting for Peter. They gave him a hard time for following through on his plan, but he ignored them, settling instead on searching for Lily among the crowd of returning students.

He hadn't see her since Boxing Day, although they had exchanged several owls. She had come to his house with her parents, and they had spent the day alternately sneaking kisses (and more) behind closed doors and enjoying the holiday with their families. Lily's mum had brought over a chocolate trifle, one of their favorite Muggle desserts, and James's dad had introduced them to elf-wine over dinner. It had been strange, spending time with their families when they had spent so little time together, and yet it had felt right. It had seemed to fill the hole in his father's heart a bit, to have the house full of friendship and laughter at Christmas.

Peter finally arrived at the station, and after a quick greeting, he headed toward the train with Remus to find a compartment. James frowned as they left, because he hadn't seen Lily yet, and his heart skipped a beat as he thought about all the things that might have happened to her. His thoughts must have shown on his face, for Sirius clapped him on the back and leaned in close.

"Don't be a wet shirt, Prongs," he murmured. "She's fine—probably already on board waiting for a welcome snog. Come on."

James just nodded wordlessly as Sirius bounded onto the train after Remus. He searched the platform one last time, then hurried after his friends, hoping to find Lily before the train pulled out for the long ride back to Hogwarts. To both his surprise and relief, Peter and Remus had already found them a place with Lily and Mary. Mary grinned in delight when Peter entered, and Lily stood to give James a warm kiss. Sirius sniggered a bit, but Lily gave him a withering glance, then laced her hand with James and pulled him down next to her.

"You know, this is quite different from our last train ride," Remus pointed out, grinning broadly from where he sat across from them. "I seem to remember getting stuck in the middle of a rather heated argument about who was Head Boy and who was Head Girl last time we did this."

Lily laughed as James just shook his head. He did indeed remember that first train ride of the year: Lily had been furious when she'd found out he was Head Boy, and he had not been thrilled to see her badge either. In spite of anything that had—or had almost happened—during and after the attack in Hogsmeade, they had come back after the difficult summer with their feelings buried and started out the year antagonizing one another. It seemed a bit of good-natured teasing was in order as they once again found themselves heading back to Hogwarts, only this time with quite a different attitude toward one another.

"Didn't you accuse me of nicking my badge from someone?" James asked, feigning injured curiosity. Lily raised an eyebrow at him.

"Did I really?" she murmured. "I can't imagine ever saying such a thing about you."

"There was something about testosterone-fueled heroics, I think," he continued. "And didn't you call Dumbledore a barmy old git?"

She laughed, but James was glad to see her blushing as well. He couldn't give up the banter completely; it was part of who they were, after all. They were quick to cross the line, sometimes, but after four months of constant emotional extremes, James understood that now, and had a feeling that it too would become part of who they were.

"Yes, well, I was wrong about Dumbledore, wasn't I?" Lily finally replied, giving him a mischievous grin.

Across from them, Sirius burst out laughing and turned away from the window. "She's got you there, Prongs. You proved the first in Diagon Alley."

James pretended to be hurt, though inside he was amused. Lily glanced up at him from where she had started to relax in his arms. "Why do they call you that?" she asked, completely changing the subject and running a hand along his leg.

He looked down at her and winked. "Because I'm so dear to them," he replied without missing a beat. It was a private joke, and he knew she would never figure it out. She made an inarticulate huffing sound and rolled her eyes, and James suddenly wondered what it would be like to tell her, actually tell her, the meaning of his nickname. He glanced up to find Sirius watching him, shaking his head almost imperceptibly, as if reading his thoughts.

"That's what Black said, but I don't believe it for a minute," Lily replied, sticking out her tongue playfully. "You're a thorn in their side, that's what you are."

"I'm actually quite a stag," he whispered with a quick brush of his lips against her ear. He felt her shiver and grinned as she shifted toward him, her hand gripping his thigh a little tighter than before. Sirius groaned and pretended to look away.

"Find your own compartment, kids," he said. "I've already seen that show."

"And you loved it," Lily murmured.

"I'll still scrubbing my eyes," Sirius replied. "And considering Obliviating myself."

Lily burst into laughter, once again proving just how much things had changed between them all. She had been more than furious with Sirius the night he'd cast the spell on them in the prefects' lounge, but now she could joke about it with him. It was one of many things that James found more and more amazing about her, and something he couldn't imagine not sharing with her for a long time to come.

Shaking his head at the sudden strange turn of thought, James took the opportunity to stand, pulling Lily with him. "Come on, there's a meeting up front."

"There is?" Lily asked in surprise. She looked at Remus, who rolled his eyes and mouthed, "Of course not." James aimed a kick at his shin, but Remus pulled his leg away with a laugh. Grinning, Lily followed him from the compartment and down toward the front of the train.

They were stopped several times—by Thomas Kirke, who had already scheduled a meeting that night to discuss the upcoming match against Ravenclaw; by Cynthia Morris, who simply threw her arms around them both; by Sandra Murphy, who was sitting with Jeremy Bradley and several other Hufflepuffs. They passed Anastasia Harrison snogging Jeremy's twin brother Mitchell, and a compartment of Slytherins, including Severus Snape, Corin Mulciber, and Regulus Black. James noted Dante Avery's absence and wondered about his fate after the attack in Diagon Alley.

When they finally arrived at the front compartment, James was relieved to find it was still empty. "I charmed it so no one else could get in," he whispered when Lily noticed his worried glance.

"What are you up to, Potter?" she asked, narrowing her eyes at him.

"Just starting over again, Evans," he replied. He unlocked the door and led her inside. On the bench was a small box, wrapped in red paper and finished with a tiny gold bow. Lily dropped his hand and stared at him, suddenly pale.

"James, that's not a—" Her hands flew to her mouth in disbelief. "We've only just started—you couldn't possibly—"

James snorted at her reaction, though it secretly delighted him. Remus had said Lily would probably react that way. "Of course not. What do you take me for, some sort of arrogant, immature troll?"

"Don't forget reckless," Lily murmured, breathing a sigh of relief. "But not a troll—not anymore, anyway." She winked at him, and he laughed as they entered the compartment together.

"Just open it." They sat down together in the empty compartment. James made sure the door was locked behind them and raised his eyebrows when Lily flicked her wand and the shades came tumbling down. He was surprised when she did not open the box, however, but leaned against his shoulder with a sigh, cradling the gift in her hands as she toyed with the bow.

"Do you remember the train ride back in September?" Lily asked. "What you said to me, right before our first meeting up here?"

"I said something about you not being Head Girl of the universe, I think." James laughed again as he remembered their heated exchange in the doorway. "And it was raining." It seemed so long ago now, that they had thrown such quick and hurtful words at each other. He knew some of those same strong feelings were still there, only now they were redirected. It had taken them a long time to figure out why they had bothered one another so much, but once they had, they had finally moved past it to something much better.

"It was, and you did." Lily nodded. "You also said I was stuck with you whether I liked it or not."

"Looks like you still are," James murmured as he sat back and pulled her against him. She put the box down, sighing contentedly as she turned toward him.

"I don't mind a bit anymore," she whispered back, wrapping her hands around his neck. He leaned down to kiss her and forgot all about the box, all about starting over. He simply relished in the feel of her lips, her skin, her hair. His mind wandered to all that had happened since September, and he decided he wouldn't change a thing: every fight, every spell, every unhappy moment spent agonizing and upset and even sleeping in the kitchen had been worth it.

"I think I could fall in love with you, Evans," he said before he could take it back. She stared at him in wide-eyed surprise before a shy smile broke out across her face.

"Really? You don't mean that."

"I do," he replied, slightly embarrassed. "But I won't get ahead of myself."

"Well, wait until it rains," she said. "We'll be back at each other's throats in no time."

"Do you really think so?" he asked, pulling her close again and trailing his hand through her hair. He grinned as he thought about what was in the box.

"I know so," she murmured. "Just don't every Transfigure me again."

"Just don't…" He trailed off with a rueful shrug. "You've got me there. I won't, I promise."

"I never really hated you," she continued. "I'm sorry I said that."

"I know," he said. "I'm sorry I turned you into a cat." He laughed to himself. "That would drive anyone mad, I'm sure."

"I never would have thought I'd be sitting here with you after all that's happened, you know," she said.

"Maybe it's because of all that's happened that we're sitting here," James replied, feeling unusually thoughtful. He hated how trite and sentimental it sounded, but it was probably true, after all: if any number of things had gone differently, they might have never found their way to one another. More than anything, James supposed he was most glad to have been made Head Boy. He had almost quit, but in the end it had really forced him to accept the responsibility thrust upon him over the summer and had given him a chance to prove himself to everyone—to her—her once and for all.

"I didn't realize you were such a philosopher," Lily said.

"And I didn't realize you were such a talker," James laughed. "Are you going to open your gift or not?"

She picked up the box, took off the bow, and set it down again. Then she turned to him, and running a hand through his hair, murmured, "Actually, I had something else in mind first."

He grinned again and pulled her toward him, wrapping his arms around her waist and letting them begin to roam. "Maybe I willlet you be in charge then, Head Girl."

"Just don't mess this up," she murmured back.

"I won't if you won't," he returned. They shared a laugh and a long, leisurely kiss before settling in for the ride back to Hogwarts, enjoying their own private compartment for most of the trip. Outside, the sun continued to shine over the countryside, while beside them the red box sat unopened, a reminder of all the possibilities of what was yet to come.

The End


End Notes:

First of all, a huge thank you to Lea/mugglegirlmarauder, my amazing, hard-working alpha-beta. She read over all of this and helped me with plot and character and some great insults. She listened to me ramble about this for countless hours on AIM. And she always made me laugh with her comments. *hug*

Second of all, thank you to my wonderful flist, who also listened to quite a bit about this over the last six months. They helped me with all sorts of stuff, especially all my Britsperts. Thank you! *morehugs*

Third of all, thank you to everyone who has read and enjoyed this story and even found time to leave a review. Each and every one makes my heart do a little flip, knowing I've written something someone likes...or in the case of some chapters, is shaking their fist at. It's so encouraging and heartwarming, and I thank each and every one of you.

Finally, thank you to J.K Rowling for giving us snippets of the life of Harry's parents. Maybe they weren't the romantic, tragic love story we think they are. Maybe they were quite dull and ordinary. But I love writing their story, over and over and over, and it is all thanks to the wonderful backstory she created for her magical world.

I have no plans for an immediate sequel that picks up after this story, although I have started a chaptered story set about two years in the future after they are married. It's not a romance, it's more of a Marauder war-era story, but Arlienne's story does make a reappearance, as do the Averys. Hopefully I'll post it someday. In the meantime, I have several other James/Lily and Marauder era stories to share, and I think I'm going to post a few holiday-centered fics next: Christmas in July. Enjoy and thanks again!