A/N-::Hides head:: He he. Um, atleast it hasn't been a year yet? I'm sorry, I know I know, no excuse, but I really am. I had no ideas to write so I did something horrible, you'll see. But I know what I'm writing in the next chapter, so it should be out quicker. You have my word. Well, hope you like this chapter, don't hate me, and please review? Enjoy! Emily

Disclaimer- Alas, my only claim to fame is the plot and a few characters, the rest is J. K.'s.

A/N- Just wondering, has anyone finished OoTP? I finished in two days, I know, I'm a freak. But I was sobbing after I finished. I can't believe died::Sob!::

Chapter 8

Saying Goodbye

"A part of you has grown in me, together forever we shall be never apart maybe in distance, but not in heart."

-Source Unknown

The week soon past, not soon enough for Lily, though, since she was stuck with Petunia. Although, now that Lily was a witch, Petunia barely talked to her, but if she did, it was an insult. Lily had managed not to hurt her sister too much. She did succeed in locking her outside in the snow with nothing but socks, jeans, and a long-sleeved shirt on when her parents weren't home. Lily got yelled at pretty badly for that, 'but it was worth it.' Lily thought.

Lily sighed with relief the night before going back to Hogwarts. She picked out a new outfit she had gotten for Christmas: a white knitted sweater with a big light blue snowflake on the front, navy blue leggings, (Alright, you wore them when you were eleven too! At least when you were 10!) and brown boots. She glanced at the picture Jenn painted from her and smiled to herself: she would be back there soon.

The next morning, Lily and her mother and father set off to King's Cross.

"Lily, I'm sorry Petunia didn't want to come." Rose said kissing her daughter on the forehead.

"It's ok, really." Lily said. 'I wouldn't want her here anyway.' She added in her head. Rose smiled and gave her daughter one last hug. "We'll miss you, Lily. Don't forget to write. Be good, and have fun. We'll see you soon."

"Bye, Mom. I love you." Lily said. She turned to her father who scoped her up into a giant bear hug. Lily laughed.

"Bye, my Lily flower." William said. "We miss you already. Have fun at school, but stay away from any boys." Lily rolled her eyes and kissed her father on the cheek.

"Yes, Daddy." Lily said as William put her back onto the floor. "I love you. Bye Mom! Bye Dad! I'll see you soon!" Lily said and with one final wave, she disappeared through the barrier and onto Platform 9 and ¾.

Lily pushed her things onto the train, said goodbye to Crystal and found her way to an empty compartment on the Hogwarts Express. James joined her, however, two minutes later.

"Hey, Potter, how was your Christmas?" She asked remembering her present to him.

"Fine." James said. "The candy was good, but when I went to buy more, the candy itself looked different." Lily started laughing just as Rachel, Jennifer, Sirius, Remus, and Peter joined them.

"What's so funny?" Rachel asked sitting down next to Lily.

"James." Lily said. Everyone, including James, looked at her strangely. "He was just telling me how much he liked the candy I gave him…but it wasn't the candy he thought it was…it was Cockroach Clusters! I put them in an empty box of Reeses Pieces."

"Gross!" James screamed. Everyone else started laughing. "You'll pay for that, Evans."

"Oh, please," Lily said, "like you could hurt me. Aside from making my hair wet tar, you have done nothing remotely hurtful or terrible." Lily said in a matter-of-fact tone.

James smiled mischievously. "We'll see about that, we'll see…" Just then, the compartment banged open. In the entrance stood Severus Snape, and Lucius Malfoy. The boys all stood up. Snape and Malfoy were both first years, Slytherins, and hated by James and his clan.

"Malfoy." James said in a low voice.

"Why hello there, Potty." Lucius said.

"What do you two want?" Sirius asked, rolling up his sleeves. The three girls looked on, praying there wouldn't be a fight.

"Just wanted to make sure you all were still, here…" Snape said glancing at each one of the Gryffindors.

"My, my, my, you ladies are looking quite gorgeous today." Malfoy say looking at the girls with a sneer climbing onto his face. Lily looked back at him, disgusted, as did Jenn, but Rachel just rolled her eyes.

With that comment, BAM! Sirius and James both hit Malfoy in the face.

"Don't you ever talk to Lily, Jenn, or Rachel again, ever." James said through clenched teeth.

Malfoy cursed at Sirius and James before exiting the compartment. The boys all sat back down.

"My hero!" Rachel said, kissing Sirius's shoes. She giggled.

"Awww, Potter, I didn't know you cared." Lily said in a baby voice.

"Well, even if I do hate you, I'd pick you over Snape and Malfoy any day." James said in a matter-of-fact tone.

"I'm flattered, really." Lily said rolling her eyes.

"Yea, you're much prettier and nicer than those two." Sirius said.

"Thank you, Sirius." Lily said smiling. James rolled his eyes.

"What, you don't agree, James?" Rachel asked smiling.

Someone who was looking very closely at James would have seen a light pink color creep along James' face, but none of his friends noticed.

"Well, I...I...of course I agree, please, Snape looks like he has never seen a bath, let alone taken one. And Malfoy has a permanent frown on his face." James said. Lily rolled her eyes.

"You think I'm gorgeous, you want to date me, love me and marry me." Lily sang. (think Miss Congeniality.)

"Oh, please." James said.

"Anyway," Remus said, "how was everyone's Christmas?"

"Awesome. Jenn, that picture was beautiful; I didn't know you were such a good painter." Rachel said. Jenn blushed.

"Thanks, I'm glad you liked it."

"Yea, they were so good!" Lily added. Everyone agreed.

"Thank you." Jenn said bashfully.

"What was everyone's painting of?" Lily asked. "Mine was the castle with the sun setting in the background."

"Mine was the lake surrounded by snow and kids ice-skating on it." Rachel said.

"Mine was the forbidden forest covered in snow." Sirius said.

"Mine was the Sorting Ceremony." James said.

"Mine was the Gryffindor Common Room with a fire roaring and people sitting in front of it." Remus said. "I couldn't help but notice, Jenn, that a red head was sitting with her head on the shoulder of a boy with messy black hair." Remus smiled.

"Jenn!" Lily exclaimed. Jenn didn't say anything, she just smiled.

"I wish I was as artistic as you." Rachel said.

"Everyone's gifts were great." Lily said. "Thank you all." Everyone agreed.

Soon enough, the train came to a stop and everyone unloaded.

When Lily reached her dorm, she ran and jumped on her bed.

"It feels so good to be back!" She said.

"Geez, Lil, you would think you came from a broken family or something the way you are acting." Rachel said putting her stuff down next to her bed.

"No, it's just that I love being here. I love everything about Hogwarts and magic, and just everything. And plus, at home, I have to be with Petunia." Lily spit out Petunia's name as if it was a poison. "But I do miss my parents when I'm here." She added as an after thought.

"Did you see any of your muggle friends while you were home?" Jenn asked sitting next to Lily on her bed. Rachel also joined them.

"No." Lily said guiltily. "I bet they all forgot about me anyway."

"I doubt that." Jenn said.

"I don't. I mean, I didn't have a best friend at home. I had friends but none that I would call 'best,' none like you two." Rachel and Jenn smiled.

"I wonder where Elisabeth and Sarah are." Rachel said.

"There stuff is here, so they must have dropped off their stuff and gone to see friends or something." Jenn said noticing the trunks in front of Elisabeth and Sarah's beds.

Just then, there was a soft knock on the door. Professor McGonagall entered looking very grave.

"Miss Evans, Professor Dumbledore wishes to see you. Follow me." Lily merely nodded and with a quick glance at Jenn and Rachel she followed Professor McGonagall out of the dorm. They walked until they reached two stone gargoyles. "Lemon drop." Professor McGonagall said and the gargoyles jumped to the side revealing an entrance way and stairs leading up.

"Go on." Professor McGonagall said. "Professor Dumbledore is expecting you." Lily nodded and cautiously began her walk up the stone steps. She finally reached a large wooden door. She knocked softly and heard a soft, "Come in." The wooden door creaked open. Lily took a deep breath and stepped in.

THANK YOUS!!!

pRiNcEsS- Glad you liked my story! I also LOVE Lily/James stories!

LushGurl- Glad you liked my story! I will, of course, always keep writing and I'll try to keep my chapters updated quicker. :)

RonsSecretAdmirer- Ummm, ok, I didn't put out that chapter as quick as the other one, sorry! Don't listen to those people, you aren't 'weird,' you're unique! I don't think spendiddity is a real word either, but it's a fun word!

Quack Quack 88- Yes, you got the longest note, but will you this time?? We'll see…I am NOT free of writer's block as you can tell since it took me 10 months to get this chapter out. Lily really didn't give James a present, more like a gag gift, same with James. I hope you're free from writer's block now!!

Hiphopgurl- Did I make you wait long enough for this chapter?? I don't think so:) I know, Lily/James fics are by far the best! I will definitely keep writing, well, if I can think of something to write about!

Cari Jade- I'll have to check out Tamora Pierce and Anne McCafffery. I feel so honored that I got your longest review ever! I'm so lucky::gets up and does a dance:: I will definitely e-mail you when any chapter comes out…I do that for any person who leaves their e-mail address when they review.

cquill13-I'm glad my story is 'cool.' I wrote more, but definitely not soon! Sorry about that!

Princess Sakura Moon- What James's reaction good? Hope so! Glad you liked the story!

Nasha L. T. M. Potter (Who's real name is Rebecca)- So glad you LOVED IT!! I will always e-mail people who leave their e-mail address when I put up a new chapter. It's been really long, so I hope you haven't forgotten about me and my story and how you asked me to e-mail you!

Destiny Phoenix- I get so excited when people tell me my story is 'more developed' or whatever than other stories they have read! It makes me feel good! What were you doing up at 1:30 am on maybe a school night?? Glad my story is 'awesome' and that you love it. Don't hate me because I haven't updated in10 months! Sorry!

Natalie- I'm in your top five and tow three??!! I'm so honored! If you don't mind, what are the other stories in your top five and top three?? I would love to read them if you would let me know what the names of them are. You probably could write a Lily/James story like me! I bet you could! Glad you liked the story!

GINGER ROGERS- Did you like the reaction??

Kale Hana Catemii- I continued, but not to quickly. Sorry about that! Don't hate me! Glad you liked the story, though.

Lauren- I love Christmas myself, and I love writing with A LOT of detail (if you haven't already picked that up). If you're going to know the characters, you have to know about their families and their customs and stuff. That's what I think anyway. Glad you liked the story!

AshleyEye- ¡Hola! I love writing the personalities for characters! It's my favorite part of writing! If I could, I would write a story with just every character's personality, but I can't because then it would have no plot and would be a dumb story. Oh well. Glad you liked the story!

bratgoddess88- I don't mind if you use Rose as Lily's mom in your story, if you don't mind. I just named her that because it's Lily and Petunia, so I figured the mom should have a flower name too. I have to read the whole story before I review too, so don't think you're weird. Glad you liked the story!

NorthStar- I'll check out you're story, don't worry! Yea, I had to put a lot of thought into those gifts too! LoL! Glad you like the story!

Meghan- I am SO sorry! I had no motivation! Sorry I put you through hell! I'm sorry! I really am!!

Cassie Potter- I'll have to check out your story! Sorry for the wait!!

Kirjava- I'm really glad you liked it! It's ok that you didn't have any constructive criticism, just knowing you liked it is enough!! Sorry in the delay in the chapter!

Bubblegumgirl- Glad you liked the chapter! Sorry this one wasn't out very quickly! I don't think Lily minded getting a carrot for Christmas because it was James and she knew her gift to him was way worse.

Catbus- I am Sorry for the wait! I really am! I know, there is no excuse for this not being out for so long. I am sorry, but I'm glad you liked the story!!