Looking out over the darkening grounds of Hogwarts, James Potter realized that there was nothing truly keeping him here. True, he still had the rest of this year to finish, and his parents would be greatly disappointed if he decided not to finish his schooling, but did it really matter if his parents didn't show him approval? Throughout his life, they had expressed their opinions on his pranks, his grades, his Quidditch playing, and even his choice of friends. He didn't live for them, and if they wanted to disapprove, they were free to do so.
Hearing a sound behind him, he turned to face the Gryffindor common room. Lying on a couch near the fire where he had not noticed her was a girl in his year, known as Lily Evans. She was one of James' best friends, regardless of her gender. She had long, thick hair that curled around her face and shoulders in strands of deep auburn. Her face, though marred by a scattering of freckles, was nonetheless beautiful. Her eyes, when open, were a startling shade of green, like emeralds glittering in the sun.
He was wrong. Maybe there was something worth staying for at Hogwarts.