***The Marauder Chronicles is a fan fiction written by CK Talons out of pure enjoyment of writing. This story isn't to be taken as true to the events before Harry Potter and the Philosopher's stone. It is merely an idea that popped into my head one day and found it's way to a keyboard. Characters and locations are copyrighted to J.K. Rolwing; no copyright infringement is intended. This story isn't to be duplicated or sold.***

Author's note: This note used to be huge and full of elaborate explanations about the previous chapter. I have since deleted that and will say this; people are not perfect, especially teenagers in an obsessive love. Of course it's not sensible to you, the reader, but it is to the characters. Please keep that in mind when you think of James and Lily and their sometimes weird and silly decisions. Ah... young people in love.




Part Eight: The Duel

"Love is the greatest magic of all."

A week later James walked with a determined heart to an empty classroom on the fourth floor to meet Jeremy Talen. His assistant opened the door for him, and James walked to the desk where Jeremy was seated.

"Just the man I want to see," he said, standing up to shake his hand. James smiled and sat down. Jeremy pulled out a huge stack of parchment and a quill. "Now, you'd be signing on with us for five years and nine thousand galleons each year plus a bonus for every game won. You'd be assigned the best broom in the world, of course, the best lodging in the countries we play in, and I can guarantee that you would be famous worldwide in a matter of weeks." He gave the quill to his assistant who then put it in James's hand. "Just sign on the dotted line."

It took great restraint to keep the quill in the air; his hand wanted to sign, but his head told it not to.

"Is there a problem, James?" Jeremy asked.

He put the quill down. "I'm not going to play with you," he said, though the muscles in his throat were not functioning to the best of their abilities.

James was half expecting him to look upset or angry or even slightly miffed, but instead he smiled. "Oh, a haggler are you? Who else has been to talk to you, the Chudley Cannons, Wales's team? Scotland? All right James, I can see you're going to be hard to get; very wise of you my boy. How about ten thousand Galleons each year and an extra hundred for each game we win."

"No, it's not about that," James said, but Jeremy kept on going.

"Okay, eleven thousand each year, one hundred for each winning game, and twenty for every score you make personally. We really want you James. Just imagine being announced on a loud speaker to over ten thousand wizards chanting your name. You fly into the stadium, your blue and white robes rippling in the air as you fly on the best broom ever made. Your name is on your back, people are buying figurines of you, waving posters of you, you're a celebrity James. You could live in the best house wizarding gold could buy for you and that pretty girl of yours."

The assistant put the quill back in James's hand.

"All you have to do is sign on the dotted line."

"Uh," James mumbled. He should have more time to think about this, really. "What about," he knew he should just say no and walk out of the room but maybe... "What kind of hours could you get me?"

"Well you'd be practicing most of the day all five days of the work week. Saturdays are for games, and Sunday is spent de-briefing and gearing up for the next game. When we don't play we watch the team we're up against next."

"So all the time. I'd be working all the time."

"If you want to call it work, James. You know what they say, 'if you find something you love then you'll never work.' We're one of the best teams in the world, and practices have gotten us there. You clearly love it, and you'd be making more money than at a boring desk job at the Ministry of Magic. You'd be wasting your talent there."

"I wish I could, sir, but- "

"No buts, James. Just sign the contract."

"I can't, Mr. Talen, I promised my- "

"Never let a woman dictate your life, son. She's just holding you back, wants to control you. I see this all the time in my line of work. There are plenty of women out there who would be happy with you playing Quidditch for us. Beautiful girls who would be dedicated to you and do whatever you wanted, not the other way around."

"And what did those guys do, who gave up their loved ones I mean. Were they happy?"

Talen kept a straight steady smile, "They're famous; we won the Cup last year."

"Can I talk to them?"

"Look kid," he said without the friendly air, "if you know what's best for you, then you'll sign this contract. You're good at this sport. Just sign the form."

"So I'd belong to you, then, instead of my wife? Hmmm...You would make all my decisions, send me all over the world, and make money off of me, wouldn't you? I never thought about that before," he said reflectively.

"Think of all the gold you could fill in your vault. You'd be playing Quidditch James. I saw the way you played. You were masterful out there, a genius on the field. You'd be James Potter, England Eagles Chaser. People would turn their heads when you enter the room."

"And what happens at the end of five years? What happens if I get injured? What happens when I don't want to play Quidditch anymore? What then? What can you guarantee me then? How am I supposed to get an important job after I throw a Quaffle around for five years or less?"

"There are plenty of people who are happy with their job after they play."

"Yeah, who?"

He didn't say anything. He looked quite uncomfortable with James's questions. What James couldn't figure is why he hadn't thought of all this before? There was so much information that wasn't in the black book Talen had given him. He was almost sucked into the appeal to fame, and thankfully he got some sense to ask questions.

He stood up, threw the quill down on the desk, and frowned at Talen. "I don't want your stupid team, your money, or your fame. Not everything is about money. I've got a great thing going right now, and I don't want to mess it up with you and your people. Good luck finding someone without anything to lose." He stepped out of room and grinned; the only thing better than signing on with a World Cup winning Quidditch team who was begging for you, was telling them you didn't want them.

Though James was happy with his decision, Lily was smiling again, and all of Slytherin house was glad they wouldn't ever see James again after graduation, Sirius looked ready to cry. He had been the happiest of anyone with the offer for James to go pro.

"It's not the end of the world," James said as he patted Sirius on the back. "We can go to the World Cup in two years. We can buy tickets now so we're guaranteed horrible seats."

"I wanted the Eagles real bad, James. I could have been your agent and publicity man," he whined.

"I know, Sirius. Quidditch is just a game. I really kind of want to do something more meaningful with my life other than throw a Quaffle. Fight against Voldemort, for example. Besides, Lily comes first, not my job or Quidditch; I owe her that. You want me to be happy and you want her to be happy, don't you?"

Sirius nodded but covered his eyes.

"We'll get tickets for August in 1980 for sure."

"You promise? Just us?"

"Yep. We'll be there."

"Rain or shine?" Sirius said.

"Rain or shine. Just don't look so pathetic."

"Oh alright. I only almost had my best friend on one of the best teams in the world. Why would that make me melancholy."

As February came to an end, so did the constant storms that had pounded the castle. March came in smoothly with some sprinkles of rain occasionally, but it wasn't anything to fret about. The sun kissed the grounds with a tinge of warmth; the puddles and dew made the grass look more like a glistening cake rather than hills.

But most students didn't notice nature's beauty. Exams were drawing ever nearer, and soon the seventh years would say so long to the castle. Sirius tried to forget about the England Eagles, who had just beaten Bulgaria and East Germany in the past three weeks, and focused on his end of year exams.

Professor McGonagall was possibly giving the hardest exam. She told them they would have to perform human transformations on a partner. James and Sirius decided if they couldn't do it with wands, then they would transform into their Animagus forms right on target. Fortunately or unfortunately, however you wish to look at it, they were able to transform each other into different things.

Professor Wicks, who taught potions, told the seventh years he was going to poison one person from each group, and the rest of them would have to, based on the symptoms, guess the potion used and then make the antidote. Luckily, when drawing numbers for groups of four, James and Lily were in the same group with Douglas Lacy, Snape's best friend, and Summer Dale, a fellow Gryffindor. Sirius, however, wasn't so lucky. Not only was he in a group with three other Slytherins, including Snape, but he was the one to be poisoned.

"Sirius, they have to cure you to get good marks, so don't worry about it," Jade said soothingly, who incidentally was not to be poisoned and was with three other Gryffindors.

Astronomy was going to be a breeze; just find the stars and name them correctly. Seeing as how this was the only test to which they had the answers, they didn't worry about it.

Charms was going to be a surprise, but everyone suddenly seemed to kiss up to Lily, even the girls who followed James around after the Quidditch match. She found it flattering but told everyone that she wasn't going to let anyone cheat. "No, James, not even you."

The rest of the exams were up in the air and probably really hard. No one had any idea as to what Professor Gellar had up her sleeve; she kept things very secretive. Professor Trelawny was undoubtedly planning something irrelevant to the prediction of the future but emphasized crystal gazing, even though they had done that many times in the past.

But the exams were temporarily cast from their minds one morning at breakfast. Things were going smoothly as usual, but there was an oddness in the air that even Peter sensed.

"What's going on?" he asked.

"Not sure," Lily said.

James got up and went to see what the commotion was all about. Out in the entrance hall, a new message had been posted on the corkboard. Sirius came up behind him and read along.

~DUELING TOURNAMENT~

GOOD WITH A WAND? FAST ON YOUR REFLEXES? MARCH 15TH 1978 IS THE DATE FOR THE SIX-YEAR MARK FOR THE INTERNATIONAL DUELING MASTERS TO APPEAR AT HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY. THE TOURNAMENT WILL COMMENCE AT TWELVE AND WILL END WHEN THERE IS A PROCLAIMED WINNER. THE MATCH WILL BEGIN WITH TWO SECOND YEAR CHALLENGERS. THE WINNER WILL CHALLENGE ANOTHER TILL SEVENTH YEAR IS REACHED. WINNER OF THE MATCH WILL RECEIVE 100 GOLD GALLEONS. THERE ARE NO POINTS FOR SECOND BEST.

Sirius gave James a pat on the back. "You should do it."

"You think so?"

"Definitely. You could win it by a long shot." Lily and the rest of the gang came to see for themselves what all the fuss was about.

"A dueling tournament?" Lily said. "That should be interesting."

"James is going to win," Sirius said with a smile.

"Oh is he?" she said with a glint in her eye.

"Maybe I will. Why aren't you going to enter? I've never seen you duel before, at least not for fun. You know I'd beat you, right?" James said.

Lily grinned and walked away.

* * * * *

On March 15th the entire student body gathered in the Great Hall, which had been transformed into a dueling ring. The four house tables were nowhere to be seen; only a long platform stood in the center of the Hall. The Dueling Masters were dressed in red and black robes so they could easily be identified. James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter merged through the crowd for a spot near the middle of the raised stage. Lily, Jade, and Liz came and stood next to them. It was a weekday, and instead of it being a total vacation, the teachers were all in a staff meeting.

One of the masters jumped onto the stage. He was short and thick around the middle. He looked to be of Asian descent and had shiny black hair and a beard. He waited for the chatter to cease.

"Welcome to the first dueling tournament at Hogwarts. We are a group of wizards who excel in dueling, and every six years we go to a school, such as this, and hold a tournament. This time it is Hogwarts.

"I am John Xiapong, the dueling referee, if you will. The tournament will start with two second years, as the announcement stated. The winner will then face a challenger in his or her year, 'til no one will want to challenge them. At that point a third year will be called and so on and so forth. Only the seventh years will receive one hundred galleons. The younger years will receive fifty. And the winner of each match will receive fifty points for his or her house.

"I think it goes without saying that the unforgivable curses are not to be used, nor is human transfiguration, or any form of the dark arts. If there are no questions, then I will start the match." John Xiapong looked for hands to be in the air, and when he saw none, he asked for a second year volunteer.

No one stepped forward.

"Don't be shy," John said.

James walked over to Amanda Davies, the Gryffindor Seeker.

"Why don't you try it?" he said.

"No way, James. I don't even know how do duel."

"You go up there, bow to your opponent, and throw curses and hexes at them. It's a blast you'll love it. Just go a head and try it."

She hesitated for a short while, but then asked for James to help her up to the stage. The Gryffindors applauded for her.

Then Ravenclaw sent a young boy up to duel. Amanda, being very nervous, went back over to James and asked for spells.

"Disarm him first, then you'll win," he told her.

"How do I do that?"

"Expellarimus," he whispered.

"Young lady," Xiapong said, "we're waiting for you." Amanda thanked James and stood on her mark.

"Now bow," he said. Each did so. "On the count of three, you may begin. Good luck to you both. One...two...THREE!"

The Ravenclaw started first and yelled, "Patrificus Totalus!" Amanda was hit. Her arms snapped to her side before she fell flat on her back. All but Gryffindors applauded. James took out his wand and mumbled the counter-curse at Amanda. She got up dizzily to her feet and looked like she was going to quit when she faced the Ravenclaw and yelled, "Expellarimus!" The boy's wand flew into the air and Amanda caught it. The Ravenclaw, having no wand, conceded the win.

"Winner!" Xiapong yelled.

"Wow, that was fast," Lily said. In no time Amanda had her second challenger, a Slytherin. Amanda looked terrified. She ran over to James once more.

"Don't worry about him," he said.

"What do I use?" she asked.

"Whatever comes to your mind," he said. "If you lose you lose; it's not the end of the world. You'll be fine."

She left and went to challenge the Slytherin, who looked like a hog.

They bowed to each other, and on the count of three, they sent their spells. Amanda used a cheering charm, but the Slytherin used a sickening spell and caused Amanda to start vomiting uncontrollably. She quickly succumbed and gave the win to Slytherin.

After several second years dueled one another, a Hufflepuff girl won. Of the third years a Ravenclaw boy won, after defeating five others in a row. Gryffindor took fourth year, Ravenclaw took fifth, and Slytherin got their first win in year six.

"And now the moment we've all been waiting for," John said. "Who will take one hundred galleons and fifty points for their house?" Seventh years looked around at each other waiting for someone to go first. No one urged James to go forward; he was going to wait 'til the end. It was David Butterfield of Ravenclaw who went first, and his challenger was Douglas Lacy from Slytherin.

"Any bets, boys?" Sirius said.

"No. I haven't seen either of them duel before, but I hope Butterfield wins," James said.

The two battled for five minutes without a designated winner, but Lacy did a bit of cheating and pulled the win. Then a Hufflepuff girl, who everyone thought was a bit of a scatter brain, beat Lacy. Summer Dale was her challenger but lost, as well as two others who wanted to claim the championship. Finally, Severus Snape stood up to her. The Slytherins were beside themselves with cheers for him.

Perhaps she was tired, or perhaps she feared Snape, but whatever it was, she lost. Snape looked all too pleased with himself and stood the champion for the time being. He raised his hands in the air with a sneer as if conquering the world.

"Will anyone challenge him?" John asked.

"Go, James," Sirius said.

"I want to wait a bit longer to let him live in the moment before I pull it from under him."

"No one will challenge him? Alright I hereby make you- "

"Not so fast," James said as he stepped onto the stage. Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws yelled themselves hoarse for James. He didn't look at them or smile; he just stared at Snape with utter loathing.

"Potter," Snape said with a cruel smile.

"Snape," James said politely. "Shall we?" Snape simply nodded. Without being told by Xiapong, the bowed to each other, turned and walked several paces.

"James," Lily said moving to the platform, "let me give you a kiss, for good luck, not that you'll need it fighting him." James smiled and bent down to kiss her.

"Thanks," he said. He stepped back, assumed a combative position and waited for the cue.

"On the count of three, gentlemen. One...two...THREE!"

James lunged forward faster than Snape and bellowed "Dynorous!" Snape flew into the air before landing flat on his back and hitting the ground with a loud thud. The room exploded with cheers. Snape slowly got to his feet, exhaled smoke then fired back.

"Importroni!" James hit the stage before the curse could give him the full blast, but it grazed his head. At once all the images that he saw were blurry and slow. James shook his head and started to see clearly again. He jumped up and flew forward.

"Rictusepmra!" He yelled. Once again Snape landed on his bottom but fell over backwards with laughter. It was the first time James had seen Snape look so innocently happy, and it was this that took his attention away from Snape.

Though he could hardly breath due to the fit of giggles he was having, he was able to make out "Banshin," as he pointed his wand at James. At first he thought Snape had made a mistake, for he felt nothing, but when he opened his mouth to curse Snape again, a horrible screeching erupted from his vocal cords. Not knowing the counter-curse, he tried to hex Snape back with his Banshee like screaming. This only made the entire student body snicker.

James was utterly ashamed of the unmasculine way he sounded, and desperately wanted to end the duel. In honor of his embarrassment he thought it only fair for Snape to feel worse. Being careful not to say the hex too loudly so Snape could use it back, James whispered, which sounded much like fingernails on a chalkboard, a curse he and Sirius had found back in their fourth year.

With a loud snap, the cloak, tie, shirt, vest and pants on Snape's body disappeared leaving only his underwear and his black socks.

The Hall echoed with such extreme laughter no one had ever heard. Snape looked down at his near naked self and looked ready to cry. James couldn't feel too sorry for Snape after all he had done to him. Instead he noticed that Snape had dropped his wand.

"Accio wand!" James yelled in his normal voice, as the curse seemed to have worn off. Snape's wand flew into the air and soared into his hands.

John Xiapong asked if Snape wanted to concede the win, but he shook his head and covered himself with his arms and hands.

"Give up and I give you your clothes, Snape. Do us all a favor and admit your loss," James said as he twirled both their wands in his hands.

"NO!" Snape yelled. But he just stood there adding more humiliation to himself.

"I have your wand you idiot. Give up! I've beat you; admit it!"

The crowd, with exception of the Slytherins of course, began to chant "Pott-er, Pott-er!" but it wasn't until Douglas Lacy told Snape to give in that he finally did so. James gave him his clothes back then threw his hands up in victory and let the cheering of his name pour into his ears. He could see Sirius beside himself with happiness and pride for him and was applauding harder than anyone else.

"Who will challenge Mr. Potter?" John shouted into the crowd. No one stepped forward. "Anyone?"

James walked over to his group of friends and crouched down to speak to them.

"What about one of you?" he asked. "Sirius?"

"No way. You've always beaten me at dueling," he said.

"Remus?"

"No thanks," he answered. James nodded then looked at Lily.

"What about you?" he asked her with a smirk.

"What about me?" she said innocently.

"You want to duel?"

"No," she said shortly.

"Oh come on Lily. You know you want to; all the other kids are doing it." He cocked his head to the side in a friendly manner and smiled cheekily.

"I don't need one hundred galleons to beat you, James," she said. Sirius, Remus and Peter all said "Oooohhh!" and looked at her with a newfound respect.

"Is that right?" he said.

"Hmmmm..." she said nodding her head.

"I don't think you could beat me, Lily. Oh sure, you're great with magic and charms and things, but when it comes to the important stuff you just can't hack it."

"I wouldn't be so sure. I just think that one hundred galleons is just too much for such an easy task."

Again, Sirius, Remus, and Peter: "Oooohhh"

"That sounds like a challenge, Miss Evans," James said.

"Well it's just truth." James had known Lily far too long to know that she was very competitive and wanted to duel him; he just had to reel her in.

"Hey, can you tell me the difference between a lily and a pansy?"

Lily rolled her eyes and shook her head. "What James?"

"Oh, I don't know. I was hoping you could tell me," he said. He was so impressed by his cleverness that he danced in place before crouching down again.

"That's so funny," she said with a straight face.

"Yeah it is. Some times I'm so clever I amaze myself."

"I believe that," she said lightly. By this time all the Gryffindors were straining to hear the couple's banter, and even John Xiapong was listening as he waited for the next challenger.

"You know what I think, Lily? I think the real reason you don't want to duel me is because you know men are better at magic than women."

Silence fell. Girls of all years looked to Lily. Lily was staring at her fiancée's smiling face.

"James Potter," she said calmly, "kiss you butt goodbye." James extended his hand to her and pulled her up onto the platform. The crowd went wild.

"I got you, I got you," James sang over the crowd.

"Yeah, yeah. Good luck, James," she said with a kind smile.

"And to you," he replied smiling.

The crowd was still chanting "Pott-er." At this time, Hagrid, who had been watching the duel from the doorway of the Great Hall, ran as fast as he could to the teacher's meeting and burst in.

"Potter's fighting Lily!" he yelled.

McGonagall looked slowly to Dumbledore who looked to the professors at the table.

"Perhaps this can all wait," he said calmly. The teachers pushed themselves away from the table and scrambled to the Great Hall.

James bowed to Lily's slight nod with a smirk. They each turned and walked seven paces then waited to go.

Remus bent closer to Sirius so he would be heard. "Who do we cheer for?"

"Whoever's winning!" Sirius yelled back.

"You both know the rules," John said. "On three. One...two...THREE!"

Out of courtesy, James let Lily go first. He had never seen her duel before but assumed that she was just average. Oh how wrong he was.

Lily lunged forward but didn't shout a spell, which shocked him. A pink wave shot out from her wand and socked him in the stomach like a bullet. James fell over and started to shiver. He jumped up and got ready to hex her back but he was hit again.

"Whoa!" Remus said. "Unbelievable!"

James got up fast, whipped his wand in the correct position and fired away.

"Bloatsprica!" he yelled. It hit Lily with full force. Soon she was filling in. Her waist began to expand, her face rounded and her arms and legs swelled. Somehow she knew the counter curse and fixed herself.

She shot another hex at James without moving her lips, which was more violent this time. He was catapulted at least ten feet into the air before he fell to the ground. He got up quickly and found that he was sweating. He fired away with a very handy charm.

A red light erupted from the end of his wand. Lily moved out of its way, but it wasn't aiming for her. Instead it hit her wand, which flew into the crowd. She looked nervously at James.

"Alright," Sirius said to everyone, "ten galleons says James wins."

Lily looked quickly into the crowd for her wand but saw nothing.

"Give up?" James said.

"Never!" Lily shouted. She lifted her hands above her head and pulled them down quickly. To everyone's amazement Lily was holding a glowing celestial ball, which looked as though it were made of shining gold mist. She made a quick forward motion looking as though she threw the glowing object at James.

It hit him like a ton of bricks and the next thing he knew he was staring at the ceiling with a hundred little stars zooming across his eyes.

"I'll take that bet," Remus said with a smirk. In the time that James lay on the stage, Lily ran to the corner where she believed her wand to be.

"If you leave the stage you lose," John told her. Lily yelled to the group instead.

"Will you please look for my wand?" she asked. They all scrambled to find it, but James started to get up.

"Lily look out!" someone yelled.

She turned on her heal and saw that James was gearing up to curse her again.

"Give me things to throw at him!" she yelled to the crowd.

"You can't throw objects! You have to use magic!" John told her.

"I know that!" Lily said. She turned back to the crowd. "Just hold the objects in the palms of your hands; I'll take care of the rest."

James fired back at her with a charm that made her cross-eyed. She shook it off quickly, stared into a Slytherin's hand, and locked on. He was holding a large book; perfect. She moved it with her telekinetic abilities and sent it soaring at James.

"How does she do that?" James asked himself as he caught the book and laid it down.

"Not fast enough, Lily," she mumbled. She moved her hand to another student and took an inkwell and threw her empty hand towards James. This time the inkwell shot like an arrow through the air and splattered on the collar of his white shirt. The crowd applauded.

Lily got faster each time. With eyes darting around the room for loose items and objects being volunteered, she was able to cast two and three things at James simultaneously. They flew at him faster each time with greater precision. James couldn't dodge all of them so he went back to his best work.

James pointed his wand as each shot at him and transfigured them into various harmless things like pillows. He transformed a divination book into a bouquet of flowers then threw them back to Lily with a charming grin. She smiled back then tossed them behind her. Jade leapt up into the air and caught them.

"Lily, your wand!" someone said. Lily looked and magically drew it to her.

"Not that I need it," she mouthed to James, who smiled.

Lily was the first to fire back.

"Degrowisium!" she yelled. A white light shot out and hit James in the head. For a while no one could see what was happening but when they did...

"Potter's bald!"

And that he was. James didn't have a single hair on his shiny head. He felt it with his hand and wanted to explode on the spot.

"She's crossed the line," he muttered. "Gyrus!" he yelled.

Lily didn't know what hit her just that her wand fell to the ground. Then she started to spin, first very slowly then rapidly. She was almost ready to throw up when the spinning suddenly stopped. She had to sit down before she fell down. The room kept spinning though she swore she wasn't. She laid her head on the stage and decided to wait for her stomach to ketch up with her before she did anymore magic.

But then she saw two shoes coming toward her. She slowly looked skyward and saw a no longer bald James coming up to her. The crowd was silent. James lifted her up.

"Can you stand?" he asked her.

"Uh huh," she said weakly.

He backed away, and she saw that he was holding her wand.

"Give up?" he asked.

"No."

"But I have your wand," he said.

"So? There is some magic that doesn't need a wand. Care to see?"

"Lily just give up."

"No way. You're just going to have to fight me," she said as she pushed him backwards.

"I'm not going to fight you without your wand, Lily, but I'm not going to give it back to you."

"Then I guess we'll be up here for a while." She moved her hands to the front as if to shove him again, but she didn't move them. James, however, distinctly felt a strong push.

"How are you doing that?" he asked her, now walking backwards as she kept advancing on him.

"Magic," she pushed him again, harder this time.

"Lily, that's like dark magic," he whispered.

"Is not. I'm using a much more powerful one, trust me." She pushed him again. This time he fell to the ground.

Money was being passed around below the stage.

"Fight me, James. Go on," she said pushing him back farther without touching him.

The crowd started yelling at James to do something, but he didn't know what. Lily had a special glint in her eye, as if planning something drastic, and that scared him.

"Go on, James. You'd better hit me before I hit you," she said again. James backed up some more.

Lily summoned a book from the floor and cast it at James again. He blasted it with his wand then shot at Lily.

A lavender beam burst forth from his wand tip and bolted towards Lily. In a flash of a second, Lily crossed her arms over her chest, shut her eyes, and waited for the spell to hit her. But it never seemed to. What happened instead was like nothing anyone had ever seen, even Dumbledore. A magnificent brightness shone around Lily and it seemed to grow...and grow...and grow. James, as well as the rest of the room, stared in apt silence. Then Lily opened her eyes.

The white light blasted towards James and threw him back ten feet. He slid seven more, but no one noticed. As the bright light pelted through the air, a loud boom echoed, the windows shattered, the walls cracked, and the ground shook. People screamed and bent down to avoid the chaos. Then silence fell.

It seemed like an eternity before anyone spoke. Lily was the only one in the room standing. Her face was blank but sweaty. She started walking down the stage to where James lay in a heap. Her shoes made a clunking sound as she walked. She glanced at the heavily cracked walls and shattered windows as she bent down to pick up the two wands which lay at James's frozen feet. She looked over him.

"Hello, sweetie," she said, as if it was morning and nothing strange was happening. "The freezing charm, huh? Let me fix that for you." She thawed him out quickly, but he said nothing nor did anyone else. With both wands grasped in her hands, she waved them quickly towards both damaged walls. Instantly the cracks sealed, and the windows repaired.

Then Remus timidly stepped onto the stage, walked over to Lily, took her hand and thrust it into the air.

"WINNER!" he yelled, and the crowd erupted with astonishment and wonder. Lily smiled graciously as friends and classmates got onto the stage to congratulate her.

Sirius ran to James and helped him up.

He was shaking and staring at the group surrounding Lily. He was cold to the touch, from the freezing charm, and his heart was racing. He pointed at Lily and tried to speak, but nonsense fell from his purple lips.

Sirius only had one thing to say, and it didn't make James feel any better.

"Gosh," he said, shaking his head, "your girlfriend beat you big time, man."

* * * * *

"How did she do that?" James asked for the fifth time as he took a case of Butterbeer from the Three Broomsticks. Sirius decided that a party was in order for Gryffindor's one hundred point gain and holding the winner of the duel.

"It was the strangest thing to watch," Sirius said for the sixth time. "The moment she chucked that...that...glowing thingy at you, the walls started to cave. A piece of glass fell on my head from the window."

"Even Dumbledore looked impressed by it," Remus said.

"A bit creepy if you ask me," Peter added.

"I know she's good at magic, but never that good," James said. They picked up the crate of Butterbeer and headed back down the cellar of Honeydukes.

Gryffindor tower was exploding with excitement when the four came back. There was a huge crowd around Lily, at least that's what they assumed. Lily was nowhere to be seen. James and Sirius put the Butterbeer crate on a table and watched as the students hoarded them.

James ran up the stairs and stood on the landing trying to spot her red hair.

"See her?" Peter asked.

"Yeah, in the middle of that mess. I guess it would be pointless to try to get her attention right now. I'll wait awhile." He headed back down the stairs and crashed in an armchair.

"Maybe," Sirius started, "she used a spell we've never heard of."

"I had her wand. It looked like the full body shield on steroids. When done correctly, as Gellar said, it should deflect minor curses. Lily almost destroyed the Great Hall and reversed the spell onto me."

"I thought Gellar said it was supposed to reverse," Remus said. "And that is what happened."

"Yeah, I guess."

"James, this doesn't mean that she's better at magic than you are, you know. I bet she's been dueling secretly for a while," Sirius said.

"Yeah I know that. But how on earth did she manage that spell or whatever that was? She was planning on doing it, that's why she urged me into hexing her."

"This means that you owe me ten Galleons, Sirius," Remus said.

"You guys bet on us?"

"Yep. And James, I'm sorry that I bet against you, but Lily was having a rather good day."

"You bet against me?"

"I bet for you," Sirius said. James smiled.

It took roughly an hour before Lily was free to talk. She came over and sat with James, who was staring absentmindedly at the wall.

"Hey," she said.

"Hey," he said back. "How did you do it?"

To all of their surprise, she giggled. "Honestly, I don't really know. I knew that I could do it, which is very strange, but I didn't know how to do it. Does that make any sense?"

"Not really," James said.

"Was it what Professor Gellar was talking about?" Remus asked.

"I think so. But I was really surprised with the walls buckling like they did. I didn't think that would happen. Anyways, what have you all been up to?"

"We were waiting for some answers. I've never seen magic like that," he said as he ran his hand through her hair.

"You know you did very well. I especially like the spell that made me expand like a hot air balloon. I was a bit nervous that you would use the naked hex on me like you did with Snape. I'm glad you didn't."

James chuckled. "I was thinking about it," he said.

"Oh were you, Mr. Potter?" she said with a laugh.

"Yes I was. But I do have will power. I can wait to see that when no one else does," he whispered to her.

She leaned in toward him and kissed him.

"Yeah," Sirius interrupted, "we are still here. Maybe you two should get a room or something."

"I don't think they can hear you," Remus said.

"Oh they can hear me alright. They just choose not to. Just hours ago they were fighting with magic in a way that looked as though they were going to kill each other. Now look at them."

They were whispering to each other with smiles spread on their faces and kissed every now and again.

"Earth to James," Sirius said loudly.

"Yes, Sirius I chose not to hear you," he told him without looking at him.

"I thought so," he said. He got up, walked to the food table and was followed by the others.

"So you really don't know how you did that?" James asked.

"No. It was weird. I just felt...warm. I really couldn't tell you. The only thing I know was that I was thinking of you. Strange isn't it?"

"Thinking of me...?"

"Right."

"In what way?"

"No, it was just the thought. Actually, if you want to know the whole truth it goes back to last year and the spoons. You remember that?"

James nodded. It was one of the most peculiar things he had ever seen. Lily had been sitting at the table and could manipulate a spoon just by looking at it. Her eyes had been strangely aglow as the utensil spun, twirled, and bent. When James put his hands over the spoon it changed into a blue bird and flew out of the Great Hall. Everyone had seen it, but Lily had never explained why it happened.

"Well, Professor Dumbledore took me to his office and asked me if there was a trigger."

"A trigger?"

"Right. I didn't know what he was talking about either. But then he said what it could have been...and I thought about it. The night before was the night you told me about your secret and I told you mine and then you said you loved me. That was the trigger, James. The reason I have all this power is because of you."

James smiled blankly. "So...what are you saying exactly?"

"Voldemort has it all wrong. Dark magic is based on hatred and anger. When was the last time you met a nice chap in the dark arts? It doesn't happen. He wants to take over the world and kill as many as he can to get power. While anger drives powerful magic, no doubt, it can be over come, though it doesn't seem so. It is so much easier to hate than it is to love in most circumstances. But if you have it, if you're loved and loved in return, the world is opened to you. That's the key. That's what will drive Voldemort out of the world. Love is the greatest magic of all, James."

He grinned at her and pulled her closer to him.

"You should tell them that."

"Oh, it's not that easy. You can't just walk up to someone and say what's needed. Most people won't be able to do it. I don't know. I think it'll all work out someday."

"I was thinking," James started.

"Uh oh," she chuckled. "Using that brain of yours is a dangerous thing. You might actually do something brilliant."

"Are you mocking me?"

"It's my turn. What were you thinking about?"

"I'm going to work against him."

Lily stared. "You mean an Auruor?"

"No. There has to be some organization or something against him, right? I'll have to play it by ear, but that's what I really want to do. I want to stop him from taking over."

Lily smiled thoughtfully and drew closer to him.

* * * * *

Talks of jobs started to take over most of the conversations of the seventh years, especially the bright ones. There were very few wizard graduate schools, but they only accepted the best of the best. There was one in Leeds simply called "The Wizards Graduate University," and one in Scotland, not too far from Hogwarts: "Specialization of the Magical Arts Academy" which primarily focused on the practice and invention of Charms. Most other job specialization took place at various offices of occupation with strong emphasis on experience and imprinting.

Many of the seventh years had their eyes on Ministry offices from Sports and Recreation to Astrological Divination. Liz was going to go for a job in Research and Development because she loved reading. Peter was looking at all options open that would take a C average student. That limited him to clerical positions, but he could rise with promotions in time. Remus decided he would do anything that would accept him with his disability. Lily had applied for admission to London's Institute of Magical Medicine and spent a lot of her free time going around to the teachers for letters of recommendation. James and Sirius looked into job opportunities in the International Wizard Bureau of Investigation, (IWBI). The IWBI wasn't attached to the Ministry of Magic, per se. Often the Ministry would toss work their way or give them a heads up, as the IWBI would do for them. It was a department dedicated to the eradication of Dark Arts witches and wizards as well as illegal activity the world over. Jade had of course applied to the Ministry Department of Magical History and Intelligence where she would analyze the history of various wizards, institutions, and countries to predict their future behavior.

Interviews for non-Ministry jobs were being held over the Easter break while the others would take place following graduation. Lily spent a great deal of time reading about biology and magical charms that she might need to recite when Alumni from the London Institute came to see her. James found her idea to be a good one and followed suit with various court cases and laws.

"Shouldn't we also start studying up for Apparation? The tests are given two weeks after we get our diploma," Sirius said at the table that had a plethora of different books spread out.

James threw off his glasses and rubbed his face to try to stay focused. "Just one thing at a time, Sirius. Let's worry about that after interviews, final exams, N.E.W.T.s, and job acceptance or denial," he said in a yawn.

Sirius nodded silently and went back to his Charms homework.

"I can't study anymore tonight," Lily said suddenly slamming a book shut. "I just can't focus anymore. I've been here since class let out and it's," she looked at her watch, "ten. We missed dinner."

"Studying is highly over-rated," Sirius said.

"Amen," James said as he lay his head down on his open potions book. "I can go scare up some food from the kitchens if someone will help me bring it all back up."

"I'll go," Sirius said

"Me too," Remus mumbled as he stared at his Transfiguration spells. So the three of them went down to the kitchens, nicked some food, then headed back up stairs to feed the studying fiends. After that they all got some much needed rest time and awoke the next day to repeat the procedure.

* * * * *

Jade Yang sat alone at the common room table with a sketch pad and dark drawing pencil. She didn't speak to anyone, didn't listen to the latest gossip going on next to her, and didn't think of studying. She had her back leaned against the wall with her pad on her knees and looked around the common room for interesting pictures. Drawing people was by far one of the most fascinating and entertaining hobbies, in her opinion, and it helped her to relax.

At the moment there were some first years playing exploding snap down on the ground, some fifth year boys flirting with girls, a lot of studying pupils, and James and Lily snuggled up in a chair reading. That was the most inspiring to draw.

She drew quickly the lines that made a general shape of their two heads and upper bodies, drew the lines for the proportion of the eyes, nose and smiling lips. She tilted her pencil for a thick edge to make the dark robes, and when she finally got the last movement line, she stopped.

"That's about right," she said, looking down at her paper then back up to the two. Now she could draw the details.

"You're clearly not studying," Sirius said as he sat next to her.

"Hmmm..." she said as she drew Lily's happy eyes and smile.

"Oh, a different kind of studying. Maybe you could study me for a while," he said with a grin and a kiss on her neck. She let out a small laugh but kept her eyes on her subjects. Sirius looked at them too.

"They're happy together, aren't they?" he said.

"Yeah," she mused. "They have a closeness most couples don't. But they've been together for a while now."

"They've always been close, even the five years before their inevitable coupling. They were meant to be with each other, even if they do disagree from time to time."

Jade flipped the page and turned her attention to Sirius.

"You drawing me now? You know when I said studying I meant something else."

"You mean for your potions test?" she said playfully.

"Damn the Slytherins for picking the same number as me," he said clenching his fist. "I don't know that I'll live past that exam. They're out to kill me."

Jade smiled, "They won't kill you if they want to pass. Wicks will be on standby with all the antidotes if something goes wrong."

Sirius leaned forward and tried to get a peek of her picture, but she drew back.

"Patience, Sirius. You can't disturb me when I'm at work," she said as she leaned back and continued to draw. "So what job do you want in the IWBI?"

"Something of esteemed importance, but they won't let me do that right out the gate. I'll probably have to apprentice someone before they give me real responsibilities. Eventually I would like to be an agent, you know? Learn all the secrets, find some out, that kind of thing. The IWBI is working 'round the clock against Voldemort, or trying to at least."

"Sounds like we may see each other during the day," she said with a grin.

"We might," he said slowly.

"You don't sound too happy with that Sirius. Don't worry; I'm sure it would only be happenstance. You're planning on working with James, correct?"

"Yeah. I hope we can get in."

"I'm sure you will, and you'll be great at it. When you actually want to get something done, you two are great. Even if it's not for the school's well being, or a Slytherin's for that matter." She looked up and smiled warmly at him.

"Hey, Jade," Lily called.

She broke her eye contact with him and turned to Lily.

"We need your historical expertise for a second."

She put her drawing pad on the table and went to help James and Lily. Sirius watched her, then looked down at her pad. He took it and flipped through. A picture of an owl, quite good, Professor McGonagall teaching, also pretty good, people walking that he didn't know and he assumed were from Hogsmeade. Then came the picture of James and Lily which captured their emotions perfectly. They were looking at each other with so much love and attraction, as they always did. There was so much character in the art, so much texture. Sirius smiled and flipped the page. The next drawing was of him, and he had to do a double take to fully appreciate it. It was a depiction of his smiling eyes, drawn with so much detail it gave him a funny feeling in his stomach he had never felt before.

He looked from the drawing, which had been done quickly but certainly with much feeling, to her. She was explaining something to Lily, moving her hands to help her conduct what she was saying. James looked over at Sirius and winked. Sirius grinned back.

He couldn't remember ever feeling this way about a girl before. Sure he had been attracted to them, mostly physically, but never on a deeper level. The thought of falling in love had never really seeped through his mind. He did want to eventually, but if he was falling for Jade, if he was feeling just more than the sexual attraction he usually had for women, what did that mean? He knew one thing for sure; it terrified him. He'd seen James do crazy things for love; turning down that offer was what stuck out in his mind, but there were other things. He remembered one time in their fourth year when James worked all night at a charm to impress her, which he thought was a little mental. As it turned out the whole thing backfired because he was so bloody nervous. James had meant to transfigure a glass goblet she was holding, into a bouquet of flowers, but instead it turned into a cactus; Lily had to go to the hospital wing. James felt terrible about it and spent the rest of the day making perfect flowers and took them up to her.

Sirius laughed at him then, at how obviously silly he had been, but it had worked. In his fifth year James had nearly kissed her-nearly. He was so excited that he set a chair on fire and scared her.

He remembered James talking all night about Lily one summer, and in no way sexual. Sirius of course thought he was nuts, but now...

This was crazy, he thought, he was too young to be tied down to one woman. He was meant to explore, taste all the flavors before choosing a favorite, walk on all paths before running, experience all that he could before committing himself to one person with promises and a ring. James was the crazy one. Yeah. That's right, Sirius. You're perfectly normal. James is the nutter in this case. Who the hell, in their right mind, proposes marriage at sixteen in a train station? Who gives up world fame for a woman? That's right old boy, your pal is the one off his rocker. Don't you worry about being alone, you're good looking.

Then another voice came into his head.

Ah, but looks diminish with time.

That's what magic is for. Go away.

James never has to fear loneliness, now does he? Never has to worry about being unappreciated, or unloved. You, on the other hand, do, my friend. What are you going to do when James is with her? Going to go out by yourself? Going to laugh with yourself? Sounds depressing if you ask me.

No one's asking you. Don't listen to that yuts. You have a natural gift with women. They love you; they adore you. You're a fun guy who makes people laugh. You're smart, you know, Sirius. Twelve O.W.L.s, a really high score. Prefect as well. You could have any woman you want.

What's wrong with Jade, Sirius? She's smart, a prefect in fact, just like you. Obviously cares about you, wants you to be happy and do well with your life. She's pretty as hell and has a stunning smile that you can't resist. She's special. The more you get to know her, the more you like her. Has that ever happened before?

"No," he said out loud. Jade turned and looked at him.

"Pardon?" she asked.

"Oh, nothing. Just thinking out loud."

Don't you remember how you felt last year when James finally got together with Lily? You had your first tinge of envy, didn't you?

Yeah, 'cause he kissed a girl long and good. What's not to envy?

No, you wondered if you would ever be that happy, Sirius. Jade's your chance. Take it.

Say you do marry this girl. Say she makes you happy for a little while. She'll turn into your wife, Sirius. She'll control you, like your mother controls your father. She'll ask questions about where you're going, what you're doing, who you were with. You don't need that. You should be free!

She'd only ask those questions because she worries about you. It's a dangerous world out there, and your job will deal with dangerous people. She wants to know you're safe. Wouldn't you ask the same of her? Don't you want some secure, unconditional love? No one can live without that, can they?

"Sirius," Jade said, "looking at my work?" She smiled at him voluptuously and kissed him softly on the lips.

"How can you draw me like that?" he asked.

"I love your smiling eyes. They're your most lively feature. It's what I think of first when I hear your name; those eyes, smiling at me. I hardly had to look at you to sketch them right. Now, do you want to talk about art, or should we go to that room you showed me and do some 'studying'?"

He took her hands in his and grinned up at her. "You are beautiful," he said.

She laughed coyly and blushed. "Thanks," she said. "You're not too bad yourself, handsome."

"You don't think so, huh?" he stood up and pulled her towards him and kissed her.

"Well, you are rather cute. James is cuter," she said playfully.

He put his arm around her waist and walked her out of the common room. He could still hear those voices arguing with each other, very faintly now, but still there. It seemed they were playing tug-of-war with the strings of his heart and he couldn't tell who was winning.

'She could be your match,' the one said.

'Or not; there are many fish in the sea,' the other said.

"Perhaps," his own neutral voice said loudly in his overactive brain. "But surely I have time to decide on that. Right?"

*******************************************************************************************************************************

Author's Note number Two: Sorry to bother you again, I just wanted to say one more thing and was afraid if I added more to the message at the top I would scare you all away. I think it's safe to say that this story has been pretty safe, meaning that most content is about PG. I have rated this story PG-13 and while most has been pretty mild, I will be bumping it up a notch. Nothing really expicit or inappropriate but it will get more 'heated' as some people are getting older and married. So that is that. There are only two more chapters for the Seventh year, then on with life for the Marauders. I'll see you all soon.