Disclaimer: Common knowledge.

Chapter 23: Season of Fireworks

Lily jumped as James waved his wand in front of her nose. "James!" she shrieked. Don't do that! It's dangerous!"

James grinned, his now-usual boyish grin. "You know, you've just given me a really great idea¡K" He leveled the shiny stick at his teacher. Before he could react, however, Lily had him wrapped in vines. James's face poked out, nervous and uneasy, from the tangle of plant.

"Attention, Potter." Lily pointed her wand at James's nose, fantasizing about the delightfully wicked things she could do to it.

"Lily!" James yelped in a high-pitched voice. "Don't do that! It's dangerous!"

Lily laughed as she realized that he was imitating her. "Now you're in for it."

James struggled with the vines as she moved closer.

"What's going on?" Sirius's cheerful voice rang out. Lily whirled. Her boyfriend was standing in the doorway, dressed in navy-blue robes. Elsa was standing beside him, fixing the collar of her Chinese-style red robes.

"Sirius! Elsa!" James called out happily. "My friends, my wonderful friends¡K"

The two burst out laughing at the sight of James wrapped in the thick green ropes.

"Lily, love, let him down," Sirius drawled. "I don't want to have to hear his pitiful shrieks when we go out on the town."

With a deep sigh, Lily waved her wand and the vines shriveled away.

"This lovely lady and I have got a proposal for you guys," Sirius announced. "How's about we cut class for today and do Hogsmeade?"

Lily wagged her finger. "Nuh-uh. No. That's bad. Dumbledore is relying on us to teach them how to do magic, not to party."

"Sounds like fun," James quipped, shrugging on his own robes over his sweater and jeans and tucking his wand into his pocket. "Live a little, Lils."

Sirius went over to Lily. "Come on," he pleaded. "Taking a couple hours' break will not doom them to failure. Besides, they¡Xand we¡Xhave been cooped up in here for eons. It's time we got out a bit."

Lily placed her hands on her hips. "Sirius, we just went out last night," she reminded him, the barest tinge of a smile on her lips.

Sirius stuck out his bottom lip in a pout. "Please, Lily? Pretty please?"

"Yeah, please?" the other pair chimed in.

Lily threw up her hands and groaned. "Fine! You win!" She picked up her own green robes from the back of a chair.

James smirked as they headed for the Shrieking Shack's exit. "Thanks a lot¡Kmom."

Lily picked up her wand and Transfigured his nose into a pig snout.

"This is all so fascinating!" Elsa exclaimed. Bags of purchases were heaped around her feet as the four sat in The Three Broomsticks. " I can't believe I lived eighteen years without knowing any of this." She fished a pretty crystal ball with a perfect replica of the solar system in it out a bag, gazing at it with innocent curiosity.

"Why am I deeply regretting this?" Sirius muttered. Lily laughed.

When they had realized that Elsa had no wizard money to speak of, he had gallantly offered to pay for her stuff. Now, he was about a hundred Galleons poorer.

"Who asked you to offer to pay?" Lily whispered back, giggling.

"Four butterbeers?" Madam Rosmerta came up to their table, balancing their tankards. In true gentlemanly fashion, Sirius and James jumped up to help to help.

"Are you kids looking for something to do tonight?" the curvy bartender asked.

"We are," Sirius replied. "Anything you can suggest, Madam Rosmerta?"

The woman leaned over. "I just heard it from a couple of witches. There's going to be a fireworks display over at the Quidditch stadium. You might want to catch that. It's supposed to be most spectacular."

Sirius smiled brightly at her. "Sounds great. Thanks, Madam Rosmerta."

She ruffled his hair. "Just doing my civic duty."

The stadium was packed. Wizards and witches jostled each other; excited murmurs rang out all over the place. But Lily didn't care. She was leaning against Sirius, perfectly comfortable and safe, waiting to watch the fireworks from a high vantage point via his broom. James was on his own broom, with Elsa. Seeing them together still broke Lily's heart, but she reminded herself that her story with James was over. She had chosen Sirius. He had clearly chosen Elsa. And that was the way things were going to be.

Sirius nudged his girlfriend gently, shaking Lily out of her reverie. "Hey, the fireworks display is about to begin. Wonder if Remus and Phoebe are here?"

Lily looked out at the throng of people. "I don't know, but maybe they're enjoying it from someplace else."

Remus and Phoebe were up on a rooftop. They'd heard about the fireworks display from Phoebe's mother, and fortunately, Phoebe knew of a building close enough to the stadium that would let them experience the event, but not the sweltering heat of the crowd. Remus's hand snaked over to cover Phoebe's, and the couple smiled adoringly at each other. They shared one sweet kiss, the first few fireworks providing the perfect background.

James was mesmerized as the fireworks started going off. "It's so pretty!" Elsa squealed. James nodded in agreement. Fireworks are so pretty, you know? Like falling stars. A faint female voice resounded in his head. James began to feel unsteady. He knew this feeling. It was exactly like the day he saw the painting at the store¡K

Elsa jumped when she felt James's body sway slightly. "James?"

James was pressing a hand to his forehead. "I'm OK. I'm OK." Yet he continued to sway.

"Sirius!" Elsa called, starting to worry. "Lily!"

James could only see stars as he started to slip from the broom. Like falling stars¡KStars¡K