Don't go away when this chapter is over! There's still more! LOL! It's called the EPILOUGE! The part you've all been waiting for: Will Lily and James get together? Will Lily survive Voldemort? Will she ever get away from her MEAN parents? What about Amos?

The questions go on and on….

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Chapter 39

A New Beginning

The next morning, Lily awoke to a cloudless sky. It seemed like a fresh start--like the world wanted to start over. Lily had a hard time packing up her trunks, since she knew that she wouldn't need them again. She scooped up her cat, Adrienne, and kissed the top of her head before slipping her into her cage.

Lily and Belle made their way down to the Grand Hall in silence, with their arms linked together. They knew that they would see each other again, but it would never be quite the same…

James and the Marauders joined them for breakfast, and they joked and laughed as usual. Professor McGonagall came around the table bearing their test results just as they were finishing up.

"I'll be sending out your final grades along with your graduation diplomas this summer." She told them, before handing Lily her scores.

Lily Evans: Head Girl

Alchemy: B

Astrology: A

Care of Magical Creatures: A

Charms: A

Defense Against the Dark Arts: A

Herbology: A

History of Magic: A-

Muggle Music: A

Potions: B

Transfiguration: A

Lily was over the moon about her marks, but the one grade that she was by far the most proud of was from Defense Against the Dark Arts.

Not long after, Lily was getting ready to load onto the buggies to Hogsmeade Station with her friends, when she spotted Mad-Eye Moody.

"Come on, James." She said, pulling the sleeve of his robe. She led him over to the Professor.

"Professor," Lily said with a smile. "I just—we just wanted to thank you…"

"…For all the advice and help that you've given us this year. I don't know how we would have done down in those chambers with out it." James added.

Moody looked at them, and grinned, making his face look slightly lopsided. "Really, it was my pleasure. You both saved Hogwarts down there--I should really be the one thanking you."

"That's hardly necessary, sir." James said, nodding with respect.

"You both are very decent people." Moody replied. "And I don't say that often."

"Well, then thank you, Professor. And--"

"And there's no point in calling me a Professor." Moody interrupted.

"What? Why not?" Lily asked, surprised.

"I only did this year as a favor to Dumbledore. But now that the two things I was hired to protect are gone…" Moody smiled, his blue eye hopping from the back of his head to James. "There's no need for me to stay."

Lily nodded in understanding as McGonagall called for all students to report to the school's front steps.

"I'll see you both again, I hope." Mad-Eye replied. Lily and James said goodbye, and hurried out the door with their classmates.

Outside, the sun beamed down at them and welcomed them to summer. Lily turned as she heard Lucius calling James's name.

"So, Pot-head lives to see another day." He chuckled. James glared at him. "Pity I couldn't talk to you about it all sooner. So tell me, were you frightened?"

"Don't answer—there's no point." Lily hissed at James.

"Are you going to take that, O Mighty King of Gryffindor?" Lucius scoffed.

"Come on Lily, let's get out of here." James said. "This low-life isn't worth our time."

"Oh, that hurts, Potter. That hurts." Lucius taunted. "And I almost thought that you were man enough to face me…" He called after them, as James and Lily started to walk away. But James paused, and looked at Lily, pleadingly.

"Fine… Go ahead. School is over."

With a huge grin of satisfaction, James strode full of purpose back over to Lucius and before Malfoy could say anything, James wound back his fist and punched Malfoy right in the jaw. He spun backwards and landed on the grass, whimpering. Sirius gave out a loud cheer, and James walked back over to Lily and his friends with a proud, uncontrollable smile on his face.

The buggies came, and brought them to the Hogsmeade train station. They boarded the Hogwarts Express, and started to chug back to platform 9 ¾.

Lily wheeled her cart alongside Belle. She laughed distantly at one of Sirius's comic stories. But when Lily saw Amos waiting for her near King's Cross's exit, Lily felt a distinct lump in her throat. It was time. Everything around her seemed to dissolve and the only things that mattered were the five people standing before her.

"Well," Lily said softly. She moved to Remus to hug him goodbye. "I'm really going to miss you, Remus." She whispered. 

"I'll write to you, Lily." Remus said tenderly. "I promise."

Lily pecked him on the cheek, and moved toward Sirius. He gave her a very tight squeeze. "Love you, Lily. Take care of yourself." He muttered, lifting her feet off the ground.

"You too, Si." Said Lily. She kissed him as well, and turned to James. She bit her lip. How should she say goodbye to the one she knew she would miss the most?

James offered her a handshake, and with a small laugh, she took it. But almost immediately pulled him into an embrace. "Write to me, all right?" James whispered.

"Of course." She answered him. She pulled away, and added with a meek laugh, "And stay out of trouble?"

She took a deep breath and looked at Peter. "Look," She began. "I want to put the past behind us, as of now." Lily declared. "If we meet up over the summer, or whenever, I don't want to be jumping down each other's throats. Deal?" She put out a hand.

Peter looked at it, considering. Everyone watched him intently. After a look at James, he reluctantly accepted. Lily beamed at him, and turned to Belle.

"I want to help you get settled back in your house, all right?" Belle said, hugging Lily close. It was as if Belle knew that no one would be home to welcome Lily back. "So I'll stop by your house tomorrow?"

"Okay." Lily said. "I'll see you then."

She pulled away, and looked at all of them, even though her eyes were fogging with tears. She tried to etch into her memory exactly how they all looked--the melancholy expressions on their faces, the Hogwarts robes they wore--so that she wouldn't forget in the times they were apart.

Slowly and unenthusiastically, Lily turned her cart around and started to walk towards Amos, who was giving her a ride home. He waved at her earnestly, with a huge smile. Somehow, Lily felt that her life was taking a new turn, and she just hoped that she was ready for it.