Chapter 7- the longest journey home
James scored the highest in his exams, but of course that was no
surprise as he had shared that exact same title with Sirius for the
5 previous years. Lily was very high up too, she topped the charms
exams (That was her strong point). Remus, Andi, Crystal, Haley and
even Peter had done ok in their exams as well. Sirius had been
excused from the exams, and was given twice the amount of written
work to complete instead.
It was the end of year feast and James was thoroughly depressed.
He didn't want to go home and see his mother or his father. He
didn't want to have dinner parties with the Malfoy's, his sister
included. And he didn't want the year to end, because this was the
last year he would be at school with Claire. Claire was leaving
Hogwarts this year; next year would be his last. Then what would
they do? James knew that Claire wanted to open up a magical hair
and beauty parlour, but the question was, would her father let her?
She would have to live at home until she could support herself and
he wanted her to pursue a "Respectable" Career for a woman, which
basically meant he wanted her to marry a pureblood and become their
house wife, otherwise known as maid. He was in fact choosing a
suitor.
Griffindor won the house cup as per usual, the Slytherin's behind
by a mere matter of points. The same as for the Quidditch cup.
James had so many thoughts, fears and queries. But through all that
he could only think straight about one thing, or person. Her being
Lily.
He had been thinking about her more recently, if that was possible.
How she could make all his problems go away with a simple smile
from the other side of the room, how he could tell she was smiling
by the tone of her voice when she talked to him, how she could send
a shiver down his spine by just a touch.
He knew there was something more to their relationship, something,
which made him, feel more grown and mature, it made him want to
keep her safe and warm forever. He thought this could be it. The
one. But he needed to talk to someone. Sirius was gone, and this
wasn't exactly a "Mirror" Conversation. So when they returned from
the feast, James dragged Remus and Peter to the kitchens.
"Guys, have you ever had it where you can't stop thinking about a
girl? Like 24/7?" He asked them getting straight to the point.
Remus smiled as knowing smile.
"No I can't say I have, but then I have never been in love." He
grinned at James' shocked face.
"Love? I'm not in love am I?" Peter stepped forward.
"Prong's, it's rather obvious you are. You've been singing to your
self, dancing, smiling for no apparent reason. You look at Lily any
chance you get and don't take your eyes off her until you have to.
You've so badly fallen for her." He smirked at the boy's stunned
faces.
"Wow, Wormtail who's been real observant recently then? But Prongs
man, he's right." James went to argue, but could find no comebacks
to that. It was true, James had been unusually happy, even with
Sirius gone. He had fallen, fallen into a bed of rose petals, or
should he say Lilies. A new world full of happiness and joy all
from a set of almond shaped, emerald green eyes. Now he just had to
tell her.
The next day on the train, James decided that even if Sirius was
gone, he needed to keep up the tradition. It would've been what
Sirius would've wanted. So he and Peter went round trying to prank
people. "Trying" Being the optimum word. The fact was, as hard as
Peter tried to carry out the pranks, he always managed to muck them
up.
When he and James entered a compartment full of Hufflepuff second
years, Peter was to be the distraction, whist James would slip a
few joke sweets he and Sirius had made earlier in the year.
Including the usual ones to cause wind and sneezing. Peter had done
that job well, but just before they were to leave the idiot
actually asked if he could have one of their sweets, of course
choosing the wrong one and began having gaseous explosions left
right and centre.
The Hufflepuff's unfortunately were not as slow as many thought and
caught on as to why he was like that. They knew a lot of hexes for
their age, James thought going back to his compartment rubbing his
sore neck, which was currently sprouting a few shoots.
Another one they had tried was setting fireworks off in the
Slytherin compartment, but Peter had set his off the wrong way,
sending himself and James flying down the train. At least the
Slytherin's found it humorous, Snape leading the crowd's taunting
and jeering.
James decided to give up whilst he could still walk. Remus was
doing his summers homework, this did not interest James, so James
and Peter went and found Lily's compartment (And Crystal's). And
that's where they spent the rest of the train journey. Eventually
they were joined by Remus.
They talked about school and their hobbies, they talked about what
they were doing over the summer. Lily said that Mr Black had talked
to her parents, and as he and Sirius would be leaving for a few
weeks at the beginning of the holidays, James could come over to
her house, as well as Claire.
If they needed to escape. At first James was a little angry, they
weren't some charity case. They could take after themselves. But he
was mainly filled with relief; after all they were just doing this
because they cared for him. And the prospect of staying with Lily
was marvellous.
The train journey, although it wasn't bad, had to be the longest
journey James had ever been on. Without Sirius it was boring, he
missed his buddy. That's why when the train pulled up at platform 9
and 3 quarters, and he crossed through the barrier, and Sirius was
there waiting for him, he was truly happy. His mate's huge grin
told him that Sirius felt the same way.
The dubious duo would be back at large next year, Hogwarts beware.
James scored the highest in his exams, but of course that was no
surprise as he had shared that exact same title with Sirius for the
5 previous years. Lily was very high up too, she topped the charms
exams (That was her strong point). Remus, Andi, Crystal, Haley and
even Peter had done ok in their exams as well. Sirius had been
excused from the exams, and was given twice the amount of written
work to complete instead.
It was the end of year feast and James was thoroughly depressed.
He didn't want to go home and see his mother or his father. He
didn't want to have dinner parties with the Malfoy's, his sister
included. And he didn't want the year to end, because this was the
last year he would be at school with Claire. Claire was leaving
Hogwarts this year; next year would be his last. Then what would
they do? James knew that Claire wanted to open up a magical hair
and beauty parlour, but the question was, would her father let her?
She would have to live at home until she could support herself and
he wanted her to pursue a "Respectable" Career for a woman, which
basically meant he wanted her to marry a pureblood and become their
house wife, otherwise known as maid. He was in fact choosing a
suitor.
Griffindor won the house cup as per usual, the Slytherin's behind
by a mere matter of points. The same as for the Quidditch cup.
James had so many thoughts, fears and queries. But through all that
he could only think straight about one thing, or person. Her being
Lily.
He had been thinking about her more recently, if that was possible.
How she could make all his problems go away with a simple smile
from the other side of the room, how he could tell she was smiling
by the tone of her voice when she talked to him, how she could send
a shiver down his spine by just a touch.
He knew there was something more to their relationship, something,
which made him, feel more grown and mature, it made him want to
keep her safe and warm forever. He thought this could be it. The
one. But he needed to talk to someone. Sirius was gone, and this
wasn't exactly a "Mirror" Conversation. So when they returned from
the feast, James dragged Remus and Peter to the kitchens.
"Guys, have you ever had it where you can't stop thinking about a
girl? Like 24/7?" He asked them getting straight to the point.
Remus smiled as knowing smile.
"No I can't say I have, but then I have never been in love." He
grinned at James' shocked face.
"Love? I'm not in love am I?" Peter stepped forward.
"Prong's, it's rather obvious you are. You've been singing to your
self, dancing, smiling for no apparent reason. You look at Lily any
chance you get and don't take your eyes off her until you have to.
You've so badly fallen for her." He smirked at the boy's stunned
faces.
"Wow, Wormtail who's been real observant recently then? But Prongs
man, he's right." James went to argue, but could find no comebacks
to that. It was true, James had been unusually happy, even with
Sirius gone. He had fallen, fallen into a bed of rose petals, or
should he say Lilies. A new world full of happiness and joy all
from a set of almond shaped, emerald green eyes. Now he just had to
tell her.
The next day on the train, James decided that even if Sirius was
gone, he needed to keep up the tradition. It would've been what
Sirius would've wanted. So he and Peter went round trying to prank
people. "Trying" Being the optimum word. The fact was, as hard as
Peter tried to carry out the pranks, he always managed to muck them
up.
When he and James entered a compartment full of Hufflepuff second
years, Peter was to be the distraction, whist James would slip a
few joke sweets he and Sirius had made earlier in the year.
Including the usual ones to cause wind and sneezing. Peter had done
that job well, but just before they were to leave the idiot
actually asked if he could have one of their sweets, of course
choosing the wrong one and began having gaseous explosions left
right and centre.
The Hufflepuff's unfortunately were not as slow as many thought and
caught on as to why he was like that. They knew a lot of hexes for
their age, James thought going back to his compartment rubbing his
sore neck, which was currently sprouting a few shoots.
Another one they had tried was setting fireworks off in the
Slytherin compartment, but Peter had set his off the wrong way,
sending himself and James flying down the train. At least the
Slytherin's found it humorous, Snape leading the crowd's taunting
and jeering.
James decided to give up whilst he could still walk. Remus was
doing his summers homework, this did not interest James, so James
and Peter went and found Lily's compartment (And Crystal's). And
that's where they spent the rest of the train journey. Eventually
they were joined by Remus.
They talked about school and their hobbies, they talked about what
they were doing over the summer. Lily said that Mr Black had talked
to her parents, and as he and Sirius would be leaving for a few
weeks at the beginning of the holidays, James could come over to
her house, as well as Claire.
If they needed to escape. At first James was a little angry, they
weren't some charity case. They could take after themselves. But he
was mainly filled with relief; after all they were just doing this
because they cared for him. And the prospect of staying with Lily
was marvellous.
The train journey, although it wasn't bad, had to be the longest
journey James had ever been on. Without Sirius it was boring, he
missed his buddy. That's why when the train pulled up at platform 9
and 3 quarters, and he crossed through the barrier, and Sirius was
there waiting for him, he was truly happy. His mate's huge grin
told him that Sirius felt the same way.
The dubious duo would be back at large next year, Hogwarts beware.