A/N: Alright so here's another chapter! I think I'll update a little later today, we'll see. This chapter is dedicated to Michael E., the asshole that has winded up in military school and jail. yay! Anyways, please read and REVIEW! Thank-you!

Chapter Nineteen: The Lessons Begin

Lily walked into the Heads Common room, tired from a long Friday full of double Potions, double Transfiguration, and Muggle Studies. The rumors that were still present from her and Emerson's break-up weren't exactly helping either, and more than ever she just wanted a nap. She dropped her bag in her room and changed into some more comfortable clothes, a slightly large t-shirt and a pair of sweats. She turned on her record player, put on a Grateful Dead album and lay down on her bed.

She stared up at the ceiling and then looked at the white fluffy covers around her and yawned. Everyone else was sure to be at dinner, but she wasn't hungry, and anyways, she had a terrible headache and a yearning to be left alone.

She was still taking in the news Professor Dumbledore had given her, James, Snape, and Sirius the other night. It pleased her to know that what she considered her best feature somehow possessed magical quality. She had taken to looking to a mirror whenever there was one around just to study the intensity of the green pools, hoping to discover where the sight ended and magic began. No magical quality had been seen yet, as she had seen her eyes her entire life and had grown accustomed to just seeing them as eyes.

Tiredness overwhelmed her as she continued to think and stare at the ceiling, and pretty soon she was sleeping soundly.

She slept for a couple of hours before a voice shook her from her sleep.

"Er…Lily." she heard James's voice as he knocked. Hearing no reply, James opened the door and looked in.

Lily looked up from her bed. "Oh, hello James…I must have fallen asleep…I was so tired.' she yawned.

"I'm sorry to wake you…the light was on…and your music was playing…and I just thought you were studying hard or something, I don't know." he muttered uncomfortably. "I'll go."

He turned to leave but Lily's words stopped him. "No, wait, James. It's fine…I probably needed to get up anyways. Um, did you want…or need anything?"

James shuffled in his place by the door, he looked at her and couldn't help but think of how beautiful she looked in sweats and her hair all sleep-meddled. "I was just concerned, you weren't at supper."

"I wasn't hungry." answered Lily in a quick beat. "And I had this horrible headache."

James nodded. "Okay…are you, er…feeling better now?"

Lily looked at him for a moment, studying his facial expressions…he truly did care for her. "Yes, I'm fine now, just needed some rest."

"Alright then. I'll leave you alone." he replied.

As he closed the door, Lily let out a long breath she hadn't been aware she was holding. She shook her head clear and went to take a shower.

After cleaning up, Lily brought her homework out to the common room, where she was surprised to see James steadily working with a tray full of peanut butter sandwiches in front of him, a plate of biscuits, and a pitcher of milk accompanied with two glasses.

She took her seat, and James looked up he motioned to the food. "I figured you'd be hungry by now so I went and visited the house elves."

Lily smiled. "You didn't have to do that."

James shrugged. "I know, but you were going to be hungry, and my mum says that food usually makes headaches go away…and of course there's milk for calcium." He grinned. "My mum used to always make me drink my milk."

Lily smiled back. "Thank you so much. I am a little…famished."

"It was nothing." replied James, starting to work again. "But you are welcome."

"James, is this for me?" asked Lily.

James let out a pleasant laugh. "Well of course it is, do I have another wife to give it to?"

Lily smiled happily and put the diamond necklace on. "But James, can we really afford this?"

"For you, love, I'll afford anything." he replied helping her fasten it in the back.

Lily turned around to face him, and kissed him on the mouth. "I love you."

James was awoken by a tapping at his window. He groggily rubbed his eyes and checked the clock. It read that it was almost half past five. James let out a groan and clumsily got up to open the window, where a barn owl burst into his room, dropped a piece of parchment, and flew back out. Sleepily, James closed his window and went to read what ever was dropped off.

It was a handwriting he knew well…Professor Dumbledore's.

Your first session is this morning, nine a.m. Meet in Professor McGonagall's office.

There was no signature, but one wasn't really necessary. James crumpled the paper and fell back in to bed, only slightly aware that three other people were getting letters almost exactly like his at that same time.

XX

Lily caught James on their way out of their dorm as they went down for an early Saturday breakfast.

"Why didn't he just wait for the ruddy owl post." muttered James, who was still slightly bitter about being waken up from his dream.

"Well, we'd probably get loads of questions, and I don't think Dumbledore wants anyone to know." replied Lily, matter-of fact.

"I suppose you're right." agreed James. "Sirius is going to be a mess. He hates being woken up…let alone at five in the morning on a Saturday."

"I hope they aren't all going to be like this." added Lily. "First thing Saturday morning."

"I don't want to do this." muttered Sirius as they rose from the breakfast table. "Spend an indefinite amount of time with Snape and Professor Jareb, possibly the worst potions master ever."

"But you'll be able to use your mind for magic." enthused Lily excitedly. "Just see what the good of it will be in the long run."

Sirius rolled his eyes and then looked at James. "Tell her how mad it is to expect anyone to get through this alive."

James broke into a grin and patted Sirius on the back. "You'll make it, Padfoot. Just picture Snape turned upside down with his knickers showing."

Sirius and James began to laugh crudely as they recalled the incident in fifth year. Lily raised her eyebrows, lips pursed together.

James grinned at her. "Oh, come off it, Lily. It was a joke…we were fifteen."

Lily just shook her head and continued walking.

"Guess this is where I leave you, Prongs." stated Sirius as he peered down the stairwell that led to the dungeons. "Wish me luck."

"You'll be fine." reassured James. "I better go apologize for being an arse."

Sirius snickered. "You're not even dating her and yet you're whipped. I don't understand you, Prongs."

James shrugged and smiled. "She's just so…amazing. See you."

"Now Ms. Evans." came the voice of tiny Professor Flitwick, the charms teacher. "I know with your mind this shouldn't be difficult at all."

Lily smiled at her favorite professor of her favorite class. "Thank you, Professor. I am so excited to be working with you."

Professor Flitwick smiled broadly and handed Lily a small textbook. "This is some background information I would like you to read on it before hand, and knowing you Ms. Evans, you would like to read it."

"You know me too well." smiled Lily, taking the book.

"After you have that read, we can start going through the basic steps. Professor Dumbledore thinks it best to have you start using your power in Charms, as it will come easiest for you, you can get a feel for it. Then I believe we may hand you over to Professor McGonagall."

Lily grimaced, Transfiguration was her least favorite subject, and Professor Flitwick knew it.

He gave a light laugh. "I used to feel the same way Ms. Evans, but unfortunately, Transfiguration is a highly needed skill, it comes handy in Charms as well, and is a necessity for certain careers." Professor Flitwick studied her for a moment. "Have you decided on a career yet, Ms. Evans? Last I checked you were still up in the air, so to speak."

Lily smiled politely. "Well, I thought of working for the ministry. I think I'd either like to work in law or maybe diplomatic work, magical cooperation."

Professor Flitwick nodded. "Yes, you'd be excellent there, although I see no immediate use for Charms." he laughed lightly. "If you ever need a recommendation, I will be more than happy to give you one."

"Thank-you, Professor." smiled Lily. "I will more than likely take you up on that."

Professor Flitwick, still smiling, let out a sigh. "Well you have your reading material, I will send an owl for our next meeting, it will more than likely be in about two weeks, so don't read too quickly."

Lily smiled. "I'll just read it twice."

They shared a laugh before Lily left, feeling happier and less-stressed than she had in a few days.

"Now, Mr. Potter." came the strict voice of Professor McGonagall as James took a seat in the empty classroom. "This is a serious study, and I am making time in my schedule to tutor you in it. So I will have no jokes or pranks or anything that wastes time. I want the utter most maturity and you must do all the work I ask, other wise I will inform Professor Dumbledore and these sessions will end. Do you understand me?"

James nodded and gave her a smile. "I will do my best."

"I don't know if that will be good enough." replied Professor McGonagall, shaking her head.

James smiled again. "It will be, I promise."

"Alright then, Mr. Potter." said McGonagall as she handed him a textbook. "Here is your reading…I highly recommend having it read before our next meeting. I will know if you haven't touched it."

James took the book, flipped through it for a moment and nodded. "Alright, Professor."

"Now, Professor Dumbledore has asked me to ask you if you have decided on a career yet. When we last had a career meeting you talked of being an Auror, a diplomat, and—" she rolled her eyes. "A professional Quidditch player."

James smiled and shrugged. "I haven't deicded. Quidditch is looking the best right now."

Professor McGonagall sighed and shook her head.

"Do you not think I'll make an excellent professional?" asked James, in false seriousness. "Don't think I haven't noticed the scouts out there."

"Mr. Potter, I think you could make an excellent professional Quidditch player. But we have to be serious, and I hope I'm not inflating your ego by saying this—you are a brilliant student, and you know that. You are one of the brightest Transfiguration students I have ever had, and I think you would be more useful spending your time and life in another career."

"So you're another vote for Auror, eh?" replied James. "I'll have to tell my father, he'll be quite pleased."

The look on Professor McGonagall's face told James she was loosing her patience. "Applications for the Auror Academy are due at the end of March, Mr. Potter. I would seriously consider it."

"Yes, Professor, I will consider it." James replied.

Professor McGonagall nodded. "Alright then. We are done for now. Expect an owl in the next two weeks telling you the time and date for our next meeting."

"As long as it isn't arriving at five in the morning." remarked James as he took the book in his arms and turned to go.

"We'll see." was all Professor McGonagall had to say.

"Mr. Black, you are late." came the cold, harsh voice of Professor Jareb. He was their Potions master, a tall balding man, with absolutely no sense of humor, and no tolerance for Marauders.

Sirius checked the clock on the wall. It was two minutes past nine, and of course Snape was already sitting promptly at his desk, parchment out and quill poised to start scribbling at any moment.

Sirius sighed. "I'm sorry, Professor. It won't happen again."

"Well I certainly hope not, because I have no tolerance for tardiness, and another tardy will result in no more of my time wasted with you, do you understand?"

Sirius smiled sarcastically. "Why of course I do."

Snape glared at him as he took a seat as far away from Snape as possible.

Professor Jareb handed them two textbooks to read. "Read these, page to page. If you haven't I will know and it will result in you know longer wasting my time, understand?"

"Yes, sir, Professor." came the sniveling of Snape.

"Yes, sir, right on it." mocked Sirius. "I'll read it tonight, just like Severus, here."

Professor Jareb and Snape shot Sirius a glare before the professor began to speak again.

"We will be going into our minds to study magic, we will start with Occlumency, so make sure you have read so you have the proper background material on it."

"Yes sir." replied Snape, his eyes showing his utter excitement.

Sirius groaned. "Of course."

Professor Jareb nodded and checked his watch before sighing. "Now the Headmaster has asked me to ask you about your future careers. Have you decided?"

Snape shrugged.

Sirius smirked at him. "I'm going to be an Auror."

Professir Jareb sneered. "I wish you much luck getting accepted into the Academy, then."

Snape gave a hoarse laugh.

Sirius's face darkened with anger. "Oh, Snivellus, you're laughing now, but you won't be so happy when I'm cursing you through that Death Eater mask you've been dying to try on." he muttered angrily so only Snape could hear.

Snape looked fiercely at him. "Right, Black…have fun killing Regulus."

Sirius pushed back his chair and pulled out his wand, ready to fight.

Professor Jareb stopped the small argument with a cough.

"Mr. Snape, do you mean to tell me that you have no plans for a career?"

Snape shifted uncomfortably in his chair.

"Oh he has plans alright." mumbled Sirius.

Snape glared at him yet again before speaking. "I'd like to be teacher."

"Ah yes, Potions, I assume." glowed Professor Jareb.

"No, Defense Against the Dark Arts." he replied.

Professor Jareb looked insulted. "You are excellent in Potions, however…you aren't likely to become a Professor right after completing school, think of a career to get started in."

Snape nodded.

"You two are dismissed, expect an owl in two weeks stating our next meeting."

"I'll look forward to it." grumbled Sirius.

Professor Jareb gave a sharp look to Sirius before he left the two boys alone.

"Going to teach Defense of the Dark Arts, eh?" asked Sirius. "Of course you would know all about defense because you know all about attacking, right?" Sirius laughed his barking laugh. "I have a better chance at becoming an Auror than you do at teaching that course, Snivellus."

Snape snickered. "That's what you think, Black. I'll tell Regulus hello for you."

"You do that." replied Sirius coldly. "Tell him what a dimwitted twit you are as well."

Snape laughed icily and left Sirius to follow him out of the classroom before parting down their very different paths.

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