A/N: Here's another chapter, If I have time today I may update again--because this chapter is my shortest so far, as long as ffnet isn't being stupid. This chapter is dedicated to Bert, the usher at the movie theater, for being an asshole and not allowing people to bring in there own snacks, such as gummy bears, because your movie theaters snacks are way overpriced. They cost more than the movie, Bert. Anyhoo, read the chapter…review the chapter, yadayadayada.

Chapter Twenty One: Awkward Tensions Waning and More Lessons

For the next couple of weeks there was an awkward tension between Lily and James, now that true feelings had been exposed. They rarely talked to each other at mealtimes, they avoided each other as much as possible when in the Heads Quarters or doing homework, and patrol duty had become filled with awkward conversation, with topics like socks and homemade sweaters. Now, it was December, a holiday excitement had taken over the entire castle, and Lily and James were being woken at five in the morning.

"Ruddy owl." moaned James as he let it in, dropping a message on his bed. He closed the window promptly, read the note, which stated when and where his meeting with McGonagall was that day. He groaned as it read seven that morning. Deciding that he could sleep for another hour or so, James decided to go back to sleep.

He was awoken by some loud knocks at his door, and Lily's voice.

"James? James, are you up?" her sweet, concerned voice came through the door.

James rolled over. "Mmph."

"James do you have to meet McGonagall? It's six fifty!"

"Holy shit." swore James, jumping out of bed. "I'm coming…I'm coming."

Approximately one minute later, James appeared outside his door, dressed hastily with hair more outrageous than normal.

Lily couldn't help but giggle at his state.

James shook his head, attempting to get rid of his bed head, which only made things worse.

"You didn't have to wait for me, you know." he murmured and suddenly, he didn't feel the horrible awkward tension that had drifted between them in the past two weeks. Had it finally left them?

Lily shook her head, suddenly feeling less tense than she had around James since that night. "I had to make sure you didn't go back to sleep. It's what my mother always does when Petunia or I sleep in…"

"Sister?" James asked.

"Unfortunately." replied Lily as she checked her watch. "Let's go, we have no time for this conversation."

They hastily walked out of the Heads dorm. James's stomach began to rumble.

"Blimey, I'm famished. Do you think we have time for a detour to the kitchens?"

Lily shook her head and handed him a bagel.

James looked at her lovingly. "Thank you."

"I'll see you." waved Lily. "Charms is down this way."

James waved as he took a bite and started to run to McGonagall's classroom.

Professor Flitwick was ready for Lily when she came storming in, desperate to be on time.

"Good-morning." he greeted her.

Lily smiled tiredly. "Morning."

"I trust you have read."

"Three times." replied Lily, beaming slightly.

"As expected." remarked Professor Flitwick. "Now, I'll need you to hand me your wand."

Lily nodded and handed over her swishy willow wand, ten and a quarter inches long, that had been so helpful with her charm work.

"What you are going to need to do." stated the Professor. "Clear your head and let out a breath and close your eyes, you're going to have to focus to get this right."

Lily nodded, taking a deep breath and relaxing her muscles.

"Now, listen to me. Just concentrate on your eyes, act like you are trying to stare at something through your eyelids."

Lily did as she was told and a strange sparkling feeling began to pulse through her head and a slight chill past over her eyelids.

"Yes, yes. That's it." encouraged Professor Flitwick. "Do you feel it?"

Lily nodded her head, careful to keep concentration.

"Alright, now I've laid some feathers out on the table in front of you. On the count of three, I want you to open your eyes, concentrate, and say Windgardium Leviosa. Got it?"

Lily nodded again, her lips pursed together, poised for the countdown.

"One…Two…three!"

Lily opened her eyes, and spotted a feather. She focused, let out a breath and strained her eyes. "Wingardium Leviosa!"

The feather zoomed eye in the air, surprising both her and Professor Flitwick, who was clapping appraisingly and grinning. "Good, good work Ms. Evans! I think you can maybe try and direct it a bit."

Lily moved her eyes across the room, and the feather moved in the direction that her eyes went. She looked up, it zoomed up. She looked down, it drifted down. Left…right it moved as fast as her eyes turned. When she blinked it fluttered. Professor Flitwick was in simple delight as he clapped on, jumping up and down.

"Bravo, Bravo! Well done, Ms. Evans!" he cheered.

Lily beamed and closed her eyes for a moment. The feather gracefully fell to the table.

"Nice work! You are a true talent."

"Thank you. Of course the reading helps." she smiled appreciatively.

"Yes, of course it does. I think that's all we have this morning…just practice with the feather every night, you can move to heavier objects if you'd like, I'm sure you can handle it. There will be another owl for you in the next couple of weeks. After that we won't meet till after the holidays."

Lily nodded. "Thank you for time, Professor."

"Oh the pleasure is all mine! All mine!" he replied.

Lily smiled as she left the classroom, eager to try levitating heavier objects.

"Barely on time, Mr. Potter. Barely." greeted Professor McGonagall, who did not look pleased at James's hastily dressed state. "Just got up, I suppose?"

James bit his lip from saying anything that could stop these lessons. He had read and was eager to try some magic with just his hands.

"Sorry, McGonagall. I slept in after the owl came, I forgot to set an alarm, it won't happen again."

"It won't if you expect these lessons to continue. Now. Have you read?"

James nodded, inwardly thanking Lily for reminding him the other night on one of their awkward patrols.

"Good." she replied handing him a small stack of parchment.

James took the parchment and looked it over as Professor McGonagall took a seat behind her intimidating desk.

"Excuse me, Professor." interrupted James. "What is this?"

Professor McGonagall looked up. "It's a test on the reading material, Mr. Potter."

James nodded, mouth slightly open as he took a seat. He wasn't expecting a test before eight in the morning. He shrugged and pulled out a quill and a bottle of ink, hoping he could answer the questions well enough so that he didn't get kicked out of these sessions.

He finished after forty-five minutes, his hand slightly tender from the detailed answers he had attempted to write.

Professor McGonagall smiled as he handed the papers over to her. "I trust this would deserve an O if it were indeed for a grade?"

James nodded. "Of course, Professor. I told you I read."

Professor McGonagall nodded. "Then you're treating this more seriously than you do my class, Mr. Potter. Think about that. You may go. Expect an owl within two weeks."

James nodded again. "Have a good day."

"You have both read?" asked Professor Jareb, in an aged, domineering voice Sirius was getting accustomed to.

"Yes, Professor." he replied with Snape closely sniveling behind him.

"Alright then, so you know what Occlumency is? Legilimency?" he asked, irritable.

"Yes, Professor." mumbled Sirius, yawning as the lack of sleep caught up with him.

"I don't believe you, Black." snapped Professor Jareb tapping his fingers annoyingly on the desk Sirius sat it.

Sirius looked up at him defiantly. "Well, I have, sir."

Professor Jareb smiled evilly at him, pulling out a packet of parchment. "This is a test. Humor me."

Sirius grudgingly took it and pulled out a quill and a bottle of ink.

He looked over at Snape, who was looking pleased with himself.

"How come Snape doesn't have one?" asked Sirius.

"He has read." replied Professor Jareb. "You may go Mr. Snape."

Sirius stood up. "How do you know he's read, you haven't tested him, have you?" his voice was starting to gradually get louder.

Professor Jareb sneered. "Now, Mr. Black, do not raise your voice. I am likely to boot you out of these extra lessons. Now, I know Mr. Snape has read due to his study habits and how he performs in my class. You, however." he took a breath and sneered again. "Have shown my other wise, and must take a test."

Sirius glared at the Potions master before taking his seat again. He sent Snape an extra glare as he walked out the door and resumed his test.

After twenty minutes of tedious writing, Sirius put down his quill, having finished the examination. Professor Jareb was not in the room. Sirius tore a piece of parchment, scribbled a note and placed the test on his desk, and left the room, eager to get some decent breakfast and go back to bed.

Of course, they all would have liked to go back to bed, but it was a Thursday morning, and they had no choice but to go to class.

"I'm skiving." grumbled Sirius as they walked slowly away from the breakfast table.

"You can't miss class today." explained James. "We have Potions, Jareb will know you're not sick."

Sirius groaned. "I'll sleep Saturday, then."

"Not a chance." replied Remus. "Saturday is Hogsmeade."

Sirius sighed. "Bloody hell, I haven't picked a date yet."

James, Remus, and Peter shook their heads.

"Padfoot, we have about two weeks till holidays, you don't need a date, we're Christmas shopping." offered Peter excitedly.

"Oooh! Christmas time!" exclaimed Sirius like a giddy little girl.

The Marauders just shook their heads and laughed as Sirius received several odd looks on the way to class.

nowthatspink, Galasriniel, hpgirl7777, Logalog5, stumble till you fall, chikichiki: Thanks for the reviews, and keep reading…and consequently, reviewing.