A/N: Another chapter! yay. read. review. thanks! Oh, and we had some more votes thinking that the magic was still in the wait of the books. Just thought I'd let you all know.
Chapter Forty-Five: N.E.W.T.s Stress and Graduation Shopping
"I'm bloody sick of studying." Sirius complained as the group of seventh years sat outside on the fairly warm Sunday, under a giant oak tree.
"Padfoot, that book has been open for five minutes, and it's on Quidditch." Remus commented as he turned the page of his Charms notes.
Sirius threw a quill at him. "Sod off, Moony."
Remus sighed and continued to read.
Lily and James were quizzing each other on Charms and Transfiguration, while Allison and Jacob went over Defense Against the Dark Arts, Peter hopelessly went over Potions by himself.
"Boys just don't understand the emotional charms." Lily burst out.
James shook his head. "That's not true!"
"Well how come when we did the Cheering Charms, girls could do it better than boys?" Lily argued.
"Because, they were partners with boys, and boys are easier to please than girls!" James retorted.
Lily gasped. "That is not true!"
"Yes it is!" James exclaimed as he stood up, which in turn caused Lily to stand and face him, her face turning redder by the second. "We have to do everything right, or girls go completely mad!"
"I still think it's just because the girls can understand the charm better." Lily snapped. "When you think of emotions and feelings, girls understand them better, so they can do the charms better!"
"Just because you're brilliant at Charms and you're a girl doesn't mean all girls are excellent at emotional charms!" James shouted.
Lily huffed and folded her arms. "I'm going back inside, where I can study in quiet, non-argumentative places!"
James scowled before kicking the grass in front of him.
"And now I'm going to have to be the one to apologize." James muttered. "Because girls are so damn hard to please!"
Sirius appeared beside him. "What's up with you two?"
James mumbled. "I don't know…I guess she's PMSing or something."
To his misfortune, Allison had heard him, and had looked up at him, eyes flashing dangerously.
"That is one of the most piggish things I've ever heard you say!" she exclaimed. "Anytime a girl argues it's all, 'she must be PMSing' what a load of rubbish!"
James groaned. He didn't need another argument.
"Sorry. I'm bloody sorry!" James replied in a heated manner. "I think we've just spent too much time together, or something."
Allison nodded. "Now that's a more reasonable explanation. You just got annoyed with each other. Spend some time away from each other."
Sirius, still standing beside James, shook his head. "The PMSing thing makes way more sense. How can two people in love as Lily and James get sick of each other?"
"Well apparently, Black, it can happen." Allison retorted.
Sirius stuck out his tongue. "Whatever." he turned to James. "So are you going to apologize now, or what?"
James shook his head. "No, I'll let her cool off for a bit. I think I'm going to go for a walk."
"Care for some company?" Sirius asked eagerly, anxious to get away from all of the mass studying and occasionally flare-ups that happened when stressed out people got together to work.
James shook his head. "No thanks, Padfoot, I just need to be by myself for a bit, next time, maybe."
Sirius nodded, trying to understand and went and laid back down, shut his eyes, and basked in the sunlight.
James sighed and then began to walk.
Allison was right, they were just arguing over petty things because of being constrained to each other all the time. How many steady couples had to live with each other constantly, especially during the most stressful part of the year? Tensions were bound to rise, and it was nothing he had to worry about, nevertheless, he began thinking of ways he could apologize.
After walking for what appeared to be hours, the others were no longer under the tree and must have gone in for dinner, James decided to head back in.
He walked into the Great Hall, where it seemed the entire student body was already seated and eating happily.
James smiled as he saw his friends and took his seat next to Lily.
Lily turned to him as he sat down; she looked like she had been crying.
"I'm sorry for arguing with you James, it just wasn't worth it. It was so silly. I'm just so stressed out about N.E.W.T.s and the future and…"
James held his finger up to her mouth.
"Shh. I understand, Lily, it's okay. Have you been crying?"
Lily smiled weakly and nodded. "No, I was practicing the Cheering Charm on myself, and I laughed so hard that I cried."
James shook his head and grinned at her. "For a Head Girl, you sure are silly."
Lily took a sip of her pumpkin juice and nodded. "It's your fault."
James raised his eyebrow. "How is it my fault?"
"Well if you weren't such a ridiculous Head Boy, I wouldn't have to be so silly all the time." Lily replied, smiling at him.
James grinned. "There are some things you just can't help."
"Come on Lily, we've got to decide on a dress robe!" Allison exclaimed at breakfast the next Saturday. Lily was studying at the table, ignoring the conversation around her.
"I think we should just study today." Lily replied carelessly.
"Lily Catherine Evans. It is the last Hogsmeade date and we both need dress robes. Do you want to go naked to your graduation ball?"
Lily looked up and grinned. "How did you know that the theme James and I picked out was a nude beach?"
Allison faltered and screwed up her eyes in confusion. "What? Let's just go. Ellie can tell us which ones not to get."
Ellie nodded. "Yes, I'd hate for you two to graduate with ugly robes. Come on, Lily."
And with the aid of her two best friends, Lily was practically forced to go to Hogsmeade. Once they had reached Madam Vey's shop though, Lily got into the spirit and began looking for the perfect robe.
She took a light blue one, an emerald one (at the request of Ellie), and a light yellow one to the back of the store to try on.
She modeled for Ellie, who had decided to be very honest in her opinions.
"Too much robe." she commented as Lily appeared in the blue robe, which was long and flowing with long sleeves. Lily shrugged and went to go try on the next one.
Allison appeared in a dark pink robe, but Ellie told her no on the account that it looked like something her great Aunt Helen would wear, and according to Ellie, that was a bad thing.
Lily then emerged with her emerald one, and although Ellie had insisted it looked stunning on her, Lily took it off, she was sick of wearing green all the time. Her last set of dress robes had been emerald and she just wanted a change.
Allison then modeled a bright blue robe, which Ellie had applauded until she saw the price tag.
At Lily's turn, she wore the last robe she had gotten to try on, a elegant yellow robe.
Ellie had immediately burst into a fit of laughter.
"You look like a canary on fire!" she exclaimed between giggles.
Lily frowned. "I do not!" But then she had turned and looked in the full length mirror, and she couldn't exactly say she didn't look anything like a canary.
"Well that's the last one, I'm going to have to go search again. I knew I should've bought one the last time I was in here."
Ellie just rolled her eyes as Allison came out, wearing a very light shade of pink, and looking absolutely beautiful.
"Allison, you look great in that!" Lily exclaimed. "Jacob will love it."
Ellie nodded her head in agreement. "Yes, and you don't look like cotton candy in it."
Allison grinned at her. "Well isn't that just reassuring."
"Honestly, you look gorgeous. Now we have to go help impossible Lily find a robe." Ellie replied.
Lily searched the racks in hopes for the perfect color, the perfect fit, the perfect robe.
At last, her green eyes caught sight of a cream-colored robe tucked away in the corner. Lily remembered the color, and just hoped it wasn't the same robe she had seen with James.
She reached for it, and to her delight, it wasn't the same robe. It still wasn't the prettiest thing she had ever seen either. Allison appeared behind her and gave it a good long look.
"Why don't you go try it on?" she suggested.
Lily shrugged. "I don't think I like it."
"Well, it couldn't hurt to try it on, now could it?" Allison replied. "Go try it on."
Lily gave in and headed back to the dressing room. Allison and Ellie continued with their search.
Minutes later, Lily slowly emerged out into the store and waited for Ellie and Allison to shun the outfit.
Much to her surprise, however, Allison dropped her pink robe in surprise as she saw Lily.
"Is it that horrible?" Lily asked as she began to turn around and head back to the dressing room.
"No!" Allison exclaimed. "Lily, you look amazing! If I were a guy, you'd take my breath away!"
Lily laughed. "Really?"
Ellie nodded. "That's the robe for you, go check your fine self out!"
Lily walked back to the mirror and looked at herself. She had to do a double take. The robe seemed perfect in everyway. The shade was perfect with her fair coloring, her green eyes, and her red hair. It seemed to hug her curves just right, yet wasn't too tight or revealing at the same time. It was simple, yet dazzling. Lily squealed, causing a few other shoppers to look at her oddly.
She went back, changed, and appeared by the counter. "I'd like to by this robe, please."
The kind-looking woman that Lily could only assume was Madam Vey smiled at her. "Good choice, Miss. I haven't sold a one like it yet, you're sure to be the only one with it. And I can tell, it'll look amazing on you."
"It does look sexy on her." Ellie commented, causing Madam Vey to grin politely at her as the money was exchanged and Allison placed her robe on the counter to be purchased.
"So did you have any luck today?" James asked as he studied Potions in the Heads' common room after supper.
Lily nodded. "Yes, I found the perfect outfit. I can't wait for graduation!" she commented excitedly.
James smiled at her without looking up at her. "That's good. Any chance I can see it?"
"No!" Lily protested. "It's surprise. I'm sure you'll love it, though."
"As long as I have you as my date, I'll be happy." James replied in a good-natured tone.
Lily laughed. "I don't know, I was really considering going with Gilderoy."
"Only seventh years are allowed." James mentioned playfully.
"Oh, I'm sure they'd let the rules slide for Head Girl." Lily remarked in the utmost seriousness.
"Then they'd let the rules slide when I kill the bastard." James retorted, just as serious, but smiling just the same. "I'm Head Boy after all."
"So what do your robes look like?" Lily asked, changing the subject.
"Oh so what, are you going with me now?" James asked, looking up at her.
"Well, Gilderoy just couldn't handle me. He was too much of a little boy." Lily giggled.
James nodded. "That's what I thought, you need a man. And you're just going to have to be surprised as well."
"What?" Lily exclaimed. "That rule is only for girls!"
James raised his eyebrow. "Please, show me this all powerful rule book that states in fine print exactly when dates can reveal their outfits."
Lily rolled her eyes. "Come on, tell me!"
"It's leopard print. It has tails; I have a cane and a top hat!" James replied.
Lily grinned at her sarcastic boyfriend. "Oh good, you'll match perfectly with me."
"Well now that we have that settled." James commented as he looked back down at his paper. "I have some Potions to study."
Lily sighed. "Me too, hold on, and we can work together."
James smiled as he watched Lily scamper off and get her Potions book. He knew he could never really get tired of her, and just when he thought she was getting on his nerves, he felt like he loved her even more.
Thanks to: Harry and Ginny 4eva, chikichiki, micheymouse, myzteek, Elise7, jillybean90, MissMrprk, May Olivia, -Lily Evans 4 life-, Prongs1, Zippy-Wings, 2005girl, glowing ice, IAMSOAP, X.Little.Black.Cat.X
And special thanks to my beta…by the way if this looks different then when you edited it, I never received the email with the corrected version, so I just did it myself. It's okay though, and you're still totally appreciated.