With hours of studying that the seventh year students of Hogwarts had put themselves through, they were almost relieved the day that N.E.W.T.s came. It seemed that at least half of the seventh year class had broken down at least once, and the seventh year Gryffindors had been no different. Allison burst into tears one morning when she realized she had brought down her Potions book to study rather than her Transfiguration one, Remus was barely saying anything, he spoke only when spoken to, otherwise, he seemed to always be thinking of something and a book was always in his hand. Peter was walking around more anxious than ever, if you asked him a question about studying, he was likely to start stuttering and go into some sort of seizure. Lily had locked herself in her room on more than one occasion; she wouldn't even let James in. It appeared that the only seventh year Gryffindors that didn't seem to be entirely perplexed by the N.E.W.T.s were Sirius and James. Sirius would laugh every time someone had a break down and would then mark it on a piece of parchment like some kind of tally. Lily hadn't seen him actually crack open a book and study once, but she knew he would do alright. He always did. James was the most balanced of the group, he did study, but he didn't go overboard, he didn't bring books to the tables, and he never talked about studying. Still, he was getting tired to his friends acting completely nutters, and Lily shutting him out.

The NEWTS began the first Monday of June, and Professor McGonagall called the seventh and fifth year students into the entrance hall after breakfast, where after a few minutes of waiting, filled with anxious whispers and nervous silence, McGonagall called them in class by class and they were told to begin the written part of their Transfiguration exam.

James looked at the fifth year students in wonder. They looked a wreck, several were chattering away naming all the spells they could think of off the top of their head, and they didn't appear to be aware that they were saying anything.

James found his seat and waited for McGonagall to call time, and he began his exam. He managed to finish in half an hour, and when he looked up, only Sirius was finished with his exam, he gave James a thumbs up and he grinned. James looked over at Lily, she was in deep concentration, her hand was writing furiously, and James smiled to himself as Lily paused and went back to dot all of her I's.

What seemed like years later, Professor McGonagall called time and collected their papers, and James was joined by an anxious Lily out in the hall.

"What did you get for number thirty-two?" she asked frantically. "I was sure it would turn into a Cheshire cat, but I just couldn't remember for sure."

James grinned and put an arm around her. "That's what I put; let's go get some lunch…"

"That's what you put? Do you think it's right? I should probably skip lunch and go make sure…I could review for the practical examination as well…"

James covered Lily's mouth with his hand. "Lily, wouldn't have put it if it wasn't right. And you are not going to go scamper off and lock yourself in your room. You are so pale and frail. You need to eat. You can't think if you can't eat."

Lily sighed, she knew she would get nowhere arguing with James now, and she resigned herself to eat lunch.

"That's better." James stated as they made their way back into the Great Hall after McGonagall called them back when the Great Hall was back into its original state.

The rest of the week passed by just like that Monday, and James was certain that Lily was going to have some sort of ulcer by the end of the week. She continued to study enough to make herself sick, she had appeared to have given up eating all together, even with James's nudging. She would brush him off and open a book, reciting a random fact and then checking herself. James didn't see why she did this, it's not like she ever got them wrong. He shuddered at the thought of her actually getting one wrong one day. She would probably have a nervous breakdown and would have to be hospitalized. He couldn't do anything about her study habits, though. Lily had picked them up long before he had any part in her life, and he knew she wasn't going to change them for him.

That Friday came like Christmas in summer. The day had been anticipated so much, that the seventh years could barely believe it was there. Lily had to be reassured six times, and then she freaked out because she had forgotten to bring down her Muggle Studies book, and that was the NEWT she had that day. James shook his head and resigned himself, almost glad that he didn't have another NEWT with Lily. So much for giving herself an ulcer, she was beginning to give him one.

XX

"Done!" Sirius exclaimed to James as they walked out of the Astronomy tower. "I am so glad we had the practical exam last night, because we're having a party tonight!"

James smiled at him. "I am so glad that it's over. I can finally get some sleep now."

Sirius raised his eyebrow. "I didn't think you got stressed out by exams."

James chuckled. "I don't. I had to check on Lily and make sure she did put her books away to sleep. But I have a feeling she just hid them and pretended to be asleep and then just read them under her covers like some little kid trying to stay up past bedtime."

Sirius laughed. "She certainly is a handful, isn't she?"

"Yeah, but I guess it comes with the package of Lily." James said as they walked out into the sunlight and on the Hogwarts grounds.

"What, the balanced part and the unbalanced part melded together?" Sirius asked, chuckling at himself.

James raised his eyebrows. "Something along those lines."

All of a sudden, James's world went black.

Cold hands cupped around his eyes, and he couldn't see a thing.

"Guess who?" he heard Lily's voice ask.

James grinned. "Hm…Professor Sprout?"

"Nope! Guess again!" Lily demanded, laughing.

James turned around and caught her in his arms. "Lily!"

Lily laughed and kissed his nose. "We're done!" she exclaimed.

James grinned. "I think we should hold a book burning party or something."

"No…we might need our notes later!" Lily exclaimed, smiling.

"Well it's good see that you're back and acting normal." James stated as they took a seat by the pond, Sirius, Peter, Remus, Allison, and Jacob following behind them, but neither James nor Lily realized it.

Lily put her hand in the water and splashed it around. "That water feels refreshing!"

"Care for a swim?" James grinned.

"No! It's refreshing because it's hot outside…it's absolutely freezing in there!" Lily exclaimed as she began taking her shoes off. "But I think I'll put my feet in."

James watched her take off her shoes and smiled.

"What?" she asked when she caught him gazing at her.

"Nothing." James replied, but he continue to stare at her all the same.

"What?" Lily asked again as she threw her shoes to the side of her.

"I was just thinking about the last time we were out here after a major exam." James said.

Lily raised her eyebrows. "When?"

"Oh, after OWLs were over. Don't you remember?" James said.

Lily thought for a moment and then grinned. "Yes! You were a complete arse that day."

James gasped. "No, I wasn't! I was never an arse."

"Yes you were." Lily insisted. "Sitting under that tree, ruffling your hair because you thought it looked cool…playing with that stupid Snitch. You aren't even Seeker. What's up with that? Couldn't you have least thrown a quaffle or something?"

James grinned. "I knew you were watching me under that tree! And no, everyone already new I was talented with a quaffle in my hands. I had to show them my seeker capabilities as well."

Lily just shook her head. "And then you go and start something with Snape. It was like a James the Jerk afternoon. You did every little thing that I despised in a ten minute period."

"What? Looking handsome?" James asked with an innocent look on his face.

"No!" Lily protested.

"And I wasn't being a jerk; I was merely playing with Snivellus."

"You had him hanging upside down with his underpants showing!" Lily exclaimed. "Sirius was there too!"

Sirius seemed to queue in at his name. "I was, wasn't I. We haven't given Snivellus a good de-pantsing in a while, Prongs."

James laughed. "And you came down, ready to raise hell. I finally gotten you attention doing that. I would have been perfectly happy if you had stormed over while I was playing with my Snitch, you know."

Lily just shook her head. "Well I was prefect, and someone had to stop you. It's not like Remus was going to do anything."

Remus looked over at her from where he was talking to Grace.

"I would have, but you try getting anything through Sirius and James, it's impossible!"

Lily grinned. "Well, I know that now!"

James smiled at her as he continued to remember that afternoon. "And then I asked you out, and you said…"

"I'd rather date the Giant Squid!" Sirus interrupted with an abnormally high voice as he fluttered his eyelashes.

Lily laughed. "Anything looked better than you back then, Potter."

James frowned. "But the Giant Squid is slimy. And I'm sure he smells on dates. And his kisses?" James scrunched up his nose. "It was like telling me you'd go out with Snape."

"Oh didn't I tell you?" Lily asked. "I did." she grinned as she saw James's expression.

"Well I've gotten you in the end now, haven't I?" He grinned. "I won!"

He stuck out his tongue at Lily and she pushed him, and he landed with a splash in the lake.

"Hey!" she heard James yell. "It's not too cold in here. You should come on in Lily, I'm sure the Giant Squid wouldn't mind!"

Lily laughed as she stood up, hands on her hips. "That's what you get, James Potter…for being insuff—"

Another splash was heard as Sirius pushed Lily into the water.

"And that's what you get. Evans!" he laughed manically.

Lily glared at him and began to swim up to shore. She however, was caught by James.

"Come on Lily, I have this friend I want you to meet."

Lily squealed. "James Potter, let me go!"

"If I do, the Giant Squid may get his tentacles around you, and then you'd be forced to go on a date with him!" James replied.

"Going out with the Giant Squid is looking mighty appealing right now!" Lily exclaimed.

James let her go, and she began to swim back to shore.

"Oh come on, Evans. Don't you want to race me or anything? We're in here already, we might as well have some fun!"

Lily turned to look at him. "It's freezing in here, James!"

"Well we could warm it up!" James replied, grinning madly.

Lily frowned at him. "You aren't funny, James."

James swam over to her before she could get out and held on to her, and puckered his lips out.

"Come on, give me a kiss!" he said, his lips still poked out obnoxiously in Lily's face.

Lily laughed as she picked up some seaweed and pushed it on James's mouth.

He spat out. "Lily, I said you, not the Giant Squid!"

Lily laughed again as James tackled her and gave her a kiss.

Their friends just watched from the shore. They had never seen any two people so hopelessly in love.

"They're going to end up married." Allison commented.

Sirius nodded. "Yeah, they already act like an old married couple now."

They watched with mild amusement and laughed when they heard Lily scream.

"James, you have seaweed breath!"