Hello! I decided to not wait six months for an update. I had the week off from work and decided that between outings, I'd finish this chapter and get on to the next. Hope you enjoy this, guys. I miss not updating weekly or biweekly, but I'm sure you all know that every year your life just seems to get more hectic by the minute and any nap you can fit in is golden.
(Note: I've been trying to find a way to seperate scenes, but won't let me use anything to break them apart...so please bear with me as I try to get it right.)
The weather around the Hogwarts' grounds the past days were much better than the earlier spring. Daisies had sprung up aplenty on the south-eastern side of the Great Lake and songbirds filled the forest canopy near the outskirts of the woods. A light breeze played across the rippling water and the sun refracted into sparkling diamonds from its surface.
Inside the castle walls students studied in the library, common rooms and Great Hall. More students, however, were outside to take advantage of the glorious weather.
Some students, not allowed that benefit, were near breaking point:
"I OWE YOU WHAT?"
"If you had returned the book promptly Miss Blair-"
"I don't owe you shit!"
"Miss Blair, this is a library and as Librarian, I advise you to keep your voice down." Madam Pince narrowed her already beady eyes.
Keaira Blair said in a slow and deadly tone, "This is insane." She raised her voice and added as an afterthought, "It has to be… illegal or something."
"I assure you it is not."
"I want to speak with the Headmaster on this subject," Keaira said proudly, her ice blue eyes hard on the older witch.
"If it will keep you and your thunderous voice out of my library," Pince said, "then I will gladly answer any questions he has."
Keaira's stance did not waver. Behind her, nervous students quickly and quietly signed out their texts. "Go over it one more time so I may commit it to memory," she said finally.
Pince slowly, deliberately, cleared her throat. "In the third week of November, nineteen-seventy, one student: Keaira Blair, signed out the volume A Wizard's Way With The Wand by Ferdinand Fiddlesticks. She has been tardy with its return and a five sickle a week charge was applied. Herein it has been three-hundred and thirty-eight weeks since its sign out, totalling the charge to ninety-nine Galleons, six Sickles and twenty-eight Knuts. As such, the monetary value must be paid or the book returned promptly or the student will not graduate until the library has gotten its dues." Pince folded her hands atop the polished counter and stared down her nose at the Slytherin.
Keaira was silent a long while. She was trying to phrase her final rebut in a way that would not get her immediately expelled. It was harder than she would have imagined.
She decided not to care. "You insubordinate, filthy-"
"Tut, tut, tut, Miss Blair," Pince said coolly. "We shan't extend the penalty, hm?"
"I already explained to you that back in first year or-" she glanced at the sheet Pince had one the calculations on, "- or three-hundred and thirty-eight weeks ago, the damned book was first set aflame during Charms class, resurrected by Flitwick and then fizzled into a puddle of goop in Potions when the class had to evacuate due to a student's lack of attention with their project."
"This information was never brought to me."
Keaira hissed, "It was!" and slammed her hand on the counter.
Madam Pince didn't flinch.
"Flitwick-"
"Professor Flitwick."
"- said he would write a note to you and Professor Estacle said the same. I never said a word to you because I believed they would sort it all out."
"Had you never wondered why I sneered at you at a mere glance?" Pince asked slowly.
"I thought you hated me for destroying one of you godly books-"
"Oh no, Miss Blair," Pince laughed coldly. "My books are destroyed almost daily. Destruction I can deal with," she leaned towards the student, "tardiness however…"
An ear-piercing scream echoed throughout the corridors of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The songbirds in the trees were sent twittering into the skies and the Owlery was alive with choruses of hooting.
Lily, James, Jen and Remus, on a sort of double-date study group and perched on the large slab of rock by the lake, all turned his or her head towards the castle from which the scream was emitted. Inside, Sirius and Mel did the same from the library where they had heard the majority of the argument.
Remus, his hair an array of daisies, raised his eyebrows. "Ouch," he said empathetically, "makes my throat hurt just hearing that."
Jen put the daisy she held amongst the collection atop her boyfriend's head. Lily had been secretly adding petals to James' hair. He had refused the flower headdress, but didn't know about the lone petals Lily had been sticking within his mess of hair.
"Where were we?" James asked. He bent his head back to the text in his hands. A petal flitted down onto the binding. James blew it away easily.
The second James was no longer looking up, Lily grinned. "I think we're a couple paragraphs into this page," she answered him and pointed to the page opposite the one he was looking at.
"Ah, thank you, love," he replied. Another petal fell. He blew it away.
The three had their poker faces on, but that did not subtract from the absolute humour of it at all. Had Sirius been there, no doubt he'd have caved and made some sort of smart-assed comment relating to Flower Potter.
Thinking of Sirius…
"Remus," Lily said, "how are the boils doing?"
"They're nearly gone now, Lily," Remus replied. "Thank you."
Jen pat his shoulder reassuringly.
James looked up and Lily really had to work to keep her face straight. "You did walk into this, remember," he said. "Put yourself into the line of fire, so to say."
"Oh I know, I'm not complaining. He just didn't really need to put them, you know…" Remus' cheeks coloured and it wasn't due to the sun. "He didn't have to make it so it's hard to sit, is all." Remus was lying on the grass, belly down.
"Boils on his bottom," Jen said sadly, though there was a touch of humour to it. "My poor man."
After Remus bravely got a prank-ball rolling nearly a month prior, he had been subjected to many pranks by Sirius. It was Sirius' non-verbal way of getting off his chest that he still didn't wholly agree with his friend dating his twin. He always got it back in spades, though. After a week or so of planned pranks on just Remus, then anyone who happened to walk into them, Sirius decided to spend a bit more time on his studies.
Or that was his excuse to just hex Remus from across the room, during meals and while he slept.
Once and a while, however, Sirius would hit someone who was walking by. Let's say, oh, his sister, and he would get quite a wallop in return.
Lily was pretty sure that he still had a bruise on his arm and a shoe mark on his bottom as well. Whenever he took a seat, he sat gingerly and on a bit of an angle. She thought it was one of the funniest things she had ever witnessed.
"Say Remus," James said, his head bent to his text again, "I've always sort of wondered something."
"Of course you have," said Lily. She placed another couple petals in his hair.
James looked up and his head touched Lily's fingers. He looked at her and she pulled her hand back quickly. When he narrowed his eyes, she really couldn't stop her shoulders from shaking and her lips from pulling into her mouth to stop a smile. "What is it?" he asked. When James sharply turned his head to the other two, who were actually chuckling, a few petals fell. Seeing them, he finally put two and two together and ran his fingers through his hair. When more petals just kept falling and getting stuck between his fingers, he resorted to rapidly roughing up his hair to get them out.
It was messy beyond belief, but it wasn't much worse than when he woke up in the morning. Getting back on topic, Remus said, "What is it you've always sort of wondered?"
James was brushing the petals off his book and lap. "When you kiss Jennifer," he was met with odd looks, "does it never feel like you're kissing Sirius?"
Lily actually threw her head back when she laughed. It caused her body to rock back on the grass and she laughed and laughed. She had honestly thought the same thing a few times.
Remus had waited for Lily to finish laughing, Jen was waiting for Remus to answer and James was just waiting.
Lily stayed on her back and motioned for Remus to answer. She wiped her eyes.
Remus had had time to think, so his response was well worded. "James," he started, "if he could kiss like Jen, I'd kiss Sirius."
That sent Lily into more chortles.
Jen pat Remus' knee in approval.
"Really?" James asked. He sounded intrigued. When Remus nodded, James looked at Jen. He wriggled his eyebrows and was met with a huff from the girl in question.
When Lily spoke, her voice was drowned in amusement, "I would think Sirius' mouth would be a bit rougher, though. He tends to leave a bit of stubble around there these days."
That sent Remus and Jen into peels of laughter while James stared at his girlfriend who was just now sitting up again. "Have you thought about this thoroughly or what?" he asked indignantly. "Do – do you stare at Sirius' lips or something?"
"He's a very handsome young lad, James," Lily said reasonably. "Of course I've stared at him over the past sevenyears."
"I can't believe I'm hearing this."
"And Mel and Ara would back me up on this," Lily added. She gestured her best friend. "Jen would as well, if she weren't his sister."
James looked to Jen. She nodded and shrugged. "He is handsome, even I'll admit that."
"I would, too," Remus said, "but that's just a little too awkward."
"I want to get off this topic," James said finally.
"You brought it up," Remus pointed out.
"Yes, but, it… no. It was not meant to turn out like this."
"How was it meant to turn out?" Jen asked him.
"Nothing," James said immediately, though it made no sense with the question posed. "Let's get back to studying."
They quietly flipped through pages and consulted other books before getting back to their group studying. Before they began quizzing each other, Lily commented, "He does have nice elbows," which sent James into another tirade that lasted not much longer than ten minutes.
It is told that when they re-entered the castle and first came across the handsome young lad Sirius, James had said, after a punch in the arm, "Go… make yourself ugly or something."
...ooooo...
Lily was still feeling a bit of the high from the discussion the day before. Every time James caught her looking at his best friend while Sirius spoke, he'd grumble. She couldn't help to find it hilarious. Hilarious and cute. How was she not supposed to look at Sirius when he was talking to her? Oh it was funny.
At that moment, however, she was eating dinner. Steak and kidney bean pie, accompanied by some sprouts and carrots, was enough to satisfy her for the evening. Oh, and whatever was laid out for dessert. She was looking forward to some éclairs or truffles.
But just as she responded to a question from Peter ("I just never understood the Bubble-Head Charm. Would the user not run out of air or does it slowly shrink as the user breathes?"), there was a fluttering above the Gryffindor table, barely heard over the chatter and clatter of students.
Lily heard a few people pointing it out in the background before she really took notice of the raven. She looked up just as it dropped the letter in the basket of rolls and flew off.
She didn't move.
Most people ignored the oddly placed raven and went back to their talk. Mostly Gryffindors were looking down their table at her, if they had noticed the bird at all. All of Lily's friends were looking at her.
She didn't move.
The people who had been looking at her finally went back to their own lives. Her friends were looking at her.
She didn't move.
Dumbledore strode up between the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff tables and asked, "May I take this, Miss Evans?"
She nodded numbly.
"I believe that an associate of mine uses ravens when writing," he continued. "Not as reliable as owls; I am surprised it even made it to the school." He patted her on the shoulder and left just as soon as he came.
A small torn, folded piece of paper slipped down from her shoulder and landed on her lap. Lily frowned and looked down at it. Discreetly opening the note, she could barely feel her fingers and her fingers could barely feel the parchment between them.
My office, please, at 7 o'clock. Fudge Flies.
The only coherent thought running through Lily's head at the moment was, 'Oh, he changed the password.'
She wasn't hungry anymore, but forced herself to cut, chew and swallow most of the food she had previously piled on her plate. The others followed her lead, though she was met with concerned looks. Lily was trying to make it seem like nothing happened and what Dumbledore had fibbed was true.
"Silly bird, eh?" James said from next to her. "Not even getting it to the right person."
"I never did much like ravens," Ara said quietly, with a hint of sympathy, from across the table.
"They're stupid," Lily mumbled. Now she wished she had actually harmed the raven that visited her over the Christmas holidays. She wished she had killed it. She wished that its death hurt Voldemort so much. She wished upon him the same torture she felt whenever he made his presence known again. She wished he'd just hand himself over. She wished he'd die and just leave her alone! She also knew that just wishing wouldn't get her too far. She'd have to take some action after school.
She'd have to get in there and kick his ass herself.
"What time is it?" Lily found herself asking. She turned to James.
He pulled out his watch. "Around half past six," James said. He put his arm around her waist. He pulled her close and rested his forehead against just above her ear. "Stop grinding your teeth, love," he whispered.
Lily's mouth stopped moving. "Sorry," she mumbled.
"Not at all." He went back to chatting with Sirius on whatever it was they had been talking about previously, but his arm never left her side.
At ten to seven, James informed her of the time.
Lily put her napkin on the table and stood up. "I'm going to head up to get some studying done." When Jen and James made to get up, she added, "Just by myself for now. I'll see you later." James handed her a truffle for the road and she thanked him. She kissed the top of James' head to look as normal as she could and went on her way out the Hall.
After she went through the large doors she was met with Keaira Blair. The redheaded Slytherin paused before she passed Lily.
"You know what?" she said.
Lily stopped walking and blinked. Her mind was anywhere but there at that moment. "Er, what?" she asked.
"After seven years of avoiding that Librarian cow, I've finally been set free!" Keaira said with a short maniacal laugh to punctuate the sentence. "She's gotten her comeuppance."
Lily's eyebrows lifted a bit. "Well… good." She didn't have much more to say.
Keaira raised her finely plucked eyebrows and narrowed her black eye-shadowed eyes. "You aren't going to take points away for insulting a staff member?" she asked suspiciously.
"Hm?" Lily said. She could barely keep her thoughts straight. She frowned in thought. 'What was Dumbledore's password?'
"Nothing," Keaira said quickly. She slowly started to walk past the Head Girl. "I'll just… grab a quick dinner." She turned and speed walked through the Hall doors.
Having little idea what had just transpired, Lily continued on. She started on her way again.
Her thoughts tried to imagine what the letter could contain. Maybe he attacked another family she would somehow be linked to. Just the other day there was a large attack in Derbyshire and a few students were given permission to go home for a few days. The week prior, Dublin and Newbridge in Ireland were hit pretty hard.
Lily wondered briefly if her home had been incinerated.
When the reached the top of a flight of stairs, Lily nearly bumped into someone who seemed to be in a hurry.
"Oh," said the female voice, "sorry, Lily." Her hands were holding her by the shoulders.
Lily's trance was shaken when her body was lightly shaken.
"Lily, are you alright?" Janna asked. She sounded concerned.
Well, there was no reason to be concerned. "I'm just going to study," Lily said and even to her ears it sounded robotic. She lifted her eyes into those of the taller girl's.
"Are you sure it won't go in one ear and out the other?" Janna asked her.
What was she saying about her ears? Lily shook her head. "Yes or no… I just need to study." Lily pulled herself from Janna's firm grip. "Bye."
She heard the Ravenclaw Captain say a few words, the only distinguishable one being 'Potter'.
Lily continued on her way to Dumbledore's office. When she suddenly realised that she had walked past it, she turned and went back a few steps.
The gargoyle was waiting, unmoving, in stone.
Lily blinked.
"Fudge Flies," said another voice from behind her.
Lily was startled and turned her head to see Dumbledore behind her. "Oh," she said. She stepped aside after the gargoyle did to let the Headmaster go first.
He ushered her ahead.
Feeling a bit awkward, Lily took a few steps forward and onto the moving staircase. Dumbledore stepped on after her.
The torches on the inlayed stone shone dully as the stairs moved her past them. She kept her head bent and eyes on the steps. Lily pulled her lips into her mouth and ran her tongue over them. They seemed to have gone dry. Around and around they went; the ride seemed to take much longer than usual. Had the Headmaster read the letter already? When she reached the platform, she stepped aside and let Dumbledore past her.
He stepped regally in his thick deep blue robes. Lily kept her eyes pinned on his clothes and not anywhere near his face. Dumbledore, after a pause, opened the large oak door. He ushered her in first.
There were two seats waiting for them, tilted towards one another. On a round oak table between them sat two tea cups, a creamer, a sugar dish and a pot; there was a little wisp of steam issuing from the spout. Beside the tea set was a small bowl of sherbert lemons.
"Have a seat, Miss Evans," Dumbledore said quietly.
She took the nearest chair and quickly made herself comfortable. Lily wondered about the chair and table set: Dumbledore usually sat behind his desk, so who would be joining them?
Dumbledore picked up a candy on his way past her and popped it into his mouth. The elderly man sighed and rested himself in the comfortable chair opposite her.
Lily blinked. 'Oh,' she thought.
"Tea?" Dumbledore offered. He held up the pot.
It struck her as odd that he didn't use magic to pour it. "Please," she said and was granted a cup of tea.
"I find that a well-brewed cup of tea can warm some of the coldest of days," Dumbledore said. He took a sip.
Lily stared at the steam rising from her tea. From above it looked to be dancing on top of the hot liquid surface, twisting and turning and always rising up…
When she heard Dumbledore place his cup back upon its saucer, she looked up.
"It's another one from him, isn't it?" she asked quietly. She knew the answer but was silently hoping for him to inform her that it actually was from a friend of his and that his idiot bird rarely made it to the right person, let alone place.
"I am afraid so," the Headmaster said softly. When Lily didn't respond, he continued, "Would you like to read it?"
Lily wordlessly shook her head. She had to bite her lip and look back to the tea in her hands. She hoped her red hair covered her face; she didn't want to start crying in front of Dumbledore. Not again. She kept her eyes closed tightly.
"Would you like me to paraphrase it?" he asked.
Lily opened her eyes and watched her tea some more. The steam smoothed off the surface in an intricate dance, its faded grey stark against the rich sepia coloured tea. Taking a deep breath, she nodded her head.
"He says he will no longer bother you," Dumbledore said and to Lily, it seemed like it took him forever to say it, yet it was done so quickly.
She looked at the Headmaster. There was a tear creating a shining line down her left cheek. Did he – wait – he just – no… Lily blinked again. "What?" she choked out quietly. Her eyes searched the air before her. "I… I just…" She blinked a couple more times. "You can't be serious."
"I am."
"He can't have written that!" Lily exclaimed. "No!" She stood up and sloshed tea down her robes. She put the cup down. "He can't just leave me be after two years of letters and taunting and… and trying to ruin my life! What do you mean he's leaving me be?" she exclaimed.
Dumbledore didn't say anything. Good. She wasn't finished.
"He has no right to just… I've been waiting for something huge to happen and when I really think that time has come… You mean he's just been goading me on? He's been messing with my head and just playing with me?" Lily spun around from her position in the middle of Dumbledore's office. She started walking back towards him. "He can't. There has to be more to it. There has to be. There… it can't be so simple." Lily slumped back into her seat and her fingers fiddled with the wet part of her robes.
"I do not believe it is that simple," Dumbledore said after a moments pause.
Lily wasn't sure whether she should be relieved or not. She didn't want to have him playing with her head for two years and have nothing come of it other than a bit of paranoia! That made no sense.
"Does he think I'm stupid and will believe him?" Lily asked incredulously. Now she was insulted! "He'll probably be waiting for me when I get off the train!"
"I do think, Miss Evans, that this is just another game for him," Dumbledore said honestly. "He has now created a form of instability between the two of you."
Well, Lily wholly agreed with that. She shook her head. "I don't like it," she said.
"Neither do I," Dumbledore agreed.
Lily's eyes flicked to the parchment in his hands. "Can I read it?" she asked.
He handed it over without question.
Before opening it, Lily rubbed her thumb over its surface. She took in a deep breath and closed her eyes. She unrolled the parchment. When she opened her eyes, she read;
Hello Lillian.
It's been too long since we've had a little chat, wouldn't you agree? As such, it is with great displeasure that I must leave our relationship as null. There are things aplenty that I must see to and this small delight I cannot continue.
I am sure we will meet someday and until that day, always think of me in your nightmares, your depression and your anger.
Regards.
The first thing Lily had noted about the letter was that it was short. Secondly, that it was written in a more hurried fashion than the others. The wording wasn't the same, either. It made her wonder if it was even from Voldemort…
"Professor, this is unlike the others he sent me," Lily couldn't help saying. "It gives me reason to believe that it wasn't sent from him."
"That thought crossed my mind as well, Miss Evans," said Dumbledore. He stood and paced before her. "And the script is not as neat as the others, also." Lily nodded in agreement. "I have alerted the Aurors on this already and will have a couple here within the quarter hour." Dumbledore stopped pacing and looked at Lily with his piercing blue eyes.
They were both quiet for a moment.
Slowly Lily said, "Would you like me to leave?"
Dumbledore seemed to be shaken out of thought and said, "Not at all, not at all. If you wish to stay, you are most definitely allowed."
"No," Lily said, "I'd rather just get some sleep or study or something…"
"How is your studying going?" Dumbledore asked her.
She was surprised with the question. "It's going all right. There are only a few things that I haven't been able to find references on, but the professors have been helpful."
Dumbledore nodded and went behind his desk. Fawkes suddenly appeared next to it, on his perch, with a note in his beak. He trilled softly and shook his feathers. Dumbledore said a few words to the phoenix and opened the letter.
Lily sat, playing with her fingers. She looked next to her, to have some more tea, and saw that the round table and chair were no longer there. She frowned. At what point did he vanish them?
Dumbledore looked back up at her when he placed the letter on his desk. "You're a brilliant student, Miss Evans. Education is important, but other things in life are worth more. Don't delegate something many people would love to have this early in their lives for one more study session. You are bound to do great things." He smiled at her.
Lily stood slowly. He was always cryptic and odd when he wanted people to find things for themselves. She wished he would just come out and say it straight at times. "Thank you, Headmaster Dumbledore," she said. "For everything these past seven years; you've really been awesome."
There were a couple snorts from a few of the frames above her; a couple more hushed them.
The fire lit up in the office and grabbed the attention of the three current occupants. Fawkes was the first to look away. Out stepped Mr. Potter and another Auror Lily didn't recognise.
Mr. Potter shook hands with Dumbledore, who had gone to the fireplace once it lit up brightly, and then came over to Lily. He shook her hand as well and behind him she could faintly see the female Auror shaking Dumbledore's hand. The woman looked not too much older than herself.
"How are you doing, Lily?" Mr. Potter asked sincerely.
"I'm holding out alright, thank you," Lily said with a shrug.
"My son being good to you?" he asked with a twinkle in his eye.
"We'd have to chat over a cup of tea to fully answer that question," Lily replied and Mr. Potter laughed.
The woman came up behind Mr. Potter and smiled. She offered her hand. "Alice Longbottom," she said. Lily shook her hand. "It's nice to meet you Miss Evans."
Lily was surprised. "How do you-"
"There is a photograph of you and James on David's desk," Lily hadn't been aware of that fact, "and he likes to point out how wonderful you both are," Auror Longbottom said. The woman had a shade of brown eyes that Lily could only describe as intelligent. Her short cropped, dark brown hair framed her cherub face nicely.
"Oh," said Lily. She looked back to Mr. Potter who was already chatting with Dumbledore.
"Are you going to stay for this?" asked the Auror.
"No, I was just telling the Headmaster that I was going to stu-" Lily stopped and remembered what Dumbledore had said. She had already studied plenty, hadn't she? Alice looked at her curiously. "I was going to spend some time with James," she said instead. Perhaps they could visit the kitchens; and she could get some more éclairs.
"Tell him I say hello, then," Auror Longbottom said. "It was nice to meet you."
Lily said likewise and they parted. She went to the oak door, tugged it open and stepped out. Before she closed it, something touched her leg; she yelped and jumped back.
On the floor, sitting against the stone wall was James, apparently waiting for her.
"Oh bloody hell, James..."
"What happened?" Mr. Potter had thrown open the door and the other two were right behind him.
James was getting up. "Hullo dad," he said. He took Lily's hand, which was a bit sweaty, and nodded at his father.
Mr. Potter, not missing a beat, said, "I should have known it was him who gave you a fright."
Though he looked sombre, James smiled a bit. "Is everything alright?" he asked. "Lily's family is safe?"
Lily frowned. Did everyone else think that her family had been attacked as well?
"There are protections on their property," Mr. Potter replied. "They do not know, of course, but they are at this time safe."
Lily had never heard such good news in her life. She was going to write them a letter before she went to bed that night.
After a few more words between the Potters, Lily and James made their way down the moving staircase and out into the long stretch of stone corridors. He had proposed studying, which was what Lily did predominately as of late, but she surprised him by offering a walk around the grounds.
They were out by the Quidditch fields; the final game between Ravenclaw and Slytherin would be in a few days and from there would determine the winner of the Quidditch Cup. Surprisingly, Hufflepuff was also in the running. The points were almost evenly distributed.
"What made you think my parents were in trouble?" Lily asked. It had been on her mind since he mentioned it.
James looked at her as they bypassed a few birch trees. The waxing three-quarter moon was partially hid behind sparse clouds. The effect was a bright span of light over the Forbidden Forest, casting some light atop its foliage. "Janna came to me when she entered the Hall and said that she had run into you, literally, and that you didn't seem to be in your right mind." James rubbed the knuckle on her thumb. "I thought maybe you had found something out."
"Did you hear the conversation I had with Dumbledore?" she asked.
"Neither of you were speaking particularly loud when I arrived," James responded. He stopped walking and the moonlight shone dully over his glasses when he turned to her.
She would have to fill him in, then, but not now. This time was too rare for them to talk of such evil things. Now was for the two of them and no one else. She didn't want anyone to inhabit her thoughts except the man before her. "I'm sorry I haven't been spending too much time with you lately," Lily said quietly.
"That's alright," said James. "We've all been studying for the NEWTs-"
"Not like me, though, James," she said. "I've put you second lately and you should never be second to something that will pass so quickly in my life."
James didn't respond.
"I want to still be seeing you when we graduate, so starting now I'll keep our relationship one of my top priorities. Well, most of them."
James smiled. "Top notch idea, Miss Evans," he said.
Lily smiled back. Voldemort couldn't take away what they had for each other. When James kissed her, she wrapped her arms around his neck and tried to push the thought of Voldemort out of her head. One line from the letter kept with her, I am sure we will meet someday… But then James held her closer and knew exactly how to rid her mind of troubles with his kisses and her head with blissfully blank.
Up in Dumbledore's office, David Potter stood by the paned window that overlooked the Quidditch field. He was watching his son and his girlfriend as they walked together, hand in hand. When they embraced, he turned away and paid more attention to why he was there.
"David, since we all agree that it is indeed from Voldemort and our tests prove it is not forged, we need to find out what he was trying to accomplish with this final letter," Alice said.
"I believe Albus could be correct. Voldemort is shaking her up some more." David shook his head and walked away from the tall window. "He plays a psychological game of cat and mouse with Lily and this move should not be any different."
"And what about his script and writing style?" Alice asked. "They're different than usual."
"It is my guess that he might have had something to do, a reason to rush so to say, and had to finish it quickly," David said. He looked at Albus.
"That was my impression also," said the Headmaster.
"Then we should be on extra watch tonight. Keep a couple extra Aurors stationed at the Ministry for any emergency calls over the next few night shifts," Alice said.
"It would seem so," said David. His eyes glanced back to the window, but he was too far from it to see out it properly. "We should put a couple incognito around any threatened areas. Keep on watch and keep them safe."
...ooooo...
The latest Martin Miggs the Mad Muggle comic strip in the Prophet made little to no sense to Remus. He didn't quite understand what iron did for clothing, but somehow it burnt a hole right through Martin's bellbottom pants.
Lily, he had noticed, kept on glancing at his newspaper whenever he changed pages. He tried to ignore her, but it was getting annoying.
He turned a page.
He saw Lily's eyes dart to the page he was just reading and skim the headlines.
"Whatever it is you're looking for, Lily," he said, "I'm sure it would be on the front page if it were so important." He didn't enjoy people reading over his shoulder or discreetly trying to read his things from across the table. If they were being obvious about it, he didn't mind so much, but otherwise it just seemed so sneaky…
"I know that," Lily said sadly. She cast her eyes back to her plate of eggs and toast.
Normally Remus would have felt bad for upsetting her at all, but as it was, it was only a few days until the full moon – the day before the final Quidditch game even – and his patience and sympathy was on short supply.
He noticed Lily's eyes watching his page flipping again. He sighed dramatically and took out the page he was browsing and handed her the rest in a messily-folded bunch. "Just take it," he said.
She didn't comment on his snappy attitude and didn't rejoice over having the paper either. She just took it quietly and began perusing the headlines again.
Remus shook his head, decided to question James later on and went back to his one sheet of the Prophet.
"What are you looking for that requires all of your attention and usual kindness?" Sirius asked from a few seats down and across the table.
Remus sent him a dark look from above his paper. "Something you wouldn't have to look for, Sirius," he said.
Peter glanced over his shoulder. "The Classifieds?" the smaller boy asked. "What on Earth do you need the Classifieds for, Remus?"
Lowering his voice, Remus said, "Because I have a slight disadvantage when it comes to the workplace."
Peter looked alarmed. "You'd get hired long before me," he said, trying to be supportive. "I mean, your marks are excellent and any teacher would back you up-" But a kick in the leg stopped him from continuing.
Remus was thankful for whoever did the kicking. He saw James discreetly mouth the word 'werewolf' to the blond.
Peter's mouth made an 'o' shape and he looked at Remus. "Sorry mate," he said.
Remus made a sound in his throat that meant he accepted the apology.
"Say Remus," Mel said, "Maybe you could work on Wizard Wireless Network." She shrugged and stabbed at the food on her plate. "Just not be one of the announcers who are on five days a week."
To him, it was a horrible idea. "And do what, might I ask?" Remus questioned tiredly. Mel shrugged again.
"You could be one of those advice people," Sirius joked.
"Oh yes," Remus said dryly, "because I've lived such a long, experienced life to give lots of different advice to tons of people."
"You've given me lots of advice," Sirius said honestly.
He nearly laughed. Nearly. "No Padfoot," Remus said with a shake of his head, "I've given you common sense."
"Well," James said, "you could focus on a particular subject."
Remus sighed. Why were they still on the topic of the Wizard Wireless Network?
The gleam in James' eye matched his suggestive tone. "Like sex therapy."
Sirius turned his head to glare at James. He knew who the "therapy" would be tested on. The others around them grinned. Next to him, Jen scoffed.
James, it seemed, didn't fully understand the impact of what he said for a bit longer than the others… Then he started to laugh.
Remus and Jen blushed, while Jen glared at the lone laughing man. "And might I ask who taught you the principle of sex therapy?" she asked innocently with a bit of spite hidden in her words.
James stopped laughing and cleared his throat. Sex therapy wasn't a common topic in the more conservative Wizarding world, Remus knew. With a sly grin on his face, James bowed his head back to his plate.
Lily, however, was glaring at Jen. "Thank you," she said sarcastically.
Jen assumed an angelical look and put her hands before her. "Hey," she said, "I'm only asking."
Remus allowed himself a chuckle. He shook his head. "Thank you for the suggestions," here he looked pointedly at James, "but I'll figure something out."
Lily mumbled something under her breath and tossed the paper back at him. "There's nothing in here about any attacks that may have happened last night," she said grumpily.
"Did you expect there to be?" Arabella asked. "Was that what the letter-"
The second kick in the leg of the morning stopped Ara's question. She glared at Jen.
"There have just been a lot of attacks recently and I like to keep myself updated so if any of the students here are affected, I can be ready to help them."
No one said anything for a moment. Remus glanced around.
"What?" Lily asked.
"Well spoken, Lily," Remus said. He toasted her before finishing off his pumpkin juice. "Classes," he added afterwards and began getting up.
"Do you really want to go?" Jen asked when he picked up her bag.
Remus frowned. "Yes," he said.
"But we're just reviewing for the NEWTs in a couple weeks," she said, "Surely you could take a class or two off…"
"The Professors always give tips and hints in the final weeks, Jen, you know that," Remus said patiently. He helped her off the bench.
Jen stomped her foot childishly. "But it's so boring," she whined.
Taking in a deep breath and searching the Hall for a good reason, Remus found one. After exhaling, he leaned to Jen's ear, put his lips against it and said, "What if I promise to make it not so boring?" he asked in a deep tone.
Jen looped her arm with his while the others got their book bags as well. "This will be the best Charms class ever," she said.
Remus sent her a quick grin. "Don't give your hopes up," he said. Jen shoved him lightly. "I'm just saying that Charms has been a good class, is all. Now if we'd taken History of Magic, I'd have not one ounce of competition…"
...ooooo...
"That was a foul!" James yelled hoarsely. "Foul on Slytherin!"
The booing and shouting from the Hogwarts crowd nearly deafened the players and quiet spectators.
Because of his ambiguity between the Houses and the lack of a Flying Instructor for the year, Professor Adams had been given the job of referee for the Quidditch games. He had taught the first years for a month during the beginning of the year to fly, as well. Dumbledore had promised him that a new Flying Instructor would be found for the following year.
At that moment he was signalling a fowl on Slytherin. Ravenclaw lined up, waiting for their captain, Janna Rosado, to score. With her team mates and the Slytherins hovering on both sides, she threw the Quaffle and scored through the lower left hoop.
The Ravenclaw stands jumped and shouted in joy, drowning out Remus' commentary. The night before was a full moon, but Remus had fought tooth and nail to commentate his last Quidditch game. Madam Pomfrey finally gave in when she had to agree that he looked quite well rested that afternoon and barely had a scratch on him.
James sat back down, smiling. "Slytherin has way too many points accumulated from other games," he told Lily, who followed Quidditch with less enthusiasm than her boyfriend, "so they need to catch the Snitch early to keep Slytherin from racking up any more points." A few players zoomed overhead and Lily ducked. James kept going, "The longer they wait to catch it, the easier it will be for Slytherin to take top place. Slytherin is a strong team this year, as is Ravenclaw, but Janna and I both know that they're a tough competitor."
A loud bell dinged, signalling another ten points for Slytherin.
"If Slytherin is able to get eighty points plus the Snitch, they've won. Ravenclaw needs at least double that and the Snitch," James told her.
"So what you're trying to say is that Ravenclaw can either go out in defeat, many points behind by keeping the other Seeker from catching the Snitch and have a small chance at catching up in points or they can catch the Snitch as soon as possible and see how the points add up?" Lily asked. She covered her ears from the hooting and screaming. Slytherin scored again.
James nodded and scowled quickly at the Slytherin stands. When Lily uncovered her ears, he added, "And because we flattened Slytherin, we have plenty of points, but Slytherin simply crushed Hufflepuff, so they're high on the list as well. Ravenclaw is just below Slytherin due to their victory over our House and sadly Hufflepuff just didn't have the best of teams this year. Many of their players graduated last year."
"So what James is saying," Sirius said loudly from a few seats down, "is that Ravenclaw can nip the game in the butt, catch the Snitch now and let us win the cup!"
"And I highly doubt Janna will hand us the trophy," Peter said.
Lily shook her head. "This is really all too confusing," she said.
James shrugged and Jen said from beside her, "That's Quidditch!"
What James was saying was true, however. If Slytherin scored three or more times and caught the Snitch, Slytherin would win the cup. Ravenclaw needed at least eight more goals and the Snitch to win over Slytherin, but eleven goals and the Snitch to beat Gryffindor. It was all up to Janna to decide who they'd lose to. The Slytherin Chasers were too good that year. Where as their goaltender wasn't the best, their Chasers made up for it by keeping the Quaffle from the opposing team.
"Rockshoot takes a moment to gather his team on the pitch," Remus' voice boomed over the crowd. "And Rosado is doing the same."
"I hope Ravenclaw gets their hands on the Snitch soon," James said anxiously. This game determined his House's victory; he could barely stand the wait.
"Maybe you should run down there and tell Janna your suggestion," Mel said from a few seats down. "I'm sure she'll be ever-so happy to hear it."
"Yea, James," Jen said, "Madam Pomfrey is waiting on the pitch if you decide to do so."
The row laughed. Peter gestured towards the stairs that would lead to the pitch.
"I just cannot stand waiting any more!" James said shouted over Remus' loud, "And the players are back up!"
James looked longingly to the podium off to the side of the pitch where the Quidditch Cup sat with Hagrid guarding it. It was only for show, but Hagrid had his crossbow in his hands.
"Don't worry, James," Sirius said, "I heard that Rockshoot and Rosado exchanged some barbed words this morning. I doubt she'll hand the cup over to him."
James looked at him sceptically. "She's stubborn," he said.
"Yes there's that, too," Sirius agreed, "but I think everyone would rather see a Gryffindor win rather than a Slytherin."
A quick buzzing sped over the Gryffindor stand and Mel looked up. She gasped. "The Snitch!" she said and pointed above.
The Gryffindors looked above them and started cheering. They were quickly hushed when two players shot overhead, grazing a few students. It was all a blur of blue and green.
"And it's the Ravenclaw Seeker, Gibson, against the Slytherin Seeker, Korpelli, in a final race. If Ravenclaw catches it now, I believe Gryffindor will win the cup," Remus commentated. "It must be a tense moment for the Gryffindor Captain."
James glanced quickly to the teacher's stand and quickly put his attention back to the Seekers who were swerving between the Slytherin goalposts.
"Gibson, only her second year on the team, is showing the school exactly why she's on the team," said Remus. "She's flattened herself to her broom and her small frame is almost no match for Rockshoot and his new broom."
"Get it Gibson!" shouted James. He was standing on his seat and nearly toppled over when he yelled.
"Gibson is reaching, she's almost got it!" Remus said. "I think it's – yes! Yes she's caught the Snitch!"
James practically howled in delight and punched a fist into the air. The Gryffindor stand erupted into cheers and the team, gathered on one bench, jumped around and nearly kicked their housemates while doing so. James grabbed Lily into a hug and kissed her face repeatedly. He let her go and grabbed Jen and Mel, kissing them both on their faces. He even grabbed Sirius into a death grip and wouldn't let go. "We won!" he shouted. Sirius burst out laughing and patted James on the back. He let go. James hugged his other three team mates: Taylor Glascock, JJ Schmitt and Rick Malter.
James and his team tore down the stairs, Ara, Lily and Peter following. The stands were flooding the field. James first went to the Ravenclaw team and thanked them all, shaking their hands. When he reached Janna, he couldn't help hugging her.
After a moment she pushed him off and said, "Happy Christmas and birthday for the rest of your damn life."
"I'm sure someday you'll be repaid for this," James said and shook her hand as well.
"Should you not be accepting the Cup right now?" Janna asked him and nodded to the podium where Headmaster Dumbledore awaited him.
James looked around to where his team was gathering and ran to them. "Thank you for watching our trophy, Hagrid," James said as he ran by.
Hagrid waved him off and his beady black eyes could be seen sparkling for House pride.
James jumped up on the podium where Dumbledore was waiting. "Students and staff of Hogwarts, I present to you the winners of this year's Quidditch Cup!" He had to put his hands in the air to signal silence while most the crowd cheered. Some were heading back towards the castle already. "Gryffindor!" Dumbledore said proudly. Many of the students shouted and cheered. He handed James the Cup and James held it high in the air. He jumped down to his team and they all took a turn holding, hugging and kissing it. A few photographs were taken before James handed it over to McGonagall who thanked him.
"I like seeing it in my office," she said.
James could have sworn for a moment that he saw a smile on her face, but McGonagall merely congratulated and reminded him that the Transfiguration exam was in just a few days and she better see just as much attention placed on his studies.
James shook his head and laughed. "I'll make sure to lose as much sleep as I can to study for the exam, Professor," he said.
"The team is going to fall hard next year," McGonagall said. "I hope you've coached your players well so they may choose wisely."
Sirius came up behind James and messed up James' hair. "Don't worry Professor," he said, "I'm sure James and Lily will pop out enough kids to fill a Quidditch team over the next decade or so."
After picking his mouth up off the ground, James asked, "Professor, permission to clobber Sirius Black?"
McGonagall seemed to size up the question then nodded curtly. "Permission granted."
While she walked away, James jumped on Sirius and began tackling him to the ground.
In the midst of the scuffle, one boy approached the two seventh years. "James!" he called. "James Potter I thought the Quidditchyear was excellent!"
James rolled off of Sirius, panting and possibly spouting a bruise on his cheek, and said, "Thank you Cecil."
"Puofleur," Cecil said. "Cecil Puofleur."
"Yes, I know," James said immediately. He got up and helped Sirius off the grass.
"Do you think there's a chance I could get on the team next year? I heard what McGonagall said and thought that maybe I'd get on next year-"
"I don't know Cecil," James interrupted as he and his best friend walked back towards their friends. "It's not up to me, but who ever is Captain next year."
"Could you put in a good word? How were my tryouts earlier this year? I think I did pretty well my first time, but there's always room for improvement, that's what my mum tells me-"
"Cecil Puofleur," Sirius said after a bout of laughing, "why don't you write James a letter when the tryouts are going on next year and tell him how they go, eh?"
Cecil's eyes lit up. "That would be wonderful! Would you mind, James?"
James looked uncertain but Lily stepped beside him and said, "He's going to be busy with Auror training, Cecil, so he won't be able to reply."
James looked quite relieved.
Cecil's eyes lit up again. "Auror training?" he asked. "Oh wow, James, that's hard stuff, I hear. I could never do that; it must be a tough choice for you. Has anyone in your family ever been an Auror?"
James cast Lily a look that asked for pity and began to walk away.
The crowd was dispersing and still Cecil had questions.
"I read the Prophet some days and they do amazing things, Aurors, do you think you'll ever make it into the Prophet?"
"Cecil!" James exclaimed and spun around. The boy jumped back. "Just… practice over the summer and try again next year, alright? And don't bother writing me, I'll be much too busy to do much more than train, eat and sleep."
"I'm sorry, James," Cecil said quietly. James had half a heart to feel bad… but then it quickly disappeared. "I'm told that I can be quite irritating with all my questions, but the Wizarding World is just so very interesting and I've not learned everything yet and I guess I never will, but it is just so cool that I love talking about it. Do you know everything about the Wizarding World, James?"
"Cecil," James said with patience that he did not feel, "Do you know who knows everything there is to know about the Wizarding World?"
"Who?"
"Patrick Boot of Ravenclaw," James responded. "Nearly became Head Boy. I'm sure he'd know much more about the Wizarding World than anyone else. He'll be in the Library right now, I'm sure. Go bother, er, ask him."
"Patrick Boot?" Cecil asked.
"Yes. He'll be the nerdy one with the entire library piled before him," Lily said.
"Excellent," Cecil said.
"Goodbye, Cecil."
"Puofleur, it's Cecil Puofleur," the kid yelled as he ran off towards the castle.
"Yes we know!" Sirius shouted after him.
"And we'll never forget," James added to him and Lily as the three caught up with the others.
...ooooo...
James was slouched over his desk, tapping his quill on the roll of parchment that was his Muggle Studies exam. The NEWTs were definitely harder than the OWLs were back in fifth year. This year they were more prepared because they had more of an idea what to expect.
James took a spare piece of parchment and began doodling. He drew little Snitches and Quaffles and even began coming up with a new play until he remembered that he was no longer going to be playing Quidditch at Hogwarts. He scratched it out quickly.
He looked down the row. In front of him sat JJ, apparently writing his Transfiguration exam. He looked to his left, where the Hufflepuff desks were lined up, and nodded to Laura Hennessy, who was also done her NEWT, and then tried to spot a teacher. Flitwick's pointed hat was seen bobbing between Slytherin and Ravenclaw. James crumpled a bit of parchment and lobbed it a few seats forward. It went over Sirius' shoulder and hit him on the chest. He had been leaning casually on the back two legs of his chair and set it right. He turned around and looked at James. The bespectacled boy nodded. Sirius gave a thumbs-up.
Flitwick was rounding the Hufflepuff-Gryffindor isle and James quickly sat back in his seat.
"Ten minutes left!" Flitwick said in his squeaky voice.
The scratching of quills sped up and a couple moans were emitted from somewhere across the Hall. Flitwick passed James without so much of a look and he took the opportunity to look for the others. They had been split up, like every other year, amongst the row. He turned around as the tiny teacher went around the last Hufflepuff to go between them and Ravenclaw.
Remus sat about ten seats back and was chewing on his quill thoughtfully. Not wanting to disturb him, James crumpled up another ball of parchment and tossed it to Mel. Mel looked at it in surprise. She scribbled something on it and sent it back. James opened it;
Bugger off
He had to stifle a laugh. She was doing her History of Magic NEWT and looked as bored as the class, so he had figured she was done. Apparently not.
The others were too far for him to throw things at or risk searching for, so he slouched in his chair and waited out the next five minutes.
Peter had taken both Muggle Studies and History of Magic and both of his exams had been that day, with Muggle Studies proceeding. When James and the others had walked into the Hall, he had seen the stressed and tired look of his friend. He didn't feel too bad, however, because Peter had only taken one Advanced course that year – Herbology – so his other NEWTs wouldn't be too hard.
"Time is up!" Flitwick's voice called out. "Put your quills down and I will collect your rolls of parchment!"
After the rolls flew into his arms and while some students helped the little Professor from the floor, James got up and immediately gathered with his friends.
"I think I need a strong drink," Peter said seriously.
"I hear Hagrid has a good stash in his hut," Sirius said.
"Heading to the library or something?" James asked Lily.
Lily smiled. "No," she said. Making sure no one was looking; she moved part of her robes to the side to show the pale yellow elastic that tied around her neck. "The girls and I have our suits on already so there will be no need for transfiguring behind a large rock again."
James was smiling like a child. "Damn," he said. "That was so much fun last year…"
"Maybe for you," Lily said and gave him a light shove.
"You sods coming or what?" Ara called from ahead.
Lily and James stopped their playful banter.
Ara and Mel took off running between the other students who were also heading out to the grounds.
Without a glance to one another, James and Lily started running as well.
"You look worried Padfoot," Remus said as they too ran.
"He may have forgotten his rubber ducky in the dorm," Peter said, panting to keep up.
"I'm just trying to remember if I'm wearing anything under my trousers," Sirius said honestly.
Peter and Remus obviously did not want to hear that, so with scrunched faces they ran down the hill to the water's edge. Ara, Mel and Jen were already in the water when they arrived, their clothes thrown onto the large rock. Peter toppled over as he tried to pull his shoes off and run at the same time and nearly caused Lily to fall over him.
"Hey Lily!" called Ara from the water, nudging Jen.
"What?" Lily called back as she folded her robes on the rock.
"Dare to you pants James!" she yelled back. Jen and Mel burst out laughing.
James looked at her sharply and slowly backed off.
Lily looked at him and then back to Ara. "Why do you all get to see what it rightfully mine?" she asked.
The boys erupted into hoots, while the girls catcalled.
"What would I get in return?" Lily asked as she waded in the water.
"I don't think so!" James said from behind her.
"My undying respect?" Ara tried.
Lily thought for a moment and then shook her head. "Not worth it," she said.
With an indignant gasp, Ara splashed her with the cool lake water.
When the water fight ended much later, Lily approached Ara and gestured for the other girl to listen closely. Lily cupped a hand to the side of her mouth and said, "Though I'm sure I wouldn't have to dare you to pants the other black-haired Marauder."
And with that one simple comment the water fight began again, but with a bit more violence on Arabella's part. Amidst the screams, yelps and shrieks of laughter, Lily was pretty sure it was one of the last times they'd all be together: just them having fun and no one else.
After they graduated, who knew what was to lie ahead. Careers, the War that was sure to explode anytime and relationships were certain to dampen the closeness she felt with the other girls now.
But after all the swimming, splashing and fun, the most of them were drying off on the grass under the hot sun.
Lily posed a question. "Do you think we'll all still be friends after Hogwarts?" she asked the girls.
Jen, one arm shielding her eyes from the sun said, "I'm sure we'll be friends. Maybe we won't see each other day in and day out, but I know that if I ever need anything, I can count on you girls to help me."
"Here, here," said Mel. She was lying on her stomach, head pillowed by her arms.
"And although we may grow apart, I know that I'll always keep you three in my heart and times such as these in my memory," Ara added.
"I think that was the cheesiest thing I've ever heard," Lily commented lightly. She threw a few strands of grass on Ara's legs.
The brunette brushed them off and flicked a daisy towards the redhead. "I don't think so," Ara said just as easily. "You are dating James Potter."
"Witch," came a comment from overhead.
"Why thank you, James," Ara said, "I always thought so." She stuck her tongue out. "Anyway, what I'm saying is that we'll most definitely part at some point, but I'll always love you guys." With a snort of a laugh, she added, "And them, too." She pointed to where the boys were playing Exploding Snap.
The tower of cards exploded at that moment, causing the girls to scream in alarm. Flits of charred cards floated onto the ground around them and a few landed on Ara's stomach. She was going to reprimand them for playing at such close vicinity, but when she turned around and saw Sirius' singed eyebrows and eyelashes, she laughed. "And that's why I love them."
I won't bother with post-chapter talking until after the Thank You's. Here they are:
JeSs04182: Oh don't worry; I'll finish this story and its sequel. And there you go! I sped up the updating process just a bit! Thank you for reviewing.
Seriously Sirius: So where are these alphabetically ordered compliments you promised me in the last chapter? Hm? I expect them on my desk by Tuesday morning, sunrise.
Mary-Jane Black: Well thank you for your input. I didn't think much when writing it that it was mostly about Remus. Didn't know, really, until a few people (including yourself) let me in on that bit. What can I say? He's my favourite in JK's world, so he slips through unnoticed sometimes.
Kat44: Mel can't go home at the end of the year because her grandparents are moving into an old age home. She'll have to brave the world on her own or bunk up with one of her friends; either way isn't so pleasant for her, though. Thank you for reviewing so faithfully :)
Goldilocks31890: Lol, two people in a row mention that Sirius needs a girlfriend. Hm. I know, I'll probably cry when some people have to leave (I wouldn't say "die" too soon!) because I'm just emotional like that. Thanks for reviewing!
Princess Pixie Ice: Oh you had me laughing. I don't think you've graduated yet, so I've made the deadline, yes? Thank you for reviewing. I'm glad someone actually feels a bit bad for Peter. He deserves lots of pity mingled with the hate sometimes!
Star19: Oh thank you. I updated earlier than my normal as of late and I hope I can speed up the next chapter as well. Hopefully under a month – but I won't hold my breath and don't suggest you do either. Thank you for reviewing.
Anarane: Oh wow, you actually were able to remember what happened in previous chapters after so long a wait… That's amazing. Even I have to read my own material to remember what exactly I wrote! I'm very proud of you. Thank you for reviewing again.
lissy: Oh thank God someone actually reads the profile thing. I really doubted that people were and that I was pretty much talking to myself! Thank you for reading and reviewing.
Grimm Sister: Thank you so very much for your insights, I've been taking them into account. Honestly. I've been looking over so many things in this past chapter (and redoing others) that if you find anything from now on, keep on telling me. I just didn't want to repeat the whole Peter, Peter Pumpkin Eater rhyme because I thought people would catch on easily. Sometimes it bothers me when people go to great lengths to explain things and I got it on the first try, you know? Just a pet peeve. Thank you, though, for the input!
running out of ink: Yes I updated! And I did it again! I always like knowing what part people liked reading the most. It helps me set up other chapters. Thank you for reviewing.
Snuffles: Thank you for lending me Halle to use in my story. Is she a character of yours? I wasn't sure if you'd written with her or was basing her on yourself. And I always enjoy lengthy reviews (to a point… some just end up looking like an e-mail that never once mention anything to do with Harry Potter!), so if you want to blabber, then I say blabber! Thank you for reviewing.
Kool-Aid: Lmao – would this chapter have been lovelier about three months ago? And Remus and Jen were playing footsie side-by-side. Yes, I think I modeled Lily's hair problem with the dilemma of most girls during the muggy days. Thank you for reviewing.
oobergoober: And I have no idea what threat you are speaking about either, so we'll leave it at that. Thank you reviewing like always!
Broken Lies 101: Thank you for reviewing and welcome to my club of procrastination!
LadyArwen14: I'm chuckling, just so you know. Yes I'm sort of like a friend who doesn't call often, eh? Sorry. I'll try to check in more often. I've been twiddling with the idea of getting Sirius a girlfriend, but then I have JK's comments in my head and I just don't know if I could… but I feel rebellious sometimes, so I won't scratch that out. Ok, so it wasn't updated by Christmas, but hey after St. Patrick's Day isn't bad! Do I still get the "sleeping in a hayloft" story? And thank you for your lovely review!
keyann: You know I love you, so why should I even bother with a thank you:P And I always fret when you don't reply within a few weeks – like that time when it took you a couple months and I thought you had died! I was actually very scared. Oh yea, I'm trying to make you feel guilty… Though I believe my e-mail has been tardy… Anyway. Thank you for reading and reviewing, my sweet!
The Snowflake Goddess: I wouldn't be expecting a proposal anytime soon, that's all I can say. Thank you for reading and reviewing, though!
Lily Smith: See, I made everyone's wishes come true! It took me under six months to update :) Hurrah. Thank you for reviewing.
Beaver Buddy: Rough stuff. Lol for the possible swarm of bees chasing Flower Potter. That would be quite amusing, but he's nowhere near South America, so there'd be no "killer bees" to worry about! Thanks for the review!
Witch of the West: As always, thank you!
Daugaard-the-best-ever: Well, I'm not a Peter fan either, but I have to write about him because his story is one of the most influential on the MWPP story. We have to understand why he turned and though I know my version wouldn't be anywhere near JK's, it still has to be said, you know? Thank you for reading and hope you're still with me!
Pineapple Queen1: You said how HBP is coming out in seven months in your review… Now it's only four! That's nice to hear, eh? Though I'd prefer seven days turning into four… Ok, I just spent around ten minutes searching through old reviews to find yours before OotP and you didn't even mention the book coming out (and it would have in a month)! Just to remind you, you wrote, "…few chapters ago, I was probably reviewing and squeeing about book five." And my last chapter before OotP came out was chapter eight! I've gone up nine chapters in a year and a half! Oh dear… Anyway, thank you for reviewing and all that jazz!
Tracey: I wonder how long it'll take you to realise this is updated again… James feeling put out? Yea, in the previous chapters Lily had been focusing on other things other than him, which would upset anyone in love :( Thank you for reviewing!
snazzysnez: Hey, thank you for reading and reviewing! It's nice to see people still hoping on the wagon. I'm glad I could make you laugh – which is one of my favourite things to do. Hope you liked this chapter as well!
ophidia-black: Thank you very much. Will you be sticking with me for the sequel to this as well?
rainbow fish: Lol, your review was sort of everywhere so I don't know what to say! Thank you for it anyways ;)
irgova: Well thank you for the fantabulous review! Oh my God – did you know that fantabulous is actually a word? I thought it was just slang, but my Word isn't underlining it… weird. Anyway – thanks!
DancingPandaa: I'm happy you have my OC's as your two favourites! That's nice to hear; it means that they're written well. And I don't know where my patience for this story comes from, either! I'm best with writing one-shots (and have a few on FA) because my attention span dwindles after a while… which is why it takes so long to update! Thank you for having enough patience to read through it and hopefully you'll stick by me till the end!
xSnickersx: Oh my God, when people compare me to JK… it's surreal. She's the mastermind here; I'm just a little puppet on a string. Thank you for reviewing!
kiwislushie: And I love that you love it! Thanks for the review!
Now is where I thank people who reviewed other chapters and TGT. Thank you to: badbluekit, Beaver Buddy, Rose Diamond, Mrs. Greenleaf, LilyEvans13 and swizzlestix.
Thank you everyone for reading, once again, and don't hesitate to tell me if something in the story doesn't match up or there is a huge grammatical error. Or if you just don't like something. But also feel free to tell me otherwise!
If you've been paying attention to where we are in the school year, you will see that the next chapter is the last of this sequel. Graduation is approaching, along with their final days at Hogwarts. We'll enter the third instalment to my series before HBP comes out – I promise!
Happy Springtime!