Disclaimer: I don't own this. I enjoy writing it; it's a blast. But we all know that I can't own characters like Lily and James. All I can do is give them back life for a couple minutes (or in this case a week). Wow, I'm getting all teary-eyed now.

Author's Note: I know it's been awhile. It looks like it's unanimous: the ending I chose in the last chapter is the one that was the most James-ish. Aside from being busy, I seriously had no clue what to do with them this chapter. I knew how I wanted the chapter to start, and then it occurred to me that I had no plans for Lily and James's final day as each other, except for the end of the day. So, I'm open to suggestions. What do you want them to do today? Unless I hit a major brainstorm, I'll probably end up using somebody's suggestion, so thanks in advance. I just had my dance concert this weekend (a 6 hour rehearsal Friday, a dance concert Saturday, 2 concerts Sunday). I had a lot of fun and I'm going to do Dance II next year. It'll be a blast. I'll be gone for a week, so don't expect more updates sooner than that. Sorry. BTW—33 reviews! WOW! Thanks you guys! I feel really loved.

Replies:

Cool grl—Thanks. I'm glad I made the right choice. :-)

Lady Farevay—Thanks. I'm glad you like it. I've read some that I didn't like as much (and others that I enjoyed) but the idea of switching places appealed to me as a topic. I'm glad you like my style. With Harry Potter 6 I was trying to mimic JKR to make it realistic, but with this, I really tried to be myself. I really enjoy writing, so I'm so glad to see somebody likes the way I write. When I write, my too most important factors are usually character development and plot; my teacher tries to get me to write symbolism, but it's not my thing. Thanks again!

Drama Queen of the Century—Thanks! I'm glad you like it so much.

Ultra-violet-catastrophy—Thanks. I'm glad you like it. I always love new reviewers.

Lunatic Pandora1—Sorry about that. I know it seems like people keep finding out, but I'm trying to decide if something will come of Frank knowing. I had to let Alice know, I just had to.

Calistar Heir—Thanks! I'm glad you like it. I was hoping I made the right choice for the ending; glad you think I did.

Helloshanti2—Thanks! Yeah, I thought James might do that out of guilt, but you're right. The other way was more in characters. Sorry this update took so long.

Siriusforeva—Thanks!

Movielvr—The only important thing would have been that they would have both winced together when Lily was making her threat. True. Tanks! Sorry it's been so long since I've updated. Real life is so frustrating.

Alana-Lou—Thanks! Glad you like the way it turned out!

Hermione Radcliffe Go Michael—I don't recall you reviewing before, but welcome aboard! Thanks, I'm glad you like the way it turned out. I tried to make Lily in-character without being the stereotypical Lily that she sometimes is. Thanks, Lucy!

Augurey Song—Thanks!

AnneChristy—Thanks. I'm really trying to keep people as in-character as possible, even though we don't know much about them. Oops, I'll try and go back and fix that. I was rereading the story and have plenty of typos to fix. Thanks!

J.E.A.R.K.Potter—Thanks, Erin!

Moony's number 1—Hehe. Yes, it would somewhat spoil the story if Lily died while still in James's body. I wonder which personality would die? Thanks!

Don'taskmewhy0991—Thanks. Yeah, I wasn't sure how OOC it'd be or not, so it was iffy. Thanks!

Fanglessphysco—Thanks. I'm delighted you like the way it turned out. How's "delighted" sound? I was looking for an alternative to "glad". "Glad" is very overused today. Hehe.

MissKlutz—Thanks. Hehe. I figure Frank must like her by now. There's some Lily and James in this one, not much I'm afraid. This is a short chapter as I was kind of stuck and in need of suggestions. Why didn't you post it:(

DOJ—Thanks! Hehe. It was fun to write. Yes indeed, it's almost over. They are on their last day as each other. The story will end on Monday, sometime after their song and dance number. This has been great to write, but I'll be kind of relieved when it's over. I'm working on way too many stories right now. :sheepish smile:

EternalKnight—Thanks!

Animerocksjapanrocks—Thanks, Rachel.

Elephant Wings—Thanks. Yes, it is somewhat unfortunate that we really must keep James alive, if only to torture him some more. Thanks. I'm glad you like it.

Synthiacat—Thanks. I like the way it turned out too. It probably won't take more than two or three chapters (possible less, but unlikely) for them to switch back, depending on what they do. I don't know what I want them to do yet, but I'm taking suggestions. I'm very lost right now.

Snowgremlin—Thanks. Hehe. FanFiction addictions are dangerous; I know, I've been there. Hehe. Sorry it's been so long since I updated again! I know how horrible it is to wait for updates.

Miss Lady Marauder—I'm glad you liked the one I chose. I try and keep everybody in character without making them too stereotypical. I want them to be in-character, but unique. You'll get your chance to see that this chapter. :evil laughter: I got your email. I'll be joining the site soon, Katie.

Cherokeegirl47—Thanks!

Geckaclark—Thanks. Yeah, I didn't want him to be OC. Glad you liked it!

PhoenixPlume—Thanks. I try for characters to be as realistic as real people. That probably sounded kind of redundant, huh? I haven't had much time to read anything lately. I've been swamped with stuff to do, but I'm trying to get back on track again. I'm going out of town for a week, but remind me again in your review. Thanks!

Sour-peach—Thanks!

X4eyedblondiex—Thanks. Hehe, changing it is too much work, lol. I'm glad you love it so much. I've had a blast writing it. Plot and character development are my favorite things in reading and writing! Thanks!

Lizziee—Thanks for the support! I'm going to have so much fun writing the performance. I can't wait!

Certified-weirdo—Glad you liked it. Hehe. I figured that was an appropriate threat. I'm not a big chocolate fan. I'll eat gummy bears for days though. Yum! I love M&M eggs. Delicious! Hehe.

Zesuit—Thanks. Nope, the whole school won't find out.

Chapter 27: The Final Day

Dumbledore was sitting in his office, listening to the portraits' gossip. They tended to receive word from all over the castle.

"Albus, I just heard from Doras, who heard from Violet, who heard from the Fat Lady that a most unusual conversation passed between our Head Students outside of the Gryffindor common room just last night," a said long-dead-Headmistresses.

"Oh really?" Albus asked politely. "And what might that be?"

One of the other portraits interrupted, "They called each other by the other person's name."

"It sounds as though they've switched places from what I've heard," Phineas said, rolling his eyes.

Dumbledore nodded. "Hmm…that would seem to make sense with what I've seen myself and heard from Minerva. But how do you suppose they did it? An accident?"

Phineas snorted. "You know yourself the library covers just about every topic imaginable. From what I've seen when he's in this office, that Potter boy would feel no scruples about sneaking off into the Restricted Section. He should have been a Slytherin. He's cunning and daring enough."

"Nonsense, the boy is loyal, he ought to have been a Hufflepuff," said one of the Headmistresses.

Another Headmistress offered, "No, no, the boy has brains. He should have been a Ravenclaw. He may not be studious, but he has the talent."

"Phineas, ladies, regardless of where he should be, he is in fact in Gryffindor as you well know and I am very proud of him," Albus said. "However, that is not what we are discussing. We are discussing his current condition. We are all agreed that with the evidence we have gathered, that is what's going on?" he asked.

There was a murmur of consent from the portraits.

"Very well then. What we must decide is what to do about this. I for one feel nothing should be done. They made their decision and if they are using the spell that seems most likely it shouldn't last much longer anyway. That little event when they were sent out of Minerva's class was probably around the start of their body-switching escapade. What do you propose?"

A man with a drooping mustache replied brightly, "Make them run around the school in circles until they switch back or pass out. Exercise can't hurt them." The man's portrait was more than a couple of centuries old.

"Make them admit their crime in front of the school," said the witch who thought James out to be a Ravenclaw. "Let them deal with the reactions of their peer."

"I have no doubt that those closest to them have already figured out what has been going on at least to some degree," Dumbledore said, sipping at his morning tea.

The portraits debated and discussed eagerly, though Albus had already made up his mind. If the two of them had survived this long as each other, another day couldn't hurt. If anything it might just make them grow closer. By his calculations, this should be the last day. They would be themselves again before they sang at dinner tomorrow. He smiled, loving the idea.He highly doubted Minerva would agree however. When she'd come in last night to tell him her suspicions and the odd behavior she'd witnessed, she hadn't liked the thought of two of her students switching places and had wanted to find some way to immediately switch them back. However that was nearly impossible and by the time they might possible have found some sort of reversal (which wasn't likely) they would probably have switched back by the spell ending anyway.

No, Albus quite enjoyed his morning, sipping his tea contentedly and listening to wise men and women bickering over war, politics, the love life of a few key students, and Lily Evans and James Potter.

Lily stretched her arms. She'd had such a good night's rest. She felt ready to face anything today. She looked around and realized that this was the last time she'd be waking up in this dorm. She almost thought she might possibly…miss it.

The clothes, the sheets, the pillows, everything that surrounded her little world inside the curtains at that moment smelled thoroughly of James Potter; and it wasn't entirely unpleasant. She smiled to herself thinking of James's unopened tube of zit cream and laughing about it with Alice last night.

She looked around the room and an amused smile twitched on her lips. Sirius, Remus, and Peter were all still sound asleep and snoring. The curtains around Frank's bed were closed, but she assumed he was there. She decided she might as well get dressed and ready for her last day as a boy. Her last day not having to worry about bras, or periods, or shaving her legs, or any other girly things. As she was just taking off her t-shirt, the bathroom door opened.

Frank was standing there, wet-haired, with a towel around his waist and clothes in hand. He saw Lily standing there getting dressed and quickly went to his trunk to pick up the boxers he'd forgotten to bring into the bathroom with him. He shot Lily a glare and went back into the bathroom, slamming the door.

Lily was a little startled. What was wrong with Frank this morning? She looked at herself in the mirror. James's hair was sticking up worse than usual and it looked like she had a knot. She sat down to brush the hair, waiting for Frank to come out of the bathroom. She might as well shower so that James's hair would be clean when he got back to his body tonight.

James woke up and sat up in bed, reaching over automatically for Lily's glasses. After today he'd never need to wear them again. Yes, it'd definitely be good to return home to the land of no bras, no bleeding, no more girl talk, and lots of Quidditch. He never wanted to be tethered to the ground and unable to fly again. It was like being in prison.

He looked around and saw Alice was dressed and sitting on the end of Lily's bed, humming. He feared the worst. If she was this happy, she might want to kill him. Or maybe she'd already poisoned him while he was asleep or something?

"Alice?" he asked hesitantly.

She smiled. "Good morning. I've got a message from Lily. We had a lovely talk last night."

Uh-oh, he thought, this cannot be good. She used the word "lovely."

"She had a message she wanted me to give you. She said that if she so much as suspects that you've done or are doing anything inappropriate while her body is in your possession, she will personally see that you will no longer have the ability to even attempt to produce children and even going to the bathroom will be quite painful. I told her I'd help keep an eye on you and gladly help her if it came to that." Alice's voice was much too cheery.

James winced. He didn't doubt the validity of the threat for a moment.

"So, what are you going to do today?" Alice asked, smoothly changing topics.

"I don't know. Lily and I hadn't really considered anything past her surviving yesterday's Quidditch match," he said truthfully.

"I think we, you and I, should maybe talk," Alice said. She looked over her shoulder and saw a couple of the other girls starting to wake up. "Come on, Lily, let's go to the bathroom and I'll brush your hair." Alice took his hand and led him into the bathroom. "I have to know, Potter. I have to. Why? Why switch places? Why switch places with Lily? Why not tell anybody?"

James shrugged. "Because. Because it seemed like it'd be a good idea at the time. A way to understand each other better. A way to prove who has it easier." He shrugged again. "I figured it would either make us or break us."

Alice studied him closely. She muttered to herself, "Merlin. I'd swear you were Lily. It's so uncanny. Looking at my best friend, hearing her voice, and then having my brain say: wait a minute, that's not her. She told you it wasn't her." Alice shook her head, reminding herself that this was Potter and not Lily that she was talking to. "Make or break you?"

"Alice, I don't want to get mushy. I care about her. A heck of a lot I care about her. She thinks I'm conceited, arrogant, stupid, and an all-around prat. I thought maybe…she'd see another side of me for once."

"She probably has," Alice said humorously.

James shot her an angry glare. He was being serious and here she was making jokes. "I meant that."

"I know. She doesn't think you're as bad as all that. She knows you're making an effort, but…Potter, if you have to change yourself to get someone to like you, then do they really like you? Is it really worth it? That was always part of Lily's I-don't-care-how-I-look-because-it-doesn't-matter philosophy. She figured that if anybody really cared about her, what she looked like wouldn't matter at all. You know, 'no man is worth your tears and the one who is won't make you cry'? All that kind of stuff is really her. I don't know if it's a façade or if she really means it, but I think she does. I don't know if I agree with all of it. But this is Lily how I've always known her. She isn't going to change anytime soon. You don't have to change who you are to get someone to like you. I'm not saying she likes you the way you are now, but if you ever really went out and you had to act like a good boy and be someone you weren't, you'd be miserable." She shrugged again. "I guess I'm rambling, but do you get the point? Things are hopeless."

James wasn't so sure. "People don't stay the same person for seven years, Alice. I'm not the same person I was last week. I'm not the same person I was a month ago, or a year ago, and in a month I'll be a different person again. Not because anybody else wants me to be, but because I change. Everybody else does. We can't help it. We learn new things and new experiences and we think of things differently." Now he was rambling. "Look, I've got to get dressed. I'm going to meet Lily in the common room."

"I'll get clothes out of her trunk for you," offered Alice. She went out into the dormitory and pulled clothes out for James to wear. She came back to the bathroom and open the door to hand the clothes through. "Here you go."

"Thanks," James said, shutting the door and locking it. He showered, got dressed, and stood in front of the mirror to brush out his hair. He left it long and pretty, but refrained from putting any makeup on. It was a shame though; he thought that a little bit of makeup made Lily look even better than she usually did. He brushed his teeth gathered up the pajamas and went out into the dorm. He saw that Alice was talking to one of the other girls.

He went down to the common room and found Lily waiting for him on one of the couches.

"Good morning," she said, smiling.

"Good morning," he replied.

There was an awkward silence.

"So, er, breakfast?" he asked.

"Sure. I'm starved." Together they left the common room and went down to breakfast, not bothering to wait for any of their friends.

As he buttered his bread, James asked, "So, what do you want to do today?"

"I don't know. I haven't really thought about it much. I don't have anything schedule for today, just homework." For once, she felt like homework could wait.

"Same here."

They watched as Sirius and Peter wandered into the Great Hall and took seats not far from them. Sirius immediately began flirting with the sixth year girl sitting across the table from him.

"Wanna go to Hogsmeade?" offered James.

"I've been there twice this weekend. Think of something else," Lily said, reaching over and taking a plate of eggs to spoon some onto her plate.

"How about flying?" he asked, hopefully.

"Not a chance. I pity my poor muscles that much at least."

James looked a little said. "Okay, how about swimming?"

"Not in your condition," she said firmly. She did not want James using any tampons. The thought of him doing that was just disturbing.

James was thoroughly exasperated and just about out of ideas. "Then what do you suggest?"

"I don't know," she said, rolling her eyes.

A thought hit James. "How about a walk around the grounds?"

Lily consented. Consulting the ceiling, she remarked approvingly, "The weather looks like it ought to be fair today."

"Fair but chilly," cautioned James. "Don't let it fool you."

"I know. I'm not stupid. I grew up with this weather too," she retorted.

They finished their breakfast in peace and in the end decided not to go all the way back upstairs to get their cloaks. Lily regretted this decision almost as soon as she stepped outside, but didn't say anything.

They walked side by side, admiring the autumn beauty. There was a certain beauty to the starkness of the trees and the way the air was just so crisp. They circled the lake probably five times before at last deciding that slightly after midmorning was definitely long enough and that they needed to find something else to do. Much to James's surprise, the tree they rested under was the one he'd talked to Remus under.

James leaned his back against the tree and Lily followed suit. After all that walking, maybe a nap was in order.