Chapter 14 – Final month

A/N: House points to anyone who can find the Buffy references.

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O.W.L.s. Those dreaded O.W.L.s. Only two weeks left and the whole of the fifth year had finally settled down to study. Even James and Sirius had buckled down and were studying hard. Only one girl refused to study. A red-haired, green-eyed, hot-tempered, Prefect named Lily Evans.

Lily walked into the common room after dinner one evening to find all of the fifth year studying. Lily rolled her eyes and flopped down in her favourite chair. Lily got out her new book and was about to begin reading when Remus said, "Aren't you going to study Lily? O.W.L.s are in two weeks."

"Nope I'm not studying. I don't see why you guys are so worried. It's only O.W.L.s."

Carly rolled her eyes and asked, "Are you ever going to study Li?"

"Have you ever seen me study before?"

"Good point."

"Hang on why is that a good point?" asked Sirius.

"Care to explain Carly?" asked Lily.

"Lily has never studied in her life and yet she still comes near the top of the year every time," Carly explained.

The Marauders stared at Lily with slackened jaws. "Now boys," said Lily, "you can close your mouths and return to your studying and I'll go back to my book."

Lily smiled and went back to her book happily oblivious to the fact that four boys were staring at the back of her head. Carly rolled her eyes and snapped her fingers in front of the Marauders faces. They shook their heads and looked at her. "You're staring," she said simply. "Now work."

--- One week later ---

Lily walked into the Gryffindor common room and slumped into a chair at the table where Carly and the Marauders were studying. Lily put her head on the table and just watched them work. "Lily you're being really distracting just sitting there," said Peter.

"Peter's right," added Carly, "Lily if you're going to sit there you're going to have to study."

"Fine," Lily replied and got out her Astronomy book.

Five minutes later ---

Lily slammed her Astronomy book shut. "I can't do this," she said exasperated.

"Do what?" James asked without looking up from his Herbology book.

"This." Lily pointed at her book.

"What?"

"Study!"

"Oh."

Lily opened her book again and started flipping pages.

Ten minutes later ---

"How much longer are you guys going to study tonight?" Lily asked.

"Lily are you going to do any work tonight?" asked Carly.

"Don't answer a question with a question."

Carly raised an eyebrow at Lily. Lily sighed. "I can't study Car. It's too boring."

Carly reached into her bag and pulled out a book. "Then read this."

"What is it?"

"A novel by a wizard author."

Lily looked at the book interested and went to sit on her chair by the fireplace.

--- After O.W.L.s ---

The Marauders, Lily and Carly walked down into the grounds after their last exam Defense against the Dark Arts. They all sat in the shade of an oak tree near the lake and began talking about the exam.

"How did everyone go with the werewolf question? Moony?" asked James. Sirius sniggered.

"I think I got all of the signs of a werewolf," replied Remus.

"I only got three of the identifying features," Peter said seriously.

Lily looked at him incredulously. "You're kidding. You run around…" Lily stopped abruptly and saw James subtly shaking his head. Remus, Sirius and Peter looked at her in shock. Lily quickly glanced at Carly but luckily for her Carly wasn't paying attention to anything going on around her as she had fallen asleep in the sun.

"When and how did you find out Lily?" Remus asked softly.

Lily looked at James and he nodded for her to answer.

"The night before Easter Holidays started. I was feeling violently angry at James so I was looking for something that would get him into serious trouble. I overheard James and Sirius talking about going out that night and I decided to follow. I waited that night for you three to come down, oh by the way you really should be quieter when you're under James invisibility cloak, then I followed them out to the Whomping Willow and I saw them change into animals. I watched you go into the Willow and then come back out with a wolf. That's when everything clicked into place."

"Oh."

"Yeah."

--- Last day of school ---

James snuck into Transfiguration and sat at the back of the classroom.

"Mr Potter, so glad you could join us," Professor McGonagall said. James smiled half-heartedly and sank down in his seat.

"Now this is your last class for the year but everyone is going to contribute," continued McGonagall. "Potter you can go first."

"Uh… E."

McGonagall turned back to the board and muttered, "They always go for the e."

--- Platform 9¾ ---

"Lily you ready?" asked Carly.

Lily sighed. "Yeah I guess so."

Carly nodded. "Come on. We have to take Floo powder to get home."

"Have a nice summer!" Lily and Carly yelled to the Marauders and then they were gone.

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POLL: Who would make a better Romeo – James or Remus?

SO FAR:

James – 7

Remus - 12