Well, here it is my lovelies. The last chapter. Weighing in at 120 reviews. This chapter is dedicated to aaaall of my beautiful reviewers. I couldn't have done it without you!
sesshomaruhasafluffytail: XP
SlashyKitty: I had fun with Remus taunting James. But not nearly as much fun as Sirius shutting Remus up. Mweheh. But yes, the story has come to an end, and we must needs have an epilogue. I think you'll like the epilogue, though… I had lots of fun writing it.
gatermage: Sorry. But my next fic has just started, and it can be viewed as the future of this fic if you like! Hate to disappoint you, but I'm not going to give up James's innocence quite yet. It's so kyoot, after all.
Rambie: Stinger-filled dogs? o.0 Scaaaaaary.
uknowho: Well, we knew she couldn't hold out forever…
Miranda: They are precious, aren't they? So much fun to make them be awkward.
Becky Silver Black: Before this one, my best was 37 reviews, for Boy Who Lived. But you should remember, this may be the end of one fic, but that only means I'm about to move on to another! And in this case, the other is the seeeequel! Whee! -absconds with the sweets to go get a sugar high!-
sexyteluguchica: I don't know if I'll do a sequel for this one. I'm not sure where I'd take it, and if I don't have a definite plan beforehand, I generally end up abandoning a fic.
shayacatalystscifigirl: Hmm… I think I'll buy SeamusxDean… I never considered that pairing before. And I'll have to look at Icarus's work. But I'm glad you like my fic! I'm just sorry that it's ending. However, it makes me happy to end a fic while I still find it interesting. It means people are more likely to enjoy it. And I have plans for future fics. So we'll see.
harrypotterisawful: Okay, so… first off, I'm not sure why you're reading my fic in the first place if you don't like Harry Potter. It just so happens that I do like the books, and as they're designed for children, you don't really need much character depth or development. Second, stand by while I analyze your review for grammar and logical consistency. Calculating grade… 50. Fix the punctuation and we'll bump it up to a passing grade, but the gaps in your logic weaken your argument by at least thirty points.
BookwormRose: Yay! Laughter! That's what I like to hear! I hope this chapter will at least make you giggle some. And yes, there will be a new story. Maybe two, I won't be sure until I've had the first one going for a bit.
Laurie: I'm chocolate? Better not tell me that. I might eat myself, and then how would I type? But I'm glad I'm your fix!
S.c.ou.s.er.4.li.f.e: I'm lovin it, too. I've said it before, but I had lots and lots of fun writing the epilogue. I enjoyed writing all the chapters, but for some reason this one made me particularly grin.
CaptainSatsuma: All good things must end, I'm afraid. I'm glad you thought they were sweet, though. It was much fun writing them.
And now, for the last time in this fic, not mine, slash warning, and please review/flame.
The Gryffindor common room was filled with cheerful conversations and floating pink hearts. Valentines Day had dawned bright and sunny, lifting already-high spirits. Students murmured and giggled in pairs and in groups, more than ready for the Hogsmeade trip a little later in the day.
Peter sat at his chessboard in the corner, surveying the room while he waited for his turn. A group of girls caught his eye as they sat sullenly spying on Remus and Sirius. Peter's two friends were oblivious, tangled together in a chair and gazing into each other's eyes. The rat-animagus found it amazing how many girls had suddenly gone into deep mourning when Gryffindor's two most eligible bachelors had come out of the closet—both literally and figuratively.
It had been amusing watching James and Lily come up with that plan. Although another day or two and Peter would have gotten them together on his own. The cinnamon-scented ink had been a stroke of genius, if he did say so himself. So simple, and a logical present for Remus, who was always running out. Sirius's reaction had been beautiful. And Remus had started to get curious about the journal. The plan had been to leave the little book open to an incriminating page where the werewolf couldn't help but see it.
Inwardly, Peter sighed. He'd had a bet with himself as to which one of them would crack first, but James and Lily had taken away his chance to find out. Speaking of James and Lily… It only took a brief scan of the room to spot them. They were sitting together on a couch, looking through a photo album. Lily's cheek rested against James's shoulder, and she had several green orchids fastened in her hair, taken from the huge bouquet of the exotic flowers the bespectacled boy had given her for Valentine's. Peter noted with amusement that they were also both wearing the pink fuzzy slippers.
Plotting to get those two together had been much more difficult than Sirius and Remus. The two 'puppies,' as James had taken to calling them, were simple. Pawns, or perhaps rooks. They were both strongly influenced by their canine alter egos, and went straight for what they wanted, just like rooks. The only thing holding them back was a fear of sacrificing themselves for naught.
James, on the other hand, was a knight. He moved indirectly and often hovered around his goal, looking for the best approach. Really he was the perfect foil for Lily's queen, able to go swiftly in any direction to avoid being captured. The trick had been getting them out of their habits and showing them that they had things in common. The fluffy pink slippers had been a start. Lily may not have realized it, but the fact that James was secure enough to actually wear the girlie things had impressed her and eroded some of her mental image of him as an arrogant prat. And the fact that Lily had an identical pair guaranteed that James would wear them every chance he got.
It had cost Peter an entire box of chocolate frogs to bribe Lily's friend Rory to sneak the slippers into the redhead's pile of gifts without an explanation of why it was so important that she get them. The arguing had stopped when he'd accidentally let slip about Sirius and Remus. Apparently there had been a school-wide betting pool devoted to who would finally get Remus on the dating scene. His tip had helped the quirky girl collect the entire pot, which she'd cheerfully split with Peter, despite his protests.
The slippers had broken the ice, though, and enabled Peter to move on to less subtle plotting. It had taken him forever to bring James's masterpiece to Lily's attention, but he didn't think she'd seen him. The portrait was very good, though, and the obvious loving attention that had gone into it had dealt a death-blow to the redhead's defenses. The kiss and run—and the look on Prongs's face as Lily ran away—had left Peter grinning for hours. That exchange had gone almost exactly as he'd planned it, even down to the reversal of roles as Lily asked James out.
One bit of the exchange had puzzled him, though. He hadn't known that Lily liked orchids, or ever thought about figuring out her favorite flower at all. James said Rory had told him… Peter turned his scrutiny to his chess opponent, who was biting her lower lip in thought as she considered her move. Maybe he wasn't the only plotter here. And maybe she'd be interested in helping him with future plans. For that matter, she was awfully pretty. It was just on the tip of his tongue to ask if she had any plans for the day when she looked up and met his eyes with a smile before announcing her move.
"Bishop to King two. Checkmate."
So, be honest, who actually guessed that Peter was masterminding it all? I tried to drop hints throughout the story, but I'm not sure anyone actually knew. Dance, puppets, dance!
And in case anyone noticed, yes I have used the name Rory before. I really adore that name, and I have several characters who use it. I'm not quite sure how she wormed her way into this fic, but… I've got no complaints! This Rory isn't necessarily the same Rory who appears in Boy Who Lived, if you want to interpret her that way, feel free!
And this story is ended. Le sigh. What a pity. But! I've just started the sequel to Boy Who Lived: Take Two! It's called, creatively, Take Two: Boy Who Lived. Reeeeeeead it!