Of Beginnings and Endings and B.S.

A/N- Well here's the next chappy! I hope you like it… And it does seem like I have a bit of time huh? Three chapters in one day! Well TajM you better write number three! Aren't those voices in your head such geniuses?

P.S. I put marks where there might be something some people may not know… at the end there is a foot note on it… so read it if that applies to you!

Dedicated to the HMS Marauders- and oh to all the people at HMS who I played B.S. with- which was my muse for the following dialogue! ;) (The Marauders, BS, AG, AP, HL, TC and lots of other people…)

"Oh B.S.!"

"What did you say to me Peter?" James asked raising his eyebrows.

"I said B.S. You are nothing anymore Potter! NOTHING!" Peter insisted.

"Are you sure of that Peter?" Lily asked him.

"Come on Prongs, give it up, there's no hope for you now! This is the end!" he crackled like a mad man.

"Well James I'm sorry I guess he's caught you." Lily muttered sympathetically to James. "I guess this truly is the end for James Potter."

"Well then Pete I guess you might as well flip up that card and prove me wrong."

"I will Potter I will…" Peter repeated.

Peter flipped up the card on the top of the deck.

"See! I told you! Ah-ha!" Peter cried gallantly.

"Peter," Remus said shaking his head. "Look at the card."

"It's the Ace! It's the Ace!" Peter shrieked joyfully (more like he was chosen Miss Universe instead of winning a card game… which just so happens he actually didn't even win…)

"Exactly Peter, and what card did you put down right before James?" Remus asked more like he was explaining to an extremely emotional toddler that two plus two just so happens to be four.

"The king!"

"And what comes after the king?"

"The Ace but James put down the… oh… wait….urgh…" Peter groaned loudly.

Lily and the Marauders were sitting on James's bed in the boy's dormitory one week later playing a very rousing game of B.S.

"This is my victory this time, sorry boys," Lily smiled placing her one card in the middle with only three cards remaining in her hand (where as they had an average of ten… and Peter double that).

"Okay then Evans but I'm not doing so badly myself," said Sirius placing a card in the middle.

Lily raised an eyebrow and stared at him for a second and shook her head, "Path-et-ic Black- Path-et-ic… B.S."

"Nuh-uh."

"Uh-huh."

"Nuh-uh"

"Uh-huh"

"Nuh-huh! Nuh-huh! Nuh-huh!"

"Oh shut it Black- I'll just flip the card." Lily muttered. A ten of hearts was what Mr. Black himself placed on top.

"Oh Bull Sh-" Sirius started.

"Sirius," Lily said disapprovingly.

"Sorry… I mean Shiatsu! I love Shiatsus they are the world's cutest dogs… and boy I know dogs quite well! I mean my name happens to mean dog star… Shiatsus, shiatsus, shiatsus!" Sirius ranted on- by fear that Lily was fingering her wand. God she knew some really painful curses after all that library research. Did they find out how to spy on the Slytherins? No not really, but was Lily even more armed and dangerous? Unfortunately for them yes.

"Grow up Sirius, God, it's only on extra card!" Remus muttered placing a card in the middle.

"B.S. Remus," Sirius shot back.

"Shi-take mushrooms…" Remus grumbled picking his card back up. "How the heck did you know that wasn't a three?

"Because Moony ole buddy, ole pal, I happen to have all the threes!" Sirius said arrogantly leaning back.

"Wow Sirius was acting smart for a second," James said undoubtedly impressed.

-Ten Minutes Later-

Lily was act one card with James tied with one card as well. It was Lily's turn next and she was supposed to place a 5 next.

"This is too easy." Lily said superiorly placing face-down her last card. "I guess I win boys."

"Not so fast love," James said smugly.

"What was that Jamsie?"

"Nothing love- but I don't think you've won."

"What are you talking about Potter?"

"Sorry Lily Flower but I have to disagree that that is a five."

"James I don't think you want to do that," Lily said eying him.

"Well I think I do." She leaned over and kissed him lightly on the lips.

"Are you sure Jamsie?"

James groaned, and contemplated for a second, before saying loudly and quickly (so not to back up on what he chose), "B.S.!"

Well it seemed that Lily's-really-easy-card happened to be a ten, not a five.

"Darn you Potter," Lily muttered picking up and starting to organize a large pile of cards… around twenty some…

"And that leaves me James Potter with the win!" he yelled showing them all his six and then placing it in the middle and kissing Lily back.

"Oh yuck get a room!" Bellowed Sirius searching under the bed for some popcorn…

Their deal was that before when they were arguing- that was a spectator's sport… and same with whatever the deal was now.

It had been a very difficult week for James- and life was slowly returning to 'normal' or as normal as it was possible.

The death of his parents was a shock that went through his system leaving him beyond weak.

His parents.

His mum and dad.

He couldn't comprehend anything anymore and it was the most horrible feeling- pure emptiness. He couldn't scream- it wouldn't mean enough. But when he saw Lily come up to the Astronomy Tower barely fifteen minutes later… everything came back into focus. She brought everything together…

Walking him back to the commentary later that night he and Sirius embraced like brothers… and he knew that everything was tying together.

He missed them more then anything… it was unbearable to think they would never be there to see him graduate from Hogwarts… to see him grow up… They would never reach the retirement they were always joking about… his wife or the children his mum said she would spoil beyond rotten… they were no age to die… they still had so much more to live.

But he couldn't say he wasn't aware of the risk… of the threat that as aurors they were in so much danger… that they too themselves were prepared- and knew what was most likely to happen, and were in a way prepared to die for it. They were Potters after all.

And they were together until the end. It wasn't much of a comfort but it was one. And another was Lily. Just her being there smiling at him or squeezing his hand in comfort whenever she thought would be necessary- speaking in a quite voice when it was…. And know that he himself wanted to keep everything as normal as possible, and she didn't force him to do otherwise. She joked like usual… and he knew, he just knew… that everything eventually will be better, alright, never fully- but as close as possible.

"Okay, but we are still playing for seconds!" Lily shouted breaking into his thoughts causing him to smile; she has such a fiery personality, didn't she? Then turning to look at him, she added, "James it's almost seven."

"Oh yah…"

He was supposed to meet Professor Dumbledore at seven fifteen, to discuss his inheritance… He really didn't want to talk about it yet… it was too soon… he didn't really care to think about it now... And his thoughts were once again interrupted (thankfully) by Lily grasping his hand once again.

"Are you going to be okay?"

"Yes fine, now are you going to be okay? It's dangerous business being in the same dormitory as Sirius Black you know…"

"Stop stalling now James, I'm a big girl I'll be okay… now it's you little buddies you should be worried about. I'm going to kick their buts for second place!"

"Got it," he said smiling and pecking her on the cheek.

As he closed the door he heard Lily laugh her 'evil demented processed' laugh and the other Marauders groan and he could swear he hear Peter whimper…

The Marauders had welcomed Lily with open arms. Sirius himself said that she was ideal for him and fit in perfectly and-if-he-broke-up-with-her-he-would-bring-it-upon-himself-to-curse-him-into-next-week. He said she kept him in check which was more then most of them could ever accomplish.

Walking into Professor Dumbledore's office saying the password 'Every-flavored beans', he saw that the Professor was already there sitting on his desk to welcome him and get started quickly… as if there was something more important to get to.

"Good afternoon Mister Potter."

"Professor," James nodded.

"Once again Miser Potter I would like to suppress my deepest sorrow on the death of your parents once again. I am fortunate enough to have known them enough to know that they were extraordinary people."

"Thank you Professor."

"Upsettingly, there are a few things to discuss. Your parents' will reads that you inherit the entire fortune in their Gringotts account despite an amount set aside for Mister Black. Other then that your home in Gordric's Hallow is also now in you name."

"Yes Professor."

"And other then that there are a few heirlooms and such, that were placed in safe keeping and is meant to be passed onto you. Your mother's wish was to have this passed onto you as well."

Her ring- the engagement ring that her father had given to her when they were twenty. The same ring that had the same circular diamond that was also given to his mother from his father, and given from his grandfather to his grandmother. He remembered seeing that ring on her long thing finger, on her elegant hand, that no matter when he would look had blisters on the sides from grasping a wand roughly. She had such skill one to match that Potter skill from his father. His father used to love that.

"And along with that there are the contents of this watch- with I will ask for you to look over in private please- and until you see them guard closely."

And he slowly slid over a box to
James, the size of a shoe box roughly; an antique styled box carved with gold embellishing on the cherry wood, and in the front was a detailed depiction of a lion.

"And now James I think it's time to explain something a bit more thoroughly to you."

Thanks everyone who reviewed sixteen!

And THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU all who reviewed the last chapter!

Spygirl4747- Yay for Hearts day! (A perfect opportunity for me to get stuff from my parents…) Oh well… stuff is stuff

Katana-Babe- And I love writing about Sirius! Thanks for the awesome review! I never really like HG either (I thought it was going to happen but didn't really care for it)… but didn't the way Rowling write it make you just love it?

Fairy-GYAKUTENNO-MEGAMI- THANKS SO MUCH!

Ericame4- Thanks ever so much!

An LDS dazed and confused- THANKS! ) I like this smiley…

Oreoclouds029- Yes I totally agree with what you said about the ships! About Fleur, sure I still think she is an annoying pain… but at least I know that she's with Bill for the real deal… which helps a bit but not much… Thanks so much for what you said about my story! It makes me feel all squirmy inside… Which is a GOOD thing… maybe squirmy is not the right words… makes me all happy-ish:)

Siriusly-Pranked- Miss you tons and tons too Kelso! Didn't the beginning remind you of better times? Behind the curtains of a certain play perhaps ;)?

Steelo- Quite true! Quite true! Moms… hmm…. Oh well! Thanks so much!

Cylobaby- No you can't be! He's mine! Okay maybe he's Lily's… okay maybe he's not even real… Darn it! LOL! Thanks for the review

Kayane Joel- Thanks so much and I hope I did!

If you can answer these questions it can totally help the process!

1.) So what do you think of the first eighteen chapters? I'm thinking if you took the time to read them all it must not be that bad… How does the plot flow? What about the development of characters, and everything? Is it slow, to fast… boring?

2.) Is this overly cliché?

3.) I love writing dialogue! Is it readable and entertaining?

4.) Do you know any non-sequel post-Hogwarts LJ stories that are cool? I've never read one!

5.) I know that I don't exactly have anything that was mentioned in book six in this story… is that horrible and will you continue reading? I don't think I will add the Slughorne… he just doesn't fit in…. but will that bother any of the readers?

6.) How is my updating time?

7.) Lastly will you read my new story? And continue reading this one?

Dun, dun, dun… yikes! I know it wasn't very good… but I wasn't sure how to make it work… yes they were murdered and there is more to be explained! So anyways other then that I hope it wasn't too confusing and that the emotions not too plastic… And the plot continues! I hope it's not too cliché!

Also please leave a review! And it would be lovely if you can RandR my new LJ story 'A Quirk of Fate'! Yes believe it or not… another one!

A review for me,

Would help me so much in the updating process! Hehe :-D

Like always,

TajM

P.S. - I found the space in the beginning hilarious- well I guess every might not get it… :(

Oh well!

So if you don't happen to know what type of game B.S. is I am VERY sry… because the beginning of the chappy more or less would tend on being very confusing, huh? Well B.S. is a card game were any number of people play by placing card face down in order. The first person places an ace, second a one, and so on. Let's say you don't have one- you lie and put down whatever other card you have. If someone 'catches' your lie they can say 'B.S' and make you take all the cards in the pile- but if you were telling the truth they take all the cards. The first one without any cards left WINS! It's a really fun game… Sry for the confusion… :)