Chapter Thirty-One: N.E.W.Ts

A few weeks went by and nothing changed about James. When Lily wasn't in class she sat by his bed side and did her homework. Now that the N.E.W.Ts were mere weeks away she read aloud to him, hoping he could hear her and memorize the information given. Sirius, Remus and Sarah visited often but Peter tended to stay away, seeming to be upset about both James' condition and the relationship between Sirius and Sarah.

"Just give him time," Remus said when Sirius brought it up.

One day Lily was reading from her charms notes to James when Sirius and Sarah came in.

"How's he doin'?" Sirius asked

Lily sighed. "He seems to be getting better but-"

Sarah gasped. "Look!" she said.

Lily and Sirius looked at James who was moving very slightly. Slowly his eyes opened, but only to little slits.

"James?" Lily whispered tears of happiness in her eyes.

"Hey," he said back in a whisper so low they could barely hear him.

"Oh, James!" Lily said loudly and she flung her arms around him as best as possible. "Don't you dare scare me like that again James!"

"I'm sorry," he said.

Lily kissed him swiftly and lightly on the lips and said, "Don't say sorry. It wasn't technically your fault was it?" She sat up and watched him.

"I better go get Madame Pomfrey," Sirius said and he rushed off to get the nurse. Upon returning, Madame Pomfrey ushered the three out telling them to come back a little later.

"Welcome back mate," Sirius said to James before leaving.

Hours later they were back in the hospital wing, this time with Remus. Lily had insisted that she test James. "You never know what'll be on the test," she told them.

After getting about the thirtieth question wrong, Sirius said, "Give it a rest, Lily, it seems nothing sunk into that thick head of his."

"I wouldn't be talking, Sirius," James replied.

"Yeah let him rest," Remus agreed. "There's loads we have to talk about." Just then though, Remus' watch beeped. "Oh…I better go. Lots of work to do before the N.E.W.Ts." He got up and left.

When Sirius was sure he was gone he said, "You know I don't think we should trust Remus so much any more."

"Why not?" Lily asked, placing some of the text books in her book bag.

"'Cause he seemed to know an awful lot about the attack on James."

James looked at Sirius. "You don't think that Remus has anything to do with it do you?"

Sirius thought for a minute and sighed, "I don't know, but it's possible."

They were all silent, mulling over this bit of information. Then James asked, trying to change the subject, "So, you guys never told me how you two got together."

Sarah blushed. "Well all you really need to know is that I opened up my eyes and saw the real Sirius."

James laughed, "You mean the dimwitted one or am I mistaken?"

Sirius smiled, "No! She saw the gorgeous one!" Both Lily and James snorted with laughter. "Way to be full of yourself Sirius," James replied.

By the end of the week James was out of the hospital wing, but still on medication. Now the pressure was on for him to study for the N.E.W.Ts which loomed ever closer.

"They'll probably give you a break, I mean, you were hospitalized," Sirius said.

"But this is the only time I can take them and I need to take them. I need to get a good job," James pointed out and Sirius couldn't argue with that.

On the day of the N.E.W.Ts, James woke up early enough to get ready and eat a hardy meal, even though his stomach did feel like worms were squirming inside it. Lily was worse off. She seemed confident enough but kept reading over her notes anyway.

"You can never be too sure," she said with a nervous laugh.

Finally they were back in the Great hall where the tables were pushed away and individual desks were in their place. James sat down where he was told and stared at the back of his test.

"This is the written portion of Transfiguration," Professor McGonagall said. "When I tell you, you will flip the paper over and begin. Remember there is a no-cheat spell placed over each test and quill, so don't even think about trying to cheat." She looked at everyone sternly. Then she picked up a timer and flipped it over. "You may begin."

By now James was so nervous he felt like he was about to vomit. Flipping over the test he looked it over real quick, and then sighed. He could do this.

The rest of the week was similar, except for the times when they had the practical exams. They were each called in individually and tested on how well they could perform with their wands. Finally when the last test, the written potion exam, was over James let out a sigh. All that was left now was to wait. Lily continuously looked through her notes to check answers and wanted to discuss the question but no one paid much attention to her. Not even Remus who usually had the same habits.

"I just want to let this one wait," he said. James appreciated the end to testing. Now he and his friends relaxed and watched the days go by, till the last day drew near.