Lily was searching for a book in the library before the upcoming NEWTS test, when she heard a slightly familiar voice from behind her.

"Hey Lily. How are things with you?" She turned around and saw Charlie Kingston, her ex-boyfriend standing behind her smiling. She smiled politely.

"Fine. What are you doing here?"

"Just doing some interviews for the Ministry. And missing you like crazy." He stepped closer and she took two steps back.

"I don't think that's a good idea Charlie. I have another boyfriend now."

"Ah…Yes… You and Potter. I heard rumours about that. Do you actually expect me to believe you would rather have a trouble-making prat like James Potter as a boyfriend then me?"

"Yes actually I would rather have James then you. At least he knows how to have fun sometimes." She had a dangerous gleam in her eye. Charlie held his hands up and smiled impertinently.

"Sorry. I didn't know that you really care for that prat."

"James is not…" she broke off when she felt someone drape an arm around her shoulder. She looked up at James. His mouth was smiling but she could see that his eyes were alight with anger. She draped an arm around his waist and leant in closer.

"Don't get mad and do something you'll regret James." She whispered in his ear. He smiled down at her, the anger lifting for a second, but was replaced just as quick when he turned back to Charlie.

"Nice to see you again. Not so nice to see you with my girlfriend." He said frostily.

"Is that the best you can come up with Potter?" Charlie replied, just as frostily.

"No I could hurt you… but I wouldn't want you being embarrassed that you got beat by someone two years younger."

"I know a lot more spells than you do Potter." He raised his chin in challenge.

"I wasn't talking about spells Kingston. Stay away from my girlfriend." He warned before walking away with Lily still in his arms. When they were out of the library, Lily with the library book she'd checked out under her arm James pulled her against a wall and stared down at her patiently. She looked up at him questioningly.

"What was that about Lil?" he asked her running a hand down her cheek. She leant in to his hand and closed her eyes for a second.

"Charlie wanting to say hi. And to ask me what I was doing with you."

"What else?"

"He asked me if I really expected him to believe that I would rather be with you than him."

"And what did you say?"

"What the hell do you think I said?" she asked looking up at him anger sparkling in her eyes. He smiled down at her and captured her mouth with his. They kissed quietly for a few minutes before James backed away. He leant his forehead against hers.

"I'm guessing you said me."

"You guess right. I'm hungry. Can we sneak down to the kitchens and get something to eat?" she asked smiling charmingly up at him.

"Yep. Let's go." Walking away with his arm wrapped around her waist James felt like the happiest man alive.

Lily opened her letter and looked around before reading it. She noticed that most of the other seventh years in the great Hall had received letters almost identical to hers. She pondered it for a minute then whooped with delight. James looked up from his own letter and looked at her, his eyebrows raised. She wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I did it. I got all the NEWTS I needed for a job at St Mungo's. I start work next year. Oh I'm so happy."

"Congratulations Lily." James, Sirius, Remus, Henriette, Anna, Carrie and Samantha all voiced their congratulations. She waited for more happy exclamations from her friends. The next person to let out a cheer was Henriette.

"Yes. I did it. I did it. I did it Lil."

"What?"

"I got all my NEWTS if I want to be an Auror. And I got an offer from the Ministry of Magic."

"Congratulations." Lily threw her arms around her best friend.

"Me too." James said quietly. Lily turned to him, her face registering shock.

"What? You never told me you wanted to be an Auror. I thought you put in for a Quidditch position."

"I'm sorry Lily. But I really want to do something against Lord Voldemort. Besides I have Sirius to look after me. And he has me."

"Well that makes me feel a hell of a lot better." She turned away from him, trying to mask the tears that threatened to spill over.

'I won't let him see me cry. This is a happy time for him. He got the job he wanted.' She smiled through her tears at Carrie who had been sitting next to her and was the only one who could see Lily's silent weeping. She waved away the comforting arm that Carrie was about to offer.

"Well I got into St Mungo's as well." She heard Anna announce. Then Samantha announced that she had been offered a job in America to study the magical creatures there. Remus announced that he had been offered a scholarship to learn to be a DADA teacher. Everyone already knew what Sirius had chosen for his career. Lily looked up at Carrie, the only one who hadn't announced her job. She and Carrie locked eyes and Carrie signalled that she didn't want to say. Lily turned back to her other friends.

"So who wants me to announce a Hogsmeade weekend to celebrate?" she asked drawing attention away from the letters.

"Yesss." Sirius pumped a fist in the air. "I guess it does pay to be friends with the Head Boy and the Head Girl." He stood up and did a victory dance. Lily laughed at him, avoiding James' eye. She knew that eventually they would have to talk about it but until then she would rather not think about it. When the bell rang signalling the start of classes Lily hurriedly gathered her bag up and walked out of the Great Hall with Carrie in tow. James sighed and stared after her. The rest of her friends smiled sympathetically at him then walked out of the Great Hall. Sirius and Remus stayed behind.

"Whets up with Lily Prongs?" asked Sirius. When James remained quiet Remus spoke up.

"I'm guessing she's peeved that you lied to her. And also that you are about to start the most dangerous job any person could go into. Besides being a spy of course."

"I told her I was sending letters to all the Quidditch clubs around England. And she believed me."

"Nothing you can do about it now James. We should get to class." Remus and Sirius hauled James to his feet and had to practically drag him away from the Great Hall.

The next lesson where Lily and James shared a class was Transfiguration. He tried to sit next to her, but she the stare she sent him was icily threatening. He chose to sit behind her. A lot safer. Sirius sat next to James and Henriette sat next to Lily. Halfway through the class James sent Lily a note, she unfolded it under the table and quickly read it.

Lily,

I'm really sorry I didn't tell you. Please forgive me. Talk to me. Please don't shut me out.

James

She wrote a quick response.

Talk to you after class. Maybe.

Lily

James sighed, crumpled the note and transfigured it into a lily, then threw it gently on her desk. He watched as she carefully picked it up and sniffed it. She put it under the table and it rested on her lap the rest of the lesson. When the bell rang and Professor McGonagall dismissed them James waited outside the door for Lily to come out. When she did she looked up at him and he was surprised to see tears in her eyes. Taking her hand he led her away from the crowds of students, towards an empty classroom. He sat down in a chair and pulled her onto his lap. She rested her head against his shoulder and he held her tightly, soothingly as she sobbed. When she finished he kept holding her until she looked up and locked eyes with him. He softly wiped the tears still on her cheeks and brushed a soft kiss on her lips. She clung onto him and they sat there, silently, comfortably.

"I'm sorry I'm not happy for you." She said croakily.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you the truth. But I didn't want you to be upset or worry about me."

"James, not a day goes by that I don't worry about you. Especially with all the trouble you and Sirius still get it, even with you as Head Boy."

"Lily I need to do something, anything I can to stop Voldemort."

"But why do you have to put yourself in danger to accomplish that?"

"Because there isn't any other way." He replied his voice hinted of withheld anger that made Lily feel foolish. She turned to him, locking eyes again and stared into his eyes.

"I'm sorry." She said again wrapping her arms tightly around him.

"It's okay Lily, I was more worried about losing you."

"You'll never lose me James." She promised softly.