Chapter 19: His Return

"Checkmate!"

Ron grinned triumphantly as he quickly cleaned the chessboard with his wand.

"I don't know why I even try," Harry muttered shoving five galleons into Ron's hands.

"Oh come on mate, there's fun in everything," Ron replied happily, pocketing the gold Harry gave him.

"Easy for you to say, you just won five galleons," Harry grinned.

"If I were you two, I would stop procrastinating and study for my exams which, I should say, are in a few weeks." It was a typical Hermione statement who was reading her charms book for the 4th time that year, cover to cover.

"Aw, that's so typical of you, Hermione. Wouldn't you have some fun while it lasts? You know, relax? Anyways, starting next week we'll be burying our noses in those books," Ron said, while re-setting up the chess pieces (who were screaming in indignation).

Hermione sighed. Ron was right, she deserved some fun. For the next few seconds, Hermione watched as Harry and Ron argued with their reluctant pawns.

It was good distraction since both boys didn't notice their friend taking out a red journal.

"Fine, I'm going to relax then," she muttered.

April 20

Dear Diary,

Well, another weekend is here. For the first time ever, I couldn't find anything to do. I tried studying for my NEWTS, but (in Sam's words) "surprisingly, the great Lily Evans is not in the mood."

Anyways, today was the day James arrived which I found out from Remus. I was talking to him in the after noon.

Sam and Wilma were going against each other with Exploding Snaps. I didn't join since I didn't want to burn my hair again. Besides, I was becoming hooked to the magical crossword I got off a book I borrowed from Violet.

In a few minutes, Sirius and Peter came and sat down next to my two best friends.

"Looking rather glum, Evans, darling." Guess who said that.

"Don't 'darling' me, Black. And you're wrong, I'm not glum, just bored."

"Really? Missing James lately?"

I rolled my eyes, "Tell me, why I would miss James."

"Aw, come on, I barely see you smile since he left."

"It's because you didn't go with him, Sirius." I stood up and went to the table near a window where I left the rest of my crosswords. From there, the Exploding Snaps game seemed more intense (actually, I think it's because 2 of the Marauders joined).

A few minutes later, Remus sat in front of me.

"Looking rather glum, Lily," he said.

"Don't you start the same conversation with me, Lupin."

He just looked back, puzzled.

"Right. Well, just dropping by to say hi. Oh yeah, and James is arriving this afternoon."

I looked up from my crossword so fast, I think I broke my neck. "He is?"

"Yeah, he sent us a note yesterday."

"Oh." Something's wrong. Why did I sound disappointed when I said that? Is it because he didn't send me a note? No, most likely not.

After a few minutes, Remus spoke.

"Lily, can I ask a question?"

"As long as it's nothing too personal or perverted."

"Would you answer?"

"As I said, it depends."

He paused and thought for a while. Then he asked a question I didn't expect at all.

"Why do you like James now and hated him before?"

It caused me to look up, again. "What?"

"Come on, Lily, you used to loathe him, not giving him a time of day, but now, you were even the one who comforted when the tragedy happened. Why?" There was a sly and curious expression on his tired face. I think I blushed at his statement, for some reason.

I answered him without looking up, trying to concentrate on my crossword (the letters were scattering everywhere).

"Well, I guess he's much mature now, like much kinder. Sure, he still has his childish attitude but he knows when to stop. Deflated his big head a bit you know. He's just rather…er, nicer I guess." By that I mean attitude so I hope Remus got that.

I was astonished when Remus just snorted.

"Sure, it is true James had deflated his head a bit, but are you sure he's, as you say, 'much kinder' now?"

"What are trying to say, Remus Lupin?"

He sighed deeply before he answered. "James may have been a pain, but he has always been very kind. He's a great friend, you know. Sirius in the same way, though he's much less matured. But Prongs, well, he risked his life for me, you know Lily. Bloody hell, he risked his life and current state for that Snape."

I had been listening intently to what he was saying, but the last sentence caught me off guard.

"He risked his life for who?"

"Severus Snape," he articulated clearly.

"You don't believe don't me, do you?" I could say yes.

He sighed, " It's a long story, and if it spreads out, we'll get in serious trouble."

I bit my lip before whispering to him, "It occurred in a full moon, didn't it?"

He just nodded glumly. Then he looked at me straight in the eye, "But think about it, Lily.

Maybe you're not seeing arrogant Prongs changing in attitude, but rather getting to know the real James Potter, who you never bothered knowing before."

I know Remus didn't mean to offend me but I felt really bad. Was I really that mean to James? Maybe not. My question though is: Am I really getting to know the real James Potter? Yeah, I've thought about it a million of times…however, the answer seems to get clearer and clearer.

After a minute or so, I cried out when I saw James dragging his trunk across the Hogwarts grounds.

The next think I know, Sirius was dragging Remus and Peter out of the portrait hole. I didn't actually 'see' James until later, when I was walking to the common room from a Prefect's meeting. In fact, I bumped into him…literally.

"Hey, Lily, long time, no see."

"Oh, James! Hi! Yeah, well, how was every thing."

He shrugged casually with a smile, but in his eyes I could still see grief, "The burial was alright. Obviously, I inherited everything. I'm selling my parent's house and unimportant belongings. I'll just keep the money in Gringotts until I find a use for them."

"Where will you live after Hogwarts then?"

"I've thought about moving into a condo next to Sirius'. It's near the Ministry, easier to go to work without apparating."

"You want to work for the Ministr?" I always thought James disliked the ministry.

"Auror." (Explains everything)

It was when a battered looking ball fell out of his pocket when he took out his hands. It flew into the air where I caught it with ease. It looked very familiar.

"Is this your…" I started.

"Yeah, it was my brother's." There was an awkward silence after that. I was feeling rather funny ever since the conversation started. I didn't realize why until that silence. He wasn't the same James I knew. He was more…miserable.

I didn't like it…so I tried to cheer him up.

But from what I heard so far, his friends only managed to make him laugh a few times…but not considerable bring back his jolly moods.

"Hey, Potter, what do you say we go to the kitchen?" I didn't mind doing it again, now I did it before.

He looked rather surprised. "Why?"

I shrugged my shoulders, "I'm hungry."

"We just finished dinner an hour ago."

"So? Why does that stop me?"

I was glad he laughed, "I guess I've been rubbing on you lately…or had Sirius hexed you somehow." He put his hand on my forehead. "Hope you're not sick though, Lily."

I whipped his hand impatiently, "No, I'm not. Anyways, I heard you know a lot about the castle. Show me then."

He paused to study me for any jokes. Ha! He didn't find any.

He grinned, "Fine, Lily, what's the catch?"

I joked with him first. Be honest later, "What? Don't say you don't want to spend time with me? I thought you were craving for that to happen often."

He stopped at his tracks, both eyes and mouth wide open. "Now I know one of those 3 did something to you."

I laughed at him, "Relax, I'm just lightening you up. Want to know the real reason? It's because you look so glum. Loosen up a bit, James."

He stared at me for a few seconds before he started chuckling. I thought he had gone crazy, "Alright, let's go then. You know, if someone told me this was happening, I would have sent them off to St. Mungus."

I didn't answer. But maybe he has to send me off to St. Mungus because I couldn't believe I asked arrogant James Potter (whom I used to loathe) to accompany me around the castle.

Well, it worked anyway. He was much more cheerful when we returned into to the common room 2 hours later.

It earned me a lot of questions from Will and Sam later on, which is the reason why I put a silencing charm around my bed tonight. I guess I'll take the charm off tomorrow morning even if they already stopped. Goodnight then.

Lily

Note: That's it for now. I hope two chapters in one post will make up for the long months I didn't post.