A/N: Okay, first of all let me say im sorry for the looong wait. It's not very long either. buuut i'll update sonner next time. Secondly, this chapter is mostly about getting back to Hogwarts and the changes in a few people, the romance and humor will come soon.

Thirdly. Thank you to all my AMAZiNG reviewers! Thank-you so much, your reviews always make me smile and want to write more.

Must-Love Moony-Thanks!
Nerdychica-thank you so much anne marie, glad you like it
Animerocksjapansocks-thank-you, hope you like this chapter
Pink Luvin Goddess-Haha thanks, i'm glad you liked it
Screwtheperfectlife-okay good, i was afraid it would be confusing. thank you for reviewing
PrOnGs-PrInCeSsE-4eva-thank you so much...that means so much to me. i'm glad you like it
Dreamergirl86-Thank you so much! sorry for the long wait
i love oliver more than you-oh abbey, you make my day. thank you!

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

The rain was began with a light drizzle, but by the time the train had stopped, it was pouring steadily. Everyone was pulling their hoods securely over their head, getting ready to ascend the carriages.

"Firs' years, this way," Roared the deep voice of Hagrid as soon as the students had stepped upon the puddle filled ground.

Lily felt the rain make its way through her cloak, drenching her skin and making her teeth chatter. "First years follow Hagrid, everyone else on the carriages!" She commanded, following Sara, Marlee, and Katherine.

"Here's one!" Sara declared, squinting her eyes in the steady down pour. "Over here."

The girls quickly made their way to the empty carriage, wondering for the thousandth time what pulled them. After the students finally filed into all the carriages, they all made their way up to Hogwarts.

James watched Lily step onto the carriage, the mentally shook himself. 'Stop it James, stop watching her. It's not like she'll ever watch you.'

The ride up to Hogwarts seemed to take forever, and even the mauraders seemed a bit put out. The rain was seeping through their clothes, and all anyone could think of was a roaring fire.

"Warm, fizzy, delicious butterbeer. Sip after sip, warming you up right down to your rain drenched, frost bitten toes. The fire crackling and-"

"Sirius," James began, in a what-would-be-stern voice if his voice wasn't shaking from the cold. "As much as we love your poetic talents, please keep them to a minimum."

Sirius made a huffy noise and folded his arms across his chest, pointing his nose straight into the air. Or, at least he tried to, the rain was now coming down so heavily that it kept beating his nose back down. Sirius did this once more, seeming to enjoy how powerful the rain was.

Remus, Peter, and James amused themselves with watching Sirius try to beat the power of the rain…with his nose.

"Finally!" Sirius shrieked, pushing Remus back into his seat and leaping out of the now parked carriage. "We're here!"

"Don't act so depressed to be back," Remus replied sarcastically, rubbing his shoulder where Sirius had pushed him out of the way.

The great doors opened, and the students pushed their way inside the warm, dry building. They could hardly believe it was their last year here.

After casting drying and warming spells, the students sat themselves at their house table.

"I'm starved," Peter complained, staring at his plate hungrily.

The first years began filing into the great hall, still as drenched as ever.

"Poor things." Lily said sympathetically, "They don't know how to cast drying spells on themselves." She stood up to go help them when she noticed something that almost made her jaw drop open for the second time that day. James was already up by the first years, casting drying spells on as many students as he could.

Lily swept across the hall to the first years who were getting ready to be sorted. She stood next to James and pulled out her wand. James shoulder brushed against hers and she looked up at him, expecting raised eyebrows or a cheeky smile, but James did nothing but continue drying the students.

"Potter," Lily began, beginning to dry a curly haired, frightened looking girl. "I-um…well I…think it's really sweet you came up here to help these students."

"You're here too." James replied coolly.

Lily swallowed the lump in her throat but continued. "Potter, I'm trying to compliment you, stop being so difficult."

"Beg your pardon." James said in the same tone, his gaze still glued to the first year students.

"Potter," Lily began again, her voice snapping dangerously. "Drop your sarcastic act and talk to me."

"Talk to you?" He asked, finally averting his gaze to glare at Lily. "First you want nothing to do with me, now you want me to talk to you. Okay, fine. I'll talk to you, I hope that clears up your guilty feelings."

"I don't want you to talk just to make me feel better." Lily said defensively.

"Then why do you want me to talk to you?" James asked.

"Never mind." Lily spat.

They stood there, glaring at each other, strange sparks emitting from each other's eyes. Finally a voice broke the tension.

"I'll take it from here." Professor Dumbledore said lightly.

Lily and James nodded silently and watched as Dumbledore swept his wand in one small motion, the product being all the first years dry at once.

"That's embarrassing." James mumbled as he watched Dumbledore cast the spell with ease, while massaging his sore hand that was waving his wand around frantically, in hopes of getting the students dry in time for the sorting.

They took their seats at the Gryfindor table, and watched as the sorting began. The students were trembling all over their tiny little bodies, and everyone knew it wasn't because of the freezing rain they had just endured.

As Lily listened to the sorting she was surprised she could stop her hands from flying across the back of James' head, that she could stop her feet from winding up all the strength they could muster and releasing it in his shin, and that she could even stop hurling the stupid insults across the table, all of which were directed towards James.

But she was even more surprised that she couldn't stop her eyes from wandering to his face, watching it illuminate faintly from the dim light of the candles, and she couldn't stop her heart from increasing its pounding every time she thought of James holding her so tightly…so protectively earlier on the train.

The sorting finally ended and James felt eyes wondering his way, he averted his own eyes upwards and caught a glimpse of someone blushing and looking away, and that someone was Lily Evans.

"Dis is delifous." Peter mumbled happily, seemingly trying to find space to put some chicken in his mouth amidst all the other foods which were now unrecognizable.

"That's really beautiful, Peter." Remus said, laughing and pretending so shield his eyes.

"You've got that right." Said Sirius cheekily, and James found himself rolling his eyes when he saw that Sirius was obviously talking about Sara, and not Peter's chunks of food that were now being swallowed with some difficulty.

Sara blushed when she saw Sirius staring at her with raised eyebrows. "Yes, Sirius?"

"Oh, nothing. It's just I can't stop my eyes from wandering across those whose faces have been carved by angels." Sirius said, placing a hand under his chin and batting his eyelashes rapidly.

James snorted loudly which was the only thing he could do to stop himself from falling on the floor. Remus began choking with laughter and wiped his eyes continuously, whilst Peter was now trying desperately trying not to spray food particles across the great hall.

Sirius gave them an annoyed glance. "What," He began, "May I ask is so amusing?"

"Oh, nothing." Remus said, wiping his eyes with his sleeve.

"It's just," James began as he raised he hands towards Sirius' face, "I can't help myself when someone's face has been carved by angels." It was then that James placed his palm against Sirius' cheek and stroked it affectionately.

Sirius began slapping James hand away as if it were a fly rather than his best mate's hand.

Remus and Peter erupted into another round of laughter.

After everyone has finished eating, Dumbledore stood up and the great hall silenced at once.

"Now that we have finished our delicious feast, I choose to say a few words." Dumbledore began, his eyes twinkling merrily behind his half moon spectacles. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts. First years, let me first say how glad we all are to have you here with us, and that the Forbidden Forest is out of bounds.

"Another matter I would like to address is Hogesmeade weekends. I have spoken to the rest of the facility, and we have come to the solution that we will not continue to take them away any further. We will continue living our lives as best we can, and will not let darkness fall upon our light. Please remember that, thank-you.

"One more thing, will the Head Girl and Boy meet me after dinner in my office? Very well, sleep well everyone."

Everyone began talking rapidly once Dumbledore finished his yearly speech.

"Yes! It's been too long since I've been to Honeydukes." Katherine exclaimed.

"Same." Remus agreed. "Why would they let us have the weekeeds back, though? Voldemort is still as strong as ever."

"Remus!" Marlee squealed, and Remus knew why, he had said the dark lords name.

"I guess he just wants us to keep living normally." Sara suggested, and the others seem satisfied with that answer. No one was going to complain, they all loved Hogesmeade.

"We have to go talk to Dumbledore." James said, referring to himself and Lily. "See you later."

They all nodded and watched as Lily and James hustled through the crowd of students towards Dumbledore's office.

Once in the corridors, silence spread among them rapidly. They hurried towards Dumbledore's office, and once outside the stone gargoyle paused.

James reached into his pocket and pulled out a sheet of parchment. He cleared his throat. "Dumbledore gave us passwords and everything, his is… Lemon lime." Almost at once the stone gargoyle leapt aside, and Lily and James strode in.

"Ah yes." Came a soft voice behind them. They turned around to see Dumbledore. "I apologize for my lateness."

"No need Professor," James said quickly. "We only just got here ourselves."

"Very well, have a seat?" Dumbledore asked, conjuring two purple cushioned chairs.

"Thank-you sir," Lily said, taking a seat once inside his office.

"Well, first of all congratulations on making head boy and girl." He said, placing the tips of his fingers together lightly and taking a seat across from them at his desk. "And secondly, I'm sure you'll do a great job and live up to the expectations involved. Thirdly, as being in positions such as yourselves, you are required to plan Hogesmeade dates. Also, this year you are going to plan something else as well," He continued, his eyes shining even brighter. "You are required to plan a school ball, if you please. You can choose the theme and decorations at your will, but, I feel the need to remind you, to work together and not let you're past get in the way of your future."

James and Lily sat still and nodded.

"Any questions?" He asked when they sat silently.

They sat just as still as before and shook their heads.

"Good-night then, and welcome to another year at Hogwarts."

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"Could you pass the hash browns?" Lily asked Sirius who was closest to them the next morning at breakfast.

"Sure Pretty Lily Flower." Sirius said, grabbing the plate of hash browns and passing them to Lily.

"Thanks." She said, scooping herself a spoonful and plopping them down on her plate. "Where's Sara?" She asked suddenly, glancing around the table in search of her friend.-+

"JAMES! KATHERINE!" Squealed an excited voice. Sara skidded to a stop right beside James who was sitting across from Katherine. "I'm quidditch captain!" She sang, tightening her pony tail and skipping to sit next to James.

"Sara! That's great!" James said, pushing away all other feelings. 'You're head boy, James, some one else deserves a right to have some authority.' He told himself.

"SARA…I'm so proud of you!" Katherine giggled. "If one of us had to get it, I'm glad it's you."

"Thanks," Sara said, her cheeks a little flushed from scurrying to tell her fellow teammates.

"I'll come see everyone one of your games." Lily promised.

"Me too," Marlee agreed.

Remus, Sirius and Peter all nodded their agreement.

"We need tryouts to get a new beater," Sara declared. "So tryouts will be next Monday, and practice will be that Wednesday."

"Sounds good to me," James said, "I can't wait."

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The first weekend of that school year was finally here, and all anybody wanted to do was go outside and enjoy the last few days of summer, but their work load was telling them otherwise. Eight students were seated around a circular table, finishing their homework that was sure to take hours.

"It's the first week of school." Sirius whined, slamming shut his astronomy book and opening his Advanced Charms Book: 2. "Why are they doing this to us?"

"Sirius, we should be grateful that they're helping us get prepared for our N.E.W.T.S. this year." Lily told him sternly, scribbling something down a sheet of parchment.

"No, we shouldn't be grateful. The N.E.W.T.S aren't till the end of the year, and it's people like YOU who try to get us to believe that everything we do this year is in preparation for them." Sirius said, flipping his ebony hair out of his eyes.

"People like me?" Lily asked, not looking up from her scrap of parchment. "We'll see who does better on the N.E.W.T.S and then we can shout accusations."

Sirius gave an exaggerated sigh and looked out the common room window to see first and second years running around. "I'll be back later." He said, closing up his charms book and standing up to stretch.

"Where are you going?" James asked curiously from behind his Arithmacy text book.

"Anywhere but here." Sirius said before turning on his heel and shuffling out the portrait hole.

Lily made an indignant huff, staring after Sirius angrily because did not believe her that the Professors were preparing them for N.E.W.T.S. "Whatever."

Remus was busy watching Katherine, she was chewing on her quill thoughtfully, tucking her hair behind her ears whenever she couldn't figure out a problem. He shook himself mentally, reminding him of who he was.

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"BWAHA. Check mate!" James cried the following Monday.

"Yeah, yeah whatever," Sirius said sourly, blowing his hair out of his eyes which were shooting daggers at the chessboard.

"James!" Sara said, hovering near him, her voice edgy with nervousness. "It's time, come on."

James nodded and gave Sirius one more defiant look before crossing to stand next to Sara and Katherine.

"Come on." Sara hissed, running to the portrait hole and exiting it quickly.

"This will be interesting." Katherine noted. "I've never seen her this uptight before."

"Me either." James agreed. "Well, we better get down there soon. We really need to calm her down."

Katherine nodded and they trudged out of the common room, quickening their pace when they saw many students with brooms in their hands scurrying down to tryouts.

Once outside James felt the breeze sweep across his face, the sun beating down slightly from it's perch in the middle of the sky. "Perfect weather." James said.

"I know." Sara said once James and Katherine were near enough, having just heard his last comment. "Where were you? The rest of the team is already here." She hissed.

Sure enough, the other teammates were hovering behind Sara, their broomks securely in their hands. Sara swept away to greet the young students trying out.

"Woah," Paul, a beater, breathed. "She's really nervous, huh?"

"I know, I've never seen her like this." Kendra, the seeker, agreed. "Shh, here she comes."

"Are you going to help with the tryouts or just sit their talking about yourselves?" Sara asked angrily.

"Sorry." They mumbled, exchanging amused glances with each other.

"Okay, let's do this." Sara demanded, she turned to the nervous people trying out. "Hi, everyone. I'm the captain of the Gryfindor team, Sara Brookfield. As you know, you all are here to try out for the position of a beater. We only have room for one of you, so please try your best and give it your all. Let's start with a lap around the pitch."

The students mounted their brooms and kicked off, shooting into the afternoon sky. "On my whistle." Sara said, and she blew it loudly so all the kids could here. With one swift nod they shot off around the pitch.

It was hard to see who had ability and who didn't in the beginning, for everyone started off in a big blob. As soon as they rounded the first corner though, the quidditch team could see some people pulling ahead, and some swaying dangerously behind.

"Cross out Anthony." Sara noted, nodding towards Paul who had the clipboard firmly between his palms. "I remember his name, and he's the farthest behind…and he looks like he's going to be sick."

As if on cue, Anthony swept down to the ground. "I don't feel so good." He said sluggishly, his tiny frame tilting oddly to one side.

"Okay," Sara exhaled slowly, "Ben, get him up to Madam Pomfry's." She ordered to Ben, another chaser along with James and Katherine.

Ben nodded and walked over to help Anthony, leaving eight people left to tryout.

The rest of the tryouts were similar; everyone had to do certain tasks and whoever came out behind was secretively crossed out. Finally, after an hour and a half, they had come to a decision.

"Okay everyone, gather round." Sara ordered, snatching the clipboard from Paul. "Everyone did excellent, and it was very difficult to come to a decision. If you are not picked, you can head back to the changing rooms, but please be sure you did well. Also, the new beater will stay for a quick team meeting. Okay, the Gryfindor's new beater is…Lewis Jenkins!"

Lewis, a tall, well-built sixth year stepped forward.

"Thank-you to everyone else who tried out," Sara added, bounding forward with the rest of the team to congratulate Lewis.

"You were brilliant mate," James said, his eyes full with an emotion no one could quiet understand, but none the less he thudded Lewis on the back and smiled.

"Thanks," Lewis said in the low voice etched with excitement. "Thanks for picking me."

"You did that yourself." Sara said, pushing James out of the way to shake his hand. "Great job." She then turned to the rest of the team. "Our first practice is going to be this Wednesday. Please be sure you can make it. I know that with some hard practice, this team will be ready."

"Ready for what?" Paul asked.

Sara's eyes gleamed with excitement before she spoke, "To win the Quidditch Cup."

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James lay in his dorm room, staring at the ceiling at thinking to himself before a sudden voice interrupted him from his thoughts.

"Prongs, we just got back from dinner, why are you getting ready for bed?" Sirius asked as he entered the room.

"I was just thinking," James said quietly.

"You? Thinking?" Sirius asked mockingly. "I didn't think it was possible."

"Sod off, Padfoot." James laughed and rolled over onto his stomach.

"So, who's the new quidditch beater?" Sirius asked conversationally, crossing the room to sit on his own bed.

James lay still for a moment before placing himself in a sitting position. "Um…" James began, wondering how to put what he was about to say. "Well…" That defiantly wasn't putting it well.

"Out with it, Prongs." Sirius ordered. "Who is it?"

"Lewis Jenkins." James said quickly, watching his friends expression closely.

"You mean…?" Sirius began.

"Yeah," James confirmed. "Your brothers-"

"Arch enemy." Sirius finished warily. "I don't mind, really. It's just…I don't know, it's been so long since you and I have talked to Regulus, and now that your going to be spending time with his enemy…a lot of time, we might see more of him. I don't know if I'm up for that."

"I don't think we'll be seeing a lot of him if he's his enemy, in fact, he might keep his distance. Enemy means people that don't like each other, you know that, Padfoot?"

"I know, but you don't know my brother like I do. If Lewis is anything like him, we'll be seeing a lot of them both. The hard thing is, it's hard to choose sides. Regulus and I have just kind of drifted, but if we ever come to another confrontation, I don't know how it will go."

"I have a feeling this isn't about Lewis anymore." James noted sympathetically. "It's about Regulus. You miss him, don't you?"

Sirius looked reluctant for a while before nodding. "We used to be so close. Then he got sorted into Slytherin and who knows what he's got himself into now? He's such a stupid kid…but yeah, I miss him. I guess I'm just kind of scared I'll become an enemy of Regulus' just like Lewis."

"You're his brother, Sirius, no matter what you do, he'll still love you. You two could never be enemies. Sure, you've drifted, but this might be just what you needed to come together again." James said slowly, placing his chin on his palm and looking thoughtful.

There was a loud noise, in which a putrid smell drifted up to their noses.

"Ugh!" James exclaimed, pinching his nose. "Who let off a dung bomb?"

"Sorry," Sirius said, grinning sheepishly.

"Oi, Padfoot, you really know how to ruin a moment don't you?" James asked, his voice a bit nasally due to the fingers that were pinched firmly on his nose.

"It's a gift."

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"Potter!" Came the voice of Lily Evans as she wound her way around the common room. It was Tuesday night and she was looking around the common room desperately for the messy haired, nice featured James Potter. "Potter!" She called again as she pushed through a crowd of people gathered around the fire. She spotted James sitting by Remus, Sirius and Peter around a small table and darted towards him. "Potter." She said for the third time, her face a bit flushed from scurrying to find him.

James looked up and stared at her coldly and he was about to look back down, but Lily's eyes caught his attention again. She was so beautiful. "What?"

"Don't say 'what,' like I'm some big burden or something," Lily snapped. "I came over here to tell you that we have our first patrol meeting tonight, and we should meet at eight or so to patrol the corridors."

"Fine." James agreed before turning away.

"Fine." Lily repeated, her lip trembling slightly. "See you then."

When Lily had pushed past everyone and went in search of her friends, Remus turned to James with a look of disappointment. "What was that all about?"

"It was nothing Moony, it didn't mean anything." James said.

"It didn't look like nothing. She looked hurt James, why did you do that?" Remus asked.

"Do what?" James asked innocently before Remus gave him a stern look, "Okay…I know I was kind of mean but think of all the years she was that mean to me? Can't she handle a taste of her own medicine?"

"Okay, I'm just going to forget the last part. But James, I know that just at the end of last year, you would kill yourself if you weren't talking to her when she tried talking to you."

"Moony, she'll never like me, I'm sure of it." James said firmly.

"So sure that you're not willing to give it another try?"

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Once down into the Gryfindor common room, James ran a hand through his untamed hair and straightened his glances. He checked his watch once more and heaved an exaggerated sigh. It was later in the evening and time for patrol duty.

"For the love of Merlin, Prongs, you're not going on a life threatening mission! You're walking down corridors for an hour and a half," Sirius, who was seated next to Remus and Peter in the common room, exclaimed.

James chose to ignore his friend's comment and swept towards the portrait hole; just as he was there he turned around and gave each of his fellow Mauraders a swift nod of the head, as if he was never going to see them again.

"Good-day gents," James said, and he was gone.

"Good lord, did he just say gents?" Sirius pondered aloud as he smacked a hand to his forehead, resulting in him flinching with increasing pain.

"Did he just say good-day?" Remus exclaimed, rolling his eyes to the ceiling.

"Did he just not say…peanuts?" Peter suggested lamely, feeling a little left out that Remus and Sirius had taken all the words James had said.

"Good try, Wormtail," Sirius said sympathetically, thumping him on the back, "Good try."

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"There you are!" Lily noted once James had exited the common room. "Let's go."

James nodded and walked beside Lily; they then began their patrol duty.

"Listen…Potter…" Lily began awkwardly after two minutes of stone silence.

"I've known you since first year, when are you going to start calling me James?" He asked her.

Lily looked startled and opened her mouth, only to find it closing again. "I didn't know…I guess it's kind of been a habit or something…"

"I understand, I always call my enemies by their last name, too." James said.

"You are not my enemy," Lily scolded, stopping in her tracks and placing her hands on her hips.

"Is that so?" James asked as he raised an eyebrow. "You don't hate me?"

"I wouldn't go that far," Lily teased, and resumed her walking.

"I'm sorry if I really annoyed you in the past," James said suddenly.

"It's okay, I know you didn't mean too." Lily said.

"Well, I wouldn't go that far." James teased as Lily had.

They kept walking in a comfortable silence, stopping every so often to bust kids snogging or quarrelling in the corridors. When they had come to the end of their shift, they began making their way back to the common room.

Lily began thinking of how much James had changed in the past and opened her mouth to speak before she could stop herself, "You confuse me, James."

"Yeah?" James asked as they reached the portrait hole.

"Yeah," Lily confirmed, blushing slightly that she had said what she was thinking.

"Well guess what?" James asked.

"What?" Lily asked after giving the password to the Fat Lady.

They walked into the common room and James turned to Lily at last.

"You amaze me."

A/N: Okay, so again I am so sorry this has taken me so long to update! I went to Chicago and I was busy with school. I'll try to make the next chapter longer...this one was kind of short. Hope you liked it. Please read and review. Thank you and love you all! -Lilly