Chapter 4:

"Thank-you very much, Minister," James said as he stood and shook the Minister of Magic's hand across the desk.
The Minister still had a firm grasp for a man of his age; he scrutinized James for a moment, and then smiled. "You're going to be a great Auror, James."
James grinned. "Thank-you, sir, I sure hope so," he replied.
James turned to go. When he reached the door, he heard the old man's voice stop him once again.
"James," he said, and the young man turned back. The Minister smiled again. "Work starts Monday, Potter. Nine AM, sharp!" but he winked after he said it and James grinned.
"Thank-you, sir," he said again. Then he turned the doorknob and walked out into the hall.

A few days later

"James? Is that you!" Lily called as she took the steps two at a time. She got no reply and walked down the short hallway and into the living room, where James had just arrived in the fireplace and was dusting off his robes.
"Good evening," she said, walking seductively towards him. He looked up at her and grinned, and as he did, Lily saw a deep gash across his cheek.
"Oh, James," she said, touching it lightly with her fingers.
He didn't wince or pull back, though; James was still smiling. "Don't worry, it's just Auror training," he reminded her, taking out his wand and repairing his skin with the flick of his wand.
"Oh, right," Lily laughed. "You missed dinner," she said, changing subjects suddenly.
James glanced at the clock on their wall and then looked back at Lily. "I know, sorry. I grabbed something to eat at the Ministry, though, so don't worry," he said, kissing her lightly on the forehead.
"Oh..." Lily said. She had saved him some supper; it was sitting in the fridge for her to heat up.
"And I am, beat!" he added, sighing heavily. Lily smiled meekly. "But not too tired," he said, giving her kiss, "to show my girlfriend just how much I love her."
He kissed her again, and she put her arms around James' neck, falling into the passionate embrace. James' hands traveled down Lily's back and up her shirt.
James broke the kiss suddenly. "Enough of this," he said, scooping Lily up into his arms; she let out a shrill cry.
"James!"
"I'm gonna show you a good time, little lady," he said, putting on his best version of an American southern accent.
"Oh Mista Potter!" Lily cried out, also adopting the southern twang.
James kissed her and then nuzzled his face in the crook of her soft neck. "Offica! Offica!" Lily cried out, giggling madly at the same time.
James carried her out of the room and up the stairs, Lily's squeals echoing behind them all the way to the bedroom.

Lily was just sitting on her last bag and zipping it shut as she heard the doorbell ring downstairs. She heard James get up, folded his paper and go to answer the door. Lily looked around at the room; her side of the closet was almost bare, all of her toiletries were gone from the bathroom, her bathrobe was no longer hanging over the door, but folded and stuffed into one of the many suitcases that were spread across the otherwise-empty floor and bed.
"Morning, Remus, come in," she heard James' voice float up from downstairs before the shutting of the door followed.
Lily sighed deeply and looked around her. "Here we go," she whispered to herself, just as the sound of footsteps could be heard on the stairs.
A second later, James knocked and pushed the door open. "You ready?" he asked, walking over to her. Lily turned to look at him and nodded.
"Yes," she replied, taking his hands in hers. She never thought about how hard it would be for them to be apart so much, now that Lily was travelling back to Hogwarts with Remus to teach and James was staying home to do his work with the Ministry.
James kissed her once on the lips. "I'll get the bags," he said, flicking his wand so that the many suitcases were lifted into the air, floating in front of him out the door and down the stairs to where Remus was waiting by the car that the school had sent for them.
Lily sighed again and followed him down the stairs.

Lily stood across from James in front of the house. The car was idling by the curb, Remus in the back seat. He waited while James and Lily said their good-byes.
"I'll miss you," he said, rubbing his thumb across her pale cheek. Tears were beginning to form in her eyes.
"I'll miss you, too," she said, trying to hold back her tears.
"I wish you didn't have to go," James slightly-choked, Lily let out a feeble smile.
"I'll be back in a week, and then we have the rest of the summer until school starts up. And Remus will look after me while we're there," she said, nodding lightly at the car and smiling.
James managed a smile too and nodded. "I know, just a week," he replied.
Lily kissed him and then pulled away, picking up her travel bag from where it lay next to her feet. "I have to go," she said, sighing.
"I love you," James told her as he watched her eyes, shiny with tears.
"I love you, too," she replied. He kissed her again and then turned back towards the house.
"Go," he said, leaning against the door.
"Bye." Lily waved back at him as she walked down the short stone path to the road. Remus got out to open her door and Lily bent and slid in onto the magically enlarged seat.
Remus shut the door and she looked out the window at where James was still leaning, waiting for them to depart. Lily saw him wipe his cheek in what he thought was an indiscreet way and smiled. She waved at him as Remus got back in and shut his door; the car pulled away from the curb and Lily looked back at the house. James had gone back inside already, but she waved anyway.
As Lily turned back around to face the front of the car, a tear fell down her cheek, and she didn't bother to wipe it away.

Lily cheered up very quickly with Remus by her side for the 11-hour car ride up to Hogwarts and they ended up acting very much like they had on the journeys they had taken on the Hogwarts Express not too long ago.
Remus had brought a pack of exploding snap cards with him, and they quickly found the package of sweets the headmaster had left for them.
They pulled up to the gates of the school just as the sun began to go down across the horizon. The car idled at the gates for just a second before they opened magically to let the driver through. He drove slowly up to the front doors and got out to pop the trunk. Remus stepped out and came around for Lily's door.
"My, my, Remus, you are such a gentleman," Lily said, stepping out and grabbing her small duffel from the seat.
"My pleasure, Lily," Remus replied, grinning as they looked up at the great shining castle rising above them.
Lily looked up at the building and sighed. "It looks exactly the same.." she said quietly.

"But still kinda different somehow.." Remus added, nodding. Lily smiled; this year was going to be very different now that they were teachers. Lily had been very surprised when both she and Remus were offered jobs close to the end of the year, especially given their age, but had been very happy to accept the position. She would be working as a Transfiguration teacher for the first and second years while Professor McGonagal continued to take the rest. She would also be working in the job office, helping kids in their 5th and early 6th years decide what they wished to do after they graduated.
Remus would be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts. Their old teacher, Mr. Wanton, had retired at the end of last year due to his terrible arthritis, the likes of which even magical potions could not help.
"There you go, miss," the driver said, and Lily snapped out of her day-dreamy state and turned to see him shutting the boot of the car, her bags littering the ground around her and Remus' feet.
"Thank-you," she said, and the driver tipped his hat, climbed back into the now-empty car and drove back down the path, idling once again at the gates before disappearing completely into the night.
Just then the front doors opened and Professor McGonagal appeared in the splash of light being thrown out into the night.
"Welcome back, Lily and Remus," she said, walking down to them. It was the first time she had ever called them by their first names. Lily wondered if she was to do the same.
"Good to see you again, Professor," she said, tentatively. The professor smiled.
"We are colleagues now, you may call me Minerva," she replied and Lily nodded. "Leave your bags there, they will be brought up to your offices for you," she added and Lily and Remus both nodded again.
"Come, come, supper's just started for the staff," Minerva said briskly ushering them in through the doors and into the Great Hall.