Disclaimer – I don't own the recognisable half-scene in this chapter, which is obviously from Order of the Phoenix.

Thank you to sarangxseohaee, Maxie1514, Anonymous Marauder, Super Smexy Snuffles, skittles324, Young Prewett, HalfBloodHannah, Hmphh and Mrs.Scott323 for reviewing. You guys made my day!

And I would like to thank the lurkers as well, just for reading!

Thanks!

By the way, if you want me to reply to your review, just tell me. I avoid it because I find the new (well, not new, but last time I posted a story on here they didn't have it) system a bit…weird? So yeah, just tell me in your review if you'd like me to reply to it )

And now, I'd like to present – Chapter Three!

When They Wrote Essays

Chapter Three – The Fifth

Fifth Year

"…showing off with that stupid Snitch, walking down corridors and hexing anyone who annoys you just because you can," Lily snarled. "I'm surprised your broomstick can get off the ground with that fat head on it. You make me SICK."

And, deciding to leave him there with those parting words, she stormed off, ignoring his calls of her name.

"What is it with her?" James asked nonchalantly - or so he told himself. Sirius shrugged.

"Reading between the lines, I'd say she thinks you're a bit conceited, mate," he said casually. Well, Sirius wasn't about to start lying to his best friend, was he?

James expression darkened, and the world turned red before him.

"Right," he snarled, "right—" he held up his wand, there was another flash of light, and Snape was upside-down again. "Who wants to see me take of Snivelly's pants?" he called to the audience who had gathered round to see what the commotion was. Sirius cracked up. Several people cheered, many laughed, and someone even gave a wolf-whistle. James was just about to do what he had threatened – even though no one wanted to see Snape without pants – when a shout stopped him.

"OI!"

James whipped around and came face-to-face with a very angry Arcadia Yapp. He smirked.

"Hey, Dee," he said casually, placing a hand in one of his pockets. Arcadia scowled at him.

"Don't you play innocent with me," she growled, "put Snape down."

James raised his eyebrows, amused. "You're ordering me about, Yapp? What happened to respecting your elders?"

Arcadia looked behind her at the watching faces of the fifth-years, and walked closer to James.

"Look," she said quietly, without anger. "I know you fancy Lily – and don't say you don't, because I know you're lying!" she added quickly as James opened his mouth to protest. "I know you too well, James! Well anyway, I know that however casual you make it look, you really do fancy Lily. And this - this isn't the way to her heart – or a date, anyway. This will just make her angrier at you, though how that's possible at the moment, I have no idea."

She paused and took in a breath. James eyed the ground silently. In the crowds, Sirius shuffled impatiently and a few people sat down, bored. Arcadia looked James right in the eye.

"Let me give you a bit of advice," she said slowly, and James raised his head to look at her, "don't…don't mess around, okay? Or stop cursing people, at least. And be less arrogant. And try not mess up your hair – like it needs it. And put that Snitch back where it belongs." She smiled at him. James stared stonily back.

"So what you're saying," he said loudly, not caring if people heard him anymore, "is that to have a chance I have to be someone I'm not?"

Arcadia's smile faded, and James shook his head. He muttered something under his breath, and Snape fell hard to the ground, cursing. James followed Lily's path back to the castle.

Albus Dumbledore silently walked away from the window in his office, and sat down on his chair wearily.

"It is a shame," he said to the newly-reborn Fawkes, "such a shame, that young people cannot get along with each other anymore these days. Especially James and Lily Evans – such nice pupils, so alike…and yet they both assume that they're terribly different. Although between you and me, I think James might have his eye on her." He chuckled.

Fawkes tilted his head and Albus merely smiled back. A few minutes later, there was a knock on the door, and, without waiting for a reply, James Potter walked in, still looking annoyed.

"You asked to see me, sir?" he asked the headmaster politely, and though Albus could see through the façade easily, he didn't let it on.

"Yes, James, I did," he replied. James sat down heavily on the chair in front of Albus' desk. Albus took a packet of sherbet lemons out of his pocket and held it out to James, who took three. Albus took one himself and popped it in his mouth. They sat in silence for a few minutes, Albus showing no sign of talking and James tapping his foot irritably. He knew it was pointless to try and get Dumbledore to talk, because he would do it in his own time, whether James liked it or not. So James concentrated on cloudless sky behind Dumbledore's head.

God, he thought, I could be out there, swimming in the lake at the moment. He'd better hurry up; it's bloody hot in here.

"James," said Dumbledore, interrupting the boy's thoughts. James eyes snapped to him.

"Sir?"

Dumbledore looked at him. James scanned the teacher's face for a hint of a smile, but saw nothing. Even the twinkle in the headmaster's eyes was gone. This was serious – whatever he was here for, it was serious.

"James," Dumbledore repeated. "As you know, Voldemort has started attacking whole families. I'm sure you've read the stories in the Daily Prophet." James nodded gravely. Dumbledore paused, and James eyed him worriedly. "I received a letter today," Dumbledore continued, "it mentioned an attack."

James colour drained from his face and he sat up suddenly. "Is my… are my parents alright?" he asked quickly. Dumbledore held up a hand, silencing him.

"Your parents are fine," he said softly, and James let out a relieved breath and slumped back on the chair, closing his eyes. "However, Lily Evans' are not."

James eyes snapped open and he looked at Dumbledore who was looking sadly at him.

"I…" James croaked. "I…is…who…?"

"Her parents and brother were killed. However, her sister survived, she lives with her husband and therefore wasn't in the house when they were attacked, but she was due to have dinner with them that night and arrived about an hour after her family was killed."

James swallowed. "Oh," was all he could say.

"Lily does not know yet," the headmaster told him, "however, she will receive the letter informing her of this tomorrow." The headmaster looked James right in the eye and said, "I want you to be there for her, James."

James frowned slightly and stared at Dumbledore for a few minutes. "Are you joking, sir?" he asked finally, and let out a little laugh. "Me, be there for Evans? Sir, I don't supposed you were watching what was happening before, were you?"

"I was," Dumbledore replied firmly. "However, I happen to know that you two can get on marvellously—"

"Sir, she hates my guts!" James interrupted, standing up, "she can't stand the sight of me at the moment – how the hell am I supposed to—"

"You, too, know what it is like to lose family members, James," Dumbledore interrupted him, and despite how softly he spoke, James still stopped talking immediately. "You have lost your sisters to the Death Eaters."

James pursed his lips and said nothing. His eyes stung and he refused to look at the old man sitting before him.

"You will know what to do when the time comes," Dumbledore finished. James took this as his sign to go, and stood up, walking towards the door. As he reached it, he turned to look at the headmaster.

"Sir, if this doesn't work—" he started to say.

"Then I shall never say anything more about it," Dumbledore said in a final sort of way, and James walked out of the door and closed it. He leaned against the wall for a moment and took in a breath.

"Good luck, Potter," he muttered under his breath. "You'll need it."

"James, have a sausage. One sausage, go on, look," said Sirius and held up the sausage right on front of James' face. James pushed his friend's hand away and eyed him irritably. Sirius made a puppy-dog face at the messy-haired boy, and shrugged when James scowled at him. Today was the day.

"Hey, Tia," said Remus, and the brunette looked at him, "where'd you wanna go on Saturday?"

"What's on Saturday?" asked Sirius, dipping the aforementioned sausage into a bowl of ketchup, and stuffed the whole thing into his mouth. Remus looked at him, disgustingly amused.

"Hogsmeade, last of the year?" Lily piped up. James looked at her. She glared at him and he looked away. This was not going to be easy.

"Oh yeah," said Sirius thickly, stuffing another sausage into his mouth. Lily laughed at him.

"That is disgusting!" Arcadia chortled. "How d'you have room?"

Sirius muttered something, however, it was muffled by the amount of food in his mouth, which was considerably less by the time he finished talking.

"Padfoot, you know you're disgusting, right?" Remus said conversationally, and everyone laughed. Sirius shrugged and swallowed.

"Where's the big cheese, Moony?" he asked his friend, who frowned at him. Sirius smiled back. The girls all started talking with each other. When the boys talked in code, it was time for them to butt out.

"Tuesday," Remus said quietly, and Sirius nodded, just as the owls came in. James started choking on his pumpkin juice and Sirius thumped him on the back. Hard.

"P-ad-f-oot," James choked, as Sirius carried on thumping him. "Qu-it i-it!"

"What was that, Potter?" Sirius asked in a falsely confused voice. "I couldn't really understand you."

James glared at him, and Sirius grinned back as he stopped hitting his friend.

"I'll get you back for—" he started to say, but was interrupted by someone else having a coughing fit.

It was Lily. And in front of her was a letter in a black envelope. James turned white.

"Oh, crap," he whispered. Sirius turned to look at him.

"That's the letter the Ministry send out, isn't it?" he asked James softly. James nodded and took a deep breath.

"Open it," Carissa was saying quietly, and Lily shook her head furiously.

"I'm not opening it!" she cried. Many people were looking at her and whispering.

"Lily, it could just be about your…it could be about Dursley! He's family!" Arcadia said, and Lily shook her head.

"It won't be," she said through gritted teeth. "That bastard has a thing for not dying." Her eyes widened. "And if it's him, it's Petunia as well! No, I'm not opening it." She said firmly. Arcadia looked helplessly at her friends, who all looked just as helplessly back. James sighed.

"Ev – Lily, just open it," he said, softly yet firmly. His friends all turned to look at him, surprised. Lily didn't even move her gaze from the envelope, just shook her head. James pursed his lips and stepped away from the table, and walked to where Remus was sitting, opposite the redhead. He nudged his friend out of the way and sat down on his knees on the bench, leaning on his elbows on the table.

"Lily," he said quietly, moving his head forward so no one else could hear them, even though most people around them were quiet. "I know it's hard. I know you never want to open that letter, and I know that you don't want to open it because you think that if you don't, then it won't be final until you get a letter from…someone else in your family, or from a friend, and that could take weeks. But believe me; you'll be much better off opening that letter." He moved his legs so he was now sitting properly on the chair. "I got that same letter two years ago, and I didn't open it until I got a letter from my mother. And hearing it from someone you know and love? It's much, much worse, because you know they're feeling what you're feeling as well. Maybe even worse than you are." He leaned back and raised his voice slightly. "So open that goddamn letter!" he ordered loudly, and Lily looked up at him, her eyes wide with surprise and glassy with tears. James refused to move his gaze from hers, however unnerving it was.

Swallowing, Lily reached for the black envelope and opened it slowly.

"Miss…" she whispered, and then swallowed again. When she continued talking, her voice was slightly stronger and louder. "Miss Evans, we…we r-regret to inform you th-that your household w-was attacked last Thursday. Unfortunately, we could not get to your house in time to…" she sniffed as a few drops of tears fell onto the page. Arcadia moved right up to her friend and put an arm around her. "…to save your p-parents and brother…" Lily trailed off as more tears fell out. She dropped the letter and put a hand up to her mouth. She let out a sob.

"Oh, Lily," Arcadia said quietly, and put her arms around her. The other two girls moved over and copied her. Remus looked at the boys and did the same. James glanced at the other two Marauders, and climbed under the table and, after he'd straightened out on the other side, joined in the hug. Sirius and Peter raised their eyebrows at each other and copied him. They all stayed there for a very long time.

"I think we should all go to Hogsmeade together," Carissa declared two days later. It was morning on Saturday, and everyone was eating breakfast before their last trip of the year to the village.

"Yeah," Arcadia agreed as she spooned some honey onto her usual Greek yogurt breakfast. "I think so, too, we've never done that before, and I think we should stick together, you know? Strength in numbers, and so on."

Peter nodded.

"What d'you say, guys?" he asked the other three Marauders (who were all busy flicking food at each other). They all looked at their friend.

"To what?" the chorused, and then sniggered. Peter rolled his eyes.

"To going to Hogsmeade together," said Tia exasperatedly. The boys glanced at each other and then shrugged.

"Sure," said Sirius. "Whatever."

Arcadia smiled and looked at her redheaded friend, who was staring blankly at a jug of milk.

"Lily?" Arcadia said quietly, and her friend looked at her. Arcadia smiled sympathetically. "We're going to Hogsmeade with the boys. Is that alright?"

Lily nodded mutely and turned back to her jug of milk. Arcadia watched her for a few minutes before looking back at the others, who were all sitting in an awkward silence. Arcadia shook her head.

"Let's go," Tia said softly, and they all stood up. Arcadia grabbed Lily's arm and helped her up. Lily shook her head.

"Let's go swimming in the lake instead," Sirius groaned as he dragged himself along the path. He fanned himself with his hand. "It's bloody hot to back in the castle."

"'S'cause I'm in the roo- er…here," Peter sniggered. Sirius whacked him on the head.

"Seriously," said Sirius, "let's go to the lake, please!" he whined. "I really am too bloody hot!"

"It's actually not a bad idea," said Tia, smiling. "I've always wanted to know what it's like."

Sirius eyes' widened as he looked at her. "You've never swum in the lake?!" he exclaimed. "What is wrong with you?"

Tia rolled her eyes. "Not everyone has time to swim everyday of the week, Sirius."

Sirius opened his mouth, closed it, and shrugged. Everyone snickered – except Lily of course. James, still smiling, turned to look at her.

"Oh fine, we're almost there anyway," Arcadia huffed, and squealed when Sirius picked her up and swung her round.

"You've just saved my life!" Sirius cried joyfully and planted a kiss on Arcadia's lips. She pushed him away and strode forward.

"Watch it, there's people about!" she called over her shoulder. Sirius jogged up to her and slung his arm over her shoulder casually.

"Are you saying," he said loudly in a mock-hurt voice. "That you're too ashamed of me to show me off? How dare you!"

Everyone laughed, and Lily couldn't help but smile slightly at her friend's antics. They really were too cute to be true.

"Did I just see a smile?" someone whispered right by her ear, and she jumped. Remus smiled back at her.

"You feeling better?" he asked Lily. They'd become quite close friends that year, what with doing rounds together every other night for a couple of hours.

Lily sniffed. "Bit," she mumbled back. "I just…" tears filled her eyes and Remus put an arm round her. Tia, who was on Lily's other side, mimicked him.

"You don't have to talk," she said to Lily, who nodded and just let the tears roll down her cheeks.

When they reached the common room, the boys and girls went their separate ways to change into their swimming gear. Lily put hers on half-heartedly.

"You need water and fresh air to cool you down," Arcadia told her. "And it'll be fun, it'll cheer you up. If you really don't want to, at least put your stuff on and just sit by the lake. Please?"

Lily had given in.

When the girls reached the lake, Remus and James were already splashing about inside. Sirius and Peter were standing right by the edge, a hand on the other's back, ready to push each other in if the other did so. James was still walking.

"Oi!" Carissa shouted. "You're s'posed to wait!"

They all ignored her, and Tia laughed. As they reached the lake, the girls all slipped their dresses and flip-flops off and slid into the lake. Lily wandered over to a nearby tree and sat, watching her friends messing around. After a few minutes, James got out of the water, dried himself with a towel, slipped on his shirt and glasses, and walked over to her. She stiffened slightly, but James ignored it and plonked himself down next to her.

"Hey," he said quietly. She stared straight ahead.

"Hi," she mumbled. James refrained from rolling his eyes at the obviousness of the fact that she was avoiding his gaze. He moved his gaze to straight ahead as well. They sat in silence for a few minutes, both watching their friends splashing each other and pushing each other under the water. A few seventh-year Ravenclaws had come back to the school early and had joined the Gryffindors in the lake after also getting changed. James bit his tongue to stop himself talking, until he couldn't take it anymore.

"Look, Evans," he said, and turned his body so he was facing Lily. "I don't know what to say to you. I know I was acting like an idiot that afternoon, but—"

"Save it, Potter," Lily interrupted, still looking ahead. "What's done is done."

James continued staring at her, hurt.

"Evans," he sighed. "We're never gonna get along, I know that. We're too different. But…until the end of the year - can't we get along until the end of the year?" Lily finally tore her gaze from her friends and looked at the bespectacled boy next to her. His eyes were bright and pleading. "Just two weeks, that is. Two weeks. We won't even have to talk to each other half the time."

Lily stared, silent. After a few moments, she broke it. "Why d'you want us to be friends so much?" she asked, genuinely curious. James blinked. He'd never really thought about it much.

"I dunno," he replied, frowning. "I guess I just…like you."

Lily wasn't expecting that! She raised her eyebrows.

"…like me?" she asked. James shrugged.

"Yeah, I mean, you're smart, funny, you don't mind messing around like this," he nodded at their friends in the lake. They both smiled as Tia, Carissa and Arcadia (who were on the boys' shoulders) tried to push each other into the water. Tia screamed as she went in, dragging Peter down with her. They both resurfaced, laughing their heads off along with the other four. James looked back at Lily. "But you can be serious as well, you know? I know I don't usually get serious," he said when Lily snorted, "but it's refreshing sometimes, to have a normal talk instead of a Sirius one. I mean a talk with Sirius."

Lily smiled slightly. James' reasons why he liked her sounded a lot like the reasons why he wasn't common.

James shifted closer and looked at her.

"Just till the end of the year?" he asked quietly. Lily sighed.

"Fine, end of the year," she muttered resignedly and James grinned and hugged her. After he let go he looked back at his friends.

"How are you feeling?" he asked Lily, who shrugged.

"Getting there," she mumbled. James nodded.

"It takes a while," he said slowly, "but you'll get there eventually. You won't ever get over it, you'll always have that small gap in your heart, but you'll learn to…live life, you'll learn to understand that they wouldn't want you to grieve and give up, they'd want you to carry on as normal and…be yourself."

Lily looked at him. She was sure he was talking about himself and not her. She took in a breath.

"Who did you know that…?" she trailed off, not wanting to say that word. James looked her right in the eye.

"My sisters," he said, and Lily was surprised by how hard his voice was. "He killed my sisters – and their friends. He attacked the house in the middle of the night…it was their friends' house, they had a sleepover for their birthday party." He stopped talking and clenched his fists. His expression was so cold, Lily shivered, despite the hot weather. "He went to the living room, where the parents were, and killed them as soon as they saw him. Then he went upstairs and killed all ten girls. Ten nine year olds!" James said through gritted teeth, looking furious. "Ten defenceless girls and he killed them."

Lily looked away sadly. She knew that Potter was usually an egotistical bastard, but at the moment, she couldn't help but feel sorry for him. Even the most disgusting Slytherin didn't deserve this.

"But I got used to it," James fierce voice interrupted her thoughts and she turned her head to look at him again. "I got used to it. I live life normally, apart from going to their graves once a year."

Lily looked over at her friends again. Arcadia and Sirius were doing handstands in the water and Peter and Remus were wrestling with Tia and Carissa on their shoulders. A few more Ravenclaws and some sixth-year Gryffindors had joined them in the lake. They all looked like they were enjoying themselves.

"I just…I've had this dream since I was a kid, you know?" Lily said quietly, her eyes stinging and her voice tearful. "Go to a boarding school, come home for the holidays, and get sent the best birthday and Christmas presents from my mum. I've done that for the last five years…but then I wanted to get a boyfriend and take him home for my parents to meet. My mum would make the most delicious dinner ever, and my dad would ask him loads of questions and threaten to kill him if he hurts me…" the tears started rolling down her cheeks and she chortled half heartedly. Lily stared through her friends at the trees behind them. "…then I'd end up marrying that boy, and I'd go dress shopping with my mum. We'd pick a dress for her, and a maid of honour dress for Pet, and a wedding dress for me. I'd argue with my mum about who will pay, and Pet would end up paying. I'd hit her and mum would hit her and then we'd all go home and laugh about it whilst having hot chocolate and marshmallows. My mum makes a mean hot chocolate. Made," she corrected herself, sniffing.

James nodded. Deciding that that was enough moaning for one day, he stood up and held out his hand.

"C'mon," he said to Lily, who looked up at his hand doubtfully. "Let's go join in the fun. Best way to help you forget, and let your family rest in peace, knowing that you're enjoying yourself."

Lily didn't move. James sighed.

"Come on, Evans, arse up," he commanded. She shook her head.

"I just…I can't, you go…I can't, no…" she mumbled.

James pursed his lips.

"Evans, stand up and get in, or I'll have to throw you in," he threatened. She ignored him. "Right," said James, reached down and threw her over his shoulder. She screamed.

"Potter! Put me down!"

Everyone in the lake stopped what they were doing to look at them. James waved and grinned as Lily started hitting him.

"PUT ME DOWN!" Lily screeched. "PUT ME DOWN OR I WILL HURT YOU!"

"What will you do, kick me where it hurts?" James teased, as her feet collided with his stomach. He was way too tall – or was she too short?

"YOU BET I WILL!"

Everyone (including the larger groups of people coming back from Hogsmeade) laughed. It was quite a sight.

When James reached the edge of the lake, moved his shoulder so it was closer, grabbed Lily with both arms and threw her. What he didn't expect was for her to keep hold of him. In they went, James still wearing a shirt and glasses.

As soon as they both stuck their heads out of the water, James laughing and Lily glaring, everyone clapped. James grinned at them all and Lily couldn't help but smile and even let out a small chuckle. James swam over to the edge and took off his shirt and glasses.

"Oi, Prongs and Evans!" yelled Sirius. "Get your arses over here; we're having a four-way fight!"

James sniggered as Remus, Peter and Arcadia jumped on him.

It's been a while since I've done this; I've basically forgotten how to write an essay!

Well, what a year! I think it began well and slowly sort of…went down a bit. A lot.

I think we pulled the BEST prank ever done at Hogwarts (or anywhere, actually). It was like those Muggle things we learned about in Muggle Studies last year – circuses. It was like a freakin' circus HAHA!

Then there was the second week of December, where it snowed up to my thighs – now THAT was fun, but I'm sure you didn't think so, Professor. I wasn't aiming for your face, honest.

Well maybe—

James let out a frustrated sigh, crumpled up the piece of paper, and threw it over his shoulder. It landed in the bin.

Just where it belongs, he thought irritably. The person in the essay didn't sound like him anymore. He knew he acted like a prat most of the time, but it was just him showing off. If he turned all serious then…well his friends wouldn't desert him because Remus was serious, of course, but they'd think it weird.

Okay, that wasn't the real reason either. He knew the school would lose interest in him, and, bigheaded as it sounded, James didn't want to be unpopular. He liked getting attention from girls and he liked being a sort of role model for the prankster boys – because he never got much attention at home anymore. Dad was always away now, fighting against Voldemort. And Mum…well she was always depressed about Evie and Grace nowadays. She never talked to him anymore. It was just James and Dina – the house-elf.

I'll talk to Mum when I get home, James thought to himself, I'll tell her that I'm sick of being ignored. I'll MAKE her talk to me. I don't care if she screams, at least that would be a st—

"Oi, Prongs, snap out of it," someone waved a hand in front of his face. It was Arcadia. James blinked.

"Hullo," he said; his voice husky from lack of talking. He frowned. "Since when have you called me by my nickname?"

Arcadia smiled and jumped over the back of the sofa and onto the cushion pile James had made to get them out of his way. She looked at the dimming fire for a moment before looking at James.

"Oh, this was the first time. I just wanted to know what it felt like," she replied casually, shrugging. James eyed her suspiciously and she stared him right in the eye for a few moments before letting a smile spread on her face. "Okay, okay," she said, holding her hands up in defeat. "I'll tell you." She slid of the sofa, grabbed the cushions and threw them on the floor. James eyed her amusedly.

"The house elves are gonna kill you," he pointed out. Arcadia laughed.

"They hate me already," she commented as she flopped down on the sofa again, head against the armrest. "Well anyway…I was awake quite late last night because, you know, last week of school…so, yeah, I was down here in the common room, and I happened to see something out of the window that didn't make much sense."

She sat up straight and looked at James, who was eyeing her curiously.

"I saw a werewolf, a dog, and a stag," she said softly, not wanting to be overheard by little second years who were probably spying on them. James cleared his throat awkwardly and looked at his hands. Arcadia smiled wryly. "You know something about that, Prongs?" she asked wickedly. James opened his mouth and closed it again. Arcadia laughed.

"You look like a goldfish when you do that," she told him. He shrugged. Arcadia smiled properly at him. "Oh, don't worry about me knowing, I've known what you were up to since last year. Studying late into the night about Animagi…honestly, why else would you do that?" She shook her head. "But honestly, don't worry, I haven't told anyone. And I won't."

James looked at her and he could tell that she meant it. He smiled gratefully.

"Thanks," he said, and she nodded in reply. They sat in comfortably silence for a few minutes, before James pulled another piece of parchment towards him.

"Now if you could just write my end of year essay for me…"

Arcadia raised an eyebrow and her eyes twinkled.

"No chance, Potter, I've still got to write my own one!"

James laughed as she stood up and walked up the stairs to the girls' dormitories.

Well, wow, okay. This is the fifth year I'm writing you an essay, Professor! It's quite amazing, really, I still remember writing my first one after first year, when I was still an immature prat…Sirius says I still am, but that's a bit hypocritical coming from him, don't you think?

I promised myself that I'd write a mature essay this year because I don't want to be immature anymore. Arcadia told me I shouldn't be, because…well, immature boys are very unpopular with… with girls.

I've stopped hexing people just because. Well, apart from Snape, who hexes me, so it's okay for me to defend myself, right? I can't just stand by and let him hurt me enough to send me to St Mungos, that's just idiotic.

I know this essay isn't mature at all, but I can't help it, I guess I'm just used to writing immaturely. I guess I always will be.

I'll be one hundred and one years old, writing to the Headmistress of Hogwarts, Professor McGonagall, and writing like I'm still fifteen, about how Lily Evans slapped me and how we won the Quidditch Cup and the House Cup again and how my sisters…

Yeah. And then I'll go on to say how my great-grandson Remus has become the most popular boy at Hogwarts after pulling an age-old prank, invented by the infamous Marauders, a prank which turned the Headmistress's head to water and she splashed everyone sitting next to her.

And my son, Peter, he'd teach everyone how to defend themselves. He'd be the best Defence teacher ever.

And my grandson, Sirius, would be Minister for Magic, and he'd make sure the wizarding world is safe from evil.

Ha-ha, dream on, Potter.

James Potter, 1976, Fifth Year

McGonagall has given Lily Evans permission not to write an essay in the summer of '76 due to recent events which Miss Evans wishes not to be named.
Next Time:

"We're bloody under attack!"

-S-

"We're under attack…" Sirius said slowly. "…by Death Eaters?"

-S-

"Be careful," Arcadia whispered forcefully, and he nodded. They stared into each others eyes for a moment, before Sirius opened the door again and left, closing it shut quietly. Arcadia looked at James. She opened her mouth to talk but closed it again. James put his arms around her gently and she hugged him back, tears leaking out of her eyes.

-S-

She saw the red and green sparks heading towards her in slow motion. Her eyes widened. She ducked.

She ducked too late.