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New Beginnings

Chapter 3:

James sat the next morning at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall; he was eating a piece of toast as Sirius began talking about their plans for the year.
"You know that's not a bad plan Mooney, I mean sure we've got NEWTS this year, but I'm worrying we got that shit in the bag, for sure." James nodded.

"I don't know I mean we'll have to score well if we want to go to auror training in Manchester." Remus said shaking his head.

""Well you've got a point we have to make straight O's in order to be seriously considered for the program." James said setting down his piece of toast and taking a sip of orange juice.

"Yeah but there's nothing to worry about, I mean we all did really well on the Owls how much harder can the NEWTS be?" James shrugged, "Pretty hard," he added.

"Well I know I'll be definitely preparing greatly, those NEWTS are quite hard I've heard." Peter interjected. They guys nodded.

"So moving on how is your dorm, is it big, or just like th others, and you are sharing it with Evans eh?"

"Yeah it's nice, it's like the others but it has a more personal edge to it. It's good. Yeah, Lily, living with her should be good, we're going to try to reason with each other, to make a good example for the students."

"Ha, yeah right example," Sirius said, James frowned, "Well it is a start, at least she'll be civil." James said.

"Who will be civil with you?" Laura asked and she, Helena, and Lily sat down with them. James looked to Laura.

"No one." He replied. The girls sat down and they began to eat.

"So I think we all have Transfiguration first," Helena said looking down at her and everyone's times table, for which Professor McGonagall had handed out just moments before.

Once finished eating they all walked to class together. Lily walked along with Laura.

"So how was last night, is the room nice?" Laura asked. Lily smiled and nodded. "Yeah it's really nice, you and Helena should come up later to see." Laura nodded excitedly. They entered class and Lil sat down next to Helena, whilst Laura sat next to Remus.

"Good Morning, Class, As seventh years you will be graduating coming July, and then you will be out on your own, but before you go, you are required to take you NEWT Exams, this class is NEWT level and therefore will be rigorous, expect to stay up late studying and preparing for tests and practical exams, so that you will be prepared for the Newt exams." She said. Lily and Helena looked to each other nervously.

"But also, being seventh years does have it's perks, as a class you will be allowed extended breaks during the day as you have probably seen on your schedules, but also you are allowed extended hours in the village of Hogsmeade on scheduled visits." Many students smiled at this note.

"Now turn to page three hundred and sixty three, and begin making an outline and notes." She said.

Lily began taking notes with Helena, as they chatted quietly.

"So you haven't really said much about your summer other than working," Helena began quietly. Lily looked to her.

"Well I had to get my car fixed which was not very good seeing as I don't have any money, it cost around one hundred and fifty pounds, which is around two hundred galleons, and then it was just another frustrating summer you know? I'm working so much but I feel like I have nothing to show for it." Lily said tiredly looking down at her paper, continuing to write.

Helena smiled sympathetically, "What about loans?" she asked. Lily shook her head.

"I've taken two out already, which I still have to pay off. Hugh, once I'm out of Hogwarts I'll need not one job, but two." Lily said.

"Oh I'm sure you won't, Lily, ministry jobs usual have good pay." Lily nodded lightly.

"Well, enough about my troubles, I can't even compare mine with yours, how are you holdin up?" Lily asked.

Helena looked to her, and shrugged, "Good I suppose, I imagine they don't even know I'm gone you know, but over all I could be better," Helena said as she flipped over her notebook to the next page and continued writing.
"Where did you go after? Sorry I couldn't pick you up, the car was being fixed." Lily said. Helena shook her head.

"Oh no, lily don't worry, you didn't need to pick me up, I needed to walk off my anger at the time, I slept in a park the first few days and then I made my way to London and got a room at the Leaky Cauldron." She said.

"Yeah I did that to when the car was in the shop." Helena looked to her, "At the leaky cauldron?" she asked. Shaking her head, Lily said "No, in the park, thankfully it didn't rain."

Time passed and Laura and Remus soon finished their notes and had a bit of extra time left over to talk quietly.

"The Newts seem really intense this year hugh?" Laura asked, Remus nodded,

"Yeah I'm not looking forward to the extensive studying coming soon."

Laura nodded, closing her book and notebook. "Yeah but it's a bit exciting though, I mean once exams are over with, we're done." She said. Remus nodded.

"So, what do you want to do after Hogwarts?" Laura asked. Remus paused for a moment. He hadn't really thought much ever since fifth year when they had career evaluations. There wasn't much in the career market when it came to werewolves.

"I don't know, I mean I haven't really thought of it, I suppose an Aura or perhaps teaching, what about you?"

Laura thought for a moment, she herself hadn't planned on ministry careers mostly for the fact that she figured she couldn't get hired because of her status as a werewolf. She had always thought of owning a shop in Hogsmeade, perhaps a bakery.

"Well I never thought myself as an ministry official, I don't think I would make the cut, for different reasons, but I have always been intrigued by entrepreneurship, owning my own store someday has always been in the back of my mind." She said. Remus looked to her a bit surprised, Most of his friends and acquaintances wanted to have jobs at the Ministry.

"What, you think that's dumb?" Laura asked feeling a bit foolish. Remus shook his head.

"Oh no, ha, no, I just think that's . . . great . . . I mean everyone I know is eager to work for the Ministry, it's nice to hear that someone wants to do something so different." He said. Laura nodded with a shrug.

"So here's what I'm thinking, the first Hogsmeade, we hit up Zonko's joke shop you know so we can stock up on some great items to leave school with a legendary bang." Sirius said as James continued to write notes and listen to his friend.

"I think stink bombs have definitely gone out of style, so how about we do something with sparks or like banners you know that say Marauders?" James stopped writing and thought for a moment.

"That could be good, but you know perhaps we should cut down on out pranks, I mean don't get me wrong I'm totally for going out with a bang but until then perhaps we could sort of chill out, and enjoy our year, you know really go with the plan we came up with over the summer . . .you know the one about really getting serious about our living arrangements for next year and job searches and really making the effort to grow up a little, if not a lot. And if possible . . .you know, concentrate on capturing the loves of our lives" James said, saying the last bit in a quieter voice.

Sirius sat for a moment, thinking what James had said. He was right, he thought. Seventh year was the year not only to have fun but also to become serious about what their futures would be.

"Yeah, I understand, I suppose we can do that, but we at least have to give the Slytherins a good prank for old time's sake." James nodded in agreement.

"As for our plan on the special ladies, look over to Evans and Roberts, they look to be talking about something serious, wonder what it is." Sirius whispered. James looked over to the girls. Sirius was right they were in deep conversation.

James knew he fancied Lily greatly, but he also knew Sirius was quite taken by Roberts, she had something that Sirius had, loyalty and attitude, in a good way.

Suddenly the bell rang and the students gathered their belongings and exited the classroom, some with glum faces do to the amount of homework given by professor McGonagall.

The group of friends headed outside to enjoy their hour break before their next class. Lily sat down underneath the large oak tree with Helena and Laura beside her. James, Remus, Sirius, and Peter sat across from them.

Lily took out her book and began her homework. Helena looked to her, "Oh Lily can't your homework wait until later?" she asked. Yeah Lily you have the rest of the day to complete it," James said. Lily shrugged. "I want to get it done, I don't know how much homework I'll have from my other classes later on and I don't want to get stock piled with work." Lily said and continued her work.

Laura looked down to her bag and transfigured it into a large sprawling blanket and laid down. "Oh this feels so good, you all should try this. Helena looked to her and crawled over to her and sprawled out next to her.

"You're right this does feel good, Lily you should definitely try this out, you too guys." She said looking towards the boys. James transfigured his bag as well and he and Sirius, Remus, and Peter shared it. Lily after several minutes of working looked to her friends and decided to join them. Laying down slowly, lily found this to be quite relaxing once situated properly.

"This does feel good," Remus said. They all laid there for quite a while, letting the time pass peacefully. Lily felt a pinching sensation on her wrist, suddenly. She brought her wrist to her eye level and adjust her watch. Realizing the time, she bolted up right.

"Oh Buggar, Guy's wake up!" she exclaimed. She looked around, but found that they all were asleep.

"Hey, guys wake up! We slept too long class started thirty minutes ago!!!" she yelled. Still no one awoke. Lily reached over to her friends and smacked their faces lightly as well as the boys's faces. "Wake up. James awoke and looked up.

"What? What's wrong?" he asked concernedly.

"Ehh, what the deal?" Sirius muttered a bit disgruntled."

"Guys we're thirty minutes late for class, we must have over slept, come on." Lily said.

"Oh Lily, it's far too late to go now, we'll go when class is over to see what we've missed, just relax, it's so nice out right now." Laura said lazily.

Sirius laid back down and immediately went back to sleep. James looked to Lily and shrugged, "Don't worry we'll go later to catch up, just lye down and relax, who knows this may be our only chance to relax this whole week." He said. Lily laid back down, but couldn't really relax she hated procrastinating and missing class, in made her anxious and stressed. A half hour later Remus awoke and Found everyone asleep except Laura, who happened to be missing. Remus looked around, rubbing his eyes all the same. He looked over to the lake and found her sitting with her legs emerged into the water. Remus got up from his position quietly and walked over to her. Laura looked behind her to find Remus a few feet away approaching her.

"Hey Remus, did you have a good nap?" she asked. Remus smiled, "Yes and may I join you?" he asked. Laura nodded. Remus sat down and took off his shoes and socks and dipped his feet into the water.

"Oh it's really cold." Remus said laughing a bit. Laura nodded.

"I think Lily got a bit freaked out earlier hugh?" Laura said. Remus nodded.
"Yeah, she study's like it's her job, sometimes I worry about her," Remus said. Laura nodded, "me to."

Lily awoke suddenly from the light sensation of something tapping her softly. She opened her eyes and looked up and saw James above her, looking down at her.

"Sorry to wake ou but I figured you'd want to get to our next class before we slept through that one as well." He said. Lily nodded and sat up, rubbing her eyes.

"Thanks, I guess I should head back up stairs to get my books." She said. Lily then looked around. "Where's Laura and Remus, did they already head to class?"

James shook his head, "No they're over by the lake talking. Lily looked over and nodded. James looked to Sirius.

"Ugh crap," he grunted. Lily looked back, "What?" she asked. James smiled. "Oh nothing it's just going to take a bit to get Sirius and Peter up is all." Lily smiled lightly, "Yeah same with Helena." Lily reached over to Helena and tried to wake her. Thought she wasn't getting up.

"Helena, Helena, Helena . . ." She said. Lily thought for a moment. "Helena, Madam Vaden's Clothier is closed for good." She said loudly. Suddenly Helena awoke with a start.

"What!? What!? You can't be serious!, oh hell's no, it is not closing . . ." She exclaimed.

"What isn't closing, woman, could you perhaps keep it down?" Sirius grumbled loudly.

"Well that cost me no effort whatsoever." James said happily.

"Calm down, Helena, the store isn't closing, I just said that so you'd get up." Lily said. Helena breathed a breath of relief. Madam Vaden's was her favorite clothing store.

"Oy Peter get up we've got class," James said, nudging him hard. Peter awoke looking a bit disturbed. Laura and Remus came over and Laura re-transfigured her blanket back into her bag, as did James.

James and Lily headed to their dorm to get their books whilst the others went to Gryffindor tower to get theirs. They soon met in Charms class and continued their day in this manner, going from class to class. By the end of the day they had their work cut out for them.

Later that day, Lily sat in her common room, doing her homework, she had been working for three hours and Across from her sat James, who was also working hard, writing essays and doing readings. Lily closed her Potions book and set it on the coffee table. Moving her belongings to the flor she sprawled out on the couch and closed her eyes. She had a headache and knew it was from reading to intensely. James heard her movements and looked to her, She looks tired he thought. Setting his book on the table along with his paper and quill, he stood up and stretched, suddenly hearing his back crack in various places.

Lily looked to him, once she heard the noise of his cracking back.

James smiled. "Sorry, 'bout that." He said. Lily shook her head slightly. Bringing her finger tips to her temples she began to rub them slowly.

"Are you felling alright Lily?" James asked looking to her. Lily looked up towards him, and nodded, "Just a simple headache is all," she said.

"I think we start patrols next week." Lily said. James nodded.

James sat back down, "Ugh, well, today in class, transfiguration, I saw you in a deep conversation with Roberts, is everything alright, you seemed a little upset." James said softly. Lily sat up and looked to him.

"Nothing you need to concern yourself with Potter, things are alright, anyway I should go upstairs I think I'm going to get to bed a bit earlier, I'm quite tired,"

James nodded.

Lily organized her things and left them on the table and her bag on the floor. Heading towards the stairs, she stopped at the sound of James's voice.

"Lily, if you ever want to talk or something I'm always available." James said, seeing something was bothering her. Lily looked to him and nodded.