A Test of Time
James stared out his Dorm Room window. The thoughts that swelled through his head were making him nauseas. He was thinking about how he would have to leave Hogwarts on a sabbatical for Dumbledore, how he had been offered a job to protect the school for a six month trip somewhere Dumbledore was not able to say. James couldn't bare to tell his mates, Remus Lupin, Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew. They would be crushed…he had decided that Dumbledore would tell them.
James knew that his friends would most likely disown him while he was gone for not telling them he was leaving in person. But he couldn't bring himself to do it, but on the other hand, if he failed at his mission, he knew that they wouldn't be a target if they were no longer his friends. James figured that since they had lasted this long, that a six month sabbatical can't change too much.
Then there was Lily Evans. They had finally gotten closer in their Seventh and final year at Hogwarts, and now he has to leave her. He knew how devastated she was going to be. How much she was going to hate him for leaving her, without a hug or maybe even a final kiss goodbye. James didn't know if he was going to return. Dumbledore had promised that his journey wouldn't be in vain, but he had said nothing about him living.
James packed the rest of his clothes and necessary items in his trunk. He had packed in the invisibility cloak, but stuffed the Marauders Map into Sirius' blankets on his four poster bed. He didn't know what he would say to Remus when he got back. Remus would need him during transformations, but Dumbledore had no idea about their massive rule breaking to transform into animals to keep Remus company.
James ran a hand through his raggedy, messy, charcoal hair. Dumbledore had told him that after their meeting James would be packing and leaving immediately and that he would be excused from all class work while he was gone.
James only understood one thing: He was going to make a difference for his world. He was going to change something. Dumbledore had promised that. He levitated his trunk and cast a spell to make it invisible while he wrapped the invisibility cloak around him and stalked down the stairs so that nobody would see him leaving. He crept up to the gargoyle that guarded Dumbledore's office, he could feel his heart pounding in his chest. He imagined Lily's face as he saw in his head Dumbledore tell them all that he had been sent on a mission and he wouldn't be back for another six months.
His throat was itchy, and he felt an uneasy tightening on his chest, and he realized he was choking back tears. He shook out his head and gave the rather annoyed gargoyle Dumbledore's password before he stepped onto the stairs and pulled off the cloak. Though James knew he was leaving his friends, he made a promise that he would see them again.