I want to dedicate this whole story (past and future chapters) to xThe Painted Lady as a belated birthday present. Enjoy!
This chapter specifically is for TurnToPage495 for leaving one of the sweetest review ever :)
Prompt: Last
Pairing: James/Lily
She was standing in the doorway of the Heads dorm on the 21st June, 1978 staring pensively at nothing when she felt a pair of strong arms wrap around her waist, hugging her from behind.
She knew who the mystery person was even before he spoke, she recognized the cinnamon-y smell of his cologne mixed in with the ever present scent of 'Quidditch'.
She couldn't think of a better way to describe the scent other than 'Quidditch,' there was the musky smell of brooms, broom polish, and many more that she couldn't name. So she just said he smells like Quidditch.
"Hey James," She greeted, the smile evident in her voice as she snuggled back into his warm, muscular chest.
He chuckled and kissed her lightly as she turn her head slightly to face him.
"How did you know it was me?"
She looked him dead in the eye and said completely straight faced, "Magic."
He chuckled appreciatively and hugged her tighter as she twisted around to face him.
"I can't believe it. It's our last day of school. Last day of being Heads, last day of sleeping in the dorms, last day ever in this castle. We're never coming back. I can't believe seven years has gone so fast. Sometimes I wish I was a first year again." Lily sniffed, burying her head in the crook of James's neck.
"What, so that you can call me an 'arrogant git' and claim you'd rather go out with the Giant Squid, who is rumored to be Godric Gryffindor in disguise, than me again?" James teased.
She slapped him playfully on the arm but smiled nevertheless.
"Prat."
"Who, you or me?"
She rolled her eyes good naturedly, "You of course, what other idiot do we know standing in this room?"
Sirius's voice floated up the stairs behind them.
"OI Prongs, stop practicing mouth to mouth with Lily and get your arse down here now!"
"Padfoot! It's called tact!" Remus's admonishing yet amused voice proceeded to reprimand Sirius.
Lily took one look at James face, the corners of his mouth twitching upwards as he tried to hold back a laugh, and promptly kissed him long and hard.
She conveyed everything she felt in that kiss, her love for him; worry about the war; the bittersweet feeling of leaving Hogwarts for the last time and her joy from just enjoying he last moments.
She felt her knees go weak from the intensity of their kiss, James's arms tightened around her waist pulling her flush against him and her hands tangled in his dark, messy hair.
"Prongs! Oi James! HEY NO SNOGGING BEHIND CLOSED DOORS! MOONY MY EYES!"
They broke apart laughing as they watched Sirius, who had evidently come to collect James, ran back down stairs complaining about being scared for life.
"I'd better go see what Padfoot wants, he'll sulk for the entire train ride if I don't. I'll meet you in the common room soon yeah?" She nodded and James gave her a quick peck on the lips before exiting the Head Girls dorm.
Lily smiled and looked around her room. There was no doubt that she was going to miss this place, her home for the past seven years of her life.
She remembered the nerves and the excitement that came with being a first year, discovering platform 9 and 3/4, seeing the train, meeting her friends and taking the boats across the black lake for the first time.
She remembered the awe she felt when she first saw the magnificent castle, and she couldn't help but feel sad that this would be the last time she ever stepped foot here again. It would be so strange, she mused, going from living in school and sharing a room with your best friends, to suddenly having everybody either move in with friends and significant others, or go back to their parents.
It was hard to leave behind seven years worth of memories, and for some it might have been easier to spare the heartbreak and not make them at all.
But for Lily, she wouldn't give them up for the world.
She took one more look around her room and went downstairs to meet James and the others for what would be the Marauders last ever Hogwarts prank.
Goodbye Hogwarts, she thought, and stepped out of her room for the final time.
