A/NL: CORRECTION! I said before that Lily's birthday was in late June and that they would wed in late July. I meant to say that Lily's birthday was in late July and they will not wed until late August. I'm sorry if this causes any confusion!

Ch 16. A Tender Goodbye

After Graduation trunks were packed, hugs and addresses exchanged, goodbyes said, and, for the 7th years, job applications handed in. They were leaving their home-away-from-home. The term was over and they were leaving on the Hogwarts express. The End-of-Year feast was a fun festivity as usual. However, the older students were more subdued than usual, all of them realizing that this was the last meal they would eat at Hogwarts. The Gryfindors won the house cup. The most memorable moment of all was the finale of Marauder pranks. Just as Dumbledore had finished his speech and was about to dismiss the school, a great BANG! sounded throughout the hall. Fireworks in every color imaginable shot out into the sky and spelled out a message.

Messers Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs would like to thank you all for putting up with us over the years and for being the test-subjects in many of our fabulous pranks. We will miss all of you!

Love,

James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter.

Then, just as the fireworks were beginning to fade, another message shot out into the air. This one was made of pink, red and golden hearts.

I Love you, Lily! Thank you so much for putting up with my three idiots of best friends and I can't wait for us to begin our lives together!

All of my love and more

James

Many of the girls in the Hall applauded and the guys looked as though they were angry with themselves for not thinking of the idea. Lily turned to James with tears in her eyes.

"Don't cry! I'm sorry, I know how much you hate our pranks, but-" Lily cut him off by kissing him soundly and deeply on the lips.

"I love you," she said against his lips as they broke their kiss. ("Finally!" Sirius exclaimed behind them)

"I love you too!" James replied happily.

The train ride back to King's Cross was memorable for all of them. It was the first time that they had all willingly sat in the same compartment. Lily, James, Alice, Peter, Remus, Sirius, Frank, and two other girls from Lily and Alice's dorm sat together in one compartment. Unfortunately, there were only six seats in the compartment, so Lily and Alice had to sit in James and Frank's laps, respectively. After about twenty minutes, however, everyone got tired of seeing Lily and James start to snog each other's faces off before Sirius would throw something at them and decided to leave them alone so they could say goodbye properly. After all, it would be almost a month before they saw each other again. Alice and Frank decided to find a compartment to themselves as well.

"I love you," James gasped out between the hot, passionate kisses he was currently planting around Lily's neck.

"I- oh, gods James! - I love you too!" Lily moaned out as he found the sensitive spot behind her ear and began to nibble lightly on it. After about twenty more passionate, snog-filled moments, they stood back, both gasping for air, staring at one another. Suddenly, Lily stepped forward and threw her arms round James's neck. His immediately went around her waist. They were about to share another long and passionate kiss when Alice burst into the room.

"Frank's just proposed!" she squealed, tears of happiness streaming down her face.

"What? Oh, Alice that's wonderful!" Lily said, disentangling herself from James' embrace and walking over to hug her best friend. Then, a voice wafted into the room.

"Alice? Where are you, love? You still have to answer my question, poppit!" Frank was walking down the hallway, searching for his possible fiancée.

"Oh, bugger! I didn't, Lily," Alice exclaimed, worriedly. "I just ran out and I-oh, dear," she hurried out of the compartment and several moments later they heard a shout. "OF COURSE I'LL MARRY YOU, YOU BIG GIT!" James and Lily were both doubled over with laughter. After they had calmed down considerably, they sat down. James took Lily's hand and began to trace small over the back of it with his thumb.

"What's that?" he asked, noticing a tiny scar on her index finger.

"Oh, that was from the time I tried to throw that vase at you in the second year. It shattered and glass went everywhere, remember?"

"Yeah," James replied, laughing. "So, how are you getting home?" Lily had been two busy with all of her NEWT courses to worry about signing up for the apparition course. Thus, Lily was not able to apparate from King's Cross and James knew that her sister's house hadn't been hooked up to the floo network yet. He wondered if Petunia would actually come out to meet her sister at King's Cross.

"I've got a neighbor who's a squib. Her parents were wizards and she's still hooked up to the floo network. I'll just walk home from Bella's place," Lily replied, sounding as though she rather detested the idea.

"Do you need a ride?" James asked, now slowly drawing his hand up and down her arm. Lily couldn't help but laugh.

"James, Surrey is almost a hundred miles out of your way. I doubt your parents will be up for that kind of drive," she said, enjoying teasing him. James laughed too and held her tighter against him. Lily sighed, leaning her head back into his chest.

"I'm gonna miss you," James murmured in her ear. Lily couldn't help but shiver as his warm breath tickled her earlobe.

"Sure you are," she said sarcastically. "You and Sirius will be out on the town, throwing bachelor parties overnight. You won't even think of me once."

"Of course I will!" James replied, pretending to be offended by her accusation. "Besides," he added," I've never been a bachelor, really. I've been in love with you since I was eleven years old." Lily laughed and turned in his lap so that she was facing him.

"One more goodbye kiss before what get there?" she said, meeting his eyes hesitantly as she traced her fingers across his chest.

James nodded and brought his lips to hers in a searing open-mouthed kiss that would have made Lily go weak in the knees if she had been standing. Suddenly, the train screeched to halt as they arrived at King's Cross Station and Lily and James were both thrown to the floor. James was on top of Lily, practically straddling her as Lily lie on her back underneath. Hey both burst out laughing and were about to start kissing again, when the door flew open.

"Lovebirds! We're here!" Sirius said in a singsong voice as he entered the compartment. He looked down at them on the floor and grinned evilly. "Bad time?" he asked, a teasing lilt to his voice. James laughed and stood up, reaching down to help Lily do the same.

"Sirius," Lily said, very sweetly. Too sweetly, "you're standing on my hair!"

Sirius grinned again. "Sorry about that, luv," he said, moving his foot above her stomach as though he was about to step on her.

"James! Help!" Lily shrieked as she rolled out of the way. James laughed as he reached down to help her up.

"That. Wasn't. Nice!" Lily said, jabbing her finger at Sirius' chest as she spoke each word.

"James! Sirius!" Emily Potter ran up to her son and her surrogate son and engulfed them both in a giant hug.

"Hey Mum," James choked as he tried to scramble out of her embrace.

"Hullo, Emily!" Sirius said, brightly, thankful that he was too tall to be choked by Emily's bone-breaking hugs.

"I'll be right back, Mum. I just have to say goodbye to Lily," James said, sprinting off.

Lily was almost at the exit when James caught up with her.

"Lilyflower!" he called. Lily turned and ran back to him.

"Thought you were leaving without saying goodbye to your fiancée?" James asked, before lowering his head to her and greeting her with a soft, yet very passionate kiss. He slowly traced the outline of her lips with his tongue and Lily instantly complied with his request, sighing inwardly as he tongue caressed hers. When they finally broke the kiss, Lily wrapped her arms tightly around James, hugging him to her.

"I wish I didn't have to stay with Petunia, but I just know she'll put up a horrible fuss if I don't go home sometime today. You understand why I have to see her before I come to stay with you, don't you, baby?"

"Of course. It doesn't mean I'll miss you any less, though," James replied, kissing her softly again. They hugged again, and James took both of her hands in is as he started to back away. Lily didn't want to let go of his hands, but she knew that he had to go and so did she if she didn't want to be locked in the cupboard under the stairs for most of the summer.

"I love you," she said, smiling brightly.

"Love you, too, Lilyflower. James squeezed her hands and then let go. They held one another's gaze for a long time before James was swallowed up by the crowd.

Lily sighed, resignedly and started the walk to Diagon Alley. It was almost three miles from King's Cross, but she had been making the journey every years since she was thirteen years old. She was used to it by now. Bedsides, she couldn't wait to see Petunia and to tell her that she was getting married. And to a full-blood wizard no less! Lily sighed again and continued walking in silence, thinking of the wonderful life that she and her husband would enjoy their life together.

A/N: Ok, I know that I could have done a lot better on this, but I wanted to get a chapter out to everyone before I leave for NYC. I'm going on Thurs. for Choir tour. Anyway, thank you for the great reviews last chapter!

BunnyT: Thank you for your review! Yes, you have been a very faithful reader and I really appreciate you! I just dedicated the chapter to the person who had actually reviewed the most times. Anyway I hope you liked this chapter, too! I tried to put in lots of extra fluff just for you!

Brooklyn girl: Thank you for reviewing! I can't wait to start on the sequel! It's going top be a lot of fun to write! Also, thank you very much for your prayers. My family and I really appreciate it!

F4nfic-F4n4tic: Gee, I dedicate the chapter to you and I don't even get a review? What gives, girl? LOL. It's ok, I know it's hard to review sometimes. Anyway, I hope you're still with me and I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Tears-of-crystal: Hey girl! I hope you like this one! I can't wait for you to post your next chappie! Anyway, ttyl!

Reviewers, I need your help! I am trying to get a plan in my head for Thrice and I want to know your opinions on two things:

A: How many of you would I lose if I made Thrice and M-rated story? It would not be graphic, but it may contain some subject matter that isn't appropriate for a T fic. I will, of course, mark the chapters that have M- rated material in them and I will fill you in on anything important that you miss by not reading that chapter. Just let me know if anyone would have a problem with that!

B: Should I make a Thrice an AU or not? I'm just wondering, because I think that I have an idea for a third story if it is an AU and I wanted to make sure that no one had a problem with that! Once again, if you do, just let me know in a review and I'll consider everyone's opinions!

Just trying to keep my readers happy here! Anyway, please review and let me know what everyone thinks! Also if anyone is interested in being a beta-reader for me, please let me know! Thanks!

Love from

Lyny Angell