The last classes of their fifth year were eventless, compared to those at the start of term. Lily's prefect duties were over now, and she had the afternoons of their last three days free. All the fifth years couldn't wait to get home to get their hard earned break, before the results of their examinations arrived. The Marauders, with their new member, pulled a last prank on Snape with very entertaining results. Their last new moon expedition had gone as planned, and Max was hanging around with them as if they had been friends for over a century. James and Lily got along much better, and they were even spotted talking alone on the grounds. Sirius was having his hormones at the limit, and now, he was flirting with every girl that he saw.
The Leaving Feast came and went; they already were reaching King's Cross station in the Hogwarts Express, the girls in one compartment and the boys in another, but the same conversation rang in both. "Does she really like you, James?" "Do you really like him, Lily?"
The Hogwarts Express pulled into Platform Nine and Three-Quarters and all the students got off, dragging their trunks with anxious faces looking for their parents. Lily and Mary, who were neighbors, looked up hopefully looking for the Evanses, which awkwardly enough were standing next to the Potters. James was already with his parents, waiting for Lily to introduce them. Lily was not sure that that was the right thing to do, she and James weren't even, strictly speaking, friends. But she also wanted to leave, quickly. Resigned, she reached her parents; her mum was beaming at her and Petunia had a sour look on her face.
"Er... mum, dad, this is James Potter, a friend." said Lily after an awkward silence. "I guess" she added in an undertone. But before she could say anything, Mrs. Potter came over and shook Lily's hand enthusiastically.
"Oh dear! You must be Lily Evans. Jamie has told us all about you, I am James' mother, by the way. We are so delighted to meet you at last! That is, my husband and I."
Lily didn't know what to say. Mrs. Potter had been so kind to her, she didn't want to imagine what must James had told his mum about her. Either way, Mrs. Evans approached James and said,
"James Potter. Pleased to meet you, boy. Lily has told us quite a few things about you, but I cannot deny I was longing to meet you. Again, a pleasure."
Neither Lily nor James knew how to interpret Mrs. Evans' words, and after a polite farewell both families departed, the Evanses accompanied by Mary Macdonald.
Home that night wasn't fun for Lily. After leaving Mary at her house, she had to endure a quite long taunt at dinner about James.
"Was him the James Potter? He seemed a nice young man, why did you tell us such bad things about him?" "He is very good looking, Lily, dear, you should be nicer towards him." This and much more Lily had had to go through during dinner. She had earned a break. After everything that had happened that year, she longed to talk it with somebody, somebody who understood her and respected her. Her first thought was Snape, but with a pang she realized that they were never going to be friends anymore...
She sighed and finished eating in silence, her family pestering her with questions.
She went up to her room and sat down on the bed. What the hell was she thinking? James and her weren't close at all, and she couldn't explain why the sudden remembrance of that stupid attraction she had to that arrogant toerag. The fact that James was growing on her was undeniable... Her hand moved by itself and clutched a piece of parchment and an inked quill, started to write and she couldn't stop... writing down all her frustration and worries, letting her pen go at last was like complete relief. She finally fell asleep without even getting undressed.
Meanwhile, at James' a similar scene was taking place. "Oh Jamie, she's gorgeous! She was before, but now she's an incredible young lady. How did you two made up?" His mother squeaked excitedly. "I can't believe still she's not a pureblood...fine girl like that isn't common nowadays, boy." Added his father. James answered to his soup. "She talked with me. We're friends now... she had this row with Eileen Prince's son, you know, Snape, and I tried to help her James-style, but I think I upset her more, anyway, we talked, we apologized with each other and now we're well. She is wonderful. " He was not sure what his parents were thinking.
"Did she hurt you, James?" Asked his mom softly. Yeah, but she made up for it, he thought. The soft pressing of her lips against his cheek was still fresh on his mind. He couldn't shake the feeling that she liked him too.
"James?" His mom repeated.
"I made her do it, but she made up... I can't forget her." James continued gazing into his plate. The rest of the meal passed with other conversation topics, including Mrs. Potter's tenth complaint for the Hogwarts letter she'd received informing her that James had exploded a girl's toilet seat, until Mr. Potter put down his fork and told James to go up to bed.
When he got to his room, he just sat on a coach and started to think. It was time for an extreme move. Hecate, his owl, arrived at the window and held out her leg to show a letter attached to it. It was from Sirius.
Prongs,
I was thinking on what you told us on the train and I've got an idea. You must make the first move, well, the second because she already did, but anyway, her address is Brickwell Avenue, number thirteen, London. Actually just two blocks from my place and like five from yours.
You're welcome in anticipation,
Padfoot.
P.S. Can you make it to the fire tomorrow at 7:00 p.m.?
James reread the letter several times until he couldn't take more meaning out of it. His heart pounding fast, a smile on his face. The plan had already took form on his mind and before he took consciousness he wrote a "Sure man" and sent the owl right back. For that was the last summer he would stay single.