Ron and Hermione arrived the next morning in time for breakfast. "What have you been up to?" Ron asked, as soon as greetings had been exchanged.
"Nothing much," said Harry.
"Come off it," said Ron. "You've been with Dumbledore!"
"It wasn't that exciting. He just wanted me to help him persuade this old teacher to come out of retirement. His name's Horace Slughorn."
"Oh," said Ron. "We thought," Hermione kicked him, "We thought it'd be something like that," he finished.
"You did?" Harry sounded amused.
"Yeah... yeah, now that Umbridge is gone, obviously we need a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, don't we?"
Lily choked on her tea. "Defense Against the Dark Arts?" She asked, when she could talk again, "That would be the last subject Professor Slughorn would teach. He taught potions."
It was Harry's turn to cough over his toast. "Potions?" He spluttered. "That can't mean... no way."
"Is Snape teaching DADA?" Hermione asked in a low voice.
Lily pressed her lips together into a thin line and nodded. She did not much like the decision herself. She knew that Dumbledore had kept her friend out of that position because of the curse on it. The fact that he was putting Severus into it now... she didn't know what that meant, only that neither of them were telling, and she didn't like it.
"Well, at least it will only be for a year," said Harry, apparently thinking along the same lines. "That jobs jinxed; no one lasts more than a year. Quirrel even died. Personally, I'll hold out hope for another death."
"Harry James Potter!" Of course, Harry had no idea of Lily's friendship with Severus. Very few did; it was important that Voldemort never suspect anything. All Harry knew was that Lily defended him against various accusations, but then, so did James and most of the other Order members. Still, Lily did not think that was an acceptable sentiment for anyone. "Don't ever let me hear you say something like that again."
Harry had the grace to look ashamed.
Ron changed the subject. "So, what's Slughorn like?"
"He's looks a bit like a walrus," Harry said, "And he used to be head of Slytherin house. He said that you were one of his favorite students, Mum. He said the day people learned you and Dad were really alive was one of the happiest days of his life."
Lily buried her worry and smiled fondly. "He was probably exaggerating a little," she said. "But he was one of my favorite teachers. We were always fond of each other." She caught sight of Harry's slightly skeptical look and laughed. "Professor Slughorn is a bit of an acquired taste. There's nobody else quite like him. You just have to get to know him."
The conversation turned to Bill and Fleur and their upcoming wedding. Apparently, Ginny and Mrs. Weasley were having some trouble getting along with her, which Lily understood, even if she didn't agree with it. Fleur had joined the order, and Lily knew her to be blunt to the point of rudeness, but a very clever, compassionate witch. She thought that Fleur and Bill would be very happy together.
Then, there was the Percy situation, which had not improved. But, as Dumbledore had said, it's easier to forgive people for being wrong than right.
"That sounds like the sort of mental thing Dumbledore would say," Ron said, when she had repeated it.
"I'm having private lessons with him this year," said Harry, as if talking about the weather.
Ron chocked, Hermione gasped, and Lily sat up straight. "You kept that quiet!" said Ron.
"This is the first I've heard about it," said Lily, looking hard at her son.
"I forgot," said Harry. "He told me last night."
"Blimey... private lessons with Dumbledore," said Ron, looking impressed. "I wonder why he's..." He trailed off.
Lily and Harry exchanged looks. Lily nodded, magically lifted the finished dishes from the table and headed into the kitchen to wash them. She and James had told Harry that he should probably tell Ron and Hermione about the prophesy, and now seemed like a good time. They didn't need an audience.
Ten minutes later, Lily was putting the dishes away (one of the best things about magic was how quickly and easily one could wash dishes) when she heard a shriek. She poked her head back into the room to make sure everything was alright in time to hear the tale end of the conversation.
"Why didn't you... oh my... you should have said..." Hermione was on her feet, looking panicked. Lily had expected a less dramatic reaction to the prophesy, but... "Have any owls come?" Hermione demanded, looking at her.
Now, Lily thought she might be missing something. "No?" she said, though it came out more of a question. "What's going on?"
"Dumbledore said the O.W.L results would be coming today," Harry explained, as Hermione paced around the room muttering.
"I know I messed up Ancient Runes. I definitely made at least one serious mistranslation. And the Defense Against the Dark Arts practical was no good at all. I thought transfiguration went all right at the time, but looking back..."
"Hermione shut up, you're not the only one who's nervous!" barked Ron, "And when you've got your ten outstanding O.W.L's..."
"Don't, don't, don't!" cried Hermione, waving her hands around hysterically. "I know I've failed everything." Lily guided her to a chair, firmly told her to sit down, and shoved a cup of tea into her hands and told her to drink.
"What happens if we fail?" said Harry.
"You'd discuss options with your head of house," Lily answered, before Hermione could. "But that won't happen."
Her confidence may have been more convincing if Hermione didn't scream two seconds after Lily had finished talking. Three black specs were seen outside the window heading their way.
"Those are definitely owls," said Ron.
"And there are three of them," said Harry.
"Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no!" Hermione squealed.
Lily opened the window and waited as the trio ripped open their letters. A grin spread over Harry's face, and he handed her the grades.
"Well done!" Lily cried, beaming. "An 'O' in Defense Against the Dark Arts! And seven passes. I'm so proud of you." She hugged him.
"Thanks Mum," he said.
They had all done well. Ron had seven O.W.L's as well, and Hermione had gotten O's in everything except Defense Against the Dark Arts. They were N.E.W.T students now. Her son was almost an adult. Lily felt a twinge of regret as she thought of the years she had missed, but she forced it away quickly. Now was a time for celebration.
Again, some dialogue is from the book.