A/N: Get your votes in for the new poll: choose the name of a new character to come up in like chapter 40 or so. Also, despite taking on two more classes, I should be able to focus on writing more. My husband ships off to boot camp and training on Oct 7th, so that is 25 weeks apart. Also, a reminder that I will be participating in NaNoWriMo in November, so the updates may drop off drastically during that time. Thank you to all of you who are reading and reviewing. Oh, and ONE year won as the next big jump in time, second place was five, so I am going to do two and a half. Originally I chose ten back when I was writing chapter 28 (actually, the original chapter 28 picked up when Lily was 25), but that wasn't good for the story. Don't worry, one way or the other, you'll read it.

Disc.: Standard "I don't own anything" disclaimer.

N.E.W.T.s

As much as Lily hated to admit it, she cried a little when she and Scorpius said their good-byes there in King's Crossing. She didn't care that her friends and family were all there, all around her to say their last good-byes before she departed and embarked on her very last term of her career at Hogwarts. She had stood there in Scorpius' arms, tears dampening his sweater as they said good-byes.

"Gee, Lily," Scorpius had said quietly. "Heaven forbid I ever die."

"Don't say that to her," Narcissa said popping him upside the head. Scorpius looked at Lily's horrified expression as she imagined what losing Scorpius permanently would feel like.

"I'm not planning on dying for a really long time," Scorpius said quickly. "I just meant you're just going back to school. This isn't like 'good-bye forever'. It's not even good-bye! I promised I'd be there to watch the big game between Slytherin and Gryffindor."

"I know," Lily said. She grinned through her tears. "I'm just being a big baby."

"Awe," Scorpius said as he hugged her again. He lowered his mouth to her ear. "Don't think this isn't tearing me up inside, too, Lils. I hate that you're going, but it's good. You have to finish school. We'll see each other at Easter."

"But I'm going to be so busy studying for my N.E.W.T.s," Lily grumbled. He laughed.

"Like you need to study," he teased. He kissed her, not caring that everyone was looking and gawking at the Head Girl sucking face with Scorpius Malfoy. Lily blushed as she pulled back slightly.

"You are one dangerous person to love, Score," she whispered.

"That's the pot calling the cauldron black, Miss Lily Potter," Scorpius said as he finally released her to board the train. Lily stopped in the doorway, the last person to board the train.

"See you in a few weeks?" she asked. Scorpius nodded.

"I promise," he said. "At the Quidditch match."

"I love you!" Lily called waving.

"I love you too!" Scorpius called back. Lily grinned and disappeared onto the train as it pulled out of the station.

"It's about damn time," Shale said as he and Nina lounged in the Head Car.

"I was saying good-bye," Lily protested. Nina giggled.

"He didn't mean that," Nina said. "We have all been wondering when you two would FINALLY get together."

"Who?" Lily asked.

"You and Scorpius, of course," Nina said. Lily shook her head laughing.

"No, I mean who has been wondering?" Lily asked.

"Oh, just all of our grade level. We thought that you guys had back in fifth year, but that didn't seem right. You guys were so unhappy there at the end of the year," Nina said gently. Lily blushed.

"We… tried then," Lily said uncomfortably. "It just wasn't our time."

"Well, I for one am happy that you two are dating," Shale said stretching. "Otherwise I was going to have to step up and take you both on, and that would have but a slight kink in our marriage vows, wouldn't it have?"

"Oh, shut it, you dirty old man," Nina laughed slapping his shoulder lightly.

"Oh, that's right, Mr. Zabini," Lily taunted. "You turned OLD over the Christmas Holiday, didn't you?"

"Eighteen is hardly old," Shale said dismissively. "If I'm old at eighteen, your man Malfoy is ancient at almost twenty."

"Too funny," Lily said.

"Go away Shale, Lily and I have to talk girl talk," Nina said suddenly. Shale looked at her in surprise, but stood.

"Fine, fine," Shale said throwing his hands up in surrender. "I know when I am not wanted."

"Love you, baby," Nina called in a sickeningly sweet sing-song serenade. Lily threw up a little in her mouth.

"Love you too," Shale said without that same voice. Lily laughed as he slid the door closed, leaving the two girls alone in the car.

"Shale and I did it!" Nina whispered excitedly.

"Did it?" Lily asked confused. "Did what exactly?"

"We got married," Nina whispered. Lily looked at her, blinking.

"W-why? I thought that you two were going to get married right after graduation," Lily murmured as she looked at her friend. Nina's face fell slightly. "No, I am excited for you! Thrilled. I'm just curious why you hurried it up."

"I love him," Nina said as she brightened up again. "I just didn't want to wait."

"I'm really happy for you both," Lily said smiling. "Wow. Does Callie know?"

"Yeah, and I would have sent you an invite and I wanted to tell you at Christmas, but we hadn't told our family yet," Nina said.

"Oh, it's ok," Lily assured her. She hugged Nina tightly. "Wow, a married woman. I guess I don't have to go dress shopping over Easter, now. More time to study."

"Yeah, like you need to study," Nina teased. Lily rolled her eyes and the two girls chatted about the apartment that Nina and Shale were getting down by the ATA.

"So many of you guys are going into the Auror Training Academy," Lily commented as she took a moment to glance out the window at the darkening sky. "That should help keep down the competition at Wizard Healing Institute."

"Like there's any competition for you at the WHI!" Nina snickered as Shale entered the car. Nina's face lit up and Lily stood. She embraced him.

"Congrats, Shale, really," Lily said grinning. "I'm so happy for the both of you."

"Thanks, Lily," Shale said grinning. "I have you to thank for this."

"Yeah, so if it goes bad, we know who to blame," Nina teased. Lily laughed and rolled her eyes.

"I'll leave you two alone," Lily said. "I have some patrolling I should be doing. Don't make a mess."

"Haha, very funny," Nina said as Shale winked at the girl. "Oh."

"Yeah," Shale laughed as Lily closed the door behind her.

Everywhere Lily looked, she saw couples. At first it was as if the whole castle had decided to find love, but then Lily realized that she had spent the better part of the time since she sent Scorpius packing ignoring the fact that students all around her loved each other. It was as if she was blind and now could see. People were everywhere, embracing each other, outwardly embracing relationships.

It was also then that she noticed that a lot of people were talking about getting married. Maybe they had been all along, but now it was something that raced to the forefront of her mind. It consumed the thoughts of those around her. The thought gave her this intense feeling inside, like she would pass out in a cold sweat. She trembled at the idea, not because she didn't want to marry Scorpius but because the idea of marriage was scary. So much could go wrong. She loved him but she wasn't sure about herself enough. She laughed when her mind spiraled like that. They were nowhere near that kind of decision.

Time seemed to fly for Lily, and the big game between Gryffindor and Slytherin was on the horizon. Lily was excited about it from a Quidditch standpoint. The winner between the two would almost be guaranteed the house cup. She was also excited about the thought of playing and succeeding with Scorpius' eyes on her. The very thought excited her, and when they won, she'd get to celebrate that evening with him.

It was the morning of the game and Lily could barely contain her excitement. She skipped down to breakfast, practically, ignoring the fact that seventeen year old witches, especially Slytherin witches, shouldn't skip. She was in a fantastic mood. She grinned at everyone, sitting with her team. She had Shale to her left, and the seeker, a tiny second year girl, to her right. The team ate and headed to the locker room. Lily laughed and joked around with her teammates as she pulled off her school uniform.

She looked up from her bench, readying to pull her Quidditch robes on to see Draco Malfoy standing there in the doorway, looking rather uncomfortable as various Quidditch players darted about in various states of undress. He had raindrops in his hair and a frown. Lily patted the seeker on the shoulder, saying something before she strolled up to him. She thought about the fact that she probably would have better served her stance if she wasn't wearing just the under Quidditch attire.

"Draco," Lily said with a confused smile on her face.

"Lily," he said. He pulled an envelope out of his cloak, water droplets warping the parchment slightly.

"What's that?" Lily asked. It was as if her heart dreaded the answer it already knew. Draco sighed and looked apologetically.

"He wants to be here, Lily, he does," Draco said quietly. Lily took the envelope from Draco and nodded wordlessly. "I'll be there, cheering our fellow Slytherins on for the victory."

"T-thanks," Lily said as she turned away from Draco. She headed back to her locker, dressing for the match with less spring in her step. She quickly read his note, disappointed even further that it offered no explanation, just an apology for not being able to come. She hung on to that thought. He wasn't able to come, not that he didn't want to come. Surely it accounted for something.

"Ok, team. We all know how important our rivalry is with Gryffindor," Lily addressed the team vibrantly as she pushed aside her disappointment for further evaluation when she could do so privately. The Slytherins took the field, playing valiantly against Gryffindor despite the pouring rain of spring. The match remained neck and neck. The rain stabbed at them, the wind whipping at them as they flew. Lily flew near the diminutive seeker, the poor thing barely hanging on.

"Carli, you have to catch the snitch as soon as possible," Lily told her as a bludger came flying their way. Lily sent it soaring towards the Gryffindor keeper, nearly colliding with the poor boy. "As soon as you can, catch it and end this game."

"Ok!" Carli called as she went off in search of it some more.

Lily saw it at the same time Carli saw it. Lily screamed loud, cheering as the game ended, snitch in Carli's hand. She was closest to Lily and the little girl flew up to her, holding the struggling gold ball up and Lily embraced her cheering. The rest of the team swarmed and they were hugging and cheering, dripping with rain. Lily remembered how it felt to be that young, to look to the older players for approval, and Lily grinned.

"You did fantastic, Carli. You did it!" Lily cheered. The small girl beamed and Lily couldn't help but wonder if she needed to be better praising her team. She smiled at the girl. "I couldn't be happier."

"Thank you," Carli said blushing and the team headed off the pitch. Lily followed; glancing up in the stands to see Draco stand, still safely dry for the most part under his umbrella. He waved slightly at Lily, who returned his wave before she headed into the locker room.

The Slytherin common room was loud; obnoxiously loud and while the fifth and seventh years would normally use this time to study their fast approaching exams, it was one of the few times that the noise was permitted. After all, they had practically cinched the house cup with the win. Lily refused to let her disappointment reflect in the atmosphere of the room and she ignored the ache that his absence made. She knew he'd never have done it on purpose, broke his promise and she could only speculate why he hadn't been able to come.

"Ms. Potter?" the head mistress interrupted Lily as she and Shale were giving a play-by-play strategy attack of the game they had just won. Lily turned and looked at the woman.

"Yes, Professor McGonagall," Lily said politely.

"Perhaps we can talk?" she asked. Lily momentarily had a fit of internal panic, thinking something was horribly wrong, but she suppressed the bubbling feeling and nodded with a smile. Lily turned back to Shale and smiled.

"I'll see you guys later and we can start planning on how we will annihilate the Ravenclaw team," Lily said as she followed the woman out of the Slytherin common room. Lily couldn't remember the last time she had been in the head mistress' office, if she had even ever been in there. She looked up at the portraits surrounding the room, her eyes resting on the one of Professor Dumbledore, the headmaster from her father's six years at Hogwarts. The man watched her with a casual gaze and Lily quickly looked back to her head mistress.

"I asked you here because I've been talking to your professors and they believe that you are ready now, have been since before last year, actually, to take your N.E.W.T.s," Professor McGonagall said as she took a seat behind the huge desk. Lily looked at her.

"Um," Lily said biting her lip slightly.

"Apparently, you have made an impression on a good many people in your years and there is talk of allowing you to start taking advanced classes at the Wizard Healing Institute," Professor McGonagall said. "I was in contact with the administrators there, and normally they do not take any witches or wizards younger than eighteen into the program, and never have they offered an accelerated program, but they have reviewed your extensive educational program and believe that you and this new program would be a good fit."

"Oh," Lily said quietly.

"Indeed," Professor McGonagall said.

"When would I need to take the N.E.W.T.s?" Lily asked. Professor McGonagall looked down at the file.

"The N.E.W.T.s are just a formality," Professor McGonagall said. "They want you to start the program in about three weeks, so ideally we'd like to administer your N.E.W.T.s on Saturday, to give you time to brush up on anything you feel you may need to look over."

"Saturday as in two days from now?" Lily asked. Professor McGonagall nodded.

"Yes, in two days from now," she replied.

"What about Quidditch and Head Girl duties?" Lily asked.

"The WHI is aware that you still have two matches left and are prepared to let you still apparate back and forth practices and games unless you think it'd be too much," Professor McGonagall said. "As for Head Girl duties, Shale will pick up the Head duties."

"Can I think about it?" Lily asked.

"Certainly," Professor McGonagall said. "I'll go ahead and prepare the examiner just in case you do decide to go ahead with the N.E.W.T.s."

"Thank you," Lily said as she stood, taking it as her cue to leave. Lily headed back to the celebration there in the Slytherin dungeon. More now than before, she wished Scorpius had been there with her. She'd have loved the chance to talk to him about it. This changed everything. If she did this, she'd be fast-tracked to a Healer. She'd not get to travel, not now, but she'd always be able to on her vacation. Then maybe Scorpius could go ahead and travel with her. The more she thought about it, the more she knew she'd probably do it.

Lily sat alone in a classroom, minding her own business on the most beautiful Saturday known to exist. She was a bundle of nerves as she took her N.E.W.T.s, the written part and practical taking up most of the afternoon. She finished up with just a few hours before dinner, the weight from worry of how she did lifted. It was all over with, sink or swim, Lily was done with exams. If she passed, and she was sure she would, Lily would start the advanced, accelerated courses at the WHI. Panic set in as she thought about how she was going to tell her team and family.

"Shale, I need to talk to you," Lily said. Nina looked up at her curiously but Lily's smile was stressed and Nina didn't push it.

"Ok," Shale said as the two of them left the common room. He and Lily headed down to the prefect meeting room and took a seat. He looked at Lily, worried. "Lily, what is it? You've got me really worried."

"I didn't want to say anything until after I made my decision, but now it's done, it's over," Lily said quietly. "I took my N.E.W.T.s today, that's why I couldn't go to Hogsmead with every one today."

"Wow, your N.E.W.T.'s?" Shale said quietly.

"Yeah," Lily said. "I'm leaving in two weeks."

"What about Quidditch?" Shale asked.

"I'll come back for practices and for the last two matches," Lily said. "The only thing that is going to change is that you would have to take up all of my duties. You'd be responsible for all the head duties in my absence. If you think it's too much…"

"Where are you going? Running off to marry Scorpius like the rest of the future Aurors?" Shale asked. Lily looked at him.

"What? No. What, wait? All of those future Aurors are getting married?" Lily asked frowning. "Why?"

Shale looked at her, hesitantly. He looked as if he wanted to say something but instead clammed up, looking at her. "So where are you going?"

"The Wizard Healing Institute," Lily said distracted.

"I thought that they didn't take any candidates until after Hogwarts? Though, with your skills, I don't doubt that they want chance losing you to like HII or HAW," Shale said.

"Yeah, but I never really wanted to go to the Healing Institute of Indonesia or Healing Arts of the West. It's always been WHI," Lily said quietly as she thought. "I'm not sure how my dad's going to take it, yet, or how I'm going to pay for it."

"I'm sure Scorpius wouldn't mind," Shale said. Lily looked at him horrified.

"I couldn't ask him to loan me the money," Lily said.

"I'm sure he'd give it to you," Shale said. Lily shook her head.

"I'm not asking him for the money," Lily said in horror.

"He's your boyfriend," Shale said. "If Nina came to me and asked, I'd do it in a heartbeat."

"You and Nina have been together for two years," Lily protested.

"And you and Scorpius have been in love with each other, one way or another, for like seven years," Shale said quietly. "I bet if you asked him he'd hand over the keys to everything he owns."

"I'm not like that," Lily said.

"You should think about it, definitely," Shale said. He smiled at her. "I can handle things, Lily. Don't worry about your Head duties. It'll be ok. I'll handle practices with the younger kids and we'll see you at the match."

"Assuming I score well enough on my exams, right?" Lily said. Shale laughed.

"Sure," Shale said. "Like you are going to do anything less than perfect."

Lily sat in Professor McGonagall's office a few days later, Harry in the chair next to her. Harry was conversing quietly with Professor Dumbledore's portrait when Professor McGonagall walked in holding an envelope. She looked neither happy nor sad. She just was. She looked at Harry, exchanged a few quick pleasantries and handed the envelope to Lily. Lily turned it over in her hand, her fingers lingering on the flap.

"I can't do it," Lily said nervously as she forced the envelope into her father's hand. "Please, Dad."

"Lily, I'm sure that it'll be fine," Harry murmured as he slipped his finger under the flap. He pulled the results sheet free and looked them over. "Well…"

"What? What is it?" Lily asked nervously. She clutched her dad's sleeve tightly.

"You…" Harry murmured. His face broke into an intense grin. "You call all N's!"

"Whee!" Lily squealed as she threw her arms around Harry's neck. "I did ok!"

"You did better than ok, Lily. You did marvelously," Professor Dumbledore said proudly from his portrait.

"So, you're sure about this. You want to go ahead and enroll in the WHI accelerated program?" Professor McGonagall asked though she already had the owl on her desk ready for the answer. Lily and Harry looked at each other.

"Yeah," Lily said nodding. "Yes, ma'am, I'm sure I want to do this."

"What about traveling?" Harry asked. Lily looked at him and he put his hands up in surrender. "I just want to make sure that you don't regret it."

"I'll have plenty of time to travel on my holidays, Dad," Lily said quickly. "Haven't I always said that I wanted to go straight into my studies? I got off track but I really want to do this dad. I know it's a lot of money sooner than you thought but I'll get a job and…"

"Oh, no worries about that, Lily," Professor McGonagall said. "Apparently you impressed a Madame Fuchsine and she has graciously sponsored your education and a small stipend for your basic needs."

"Oh, that's too generous," Lily said as she took the letter that Myrtle Fuchsine had sent. The schooling had already been paid for and indeed, there was an account for Lily at Gringott's to pay for her basic needs.

"You really must have impressed her," Professor McGonagall said. "She's known as the richest and stingiest witches of our time. For her to so graciously do this… though it's to be expected. You are probably one of the best, if not the best, students to ever grace the halls of Hogwarts."

"I will have to visit her to thank her," Lily said as her face blazed.

"So, I guess that is it," Professor McGonagall said as she sent the owl on its way. "Enjoy your Easter Holiday apartment hunting and good luck."

"Thank you, Professor," Lily said shaking the woman's extended hand.

"See you at the next Quidditch match," Professor McGonagall said as Lily left Hogwarts with her father. The two walked down the lane the cool, damp air ruffling their hair.

"So, you are sure this is what you want, Lily? There's no rush to grow up," Harry told her. Lily nodded.

"I'm not rushing to grow up, just ready to get my life started," Lily said. Harry nodded.

"How's Scorpius taking it?" Harry asked. Lily looked away, focusing on a small stone that she kicked down the path with the toe of her shoe.

"I'll tell him when I visit him over the Easter Holiday," Lily said. Harry tensed slightly.

"Honey, I don't know how much time he's going to be able to spend with you," Harry said quietly. "Auror training has been pretty intense and I know the hours have really been wearing on our newest recruits."

"I know," Lily said sighing.

"He wanted to be there, at your game," Harry said. "It's the main reason your mum and I held off on starting our family. The early years of Auror-ism are cruel and unforgiving sometimes. It's hard."

"Dad, can I ask you something?" Lily asked quietly as they continued through the school gates.

"Sure, Lily," Harry said. Lily bit her lip as she stopped, glancing back at the school momentarily.

"And you'll tell me, right? The answer? The truth?" Lily asked. Harry looked at her warily.

"As much as I can tell you, yes," Harry said. Lily nodded.

"Is there any reason that a lot of future Aurors rushing off to get married?" Lily asked. She looked at Harry, who looked rather uncomfortable.

"There's no reason to be concerned," he told her. He didn't quite meet her eyes.

"But it's true, isn't it? There has been an increase, hasn't there?" Lily asked.

"Lily, you have nothing to be worried about," Harry told her firmly. "I can't really give you much more information than that. It's classified."

"Oh," Lily said quietly. "But James and Scorpius know?"

"And Albus," Harry confirmed quietly. "That is much more than I can tell you, honey. It's for your protection and the protection of all non-Aurors that the information we come across is classified. I wish it was safe to tell you, but it's not. Things have really changed a lot in the past twenty or so years."

"You'd tell me if there was something to worry about, wouldn't you?" Lily asked hesitantly.

"Honey, if there is anything to worry about, any danger, you would be the first person that I'd send for," Harry promised as he wrapped his arms around you. "Come home, clean up, and why not go visit Scorpius. I believe his training team has off tonight and all tomorrow."

"Ok," Lily said.

"Are you good to apparate?" Harry asked.

"Passed with flying colors," Lily said as her face brightened up.

"Didn't expect anything less," Harry said. He hesitated. "Oh, and by the way. You're an aunt."