OWLs and final exams came and went. I felt I did really well, though the results wouldn't come until July. Rose was finally back to normal, and Lily had an extra bounce in her step, which meant Scorpius was probably back to normal, too. Albus just eyed me, and muttered I was right. I was extremely pleased.

Our last game was against Slytherin, and we won easily. Summer was on our side, it seemed, and a thousand pictures must have been snapped of the team and the Cup in various poses. I got a copy of every picture snapped, as did everyone else on the team. I made a mental note to bring them with me to California. I knew my friends would love to see them.

After the pitch cleared out, I stood in the center of the field, and took it all in. I had thought more about the conversation I had with Jane in regards to my future, and I had finally decided I was going to pursue professional Quidditch. I remembered the feeling of catching the snitch earlier that day, and knew I'd never forget that feeling of winning. It was addicting.

The morning we left, Ary, Jane, Georgie, Carly, and I stood on the front steps of the castle, and toasted each other. Ary had two other girls in her year, and they joined us, too.

"Cathy, Bertie, to our future!" Ary cried as she lifted her flask of firewhiskey to the sky. We clinked glasses and gulped down the drinks. Cathy and Bertie gave Ary a hug goodbye, and, with tears in their eyes, headed towards the train. We set off to join them, but Ary held me back.

"I meant to tell you, Lin, that I got into the Harpies." She smiled as she wiped the tears away from her eyes. "You can tell the others; I was never one for huge displays of emotion."

I hugged her fiercely. "You'll be amazing, I promise. We'll come to every game we can," I swore.

She hugged me back, and then pushed me towards the train. "Write to me from California, love. Promise me."

"I promise." I winked. "How could I not?"

The train ride back was long, but I enjoyed it. I played Exploding Snap with Georgie and listened to Carly and Jane argue about the Wimbourne Wasps for the most part, but there was a long stretch of time when I just read as the others slept. Gryffindor had thrown a large party the night before, and I was sure I was the only one that got a healthy amount of sleep.

About halfway there, there was a tapping on our compartment door. I looked up from my book to see James Potter. I rolled my eyes and pointedly went back to my book. The tapping just became more insistent.

I hoped he would grow tired. He did not. Five minutes later I yanked the door open and slammed it shut behind me. "What?" I snapped.

"I, uh, wanted to apologize again." He looked at me sheepishly.

I threw my arms up in frustration. "This is your third apology! Nope, I'm not going to listen to you, and I'm not going to forgive you, either."

I moved to open the compartment door, but James pinned my arms to my sides and forced me to look at him. "I. Am. Sorry." He looked at me earnestly. "I was stupid that night at Granddad's and Grandmum's, and I was drunk that night at your house. And I'm an idiot. But I," he paused and shut his eyes, "I like you. And I'm a prat."

I blinked repeatedly. "You… like me?"

He nodded. I stared at him. My mind wasn't functioning. He dropped his arms so I could move. I didn't. He leaned against the wall opposite me and stared at his feet. "I'm really sorry," he muttered pathetically.

And my heart melted. Just a little bit, but enough. "Okay." I sighed. "I forgive you. I don't know if I believe you, but I forgive you. You need to follow through, though." I jabbed him with my finger. "I'm not forgiving your ass-holery again."

He grinned at me, and pecked my cheek. I turned red and opened my mouth to yell at him, but he had already run down the passage way. I lifted a hand to my cheek, and turned around to go back inside. Jane was staring at me wide-eyed. I looked back at her confusedly.

She sighed. "Boys."

I just opened and closed my mouth in confusion. I couldn't formulate a thought. This was happening a lot around James Potter.

All of a sudden Mary ran up to us and opened the compartment door. "Hello you two, thought I'd pop in before we get to Kings Cross." She glanced at me suspiciously. "Any idea why Potter looks like he just won season tickets to Puddlemere?"

XxXxXxXxX

Happy St. Patrick's Day, everyone!