My wonderful readers, here we are at the last chapter of this story. Thank you so much for reading! Feel free to check out my other Marauders stories: Saturday Morning, Migraine Pain, Wedding Crashers, Light in the Rain, Firewhiskey for Butterbeer, and Christmas Secret.

Until next time readers,

ninjanervana

Seventh Year

James ran a hand through his hair as he yawned widely, heading down the stairs to the Great Hall. The Head Boy was absolutely knackered; between homework, Quidditch practice, studying for NEWTS, patrols at night, and the occasional prank, he could barely fit in any time to sleep. After running on four or five hours of sleep a night for the past two weeks, it was only a matter of time that he would sleep through his alarms. It was only because Lily had woken him that morning that he didn't sleep through breakfast and his first class. He was usually ready and waiting for her when they walked down to breakfast together from the Heads' dormitory.

The thought of the Head Girl brought a smile to his lips. He always knew she would be Head Girl- there was no one else in their year who could have possibly taken her position, no one as smart or kind as her-but it would be an understatement to say he was surprised to receive the Head Boy badge. The boys had teased him mercilessly that summer when he received the letter from Dumbledore; it was well intentioned, but it did nothing to allay his fears that he would muck it up. It was only after a stern lecture from Lily when they ran into each other in Diagon Alley that made him think he wouldn't make a complete fool of himself, that maybe he would be able to do a decent enough job as Head Boy that he wouldn't be a complete burden to Lily. It was only early October, but things seemed to be going well so far.

Walking into the Great Hall, James smiled as he caught of a flash of red hair seated in the middle of the table. He wasn't surprised to see his three best mates sitting along with her. Over the past year, all of the Marauders had gotten close to Lily once James stopped asking her out; she easily blended into their tight-knit group, as if she had always been a part of it. There was no doubt in James's mind that Lily belonged with their group.

"Morning," James greeted them as he sat on the bench beside Lily, dropping his bag onto the table.

Lily looked up from the Charms homework she was explaining to Peter, smiling at him. "Thought you'd never make it down for breakfast," she teased.

"Wouldn't have if it wasn't for you," James laughed, grabbing the plate of waffles and piling them onto his own plate. "Probably would have slept till lunch; I'm exhausted."

"You're lucky your pseudo-girlfriend likes you that much," Sirius chuckled. "I would have left your arse in bed."

James raised an eyebrow, "Pseudo-girlfriend?"

Sirius nodded, stealing a piece of waffle off of James's plate. "You two aren't dating and Merlin only knows why you two aren't, but you're basically a couple," Sirius explained. "You're together all the time, come down to meals together, spend free time together. Only thing you two don't do is snog or have sex…or do you? What really goes on in the Heads' dorms?"

Remus smacked Sirius in the back of the head with his textbook as James kicked him under the table. "Padfoot, you seem so much smarter when you don't open your mouth," Remus sighed. "Just stop talking."

Lily blushed brightly at Sirius's comment, packing up her books. "Well the pseudo-girlfriend is heading to class now," she said as she stood. "I'll see you lads later."

"Two years ago, she would have hexed me for saying that," Sirius commented as Lily walked out of the Great Hall. "Think she might finally be falling for you, Prongs."

"Think so?" James murmured, watching Lily as she left. Part of him had given up on ever winning Lily's love; if the best he could hope for was his friendship, then he was perfectly satisfied with that. He just wanted Lily to be happy. But another part of him hoped that one day some miracle would occur to make her fall in love with him as much as he was in love with her.

Sirius nodded, "If there was ever a time to ask her out, mate, it's now."

"You call him Vermin?" James laughed, shaking his head. It was just after midnight and he was doing his nightly rounds with Lily. Their patrols flew by quickly with their easy conversations and the aid of the Marauder's Map. He wasn't afraid to admit that patrols were his favorite time of day, a chance to unwind after a stressful day and spend time alone with Lily. "Is that any way for the Head Girl to behave?"

"Oh shut up, James," Lily chuckled, shoving him gently. "At least I've moved on from calling him the Whale. Trust me, James; when you see him, you'll understand."

James raised an eyebrow at her words, "When I see him?"

"I-I mean," Lily stammered, a light blush covering her cheeks. "I mean if you come around during Christmas holidays or something, he'll probably be there. He's always there."

He grinned broadly at her, "Are you saying you'd like to see me in a non-school setting?" he teased as his heart pounded in his chest.

"I'm saying I wouldn't hex you upon sight," she retorted. "But I can't promise not to hex you at all."

'Can't ask for more than that, James,' he thought to himself, drawing on all of his Gryffindor courage. He could feel his hands starting to sweat as his heart tried to escape his chest. "Say, Lily," he said as they continued walking down the hall. "Do you want to go to Hogsmeade with me next week?"

Lily froze, her green eyes wide with surprise. "W-what?" she whispered.

James ruffled his hair nervously, "Do you want to go to Hogsmeade with me next week? On a date? I mean, it's alright if you don't. Merlin knows I've bothered you enough for a date over the years, but we've been getting on so well lately so I figured you know maybe now might be the time, you know the right time to ask. I like you a lot, you know I do; Merlin, I think I might be in love with you and I'll spend the rest of my life kicking myself if I didn't give it one last try," he rambled.

"You're in love with me?" Lily said, her voice jumping an octave.

His eyes widened in embarrassment as he realized what he said. "Oh shit, I wasn't supposed to tell you that," he muttered, "I really wasn't supposed to tell you that."

"When did you fall in love with me?" she questioned as she took a step toward him.

"I…I don't know," James admitted as he looked down at her. "For years I think I've been falling in love with you. Every time I've seen you with the lads, I think I feel in love with you more."

Lily frowned in confusion as she played with the end of her hair. "The boys made you fall in love with me?"

James nodded. "You've always been good with them, good to them. They're my family, you know? No one is more important to me than they are so it meant a lot to me that you've always treated them well even when we acted like a bunch of prats," he explained. "The guys showed me the best parts of you, Lily Evans, and I think that's how I fell in love with you."

"Yes," Lily said, a bright smile stretching across her lips. She reached out, taking James's hand in hers. "I'll go to Hogsmeade with you."

"Really?" James replied, his hazel eyes bright with happiness as he laced his fingers with hers. "You'll go?"

She nodded as she squeezed his hand gently. "And maybe we can take off the pseudo from the pseudo-girlfriend," she added shyly.

James laughed, pulling her closer. "I've been waiting years to hear that from you, Lily."

"Then I guess the others have been waiting too," Lily chuckled as she leaned into his side. "Let's finish up rounds and then we can tell them."

"Oh Lily, you know us so well," he replied, wrapping his arm around her shoulders as he led her back to the Gryffindor common room. "They won't believe it."

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