AN: They're done. Oh Merlin. They're Done.

There was a certain finality in his actions as James walked towards the large oak doors in the Entrance Hall. He felt a wave of nostalgia wash over him as he thought back to the first time he'd walked across the threshold in his first year with Sirius. So many things in his life had changed but Sirius was still there. James felt a smile spread across his face when he saw his best friend just outside the doorway. He ran, leaving Lily's side to tackle Sirius to the ground. He felt eleven years old again.

James wanted to stay back in the castle, forever and ever, if he could. It was so familiar, and despite all the deadly beings that lurked in the shadows, it felt safe. Now they were being flung into the open to go their own way. Well, James knew what he wanted to do- he wanted to be an auror. Now all he had to do was qualify.

They waited at the platform with their trunks and James turned around to look at the castle.

"You can always come back, you know," Moony said from next to him.

"I know," he replied. "It just won't be the same." The Hogwarts Express pulled up to where the stood and James ignored the calls he got to take a seat in the Prefects cabin, he was going to sit with the people who actually mattered. Once on the train, he slid a galleon to the lady with the trolley making sure she came to their compartment first.

Bursting at the seams with candy and aching tummies, Marlene, Alice, Frank, Sirius, Lily Remus, James and Peter- Mary had been weened out of the group after she expressed her disgust with Remus- recounted old tales of times gone by. James snorted at the sight of them; a bunch of seventeen year olds, laying around the compartment, talking about the good ol' days. They sounded seventy.

The train came to a stop at Platform 9 3/4 and James felt himself heave a deep sigh. He knew he was going to see his friends the day after tomorrow. They had decided to have a quidditch match amongst themselves after Marlene insisted she was quicker on a broom than James was. he hopped off the train, helping Alice with her trunk.

He could see his mother among the parents. She looked tired, as thought she hadn't slept properly in weeks. Her hair was greying at her temples and she seemed to have aged ten years in the few months James had been away. Even then she smiled at him brightly, waiting for them to make their way through the bustling families. James walked over to her as quick as he could, his friends in tow. He dropped his trunk, which landed on Peters foot, and hugged his mother tight. He was beyond lucky to have her. He stepped aside to allow Sirius to hug her, while he pulled Lily forward.

"Mum, this is Lily," he said gesturing towards her. His mothers eyes went wide.

"Lily? Lily Evans?" she said disbelievingly. "THE Lily Evans?" Oh James, I thought Sirius was lying when he said you finally got her." Turning to Lily she said,"Lovely to meet you dear. James has told us-," she faltered for a second," told me so much about you." She ignored Lily's outstretched hand and pulled her in for a hug instead. "My, you're even prettier than James described you to be," she smiled, pulling away and James felt his face go hot.

After dinner, James and Sirius sat on Sirius' bed, playing a game of Exploding Snap.

"Mum really liked her," Sirius said distractedly, planning his next move.

"Liked who?" James asked, not really paying attention.

"Gretchen Smidge. Who do you think I'm talking about?" Sirius said a little annoyed. "She liked Lily!" he said through the small puff of smoke being emitted by a card. "She was telling me in the kitchen while you were in the bath. She thinks Lily's good for you." James smiled. His mother was always perceptive. He would almost always get caught when he tried to lie. The only person who could sway her was his father. That man had a way with words; James wasn't even half as charming.

"She may have even said something about very beautiful grandchildren," Sirius said looking at his cards, trying to be nonchalant. James ears perked up at that.

"Woah, hold on. Grandchildren?" he inquired. Sirius Looked up now, evidently wanting to know the answer himself. James hadn't really thought about it. Lils and he hadn't been together that long. And with the thing with his father and the N.E.W.T.'s, he hadn't had much time. He knew he wanted to be with Lily for better or for worse, but would they even get married? Let alone start a family together.

And that night, in James' dreams, children with bright red hair and hazel eyes played in a field as he held hands with the love of his life.

AN: Aww widdle babies. Thank you for reading this and let me know what you think in a PM or Review! Your tips really help me out and I'm looking to improve my writing so criticism is welcome.
PLEASE message me if you feel like talking to someone or just want to chat. Trust me, I know what it's like to feel like no one will listen. I will listen. There ARE people, even if you don't think so, who will listen. So don't even think twice before messaging me.

xx

Hunting Horcruxes