Hey everyone,

so here is an update for you! Hope you enjoy it. Thanks to Jannice Sace, bookwurm1612, and ebonbon for their reviews of the last chapter.

Chapter 46:

The Gryffindors sat in a compartment on the Hogwarts Express. They had just said goodbye to their parents and were making the journey back to Hogwarts. James stared out of the window at the perfect white landscape. Nancy and Dorian came in and joined the Gryffindors; "do you mind if we join you? Everywhere else is full."

"Of course. Get yourselves in here," James smiled, evening moving up to make room. Nancy sat next to James whilst Dorian sat chatting to Sirius and Remus. Alice, Frank and Marlene thought nothing of it, having met the two on Christmas day but Mary, Kate and Lily all wore shocked expressions.

"Do we know them?" Lily whispered to Mary.

Nancy smiled having heard Lily's question, "I'm Nancy and this is my brother Dorian. We are living with James and his parents at the moment. Our parents died in that train attack back in September. Mr and Mrs Potter offered to care for my little sisters until I leave Hogwarts at the end of the year. The Potters have been very good to us," Nancy smiled, tapping James on the knee affectionately.

"The Potters?" James laughed, "We're family now! You got to stop with the Potters…" James shook his head.

"Yeah come on Nan! You made it into the Christmas family photo!" Sirius mocked. "It's official – you've been adopted and accepted into the Potter clan."

"The fastest growing family ever," Remus joked.

"You jealous Rem?" Sirius raised his eyebrow, joking with his friend. "You know there's always room for one more!"

"Thanks Si," Remus smiled, "I'll bare that in mind."

Lily frowned, "I'm sorry about your parents."

"Oh don't worry. It's sad but the Potters have really," Nancy stopped, "sorry James… my family have really helped."

"Yes we have," James nodded, hugging his new adopted sister, "and it's been a pleasure…"

"I thought I heard you say the opposite on Christmas morning when Doreen and Thia came to wake you, mate!" Sirius joked.

"Cynthia has really taken to you," Dorian smiled. "And you Si. They love you!"

"It might have something to do with Sirius pretending to be their horse!" James smiled.

"You did it too," Sirius laughed.

"True," James grinned, "can't exactly say no to wee Thia."

"She's got you wrapped around your finger," Nancy commented.

As the train passed the border into Scotland James asked Lily if she liked her Christmas present. Lily gave him a sour lip, "Why the hell would I like a potion to get rid of warts? Do I look like I have warts?"

"No but I thought you might have a few under…" His eyes roved over her.

"POTTER don't you dare finish that sentence," Lily screamed.

James laughed, "if you're personality is anything to go by…"

"You git!" Lily said angrily.

"I'm just saying… one day you'll be thankful I gave you that."

The Gryffindors were thrown straight into revision mode when they returned. They had only one week to revise for their W.O.M.B.A.T. exam. They spent hours in the common room quizzing each other. "What is the role of the Wizengamot?" Lily asked the group.

"Trial criminals and they have an amount of control on the passing of laws and decrees," James replied without much thought.

"Potter why are you even here? You already know all the answers." Lily shook her head, "Give the others a chance."

"I'm here because you're here, Evans. I thought you knew I like you." James laughed as Lily's face went bright red.

The next morning the Gryffindors sat in the Great Hall after breakfast to wait for their exam. Professor McGonagall looked at them and smiled; "would you wait outside so I can set up the hall?"

"For you Minnie? Anything!" James said, winking at her.

Professor McGonagall shook her head gently. Ten minutes later the deputy headmistress called them all back into the Great Hall. "I expect silence! No cheating, talking or anything else for that matter." She passed out the papers and told them to begin. James looked at the questions;

Part One – Magical Law

Which Ministry of Magic department(s) and/or committee(s) would you contact to resolve each of the following dilemmas?

1.. Your neighbour is concealing a stash of flying carpets, some of which he is allowing to fly loose around his back garden.

a. Wizengamot

b. Department of International Magical Cooperation

c. Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office

d. All of the Above

e. None of the Above

2.. Your friend C possesses a Muggle Penny Farthing (old bicycle) that has been enchanted to skim an inch above the ground, achieving speeds of over 100mph. C did not personally enchant the Penny Farthing, never rides it and merely wishes to keep it 'for sentimental reasons' as it was her grandmother's.

a. Department of Magical Transport

b. Improper Use of Magic Office

c. Obliviators

d. Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office

e. Committee on Experimental Charms

f. None of the Above

James smiled, easy. Harry watched as his father quickly circled the correct answers, humming under his breath, completely relaxed. Lily on the other hand looked incredibly panicked. She kept re-reading the questions and double-checking her answers.

3.. Your sixteen year old nephew, D, has hexed his seventeen-year-old sister, E. E has retaliated with a stunning spell that missed D and hit a Muggle motorist, who smashed into a lamppost.

a. Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes

b. Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes and Obliviator Squad

c. Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes, Obliviator Squad and Improper Use of Magic Office

d. Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes, Obliviator Squad, Improper Use of Magic Office and Wizengamot

Lily shook her head, unsure of her answer, sometimes being a muggle-born really sucks. She looked up to see James Potter quickly scribbling on his parchment, arrogant toe-rag know it all.

A few minutes later, Professor McGonagall called from the front of the Great Hall where she was sat; "You should be moving on to the second section of the exam by now. Remember there is no time limit for this exam but you are being tested on how long it takes you to work it out."

Lily sighed, this is going to take forever.

James was working his way through the second part of the exam – magical transport:

11.. Which of the following unorthodox means of transportation is considered the most serious breach of the International Statute of Secrecy?

a. Threstrals

b. Abraxan horse-drawn giant carriage

c. Hippogriff

d. Flying Muggle vehicle (eg. car, motorcycle)

e. Underwater ship

Easy – flying muggle vehicle obviously. Anyone could answer that on, James thought to himself. He wasn't the only one getting through the paper quickly. Sirius was even further ahead. He had just started section three – Everyday Magic;

17.. Which of the following would, in your opinion, provide the best security for a convention of broomstick salesmen in a large, marquee?

a. Fidelius Charm

b. Muggle-Repelling Charm

c. Confundus Charm

d. Disillusionment Charm

e. Unplottable marquee

f. Forgetfulness Charm

g. Giant three-headed dog

Sirius almost laughed out loud at the idea of a three-headed dog.

Sometime later James was working on his answers for part four when he had an idea. Part four was about the natural world.

24.. A dog acting in a suspiciously un-canine manner is most likely to be

a. An Animagus

b. A Boggart

c. A Crup (or part Crup)

d. A Grim

e. Imperiused

f. Magically Trained

g. A Patronus

James smiled. Animals aren't affected by Werewolf bites… James could remember a conversation he had overheard as a child about how for animals a Werewolf bite was just like any other bite. What if we… no we couldn't… but what if we could?

So what did you think? Please review... Everytime I get a review it feels like Christmas...

Next Chapter...

Lily might have another date with Tom...

Someones birthday...

Quidditch...