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Lily woke up with a start. shit, it's already 7, and her friends will be here to pick her up by 8. Lily had informed her parents about the trip with her friends and they all had agreed. Lily was excited to meet her friends, and quite more excited to meet James Potter. They had gotten really close through the letters they exchanged. The previous day Lily had spent her entire evening thinking about how she feels about James.

Sure, he has became a really good friend of her. She has realized that both of them share many things in common. Somehow she felt more connected to James than she has felt to anyone else, whether be Mary and Marls, who are excellent friends anyone could ever hope for or be it the past version of Snape who was her friend. In both of these cases Lily had enjoyed their friendship but never was connected that much, as much as she was connected to James, whom she has come close with only this year when they had participated in the Duelling Chapionship, and a different side of James was revealed to her and surely the letters had helped.

Though after a hard thought she had decided that she need to talk about it to Mary or Marls, she would have preferred talking to James too, but it would felt odd.

Anyway she jumped out of her bed and rushed to the bathroom, after 30 minutes she sat in the kitchen, her parents were surely shocked that Lily has gotten up by herself and that too this early.

At 8, the doorbell rang Lily runner to the door and opened it, she felt butterflies in her stomach, she hadn't expected the scene in front of her though had hoped for it. Standing in front of her was a boy with a messy-haired boy with a cute grin, he has a medium size box in his hand. Standing behind James was a man she recognized as Ben Potter.

"Hello Lily" said James

"Hello james," she replied. " Hello Ben"

"How are you Lily?" asked Ben.

"I am fine," said Lily

"Ask them to come in dear," said Rose, Richard behind her.

"No, thank you, I am off to work, I came here to drop James off and do some work I have here," said Ben. He then looked around to make sure no one was watching and then took out his wand and said a few complex spells on Lily's house. "And I am done. James I will pick you from here by 7." and then he left.

"Come inside" Lily said to James, who entered the house then greeted Lily's parents. "What was that Ben did?" she whispered to James while leading him to the kitchen.

"He was putting a protection on your house," James whispered and Lily nodded. She pointed at the chair for James to sit. "Um... this is for you," he said handling her the box.

"What is it?" she asked curiously and then gasped on opening the box, inside it was a ginger kitten with green eyes. "She's cute." James smiled at her. Lily's parents looked at the kitten too."

"You liked it?" asked James.

"Of course, but James you don't had to buy me this." she said stroking the kitten.

"Actually I didn't brought it, there's a squib, Arabella Figg, she is a friend of my mum. We visited her a few days ago, she has a lot of cats, she sells them, and there was this kitten and I asked her if I could buy it, but she gifted it to me for free," James said.

"Oh thanks, James. Mum, can I keep it as it's not a owl to disturb Tuney and others?"

"Of course, you can dear. Here James have some tea and cookies," offered Rose.

"So, where are others?" asked Lily, the kitten now sitting in her lap.

"Well Sirius left to get Marls and Remus and Peter to get Mary, we al will meet at Godric's Hollow by 11. I have to left early because Uncle Ben has work here too, so I came with him." replied James after complimenting about the cookies.

"Okay, I am excited, I have heard a lot about Godric's Hollow," said Lily.

"So, how will you and your friends go there James?" asked Richard.

"We will take the wizarding bus, its safe and fast," replied James. "And Marlene lives near there so she will walk there and Mary, Remus and Peter will be given a lift by Peter's mom."

"Very well, so I heard you play qui.. umm quidash... no quidditch. How is it?" asked Richard. He and James talk about for 10 minutes and Richard was impressed. Richard also explained many muggle things to James who seemed very interested in Richard's work.

"I am an engineer, I make car parts, I am currently head of my division. Why don't you come someday I will explain you how cars work," smiled Richard.

"That will be great sir," replied James.

"Please call me Richards dear," said Richard. At that moment an Owl entered the kitchen.

"I don't recognize it, do you recognize it James?" asked Lily as she begin to untie the parchment, James shook his head. Lily gasped and jumped "It's O.W.L. result."

"I wasnt expecting them today I must have missed mine ... " but at that time another owl entered and settled in front of James "No, it found me."

Lily unfolded the parchment quickly, James following her

ORDINARY WIZARDING LEVEL RESULTS

LILY EVANS has achieved:

Astronomy A
Care of Magical Creatures E

Charms O
D.A.D.A. O
Divination P

Herbology E

History of Magic A
Potions O

Transfiguration O

"I got 8 O. , only failed divination, and 4 'Outstanding'" she shouted happily and hugged her parents and then moved to James who was still reading his and looked at his.

JAMES POTTER has achieved:

Astronomy A
Care of Magical Creatures E

Charms O

D.A.D.A. O

Divination D

Herbology E

History of Magic A

Potions O

Transfiguration O

"Ha! I did better than you in Divination, though I failed," Laughed Lily.

"Looks like Marchbanks didn't like my story much," said James laughing himself, then smiled at Lily and said, "Thanks for your help in Potions, I wouldn't have gotten an 'O' without your help."

Lily smiled at him and said, "And thanks to you too for your help in Transfiguration, it was due to your help I got an 'O'."

James and Lily left Lily's house 15 minutes after. Lily walked along with James, they had talked so much in letters but now none of them had any idea what to say. Finally, James broke the silence. "So, where was your sister?"

"She was asleep," replied Lily and then they went silent time Lily broke it, "Thanks for picking me up. I wanted to meet you all, I was really getting bored, tuney has been nice and supportive but she goes with her girls and I don't want to intrude them, so I was really bored."

"I know Lily, and we are friends, we are here for this only," smiled James.

"How long will it take to go to Godric's Hollow?" asked Lily.

"About an hour, so we will reach earlier than others," said James.

"How about I show you my neighborhood?" asked Lily, James agreed. Lily took James to the park where they drank coke and had fun they then talked about 'LOTR' book. Lily was enjoying her time with James, Tuney was good company but not like James at all. Lily showed James her school where she used to go before joining Hogwarts.

"I like your house," said James

"Why? It's nothing great and it's medium in size," asked Lily.

"I know, but it feels more like home and welcoming, I have liked the size of your house and I have wanted to live in that size of house," replied James.

"What about your house?" asked Lily.

"Its great and big but doesn't feel like home. Though I have grown up there." replied James, a question popped up in Lily's mind.

"James, how did you learn studying before going to hogwarts?" asked Lily, she had always wondered it.

"There's a magical book in which we began to read, it would first pronounciate and then hear our pronunciations and similarly there's a book for helping to write. Though there are few small groups or coaching type where a witch or wizard teaches how to read and write and english and most prefer this. But not me, I studied at home, as there were three peoples to teach me, than I began reading books." replied James. They both continued to talk walking around the empty park for few more minutes and then decided to go to Godric's Hollow.

James took out his wand and raised his hand to shoulder level, within 5 minutes , with a BANG! a violently purple, triple-decker bus materialized in front of them, Lily gasped she has just listened about it but never traveled. Both of them entered the bus and James took her to the roof and they took two seats there. The bus jerked start with another BANG! and James and Lily were flung backward. An old looking man approached them.

"Two tickets to Godric's Hollow, please," said James handing golds to the conductor, who nodded and gave them two tickets and then left.

"This ride is so thrilling, exhilarating, dangerous and paingul. I am not sure what I am feeling anymore, there's fear for sure. It feels like a roller coaster ride though I haven't got on one," exclaimed Lily to James who laughed.

"The knight Bus has got this new driver 'Ernie', last year, he is a hell of a driver," said James, turning to Lily who was clutching her seat hard but was smiling. "So, you like it?"

"Kind of, though the driver needs to learn how to drive safely," remaked Lily.

By the time the bus stopped at Godric's Hollow and they got down the bus, it was already 10 minutes past 11.

James lead Lily to the bench In front of a church where everyone was supposed to meet.

"It's already 15 minutes past 11 but no one has arrived yet" said James looking at his watch.

"Well it looks that only we are the punctual ones and the ones who are responsible," said Lily.

"Yeah, if being late by 10 minutes is punctual, and wait you just called me responsible," grinned James.

" You have been responsible today for the first time, so that was the correct thing to say," Lily grinned as well, so he was playing but she was good at this herself.

"You mean I wasn't responsible before?"

"I haven't seen you being responsible" Lily stuck out her tongue at him.

"Hey, I am a responsible guy okay?"

"You started this," said Lily.

"Yeah, I know that but you said I wasn't responsible before."

Before Lily could reply anything two people approached them.

"See, I was right they would be arguing or fighting, I win," said Sirus happily. "Now, my 2 galleons"

Marlene shrugged and handed Sirius the galleons, "Seriously, you two are meeting after more than a month and instead of being talking happily, you both are arguing," Marls shook her head.

Before either Lily or James could explain that they were playing, Sirius spoke, "Let me guess Prongs started it?"

"Yes, he started it but..." Lily was cut by Sirius again.

"Knew it, I won another galleon from Remus."

"What from me?" asked Remus approaching them along with Peter and Mary.

"Well Prongs started the argument," said Sirius happily.

Remus groaned and handed Sirius a galleon, "Really Prongs, I thought you understood the talk we had back at your house and you will stop all this."

James and Lily tried to explain again but Marlene spoke first to James, "Lily was talking out one of your bad behaviors?", he nodded and tried to speak but Marls beat her again "Yes! Now, Mary my galleon."

"Did Prongs asked you out?" asked Peter after handing a galleon to Marls. Lily shook her head. Peter groaned and handed the money to Remus.

Lily and James exchanged looks, sighed, and shook their heads.

"Enough, now let's explore the village," said James and started to walk with Lily by his side, while their friends talked about the bets.

"We have really got the worst friends," whispered Lily to James.

"I agree with you, can you believe they were putting bets on us?" said James, Lily just shook her head.

"So, have you come here before?" asked Lily.

"Only once, with my mum and dad when I was 9," replied James, "Nothing much has changed since then." He then turned to his friends, " Let's go to the graveyard."

"Why?" asked Lily, Sirius, Remus, and Mary together. While Peter and Marlene nodded enthusiastically.

"You will see," said Peter.

On entering the graveyard Lily staid close to James and moved even closer, this graveyard was giving her an odd sensation, some kind of odd feeling. To her shock James' face was looking odd too, as though he was in discomfort. Lily looked at her other friends but they were all relaxed and were reading names of ancient witches and wizards. James lead Lily to a grave that has the name 'Ignotus Peverell' written and there was an odd sign on the stone, a circle, traingle and a line put together.

"Do you recognize the name, Lily?" asked James, Lily nodded.

"From 'The Tale of Three Brothers '. Ignotus was the youngest."

"Yes, and I am his descendant."

"That explains the invisibility cloak," gasped Lily "Means it wasnt a myth but a true fact."

"Yeah,... listen Lily can we get out of here I am feeling odd here, it's strange it didn't happened last time I visited."

"Yeah let's go. I myself am feeling odd here." And they both exited the graveyard leaving their friends.

"Now, it feels good, normal" James relaxed.

"Yeah, now it's normal. It's strange," said Lily and James nodded.

After 10 minutes their friends joined them.

"Why you both left without even seeing the one grave of Kendra and Ariana?" asked Marlene

"It felt odd inside that grave, James felt it too. Didn't you guys felt that?" asked Lily. Everyone shook their head.

"No, we felt normal and got to know many old wizards," said Remus.

"Anyway let's visit other places, I don't want to go in there," said James leading the way again, Lily again beside him. Both of them wondering what was that odd feeling and why they felt it.

They saw many old but important things related to wizarding world. There was a this big place dedicated to Godric Gryffindor on whom the village was named after. It had things related to Gryffindor, there was a note about his sword. On the walls were painting of Gryffindor fighting Slytherin, another of Gryffindor and Slytherin, their hands over each others shoulder and both were laughing, there was a painting of 'The Four Founders' of Hogwarts together. There was a big book which cant be removed from it's place and could be read only, it was the biography of Gryffindor.

All of them enjoyed the places all over the village very much. Sirius wanted to meet Bathilda Bagshot instantly but Marlene and James denied it saying they will meet her in at 3 p.m. only. They all got into a restaurant and had lunch, which turned into competition between the Marauders about who can eat more pancakes in 5 minutes. Peter won it with Sirius losing by just one, Remus came the last. The girls all rolled their eyes at this behavior but enjoyed to very much.

They were on their way to Bathilda's house when Sirius started explaining about 'The Jim Nacho' trick from his playbook. this somehow resulted in Remus and Peter chasing Sirius while Mary and Marlene cheered them, next to them James was laughing at all this when Lily called her, he turned around to see her standing a few blocks away. James reached near her.

"What happened?" he asked. Lily took his hand and brought him in front of a house.

"This, look at this house or can say cottage, it's perfect," she said pointing at a house with her free hand, James now noticed the house(cottage) clearly and understood what she meant.

"Yeah, it's perfect. Not too big and not too small."

"With a garden in front," said Lily happily.

"For playing quidditch."

"And for enjoying the sun and snow."

"And look at the design of the house, it's best."

"And there is the perfect number of windows, and all big just how I like it."

"There are two chimneys as well and a side garage too"

"And it is located at the perfect place, it's surrounded by greenery, out of the main city so no pollution and noise."

"It's in a quiet location, and silent," said James.

"Yeah, cozy too" smiled Lily.

"I would like to live here, and grow old and meet end," said James

"Me too, this is the place where I would want to be when I live my last days. It is peaceful," agreed Lily.

"Yeah, Peaceful," said James. Both were unaware of what they had just said as they look at the house in awe, both thinking of living in that house. Their fingers still intertwined together.

They stood there for a few minutes until their friends called them.

"Hey, you two there's nothing there. Come we should visit Bathilda Bagshot now," shouted Sirius.

Unaware of the fact that they were still holding hands they followed their friends to Bagshot's house.

"Oh, dear Marlene look at you all grown up, and James you are more man than boy, so nice to meet you both again, and oh how lovely dear Peter is also here, your mother was all concerned about you the last time I met her in March," said Bathilda happily. "Now, theses are your friends I suppose?"

"Yes, Bathilda, this is Lily, Remus, Sirius and Mar," introduced James. Bathilda greeted them and gave them tea and cookies. Lily found Bathilda a humble and kind person, despite being this famous she was very friendly and down to earth.

"I would have introduced you all to my two daughters but they are all caught up in Ministry work at this time," said Bathilda.

She told them about fascinating stories regarding Godric's Hollow and other things, she has the best memory. Lily has some suspicions that when talking about the Dumbledore family, she was hiding something and when Sirius mentioned Grindlewald, her expression became sad but she didn't talked about it. They then talked about how the life was before Grindlewald and you-know-who, how muggle-borns were treated equally. She also told them how and why wizards felt it necessary to go into hiding, she felt her sorrow about faulty ideas of you-know-who.

"Albus is very powerful and clever, sure he has his faults, he makes some mistakes sure, but his intentions are always right. Poor bloke has to suffer so much in his life, but he has always stood strong. Aberforth is not like him but he also has correct intentions. I believe that if anyone can defeat you-know-who then it will be Albus or his plans," said Bathilda. Then they started talking about history stuff again regarding giants and goblins.

"Miss Bagshot, History would be so much if you were our history teacher," said Lily and others agreed while Bathilda laughed.

"Lots of people say that dear, and I myself in interested too, but no one wants to tell Binns to retire," said Bathilda "When I was his student I used to study the entire subject myself only asking Binns when necessary" smiled Bathilda,"Besides he is my teacher so it would not be nice to do that and he for sure will never leave that position."

"Bad luck, I am continuing History," groaned Peter.

After talking to Bathilda, the group left her house and got separated. Peter's mom arrived and took Peter, Remus and Mary with her, as Mary lived walking distance from Peter's house and Remus was to floo to his house. Sirius was going to visit his cousin Andromeda and her 3 year old daughter after dropping Marlene to her house. James and Lily were to go back via the Knight Bus.

As Jame and Lily still had some time before returning home, they decided to take a walk towards the city area, all the while enjoying the places around them, they ate crepes too on their way, talking and laughing about their friends and Bathilda Bagshot all along. Then they took the bus ride and reached Cokeworth , the bus dropped them from about 20 minutes walk away from Lily's house.

"How are things going on in the wizarding world? I mean regarding you-know-who?" asked Lily.

James sighed "Well, situation is worsening day by day, my uncle informed me that Dumbledore is leading the fight and that Lufkin is supporting him but Voldemort is getting a lot of support from the old wizarding families and that is making the situation worse. The best we can do is to prepare for what lay ahead, and there's a war ahead."

" What's Dumbledore doing?"

"I don't know, my uncle says that we will know when right time comes."

"Why not now?"

"I don't know about that either." James shrugged and then saw concerned face on Lily's face, surely she was worried about the war and the recent talk about attacks on muggles with Bathilda has increased her worries. He stopped and stood in front of her she too stopped, "Look Lily, I know you are worried but worrying will not help so focus on the happy side, what has to come will come, we cant stop that."

"But we can try," said Lily looking at James, she knew he was trying to cheer her up. "I just you know want to be updated about everything,"

James looked at her sadly, he didn't know if he should tell her or not, he decided against telling her and there was a high chance she might already know about it.

"What is it James?" asked Lily, but James just shook his head.

"Nothing let's take you back or your parents will kill me," he smiled and was relieved that she smiled too.

"Yeah, there's a high chance of that... but with others' parents my parents are cool about such things," said Lily.

When they reached Lily's house Ben was already there.

"Thank you for today, I had a lot of fun," smiled Lily.

"James do come again," said Rose.

"And I will take you to show you the factory, bring your other friends too who are interested," said Richard.

"Sure, I will try," James said and left with his uncle.