James and Lily Potter : Sixth year

Chapter one : sixth year

I got fifteen O.W.L.s!" gushed Lily, as she hugged Alice at King's Cross. "Can you believe it? FIFTEEN!"

"Lily, calm down," laughed Alice. "It was obvious that you'd get the highest number of O.W.L.s. Be happy that you don't have to take the N.E.W.T.s this year." She made a face.

"And you made Head Girl! That's wonderful!"

"Yeah, but guess who's Head Boy?"

"Who?"

"Longbottom! As if he hasn't already caused me enough pain, the git."

"Are you still going out with Sturges?" asked Lily nervously.

"Well, duh. I really like him. I mean, I know I'll never be able to love him like Frank, but he's all right."

"So will you say 'yes', if you asks you to marry him?"

Alice furrowed her brow and thought for a moment. "Maybe."

"Oy, Lils!" cried Arabella, waving her arms wildly at her friend. "Alice! C'mon, the train's leaving in five minutes!"

The three girls hurriedly went through the barrier between Platforms Nine and Ten, and hopped onto the scarlet train just in time. They found Jennifer and Violet already in a compartment, and joined them.

"Fifteen O.W.L.s, Lily?" cried Jennifer excitedly. "Oh Merlin, that's fantastic! I got twelve."

"That's great. What about you, Vi?"

"Eleven. I didn't get an O.W.L. for Transfiguration, Divination, or Potions, though."

"We get to choose our classes this year," continued Lily, her green eyes sparkling with excitement. "I'm going to choose Transfiguration, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Charms, and Potions. I am so glad that I can ditch Divination."

"I'm not taking Potions or Transfiguration," said Violet dismally. "But I got high grades in Care of Magical Creatures, and that's perfect for working in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures."

"That's what Amos is going to do, too," said Arabella disgustedly.

Violet turned white. "Well—er—that doesn't mean I like him, you know," she responded quickly.

"Of course you don't. Who would?"

"You did," she pointed out.

Arabella scowled. "Yes, well, I did. I don't anymore, now, do I?"

"Of course not. You love Sirius. And now you can't say that you only like him; he said himself that he loved you."

A warm flush rose to her cheeks. "Yes, I love Sirius. Jen loves Remus. Lily loves James. It's all good, right?"

Lily choked on the sandwich that she had brought from home. "I love Potter? As if!"

Jennifer rolled her eyes. "Not this again. Anyway, how many O.W.L.s did you get, Bella?"

"Twelve, like you. I'm going to work at the Department of Magical Games and Sports. What about you?"

"Department of Mysteries. I'd love to be an Unspeakable, you know. It sounds fascinating, and you get to learn all sorts of, well, mysteries that are concealed to normal witches and wizards."

"That's very dangerous," warned Alice. "Many an Unspeakable are being killed by Voldemort and his Death Eaters. I hear that the Dementors from Azkaban are also his followers."

"You're going to be an Auror," Jennifer pointed out. "That's even more dangerous. You're going face-to-face with Voldemort himself, or along those lines, at least."

"Yes, but the best thing about being an Auror," interrupted Lily, "is that you get the pleasure of knowing that you can save many lives by risking your own. It takes a lot of endurance through the training, but it's worth it."

"It's a great sacrifice," said Violet softly. "Are you sure you want to become one, Lily?"

"Of course, Vi. It's been my dream. Too bad I have to go through training with Potter."

Arabella laughed. "Go through training with him? You'll be married to him by the end!"

Lily shot a look at her best friend. "Will not."

"'Course you will. You're destined for each other, and you know it."

"I know it, but I'll do anything to prevent it from happening."

"What about poor Harry then, huh? Will he never live?"

"He may as well have a different Mum, if I'm concerned," she snapped back.

Alice looked taken aback. "Oh, so you want James to marry someone like Deanna?"

"Her? I don't give a damn—"

"Ha!" cried Jennifer triumphantly. "And you call us with bad language!"

Lily glared at her. "Oh, shut up, Jen."

"I won't!"

"Jen..."

"Oh, shut it, both of you," said Arabella wearily.

"May we join you beautiful ladies?" said a familiar voice from behind them.

The five girls turned around and saw the Marauders and Frank standing right outside of their compartment.

"Sirius!" Arabella flung herself into her boyfriend's arms, and crushed his body onto hers painfully.

"Bellsies—can't breathe—"

"Oh, right." She let go looking flustered and ignored the snickers that followed. "Hi, Frank." She waved to the gangly-looking Head Boy behind Peter.

"Arabella," acknowledged Frank with a nod of his head. "Lily, Jennifer, Violet...Alice." His eyes darkened.

"Well, I'd better get to the prefect carriage," said Alice quickly, standing up and letting her loose golden curls fall onto her shoulders. Her blue eyes scrutinized Frank carefully. "You'd better go, too, Longbottom; you're the Head Boy."

"Right." He nodded and followed her out of the compartment, waving after the eight sixth-years.

"Poor guy," sighed James, shaking his head slightly. "His heart's breaking every moment of this."

"Didn't know you cared, Potter," said Lily coldly.

James turned his hazel eyes onto Lily's green ones with a fixed look that made her shiver. "I'm not as cold-hearted as you think, Evans. I have compassion, and I have care. Frank has been my neighbor and good mentor and friend for nearly my whole life. I care about how he feels; and right now, he's feeling terrible and guilty all at once."

The girls stared at him in awe, while the other three Marauders exchanged approving looks with each other and simply beamed at James, who was still staring at Lily intently.

"Stop staring, Potter," she ordered, after a while.

"Why?"

"Why are you staring at me?"

"Because you're beautiful." James smiled sadly. "Can we share this compartment with you?"

"There are others. Why don't you share one with your fans? They'll be more than willing to make room."

He shook his head again. "I don't care about those girls; they're idiots with empty heads, all of them. Besides, we let you share our compartment last year on the train ride back home, remember?"

Lily did indeed remember, and she silently cursed James for remembering as well. However, it wasn't only his sharp memory that she was in a quandary about; it was his attitude itself. He no longer had that egotistical and condescending personality, which usually made people around him feel more inferior. No, he had a brisk and genial air about him now. He walked confidently, yes, but didn't have that cold stare when passing by people who dressed shabbily; in fact, he had something in his eyes whenever he passed the less fortunate ones—pity. Lily found it exceptionally hard to adapt to this immediate change.

A/n Hey guys its been a while!! I hope you enjoy year 6, I know I doo hehe. I have officially written the complete series so now its publishing them to all of you, so sit back and enjoy!