James and Lily Potter : Sixth year

Chapter 16: sixth year

"Well, when next year comes, we'll all be graduating," said James sadly, looking at the castle gloomily. "Hogwarts was my second home."

"Yeah, I'll miss it," said Sirius. "It was the only place where I could find people who liked me."

"Sirius, you're my brother...and I mean it." James turned to his best friend. "Don't think that no one cares for you outside this school."

Sirius grinned widely and hugged James, nearly crushing him. "Thanks, Prongs."

"Are we interrupting something?" asked Jackson slyly, as he walked closer and held hands with Violet.

Violet rolled her eyes. "Boys...always so suggestive and perverted."

"Don't you know it, Vi."

"Oh, don't start snogging in front of us!" cried Sirius, shielding his eyes from the couple, who had leaned closer to each other for the past few seconds.

"Oh, please, Padfoot, it's not like you and Arabella haven't done the same thing to us," said James, chortling.

"Well, that's different. I never said I liked watching other people kiss each other; I just said that I enjoyed kissing."

"Ugh!" Violet shuddered violently. "Sirius, shut up."

"So guys," said Sirius, changing the subject, "are we game? Meeting at Moony—er, sorry—Remus' house? And Jen's?"

"Sure," said Jackson, shrugging. "I don't want to intrude, though. I mean, you guys have been friends since first year, and I only joined your group 'cause I'm dating your friend."

"Nonsense," said James, waving it off. "You're welcome anytime, Jack. 'Sides, we need an eighth person, since Peter will be off in Switzerland for the whole summer."

"Splendid." Jackson smiled widely. "I've never really had friends like you guys before...my Ravenclaw ones aren't very loyal, to tell you the truth. All they want to do all day is study, work at the Ministry later on, and find a 'nice and serious' girl to settle with, and teach their children how to be just like them. I swear, they don't approve of me dating Violet, since they think we're 'too young'."

James and Sirius laughed, while Violet turned pink.

"Bad luck, mate," said Sirius, shaking his head. "They sound like typical Ravenclaws to be. But you should've been a Gryffindor; don't know what the Sorting Hat was thinking when it made you a Ravenclaw."

"It was probably for the best, anyway. It's probably because all the Bradleys have been in Ravenclaw since the beginning of time. Not a single one of us has been in another House, so I guess the Sorting Hat was just doing me a favour and helping me not get lectures by my parents of how I disgraced our Ravenclaw bloodline."

"Oh, definitely a Gryffindor," said James.

"Hey guys," said Arabella brightly, as Lily, Jennifer, and Remus followed her close behind.

"Hello," greeted Jackson, waving amiably.

Jennifer burst into giggles. "You know, Jack, Vi's lucky to have you as her boyfriend. You have got to be the sweetest boy alive."

Remus glared. "What about me, Jenny?"

"Oh, of course, you too."

"Yeah, and all I have is a boy who does nothing but snog and play pranks all day," said Arabella wistfully.

"You know you love it," retorted Sirius, winking roguishly.

"Oh, sure." She scoffed.

"We're still meeting at your house, right, Remus?" asked Lily. "And Jen?"

"'Course," the couple replied.

"Mum has to meet Remus anyway," added Jennifer, looking rather flushed. "She's been hounding me about him ever since she found out that I've been dating him since second year. We were young, but I must say, it was true love." Remus slipped his arms around her shoulders.

"Your Mum will love him," assured Lily.

"I don't know," said Remus nervously. "What about my—condition?"

"Dad would probably give a fit, but Mum won't mind," said Jennifer optimistically.

Remus groaned.

"What condition?" questioned Jackson curiously.

"Oh, nothing," said Violet hastily.

"Lily, can I talk to you for a moment?" asked James, taking a deep breath.

"Sure." She followed him out to the lake, where there was no one in sight. "What is it?"

"You know I love you," he began, "and I just want to tell you that maybe you can give me a chance in our last year at Hogwarts. Can you please consider it, Lily? I've wanted you to become my girlfriend ever since fifth year, and now, a year later, I still have my heart to it."

Lily's eyes widened, and a single tear escaped her eyes, as she sniffed. "Oh, that was so sweet, James! And yes, I will consider your offer this summer." She smiled as she hugged him.

James felt a surge of elation spread through his body, as his heart began to lighten considerably. Impulsively, he leaned down and captured her lips with his. It wasn't a passionate or heated kiss, but a sweet and slow one. Surprisingly, Lily had not objected, and the younger children who passed by them could see that the couple were obviously in love, though Lily could not see it yet herself.

And further away from the lake, their friends were smiling at the kissing couple, glad that they finally realised that they were truly meant to be together.

They finally pulled away after a while, since the horseless carriages arrived. They all managed to fit into one, and it was a long ride before they arrived and boarded the Hogwarts Express. They then proceeded to fit into one compartment, and chatted throughout the whole trip. The only person who didn't talk much was James, for he felt too happy to utter a single sound.

The Potters found their son nearly skipping with his trolley as he approached them. Mrs. Potter was quite puzzled at his ebullience, but Mr. Potter smiled knowingly and shook his son's hand.

"Finally did it, eh?" he asked, winking.

James looked at his father in surprise, but nodded eagerly. "You got that right, Dad. You see? The Potter charm does work."

Mr. Potter laughed. "It isn't the Potter charm, son; there's no such thing. But I'm happy for you, because you look like the spit-image of me twenty years ago when your mother finally agreed to have me."

James sighed happily again and waved to Lily. A sudden realisation came to him: his friends were right all along. Ever since first year, they were so intent on making James believe that he and Lily were "meant to be". And now, he found that they weren't at all mistaken as he had thought they would be.