Final Year, Final Chance

Albus Dumbledore's eyes sparkled brighter than ever.

"Thankyou both for your contributions this evening. And congratulations again for becoming Head Boy and Girl. I am certain that this year will be very exciting for all of us. You may go."

Lily Evans stood up and shook Dumbledore's outstretched hand. "Thankyou, sir."

James Potter leant forward, also taking Dumbledore's hand. "Cheers Professor. So sorry I was late."

"Oh, that doesn't worry me in the slightest, Mr. Potter. One must always savour the events that the day can bring us."

His eyes twinkled even more. James had a feeling Dumbledore knew what was going through his mind. His piercing stare felt as though the Headmaster could see right through him.

Professor McGonagall walked to the door and opened it for them. "Thankyou Potter, Evans. You may show yourselves out."

James walked briskly to the door and held it wide open for Lily, "After you, Miss Evans."

Lily rolled her eyes and exited. Dumbledore, however, couldn't help but notice a small smile playing on Lily's mouth. He chuckled to himself, grabbing James' attention.

He looked over at the Headmaster and Dumbledore winked. Grinning to himself, James bade McGonagall and Dumbledore goodnight, and closed the door behind him.

"I think there will be plenty of surprises this year Minerva," Dumbledore observed. He reclined in his chair and sighed. "They make a fiery pair, don't they?"

"I think fiery is a slight understatement, Albus" a very thin-lipped McGonagall said, still standing by the door. "I am beginning to think that there are reasons other than leadership that allowed those two to be Head Boy and Girl."

Dumbledore placed his hands together, looking enquiringly at McGonagall. "What do you mean?"

McGonagall sniffed indignantly. "You know perfectly well what I mean!"

"Enlighten me with your theory, Minerva."

"Well where do I begin?!" She walked briskly over to his desk and sat down. "You know as well as I do that Miss Evans has a very low tolerance for Potter. I have a small feeling that you have set this up, Albus."

There was a slight pause. All that could be heard was the musical song emerging from Dumbledore's pet Phoenix, Fawkes.

"I will neither confirm, nor deny these interesting views, Minerva. However, I will admit that I may have renegotiated this partnership," Dumbledore inclined his head to her. "I stand by what I have said, they make a fiery pair.

"Albus, do be reasonable. They may very well kill each other before the year is out!"

"Oh, I do not think that Mr Potter will kill Miss Evans," he said, a small smile on his face. "I have a feeling he is quite attached to her."

McGonagall was growing exasperated. "Even so, Evans is very strong-willed, Albus. Not to mention quite short tempered. If she is pushed too far-"

"I know this. That is why she and Mr Potter will work spectacularly well together."

There was another pause. McGonagall was processing what the headmaster was saying. Upon her realisation, McGonagall's face broke into a true smile.

"Oh, Albus. I think I know exactly what you are trying to do."

"You do, do you? You seem to have many sensational theories this evening, Minerva." However, Dumbledore too was smiling.

"I don't know whether this will work albus..."

"You might be surprised."

Dumbledore walked over to one of the cabinets in his office. He pulled out a small basin filled with a silvery substance - neither like a gas nor a liquid. Pointing the tip of his wand to his temple, Dumbledore drew out a long string of a similar substance, and directed it to the Pensieve (*). Lily Evans and James Potter came into view, smiling at Dumbledore. He smiled back.

"Like I have said Minerva, they will make a fiery pair."