Beyond the Lake

Chapter Seven

***

It seemed to take ages for her to recover, to stop tears from coming whenever she thought about them. James helped the most out of everyone, especially with Valentine's Day under the Invisibility Cloak and the endless pranks by the Marauders played on almost every professor. But the second thing that kept her mind off her troubles was the homework given to the seventh years in preparation for their N.E.W.T.s. The work took them quickly from February to early April, Easter.

Too many nights were spent finishing essays, studying out of books, and practicing spells from two years ago. Of course, most of those nights were spent with James, and studying was really just an excellent, although not widely accepted, excuse to be alone.

Soon, the schedules for the tests came during breakfast in the Great Hall, bringing many groans from the seventh and fifth years.

"Typical, Transfiguration's first. I could've used the extra days for studying," complained Lily.

"At least you can get it out of the way, and on the bright side, I have my best subject first!"

She glared at him as he laughed, and decided to insult his ego, something he needed every once in a while. "Do you think I love you enough to put your happiness above mine?"

"Touché, my dear, but you know you do!"

She glared at him again and let it go for the time being.

"Come on, let's put our differences aside and study for Transfiguration together."

"Why not?" she asked, knowing he had more than studying in mind. "Let's."

He grinned at her and the two left the table together, hand in hand.

***

"Don't you think we should start studying now?" she asked, pulling away from him. They were in his dorm, and he really didn't feel like getting up to open yet another book.

"Do we have to? You're ten times better than you were in the beginning of the year and its not like I need to study."

"You're so conceited. And are you just saying that to get me to kiss you, or do you mean it?"

"I mean it, you are better," he answered honestly.

"Fine, I guess we can study at breakfast."

So they continued.

Around nine, they, really she, decided they needed sleep before the exams, so she left for her own dorm.

"Had fun?" Sirius asked rather sarcastically as he came in.

"Course. What's up?"

"Not too much, but James, you do realize that this is the last year you'll see her all time, maybe ever again?"

"Why are you telling me this?" he asked, suspicious of Sirius' thought.

"I'm just saying. I have nothing wrong with you two, in fact, I'm happy for you, but it's true."

"You didn't answer the question."

"James, in case you haven't noticed, the Wizarding world is slowly collapsing beneath our feet. Dumbledore sees it, he knows what's happening, and you need to snap out of the little dream world you're living in, especially since you want to be an Auror when you get out of here."

"I don't see what Lily has to do with any of this."

"It's simple. She's a Mudblood." James glared at him menacingly; unable to believe his best friend had called Lily, his girlfriend, that.

"Sorry, James, but you know it as well as I do. She's Muggle-born. They're the target."
"Lily is not going to get hurt or killed in anyway. I love her too much for that to happen!" shouted James with anger boiling inside of him. "I think your damn mother is getting to you."

"Maybe so, but James, think about it!"
"If you're jealous, just say it!"

"Be reasonable, damn it! I'm not jealous of you and Lily! She's been your crush for ages, and I'm your best friend, I wouldn't do that."

" 'Best friend' my ass."

For once, Sirius didn't seem to have an answer. He just stood there as Peter and Remus walked in, wondering what had happened between these two brothers.

***

She walked into her dormitory to find Marissa frantically cramming everything in the Transfiguration book.

"Lily! How can you go around snogging James Potter right before N.E.W.T.'s? You should be studying, after all, neither of us can do any worthwhile spell in Transfiguration and..." she went on with her nervous babbling while Lily went over to talk with Alice Prescott, who was reading a book that had nothing to do with magic. However, she quickly went to bed, falling asleep while mentally turning a rat into a goblet.

Lily woke up groggy the next day, and didn't realize she had the tests until she reached over for her wand to do her hair.

"Shit!" she swore as she ran out of the common room and down to breakfast to meet James.

Her breakfast went by with James quizzing her and forcing her to eat. All too soon, McGonagall called the fifth and seventh years up so they could set up the room for testing. She watched as Peter muttered spells under his breath and Sirius and Remus fought over what the effect of one spell was. They were soon told to take their seats, and the N.E.W.T.'s began.

She managed to get through the written exam, which was easier than she thought it would be. The practical was a bit harder, though, and she didn't think she did anything right in that category. She headed outside to find James waiting for her.

"How'd it go?" he asked.

"Not bad at all. I don't know what I would've done without you. I owe you one."

"Don't mention it, although a quick kiss would be fine."

So she gave him one.

***