Beyond the Lake

Chapter Eight

***

The exams went by quickly, and he thought he did well on all of them, except Charms. He had managed to cheer up his tester too much, so he had to continue with another. But, at the moment, there was only one real problem in life, and that was Sirius. They hadn't spoken since the night before the N.E.W.T.'s, and that was over a week ago. The Astronomy exam was that night, though. He thought he might be able to talk to him before that. But Sirius got to him first.

"James?"

He looked up from his star chart and was surprised to see Sirius standing there, but he felt some relief too.

"Yeah?"

"Look, I'm sorry for the other night. I was just, I didn't want-"
"No need to explain, Padfoot," he said. He could somehow interpret his friend's thoughts. "I can see where you're coming from, even if I don't want to hear it. I just love her too much to care what she is, and what that could mean," he added as an afterthought.

"You make that obvious enough, wearing your emotions on your sleeve," Sirius joked feebly, as he sat next to James.

"I'm sure," James said. Then he wondered if he should tell Sirius what had been on his mind for awhile now. "Do you think I should propose?" he blurted out randomly.

Instead of answering, Sirius barked out that laugh of his. "Sorry," he apologized when he could. "But it's really ironic. Before this year, she hated your guts. Now, she's going to marry you!"

"I haven't even asked her yet! I don't even know when!"

"Trust me, she'll agree."

"You make it sound so easy."

"James, the two of you were meant for each other, plain and simple. She'll be Lily Potter soon enough."

***

"Our last N.E.W.T.! No more studying, worrying, ha!"

"Calm down, Marissa. I'm trying to study," said Lily.

"Oh fine, but this is the last time we'll have to!"
"Jeez, why are you this excited?"
"'Cause I'm going on a date with Sirius!"

"Sirius Black? I don't know what's worse. I thought he had better taste and I thought you had better taste."

"Hey, watch it!"

"You know I'm kidding. Have fun tonight. For now, I'm going to talk to James. You can study. Or, go talk to Sirius so James and I can be alone."

"And you even gave me an excuse!"

Lily walked into the common room and quickly found James sitting in their usual chair by the fire, although the rest of the Marauders were there, too.

"Hey James," she said as she approached them.

"Lily, how are you? Haven't talked in a while," Sirius said.

"Who said she wanted to talk to you, Padfoot? She clearly said 'Hi James', not 'Hi Sirius', and besides, who wants to talk to you anyway?" James asked his best friend.

"I think Marissa does," interrupted Lily.

"Really? Adios amigos!" exclaimed Sirius, jumping up and heading over to her.

"How did Charms go?" she asked James.

"I have a feeling I shouldn't tell you. You'll just laugh."

"As long as you didn't screw up something like Cheering Charms, I promise I won't."

"Then I guess you'll laugh."
"James! That was third year material! I'll bet even Sirius has them down."
"Sorry, but may I remind you of all your little mistakes with a boggart in Defense Against the Dark Arts?"

"Shut up! You would've been terrified, too! Besides, that was my third year."

And she had thought everyone had forgotten about that.

"Excuses, excuses," But then, hastily changing the subject, he said, "Would you meet me after the exam? I need to talk to you."

"Okay," she said, suspicious. "But why?"
"Because. Let's go, it starts in five minutes."

***

Damn N.E.W.T.'s. Thank God this was the last one. But that meant they'd be leaving Hogwarts soon, and the last thing James wanted to do was lose his friends, or at least that's what it felt like. His mind wandered to all those pranks, the nights on the grounds. Then he forced himself to come back to the exam. Where was Jupiter, anyway? He didn't think Aurors had anything to do with Astronomy, so he couldn't say he really cared about this, but he did need the grade. Now, Jupiter should be right over there....

"How'd you do?" Sirius asked, knowing James didn't consider Astronomy worth his worry.

"It took me ten minutes to find Jupiter, which was where I looked in the first place, but I think I did alright. You?"

"Why do we need to bother? I kind of blew it off."

"There's Lily," James said. "Have fun with Marissa, I'll see you later."

"Yeah, and good luck," Sirius said as he headed towards Marissa.

"Lily!"
"Hey James! How'd it go?"

"Alright, you?"
"The only thing I had trouble with was Leo the Lion. I couldn't find him until I remembered that thing about Leo and Gemini and Taurus protecting the twins or something like that, and I found it."
"And you're supposed to be a Gryffindor. Anyway, I'm gonna get the Invisibility Cloak, so..."

"Accio Invisibility Cloak!" said Lily, and the Cloak came soaring to them. She raised an eyebrow at him as if to say, "You're so pathetic," and they headed towards the lake.

They didn't talk too much. James was too nervous, practicing everything over and over again in his head. Then there was the doubt. What if she said "No"? And what would happen if she said "Yes"? There was almost too much to think about. Even after all the N.E.W.T.'s, this was the worst test he'd ever have to take.

***

He was acting really strange tonight, and she had no idea why, although she wasn't sure she wanted to. Whatever he was planning could be really great or really terrible. For all she knew, he could be trying to break up with her, but that was ridiculous. And she really didn't know what she would do if he did. It was probably best not to think about that...

"Lily?" They had reached the shore of the lake, and she came out of her thoughts and back to him.

"Sorry. Yeah?"

"I have no idea how the hell I should say this, so I'm just going to. Lily, will you marry me?"
She felt as if she never took a breath, as if her heart had stopped. This was completely unexpected, yet it was beyond all of her dreams. Lily Potter. The words ran through her mind again and again. Lily Potter. It didn't sound bad, not bad at all.

"Yes, James," she said, falling into his embrace. "I will marry you."

They kissed, they hugged, but eventually they just sat side by side, and looked at the stars, watching them sparkle the way the did. For that night, there was no Voldemort, no obstacles to face after Hogwarts. The world was perfect.

***