Their Seventh Year

Bit late today, had a busy morning at work.

Chapter 38- N.E.W.T.S.

"Marigold petals."

"No way."

James nodded, face partially hidden by his potions books. "Marigold petals will counteract the active ingredients in certain agility potions."

"You're making that up!"

"Seriously Lily, why would I?"

She snatched the book from him, muttering to herself as she flipped through the pages. James watched and considered the completely unbelievable fact that he was alone, with his girlfriend, in his room, and they were studying. Not "studying" with a wink and a nudge, but actually studying, with books and parchment and quills. He hoped none of his friends came in; his reputation would be shot forever. Lily was way too wound up about N.E.W.T.S to even consider focusing on anything else.

"You're right!" She gasped, as she found the page he had been looking at.

"Well, try not to sound so surprised."

"Oh Noooo." She moaned and pushed the book away. "I'm going to fail! FAIL!"

"Don't be silly, of course you won't-"

"I'm going to fail and no one will hire me and I won't get a job and I'll have to live with my parents forever, and when they die I'll STARVE!"

Okay, she was definitely hysterical.

"You can live with me, and then you won't starve." He suggested, without really thinking.

"You think I'm going to fail too!"

Way to go Potter.

"No! No, I don't Lil. Of course you won't fail, you'll get all outstanding marks, I'm sure of it! You're the smartest in our year!"

“You really think so?”

“Of course! And it’s not just that I think so, it’s completely true! Everyone knows it. Why else would you be Head Girl? In fact, I think the book might be wrong.”

She shook her head and rubbed her hands over her face. “No, it’s not. I think I’m going crazy.”

He rubbed her shoulders. “You’re not, you’re just nervous about exams. That’s okay.”

“Yeah…” She sighed and he hoped she might finally relax a bit, but then she reached for the book again. “We should review antidotes.”

…………………………………………………………….

The first day of exams for the Seventh Years was also the first day the Fifth Years had their O.W.L.S, so breakfast was unusually quiet. The younger students, who had learned over the past few weeks in a flurry of lost points not to disturb those who had exams, ate quickly and retreated to their classes or common rooms.

Lily propped her book up on the table in front of her, although the logical part of her mind admitted that if she didn’t know it now, she wasn’t going to. Charms was their first exam, and she was glad, it was her best.

They lingered a bit longer than usual at breakfast, until finally McGonagall shooed them out. They milled around nervously, checking and re-checking their books, until the Great Hall doors opened again and the usual table had been replaced with desks for each person. When they were all seated, Professor McGonagall waved her wand and parchment appeared on everyone’s desk. Lily paused long enough to look around at James, who gave her an encouraging smile, and then picked up her quill.

………………………………………………………………

Remus felt like the first day of exams had been all right, but he had to admit he’d been distracted all day. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what was distraction him either, he and Flora still had nor made up after their argument about her going to . N.E.W.T.S had been upon them, everyone was caught up in studying, and there just hadn’t been the time to have the kind of conversation that they needed to. He realized now that he needed to talk to her now. They had potions the next day, and he knew that was going to be harder, he would need to concentrate. After dinner, everyone else settled in the common room again to study, while the younger students made themselves scarce. Remus was looking at his potions book, not really seeing it all that much.

Eventually he thought he’s have better luck studying his notes, and went up to get them. He was coming out of their room when he ran full into his girlfriend.

“I couldn’t remember the incantation for a Protean Charm.” She announced without preamble.

“Well, that’s not that bad.” He said, not sure what response she was expecting.

“No, but I knew it. I just couldn’t concentrate as well as I should be. I can’t concentrate when we’re fighting.”

He sighed, and waited while a whispering group of third years passed them on the stairs, and then drew her back up into their room.

“Look. I didn’t phrase what I wanted to say very well the other day, but I’m going to stand by it. Let me try again.” She frowned, but nodded. “I don’t want you to go to . To tell you the truth, I don’t really want any of us to leave Hogwarts, but that’s not really up to me. I don’t want you to leave, but I do want you to be able to do whatever you want to do, to live up to your potential, and going will certainly give you more options.”

“But there are lots of things I can do if I stay in too.” She insisted.

He wanted to agree with her, agree that she should stay in , it wasn’t as though she needed to work all that much anyway, her parents were quite well-off. But he was immediately irritated with himself for even thinking that way.

“Listen, I’m going to suggest a compromise. You go-“ She opened her mouth to protest but he put his hand over it to stop her. “-and you can still come home every holiday and I can come see you too. I’ve never been to so that will be brilliant.” He was trying to convince himself as much as her. “And do it for a year. And if you don’t like it, and you’re not enjoying it, and you still want to be in , then come home. That way, you’re giving it a chance, but you’re not committing to three or four years.” Finished, he cautiously took his hand away from her mouth.

“Just a year?” She repeated.

“Well, yeah, if you don’t like it. But you might like it.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “And why do you want me to go?”

“Because it’s a good opportunity for you and you’ll learn a lot.”

“And it has nothing to do with…?”

“Me or werewolves or you meeting someone else.”

She smiled, and then hopped up and threw her arms around his neck. “You’re a fast learner, for a boy. I’ll think about it.”

……………………………………………………

The next morning they had their potions exam, which James was pretty sure that he did all right on, or at least got a passing grade, but in the afternoon they had Defense Against the Dark Arts and he was positive he got a perfect “outstanding” in the practical bit and felt confident about his answers on the written exam too.

He actually almost enjoyed the Transfiguration practical exam the next day, since the old wizard examining him seemed actually impressed with how smoothly and completely he did everything he was told. He was in the exam at the same time as Peter who did not fare so well. He was meant to be changing the chair into a dog, but his dog appeared to be made out of wood, and went he went to turn it back, the chair ended up with a coat of fur.

Lily was upset that she had accidentally left the tail off when she conjured her cat, bit she had kept her head and added the tail quickly, so she guessed she would get most of the points. Sirius announced smugly that he had not only turned his chair into a perfect dog, but then made the dog do tricks.

They had a reprieve that afternoon before Arithmancy (or in the girls’ and Peter’s case, Herbology) the next morning. Though he knew he could get in some studying for Arithmancy, James couldn’t help but let his mind drift to the fact that the next day by this time, they would be effectively done with his education at Hogwarts.

………………………………………………………

Sirius was feeling pretty pleased with himself. With a minimum of studying, he was sure he’d done just fine on his N.E.W.T.S. While everyone else had been falling apart he’d just watched them with a kind of detached amusement. Out in the real world, it wasn’t as though exams mattered much either. He was looking forward to the excellent parties he was sure would accompany graduation. As for what would come after graduation, it seemed a good plan to go into Auror training with James. It was certainly the most interesting job he could think about. He knew he didn’t want to end up behind a desk pushing paper, that was certain enough.

With only one exam left, he was feeling pretty relaxed when he came out of his transfiguration practical. Until he heard a voice behind him.

“Sirius?”

He turned. Arianna was leaning against the doorjamb of the Charms classroom, and for a moment he didn’t think it could have been her speaking, because he was absolutely certain she had never actually called him by his given name. Still, there was no one else there, so it must have been her. He raised an eyebrow coolly even as he felt his stomach freeze. She had to be furious, he was actually surprised he hadn’t been hexed yet.

“Can I speak to you?”

The last time she had wanted to speak to him, she had tried to strangle him with his own robes, so he had to wonder about this change in tactic. He nodded, and followed her down a deserted corridor, until they came to a small alcove.

“What exactly are you doing?” she asked in an even voice.

“Well, I just finished my Transfiguration exam, and I was going back to the common room and-“

She cut him off with an impatient sound. “You know what I mean. Are you trying to win some kind of bet? Some sort of joke? Is this some kind of sick challenge you’ve set yourself?”

“None of those things.” He cut her off before she could come up with any more twisted ideas for his motivation. “You’re making this hugely complicated and it’s not. I don’t know what you’re asking. Why I talk to you? Or why I kissed you? It’s the same reason: I wanted to.”

Whatever she had been expecting, it was not that. He spent a moment enjoying the fact that he had actually made her speechless, even for just a moment.

“You can’t just go around doing that!” She finally insisted, seeming frustrated.

“Really? Because until you freaked out you didn’t seem to mind.”

“That’s really not the point.” She tried a businesslike tone.

“And what is the point Miss Malfoy? Explain it to me.” He said, with exaggerated patience. It really was a small alcove, and he took a step nearer, rather enjoying how that disconcerted her.

“I just…” She trailed off.

“Don’t over-think it Arianna.”

She drew her eyebrows together in a bit of a frown, and he thought she was going to walk away again, so she took his breath away when she grabbed the front if his shirt and kissed him.

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