Disclaimer: I own none of the original Harry Potter characters, or Hogwarts itself, and everything in it. I do own, however, Jezebel Lait, Sera Weater, Marcia Sitark, Professor Marmite and the once mentioned Jeremy.

This is the final chapter guys! Sure it took a good year to finish the damn story, in which I thought would only take a weekend, but it's done and I'm happy. Hey, if you care for these things, I apparently am up for some awards… the website is in my bio, if you want to check it out. I was surprised and think I may have been blushing the rest of the day… It made my day, to say the least. I've never been up for one before, so this is cool.

Anyways, on with the finale!

That was by far one of the most nerve-wracking things I've ever done.

Graduation on its own was stressful, but as Head Girl, I definitely had lost my marbles. My speech, oh I'm cringing now. I couldn't even remember what I said on the stage… hopefully I didn't slur. Slurring is not a Head Girl sort-of-thing to do.

"Lily that was beautiful!" Sera called to me, crashing through the throng of students celebrating. Her robes are twisted from trying to reach me through the crowd and I could only smile at her efforts. Being short was never a favourite of hers.

"I tried my best," I yelled back, trying to meet her halfway. "Excuse me, gentlemen," I said, passing James and his crew, all laughing and looking relieved. I reached Sera and gave her a hug.

"You actually had me crying," Sera said, like it was the hardest feat to accomplish.

"Sera," I said, keeping one arm around her shoulders, "you were crying while we got out Graduation robes on."

"Yes, but-"

"And you cried during James' speech… I could see you from the stage." I looked at her with some pity, but couldn't help laughing along.

"Where's the girl of my hour?" I heard Marcia say from behind me. I turned around and was immediately trapped in one of her death hugs. Now, they're not really a tight hug, but her shoulder always somehow gets lodged in my throat… we've never been able to find out why.

I choked out her name and she let go. Putting a hand to my neck, I thanked her. "As always, it's your job to try and kill me," I joked. "Is Jezebel in the Hall anywhere?" I asked, looking around the sea of students in their robes. Each house had their Graduating students wear special robes of their House colours. Across the colourful sea I could see Jezebel talking to Professor Marmite, most likely trying to get a good recommendation for a career. Shaking my head, I looked back to my friends. "Are you two ready for the partying tonight at the Three Broomsticks?"

"Definitely," Marcia answered immediately, blue eyes sparkling in anticipation.

Sera gave some sort of uneasy answer about not wanting to get pissed off her bottom, but I wasn't paying attention. Over her head I could see James still joking and laughing with his friends, congratulating people as they passed.

It had been a couple months since our conversation in the Gryffindor Common Room (or The Day I Completely Went Barmy), and he never really passed any judgement on me. Not to say I wanted judgement… well, that was a lie. I did. I almost desperately wanted to know what he thought of everything. I had actually thought he was going to kiss me that afternoon, and truthfully, I was sort of expecting him to pop out one day and just do it… Not that I thought he liked me, but I had almost offered myself to him at that time, and he had just smiled and commented that I "haven't met many men in my life."

Yes, I memorized that conversation and have repeatedly replayed it in my head nearly every night since that day. It was a huge step for me to completely come out to someone, and especially not one of my best friends. There had been a few awkward moments between us since then, but it always seemed that he could shrug them off more easily than I.

James glanced around the Hall and it only registered the second before he looked my way that I should stop staring. His eyes stared into mine. I panicked and looked down immediately… and into two amused looks of my friends.

"What?" I asked, already in the defensive position.

"Were you looking at Remus?" Marcia asked, looking like the devil's playmate.

"No, I wasn't looking at Remus-"

Marcia gasped, cutting me off. "You still fancy him, don't you?" she said quickly.

Sera laughed. "Well you better go talk to him now, then! I don't think we'll see too much of them after Hogwarts."

"No, I don't fancy Remus – and haven't since third year – and I wasn't looking at him anyways," I said. Trying my best to be casual, I added, "I wasn't really looking at anyone in particular." Betraying my last sentence, my eyes glanced back James' way. Marcia and Sera laughed, but I couldn't hear their comments… James was headed this way.

He stopped just behind Sera and smiled at me; that beautiful smile that could melt my knees. "Congratulations on making it through the school years with all your remaining limbs, ladies," he said to us.

Sera looked behind her and thanked him. Marcia, on the other hand, had seemed to piece things together and her eyes widened. She gave me a significant look and spun around to smile at James.

"That was a lovely speech James," she said dryly, eyebrows raised. "A lot less prejudice toward the Slytherins than I expected it would be."

"Well, our speeches had to be run through McGonagall before we spoke before the school," James replied with a laugh and rubbing the back of his neck.

I raised my eyebrows, along with Marcia, and said, "My speech didn't have to be handed to McGonagall, James." I bit my lip to keep from laughing. James' mouth opened wordlessly, than closed. I laughed and shook my head. "So I wouldn't have the foggiest as to why she asked to read yours," I concluded.

Marcia hooked her arm through Sera's and nodded my way. "We're off to drag Jezebel away from brownnosing," she said, tugging confused Sera away. "You kiddies behave yourselves."

Oh, Merlin bless Marcia for giving James and me some time together… and curse her at the same time! I wasn't expecting to talk to him so soon about anything…

"Can we, er, take a walk, perhaps?" James asked, glancing towards the Hall doors.

Silently, I nodded. Did I trust myself to talk? Hell no.

He took me by the elbow (just breathe, Lily) and led us through the crowd, nodding to teachers and students who called our names or tried to stop us for a chat. We exited the Hall, but were stopped by Sir Nicholas (I never enjoyed calling him "Nearly-Headless"). "Those were lovely speeches," he said, bowing to us, his head lolling off and hanging by a hinge. I cringed. He righted himself and his head. He patted my and James' backs. I cringed again from the cold that went through my lungs. When he floated off, I allowed myself to gasp in a deep breath and saw James shiver beside me.

He looked to me with an amused smile and I had to hold back a laugh. "Your hair's a bit on end," I said, reaching up and patting it down. My heart was racing… What was I thinking? I mustn't be; that's what.

With a quick smile, James led me through the corridors and out into a small courtyard. There were no students near, which made me very thankful. Whatever transpired here, I'd rather not have an audience. We walked to the stone ledge and James leaned on it casually. I couldn't look at him, so I rather looked over the edge and onto the grounds below. My eyes squinted from the sun reflecting off the lake; the millions of sparkles dancing across the ripples caused by the Giant Squid and students playing near the shore. I looked back to the courtyard: its trees flowered a faded pink, the pedals flitted in the air; its backdrop of the grey stone castle added a distinct fairytale feeling to the setting. The green grass was dotted with petals and I simply wouldn't be able to describe the beauty of the place… I felt like I was looking into a snow globe. It was serenity in a glance.

I looked back to James and saw him watching me.

Or maybe it was romance.

"Lily," James said slowly, "I've been thinking about you and… and hold on, I didn't start that right."

I nearly started laughing out of sheer nervousness. I could feel my skin getting warmer. Oh yes, perfect: let's blush. Lovely idea, Lily.

He stopped leaning on the stone wall and stood straight. Taking a breath he continued, "Back in the Common Room those few months ago… what you were saying sort of mixed with what I was feeling…"

I couldn't help to narrow my eyes at him. He was feeling what now? Lonely? Did he feel what I felt – shameful, inexperienced and insecure? He couldn't feel those… he was loved by nearly everyone and I knew he had had girlfriends. That small fact bothered me more than it should have.

"It's harder to say than I thought it would be," he said with a small laugh. James rubbed the back of his neck in an almost bashful gesture. He couldn't be nervous, could he?

I felt like I had to say something while he regrouped… again. "What are you talking about James?" I asked, unable to keep the large amount of confusion from my voice. I glanced at the flower blooming trees and wondered if there was a reason he took me here to begin with.

"I really should have said something when I first figured it all out," he said finally. "I don't know why I didn't… maybe I was just having fun with the new knowledge or maybe I was still too thick to do anything about it." What the bloody hell was he on about? James took a step forward and I very nearly took one back, not used to being so close to him or any other guy. "I've fancied you for a good many months, Lily, but never really found the courage to say anything, I think." My vision swam in front of me momentarily. Did he just say that? I tried to focus on James' face again when he kept speaking. "And back in the Common Room I really wanted to kiss you, but it just seemed so clichéd that I decided to wait for a perfect opportunity…"

He had stopped talking. Did he want me to speak? So he had wanted to kiss me back then… why the bleeding hell didn't he?

I looked up into his eyes and asked, "You didn't kiss me because it would have been the obvious thing to do?" Oh yes: the man just professed his liking of me and what do I do? Mock him. You're really racking up the points, Lily. I smile played on his lips. "I had thought that maybe you would, and then you didn't and then I spent three months wondering what in Hades you thought of me and even losing sleep over it some nights!" Am I getting hysterical now?

James seemed to be humoured by my response so far.

"I mean, I've fancied you for a couple years now, James, but I've never been able to come out and say anything because I didn't want you to gently let me down or anything and say that we can be friends or anything else stupid and…" I stared hard at him, trying to decide whether to be comforted by his humoured look or slap him for it. I couldn't do either right now. I could only continue to blab on, admitting things I hadn't ever thought I would to him. "And let's not forget that I wanted to dance with you at the Ball and the second I was about to, someone else came and took you away, just like I'd always imagined, and I couldn't do anything but run off and cry in my bed!" I couldn't believe I was saying this. I was one step away from tugging at my hair and proclaiming that I probably loved the idiot!

James ran a hand over his mouth and then down to rest his throat to rest on his collarbone. "This isn't turning out how I expected it to."

I took a deep breath and placed my hand on my forehead. With my eyes closed I asked, "How did you expect it to turn out?" I opened, then shielded, my eyes from the sun that poked out from behind some overly-fluffy clouds. "Did you expect me to jump into your arms and melt when you kissed me?"

James still seemed amused and surprised by my complete lack of sanity for the whole conversation. "Something like that, I guess."

I was quiet, trying to actually think of a good response instead of blurting out everything that was on my mind. Playing with my tongue inside my mouth as I thought, I finally said quietly, and with a bit of defeat, "I could do that."

James laughed. I mean, really laughed. His head was thrown back and he seemed to be relieved, though I figured he had taken everything relatively easily… maybe he was more nervous than he seemed most of the time. "As long as I have your permission," he said, finally calmed down, even if the evidence of laughter was still in his eyes.

My hands were shaking as they twisted with each other. Should I take his hand to calm them down? My breathing seemed to have stopped for a brief moment and I couldn't seem to see anything but his sparkling eyes. "You do," I said. Moment of truth; something I'd been waiting for, for a long time.

James leaned forward, took my hands in his, effectively stilling them, and tilted his head to the side with a small quirky smile on his face. He kept his eyes open until his mouth touched mine. I closed mine then, too. I inhaled sharply, my lips not moving at first, but my hands gripping his.

Quickly, thousands of thoughts rushed through my mind, many of them insecurities. What if I'm no good at this? He had so much more experience than I did… what if I'm not up to par? Am I doing it right? Should I initiate things further? And finally one last thought squashed them all: James kissed me because he fancies me.

And, as he let go of my hands so they could wrap around his neck, I realised that that was the best thought I've had in a long time.

- - - - - - - - - -

Lily… Lily Evans.

Someday Lily Potter?

I smiled and continued scrubbing my hair full of shampoo. Today was a long day of training and I couldn't help but try to scrub off all the remnants of the spells I'd been hit with. I rinsed it out under the hot water and stood for a moment, thinking of my girlfriend. I liked calling her that, you know.

I love her; I'm sure of that. It took me until a few days prior to realise it, and the knowledge of my love still made my chest inflate with pride and hope. I did have a small dilemma, though. I turned off the shower and shook my head. A small dilemma, sure, but I still couldn't help to smile.

I grabbed a towel from the rack just outside the stall and wrapped it around my waist. I always hated trying to get out of the small shower. Maybe it had to do with what happened on my first day here; something about slipping on my ass. I made my way into a locker room scattered with a few other Auror trainees. I walked over the tiled floor in the bright lights to the small locker that was my own. Next to my locker was the idiot owner of the neighbouring locker.

Sirius stood, already dressed in regular robes, his hair still drying. I nodded to him and he nodded back. "What were you doing in there that had you come out smiling so much, Prongs?" he asked with a quirk of his lip. Bastard.

I placed my hand over the cool metal door and waited for it to register my finger prints. All these safety things seemed crazy and a little paranoid at times, but hey, as long as no one's stealing my things, I'm ok with it. It glowed white for a moment and then opened. "I was thinking of Lily, for your information," I said. I think I may have sounded a little snooty. "Was that snooty?" I asked.

"A little, yeah," Sirius told me honestly. I nodded. I thought so. "Some of the guys and I are thinking of going out for a drink," he said. "You up for coming?"

Didn't I have some type of plans for the night? Oh right. "No, I'm spending the evening with Lily," I said. For some reason I couldn't figure out which end of my robes is which… Is that a sleeve or neck hole?

Sirius grabbed the robes from me and shook them out. He handed them back to me sorted out. "The ol'ball and chain, eh?" he joked.

"That would be her." I threw my robes on and didn't even bother with the comb in my locker. Honestly, what's the point? I slammed the locker shut after grabbing a few extra things and left the change room with Sirius. "I've been thinking about some things, Sirius," I said. We walked down a series of hallways, every door along the way leading to different office cubicles. I nodded to some of the nicer Aurors that didn't hold themselves higher than us Aurors-in-training.

"You're always thinking about something, James. I'd be rather frightened if you weren't," Sirius said, tipping his head to one of the younger witches who walked past us. She winked back at him. I rolled my eyes. "What were you thinking about?" he asked as we joined a few other people waiting for the lift.

"Well, I was sort of thinking about, well, er, Lily…" I'm stumbling over my words! That's just disgraceful, isn't it?

"We've been over that part already, Prongs," Sirius said, looking at me like I should see a nurse. I'm feeling fine. In fact, I feel absolutely great.

"Shut up," I said. The lift doors opened and we crammed inside with a handful of other witches and wizards, most of who looked relieved to have the work day be over. "Anyways," I continued, "I was thinking about our relationship and continuing it further…" It was only then that I noticed many of the other people aboard were listening to our conversation. I glanced around and they went back to just eavesdropping, looking away. "And I wanted your opinion."

Sirius looked back at me from the buttons on the side of the lift where he had punched the number eight. "You want my opinion on where you should sleep with Lily?" he asked stupidly and, frankly, a lot louder than I hoped he would respond.

"Level Three, Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes, including the Accidental Magic Reversal Squad…"

I did not expect him to say that. "What?" I exclaimed. "No! No, not that!"

Sirius was jostled out of my view when a couple wizards left the lift and a few memos flew in and circled the lamp above. I heard his voice from the other side as he fought his way back to me. "Well you said 'continuing it further'-"

"I meant marriage!" I said over the witches between us, disgusted that my own voice seemed to have gone a pitch higher. He now stood in front of me.

His face seemed to catch on to what I was saying and his mouth formed an o shape. As quickly as that face came, it went and was replaced by an incredulous look. "Have you gone completely barking mad?" he asked.

"Level Four, Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures…"

"I don't think so, no," I said testily. Didn't he know how much I loved her?

"You're eighteen, James," he said seriously, like he was trying to remind me as if I'd forgotten.

"That's a little young, sonny," said an elderly wizard who had been on the lift before us.

"Thank you," I snapped at the moustached man. I turned my attention back to Sirius who still didn't seem swayed. "I love her, Sirius," I said quietly.

"Level Five, Department of International Magical Co-operation, incorporating the International Magical Trading Standards Body…"

The moustached man left along with a flutter of a few memos. A middle aged witch entered. She was an Auror as well and, although strict, was generally nice to the trainees.

"Black, Potter," she said, nodding to both of us in turn.

"McKinnon," Sirius said, nodding to her briefly. "I don't care if you are in love with her, Prongs; eighteen is way too young to be thinking about marriage."

"I got married at twenty," McKinnon said, not looking at either of us.

"That hardly helps us at all, actually-"

"Thank you," I said happily, cutting Sirius off effectively. "And I am in love with her, Padfoot." I was going to be nineteen in just a few months, anyways.

"Level Six, Department of Magical Transportation, incorporating the Floo Network Authority, Broom Regulatory Control…"

"I still say you're barmy," Sirius concluded.

A great number of Ministry workers entered the lift. Around seven or so… and with a lift as cramped as ours is, seven is a lot.

I narrowed my eyes at Sirius. "I really should have spoken to Remus first, then," I said. Sadly, I think that might have been a bit snooty as well, but that may be because I was now squashed against the back wall.

"Yea, well you didn't," Sirius' muffled voice said. Once again I couldn't see him. "So you're stuck with my opinion until you talk to Remus."

"Level Seven, Department of Magical Games and Sports…"

I'd always liked this floor the most. Once on my break I had even ventured down it to take a look at all the old Quidditch posters tacked up on the walls. I still stick to the story that I didn't get lost down the halls; I just merely took my time finding the lift.

I didn't feel like continuing my conversation with Sirius just then. For one, I didn't like talking to someone when I couldn't see them. For another point, I didn't like discussing my love life with half the witches and wizards on their way home. They definitely had no input. Except McKinnon, if only because she seemed to be supporting me.

"The Atrium."

I knew everyone would be hurrying off the lift, unless they were heading to the Department of Mysteries, so I was ready to be jostled around like usual. When I finally exited the small box of terror (we've already been over the fact that I can be dramatic) I had to wait for a few more people to exit before Sirius stepped out looking a bit ruffled.

"I think I may have been frisked in there," he said, looking a bit unsure of where he was.

I held in my laughter, any anger towards his unsupportive talk gone. "Better than the last time it happened?" I decided to ask.

He shook his head. "No, last time I knew I was being frisked and who was doing the frisking…"

I shook my head and laughed. "You're a legend in your own mind, Padfoot." I clapped him on the back as we walked and said, "I told Lily I'd wait for her by the fountain."

"It's your last chance to come out for a drink, mate," Sirius said. Was he trying to warn me of something? He sure sounded like it.

"It's not like I'll never see you again, Padfoot," I said, seating myself on the edge of the golden fountain. I didn't like looking at it too long. The longer you stared at it, the more ludicrous it became.

"If you tell Lily you're in love with her, I don't think you'll ever leave her side." I'm sure in his own mind (to which he was a legend) it made perfect sense. But to me, it sounded a little mental.

"I'll take some caution then, thank you." I shook my head. Lily was taking her final Apparation test on Level Six, but she had told me to meet her in the Atrium for some reason. I had gotten my license within the week school was over, but she needed to work and save some money before she could pay for it. She wouldn't accept any help from me in that aspect.

The look Sirius was giving me nearly made me roll my eyes. "I'll hopefully see you 'round, Prongs," he said.

"See you around, Padfoot," I agreed in my you're-losing-it-but-I-accept-it voice. "Don't drink too much."

He winked and Disapparated with a loud crack.

I licked my lips and watched some wizards discuss Gobstones beside one of the large marble columns. I still didn't understand how they had their own club in the Ministry of all places. It was like having an Exploding Snap club! Loony, I tell you. I yawned and turned sideways on the fountain ledge. Maybe I could play around with the water for a bit… Where did I put my wand again? Ah yes, back pocket. Putting its tip to the surface of the water, I swirled it in a circle, counter clockwise, three times. A small ball of water rose up and I looked at it proudly. I made that ball of water. It continued swirling and swishing in itself, the small air bubbles trapped inside spun quickly in the middle. Maybe I could make this more interesting. What was I thinking? Of course I could.

The tricky part is not to disturb the spinning water. I Summoned a Knut from the fountain and made it spin at just the same speed… Hovering it just below the water ball, I sent it spinning upwards and into the circling liquid. The water inside jostled for a moment but soon accepted its new element.

Yes! I laughed and tried to mask my surprise that it actually worked. Last time I had done this was at the Lake at Hogwarts and I ended up soaking wet.

Crack!

I jumped and lost concentration on my circling orb of water and Knut thing. "Hey!" I exclaimed, my lap now nicely covered in water. My water orb-circling-Knut-thing was ruined! I'm sure Lily would love to have seen it. I looked away from my wet robes and to the idiot who Apparated behind me… and into the lovely face of my girlfriend.

"I got my license!" Lily cheered, her face bright and extremely relieved.

I stood and kissed her cheek. "Good job," I said. It was very hard to ignore the fact that a part of my robes was sticking to my thigh. "Now you can Apparate to my house in the morning." Lily had this thing ever since we finished Hogwarts: She had to kiss me every morning. It could be a simple kiss on the cheek or lips or it could be passionate and absolutely hot. The catch twenty-two was that only I could Apparate, so I had to venture there every day, no matter what Auror-training I had that day and where I might have to be shipped to.

Lily snaked her arms around my neck and kissed me on the cheek. "I look forward to it," she said. Ooh, there's a glint in her eyes. I loved that glint, and hey, I loved this woman.

Oh yes… I had gotten some "advice" from Sirius earlier, hadn't I?

Throwing caution to the wind, I realised that it really was my opinion that mattered and no one else's. Who cares if Sirius didn't think it was a good time to profess my love to Lily? I love her, and even though I wouldn't propose to her until further in the future, I think she has a right to know. I waited long enough to tell her that I fancied her (and to think how many times we missed out snogging after meetings?), so maybe I could rectify myself now.

I leaned back away from her for a moment and studied her face. There was a stray strand of red hair covering one of her gorgeous eyes, so I took the opportunity to tuck it behind her ear. Should I keep my hand on her face or hold her hand with it? On a last second decision, I kept it where it was.

"I love you."

My eyes widened and all my actions froze. What did – I – that wasn't…Wait.

"Pardon?" I asked like every other male idiot on this planet.

"I love you," she repeated bashfully. I could feel her fingers twisting in my hair.

I couldn't help to smile then. She had said it first. For a girl who could be a little insecure and unsure of how to approach certain aspects of our relationship, she was more forward than I.

"And you don't have to say it back, I just thought I should get it out and open so there wouldn't be any confusion again-" Ah, there's the Lily I'm used to "- so don't feel obliged to tell me you love me or anything-"

"Lily," I said as lightly as I could. She took a deep breath and seemed to brace herself for whatever I was about to say. "You beat me to it this time." She looked adorably confused. I buried my face into her hair, something I couldn't get enough of doing some days, and said, "I was just about to say it." I could feel her smiling against my cheek.

"What's stopping you?" she asked, her fingers still twirling, twirling, twirling in my hair.

"Absolutely nothing," I said, deciding to look her in the face when I said it. "I love you." We were grinning like fools and I didn't care who saw it. We were fools in love. "I love you, I love you, I love you," I repeated, gushingly loving how it sounded when I said it to her. I honestly never would have thought that I'd be like this.

Her face looked like it was about to break with the size of smile she had on it. Lily looked like she was about to burst. Then she did. She let out a shriek-squeal-thing of happiness and jumped further into my arms and began kissing me all over my face.

I completely forgot that we were in the middle of the Atrium at the Ministry, standing in front of the eye catching, giant gold fountain.

But apparently, the Security Wizards hadn't forgotten this small fact.

A tap on my shoulder alerted me to their presence. "Excuse me, Ma'am, Sir," said a deep voiced man.

Lily jumped back, blushing like mad and was back to smiling bashfully. Merlin, I loved this woman.

"Try to keep your conduct fitting for a Ministry building," he said simply, though it was obvious that the ordeal humoured him and his partner.

"Sorry," I said with a great ease and grabbed Lily's hand. They nodded and walked back to their posts, shaking their heads. "Dinner?" I asked Lily and she nodded. Her cheeks were still pink. I kept hold of her hand as we Apparated to the restaurant where we had reservations.

We know we love each other. I don't care how old or young we are. I don't care that we've just finished school a few months prior. I don't care what people think of our relationship and whether or not we should kiss in the Ministry Atrium.

I care about Lily, our relationship and carrying it on until death do us part. We can have all of eternity together if we want, and I can only hope that she feels the same way.

Maybe our love is meant for something much bigger than the both of us could ever understand and maybe we're just a couple of love-struck kids, but hey, I wouldn't have it any other way.

I'm done it! Oh thank God; it took me way too long to get this out and finished. What – over a year or something absurd like that? I hope you enjoyed the short story and review and let me know if there's anything horribly wrong with it or anything else.

Have a great day, week, month, year, decade and always, always keep looking for the best love you can get. Always remember that you deserve it.