Chapter 18: The End

There are some moments in your life when you look back on some of the things you did and think to yourself: "Huh. Maybe I shouldn't have done that."

This was one of those moments.

"Miss Evans," Professor Dumbledore said, "had you actually been a student here at Hogwarts, your action would certainly have gotten you expelled. You impersonated a student, technically broke into our school, forged paperwork, and broke exactly sixty-seven school rules."

I slowly sank lower in my seat. Dumbledore said it all as though we were discussing the weather. He summoned me into his office not fifteen minutes after we officially won the match.

"Not to mention," he continued, "the repercussions you'll receive at Beauxbatons."

I was so dead.

"However," he said, and I swear he smiled. I swear on my life. "A few weeks into term, I received an owl from your Headmistress."

Shit shit shit shit.

"We simply exchanged pleasantries, I gave her a list of the students who came to our school, to make sure none were left behind or more came. And I made quite a clever joke on how we were lucky to have Jake Cole on the team, he seemed to be an excellent addition. Your Headmistress seemed confused, though. She never recalled Jake Cole being on his Quidditch Team at Beauxbatons. But then she guessed he may have just decided to try out when he moved, as a way of getting to know people. Then she mentioned one girl would be missing from the Quidditch Club, the captain, Lily Evans."

Wait. Had Dumbledore known all this time?

"Yes," he said, which was fucking creepy. The old man read my mind. "It didn't take me very long to figure it out, especially when the mail at Hogwarts is being screened before coming in and out."

My eyes widened. "Isn't that a violation of privacy?"

Dumbledore suddenly looked years older, and he regarded me sadly. "I'm afraid to say I'd rather have the students be safe. You see, there are dark forces out in the world. Besides, we only use a charm to detect lies, deception, and, to put it simply, dark magic. I suppose what you were doing would could possibly affect so many negatively, it picked up your letters to Misses O'Connor, Girard, Richards, and Laurent."

I opened my mouth and closed it like a fish. "Am... am I going to jail?"

Dumbledore smiled softly. "No, of course not. But I am wondering if you are aware of the fact that the Department of Magical Games and Sports was planning to converge over Christmas Holiday and discuss the idea of co-ed Quidditch Teams in the official League. If the motion passed, Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and every other magical school would most likely create co-ed teams as well."

"What!" I shrieked. "Are - are you kidding? I missed the deadline by a couple of months?"

"Well, no," Dumbledore smiled wider. "You see, when I figured out you were not in fact Jake Cole and were instead Lily Evans. I may have convinced the Department to move their meeting up by a couple of months. They met yesterday."

"They did? What did they say?"

"I may have included some information about your story."

Get on with it!

"They decided that you, playing in this game today, would be the test run. And I would be the judge on whether or not it works."

My heart stopped. I swear to Merlin, it didn't beat.

"And I'm proud to tell you that I've decided that I think it's a marvelous idea."

"AHH!"

I jumped out of my seat and shot forward, leaning over Dumbledore's desk in order to hug him tightly.

"Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you!"

He chuckled. "I do have one last thing to say, though."

Crap, I was still in trouble.

"While studying here, you've shown wonderful talent and intelligence. You seem to enjoy it here. I would like to formally extend an invitation for you to join Hogwarts, and become an official student."

"Oh," I said softly. "Stay here for the rest of my seventh year? I would have to leave all of my friends at Beauxbatons."

"Yes," he said, "I realize it is a large decision."

I hesitated. "Can I get back to you on this? Have some time to think?"

Dumbledore nodded. "Take your time. But now I think your team would like to celebrate with you."

"Lily!" I heard Lottie squeal when I got back down to the ground floor. She and the girls ran at me and enveloped me in a hug.

"Congratulations!"

"We're so proud of you!"

"I totally knew you could do it!"

"How'd James take the news?"

I looked at Claire, who asked the question. "I don't know, I haven't seen him since the game."

"Everyone's getting ready for the dance. It was kind of unofficially moved up to tonight instead of tomorrow," she said. "I don't think you'll be welcomed back to the Boy's Dormitory, though."

I smiled weakly. "Yeah, they might not appreciate that anymore."

"Come on, let's go get ready in our room. Smile! This is going to be fun!"

We went into their room, but were met with a surprise: an extra bed, and all of my stuff next to it.

"Wow. Hogwarts doesn't waste any time," Lottie commented.

"Oh well," I said, shrugging.

We had a couple of hours to spare, so we hung out in the room. Kate and Meredith told me how confused the entire school was when I suddenly joined the game after the break as Lily. And how they felt weird yelling "GO LILY!" when everyone else was wondering who the girl was. Finally, about an hour and a half before the ball was supposed to start, Kate got to us start getting ready.

"Hurry up, guys, I want to get in there!" Kate said, immediately launching to her bed and pulling out her bag. We all took showers and magicked our hair dry. Which was a strange feeling for me. First off, I had forgotten how long it took for me to wash my hair. Then, after Lottie had dried it for me, I forgot what I was supposed to do with it. It was naturally wavy, and reached the very small of my back. I looked in the mirror and shrugged, figuring it looked fine like that.

I went back into the room to put my dress on when I realized one tiny problem: I didn't have a dress.

"Uh.. guys?" I said. Kate and Claire turned around, Lottie and Meredith were in the bathroom. "I don't have a dress."

"Yes you do," Claire said happily. She went to her trunk and pulled out a parcel and gave it to me. I looked at it dumbly then opened the paper and shook out an emerald-green dress with thin straps, a white sash around the middle, and a skirt that would hit right above my knees. I knew would fan out like a tutu if I spun in a circle (which I loved doing).

"Oh wow," I said, lifting it up to my body and looking in the mirror. It matched my eyes, of course. Claire knew I loved green. "Thank you!"

"It was no problem," Kate grinned. "We... had a feeling you might need to be a girl at the dance."

"But no more genderbending, yeah?" Claire said, poking my shoulder.

"I am officially Lily Evans for the rest of my life," I promised solemnly.

"Good! I missed her!" I heard Lottie call from the bathroom. We all laughed and I hugged Claire and Kate.

"Get dressed, you're falling behind!" Kate said. She and Claire were already in their dresses, and Lottie and Meredith were already doing their makeup and hair.

"Merlin! So impatient!" I said exasperatedly. I slipped into my dress, it fit perfectly. I twirled in a circle and the skirt sure enough fanned out. Claire laughed and shook her head.

"What are you doing your hair like?" she asked, playing with her own in the mirror.

"Just keep it like this?" I said, playing with the ends. Claire looked over and raised her eyebrows.

"Oh Merlin, you were a guy for too long," she smiled. "Lottie! We need a hairstyle for Lilykins!"

"Hmm?" Lottie asked, walking out of the bathroom. Her hair was curled and clipped back on either side. With that and the light blue halter dress, she looked really pretty.

"Lily. Hair. Fix," Claire commanded, taking advantage of the empty space in the bathroom.

Lottie looked at me, then commanded I sit down and started doing something to my hair.

Holy shit, it hurt!

"What are you doing, pulling it out?" I asked through grit teeth.

"Of course not," Lottie said. She had her wand in her teeth, and stabbing my head with bobby pins. Finally, she used her wand to do something, smooth some hairs out or make sure it stayed up or something, whatever, but she was done.

I scowled at her, but she rolled her eyes.

"Ooh, I like that," Claire said when she saw me coming into the bathroom through the mirror.

Aww, crap, it actually did look good. Lottie had taken half of my hair and put it up in a series of twists and braids at the back of my head, and left the other half down, curled it, and draped it over one shoulder.

Makeup turned out to be just as difficult. I stared at my eyeshadow for a couple of seconds before remembering what it was for. And then the dilemma of which color to use. Was I summer or a winter? Was there such thing as being a fall or spring? Why couldn't I remember this? I had turned into a freaking boy! I ended up going for a pinkish-brown eyeshadow and dark eyeliner. After poking myself in the eye several times with the mascara thing, I put on some blush and was done. I joined the girls in our room, and they didn't comment on my makeup so I guess it looked all right. It kinda felt good to wear it, like when it's finally warm out and you put on your favorite tank top.

"Cinderella's ready for the ball!" Lottie sang. She let me barrow a pair of heels (no, not the stripper heels) and we left the room and made our way to the Great Hall, where the ball was being held. It had already started by the time we got there. Right off the bat I saw the Beauxbaton's team dancing. Well, all of them except for Austen. He was mysteriously absent. Claire ran off to go dance with one of the beaters from Beauxbatons, Lottie went to go find Sirius, Meredith starting talking to a Ravenclaw named Dorcas Meadows, whom she'd met during Transfiguration, and Kate was approached by Michael, and she smiled when he asked her to dance and followed him into the crowd.

All too soon, I was left alone. I stood there, on the edge of the dancing, my feet already hurting from the shoes. I glanced around the room a bit. All four of the girls were dancing. Peter was too, with Ulyssa of all people. I didn't even know he fancied her! Maybe that's what he was trying to talk to me about a couple of weeks ago. A couple more seconds and I saw Remus dancing with Bridget's friend, Zoe, who looked bloody gorgeous in a deep blue dress that brought out her eyes. I smiled, realizing I'd figured out his mystery date. But then I felt a tap on my back, and turned around to see Bridget.

"Hi, Lily," Bridget said.

I smiled awkwardly. "Hey. Listen, I'm really sorry. About... everything."

Bridget shrugged but smiled. "It's all right. It was my fault, too. I'm the type of person who gets a crush on a girl impersonating a guy. 'Just that type of person, you know?"

I laughed. "I want you to officially meet someone." I grabbed her wrist and lead her into the crowd, not really sure where I was going. But I eventually found him laughing with Frank Longbottom.

"Jake!" I called, and waved him over. He said goodbye to Frank and come over to us.

"What's up?" he asked.

"Jake Cole, I'd like you to officially meet Bridget Perrotta," I said, and stepped back. "Bridget, this is Jake. The real one."

Bridget smiled softly. "Hello."

"Hey," he returned. "Wanna dance and tell me how you knew my song?"

Bridget laughed, "Sure."

Aww, young love.

On that note, I looked around the room and happened to find James. He was sitting at a table with Remus, Peter, and Jack, laughing at something Remus had just said. He must've felt someone looking at him or something, but he looked up, right at me. His smile faded slightly, but held my gaze for a couple of moments, then went back to his conversation with the boys.

I bit the inside of my cheek. On my way out of the room, all I could think to myself was Dumbledore saying "What you were doing would could possibly affect so many negatively." Did I hurt James? He didn't seem so upset. We won the game. He finally sorted out his feelings for Bridget.

Then why the hell whenever he saw me he always looked so unhappy?

He gave me the game-winning shot.

He won't talk to me.

He doesn't seem like he hates me.

He doesn't seem like he likes me either.

Would he be happy if I went back to Beauxbatons?

Would he be happier if I stayed?

Would he even care?

Oh Merlin, I sound like some emotional poet.

I need to get out of this castle.

I found myself walking down the hill to the Lake. Halfway down I got impatient and took off my shoes, flexing my toes to make sure they still worked.

I went to the edge of the lake, where the edge dropped off into the water. The sun was setting and I sat down in a nice patch of grass, facing the sunset, and brought my knees to my chin.

I watched the sun set for a few minutes until I felt someone sit next to me, so close our sides were almost touching. I nearly jumped out of my skin when I saw James.

"James!" I yelled.

"Hey," he said simply, not looking at me yet. He had his eyes trained on the sunset.

I waited a couple of seconds but he still didn't talk.

"What are you doing here?" I finally asked.

He took a moment to answer, but finally turned his head and looked at me and said, "I'm sorry."

"What?"

"I'm sorry. For everything that happened. I was such an asshole, and it wasn't even your fault."

"I thought I was the one who was supposed to be apologizing."

"What for?"

"I lied to you for weeks! I convinced you I was a boy, lived in your room, infiltrated your Quidditch Team, ruined your chances with Bridget, and... everything!"

"You pretended to be a boy for Quidditch, which I totally understand. And Bridget... I'm over her. It was just a crush I couldn't get rid of. You actually kind of helped me."

"Wait.. you're not mad at me?"

"No. I thought you were mad at me."

"Not at all."

"Oh."

We sat for a couple of minutes before James spoke up again.

"Got a date to this ball?"

"Nope. You?"

"Well, there's this girl..."

"Oh? Do tell."

"Well, I met her at this carnival. Sirius - my mate, Sirius, you know him, right? - decided we should have this kissing booth. I originally went to go kiss this girl I'd been chasing for a while, but Lily shows up on the bench instead. At first I was kind of bummed, but I paid for my ticket and everything, so I decided to just kiss her and get it over with."

"And?"

"Best snog of my life. Absolutely brilliant. Like fireworks, only not as cheesy."

"She sounds like quite a girl."

"Oh, she is. Prettiest girl I've ever seen. She's funny, smart, a little crazy, but it works for her. You know she pretended to be a boy just to play Quidditch?"

"You don't say."

"Oh yeah. She's amazing. I've been thinking about Lily a lot since that day."

"Ha-ha, we made a rhyme."

"Wow, I didn't plan that ahead of time."

"Okay, James, you can stop it now."

"But I like it when you're mad, you crinkle your brow."

"Oh, now that was just horrible, who uses 'brow' anymore?"

"My friend, Remus, but we make him sleep on the floor."

"That didn't make sense."

"Would you like to dance?"

I laughed. "That's not even a proper rhyme."

"So?" he smiled and stood up, then extended his hand. I took it and he pulled me up then twirled me around. He hummed some muggle song, and I rested my head on his chest and we rotated in a small circle.

"Dumbledore offered to let me stay at Hogwarts for the rest of the year," I told him, wrapping my arms around his neck. He put his hands on my waist. "Or I could go back to Beauxbatons with the girls."

"Have you decided what you're going to do yet?" he asked softly.

I stopped our little dance and looked up, then stood on my toes and kissed him on the lips. My eyes fluttered closed and we stood there for about a minute. Finally, I broke away and looked at him and smiled. "I think so."

Dear Jake,

So I've decided that transferring out of Beauxbatons and into Hogwarts was the best decision of my life, and it's only Halloween! I miss the girls, but I write them all the time and every couple of weeks they'll come up or I'll go down to France for a visit. Even though you only stayed for two weeks, I think you understand. But seriously - two weeks! I know you got 'discovered' and everything (congratulations on that, by the way. There's already a 'Free Fall' fan cluc here at Hogwarts) but that's still not cool at all. I was actually looking forward to - oh, I don't know - going to class with you. But I hope you're having an amazing time touring all over America. Just don't let rock stardom go to your head, yeah?

Life at Hogwarts is pretty normal. What's weird is staying in the girl's dorm. I kinda miss it with the Marauders. But it's lovely having a room that has made beds and everything! Bridget, Zoe, Harley, and Bailey are awesome room mates. Bridget kinda reminds me of Lottie now that I'm actually getting to know her.

James and I are still dating. Oh shut up, I can practically see you rolling your eyes, but admit it - you want to hear about this! As soon as you saw my letter you thought "Oh, sweet Merlin, I can't wait to hear about James!" You know what? Even your annoyance (that I've admittedly made up in my head, I have no idea how you're reacting) can't kill my mood right now. I'm just so happy with him, it's just... happy sigh. Everything is wonderful and perfect and amazing. And we're total shoe-ins to win the Quidditch Cup at the end of the year, we already killed Ravenclaw in our match against them yesterday.

Lottie told me to tell you that she says 'hi'. I don't know why she doesn't just write you herself, when she can write to Sirius every day! I'm not even lying. EVERY. DAY. He'd receive her letter during breakfast, totally ignore the rest of us and read through the entire three feet roll of parchment (I'm kidding, it's not that long), and then steal moments away from classes to write an equally long reply. He'd send it right before dinner, that poor owl they're using goes back to France, and then the whole thing starts again. And she's coming up almost every weekend to see him at Hogsmeade.

She tells me things are more or less the same at Beauxbatons. But they followed Hogwarts's lead and allowed girls on the Quidditch Team now. Get this - CLAIRE WAS MADE CAPTAIN! AAHHHH! It was a total team mutiny against Austen. Kate, Meredith, and the other three boys just announced it during one of their practices. I'm told it was absolutely amazing, and Claire is currently leading the team to great heights. Austen is still on the team though. Damn his talent.

I'll tell Bridget you say hello, even though I'm sure she probably has gotten your letter by now. Honestly, you two write just as much as Lottie and Sirius. And I barely get a letter a week, from two of my best friends! I feel the love, Jake, I really do.

Send me some American candy to make up for it. I've become rather fond of Snickers.

xoxo-

Lily

P.S: James says hello. (;

A/N: So I'm making up my recently horrible updates with an update ONE DAY LATER.

But then I realized:

OH MY GOD IT'S OVER! D':

TT_TT

I'm actually getting a little emotional right now. My first story! My first story, and I'm done. I started June 1, ended October 16. I can change the story setting from 'In Progress' to 'Complete'. GAAHH!

I actually can't really wrap my mind around it. The first thing I thought when I officially finished and edited and crap was: Well, another week before the next chapter! Then I kinda remembered :P

But oh gosh! What'd you guys think? All you readers that put my story on story alert, or even on favorite story, or even put ME on your favorite Author's list, it's the last chapter. The story is over. I'd say it's the best time to review! :D

But really, thank you all so much. There are some people who put up with my long author's notes, unreliable updating schedule, glee-obsession, AVPM/S references, and just overall insanity from the beginning. It was only a few months, but still. I freaking love you all. GIMME A HUG D:

All right, time for an announcement. A few of you know already, because they reviewed and I'd reply and we end up talking and I'd just let my plan spill.

BUT

I am currently working on another story. YAY! I've been planning this story for forever. Even before I even thought of doing Lily's The Man. I've been planning it since February. Yeah. For those of you who want to know, it'll be called We're The Young Ones Now. Yep, it's L/J again, but it's not... this. XD It's not really MAINLY focused on how they get together and everything. I mean, it's a subplot in the beginning, but I plan on spanning this thing from their seventh year right up to their deaths, so it'll be long.

I have a notebook, with each chapter outlined. I'm not done with it, but I'm up to Chapter 43 or something, and they're not even out of Hogwarts yet. So prepare yourselves for a super long story. I'm probably going to split them into two, during Hogwarts and after.

But anyways, you might recognize a couple of characters from this story in it *hint hint wink wink*

WTYON isn't going to be up anytime soon, I don't think. I've finished the first chapter, but I want to get ahead. At least finish the chapter outlines in my notebook.

So... good bye for now, everyone. I love you all. (:

For The Last Time (For now!),

~Smile