A/N: And so, I bring you the final installment of Marauders' Dawn. I once again thank all my readers, reviewers, and the support I've received. I'm very proud of this story, and I can't wait to entertain you with the sequel Marauders' Rising Sun: Year Three, sadly it won't be released immediately, especially because I haven't written it yet, xD, but I'll get to it as soon as I can. Here is the final chapter…
Disclaimer: You think I own HP? You are sadly mistaken. I do own CP.
As the Marauders and the girls were ushered into their specific carriages they were handed their Final results. Catie was in one with the Marauders, because she was James' sister. When the carriage began to move the boys ripped their results open while Catie hesitated. Finally she opened it and read it over and over and over before almost passing out with excitement.
"Merlin's beard!" she said enthusiastically.
Passing Grades:
O- Outstanding
E.E.-Exceeds Expectations
A- Acceptable
Failing Grades:
P- Poor
D- Dreadful
T- Troll
Miss Catherine Potter's Final Results (First-year):
Transfiguration- O
Herbology- O
Defense Against the Dark Arts- O
Charms- O
Arithmetic- E.E.
Potions- O
Care of Magical Creatures- E.E.
Astronomy- A
History of Magic- O
Catie was beaming with happiness,
"Oh I just can't believe it! Look Remus!" said Catie handing her results to Remus. Remus chuckled and took it, handing her his own. Remus did a little better than she by getting an 'O' in Astronomy and Arithmetic.
"You beat me again Remus, tsk tsk tsk, just wait until next year!" she said jokingly passing it back. Remus smiled and handed hers back as well, which she immediately passed on to James and Sirius while she and Remus got a look at theirs.
"Not bad at all boys, I'm actually quite impressed!" Catie said beaming with pride. Peter sat on the other side of Sirius in the carriage and he looked depressed. Sirius took it out of his hands and read aloud,
"Transfiguration, A. Herbology, P. Defense Against the Dark Arts, D…Charms, A. Arithmetic, A. Potions, T. Care of Magical Creatures, E.E. Astronomy, P. History of Magic, T. Yikes Pete!" Sirius said aghast. Catie looked at Peter pitifully,
"I'm sorry Peter. Maybe next time…" she stopped, for the carriage had come to a halt. Sighing they all stepped off and onto the pavement, ready to get their things before boarding the scarlet train. As they waited it dawned on Catie that she was supposed to talk to Alice about sitting with Snape. Catie rubbed her forehead in annoyance, and then began searching the incoming carriages for Alice. A few minutes later, right as James was about to force her onto the train she saw her dark-haired friend.
"Alice!" Catie shouted waving her arms. Alice spotted Catie and smiled running towards her.
"There you are! How were your grades?" she asked eagerly. Catie smiled,
"Wonderful! What about yours?" Alice squealed,
"Amazing! Come on let's get a compartment while we wait on Lily, I see our trunks." Alice suggested already heading towards the luggage.
"Alice…?" Catie asked nervously.
"Yes?" Alice said lifting her trunk up into the baggage hold. Catie took a deep breath,
"We're going to have a guest with you, Lily and I." she said quickly as she slowly put up Cleo and her carrier up into the baggage hold. Alice crossed her arms and looked confusedly at Catie,
"Certainly not the boys?" she asked slowly. Catie froze and closed her eyes,
"No…Severus." Catie whispered.
"What?" Alice hissed.
"Alice- do it for Lily. She just wants the four of us to get along for one train ride!" Catie pleaded. Alice scowled,
"Could we split the ride?" she asked grumbling. Catie rolled her eyes,
"We'll see…" she sighed. Just then the compartment door opened and Severus and Lily came in with their things. Severus and Alice exchanged their friendly glares at each other before sitting down. Lily and Catie took the window seats as the train began to move. There was a deadly silence over them, Catie sighed awkwardly and looked out the window. After a few minutes Catie let Cleo out and pulled out her summer homework and final results. She handed the card to Lily smiling, and then got supplies out to work on one of the many essays assigned.
"You did brilliant!" Lily praised passing the card to Severus, who glanced at it and lightly smiled.
"I agree with Lily, excellent job. You even managed an 'O' in Potions…" he said slowly. Catie nodded still smiling,
"Only with your help, and Lily's." she said.
James beat Sirius in Wizard's Chess again, as the train rattled on. Remus happily stayed in his window seat content reading his book. Peter watched James and Sirius play game after game. They had been on the train for an hour now, the lunch trolley would be coming by anytime soon. James stomach was growling every five minutes, as was Remus'. Peter yawned and sat back next to Remus,
"I hope the trolley gets here soon, I'm starving." Peter complained. Sirius rolled his eyes,
"As you've told us, for the past half-hour…The trolley will come when it comes!" James sighed,
"What pranks should we pull next year? They'll have to top this year's for sure!" James stated leaning back, supporting his head with his interlocked fingers. An evil smirk grew on Sirius' face.
"I can think of one right now mate…" said Sirius as the trolley lady opened their compartment door.
The girls and Snape's compartment was quiet, if you count out Lily and Severus whispering to each other. The silence was broken however when a second year Hufflepuff girl entered their compartment,
"You've got to come see! The trolley lady's covered in Cauldron Cakes!" she said excitedly before running out again. Catie groaned and quickly followed the girl out. The trolley lady looked completely disgusted, her face was covered with white cream icing, and her blouse was covered with the cake part of the sweet. And then finally in the lady's hair sat several upsides down cauldron cakes. Roaring laughter could be heard from the compartment she was nearest to. Alice and Lily had appeared next to Catie, their jaws hanging slightly.
"I can't believe your brother would do such a thing to that poor lady." Lily huffed as they reentered their compartment. Catie shook her head,
"Actually I think Black was behind that one. He's more for physical embarrassment." said Catie sitting down and gazing back out the window before going back to work on her essay. Lily scoffed,
"Doesn't matter, he had a hand it I know it! His only use would be as a toe-rag." she said angrily, crossing her arms. Snape nodded his agreement. Cleo jumped up onto Lily's lap and meowed for attention. Reluctantly Lily petted and rubbed on the cat. Alice sighed happily,
"Well if there's one thing that lot knows it's that they know how to have a good time! Unlike you three…" she said crossing her arms. Catie stifled a laugh and smiled.
"We're almost there…" Catie said sadly as she put away her now completed essay for Kettleburn. Severus also sighed,
"This train goes too fast." he mumbled. Catie put a sleeping Cleo back into her carrier then pulled out muggle clothing from her trunk.
"I'm going to go change and check up on the-…never mind. Be back soon." Catie said smiling as she walked out.
After changing Catie stopped by the boys' compartment,
"So I saw your little prank on the trolley lady…She deprived me candy because I was your sister so cough it up James." she said holding a hand out in front of James. James rolled his eyes and reluctantly pulled out a licorice wand and a chocolate frog and put it into her palm. Catie smiled satisfactorily then greeted Remus after taking the top off of the candy wand.
"Hey Remus." Remus chuckled,
"Hello Cate. How's everything in your compartment?" he asked. Catie grimaced,
"Terrible. You'd think we were headed to a funeral! I've completed an essay, if that tells you anything." Sirius raised an eyebrow,
"You've already started the summer work?" Sirius asked aghast. Catie nodded,
"Do tell me what else you would think of to do?" she retorted. Sirius glared at her,
"Fine…I see your point." he grumbled. Catie smirked and bit off another piece of the wand,
"Well, I need to get back. See you lot at the station!" she said sighing and giving them a small wave before disappearing.
"Good bye Lily, I'm so lucky to have a friend like you! Don't forget to write!" Catie said hugging her best friend good bye. Then Catie turned to Alice,
"Oh Alice…Another good friend I've made this year." said Catie hugging Alice tightly and smiling. Alice and Lily smiled,
"We're happy to have become friends with you too, Cate. And don't you forget to write back you know!" Alice said pretending to scold Catie by wagging her index finger at her. Catie laughed and the three shared a small group hug, Catie refused to cry. She would see them again soon. Catie came upon Severus next, neither knew how to say good bye to each other. Severus held out a hand,
"It was a pleasure meeting you Catie…I look forward to seeing you and Lily next term." he said conveniently leaving out Alice. Catie shook his hand,
"Me too…I am truly sorry about my brother by the way." she added solemnly. Severus shrugged,
"And I'm sorry you have to live with him." he said smirking.
"Catherine!" Ellen called. Catie sighed,
"Well I have to go say good bye to the others now…See you lot next term eh?" said Catie as she took several steps backwards smiling and blinking back the tears. Lily nodded and linked arms with Alice, waving with their free arms. Catie turned and ran for her family, Remus and Sirius, who both had not left with their families yet. Something devious came into Catie's mind as she ran back towards them. Remus' back was to her and her footsteps were silent, although she would admit he could probably still hear her, so Catie ran faster into his back, her arms wrapping around his torso. They began to laugh,
"Good bye Remus." Catie said giving Remus a proper hug. Both held onto each other a little longer than intended, only James and Sirius noticed having their bet and all…
"Good bye Cate." Remus smiled pulling away from the intriguing young witch he was glad to call a friend. Catie went to hug Sirius, when her arms dropped and a hand went out to him,
"Good bye Sirius…" she said nodding. Sirius grinned evilly and pulled her into a bone-crushing hug.
"Sirius-can't-breathe!" Catie stuttered. Sirius let go beaming with pride, Catie smacked his shoulder,
"Don't do that again…" she pleaded. To Catie's regret she couldn't hide her smile from him. Charles tapped on Catie's shoulder,
"Come now love, we have to get going. I need to get back to the office." he sighed. Catie nodded sadly and gave one last hug to Remus while James and Sirius exchanged a brotherly hug goodbye.
"See you mate." James said to Sirius.
"Yeah, see you." Sirius said solemnly. Catie squeezed Remus,
"Don't forget your promise Remus…I swear I'll get you if you forget to write!" she teased. Remus squeezed her gently back,
"I won't. Good bye Catie." Catie kissed his cheek then ran after her mum, her cheeks going a bright pink. Remus put a hand to his cheek and watched Catie, her mum and Catie's trolley disappear behind the barrier. Shortly after James, his dad and James' trolley went through and disappeared. Then Remus heard his Mum calling for him and he walked off with his trolley towards her.
On the way back to the manor Catie and James sat in the backseat of an enchanted Muggle car their father had gotten from the ministry. James leaned towards Catie,
"Why did you kiss Remus on the cheek?" he interrogated. Catie ignored him and stared out her window refusing to answer. She honestly didn't know why she did…She just had felt this impulse inside to do it so she did.
"-Charles must you? The children have just got back from school!" Ellen pleaded with her husband. Charles shook his head firmly,
"Ellen, I have to it's my job. The kids will just have to deal with it. I'll be back by September first I promise." he promised. James backed off from Catie and sighed, mum and dad were fighting again, over their dad's stupid ministry job. They didn't know for sure, but by the sounds of it Catie and James both were prepared to bet that their father had to go out of country again on some mission. A tear rolled down Catie's face, she always hated it when dad went away. Before school it had never been an issue, he'd be home in a month or so then he was home and life went back to normal. But if he was going to be gone all summer…When would they have their regular Chess match? Or go to a Quidditch game? Catie wiped the tear on her sleeve and thought over the past year.
"We're here you two." Ellen said in a forced-cheerful tone. Catie nodded as the car came to a stop and opened the door taking Cleo's carrier with her as she got out. The tall and white manor hadn't changed much in nine and a half months. After seeing Hogwarts' castle she found herself thinking that the manor looked like some downsized Hogwarts, without the towers or dungeons of course. Sighing Catie walked on in and was greeted by their house she-elf "Tooky".
"Hello Tooky." Catie greeted forcing a smile on her face. Tooky grinned,
"Ah mistress Catie has returned from Hogwarts at long last! Welcome home!" the elf greeted back. Catie just smiled and walked on in through the oak white doors lined with gold plating.
Once inside Catie sighed deeply, everything seemed to be the same. At least home hadn't changed. There was a large red carpet leading up the marble staircases, which sat five paces away from the doors, and to the left and right which lead to her father's study and the library on the left. On the right were the family room and a secret passage that led to the kitchen. The walls and tile were white with black grout, and the railings on the staircase were tinged with brass and gold. Light strewn in from the door making every thing, the walls, the floors, and the staircase seem to glow and reflect the light. Reluctantly Catie went up the grand marble staircase and turned right onto the second floor, which hosted her bedroom, James', four guest rooms, and her parents' Master bedroom. When she was little she used to call this floor the "bed" floor. On the second floor at Catie's request the carpeting that lay on top the tile changed to a bright yellow color. Not bothering to look around Catie went to the third bedroom to the left and turned the knob. In her room there was a light layer of dust on everything but her bed. Catie guessed that Tooky had cleaned her sheets recently. Catie's room walls were what ever color you'd call pink and purple mixed together in the prettiest way.
Catie ran onto her canopy full four-poster bed and sighed, it was bittersweet to be home.
A/N: -cry- it's over! I didn't mean to make the Potters seem like bad parents. But I wanted to make it realistic, to be rich and pure-blood you can't be with the family all the time. Thank you all for sticking with me to the very bitter end, and I look forward to bringing you the sequel! Now for those who have this story on story alert I'll put up an Author's Note when the next book is up. Thanks and Good-bye all!