Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter and to Cassie-D1 for adding me to her community, even though I never even mentioned Hermione in this fic ;)

Also, this is the last "real" chapter, a very short epilogue will follow tomorrow. Hope you enjoy.


The broad grin on James' and Sirius' faces could only mean one thing.

"We passed!" Sirius exclaimed, pulling me into a celebratory hug before the two of them started chanting, "We passed – we passed – we passed..."

Lily appeared, smiling as well. "I passed."

"Of course you did," Sirius said, looking over to her. "If you hadn't passed, who would?"

Lily blushed but got spared the answer as James pulled her close and kissed her. I turned to Sirius, smiling at him. "Congratulations."

"Congratulations are in order," another voice said from behind us and I looked over my shoulder to see Remus join us. "I passed."

"Where's Pete?" I asked him, looking around.

"He went in after me, he'll be up soon. He was stuttering and shivering all over the place," Remus informed me. "But I'm pretty sure that he'll have passed. He's not that bad."

"No, he's not."

As if on cue, Peter appeared, still red as a tomato, but at least he seemed somewhat relaxed.

"I made it."

Lily hugged him. "Knew you would make it, Wormy."

If possible, Peter blushed even more furiously and seemed more than grateful when Remus suggested going up to the common room. "We're planning a party, remember? It's time to celebrate."


And celebrate they did. It seemed the whole common room was up; around midnight, I frowned at a few first years and got James to send them up to bed. It was for the better as it turned out; about half an hour later, Professor McGonagall walked in and harshly told us to end it. Her gaze landed on me and she frowned disapprovingly but didn't say anything. I sighed in relief.

Once the teacher had disappeared, James ordered the others to turn the music on again. "But not that loud."

I saw Lily talking to him, obviously trying to convince him to just let the party end, but he wouldn't have it. I rolled my eyes and turned my attention back to Sirius.

"These two," I muttered and he chuckled.

"They're never boring, that's for sure." His expression suddenly sobered, and he looked deep in thought. "I would've never thought that they'd get together eventually. Sure, James tried for years, but I never thought she'd eventually give in."

"I'm glad she did. They go well together."

Sirius sighed and nodded. "He wants to propose."

My head snapped to him. "What?"

"He told me yesterday. As soon as he can, he'll buy a ring and ask her."

"They're only eighteen!" I exclaimed. "Oh Merlin... this is... it's amazing, of course."

"If she says yes," Sirius muttered.

"Of course she'll say yes," I said. "She's head over heels for him. Are you sure James has the balls to do it?"

"Pretty sure. I said the same thing and he said, Padfoot, mate, I love her."

"That's sweet."

"I told him he's a prat."

"Not so sweet."

Sirius laughed again and wrapped an arm around my waist to pull me into him. "I can be very sweet if I want to be."

"You're all talk and no do."

He glared at me, mock-offended and bent down to plant a kiss on my cheek. "You'd be surprised."

"Yeah?"

"Definitely."

I turned further to him and buried my head on his shoulder. "I'll miss you," I whispered as he wrapped his other arm around me, too.

"I'll miss you, too, love."

I looked up to him. "I'm so worried that you'll go and get yourself in trouble..."

"I'm never getting myself in trouble."

"Yes, you are. All the time. Just last year, you almost go captured by Death Eaters."

"Won't happen again."

"Promise me?"

"I promise. I swear, sweetheart, I'm going to be fine."

"You won't go searching for trouble?"

"Trouble always finds us, not the other way 'round."


I was sitting in the courtyard, eyes closed and my face turned to the sun. Next year, I figured, I wouldn't have so much time to just enjoy the warmth; next year, I would be the one buried behind her books in preparation for the N.E.W.T.s.

"Hey there." Sirius sat down next to me, smiling.

"Hey."

"Doing good?"

"Sure," I answered, frowning slightly at his nonchalant question. What was he up to?

"I been thinking," he started. "Since you didn't think me sweet..."

"Of course you're sweet."

"I know, but still I feel the need to prove myself."

I chuckled. "Oh, please, have at it."

"You know, my uncle Alphard, he left me a considerable amount of money."

"So I've heard," I said, remembering all too well that Reg had stayed at Hogwarts for Christmas, afraid of life at his home...

"Yeah, so I decided that I wouldn't bother Mr and Mrs Potter any longer. No need for it, see?"

"I'm not getting your point."

"I'll buy myself a flat. Some nice, cosy place," he explained. "I'll move out."

I opened my mouth, trying to find the right words. So he wouldn't return to the Potter's? "What exactly is sweet about that?"

"I'm getting there. See, I thought... I thought maybe... maybe you'd want to move in with me."

My eyes widened. "I – I don't know what to say."

"Just say yes."

"Sirius! Of course it's yes." I threw my arms around his neck, pulling him close. As I let go of him, he ran a hand through his hair, obviously embarrassed.

"Merlin, I've been nervous."

"Why?"

"Didn't know if you'd say yes."

I leant forward and pressed my lips to his. "You should have known, silly. I love you."

I froze, as he did, when these words escaped my mouth. I hadn't planned to say it, would've probably been too nervous to if I had – but now they were out and I couldn't take them back. I stared at Sirius, heartbeat picking up. Had I pushed him away now? Shouldn't I have said it? Didn't he-

"I love you, too, princess." He pulled me closer to kiss me again. "Merlin, I do."


I darted down into the common room, searching for a few books. Right before the holidays, I always seemed to spent hours searching for lost things; they usually turned up all right, but it was always stressful.

"Searching for these?"

The books appeared in front of me and as I looked up to see who handed

them, I met grey eyes and a stern expression.

"Yes. Thank you, Reg."

He huffed and let go of the books as I took them from him.

"Been searching all day already," I added for good measure.

"Figures. You always do."

He turned around to head away, but I called after him. Couldn't let him go away, not when he finally decided to talk to me again. "Are you all right?"

He whirled around, glaring at me. "What do you think?"

"I don't know," I answered. "That's why I ask you."

"I'm fine," he growled. "Just peachy. It's how you feel like when you get cheated on."

"Reg-"

"I don't want to hear it. Honestly, Selene, I don't want to hear any of your excuses. You just go ahead, move in with my poor excuse of a brother and-"

"Wait," I interrupted him. "How do you know?"

"Word's spread all over school. One would've thought you'd have even a bit of dignity-"

"Shut up," I said loudly. "Shut up, Reg. You don't have any idea-"

"I have every idea!" he yelled. "Of course I do. I live the same life that you had, only I wasn't a coward and stayed. And I tell you," he added, suddenly quiet. "Staying is so much harder than running away."