The final moth of school passed faster then the Marauders had expected. Graduation was less then a week away and the four troublemakers were in the Room of Requirement planning their final prank. The girls has accepted that they would have to be left out of the boy's plans, their pranking was a Marauder thing and those days were coming to a close end. While their boyfriends were gone their girls had planned to hang out in the Head's Room. Lily hadn't been waiting looking when an exasperated Maribel stormed into the room and threw herself upon one of the couches.
"She won't come!"
"Anne?"
"Yes! I said let's go and she gave me some bullshit excuse then crawled into bed!"
"I was hoping that all of this change in her attitude was just stress over finals but now I think that you and Remus might have been right to worry."
"It's just that she's gotten so distance."
"You know, she hasn't been doing her prefect duties either."
"She hasn't?" Maribel asked as she sat up and looked at Lily in surprise.
Lily shook her head, "Nope, and when I said something to her she just started crying."
"Why don't you just ask her what is wrong?" Nemwick suggested, obviously bored with the girl's chatter.
"We haven't really had a chance, Nems."
"You could ask her now."
"She won't come! Didn't you just hear me say that? You hear everything else you stupid paining," Maribel grumbled as she kicked at the edge of the sofa.
"So go to her you stupid girl," Nemwick taunted.
"Bel, Nemwick, stop. Look, maybe Anne is just upset about leaving Hogwarts. I mean, in a way we all are upset about it. Maybe this is just Anne's way of expressing it."
"Yea, I guess. I don't really want to leave this place either."
"Neither do I," Lily sighed.
"Ah, how sad."
"Shut up Nems, you know you'll miss us."
The remaining few days at Hogwarts passed and graduation was upon the Seventh Years.
"Thank Merlin!" Maribel exclaimed, "I've been dying to know what the boys have planned."
Lily and Maribel were in Lily's room doing each other's hair. Anne had declined the invitation to prepare for graduation with her friends.
"You're running late," Nemwick reminded the girls for the third time.
Maribel rolled her eyes as she and Lily checked themselves in the mirror once more before heading down to the Entrance Hall. The graduates were lined up and waiting to process into the Grand Hall where their families and friends waited. Lily and Maribel took their places and waited for the doors to open.
The graduation ceremony consisted of a speech from Dumbledore and the heads of each house. It was during the third speech that Maribel, who was three rows back, got Lily's attention. She turned around and Maribel pointed to four empty seats amongst the graduates. Sirius, James, Remus, and Peter were not at the ceremony. Lily rolled her eyes and mouthed the word "prank" to Maribel.
The professors finished their speeches and the graduates stood to receive their diplomas, there was still no sign of the Marauders. Dumbledore began to call out their names in alphabetical order and the head of each student's house greeted them on stage.
"Amanda Bike. Shawn Borris," Dumbledore read the names off of his list. From somewhere behind her, Lily heard Maribel murmur that he has skipped Sirius. Lily's name was called and Dumbledore announced that she was also Head Girl. She took her seat and waited for the rest of her friends' names to be called. When it came time for Dumbledore to call Lupin, he skipped over it. By the time Pettigrew came around, Dumbledore looked immensely confused. When he skipped past Potter, students began to whisper about the missing names.
Once all of the names had been called, Dumbledore put down the long scroll of parchment and looked out over the crowed, "There seems to be a mistake. There are four students missing from this list. I deeply apologize and I would now like to call up Sir-" Dumbledore was cut off by a loud drum roll.
Suddenly all of the lights in the great all went out and a voice boomed over the audience, "Ladies and gentlemen, there are four students who have made these past seven years the most terrifying, entertaining, humorous, and enjoyable years that Hogwarts has ever seen! Sirius Black," a large light shone on one of the corners of the room to reveal Sirius standing with his arms crossed over his chest and a smug look on his face, "Remus Lupin," a second light illuminated another corner where Remus was hidden, "Peter Pettigrew, aaand your Head Boy and captain of this year's championship Quidditch team, James Potter!" With all four corners of the room lit and the missing boys visible, the voice continued. "Together these four formed a brotherhood by the likes of which Hogwarts has never seen before! Together they are. THE MARAUDERS!"
As the voice shouted the final words, the word 'Marauders' appeared in lights above where the professors sat. The Marauders held out their hands and brooms appeared. They mounted them and flew toward the shining Marauder banner. As they flew through it, it erupted into fireworks, which spread across the hall. As confetti fell down upon the heads of the students and guests, the voice shouted 'Congratulations' and the graduates threw their hats in the air. The hall broke out into cheers.
Once the mayhem cleared, Lily fought through the crowd to find her mother. Not long after finding her, they were joined by Mrs. Potter. The Marauders were off in Dumbledore's office being lectured by Professor McGonagall so Mrs. Potter was alone. Lily was in the midst of introducing the two when Maribel came up from behind her and pointed toward the door. Lily looked up to see Anne slip through out of the Great Hall. She and Maribel exchanged a glance and Lily excused herself from the two mothers. They broke out in a run and caught up with Anne on the main stairs.
"Anne stop!" Maribel demanded as she grabbed her friend by the arm.
"Anne, honey, where are you going?"
"Nowhere, just back to bed," she said, twisting her face into a forced grin.
"Is your family here? Did you even see them yet?"
"Well, I have a lot of packing left, they understand."
"Anne, you packed yesterday," Maribel said pointedly.
"Well, I-"
Lily sighed and pulled her friends into an empty classroom. She sat Anne down and lowred her face to Anne's. When they were eye to eye she asked, "What is wrong with you?"
Anne's smile faded as she broke out into tears. Lily threw her arms around the sobbing girl as Maribel placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Anne, please, we are so worried about you."
"Yeah Anne," Maribel whispered, "Talk to us, you know you can tell us anything."
Anne shook her head and continued to cry. Lily and Maribel comforted their friend until she calmed down. "Okay," she shuddered, "I'm okay now."
"Anne, what is going on?"
Anne hung her head and allowed her hair to fall over her face, "You have to promise not to tell anyone."
"We promise," Maribel blurted before Lily could say anything.
"I mean, everyone will find out anyway, its just that- well Remus doesn't know and-"
"Out with it Pagan."
"Maribel!" Lily scolded, "It's okay Anne, take your time."
"I only just found out a few weeks ago, and well-"
"Yes…"
"Maribel," Lily hissed.
Anne glanced up at her friends before letting her head fall into her hands, "I'm pregnant."