The rest of your 7th year flew by. We played pranks, played Quidditch, and studied hard. I needed top grades to go into Auror training. It was getting dangerous outside of Hogwarts. The deaths and disappearances increased every day. No one was safe, and everyone was scared.

I lived it up my last few months at the castle I'd called home for 7 years. Somehow I knew that nothing would be the same once I exited the school for the last time.

The last time. I couldn't imagine not being at Hogwarts for 10 months every year. But in one week it would be a reality.

"Hey," Sirius said quietly, separating me from my thoughts.

"Hey." The lake was illuminated by the crescent moon.

"You alright?"

"I was just thinking."

"One week left," said Sirius.

"I know."

"Things'll be different."

"I know."

"We'll be in Auror training."

"I hope."

"I know. You're brilliant, they'll take you in a second. And me-"

"Sirius, you'll get in. No trouble."

"And we can go out to dinner together after a hard day of training."

"No, we'll have jobs at night so we can buy food."

"We don't need food."

"We do if we want to live long enough to go out to dinner after a hard day of work."

""Ok. We'll have jobs." He pulled me in to him and I rested my head on his shoulder.

We'd been dating since Halloween, and I'd never been so happy. I got to see the person Sirius really was more often. The insecure but sweet, strong but vulnerable boy who was rapidly becoming a man. The two of us took things slowly; we'd both been hurt before. But the longer I was with Sirius, the more my old wounds healed.

I closed my eyes and snuggled closer to Sirius. He rested his hand on mine and gently played with my hair.

"Kara?"

"Hmm?"

"Would you like to be my date for the graduation dance?"

"Yes."

"Good."

It was late when we finally made our way back to Gryffindor Tower.

"Good night, love," Sirius whispered.

"Good night." He kissed you deeply ad ascended the boys' staircase. I smiled to myself as I entered the dorm. Things would be just fine after Hogwarts, as long as I had Sirius.

I slipped in to bed so as not to wake Nat or Lily, who, amazingly, were both in their own beds. Sleep came quickly and peacefully, and it was filled with dreams of a certain Sirius Black.

"Kara."

"Wake up!" I scowled at the voices, eyes still closed.

"Don't you make faces at me!" Lily yelled teasingly. I stuck my tongue out at her and she swatted my arm.

"Hey!" I sat up and opened my eyes.

"Tired?" Nat asked. I nodded sleepily.

"Well it's not our fault you stayed out so late with Sirius! Get up!"

"Fine," I said grudgingly.

"Come on! It's out first day of freedom!" Lily urged.

"Exactly! No NEWTs! Finally! So let me sleep!"

"You never sleep in," Nat pointed out.

"So don't I deserve to this once?"

"No." My friends said together.

"Okay then." I got out of my warm, soft bed and got dressed.

"What's so important?"

"Nothing," Nat shrugged.

"Nothing," I repeated, shaking my head. That was Nat and Lily for me. "Do we at least get to go eat breakfast?"

"Of course! You worked up quite an appetite last night!" Lily exclaimed.

"Doing what?"

"Oh come on Kara! You can tell us."

"I know. And I would if there was anything to tell. Sirius and I aren't sleeping together!" My friends looked disappointed.

"Oh," Nat said.

"I'm in no rush."

"Apparently not," Lily commented.

"Let's just go to breakfast," I suggested.

"Good idea," Nat agreed as her stomach growled, "I'm a bit hungry."

The Marauders were sitting at the Gryffindor table, in the position I'd seen so many times before, heads bent low, plotting what may be their last prank at Hogwarts.

I sat down next to James and poked his head. He sprang up suspiciously and I tried to hold in laughter.

"Was that you?" I nodded. "It wasn't very nice."

"Why not? A girl can't poke a friend in the head once in a while? What's the world coming to?"

"I do not know. But don't do it again."

"I'll do what I want and you'll like it or keep quiet."

"Yes Captain, my Captain," Jams rolled his eyes and then ducked back into the huddle, and then immediately came back up.

"Kara? Can I speak with you a moment after breakfast?"

"Yeah."

"Great." And back into the huddle he went.

After I ate and James plotted, he led me out of the Great Hall and down a deserted hallway.

"What's up James?" I asked when he didn't say anything.

"You're Lily's best friend, right?"

"Yeah." He looked nervous. I wondered where this was going.

"So you know what she thinks and all?"

"Yeah."

"So if I told you something that was a secret, you'd be able to tell me how she'd react?"

"Yeah. Why? You're not going to break up with her, are you?"

"No!" He leaned in and told you the 'secret'.

"Oh my god James. Yay!" I hugged him. "She'll be very happy."

"You think?"

"I know!" He breathed a sigh of relief.

"Good. Thanks Kara. And don't say anything."

"I won't! She'd kill me!" We started to walk back towards civilization. "Does Sirius know?"

"Of course he knows. Who do you think helped me?" Okay. That was pretty obvious.

"Can I see it?" He pulled it out and showed it to me.

"Nice. This is great, James."

"Yeah."

"I can't wait until the dance."