The last full day at Hogwarts marked the graduation ceremony and dance for 7th years. I got an early start, showering and getting into my Gryffindor robes one last time. Me, Nat, and Lily were all emotional. Finished preparing early, we reminisced on my bed, laughing and crying at the same time.
"I love you guys," Nat sobbed.
"I love you too!" Lily and I sobbed back in unison. One long group hug later, Nat spoke again.
"Promise we won't drift apart, k? We'll do lunch or dinner or shopping?"
"As long as it's not shopping I'm game!" I replied.
"Deal," Lily agreed.
"You ready to graduate Hogwarts?" I asked, straightening my robes.
"Definitely," Nat said wiping her eyes.
"Let's do it!" I got up and walked to the door of our room, looking back before you left.
"Tonight will be our last night in here," I pointed out.
"I know."
"Next year some tiny little first years will be in here."
"Weird, huh?" said Lily quietly.
"Yeah," Me and Nat agreed.
"Enough of this!" I yelled, suddenly frustrated. "No more emotional stuff! This is a happy time! We've had 7 awesome years here. All I can say is that I hope the girls in here next year have as great a time as we have."
"You're right," my friends agreed, and we started down the stairs.
"Hey," Sirius greeted me as he wrapped his arm around my waist.
"Hey."
"We're graduating."
"Really?" I asked, wide-eyed.
"Shut up," Sirius laughed.
"Hey! Not nice!"
"I'm sorry, love. Forgive me?"
"I guess…" He pulled me into him and pressed his lips against mine. I ran my hands through his hair as his tongue slid between my lips.
"Get a room!" James yelled as he, Lily, Nat, Remus, and Peter approached.
"Be nice James!" I retorted, breaking away from Sirius. "Or I'll tell-" James put his hand over your mouth.
"No you won't. I know you." I spit in his hand. "Gross!" He whipped his hand away. I smiled and skipped over to where my friends were standing.
"To Graduation we go!" I yelled, pointing towards the Great Hall.
I sat next to Nick Napolee and Patricia Osselman during the ceremony, watching awards for high achievement and clubs, etc., be given out. I wasn't surprised when Remus got one for Arithmancy or Natalie for Charms, but I was surprised when my name was called for DADA.
I smiled sheepishly as my class clapped and my friends cheered when Professor Dumbledore gave me a handshake and a certificate.
The speeches were made and the diplomas given out. I cheered and teared and went to prepare for the dance.
Me, Nat, and Lily did each other's hair and make-up (they wouldn't let me touch them), reminiscing.
"Remember in 2nd year when James told Lily he loved her?" Nat asked.
"She spit in his hair and called him a slimy, conceited git!" I finished. Lily laughed.
"Well how about you and that Daniel guy in 3rd year? He was always following you around and saying you were sexy."
"Until she yelled that he was a crazy stalker to the entire Hall!" More laughter. I remembered that one, alright. Sirius had teased me for weeks.
"How 'bout that time after Hogsmeade, when Nat and Remus came in all messy!"
"And her lipstick was all over him!" Nat blushed but giggled along with me and Lily.
~*Sirius' POV*~
Me and the Marauders were preparing for the dance and remember old times.
"Remember in 4th year when Padfoot was dating Alisa Barnett?" Oh great. Not this one again.
"She was weird."
"She started stripping-"
"-and her bra had pictures of him-"
"-that was great!"
"-the way he asked her to leave-"
"-he looked scared-"
"-and then she threw herself at him-"
"-literally!" they broke into fits of laughter. I had to join in. It was funny in hindsight.
"We'll never forget Missy Rogers," I began. Remus went pink.
"Remus really liked her!" Prongs continued.
"We were in 2nd year!" Remus defended himself.
"And she was a 7th year!" Wormtail exclaimed.
"You followed her to the library every day!" I added.
"I had work!"
"No 2nd year has that much work!" Peter countered.
"Fine. I had a little crush."
"A little crush?"
"A big one, ok?" Remus was smiling. It was quiet for a minute, as each of us thought back to our favorite Hogwarts memories. Remus broke the silence.
"Remember in 2nd year when Prongs told Lily he loved her?"…
~*Kara's POV*~
I was waiting for the guys in the common room. Tonight was the first time they'd kept me waiting.
"Tonight's gonna rock!" Nat said excitedly.
"Yeah," I agreed. But only I knew how much. Just then the boys' door opened and they emerged.
"How do we look?" Sirius asked, spinning around.
"Drop dead gorgeous!" I replied.
"Take it off!" Nat shouted as Sirius spun again. He reached for his shirt. "Just kidding!" We all laughed.
James looked nervous. I went to him and gave him a big hug.
"Don't worry! It'll be great!" I whispered. He gave a small smile.
"Ready?" Remus asked. James nodded, and we all exited the portrait hole and went to the Great Hall.
Almost everyone was there already, and the Hall looked great. The House banners were hung high and the sky was a deep, inky black, dotted with stars. I stared at it for just an instant longer than usual.
I'd barely had time to say hi to a few of my Ravenclaw friends when Sirius made a request.
"Come walk around the castle with me?"
"But I don't want to miss-"
"We won't."
"Okay." We left the Hall hand in hand.
We wandered the corridors in silence, losing track of time. We ended up outside the library when Sirius stopped and took out a pocket knife.
"What's-"
"Shhhh," he cut me off, and began to carve something in the wood at the foot of the library doors.
K.O. + S.B.
I smiled as I read the finished product.
"We've left our mark on Hogwarts," he said, satisfied.
"Cool." He grinned happily at me, and I smiled back.
"I love you, Kara." His expression was serious now. My heart skipped a beat.
"I love you too." It was the first time he'd said it. The first timer I'd said it. And after feeling it for so long, it felt really good. He kissed me lightly and took my hand.
"We'd better get back," I nodded, but neither of us moved, so Sirius pulled me back in.
Five minutes later we broke apart, breathing heavily.
"We should really get back," I said.
"Yeah." And back to the dance we went.
We entered the Great Hall just as Professor Dumbledore announced the 'traditional' Head Boy/ Head Girl dance. I knew for a fact that there was no such thing, and that James had arranged this with Dumbledore. But nobody else did.
The dance floor cleared and James led Lily to the middle. Instead of dancing with her, however, he got down on one knee. Lily's eyes, as well as everyone else's, went wide.
