A/N: Hey guys. I am so sorry for the long wait for a new chapter. Read, review, enjoy! Y'all know I love reviews XD

Chapter Eight: Graduation Day

"Mr. Black, come with me." Dumbledore swept down the aisle separating the Ravenclaw and Gryffindor tables during lunch the day after their last NEWT.

Sirius jumped up, nearly spilling his pumpkin juice on Peter, and followed the headmaster out of the Great Hall. "Am I going back?" He asked as soon as the office door shut behind them.

"I am sorry, Sirius, but there's not any way to send you back to your own time."

Sirius blinked. "Nothing?"

Dumbledore shook his head, sitting down behind the desk. "I am sorry." He repeated. "But this could be a good thing."

"A good thing?" Sirius scoffed. "My godson could be hurt by now, and me being stuck here is a good thing?"

"Yes, it is. If you take advantage of the extra time you've been handed." Sirius slowly sat down, his eyes never leaving Dumbledore's. "This is your chance to change how things were and make the future better."

Sirius studied the headmaster, thinking. "But you told me not to change anything before."

"Yes. That was when I was hoping to send you back."

"Oh. Thanks for trying, I guess."

"Now, you should relax. Have fun, Mr. Black." Dumbledore dismissed him with a smile.

Sirius rejoined his friends, thinking. To make their future brighter, Pettigrew had to go. But how would he do it without ending back up in Azkaban? "-know tonight who all passed, James."

James was picking at his lunch. "What's waiting for us out there, Lily?"

"It'll be different. But whatever it is, we'll get through it together."

Sirius flashed his best friend a grin. "Yeah, Prongsie, we got you."

James returned the grin. "Yeah, I know. I just didn't think Mum and Dad wouldn't be here to see me graduate."

Lily rested her hand on his shoulder. "They're with you, James, and I know they're so proud of you."

He kissed her forehead. "Thanks, Lils."

That night, each seventh-year received an envelope on their bed containing their NEWT scores. Sirius hastily ripped his open.

Transfiguration- O

Defense Against the Dark Arts- O

Potions- E

Charms- O

Herbology- E

Care of Magical Creatures- O

Ancient Runes- E

Sirius had a package waiting on his trunk the next morning, with a note attached. He carefully opened the envelope.

Sirius,

Congratulations on surviving seven years in Gryffindor, and on never letting your mother's view of things change yours. I am proud of you, son. Enjoy your graduation present.

Orion

Inside the package was a new watch, with a black leather strap, and his name engraved on the back. He fastened it around his wrist, admiring it. As he glanced at the letter again, he shook his head. That was definitely not Orion Black's handwriting. "That's a cool watch." Frank commented, staring at the matte black face behind the gleaming gold numbers.

"Thanks."

"You ready to leave this place?"

"I thought I would be." Sirius laughed. "But, I don't know."

Frank clapped him on the back. "You'll figure something out, Sirius." He said as he left their dorm.

He followed Frank out, his last library books in his hands. Elora was replacing checked-in books, and he handed his to Madam Pince silently. "Ready for graduation?" He asked, leaning on a bookshelf close to Elora.

"I am. You?"

He shrugged. "Mostly."

"I'm sure you and your boys will manage to find a way to make it memorable."

"We've been brainstorming for weeks."

She laughed. "I'm not surprised."

"See you tonight, Lockhart."

The atmosphere in the dormitory that evening was quiet, as each wizard dressed for graduation, except for Peter. He was sitting on his bed, faded black robes on his lap. "Wormy, what's wrong?" James asked, taking a seat beside him.

"I don't want us to drift apart." He said quietly. "What's going to keep our friendship going when we leave?"

"Wormy, I think your brain has rat holes in it." James joked. "Why would you ever think we won't be friends anymore?"

"You all have great plans-"

Remus interrupted, sitting on the other side of Peter. "I already know it's going to be hard for me to find a job. Nobody wants to hire someone like me."

Peter sighed. "Yes, but you have Sirius and James to help you."

"And you've got us too." Sirius heard himself saying. "We're Marauders, and that doesn't end the minute we leave Hogwarts."

"Exactly." James slung his arm over Peter's shoulders. "Feel better now?"

"Yeah." He scowled at his robes. "Too bad these aren't new."

Sirius pointed his wand at the robes, and they changed from faded black to like new. "There. Nothing to worry about now, Wormy."

"Thanks, Padfoot."

"Come on, boys. We've got about twenty more minutes before we're meeting Minnie by the portrait." James stood to his feet. "Have to look our best."

Remus handed his tie to Sirius wordlessly, and Sirius grinned, standing close enough to smell the cologne the werewolf was wearing. "Thanks, Siri." Remus said quietly. "I-I know your parents won't be there, but if it helps, I'm proud of you."

Sirius stood on tiptoe and kissed Remus' cheek. "I'm proud of you too."

Sirius lined up behind Nathan Abbott, tapping his fingers on his thigh. "Nervous, Black?"

"No, you?"

Nathan shook his head. "Ready to get out of here. I'm tired of classes."

"Me too."

"Please step forward." Professor McGonagall called and they started through to the Great Hall.

Sirius instinctively glanced around, looking for his parents even though he knew they wouldn't be there. Regulus, though, was there. James' parents waved, smiling at him. He caught his younger brother's eye and waved. Dumbledore and the four Heads of Houses stood in front of their graduating class. "Good evening, and welcome to the 1978 graduation ceremony. I'd like to invite our Head Boy, James Potter, and our Head Girl, Lily Evans, to make their speeches. Lily, if you please."

Lily gracefully walked past the students, stopping behind the podium. "Thank you all for coming. When I first walked through those doors, I was nervous I wasn't going to do well. I come from a Muggle family, and to many, this is unacceptable. But most of my fellow students embraced me, and, I was glad to know, weren't too far ahead of me. Hogwarts helped me learn to navigate the Wizarding World and master spells I never dreamed. My fellow graduates became friends I'd do anything for, my teachers became mentors and advisors. The war being fought outside these walls has yet to penetrate the castle, thanks to our wonderful headmaster, and we've had the luxury to study magic for seven years without much worry. I've no idea what challenges await us in the world outside, but I know we will come through whatever life throws at us, due to all we've learned here. Thank you all. We wouldn't be here without you."

James slipped into Lily's spot quickly, offering a bright smile to the crowd. Sirius, Remus, and Peter all whooped loudly. "How am I supposed to follow that lovely speech by the beautiful Lily?" He ran a hand through his hair. "This castle has become my home in ways I wasn't expecting on my first train ride here. My classmates have become my brothers and sisters I never had, and I will cherish these memories for the rest of my life. I met my future wife on that train ride, and before we walked through those doors, I had the three best friends I could have ever asked for walking with me. So, I guess I just want to say thank you all for the best years of my life, so far."