Inspired by, and titled for the song Who Knows Where the Time Goes by Sandy Denny. Which is a song that has been stuck in my head as I procrastinate and panic about the future and adult things.

For Charlotteredmond99 and their prompt: I skipped the one before but it's the wedding song

The radio was still blaring despite the empty common room. The party had died off long ago and people had retreated to bedrooms to escape from the morning sun that was beginning to peer its way over the horizon.

The few Gryffindors left were draped across the couches in front of a faintly glowing fireplace, head's lolling against each other as they tried to fight off sleep.

"I thought that went rather well?" Sirius said, his head resting against Remus' knees as he drained the last few drops of firewhiskey from the bottle.

"Our final Marauder birthday," Peter wailed, causing the others to wince at the noise.

Remus threw a party hat at him. "We'll have other birthdays, Pete."

"Yeah, but they won't be like this. We'll be old. We'll have jobs and responsibilities. We'll have to coordinate schedules!" Peter dramatically threw himself back into the floor. "It will be awful."

Sirius grinned thinly, catching James' eye for a fraction of a second. They would have responsibilities, big ones. Dangerous ones. Responsibilities they couldn't even fathom yet. Sirius wouldn't tell the others, but he was terrified. Sometimes, he thought he saw fear in their eyes too.

But they never spoke about it. It was too easy to hide within the walls of Hogwarts, block out the world outside it. Temptingly easy to forget that there was a war going on at all.

Even to Sirius, it felt as though those walls were getting thinner. Day by day he was edging closer and closer to the front line. He knew the others could feel it too.

"I'm sure we'll make time," James said, breaking the heavy silence that had fallen across the group. "Besides, I managed to balance Headboy-ness with fun times didn't I?"

"You were late for every meeting, Prongs," Remus remarked with raised eyebrows.

"But I still went!"

The radio was still humming in the corner. David Bowie sang lowly about flying amongst the stars. It was nice, calming. His voice sounded almost ethereal, like he really was above the stars just watching the world turn beneath him. Far away from danger and death and growing up.

"What are we going to do then? After Hogwarts? I mean aside from the…" Peter's voice trailed off, but the ending filled in itself.

"Not a lot going for werewolves out in the big world." Remus said, stretching with a forced casualness. "I'll find a nice bridge to live under, maybe learn how to yodel for scraps."

Sirius punched him playfully (though hard enough to be noticed). "Don't be an arse, Moony. We'll get a flat together somewhere. I have the funds for it. You'll live a life of unadulterated luxury."

Remus scowled down at him. "I'm not going to live off charity, Sirius."

"Fine. You can act as my servant in lieu of payment and live a life of adulterated luxury instead."

Remus frowned and tried to shove Sirius onto the floor.

"Oy! Stop that, you'll wake Lily!" James hissed at them from the other couch. "He's right though, Moony. You're not going to live under a bridge. You'll get a job and if not, we'll help you. That's what friends do, so suck it up."

Remus tried to protest but Sirius pinned him down, a smug grin plastered on his face. Sirius could almost see the arguments flashing in Remus' eyes, but Remus must have thought the better of it.

"Fine," he said, slumping back onto the couch. "What about you Wormtail? What's your plan for the future?"

"I dunno," Peter replied. "See where the world takes me I suppose. Just try to jump on whatever opportunities come up… Best we can hope for really."

"Such positivity," Sirius muttered, trying to dispel the tense silence that threatened to take hold again. "What about you, Prongs?"

James smiled and looked down at the girl curled up on his lap. There was an honest and genuine love in his eyes that Sirius had rarely seen in anyone else.

"I'm going to ask Lily to marry me,"

Sirius choked and spluttered on the firewhiskey he'd been drinking. Peter toppled backwards into the fire.

"Merlin, Potter! You've only been going out for five minutes!" Sirius said, staring at his friend as though he had grown an extra head.

"Yeah, Prongs," Remus said hesitantly, "Might be a bit soon there, mate…"

"Not now!" James hissed, "You know, at some point. In a year or so. When the w—When things have died down a bit."

Sirius gazed at his two friends across from him. Lily, peacefully asleep, curled into James' lap. James' arm was resting softly but protectively around her, holding her safe. Sirius didn't often believe in love or miracles. He had grown up in a world devoid of both.

But somehow he believed in James and Lily. He wasn't even sure why. Maybe it was hope? Desperation? Blind faith that if that miracle could happen in a time so plagued by fear, then maybe there was some good still to be found.

He looked up at Remus who was also watching the couple with an unreadable expression. Maybe there was some good after all.

"Dibs on Best Man!"

"HEY!" Peter kicked Sirius in the shin, "I wanted to be Best Man."

"Tough shit, I dibsed it."

"He did dibs it, Peter." Remus placated, grinning as Sirius rubbed his wounded leg. "Here, you can pick their first dance music."

Peter mulled it for a moment before finally nodding.

"Fine," he said. "The next song that comes on the radio, that's your first dance."

"A risky strategy Wormtail! Fine then, let's see," James grinned and pointed his wand at the radio to raise the volume. The final few bars filtered off and the four boys leaned forward.

"I can't write

And I can't sing

I can't do anything

I can't read

And I can't spell

I can't even get to hell"

"Oh X-Ray Spexs! Marvelous choice, James," Remus grinned as Sirius and Peter fell to the floor in laughter.

"I'm not having that as my first dance!" James cried, poking his wand at the radio, trying to turn it off.

"Why not? Lyrics suit you perfectly, Prongs!" Sirius said, slapping James' wand away and reaching to turn the volume up.

"NOT HAPPENING! Pick another one, Wormtail, or you're not invited."

"Fine! Fine. The one before this, that's your wedding song." Peter snatched up the radio and used his wand to turn back the dial.

The music that emanated this time was much softer, a gentle guitar strumming out thick chords below a bittersweet voice.

The four boys sat back on the couch, letting the lyrics wash over them. Sirius tried not to think of a wedding, or of a war, or of any future at all.

He just wanted to remember this moment. Where the walls of Hogwarts still stood strong around them and blocked out the world beyond. Where he was free and happy and surrounded by friends. Where tomorrow was a mystery and getting old an impossibility.

And Sirius hoped, on a futile miracle, that time would stop. And nothing would change at all.

Across the evening sky, all the birds are leaving

But how can they know it's time for them to go?

Before the winter fire, I will still be dreaming

I have no thought of time

For who knows where the time goes?

Who knows where the time goes?

- Songs:

I can't do anything - X-Ray Spex

Who knows where the time goes - Sandy Denny