Yay! I finally finished The Power of Love! Now I get to concentrate totally
on this story! Well actually, I have had an inspiration to write a Tamora
Pierce fic, so I might do that…feelings, please? Anyway, I hope you like
this. :) Thanks to my wonderful beta's- Choco and Miss Nutbag, I love y'all
tons!
Oh, and btw, it's all LILY'S fault that this is so late. So blame her, not me *points to Lily* no, I'm jp, she just sort of forgot. But I love ya still, Lils!
Bella
The Story of Lily
1 Chapter 14: Graduation
Mary Katherine rolled onto her back and moaned. "It's not fair!" she cried, rolling back onto her stomach and staring at her two friends from Gwen's bed. "Your robes are so pretty!"
Lily smiled over her shoulder. "Mary Katherine, yours are too." She turned back to the mirror to study her reflection again. The robes fit as well as they had on Christmas day. Granted, the rest of her body didn't match the stunning robes, what with her wet hair and no-makeup face, but that would all change in the next hour. It was already eight o' clock, and the seventh year Gryffindors, along with the other seventh years in the school, would be meeting in the room off the Great Hall at nine fifteen. The Graduation ceremonies would start at nine thirty. The room that they would be meeting in was the same one they had waited nervously in seven whole years ago before they were sorted.
"Yeah," Gwen agreed, turning sideways to look at herself in a different prospective, "we wouldn't have let you pick ugly robes out, right Lily?"
Lily nodded and walked to Mary Katherine's closet, passing the empty bed that had once belonged to Hayley. Her heart wrenched, and she almost began crying again. The three girls had stayed up late the last night, wrapped securely in their scarlet comforters on the floor in front of Lily's bed, talking and remembering every important detail from the past seven years. They had all cried over Hayley, comforted Lily on her nervousness at giving her Head Girl speech, and talked about their future. Mary Katherine had been filled in on everything about Lily's life. It wasn't because Lily felt sorry for her losing her best friend, it was because she considered Mary Katherine as much of a friend as Gwen, even though she knew she and Mary Katherine would never share the bond that existed only between two best friends. Mary Katherine had shared it with Hayley, just as Lily shared it with Gwen.
The girls then decided to go pay a visit to the boys to cheer themselves up. All seven had stayed up to a very un-Godly hour, finally going to bed when Mary Katherine began snoring on Remus's shoulder.
Lily opened Mary Katherine's closet and pulled out her white dress robes. They were very much similar to her own, but with a v-neck and tight sleeves. She hung it on the bedpost next to Mary Katherine's ear. "Get up, M.K., and put them on. I'll do your hair, okay?"
Mary Katherine sighed and got up. "No," she said firmly. "I'm in charge of hair, Lily, but it was nice of you to offer."
Gwen snorted. "I wouldn't let Lily near me with a hairbrush if my life depended on it," she muttered, but not quietly enough.
Mary Katherine snorted and went into the bathroom to change. Lily made an offended noise. "It's not like your gifted with hair either, O Flawless One," she said sarcastically.
Gwen grinned. "True."
Lily smiled and looked at her friend. "Has it really been seven years?" she asked quietly.
"I was just wondering the same thing," Gwen said, shaking her head and looking down. When she raised her face, her eyes were unnaturally bright. "Oh Lily."
They hugged tightly, both lost in memories. Mary Katherine joined in on the hug, and when they pulled back, all three were sniffling. "We have to promise to be best friends forever, and to always help each other if the other is in need." Mary Katherine said solemnly, hugging them around the waists.
"Promise," Gwen whispered.
"I promise," Mary Katherine said firmly.
"I promise too," Lily said.
Lily glanced at the clock that hung above the dresser. "Oh my God! It's eight thirty!"
They sprang apart, each to dry their hair magically with their wands. In her hurry, Lily said the words too anxiously and her hair was a tousled mess. "At least it's dry," Gwen remarked optimistically as she and Mary Katherine stared at the red bush on Lily's head.
Mary Katherine moaned and set to work flipping through the pages of her Hair Handbook for Witches.
Thirty minutes later, all was right in the dormitory, and all three girls looked stunning. Mary Katherine's thick, corkscrew curls were up in an elegant twist with pieces hanging artfully around her face. Her eyelids were shimmering with silver and her lips were rosy red. The silver was to match the diamond choker around her neck. Gwen's thick, shiny black hair was done halfway up in a barrette with a stone that matched her sapphire- colored eyes and curled gently at the tips. Her eyelids shone with blue eye shadow, and black eyeliner made the blueness of her eyes more accented. She had a white gloss on her lips and around her neck hung the silver necklace adorned with sapphires. Lily's red hair that had been getting straighter and straighter as she grew older was now in gentle waves to her lower back. Her eyelids were painted with a light shimmer tinted green, also with dark eyeliner to bring out the bright green of her eyes, that matched the emeralds on her own necklace. Lily touched the silver necklace tenderly, a pain shooting through her heart at the thought of the person who gave it to her. Her eyes welled with tears, so she took a deep breath and told herself to look ahead. She glanced at the clock. "It's ten after, girls. We should go."
Gwen smiled. "We told the boys we'd meet the ten minutes ago. We shouldn't keep them waiting any more."
Lily giggled. "Yeah, let's go." She linked arms with Mary Katherine and Gwen and they climbed down the stairs, chatting happily. They opened the door wide and stepped out. The common room was packed with younger Hogwarts student's who weren't attending the ceremonies; instead, they were packing to leave at eleven for Hogsmeade Station.
Sirius, Remus, Peter, and James were slumped down in chairs wearing black robes and looking quite bored. They also were not facing their female counterparts. Gwen sneaked up behind Sirius and put her hands in front of his eyes. He yelped and sat up. "Guess who?" Gwen said evilly.
"Hmm…it couldn't be Gwen, could it?" Sirius said sarcastically.
"Right in one!"
The boys stood and turned. Their jaws dropped simultaneously.
"You-you look…" Remus stuttered.
"Um-" James croaked.
"Wow…" Sirius stated.
"That about sums it up." Peter said, not embarrassed in the least.
This jerked his friends out of their stupor and they stared at him. "Well it does!" he said, smiling.
Sirius grinned and nodded, moving around the couch and taking Gwen's hand. James moved silently around to Lily and hugged her. She smiled. "Mm, you smell good," she said dreamily.
"What?" he laughed, pulling back.
Lily reddened and cleared her throat. "We have about five minutes to get there. I hope you practiced your speech again, James," she said sternly.
He smiled and placed his hand on her lower back. "Yes, Lily. Let's go." He ushered her out of the portrait hole, Gwen and Sirius behind them, followed by Peter, with Mary Katherine and Remus bringing up the rear. They walked silently through the halls, down the grand marble staircase, and onto the flagged stone floor. They walked to a chamber off the entrance hall. Standing at the open doorway was Professor McGonagall, looking quite displeased. "Miss Evans, Mr. Potter, I would have expected better from the Head Boy and Girl. The ceremonies start in ten minutes!"
"Sorry, Professor," Lily said, pulling her boyfriend by his robes, praying that he wouldn't say anything to her.
He didn't, but Sirius waved cheerfully to her. "Lovely to see you, Minnie."
Professor McGonagall pressed her lips together. Lily hid a smile with her hand and bit her lip to keep from laughing, while Gwen was giggling silently.
"Black, what is the meaning of such disrespect?" she asked sternly.
Sirius grinned and in that moment, Lily didn't care what his motives were, just as long as he kept smiling. "Well, Minnie, I'm not a student anymore, so I figured I don't have to call you 'professor' anymore either," he said innocently.
"Black! You haven't graduated yet!" Professor McGonagall snapped, herding them in and standing in the doorway. "Students! In a moment, the graduation ceremony will take place. Please, let's have the Head Boy and Girl in the front. Now do be quiet, and tidy yourselves up a bit. I will be back for you in a moment." She exited the room and slammed the door.
Sirius, James, Remus, and Peter were standing together, whispering. Lily rolled her eyes. "I don't even want to know."
Mary Katherine shook her head in agreement. "Neither do I!"
Someone less welcome marched up just then, surrounded by his Slytherin cronies. "Well, if it isn't my favorite Gryffindors," Severus Snape oozed, his hair as slimy as usual. He looked exactly like he had when Lily had first met him-same sallow skin, hooked nose, and dark, piercing eyes. All four of the Marauder's heads shot up. Sirius glared at him with immense hatred. Lily was shocked-she had never seen him look that mean before. Gwen sighed and took him by the arm, talking to him quietly and leading him into the crowd.
"Snape," James hissed, nodding his head.
Snape looked at all that were assembled in turn, his gaze finally resting on Lily. He smirked and walked up to her. "Well, well. If it isn't the Adviser."
One of the boys next to him elbowed him in the stomach and whispered something in his ear. Snape's eyes widened. He turned to her. "Hello, Lily," he said in a very nice tone, but it was forced-sounding.
Lily raised her eyebrows. "Erm-hello, Severus."
"And how are you?"
Lily's jaw dropped. "I'm-I'm fine, and you?"
"Great-listen, Lily, could I have a word?" he asked, holding his hand out.
Lily turned from shocked to suspicious. But before she could answer, James stepped in. "Snape, go away, I can see right through your charade."
"Whatever are you talking about, James?" Severus, who came to James' shoulder, said innocently.
"You just want to get her on your good side so you can take her to your master." James hissed.
Lily sucked her breath in. Of course! Everyone knew that he knew more Dark magic than most grown wizards did, and there was a rumor that he was practically Voldemort's second in command.
Snape scowled and turned to Lily. "You'll regret your decision to be with them," he hissed, gesturing to Lily's friends before turning on his heel and sauntering back into the crowd.
Sirius and Gwen returned, Sirius practically smoking. "Did he hurt you, Lily?"
"No," Lily said, feeling dizzy.
James held her tight. "He was trying to win her over," he told Sirius in a tight voice.
Sirius clenched his fists. "I'll get him one day." Gwen began whispering to him again, assumedly calming him down.
Lily turned and looked at James. "Okay, explain. What happened to make Sirius hate Snape even more than he did before?"
James sighed and rubbed his forehead. "To make a long story short, Snape was being a nosy ass and sneaking around, trying to find out where Remus went every month. We…well, Sirius and I, thought that it would be…amusing to tell Snape the way to the Shrieking Shack."
Lily gasped. "James! You didn't!"
He held up a hand. "Wait. I didn't think he would actually go…but Sirius dragged me down the next full moon to see if he believed us. And sure enough, he came. I jumped out and stopped him in the tunnel, right as he opened the door. He glimpsed Remus, and told Dumbledore. Dumbledore forbade him to tell anyone, and he hasn't…so. That's why."
"James-you saved his life! Were you transformed?" Lily asked anxiously, keeping her voice low.
"No, otherwise we would have probably been expelled. Being an unregistered Animagi is illegal." James said, shaking his head.
Lily opened her mouth, but the door swung open and Professor McGonagall beckoned. She got in line behind James and followed him out, shaking with anxiety. Gwen was right behind her, and gave her a tight smile when she turned. Lily smiled nervously back and walked into the Great Hall. Sunlight flooded through the ceiling that was charmed to mirror the sky outside. The four house tables were pushed against the walls, leaving a space that seated the family members and friends of the graduates. A temporary stage had been made, and they were walking straight to it. Dumbledore was beaming in the middle of it in front of a wooden podium. Risers were lined up behind him. Professor McGonagall climbed the stairs and stood next to Dumbledore, while James filed into the first row with Lily in toe. Once all of the student's were on the risers, smiling and waving at familiar faces in the crowd, Dumbledore cleared his throat. The crowd hushed immediately.
"Thank you all for coming today," he began lightly. "I must say, this is quite a satisfactory class, and I will be sorry to see all of them leaving. But, graduates, may life be good to you, and I trust that you will carry all that you have learned in these halls with you for the rest of your days. Thank you, and now I will turn the podium over to Miss Lily Evans, our Head Girl for this year. Miss Evans?"
Lily turned to James and smiled nervously. She was determined to get over her fear of being the center of attention. It didn't mean that she had to like it, but just as long as she wasn't terrified of it anymore, she would be content. James squeezed her hand quickly before she stepped carefully off the riser and walked to the podium. She cleared her throat and looked out over the crowds. Ella gave a tiny wave. Lily swallowed and began, her voice more confident than she actually felt:
"Fellow graduates and alumni of Hogwarts, we have all gone through many trials. Everyone has failed some of these trials, whether it had been not flying your first time at our first flying lesson in first year or forgetting to turn in a homework assignment. But, just when you think you have failed too many times, my advice to you is this: remember your triumphs. Triumph is the opposite of failing, and everyone has triumphed, just as everyone has failed. Triumph is winning the Quidditch cup or making a good mark on your Transfiguration exam. They balance each other. But, very easily can that balance be overthrown. So remember to keep that balance: keep triumphing and keep failing. It will keep you down to earth and keep you intact. Thank you, and I will miss you all."
Lily smiled as she stepped away from the podium; that had gone better than she had expected. She heard the applause still as she stepped up next to James. He grinned at her and walked to the podium himself as Lily's friends congratulated her.
"Well," he said, placing his hands on the sides of the podium and smiling at the crowd. "We did it. There were a lot of times when I didn't think that I could make it (I was surely going to fail Charms), but, in the end, we all did. You know, if these walls could talk, I'm sure it would take them years to get all of their stories out. They know about our fears of fitting in from first year. Our smugness in second year, when we returned back to school thinking we knew everything about it. Our concerns in third year, when playing with a girl suddenly became more tempting than playing with boys." Here there were laughs, and James continued, "then in fourth year, when the initial shock of finding that we liked the opposite sex wore off, and then in fifth year, when we were terrified of facing the O.W.L.'s, but all passed. Then in sixth year, when we began to realize that the future was a lot closer than we thought. And finally, now, in seventh year, we are ready to take all of these things with us and use all that we have learned about them and use then. I know I will. So," he said gravely, "we are leaving." Here he turned to Dumbledore and smiled, "sorry, Professor, but not without a bang." Here there were groans from the teachers and student's, while the members of the crowd looked politely stumped. James, all traces of graveness gone, smiled evilly and signaled to Sirius. Sirius grinned, and said something. Scarlet and gold confetti poured from the ceiling and a banner dropped, saying in large scarlet and gold letters, "GRYFFINDOR IS THE BEST HOUSE-GO LIONS!"
Lily put both hands over her mouth and dissolved into giggles as the majority of the crowd laughed. Some were roaring their approval. After the ruckus had settled down, Professor Dumbledore, confetti caught in his beard, walked up to the podium. "This was expected, and I apologize for not warning you ahead of time," Dumbledore said to the still chuckling audience. "What with the infamous Marauders, as I believe they are called, graduating, I would have been quite worried if something like this hadn't happened. And so, ladies and gentleman, I will now present the graduates with their diplomas."
Professor McGonagall stepped up, her eyes mysteriously red-rimmed, and began reading the names in the same order that she had when they were sorted, this time saying the name of the house with the person. Whichever house you belonged to was the color of ribbon that tied your diploma. Lily and James both had silver ribbons in between two scarlet ones, the sign of graduating as Head Boy and Girl.
"And now, I give you the graduating class of 1976!" Dumbledore cried. Lily cheered along with her classmates and hugged her friends, the scarlet and gold confetti still falling. She walked off the stage, her diploma clutched tightly in her hand.
"Oh! Zere is my little graduate!" Ella cried, spotting Lily and opening her arms. Lily rushed to her and hugged her tightly. "Zat was beautiful, darling! Reminds me of when I graduated from Beauxbatons Academy," she said wistfully. Lily grinned at her. "And yoor gown! It iz abzolutely perfect! I am glad zat yoo wouldn't show it to me, so it would be a surprize!"
"Oh, Ella, move over, let the rest of Lily's admirers hug her," Elizabeth Watson scolded. Ella smiled and released Lily, and Mrs. Watson hugged her tightly. "Congratulations, Lily dear."
"Thank you Mrs. Watson," Lily said, returning to hug with equal force.
"Lily, please, you need to call me Elizabeth," Mrs. Watson said, looking at her fondly.
"All right," Lily said, and was hugged by Minister Watson right after. After he released her, Lily walked around, looked around for Katharine. She spotted her at the edge of the chattering crowd, holding her son tightly.
Lily swallowed and closed her eyes briefly, not wanting to interrupt the mother-son moment. When she opened them, Katharine was talking quietly to James. Lily gasped, now able to see her fully.
"I know," someone said from behind her. Lily didn't even have to turn around to know it was Gwen.
"What's happened to her?" Lily asked, still shaken. Katharine resembled a pole, and her face was thin and pale.
"Mum says she doesn't eat much anymore. That the only reason she does is for James," Gwen said, her voice wobbling.
Lily swallowed and stepped forward slowly. Katharine turned and Lily saw her eyes light briefly. "Lily," she said, hugging her weakly. Lily bit her lip and hugged her close. "I'm so proud of you," Katharine whispered, and Lily felt her eyes well with tears. "To have watched you grow up with James has been wonderful, wonderful, and words can't describe how glad I am you're here. James is a good boy, and I'll always be comforted to know that he's with a girl who loves him as much as I love him," Katharine's voice broke, and Lily closed her eyes and shook her head.
"Katharine, please, don't-don't talk like that-"
"Lily," Katharine soothed, rubbing her back, "you and I both know that I'm not going to be around for much longer. But, when I do go, I will go in peace, because I know that my James is with a girl who he deserves, and who deserves him. But don't cry now," she said, pulling back, her eyes shining, "I'm going to be around for your wedding."
Lily sniffed. "Promise?" she whispered.
"I promise," Katharine vowed, smiling at her.
Lily shook her head; this day had been full of promises. She felt a strong arm sneak around her waist, and she leaned into James gratefully. "Then we'll make sure it's sooner rather than later," he said strongly to his mother.
Lily's heart jolted. They had avoided talk of marriage at all costs, even though there was a mutual understanding that they would do it eventually, but that was the first time either had mentioned it. But, she found herself nodding, happy to see that Katharine was beaming at them.
They said goodbye to all the parents and trooped back to their dorms to make a last check over to make sure they hadn't forgot anything, doing it more thoroughly than ever because they would not be returning the next year. It would go to the new first year Gryffindor's, to be used by them for the next seven years. Lily lugged her trunk to the doorway and stood with her best friends on either side and they looked at their room for the last time. Lily smiled and gave it a tiny wave, before following them out.
They boarded the Hogwarts Express from Hogsmeade Station for the last time, and all squeezed into the Head Boy and Girl compartment. Lily slept most of the way, and when she opened her eyes, it was dark outside and everyone in the small compartment was gathering his or her belongings. They wheeled their trunks out and stepped off the train and onto Platform 9 ¾. Lily glanced back at the old scarlet steam engine and smiled, before turning her back on it and straightening her shoulders, walking through the barrier and into the Muggle world. In a sense, Lily felt like she was leaving her childhood behind with the train and stepping into the world of adulthood. With her friends, and James, she knew she would be fine.
Please review. I mean, it isn't rocket science, you know.
Oh, and btw, it's all LILY'S fault that this is so late. So blame her, not me *points to Lily* no, I'm jp, she just sort of forgot. But I love ya still, Lils!
Bella
The Story of Lily
1 Chapter 14: Graduation
Mary Katherine rolled onto her back and moaned. "It's not fair!" she cried, rolling back onto her stomach and staring at her two friends from Gwen's bed. "Your robes are so pretty!"
Lily smiled over her shoulder. "Mary Katherine, yours are too." She turned back to the mirror to study her reflection again. The robes fit as well as they had on Christmas day. Granted, the rest of her body didn't match the stunning robes, what with her wet hair and no-makeup face, but that would all change in the next hour. It was already eight o' clock, and the seventh year Gryffindors, along with the other seventh years in the school, would be meeting in the room off the Great Hall at nine fifteen. The Graduation ceremonies would start at nine thirty. The room that they would be meeting in was the same one they had waited nervously in seven whole years ago before they were sorted.
"Yeah," Gwen agreed, turning sideways to look at herself in a different prospective, "we wouldn't have let you pick ugly robes out, right Lily?"
Lily nodded and walked to Mary Katherine's closet, passing the empty bed that had once belonged to Hayley. Her heart wrenched, and she almost began crying again. The three girls had stayed up late the last night, wrapped securely in their scarlet comforters on the floor in front of Lily's bed, talking and remembering every important detail from the past seven years. They had all cried over Hayley, comforted Lily on her nervousness at giving her Head Girl speech, and talked about their future. Mary Katherine had been filled in on everything about Lily's life. It wasn't because Lily felt sorry for her losing her best friend, it was because she considered Mary Katherine as much of a friend as Gwen, even though she knew she and Mary Katherine would never share the bond that existed only between two best friends. Mary Katherine had shared it with Hayley, just as Lily shared it with Gwen.
The girls then decided to go pay a visit to the boys to cheer themselves up. All seven had stayed up to a very un-Godly hour, finally going to bed when Mary Katherine began snoring on Remus's shoulder.
Lily opened Mary Katherine's closet and pulled out her white dress robes. They were very much similar to her own, but with a v-neck and tight sleeves. She hung it on the bedpost next to Mary Katherine's ear. "Get up, M.K., and put them on. I'll do your hair, okay?"
Mary Katherine sighed and got up. "No," she said firmly. "I'm in charge of hair, Lily, but it was nice of you to offer."
Gwen snorted. "I wouldn't let Lily near me with a hairbrush if my life depended on it," she muttered, but not quietly enough.
Mary Katherine snorted and went into the bathroom to change. Lily made an offended noise. "It's not like your gifted with hair either, O Flawless One," she said sarcastically.
Gwen grinned. "True."
Lily smiled and looked at her friend. "Has it really been seven years?" she asked quietly.
"I was just wondering the same thing," Gwen said, shaking her head and looking down. When she raised her face, her eyes were unnaturally bright. "Oh Lily."
They hugged tightly, both lost in memories. Mary Katherine joined in on the hug, and when they pulled back, all three were sniffling. "We have to promise to be best friends forever, and to always help each other if the other is in need." Mary Katherine said solemnly, hugging them around the waists.
"Promise," Gwen whispered.
"I promise," Mary Katherine said firmly.
"I promise too," Lily said.
Lily glanced at the clock that hung above the dresser. "Oh my God! It's eight thirty!"
They sprang apart, each to dry their hair magically with their wands. In her hurry, Lily said the words too anxiously and her hair was a tousled mess. "At least it's dry," Gwen remarked optimistically as she and Mary Katherine stared at the red bush on Lily's head.
Mary Katherine moaned and set to work flipping through the pages of her Hair Handbook for Witches.
Thirty minutes later, all was right in the dormitory, and all three girls looked stunning. Mary Katherine's thick, corkscrew curls were up in an elegant twist with pieces hanging artfully around her face. Her eyelids were shimmering with silver and her lips were rosy red. The silver was to match the diamond choker around her neck. Gwen's thick, shiny black hair was done halfway up in a barrette with a stone that matched her sapphire- colored eyes and curled gently at the tips. Her eyelids shone with blue eye shadow, and black eyeliner made the blueness of her eyes more accented. She had a white gloss on her lips and around her neck hung the silver necklace adorned with sapphires. Lily's red hair that had been getting straighter and straighter as she grew older was now in gentle waves to her lower back. Her eyelids were painted with a light shimmer tinted green, also with dark eyeliner to bring out the bright green of her eyes, that matched the emeralds on her own necklace. Lily touched the silver necklace tenderly, a pain shooting through her heart at the thought of the person who gave it to her. Her eyes welled with tears, so she took a deep breath and told herself to look ahead. She glanced at the clock. "It's ten after, girls. We should go."
Gwen smiled. "We told the boys we'd meet the ten minutes ago. We shouldn't keep them waiting any more."
Lily giggled. "Yeah, let's go." She linked arms with Mary Katherine and Gwen and they climbed down the stairs, chatting happily. They opened the door wide and stepped out. The common room was packed with younger Hogwarts student's who weren't attending the ceremonies; instead, they were packing to leave at eleven for Hogsmeade Station.
Sirius, Remus, Peter, and James were slumped down in chairs wearing black robes and looking quite bored. They also were not facing their female counterparts. Gwen sneaked up behind Sirius and put her hands in front of his eyes. He yelped and sat up. "Guess who?" Gwen said evilly.
"Hmm…it couldn't be Gwen, could it?" Sirius said sarcastically.
"Right in one!"
The boys stood and turned. Their jaws dropped simultaneously.
"You-you look…" Remus stuttered.
"Um-" James croaked.
"Wow…" Sirius stated.
"That about sums it up." Peter said, not embarrassed in the least.
This jerked his friends out of their stupor and they stared at him. "Well it does!" he said, smiling.
Sirius grinned and nodded, moving around the couch and taking Gwen's hand. James moved silently around to Lily and hugged her. She smiled. "Mm, you smell good," she said dreamily.
"What?" he laughed, pulling back.
Lily reddened and cleared her throat. "We have about five minutes to get there. I hope you practiced your speech again, James," she said sternly.
He smiled and placed his hand on her lower back. "Yes, Lily. Let's go." He ushered her out of the portrait hole, Gwen and Sirius behind them, followed by Peter, with Mary Katherine and Remus bringing up the rear. They walked silently through the halls, down the grand marble staircase, and onto the flagged stone floor. They walked to a chamber off the entrance hall. Standing at the open doorway was Professor McGonagall, looking quite displeased. "Miss Evans, Mr. Potter, I would have expected better from the Head Boy and Girl. The ceremonies start in ten minutes!"
"Sorry, Professor," Lily said, pulling her boyfriend by his robes, praying that he wouldn't say anything to her.
He didn't, but Sirius waved cheerfully to her. "Lovely to see you, Minnie."
Professor McGonagall pressed her lips together. Lily hid a smile with her hand and bit her lip to keep from laughing, while Gwen was giggling silently.
"Black, what is the meaning of such disrespect?" she asked sternly.
Sirius grinned and in that moment, Lily didn't care what his motives were, just as long as he kept smiling. "Well, Minnie, I'm not a student anymore, so I figured I don't have to call you 'professor' anymore either," he said innocently.
"Black! You haven't graduated yet!" Professor McGonagall snapped, herding them in and standing in the doorway. "Students! In a moment, the graduation ceremony will take place. Please, let's have the Head Boy and Girl in the front. Now do be quiet, and tidy yourselves up a bit. I will be back for you in a moment." She exited the room and slammed the door.
Sirius, James, Remus, and Peter were standing together, whispering. Lily rolled her eyes. "I don't even want to know."
Mary Katherine shook her head in agreement. "Neither do I!"
Someone less welcome marched up just then, surrounded by his Slytherin cronies. "Well, if it isn't my favorite Gryffindors," Severus Snape oozed, his hair as slimy as usual. He looked exactly like he had when Lily had first met him-same sallow skin, hooked nose, and dark, piercing eyes. All four of the Marauder's heads shot up. Sirius glared at him with immense hatred. Lily was shocked-she had never seen him look that mean before. Gwen sighed and took him by the arm, talking to him quietly and leading him into the crowd.
"Snape," James hissed, nodding his head.
Snape looked at all that were assembled in turn, his gaze finally resting on Lily. He smirked and walked up to her. "Well, well. If it isn't the Adviser."
One of the boys next to him elbowed him in the stomach and whispered something in his ear. Snape's eyes widened. He turned to her. "Hello, Lily," he said in a very nice tone, but it was forced-sounding.
Lily raised her eyebrows. "Erm-hello, Severus."
"And how are you?"
Lily's jaw dropped. "I'm-I'm fine, and you?"
"Great-listen, Lily, could I have a word?" he asked, holding his hand out.
Lily turned from shocked to suspicious. But before she could answer, James stepped in. "Snape, go away, I can see right through your charade."
"Whatever are you talking about, James?" Severus, who came to James' shoulder, said innocently.
"You just want to get her on your good side so you can take her to your master." James hissed.
Lily sucked her breath in. Of course! Everyone knew that he knew more Dark magic than most grown wizards did, and there was a rumor that he was practically Voldemort's second in command.
Snape scowled and turned to Lily. "You'll regret your decision to be with them," he hissed, gesturing to Lily's friends before turning on his heel and sauntering back into the crowd.
Sirius and Gwen returned, Sirius practically smoking. "Did he hurt you, Lily?"
"No," Lily said, feeling dizzy.
James held her tight. "He was trying to win her over," he told Sirius in a tight voice.
Sirius clenched his fists. "I'll get him one day." Gwen began whispering to him again, assumedly calming him down.
Lily turned and looked at James. "Okay, explain. What happened to make Sirius hate Snape even more than he did before?"
James sighed and rubbed his forehead. "To make a long story short, Snape was being a nosy ass and sneaking around, trying to find out where Remus went every month. We…well, Sirius and I, thought that it would be…amusing to tell Snape the way to the Shrieking Shack."
Lily gasped. "James! You didn't!"
He held up a hand. "Wait. I didn't think he would actually go…but Sirius dragged me down the next full moon to see if he believed us. And sure enough, he came. I jumped out and stopped him in the tunnel, right as he opened the door. He glimpsed Remus, and told Dumbledore. Dumbledore forbade him to tell anyone, and he hasn't…so. That's why."
"James-you saved his life! Were you transformed?" Lily asked anxiously, keeping her voice low.
"No, otherwise we would have probably been expelled. Being an unregistered Animagi is illegal." James said, shaking his head.
Lily opened her mouth, but the door swung open and Professor McGonagall beckoned. She got in line behind James and followed him out, shaking with anxiety. Gwen was right behind her, and gave her a tight smile when she turned. Lily smiled nervously back and walked into the Great Hall. Sunlight flooded through the ceiling that was charmed to mirror the sky outside. The four house tables were pushed against the walls, leaving a space that seated the family members and friends of the graduates. A temporary stage had been made, and they were walking straight to it. Dumbledore was beaming in the middle of it in front of a wooden podium. Risers were lined up behind him. Professor McGonagall climbed the stairs and stood next to Dumbledore, while James filed into the first row with Lily in toe. Once all of the student's were on the risers, smiling and waving at familiar faces in the crowd, Dumbledore cleared his throat. The crowd hushed immediately.
"Thank you all for coming today," he began lightly. "I must say, this is quite a satisfactory class, and I will be sorry to see all of them leaving. But, graduates, may life be good to you, and I trust that you will carry all that you have learned in these halls with you for the rest of your days. Thank you, and now I will turn the podium over to Miss Lily Evans, our Head Girl for this year. Miss Evans?"
Lily turned to James and smiled nervously. She was determined to get over her fear of being the center of attention. It didn't mean that she had to like it, but just as long as she wasn't terrified of it anymore, she would be content. James squeezed her hand quickly before she stepped carefully off the riser and walked to the podium. She cleared her throat and looked out over the crowds. Ella gave a tiny wave. Lily swallowed and began, her voice more confident than she actually felt:
"Fellow graduates and alumni of Hogwarts, we have all gone through many trials. Everyone has failed some of these trials, whether it had been not flying your first time at our first flying lesson in first year or forgetting to turn in a homework assignment. But, just when you think you have failed too many times, my advice to you is this: remember your triumphs. Triumph is the opposite of failing, and everyone has triumphed, just as everyone has failed. Triumph is winning the Quidditch cup or making a good mark on your Transfiguration exam. They balance each other. But, very easily can that balance be overthrown. So remember to keep that balance: keep triumphing and keep failing. It will keep you down to earth and keep you intact. Thank you, and I will miss you all."
Lily smiled as she stepped away from the podium; that had gone better than she had expected. She heard the applause still as she stepped up next to James. He grinned at her and walked to the podium himself as Lily's friends congratulated her.
"Well," he said, placing his hands on the sides of the podium and smiling at the crowd. "We did it. There were a lot of times when I didn't think that I could make it (I was surely going to fail Charms), but, in the end, we all did. You know, if these walls could talk, I'm sure it would take them years to get all of their stories out. They know about our fears of fitting in from first year. Our smugness in second year, when we returned back to school thinking we knew everything about it. Our concerns in third year, when playing with a girl suddenly became more tempting than playing with boys." Here there were laughs, and James continued, "then in fourth year, when the initial shock of finding that we liked the opposite sex wore off, and then in fifth year, when we were terrified of facing the O.W.L.'s, but all passed. Then in sixth year, when we began to realize that the future was a lot closer than we thought. And finally, now, in seventh year, we are ready to take all of these things with us and use all that we have learned about them and use then. I know I will. So," he said gravely, "we are leaving." Here he turned to Dumbledore and smiled, "sorry, Professor, but not without a bang." Here there were groans from the teachers and student's, while the members of the crowd looked politely stumped. James, all traces of graveness gone, smiled evilly and signaled to Sirius. Sirius grinned, and said something. Scarlet and gold confetti poured from the ceiling and a banner dropped, saying in large scarlet and gold letters, "GRYFFINDOR IS THE BEST HOUSE-GO LIONS!"
Lily put both hands over her mouth and dissolved into giggles as the majority of the crowd laughed. Some were roaring their approval. After the ruckus had settled down, Professor Dumbledore, confetti caught in his beard, walked up to the podium. "This was expected, and I apologize for not warning you ahead of time," Dumbledore said to the still chuckling audience. "What with the infamous Marauders, as I believe they are called, graduating, I would have been quite worried if something like this hadn't happened. And so, ladies and gentleman, I will now present the graduates with their diplomas."
Professor McGonagall stepped up, her eyes mysteriously red-rimmed, and began reading the names in the same order that she had when they were sorted, this time saying the name of the house with the person. Whichever house you belonged to was the color of ribbon that tied your diploma. Lily and James both had silver ribbons in between two scarlet ones, the sign of graduating as Head Boy and Girl.
"And now, I give you the graduating class of 1976!" Dumbledore cried. Lily cheered along with her classmates and hugged her friends, the scarlet and gold confetti still falling. She walked off the stage, her diploma clutched tightly in her hand.
"Oh! Zere is my little graduate!" Ella cried, spotting Lily and opening her arms. Lily rushed to her and hugged her tightly. "Zat was beautiful, darling! Reminds me of when I graduated from Beauxbatons Academy," she said wistfully. Lily grinned at her. "And yoor gown! It iz abzolutely perfect! I am glad zat yoo wouldn't show it to me, so it would be a surprize!"
"Oh, Ella, move over, let the rest of Lily's admirers hug her," Elizabeth Watson scolded. Ella smiled and released Lily, and Mrs. Watson hugged her tightly. "Congratulations, Lily dear."
"Thank you Mrs. Watson," Lily said, returning to hug with equal force.
"Lily, please, you need to call me Elizabeth," Mrs. Watson said, looking at her fondly.
"All right," Lily said, and was hugged by Minister Watson right after. After he released her, Lily walked around, looked around for Katharine. She spotted her at the edge of the chattering crowd, holding her son tightly.
Lily swallowed and closed her eyes briefly, not wanting to interrupt the mother-son moment. When she opened them, Katharine was talking quietly to James. Lily gasped, now able to see her fully.
"I know," someone said from behind her. Lily didn't even have to turn around to know it was Gwen.
"What's happened to her?" Lily asked, still shaken. Katharine resembled a pole, and her face was thin and pale.
"Mum says she doesn't eat much anymore. That the only reason she does is for James," Gwen said, her voice wobbling.
Lily swallowed and stepped forward slowly. Katharine turned and Lily saw her eyes light briefly. "Lily," she said, hugging her weakly. Lily bit her lip and hugged her close. "I'm so proud of you," Katharine whispered, and Lily felt her eyes well with tears. "To have watched you grow up with James has been wonderful, wonderful, and words can't describe how glad I am you're here. James is a good boy, and I'll always be comforted to know that he's with a girl who loves him as much as I love him," Katharine's voice broke, and Lily closed her eyes and shook her head.
"Katharine, please, don't-don't talk like that-"
"Lily," Katharine soothed, rubbing her back, "you and I both know that I'm not going to be around for much longer. But, when I do go, I will go in peace, because I know that my James is with a girl who he deserves, and who deserves him. But don't cry now," she said, pulling back, her eyes shining, "I'm going to be around for your wedding."
Lily sniffed. "Promise?" she whispered.
"I promise," Katharine vowed, smiling at her.
Lily shook her head; this day had been full of promises. She felt a strong arm sneak around her waist, and she leaned into James gratefully. "Then we'll make sure it's sooner rather than later," he said strongly to his mother.
Lily's heart jolted. They had avoided talk of marriage at all costs, even though there was a mutual understanding that they would do it eventually, but that was the first time either had mentioned it. But, she found herself nodding, happy to see that Katharine was beaming at them.
They said goodbye to all the parents and trooped back to their dorms to make a last check over to make sure they hadn't forgot anything, doing it more thoroughly than ever because they would not be returning the next year. It would go to the new first year Gryffindor's, to be used by them for the next seven years. Lily lugged her trunk to the doorway and stood with her best friends on either side and they looked at their room for the last time. Lily smiled and gave it a tiny wave, before following them out.
They boarded the Hogwarts Express from Hogsmeade Station for the last time, and all squeezed into the Head Boy and Girl compartment. Lily slept most of the way, and when she opened her eyes, it was dark outside and everyone in the small compartment was gathering his or her belongings. They wheeled their trunks out and stepped off the train and onto Platform 9 ¾. Lily glanced back at the old scarlet steam engine and smiled, before turning her back on it and straightening her shoulders, walking through the barrier and into the Muggle world. In a sense, Lily felt like she was leaving her childhood behind with the train and stepping into the world of adulthood. With her friends, and James, she knew she would be fine.
Please review. I mean, it isn't rocket science, you know.
