A/N:- this isn't the last chapter but I really like this chapter, I was listening to some really really really happy and emotional music as I was writing this so I hope you like this chapter particularly, There will be a sequel to this story, it's going to be called Death is the Way…..Happy title I know! But I've finished this story and I've already started on the next one.

The NEWTs drew close all to quickly for anyone's liking and before long all the Seventh years were put in exams and were taking practical exams. Lily thought they were quite hard but she managed to get through them without much distress. April thought she'd done ok as well but felt she'd completely messed up her history of magic exam and she'd accidentally done a Patronus charm instead of one that she was told to do. Having been the first time she'd cast the charm, April did well as a large dog shot out of the end of her wand to her surprise. The Marauders were not coping as well as the girls. Peter completely messed up his Potions exams, James forgot to do a question on his Defence against the dark arts but the other two did alright. The final day of the exams drew near and all April and Lily wanted to do was sleep. Their brains were completely fried and were almost a mushy pulp.

It didn't help that the security measures were still being conducted on the school so Lily couldn't go to the library to do any last minute revision. She couldn't do it in the common room because she was always getting distracted by James. April also found it difficult to revise with Sirius around so the girls spent all their time in the dorm room.

"April, transfiguration exam" Lily said tiredly from her bed.

"I know." April muttered. "Just another ten minutes." April didn't get those last ten minutes as an owl shot through the window that Jessica had opened and flew straight over Lily as she turned to get up and crashed into April's hangings. April gave a loud cry of alarm and fell out of her bed. Lily laughed.

"You'll make a great Auror one day." Lily said. April made a face at Lily and took the letter from the owl.

"It's a bit early for mail isn't it?" April asked. Lily shrugged as she pulled her uniform on.

"Who's it from?" Lily asked.

"My parents." April said. "'Good luck in your exams, we know it's a bit late but we've been to visit your sister in America and there wasn't any way of contacting you as she doesn't have an owl. I hope you and Lily are safe and happy. Please congratulate Lily for us, she'll make an amazing wife. Again, good luck with your exams, we'll have a present waiting when you get home. Lots of love, mum and dad'" April read. Lily looked at her darkly and pulled her robes on over her uniform.

"Say thanks to them for me." Lily said. Lily picked up her wand and checked it over quickly as she had done every day in the past two weeks. April watched Lily's sudden change in mood.

"Are you alright?" April asked. "You don't seem to be in a good mood anymore."

"I'm fine." Lily said, red sparks shot out of the end of her wand in her frustration.

"Obviously you're not." April said. Lily stopped moving around her bed and stopped, a few tears escaped from Lily's eyes. April got up and put her arms around Lily when she saw her starting to cry.

"It's just that-" Lily wiped her eyes. "I always thought that I'd be taking the NEWTs with Jenny by our side, joking about how Jamie can't do Potions or how Jeffrey is a total bastard but she's not here with us. And every year I've gotten a good luck note from my parents and now I think I took that for granted because they're not here and I can't get married with one of my best friends gone and my parents absent because they're all dead and-" Lily stopped her very quick spilling of her feelings and let April hug her tightly.

"I know." April said. "It doesn't seem right."

"It's all wrong." Lily said. "It's not supposed to be like this." April sympathised with her friend and held her at arms length.

"Look at me Lily." April said getting Lily to look at her directly. "You're clever, smart and beautiful and you're going to pass these exams. When we leave school you're going to get married to the boy, no the man you love. Do you know how jealous I am of you? Do you know how jealous Jenny was of you?" April asked, "Don't let some bastard of a dark lord spoil your life just because our histories are different. This is the way it's meant to be though it doesn't seem right. You've been stronger then I have through all this and I know you can live through this dark time. Now cheer up and smile. James is waiting downstairs and if we don't leave soon we'll be late for a transfiguration exam." April said smiling. Lily couldn't help but smile at April's small pep talk.

"You're right." Lily said with a sigh. "We'll be late. Get ready quickly." April let go of Lily to get ready quickly while Lily wiped her eyes. April was right, Lily was being stupid. April was ready quite quickly, the two girls picked up their bags and rushed downstairs where the boys were waiting.

"Sorry we're a bit late." Lily said. "We had a bit of a problem."

"What was it?" James asked taking Lily's hand as they walked to the Great hall for their exam.

"I just started crying, nothing important." Lily said dismissively. They were, for once, allowed to travel around the castle unsupervised. The seventh years had had a few rules lifted the previous night so that they may enjoy their last few weeks in school.

"What about?" James asked concerned. April and Sirius had gone ahead slightly with Remus and Peter.

"It wasn't anything important. I just got a suddenly felt upset about Jenny, mum and dad." Lily said.

"Oh, I'm guessing April helped you out?" James asked as they came to the end of a long line.

"Yeah, well see you after the exam." Lily said giving James a quick kiss and going to her place. The line was in houses and alphabetic order. They all went into the exam. Dumbledore stood at the front of the hall waiting for everyone to go into the hall and take their seats. Lily glanced back to April curiously but she just shrugged. Lily looked forwards and saw Sirius mouth something to James, who was sitting in the next row in front of them.

"Please, when you are ready I would just like to say a few things before you start your exam." Dumbledore said. His bright blue eyes glittered with happiness but had a bit of sadness in them as well. "As you know, this is your last exam and therefore the last bit of education you will be forced to do in this school. Before I wish you good luck I would just like to say that after the exam you will be free to go to Hogsmeade for the afternoon and free to wander the grounds but I must ask you to exercise extreme caution. Good luck and you may begin." Dumbledore smiled and test papers appeared on the tables.

*    *    *    *

"Your time is up" Dumbledore said, "Please put your quills down." There was a rustling in the hall as everyone finished looking through their papers and put their quills in their bags.

"Accio" Dumbledore said. The parchments with the answers on sped to the front of the hall. "Now I would like to wish you all the best of luck for your futures, no doubt that you will find jobs to suit you all and find happiness in others." Lily saw Dumbledore gaze at her and James for a few seconds. "Now go and enjoy your remaining days at Hogwarts." Dumbledore said with a smile Everyone rushed to get up and in a few minutes Lily as out in the summer sun. The weather was hot and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. A perfect day to end the exams. She could see a little way off the giant squid was waving it's tentacles in the air.

"How did the exam go?" James asked Lily as he snaked an arm around her waist.

"Not that bad I have to say" Lily said. She gave James a deep kiss. School was almost officially over.

"I can't believe it's nearly over." April said looking slightly amazed. Sirius came running out of the school and nearly knocked the three over.

"It's over." He shouted. He did knock April to the floor and gave her a kiss. April laughed and happily returned the kiss. Remus and Peter caught up with them, Remus looked slightly tired with Sirius' behaviour but he laughed.

"Hogsmeade?" Remus asked.

"Why not." Lily said smiling. "We haven't been since October." April let out a scream as Sirius started tickling her.

"Lily, help me!" she screamed. Lily was very tempted to just let Sirius keep tickling her but she got out her wand. A jet of blue light came out the end and Sirius was sent sprawling on the floor and April got up breathlessly.

"Lily!" Sirius said pretending to be upset. He got up and put an arm around April's shoulder as James put his arm back around Lily's waist. The six teens headed for the main entrance and went to the Three Broomsticks. They found seats near a large window. Lily looked around the place. So many memories, so many emotions. As if James could sense what she was sensing he pulled her closer and kissed her forehead.

"Butterbeers?" asked Madame Rosemerta.

"Yes please." April said.

"Exams over and done with then?" Madame Rosemerta asked.

"Yes, school is finally over!" Remus said letting his hair down for a while.

"Congratulations." Madame Rosemerta said. "I'll get a few treats from Honeydukes then." Madame Romesmerta disappeared.

"So, what now?" James asked.

"Marriage." Lily said giving James a kiss on the lips.

"Can't wait." James said. Madame Rosemerta returned a few minutes later with a large tray with mugs of butterbeer and a pile of treats from Honeydukes. Each of the six took a mug of the drink.

"To Marriage." James said holding his drink up and taking Lily's hand.

"To Jenny" April said holding hers up.

"To quidditch" Sirius said.

"To the Marauders" Peter said.

"To happiness" Remus said. Everyone had made their toast and looked at Lily to make her toast. She put her mug in with the others.

"To the future." Lily said with a grin as Madame Rosemerta appeared again with a camera.