Disclaimer: Um ... Read the first eight chapters. :P As of this moment, I'm no longer doing disclaimers chapter-by-chapter, unless they're needed.

Author's Note: Hmm ... I think it's fair to tell you all now that there's only going to be twelve chapters to this story. I realized that I couldn't write it out month-by-month anymore so I've shortened it. Sigh Thanks to: Verona Dracula (hehe ... Glad you liked chapter eight so much ... was hard to write :P), Eien Chou (hooray! I got three cheers!), Terra Kaiba (yus ... The story of Peter can teach us all nods and I'm glad you like the story), and My Prongsy!! Or, Wristerpassion25 giggle (I'm glad you're liking this so much :) and nice Siriusly thing :P). And don't mind the dragon question ... I recently purchased Fascinating Beasts & Where To Find Them so I had to use it, lol.

Chapter Nine:

Studying season came around just as fast as Christmas had. The four Marauders, accompanied by Lilly, sat in one corner of the common room, with their books spread over a table. All around them, more groups of students were having cramming sessions.

"Alright, Peter," Lilly looked at him, "here's a magical creatures question." She thought for a moment. "Actually, it's for each of you boys. I want Peter and Remus to give me two answers, and Sirius and James to give me three." She giggled at the looks on Prongs and Padfoot's faces, then cleared her throat. "There are ten breeds of dragon. Name then. You start, Peter, then we'll go around the table."

"Er ..." Peter's brow furrowed as he thought. "Um ... Common Welsh Green and ... Uh ... Swedish Short-Snout?" He breathed with relief when Lilly nodded.

"Wonderful." Lilly smiled. "James next. Remember, name three." Her smile turned slightly wicked.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," sighed James. "Let's see ... Chinese Fireball, Norwegian Ridgeback, and ... Antipodean Opaleye." He grinned at his success.

"Perfect. Now you, Remus."

Remus smiled and answered, without hesitation, "Peruvian Vipertooth and Hebridean Black."

"Of course, that's right," Lilly said.

"I'll bet he has all of their qualities and characteristics memorized, too," Prongs laughed.

"I'm just smart, that's all." Remus stuck out his tongue playfully.

"If you two are done," interrupted Lilly, "Sirius needs to answer."

"Fine ... Leave me with the hardest part," Sirius complained. "Everyone else got ten to choose from and I'm limited with the final three ... They took my answers!"

"Just answer the question, Sirius."

"Alright, alright ...No need to get mad, Lilly." Sirius grinned. "Ok ... There's ... Ukranian Ironbelly ... Hungarian Horntail ... And ... And ... Romanian ..." He frowned.

Reamus leant over and whispered something Sirius's ear.

Sirius grinned suddenly and said, "Romanian Longhorn."

"Oi!" Peter yipped. "That was cheating!"

"Nah." Padfoot shook his head. "It's just 'cause Remus loves me."

Lilly laughed.

"I think that's enough studying for now." She looked around. "Let's go talk in your dorm ... So we won't disturb anybody."

The Marauders agreed and trooped up to their dorms, with Lilly right behind them. They all sat on James's bed or Sirius's.

"So ..." Lilly pushed some hair behind her ear and looked around. "What are all of your plans for after school?"

"Absolutely nothing!" boasted Sirius. "I'm going to lie about, wonder why I wasted seven good years of my life, and do whatever I get the impulse to do." He nodded firmly.

Laughing, Peter said, "I'm going to move to Widnes. I heart it's a quaint place and I'm hoping that some good will come out of it all." Wormtail smiled.

"I'm going to Romania," Remus told them. He tried to ignore the fallen look on Sirius's face. "There's this course in Covasna, that's near the Carpathian Mountains, that is all about learning how to defend yourself against the Dark Arts." He blushed a bit, hecause he wanted to someday work with something to do with the Dark Arts (whether at the Ministry of Magic or teaching ... Though, he'd prefer to teach). "It'll be like going to school," continued Moony. "It goes for three years, and it's for creatures of the Dark Arts – like me – that want to learn about these things; they're all going to be virtually harmless, give or take a night or two now and then. It'll really help to boost my career." He looked down, so he wouldn't have to look at Sirius.

"Oh, Remus!" Lilly exclaimed. "That sounds absolutely wonderful!" She hugged him. "I've heard that Romania is beautiful, and it such history in the wizarding world! You'd better take some good pictures." She giggled, then looked at James. "And what are your plans, Mr. Potter?"

"Well," James swallowed a bit, "I was hoping you could help me decide that." He knelt down before Lilly, taking little note of her tiny gasp. "I know I used to be a real jerk sometimes," he said, "and I know I still am one now and then. But, please, don't think about those times. Instead, think about how much I love you. You mean the world to me. You are my night and my day, my every breath, my every thought. My heart beats only for you." At this point, James took in all of his courage. "Lilly Evans, will you marry me?"

A squeal escaped Lilly as she pulled James into a hug. Taking that as a yes, James slipped the engagement ring (a gold band with a small, square diamond in it, accented by two round rubies on either side of the diamond) on her finger. He had just enough time to quickly kiss her before she ran off to tell all of her friends.

James laughed and sat down. Peter patted his back.

"Wow, James. This is quite a commitment." Wormtail grinned.

"Yeah, Prongs," Sirius said. "Are you sure you aren't going to wimp out on the wedding day?" He laughed.

"I'm not going to wimp out!" defied James. "And you're going to make sure of that, Sirius. You're going to be the best man."

Sirius blinked, then slowly smiled.

"Really?" He hugged James, grinning like a maniac. "That's awesome!"

"Is it possible that I can get a word or two in now?" Remus voiced. With a fake look of annoyance, he pushed Sirius out of the way and hugged James. "Congratulations, James. You two make a fine pair."

"Well, thank you, Remus." A smile lit up Prongs's face.

"You're very much welcome," Moony replied. "Besides," he grinned playfully, "it'll be better for us three, since now you'll have someone who can keep on you all the time."

Rolling his eyes, James commented, "Geez ... I thought you had more heart than that, Moony." He laughed, then said, "Well, I'd better go find Lilly before she over excerpts herself from too much excitement." He gave them all a nod and left.

"Hmm ... I should study some more." Peter stood up. "I'm dreadful with exams. If anyone needs me, I'll be in the library. See you two later." Peter took his leave.
On his way to the library, Peter passed by Lucius and Snape.

"Pettigrew!" Snape stopped and walked over to Peter. "Lucius has a message for you from Voldemort."

A frown etched into Peter's face.

"Oh ... Alright." He toddled over to Lucius. "Yes, Malfoy?"

"Ah, Pettigrew." Lucius put on a ghost of a smile. "Voldemort wants you to know that your friends, Potter and Evans, are not on his good side." He smirked. "He feels that something involving them will jeopardize his future as Dark Lord. Since the two are engaged – don't look so surprised, Petteigrew, everyone in the bloody school knows by now – they'll be getting a secret keeper soon. Voldemort wants you to know that you better be that secret keeper." His eyes flashed menacingly and he left. Snape followed, not even casting a second glance at Peter.

Peter meeped and continued on his way to the library.
"So ..." Sirius lied down on his bed and looked at Remus, who was sitting on his own bed. "Romania, eh?" He looked at the ceiling.

Remus shifted a bit.

"Yeah. It sounds very exciting." Moony folded his hands on his lap and looked down.

Sirius sat up and took Remus's hands in his own. He looked at the brown eyed boy and said, "I'm gonna miss you, you know."

Looking back at Padfoot, Moony replied, "I'm going to miss you, too." He sniffed back threatening tears.

They embraced each other in a silent hug until Sirius cut into the silence.

"At least it's only for a few years." Padfoot kissed the top of Remus's head as he nodded. "C'mon ... Peter had a right idea. Let's get back to studying so I don't fail."
Author's Note: Agh! This took forever to type! I'd type two sentences, and then I'd get bored and stop. Whew!