Chapter Eleven
Saying Goodbye

That Monday began the worst part of the year, exam time. All the students were now in the library or the common room studying every chance they had in order to advance to the next year. All the fifth and seventh years were anxious about their upcoming N.E.W.Ts and O.W.Ls, the prefects and head students were snapping at anyone who would utter a sound. James and Sirius had taken a break from their usual pranking to hit the books with Remus and Peter. Peter needed all the help he could get, being he was such a poor wizard.

The day of the exams all of the Great Hall was silent except for the clinking and clattering of knives and forks as the students ate very small breakfasts. All the students were white faced and racing through their textbooks for any forgotten information. Remus, James, Sirius and Peter were all looking through their History of Magic textbook, looking up information on the giants. History of Magic was their first exam and Professor Binns was taking no mercy on them. He guaranteed at least fifty questions all short answers, no multiple choice or fill in. Remus was reading about the banishment of the giants when the bells rang signaling the beginning of the exams. He gathered up his books and he James, Sirius and Peter headed to the second floor for their exam. Professor Binns was hovering around the chalkboard writing the instructions on the board. They read:

1. Take a seat quietly
2. Put all of your books under the desk
3. Take out ink bottles
4. Wait for further instructions

Remus did just that. He shoved his bag under his desk after taking out an inkbottle. All the desks had been separated and pushed far away from each other. Remus took a seat in the middle; Peter took the seat next to Remus, while James and Sirius went to the back. Professor Binns then took a box full of quills and started passing them around. Professor Binns then handed the test papers out and placed them blank side up on the desks.

"Those are your quills," Professor Binns said once he had finished handing the materials out, "you are to use them and only them, anyone caught cheating even though that is impossible will be severely punished. You have the whole class to complete this test you may begin." After that the only sound to be heard was the rustling of papers and the scratching of quills. Remus was now on question two, "give the reason that the giants were banished." He scribbled down his answer and read it thoroughly over to make sure he had stated it correctly. As he was answering number four he heard a faint "psst!" coming from next to him. He looked to his side and saw it was Peter trying to get his attention. Peter held up his paper and pointed to number one and he was wearing a desperate expression on his face. Remus ignored him and tried to still ignore him throughout the rest of the examination.

After History of Magic there was Potions where Remus sat as far away from Peter as possible as they concocted their Shrinking Potions. In the end Remus, James and Sirius had perfected their potions while Peters turned to a horrible blue colour and smelled like feet. They had to evacuate the dungeons so they could get rid of the smell and were allowed to reenter twenty minutes later. Then there was Transfiguration where they had to change a tissue box into a glass box with a floral design. Remus managed to change his but there was a giant crack on the right side when James accidentally dropped his wand on Remus's box. Professor McGonagall took note of that but took points away from neither student.

At lunch all of the students were to be found in the Great Hall now studying for their afternoon exams. The Gryffindor first years remained with Herbology, Defense Against the Dark Arts and Charms.

"Remus," Peter stammered, "how do you do the light charm? I don't remember!"

"You think I'm really going to tell you?" Remus snapped, flipping to the next page in his Defense Against the Dark Arts book.

"Well you always used to help me."

"This is a little thing called an exam Peter. Exam means you're supposed to show them what you know, not what your friend knows." James and Sirius sniggered while Peter turned red in the face and slumped in his chair. After the bells had rung they headed out onto the grounds where they took their Herbology exam. In this exam they had to take care of their Dribbly Sprouts and make sure they stayed alive for the whole exam time. Defense Against the Dark Arts was next and was too simple. It was just a short answer exam on types of dark creatures. Remus felt confident he managed to get the bit on werewolves' right. Finally they had Charms where Professor Flitwick made them practise all the charms he had taught them that year, Lumos and Wingardium Leviosa were found on the exam. At dinner all the students were talking happily about the end of exams.

"I think I did pretty well," Sirius said as he was placing a bit of steak on his plate, "what about you James?"

"Couldn't have done better," James answered happily, his mood was still good because Lily had considered going out with him.

"I think I did well," Remus said.

"I don't know about me," Peter said sheepishly.

"Surprise, surprise," James muttered. Peter glared at him, "I'm just kidding, and can't you take a joke?" As they were eating they heard a scream coming from the Slytherin table. They all looked around and saw that Severus Snape was now faced with his book bag that had just grown fangs. It was hovering above him and chomping his fangs. James and Sirius burst into side splitting laughter, giving each other high fives as Snape ran out of the hall shouting every incantation he knew at his possessed book bag.

"You two again!" came Lily's voice from behind them.

"Hullo Lily," James said, adopting his manly voice.

"Don't give me that Potter!" she snapped, "I thought maybe you might've changed when I considered going out with you but that just changed my mind! Maybe when that big head of yours deflates!" She turned abruptly on her heel and stalked away. James frowned but then shrugged and continued with his meal. James never let Lily being angry with him get to his head because he knew by some amazing miracle she would come around.

The next day was the last day of the term. All the students were packing up their trunks and getting ready for the big feast. Remus, Sirius, James Peter were in the boys dormitory packing up. Remus was folding his robes and placing them in his trunk, pausing every now and then to shove some owl treats inside Luther's cage. James was putting his wand and cauldron in his trunk; Sirius and Peter were putting their textbooks away.

"I can't believe our first year is over," James said as he snapped the latches on his trunk shut.

"Me neither," Sirius sighed, "but it sure was fun! All those pranks! And think next year they'll be more advanced!"

"And maybe Remus will join us in one?" James said eyeing Remus.

"Sure," Remus answered simply, standing up to put his trunk on his bed. He then glanced at his watch, "come on, the feast is starting." All the boys left the dormitory and headed down to the Great Hall, which was decked out in scarlet and gold, and sat down at their house table. There was talking, laughing and enjoying the feast. After about an hour or so Professor Dumbledore stood up and the hall fell silent.

"The end of another year," he said happily, "I believe that now we should be announcing the House Cup winner but I don't feel like so I'll just sit back down." Dumbledore made to sit back down but everyone in the hall started shouting for him to announce the winners. Dumbledore laughed and stood back up. "I was only kidding," he laughed, "now in fourth place with three hundred and fifty points... Hufflepuff!" There were some scattered applauses, "in third place with three hundred and eighty points we have Ravenclaw!" again some applause. "In second place with exactly four hundred points Slytherin! And in first place with four hundred and twenty points... Gryffindor!" The hall erupted into tremendous applauses. The Gryffindors jumping up and down some banging their fist on the table in celebration. They had done it... they had won.

The next day they were heading home. On the train Remus, Sirius Peter and James had found a compartment in the back and whiled away the time playing Exploding Snap and devising new tricks for their second year. In fact it seemed like no time at all when they were pulling up at Platform 9 ¾. Remus, James, Sirius and Peter exited the trains and went to go find their trunks. They received them from the luggage holder and went to find their parents. James, Sirius and Peter found theirs immediately and went over to go say hullo. Remus was left looking for his. Remus saw his aunt, uncle and cousin and went over to them. They gave each other apprehensive glances when they saw their nephew approaching them.

"Hi," Remus said.

"Hullo Remus," his uncle chocked.

"Anything wrong?" came James's voice from behind. Remus turned and saw James was looking at Remus' uncle. "Oh hullo sir," James added, "I'm one of Remus's friends. Are you his dad?"

"No James," Remus's uncle answered, "I was just getting to that. Remus over the school year... your parents got very sick... that's why they weren't responding to any of you letters... Remus your parents they... well they... they died." Remus half expected himself to cry, but just couldn't bring himself to. His eyes were wide with shock and he was breathing shallowly. He was completely oblivious to the fact that his uncle had pulled him into a hug and was patting him on the back saying, "It will be okay." James, Sirius and Peter were standing behind him lost for words and all Remus could think was "why me?"

"Remus," James said slowly, "we're really sorry. Are you going to be okay?"

"Yeah," Remus chocked, "I'll... I'll be fine. What's going to happen to me now?" Remus asked his uncle.

"We've been going to your house over the year and bringing your belongings to our house, you'll be living with us. Come on lets get you home."

"Okay, hold on one minute?" Remus turned to his friends, "guess I'll see you next year?"

"Yeah," said Sirius, "have a good summer, take care of yourself."

"Yeah bye," Peter said and James nodded.

"Bye," Remus said. He turned, sighed and ran to catch up with his aunt and uncle, thinking his life would've have been a whole lot worse, even now, if his friends weren't there to stick by his side.