louise-Thanks! New reviewer award to you! Not enough about James and Sirius? Hmm… we'll see.
mynameisanna-Hey you! Thanks for your support—it means a lot!
roxygurl25-Harsh on James? Yes, I'm a feminist.
Tidal Waves- Thanks for your review!
code112358132134-Glad you liked. I thought you'd like that particular part; I was proud of it too. I'll keep your review forever!
BlackLupin- Boy, what a slacker I am. I'm really sorry. Section breaks are a go! Sorry about that—and thanks for notifying and helping me. We'll see about Jake… maybe I'll stick him in graduation or the epilogue. Long chapter… got it. I lengthened it as much as I could. We'll see about the Caitlin/Sirius scene… I need some original ideas (something I lack) first!
potts-Thanks for your support! When are you going to get cracking on yours?
Laney-Wood- Thanks for your review!
To Be Young Again
Chapter 37: Graduation and Goodbyes
May 23
The fire was blazing brightly as the two teens sat quietly, the girl on the boy's lap, staring at it. For a while the only sound was the crackling of the flames.
"Sirius?" the girl asked.
"Mmm?"
"I… um… I feel really stupid asking this, but…" she stopped, hesitating.
"What is it, babe?"
"You… you remember Vylette Snyder? Well of course you do. Well did you ever… you know have feelings for her?" she said hastily.
"What?" Sirius yelped. "Caitlin Black, what kind of a question is that?"
"I—I know," Caitlin said in an apologetic voice. "But I kind of need to know."
"Caitlin," Sirius sighed. "You are and have always been number one. You have got to let this go. I know Snyder's your enemy, but you know I love you. Come here."
Caitlin slid over to Sirius, since she had jumped away when he had yelped.
"I love you, Caitlin Taylor Black," he said, enjoying his name on hers. "Let it go," he whispered, kissing her nose and then her lips.
"Sirius," she said. "I love you more."
Sirius highly doubted it. He scooped Caitlin in his arms as they kissed. He walked toward the boys' dormitories, knowing they were empty.
And this time, Caitlin didn't say no.
May 27
Caitlin Black was speaking to her brother Jake on the telephone.
"I told you, soon… after graduation…don't tell me you forgot, Jake Taylor! It's my graduation… I know, I know. So how is Marie? Oh no, she's old… how's Laura?… She's gone? Since when?… Tuesday? Jacob, its Thursday! You are such an idiot.. So who is it now?… Rachel's a nice name.
"Well I've got to go, Jake. I'll see you on graduation and don't you forget!… I love you, too. 'Bye."
Just as Caitlin hung up the phone, Lily walked into Dumbledore's office and placed something on the large wooden desk. She looked surprised to see Caitlin.
"A telephone worked in here?" was all she asked.
"Yeah. Dumbledore let me somehow." Caitlin smiled. "What's that?"
"Oh, just some stuff Dumbledore asked me to drop off. I don't know what it is. So who was that on the phone?"
"My brother Jake. He's such an idiot sometimes, but I love him."
Lily nodded. "Caitlin?" she asked quietly. "I need to talk to you."
"You're what?" Caitlin shrieked.
"Ssh!" Lily said, glancing at the door quickly.
"It… I mean, it is James'… right?" Caitlin asked uncertainly.
"Of course! Did you think that I would have anyone else's child?"
"How… how did this happen?"
Lily knew what she meant.
"I… I don't know. I keep telling myself 'no'—you know me, Cait, the regular goody two-shoes… but when I'm with James I just lose it."
Caitlin's eyes sparkled. "You two are really in love."
"I think so," Lily said, her scratchy voice barely a whisper.
There was a silence.
"So when's the wedding?"
"Caitlin!"
June 2
"James, we need to talk," Lily said. "I mean, we really need to talk."
"Lily, look, you know it was just as much your fault as it was mine… well, maybe it was a little more mine, but it was mutual, and-"
"James." Lily covered his mouth with her hand. "Shush. We'll talk about that later. This thing is bigger."
"Lily, I'm sorry!" James burst out.
"What?"
"I said I could give all you wanted, but I failed you, didn't I? I-"
"James! You didn't do anything wrong, alright? Meet me tonight… on the Quidditch pitch."
"Lily?" he asked, suddenly looking different. "Do you… love me? Do you really love me?"
"What?"
"Just answer the question, Lily," he said quietly.
"James…" she said, thinking of the talk she and Caitlin had had. "I would do anything for you. I really and truly do love you."
"I—good," James muttered distractedly. "Good. I'll see you tonight."
Giving her a quick kiss, he sprinted off.
Lily put her sweater on as she stepped out into the breezy night. She stood underneath the goal posts.
James appeared, his hair tousled in the wind.
"Lily," he said as soon as he was standing in front of her. "I know you have something important to say, babe, but what I have to say is life-changing and now that I've got the courage to say it, I don't want to lose it."
"Mine is life-changing, too," Lily started to say, but James cut her off.
"Lily, from the moment I saw you I was in love. I was eleven years old, and you were an angel. But immediately you hated me, and for six years I dealt with it. This last year has been absolute heaven, Lily Evans, ever since you came into my life.
"I love you more than you will ever know, and you are the very reason for my existence, I swear it."
There were tears in Lily's emerald eyes now, making them glisten like a pool. James dropped to one knee, his eyes never wavering from Lily's.
"Lily Evans," he said, "will you marry me?"
Lily hands were covering her mouth now. She opened her mouth, but no sound came out.
"Lily? Say something, please."
Lily opened her mouth and yet again remained silent.
"Lily?" James closed his eyes, preparing himself.
"Y… yes," Lily said. "Yes!"
James opened his eyes and the two embraced.
"Now," he said once Lily had the sparkling diamond on her finger, "what did you have to say that was more important than what I had to?"
"James," Lily said. "… We're pregnant."
There was a stunned silence from James. "We're what?"
"Pregnant, James. The baby's half yours and half mine."
James gulped.
"Madam Pomfrey says it's a boy… James, what's wrong?"
"We're… pregnant," James processed.
Lily was terrified he was going to leave her. She had read books, heard stories of teen pregnancies where the guy bailed because he was scared, and James was showing all the usual symptoms. No, Lily thought. Not James. Please not James. She knew she couldn't live without him.
"I know, but James… it's a beautiful thing. I was scared, too, but… we're getting married. We shouldn't be afraid." Lily held her breath.
After a while, James asked, "What shall we name him?"
June 4
"May I have your attention, please?" Dumbledore asked after he clapped his hands. "Students, please. All seventh years please listen up. The votes have all been accounted for. The valedictorian of this year's graduating class is… Miss Lily Evans."
Lily blushed deeply and smiled as the Great Hall applaused, a few students grumbling.
"Congratulations," James said, and kissed her.
June 14
Pulling the last curler out of her hair, Caitlin sighed as she looked at her reflection. At seventeen, she was married to a man she loved, was accepted to be an employee of Gringotts, and was graduating.
"Are you done with that?" Lily asked from beside her.
"What? Oh, sure." Caitlin handed the makeup tool to her.
"So what do you think?" Lily asked as they both stood in front of the full-length mirror Lily had conjured.
"I'd say we looked hot," Caitlin said, grinning. And they headed down to the Great Hall, Caitlin with her gold and scarlet robe over her dress, and Lily with her blue Ravenclaw robe.
"Thank you, family, friends, everyone, for gathering here this evening. We are here to witness the graduation of these youngsters, not so young anymore. I have watched them mature over the years, and my, it has been a treat. I am sure they will all become excellent wizards once they leave this school.
"And now a bit from our esteemed valedictorian, Miss Lily Marie Evans," Dumbledore finished as he induced a round of applause.
"Good evening, family, friends, and fellow graduates. It has been an amazing journey through these seven wonderful years. I have learned a lot. I made friends and met my first love." The crowd ahh-ed and Lily blushed. "So many things have happened to me at Hogwarts. I have changed so much.
"But now we enter the real world—the harsh cold world where not everything is safe and within magical walls. Where Professor Dumbledore is not always there to run to. Where we have to fend for ourselves. Things will not be easy.
"But we will get through it. I know we will. You can do anything if you just have someone." She looked at James, then Caitlin, then Sirius, Arabella, Jane. "All of life, even the worst of it, is bearable if you have someone to get through it with. I've learned that here at Hogwarts. True friends are hard to come by. Relationships you share with the friends you have should not be taken for granted.
"A lot of learning goes on here at Hogwarts, but not all of it is magic. Life lessons are learned as well. Since we live together during the year, we have all built bonds. If I needed someone to talk to or help me with anything, someone was always there. Friend, dormmate, teacher. Someone.
"In the outside world, people are different. Danger is real. But we will always have each other." She smiled and turned away from the podium. The audience, graduates included, applauded loudly.
"Lily, that was beautiful," James murmured against Lily's hair after the handing out of diplomas.
"Yeah, it was really great," Caitlin said, hugging Lily.
"Not bad," Sirius agreed.
"Thanks," said Lily.
The nine of them sat down at a table all to their own, Gryffindor and Ravenclaw forgotten.
"I can't believe we won't be seeing each other every day after this, or living together," Caitlin said sadly. "Well, except for you, of course," she said to Sirius. He grinned.
"I know. I'll miss you all so much," Lily said, tears in her eyes.
"Well, you know where Caitlin and I will be," Sirius chimed in.
"Hey," said James. "The four of us were supposed to rent out an apartment together. What'll happen to the Marauders after tonight?"
"Nothing, Prongs," Remus said quietly.
"Yeah," said Sirius. "Just because I'm married doesn't mean I'm going to quit being a Marauder. I'm only eighteen."
"Same here," short Peter squeaked.
"We'll be Marauders forever," James declared. "All four of us."
A/N: I didn't know how to end it, so this is what you get. Don't forget, epilogue next!
I'll do the thanks now:
BlackLupin- Caitlin, thanks for always feeding me information. You've constantly supported me and I'm very grateful.
potts-It was your constant compliments that kept me going. Thank you so much!
roxygurl25-You've always fed me ideas and inspired me. Thanks for always being supportive and making me laugh!
mynameisanna-You're awesome!
code112358132134-You've always brightened my day with your review. Thank you!
louise- Even if your review was late, I don't care. Thank you for reading!
Tidal Waves- Thanks so much for reading!
Laney-Wood- Thanks so much for reading and always being positive! You're amazing!
moonlightgirlChoChang- Your reviews were always super long- can you not make them so rambly this time? I'm only joking; I love that you have so much to say. I think we have stuff to work out… email me or really talk to me in your review.
Lovesheart- So I've updated a few times, and you're not here. I loved your enthusiasm!
MPPSexxySiriusJamesRemus- Thanks for sticking with the story! You're awesome!
lilchocolatechip011- Haven't seen you around in a while… where have you gone? Thanks for understanding.
If I left you out, I'm sorry. I've read every single review that's come to my story, and I appreciate every one. If you hadn't reviewed in the last 6 chapters or so, I didn't go back farther than that to check… so just know you're appreciated!
So Lily and James are getting married and they'll have a baby boy (can you guess who? ). Caitlin and Sirius are married, and the Marauders will be together forever. (Have I left anything out?) Happy ending, right? Wrong.
Last official chapter, so make the review pretty!
OutofAzkaban
