Remus was quite relieved that Lily had found out he was a werewolf. He didn't like lying, and though only one person now knew, the fact that she was so understanding and still around for him made it a whole lot easier to deal with. He did consider telling his fellow Marauders, but decided he wasn't ready for that just yet, not with the way they were behaving. With the New Year had come a new purpose for them. Not only were they dedicated in their exploration of the castle and their quest to get into as much trouble as possible, but now they had taken to cursing people whenever they thought they could get away with it. And by "they" it is obviously meant to mean James and Sirius.

So now, as June approached, Remus was left to trust one person with his secret, whilst dealing with it himself, trying to think of plausible excuses for his absences and find time to study for his end of year tests. A lot for a 12 year-old to cope with, and yet, he managed.

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Though studying was not a high priority for the first-years, with the exception of Lily and Remus, most did accept that it was important for the older years that had NEWTS and OWLS. This, of course, was correct for all but 4 boys who had been banned from the common room for their loud behaviour and from the library as a precaution. Though Sirius was quick to point out that banning them from the library was quite pointless as none knew where it was, and even if they had, they wouldn't have set foot in there anyway. Despite this, they still managed to cause chaos and disruption for the other students.

They were often seen running away from classrooms or waiting to watch as people stood in invisible puddles that turned their hair purple and skin turquoise. They even managed to make trouble in the common room the night before all tests and exams were due to start. This came in the form of buzzers that blared the loudest, most annoying sounds every time somebody sat down. There was also the introduction of a poltergeist usually found at the Black residence, which caused general disruption by altering notes and turning pages in unattended books.

Arboyle had been most upset when it was decided they would, once again, be made to help the house elves and have supervised revision evenings until the end of the year as a punishment. He would have preferred a more severe, but unfortunately for him, banned punishment using the chains in his office. The boys themselves were quite grateful. Having already done this work during their holidays they knew what to expect. They also knew that compared to some punishments, the revision classes were fairly and so didn't complain.

All lessons had split their first-year exams into two halves; a practical which would last anywhere between 15 minutes to 2 hours depending on the subject, and a written section, each one lasting for the duration of 1 hour 30 minutes. Their first exam was for Transfiguration. For their practical they were to turn an animal into a goblet and then back again. Though this was a short exam, there were close to 100 students taking it, each one singularly, so it took near enough the whole morning to do. This provided students with the opportunity to talk about their accomplishment in the test, do last minute studying for that afternoons test, Defence against the Dark Arts, or to take the more sensible approach of relaxing and eating some lunch. Not many did this, but among the few who did were, non-surprisingly, the Marauders.

"You know," Sirius said with a mouthful of food, expertly avoiding spraying food on everyone. "I don't know what people get so stressed about. That was easy."

There was a general murmur of consent from the other three boys, though Peter flushed slightly.

"Yeah," James agreed. "If they're all like that we'll walk them." Only it sounded nothing like this as his mouth was crammed with more food than Sirius'. It was all he could do not to spray food everywhere.

Three heads turned to look at him. "Chew, swallow and then speak." Remus advised. James did, and then repeated himself, earning laughter from Lily who was sat close-by.

"Is something funny, Evans?" James asked with a pointed glare.

"Yes," she answered simply as she continued eating.

After a few disappointing moments of waiting for her to continue, the boys grew impatient. All she was doing was eating and every-so-often turning a page in the book she was reading, which, surprisingly, wasn't a school textbook.

"Well are you going to tell us?" James asked with interest.

She looked up at the four expectant faces sighing. "Tell you what?"

"What's so funny," Sirius said exasperatedly.

"Oh that," she giggled again. "Well, I was just wondering how you can possibly think you're going to pass your exams if you can't even remember how to eat properly."

James looked at her as though she were crazy, as did Sirius. Peter's look was more one that said he was trying to work this out. While Remus sat behind them quietly, his lip twitching.

"Well obviously he has a different brain to control that," Peter stated the first thing that came into his head.

James and Sirius literally span to stare open-mouthed at Peter's stupidity. He, however, took it to be a look of awe at his infinite wisdom. This, combined with his inability to detect the heavy sarcasm when Lily said "Yeah, that's it," explained the look of intense smugness at getting something right for once. Remus began to grin a smile that turned into wholehearted laughter as Lily whispered "Two of a kind," to him as she left.

The rest of the tests passed just as easily for some, and more difficult for others. Their hardest was the written portion of the Potions. Apparently Jenkruss thought it would be fun to put OWL level questions on the paper. Lily, being such an over-achiever, found this quite easy. She struggled when it came to Herbology, though even she admitted it was easier than she had expected it to be. Still, the first-years got through it, most learning that next year they should be more eager to start their revision. Not that they were going to follow their own advice.

--------

To their dismay, the week after tests were finished first-years were made to go back to lessons. The response to their protests was that technically they still had things to learn for future years and so their education would not stop.

Soon though the last week of their first year came and, as a reward, students were given it free. For the Marauders this meant that they had the opportunity to do a few more practical jokes. They were becoming more and more extravagant, as though they hoped that these pranks would keep them in people's minds so they weren't forgotten over the summer. Lily and Alex, sometimes joined by Alice and Marie, used their week for packing and that age-old activity enjoyed by all; sun-bathing.

Their last day was spent having a farewell dinner in the Great Hall. It was a grand meal with hundreds of different kinds of food and drink. The boys were in Heaven. The high ceiling showed clear blue skies and a bright sun outside. The girls couldn't wait to get outside and spend one last day relaxing. Needless to say, all eight of them were annoyed when Dumbledore stood up to talk after the feast was over.

"And so we come to the end of another year," he said with smiles at the students who cheered. "And I am sure that we have all learnt things we didn't know before." His twinkling eyes flickered from the Marauders to Lily and back again briefly. "And we have all growth not only physically, but mentally and emotionally, also. I hope that we do not forget such lessons. They will help us become the people we are born to be.

"And so, before my final speech, I move onto the cups. With a win of 570 to 40 against Hufflepuff, I am pleased to offer my congratulations to Slytherin house and its Quidditch team for winning this year's Quidditch Cup." Here, as boos erupted all over the Hall (With a small number of cheers from the Slytherin table in comparison), Dumbledore handed the Quidditch Cup to Professor Jenkruss. "However, despite their win, they have come last in the competition for the House Cup. Instead, I am pleased to extend my congratulations to Ravenclaw house for receiving 5385 points over the year. I am sure Professor Haskins will accept the House Cup for you." This time cheers sounded over the few boos as Dumbledore handed the House Cup over.

"Now, to those leaving, I offer you the best of wishes. You have worked hard over the past seven years and deserve nothing more than to succeed. So I offer a toast to you all, and share my belief that you will continue to do well. To those who will be returning next year. I wish you a good, relaxing summer. And I hope that you come back with the same positive attitude you have maintained throughout this year. School is now over, please ensure you are ready to leave tomorrow."

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Cheers issued, fireworks were lit, and farewells were said and before they knew it students were off the Hogwarts grounds and on the train. Though she was glad to be able to see her family again, as the train pulled away from Hogsmeade, and the sight of the looming castle vanished, heaviness settled over Lily. It took her a while to realise she was going to miss the comfort of the castle that had been her home for the last year. 'Get over it Evans,' she thought to herself. 'You'll only be gone for a few weeks, and you've been looking forward to seeing your family for months.'

"Lily? Lily!" Alex cried at her, jolting her from her thoughts.

"What?" Lily asked dazed.

"Have you been listening to a word I've been saying?" came the brisk reply.

"Yes, of course I have." She lied slowly as she tried to think of the last thing she'd heard. "You were talking about how much you're going to miss Jacob."
Alex stared at her, resisting the urge to curse her. "That was before we even left school, as in hours ago. We're nearly half way home now."

"Oh," was all Lily could say, obviously not the right answer judging by Alex's expression. "So what were you talking about?"

Alex forgot her frustration as she began talking again. "I was saying how I think that…"

Alex's words drifted towards Lily but never seemed to reach her. She began thinking again. Reminding herself of things that had happened over the year to tell her parents and thinking up plans for winding up Petunia over the summer.

"Lily!" came Alex's angry cry once more.

"What?" she answered innocently.

Alex sighed, standing up. "Oh, forget it. I'm going to see Jacob."

Lily barely nodded as she went back to her thoughts, not feeling even slightest tinge of guilt for putting Alex in such an irate state.

--------

His friends, he knew, were joking around in the compartment, using the last of their supplies so that they could buy fresh for the next year. He, however, was sat in the corner, watching them but not really seeing them. His thoughts where elsewhere, at Hogwarts, with his friends, anywhere. Just not on the summer ahead of him, with his family. No, they were anywhere but there.

"Hey, James," he said suddenly, scaring himself with the abruptness of his words, he hadn't even realised he'd opened his mouth.

"Yes Sirius?" was the automatic reply.

"I can hang out at yours this summer, right?"

James frowned, and after a minutes silence he spoke. "Actually, no. My parents are having the house redecorated, so we're spending the summer with my Aunt."

"Oh," his smile disappeared and he leant further back into his corner.

"You can hang out at mine," Peter volunteered.

"Thanks," Sirius said in a tone that implied he wasn't all that grateful. He spent the remainder of the journey sulking in the corner, alone with his thoughts.