Saying goodbye to the castle... not the stag

Sob (That's all that I can get out.)

James and Lily stood up, exchanging nervous glances, and resisting the urge to hold each others hands, shelving their emotion for a more professional approach, as they walked up the length of the audience and stood before the crowd, smiling over the podium, ready to give their head boy and girl speech. Lily gave a quick glance at Dumbledore, who gave her an encouraging smile, and then turned back to peer down at the swimming sea of familiar heads.

"Today, we leave Hogwarts forever." Began James, looking around at everyone, smiling. He saw Sirius waving happily from the middle of the crowd, which spurred him on, and banished his atypical bout of nerves. "And I don't think that I am ever going to miss anything more. This school has taught me much more than can be learnt out of books and off teachers. It has taught me how to grow up, how to make friends, and how to love…"

"Living here…" Lily started, her voice wavering nervously. She stopped; taking a quick glance at James whose concerned eyes encouraged her to continue… "Living here over the past seven years has made me happier than I have ever been. I came from a muggle family, who I love, and when I first entered the castle, it felt so scary and alien to me that I am amazed, looking back now, that I didn't hop right back on that train and head back to London. You have no idea hope glad I am that I didn't. I have had so much fun, and learn so much here, and if I could I would go back and do it all over again."

"But we cant." James said, taking over as Lily looked up at the great castle, her voice cracking. "We cant do it again, and so it is with pride that we, the class of nineteen seventy eight leave these grounds, maybe never to return again, for we can say that we were here. We spent the time of our lives at Hogwarts, and the memories and friendships that we have made here, will stay will us forever."

The crowd burst into applause, and Sirius hoisted Dani up onto his shoulders, who cried out in support, as all the scandalised parents applauded politely. Many of the girls in the crowd had tears pouring down their faces. Dumbledore got up next, to deliver his wise words to the many people sitting before him.

Lily looked around at her friend's up and down the row where they were seated. Dumbledore stood up the front, smiling out at them all softly. Ella and Remus sat two seats down from her, holding hands, Remus giving hers a tiny squeeze every so often when Ella seemed to be about to cry, thinking about the fact that this was probably their last day in the castle that had served them so many good times.

Peter and Margaret sat a few seats down from them, hand in hand, Peter seeming nervous, yet happy at the same time. It had come as quiet a shock to the other marauders that morning when Wormtail had confessed to them all that he and Margaret, whom he had taken to the ball earlier in the year, had been seeing each other in secret for many months now, and they were even more surprised that they were already looking for houses together in the city for when they finished Hogwarts…

Dani and Sirius next to James, his arm wrapped tightly around her shoulders, which were high and proud. Dani wasn't one for sentiment, though Lily could tell that when none of them were around she would shed a tear about leaving Hogwarts forever, and Sirius was only half watching the headmaster as he gave his speech. The rest of the time he would glance over and be mesmerised, just staring at Dani, until she hit him on the knee, to redirect his attention. He had been released form the hospital wing a day before their NEWTs were due to begin, but he still didn't think that he had done that badly. He shouldn't have, considering that they had each taken it in turn to go and study with him the whole time that he had been in there, with the exception of Dani, who hadn't left his side since James had finished talking that morning. Madame Pomfry was forced to let her sleep in the next bed, much too scared to say no to her fiery temper.

In fact, they all seemed to find the exams much easier than they thought that they would. Everyone agreed that, like most things, it was the wait that was the worst…

James saw that Lily was watching them all, a tear welling up in her beautiful green eyes, and he squeezed her hand tighter, giving her a wink, and a small smile.

"I'll miss it too." He whispered lightly in her ear. Lily smiled, and squeezed his hand back, turning her attention back to Dumbledore. He was giving his speech, and smiling down at the sea of heads peering up at them intently.

The graduation was taking place on the grounds at the school, the sun hitting their heads gently, the lake spread out soothingly next to the ceremony. Lily dared a glance back at where her parents sat, smiling at her. Petunia hadn't shown up. Lily wasn't surprised, though she couldn't deny that her heart had fallen slightly when her parents had stepped of the train at Hogsmeade station without her in tow. It was probably for the best though; Petunia at Hogwarts would be weirder than anything that Lily could imagine.

Mr and Mrs Potter were sitting next to Lily's parents, having been introduced earlier. Maggie caught Lily's eye, and waved jovially, her tiny mouth curving into an excited smile. Lily laughed quietly, and gave a little wave back, before turning back to the front before anyone but James, who also laughed, had noticed.

"…And I know that this will not be the last that I see of these brilliant people." Dumbledore concluded, to cheers and wild applause from the crowd.

James, Lily, Sirius, Remus, Peter, Ella, and Dani all exchanged looks of surprise, their eyes wide. They could have been imagining things, but they were almost sure that when Dumbledore had said those last few words, his eyes had lingered on them for a little longer than natural.

Parents were now getting up, and going over to where the house elves, directed by Professor McGonagal, were serving refreshments, and the students were running over to join them, throwing their hats up into the air in excitement. Lily held onto hers. As much as she was looking forward to the future, she couldn't bare the thought of throwing it into the air.

"You can do it Lily." A voice whispered in her ear. She turned to find her face very close to James Potter's grinning one, and smiled.

"I know, but I feel as though I would be throwing my childhood away with it. I don't want to forget anything about this place…" She said softly. James kissed her.

"Well I'll always be there to refresh your memory." Lily gave a small giggle, and pulled him in throwing her hat up into the air.

And so Lily Evans left her seventh year at Hogwarts with all the sentiment she was expecting to enter it with.

A/N: oh my god. Oh my god I just finished my story! I finished the first story I have ever been brave enough to post for you all! Thankyou so much for being so supportive! I love you all for reading to the end! Oh my god I'm actually crying! I can't believe that I finished that; I have been working on it for three months, practically every night now! I can't wait to post up the next story though. I hope that you all like it; there won't be much of a wait. It's sort of a sequel, but it doesn't have to be if you haven't read this story, but you're reading this, so obviously you HAVE read this story. Keep an eye out for: The Official Documents of the Order Of The Phoenix. I am really going to miss this story. I don't know what I'll do with myself now!

Thanks to all my regular reviewers and P/Mers, and also to anyone who has reviewed! I might not have many, but I treasure every single one of them! Seriously, I got so excited when I had more reviews than chapters, that was such a big thing for me! Thanks to Mezo, Moony and Silver Blossom, who reviewed so regularly, thanks heaps!uve been there since the start!

So, luv u all. The next story should be up tomorow! please read it! and reveiw!

Luv Ella Evans xXx