Hello everyone,
Here is the final chapter. I am so curious to see how you guys liked my story. Please let me know what you liked and disliked about it in the reviews!

Chapter eighteen: the final chapter

Over the rest of the weekend most students had settled down with all the news that was going around. About Sirius Black, about the dementors leaving and about Professor Lupin being a werewolf. Alicia had a hard time listening to all the cruel things people said when he wasn't around anymore. It was like everyone had forgotten what a great teacher he was. All they saw was his sickness.

Sunday Alicia had spent in the Gryffindor tower. She had missed the party the previous night and she wanted to make up for it. Of course she got loads of questions about her leg. The fun part of being 'Nessie' was that whatever bullshit story she came up with, people believed her. It's also why she kept changing her story. What would it matter? Let people think what they want.

Harry wasn't feeling particularly good. Alicia was sure he still had Peter on his mind and she couldn't blame him. If she ever found that ratty man…she would make sure he would regret it. So as a distraction they played some games in the common room and talked speculations about their grades. Alicia tried to pry the Weasley kids for information about Charlie and Romania. It would be nice to go in with a little preparation.

'So you think you are up for it?' Fred asked her during a card game. 'Working with dragons? What would you do if…a dragon got lose and attacked a village?'

Alicia chuckled but kept looking at her cards as she replied. 'Distract the beast from the villagers, make sure it chases me, run or fly as fast as I can while throwing confundus charms over my shoulder and finally finding a good remote place where I can build a protective shield to keep it inside. Something like that.'

Harry and Ron, who had heard the entire story of Alicia and Moony in the woods, were stifling their giggles. Fred just blinked. 'That's…oddly specific. But yeah, I guess that could work.'

On Sunday evening she had finally taken the time to sit down and talk to her three best friends. It was an awkward conversation with a lot of awkward questions, but Alicia didn't mind them knowing. They all promised to keep in touch and meet up once a month. Alicia was looking forward to it.

On Monday the results came in. Everyone was tense, but in the end there were a lot of relieved sounds around the Great Hall.

NASTILY EXHAUSTING WIZARDING TEST RESULTS

STUDENT: ALICIA DOREEN

SUBJECT GRADE

Transfiguration Acceptable

Potions Outstanding

Charms Outstanding

History of Magic Exceeds Expectations

Defence Against the Dark Arts Outstanding

Herbology Acceptable

Astrology Exceeds Expectations

Care of Magical creatures Outstanding

'Can you imagine…' Alicia said out loud as all of them were reading their list over. 'The look on Snape's face when he had to grade me an Outstanding? Can you just close your eyes and imagine him reading and reading again, looking for my mistakes, looking in my potion to see the slightest change in colour or effect…and finding nothing he can downgrade me on?'

The other girls laughed so hard they were crying. Alicia was particularly liking this. The list was pretty much as she had hoped, only Herbology was a bit of a surprise. But she was happy enough to say she had passed all her subjects and did not need to take any second chance exams.

Michelle had an Outstanding for everything except Ancient Runes and was very happy with her results. It seemed that she would enlist for the Aurors traineeship after all. Elena was bummed to have failed her History of Magic with a 'Poor', so she had to retake the exam on Wednesday. She was already complaining about all the theory she had to read again, but the girls were quick to assure her they would help. Sophia had managed to pass everything, but only had one Outstanding for Muggle studies. All in all, they were content.

Everyone was comparing grades with everyone in the Great Hall. Alicia liked to see the place like this, because the house tables were pushed to the walls and everyone was talking to everyone. She had always disliked the rivalry between houses. Today she was talking to everyone she had ever talked to before, also to have a last good chance to say goodbye and wish everyone good luck. There were some tears involved too.

She found Hermione who was a little off to the side. She smiled when she saw Alicia.

'Happy?' Alicia asked. Hermione nodded. 'Always room for improvement, but I'm content. I was just looking at Professor Snape…' Alicia looked with her and spotted Snape standing uncomfortably in a corner. He was talking to a select group of Slytherin students. Even from this distance she could see that his nose was crooked and still swollen. 'I wonder if Professor Lupin did that. Or maybe it happened in the tunnel as we transported him back. To say Sirius didn't care if he hit his head is an understatement.'

Alicia chuckled. 'I'm sure Sirius gave him a rough ride. But uhm…I did the nose. Please don't tell anyone.' Hermione looked at her with big eyes. 'You hit a teacher?' she hissed. 'How come he doesn't know?' Alicia bit her lip. 'Memory wipe. I'm sorry. I do feel bad about it on second thought. But he is just such an ass.'

Hermione huffed like she had never been so scandalized. Maybe this was why people didn't tell her about their schemes and pranks. 'What did he do, what made you so angry?'

'He started telling everyone that Remus was a werewolf,' Alicia said, still bitter about it. If looks could kill…

'Okay yeah I agree that was mean, but I just fail to see why you would be so angry that you could do that. Or am I missing something here?' Hermione looked curious.

Alicia giggled. 'Well, I have my grades. I have officially graduated. So you can know if you want. Do you want to know the secret I've had for the last months?'

Hermione seemed to consider this. 'Yes.'

Alicia leaned closer to Hermione. 'I kissed a teacher. I started a relationship with a teacher. I even had sex with him. Multiple times. Office and classroom. Nearly in the forest too. I'm in love with Remus Lupin, our currently retired Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher.'

Hermione just seemed frozen. She wasn't even blinking, but her eyes were big and shocked. Alicia ruffled her bushy hair and took off, leaving the poor thirteen-year old with images that would haunt her for some time.

After the last days in the castle they all went home with the train. Alicia had nearly cried when she looked back at the castle one last time. It was a literally and figuratively magical place. Elena had passed her retake too, so all of them were off to go home and be adults.

'I will be taking at least a month's vacation before I start applying for a job. Everyone needs their freedom! Don't we?' Sophia told them. Alicia was happily smiling at them as the train moved through the plains of Scotland. Everything seemed the same as every year. Only now it was over. Their time as teenagers had come to an end. Now was the time to start an internship or a job.

At least she already had a job offer. It was a nice comfort, but also a big question mark. When Remus had talked about the time after school, he kept referring to his place. She would come with him and they would find Sirius together. And she wanted to. Her parents would have to understand that she was in a relationship with an older man. But…did he forget she was going to Romania? Or did he see himself follow her and find a job there? Would Sirius be save near an area where a lot of wizards and witches lived and worked?

All these thoughts were giving her a headache, so she stopped and listened to her friends.

Later Alicia was walking down the train. She found the compartment with Harry, Ron and Hermione. She noticed straight away that Harry was a lot happier. He showed her the letter he had received from Sirius. Alicia was happy for him too, hoping he would get a better life than he had with his uncle and aunt. She sat with them for a while. Hermione seemed to have come back from the shock, or she pretended she hadn't heard it. It didn't really matter.

Alicia left the train together with her friends, and on platform 9 ¾ she saw a familiar man in shabby clothes. She smiled brightly at the sight of him and ran over to hug him. He opened his arms wide and received her happily.

'Hello again Moony.'

'Long time no see Nessie.'

They talked for a bit, but then she noticed her three friends waiting to say goodbye. They greeted Remus and then all the girls went in for a group hug. All four former-Ravenclaws were crying.

'I mean it! Keep owling guys!' Elena said through her sobs.

'We will see each other in the Leaky Cauldron next month!' Michelle said hopefully.

'I'll miss you guys,' Alicia simply said.

They all let go, and before she knew it they had disappeared from sight. There was a hand on her shoulder. 'It's a weird day, huh?' he said.

'Yeah,' she breathed.

'Come on. Let's go.'

Remus took her trolley and they walked together through the wall into the muggle world. It was so weird to be back in a place of order and no magic after such a long time. A world where werewolves were fairy tale monsters and magic only existed in Disneyland.

They stepped outside the train station. It was a sunny day in London. It was not too late in the afternoon. The air hummed with possibilities, the world seemed to wait for her to choose a path. And here she was, together with her werewolf boyfriend.

'It really feels like a chapter of my life is over now…but it also feels like a new one will begin any moment,' Alicia remarked. She looked up at Remus, who had a kind smile on his face. He took her hand in his.

'Ready for the next part?' Remus asked.

'Absolutely.'

End of book one.

So...that's it.
I was thinking, if people would like it we could do a Q&A of sorts. Maybe a zoom meeting or just as a forum on Tumblr? If you all feel excited about it let me know :)

As you might have heard already: there is a sequel coming. I am already pretty far at writing it. I have a little surprise for you: I'm uploading the first little intro of my sequel together with this final chapter! So after you left your reviews go to the next chapter to figure out how this story continues!

Lots of love,
CrazyRapunzel