A/N: Hey y'all... Really, really, really sorry for the long time no see. I apologize, I have been very busy lately, but I will make an honest effort to write more, just been having a dry spell... anyways, hope you enjoy this chapter and get excited for graduation, I was the most excited to write the next chapters! ;)

May 29-June 9, 1978 Exams

The sand dripped, and dripped, and dripped. Lily's head slipped further down her hand. She was going to have a red mark on her cheek she just knew it.

Lily glanced back down at her exam, she was sure she had answered every question correctly, but it never hurt to look again, plus she was extremely bored just watching the sand drip through the hourglass.

First question: What is the first rule for conjuring?

Easy. Think about the specifics of the object you are attempting to conjure.

Lily couldn't wait for the practical potions this afternoon, it would be an ace and take up the whole hour, as opposed to the written charms test which took her approximately half the time that she had been allotted.

She glanced at the hourglass again and sighed. Exams were so stressful that she rushed through hoping to get all her thoughts down, and then she had to sit in the uncomfortable exam chairs while she waited for the sand to finish draining.

LIly rested her head on the desk, perhaps if she could get a wink of sleep she'd be a bit less stressed for the rest of the exams this week.

She closed her eyes and waited a bit. When she lifted her head up again, expecting to find the exam almost over, she found that barely any sand had drained while she had rested her head.

Sighing she opened her exam book again, perhaps if she went over her answers again she would feel a bit better.

o0o

"I think that went well don't you?" Lily asked.

"Of course, but transfiguration is about the easiest written test there is." James responded.

"Well then you should be a bit more nervous about potions this afternoon."

"Nah, my dad's taught me so much about potions that'll be a breeze too." James waved his arm in a passive manner.

"Excuse me? Then why have you been teetering on the edge of failure for the last seven years?"

"Because I am a terrible student and never do my homework."

"James you are truly awful."

"I know." James winked and put his arm around her, "But you love me anyway."

"You're lucky that you're charming." Lily punched him lightly in the chest.

o0o

Lily wiped the sweat from her forehead and focused her attention on the bubbling cauldron in front of her. She had made this Draught of Peace several times hoping to perfect it so that she could administer it to her friends when they became anxiety ridden. But here in the exam room, all the practice seemed to be slipping from her mind and she grew more anxiety ridden herself as she stirred.

She added the final ingredient and stirred a bit more, hoping against hope that she had done everything correctly.

"Time's up! Please cork a sample and bring it forward!" The examiner called from the front of the room.

Lily's potion was a pleasant light blue, that sort of sparkled slightly in the light from the windows, but was that the color it was meant to be?

She looked around as she corked her bottle. Peter's potion was a horrid sludgy green colour, Remus had managed a rather inky blue colour, Marlene had a teal looking concoction, Mary had made a pretty lilac brew and James' potion was exactly the shade of blue that Lily's was. Either they had both made it correctly, or they had both made the same mistake or mistakes. Lily hoped it was the correct one, she really didn't want to have to excuse a low potions score to St. Mungo's.

o0o

"I have never been happier than to know that I'll never have to take another exam ever again!" Sirius exclaimed.

They had returned to the Gryffindor common room and were all gathered around the fireplace and passing around a bottle of firewhiskey that Sirius had nicked from Hogsmeade.

"Actually Pads, if you want to be an auror, like you claim to, you have to go through the training program and pass an exam to be instated as an auror." Remus pointed out, as he took a sip from the bottle.

"Moony, why do you always have to bring me down?"

"I'm just pointing out the facts! I do not always bring you down!"

"Alright, either way, we're all glad to be done with those exams." Lily said diplomatically, and took the bottle from Remus.

"Absolutely!" Marlene cheered and swiped the bottle from Lily before she could take a sip. "Cheers to no more exams!" She cried and began downing the bottle.

"Woah!" Lily pulled the bottle away from Marlene. "That's a tad too much, Marls."

"You know, I'm happy they're over of course, but that means that we are done with Hogwarts.." Mary said, hugging her knees to her chest.

"Oh yeah…" Lily slumped and began to frown. "Can't believe it…"

They were all quiet for a minute.

"Why does everyone always make my happy things depressing?!" Sirius cried, breaking the silence. "I wanted to celebrate being done with the bloody exams and now you are all bringing me down! I'll be taking that whiskey and leaving!" Sirius swiped the bottle and stood. "I'll be seeing you all if I feel like a depressing round of "let's talk about the future!""

"Sirius, wait." Remus said, also standing as Sirius left. "Better go make sure he doesn't get himself killed." He muttered under his breath.

"Well, I'm wiped, I think I'll turn in…" Mary said.

"Us too." Marlene said, getting up and helping Dorcas up after her.

"Well I'll stay up with you guys!" Peter said enthusiastically. "We can play exploding snaps! Hogwarts doesn't have to end yet! We can play all night!"

"Oh Pete, your enthusiasm is depressing." James said and fell backwards with a sigh and stared up at the ceiling.

"Oh." Peter slumped.

"Hey no! It's ok Peter, I'll play exploding snaps with you!" Lily said.

"Oh, well thanks…" Peter glanced at James and then back to Lily and shrugged.

o0o

"Alright! Eat your words Pettigrew!"

"Ok! Ok! You are the exploding snaps champion!" He did a little mock bow.

"Thank you!" Lily giggled.

"Oh come now, exploding snaps is an easy game!" James huffed from the floor.

"Bold words from the floor!" Lily chuckled.

"Oh really?" James sat up. "Come on Lily, let's go."

"Now hang on-"

"Please?"

"Alright… thanks for the lovely game, Peter." James lent a hand to pick her off the floor and they left, not noticing the disappointed and angry toned face that Peter was giving as they left him, alone.