Wednesday 1st June 1977

Hogwarts Grounds, 22:45

Moony charged at him and Prongs braced himself against the ground. The two animals collided with each other but Prongs used his antlers to his advantage to shove the werewolf away.

Moony was always like this when he was first freed from the Shack. Aggressive. Full of energy that needed to burn. Wanting his way and only his way. It was like he thought he was going to be put back in the Shack again and locked up but of course they weren't going to do that. Not that Moony knew that, hence his urge to keep moving against them, to stop them from doing that.

Eventually, though, he would realise that they just wanted to play and he would tone down the aggression. Padfoot always seemed to get him to do that - probably because they were both dogs. Basically anyway. Not that Prongs was complaining. He didn't exactly want predator claws near him when said predator didn't want to play. Hence the use of the antlers to sort of throw him away.

Growls gave way to almost happy barks as Moony started to chase Padfoot. Not a run that would give way to a pounce but an almost happy gallop. They were chasing each other which was a sign that the night was about to shift into something that was far more fun. Prongs made a short bark and then he waited. His sharp eyes (why couldn't they be this sharp when he was James?) caught the deliberate rustle of the leaves on the nearest tree. They he heard the scamper of four very tiny feet. He moved forwards and he was soon faces with two beady eyes. Wormtail. A squeak noise indicated that he could dip his head down and the rat scampered onto it. This was the only way that the rat could keep up with any of them. None of them wanted him on Moony, lest he accidentally think of him as a snack and apparently Padfoot was too wild. Peter claimed he got travel sick being on his back so Prongs' head it was. Wormtail was usually happy enough going along for the ride but sometimes he liked to steer Prongs by tugging at his first or ears to make him go in certain directions.

Which was all well and good though Prongs paid more attention to this direction these days because of that one-time Wormtail decided it would be funny to steer him into a tree.

Saturday 4th June 1977

Professor Flitwick's Office, 11:00

"I believe Professor McGonagall has told you the good news?"

"Sorry, Professor?" said Lily in question, not sure what her favourite Professor was talking about.

Flitwick's face broke into a large grin. "About the Unspeakables wishing to offer you training into their ranks."

Lily blushed. Did all her professors know about this?

"Well, I believe a congratulations is in order!"

"Thank you, sir. It, it surprised me."

"I'm sure it did but I am not at all surprised."

"You aren't?"

Flitwick shook his head. "Of course not. You are the best and brightest student in your year and have a real talent for Charms and Potions as well, I hear. The Department if Mysteries appreciate people like you."

"They do?"

This was all news to her. Then again, she didn't exactly know a lot about the Department of Mysteries, never mind about Unspeakables. Then again, neither did anyone else from what she had heard. Some of the rumours truly were ridiculous.

Professor Flitwick smiled at her.

"Hard working, will to try new things, quite happy to experiment with potions and spells," though this last point was said with a disapproving look even if there was a note of pride in his voice.

Lily blushed, knowing that her Head of House had received some of the reports of her and Severus' Hospital Wing trips for some of their... Potions modifications. Nothing too serious, just some cuts and burns. Blisters once. Those had been nasty but thank goodness for potions. If it had happened in the Muggle world, she would just have had them all bandaged up with cream slathered on them for days on end. But she hadn't known that another Professor's would know about them as well. That was rather embarrassing.

How was she even supposed to reply to compliments like that? Lily never knew what she was supposed to do or day except her inevitable blushing. Thankfully, Professor Flitwick didn't seem to be looking for a response.

"Actually, this works well in my favour," he said happily, rubbing his hands together.

"It... it does?"

"How would you like to apprentice under me to get your Charms Mastery?"

Yet again, Lily was struck speechless.

"What?"

That wasn't very polite but it was the only thing she could say at the moment. Anything else required far too much brainpower which she simply didn't have at the moment. He wanted her to do what?

"It would fit in with your training under the Unspeakables and you would get to further experiment with Charms," he encouraged, getting all excited at the thought.

What did doing a Charms Mastery have to do with her getting enquiries from the Department of Mysteries? Though the thought of gaining a Mastery in Charms sounded simply wonderful. It really did. She adored Charms and she would love to continue doing work with them...

"I had thought of getting a Mastery in Charms," she confessed.

It was her favourite subject, after all. That and Potions. She had thought about doing one in Potions as well. She had even gone as far as researcher current Masters of both crafts that she could request training under - she had to do that now because everyone had their own processes for accepting apprentices which could take up to a year. She didn't want to waste any time.

"Fantastic!"

Lily couldn't help but smile fondly. No matter how enthusiastic she thought she could be, she would never be able to come close to Filius Flitwick's enthusiasm.

"Now, of course, I'll understand if you will want to apprentice under someone else but if you like, I could sit down with you and give you an outline of what I usually accomplish with apprentices..."

Tuesday 7th June 1977

Gryffindor Common Room, 19:00

Frank trailed in after the rest of his year mates and collapsed into a chair with a groan. He didn't even care that it was one of the furthest from the fire, that's how tired he was. Who knew standing around and walking backwards and forwards across a makeshift stage would exhaust you?

You see, they had been rehearsing for their Leaving Ceremony. Because, yes, there was a whole big ceremony for the seventh years. There was a speech in front of their parents and then the seventh years had to go across the stage to receive a certificate of the completion of Hogwarts. The choir was to sing as well. It was a whole big to-do. And something like that had to be perfect. And perfection meant practice. Lots of it. He groaned. His feet ached. He was really tempted to take his shoes off to stretch them but that would not be appropriate at all.

Unfortunately, the McRae's did not seem to have this sense of proper behaviour and had no qualms about removing their shoes.

"Your feet stink," Frank complained as the three of them sat around him.

Jasper was on the arm of the chair and Julian and Josie sat themselves on the floor, stretching their legs out.

"Which ones?" Julian asked, waving his in the air.

"Definitely yours," Josie said, scrunching up her nose and shoving his foot away.

Of course, this just made her fellow triplet shove his foot closer to her and they were soon squabbling away.

"Ridiculous, aren't they?" Jasper said loftily.

That earned him a shoe flung at his face. Which meant that all three of them were now chasing each other around the Common Room. Some things would never change.

Frank leaned back, all ready to relax, when he was interrupted yet again.

"How did your rehearsal go?" James asked, suddenly appearing in front of him.

Seriously? The one time he decided to relax - despite NEWTS starting next week - and James decides to interrupt it? It was just his luck, wasn't it?

"It went okay," he grumbled, really not wanting to get into it.

It hadn't been great, after all - not that James needed to know that. Getting everyone into alphabetical order had taken forever, people hadn't been listening for their name being called and at least a dozen people had fallen up the steps to the stage. He had been one of them. His knees still hurt. And all it did was waste valuable revision time and make him feel like he didn't want to revise any more tonight. He had done enough thinking.

"Take an age?" James asked knowingly.

Frank just grumbled incomprehensibly at him, making James grin.

"Just think of it as one more step to finishing Hogwarts."

Finish Hogwarts. That was such an odd thought. It hadn't quite hit Frank that he would be leaving in a few short weeks. Except for the rehearsal, nothing felt any different than the end of any other year. He was still revising for exams (staying up for too late), squeezing in time with Alice and thinking about what he was going to do when Summer came. Nothing felt different.

"We need to do something big for you." James was still talking, oblivious to Frank's thoughts.

Frank rubbed a fist across his forehead and counted slowly to ten before replying.

"No, James."

"Come on!" the younger boy protested. "You have to leave Hogwarts with a bang!"

"Not literally."

"But fireworks would be perfect," James protested.

Frank just looked at him in shock. He hadn't really thought James was going to set off fireworks at his graduation but it turns out he was wrong. Honestly, he really should have been expecting something like that. This was James after all. You didn't bring up any ideas with fireworks in them and not expect him to latch onto them. Never mind that Frank had brought up fireworks to admonish James to do nothing with them.

"No."

"I guess I don't want to accidently set the stage on fire..."

Well, that wasn't the only reason he should do it (or even the biggest one in Frank's opinion) but he'd take it.

"Exactly."

James shrugged. "I'll just have to think of something else then."

Friday 10th June 1977

Professor Slughorn's Office, 16:00

"Ah, Severus, just the boy I wanted to see."

It rankled him a it to be referred to as a boy but this was his Head of House so it was forgivable. Just about.

Slughorn led him into his office and offered him a cup of tea. Severus accepted but only because Slughorn always had the best tea. It was actually worth delaying his time in the Potions Lab. Not that he would ever admit to that out loud.

A warm cup made its way into his hands and Severus took an appreciative sip. Mmmm. Perfect. As usual.

"I was wondering if you had given any further thought about what you would like to do when you left Hogwarts."

Personally, Severus thought that the concept of the end of his time at Hogwarts was difficult to fathom. It was both ages away and just around the corner. It was weird.

"I still want to brew Potions for a living," Severus replied. "And eventually have my own company though I assume that I will have to work my way up to that. I was hoping to maybe work for an Apothecary..."

It was bottom of the rung stuff but he had to start somewhere. He didn't have people in high places that could put in a word for him, after all.

"Yes, yes," Slughorn agreed. "And it will take some time too."

"Yes, sir."

Which was annoying but that was life. He couldn't just get everything handed to him on a silver platter, after all. The world didn't work that way. At least for him. And a bit of hard work wouldn't kill him. It hadn't so far and the type of work he'd be doing would be something he'd enjoy.

Slughorn gave him a thoughtful look before steepling his fingers together.

"Have you considered an apprenticeship under a Potions Master and earning your own Mastery in the subject? It would greatly increase your chance of succeeding in your goal."

An apprenticeship? Him? That would be a dream come true but one that just wasn't possible. To get an apprenticeship you had to know people. Or know people who knew people. Have your name dropped in just the right person's lap. Severus didn't know anyone like that.

"That would have been the best route," Severus admitted, Slughorn already knew this. "But it's very difficult to get an apprenticeship when you don't have the contacts."

Sure, you could send letter to Potions Masters but who honestly would look at a veritable nobody? They wouldn't. Not when they could go with someone, they knew the background of already. Less risk. The letter would just be a waste of parchment. That, and Severus didn't do begging for anything. No way.

"Well, I've been putting out some feelers," Slughorn admitted freely. "Among some of my associates."

That got Severus leaving forwards in interest. Slughorn had an awful lot of contacts well, everywhere. And he had contemplated him for them? Wow.

"Really, sir? I'm flattered."

That was an understatement but it wouldn't do to look over eager or show just how much excitement he was feeling. It would not make him look good. Especially since all he wanted to do was jump up and down.

"Yes. Your work speaks for itself or there wouldn't be any point, would there?"

Harsh but true. Severus swelled with pride because his Head of House actually thought that he had such skills.

"Now, of course, an apprenticeship won't be easy. There's an awful lot to one."

"Yes, sir. I know but I'm willing to do the work."

"You always are. Which is another reason why I recommended you. Two people have voiced their interest."

"Really?"

Okay, he had to let that slip out. Not one but two? That was just amazing.

"Yes, I have their letters here..."

Slughorn gestured for him to come to the other side of his desk to read the letters that had been sent back to him.

"They've each done a rough outline what they would expect you to do..."

Monday 13th June 1977

Sixth Year Gryffindor Boys Dorm, 07:00

"James, put that back," Remus said in the firmest voice he could muster.

"But I need it today, Moony!" James replied, notably not putting the object down.

"You do not."

"I do!"

Remus made a quick lunge at him which James neatly dodged. There was no way he was going to let anyone else come anywhere near this from the looks of things.

Yes, James had brought out that stupid good luck charm of his again. And it was just as stupid looking as it normally was. And smelling just as bad as it always did. Why did James do things like this? He was all forward thinking and didn't look down on muggle things but yet he still believed in good luck Charms and the like. Why?

"It's not even Friday the thirteenth," Sirius scoffed.

"But it is Monday the thirteenth."

They all looked at him blankly.

"There's nothing unlucky about Monday the thirteenth." Peter told him. "It's just Fridays."

"Well, our exams start today and I don't want to take any chances."

"You're being ridiculous." Peter said, shaking his head.

"Are you aware of just how much that thing smells?" Sirius complained, holding his nose. "How have we never noticed this? It normally smells bad but this is just vile. Moony, how have you coped all these years?"

"I shove cotton balls up my nose." He replied drily.

"Really?"

"No."

Sirius deflated. "You shouldn't get my hopes up like that. He's going to be carrying that thing around all day."

"All week," James corrected.

"It's not the thirteenth after today."

"But the whole week might be unlucky because it starts with the thirteenth. I want to take the proper precautions."

Remus pinched the bridge of his nose. "I swear you get more ridiculous every year."

"Is it really ridiculous to make sure that no bad luck even tries to touch me?"

"Considering that bad luck can't physically touch you, yes. You are ridiculous."

Thursday 16th June 1977

Gryffindor Table, Great Hall, 08:00

'MORE DEATH EATERS NAMED - FAMILIES ROCKED BY REVEAL'

'DEATH TOLL RISES - WHAT IS THE MINISTRY DOING?'

Frack sighed and shoved his paper away from him. As much as he liked to keep on top of the outside world, it wasn't worth getting worked up over. Not this week anyway. Or even next. NEWTs were far more important. He could go back to worrying over the state of the world at the end of this month. It wasn't like it was going to change. Actually, if the ever increasingly depressing headlines were anything to go by, it was going to get worse. This Dark Lord, as he was calling g himself (or was it the papers that named him? Frank didn't even know anymore) didn't look like he was slowing down. And he was dragging more and more people into it.

But Frank couldn't do anything about that. Of course, he couldn't. He was just a student. What he could do was study for his exams. So that was what he was going to focus on.

Even if they didn't completely distract him from the fact that the world, he was about to enter in a few short weeks was an awful lot more dangerous than it rightly should be.

Saturday 18th June 1977

Potions Lab, 12:00

"That is definitely not the right colour."

"Not even close," Evans agreed with him, peering into his cauldron and wrinkled her nose. "And kt smells awful."

"Most Potions smell awful," James told her.

Because it was true. He had a lot of experience from being around his dad. Very few smelled okay, never mind good.

"This should," she insisted. "It's meant to smell like what's important to you."

"I thought it was supposed to smell like what you were or who you were attracted to."

She raised an eyebrow at him. "I would hope that that person would be important to you."

Fair point.

Well, yes," he replied awkwardly, running his hand through his hair.

"Which this definitely doesn't."

"You mean you don't like the smell of rotten eggs," he joked.

"Definitely not," she cast an air-freshening charm (best charm there was, especially for situations like this. "Get rid of that, would you?"

A quick vanishing charm later and his cauldron was as good as new. Well, almost. There was always some potion residue around the rim that was normally inexplicably resistant to cleaning charms. Nothing a bit of elbow grease wouldn't hurt.

Evans had really been great, talking him through the potion multiple times before they even started brewing it. It had really helped him understand- she was good at explaining things. Unfortunately, this didn't necessarily translate to him brewing the potion properly. This had been his third attempt. Not today, just in general.

Evans had made it a rule not to try more than two brews in a single day. To stop him getting frustrated if something went wrong and to give him a chance to research why it went wrong. She would make a good teacher. And, despite the extra work, it was interesting. And he was getting somewhere. Sort of. The place where it went wrong today was a whole four steps ahead of where it went wrong the last time. That was progress, wasn't it?

"We should just try again," Evans decided, glancing down into his cauldron and giving a delicate shudder.

"Maybe after lunch," James said decisively, looking at his watch.

"It's lunchtime?" she said in surprise. He showed her the time. "Oh. That's an interesting watch."

"It's a family one. wizards get one like it when they turn seventeen."

"Really?"

"Uh huh," but James wasn't interested in talking about watches. "Food?"

Lily's stomach grumbled loudly making her blush. James couldn't help but chuckle.

"Food it is."

"Then we try another brew after," she informed him in a tone that was not to be argued with.

"Yes, ma'am," he said cheekily, earning him a swat.

Saturday 25th June 1977

Hogwarts Grounds, 10:00

Frank sat up as straight as he could, waiting for the ceremony to start. This was it. His final hours at Hogwarts. After today he would no longer be a student and he would be a full-fledged adult. It... well, it hadn't quite hit him yet.

Okay, so he would be at Hogwarts for another few days. Until the very end of term. His parents could have brought him home this evening but seventh years could chose when to leave after the Graduation Ceremony. And, well, he wanted to spend as long as possible here. The next time he would be here wouldn't be as a student. Maybe it would be with a student of his own. A child. That was a weird thought.

Professor Flitwick took his place in front of the choir, the audience automatically quietening. Frank didn't pay much attention to the song they were singing, more engrossed with his own thoughts of impending adulthood. Proper adulthood.

And then he couldn't help but wonder if James was actually going to do something. He really hoped he didn't- that would be embarrassing. But nothing had happened so far, though he hadn't walked across the stage yet. He wasn't going to breathe easy until that happened.

11:30

Kingsley tried not to let his head loll as he drifted in and out of awareness. He wasn't even tired; he was just bored. This was taking forever. Why did Professor Dumbledore have to talk so much and why did his surname have to come so far down the alphabet? He was going to die in this chair, he was sure of it.

It wasn't like they had to do a lot, just say his name and what he was planning to do with his life. There were just so many students. Why were there so many in his year?

"Ramsey, Mabel. Apprenticeship with Gringotts. Curse breaking."

Finally! The S's were nearly here. Kingsley clapped politely as the dark brown-haired girl went onto the stage to shake Professor McGonagall's hand and Professor Dumbledore's. She would have also had to shake her Head of House's but she was a Gryffindor.

Bow, how many people were left before they got to him? He counted the number of people between him and Ramsey's currently empty seat. Five. Huh, there were that many people with S surnames? More actually because there were probably some after him as well. Huh. Weird.

Suddenly, he got an elbow to the gut, making him look up.

"McGonagall called your name," the boy next to him (whose name escaped him) hissed.

"Shacklebolt, Kingsley," McGonagall said in irritated tone of voice.

Whoops! Kingsley blushed deeply. He couldn't believe he managed to miss his name. He all but jumped out of his seat, to plenty of chuckles from students and parents alike, and practically ran onto the stage.

McGonagall's lips were pursed in a disapproving frown as she handed him his Hogwarts certificate. Not that it was worth much- his NEWT results are more important. All this certificate did was prove that he attended Hogwarts for seven years, his exam results for each year and his detention record (which was thankfully small). Some employers couldn't require it, however. The ones that cared about what school you went to. Oh, the Auror Academy would need a copy too but that's because they needed all the paperwork in the world apparently (yes, he had received more forms to fill out).

"Good luck," Flitwick said to him as they shook hands.

"Thank you, sir."

And he was thankful, he found. Flitwick was a great Head of House. Willing to put up with all sorts of nonsense. And a lot of that went on in Ravenclaw House. He was going to miss the short man.

Kingsley managed to get off the stage without falling like he had done in two of the rehearsals. Careful steps did the trick.

12:00

Elsie couldn't help but Bristol into delighted laughter as fireworks went off as soon as the last person left the stage. It was definitely not a part of the ceremony - the Professors looked just as shocked as everyone else. Red, gold, Yellow, black, blue, bronze, green and silver sparks twirled around one another - each House's colours partnered up. It was a gorgeous display.

'THE MARAUDERS WISH THE LEAVERS THE BEST OF LUCK'

Aw, that was really sweet. There was a smattering of applause as McGonagall's face went an odd colour, like she didn't know whether to be annoyed or pleased.

'ESPECIALLY FRANK LONGBOTTOM' a new set of sparks added.

Now that made Elsie laugh out loud. She swore she heard a groan from just a bit along the row from her.

Tuesday 28th June 1977

Gryffindor Common Room, 18:30

"I mean, who gives homework due for the last week?" James complained, loud enough to be heard up and down the Gryffindor Table and maybe even the neighbouring Hufflepuff one as well. "And give us holiday homework? Isn't one of those enough?"

"I don't have any of that," Frank said happily.

Because he didn't. No more homework, weekday or holiday or otherwise.

"Well, some of us don't have it as lucky as you," James sulked. "Mr 'I've finished school so I have no homework'."

"Ever again," Frank said happily.

Now, that was a fantastic thought. Even paperwork related to the upkeep of the Longbottom estate would never be as bad as homework and coursework, he was sure. James did not share this sentiment but then again, he wasn't finished with Hogwarts yet. Not like him.

It still hadn't quite sunk in. It probably wouldn't until he was at King's Cross, he had figured. He wasn't going to have to go back there until he had a child of his own. Adults who were just visiting Hogwarts by himself didn't use the train, they apparated to Hogsmeade and walked up.

"One more year for us," James said, looking annoyed.

"It's not too bad," Lupin told him. "It is to prepare us for our NEWTs."

Ah, NEWTs. It was still too soon to even think of those. He didn't really want to, to be honest. Some of those exams had been horrific.

"What's everyone planning to do this summer?" He asked instead.