Tuesday 27th June 1978

Library, 11:00

There was only one thing to look forward to now, now that all the exams were over. Leaving Ceremony, that was going to happen. They were all going to be leaving Hogwarts. Finished with school. That was still such a weird thought. They were all just eleven a few days ago, weren't they? All tiny and knocked-kneed with big, wondering eyes?

And now they were seventeen or eighteen - most of them were eighteen now - ready to take on the world. Even though the world was trying very hard to take them out.

The events of a few days ago certainly proved that.

Speaking of those events, that Remus still couldn't think about without shuddering, they had all individually been hauled up to their Head of House's offices. Every single person who had been in Hogsmeade that day.

Professor McGonagall had congratulated him on his quick thinking and willing to fight as well as scolding him over fighting. He was still a student. He should have let the adults handle it. Though, that last bit had been a bit weak. She was very proud of him. Of all her lions. He could tell.

But she also looked very stressed and very worried. He had never seen her act or look like that and, to be honest, it was freaking him out a bit. A lot, actually. Of something like this could shake the great Minerva McGonagall then what hope did the rest of them have? It didn't bear thinking about.

But he couldn't help but think about it, could he? They were going to be leaving g Hogwarts in literal days. They were no longer going to be safe behind these walls. They were going to be put out into the wide world and it definitely wasn't safe out there.

But all that was now behind him (except for his nightmares) and now he could look forward to graduating in two days.

Two days. Wow. That wasn't far away at all. And everyone knew it. Everyone in his year had spent the last few days wondering sound the castle and simply remembering. Remembering the laughs, the tears, the frustrations and successes. They had all happened within these walls.

Had it all really happened in just seven years? Who would have thought? He had certainly never thought that half the things he did would have happened a way back when he was eleven years old. Hell, he didn't even think he would ever have friends and now he has three best friends and three close friends and normal friends! That was definitely the best part for him from Hogwarts.

"You getting all weepy eyed, Moony?" Sirius teased, coming up from behind him.

It did surprise him; he knew all of his friends' scents by now. Sirius' was a specific mix of his body wash, the leather from his leather jacket and his sweat. Not that Remus would mention that last bit to Sirius because he already spent long enough in the shower, never mind if he thought he smelled constantly sweaty. Which he wasn't.

"No, Padfoot. Just remembering."

Moony. Padfoot. Prongs. Wormtail. There was something he never would have dreamed of. Friends had always been a dream but friends who had accepted his condition and actually did something to help him with it? Unimaginable.

"A bit early for that, isn't it? Aren't you meant to be reminiscing when you have your own kids?"

Remus snorted at that. Own kids? Yeah right. Who would ever want to do that with him? Yeah, no.

"I wasn't reminiscing."

Sirius raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, right. What do you call walking around and gently touching random walls then?"

"They aren't random walls," Remus said automatically, blushing as he hadn't realised people had noticed what he was doing.

"Uh huh."

They weren't random walls. They really weren't. They were all places where things had happened. Events. Pranks. Conversations. They were important. And he didn't want to forget any of it.

Entrance Hall, 17:00

"What's going on?" Marlene asked as she caught up with Lily.

James, Sirius, Remus and Peter had all been beckoned over by McGonagall who had a very stern look on her face.

"Have they done something?"

Lily shrugged. "Who knows when it comes to those four? But I don't know. McGonagall didn't say anything."

Huh. Weird. But not exactly out of the ordinary. They were the Marauders, after all. They were always up to something. The latest something being making all the doorframes in the castle inexorable sticky. Which had been disgusting but also hilarious. But they had already been punished for that, she thought.

Anyway, the Marauders getting up to mischief wasn't anything new around here. There were far more pressing matters to take care of.

"Got your speech all ready?" she asked, half teasing, half serious.

Lily sighed heavily which was never a good sign. Well, it was her fault for being Head Girl. Well, it wasn't really her fault because she didn't exactly volunteer for the role but whatever. She still had to write a speech. Her and James. Something inspiring was their brief apparently.

"I'm going to take that as a no," Marlene said when Lily didn't add anything to her sigh.

All that got her was a glare. Oh, Lily hadn't even started it yet, that she could bet on. Ha, for once Lily wasn't prepared. For her very last assignment for school too. Hilarious.

"I can't think of anything that isn't overused or just too soppy," Lily complained.

"Just say whatever. No one will mind."

"But I want it to be special."

Unhelpfully, Marlene shrugged. She didn't know what Lily would say. She wasn't the one who had to make a speech. That got her another glare but thankfully they were interrupted.

"What was that all about?" Marlene asked in amusement as the Marauders returned with sheepish looks on their faces.

"McGonagall was just informing us that making poor decisions will have drastic consequences, even if we are graduating," Sirius said airily.

"She told us that pranks of any kind will not be tolerated at the leaving ceremony," Remus translated.

"Please tell me you weren't planning on doing something at our leaving ceremony?" Marlene said in exasperation.

Because really? The day they were supposed to look their best they would do something?

"We did something last year for Frank and we weren't even leaving," James reminded her.

"They're going to do something at the ceremony," Lily informed her.

Well, yes, she could have gathered that from the smirks on their faces, thank you very much!

"We always do a Leaving Feast prank," James complained. "It's not our fault we're not going to be there for it!"

"Yeah," Sirius chimed in. "We can't let our very last day to go without a bang."

"Literally," Remus added, looking very pleased with himself.

Lily groaned and muttered something about what it would be like to have normal friends. Marlene, on the other hand, had something more pressing to tell them.

"But that means that only Seventh years and their families are going to see whatever you've done," Marlene told them. "The whole school isn't at it. Just families and the choir."

Merlin help the poor saps who have been in the choir since first year. They had to go to a ceremony that was about three hours every year for nothing pretty much. Boring as anything. Trust her, she knew. She had to attend Teagan's and Ciaran's. The school discouraged bringing children younger than Hogwarts age so she didn't have to go to her older two brothers' ones. Thank Merlin. They would have been ten times as boring to five-year-old her.

All of the Marauders' faces fell. It was hilarious.

"It's not going to like the Feast," Peter said in horror, which was a bit dramatic.

"We need a new plan," James said.

"Let me dig out our book," Remus said, scrabbling around in his bag. "We can come up with something quick for the feast as well, I know it."

"You think so?" Sirius asked anxiously.

"Maybe Shadow knows a Potion?" Peter asked.

"He doesn't like being called that," Remus said distractedly. "And won't that take too much time?"

"No longer than a day, maybe?" James said unsurely.

"Worth a shot," Sirius said, tugging at him. "We'll go get him. You and Wormtail choose an idea."

And with that they split up and left Lily and her just standing there. Lily was giving her a very disapproving look.

"Just what exactly have you started?"

Thursday 29th June 1978

Hogwarts Grounds, 09:00

Lily couldn't help but sigh sadly as she walked through the crowds of students greeting their parents and family members. Which was lovely and everything but she couldn't relate. It was easy enough to forget sometimes but her parents were muggles. Which meant that they couldn't see Hogwarts never mind actually enter it and watch her receive her certificate.

Okay, it wasn't exactly worth anything. Not at all, actually. It just said that she had attended Hogwarts and had her place in the year alongside all the extracurriculars she had taken part in - which wasn't a lot. Her NEWTs were far more valuable than that. They were what would get her her job. But that didn't matter. It was still a big ceremony and she still wanted her parents there.

It didn't really seem fair. But at least Chryssie was in the audience, that was something. She was sitting next to Tonks, Sirius' cousin, who was sitting next to her parents. They were from the good side of his family, apparently. There weren't a lot of those.

"Hey," James said, plopping down next to her on the grass.

She tried to smile at him. "Hey."

"Hey, what's wrong?" He asked, noticing her demeanour.

"Nothing."

Because there was nothing anyone could do even if she mentioned there, was a problem. Muggles couldn't enter Hogwarts and that was that.

"Missing your family?" James said knowingly.

If course he knew what she was thinking. Of course, he did.

"Yeah."

It wasn't fair. She had done so much hard work and now her parents wouldn't be able to celebrate it with her. Well, they would later, they were going out for a celebratory meal but still. It wasn't the same as them being here, was it? No, it wasn't.

"It sucks," James said matter-of-factly.

Lily was glad and somewhat surprised that he didn't make any excuses. That's what all their professors did when she asked them.

"Yeah, it does," she admitted.

It felt good to say that. The two of them sat in silence for a moment, Lily leaning her head into his shoulder.

"Come on," James eventually said, tugging her to her feet. "My parents wanted to see you. That's why I came over."

Lily couldn't help but smile. She did so like the Potters. They were great. They were lovely and kind and funny. Just like their son. And they were sure to cheer her up.

"Why didn't you say so?" Lily asked in exasperation, shaking off her lingering sadness as she brushed her robes down.

Oh, she hoped she hadn't got any grass or anything on them.

James linked his fingers with hers, both of them smiling at each other. Today was looking better already.

Leaving Ceremony, 13:30

Marlene turned around and watched the parents looked attentively as the stage. She could see her family from here. Her parents, her grandfather, her brothers, Teagan. Kevin even brought his girlfriend and her children with him. Wow. She hadn't seen him beforehand; he had been running late. And she could see why, she knew it was hard to get little kids ready to go anywhere. Her mum complained often enough about having to herd them all about when they were little.

She was given a sharp elbow to the side from the guy next to her. She gave him a glare but turned around and settled back into her seat. It was just that listening to speeches was so boring. Marlene doubted that anyone was actually paying any attention.

All the speeches were variants of the same thing, after all. You've all worked hard. Played hard. Some more than others, and then a pointed look at the Marauders. That was funny the first time but defining not the second or the third. Or the fifth. Why did all the Heads of House's have to give their own speeches again? And then they went onto how life is an adventure. That you had to grab opportunities. That the word is big and scary but they should make their mark. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blahblah, blah. Bore-ing.

"And now to present our leaving students."

Finally.

Leaving Ceremony, 14:15

"Severus Snape, Potions Apprentice."

Severus held his head high as he climbed the wobbly steps and walked across the stage. He grabbed his utterly useless certificate that stated that he had completed seven full years at Hogwarts, shook Dumbledore's hand then McGonagall's and finally Slughorn's. They were all smiling at him in approval. Which was a nice feeling even though all his accomplishments had been down to his hard work. It was nice for people to know and appreciate that.

"Well done, my boy," Slughorn said with the biggest grin on his face. "Going to give me a run for my money one of these days?"

Severus kept the smile on his face but inwardly he was scoffing. Do a Mastery in Potions only to become a teacher? No thank you. He wouldn't be able to stand it.

And it would be a waste, in his opinion. How could you all that work and put all that effort into something only to have to split your brewing and researching time with teaching. Teaching teenagers of all things, the most infuriating people in existence. Yes, he was well aware that je was still a teenager but still.

Leaving Ceremony, 14:30

'BANG'

There were screams and shouts as fireworks burst over the stage. Lots of them. As in, as many as six owls could carry. Safely delivered to their dorms, of course, so as not to raise the suspicion of any Professors.

Ribbon formed letters in an elegant script in the air above the stage.

'CONGRARULATIONS CLASS OF 1978! GO AND ROCK THE WORLD!'

And then balloons a streamers rained down from seemingly nowhere. Now that was a very handy mix of potion and fancy spellwork.

The text was all his idea. Because that's what they should do. And surely this was fine. Definitely not the prank that Professor McGonagall warned them of. This was just good wishes. Dumbledore seems to agree as he had a big smile on his face and was clapping. Which was great as this meant professor McGonagall couldn't tell them off. Though, she did send each of them a glare before releasing everyone from their seats.

Sirius couldn't help but grin as he jumped out of his seat with everyone else so they could return to their parents. Not that his actual parents were here but people who were far more important were. The Potters!

He and James ran to them and both of them were engulfed in his and showered in congratulations. Hell, Fleamont even pulled Lily into the hugs. She didn't have her parents here either but for a completely different reason. They actually wanted to come but couldn't. Which sucked. Sirius was glad that the Potters included her as well.

He got his back clapped, he was given hugs and kisses and was thoroughly embarrassed. It was the best feeling ever.

Hogwarts Grounds, 16:00

Tonks couldn't help but sulk as she kicked at the grass in front of her. Her mother gave her a warning look before returning to the conversation she was having with the Potters.

It was after the leaving ceremony for the year above - Sirius' year - and she had just realised that all this meant that none of them were going to be here next year. And that kind of sucked. She liked the Marauders. They were her friends. It wasn't fair that she was a while year younger.

And Remus wasn't going to be here. Which was just doubly unfair. It had become normal to hang out with him, study, talk about Defence. It was brilliant. And maybe there was starting to be a promise of something more. Something more than the silly crush she had had on him years ago. No, she genuinely liked him. Wanted to be with him. But je was oh so oblivious or maybe he didn't like her that way? She wasn't sure. And now it was going to be nearly impossible to figure out. Because now it was being taken away from her. See? Unfair.

How was someone meant to try and become someone's boyfriend when someone was in school and the other wasn't?

Sirius ran over to her with the biggest grin ever on his face.

"Come on, Tonks. Fleamont said that Andromeda got you permission to join us all for dinner!"

Okay, that perked her up. Who wouldn't get excited over the possibility of food?

"We're going to get the Evans' as well. The Potters have rented out a whole room for the lot of us in a restaurant in Diagon Alley."

Okay, that did sound kind of fun. And when would they ever all get together like this?

"Sounds great."

Remus then came running over.

"Did you tell her?" He asked Sirius.

"Yeah."

"It's going to be fun," Remus turned to her.

"Yeah," she tried to say enthusiastically.

It was just one step closer to not seeing them at school ever again.

"You'll keep in touch, won't you?" Remus said awkwardly.

"Yeah! I mean, sure, if you want to," Tonks said awkwardly.

It was bad to appear too eager, wasn't it?

"Yes! I mean, yeah. That would be nice."

Sirius was looking between the two of them with way too much amusement on his face.

"You two do realise that we're all still getting the train together tomorrow, right?"

James came running up before any of them could say anything further.

"Come on, guys. Let's go eat!"

Hogwarts Grounds, 16:30

Good riddance, Regulus couldn't help but think as he saw all the Seventh years and their families come away from. The state that had been erected on the grounds. That was it for them. They were finished with Hogwarts. Regulus would never have to see Sirius in the school again. Thank Merlin for small mercies.

Not that anyone really compared them or anything anymore but Regulus still didn't want to see him. Who would? He was a traitor. A blood traitor. The worst kind.

But it didn't matter anymore. Mother had said he was disinherited, his face blasted off the tapestry and he wasn't going to have to see him in school again.

He watched as Sirius went to drag that horrible Tonks girl over to the crowd of parents. Blood traitors as well. Surprise, surprise.

Admittedly, je had to do a double take when he saw the Tonks'. Well, just one Tonks. And she wasn't a Tonks by birth. Andromeda really did look a lot like Bellatrix. It was uncanny. Eery, even.

He shook his head. It didn't matter. She didn't matter. She wasn't a Black anymore so she didn't matter. It was as simple as that.

Nobody that mattered to him was at that ceremony.

Friday 30th June 1978

Madam Malkins, 17:30

Elsie couldn't help but sigh as her grandmother locked the door with a 'click'. It really was the most satisfying sound. It meant that there were no more customers to deal with. No constant tidying. Okay, it didn't mean their day was completely over. There were still a good two hours of work to do. Sorting out orders due for tomorrow, brushing all the robes down, a final tidy up because there were always pins everywhere and she didn't need to find any in the bathroom again, thank you very much.

The keys were hung up on their usual protruding nail. Elsie couldn't help but notice the slight shaking of her grandmother's hand. That had gotten worse, recently. Just a sign of age. But it meant that she leant on her and Linda to do more of the sewing - she couldn't make a lot of the more intricate wand movements anymore. Had Elsie ever mentioned how much she hated embroidery? Because she did. And guess what required a lot of intricate wand movements? That's right, embroidery. Stupid embroidery. She was sick of it. Sick of everything.

Oh, she didn't know. It just felt like the whole world was moving so quickly and she was just standing there, not doing anything. Everything was passing her by. She didn't like that feeling. But she couldn't think of anything to stop it. It wasn't like she could just do something else. She didn't even know what else she could do. She had never been the brightest, after all. And who would look after her family?

Maybe meeting up with friends would break up the monotony? Elsie hadn't even heard from any of her friends from school recently. She didn't know at what point Kingsley and Frank were in their Auror Training - they didn't write anymore. She didn't know what to think of that. Was it because she had nothing to say to them? Was she boring? There were only so many ways you could talk about robes, after all. Or were they just too busy?

Oh, she knew about being busy. Grandmother had been putting more and more responsibility on her and her sisters over the last year and it was a lot. And customers could be so picky and whingey. Elsie couldn't stand whingers.

She smoothed down a cover over one of the dress robes that were nearly finished. The name tag fluttered to the floor and she snorted when she read the name. Speaking of whingers, Leila Lestrange was definitely one of the worst. And she always said everything with such a sneer on her face too. Nothing was ever done quite to her standards.

Whatever. Some people just liked to complain and they all had to put up with it. Didn't make it suck any less though.

Face poked her head into the store. Lucky her, she got to escape to Hogwarts most of the year. She wasn't confined to just this yet.

"You done yet?" Faye asked. "Gran wants us to lock this door now."

"Nearly, nearly," Elsie grumbled. "That Leila Lestrange left a right old mess. Set me back on all the tasks."

"I don't like her," Faye said. "She's horrid and rude and says we're nothing more than charity brats."

Elsie sighed. That wasn't anything new to her. It was all Leila Lestrange said to her when they came across each other in Hogwarts, which thankfully wasn't often. It didn't mean it stopped hurting. And she definition didn't want her little sister to hear it.

"She's full of it," Elsie told her, sling lint an arm around her shoulders. "Don't listen to her."

"I don't."