Chapter Seventy-Five

With June came the approaching of the inevitable N.E.W.T.s, which would mark the end of Severus and Lily's tenure at Hogwarts. In the last weeks of school, Regulus had been quiet and subdued, chosing to be alone instead of with Masterson and the others. Ever since Dumbledore had ensured the school would be better protected, no student had been able to leave the grounds, and Severus would often find Masterson and his crowd sulking in the common room when most other students were outside enjoying the warm, summer weather.

Good news from Lily's home continued to come in weekly owl post. Her mum's condition remained stable, and Violet Evans reported she was feeling better. Her hair was starting to grow back, and her energy level was increasing. Lily's smile grew wider, if that were possible, with each positive bit of news she received.

That morning, it thankfully being a Saturday, the last one before the N.E.W.T.s, Severus was standing in front of the mirror in his private bathroom, buttoning up a green shirt. His hair was long enough to rest on his forehead, nearly touching his eyebrows. Before long, he realized he would need to brush it out of his eyes. Checking himself over, he exited the bathroom and headed to the Great Hall for breakfast.

He took his usual seat, not too far from Rose and Emily, who had become somewhat like friends to him. He certainly didn't share anything deep or private with them, but there was a comradery among them and a few others in Slytherin. Severus scanned the hall for Lily, but she hadn't yet arrived. His eyes travelled down the table and briefly stopped on Regulus, who abruptly glanced up from his sausages and eggs. The other boy glared distrustfully at Severus and returned to picking at his food.

Sighing, Severus lifted the cup of coffee to his lips and took a sip. He was one of the few students who preferred drinking coffee at breakfast to pumpkin juice or tea.

"How do you stand that stuff?" Rose suddenly asked.

Severus looked at the coffee swirling in his cup as he placed it on the table. He shrugged. "Acquired taste, I suppose," he said lazily. "I didn't like it at your age, either."

"Hmmm, well, my mum drinks it. It smells good, but that's about it."

"My mum drank coffee as well," Severus returned, realizing he was probably revealing more about his personal life than usual. Not one for small talk, he hoped Rose would leave him alone.

She didn't.

"N.E.W.T.s are this week, right?"

Severus gave a single nod.

"And then you're graduating," she said, her voice trailing off quietly. Beside her, Emily turned her eyes to Severus.

"Yes," Severus stated. "You've known this."

"What she's getting at is: Who will teach us when you're gone?" Emily posed.

"You will have your usual professors," Severus pointed out.

"It's not the same, Severus," Rose said sadly. "You were... a really great teacher. Why don't you come back in the autumn? Can you apply for a position?"

"I'm not planning on going into teaching," Severus replied, feeling hot.

"That's a shame," Emily murmured.

Severus gazed at their dejected faces and wondered if he would really be that missed. No student had ever told him he was a great teacher before, except for suck ups like Draco Malfoy. It was a world of difference coming from Rose and Emily, though. They were sincere, and from the expression on their long faces, Severus realized he must have had a larger impact on them than he had realized.

"Will you really miss those lessons so much?" Severus asked.

"Yes, and we'll miss you," Emily replied.

Rose nodded. "It won't be the same, even if someone else takes over."

"I'm sorry," Severus said truthfully. "But we have one more lesson yet. It's not goodbye yet."

Not overly satisfied, Rose and Emily gave him a pair of nods and resumed eating. Severus ate his breakfast, contemplating Monday's lesson. He decided to make it special.

Just then, Lily entered and sat next to Mary. He was looking forward to discussing his plans for Monday's last duelling club with her after breakfast.

x x x x x

Monday was the first day of N.E.W.T.s. The morning consisted of the written part of Charms, and the afternoon was all practical. By dinner, the seventh years were mentally and physically exhausted. Severus ate more quickly than usual, hoping to get to the empty classroom early. Lily and he had already agreed to meet there a half hour before the duelling club was scheduled to begin.

Once he was in the abandoned classroom, Severus carefully checked to ensure everything was as he had left it the day before. After realizing students would miss these sessions, Severus decided to make their last meeting one to remember. Lily and he had already discussed the details of their plan on Saturday.

When Lily entered a couple of minutes later, she asked, "Is everything still on?"

Nodding, Severus said, "Yes." He glanced around, then asked, "How do you think you did today?"

Lily shrugged nonchalantly. "Charms is easy enough. How about you, Sev?"

"Probably not as well as you did, but then again, you already were brilliant at the subject. Too much frivolous wand-waving for my tastes." Severus wrinkled his nose distastefully.

Laughing at his antics, Lily stated, "Well, not all spells are for defense, Sev. Tomorrow is Potions, so you'll get a break. You probably didn't even have to study."

That much was true, but he wasn't going to elaborate. Shrugging much in the same manner Lily had a minute ago, Severus said, "I'll be glad when the next couple of weeks are over."

"It's hard to believe, isn't it?" Lily questioned. "It's almost the end of our time at Hogwarts. Kind of sad, really. This was seven years of our lives, and the eleven years before that are blurry. It feels like we've always been here. To be leaving, I don't know, it's just... strange."

Severus tried to reflect on how he had felt the first time around. He remembered the excitement of joining ranks with the Death Eaters, of finally proclaiming his rightful place and of proving he would be somebody. How ridiculous those thoughts felt now. Severus knew what his first life had become, and he had hated every minute of it.

Forcing himself back to the present, Severus said, "It's not over quite yet. Besides, you and I have much to celebrate this summer." He smiled, coming to Lily and wrapping an arm around her waist.

Thinking of their upcoming wedding, Lily smiled at her fiance. "Indeed, we do," she agreed.

Just then, the door opened, and Severus and Lily released each other. The Marauders strolled into the room, laughing over some ludicrous joke. Lily bit her lip, trying not to laugh herself, but Severus merely rolled his eyes at their display.

"You're early," Severus remarked.

"So are you," James returned. "Why? Did we interrupt something private?"

"A snog session instead of a duelling session, perhaps?" Sirius teased.

Remus groaned.

"Hilarious, as always," Severus said dryly. "You two have a career in comedy after Hogwarts."

"He finally appreciates our wonderful sense of humor, did you hear that, mate?" Sirius asked James.

"I must be Confunded," James joked.

"Don't mind them," Remus said, coming to stand closer to Severus and Lily. "What d'you have planned?"

"That's a surprise, Remus," Lily replied, smiling and eyeing Severus mischievously.

"Did you say a surprise?" James inquired.

"Yes, Potter, a surprise," Severus said softly. "Seeing as it bears repeating for it to penetrate your thick head-"

"Better a thick head than a greasy one," James said smoothly.

No wands were drawn, and no tempers broke. By now, the offhand remarks sparred between Severus and the Marauders were taken in stride.

A few others entered, and before they knew it, everyone had arrived. Severus gazed upon the mixed expressions on the kids. Some wore anticipatory faces, others more saddened, knowing this was, in fact, their last duelling session.

An unexpected surge of warmth passed through Severus in that moment, and realization struck him at how proud he truly was of every student in front of him. Never as a proper teacher had he felt this way - that sense of worth and reward for preparing the next generation of young minds. Severus smiled, and much to his amazement, some of the kids appeared unnerved at this.

He laughed.

"I should tell you," Severus explained, finding his words, "that this year has been hectic, mentally draining, and sometimes even downright a pain in the arse, but you all have proven yourselves devoted... You cared enough to come back, despite all odds, and you've taught me something. I-" Severus paused, knowing he was blushing. He wasn't accustomed to expressing his feelings to others, with the notable exception of Lily. James and Sirius was gaping at him as if he had just stepped off a spaceship, perhaps a Jedi in the famous Star Wars movie.

Lily stepped closer to him and took his hand. "What Severus is trying to say is thank you," she amended. "And for that, we would like to celebrate our success together. It's the end of the year, and you've all worked very hard. You should be proud of yourselves. Without further delay, let's party."

The stunned looks she received broke into smiles, and then clapping ensued. Lily guided Severus to reveal the hidden food, and within moments, butterbeers were being passed around. A plethora of sweets littered the unused desks lining the one wall, and the students rushed forward with vigor and enthusiasm, snatching the food into their greedy hands. An energy filled the room that hadn't existed five minutes before, and Severus relaxed, watching the students take full advantage of the party.

A multitude of thanks were expressed, but Severus was quiet and modest. Lily kept squeezing his hand, as if to reassure him that this wasn't a dream.

As the hour passed, the chatter lessened. Severus wondered what was going on when the kids assembled and came to stand in front of Lily and him.

"We just wanted to say," Rose expressed for everyone, "that you'll be missed. And thank you for all you've done, Severus and Lily."

"You- you're welcome," Severus replied, unable to formulate a lengthier response. "I suppose I should say now: This session is dismissed." He managed a modest smile, and a mixture of laughter and clapping broke out.

The daze of being appreciated and liked kept Severus mentally floating through the rest of the evening. There had been glimpses, small moments in the vast expanse of time, when Severus had felt such gratitude during his seventh year, but in the end, he came to the realization that he had gained so much more than just Lily.

x x x x x

Two oppressive weeks of N.E.W.T.s somehow managed to pass. If Severus had thought the O.W.L.s challenging two years ago, he felt those examinations would have been a vacation in a tropical paradise compared to the Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests, as they were aptly named. Two years of magical education didn't help, but he knew he had excelled in the two subjects that meant the most to him. He had more than passed the others, to be sure, but still, that didn't change the fact that Severus was now relieved to be on the other end of that arduous fortnight.

He now stood in the room he had come to call his own this past year. He placed one last shirt in his trunk and checked the drawers and wardrobe one more time to make sure he hadn't forgotten anything.

Gazing somberly at the now barren room, Severus knew he wouldn't forget Hogwarts, the place which had been his home for most of his life. Despite the loquacious activity among his peers of saying their final farewells to the old place, Severus's heart was strangely sorrowful. He turned from the room and dropped a heavy foot into the hall.

Closing his eyes against the backdrop of years combined into undefinable happiness and the lowest level of melancholy, Severus made his way toward the Great Hall. He placed his trunk with the others and joined his table for breakfast. He reflected on the Leaving Feast from the night before...

The Great Hall was decorated for the end of the year feast, and before them, the tables filled with all sorts of delicious delights. Severus suddenly realized how hungry he was as he eyed the food, but before anyone could begin eating, Dumbledore stood and gave his annual speech.

"What a year we have had," he spoke regally. "My congratulations to all the houses for a combined effort on house unity. It is only fitting that we celebrate this victory and award the House Cup to the entire school, I think." Smiling, Dumbledore applauded, which was joined in strength by the whole hall erupting in cheers. When the students had quieted enough, Dumbledore continued, "In the midst of a war, this is exactly what I had hoped for. I extend my gratitude, on behalf of the entire staff, to our Head Boy and Head Girl, especially, for making this happen."

Severus was stunned. He reddened and found Lily gazing back at him, just as shocked. People clapped again, and Severus half-smiled, giving a nod of acknowledgement.

"Very well, then," Dumbledore concluded. "Tuck in and enjoy this marvelous feast!"

The dinner was every bit as wonderful as expected. After the meal, Severus and Lily had spent one last night outside around the lake, watching the sun set in the western horizon, the sky more beautiful than the Great Hall's illusion.

Returning to the present, Severus finished breakfast, the atmosphere buzzing with excitement. The summer holiday was moments away, and only the seventh years would be coming back to Hogwarts in a week's time for graduation. The others would be back in September.

Meeting Lily by the door, Severus escorted her across the grounds. They opted to take the train home for old time's sake, and as they walked, Lily glanced over her shoulder at the castle behind them.

"At least we get to come back one more time," she said. "Graduation on the grounds will be wonderful. Mum and Dad will finally be able to see where I've gone to school all these years."

"I hadn't thought about whether or not I'd ask my father to come," Severus admitted.

Lily thought Severus sounded uncomfortable, but taking his hand, she said, "While that's up to you, Sev, I think he'd love to see your graduation. You've worked hard, harder than most, to get where you are."

Severus nodded absentmindedly, his eyes focusing on the Hogwarts Express parked at the station. He looked behind him, seeing Hogwarts obscured through the forest. Determinatedly, Severus's grip on Lily's hand tightened, and they stepped onto the platform.

"For now, we'll go home," Severus stated, "and we'll take it from there."

Lily reached up and caressed his cheek, then leaned in and kissed him. All around them, students were anxiously boarding the train. A few of them stopped to watch the public display of affection, but to Severus and Lily, they were in their own world now.

Their future awaited them.