AN: Damn. As per usual, 'next week' actually means 'next year'. From the bottom of my heart, my bad.

2017 Update: Major plot points have been added to this chapter, so if you planned on reading the sequel, please check them out!

Chapter 23: Clarity

"Exams are the bane of my existence, I swear."

Remus sighed. "Elsa, if you spent half as much time studying as you do being absolutely dramatic, they wouldn't be."

I groaned.

Bloody sensible Remus.

The stupid git was trying to be a good boyfriend, I suppose, by hovering over me while I studied, but to be completely honest, I was utterly exhausted of all his mother-henning around my schoolwork since he'd decided he was going to 'help'.

"Yes, but if I'm not dramatic, who will be?"

Remus rolled his eyes and shut the muggle studies book he'd been reading.

"Somehow I think we'll all live, Elsa."

"I dunno about that," I said under my breath, "someone might die of boredom, like you."

He shot me a look. "I heard that."

I threw a wad of parchment at him. "No you didn't."

He put aside the offending projectile and crossed his arms on the table. "As long as you're here we'll never be bored."

I fluttered my eyelashes. "Oh, Mr. Lupin, you flatter me."

"Though I guess we do have James, too, so really..." he added, dodging another piece of parchment. "But he doesn't hold a candle to you though, Elsa, really!"

"I'll let it slide this time," I said.

Remus does have a knack for talking his way out of things. It's part of what makes him so loveable.

"You know, exams are tomorrow morning."

I take that 'loveable' thing back.

I shrugged. "I know."

"And you are completely prepared."

"Absolutely."

Completely and totally not whatsoever.

"You've studied everything you can?"

"Yes."

No.

"You're going to pass with ease."

"Of course, Merlin Remus, you think I've just been sitting here daydreaming?"

Remus finished gathering up his books and gave me a peck on the cheek. "I hope not. I'd really rather you be with me in 7th year."

I smiled and watched him walk away, hoping the flutter in my heart I'd been trying to deny so badly this year never went away. I really am lucky.

Lord, when did I get sappy?

"Get back to work, Elsa!" Remus called over his shoulder.

I made a point of theatrically opening my transfiguration book, then coughed as a year's worth of dust assaulted me.

Maybe Remus has a point.

The next morning, or in my case, mere hours later, I dragged myself out of bed to march down to the Great Hall to partake in what I hated most about the end of the year. Exams.

Thankfully I had taken Remus' advice and actually studied, though as I read through page after page, I began to regret taking naps during class.

Bloody year six.

I met Alice and Lily outside the common room, chatting away about potions.

"I really hope I get Felix Felicis right this time," Alice said, nervously playing with the hem on her skirt.

"Felix Fe-what now?" I said, joining them next to the railing.

Lily smacked me on the arm with a book. "You better know by now, I didn't spend hours studying with you so you could make jokes!"

"Hey," I said, backing out of book-smacking range, "You can't expect me to remember everything."

Lily narrowed her eyes.

"On second thought"

"Elsa, darling!" James called as he exited the portrait hole, Sirius in tow. "How could you possibly not remember everything dear Lilykins says?"

I rolled my eyes. "Shove it, James."

"She's probably cranky from being up all last night," Sirius said. "Miss Up-Until-The-Wee-Hours-With-Remus."

I felt myself blush.

Damn that boy.

"For your information, Remus was helping me study."

Sirius waggled his eyebrows. "I bet he was. You know, I think I may need to do some 'studying' myself before our next exam."

"Well yeah, but that's more of a solitary activity for you, isn't it mate?" James said.

Everyone save for Sirius howled with laughter as he ran his hands through his hair and stalked off down the stairs, mumbling something that sounded a lot like "Bloody Prongs," each step of the way.

I rolled my eyes and said goodbye to my friends, hoping to catch up with Raffie to ask about our living situation for the summer. Ever since my dad and I had fallen out, I'd been dreading going home and I was already spoilt having spent the previous summer by myself. Raffie had mentioned rooming together, just for the summer to split rent earlier in the year anyway.

I found him easily outside the Hufflepuff common room, just standing by himself like a complete idiot.

"Raffie!" I called, joining him on the wall. "I've got to talk to you."

Raffie looked down, and I noticed he had a letter in his hand.

"Are you thick?" I said, nudging his arm. "We have to talk about this summer!"

Raffie was silent still, just handed me the crumpled letter and looked away.

Raphael,

I do hope this letter finds you well. I have informed the Dark Lord of our family's intentions during this conflict, and you are to join his ranks immediately. Your brother has already been drafted by, shall we say, a more elite league of followers, and it is the Dark Lord's wish that you participate as well. I shall not expect the same of your sister, she is of no use as a student, and you are to inform at once that she is not to come home. All I want is for our family to be safe. The Ministry is weak, and I fear we will not survive given Devon's condition if we are not careful. If there were any other way, you know I would have taken it.

Another owl should be arriving shortly with instructions.

Forgive me,

Dad

I felt as if I was going to be sick. I thrust the note back into Raffie's shaking hands and closed my eyes. This certainly explained a lot. Devon's absences from just about everything, Dad being on edge, Raffie's new friends. It was all obvious, but even with the evidence at my fingertips it still seemed impossible.

"I couldn't go through with it," Raffie said, stuffing the note into his pocket. "How could I?"

"Couldn't?" I said tightly. "So you tried."

Raffie at least had the decency to look ashamed.

"Yeah, alright. My friends, they- they wanted to, and this damn letter, and I don't know, Elsa! What else can I say?"

I tried to swallow, to say something, but all that came out was a small "alright" and I dashed off, saving all of this Death Eater nonsense for after my exams.

After my last exam, I decided I needed to deal with some family business, when I stumbled upon an unusual scene.

Actually, scratch unusual, this was downright strange.

I blinked several times.

My eyes have to be tricking me.

This is not actually happening.

Oh Lord.

James "bloody" Potter and Lily "If you so much as look at me this year, Potter" Evans were sat in a windowsill civilly chatting away. Lily was even laughing!

For a brief minute I considered minding my own business.

"OI!"

Of course, that part of me didn't win out.

"If you two are finished "talking", I was just on my way to the common room, if you'd like to join me."

A part of me would like to think that this was sweet revenge for every bloody time James had popped up on my this year, but mostly it was just for my own amusement as I watched them both turn red and Lily sputter for an explanation.

"Him? We weren't-Elsa-Seriously, you can't think that I'd-"

"She was just giving me detention!" James shouted.

Lily nodded enthusiastically.

I raised an eyebrow. This was too fun.

"In the last week of school?"

James ran a nervous hand through his hair and distanced himself from Lily, who went six shades of red.

"Well, I guess it is James," I said, hopefully ending their torment. "He was bound to do something stupid in the last week anyway."

James' "Hey!" was cut off abruptly by a death glare from Lily.

"Don't push it, Potter."

I laughed.

I knew she'd come around.

On my way to the common room I bumped into another familiar face in a gathering of Slytherins on the second floor.

I pushed my way past a few students and practically threw Regulus up against the wall.

"I want to know what your game was," I said, tightening my grip on his tie.

Regulus rolled his eyes and removed my grip.

"Game?"

"You know what I'm talking about. Why did you ask me out all those months ago?"

He smirked. "So you've heard then, about your idiot brother."

I was losing my patience, but I tried not to let it show. "Was that part of it? Was it?"

"What, me getting to know you? Dear Elsa, you can't honestly think that I, a fifth year, could possibly be caught up in all of that."

I narrowed my eyes and felt for my wand, safely tucked in the pocket of my skirt.

"Fine. Somebody important, I can't tell you who, asked me to talk to you. To see if you'd be of any use," Regulus said, making a move to leave. "If I were you, I'd drop it. Your brother has already crossed a line. Pray you don't make the same mistake."

There was something in his eyes as he turned to walk away that reminded me so much of Sirius I nearly had to sit down.

Was the bastard actually telling the truth for once?

I decided it didn't matter and continued on my way to the common room, still shaken, but more determined than ever to not let that bloody toerag get the best of me again.

The last full day of school was always bittersweet. I always hated leaving my friends behind for my boring life with my family, and this year I was even more unsure as to what I was going to do after the year ended. Raffie had suggested that we get a flat together, which I accepted, but it was still tense between us. I suppose neither of us could be blamed, since half of our already broken family had decided to try and save their own skins by becoming Death Eaters. That was still sinking in.

It didn't matter anyway. As far as I was concerned, my father and Devon no longer held any sort of kinship to me, and if Raffie stepped a toe out of line he was going to fare the same. I decided to focus my energy on more important things, like my friends.

James had suggested we all meet down by the Black Lake for the last night at school and it was somewhat of a party, with more and more people showing up every minute.

Our little group sat on the outskirts, nearer to the water, where we watched James and Sirius try to dunk Peter into the water. Remus had already made several threats about reprimanding them, though they were all but empty since it was the last day, but as per usual, they had been ignored.

Lily and Mary MacDonald were standing on the shore, cheering for James and Sirius, and I honestly felt happy knowing that something in that dynamic had changed.

Alice and Frank were together too, laughing, though that relationship didn't have the same effect.

I'm not bitter about the whole 'whale' thing, I swear.

"Frank, you're so funny!"

Okay, maybe a little.

Remus nudged me. "Elsa, you're glaring."

I narrowed my eyes. "I can't help it, he's such a twat."

He only smiled. "He is, but look how happy they are."

"You're such a sap, Remus," I said, bumping against his shoulder. "So unattractive in a man."

"You must have poor taste, then," he said, laughing.

I kissed him. "If this is poor taste, I don't ever want to change."

Remus draped his arm around my shoulder. "Things are changing, though."

I looked at him. "You're probably right."

"I hope it's for the better," he said just as Peter got the upper hand on James and dunked him into the lake, and Sirius practically barked with laughter. "Though, let's not get our hopes up."

I laughed and stood up. "Such an optimist. Oh, damn."

For a minute, everything had been perfect, the sun was setting, I was curled up next to the perfect boyfriend watching my friends having the time of their lives, but all good things must come to an end, because I could hear the shrill yell of a voice that could only belong to one person.

I stepped out from the spot where Remus and I had been lounging against a tree. "Oi, Marlene!"

Marlene McKinnnon stopped in her tracks and turned on her heel to face me, and from the look on her face I knew nothing about our relationship had changed.

Figures.

"What do you want, Chubs?"

I had a million witty retorts just waiting on the tip of my tongue, but as she ran off towards the lake I let it go and took Remus' hand.

There's always a time and a place, but sometimes, it's just better to laugh it off.

THE END

AN: Hey everybody! We're done! It's been almost SIX YEARS in the making, but this goddamn story is finished. I may still go through and edit it for any mistakes I missed the last time around, but other than that this story is DONE. THANK YOU GOD. I was literally 15 when I started this and I'm turning 21 in a month. It's been crazy and I doubt anyone from six years ago is still reading but seriously THANK YOU to every single person who read, reviewed, favorited, followed, hell, even if you just read the summary I'm thankful! Anyway, one last round of anon review responses and then we are done!

ANON REVIEWS (in order from least recent to most)

Jay: I'm so sorry you had to go through that! Sadly a lot of us hear similar things. :( Best wishes!

Guest: I'm continuing!

h: Ok I wasn't going to respond but this is my first flame so I just can't resist. If this story sucks so much why the hell did u read all 24 chapters? :)

why stop: Hello! I'm so excited to have a reader from China! I stopped writing because I didn't know where to go next and my life was very crazy for a while there, but I hope you enjoy this last chapter!

Guest: I have to give you a big shoutout whoever you are, because this review popping up in my email is what got this last chapter written. So seriously, thanks for reviewing!

Okay guys, it's been real, thank you all so much for reading, and it would be really awesome if you could review!

XX

Val