39

The Days That Follow

As more time passed, their schoolwork became much more difficult. Their teachers were all trying to prepare them for the N.E.W.T.s which occurred much earlier in the year than O.W.L.'s. They were all cramming so that they would be prepared for them.

Doe spent most of her time studying in the common room, because she was still healing and Remus wouldn't let her out of his sight.

She had finally convinced him one night that she would be able to handle going to the library without managing to reopen her stitches. He kissed her quickly and made her swear she would be careful.

Doe did. She was thrilled to be getting out of the common room. Sirius was always in there trying to make it up to her because of their fight.

She walked to the library and spotted Severus sitting at one of the tables.

Besides the time he visited her in the hospital wing, she hadn't spoken to Severus since the incident.

" Hi Severus" she said sitting down.

Severus slammed the book he was reading closed, " I am not speaking to you"

" What did I do?" she asked him.

He looked at her with an expression full of anger, " Oh I don't know, Doe. Let's think? Maybe it has something to do with the fact that you stayed with the guy who tore you to shreds and tried to kill us both and forgave the one who sent us in there to begin with" he whispered angrily.

Doe stared at him with shock, " Neither one of them meant to do it".

Severus rolled his eyes, " You Gryffindors are all the same. Ridiculous and arrogant, and you know what? I don't want to spend any of my time with your kind anymore"

He left the library, and Doe sat there in shock.

She should feel bad, but Severus had been so horrible lately that the loss of his friendship didn't bother her the way it probably should have.

When she got back to the common room and told Remus and Sirius about it, they both had the same reaction.

" Good riddance" Remus said.

" About time, he was evil Doe" Sirius said.

Doe shrugged, Severus had been behaving badly lately but even still, she doubted he was evil.

Their N.E.W.T's came quickly, and the week they took them was very stressful.

They were their last official exams at Hogwarts. The exams were actually easier than their O.W.L.s had been, seeing as they had fewer years worth of information to remember and fewer exams to take.

A sense of relief washed over all of the seventh years as they finished them, but the stress from the exams were soon replaced by another one.

Ministry letters were due to be arriving soon, and for most of them that meant that their futures were going to be determined. Even the recent Quidditch win against Hufflepuff did little to relieve the tensions that everyone felt at the thought of finding out what they would or wouldn't be doing with their lives.

It was strange that the school year was coming nearer to the end. It felt like it was yesterday that they were boarding the train.

It was a few weeks before school officially ended when the sleek black ministry owls flew into the Great Hall during breakfast delivering the acceptance and rejection letters.

Two fell in front of her. One for each program. She grabbed the one that said 'Auror Program'.

" It's now or never, beautiful" Sirius said from further down the table, clutching an identical letter.

Doe took a deep breath and slipped open the letter.

Ms. Dorcas Meadowes,

Congratulations! I am happy to inform you that you have been accepted into the Auror Program. This program will begin with a four week training period beginning August 30th, if you make it through this training session you will move on to begin studying. Please confirm by June 23rd.

Sincerely,

Alastor Moody

Doe didn't open the one from the Healer's program, she didn't care. She was so filled with happiness it didn't matter.

She turned to Sirius, a wide smile was spreading across his face too.

" Did you get it?" she asked.

He nodded, " You?". Doe nodded too.

Sirius pulled her into a hug, " Congratulations".

Neither one of them could stop smiling. They had secured their futures.

" I'm very proud of you" Remus said.

" Did you get the internship you wanted?" Doe asked quickly.

Remus nodded holding up the letter from the Department of Magical Cooperation.

As it turned out, Lily was going to work for the Muggle Liaison Office, James would be going into Magical Games Department, and Peter would be in Misuse of Muggle artifacts. Marlene had found out that she had been accepted to be a Healer, something she didn't think was possible, and had decided to do it.

Surprisingly, Frank Longbottom had also gotten into the auror program. Doe didn't know he had even applied.

Professor McGonagall was practically beaming. The department never took on this many students, and she was obviously pleased that they were all from her house.

" This requires a celebration" James said loudly to all of the house, " party in Gryffindor tower tonight!"

" Yes! Definitely" Sirius agreed.

Remus turned to Doe, " I was going to go clean out the shrieking shack today, any chance you wanted to come with me?" he asked.

" Sure" she told him.

Sirius and James threw themselves into launching a large celebration tonight for the seventh years, so they spent most of the early morning running around getting supplies and making sure everyone knew about it.

Doe waited for Remus in the common room. He came down from the dormitory holding a small brown box and something silvery in his hands.

" What's this?" Doe asked pointing to the silvery thing in his hands.

" I'll show you, come on" Remus and they walked into the corridor.

He pulled the silvery thing from his hands. It was a cloak. He threw it over himself and Doe watched as he disappeared beneath it. She gasped. It was an invisibility cloak. Those were extremely rare.

Remus moved the cloak and reappeared, " It's James, cool huh?"

Doe felt it in her hands, " Very".

Remus smiled and threw the cloak over both of them.

They walked completely out of sight out of the castle and onto the grounds. It was kind of a murky day, darker than most of the summer days had been so far.

Remus picked up a small stone and tossed it at the opening to the Whomping Willow. The branches froze and they darted through it. Shedding the cloak once they were in the safety of the tunnel.

They began walking down the sloping path towards the shrieking shack.

Doe held Remus' hand tightly. She knew coming back here couldn't be enjoyable.

They walked into the shack and up the stairs into the only room it contained.

Walking into the room reminded her heavily of the only other time she had been in there. She shivered slightly remembering the traumatic memory.

But last time she was here, she was too distracted to really look at it. The room was large. It had a large four poster bed and stacks of books everywhere. All of them Remus'. She noticed a picture on the nightstand next to the bed. It was of Remus and Doe at the Christmas Ball the previous year. She smiled slightly, remembering how much fun it had been.

" This is the last time I'll be here" Remus said sitting down on the edge of the bed, " It's kind of surreal".

" It's good though right?" Doe said sitting down next to him on the bed.

He nodded.

" Where will you change next year?" She asked realizing she had no idea.

Sirius had been planning on buying an apartment in London, with money his Uncle Alphard had left him, and all of the marauders, Remus included, were planning on moving in with him.

" I've had to rent a small cottage in the woods outside of London" Remus said, " I can't do it at the apartment".

Doe squeezed his hand, " It's going to be okay, you know"

He nodded, " I know."

He looked at her, a thought appearing, " So now that you're going to be an auror are you going to be move into London too?" he asked.

Doe had had this thought before. She was planning on taking some of the money her father had left her and buying a small flat close to the ministry. Lily and Doe had talked about moving in together and it seemed like a good idea.

" Lily and I are going to get an apartment" Doe told him, " something close to the ministry"

He smiled, " It's really happening, we are becoming adults"

Doe laughed, " Doesn't feel like it".

He reached over and kissed her. She hadn't been expecting it, but that didn't stop her. She pulled him closer to her, deepening it and holding him tightly to her.

They shifted, so she could lean back against the pillows. Remus kissed her more intensely. She ran her hands down his back.

It hit her then just how much she loved him. He was so much a part of her, that she couldn't imagine how it had been without him.

She pulled away from him for a second, looking up at him.

" What's wrong?" Remus asked quickly.

" Nothing" she assured him, " I just think I'm ready to you know…..".

Remus looked slightly confused for a second and then his eyes widened understanding what she meant.

They had talked about it before, but at the time Doe had told him she wanted to wait, and Remus had agreed.

" Oh, Really? Are you sure?" he asked.

Doe nodded quickly, reaching up to kiss him.

She pulled her shirt over her head and discarded it. Remus took a deep breath and did the same.

She stopped for a minute. His entire chest and back were covered in scars. Some pink and fading, others more red. Her fingers traced over one of them.

" Do they hurt?" she asked lightly.

He shook his head, " Not anymore".

She looked down at her own side, where she had the exact same kind of scratch.

Remus followed her gaze and stopped, his hand reaching out to touch them. His face contorted in pain for a second before she pulled face back up to look at her, " I'm fine" she told him.

He sighed, " I really love you, you know that right?"

" I know how much I love you" she said.

He smiled and pulled her closer to him.

For a little while after, Doe just laid there next to him. Her head on his chest. He ran his hand over her hair and down her arm.

" I don't think I have ever been happier in my entire life" he said quietly.

She readjusted so that she could look at him, a large smile on her face, " I'm glad".

He pulled her closer to him so he could kiss her again.

" You know," she told him, " We probably should get around to packing your stuff" she said looking around the room.

They had been so preoccupied with each other, that they hadn't packed a thing.

Remus sighed, " I suppose you're right". He pulled her closer to him for one second and then they both got up and got dressed. They couldn't stop smiling at eachother. Even as they packed up the books and pictures from the shrieking shack they kept stealing glances at each other. It reminded her of the first time they had kissed.

They had been there for hours, so they weren't surprised when they left the tunnel and found that it was nighttime.

As they approached the common room, the party had obviously began. All of the seventh year Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuffs were crowded in the common room, drinks in hand, and were listening to the music that had been enchanted to play.

Sirius stopped us as they walked through the portrait hole, " Doe! Moony! There you are"

He had two cups in his hands, and from the smell of it, they were filled with firewhiskey.

He handed one to Remus and held the other for a second, " I'm sure resident good girl Doe Meadowes will refrain" he said.

Doe reached for the cup and took a sip. It burned slightly going down her throat. She had never had Firewhiskey at a Hogwarts party before, and it felt weird.

" Meadowes, you're breaking my heart" Sirius said with a grin and danced away to where Caradoc Dearborn and Marlene were standing,

" A drink?" Remus asked curiously.

" It's a night of firsts" She told him taking another sip.

Remus grinned widely and took another sip from his own cup.

They walked around the party talking to the other seventh years and finding out what they were planning on doing next year. Xeno Lovegood was actually joining the Department of Mysteries, something she thought was very fitting for him.

Amelia Bones came over, tears streaming down her face and told her how much she was going to miss her but was thrilled they would both be working in the ministry together, she had been invited to work for the Department of Magical law Enforcement.

" Dorcas Euphegenia Meadowes" Lily said coming over on the arm of James, " Are you drinking?"

Doe grinned taking another sip from her cup, Sirius had been periodically coming by and refilling it and she didn't even want to think about how much she had probably had.

It was strange, it seemed to loosen her up a little. Usually Remus and Doe hung back at parties but today they were socializing with everyone and it was nice.

Remus and Doe were glued to each other. They couldn't stop smiling at one another and she hadn't let go of his hand the entire time.

An hour so into the party, James stood up on one of the tables and everyone quieted slightly.

" Hogwarts 7th years, we are having this party tonight to commemorate the end of our seventh and final year at Hogwarts and to celebrate the kickass jobs we have all gotten. I am proud to say that Gryffindor House has three new badass aurors taking over."

Sirius, came over and squeezed Doe's shoulders in excitement. Frank Longbottom beamed from the corner. She was surprised to see he held Alice Prewetts hand. She was happy for them. They deserved each other.

" I am still shocked that anyone in the ministry accepted Sirius Black-" James began.

" Oi Shut it Prongsie" Sirius shouted.

James smile and turned back to the crowd " So congratulations to all, and enjoy this final Marauder party"

He jumped down from the table and the crowd burst into loud cheers of " Here, Here"

The music began again and Doe danced with Lily for a little while. Sirius kept refilling her drink, and she kept sipping it. Eventually, she began to feel the buzz. It was making her much more confident.

" Rem, come dance with me" Doe begged grabbing Remus by the wrists and leading him over to where everyone else was.

" You want to dance?" Remus asked.

Doe nodded, " Yes, please" she begged, downing the rest of her firewhiskey.

Remus looked very confused. She pulled him towards her and began spinning around and against him., the buzz from her firewhiskey taking over. Remus stood there helplessly.

" Here, mate" Sirius said grabbing her by the waist, " I'll dance with her"

Remus smile appreciatively at Sirius and sat down next to Peter, while Sirius led her to the where everyone else was dancing.

She began dancing around Sirius wildly, much to his enthusiasm.

Sirius barked with laughter, " So a little firewhiskey is all it takes for you to loosen up?"

Doe grinned from her daze, running her hands through her hair as she danced.

The room was starting to get fuzzy around the edges and then it began to spin. She lost her footing and almost fell. Sirius caught her by the elbow.

" Come on, Gorgeous, I think you're done dancing for tonight" Sirius said dragging her away from everyone.

" But whyyyy" her drunken self whined.

" Because Doe," Sirius said still shaking from laughter, "You're drunk".

" Oops" she managed with a giggle.

Sirius laughed and led her over to where Remus was sitting with James and Lily.

" She is drunk off her arse" Sirius said sitting her down.

" No I'm not" Doe said in a slight slur.

Remus wrapped his arm around her to keep her steady, " I can't believe she's drunk"

" Rem," she said drunkenly, " I love you."

He laughed, " And I love you"

Doe turned to Lily giggling uncontrollably, " He loves me".

Lily who was sitting in James' arms couldn't contain her laughter, " I know".

The room started to spin again. Remus held her in his arms and she passed out.

The party had ended a few hours later. Doe was still passed out. Remus had her head in his lap. The Marauders were the only ones still in the common room.

" This party was legendary" Sirius said proudly.

" One for the books" James exclaimed.

" Doe was drunk, that makes it famous" Peter pointed out.

" I know" Sirius said in disbelief, " Little Miss Do-Good".

Remus sighed.

" What's wrong Moony?" James asked.

" Doe may kill me, but I have tell you guys something?" Remus said quickly.

" What is it?" Sirius asked.

Remus took a deep breath, " Well yesterday before the party Doe and I went to pack up the shrieking shack and well we….. we slept together"

" Well finally" Sirius said.

" About time, Mate" James agreed.

Doe stirred slightly in her sleep, sure she wouldn't remember this in the morning.

The sun poured in through windows and Doe shifted slightly, realizing she wasn't in her bed.

She was in the common room, on a couch. Her head had been resting on Remus' shoulder. He was asleep next to her. It wasn't even seven yet. She tried to sit up. The room spun lightly and her head began to pound. Last night's events were slowly coming back to me. She had gotten drunk.

She leaned back, next to her, Remus stirred slightly.

" Doe?" he asked sleepily.

" Yeah?" she asked turning to face him.

" How you feeling" he said sitting up slightly.

" I'm hungover" she replied gloomily.

He laughed, " That's something I never thought I'd hear you say"

Doe clutched her head and groaned.

" Don't move" Remus said, " I've got a hangover cure Sirius taught me"

He took out his wand and placed it on her forehead, and said " rapturio"

The pain in her head slowly faded.

" My hero" she muttered quietly.

Remus laughed, " Coming from the auror"

She had momentarily forgotten. A new excitement course through her.

" I'm going to be an auror" she said happily, a smile spreading across her face.

" We'll both be at the ministry" Remus said kissing the top of her head.

" We're starting a whole new life" she said disbelief.

" That's not bad" Remus said, " Were growing up"

Doe sighed and pulled herself towards him, not wanting this particular memory to fade yet.