40
The Last Good Few
The last Quidditch Match of the season was the day before Graduation, and two days before they left Hogwarts. As it was the last time they would ever be on the pitch, James Sirius and Marlene trained every single free moment that they had. It was there final opportunity to show what they could do, and it was appropriately against Slytherin.
The other houses had decided to take sides, something that only happened universally for the last match of the year.
The entire stands were a blur of scarlet and emerald. Doe even noticed some of the teachers brandishing Gryffindor scarves. Most of the Ravenclaws had adorned emerald, but a few stood out in scarlet. And every single Hufflepuff brandished scarlet and gold. The Gryffindor viewing post was a blur of scarlet and gold. Someone had even bewitched a large Lion statue to roar when it felt the game was getting too quiet.
Remus, Peter, Lily and Doe stood in the stands proudly cheering on their team.
" Lily" Doe said as the players flew onto the pitch, " Do you still want to get an apartment together?" she asked her.
Lily turned to her excitedly.
" Of course" she exclaimed, " there's no one I'd rather live with".
Doe smiled, " This is going to be great, I'll start looking as soon as we go home"
She clapped excitedly.
The game lasted a very long time. Neither Gryffindor nor Slytherin wanted to lose their last game so they both played the best game of Quidditch that Hogwarts had ever seen.
After the two hour mark, it began to get very serious.
James spotted something to his left and both he and Lucius Malfoy tore after it.
Lucius was inches from the snitch when he was knocked off his broom by a bludger sent by Sirius.
Lucius scowled and Sirius grinned brightly.
James tore after the snitch and clamped his hands around it.
The entire crowd, teachers and students alike burst into loud cheers. This meant they were tied with Slytherin for the House Cup.
They had won their last Quidditch game and all of Gryffindor house stood happily, united in their bliss.
Doe woke up on June 22nd a different person. Today was the day she would be graduating, and she wasn't ready.
There was going to be a graduation ceremony for the seventh years.
She woke up to see Lily, Marlene, and Alice all awake in their beds just laying there like she was.
" Today's the day" Marley said taking her golden hair out the bun it was in.
" Were graduating" Doe said with a sigh.
" I wish Mary could have been here" Alice said sadly.
Doe's eyes glanced over to Mary's empty bed. When she left, Doe always thought she would come back. It was a horrible realization that she hadn't.
They all got up and crept around the room. Since they were leaving tomorrow, their things were already packed.
Their attire for today was traditional uniform. It was strange to think that this would be the last time she ever wore it. When they finished getting dressed, they headed downstairs. All of the other Gryffindor seventh years were around too.
" Ready to be a Hogwarts Graduate?" Remus asked her.
Doe shook her head, " No. I don't know what I'm going to do without this place"
" Me either" Lily said sadly.
" Well" Sirius began as we walked towards the Great Hall, " that is because you two focused too much on school and neglected your social lives"
" Funny, you didn't have that problem did you?" Lily snapped.
James laughed, and Sirius narrowed his eyes.
The Great Hall was crowded with everyone enjoying breakfast. The seventh years easily distinguishable as they were the only ones in uniform.
As soon as breakfast ended, Professor McGonagall dragged them all into the Transfiguration room and lined all of the Seventh years up in alphabetical order.
Doe had Marlene in front of her, and Mulciber behind her.
What was Doe going to do when she left Hogwarts? She had to force herself to calm down.
Professor McGonagall led them into the hall and they saw that it was full of parents.
Doe scanned the crowd for her mother's face and wasn't surprised to see she wasn't there.
She should have known she wouldn't be there, that would've been something her father would have had to force her to do. Her father. Sadness washed over her, he would have wanted to be here.
They stood behind a podium where Professor Dumbledore was standing.
They were all nervous. This was what the last 7 years of their lives had led up to.
Dumbledore called each of their names and shared a memory or trait he admired about them, he even managed to make the Slytherins sound like decent people.
" Dorcas Meadowes"
When her name was called she walked over to Dumbledore. He smiled brightly.
" One of my earliest memories of Ms. Meadowes was in her first year" Dumbledore began, " She was nothing more than a petite little thing and she was carrying around a large copy of 'Hogwarts: A History' when a young Mr. Black told her she was a know it all"
Everyone laughed, Sirius grinned at her.
" And Ms. Meadowes looked at him and quoted Bathilda Bagshot " Knowledge is the key to opening a world of the unknown". Mr. Black then rolled his eyes at her, so she simply took the book and smacked him with it"
The crowd erupted into loud laughter again. Doe didn't remember that particular memory, but it sounded very much like something she would have done.
" From so wise to so childlike again. And I am happy to report that she seems to have maintained a friendship with Mr. Black"
Everyone clapped and a tear rolled down her cheek. She wiped it quickly and sat down with all the other A-Ms.
The other speeches were just as great. She didn't know how Dumbledore managed to remember all of that. When he finished the final student Dumbledore looked at the crowd,
" This class of students in front of me is one of the most dedicated group of individuals I have ever met. Not only are they immensely dedicated to this school, but they are dedicated to each other.
The friendships between these students are unmatched by anything. They would rally together and could withstand anything. It has been a joy to watch them grow up here and I look forward to seeing what they accomplish in their futures. But I'd like them to remember that Hogwarts will always be there home"
The clapping that ensued was some of the loudest that she had ever heard.
Another tear slid down her cheek. She wiped it away. They were leaving Hogwarts. It was final.
" Parents you may now meet up with your children. Hogsmeade is open and I'm sure it's fine establishments would love to provide you with a fabulous lunch" Dumbledore said happily.
Everyone moved quickly to their parents. Doe watched Lily skip over to her own parents, and watched as Peter, Marlene, and Remus did too.
Doe lingered by the front.
" Your mom didn't show?" Sirius asked.
She shook her head, " I guess not" she said sitting down on the bench, " your parents didn't either?"
Sirius shook his head, " But I expected as much"
" Were all the family we need" Sirius assured her wrapping an arm around her, " Congrats on graduating Dorky".
Doe rolled her eyes at the childhood nickname.
James, Peter, Remus, Lily, and their families walked over.
" Congratulations kids" Mr. Potter said putting two arms around both Doe and Sirius, " you up for lunch at the three broomsticks?" he asked enthusiastically.
" I don't want to intrude" Doe said quickly.
" Nonsense" Mrs. Potter said quickly, " You're both coming with us"
" Well I'm starving, so let's go eat" Sirius said leading them to Hogsmeade.
Remus walked over to her and grabbed her hand.
" We are officially graduates" Remus said happily.
Doe squeezed his hand.
" I swear Doe, you get more beautiful every time I see you" Mrs. Lupin said happily.
" Thank you so much" she told her, blushing furiously.
Remus pulled me against, " I tend to agree".
The large group of them walked down to Hogsmeade to and towards the three broomsticks. The restaurant was already crowded with students and their parents.
Their massive group required three tables. The adults sat at one end and the students sat at the other.
" Do you realize we will be getting on the Hogwarts Express for the last time tomorrow?" Peter asked.
" Why would you say that?" Marlene said throwing a chip at him.
" Can you believe we will be living on our own?" Lily asked.
" Mrs. Potter!?" Sirius exclaimed, " What am I going to do without you?"
Mrs. Potter smiled, " I'm sure you and James will be just fine".
" No more Mrs. Potter, no more Minnie, how will I live?" Sirius asked in mock horror.
Doe let her head fall on Remus' shoulder. He squeezed her knee beneath the table.
" Doe, " Mrs. Evans called from further down the table, " Let me know when you and Lily find an apartment and we can help you check it out"
" I will, don't worry" Doe assured them.
She couldn't believe that soon she and Lily would be living in our own apartment.
They finished their meal and everyone began saying goodbye. They started to leave.
" Doe, could I have a word with you?" Mr. Potter asked.
Doe stopped by the exit.
Mr. Potter took a deep breath, " I just wanted to let you know, that I heard about your acceptance into the auror program. I knew you father a long time and I know he would be very proud of you"
Doe smiled, tears forming in her eyes " Thank you very much. That means a lot".
He hugged her tightly, " I know it must be hard with your mom, so if you ever need anything, let me know"
" Thank you" she told him.
She left the three broomsticks with a strange feeling in her stomach.
" You alright?" Remus asked.
She nodded quickly, " I'm fine."
They all spent the next few hours in Gryffindor common room, enjoying their final hours there. They all reminisced on their time at Hogwarts and the best pranks that the Marauders had pulled off.
When it was finally time for the feast, the entire school was buzzing about who had won the house cup. It had been very close, so no one knew the final results.
As they entered the Great Hall, they saw it was decorated in a mass of Scarlet and Gold.
All of Gryffindor cheered loudly. They had won. They erupted into cheers. A united feeling welled up inside of all of them
The feast was delicious and somehow Doe knew she would desperately miss Hogwarts food.
When it was over, Dumbledore stood up to the podium,
" This was a wonderful year at Hogwarts. It was filled with many memories that I am sure we will all carry with us, I look forward to next year"
There was a shuffle as everyone got up to leave the Great Hall.
" Come on, time to go" James said grabbing Lily.
" Come on" Remus said to Doe and she followed them. Marlene, Peter, and Sirius followed them towards the exit to the grounds.
" Where are we going?" Doe asked.
" A little trip to the grounds" Remus told her .
They all walked down to an empty spot on the grounds next to one of the large oak trees.
" Breaking a fundamental Hogwarts rule on our last night?" Doe asked.
" Of course" Sirius said with a bow.
They all sat down. She watched as James held Lily close to him. Doe sat down beside her.
" Now my dear friends," Sirius said with a smile, " We have all dragged you down here because we have been through too damn much to leave this place without a bang" Sirius said taking a flask from his jacket pocket.
" We say goodbye to you Dear Hogwarts, we have done a lot inside of your magical walls and we leave our legacy to you" James said loudly.
" Cheers to the place where I met you all" Lily said happily.
" Hogwarts, the place where I learned what it's like to spend time with Marauders" Doe added.
" Where I met my best friends" Peter said.
" Where I found I could trust people" Remus added.
" Where I finally got Lily to date me" James said with a wide grin.
"Where Mischief was managed" Sirius said taking a sip from his flask.
Doe looked around at all of the people in front of her and felt so much love for all of them.
When breakfast ended the next day, all of the seventh years were practically in tears. As they walked out toward the platform, their trunks flew behind them.
" We're getting on the train for the last time" Marlene gushed.
" Marley stop" Lily said wiping the tears from her sleeve.
" No crying" Sirius ordered.
Remus laughed as he grabbed her hand.
They all crowded into one compartment on the train, except for Marlene who decided to sit with Caradoc Dearborn. Doe was pretty sure something was starting between them.
The train began to move away from Hogwarts and Doe cast one last fleeting look at it. This was the last time she would ever see it like this.
They spent most of the train ride just sitting there enjoying each other's company.
When the train eventually pulled into the station, Doe felt a stir of sadness inside her.
" So I'll start looking for an apartment as soon as I get home" Doe told Lily.
" Okay just let me know when you find one that'll work" Lily assured her.
The train stopped on Platform 9 ¾.
" This is it, It's over" James said as they all stood up.
" Nah, It's not over" Sirius said observing everyone leaving the train, " It's just beginning".
They left the train and stepped onto the platform for the last time. Maybe Sirius was right. Their mischievous era was ending, but they were beginning a new period of their lives,
The Lively Years.