Sweet Jane

Three weeks until graduation. Finals were brutal, friendships were bound together, and the sweet memories of childhood were penetrating. Questions murdered, over protective family members hounded their graduating relatives, and professors were slacking off much to their students' relief.

Suzie Donnelly was oddly reserved and Lily Evans was oddly hyperactive. Maybe it was because the Marauders (Padfoot, Prongs, Moony, Red, and Wormtail) had introduced her to alcohol, but it was more likely the cause of her growing relationship with James. He was already planning on asking Lily's parents if he could propose.

As for Suzie and Simon's engagement announcements, Jacob and his new wife, Kelly had found out because of Tommy's big mouth. Lucy had told Natalie who leaked the information to Tim and Felicity. Felicity was holding a grudge against her daughter for not immediately spilling her guts after Simon popped the question. Simon had told his parents ahead of time and they were ecstatic to welcome Suzie into their family. None of them knew what Simon and Suzie were planning. There would be no wedding. Now white dress for Suzie, no drunken speech from Gates (as he was going to be the best man), no bachelor antics or strip-club touring for Simon and his groomsmen, no bachelorette partying for Suzie, and definitely no embarrassing first dance or stupid congratulations or tears.

"Guess who made valedictorian!" Lily shouted happily, flinging herself onto her bed.

"You." Suzie said, looking up from her book.

"And Remus! How wonderful is that?"

"Supremely." Most of the time, Lily could be too giddy and happy for her own good.

"What's your problem?" sniffed Lily.

"You."

"Oh."

"Where did the quiet, studious, grounded Lily go? I remember her, I was best friends with her. Not this bubbly, alcohol-drinking, chattering, girly beast!" now Suzie was pissed.

Lily pouted. "You know how James gave up his spirit and troublemaking for me. So I guess, I sub-consciously decided that I need to remake myself. To make myself more like the girls that fling themselves at James." She shrugged.

"Stop. If James fell in love with reserved Lily, then he still loves her. The only thing you're doing is scaring the shit out of me."

Later on that day, Lucy and Suzie met up outside. It was Lucy's time to shine, Suzie knew this. Lucy had been a late bloomer, a year late to be exact. The day Suzie received her acceptance letter to Hogwarts, was the first day Lucy preformed magic. She had proven the family wrong, that she wasn't a squib.

"I'm proud of you, Lucy." Suzie said. They were walking around the lake.

Lucy smiled. "I've decided to join you on your Asia exploration, if you don't mind. George and I need a break and I think traveling will do me good."

Suzie was blown away. "You and George broke up?"

Lucy's smile faded. "No, we're taking time apart."

"Oh."

"Don't look so down-hearted!" Lucy squeezed her sister's shoulders. "Everything's good this year. We're graduating soon. I've refilled that job for you with Uncle Bob. I've even found a position for you at the Daily Prophet. You'll be working for Amelia Waterford." If Suzie would've been one of those girls who squeal, she would've squealed long and hard. Amelia Waterford was the best journalist of her time. Undoubtedly, she was one of Suzie's biggest inspirations. How Lucy swung that, she had no clue.

"When Simon and I go out for drinks tonight, you have to come with us. I'll even get the Marauders and Lily to tag along." Suzie knew Simon wouldn't mind, he was just that kind of guy.

"Absolutely."

When Suzie asked James, Remus, and Sirius to tag along, she had to admit, she was a little nervous. Peter was a big minus since he was in the hospital wing after being cursed into oblivion by the Slytherins.

James and Remus were up for anything that involved escaping the school's dreariness, but Sirius was more reluctant. "You can go by an alias." Suggested Suzie.

"How 'bout Sirius?" suggested Sirius.

"Fine by me." Suzie was a little miffed by Sirius' attitude, but she couldn't help but feel gladdened by him tagging along.

Lily was almost as eager as James and Remus, if not more so. Suzie's stomach was doing flips. Lily, James, Sirius, Remus, Lucy, and Simon. The most important people in her life. Together. In one room. Speaking. Hopefully.

Simon was limping. Why? Because Bobby had dropped an amp on his foot. "It's fine." He kept telling Suzie, laughing. Suzie also thought the limp was hilarious. Simon and James were getting along quite well, Remus was his withdrawn self, Lucy and Lily were chatting up a storm, and Sirius was just damn right unpleasant. Suzie would've kicked him out if not for the fact that Simon would've been on her case about it for years to come.

Simon only had two drinks, which Suzie was glad for. He didn't smoke up a storm, in fact, he didn't pick up one cigarette. He did swear his head off though. Typical Simon Costello. The topic of the engagement didn't come up once. The Asia trip did. By the end of it all, Simon, Lucy, Lily, Suzie, and James were all going. Simon for Suzie, James for Lily, and Lucy to get away from George.

They headed back to the castle at about midnight. They all complained about how Suzie had held them up by making out with Simon too long. This resulted with severe bruising on James' right cheek from both Lily and Suzie.

Just before going to bed, Lily and Suzie had the following conversation:

"Do you love him like you love Sirius?" – Lily

"No," – Suzie

"How do you love Sirius?" – Lily

"Like… I don't know, Lily. Can we just go to bed?" – Suzie

"How do you know if you love someone?" – Lily

"It varies." – Suzie

"How did you know that you were in love with Simon?" – Lily

"He's like a drug and I'm the addict." – Suzie

"How did you know that you were in love with Sirius?" – Lily

"He's always been there. I guess he was like a fall-back plan for me all along." – Suzie

"How lovely." – Lily

"Can we just go to sleep now?" – Suzie

"One more question." – Lily

"What?" – Suzie

"Are you really going to marry Simon?" – Lily

"Yes." – Suzie

"Are you going to have a wedding?" – Lily

"I thought you said only one more question." – Suzie.

"It's a two-parter." – Lily

"No." – Suzie.

"Why not?" – Lily

"Go to fucking bed Lily!" – Suzie

"Good night fucking Suzie." – Lily.

"Yah, yah." – Suzie