! Author's Notes ! I'm pulling out my hair (not literally) but I sort of am. I don't want this particular tale to end and there is two chapters left! I wanted to post the last one on Easter, but you, know that's not such a brilliant idea, so I won't even bother. I'll post the last one on Thursday/Friday and the new story should be up by at least next Monday (April 9th). For the record, Finals suck. And the lyrics are to The Cure's Fascination Street.

Fascination Street

Oh it's opening time
down on fascination street
so let's cut the conversation
and get out for a bit
because I feel it all fading and paling
and I'm begging
to drag you down with me
to kick the last nail in
yeah! I like you in that
like I like you to scream
but if you open your mouth
then I can't be responsible
for quite what goes in
or to care what comes out
so just pull on your hair
just pull on your pout
and let's move to the beat
like we know that it's over
if you slip going under
slip over my shoulder
so just pull on your face
just pull on your feet
and let's hit opening time
down on fascination street

so pull on your hair
pull on your pout
cut the conversation
just open your mouth
pull on your face
pull on your feet
and let's hit opening time
down on fascination street

Suzie took a deep breath of the muggy air. Her hair was standing on end, her stomach was churning, her palms were sweating, her face was getting redder by the second, and her eyes were bulging. Graduation Fever had swooped down on Susanna Donnelly greatly and she couldn't be less pleased if she tried.

The good thing, though, according to Sirius, was that she managed to get her face to stop radiating so much, pull bag her hair in a manageable manner, and focus on anything but who she so desperately wanted to see: Simon. He was a muggle, but he was her fiancé and he wouldn't be present. He wasn't the cheering on type of guy who whipped out his camera to capture everything to look back on. Felicity, Natalie, and Tim were all there though, snapping photographs like mad people with cheesy parental smiles plastered on their faces. Natalie was waving a "Go Suzie!" flag around like a rabid football (soccer) fan.

The names rolled by, Sirius squeezed Suzie's hand before strutting to the podium and accepting his degree from Dumbledore who shook his hand eagerly. Suzie's name popped up and, to her delight, the nerves stopped. Her hands stopped shaking. Simon was there, smoking a cigarette and in his motorcycle jacket, but Simon was there. Suzie felt ridiculous now, in her swishy, blue robes, wearing a yellow tassel as she took her place besides Sirius.

"He's here." Sirius whispered from the corner of his mouth.

"I know."

"Are you happy?"

"I don't know. A mixture really. Angry, depressed, happy, glad, relieved, hopeful, frightened, excited, joyful, but sad mostly. We're leaving, Sirius. After seven whole years! Think about the nights, the days, the laughs, the cries, the fights, everything! We're leaving Hogwarts. We're leaving?" Suzie was shell-shocked. She wanted to crawl back into her bed and lie in the lovely hazy glow that was surely glowing from the window besides her four-poster bed. There was no beating time, she was doomed to get older, to die eventually.

"We'll come back, Suzie. We'll always come back." He soothed gently.

"What should I do, Sirius? Auror, journalist, roadie, professor? There's so many choices!" she was officially having a melt down as they walked the long way down the steps. She could feel her head splitting open, Sirius and Lily's hands supporting her from in front and back.

Simon, Sirius, Lily, James, Peter, Remus, Natalie, Tim, Felicity, Annabelle, Tommy, Freddie, Danni, Bobby, Kevin, Gates, Diana, Earl, Jacob, Kelly Smith, Jenna Kelly, Stewie, Lucy, George, Dumbledore, Lucius, Voldemort, Susanna, Suzie. Everything blurred and fuzzed, Suzie regained control of herself.

It was clear and cool again. She was hugging Lucy as she looked longingly at George. Tommy was there, off into his own corner. Simon was too laid back to step forward himself, Sirius was with James' family as they hugged and kissed him on the cheek as much as they did with their own son, their own flesh and blood. Kelly Smith and Jacob were there too, trying to get eye contact with their daughter and stepdaughter.

"My sister's an adult!" Natalie shrieked, hugging Suzie tightly. She was so tiny.

"What about me?" asked Lucy, her eyes still on George.

Natalie bit her bottom lip. "You've always been adult." Everyone but Lucy laughed.

"I'll be back, okay?" Suzie shoved her way through the crowd.

"My little graduate." Simon chuckled, his voice throatier then normal.

"My big thug." Suzie hugged and kissed him.

"Do your parents have anything planned?" He asked. Typical Simon, too mellow to take Suzie away from her family, but too eager not to ask.

"No. They've left the night up to me. And I choose you." She tapped his chest playfully with her finger and kissed him again.

Someone cleared his or her throat from behind the snogging couple. Jacob Donnelly. Simon reigned Suzie back from going ballistic on her father.

"I just wanted to say I am sorry, Suzie. I have given up on my past playboy days. I am content with Kelly, I am content with you, Lucy, and Tommy, and little Melinda---."

"Melinda? Is Kelly Smith fucking pregnant?" Suzie nearly laughed out loud.

"No. Melinda is Kelly's child from her previous marriage." Jacob rocked from heel to toe, heel to toe. Back and forth.

"Oh."

"I'll leave you two alone, now." He scuttled off, utterly uncomfortable.

"How's the foot?" asked Suzie, attaching herself to Simon again.

"Better… it'll cured if you come back to the flat with me." Simon whispered huskily, his breath hot and heavy on Suzie's neck and ear. He bit her ear quickly.

"I can't Simon," she said, pushing his gently away with her palms.

Simon pouted. "Pretty please…"

"I'm not going to have sex with you just because you're stressed." She said.

"And your not?" he rose an eyebrow.

"I am… but I'm not in the mood, Simon." She separated herself from him rather ungracefully as she stumbled back on the tip of her shoe.

Simon laughed, catching her by her elbow. "I can see that."

"I love you Simon Costello." She patted his cheek and slipped the pack of cigarettes from his jacket.

"Hey! Suzie, I love you like hell, but I need my fucking cigarettes!" Simon laughed, attempting to snatch them from her grasp. They disappeared in a cloud of smoke, courtesy of Suzie.

"It's me or the cigarettes."

"Fine, I'll quit if that's what you want." He laughed again.

"Thank you!" She kissed him on his lips and on both cheeks.

"Just one once and while." Simon pleaded.

"When would once and while be?"

"Now."

"Then no."

"Fine, mother."

"Since when have you listened to your mother?"

"Since I moved out and fell in love with you and then decided to call you my mother just then."

"Whatever dickhead." You would expect Suzie to turn and leave at this point, but she did not. In fact, she skipped into her Dormitory and changed into normal clothing. Fraying jeans, a minty green tank top with white polka dots, a black fitted jacket, and her worn fake leather boots.

Sirius was waiting for her in the Common room, tie loose, hair crumpled, smile lopsided, hands in pockets. "Just wanted to say good-bye," he said, stopping her from moving onwards.

"Why? I'm going to see you in another week for the trip."

"I know, I just wanted to say good-bye."

"Alright. Good-bye Sirius Black."

He put his foot in front of hers to immobilize her. "I want a proper good-bye." He said sneakily.

"Don't make me smack you!" Suzie joked, hugging him all the same. He kept his hands where they belonged. "Where are you going, may I ask?"

"James'."

"His house is three blocks away from mine."

"Not from Simon's it isn't."

"Right, I live there now." Silence.

"Good-bye Suzie,"

"Good-bye Sirius,"