DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING BUT ANNELISE!

I'm stil ltrying to plow my way through the beginning years. I know exactly where the plot is going to go and the first couple years aren't really relevant except for the Remus and Annelise relationship dynamic, Lily and James' story and how it is intertwined with Sirius' as well. That's why it skips forward quite quickly for each chapter. Eventually it will stop doing.

CHAPTER THREE- IN TIMES LIKE THESE

Spring of 1979

Annelise Black's final year at Hogwarts had passed by in blur. She couldn't believe that she was finally graduating. She had decided that she was going to become a healer. Lily was currently in the program and encouraged Annelise to join as well. She looked forward to being with her best friend again. Lily had visited Hogwarts (with Professor McGonigal's express permission of course) when she returned from her honeymoon and the two girls had talked all night long in the Head common room. Lily and Annelise had kept in touch without fail for the entire year. Even Sirius had kept his word and written on time each week. James sent along an occasional letter that usually threatened to beat up Jamie McKinnon if he tried anything on her.

The only person that did not write and that would not return her letters was Remus. Now after sending a total of one-hundred and seventeen letters that had not been replied to and probably never even opened, Annelise was lying on her bed in the Head dormitories crying. It was her last night at Hogwarts. Her last night as Head Girl, her last night as a student and her last night separated from the rest of the world was restless. Hogwarts had protected all of its students from the outside world for the past seven years but already news of the Dark Lord's rising had seeped into the hallways and was a topic much discussed among the seventh years. Annelise knew that there were definitely some Slytherins who would join the Death Eaters tomorrow night after graduation. Voldemort was gaining power and it was only a matter of time before the war started.

James, Sirius, Lily, Remus and Peter were all members of the Order. Annelise had known about it for the whole year but had not been allowed to join. Sirius and James had put up a fight and told her that she had no business joining the Order and that they wouldn't allow it. Lily, who had disregarded both James and Sirius, defended her and in the end a compromise was made. Annelise would not join the Order until she had graduated from school. Her time as an innocent was numbered.

She would soon be put through Order training and then used to complete missions, offer protection and monitor Death Eater activity. She knew that it was dangerous but it was the principle of the thing. She couldn't sit there and watch her friends go off and fight. She couldn't sit by knowing that Lily was being targeted because of her blood but most of all she wanted to disprove her family name. Being a Black was not something many good wizards respected. Annelise wanted to be a part of something bigger than herself- something that would change the world- and she was going to be.

She wished desperately that Remus would stop ignoring her. Annelise had vowed that the letter she held in her hands would be the last that she sent to him while he remained unresponsive. She didn't know why she hadn't stopped writing a long time ago. At first it had been that she told herself he just hadn't gotten the mail yet, that he was on a mission, that the letter had been intercepted which was increasingly common these days. Now she had finally come to the decision that if Remus didn't want to talk to her than that was fine. She would leave him alone and not bother him with her silly school girl letters anymore. If he didn't have feelings for her than that was fine too. She wouldn't throw herself at him or even look at him.

She signed her name to the last letter she would send and read it over one more time. It was short and to the point. Annelise hadn't felt that any more time should be wasted on a cause that was so obviously lost. He would never return her sentiments and even if he did- he was the type of person that wouldn't act on them for fear of complicating her life. She had known for a few years that Remus was a werewolf and she wished that he could realize that every person in the wizarding world was living in fear right now- his lycanthropy was the least of her worries.

The last letter read:

Dear Remus,

This is the last letter I will send to you- I promise. I know that things have been hard for the past year but times are changing and I will be leaving Hogwarts tomorrow. I wish that you could see that this world is filled with things to be feared, but you are not one of them. Dark times are coming and in dark times we should cling to the light- the things that make us happy. What makes me happy is you. However, I know that you obviously don't feel the same way, regardless of what almost happened at James and Lily's wedding. I want you to be happy and so if I really upset you that much, I will stop. I hope that one day we will be friends again because I really miss talking to you.

For the last time,

Annelise Black

P.S. You were always my favourite Marauder.

Annelise got up and tied the parchment to her owl, Avalon's, leg. Watching the tawny coloured owl soar through the sky was strangely soothing. The stars twinkled brightly in the background and Annelise left the window open so that the cool spring breeze could wash over her room. The red and gold curtains were pushed back and the bed was still made. Annelise, dressed in her flannel pants and grey tank top, pulled back the comforter and crawled into bed. She made a silent promise to herself that these would be the last tears she shed over Remus Lupin- however, some promises prove very hard to keep.

Annelise awoke the next morning to feel warm beams of sunlight falling across her face. Her black hair was splayed across the pillow and she reached for her wand lazily. Summoning a watch she realized that she had grossly overslept. Jumping up, she pulled on a pair of jeans and a navy blue jumped covered by her black robes before charming her hair so that it fell in smooth curls. Hurrying down the stairs she saw the Jamie was already waiting for her.

"Morning," he smiled.

"Good morning," Annelise replied, "We better get going. McGonigal is going to want to talk to us once breakfast is finished."

Jamie just nodded and held open the door for her, "After you."

Jamie and Annelise made their way into the Great Hall. Jamie would also be joining the Order as his older sister, Marlene, had the previous year with Lily and the others. Over the past year they had become quite close and many people had speculated that they were dating. However, Annelise had never felt that way about Jamie and she desperately hoped he didn't feel that way about her even though she had the sinking suspicion that he liked her as more than a friend.

They ate quickly, chattering about the upcoming graduation festivities of the day. All the students around them were in a buzz. Many of the girls called over to Annelise to ask about what she was going to wear and how she was going to fix her hair. Annelise participated in all of the conversations she could as her other friends joined her and Jamie at the table. Patrice Patil was on one side of her and Lilah Brown was on the other. Amos Diggory, who was going out with Dana Smith, one of Annelise's closer friends was also at the table with them.

After breakfast, Jamie and Annelise went to McGonigal's office to go over some last minute details about the ceremony and their speeches. Afterwards Annelise went upstairs to her dorm and found that the house elves had already laid out her graduation gown. The gown was basically black wizarding robes and Annelise ran her hand over the fabric and sighed. It was time to get ready. Lily, James and Sirius were going to be here soon and she wanted to look presentable before Lily tried to help her get ready- that might have ended in disaster.

Annelise took a long, hot bath to relax and then dressed in the new dress she had picked out for the occasion. The dress was flowing and made of light silk chiffon in a sea foam blue shade that highlighted her eyes perfectly. It hit about mid-thigh and had a low scooped neck with braided straps. Lily had sent her an enchanted hair piece for her Birthday last month and Annelise used it to pin back a few of her newly refreshed charmed curls on one side of her face. The hair piece was a lily that started as a bud and the bloomed before losing its petals and continuing the cycle. It was pure white and had the slightest hint of a gold shimmer to it. She fixed her make-up, smudging a bit of kohl around her eyes, grabbed her beaded clutch that contained her wand and speech as well as much needed tissues and finally pulled on a pair of matching stilettos that made her legs seem like they went on forever. She folded her gown over one arm and proceeded to go down into the common room. She could hear chattering below and she wondered who had gotten past the portrait.

"Oh James stop it would you..." Annelise heard Lily say impatiently.

Sirius laughed and Annelise then emerged from the staircase, "How the hell did you lot get past the portrait? I don't remember giving anyone the password."

James smirked and glanced at Lily, "Sir Callaghan knows who to question and who to let through."

Annelise sighed, "Bloody wonderful doorman isn't he?"

Lily smiled, "Annelise you look positively radiant! The flower I gave you looks perfect."

"Thanks Lil," Annelise said as she gave her a quick hug before moving on to James and finally Sirius.

Sirius held her at an arm's length and looked at her attire, "What do you think you're wearing? Go change."

"Excuse me?" Annelise asked.

Sirius repeated, "You heard me. Go change. That dress is too short; those heels are far too high and for Merlin's sake put a sweater on. Sheesh. No wonder Moony is so hung up on..."

Sirius seemed to realize his mistake and James cleared his throat, "Well, I think you look lovely Anna. We better get going. McGonigal will not be happy if her Head Girl is late."

Annelise turned to Sirius, "So he didn't want to come then?"

Sirius looked at his little sister sadly, "It's complicated Anna."

Annelise grimaced, "You always tell me that but I am eighteen years old now. I've been legal for a full year and people just keep telling me that things are too complicated- that I'm too young to comprehend. Well, I certainly can feel the sting from him shirking me off all the time and I certainly felt it when he didn't reply to a single letter. So don't tell me things are ruddy complicated..."

Sirius looked down, "Anna, I know that right now this seems like the end of the world. Just trust me. I know how you feel about Remus but the thing is that he is extremely stubborn and he thinks that he is bad for you because he could never offer you the things you deserve."

"The things I deserve?" Annelise laughed humourlessly, "Does he not realize that I'm a Black?"

"Ouch," Sirius smirked, "I taught you well."

Annelise shook her head, "I don't even want to think about him right now. I just want to enjoy my graduation."

Sirius put an arm around her shoulder and led her down towards the grounds where the graduation ceremony was being held, "I wasn't kidding when I said your heels were too high."

Annelise just smiled, "Typical over-protective older brother."

Sirius shot back, "Typical annoyingly mature little sister that is growing up to fast."

Annelise sighed, "In times like these it's hard not to."

The graduation ceremony went smoothly without any pranks. It was debatable whether Sirius and James were not pulling another prank because they had matured or if it was Lily's watchful eye that kept them in check. Annelise would have put her money on the latter of the two choices. She seemed to be in a daze as the ceremony continued and soon it was time for her speech. Taking her notes out of her little beaded bag she walked up to the podium, encrusted with an owl, and started to speak:

My fellow classmates, esteemed professors, parents and guests,

I would like to first extend my thanks to everyone who is here today- and also to the people who are not here. Without support from the people in our lives we would never have made it this far. Throughout the past seven years here I have learned many lessons.

I learned that one extra jellybean put into the Draught of Living Death is crucial, to make sure your earmuffs are tight when dealing with a mandrake and if you guess long enough you will definitely be able to figure out the password to Professor Dumbledore's office. However, the small things that we learn in classes here are not the most important. We study while here so that our minds may develop a capacity for learning. We need to know these basic things so that later on in life we will be able to communicate on all different levels, with all different people no matter who or what they are. Learning is one of the most important things that Hogwarts offered me during my time here, however there were several more important ones as well.

I now realize that love and friendship can be found in the most unlikely of places. Hogwarts was a home for me when I had none, the students were the family that supported me and the professors were the parents to guide me- the guidance that we all needed in times like these.

Throughout the coming years I know that times will change. Not only will we all be going on without lives but the outside world is also dealing with the rise of You Know Who. I stand here telling you this today not to scare you but to impart something important onto you. We need to fight side by side. We need to show the unity that our school encouraged. Whether you are from Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw or Slytherin, it is time for us to stand as one. We are no longer four houses within a school. We are individuals entering the magical world. It is important for all of us to remember where we came from and those good times that we shared here.

No cause if a lost cause while there is still one fool left willing to fight for it.

Thank you.

The crowd broke out into a round of applause and McGonigal shook Annelise's hand. Dumbledore stood and shook her hand as well, a twinkle in his eye. The other professors stood and clapped as Annelise Black received her diploma and officially graduated from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.