An Ending

The bright after noon sun shorn in the Great Hall, across the hundred desks and the students sitting in them.

It was making me sweat even more as I scribbled furiously across the parchment trying to remember everything I had ever learned at Hogwarts.

Yes, I was writing the dreaded N.E.W.T's exam. I needed top marks to become an auror and during May and June I did nothing but study, much to Sirius' disappointment.

Speaking of Sirius, I glanced over at him. He was in the row beside me and three seats down. He was just sitting there and I worried that he did not do enough studying. But I could not worry about him. I looked back at my exam and began to write again.

Boy did my hand ever ache.

"Quills down please. Your time is up. Congratulations on completing your N.E.W.T's exams" Professor McGonagall called from the front. I put my quill down and sighed in relief. I had done it. I had finished the exam. I filled in every question with as much information as I could remember, and I prayed that it was enough.

I cracked my knuckles as the others' put their quills down and began to shift and stretch. Three hours had taken a toll on us and as most of us stood up we heard unpleasant cracks of our bones.

"You have an hour of free time before the last feast. I advise packing if you haven't already. The graduation ceremony will take place at 7, after the feast and the carriages arrive at exactly 8 to take you to Hogsmeade Station for your last ride home" Slughorn called as he collected the exams.

We all flooded out of the Great Hall and out into the warm sun.

I stood there, my face turned up into the sky as the white clouds drifted by in the bright blue sky. Summer was just about to begin a long with the beginning of the rest of our lives.

"We're finally done" Sirius whispered in my ear as he wrapped his arms around my waist and placed his head on my shoulder.

"I know" I whispered back as reality sunk in.

We stood like that for a few minutes until James and Lily appeared at our sides.

"We did it mate. We got through school" James grinned at Sirius and clapped him on the shoulder.

"I couldn't do it without you Prongsie" Sirius smirked.

Lily rolled her eyes. "If you two didn't have us as girlfriends I would think you were gay".

I giggled and draped my arms over my best friends' shoulders. "I don't think I could make it through without you" I told her.

She squeezed my hands. "Neither could I".

"And that doesn't look gay?" James asked.

"No mate. That looks hot" Sirius laughed and James joined him. Lily and I just rolled our eyes. "Boys!".

We met up with Alice, Frank and Remus down by our normal spot at the tree by the lake.

"Moony where's ole Cassie?" Sirius asked as we neared them.

"We broke up. It was mutual though" he replied.

"Oh that sucks. You didn't even get to shag her".

Instead of replying Remus winked at me. I grinned back and winked.

"So what are we going to do as soon as we get back home?" James asked Lily kissing her on the cheek. "I am going to start looking for a job and you are going to go to training to become an auror" Lily replied.

"No moving in together? No getting married? No kids and a dog living in a little white house?"

Lily looked up at him. "You to get married and have kids, with me?" she asked.

James nodded. "Of course Lilikins. As I've been telling you for years. You're the only one for me".

"Oh James" she sighed and they began to snog.

"Well now, that's something you don't see every day" Frank whistled.

We all laughed as they re-surfaced. James grinning from ear to ear and Lily a bright shade of red.

"Well. We're getting married one day, so get use to it" she giggled.

James grinned widened and he grabbed her hand. I knew they were going to be together for the rest of their lives.

"What about us?" Frank asked Alice.

"We have a wedding to plan" Alice replied and than she began to name off all the things for the wedding they had to start looking into.

Frank cut her off with a kiss.

"Remus old boy what are you going to do?" Sirius asked Remus.

He shrugged. "I don't know yet". He seemed to look sad and I knew it was because he hadn't planned that far due to him being a werewolf. It would be difficult for him to find paid work.

"You can come live with us" Sirius said draping his arm around my waist and pulling me close against his side.

"What?" I asked surprised. I planned on selling off the house and taking the money to rent out an apartment. I knew my dad wasn't going to be coming back and neither was Alex so why live in a large house by myself. It also held too many memories.

"Sure. I received an inheritance last month from an uncle of mine. I'm set for years. And I couldn't imagine myself living without my girl".

I smiled. "Do you think we could do that? I mean live together?"

"Damn right we could. And Moony will come and stay with us too" he called.

Remus smiled but shook his head. "I don't think that's a good idea Sirius".

"Why not? It will be fun"

"I think that you should just shut up Remus and accept your fate. We're going to be roomies" I called.

His smile widened. "Well I guess I can't argue with that".

We than all sat down at our spot and gazed out across the lake watching the giant squid propel itself across the surface of the lake one last time.

Later that night after dinner we all went up to the common room one last time. Many of the younger students wished us all the best of luck and the girls cried and told Sirius how much they were going to miss him.

Lily, Alice and I wandered up to the dorm for the last time. I took both their hands and we stood together in silence.

"Since we were first years, this has been our room" Lily whispered a few minutes later.

"There are so many memories in this room" Alice said.

"Well just think, we still have 50 some odd years to make even more memories together" I winked.

"Hey girls, they're calling us down for the ceremony. McGonagall wants us in our robes" Frank called up to us.

I dropped their hands. "Well now we have to graduate".

They nodded and we slipped on our robes that we had laid out earlier than morning and hurried down the stairs to meet our boyfriends.

"James did you prepare your speech?" Lily asked as I took both Sirius' and Remus' hands.

"No" he replied.

"You were supposed to do that ages ago!"

"It will be fine Lily. My speech is going to come from the heart" he assured her.

She rolled her eyes. "James Potter if I didn't love you".

The Great Hall was decorated in all four of the house colours. We stood in four lines as Professor Dumbledore and the head of house called us up one by one and handed us our diplomas.

The Slytherins were called first, followed by the Ravenclaws, the Hufflepuffs and than the Gryffindors. I was the first to be called for the Gryffindors and I held my head high as all my friends and the people I had met during my seven years clapped and cheered.

"It has been a pleasure teaching you Miss. Adams" Professor McGonagall told me as she shook my hand and handed me my diploma. "Good luck during your auror training, I know you will make it".

"Thank you so much Professor" I told her and so over come by emotion I hugged her!

"Oh" she gasped by none the less hugged me back. "Good luck dear".

Next Dumbledore took my hand. "My dear, good luck in the future. I know you will over come all the challenges that are thrown at you".

"Thank you. Good bye sir" I said hugging him too. He patted me on the back. "Good bye Mrs. Black". His eyes twinkled and I smiled and walked off the stage.

After a few other students Sirius name was called and the room broke out into a loud applause and cheers from his fan girls as he jogged up the stairs onto the plat formed stage. He bowed and than grabbed Professor McGonagall's hand and kissed it. I could see her blush as she handed him his diploma and sent him to Dumbledore. They shook hands and Dumbledore whispered something to him. He nodded and looked at me and winked and than walked off and over to me.

We screamed and cheered for Lily and than Frank followed by Remus, James and Peter who we hadn't seen much of this year and than Alice.

Once the ceremony was over we all cheered and applauded for god knows what and than took off out side.

"SCHOOLS OUT MATES" Sirius yelled hugging James and than Remus.

Lily, Alice and I brushed our tears away and hugged everyone who said their good byes. I even hugged Chad who had come over to apologize. "Don't worry about it" I told him and than sent him on his way.

A few minutes later the other years came out and we all marched down to the carriages, the seventh years in front singing songs and joking. All of us unaware of what was about to happen.

The train ride home was rather quiet. All of us were thinking about the future and what it as going to bring. "We're all going to stay in touch right?" Alice asked.

"Of course" I replied.

"Good because my two bridesmaids need to help me plan my wedding" she replied and Lily and I squealed.

"We're your bridesmaids?"

"I couldn't picture anyone else" Alice said squeezing our hands.

"What's with women and weddings?" James asked the other guys. They all shrugged and than replied in unison, "Cake?"

We just rolled our eyes.

A few minutes later the train rolled to a stop.

The seven of us lingered for a minute in the compartment. This was the last time we were going to get off the Hogwarts Express. "Come on" Sirius said taking my hand.

We all stood on the platform just looking at each other waiting for something. Some kind of sign to let us know what we had to do next.

Lily was the first to speak. "Maybe we should head home?"

Alice nodded. "Yeah Frank your mom is waiting for us over there".

"Will you see guys later. Keep in touch" Frank said shaking hands with the guys and hugging Lily and I.

"Write me later" Alice said giving us each a hug and allowing Frank to whisk her away.

"Remus my boy"

Mr. Lupin was waving to Remus was across the platform. "I'll talk to him about letting me move in with you guys. I'll write soon" and he grabbed his things and walked off.

"Lily, James" we all looked over to see Mr. and Mrs. Potter waving.

"Well that's us. Will see you guys later" James said clapping Sirius on the back.

"Will meet next week at Diagon Alley" Lily told me. I nodded. "Sounds like a plan" and than we parted ways.

Sirius and I than stood there together after all our friends had left with their parents. "So where are we off to?" I asked.

"To our new life" he smiled giving me a quick peck on the lips. "Let's go" and he took my hand.

It was the ending of a chapter in my life and a beginning of a new one with Sirius.

The End

Or is it?

It all depends on you guys. If you want a sequel than let me know because I have some ideas already. I didn't like how I ended this one but it had to be done.

I want to thank all my readers & reviewers; You guys rock! (L)

I hope to start writing a new fanfic soon and I hope you guys read it and like it just as much as you liked this one.

Thanks so much!

-Sheba16