Thanks to all who have stuck with this story and Jem's adventure. This is the last chapter. Hope you like it!
Jem woke early that day; after tossing and turning throughout the night, she knew the time she didn't want had come. It was time to leave Hogwarts. With all the things that had happened throughout the year; Oliver, Fred, breaking her arm, losing Oliver, then winning the cup and Oliver, Jem felt as though more than a year had passed and at the same time she felt as though she had been at Hogwarts mere weeks.
After showering and changing, Jem began to pack. She heard a knock at the door and swinging it open she was face to face with the twins. Fred waved his wand in the familiar fashion that Jem had seen several times in the past and the two boys were able to walk into her room. George was the first to hug her, giving her a solemn smile.
Fred was next, walking up to her, tears threatening to fall as he hugged her with vigour, "Don't you start that Fred, you know I'll be a mess in an hour." Fred laughed sadly, wiped his face with the bottom of his shirt and then brought it to Jem's face to wipe hers as well.
The twins helped her pack. Soon they were joined in her room by Katie, Alicia, Lee, Harry, Ron and Hermione. Oliver was nowhere to be found and that was disconcerting to Jem. With all the yes-ing and no-ing the two had been through, she thought he'd be the first to join her on her last day.
She had fallen in love with Oliver and it was a silent battle in her mind to beg Professor Dumbledore to allow her to stay the rest of her schooling at Hogwarts. She knew it was fruitless; her parents would never let her stay. They would never let her live by herself in Brittan and continue school half way across the world.
The girls in the room, including her, were starting to get teary. They sat and laughed sadly at Fred and George's antics and the stories of the year gone by. When it was time to leave, Jem sighed heavily and followed her friends out of her room; George and Lee had taken her suit cases and they were heading to the Great Hall. The remaining students had already left for the train; Dumbledore had allowed Jem's friends to floo to Platform 9&3/4 when they had said their goodbyes.
There was a small farewell breakfast that had been organised by the house elves in Jem's honour and that is where they found Oliver, sitting in the abandoned Great Hall, sipping on a cup of hot tea. He looked paler than usual and was giggling his leg under the table.
Jem and her eight companions joined Oliver at the table; Jem sitting between Oliver and Fred. Oliver snaked his hand under the table swiftly and took a hold of Jem's hand. He still didn't look at her, but he refused to let go of her hand. No one ate much and there was not much talking, until Jem spoke.
"Guys, this is getting really depressing. Can someone please talk about something before I lose it?"
Lee cleared his throat, "My favourite moment of this year was when Jem flew over to me during the Ravenclaw match and threw the Quaffle at my face because I wouldn't stop calling her The Gorminator on the field." Jem burst out laughing and the other followed.
"I remember Jem almost slammed my face into the Slytherin goal posts during time out because we'd been playing for three hours and she hadn't had her morning coffee." Harry added.
"Jem gave me Nimirix a History for Christmas," Hermione said only to earn groans from the rest of the crowd.
"Don't worry Hermione," Jem smiled, "I've read it about a million times too."
"Jem fixed my broken nose when I ran into the wall on my rush to get to Charms in time." Ron said softly, no one else had known about that until now. They all laughed, Hermione looked concerned.
"You taught us the coolest beauty spells!" Katie smiled as Alicia nodded hurriedly.
Jem smiled softly, looking at her friends, she was going to miss them all so much.
Fred lent in, "Jem taught me that I am smarter than I realise. That I can do whatever I want." Jem lent her head on Fred's shoulder.
Dumbledore appeared at the entrance to the hall and they all knew it was time for Jem to leave. Her friends stood and filed out of the Great Hall. Oliver was the last to stand, aside from Jem, he had not let go of Jem's hand and so when he stood, Jem did too. She was shaky on her feet, so Oliver walked slowly for her. She took one last look at the enchanted ceiling, today was cloudy and rainy; just the way it was when he arrived. Jem was beginning to cry. Her tears were too big for Jem's eyes to hold back.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Oliver asked, looking at Jem and not the ceiling just as he had done the first time she had seen the ceiling.
She let a few tears fall and spoke as she looked at Oliver, "It is."
Oliver reluctantly led her to the entrance of the castle where her friends were waiting. The girls had started to cry and the boys looked solemn.
"Thank you all." Jem smiled sadly, "Hogwarts is the best thing that's ever happened to me. I'm going to miss you all so much."
She took turns hugging and whispering farewells her friends.
"Alicia," she smiled, "Tell Fred you like him. Don't leave it too late." Alicia nodded but I knew she wouldn't.
"Katie, remember to tone down the make up. You're so beautiful, let George see the real you!"
"Hermione," she chuckled a bit, "let your hair down a bit. No need to end up like McGonagall."
"Ron, chew with your mouth closed. You never know what kind of lovely lady watching you." Ron nodded, knowing exactly who she was talking about.
"Harry, stay out of trouble. I'd like to see you with all your limbs and as scar free as possible when I come back after I've graduated." Harry laughed.
"Georgie," her voice began to crack again, "Take this," she slipped a bag of coins into George's pocket, "it's the leftover money from my scholarship account at Gringotts. It's for the joke shop – and nothing else."
"Jem," George said softly, taking the pouch and looking at the contents of it, "You're kidding me. This is way too much. This would buy the shop for us." Fred looked over his brother's shoulder and looked at Jem in protest
"Call it an investment." She put a hand up to stop the two of them arguing, "I'll be back to see that my money is going to good use." George kissed Jem on the forehead and hugged her again.
"Freddie," Jem had tears streaming down her face now, "You've been the best friend I think I've ever had. Thank you for all the things you've done for me this year. I'm going to miss you." Fred pulled her into a hug as he too began to cry. When they broke apart, Jem took a hold of Fred's hand and handed him an envelope. Fred looked down at it, then back up at her.
"It's the deed to that shop we saw in Hogsmeade." She said softly. Fred and George's eyes widened, "My parents are kind of important in Australia. I called in a favour… the exchange rate is apparently really good."
Fred slammed Jem into his chest in a bone crushing hug, "Thank you, thank you. A million times thank you." Fred kissed the top of her head once more and let her go.
It was time to say goodbye to Oliver, "Obi—" Jem was almost sobbing now.
Oliver was crying too, not ashamed of who was watching. He reached up and took Jem's neck in his hands, his thumbs resting on her cheeks, "Jem— I," he sniffled, resting his forehead on hers.
A thestral-drawn carriage came up behind Jem and Oliver's grip on her tightened.
"I—have—to—go," Jem stuttered through her tears.
"Don't." Oliver said simply, his voice thick; he lent in and kissed her. The kiss was desperate and needy, neither of them wanting to let go. Once Oliver drew back, he knew it was time.
Jem straightened up, wiping the tears that continued to fall. She went to leave, but Oliver took her hand and pulled her back towards him. He kissed her again, this time softer and longer.
"I love you," Oliver said, tearing up again.
Jem smiled, "I love you too."
Jem turned and walked towards the carriage, not wanting to look back. When she was at the gates to Hogwarts, she looked back. Fred and Oliver were the only two left outside; Fred's arm hanging over Oliver's shoulders.
Soon enough Oliver would find the present she had left him and feel less upset. He'd understand it was time to leave; not for good.
She'd be back.