Chapter Thirty-three

And the Winner Is...

I couldn't believe it! School was almost over.

Today was our last full day here at Hogwarts, and tomorrow we left for the train home for the summer. For me, it would be off to the Potter's house, and I can't say that I wasn't thrilled about it. Their house was becoming my second home. Yes, second. Strange enough, Hogwarts had become my real home.

The universe has such an odd way of how it makes things turn out, to put in a simple way.

So that full day we Marauders (which I was "officially" one of them, now, they had decided), Tonks, and even Lily snuck out to Hogsmeade and spent the full daylight hours just fooling around and enjoying our time together. Remus, Lily, Tonks, and Peter would be coming to James' house this summer, but later on after they'd spent a reasonable amount of time with their, uh, blood-related families. I'd also promised Tonks that I would meet her parents and, the same went with Lily for me, stay for awhile at their houses. And, with a slight hesitation (on his part, not mine) I would meet Remus' mum and stay with him, too.

"You know who else you have to meet this summer?" Sirius asked when we all were in the Three Broomsticks drinking Butterbeer, which was one of the best drinks ever, I'd found.

My friends, who I'd convinced not to be scared of me and treat me normally (namely, the house-elves, if you couldn't tell) always made me, and the others when I brought them along, some of that delicious drink. They and Sirius had even began to get along. Amazing, I know. But I'd found out the only reason Sirius hadn't trusted the house-elves in the first place was because of the certain only evil one that lived in his not-really-"home". Other than that, they got along great and even joked around together and respected one another (as much as they could, which was a good start). It was astonishing how much had changed this year with all of my friends. I'd never expected it to turn out this good.

"Who?" I asked. Sirius had yet to name anyone, which didn't surprise me really, considering his family who he'd still yet to tell me about. Andromeda, Tonks' mum, was really close to Sirius, even before Tonks and Sirius got along. Andromeda was his cousin, and Tonks was his second-cousin, I think. When you thought about it, it was really strange that he and Tonks didn't get along for the longest time, considering they must've spent a lot of time with each other during their childhood. Actually, that's probably why they didn't get along, come to think of it…

"My Uncle Alphard," he said with a smile. Lily looked at him, confused, while Remus, Tonks, and James nodded their agreement. Peter just stared at him, uncomprehending.

"You actually get along with three of your family members?" Lily asked.

"Uncle Alphard is the best!" Tonks shrieked. "He's everything a Black isn't! And he was in Slytherin and he's not evil!"

"Thanks Tonks," Sirius said dryly.

"I wasn't including you," Tonks snapped. "Not everybody talks about you, you know."

"Guys," James groaned. "C'mon. Not—"

"So are you saying your mum is one of them?" Sirius demanded. "'Cause she isn't. And she was sorted into Slytherin as well."

"Why don't you go—"

"So who's this Uncle Alphard you four seem to love so much?" I interrupted them. They both turned to face me, their argument forgotten.

"He's…" Tonks trailed off, thinking.

"He's one of those individuals who you don't know how to describe," Sirius said, smirking. "He's one of those that you have to meet to get it."

"Now I'm scared," I muttered.

"Don't. There's no need to," Remus said after he finished laughing.

"You'll love him," James said, nodding in agreement.

"Who'll love who?" Peter asked, looking up, confused.

"Nike'll love Uncle Alphard."

"Who's Uncle Alphard?" Peter asked.

James and Sirius laughed, Remus and I rolled our eyes, and Lily and Tonks looked at him, worried.

"What I say? What's so funny?" Peter questioned.

"Nothing Wormtail," I sighed.

"Settle down students!" Professor Vera bellowed.

Most quieted, cutting off their conversations mid-sentence, but just because we could, we Marauders and Tonks (not including Lily and Peter, of course) finished saying what we had to.

The Headmaster stood at his podium, foot tapping impatiently while sending a hideous glare our way.

"Alrighty! You're good, Professorhead!" I yelled to him, using a word Peevesie had taught me.

"Thank you for your permission, your highness," the Headmaster said dryly.

"Nik! You're a royal? My gods, why didn't you tell me?" James exclaimed, rising to his feet and bowing down before me from the other side of the table.

I shrugged. "It never seemed important to enlighten you puny peasants with the information."

"We're hurt, Nik," Sirius said.

"Truly, utterly, beyond repair broken," Remus agreed, mocking a pained heart.

"Well—"

"Nike, my dear?"

"Yes, Weasley, my friend?" I asked innocently, batting my eyes at him. It was amusing watching him battle to keep from rolling his eyes and laughing.

"Shut-up."

"Yes sir. As you wish sir. Whatever you—"

"I meant the type of shutting-up as in when you keep your mouth closed, sweetheart."

"Yes sir. I-I'm done now," I said when he gave me a look.

"Let's just get this over with," Professor Vera muttered. "First we'll go over Quidditch statistics. Hufflepuff, with five wins this season, is in last place. Slytherin, with six wins, is in third place. With only nine losses, in second place, is Ravenclaw. And that leaves, with one loss this season, Gryffindor in first place."

Cheering erupted from every table (minus the Slytherins', of course), including the professors'. It had been a great season; you had to give us credit for that, if nothing else.

"It seems like no one understands that the damn 'sport' isn't everything," the Headmaster snapped. But this time he didn't get a reaction from any of us students. We were still overly excited.

"Alright, shut your traps so we can get this over with," he growled. "In last place with one hundred fifteen house points is Slytherin." Absolutely no sound was heard anywhere, so he continued. "In third place, with three hundred thirty-two house points is Hufflepuff. Second place goes to Ravenclaw with four hundred ninety-nine house points, and first place goes to Gryffindor with five hundred house points exactly."

The whole room suddenly was filled with our House's color, decorating the place in our honor. There were tons of shouted congratulations among friends from separate Houses.

"Yay! We did it!" Tonks yelled above everyone else in the school. I guess being a commentator gave you that ability. "Woo-hoo! Guess who owes me even more money? That would be YOU MALFOY!"

I raised an eyebrow at Tonks. "You keep gambling with him?"

"Yup."

"Why?"

"Where to start? Let me give you my two main reasons." She started counting them off on her fingers. "One; because he always loses and, two; because it's so funny to actually see him pay up."

"Oh. Makes perfect sense."

"It does, doesn't it?" she said, grinning wryly.

"Congratulations Gryffindor and yadda-yadda. Don't expect to win next year," he added in a low tone towards our direction.

"Hey Headmaster?" Sirius said sweetly in a voice that carried. "Go screw yourself so we're not tortured by the sight of you for one more painful second."

A/N: So, I'd really like more reviews. One chapter left! Seriously, if this is how it's going to be, only one review, I don't think I'll EVER put the second book up! So, PLEASE guys! If you read, you review!

My thank-you:

Eclipse Sundown: Ha, hatred is good, yes? :)

Alrighty, so hope you enjoyed this short (only four pages long) little chappy, and PLEASE R&R! Next chapter is very last one of first book!

Nike