Sun, The Moon and Stars...Chapter 60
I never realised how hard it would be to say goodbye...
I've only ever been sent one howler in my life and that was way back in third year, when Professor Dumbledore had written to my mum after I'd gotten into a fistfight with Sirius when he'd cornered me behind the broom sheds. I still remember the humiliation that had been my mother's voice, echoing around the Great Hall, magically magnified to a hundred times her usual volume, screaming about how she hadn't brought me up to behave Like That. My skin still burns when I remember the hundred or so pairs of eyes staring at me as I tripped out of the hall. The matron had been able to get rid of the bruise. The laughing had lasted for longer.
Now though, as I stared down at the tightly rolled piece of parchment (sealed with the Hogwarts Crest and still smelling of fresh ink) clutched in a slightly sweaty hand I could just feel another Red Envelope of Horror and Humiliation winging it's way to me even as I sat there. N.E.W.T.s were a Big Deal. A Huge Deal. And while I figured my mother would still love me even if I failed everything (something that was looking increasingly likely now) I didn't think she would have any qualms about telling me of for not working hard enough.
The ironic thing was that, at O.W.L. level, I didn't give a hippogriffs poop about my results and probably would have thought a howler about my grades was a pretty good laugh. Now, however, after I'd slaved away for the best part of five months, I thought I was far more likely to fail everything than I had been after O.W.L.s when I hadn't even read through my notes.
I glanced over at Jazz and Lily who had swopped parchments, then at Sirius who was sat next to James at the Gryffindor table. James was talking to him but he was staring at me, sat opposite him next to Remus. He winked at me and I grinned back then picked up my knife and slit the wax seal. The parchment unrolled and I read the letter inside.
NASTILY EXHAUSTING WIZARDING TESTS RESULTS
Pass Grades: Fail Grades:
Outstanding (O) Poor(P)
Exceeds Expectations (E) Dreadful (D)
Acceptable (A) Troll (T)
ARTEMIS ISABELLA DI ANGELO HAS ACHIEVED:
Astronomy Outstanding
Charms Outstanding
Defence Against the Dark Arts Exceeds Expectations
Herbology Acceptable
History of Magic Exceeds Expectations
Muggle Art Outstanding
Muggle Studies Acceptable
Potions Exceeds Expectations
Transfiguration Exceeds Expectations
I let out a squeak and dropped the parchment. It landed on Remus's plate rather than mine which was lucky as Remus hadn't eaten anything yet so his plate was clean whereas mine was covered in sticky pumpkin juice from where I'd spilt it when the letter had been delivered. He smiled at me and gestured to the parchment. I let out another squeak and he picked it up and ran his eyes over the words there.
"Three outstandings!" I gasped. "There's been a mistake, there has to have been. Hey Lily, I think I've been sent your letter by mistake. Lily, who had her own results back by now, reached over and plucked mine out from Remus's hand.
"Here," She laughed, "Swap."
Suddenly exhilarated, I flung my arms around Remus who was closest and gave him a sticky hug (the plate hadn't been the only thing I'd hit with the goblet) then scanned down Lily's results. Twelve Outstandings.
"Smarty pants." I beamed. Sirius was watching me again and I nodded, slipping out of my seat to join him.
"See you guys later," I waved to them and fell over my feet, trying to avoid a small first year who had scuttled out of nowhere to trip me up. From the Slytherin table I could see John Cavendish heading this way, most probably to congratulate Jazz. My insides were still doing the conga as I righted myself and skipped out of the hall to find Sirius.
~sun~.~moon~.~stars~.~sun~.~moon~.~stars~.~sun~.~moon~.~stars~.~sun~.~moon~.~stars~.~sun~.~moon~.~stars~.~sun~.~moon~.~stars~
"I can't believe we have to go home tomorrow." I stared miserably out over the lake. The sun was hitting it at just the right angle so it looked as though the waves were on fire.
"Aww, come on, no nostalgia!" Sirius moaned and buried his face in my neck. I absentmindedly ran my hand through his hair. "It's not like we can never see Hogwarts again, plus-" He gave me a wicked grin and kissed my nose. "-You have the amazing company of the greatest guy in Hogwarts for the summer."
"Where? I don't see Remus." I teased him then rolled onto my back pulling him down with me. As our lips met, I tried to push away all the sadness that was inside me and focus only on the here and now. And with Sirius's lips and hands doing wicked things to my body - that was actually pretty easy.
~sun~.~moon~.~stars~.~sun~.~moon~.~stars~.~sun~.~moon~.~stars~.~sun~.~moon~.~stars~.~sun~.~moon~.~stars~.~sun~.~moon~.~stars~
Graduation from Hogwarts was like nothing I could have imagined. There was the feast of course, that night, which was possibly the most enjoyable evening of my night. The Marauders had set a spectacular firework display and the food, of course, was excellent but there was something more than that. It was the strange half sad, half great happy mood that swept through the seventh years. But there was laughter and talking and everyone was enjoying themselves to the utmost as well so I hid my own feelings and attacked the food with great gratification.
There were a few tears next morning as we left our dormitory for the last time. Jazz, astoundingly, was the worst - and when John came over to meet her outside the entrance to the Gryffindor common room - she dissolved completely and he had to lead her away to a quiet alcove for her to calm down.
We all worked down to breakfast together, in a large group and then sat together at the Gryffindor table. People from Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw tables kept crossing the Great Hall to see their friends from other houses and we were joined briefly by a number of our friends including Harold Macmillan who was a particular friend of Frank and Alice. When the food eventually faded from the golden plates, leaving them sparkling the rest of the school left the Great Hall to catch the horse-less carriages back to Hogsmede station but we remained in our seats, looking up at the staff table.
Professor Dumbledore's speech almost reduced me to tears. It was hopeful and funny and suddenly made me realise that I wasn't really leaving Hogwarts at all. Oh to be sure, my body was. But there'd always be a part of me here, at Hogwarts. And Hogwarts would always welcome me back.
The boats carried us across the Black Lake, like they had done on that very first journey. I trailed my fingers in the water and deep below the surface I saw the flickering outlines of the merpeople. I waved to them and they almost smiled back before vanishing from view. Even the Giant Squid surfaced and waved his tentacles. A final salute.
Then we were on the train, and it was pulling out of the station. We played exploding snap and talked and read the Prophet until the food trolley came when we all bought a large lunch and snacked happily til the landscape outside the window became more cultivated and less wild and then, so soon, too soon, we were pulling into Kings Cross. As Sirius helped my pull my trunk down out of the luggage rack Alice caught my hand and pulled me to the compartment door where Frank was waiting for her.
"Arty," She said breathlessly, "I have to tell someone or I'll explode. Frank and me - we're getting married!"
I felt my jaw hit the floor and hastily shut it again. "Oh Alice! That's wonderful, congratulations, you'll be so happy," I babbled, seizing her by her arms and hugging her tightly. "Can I come to the wedding?"
"Oh course," she laughed, disentangling herself from my gangly embrace, "You'll all have to be there, everyone! Oh! I'm so happy!"
In the confusion and general mayhem of exciting the train and collecting trunks, in the cacophony of cheerful voices and hooting owls, in the swirling smoke from the scarlet Hogwarts Express, it was hard to worry about anything. Even Lord Voldemort.
We stood together for one last moment. I was holding hands with Remus and Sirius and Lily and James were there; and Alice and Frank, and Max and Jazz and John. Lizzie was there too and so was Peter and I was so happy I thought my heart would break.
And here, I end my story.
It's been an incredible ride. Mission accomplished. And with that, I have to bid thee farewell. I'm the happiest person in the world right well. It's better than I ever thought it would be.
And the best bit?
This isn't even the ending.
No, it's only just the beginning.
AN:
Well, it's done and I hope you have enjoyed reading this as much as I've enjoyed writing it. I still can't quite believe it's all over. It's astounding. I'm going to miss Arty quite a lot actually - she was like the best imaginary friend ever.
Anyway, I wanted to say a massive THANK YOU to everyone! To
Forever Siriusly Siriusellinisestoryteller0117 Marzipan Marmite-1AllTimeLolAngel With No HaloRandomAsRainbowsJellybeanHPfanourgoldeneyesnacho5faeriemaiden96fredforevermyluvjezzabylleSpot'sGalFrom1899Firefly1939Shaybo27talyagxXallegedangelXxMotherOfMerlinsUnderwearAlyssaMichelle07Rani JashalithieLillybylillyNormalityIsNonexistentember505Hellfire Putten NinjaInsanity's Breaking PointStarkidKerrie
and everybody else that I can't mention now but I've loved your support and endless reviews telling me to hurry up and update!
Thank you also to everyone who have ever followed, favourited, and alerted this story - it's means an awful lot to me and I never would have made it through 60 chapters to the very end without all your encouragement. And also, thanks so everyone who have just simply read this story.
"No story lives unless someone wants to listen." J.
Also, a big shout out to my friend Imogen who not only takes the time out of her busy life to beta all my writings (and is the reason that I actually have spaces between words and not in the middle of them!) but actually seems to enjoy it! Thank you for all the hours you've put in trying to decode my horrendous spelling.
...sun, the moon and stars...
As for Arty and my characters? I've decided to let you decide what happens next. I know a lot of you have asked for a sequel but I'm afraid there won't be one simply because I couldn't bear to lose any of my characters and we all know how James and Lily's story ends.
What happens next is up to you:
Arty and Sirius, well, who knows where they're heading? Maybe they are crazy enough to go all the way and get married. Maybe there are lots of little Mini-Sirius's and Mini-Arty's running around somewhere. That would be a laugh.
Well, I guess that's everything...
An Artist's Account
xxx