A Difference in the Sorting: The Hufflepuff Chronicles

by ThetisQuinn

In a world where Lily Evans and Severus Snape are both Sorted into Hufflepuff House, their choices will affect not only their own futures and those of the people closest to them, but ultimately the fate of the entire Wizarding World. Hufflepuff AU beginning with the Marauders' Era at Hogwarts, continuing through the first Wizarding War and beyond. Updates weekly on Mondays.

9. Preservation: A Year of Preparation

Preservation: Year 7 - A Year of Preparation

Though much of sixth year had been very eventful for Severus, Lily, and Remus, the final term had concluded with surprisingly little fuss. The most cause for excitement, other than the occasional confused reactions of professors and students when Severus returned from spring break with a new last name, had come at the end of year feast. After awarding the House Cup to Hufflepuff, to the delight of the Badgers who had been hovering at second place for the last several years, the Headmaster announced that Professor Johnson had agreed to continue teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts the following year. Given that it had been over fifteen years since a Defense professor lasted more than one year, which had long prompted students to whisper about a curse on the position, the news caused quite a stir. The train back to London was full of whispered speculation about whether Johnson really would return again in the Fall or whether something would cause him to back out over the summer, gossip which would turn out to be tragically prophetic.

But, Defense professors aside, the summer would bring about its own changes and challenges. It was Severus's first return to Spinner's End since his parents' funeral, to the little house which now technically belonged to him. That he could return there at all was due in part to Professor Dumbledore, who had somehow ensured that the muggle authorities wouldn't look too closely at an underage (by their standards) boy taking possession of the house and living there alone. Lily had tried to convince Severus to come stay at her parents' house for the summer instead of spending it all alone, but had only managed to talk him into visiting for a week or two. It was far from the only time they saw each other that summer though, making it one of the best summers Severus had ever had despite everything else. Severus, Lily, and Remus could all legally apparate, and Lily had earned her muggle driver's license at the beginning of the break, so it was far easier for them to meet up than it had been in the past. With his friends by his side, Severus began to make plans for fixing up his parents' house, using a combination of muggle and magical means. Many of the improvements, like Severus's dreams of wall-to-wall bookshelves and hidden passageways, would have to wait until there was more time and money to spare, but they made a start on turning the house back into a place he could call home.

There weren't many neighbors about, and fewer still who cared what went on in the last house on Spinner's End, with the exception of Mrs. Hanley. The widow had lived next door to the Snapes since before Severus had even been born, occasionally helping take care of him as a child. She had been as close to a friend as Mrs. Snape ever had in the neighborhood, offering commiseration and advice where she could, and was one of few locals who had bothered to show up to the funeral the previous autumn. Mrs. Hanley had always had a bit of a soft spot for Severus, and did her part in making sure he took care of himself that summer, dropping off the occasional dish of food or inviting him over for tea. She greatly approved of Lily, whom she had met briefly at the funeral, dropping more than a few comments about how sweet they looked together, and quickly developed a fondness for Remus, whom she felt needed fattening up as much as Severus did. When he first gently shot down her theory that he and Lily were together, she almost immediately switched gears and started to make subtle comments about what a lovely boy Remus was and how Severus should really have him over more often. It had taken several of these sorts of encounters before it finally dawned on Severus that Mrs. Hanley had somehow concluded that his lack of interest in dating Lily came from a hidden desire to date Remus instead. He did his best to set the record straight, though he was touched that she was so supportive of his supposed sexuality. It wasn't clear that Mrs. Hanley ever entirely believed that it was Remus and Lily who were a couple, and that he wasn't dating either one of them, but Severus eventually gave up on trying to convince her (especially since she always made a show of agreeing with him before going on to make comments that showed she thought he was just putting on a front).

Ironically, while Severus was more connected with the muggle world that summer than he had been in the past, it was also the first summer when he spent time in the wizarding world. He had realized before he even got back from school that he had finally had the chance to get a summer job in the wizarding world, where he had the skills for something a little more lucrative than delivering newspapers or stocking shelves at the local market. With Professor Slughorn's help, Severus had applied for a low-level brewing position at an apothecary in Diagon Alley. The salary was nothing to get too excited about, and most of the work was laughably easy for a potioneer of his talents, but it was far better than nothing, and vastly more enjoyable than any other job he could have found. With events in the wizarding world growing ever more unpredictable, with attacks coming more frequently and politicians making statements left and right, each seeming more unhinged than the next, it was an important time to stay aware of the news. Severus was wary of getting the Daily Prophet delivered to Spinner's End by owl, afraid of drawing unwanted attention, but he picked up a copy in Diagon Alley most mornings on his way into work. Lily had taken to getting the paper delivered to her parents' house, and spent breakfast every day comparing incidents reported in the muggle and wizarding news and trying not to get too upset at the political drivel being printed on both sides. She and Severus both scanned the obituaries every day, concerned by stories of random attacks on muggleborns, though it was not until just before their return to Hogwarts that they spotted news of anyone they knew.

The murder of Anthony Johnson and his wife made it to the front page of the Daily Prophet, though only as a small article placed below the fold. The Defense Against the Dark Arts professor would not be returning for a second year at Hogwarts, having been slain in his home as he tried to protect his pregnant wife. The article noted that Johnson was a muggleborn and his wife was a muggle; they had been childhood sweethearts, raised in the same muggle town where they were murdered. Given the nature of the attack, and the presence of the Dark Mark in the sky above the crime scene, the incident was being treated as a Death Eater attack and assumed to be motivated by the blood status of the victims. The article went on to say, in a self-congratulatory tone that caused Severus to throw the paper across the room, that the memories of all the muggle neighbors had been modified and there would be no issues with containing the story in the muggle press. When Lily checked a muggle newspaper as well, the obituaries listed the couple as having died in a gas leak in their home. For a long moment she simply sat there, staring at the page. She had known that the wizards covered things up, made sure muggles didn't become aware of magical incidents in their area, but the implications had just hit home in a more personal way. It suddenly occurred to Lily that if she herself was killed by Death Eaters, the wizards would do the same thing to her. Maybe they would tell her parents the truth, or her sister. Maybe. But to everyone else, the neighbors, cousins she barely saw and old friends from primary school, what story would be told? If she was murdered by Death Eaters, how many people would think she died in a gas leak, or a car crash, or whatever other story was cooked up to keep the muggles clueless of the dangers surrounding them. She didn't realize she had started crying until she felt her mother's arms around her; when Lily explained what had happened through her sobs, Mrs. Evans cried along with her.

The students of Hogwarts gathered on Platform Nine-and-Three-Quarters just a few days later, the grim atmosphere at odds with the sunshine beaming down from a sky of cloudless blue. Nearly all of them had already heard the news of Professor Johnson, and the few who had not were quickly filled in by friends and classmates. The youngest students still managed a certain level of excitement at reuniting with their friends and going back to Hogwarts, but the older students' faces were somber. There were no cheerful reunions among the seventh years, no nostalgic reminiscing as they boarded the train for their last year at Hogwarts. They had known that a war had been brewing for years now, but now it was more personal, more real. They would be leaving Hogwarts at the end of the year, entering the real world, where the teasing and little jinxes of schoolyard bullying became legislation and curses that maimed and killed. For some the war had already felt real, but now they could all feel it. The sides were taking shape, but it was not always clear where each student would end up, where the lines would be drawn. Today's friends could be tomorrow's enemies, and yesterday's rivals might by necessity become allies in days to come, but there was no way of knowing for sure.

Lily and Severus arrived on the platform together, said their final goodbyes to Mr. and Mrs. Evans, and set off in search of Remus. They found him with his mother, both of them looking pale and drawn, though Remus managed a weak smile when he saw his friends. He had already changed into his school robes, with his new Head Boy badge pinned to his chest. It hadn't been much of a surprise to any of them when Remus and Lily received news of their appointments as Head Boy and Girl, though it had seemed much more exciting before they heard the recent news. But, exciting or not, duty called, so Lily and Remus made their way to the Prefects' compartment, this time to lead the meeting instead of just attending it. Severus, for once not in the mood to sit alone while his friends were busy, joined some of his Housemates in their compartment. He soon came to regret the decision. The conversation, perhaps inevitably, had turned to the implications of Professor Johnson's murder both for Hogwarts and for the broader world. It was understandable, of course, as it was the topic foremost in everyone's minds, but no one had anything new to add and it soon began to spiral into all the same old issues and arguments. None of the Hufflepuffs in the compartment would have gone so far as to express support for the Death Eaters, but the "traditionalist" views of some of the students veered a little closer to the line than Severus might have expected or hoped to hear from his peers. He was saved from his growing desire to jinx Madge Buckthorne's mouth shut by the arrival of Lily, Remus, and Marcus Smith, returning from the prefects' meeting. Severus immediately vacated his seat and left with his friends, pleading a lack of room in the compartment. Marcus immediately took his seat and began what seemed (at least to Severus) to be a contest with Madge to see who could sound the most pompous, while Lily, Remus, and Severus made their escape. It was too late to find an empty compartment, but they found one with only two little first years who were overawed by the appearance of the Head Boy and Girl and eagerly made room for the three of them. The rest of the trip passed without incident, and Severus found even the company of the eleven year olds preferable to the raging political debates of his own yearmates.

The Sorting Feast, once they arrived at the castle, was the most subdued that Severus and his friends had ever seen. The seat usually assigned to the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor sat empty at the high table, draped in black, and the professors at the high table looked grim. Even the Sorting Hat's song seemed to have a darker edge than in years past, warning of the perils of disunity. The Headmaster too was uncharacteristically somber when he gave his welcoming speech at the end of the feast, acknowledging the loss of a good man and dedicated professor and offering hopes for a year of unity and future peace. With Professor Johnson's death coming so close to the beginning of the term, Dumbledore had been unable to find an immediate replacement. Until a permanent professor could be found, he announced, the other Hogwarts professors and the Headmaster himself would be taking it in turns to teach the Defense classes. That set off a wave of whispers throughout the Great Hall, speculation among the students about who the eventual professor might be, and how their other teachers might approach teaching the subject in the meantime.

It would prove to be close to two months before the arrival of the newest member of the faculty, weeks spent in an odd state of partial limbo. On the one hand, most things were barely different from the year before. The seventh year students were taking all the same NEWT classes that they had begun in their sixth year, with the same classmates and, with one glaring exception, the same professors. Lily and Remus still had their rounds to make as Head Girl and Boy just as they had as prefects, and they still found opportunities to sneak off for a little alone time. Severus and Lily still dragged Remus to Madam Pomfrey's healing club, and spent some of their limited free time helping out in the hospital wing as much as the Matron would allow. Severus still continued his spell creation experiments, with occasional advice from Diana Arratay, with whom he had kept up a sporadic correspondence. As in years past, all three friends spent the vast majority of their "free" time in the library, working their way through unending mountains of homework and trying to prepare themselves for the NEWT exams and their futures after graduation. But even as things fell back into a routine, there was a feeling of turbulence. For weeks, each time they entered the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom there was a different professor at the front of the room, a different topic covered, a different approach to the subject. Professor Slughorn spoke of poisons and antidotes, when he was finally forced to take a class; Professor Kettleburn gleefully took the opportunity to lecture on dark creatures to a larger audience than he ever got in his own course. Professor Dumbledore spoke of theory, philosophy, the nature of good and evil and the classification of spells. Remus said the Gryffindors had listened with rapt attention; Lily and Severus had been disappointed by how many of their fellow Hufflepuffs seemed uninterested. Rumor claimed more than one Slytherin hadn't even bothered to show up that day.

There was a tension in the halls of Hogwarts, an echo of the political storm brewing outside its walls. Some students, particularly among the upper years, were beginning to take sides more openly. Others attempted to play the middle ground, keep their heads down and avoid the issue, or simply keep their opinions to themselves unless openly challenged. The most open in their views tended to be the Slytherins and Gryffindors, brashly declaring their allegiances and fighting duels in the corridors with those who opposed them. James Potter and Sirius Black got into more than their share of fights, though the professors seemed more reluctant to punish them under the circumstances. One of the more dramatic fights, between Sirius and Regulus Black, was the talk of the school for days after, with each brother declaring the other a traitor for his views. Quite a few hexes were cast and punches thrown before Professors McGonagall and Slughorn arrived to drag them apart.

It was a strange time for Lily, and for her friends as well. As Head Girl she should have commanded respect among all four Houses, but her muggle parentage prevented more than a few students from taking her seriously in her position, or as an individual. Remus and Severus got into several fights attempting to defend her honor; both boys knew Lily was more than capable of taking care of herself, but she was reluctant to cause too much of a scene, while they were not. Remus would face some minor opposition and disrespect from the Slytherins in his role as Head Boy, but nothing as extreme as what Lily faced. They were predisposed to dislike him for being a Gryffindor, but at least he had two magical parents, even if he was dating a muggleborn. They might not have approved of that sort of behavior, but it was hardly unexpected for a Gryffindor, and most of them weren't terribly interested in what a relative nonentity like Remus got up to anyway.

To his dismay, Severus discovered that some of the more elitist students of Hogwarts had begun to pay attention to him. They had apparently come to the conclusion that his changed last name was a hint at his true opinions, a declaration of loyalty to the ideals of pureblood superiority. They saw it as taking up the mantle of the old pureblood Prince family while casting aside his muggle heritage, and watched him to see how far he might go. Quite a few Slytherins in particular made overtures towards him, mistakenly assuming that sooner or later he would abandon his liberal views and unsuitable companions and join them. Severus's claims to the contrary (with more than a few hexes to back them up) did not entirely convince everyone, and the issue would resurface, but most were dissuaded from bringing up the topic for a while.

It was to this hornets' nest of a school that the newest member of the Hogwarts faculty arrived at the end of October, not long before Halloween. No one had known what to expect from Dumbledore's last-minute find, though Severus had received a cryptic note from Diana Arratay a few days before, telling him to say "hi" to the new professor for her. Professor Alazandra Langston made her appearance at the head table one night at dinner, wearing her blonde hair in a crown braid and split robes with trousers rather than the full robes predominant in wizarding society. The Headmaster formally introduced her at the beginning of the meal, calling her a professional duelist, though the whispers that spread throughout the halls used a different word. Streetfighter. There was only one kind of dueling master who would dress like that; not the sort who engaged in the carefully choreographed, elegant dueling of the upper classes, but one who made her living in the rougher spectator sport, the entertainment of the streets. It was legal, though occasional legislation sought to ban the sport as unbecoming, with just as many regulations as its more sophisticated variant but a slightly different set of skills necessary for success.

The students turned to their meals, but the speculation continued, rumors and generalizations flying along the tables. Many streetfighters were known to be half-bloods or muggleborns, and more than a few were suspected to participate in the illegal version of the sport where all rules were suspended and magic and muggle fighting styles mixed together. While some students doubted that Dumbledore would have hired an actual criminal to teach at the school, others were less convinced. Professor Langston herself would do little to dispel any of the rumors. When one student got up the courage to ask how she had ended up with the job, her only reply was a raised eyebrow and a short "You think there were a lot of options this late in the game? Headmaster called in a favor." Which, of course, did nothing but raise more questions for teenagers desperate to find intrigue and gossip at every turn. Lily overheard one theory, from a fifth year prefect no less, that Dumbedore had bailed Langston out of jail for illegal dueling, and it was in repayment of that debt that she had agreed to come teach. After all, everyone was more convinced than ever that the Defense Against the Dark Arts position must be cursed, having now even killed a professor to stop him from returning for a second year, and surely no one in their right mind would take a job like that without a hidden motive.

But, whatever her background, no one could honestly deny that Professor Langston was an excellent teacher, and the speculatory tales that the students concocted about her mysterious past only served to make her more fascinating. She deflected any attempts to ask her about illegal freestyle dueling, but was more than happy to share tales of her time as a streetfighting champion, and lectured well on a variety of relevant topics. To the surprise of many, particularly those initially inclined to dismiss her as an uncultured brawler, Langston proved equally well versed in the more traditional style of dueling, reintroducing many of the same teaching exercises that Professor Arratay had used two years before. She laughed when one student, surprised to encounter an unusual technique a second time, pointed it out in class.

"Where do you think I learned it? Dia—ah, Professor Arratay— and I have been sparring partners since our school days. She's taught me quite a few things over the years."

Antonia Primrose, who had asked the original question, looked suitably impressed, and word spread quickly through the school. It was perhaps the only thing that could have increased Professor Langston's alluring air of mystery even more, linking her with the almost legendary former Defense professor. Indeed, when the two witches were spotted holding hands in Hogsmeade towards the end of the fall term, the Hogwarts rumor mill nearly combusted. Several of the older students stopped to say hello when they spotted their former professor in the village over the course of the day, though most were polite enough to keep it brief and leave the witches to their date. Lily, Severus, and Remus waved through the window of the Three Broomsticks as the witches passed by outside, and got a smile and wave in return, but didn't bother following them into the cold. James, for once unaccompanied by Sirius, might have kept the women talking for hours if not for the intervention of his own date. Mary Macdonald, who seemed to be back together with James for good after the better part of a year of on and off dating, mouthed an apology at the current and former professors as she dragged him away. Diana made a half-hearted attempt to hide her grin behind her hand, but Alazandra laughed openly. It was a contagious sound, a rare bright spot in the increasingly grim and serious atmosphere of both school and village.

As the end of the fall term approached, there was rampant speculation over whether or not Professor Slughorn would host his annual Christmas party. There had been fewer Slug Club dinners and get-togethers during the term, and they had felt a little more subdued than usual. But it seemed that the Potions Master was unwilling to let anything spoil his holiday festivities, and announced that the party would be going ahead as usual. Severus, who had not attended the previous year, was surprised by how much he was looking forward to the event. No one would ever call him a social butterfly, least of all himself, but the Hufflepuff had grown to enjoy the occasional social event, particularly one which offered the opportunity for dancing. He and Lily met up with Remus in the entrance hall, making their way to Professor Slughorn's office as a trio. They ran into James and Mary in the corridor, the two Gryffindors clearly dressed up for the party as well. With all five of them heading to the same place, there was no polite way to avoid small talk as they continued the walk. Lily and Mary broke the initial awkward silence, giving the boys a moment to recover from their surprise. They two young women weren't friends, exactly, but they had always been cordial, and that was more than could be said for some of the others in their group. It was not until they had almost reached the party that James spoke, quietly, awkwardly, fumbling out a sort of apology to the two Hufflepuffs and to Remus. It wasn't enough, couldn't be enough, to erase the years of rivalry, infatuation, and broken friendship that had passed between them. But it was a valiant attempt, well intentioned and honestly meant, and by far the most mature thing Lily had ever seen James Potter say or do. And for that moment, at least, it was enough that he had bothered to make such an attempt, to take a first step towards peace or reconciliation.

It was the first Christmas ball where James didn't waste any effort or energy pining over Lily Evans. He danced with Mary, laughed with her, kissed her under the mistletoe, and marveled at the end of the night how much more enjoyable it had been to focus on the young woman in his arms rather than one who had always been forever out of his reach. Lily too found herself happier than she had been in some time. For one night, there was nothing to worry about. The impending war was far away, her Head Girl duties put aside, and James Potter seemed to have finally gotten over her. She watched him with Mary as she herself spun across the room with Remus; the Gryffindor couple looked as happy and content as she felt. Remus bowed out of the dancing soon enough, after he made them both mix up the steps a few too many times and have to flee the dance floor because they were laughing so hard. Severus met them there, Lily leaning against his shoulder for support as she tried and failed to stifle her giggles. The three of them stumbled their way to a table, still laughing, helping themselves to the food and drink set out there. Lily took to the dance floor with Severus after that, leaving Remus on the sidelines as he preferred. He loved watching them together, seeing the way Severus's face lit up and Lily's eyes sparkled as they whirled across the floor, never missing a beat. It may not have been a perfect evening, but as they made their way back to their common rooms after hours more of dancing, entertainment, and good companionship, they were all in agreement that it came very close.

With the party behind them, there were only a few more days separating them from winter break, which sped by in the blink of an eye. And a very eventful holiday it would prove to be, for the wedding of Petunia Evans and Vernon Dursley was scheduled for just before the New Year. More than once during the fall term, Lily had expressed an intense relief that she was not able to participate in any of the later stages of wedding planning. She had been unable to avoid dress shopping with her mother and sister at the end of the summer, but it could have been worse; Vernon's mother and sister had been thankfully unable to join them. Remus, who had been coerced into attending the event as Lily's date, grew more and more nervous the closer the wedding came. He had never officially met Lily's parents or sister, and worried about making a good impression, particularly at such an important event. Severus, who had flat out refused to attend despite Mrs. Evans's claim that everyone would be delighted for him to come too, kept gleefully relaying stories about how annoying Petunia could be, which certainly didn't help Remus's nerves. But even Severus was unable to simply avoid Petunia and Vernon entirely. Perhaps as payback for his smugness at getting out of the wedding, or possibly because she knew her parents really did want to see him, Lily had accepted on Severus's behalf an invitation for Christmas dinner at the Evanses. He grumbled a bit when she told him, anticipating that a meal with Petunia and Vernon might be even worse than with Petunia alone, though he was glad of a chance to spend time with Lily's parents. Remus would be with his own parents on Christmas, of course, but he made plans to visit with Severus at Spinner's End for a few days of the break.

To the surprise of virtually everyone, no major social disasters occurred during the winter holiday, and a relatively good time was had by all. The last minute wedding details sorted themselves out without too much difficulty or shouting, and Petunia and Lily had more fun together than they had in ages, reminiscing over childhood memories as they faced impending adulthood with Petunia's marriage and Lily's upcoming graduation. It was almost enough to make Lily forgive the frilly pink bridesmaid's dress that Petunia had insisted she wear. The fact that Vernon's sister Marge would be wearing an identical dress, and managing to look even worse in it, was little consolation. Severus and Vernon took an instant disliking to each other when they met on Christmas, but managed to put on a reasonable facade of civility for the family's sake. Severus doubted that he was really fooling anyone, but he would do his best to put up with anything if it made Mr. and Mrs. Evans happy. He seemed to succeed on that count at least, though he hoped that Petunia and Vernon might choose to spend the holidays with the Dursleys in the future; he wasn't sure how much longer they could pretend to like each other. The wedding itself went off without a hitch, and Lily's parents were delighted to meet Remus at last. To the Gryffindor's relief, he and Lily even managed several dances without tripping or stepping on anyone's toes, though he had a feeling that Severus could have done it a little more gracefully.

When Severus heard how little drama had taken place at the wedding he almost regretted not attending, though he had a feeling that if he had been there things might not have gone quite as well; he and Petunia always seemed to bring out the worst in each other. He had instead spent the day of the wedding visiting with Mrs. Hanley next door and helping her fix a few small things around the house. The older woman had invited Severus over for tea as soon as she noticed that he was home again, asking all about those lovely friends of his and the fancy boarding school up north. Severus had been surprised to learn that his mother had bragged about him to the neighbors, about how well he did in school and that he was going to be a doctor one day. Mrs. Snape had never been generous with her praise when speaking to her own son; it was odd to realize that she had expressed so much more pride when speaking about him. Severus enjoyed the time with Mrs. Hanley, listening to her gossip about the locals, tell stories about his mother, or complain about her son who never came to visit now that he had a posh job and a wife from the other side of the river. It was refreshing, hearing about such different problems than the ones he was usually dealing with, small town neighborly disputes and family troubles instead of impending war and a dangerous and uncertain future.

The return to the realities of Hogwarts hit hard at the end of break. For two weeks Severus had been cut off from news of the wizarding world, and even Lily, whose parents had continued their subscription to the Daily Prophet, had been barely skimming the headlines. Of the three of them Remus had kept the most up to date on current events, mostly from hearing his father's rants at the dinner table, but even he was shocked to return to school after three days at Severus's house to hear that there had been a major demonstration in Diagon Alley the day before. No one had been killed, though there had been some injuries when the Aurors arrived to break things up, and some not insignificant damage to a few shops run by known "muggle lovers." It was all anyone was talking about on the train, discussions growing more heated as some students were hit once more with unpleasant reminders that not all their peers agreed with their political opinions. There were calls for the Aurors to crack down harder on demonstrators, for the government to take a harder stance against social reforms, for everyone to wake up and realize who was really to blame for the problems of wizardkind — not that any two students could seem to agree where the problem really lay.

For better or worse, political discourse was mostly shelved when classes started up again. The younger students quickly lost interest in debates, distracted by their own little problems; to a twelve-year-old, the question of which of three girls Gaius Abernathy was secretly interested in was rather more pressing than who should be Minister for Magic. The older students, who were generally more aware of current events and had stronger opinions, were too weighed down with work to cause too much trouble, though they still found time to worry about their own futures. Among the seventh years in particular, with NEWT exams around the corner and life beyond Hogwarts looming ahead, it was difficult sometimes to think about larger issues when there were so many small ones to wade through first. In between finishing class assignments, studying and practicing for NEWTs, extracurricular activities like quidditch, Madam Pomfrey's healing club, or the dueling club that Professor Langston started in the second half of the year took what little free time was left. Purely social events were few and far between, and the seventh years grew more and more adept at multitasking. Hanging out with friends while studying for exams, practicing spells under the table at mealtimes, or doing homework while watching a quidditch match became standard practice.

Very few of the seventh years went home for Easter break, having been spurred to an even higher level of panic by a reminder that they would be having another career counseling meeting after the holiday. The lack of classes did at least provide a bit of relief, and a chance to catch up on work and planning that had fallen by the wayside during the term. The advising meetings, when they arrived, were routine and simple for some but more sobering for others. In all cases, of course, final career options would depend on the results of the NEWT exams, information which would not be available until the summer, but all the Heads of House reassured their students that if they had made it this far in NEWT level classes without failing them yet it was unlikely that they would suddenly flunk the exams, barring any unforeseen disaster. Among the Gryffindors, not much had changed from two years before. James and Sirius were both on track for their desired careers as Aurors, with good grades and professors willing to give them recommendations. Peter was aiming for a clerk's position in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, which Professor McGonagall was confident was within his reach.

Remus had the qualifications on paper to do anything he wanted, but growing anti-werewolf sentiment made it even less likely that he would be able to obtain and keep any high-level job in the wizarding world. A job at the Ministry was entirely out of the question, and with political tensions so high it would be increasingly difficult to find a position even in the private sector. McGonagall promised to let him know if she came up with any leads, though Remus was beginning to suspect that someone like Professor Langston, with connections in low places rather than high, might be more useful in finding a way to keep a roof over his head. What he did not mention to his Head of House, though did discuss with Lily and Severus, was that he was also starting to consider trying to make his way in the muggle world rather than the wizarding one. He was only eighteen years old, after all, and had grown up with one foot in the muggle world. Perhaps it wasn't yet too late to look for a life there instead. Severus and Lily had extenuating factors to consider too, if perhaps not as immediately as Remus. Both were more than qualified to enter Healer training in the fall, assuming that they passed their exams at the end of the year, and that was still what they were planning to do. But while Professor Sprout tried to be diplomatic about it, she tried to give realistic warnings as well. At that moment there were no restrictions on where muggleborns could work, but it was not inconceivable to imagine that that might change within even a few years. Popular opinion could be a dangerous thing, and it was more important than ever to be aware of the changing political climate. Severus, as a half-blood, officially had the least to worry about — none of them seriously considered that there would ever realistically be legal discrimination against half-bloods — but even a pureblood could be in danger from association and known opinions, and a half-blood even more so.

But there was nothing to be gained by overturning their lives because of a potential future threat, and all three did their best to continue on as they had planned without adding any more worries than the world was already putting on them. And, for the moment, the most pressing concern was not discrimination or future career opportunities, but simply living long enough to take their NEWT exams without collapsing under the weight of the essays they had been assigned. All too soon, long before the students would have considered themselves ready, the end of the year was upon them. They sat their NEWT exams over the course of two weeks, though for many students much of that time was spent studying rather than taking exams, depending on how many they had chosen to take. Severus had assumed that the tests would feel similar to the OWLs they had all taken two years before, and they did to an extent, but the tales of how much more difficult NEWTs were compared to OWLs had not been an exaggeration. It was with a sense of great relief and accomplishment that they exited the last test, the Defense Against the Dark Arts practical portion. Seventh years spilled out across the sunny Hogwarts lawn, mingling with the fifth years recovering from their OWLs as the lower years remained trapped inside the castle classrooms.

The last few days before the end of the year were that strange mix of nostalgia and dreams for the future that is so common among graduates at any stage of schooling. For better or worse, the seventh years were about to leave Hogwarts for the last time, a place where they had spent nearly half of their conscious lives, and venture out into the "real world." Severus, Lily, and Remus wandered the halls and the grounds, reminiscing about the good and the bad. Here was the antechamber where they had all stood as scared little first years, waiting for the Sorting Hat to decide their fates, and there the corridor where Remus had first asked the Hufflepuffs for help with his Arithmancy homework. The library where they had spent so many years huddled around the same table, the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom with its ever changing cast of professors, the Hospital Wing where Madam Pomfrey had patched them all up from injuries large and small. The Whomping Willow they avoided, but they recalled the corridor where Lily first hexed James on Valentine's day, and the spot in front of the Three Broomsticks where the Marauders and Potioneers had gotten themselves banned from Hogsmeade. Here was the armchair by the Hufflepuff fire where a much younger Severus and Lily had curled up and shared a cupcake for Severus's birthday, and just beside it the hearthrug where Remus and Severus had roasted marshmallows just the year before. There the shadowy corner where Lily and Remus had shared their first real kiss on a prefect patrol, and here the spot by the shore of the lake where Severus had told Lily that he loved her. Everywhere they turned, memories surrounded them.

As the Hogwarts class of 1978 gathered on the shore of the Hogwarts lake, saying their final farewells to castle and staff, for a moment they were unified. Hufflepuffs, Gryffindors, Slytherins, and Ravenclaws alike spent a moment looking back at the people who had been with them for seven long years, now preparing to go their separate ways. They boarded the same boats that they had sailed to cross the lake before their sorting, now going back the opposite direction towards the train. Some still shared with the same people they had arrived with, but many others had found new companions. Sirius, Peter, and James were joined in their boat by Mary Macdonald, holding hands with James as they gazed across the water. Lily and Severus, who had made their first journey across the lake with two girls with whom they had barely spoken since, this time crossed with Remus. As they sailed away from Hogwarts castle, laughing as the giant squid's splashing tentacles sent a spray of water showering over the little fleet, they didn't look back. There were memories behind, but the promise of their future lay ahead.

Author's Note: Apologies for the late post, things have gotten a little hectic around here and unfortunately the demands of Real Life take precedence over creative pursuits. I expect that there will be a bit of delay on the next few chapters as well, though I'm hoping it won't get too long. Between still needing to sort out a few long term plot points and having less time to get things written and edited right now, I think it's unlikely that I'll have the next chapter ready by next week, but Rory and I are doing our best to get the rest of this story out to you in a timely manner. Thank you again for sticking with this story, and please let me know if you're enjoying it! Comments might make me write faster ;)