June 24th, 1978

Last days are melancholic. They always have been, and the chances are, they always will be. Normally I would incredibly sad that my days at Hogwarts are over as I packed up my trunk for the final train ride on the Hogwarts Express tomorrow morning, but I'm not sad.

I'm excited.

My fellow Marauders and I, along with Regulus, are going to the Potter's as soon as we reach London. James and I are going house/apartment hunting this summer, as are Remus and Sirius. Jolie and Regulus have a few trips planned for the summer.

It's melancholic.

We're all going our separate ways after being inseparable for the past seven years.

Alice and Frank are getting married in August, Lily and Marlene are moving in together, Mary's applying for a job at the Ministry, and Dorcas is starting healer training at the beginning of September. Everything is finally working out.

Well, almost everything.

It seems as if every day there's a headline in the Daily Prophet about another muggle-born being found dead in their homes. Sometimes it's not just muggle-borns, but an entire family of muggles.

By the end of the summer, all of our plans could be ruined. Instead of getting an internship at the Ministry, I could be fighting Death Eaters.

The door began to creak open, and my eyes shot towards the doorway.

Lily smiled at me, "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."

"It's alright, I've been a bit on edge recently." I replied as I packed my Gryffindor banner into my trunk.

"Me too," Lily sighed, "It feels weird that we're leaving Hogwarts. We've been so sheltered."

I closed the lid of my trunk and latched it, "We really have, part of me is excited, but the other part of me never wants to leave."

Lily nodded, "Has he proposed?"

"Not yet, we've always talked about getting married this December, but no ring yet." I sighed, holding up my ring-less hand for her to see.

"He will."

I smiled, "He will. How are you and Marlene?"

Lily grinned, "Really good, my parents really like her, and I think her parents like me."

"I'm happy for you."

Lily stood up from her bed and pulled me into a hug. "I'm happy for you and James, and I can't wait to go to your wedding."

I smiled softly at Lily as we parted from the hug. "I can't wait to go to you and Marlene's wedding, and Remus and Sirius's. However long it takes, I'll be there."

"I wouldn't have it any other way." Lily replied with her classic Lily Evans smile.

There was a knock on the door, followed by the door creaking open slightly. James peaked his head through the doorframe with his hands covering his eyes, "Can I come in?"

Lily and I both laughed.

"Yes, come on in." Lily replied.

James grinned and stepped inside our dormitory, flinging himself onto my bed.

He looked around the dormitory as he laid back on my bed. "Your dorm is so empty, we've barely started packing."

I shook my head, "Well, we'll be lucky if you and Sirius manage to actually make it to the train on time tomorrow."

"What would they do without Remus?" Lily teased.

James rolled his eyes before they quickly widened. He sat straight up, "You're right Lils, what sill I do with Moony? Who's going to keep me in check?"

"Hello, darling, we're going to be living together." I replied in an unamused voice.

James shrugged, "Yeah, but you're not exactly responsible. If I say 'who wants shots?', you say 'pass me the bottle', whereas Moony would say 'don't be stupid it's Wednesday afternoon'."

Lily stifled a laugh as she began packing her clothes into her half-full trunk.

"I'm still responsible, I know how to cook, duel, heal injuries, fight physically, clean-"

James kissed me on the cheek, "Okay, point made, but the Marauders have one last piece of unfinished business at Hogwarts."

I furrowed my brows at him.

"Please don't commit arson," Lily said sarcastically, "I'll see you two later."

James saluted Lily, "See you later."

"Bye, Lils." I chimed as James practically dragged me out the dormitory door and down the staircase to the common room.

When we reached the bottom of the staircase the sound of absolute chaos-filled my ears. Students ran amuck the common room saying goodbye to their friends, searching under couch cushions for missing items, and yelling Accio followed by their missing item. Stray jewelry, stationery, and even the occasional shoe flew across the room as people ages eleven through eighteen struggled to pack all of their things at the last minute.

Remus, being a Prefect, was attempting to control the chaos, but failing horribly. I love Moony, but I still have no idea how he's a Prefect.

On the other hand, Sirius was in the midst of a conversation with a group of third years about how to get Peeves on your side.

"Padfoot, Moony, let's go!" James yelled at the two men across the common room.

Both of their heads shot up, and they both came walking over to James and me.

"Who has the map?" I asked as I pushed open the portrait hole and stepped into the corridor.

Remus tapped his pocket, "I have it."

"Brilliant." James said excitedly.

Our footsteps echoed throughout the mainly empty corridor as made our way to Filch's office to make sure that our legacy was secure.

"I don't understand why we have to break into his office," Sirius stated, "Why can't we just get caught with it?"

I sighed, "Because he might throw it out if he catches us with it, and we can't risk that happening."

Remus tapped his wand to the map, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."

The words started appearing on the blank parchment, and Remus examined the map as we stopped in a side corridor.

"Filch is on the training grounds, and Missus Norris is with him. We're all clear to break in."

James and Sirius high-fived, "Wicked."

I rolled my eyes at them, "Well, let's leave our legacy."

"I just hope that whoever finds it can uphold our name." James huffed as we reached Filch's office door.

Sirius pat James on the back, "They will, I have a good feeling about it."

• • • • •

I watched out the window of the train compartment as the Hogwarts Express came to a stop at King's Cross Station in London.

Parents were scattered across the platform waiting for their children to come stumbling off of the train. I quickly spotted Euphemia and Fleamont, just kept looking around the platform.

My parents were nowhere to be seen, and neither were Orion and Walburga Black. Jolie's mum was leaned up against a wall talking to Augusta Longbottom.

James tapped me on my shoulder, "Come on, darling, let's go home."

I smiled softly at him and stood up from the bench.

Sirius and Regulus were pushing each other out of the way as they tried to retrieve their trunks from the overhead compartment. Remus and Jolie were yelling at them to knock it off.

"Ha, I'm gonna beat you all to see mum." James boasted as he stepped out of the compartment with both of our trunks.

Sirius furrowed his brows and quickly retrieved his trunk, pushing his way out of the compartment in an attempt to beat James to their parents.

"When was the last time you saw your dad?" I asked Remus as we trailed behind our boyfriends.

He shrugged, "Well I did a few day trips last summer when we weren't working, but it's too boring to stay there alone. When'd you last see your family?"

"Easter break of last year," I sighed, "I'm going to get the rest of my things sometime this week. I want nothing to do with them."

Remus nodded, "Makes sense. What about your dad?"

"He sends the occasional owl, but he's always working and I hate my mother."

"Childhood trauma gang!" Remus teased as I high-fived him.

I felt a tug on one of my braids, yanking my head back. "What the-"

Jolie laughed, "When are you coming to visit this summer? We need some time away from all of this testosterone."

"After I officially move out of my parents' house, but before James and I move. Sound good?"

"Sounds perfect."

Regulus wrapped his arm around Jolie's shoulders, "And when are you coming to visit us?"

"Day visit? Sometime within the next week. A few nights? Before James and Daphne move out." Jolie replied as she twisted one of her curls around her finger with purple painted nails.

I looked ahead to see Sirius wrapping his lanky arms around Euphemia Potter, and James starting a conversation about quidditch recruiters with his father.

Euphemia's face lit up when she saw all of us.

The older woman pulled me into a tight hug, "It's so good to see you, dear!"

"Thank you for having me, again."

"Oh hush, you've always been apart of the family."

Regulus hugged Euphemia next, followed by Remus, then Jolie.

The Potter's were delighted to see us. I imagine that the house is much too quiet without all of us wreaking havoc.

Fleamont smiled at all of us, "It's wonderful to see you all, Alma was excited to make up all of your rooms this morning."

Jolie's mum, Jacqueline, and Augusta Longbottom made their way over to our group.

"Augusta, how are you?" Euphemia asked as she hugged the other woman.

She sighed, "Delighted, but busy with all of this wedding planning."

Frank and Alice appeared at her side, followed by Lily, Marlene, Mary, and Dorcas trailing behind the soon to be wed couple.

Jacqueline hugged her only daughter, "I'll let you say your goodbyes, you can meet me at home whenever."

"Thanks, mum," Jolie replied, "I'll be home for dinner."

Missus Chance smiled at Regulus, "You're more than welcome to come over for dinner, Regulus."

"Thank you, I think I will if that's alright with you."

Jolie kissed Regulus's cheek, "It will be quite alright."

I hugged Marlene, "Bye Mar, I'll see you soon. We'll have a girl's day? All of us?"

The blonde woman embraced me, "I'm looking forward to it."

Lily hugged me next, "Owl me with any news, or for a girl's day."

"Oh, I will, Lils."

The next few minutes were a blur of hugs and goodbyes as we all began to go our separate ways. Even though we would all keep in touch, it would be weird not seeing each other on a daily basis, especially because some of us were moving.

Frank and Alice promised to owl us with any important dates regarding their upcoming wedding, Mary insisted that we come to visit, and Dorcas said that she was looking forward to seeing us all soon.

When the time came, it was hard to say goodbye to all of my friends that I've known since we were eleven. However, it was also exciting to hear them talk about the new things happening in their lives. Plus I'd see all of them at Frank and Alice's wedding in August regardless.

Fleamont and Euphemia had apparated home to start on dinner and to let us say our goodbyes, so it was just the six of us left.

I hugged Jolie, "I'll see you probably tomorrow, or sometime within the next week."

"You bet your arse you will." She laughed.

Regulus announced that he shouldn't be home too late, but not to wait up for him, and the two of them apparated from the platform.

I intertwined my fingers through James', "Ready to go home, mon amour?"

James kissed my cheek, "Let's go."