A/N: AH! The very end of my very first story. AH! Well, I know it's short, yet my friend Abbey said something very wise to me, "it doesn't matter the length, as long as you put your heart and soul into writing it, it'll turn out great." Sure it was a bit dramatic, but it helped and I was able to fit in everything I wanted to. It feels weird ending it, and I'm not ready to give up this story line, seeing as I have many ideas for the sequal. I hope you check that one out, and if you request so in your review, I'll tell you when I update it. It may be a little while, seeing as I have other stories to finish, but I will post it. This chapter may be a bit sappy and fluffy, but it's not really the end, just a little boost for my sequal. I know in the beginning, this story started out cliched, and typical, with not very good writing skills. Hopefully that changed as the story went on, and I'm so happy that everyone stuck with me.
A special thanks to Daydrae. Your reviews were some of the nicest I've ever recieved. Plus it's amazing that you have a holy binder dedicated to my story. Hehe.
Reviewers: You all are the ones that kept this story going, and I would write personal thank-yous, but they'd all be the same. In every single one I would say, 'you're amazing, wonderful, brilliant, thank-you so much for encouraging me...' and I truly mean it.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
"I never thought it'd be this hard to say good-bye." Sirius said sadly, looking around at the empty dorm.
James swallowed, "I can't believe it. This is our last time as students in these walls."
"And there's so many people that you're close to," Peter said, latching his suitcase, "That you wonder if you'll ever see again."
"It's hard to say goodbye to the building, yes." Remus said, "But even harder to say bye to the memories, and the people…"
"Merlin," Sirius said, "I probably won't see half of these people again."
James nodded, "Lets get downstairs."
"Wait." Remus said quietly, "Look at this."
The three boys gasped. Remus had pushed aside a dresser and there, beneath the dust that he was now wiping away, was something carved in the wood.
"I remember." James said, smiling slightly, "In our first year."
They all got on their knees and leaned closer, it said:
W+P+M+PM
"Wormtail plus Padfoot plus Moony plus Prongs…" They all said together, "Equals Marauders."
Sirius got up and ran his hands over his face, "It's really…suffocating, the thought that we're…adults. We're on our own."
"Well, not really on our own," Peter said lightly, "We have each other."
James looked once again at the carvings, and breathed in deeply, "We should head downstairs."
They all nodded, took one last look around the room, and shut the door.
"James!" Lily said, flinging herself into his arms as they descended the stairs.
"Wow." James said as he hugged her back.
"Wow what?" She asked, pulling back to look at him.
"In first year you were the girl I could never have. I remember walking down these stairs and seeing you sitting by the fire, yet I knew I couldn't be with you. And now…walking down these stairs at the end of seventh year, you're hugging me…and it's voluntary." He smiled.
Lily rolled her eyes, "You know…for acting like such a Mr. Tough Guy, you really are a sap."
James laughed, "Glad to see you have your humor back."
Indeed, the past couple weeks Lily had been frantic about N.E.W.T.S. Every one was, however. Barely anyone ate, and if they got two hours of sleep a night they had to have taken some sort of sleeping potion. Lily would wander around, pale as a ghost, her hands shaking. James would often have to shake her, telling her she would do fine and that she had nothing to worry about. He was so worried about helping her feel confident, that he forgot how nervous he himself was.
N.E.W.T.S came, and James thought he did fairly well on them, but Lily wasn't convinced. She kept wondering if she wrote something too sloppy and the Professors would think she said potty instead of potion.
"Well I figured that I should enjoy the last few days of school," Lily said, "No use worrying over what's already been done."
"So what now?" Peter asked.
"We say good-bye to everyone in the common room, since we already said bye to our friends in the other houses." Remus said, "Then we report to the Great Hall."
Sirius looked around the room, it was getting hard to breathe. He truly didn't want this all to be over, for some reason, he didn't like the idea of growing up.
"Hey Sirius." Brenna, the keeper, said. "Have you told them?"
Sirius shook his head and looked over at his friends.
"Come on," She said softly, "You've all been talking about this house for months, when are you going to tell them."
"We've all had the idea to stay together when we got out of school this year." Sirius said, "Us four, and then we each choose someone. Obviously I chose…"
"Sara." Brenna finished, "Well, you've picked me now, and I say it's about time you tell them since we're all moving in to it in about a month."
Sirius nodded, "I know. I just haven't gotten around to it."
He liked Brenna. He liked her a lot. But when he thought of moving in to the same house with her, it scared him. James and Lily, Remus and Katherine, and Peter and Marlee were all serious about their relationships. It was scary to him that it would mean he and Brenna had to get serious, too. He wasn't sure he was ready for it.
Maybe that was why he hadn't told anyone, not even James. He didn't want to make the fact that he had a new girl in his life final. He ran a hand through his hair and sighed.
"Come on," She said, kissing his cheek, "Every one's clearing out; let's go to the Great Hall."
Sirius looked at her. She was beautiful with her dark, thin hair up in a messy pony and her big brown eyes looking up at him with concern.
He kissed her, "Okay, let's go."
Ever since the ball they had been hanging out a lot more, getting close and sharing a lot. Not to mention snogging, that was always a plus, too.
The seventh years entered the Great Hall, many had tear stains down there cheeks, and were looking around at everything, as if trying to savor their last moments inside this great castle.
There weren't the four house tables like usual, but instead rows and rows of chairs. Every one took a seat and began talking to the people next to them.
"If I could have your attention please," Dumbledore said loudly, and at once the whole room became silent. "Thank-you," He smiled. "Seven long years with you all; and each and every one of you has proved your talent in unimaginable ways. As you see there aren't house tables, because in Hogwarts we were all separated, but now that you are all entering the actual world, the chairs were to prove and you're all together in this. If I could have Minerva up here…thank-you."
Professor McGonagall walked up to where Dumbledore was briskly and readjusted her spectacles, "I have a few words prepared." She opened up a sheet of parchment. "Well, as Dumbledore said, it has been seven long years. It would be a lie if I said this wasn't one of the most troublesome years with all the deaths of students, and students' family members.
"This year was also very…humorous. I haven't had such trouble makers as I have had in this year in…oh, I don't even know how long." At this her eyes swept over the Marauders for a fraction of a second, and her thin lips curved into a smile.
"It's hard to say good-bye, as it is every year. But I would like you all to know that you will do great in all that you do if you just try your best. Never forget you have the power to do anything at all." She sniffed, "Have a great life, students, and be safe."
She strode away and Dumbledore came back. "Now if I could have Professor Slughorn…"
Each teacher came up and made a speech, and when it was over, Dumbledore resumed his.
"I hope you all know what bright, young people you are. You have the power and ability to change any situation. I know I'll be seeing some of you in the future, so it's not really good-bye. I hope you all enjoy yourselves, and Hogwarts will miss you…as will we all."
Everyone stood up, slowly, one by one, and soon there wasn't a single student sitting. Many began clapping and cheering, large smiles on their faces.
Lily glanced over at James and grinned, her eyes sparkling.
---
"Hey guys," Sirius said to the Marauders, Lily, Marlee, and Katherine. "Can we talk to you for a second?"
"We as in you and your shadow?" James laughed.
"We as in me, too." Brenna walked up to all of them gathered just outside Hogwarts castle.
"Sure." Lily said, "What do you need to talk to us about?"
"You know the house we all bought?" Sirius asked.
The four Marauders and bought a small house in the beginning of the year, and they could each pick someone, boy or girl to help stay there and help pay the rent. There were two levels, with three bedrooms. There was an empty room meant for recreation, but they were turning it into a fourth room.
The boys and girls weren't sharing rooms however, for one the parents just would not have it, and two they all agreed to wait until they were older and more serious. True, seventeen was mature, but they all agreed it would be slightly awkward, especially if they got in a fight or broke up.
Sirius and James were in one room, each getting a twin bed. Peter and Remus were in the other one, each getting a bed also. Lily and Sara were going to share a room, and Marlee and Katherine were together.
It was a nice house, true enough, and it was slightly expensive, but with the eight of them they managed. It took a while to get all the parents to agree, especially the more strict ones. A few, like Marlee's, felt that it was inappropriate for boys and girls to live together, but finally agreed since this was the only living option she had for a reasonable price.
"I've picked someone to stay at the house with us." Sirius said, gesturing to Brenna, but he looked nervous.
"That's great!" Katherine said, "Who?"
"Brenna," Sirius said, "I just…pointed to her."
Lily's lips tightened. Brenna was nice and all, but she wasn't Sara. She didn't know what she was expecting, maybe him saying, 'Hey, I owled Sara and begged her to come stay with us and she agreed!'
"Welcome to the club, Brenna!" Marlee said happily, "You'll be rooming with Lily!"
"Is that alright with you?" Brenna asked nervously, and Lily visibly relaxed.
"Of course it's alright!" Lily grinned, throwing her arms around her.
Brenna hugged her back as she exhaled deeply. All these people had been friends for such a long time, and she was scared to death about whether they'd accept her or not.
"It'll be fun," Lily added, "Like a slumber party every day."
"Thanks." Brenna said, turning to face Sirius, "Well, that wasn't so hard now, was it?"
James looked Lily in the eye. She was with the most amazing person he had ever met. She was uncomfortable with rooming with a girl she'd barely met, yet she pushed that aside and welcomed Brenna into the home, and their friendship.
Life as adults were finally beginning. In just a few minutes they would get on the train and leave Hogwarts behind.
Lily took James' hand as they all began to approach the train.
"I'm scared." She said quietly as people began filing onto the train.
"Lily," James said lightly, "You've ridden the train plenty of times before."
"You know that's not what I mean," She gripped his hand tighter, it was a comfort for her. "We're entering a world full of deaths and war, and we're doing it alone."
James spun around to face her, "We're never alone." He said seriously, "We have all of our great friends. And Lily, I promise you this, right now, and right here."
"What do you promise?" Lily asked, her eyes welling with tears.
"I promise you that I will protect you with everything I have."
"You sound so serious." Lily said, trying to sound like she was kidding, but he could see right through her.
"I know you're scared, and I just want you to know that I am, too, okay? You're not alone on this, and you'll never have to be alone on anything. I'm here for you, okay?" He took her other hand and squeezed it.
"I'm here for you, too." Lily said, tears spilling down her cheeks.
"I love you, Lily Evans. No matter what. I always will." He stepped closer and wiped her tears away with his thumbs.
"I can protect you, too." She offered, "I know you think you won't need it…but I will. I love you too, James."
"I'm here for you," James said, "Forever and always."
Lily took his hands off her cheeks and stood on her tiptoes to plant a soft kiss on his lips. "Forever and always."
He took her hand and they continued walking to the train, "That was deep."
Lily nodded, "It was. But it was comforting."
The reached the train, their stuff had already been loaded on.
"It's a strange feeling, isn't it?" James asked as his foot hit the first step. "We're leaving home."
"No," Lily said, looking him straight in the eye, "We have each other, and as long as we hold on to that, we're always home."
A/N: Well. That concludes the end of Their Time of Need. I hope the ending met your expectations. If you want more, (and I hope you do) check out the sequal that's coming out soon! Thanks and love you all- Lilly.