"And now I don't want to hold you back any longer, let the celebration begin!"
Albus Dumbledore claps his hands happily and takes one last look at the assembled students.
He will miss them, every one of them.
No year has ever played so many pranks and he is very grateful for that, but he will still miss the Marauders.
You have driven the teachers to the verge of desperation so many times ...
Not a week went by without one of them doing detention or detention.
"You're growing up so fast, Minerva."
He still remembers how the young adults who wave to him, applaud or whisper, came to Hogwarts as first graders.
"Some will probably never really grow up.",
his deputy returns dryly.
He pauses for a moment and then says what has been on the tip of his tongue for a long time.
"What do you think are you ready for our medal?"
McGonagall just smiles, then nods.
"I wonder what you are planning for your future ..."

James Potter leans casually against a pillar, determined to dance with the prettiest girl in the room tonight.
He can't believe his luck yet, Lily Evans is his girlfriend.
How did he deserve it?
He doesn't know, but he is grateful for this stroke of fate, as he quietly calls it.
At the moment Lily is standing with her friends and talking to them.
Her green eyes shine like emeralds, her artistically pinned up hair shines magically.
When asked about his plans for the future, he just shrugs, but in reality he has a clear idea.
He wants to marry his Lily and have children with her, a boy named James Junior and a girl.
In addition, maybe a well-paid job in the Ministry, as an auror or curse breaker ...
Lily finally breaks away from her friends, James sees his chance and walks up to them with quick steps, his famous, self-assured grin on his lips.Remus is a bit off the dance floor at the buffet, he's never liked such events.
He prefers to sit comfortably with his friends in the common room and read a good book ...
It gives him a little pang when he thinks that such evenings are now a thing of the past.
Everyone swears nothing will change, but he knows better.
They'll still be friends, but how often will they be able to meet?
Sirius wants to become an Auror, James will probably follow his friend ... you just won't have time for him anymore.
Remus was realistic about his chances, he's a werewolf after all.
He may get a job at Flourish and Blotts where he has to dust off books ...
With a bitter smile, he thinks of his friends who have big plans - he can't afford that.
"Moony, why so sad? We did it!"
Typical Sirius, Remus would give anything to be so carefree.

When he looks at the celebrating students, he feels disgusted.
One day the dark lord will rise and then the laughter will be gone!
Lucius Malfoy takes a sip of firewhiskey and lets his gaze wander over the crowd of dancing students.
In moments like these, he wants nothing more than to show his true colors ...
"Lucius, there you are. Don't we want to dance too?"
Narcissa, the reason he's here in the first place. She's his fiancée, after all, and it's her prom ...
"I'm supposed to be on a dance floor with Potter and the traitor Black? Hardly ..."
Now this filthy little half-breed has also found a partner ... He will never understand why Dumbledore allowed the werewolf to be used.
"Well, then I'll just look for someone else."

"Look, Narcissa is dancing with Crabbe ... if that doesn't cause trouble!"
Nojiko grins cheekily and points to her friend's brother, who looks a little tormented.She is enjoying the evening, after all, it will be her last freedom.
In the Auror training everything will be different, no more parties with friends but just learning, learning, learning.
"What are you thinking?"
Remus brown eyes rest on her curiously, she just shrugs.
It would be pointless to explain that now.
Sirius, her boyfriend, is dancing with a Ravenclaw student and James whirls Lily around, only Peter has not found anyone.
She feels a bit sorry for him, but there is nothing she can do about his shyness.
"Your decision has not changed?"
It takes Nojiko a moment to realize what he's getting at, then she replies:
"No, I'm going to be an auror ..."
Like her late aunt. She knows it's dangerous and that she may not survive, but that doesn't change her decision.

Severus Snape is standing next to a girl from a house and keeps nodding as she tells him about her father.
He would have preferred not to show up tonight, but Regulus convinced him.
"Are you even listening to me?"
He nods again, completely lost in thought, and the pretty Slytherin finally leaves.
He doesn't care, he's just interested in someone's attention and he'll probably never get it.
What would he give to lead Nojiko Strife across the floor ...
With a shake of his head, he suppresses the thought.
He should rather concentrate on his new task, soon he will take his oath and then ...
He would be a Death Eater, people would fear and respect him.
He looks forward to his future with great anticipation, he will work with his old friends, and he will fight for something long overdue.
With a satisfied smile, Severus makes his way through the crowd to greet Lucius.
In the future, no one will call him Snivellus with impunity!

You finally did it.No more studying, no more exams and no more sitting still.
Sirius can't believe they actually finished school.
They will leave Hogwarts behind, they are adults ...
He would become a celebrated Auror and show it to his family who consider him a worthless failure.
With one last swing, he whirls the Ravenclaw girl around before the dance is over.
He could party all night, he's so relieved.
How did Remus and Nojiko endure reading so much? The weeks leading up to the exams had been enough for him.
Now he just wants to enjoy the evening ...
Speaking of Nojiko, where is his girlfriend?
He discovers her in conversation with Remus and goes on his way.
"May I ask?"
Nojiko smiles at him and then curtsies.
"Sure, you always do."
Grinning proudly, he leads his Nojiko onto the dance floor, determined never to let her go again.

Lily and James, Sirius and Nojiko ... how he hates her!
They are so arrogant and confident of themselves that they don't even notice how bad he is.
He feels lonely, even if he is mostly surrounded by his friends.
But did they take care of him when his parents died? No.
Lucius was interested in him, offered his support and he gratefully accepted it.
Peter Pettigrew can't wait to take revenge on the Marauders for all the nasty things, big and small.
How many times have you laughed at him? He was always the target of her jokes and pranks, but that's the end of it now.
Peter does not see himself as a traitor, they finally let him down.
Did you think he'd put up with it forever?
With an absent movement of his hand, he strokes his left forearm, which will soon be emblazoned with the dark mark.

Lily Evans enjoys being led across the floor in James arms.
He's a good dancer, he's funny, charming, intelligent ...She goes into raptures again and smiles at herself.
Lily doesn't remember when she fell in love with the boy with the tousled black hair, but it feels like forever.
She is glad that she forgot her pride and agreed to go out with him.
"What is?"
James looks at her curiously and Lily's smile widens even more.
"I'm just wondering how I could get hold of a slob like you ..."
He raises his eyebrows indignantly and pulls them as close as he can to himself.
"Hey, don't forget, I'm Head Boy after all."
The two laugh happily and Lily lets herself be pulled into a sweeping turn without resistance.
She doesn't know what her future will look like, but she is sure that she will spend it with James.

"Do you think these young people have a plan for their future?"
Albus Dumbledore has to smile at his colleague's doubting tone and then nods with conviction.
"Yes, I think so. They may act like children sometimes, but they are more mature than you can imagine."
Minerva only pulls her finely curved eyebrows up and lets her gaze wander over the dance floor one more time.
She will miss these little troublemakers, even if she owes them some gray hair.
Dumbledore follows her gaze and sighs deeply.
They will grow up faster than they'd like and they will choose a side.
They will fight, each in his own way, and many will die.
Minerva probably has similar thoughts, she wipes a furtive tear from the corner of her eye.
He puts a hand on his assistant's shoulder to calm her down and then mumbles more to himself:
"You don't know yet, but this is the end of an era."

END