I glanced at the photos again. Comparing the two you would never even know… In the first moving photograph, you could see me smiling and laughing, my bright red hair flying behind me in the sharp autumn wind. Charlotte stood beside me, her short black pixie haircut standing out against her pale white skin. Her chocolate brown eyes glowed. Merlin, I missed her. What was I thinking? Every so often, (but more often when I looked at the photos) I would feel a heart-wrenching pang of regret. Why did this have to happen to me? I shook my head, a tear forming in the corner of my eye.

Next to Charlotte was Nico. Her name was actually Nicole, but she hated it. She had insisted on being called Nico ever since the day I met her. I still remember that day. It wasn't too hard to forget- falling down the stairs while they were moving hurt! However masculine and odd, the name had stuck. It suited her. Though you wouldn't think it would just by looking at her. Her tousles of soft blond hair and blue eyes surrounded by a thick layer of mascara-coated eyelashes didn't exactly spell tomboy. A tomboy who loves make-up… ironic, huh? Yes, I have interesting friends…or should I say had.

I looked away from my bed where the pictures were laying. Glancing around my room, I realized how much of an influence this whole situation had on me. My room, usually spick and span, everything in its place, was the opposite of organized. My bed was torn apart, there were clothes scattered across the floor, candy wrappers littering the few clear places on my desk… In short, it was a disaster. What was I going to do with myself?

Looking down again at the first photo, I felt another sharp stab at my heart. The Marauders. All four of them. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs. Or as I knew and called them, Remus Lupin, Peter Pettrigrew, Sirius Black and James Potter. There they were, as always, on the scene. Making sure there wasn't a moment of peace and quiet in our lives. I never thought I'd admit to it, but I really, really, genuinely did miss them. A sharp intake of breath helped prevent me from bawling my eyes out. I knew it was for the best, but at the same time I couldn't quite understand why I had done it. It made perfect sense, but at the same time, none. My head understood, but my heart was completely out of the loop.

I set down the first picture on my unmade bed. It made me want to cry and have a fit. The second wasn't much better. I turned it over. Suddenly I heard a soft pecking noise at my bedroom window. Turning slowly, tears glistening in my eyes, I looked towards the source of the noise. I let out a sad sigh as I realized it was Craig, Nico's owl. (Yes, she insisted on naming her owl Craig. I know, I don't understand it either. But that's another story for another time.) I got up from beside the pile of crumpled up bedclothes, and trudged across my room. I flipped the switch to open my window and Craig hopped in. He seemed to be in a happy mood, pecking away at my arm until I agreed to accept the note he was carrying. Tears starting flowing for real when I read the note.

Lily,

Please don't do this. I miss you SOOOO much already and it's only been two weeks. Correction: We ALL miss you. I know I've said this before, but... how can you know for sure that the book tells the truth? This isn't fair, to us or to you.

Please. I'm begging you. Come back.

Nico

I crumpled up the small scrap of paper Nico had written on. Anger filled me up. I had explained this to them before. How could they still not understand? It was infuriating. There was no way I was going to send a reply back to her. No matter how long Craig sat there repeatedly sticking his sharp beak into my wrist. It would only make me over think my choice, and make me even more upset than I already was.

The last two weeks had been a blur of sleeping, waking up, getting dressed, eating, helping out at the little stationary store to help pay my tuition, eating and sleeping again. Who knew summer could be so boring? But I had refused to let any of my friends come see me. I couldn't. It would only make this whole situation harder. Anyways, I had to get used to being away from them.

I slowly walked over to the full-length mirror hanging on the inside of my closet door. Looking at my reflection I sighed again. Merlin, I have been sighing a lot today. Who was this person looking back at me? With black hair, dark brown eyes, square-framed glasses... Who was the girl in the second picture, sitting stiffly on that old moss-covered rock which held so many memories? Who was that girl who was all alone... A tear ran down my face as I told myself once again that it was me. It was finally official. I was leaving Hogwarts.