Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, no matter how much I wish. This belongs to J.K. Rowling, all bow down to her. I do, however, own the OC and the plot.

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, September 14th, 1976

Mackenzi walks slowly down the stairs and into the Common Room, a tight knot in her stomach. As she does, however, she notices that the room is empty except for Lily Evans. Turning towards the portrait so that she can escape as soon as possible, she can feel Lily rush up and grab her arm, spinning her around to face her.

"Kenzi! I haven't seen you for so long…why haven't you been talking to me since the end of last year?" Mackenzi stares at her as if she is stupid, and then realizes that it is probably a joke that was set upon her by the Marauders, so she turns around and the portrait of the Fat Lady swings open, both girls seeing Severus Snape standing there with a small smile on his face. Mackenzi walks up to him and they both start to walk away, but Lily steps in front of them, making them stop.

"Mackenzi Evelyn Darling what, in the name of Merlin, are you doing?" Mackenzi continues to stare at her as if she had just professed her love to James Potter, and so Lily continues, "I got sick in potions near the end of last year, and all of a sudden I find that you and Remus broke up, you are in the Marauder's 'bad books', and you are hanging out with Lucius Malfoy?" Mackenzi blinks a few times and shakes off Severus, who is desperately trying to get her to follow him away.

"Lily, are you saying that it wasn't you that told everyone about me kissing Severus?" Lily blinks, throws a viciously dirty glare in Severus' direction, and then looks back.

"It wasn't me. I swear, Kenzi, I would never hurt you like that." Mackenzi's eyes widen and she spins around to stare in shock at Severus. She opens her mouth to say something, but cannot because she is shaking so badly in anger.

"You….you!...I hate you!" She spins around and stomps off with Lily, leaving Severus standing in front of the portrait of the Fat Lady.

*****************By the Black Lake***************************************

Lily and Mackenzi walk briskly towards the four Marauders, who are standing beside the Black Lake. James is skipping stones across the calm waters, with Sirius trying to throw Peter into the lake. Remus is attempting to read a book a few feet away, but is distracted by the other three's antics. As the two girls approach them, James plops his newest rock back into the water, Sirius and Peter freeze mid-struggle, and Remus stands up while brushing himself off. Lily takes Mackenzi's arm and pushes her forwards as she explains what Severus and his associates had done to ruin things between everyone. Immediately, as if a switch had been turned on, James and Sirius runs towards
Mackenzi with smiles and laughs, Peter falling into the water as soon as Sirius lets go of him. Remus, however, walks over slowly, a depressed expression on his face.

"Did you really kiss him, Mackenzi?" Upon closer inspection, Remus looks sickly, and Mackenzi can see a cane sitting on the grass behind him. He has a bandage poking out from underneath his shirt, and his face is solemn; his eyes haunted. Mackenzi gives him a small, wan smile.

"I returned his kiss before I knew what was happening…" Remus stares at her for a while, silent, his jaw twitching as he clenches it, and Mackenzi continues "I'm sorry, Moony, I know that isn't an excuse-" Before she can say anything else, however, Remus has pulled her towards him, his lips softly descending upon hers. Mackenzi's eyes flutter closed, but Remus pulls away before she can return.

"I forgive you." He cracks a smile, and Mackenzi throws her arms around his neck, smiling a smile that doesn't reach her eyes; near the edge of the woods is Lucius Malfoy, Rodolfus Lestrange, Narcissa and Bellatrix Black. On his knees in front of Lucius is Severus, his face cut and bleeding, and Lucius looks over to Mackenzi with a wicked smile before back-handing Severus once more before turning his back and leaving, Rodolfus and Bellatrix following at his heels. Narcissa sends Mackenzi a glare that she did not think could come from such a small girl as she helps Severus to stand and limp away. Mackenzi hugs Remus tighter, burying her face into his chest. She knows now that she has to choose one or the other…but her choices are both horrible. Leave Remus, who would likely have no one else to comfort him because of the monster he becomes once a month; or stay with Severus, a person who surrounds himself with every-day monsters, and who is turning into one himself.

It's time to pick the lesser evil…no matter what sacrifice is needed…

Review, please! This chapter is a little bit shorter than the other flashback chapters, but I hope you like it!

~R