A/N: My name, unfortunately, is not J.K. Rowling. Therefore I did not invent this marvelous place called Hogwarts, therefore I have no rights to this story except for the plot and my own characters.

GOOD DAY MY DEARS,

GUESS WHAT? GUEEEESSS WHAAAT? I made the 50,000! I won this year and I am beyond thrilled. Thank you all so much for your support and thank you loads for keeping me motivated. You guys are AMAZING and as a reward I've written you a chapter of SEVEN pages! BAM!

Somebody pointed out yesterday that a banshee is actually a real creature in the Harry Potter world. I had never really thought about researching any of it, especially since I was originally going to do this story as a crossover with Lydia from Teen Wolf. (If you haven't seen this show, I definitely recommend it!) But eerh, well, luckily it doesn't really change anything about my plot, but I did add a little something to this chapter because of it. Better to clear everything while we're at it, no?

Well, not everything, because then I wouldn't have anything left to keep you interested. But you get what I'm getting at, right?

Yeah.

Well.

So I kind of fried my brain writing this chapter, so I can't really be held accountable for any of the typos I made in either this Author's Note or my chapter. I'm sorry. I can't be arsed. I just want to go to beeeeed -whines-

Anyway. I hope you enjoy this chapter, although I'm not sure if it is what you expected and/or wanted.

Love,

Kelly

Chapter 25

This is a story that I have never told,

I gotta get this off my chest to let it go.

~ Warrior - Demi Lovato

When Lily entered it was late at night. Her eyes looked puffy, her cheeks were red. She had obviously been crying and was in a bad place herself. I figured I just couldn't talk to her right now about my own issues. I frowned worriedly as I went over to her and gave her a hug. Miranda and Emily , sitting on Miranda's bed, were playing a game of wizarding chess and ignored us completely.

Just as well, I thought as I gazed at my friend. "What happened?" I asked in hushed tones, so the others wouldn't hear. If Lily was miserable I didn't want anyone to notice her being miserable.

Lily shrugged and sat down in a chair in the far corner of our dorm. "I just don't... For a smart girl I'm really stupid sometimes," she whispered finally, tears filling her eyes again.

I patted her shoulder a bit awkwardly, hoping that she wouldn't cry too long. I wanted to make her feel better, but I had no idea how to fix whatever it was that was hurting her so badly. "You're not stupid, Lily Evans," I told her sternly instead. "You're the brightest witch this school has had in ages and you're going places. I can tell."

She gave me a forced smile.

Merlin, I sucked at this. "If you don't want to talk about it, I'll let you be," I told her softly. "But if you do need a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on, both my shoulders and my ears are yours."

Lily managed a more genuine looking smile this time. "Thank you." She was silent for a little while and I was preparing myself to just let her be until she was ready to talk when she started. "I went to see Sev- Snape." She corrected herself mid-sentence, as if pronouncing his first name was too much for her right then.

I blinked. Not really what I imagined had happened. "I wondered where you had gone after Transfiguration," I said quietly as I knelt down in front of her, giving her knees a gentle squeeze.

Lily sniffled and shrugged. She put her hands over mine and looked away. "I told him that I wanted to talk things through. I had been thinking about what you said, about doing what I thought was right. I miss him so bad, Nika, and it hurts so much, but whoever that boy is..." She stopped, taking a deep breath and shaking her head before she continued. "I don't know who that boy is," she repeated, "but he isn't my Severus. He was plain cruel to me, just because his Slytherin friends were standing nearby. And I could see it," she said, getting worked up more and more over it, "that what he was saying was hurting him as much as it was me, but he just kept on going. What is up with that? Does he really think that cruel behaviour will make him more likeable for those idiots? That it will give him more friends?"

"He is in Slytherin," I pointed out, earning a fierce glare from Lily.

"Not all Slytherins are evil, Nika. Just as not all Hufflepuffs are wimps and not all Gryffindors are arrogant to a fault!"

I held up my hands in the air to show her that I was unarmed. "I don't have any love for the Slytherins, Lily, but I do see your point. I'm sorry."

Lily's glare slowly softened, but she kept her lips pursed. "It's thoughts like those that keep the House rivalry going, you know. That needs to stop, especially now that there's a war going on," she said passionately. "Are we going to hate every person we see out there because he was in another House? That's madness!"

Note to self: Lily feels like starting a revolution when upset. "Life after Hogwarts is still far away, Lily," I said, trying to pacify her but only rising her anger more.

"A year and a half. It's a year and a half away and keeping your head in the sand isn't going to save you from Voldemort and his minions."

I saw her point, I really did, but Voldemort as a threat had somehow lost its urgency. I had felt threatened by the wizard all my life, and besides your fate was often out of your own hands anyway. You had to go with the flow and hope that you're well prepared for whatever life tossed your way. It seemed that Lily was only now realizing all of this, and I couldn't help but feel sorry for her. For me. For anyone who was about to experience this powerlessness. "Life isn't something you can control," I said softly. "People often react differently than from what we expected, but, Lily, Slytherins are often ambitious and I'm sure that your Snape is too. Why else would he ruin a friendship with someone as awesome as you?

"He probably hopes that by breaking off your friendship, he'll gain more authority and respect in his own House. Power is everything to those guys, and while I know not all Slytherins are that way, most are. Snape is one of those lads that see power and want to take it, whichever way they can. I'm sorry, Lily, I really am, but this is life. I doubt that he'll be the first friend that the war will take away from you, but you'll get through this. You're Lily Evans, you make James Potter cower, professors are awed by your brain and you are my friend," I told her confidently, although I was a hundred percent sure that I was messing this up and that this speech sucked cotton balls. "You're okay," I told her when she started crying again.

She nodded though. "Thanks," she murmured.

I nodded back at her and leaned in for another hug. "You're okay," I said again.

Lily pulled away all of a sudden and gave me a curious look through her tears. "I heard you did some fighting of your own today. With Potter of all people," she said suddenly.

My, my, I guess good news really did travel fast, I thought sarcastically. "How on Earth did you hear that?" I muttered.

"This is Hogwarts, Nika. Gossips spreads faster than herpes in a whorehouse."

"Charming." I frowned.

She gave me a smile. "So tell me about this fight you had."

I told her, hoping that this would take her mind off her own troubles.

I was pacing the common room back and forth the next morning. Fellow Gryffindors were getting ready for breakfast and passed me by with only a couple of glares and shoves. Good to know that nobody is allowed to touch their Golden Boy, I thought sarcastically.

Honestly, this was getting tiresome. I glared at a third year - or was it a fourth year? - that pushed her way past me. I was about to call it quits, when I saw my target walking down the stairs.

The four boys halted in their steps when they saw me. No stress, I told myself as I squared my shoulders and purposefully walked towards them.

I didn't even grant Sirius, or any of the other boys, really, a look as I stared at James only. "May I please have a word?" I asked him politely, wringing my hands nervously. So much for having no stress, ha!

James raised an eyebrow and looked at Sirius, who was still staring at me. Not that I noticed or anything. Nor had I noticed how gorgeous he looked that morning. Nor had I noticed that his tie was hanging loosely around his neck. Didn't notice a thing about the lad, really. "Go on," James told his friends. "I'll catch up soon enough, I'm sure."

Doubted it, I thought with a heavy sigh of relief.

The boys slowly walked away and I couldn't help but watch them go. The lad that I hadn't noticed at all didn't look back once. Well then. I looked around and saw that some of my peers had slowed their pace, undoubtedly hoping to witness another fight. Too bad for them.

"Is there somewhere quiet we can talk?" I asked him, looking at his shoulders.

It was time to apologize to the lad, I thought. Even Lily had agreed that I had taken things a bit far by going physical. Although, she had said, he had kind of deserved the slap I gave him. But since I rarely enjoyed being slapped myself, I figured that he wouldn't have either. An apology was in order and I was going to deliver it to the best of my ability.

Without a word, James turned on his heel and ascended the stairs again. I followed him silently to his dorm and stood there awkwardly.

"So talk," James said rather briskly, making me wonder for a second if this was even worth it.

I took a deep breath and looked him in the eyes. "I'm sorry that I took our fight to a whole other level. I shouldn't have hit you and I'm terribly sorry."

James' eyes flashed with surprise. "Oh."

I smiled sadly. "I shouldn't have said those things about your friendship with Sirius. It wasn't my place and I should have just calmly told you that I didn't like your attitude or your words."

"I doubt that would have helped," James pointed out, smiling faintly. "I apologize for dragging your family into the debate. I had no idea they were such a trigger for you." He had said the last part a bit hesitantly, as if he was afraid that I'd go around smacking his lights out if he even mentioned them again.

I stared at the floor.

James decided to push it a little. "I'm sorry if they died, Schmidt. It wasn't thoughtful of me."

"You didn't know," I whispered, blinking rapidly before my vision became blurry.

"Still," he muttered.

"Did you tell anyone?" I asked, finally looking up.

He shook his head and I breathed a sigh of relief. I looked around the dorm and saw that it was probably cleaner than our own, something I hadn't really expected. Hm. I sat down on a random bed and crossed my legs as I stared at James.

"For whatever it's worth," James started, "I really am sorry and I know that this will sound ridiculous to you, but if you ever need someone to talk to... Well, I'm here."

I didn't say anything for a while, before closing my eyes. Might just as well, he had kept my secret so far, right? "I was eleven when my parents died," I whispered, probably just loud enough for him to hear. He stopped shuffling his feet and I felt his gaze on me as I continued. "Mum had baked these chocolate muffins that my father adored that day. He would keep on stealing them even though they were far from ready." I smiled at the memory.

My parents had been playful even though they had been married for many years. I hoped I could find someone to love like that someday.

However it was dread that filled my stomach instead of butterflies as I continued my story. "I was a real daddy's girl. I wouldn't do anything without his approval, and if I did finish something I ran off to show him. I figure I was a real bother back then, but he never let it show. He always made time out of whatever he was doing when I ran to him. He helped me through my first scream, telling me how to handle it. Especially since he was a banshee himself too."

I heard James chuckle. "Love, I don't know what drugs you're on, but you're not a banshee. Those creatures look dreadful."

"Why thank you, James," I said, smiling faintly. "I'm glad to know that I don't resemble a skeleton with floor length, greasy hair."

"You're welcome." His eyes were laughing at me merrily as he sat down next to me. "What did you mean then? Because unless you're taking a shitload of Polyjuice potions, you're not a banshee."

"And yet I am," I told James. I had no idea why I was telling him of all people any of this. It most certainly was incredibly dangerous and if he tattled on me to the wrong person, I'd be dead within a week. And yet... I needed to tell someone. "I'm not one in the truest sense of the word. My screams don't kill people, but I sense when someone's about to die." I stared off into space. "Do you remember when I started crying after Remus asked me something a couple of years ago?" Wondering if James would even remember such a thing. Sirius had though, so why wouldn't James?

James stared at me, before slowly nodding.

"His mother died that week, didn't she?"

I felt his gaze sharpen on me as he studied me. "Yes."

I nodded. Amelie Lupin had died of heart failure in her sleep. It was peaceful and nature was simply running its own course, something I couldn't have possibly interfered with or so Dumbledore had told me.

"How is this possible?" James asked me, still a tad disbelievingly.

I didn't care if he believed me or not. For the first time in a long time I felt a burden lift off my shoulders. It was good to confide in somebody, even somebody as pigheaded and annoying as James Potter. "I don't know. My father used to tell me this tale of Merlin blessing our family with this gift," I spat out the last word, "but I don't know if it's real. A good bedtime story is probably all it was."

"I'm taking you haven't ever told anyone this before?" James asked me slowly. I could see his mind churning over what I was telling him, but I didn't stop. I simply nodded. "Why?"

"So you'd understand why Voldemort killed my parents." James froze and his eyes widened. I continued quickly before I lost my nerve again. "It was late at night, when my father barged into my room. He told me to hide, which I did." I am such a coward, I thought hatefully. "A Death Eater entered my room shortly thereafter, asking about me, before killing my father when he thought I had already fled." I didn't want to go into detail and just stared blankly at James' chest. "Dumbledore found me the next morning as I wandered about the house aimlessly." I had been trying to wake my parents, my childish brain not able to take hold of reality right then. Dumbledore had even told me that I had made breakfast for three. I shivered. When the Aurors entered my home, I started screaming and didn't stop until some Healer gave me a sedative. I had been in therapy ever since. "Dumbledore figured that my father refused to join Voldemort's army. Imagine what someone like us would be able to do for the Dark Lord," I said unfeelingly. "He'd let us study every minion carefully before sending them on their way, I'm sure. He'd know when death would be near and that's a kind of power I don't want to give to someone like that. Daddy hadn't either, apparently."

James was quiet as he took in my sob story. "Who knows about this?"

"You," I answered, "Dumbledore, Greene and probably McGonagall."

James just sat there in silent shock or surprise, I couldn't really say, before he turned toward me and gave me a hug, which both shocked and surprised me. "I'm so terribly sorry."

"Please," I said quietly, "don't be."

He pulled back to give me a confused look.

"I don't want anyone to feel sorry for me," I muttered darkly. I really didn't think I could handle anything like that.

"We aren't inhuman, Nika," James started slowly. "Of course we'll be sorry for what happened to you, but you're still here and alive. That's what counts and I won't pity that."

Tears appeared in my eyes and I hugged him back. How had he known that that was what I needed to hear?

"I'm not sure why you told me-"

I'm not either, to be honest.

"-but thank you. I'll keep your secret safe," he swore.

I don't know why, but I believed him. He was even shaking as he said it. Or maybe that was me.

I pulled back from his embrace. Yeah, the shaking was me. "I really don't want anyone to know," I said slowly. "Not Remus, not Peter, not Sirius."

"They'll find out eventually," James pointed out.

"Yes, but I want to be the one to tell them." Him.

James didn't say anything, but I knew he understood my hidden meaning. "What about Lily?"

"Greene gave me a week to tell her," I said begrudgingly. Or well anyone really and I guessed that telling James counted too, right?

Yeah, probably not.

"Greene was the doctor that came to get you from Transfiguration?" James asked, studying my face.

In for a penny... "He's my psychiatrist," I whispered.

James paled. "I'm sorry for calling you psychotic."

I shrugged. "It's okay. It's kind of true anyway," I muttered softly.

James opened his mouth to say something, but I hushed him with a quick gesture. "Can I count on your silence? Please?"

James bit his lip as he studied me. "Yes. I won't breathe a word of this," he swore again.

Merlin, I thought somewhat breathlessly as I followed James to the Great Hall. I had just given up a big part of me to somebody I didn't even know all that much, but it really had felt good.

I felt... relieved, lighter somehow. "Thank you for listening," I told him when we arrived at the Gryffindor table.

James nodded solemnly and watched me go as I looked for Lily. As I sat down, I saw him talking to his friends. A knot formed in my stomach, until he looked up and gave me an assuring smile. I smiled back and turned to Lily.

"How are you feeling?" I asked her carefully. I had taken a seat with my back to the Slytherins, just as she had.

"Better," she whispered, as she grabbed a fruit scone. "How are things with Potter?"

"Better," I echoed. We shared a smile and enjoyed our breakfast in silence.