Disclaimer: You know the drill, I obviously didn't create Harry Potter or his world. Other than the plot, very few things belong to me. They belong to the Great J.K. Rowling. All Hail J.K. Rowling!!

A/N: This is the last chapter, wow. It's kinda short cause it's the epilogue. I am very thankful for all feedback and let's say that if I get 35+ reviews for this story then I'll write a sequel. (Just so you know, I would really like more, so don't stop at 35!) I'm going to finish my L/J fic Memories of Years Gon By and maybe write a new one, post Hogwarts possibly.

peace- I don't think she's so Mary Sue anymore. She has tons of character flaws.

And to the person who reviewed, but didn't leave a name- good for you! Brownie points and a hug! I'm glad you like it.

Chapter 13: Farewells and Changes


When J.D. awoke, she found herself lying in one of the beds in the Hospital Wing. She had a pounding headache and slightly blurred vision. When she opened her eyes she found she was staring back into the sparkling blue eyes of Professor Dumbledore.

"Professor Dumbledore! Ouch," she said when she sat up too fast. "What am I doing here? What are you doing here? Where's Harry?"

"You are in the Hospital Wing, Miss Miller, because you were unconscious and have been through quite an ordeal. I am here because there are some things we need to discuss and Harry is fine. He, Mr. Weasley, and Miss Granger are all waiting anxiously to speak with you, however, this meeting must take precedence."

Suddenly the recollection of the previous day's events flooded back to J.D. "Professor Dumbledore, where's my sister, where's Crystal?"

Dumbledore bowed his head and J.D. knew the real reason Professor Dumbledore was there.

"No," she whispered.

"I am afraid, Miss Miller, that your sister is no longer with us. She died heroically, sacrificing her life for those of many. I am sure that does not lessen the pain. I am truly sorry and I will answer any questions you have, any that I am able to answer."

For a long moment J.D. did not speak. She could not speak.

"What, what happened to Voldemort?" she asked when she found her voice.

"There was no trace of either him or any of his followers. Including the two Mr. Malfoy Stunned. They were gone by the time I returned to investigate."

"My sister's... my sister's body?" It came out in little more than a whisper.

"It was found in the fortress. As soon as you are feeling better there will be a proper ceremony. We owled your father in America, but he said he would be unable to attend and that he would meet you at Kings Cross Station at the end of the term. If that is all, I must leave. Madam Pomfrey dislikes it when I monopolize her patients."

"Professor, there's one more thing. How did Crystal do what she did?"

"I believe you are referring to her power using the Star of Hope? Mr. Malfoy explained the entire event in full detail with help from Mr. Potter. I understand that you were unable to find out what exactly the Star of Hope does, so I will explain it to you. The Star of Hope is actually a star. It fell to the earth long ago and was discovered by a powerful druidess. Her name was Cliodna. In addition to the Star's natural power, the witch inserted some of her own, creating a powerful tool against Dark magic. No one knows exactly how she did it, but it became so that Dark wizards were unable to touch it, let alone harness it's powers. The Star was passed down through many generations until it landed in the hands of our very own Rowena Ravenclaw. Rowena used it as protection against Salazar Slytherin when he turned against his fellow founders. She added something of her own to the Star's power; she made it impossible for any of Slytherin's descendants to be near the Star when it was in the hands of good. That way, as long as her blood line held it, they would be protected. It was lost for many years and we may never know how it came into your hands. You probably would not have been able to use it in the same way as your sister did. You see, the Star, being a celestial entity, is a tool for special types of magic."

"Excuse me? I don't understand," J.D. said.

"In addition to the regular magic each witch and wizard possesses, certain magical people have an extra talent. Such as your visions. When a person with an extra magical ability holds the Star in both hands, their power is magnified and focused into raw power. That power is something from which Dark wizards cannot defend themselves. I believe that is why Voldemort was looking for it. He himself cannot go near it, but another could have destroyed it for him."

"You mean that Crystal has, I mean, had another magical power? Besides being a Seer?"

"I'm not sure what it was, it could have been one of many things. As I am afraid you had the misfortune to witness, the use of the Star in that fashion, long enough to vanquish your enemy, is sometimes too taxing. Now, you must rest. Tomorrow you may return to Gryffindor Tower."

J.D. sat in her bed and watched Professor Dumbledore leave the room. She sat very still, unable to accept what she had just heard. Crystal had kept secrets from her. That was not right, it wasn't fair.

"Crystal," she whispered to no one.

* * *

The last few weeks of school went by slowly. A ceremony for Crystal was held as soon as J.D. was ready. Harry didn't remember most of it, but one statement stuck in his mind.

"Crystal Miller was new to our halls, but she had true Hogwarts spirit. She gave her life willingly to protect others and she succeeded. I only regret that she had to die for it. Let us remember her bravery and her kindness. She was an exceptional person, let us never forget her."

In the last few weeks J.D. rarely spoke. She would only speak when someone asked her a direct question and kept her responses to a one word answer. She had forgotten all about her secret room and simply stayed with her friends. They didn't ask her questions, or press her about anything. They understood that she needed their presence, not their words.

J.D. took to wandering the school again. She was wandering one deserted corridor when she realized where she was. It was the corridor that housed her secret room. On a whim she opened the door and breathed in the jasmine smell. She sat on her purple chaise and noticed an envelope on the table where the Star had once been. She picked it up and opened it. The envelope was marked 'Jazzy' and J.D. smiled in remembrance of the nickname Crystal had used when they were younger.


Dear Jazzy, dear sister, dear friend,

If you are reading this letter, then I am no longer with you. I am sure that as you read this you are crying and blaming yourself for my death. I am writing this note so that I can explain a few things to you. I'll start with the most important: why I chose to die.

Almost a year ago I received a vision. It was not the same as yours, in fact, it was stronger. My whole mission was laid out before me. I knew what I had to do, but I also knew I would not live out the year. That took some getting used to.

I started thinking about what in this world I cared for more than my life; My first thought was of you. The most pain I have felt this year was knowing I was hurting you and also knowing I had to continue. I know that you think I betrayed you (or perhaps you will have changed your mind by the time you read this), but it was a necessary action. Jazzy, I never stopped loving you.

As much as I cared about you, I knew that it was my responsibility to fight Lord Voldemort. You are probably wondering how a fourteen year old girl was going to take on a powerful Dark wizard. As you may know by now, I am a fully trained Ravinia. How and where I was trained is not important. I am sorry that I had to keep it from you. I am sorry I had to keep everything from you, but I knew if I confided in you, my sister, you would want me to live. I can't change the future when I already know what is supposed to happen.

Now let me tell you how I put the plan into action. You should know better than anyone that you shouldn't mess with the future. It is extremely important when you know what is to come, so I followed my vision to the letter. The first and most important detail was becoming a Slytherin. I had to, well, threaten the Sorting Hat. As I'm sure you know, the hat can see all of your thoughts and my plan was laid out in front of it. The hat did not want me in Slytherin. Students in the Slytherin house are not self-sacrificing. Finally the hat agreed.

The next part of my plan was to befriend Draco Malfoy. He has the connection with Death Eaters that I needed. I had expected to be miserable, but strangely enough I found a true friend in Draco. I know that you dislike him and he isn't exactly fond of you, but he isn't the nasty selfish boy you think he is. Please remember that if all goes well with the plan, Draco is going to be in a lot of trouble with his father, it may even cost him his life. I told him that, but he insists on helping me.

We have waited until today when Voldemort kidnaped Harry. I know that today is my dying day, but I have come to accept it. All I want is to tell you how much I love you and to request a few favors as my dying wish. First, please cheer up and stop making yourself unpopular. Second, try to be friendly with Draco. He swore to me that he would change his ways (if today's plan works he will have no choice). That's it. Please remember me dear sister, but don't mourn for the rest of your life. I have sent a package that will be delivered to you at the end of term. Be on the lookout for it. I love you forever,

Crystal



J.D. looked up from the letter with tears in her eyes. Crystal had been through all of that? How could she spend a year knowing that she was going to die? If it had been J.D., she never would have gone through with it. She couldn't believe that Crystal had kept her extra powers from her sister, but now J.D. had begun to understand. It was bad enough that Crystal was her younger sister and a Seer, but add to that Ravina magic, and that would have been too much. To have your little sister be more powerful than you would be embarrassing. Or so she might have felt before, but now J.D. wouldn't have cared if Crystal had been an all-powerful cyborg; she just wanted her sister back.

Wiping tears from her face, J.D. put the letter into her pocket and left the room. She avoided looking into the mirror that connected the two spaces. Somehow, without saying anything aloud, J.D. knew that this would be the last time she would ever visit her secret room. It held too many painful memories. She reached the door and turned to look once more at the chamber.

"Goodbye," she whispered as the panel closed shut.

* * *

The end of term came and so did their O.W.L grades. To no one's surprise Hermione had the most O.W.L.s of all the fifth years. Harry and Ron each got a fair amount, but J.D. refused to discuss hers with anybody.

As they sat on the Hogwarts Express, the four friends talked about everything except school. The only people J.D. would really talk to were her friends. They were grateful that she was talking and so they avoided topics that were sure to have her close up again. They ate Every Flavor Jellybeans and talked about their vacation plans.

"What are you going to do this summer J.D.?" Ron asked her.

"I don't know. I'll hang out with my friends probably. Maybe Serena will let me stay with her."

"Why don't you want to stay at your own house?" Hermione asked cautiously.

"My dad's a real pain. I don't like spending time with him and usually I have, I have Crystal to keep me company."

She fell silent after that and Hermione regretted asking the question. J.D. stared out the window thinking of how this vacation would be without Crystal, when an owl flew up to the window of their compartment. It had a package tied around it's legs.

J.D. felt a strange sensation in her stomach and opened the window so the owl could fly in. It waited as she removed the package and letter before flying off again. With her heart pounding, J.D. recognized the familiar scrawl and opened the envelope marked 'Jazzy' first.

Dear Jazzy,

I wanted you to have something to read on the long train ride to Kings Cross. I also needed some way of getting my gift to you, so I thought this would work. Jazzy, promise me one more thing. When you see Dad, don't let him control you the way he always does. Dad needs to learn that you are a person with your own thoughts and feelings. He needs to change before it's too late and you're the only one who can help him. I love you sister dear,

Crystal


J.D. turned to the package and opened the wrapping carefully. Inside was a beautiful silver locket. J.D. opened it and saw that inside was a picture of her and Crystal as little children. It was an ordinary muggle photograph from the days when their mother had been enamored with muggle cameras. It brought back so many memories that J.D. started to cry again. Her friends looked at her and realized who the package must have been from.

When they pulled up to the station, J.D.'s eyes were dry. She had a new resolve and felt better than she had in weeks. Spotting Steve Montalvo about to get off of the train, she ran over to him.

"I never got to thank you for taking us to find Harry and my sister. We could never have done it without your help. I also wanted to tell you that you're a pretty great Keeper."

Before she realized what she was doing, J.D. kissed him quickly and then ran off the train to where her father was waiting. She almost lost her nerve, but when she turned and saw Harry smile at her and she thought of Crystal, J.D. felt her confidence come rushing back.

"It's about time you got here, Jasmine. Hurry up and grab your things, we need to catch our flight back to California."

"First of all, Dad, it's J.D. I hate Jasmine and I hate Delilah, so call me J.D. Second, I think we are going to have to make a few changes around the house, starting with..."