A/N: Guys, they didn't need the computer for as long as I thought, and I now have it back! YAY! I was an inch from having a nervous breakdown without it, because I kept getting all these ideas for the story, and I have yet again changed my plans. There will be four sequels, because the bit I was going to add onto the end of this just wasn't going to fit in at all. Hope you like this; it is the last chapter. Many thanks to all who have reviewed, and I hope to get the first sequel up as soon as I can think of a title.

I have noticed that a few of you are suggesting a Rene/Severus romance. Who says they'll live long enough!?!



The End of an Era



We chatted for a while, and then took our places on the platform, all formally attired and with very mixed feelings. I remember not knowing what to think, because I had had a lot of ups and downs at Hogwarts. I couldn't decide whether or not it was a good thing that I was leaving all the intolerence, animosity and throwing people at walls behind me, or whether it was a bad thing because I was going back to Romania, leaving Ed and Severus behind, to be taught how to run Maramures. I must say that neither of these prospects enthralled me, but what else could I do? I must have been deep into this battle of opinions, because it took an elbowing from both sides to go forward and have my photo taken.

When we were done, there was a large feast with everything and sauce, and then we again got to go and talk to the parents. My Dad was talking animatedly with Dumbledore, so I just sat where I was until I was yanked up by Ed.

"Come on, you can't just sit there and look miserable!"

"I was actually just trying to sit there and stay concious."

"Your head still playing up?" He smiled sympathetically.

"A little bit, not much. All I need is some cheering up, really, to take my mind of the ache."

"Not a problem!" He yelped happily. "Have you seen Potter yet?"

"Ed, please, I said cheering up. But no, I haven't seen him yet."

At that moment, Severus came over, looking rather fed up. As it turned out, his parents were *very* proud of him and insisted on telling everyone so, while he was with them. He was mortally embarrassed, of course, but there again, everyone else's parents were doing it to them.

"You feeling OK?" He asked me, sounding generally concerned.

"Yeah, fine, until Ed mentioned James." And I shot a semi-sour glare at Ed. Severus began to laugh, and so did Ed. It took three death threats before they managed to pull themselves together enough to let me in on the joke.

"See, see over there?" Ed pointed across the room. "Those two snobs are Orion and Margot Potter. See them?"

"Yes, Ed." I sighed.

"Now wait..." Severus continued "Look until they move apart so you can see..."

And a moment later, Orion and Margot parted, leaving my view-path to James clear, and what a sight he was. His nose was dressed in gauze, and in places it was stained with blood. Both his eyes were ebony black, and the left side of his face was raised in one big purple bruise.

"Not all my handiwork, mind," Severus mused, matter-of-factly "I only broke his nose. The blurry-purple bruise is where he hit the floor. I must say, it does suit him, don't you think?"

I just smiled. It was nice to know that I had two good friends to rely upon like that. I couldn't help but stare in disbelief at James for a few minutes, until he looked up and caught my eye. He gave me a steaming glare, but he soon decided to drop it when Ed and Severus stepped forward on either side of me, and returned the look.

"Thanks guys."

"Why don't you tell your Dad what he did? That'll do him the world of good."

"Dumbledore already made me tell him, and he was all for snapping his neck in two. He actually thought it was you, at first." I replied, looking to Severus. His face lost all colour.

"But you did...correct him, didn't you?"

"Yes, of course I did. He wants to talk to you two, Black and Lupin at some point. Don't worry about him, he's not going to hurt anyone. He never has...well, rarely has."

They stared rather dumbstruck, and Ed lost his colour too. They both headed for the drinks counter, eager to escape being introduced, I expect. I leant against the wall and looked around; this hadn't gone half as bad as I had expected it to, but as I looked around the room, someone caught my eye. Someone who hadn't even crossed my mind.

I stared at her. Everything about her was lacking. Her usually bouncy auburn hair seemed flat and lifeless, her sharp green eyes seemed blunt. There was no smile adorning her lips, just a tolerant grimace. She was staring mostly at her feet, and shuffling a few inches only to let someone pass. My heart jumped to my throat, as I recalled some of the things we had said to her. It was true, she had come waving a white flag, and all we had done was thrown it back in her face, covered in blood. What if we hadn't been so stubborn? What if we had agreed to forgive and forget? Granted, she had not gone about her apology in the best possible way, but it was a hard thing to have to do. I pulled myself out of my spaceward stare, and began to walk over. Dumbledore had begun his closing speech a few minutes before, so no one saw me, or so I thought.

"Ren, what are you doing?" Severus whispered venomously

"I don't want it to end like this. You can let it, but I'm not going to."

I began towards her again, and her eyes flickered up for a moment and caught mine. She smiled weakly, and I returned it. I picked up my pace a little, only to feel a clamp like grip catch both my arms and spin me around.

"Rene, no. Do you have any self-respect? She owes us a damn sight more than that feeble apology, but if you are willing to back down and accept that, then march right over to her..." He looked at me with eyes as cold as ice, and as deep as an ocean. "I won't stop you, but you walk over to her, just remember, you're leaving me and Ed behind you."

I pulled my arms out of his hands, amazed I had let him keep a hold of them for so long. I looked at him, and then around at Lily, but she was gone. Dumbledore had finished his speech, and everyone was applauding loudly, and beginning to leave to go home. I closed my eyes for a moment, and bit my lip, thinking I had missed a chance that I would have to wait a long time to be given again. Little did I know that it was a chance I would never be given again, and there is a part of me that curses Severus every day for holding me back, curses me for not pulling away sooner, and curses Lily for not staying where she was. If I only learnt one thing at Hogwarts, then it was Carpe diem.



*fabula est finis*



A/N: Let me know what you thought Guys!