Author's Note: Well, this is the last chapter… Hope you liked this story! There isn't a flashback for this chapter because I couldn't think of one, and it works better without it.

Title: Love and Flashbacks

Rating: PG

Spoilers: Erm… Possibly.

Summary: Lily and James remember the events that led to their romance.

Disclaimer: As much as I'd love to own Harry Potter and its characters, I don't.

Setting: This story takes place when the Marauders are at Hogwarts.

*** = setting change

italics = emphasis

~The End~

"Charlotte!" Koren screamed.

Two of Lord Voldemort's Death Eaters had come into the house and were now attacking Charlotte. One of them looked at Koren, then pointed his wand at the two women. "Avada Kedavra."

And with that final curse, Koren Smith and Charlotte Davis died.

***

The young Death Eater lowered his hood and pulled off his mask. Sweat dripped down his face and greasy hair (AN: Eww…). He leaned on a table for support.

So this is what it gets me. This is what getting revenge feels like. I watched my best friend kill my enemies. Why do I feel so guilty? I didn't kill them. It's not my fault. But I don't want this anymore. Being a Death Eater has done nothing but bring pain to everyone. I want out. I don't want to hurt anymore people like this. Never again, Severus Snape thought. Never again.

(AN: Just my way of telling how Snape turned from the Dark Side.)

***

"Oh my God," Lily whispered. The Dark Mark was visible above Koren and Charlotte's house.

"Come on," James said, gently tugging on her arm.

The two made their way past the debris and entered what was left of the living room.

Sirius and Remus were already there. They were hunched over the bodies of Koren and Charlotte.

Lily gasped and rushed over to Remus's side. "No…" she said, looking down at the corpse of her friend.

Remus looked at her with tear-filled eyes.

"Remus, I'm so sorry," Lily said, beginning to cry.

James dropped down to his knees next to his best friend. "Padfoot, you all right?" he asked softly.

Sirius shook his head. "This isn't happening. It's all a dream. It's a nightmare. She's not dead. She can't be dead. I love her. I'm going to wake up, Koren will be alive, and everything will be fine."

"Sirius, I know you're hurting," James said, putting an arm around him, "but Koren is gone. You can't deny it. That's the first step into insanity, and I don't want that for you."

"This isn't possible," Sirius replied, frozen in place. He was staring at Koren's corpse, yet not focusing, like he was in a trance. "She was always so… full of life. She can't be dead. It's not right."

Lily made her way over to him. "Oh God, Sirius, I'm sorry." She gave him a sideways hug. "Why—why would they do this? Charlotte and Koren never hurt anybody. They were good people." She started crying harder. "They were my best friends. I can't… It's just all so…"

Remus had moved closer to the other three, still sobbing.

Sirius said in a slow, dead sort of way, "You know what's so ironic about this?" He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box.

Lily gasped. "Sirius… no…"

"I was going to ask her to marry me—tonight."

***

James and Lily had just gotten back from Koren and Charlotte's funeral. Lily had decided to sit on the porch swing for some fresh air while James went inside to change.

A few minutes later, James came outside and sat down next to his wife. "Are you okay?" he asked, seeing that Lily was staring off into space.

"I will be."

"Charlotte and Koren were our friends and great people. This may seem kind of selfish, but I'm glad it wasn't you, Lily."

"So am I," Lily whispered. She was still staring into the night, not looking directly at James.

"Are you all right?"

"Uh huh." She took a deep breath. "James, I have something to tell you."

"What?"

"I'm pregnant."

THE END

Author's Note: Ooh, weird ending, like always… Well, I'm sorry for making this last chapter so very sad, but I had to… You know why, right? And they were insanely happy in all the other twenty chapters, so something had to happen. I'm sorry… I mean, Sirius and Remus are like my favorite characters… *sigh*

BIG THANK YOU TO: Qahira Galetea, Kimmy Larisa, Shadow Child, TriSuki, Sierra Sitruc, Puddles, darkdevil4eva1989, Katy Kat, Mwu, and all the anonymous reviewers!