Disclaimer: I own nothing that you recognize from any Harry Potter book. If you don't recognize it: Hey it's mine! The song is Blackbird by the Beatles, no infringement intended, yadda yadda. And 'But not yet' belongs to Gladiator.

Little. Don't bother yourselves… I think. No… don't – nothing to the plot at least.

Ok everyone! Look! Its' the long awaited chapter 15!!

Wow… can you believe it? Fifteen chapters? Woowee! Ok, as I warned… it's sad. Here you go:

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Donna had really gone downhill in the matter of a couple of weeks. She stopped eating, sleeping, and sometimes moving. Donna was now more or less catatonic. She had such a strong mental block up that not even magic could break it. She stayed in the Hospital Wing day and night, with visitors dropping by every so often. As the days slipped by, some people started to go less and less to visit her. They realized that they might not be the one to break the block, so they only went every few days, and for a short time only. Donna's roommates went everyday, and Remus went with them. The other guys went every now and again, but they weren't as close to her as the other five.

On this particular visit, Jen and Remus were there during their spare. It was Monday, and James had Advanced Charms now with Lily. Jen was holding Donna's hand, stroking it gently, while softly singing her a lullaby. Remus was slouched in his chair, staring at nothing, but rubbing his temples, clearly deep in thought.

Blackbird singing in the dead of night

Take these broken wings and learn to fly

All your life

You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Blackbird singing in the dead of night

Take these sunken eyes and learn to see

All your life

You were only waiting for this moment to be free

Blackbird fly

Blackbird fly

Into the light of the dark black night

Blackbird fly

Blackbird fly

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life

You were only waiting for this moment to arise

You were only waiting for this moment to arise

You were only waiting for this moment to arise.

"I just don't get it." Jen said softly when she finished, snapping Remus out of his trance.

"Don't get what?" he asked rubbing his eyes, trying to get back on track.

"I don't get how so many bad things can happen to one person." She let go of Donna's hand. "Especially someone so full of good; with so much to give... It really does boggle my mind." She walked around the bed, and sat on it in front of Remus, looking at him in the eyes. He sat up in his chair.

"I don't know why it happens either. I can't help you on that one… We all have our faults… Our demons." He said, breaking their eye contact, and looking off into space again.

Jen took his hands in one of hers and stroked the side of his face with the other. "But we can't blame ourselves for all of our faults, or the faults of others." She gently moved his face to face hers.

"You know?" Remus asked, putting his hand over her hand on his face.

"We all know. Since… second year. Sure we were nervous at first, but you were so darned cute," she smiled softly at him, "and innocent. We weren't going to force you to tell us. We figured it was meant to be a secret." She gave him a larger smile, and in turn got a small one from Remus. She leant forward and gave Remus a small kiss on the cheek. As she pulled away, they gazed at each other's eyes, and each looked at their lips, before meeting their eyes once more. They slowly moved closer together for their first kiss. She put both her hands on his face, as he put his on her waist. The slowly deepened the kiss completely forgetting where they were and why they were. That is until the sound of someone clearing their throat interrupted them. 'Please don't be Sirius.' Was a thought going through both their minds.

"Nice to see you paying attention to your friend d'ere." M. Vocher said, one hand running through his hair, as he looked over the scene in front of his patients. He considered Remus his patient all year through, no matter what the phase of the moon was. They were both about to start explaining, when he put up his hand to stop them, walking over to Donna. "No need. Caught in the moment, oui?" He winked at Remus, who blushed. "Well, just don't let Madam Wong catch you two, comprende?" He asked, while he tried to get Donna to respond to little tests.

"Oui M. Vocher." Remus responded, taking Jen's hand in his. He was very happy right now despite Donna's situation, and that they were caught. 'Not all things are going downhill…' He thought, getting up with a new light spring in his step. "We'll go now. Got class soon. Au revoir, Monsieur, a demain."

"Au revoir."

They closed the door to the Hospital Wing, and Jen stopped him. "Au revoir? Since when did you know any French?" she asked, eyeing him, biting her bottom lip.

"Since I met M. Vocher. So I've been picking it up for six years. I don't know much though."

"What did you tell him there… at the end." She asked him as they set off to Gryffindor Tower to get their books, hand in hand.

"Goodbye, till tomorrow."

~     *     ~

Wednesday after lunch our eight friends decided, after a quick walk in the brisk air, they'd go and visit Donna for a while. They got to the Hospital Wing and found a note on the door.

All visits for Donna Kensington are not permitted to enter. Any casualties that need immediate attention please seat yourself at one of the beds closest to the doors, and close your curtains.

Thank you for your cooperation,

Headmaster Albus Dumbledore

They all stood there staring at the note, each thinking their own thoughts.

Lily: Oh God, Donna! What's happening to you…please God no…

Jen: Holy shit, Donna! Why can't we see you…what's wrong?

Ara: I…what? I'm so, wow. I wonder what's happened to her…

Mel: …Please Merlin, no…

James: Is she dead? No James, don't think like that…she'll be ok.

Peter: Whoa… we should leave then…why are we all still here?

Remus: No Donna. Don't tell me you did it. I could have helped you…please let me help you.

Sirius: I think I'm going to be sick… wait a minute…

"So if you've got some 'casualty', you have to read the note, then go in, and seat yourself? What if you're temporarily blind… or profusely bleeding?" Sirius asked, proving he didn't think before he spoke.

'Leave it to Sirius to try to lighten the mood.' James looked at him with a small smile. "Let's go back to the Tower then. There's nothing we can do… And if they feel the need to tell us, they'll know where we'll most likely be. C'mon." James said, taking Lily by the elbow, and nodding for the others to follow. Remus took Jen's hand and kissed it sympathetically. Of course Sirius saw this, but knew better than to ask questions at a time like this, and to cross his sister.

They headed back to the Common Room and all sat, stunned and silent. Peter less so, he was fidgety. An hour went by and still no one said anything. Many times someone would open their mouths and breath in before saying something, and everyone would look at them. But when all eyes were on them, they would shut their mouth and look back down.

"People are probably in their last calls of the day now…" Ara said absentmindedly, not looking up, or getting people's attention.

"Indeed they are." Came McGonagall's voice from the Portrait Hole. It seemed to be strained from crying, and pure sadness. "I've come to talk to you about Miss Kensington." She looked at all their solemn faces. "Am I right in guessing that you have all seen the note the Headmaster left on the doors of the Hospital Wing?" A few of them nodded, but all perked up a bit, dreading what was to come. "I'm afraid," Mel choked back a sob, "That Miss Kensington has passed."

All the girls openly cried now. Jen hung onto Remus, Lily off of James. Both guys were trying their best not to join their tears, and calm the girls. Mel and Ara cried together while Peter and Sirius attempted to sooth them.

"I fear I must continue." McGonagall said, breathing deeply. No doubt to keep her cool, and not cry again. "The Headmaster had told the girls the reason for Donna's sudden illness. What we want to know it if the boys know of it." She sat down in an empty plush scarlet chair.

Sirius spoke up, still rubbing Ara's back. "We know she was a werewolf…"

"But other than that Mr. Black?" McGonagall pressed.

"Well, I know about the letters. She told me about them in the Hospital Wing last full moon. I should have gone to Dumbledore…" Remus said. He covered his face, and now it was Jen's turn to comfort him. Sirius looked confused.

"Oh I knew about them, too. Lily accidentally let it slip after our last Prefect meeting." James told them.

"Well I didn't know nothing of the letters… You, Sirius?" Peter asked quickly.

"Nah, no letters." He replied, looking a little hurt.

"Well," McGonagall started, "The less who knew, the better. There were these letters Miss Kensington was receiving from Voldemort." Sirius' jaw dropped, and Peter started unconsciously rubbing his left arm. "He is recruiting werewolves, Donna was on his list, as was Remus. But you told us he stopped?" She looked at Remus.

"Yes Professor." Remus answered, not lifting his head. Jen gave him a hug, and held him close.

"He killed her parents, and dedicated a muggle killing to her. A selfish and brutal thing to do. She mentally shut herself off, and soon physically. For the body cannot work without the mind."

"So what you're saying is that she chose to die? Nothing of a physical nature? No poison? Wound?" James asked, thoroughly confused at the Professors words.

"Yes, Mr. Potter, more or less. She was hanging onto life as it was, and life seemed to let go of her. You all know how some people seem to hang on to life until they get that final good bye?" They nodded. "We figure that she was so spiritually damaged that she couldn't even bring herself to do anything anymore. There was no more initiative. She stopped holding on, and went to a better place. Hogwarts will be holding a funeral for her, and she will be buried beside her parents and sister."

"She had a sister? How come…" Sirius began, drifting off before McGonagall continued on after clearing her throat.

"Yes, well, she – she…" She wiped her eyes with a handkerchief. "Died young."

"Oh, I remember now. She mentioned her a few times before… a long time ago. When is the funeral to be held?" James asked.

"On the weekend. Dumbledore asked me to offer each of you, who knew her best, the opportunity to speak at the ceremony."

Silence. All of them seemed to be thinking of her, what they knew, and could put into words. Words that many other people who knew her would say.

"I'll do it. I got to know her better in her later years, due to certain circumstances…" Remus spoke up, looking up to see all their faces on him.

"Very well, Mr. Lupin. You will all be excused from your classes for the next couple of days before the weekend, if you wish. You may attend, but will be pardoned if you do not. If that is all you need to know…" the Professor said, getting up. No one said anything, so she started to make her way to the hole.

"Wait Professor." Lily said, rising a bit out of her seat beside James. "I would also like to give a little speech. Of the Donna we knew before fourth year." She said, voice quavering. "If that is all right." She added. James gave her hand a squeeze.

"Yes, Miss Evans. That is perfectly fine. Thanks to the both of you for offering. See you at dinner." She gave them all small smile, and went on her way, blowing her nose once the Portrait Hole closed behind her.

Once again the silence engulfed them all.

~     *     ~

They went to dinner, and all kept up their silent charade, only speaking when asking for certain dishes to be passed their way.  Many people noticed this, and connected it somehow to the odd letter on the Hospital Wings' doors. After all, how could Sirius Black stay quiet through an entire meal? When a few people in need of the Hospital Wing had read the letter, they told their friends, then their friends told their friends, and so on and so forth. The chain went on until everybody in the entire school knew about it by dinner. Pretty much everyone knew that the eight compadres were Donna's friends (they did visit her everyday) and those who didn't know, learned.

The students of Hogwarts also noticed the teachers' silence and morose faces. Whispers were going around that Donna had died, attacked a teacher, joined Voldemort, attacked a student or disappeared altogether. Some people incorporated a few of them. At the end of dinner, Dumbledore stood up, and didn't even have to say a word or make any other gesture to get the silence he needed. It was now that the entire school's guesses would be confirmed.

"Students of Hogwarts." He began, no twinkle evident in his eyes. "It is with great sorrow and displeasure that I inform you on a matter that affects us all. We may not have all known this student, but we have all heard of her. This morning, Miss Donna Kensington left us all." Whispers grew, and faded within seconds. "She died," gasps from students "early this morning, in little or no pain. I urge you to tell everyone you love that you do indeed love him or her, at any opportunity possible. Her funeral will be held this weekend by the staff of Hogwarts."

Many "whys?" and "where are her parents?" came from the Hall. Dumbledore continued, "Her parents were killed by Voldemort only a short while ago. You are all welcomed to join us, and are able to invite any older students that may have graduated earlier, and parents who knew her. Never forget the lives lost to one mans claim for power. He affects us all directly, as well in indirectly. Never forget Donna Kensington. Never forget any innocent life lost." He lifted his golden chalice with a bowed head. The rest of the school followed suit, repeating her name in low, mournful voices.

~     *     ~

Lily and Remus had three days to prepare their tributes. There was to be a wake on Saturday, and the funeral on Sunday. Lily worked with her friends in her dorm, and made an announcement to all Gryffindors that any nice memories, or kind thoughts about Donna could be told to her or written and given to her. She wanted her eulogy to appeal to those who knew her well, not so well, and not at all before her transformation.

Remus took a different approach. Only he knew what her thoughts were, and who the darker side of her was in the last couple of years. He would write about her pains, and determination to be the one who found a cure to her 'illness'. He would not bring up the fact that she was a werewolf. He knew that that would not have been what she'd want everybody to remember her by. He let her dorm mates put in a few words of what they had tried to do, and how she had changed with them.

The days came and went, and soon, Sunday was upon them. It was a chilly, sunny day. The foliage was all golden and scarlet. It seemed as though nature was trying to cheer up the Gryffindors, and give them their colours to show that Donna was still very much with them. That's what Sirius had told everyone, and they all smiled at his need to cheer. It calmed them down a bit as they thought of it, though.

Before the burial, Lily and Remus were going over their eulogies. Both of them repeating the same phrase, Lily aloud, and Remus in his head: 'Don't cry. Don't cry. She wouldn't want you to cry for her. Don't cry. She's in a better place. Don't cry.' All of the students who attended, teachers, families, and other Wizarding folks gathered before her coffin for the ceremony. The minister said a few words, as did McGonagall (being the Head of her House), and then Dumbledore. All spoke of courage, bravery and how this was reality, and how it came as a slap in the face to some. Finally, Lily stood up at the podium and gazed at the plus one hundred gathered wizards and witches.

She cleared her throat and began:

"Hello everyone. My name is Lillian Evans, I am a Gryffindor sixth year, and was one of Donna's dorm mates, and friend. Me and my other dorm mates all became fast friends with Donna back in first year. We were all inseparable and looked for each other for help, guidance, and secret keeping of who our latest crush was." She paused and people smiled at her. She took a deep breath and continued. "Donna was every bit a Gryffindor. Some commented to me that had she not have gotten into Gryffindor – Hufflepuff would have been her home. She very loyal, and never took a second glance at what she was doing when you asked for help on anything; even when she hadn't the slightest idea what you were talking about, or how insignificant it may have seemed." She started to get choked up at her next part. "She was the better part of everyone, and I know I'll miss her like I would my own sister. Donna, we love you, and wish you all the best in this great step you've taken.  Save me a spot by your side. I await a bell. Then I will truly know that you have gotten your wings. Thank you everyone, and remember that as a great man has once said: Death is merely the next great adventure." She walked off the platform crying, gave Remus a hug as she passed him, then went straight to James and Jen who held her while she cried. Jen was joining in with her.

Remus stood up, and went behind the podium. He already had tears in his eyes when he began to speak:

"Hello everybody. I'm Remus Lupin, also a Gryffindor sixth year. In Donna's last years, she opened up to me, and possibly her nurse, more than anyone else around her. She had closed off the world, and shut out her friends. Donna was hurt emotionally and spiritually more than she ever was physically. And trust me that is saying something. Her illness left cuts and bruises that would never fully heal – but it was the illness that began her deep wounds inside that everybody had tried to mend. She died, not of physical pain, but spiritual and emotional hurt. She died not of broken bones, but of a broken heart, and a tortured soul." He took a few seconds to breath.

"There are two things amazing that were learned from all of Donna's suffering. One: her friends never gave up trying to help her, as she helped everyone. They stuck by her time and time again, relentless of what she told them. Therefore showing us that there is such a thing as true, undying friendship. Two: she hurt herself and put herself through misery so that everyone she loved was safe from harm. That is bravery beyond anything imaginable: Self-sacrifice.

"She taught us all to appreciate our lives as they are, and tell the people we love that they truly are loved, and needed." He glanced at his friends, and gave a small smile. It was all he could muster in a time like this. "Thank you all for coming today. And goodbye Donna, thank you for everything. I'll see you later. But not yet." Remus walked down from the platform and engulfed Jen in a hug, not caring that he cried. Remus had gotten the most people to cry with his speech, wizards and witches alike.

Dumbledore went in front of the casket, and called up the pallbearers to levitate it on their walk to her grave. As in Wizarding tradition, everyone walked behind the casket in rows of two, wands pointed outwards allowing ribbons to flow freely from them. Everybody had either scarlet or gold ribbons, and it was quite a sight to see. There were 124 people present, including the 6 pallbearers, therefore 59 people in a row. All of them wearing black, marching along the tree line of the forest which bordered the graveyard Donna was to be buried in. Below the scarlet and gold foliage of the trees walked black figures, scarlet and gold flowing about them as if carrying them along a current.

They reached their destination, and began to lower Donna into the ground.

"Ashes to ashes. Dust to dust."

As the coffin reached the bottom of the grave, the ribbons broke off of the wands and landed lightly atop it, blanketing her from the chill of the autumn air.

When there was no more movement, light crying could be heard scattered amongst the crowd, with soft departing whispers. Everyone started to clear out, but the Hogwarts teachers and Donna's friends remained. Each of the people left giving their final goodbye in his or her own thoughts.

They portkeyed back to Hogwarts in time for dinner, and silently ate what they could. As they began to get up from their seats, a bell was heard ringing above them, in a soft lullaby type of ring. The entire Hall looked above them, and saw a solitary white dove flying with a small golden bell clutched in its feet. A smile spread across everyone's face as the dove flew out. That seemed to be the closure that many people were looking for, thought no one knew where the bird had come from.

"Way to go Donna."

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Alright then! A depressing chapter, and a cheesy ending, I know… but it sort of fit, eh? Please review, I really want to know how many people are actually reading this… and I want to know what you thought of my little speeches and stuff… I just like getting feedback! ;)

Alright! On to my thank you's from chapter 14!!

Butterfly Queen: I thank you! Yea, I like the chapter long also! I always compare them to my second chapter – it's sooo short!!

Katrina: You know… you should get that laziness of yours checked out… ;) Snape of Malfoy sending the letters? I dunno… that's what it seems like, eh? Did you see HP:COS? I did! Opening night! It was so good – people actually screamed when some spiders jumped and stuff. I laughed of course. Anywho – did you like it? Thanks for your review!!

qwerty: nuh uh… James' dad didn't die!! Muahahaha… but Donna did. It was my originally plan to have her die early on… but then people kept saying how they liked her, and that she and Remus should hook up… so I kinda prolonged it a bit… *ahem* Hope you liked it! Thanks for the review!

Blue eyes:  Thank you for your review!! :D Of course when someone falls in love, something bad happens! Then it wouldn't be a story if all went well!! Well it would… but it would be pointless mush in my opinion! ;)

cateyes824: Thank you for your review! I hope you liked this chapter as well!!

Well there you go! Don't ask me when the next chapter will be up – I no longer have a clue! I will try to do a weekly thing. Does that sound good? Now that my chapters are hugely longer than my first bunch, I can't update as much! :( Thanks for reading, and as always: Please Review! It completely makes my day, and now that I'm sick, (God knows I have mono or something – probably just strept-throat or whatever) it would really make me happy. Really, really happy. Thank you!! I love you all! *blows big kiss* - but don't catch it incase it is mono… :P

Btw: I might be changing the title to my story… I dunno. It's too long for me! ;);)

Possibli: The Greatest Thing You'll Ever Learn or something equally cheesy. So if I'm not in your fave's, then just look for my name. I have no other stories so yea. It might be changed by next week, but then again, I might keep it. I've been thinking of doing it for a few weeks now… not sure! Tell me what you think in a review!