A/n; Ahahahahaha… turns out that last chapter was rather fluffy. I didn't mean for it to be that fluffy but HECK it was surely needed, wasn't it?

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When you're standing on the edge of nowhere

There's only one way out

So your heart's got to go there

Through the darkest nights

See the light shine bright

When heroes fall in love or war

They live forever

This is a song for the lonely

Can you hear me tonight?

For the brokenhearted, battle scarred

I'll be by your side

And this is a song for the lonely

When your dreams won't come true

Can you hear this prayer?

Because someone's there for you

{Cher, Song for the Lonely}

Trying for the umpteenth time to flatten his hair, James finally gave up. He looked ridiculous (or so he thought) wearing one of those absurd tuxedo things the Muggles wore. Lily made him wear it because it was a formal occasion and robes wouldn't be appropriate. Surprisingly enough, he obeyed her for once in his life.

Things seemed so different between James and Lily now. She hadn't said one nasty word to him all day and even smiled at him at breakfast.

The kiss had changed everything, every single damned thing. James sighed; he'd lost his target at pranks. He supposed he'd go for Severus and Malfoy, since he already did, but taunting Lily didn't seem like such fun anymore. Sirius would have a field day when he found out they'd kissed.

"James? Are you ready to go down?" Lily asked knocking on the door. James heaved a little sigh, straightened his jacket and walked over to the door.

"Do I look all right?" James asked self-consciously.

Lily smiled and nodded.

"You mean it doesn't make my butt look big?" James said imitating some of the girls at Hogwarts.

Lily laughed. "Well… now that you mention it – "

"Haha, no. Don't even say it," James said smiling.

"No, you look like – like a Muggle," Lily said truthfully.

"Is that good?" James asked blankly.

Lily nodded. Yes, you look like a Muggle… like some damned bloody gorgeous Muggle!

"You don't look bad yourself, Carrots," James said eyeing her with interest. She wore a plain black dress with thin straps (she seemed to like this look) and shoes with barely any heel, improving her height a tad. Her hair was piled up in an elegant yet complicated style that probably took her the whole day to figure out and had a large white silk scarf draped around her shoulders.

"Yeah, yeah, don't get any ideas," Lily said rolling her eyes.

"No I mean it! You look good," James exclaimed candidly.

"All right…" Lily said biting her lip, "this is going to be so hard."

James nodded, feeling badly for her. "I know. But hey, everyone's going to be there!"

"I know! I can't wait to see everyone –"

"Lily?"

"Yes?" Lily asked.

"You're not going to tell anyone about – you know, the kiss?" James asked uncomfortably.

Lily raised an eyebrow, smirking mischievously. "What, and ruin my reputation for hating you? I don't think so!"

"Good girl," James said smiling, giving her a pat on the butt.

Lily turned around with an indignant expression on her face and slapped him across the face.

"Ow! What was that for?" James asked sourly, rubbing his face where she'd slapped him.

Lily smiled genuinely. "You're such a flirt!"

"I was just showing my appreciation," James said defensively.

"Dumbass," Lily said rolling her eyes.

"Come on, we're going to be late," James said grabbing her hand and trotted down the stairs. 

The castle was decorated in black and white daisies, Misty's favorite flower. Looking in a mirror as she and James walked past, she noticed the extreme contrast between them. She was short, fiery and red haired; he was tall, sexy and had pitch-black raven hair. Their relationship was black and white, day and night, hot and cold… but somehow, it didn't matter to Lily anymore.

"Oh, my God…"

"Look at all of those people!" James let out a low whistle.

"All here to see Misty," Lily said sadly.

He gave her a quick hug. "It's ok."

"No, no it's not," Lily said shaking her head, "what will everyone think when they see you hugging me and comforting me and all of that?"

"Be a marvelous actress," James said spotting Sirius.

"James! Lily! Are you guys all right?" Sirius asked looking most, well, like his name.

"Oh yeah, we're fine… if you count the fact I've had to suffer with Potter this whole week! It's been a bloody nightmare, him coming into my room and telling me to stop crying! He's a bloody insensitive little brat! Can't he understand that Misty has just died?" Lily said melodramatically, overdoing it just a tad. James shot her a warning look; she smiled guiltily back in his direction.

"Poor Lily," Sirius said sympathetically. Lily nearly burst out laughing; thank God he didn't suspect a thing!

James had a scowl on his face. "Yeah, well it's been no picnic with you either, Evans."

"Get stuffed Potter," Lily said unhappily. She spotted Arabella, Sierra and Sabrina milling around sniffling and talking to other people.

"Arabella! Sabrina, Sierra! Over here!" Lily waved. They spotted their friend and weak smiles shone on their faces.

"Oh, Lily! It's just awful," Sabrina said with tears running down her face.

Lily embraced them all at the same time, like a big family reunion. She'd missed her friends so much! And she couldn't even tell them about her and James.

"I haven't been able to stop crying all week!" Sierra said also crying.

By this time, all the girls were crying rather hysterically. Sabrina's heavy black eye makeup was running in black streaky rivers down her face but she didn't bother to wipe her face off.

"Sierra! God, I'm glad to see you," Sirius said looking a bit teary-eyed himself. Lily looked wistfully at Sierra and Sirius, the way he wrapped his arms around her waist, almost like he was protecting her. She looked over at James, also nearly crying, and wishing she hadn't lied to Sirius.

"I cannot believe she's gone," Sierra said quietly, wrapping her arms around Sirius's neck and nearly strangling him.

Arabella sniffled loudly. "All right, I'm not one to cry – "

Lily laughed in spite of herself. "Aw, it's all right Bella, everyone needs to let loose once in a while."

Arabella nodded, wiping her eyes on the back of her sleeve.

"So Lily, was James perfectly awful to you?" Sierra asked with a wink.

"He's so goddamn unsympathetic!" Lily whined in a convincing tone.

"Yeah well, Evans nearly threw herself at me in her temporary lapse of thought!" James scowled.

"All right you guys, the one time you can forget your discrepancies would be at Misty's funeral! She'd appreciate it if you could be civil," Sabrina said in a pained voice.

Lily and James pretended to look guilty. "We're sorry."

Dumbledore was gathering up his notes to perform a eulogy as he stood solemnly at the podium set up near Misty's coffin. They all hurried to find seats among weeping students. Lily found a row of six near the front reserved for them (since they were Misty's friends) but Remus wasn't there.

James immediately sat next to Lily and the seating ordering went: Sirius, Sierra, Lily, James, Sabrina and Arabella.

Dumbledore looked up at all of the grieving people, a sad smile on his face. "Welcome students, back to Hogwarts for a bitter goodbye."

Arabella sniffled loudly and got out a handkerchief.

"For most of you, Misty Hamilton was your average student. She never did anything out of the ordinary or amused us with entertaining pranks," Dumbledore said looking over in James and Sirius' direction, "but whether or not you noticed her, Misty was always there. She was always willing to lend a hand and had a smile on her face whenever I saw her. Misty was full of life, loved life and lived it to the extent that if she ever thought she would die, she would've lived a fulfilled life. No one ever expected that this philosophy might come true however, and it has shocked us all deeply and left many questions unanswered at this time."

Lily nodded in agreement as his words. James discreetly took her hand under their chairs, squeezing it slightly. He was trembling.

"The cruel and unexpected death of Misty has taught us all one thing, among our grief: always expect the unexpected; live life to it's full extent. For I, and many others, have sensed that these coming years will be bittersweet with few times for celebration and merriment. Always remember Misty Hamilton and the life she could've had, and that life is a precious thing. Do not take others for granted and make amends while you can."

Sierra looked at Lily pointedly as Dumbledore said that last sentence.

"Remember that there is good and evil in the world and it is your choice to make the right decision. Misty was pure hearted and innocent, but was in the end conquered by a force too great and dark to imagine. Never forget Misty; never forget your own true destiny. You alone could carry the fate of the world," Dumbledore said concluding his speech.

Everyone applauded rather loudly and everyone, this time including James, in Lily's row was now in fresh tears.

"You may now go up and say a final goodbye to Misty," Dumbledore said in a hoarse voice, unable to say any more.

Lily let go of James' hand before anyone could see them. She felt stupid, having to hide something that was apparently evident to everyone at Hogwarts.

She couldn't think of anything to say; her throat felt constricted and dry. Lily kept on having to repeatedly swallow a lump forming in her throat, if she didn't she might let out a howl to wake the dead.

"Come on Lily," Sirius said helping her up. She slowly made her way through the line and approached the richly-carven coffin in which her friend lay.

Inhaling a sharp breath, she saw Misty lying there with her hands folded in her lap. She looked so peaceful, as though she were sleeping and fully alive. Her golden hair was laid out on the silken pillow where her head would rest eternally on. Misty's favorite ribbon was tied to her pale wrist and she was dressed in a formal midnight blue dress.

"Misty," Lily said quietly, running her hand along the smooth surface of the coffin, "can you hear me?"

Of course she didn't get any reply, but she felt as though Misty was there in spirit. "I can't believe you're gone. You've been with me through everything since I arrived at Hogwarts… and I can't believe you're gone."

By this time, her entire body shook with bottled-up sobs and leant heavily on the casket. "Why did you have to leave me, Misty? You had so much life and it was all taken away!"

Alarmed by her emotional outburst, James grabbed her wrist. He whirled her around and saw the pain in her eyes, her eyes looked so cold and unfamiliar. "Lily?"

"It's not fair dammit! It's not fair!" Lily shouted to no one in particular, slumping over to the floor and positively crying her eyes out.

Most people looked at her in shock, others in pity with whisperings among themselves. Her friends came over to try and help her out but she just sat right next to Misty's coffin and wouldn't leave.

James tried to get her to stand up but she brushed him off, still sobbing quite hysterically. Sirius grabbed James' arm and pulled him up, looking at him and telling him not to bother her.

He looked at her; her knees drawn tightly up to her chest and her red hair falling out of its twisting at the top of her head, her petite frame shaking with sobs that hadn't yet come out yet. Tears streamed down James' face at the fact of Lily facing life without her closest friend.

When everyone else, including their friends, was done paying their respects to Misty, they all sat back down and Sirius and James had finally succeeded in lifting Lily off the floor.

The people burying Misty had come for the coffin and with Lily taking one last lingering look at her friend, with the memory of her peaceful face haunting Lily for the rest of her life, they shut the coffin lid with a small dry click.

Lily nor Sierra, Sirius, James, Arabella, Sabrina, or Remus would ever see Misty again. And it hurt it hurt so badly. There was a proceeding for the burial of the coffin out to a cemetery in the Muggle world, but the friends stayed back at the castle and went immediately back up to their rooms.

Lily bawled her eyes out the whole night, as did the rest of the girls and all James could do was sit in his dormitory with an aching in his heart and occasionally hear a fresh wail of pain and sorrow that tore through his heart like a sheet of paper.

Sirius tried to sleep, but kept waking up and rubbing his eyes furiously, trying not to weep.

It was a restless night, and so was the night after that… and after that… and after that…

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Ok, I cried very much during this chapter more so than last chapter! Goodbye Misty. * goes off crying some more *