The large badge pinned to your chest. The grades you've worked so hard for over the last seven years. It won't mean anything by tomorrow. It doesn't mean anything now.

Your eyes linger on a photo in the room. The first magical photo they let you take. Your mother, smiling and her arm around you. Your father, reaching out to inspect the camera carefully. Your sister didn't want to be part of that picture. She stood far in the background, almost out of the picture. You sat there, smiling and waving at the camera.

It was the only picture of them you have.

The letter lays crumpled beside the picture. You want to pick it up again; but you can't. You can't bring yourself to pick up the letter and confirm what it says. You don't want it to be true.

You don't want them to be gone.

You graduate tomorrow.

It won't matter in 24 hours if you were the top witch; the head girl; or even the girl who skip out of quidditch games to go read under a tree. It won't matter who you were at school.

You're graduating, right?

You straighten your tie. The last day of Hogwart's. The last day with the people who grew to be your family.

Tomorrow, they'll all have their parents. Tomorrow, they'll be with their families. You have too step into the shadows. You want your mother and father to be there. But they can't. the letter says they can't.

They won't be there to hear about your first job. You father won't be there to question your boyfriend, or to walk you down the aisle. Your mother won't be there to tell you how proud she is of you, or to help you fuss over your wedding dress.

While other's smile and laugh with family you'll be standing in the shadows. Your sister won't come.

Valedictorian

Lily Evans.

You doubtfully pick up the letter one last time. Reading over it, you can feel the tears in your eyes. The tears you cannot let fall. You wipe at your emerald eyes.

"Dear Miss Lily Evans,

It is with deep regret that we inform you that at 9:52 last night, your parents, Rose and Clark Evans, were killed by Death Eaters. It is not known of your sister's condition. We are very sorry for your loss.

Regards,

Cornelius Fudge.

Ministry of Magic."

"Lily?" A voice, Dorcus Medows, calls from behind you. "Come on, it's time to go."