Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters that are familiar to you. They are owned by J.K Rowling, and this fan fiction is written solely for entertainment.

Chapter 23: Voldemort Strikes in the Heart

Kelsey ran down the stairs, stumbling and crying as she went. She had never fought with a friend in her entire life. Especially like that. Rushing out the entrance hall, she hurried out into the courtyard. When she could run no longer, she collapsed onto a bench, and bent her head, hugging her arms to her chest as they rested on her legs. The heaving sobs had disappeared and the crying of guilt spill out onto her face. She had never regretted anything more than missing that Quidditch game. She had no idea how important it was to Caroline. She truly wished she could go back in time and fix it, but not even a time-turner could change that. Brushing her hair back, she looked up as if trying to make her tears fall back into her eyes. Obviously not succeeding, she bent her head and leaned forward, tears beginning to stream once again.

--Remus jumped down the last flight of stairs, now wishing this year's Apparation tests were sooner. He skidded to a halt in the entrance hall, not entirely sure where Kelsey would go.

"Kelsey?"

Assuming she ran outside (as he would have done if he was in her situation), he walked briskly out into the courtyard.

"Kelsey!" he shouted out into the courtyard. Some people who were out there turned at the abrupt yell and he gave them an embarrassed, apologizing look.

"Oh, sorry," he said and hurried away. Kelsey, who had heard someone calling her, looked up. Remus found her quickly and slowly walked toward her, unsure what to do or say.

"Are you alright?"

"Oh, um, I'm fine...I just need some air, I guess. I—"Kelsey stuttered, her voice breaking. She looked down quickly again, her lower lip trembling, not wanting Remus to see her crying. Of all people, he was the last person. Remus looked down, not knowing what to do. Sighing slightly, he walked toward her and sat down next to her.

"Want to tell me what happened?"

Kelsey shivered from the fall breeze and looked up, breathing faster, her puffy eyes watering again. She didn't say anything.

"Let me guess..." Remus said. "Caroline was angry you weren't at her first Quidditch game because you were with me and after what happened at the game today, she thinks that you don't care about her anymore even though you've known her longer than any of us and she thinks that your friendship is dissolving and you two are drifting apart and that she can't trust you anymore." He said simply. Kelsey raised her eyebrows and smiled.

"Wow, you're good."

Remus smiled weakly and shrugged.

"I know these things. Now, listen to me." He began and turned to face her.

"You two have known each other longer than any of us have known you and I definitely do not want anything to happen to that. Now, if Caroline is upset that you're spending so much time with me, then I won't be offended if you want to—"

"What?! No!" Kelsey exclaimed, her eyes widening. She turned to face him completely. "Absolutely not! I wouldn't do that, Remus—No, Caroline isn't mad about you and me. It's not just that. It's more that we never see each other anymore...I mean, she's working her arse off on her Auror stuff because you have to have top grades for that and I'm all in my Healer stuff and I need top grades for that too..." Kelsey trailed off, not knowing how to continue. Remus smiled, flattered at Kelsey's persistence and thought for second.

"Alright. Next Hogsmeade trip is in a week. I'm literally making you do this, okay? I want you to spend Hogsmeade with Caroline. I'll hang out with Sirius and Peter. But YOU need to talk to her."

Kelsey hesitated.

"But Remus, I—"

He stopped her.

"No buts. You WILL go to Hogsmeade with Caroline whether you like it or not so you can figure this out and then...I'll make it up to you."

Kelsey laughed, her tears gone. Raising an eyebrow, she gave him a look.

"You'll make it up to me?

Remus returned her look with a grin.

"Alright, is it a deal?" he asked, holding out his hand. Kelsey eyed it warily. She rolled her eyes smiling and leaned forward and kissed his cheek. He had really smooth skin. Remus grinned and then creased his eyebrows.

"What? I'm saving your friendship here and that's all I get?" he said smiling. Kelsey smiled and without hesitation, leaned forward once again and kissed him for a very long moment, which Remus gladly returned.

That night, when usually the five of us would stay up with Hogsmeade candies and talk about girlish topics, we all went to bed early. None of us said a word while we got ready for bed. I hadn't bothered to change out of my Quidditch robes, or brush my teeth for that matter (I know, gross.), so I lay down on my bed and turned towards the wall without saying a word. Lily came up about thirty minutes after Cecily and Alice came up. The two of them had tried to reason with me but I was stubborn and refused to hear them out. When Lily came up, they three of them talked in hushed voices so I couldn't hear. I didn't give a damn what they were talking about. I tucked the blankets up to my neck and looked at the wall expressionless. Nothing changed when Kelsey came in. I could hear her pause in the doorway and then walk over to her bed. When Lily, Cecily and Alice went down to dinner, they said they'd bring something up for us, knowing we wouldn't go down ourselves. I wasn't hungry. I fell asleep at 8:00 and didn't get up in the morning until breakfast was clear over. At maybe 9:30, not long before classes started, I did get dressed and brush my teeth for 10 minutes and pack my bag. It was a good thing I had gotten all my homework done before the Quidditch game. James had told me that if you have Quidditch and classes, do you homework before Quidditch and it makes the season easier.

I came into Transfiguration only five seconds before the bell rang. I would have gotten there sooner but my leg delayed me a bit. Professor McGonagall condoned my nearly tardy appearance in class and, get this, made ELIZABETH (Bellatrix's little crony) assist me because of my leg. You should have seen the look on her face. I listened intently to Professor McGonagall's lesson. I had a new surge of determination since yesterday to outdo myself in my classes. Almost like proving something to my "dear" friend Kelsey. I avoided her in the hallways and didn't speak or look at her during Potions (one of the classes we had together). It was worse during meals. They were quiet and awkward. Kelsey and I ate and didn't say a word. Lily, Alice and Cecily tried to make conversation with each other or tried with me or Kelsey. It didn't work. Kelsey and I would leave the table early (at separate times of course), and then go to class. As much as I was angry, I still had this empty feeling, but I ignored it.

Gryffindor Quidditch practices were postponed at McGonagall's request much to all of our dismay. We understood of course, since Sirius was still recovering. James and I had minor injuries and they healed completely by the next day. It would take longer for Sirius's back to heal fully and James understood. Nevertheless, he arranged that we still have practice but we wouldn't play. We would discuss strategies and game plans. James was smart enough to know that this would help in the end and we would slaughter Hufflepuff in two weeks and then Slytherin after that. If we won both, then we would move to the Cup championship as Lily had said. As much as James loved Quidditch, he enjoyed the fact that the practices were not as often, meaning he could spend more time with Lily. They only times he could ever see her was at meals, in between classes, after classes and during patrolling. Now that Quidditch wasn't a huge obstacle, he could see her more often, which they both thoroughly enjoyed.

The day did not get any better for anyone when, after classes, Professor McGonagall stalked into the common room where the majority of the house was sitting. Her face was white and her lips were pursed. All looked up from whatever they were doing, unsure of what was going on. I sat with Cecily, Alice, Lily and miserably, Kelsey when she walked briskly into the room.

"Cecily McKinnon." She said. Cecily looked up.

"Come with me." McGonagall said calmly. Cecily hesitated with confusion and then got up. We gave her looks as if she knew what was going on. She shrugged and followed McGonagall out of the common room. Assuming it was nothing, I continued to work on my Defense Against the Dark Arts homework. The clock ticked slowly and it seemed ages since Cecily had left. It must have been forty minutes when the portrait swung open and Cecily came in. Her eyes were red and puffy and she was very pale. She seemed to have trouble breathing regularly and she was speechless. When she saw us, she came over and leaned against the back of the couch looking down at her feet.

"What happened?"

Cecily looked up when Alice asked this and her breathing quickened.

"My parents..." She stuttered. She choked on what I knew were tears. The entire common room was quiet by now, but she was talking very quietly to just the four of us, so no one heard what exactly she was saying.

"They...you-know-who...he-" she tried.

James watched from a chair on the other side of the room as Alice's hand rose to her mouth and Lily's face fell to her hands. Caroline was staring blankly with a sad look on her face and Kelsey bent her head. Cecily whispered something hoarsely and then hurried up to the common room. He had a sick feeling in his stomach, but he himself didn't know what had happened. Lily seemed to be in a great deal of distress and he really wanted to go over there, but he fought the urge not to. Not now.

I froze when Cecily told us. They were dead. Her parents. Her sister Marlene was injured but lived and will be fine. Apparently she had graduated when we were in fifth year and I obviously hadn't seen her before. One of Voldemort's death eaters had killed them. I then remembered in the 1st Harry Potter book when Hagrid said Voldemort had killed the best Wizarding families. The McKinnons, Bones... I knew this. Why couldn't I have done something? Standing up, I glanced at Kelsey and then turned to her with a straight look.

"I need to talk to you." I said sternly. She just looked at me.

"Huh." she said coldly. My mouth twitched in aggravation and then nodded toward a small room connected to the common room. She got up and went in and I followed.

"What is it" she said, crossing her arms once I had closed the doors.

"I knew the McKinnons were going to die." I said.

"How?"

"Because it said so in the first book."

Kelsey didn't move.

"Well that's good to know. It's a little late now."

I inhaled to control my anger at Kelsey's reaction.

"Why couldn't we save them? We know so much more than they do and we couldn't even save a family. Our friend's family for that matter."

Kelsey arms fell to her sides.

"You actually think we can save everyone?"

I didn't say anything. Kelsey scoffed and shook her head.

"We may know more than the entire Ministry, but we don't know much more than what was in those books and we cannot possibly save every person Voldemort and the death eater's kill. It's impossible."

"It's not impossible." I said stubbornly. Kelsey threw up her hands.

"Yes! It is! We are still in school! It is IMPOSSIBLE to save everyone!"

"Well, we can try! That's why we were sent here!"

"We only know so much, Caroline! And that's why you're becoming an Auror, am I right?! So you can save the world! We can save our friends but we can't save the families or the people that we don't even know about! Hell, we don't even know how Lily's parents die! Or-or James's parents die! WE DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING!" Kelsey yelled quite loudly. Thank goodness the walls were stone.

"Look, I'm just trying to help these people and I don't want my friends suffering through it all, all right?! And you're standing there like it's no big deal!" I yelled.

"You actually THINK I don't care?! How can you SAY that?! I'm just being logical! We didn't know WHEN the McKinnons were going to die, so we couldn't save them! And you CANNOT deny that!" Kelsey shouted back. I wasn't denying it! I let out a groan of frustration.

"Fine! Sorry I wasted your precious time!" I yelled and stormed out of the room.

"Fine!" Kelsey yelled after me and stalked out of the room after me. Without thought, I thumped out of the common room and out into the castle. Kelsey turned in the opposite direction and ran up to the dormitory.

"Kels--, Caroline?" Lily looked up as we stormed in opposite directions. She looked at Alice, who was shaking her head.

"This is getting out of control..." Alice whispered. She sighed and left, hurrying up to the dormitory. Lily propped her elbows up on her legs and let her head fall her into her head. She rubbed in temples in pain from the headache that had come.

"Are you alright?"

Lily looked up as James sat down next to her.

"Oh, yeah, I...--no..." Lily looked down at her lap.

"Her parents are dead."

"Cecily's?"

Lily nodded.

"You-know-who...he...Merlin..." Her head fell to James's shoulder. She felt like crying. She wouldn't know what to do if it were her parents. She couldn't start to imagine. James put his arm around her.

"It's alright. I'm sure that--..." he didn't know what to say. He knew very well it wasn't alright but he did all he could to comfort Lily as much as possible.

"The Ministry will handle it." He finally said, satisfied. He felt Lily nod against his neck.

"I know...but still, they..."

"Yeah."

Lily sat up.

"And then there's Kelsey and Caroline."

"Ah, well Remus is already making them go to Hogsmeade together next trip. He feels a bit guilty for it all."

"And that'll work?" Lily asked. James shrugged.

"We'll see. You never know."

Lily looked up at the ceiling.

"I hope so."

Lily paused for a few seconds until finally the tears welled up in her eyes and her shoulder began to shake.

"Hey, you don't need to cry, Lily," James said quietly, pulling her to him. Needing the comfort, Lily wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his chest.

"I can't seem to help anyone...not Caroline or Kelsey...there's nothing I can do to help Cecily...I can't do anything for them and it kills me...I don't know what to do..." she cried, muffled by James's robe. James held her against him and comforted her the best he could, hating to hear her cry. The deepness of James's voice soothed Lily like a mother rocking a baby until she fell into a deep asleep against his chest.

A/N: Wow, soo so so sorry about the long delay there. This chapter is a bit shorter than I thought it was...I was gone for a couple days and the make up work was massive and I was in a bit of a writer's block for a few weeks, but that's over and I have big plans for next few chappys! Love you guys!!