Okay, another chapter is up. Review, will you? It's not that hard!
Oh yeah, and this is one of the chapters that really makes the rating! There's a hint of sex. But there's worse things. Like what Sirius asks Kat!
Okay, onto the story!
Chapter 26 – Good and Bad
A scream echoed in the street. A series of blinding, flashing lights seared the air.
"What the...?" The woman began, and ran towards the scene, pushing past the terrified victims.
Bodies lay everywhere, their eyes open and wide in shock, their bodies unmarked, victims of the Killing Curse. Five masked figures stood centrally, in the midst of the destruction. Though she could not see their faces, she knew they would be smiling gleefully, revelling in their crimes of annihilation and death.
"Hey, Entrail Eaters!" She yelled, effectively capturing their attention. Her eyes quickly flicked, checking that her companions were in place.
They turned and stared at her, surprised at being addressed as such.
"Wanna know something?" She asked.
"What?" The leader demanded.
"This isn't real." She waved a hand and the illusion ceased. No bodies lay on the floor, there was no screaming, no running, no panic.
"You tricked us! Die, you bitch!" He yelled.
She dodged the Killing Curse. "Yeah, like telling me to die is really going to work." She rolled her eyes. "Expelliarmus!"
The wand leapt from the leader's hand.
"Crucio!" One of the others yelled.
The woman back-flipped and evaded the bolt of red light. "Come on, a two- year-old could beat that!" She taunted.
"AVADA–"
"CONFUNDO!" A voice rang out, cutting off the Death Eater's curse.
"You didn't think I'd challenge you alone, did you?" She asked innocently.
"You –"
"Tarantallegra!"
"Petrificus totalus!"
"Expelliarmus!"
"Protego!"
"Stupefy!"
"Delashio!"
"Furtum halitus!"
The curses, hexes, jinxes, charms and occasional transfigurations shot backwards and forth in rapid succession as five more people appeared against the Death Eaters. In ten minutes, they were on the floor, incapacitated.
"So, what did he say was the spell for anti-Apparation again?" The original woman –challenger – asked.
"I don't believe he has taught us it yet. However, since they are unconscious, they can't Disapparate anyway." A man replied, grinning.
"Good point."
"Impressive, you lot. Yes, you'll be working together. A slightly unconventional approach, challenging the Death Eaters like that..." Alastor Moody growled.
"I've seen too many Muggle films, TV programmes..." Kathryn – the leader – grinned.
"That was impressive. Just a preliminary test. You'll get your timetables tomorrow. I believe you are all Apparating here?"
"Yes."
"Good, good." He turned to all of the recruits. There were four more, three from smaller, more localised wizarding schools of the UK, one from Beauxbatons. "Right. Your Auror training will take place over two years. Over this time, the work you will do will be mostly practical, with some theory wound in, primarily as extra work and most will be reading. You will also learn how to fill out a report and paperwork and draw it up, it is a skill many seem to lack and unfortunately very important. You will learn a variety of lessons, including Spell Construction, Evidence Protection, Advanced Martial Arts, Fencing, Magical Transportation, Enemy Evasion, Advanced Defence Against the Dark Arts, Duelling, and many more. Tomorrow, you will begin this. This is one of our biggest years ever, so I hope you're all up to scratch. I will not be teaching you often. However, since I am Head of the Aurors, I always see this preliminary sweep of the trainees. And I have to say that it was extraordinary." He looked at the six Hogwarts' graduates. "You six work together extremely well. But you must learn to work with other people also, otherwise you'll be in trouble." He smiled. "Good luck. Dismissed."
The ten trainee Aurors left, knowing they were to come the next day to that spot to meet the witch who would be their Head of Year. Since there were only two years, and entrance to the Auror Academy was very select, it was much easier than having classes, or houses. They would learn together. It was also very practical for the teachers. Since there were only two classes at any one time, they could leave and since many of them were active Aurors, they could go on patrol and jobs on the days they didn't teach. However, these could be unusual, because the students had at least six one-hour classes a day, sometimes more, not to mention surprise tests.
The Elemental Guardians said goodbye to Frank and Alice – who were sharing a house not far from them that they had bought on the Muggle market, which was sometimes cheaper than the wizarding one – and proceeded home. Sirius continued to make an evening meal. Something they had discovered, to Sirius' amusement and Kathryn's dismay, was that Kathryn could not cook at all. The only thing she could do was boil a kettle and make things that did not require cooking – like sandwiches – but she was the next rung up from someone who would burn a salad – someone who would burn toast. Badly. She'd managed to create pure charcoal.
"You know, that was fun." Kathryn grinned, from a red armchair.
The living room was well-decorated, the walls a pale cream, the wood dark oak and the furnishings and so on were red and gold – Gryffindor colours. A TV was sat in one corner, a plain oak mantelpiece sat over a marble hearth and fireplace. It was a comfortable room. Sirius had especially liked the wooden floors of the house, and kept most of them, using rugs to warm them.
James groaned. "Yeah, but I'm tired now. And if that's just a taster..."
Lily grinned. "Poor ickle Jamie, tired after one day's training?"
Kathryn laughed as James lunged at her, and proceeded to tickle his girlfriend.
Sirius came in ten minutes later to find all three in fits of laughter, Kathryn curled up out of the way in 'her' chair.
He rolled his eyes. "Here, pasta a la Sirius."
"Y'know, if you translate that from French, that means pasta to the Sirius. Unless my French skills are particularly bad." Kathryn frowned.
"Alright, alright. Pasta de la Sirius, of the Sirius. Better?"
"Getting there. Now, gimme, gimme, gimme." Kathryn demanded, clapping her hands and reaching them out.
Sirius laughed, handing her a plate of pasta and a delicious tomato and cheese sauce.
"Y'know, I'd never have guessed you were such a good cook." James grinned as they ate.
"Me neither. Just a gift, I s'pose." Sirius shrugged.
Kathryn snorted and nearly choked on the spaghetti which had been the chosen pasta.
After eating, they sat and talked for a while before Kathryn raced Sirius to the bathroom, and beat him. Despite his best efforts, however, he was neither let in nor given the option of going in first. When Kathryn finally did appear, she was wearing her old, overlarge t-shirt that automatically quelled all his problems. Giving him a goodnight kiss, she informed him she'd see him in the morning and entered her room, which, as luck would have it, was on the same floor. This had caused a lot of comments from their friends, especially Damion, when they found it out.
Kathryn's room was cosy and inviting. The walls were a bright yellow, offset by a terracotta carpet and furnishings. Her clothing, make-up, jewellery and so on were kept in a magically expanded walk-in wardrobe, which in many ways doubled as a dressing room. A desk sat in a corner and a large bookcase was filled with books. A shelf above her desk held knick- knacks and a tape-recorder/radio. All Muggle technology had been charmed by Kathryn and Lily to work – both still wanted certain aspects of Muggle life. The Wizarding Wireless was in the living room, but this radio was Muggle. Another shelf held a number of trophies and shields – her awards. On her walls were pictures – some of her friends and families, one a portrait of Mystique, which her father had given her, another a painting of a pair of tigers before a forest fire, a beautiful, but deadly scene. The room was comforting, and she loved it.
She curled into her bed. It was tucked in on corner against the wall. It was a double in size with a large canopy over the top which gave the room an almost old-fashioned feel. Which it was, in effect. Few things pointed to a modern day room.
Taking out a book, the Muggle novel 'To Kill A Mockingbird', she settled down into bed, unaware that the next few days were to bring wonderful things. And terrible, overshadowing things.
(A/N: Lots of description, wasn't it? Oh well, I like describing. And it was just to give the chapter some length before the next few bits. And now, on with it!)
"Many Aurors wear Muggle clothing when going in for a search and spy operation. It is actually more practical than robes, since you are less likely to get clothing caught on anything. On these operations, we use a spell called the Orion Charm to communicate. It lets Aurors outside or at base hear and see what the Auror inside is doing on one of these." Aran, their teacher, pointed to something that looked a lot like a 21st century flat-screen TV. Kathryn grinned. "This is known as a monitor. The spell also allows for communication the other way. We use this," she held up what looked like a Muggle microphone, "to speak to the Auror inside. Only they can hear us. Now, does anyone know anything about the Orion Charm?"
Kathryn held up her hand. She had come across it in what she fondly referred to as 'Wizard James Bond stories'. They starred an Auror named Morgan Faye.
"Yes, Miss – ah – Orenda?" Aran asked.
"Orionus communicatus." Kathryn answered. "It's the incantation. You have to sketch the Ancient Runes for communication and sight with your wand. It has to be the person who is going to be relaying the images to the screen who performs the spell."
"Correct. Very good."
Aran went on to explain more about what she called 'Out of sight, out of mind' operations – basically, they were very similar to James and Kathryn's assignment for their exam, but for the fact that they were not to arrest anyone, or make contact with anyone if at all humanly possible.
When the lesson ended, they gave a grateful sigh. The end of the week. An excruciating and long week. Not that it hadn't been fun and interesting, but the friends were getting just a taste of all they needed to know and do to be a successful Auror. Kathryn, Lily, James and Sirius had been lucky – the long evenings in the Room of Requirement learning their other magic and then bettering their duelling and fighting skills had paid off – they weren't so badly aching as the others.
"What now?" Alice asked as they headed home.
"I vote we go out somewhere for a drink. I can't believe it's only October. We've passed three months out of Hogwarts. It feels like three years." Kathryn groaned, massaging her neck.
"Know anywhere good?" Lily asked.
"There's the Leaky Cauldron. Or we could Apparate to the Three Broomsticks, see Hogsmeade again. Why don't we call the others, see if they want to come out?" Sirius suggested.
"Sure." Kathryn grinned. "How about we go home and change? We'll call the others and then call you, and meet up wherever we decide."
Frank nodded. "Sounds good." He smiled at Alice. "Come on. I think we have to change."
"Ya think?" Alice replied, raising a brow.
They headed off as they came to the street where their house sat.
The Auror Academy was in the suburbs of London, and their homes sat right in between it and the Leaky Cauldron. Since Sirius' house had been bought on the magical market, it was detached and complete with garden, in one of the crescents that was so rarely seen. It had been cheaper than it would have been on the Muggle market. On the other hand, Frank and Alice had a lovely flat that was cheaper than it would have been on the Magical market, and they had easily set up the necessary charms needed to disguise certain magical displays from Muggles. In all, they had done well.
As Sirius unlocked the door and gave the password, Kathryn stared into the street. There was something quiet about it. Too quiet. She shrugged off the feeling and followed her boyfriend in. Lily did so too.
"You not coming, James?" She asked.
"Yeah, I'm just thinking. I'll be in in a minute." James told her, smiling.
Lily nodded and closed the door.
James stared out into the street. "Show yourself." He ordered.
A lone figure stepped into the lamplight. James' eyes hardened.
A woman, a witch, her eyes heavy-lidded, demanding trust, stared at him.
"What do you want?" He demanded. His eyes flicked to a window.
"They can't see us. They just see you sat there, quietly. Don't worry, I'm not planning to kill you. I just thought there was something you should know."
"What?" James asked.
"He's going to crush you and your friends. And he doesn't need to harm you to do it." The woman informed him. "He can kill the one you love most. It will be your fault she dies. It will be because you loved her." She gave a cold laugh and snapped her fingers. A globe appeared. Inside it held Lily, dead, James over her, guilt painted over his face.
"No!" James gasped.
"Yes. You can prevent it, you know." She told him eagerly. "Leave, and he'll have no cause to harm her."
"How can I trust you?"
"You must." She ordered.
There was something about those heavy-lidded eyes that forced James to believe her, though he didn't realise it. It wasn't long before he stumbled inside, thoughts on his mind.
"James? That you?" Sirius called.
"Yeah. I'm going to get changed." James replied, forcing his voice to be normal.
"Okay. Moony and Nimuë are coming. Wormtail isn't in. I'm just about to call Damion and Alura." Sirius explained. "We're going to go to the Three Broomsticks. See if we can't torment Madam Rosmerta."
James laughed and headed to his room.
An hour later, ten friends met up in the Three Broomsticks, Hogsmeade.
"Kat, Lils!" Radella yelled as she saw them, running over and hugging both. "It feels like I haven't seen you in forever!"
Kathryn laughed. "Maybe two weeks?"
Remus grinned. "She's been pining for you."
"Hey, Moony. How's life?" James asked.
"I have a job. Not a very good one, but all the same..." Remus sighed.
"Where? What?" Sirius asked.
"Let's just say tonight's my evening off." Remus explained.
Radella grinned. "Don't worry, love. I'm sure you'll find your dream job soon enough."
"What do you want to do, Moony?" James asked as they sat down.
"Teach. But, you know, my condition..."
"Ah, you'll be fine. I just want to be there when the kids are all calling you 'Professor Lupin'." Kathryn teased.
"Won't be a nickname for you at your most intelligent anymore." Frank grinned.
Remus rolled his eyes.
"Sorry, are we late?" A voice behind them asked.
"'Lura!" Radella yelled. "How are you? I haven't seen you in ages!"
Alura raised a brow as her friend hugged her.
"Don't ask." Lily advised. "I think she had too much sugar before coming out."
"Hey Damion. What's up?" Sirius asked.
"Nothing much. Trying to find a job."
"You got any specialist skills?" Sirius wanted to know.
"Not really. I was hoping to get into the Ministry, but... no one wants me."
"Alura does." Kathryn giggled as her friends sat down.
"You want anything, dears?" A young witch in sparkly heels asked, coming over.
"Ten Butterbeers please, Rosmerta." Sirius grinned.
"Coming up."
The friends caught up with each other, having had very little time recently, what with finding jobs, doing jobs, moving into their own houses and so on. Remus and Radella were sharing a house with a couple of Ravenclaws in Hogsmeade. It was relatively cheap, which they appreciated. Alura and Damion were living in Diagon Alley, where Alura worked and Damion was trying to find work.
They ate a meal and eventually made their way to a new wizarding club in the town, called 'Venus's Power', after the Roman goddess of love and beauty.
They all felt calm and chilled as they entered, even James, who was still shaken from the warning.
"Care to dance?" Sirius asked Kathryn.
"Certainly, my love." She replied, putting on a dreamy voice to emphasise the club's name.
He laughed as they entered the dance floor.
They all danced for a while, or talked, or drank. Lily, hot and wanting a little fresh air, stepped out of the back of the club.
"You must flee." A voice nearby informed her.
"What?"
"You must flee. He shall slay all those you love to get to you. Your parents, your friends, your lover... You must go, Lily. You must flee, now." A woman with heavy-lidded eyes revealed herself. Again, Lily felt she had to trust her. "Don't bring harm to those close to you. Leave, now. Flee at once."
"What do you mean?"
"He shall kill those you love. He shall destroy them to destroy you. Do you want that?"
"No, but..."
"Then flee, child. Flee to save them."
Lily stumbled back into the club, trying to dispel the irksome feeling the warning gave her.
The woman smiled and shed her disguise.
"Flee, Lily. Leave, James. Do what my master orders." Bellatrix Black – soon to be Lestrange – gave a cold, high-pitched laugh.
"I'm tired." Kathryn sighed.
"Yeah, I think we'd better be going." Sirius informed the others.
"Okay. We'll call you soon. Good luck with training." Remus grinned.
"Yeah good luck with your jobs. And job-hunting." Kathryn grinned at him.
They picked up their jackets – a lot of young wizards and witches preferred Muggle clothing – and then Sirius took Kathryn in his arms and they Apparated home.
"Lily and James are still out, aren't they?" Sirius checked.
"Yeah. No idea when they'll be getting back." Kathryn replied. Then she grinned.
"What's that for?" Sirius asked.
"I do believe you're planning something wicked, Mr Black."
"Really?" Sirius asked, raising a brow.
Kathryn came closer. "Yes."
He slipped of her jacket.
Kathryn let it fall to the ground before slipping off his.
They began to kiss, passionately, lovingly, a mixture of so many feelings and emotions it was hard to keep track.
"I thought so." Kathryn murmured.
"What?"
"I do believe you're trying to seduce me, Sirius Calhoun Black."
"Is it working?" He asked, grinning.
"You tell me." Kathryn smirked, and ran up the stairs.
Sirius followed, grabbing her arm and bringing her back to him.
"I love you." He murmured as his breath mingled with hers.
"Good."
"Why?"
"Because I love you too."
Their kisses became more passionate with each passing moment.
But Sirius was still surprised that she followed him as he entered his room.
"Kathryn?" He checked.
"Don't worry, Sirius. I'm a big girl. I know what I'm doing." She replied.
"No, Kathryn, I love you more than anything." He told her. "Than life, than breath, than blood. I will always love you, nothing can change that. Not a curse, anything. You're my soulmate, and..." He flicked a finger behind his back. Something came zooming into his hands. "Please?" He asked, revealing a ring.
"Please what?" Kathryn teased.
"Please, marry me?" Sirius asked.
"Yeah, why not?" Kathryn replied so casually that it surprised a laugh from Sirius.
"You... Never mind." He slipped the ring onto her finger. It matched her ruby locket and drop earrings perfectly.
Kathryn pulled him close. "I love you. Nothing will change that."
As they fell onto the bed, all else was forgotten in their passion, desire and love.
"I can't believe Alura did that!" Lily giggled as she and James returned to the house.
"I can. Damion looked that flustered..." James grinned. Then he frowned. "Why on Earth...?" He stated as he saw the two fallen jackets on the living room floor.
"Aren't they the tidy ones?" Lily wanted to know. "I thought we were the slobs."
James picked up the jackets and hung them in the hall.
"Where are they?"
"Must've gone to bed." Lily explained. "We should be doing that. Going to bed, I mean."
"I didn't think you meant anything else."
The couple returned to their rooms.
But later that night, Lily crept into James' room, surprising him.
"Lily? What are you doing here?" He asked.
"I don't know." She confessed. "There's just something... I'm scared, James. I'm scared."
"C'mere." He ordered.
She approached warily and sat on his bed.
"Lily, you've just got to accept that you're scared of something. Accept it and then try to overpower it. Don't let it take hold of you." James told her. Little did he know, but that exact thing was happening to both. It was taking hold. It was too powerful a fear. And planted within them by evil.
"But I don't know how... I just..." Lily looked down. "I just need to know you're safe."
"I am. See? Look at me. I'm perfectly safe. Well, maybe. I don't know how safe I am with my girlfriend sat on my bed."
She whacked him lightly. "No thank you, Mr Potter. We'll none of that. But..." She looked down. "Just hold me. Please?"
"Of course. If it helps you... Anything." James smiled, hugging her gently and kissing her.
Lily crept under the covers with him, feeling some comfort and safety encircled in his arms.
A/N: Should I leave it there? Maybe... But no. No, I have to make it complete. Besides, this is only the seventh page. Far too short for a chapter! On with it!
"Goodbye, James." Lily whispered.
She pulled out her wand and created a copy of herself, sleeping, using a Replication Charm. She left the room, leaving a note to appear when the charm ceased.
She left another note in the living room for Kathryn and Sirius.
Taking her trunk and shrinking it, she left.
"I'm sorry, guys. But I'm not going to let anything happen to you because of me."
"Farewell, Lily." James murmured.
Carefully he transfigured a bone into a copy of himself to lie beside Lily. He knew it would not last past sunrise, but that was all he needed. He placed a note to appear for Lily in her room.
Taking his belongings and placing them in his trunk and that – shrunk – into his pocket, he walked downstairs.
He placed another note to Sirius and Kathryn in the kitchen.
"I don't want to go. But it's the only way to keep you all safe."
And so Lily Evans and James Potter left their home, separately, to travel to other lands, in each carrying on with their Auror training, leaving as soon as even a chance of being discovered was revealed.
The next morning Kathryn awoke. For a moment she felt puzzled. Where was she? Then her memory kicked in and she looked at the ring of her left hand. She smiled. She was betrothed to the man she loved! She turned round in the bed to look at him. He looked so peaceful when he was asleep. Nothing like normal.
She smiled.
Sirius stirred awake. "What're you smiling about?" He asked sleepily.
"Oh, I'm just betrothed to the man I love most, I've just spent my first night with him, you know, the usual." Kathryn grinned.
"How about some breakfast?" Sirius asked.
"Mmm, but it's so nice here." Kathryn sighed, leaning her head on his bare shoulder.
"C'mon. I'll make pancakes." Sirius grinned.
"Why didn't you say?" Kathryn asked, then blushed. "Umm, you got something I could borrow, clothes-wise?"
Sirius grinned as he got up and put on his dressing gown.
Opening his wardrobe, he pulled out a shirt. "Try that on for size."
Kathryn tugged the over-large blue shirt on, buttoning it up. "Great." She smiled, and got out of bed.
After a few more moments, they headed downstairs, neither wanted to go through the arduous process of getting dressed.
Heading downstairs, they went into the kitchen. It was the one more modern room of the house, but everything was of the old-fashioned view of creation – if you're going to make it, make it last.
As Kathryn sat at the breakfast bar, Sirius began getting out the ingredients to make pancakes.
"D'you think James and Lily are still asleep?" Kathryn wondered.
"Probably. They got back later than we did." Sirius explained. "Thank goodness we don't have to go to the Academy today."
As he said that, Kathryn noticed a white envelope pinned to the notice board.
"Oh God." She murmured as she raced to it, ripping it open.
"What is it?" Sirius asked, worried.
She read the few lines the note contained and staggered. "James. Sirius, James... he's gone."
"WHAT?!" Sirius seized the letter from her.
"He left. But why?" Kathryn wondered. "How would his leaving save us? Unless..."
"Voldemort." They both said in unison.
"But what about...?" Kathryn raced into the living room, almost as though she knew the note was there. "Lily. She's gone. She must have been warned too."
"But... why? How would this aid Voldemort?"
"Because if he keeps them apart for long enough, Harry Potter will not be born."
"You mean...?"
"Yes, Lily is his mother." Kathryn sighed.
"So much for not going into the Academy."
"Oh no, this isn't Academy, this is Auror Headquarters. Come on, we'd best get dressed." Kathryn sighed, then gave a sudden derisive laugh.
"What?"
"We should've known. All our romantic moments are cursed."
"We're looking for Alastor Moody." Sirius informed the man at the desk at the front of Auror Headquarters.
"Why?" The man asked.
"Because Voldemort or one of his minions has just chased our best friends away from us and each other. They've run away. They think they're protecting those they love." Kathryn snapped. "We're also Moody's students. Trainees. Now let us in."
"Fine."
He yelled out, "Moody! Two of your students are here. Say their friends have run away because of Voldemort!"
Moody soon appeared. "Black, Orenda. What's this?"
"Lily Evans and James Potter, Mr Moody. We think Voldemort used someone or something, I don't know a warning, vision, to get them to leave. It's in these notes. They're leaving to protect us from Voldemort. I don't know why they'd believe it!" Kathryn complained. "They know Voldemort's after all of us anyway, just because of who we are."
"Unfortunately, we don't have the resources to go out on a missing persons case." Moody informed them. "But if you come to the Three Broomsticks tonight, I'll see what I can do."
"Thanks." Kathryn sighed, brushing back a loose strand of hair.
Moody caught the hand. "What's this? You didn't propose, did you, Black?"
"Yeah, I did. Typical, isn't it? Should be one of the happiest days of our lives. And it's overshadowed by Voldemort trying to destroy all of us. We'll see you at seven. Best go and inform the others of the disappearance."
"Yes. Yes, bring your friends too. I believe that there were ten of you in Gryffindor and one in Ravenclaw who are very close?"
"Yes, but how did you know that?"
"Dumbledore. Bring your friends and we'll see what we can do."
Later that night, the remains of Enchanted and the Marauders along with Frank, Alice and Damion were inducted into the Order of the Phoenix.
A/N: Ha ha! Am I evil or what? Poor Kat and Sirius! Never mind. And, if you're wondering, because there are four people who weren't in the photo – Kathryn, Radella, Alura, and Damion – that Moody showed Harry, there are changes. Kathryn, for instance, removes herself from the photo. The others will be mentioned later on. Maybe they just missed the photo-shoot!
Okay, to reviewers, all two of you:
Lenorathetrekkie: Yes, we do have prom. Just not so often as you Americans. Ours is to celebrate our leaving compulsory schooling. We only get the one. Weird thing though, our school has the prom before our exams. I would have thought it would be better afterwards, but there you go. Glad you like the awards. I had fun writing those.
Sk8er Witch: Go ahead. I just like the word emblazoned, to be honest! Well, the phoenix has an important purpose in the other story. In this, it's just a representation of fire as Kat's element. And an Auror's holster is sensible, dontcha think? Use it if you want, I don't mind!
The Keymaker: May be a while until you read this, but oh well! Fifteen OWLs. No idea how she did it, except that she took every subject. I don't know how OWLs are actually worked, so I made it up. Normally I go on an OWL for practical and theory (in other fics), which usually equals about seventeen. This is just a bit random. HP Lexicon? People keep mentioning it, and I have no idea how to get to it. The years? Well, they are kind of important. I need the gang to be in a more modern time, mainly for songs and references and stuff. Also, I know this will make Lily and James about twenty-four when they die. I think they ought to be older, plus it does help in my story. Besides wicked grin it's called fanfiction for a reason, right? You're one of my favourite authors, so it means a lot that you're reading my fic! As for Snape... I despise him, and I've no idea how he comes to the side of good. But remember what he did. It comes back to haunt him in Part 2!
Night-Blade: Thanks! You have a palm pilot? Wow! The only chance I get to read fanficiton in school is during ICT. And that's only if she isn't monitoring me. Luckily, I'm a 'conscientious student'. Unluckily, I'm sick and tired of being that. Five years is a long time, and I'm losing steam. At least I've got study leave in a week and a half. And the prom. Don't get into too much trouble! Also, doesn't matter if you got my name wrong. You're not the only one!
Well, that's all four of you (even if the Keymaker has only just reviewed Chapter 8!).
To everyone else, please review. And if anyone has any suggestions, suggest away. I'm currently suffering from writer's block on Chapter 32. And that'll be posted right in the midst of my exams, so I really need help now.
Please review! Cookies and brownies and Dairy Milk (all digital!) to those who do!
Lol, Tanydwr
Oh yeah, and this is one of the chapters that really makes the rating! There's a hint of sex. But there's worse things. Like what Sirius asks Kat!
Okay, onto the story!
Chapter 26 – Good and Bad
A scream echoed in the street. A series of blinding, flashing lights seared the air.
"What the...?" The woman began, and ran towards the scene, pushing past the terrified victims.
Bodies lay everywhere, their eyes open and wide in shock, their bodies unmarked, victims of the Killing Curse. Five masked figures stood centrally, in the midst of the destruction. Though she could not see their faces, she knew they would be smiling gleefully, revelling in their crimes of annihilation and death.
"Hey, Entrail Eaters!" She yelled, effectively capturing their attention. Her eyes quickly flicked, checking that her companions were in place.
They turned and stared at her, surprised at being addressed as such.
"Wanna know something?" She asked.
"What?" The leader demanded.
"This isn't real." She waved a hand and the illusion ceased. No bodies lay on the floor, there was no screaming, no running, no panic.
"You tricked us! Die, you bitch!" He yelled.
She dodged the Killing Curse. "Yeah, like telling me to die is really going to work." She rolled her eyes. "Expelliarmus!"
The wand leapt from the leader's hand.
"Crucio!" One of the others yelled.
The woman back-flipped and evaded the bolt of red light. "Come on, a two- year-old could beat that!" She taunted.
"AVADA–"
"CONFUNDO!" A voice rang out, cutting off the Death Eater's curse.
"You didn't think I'd challenge you alone, did you?" She asked innocently.
"You –"
"Tarantallegra!"
"Petrificus totalus!"
"Expelliarmus!"
"Protego!"
"Stupefy!"
"Delashio!"
"Furtum halitus!"
The curses, hexes, jinxes, charms and occasional transfigurations shot backwards and forth in rapid succession as five more people appeared against the Death Eaters. In ten minutes, they were on the floor, incapacitated.
"So, what did he say was the spell for anti-Apparation again?" The original woman –challenger – asked.
"I don't believe he has taught us it yet. However, since they are unconscious, they can't Disapparate anyway." A man replied, grinning.
"Good point."
"Impressive, you lot. Yes, you'll be working together. A slightly unconventional approach, challenging the Death Eaters like that..." Alastor Moody growled.
"I've seen too many Muggle films, TV programmes..." Kathryn – the leader – grinned.
"That was impressive. Just a preliminary test. You'll get your timetables tomorrow. I believe you are all Apparating here?"
"Yes."
"Good, good." He turned to all of the recruits. There were four more, three from smaller, more localised wizarding schools of the UK, one from Beauxbatons. "Right. Your Auror training will take place over two years. Over this time, the work you will do will be mostly practical, with some theory wound in, primarily as extra work and most will be reading. You will also learn how to fill out a report and paperwork and draw it up, it is a skill many seem to lack and unfortunately very important. You will learn a variety of lessons, including Spell Construction, Evidence Protection, Advanced Martial Arts, Fencing, Magical Transportation, Enemy Evasion, Advanced Defence Against the Dark Arts, Duelling, and many more. Tomorrow, you will begin this. This is one of our biggest years ever, so I hope you're all up to scratch. I will not be teaching you often. However, since I am Head of the Aurors, I always see this preliminary sweep of the trainees. And I have to say that it was extraordinary." He looked at the six Hogwarts' graduates. "You six work together extremely well. But you must learn to work with other people also, otherwise you'll be in trouble." He smiled. "Good luck. Dismissed."
The ten trainee Aurors left, knowing they were to come the next day to that spot to meet the witch who would be their Head of Year. Since there were only two years, and entrance to the Auror Academy was very select, it was much easier than having classes, or houses. They would learn together. It was also very practical for the teachers. Since there were only two classes at any one time, they could leave and since many of them were active Aurors, they could go on patrol and jobs on the days they didn't teach. However, these could be unusual, because the students had at least six one-hour classes a day, sometimes more, not to mention surprise tests.
The Elemental Guardians said goodbye to Frank and Alice – who were sharing a house not far from them that they had bought on the Muggle market, which was sometimes cheaper than the wizarding one – and proceeded home. Sirius continued to make an evening meal. Something they had discovered, to Sirius' amusement and Kathryn's dismay, was that Kathryn could not cook at all. The only thing she could do was boil a kettle and make things that did not require cooking – like sandwiches – but she was the next rung up from someone who would burn a salad – someone who would burn toast. Badly. She'd managed to create pure charcoal.
"You know, that was fun." Kathryn grinned, from a red armchair.
The living room was well-decorated, the walls a pale cream, the wood dark oak and the furnishings and so on were red and gold – Gryffindor colours. A TV was sat in one corner, a plain oak mantelpiece sat over a marble hearth and fireplace. It was a comfortable room. Sirius had especially liked the wooden floors of the house, and kept most of them, using rugs to warm them.
James groaned. "Yeah, but I'm tired now. And if that's just a taster..."
Lily grinned. "Poor ickle Jamie, tired after one day's training?"
Kathryn laughed as James lunged at her, and proceeded to tickle his girlfriend.
Sirius came in ten minutes later to find all three in fits of laughter, Kathryn curled up out of the way in 'her' chair.
He rolled his eyes. "Here, pasta a la Sirius."
"Y'know, if you translate that from French, that means pasta to the Sirius. Unless my French skills are particularly bad." Kathryn frowned.
"Alright, alright. Pasta de la Sirius, of the Sirius. Better?"
"Getting there. Now, gimme, gimme, gimme." Kathryn demanded, clapping her hands and reaching them out.
Sirius laughed, handing her a plate of pasta and a delicious tomato and cheese sauce.
"Y'know, I'd never have guessed you were such a good cook." James grinned as they ate.
"Me neither. Just a gift, I s'pose." Sirius shrugged.
Kathryn snorted and nearly choked on the spaghetti which had been the chosen pasta.
After eating, they sat and talked for a while before Kathryn raced Sirius to the bathroom, and beat him. Despite his best efforts, however, he was neither let in nor given the option of going in first. When Kathryn finally did appear, she was wearing her old, overlarge t-shirt that automatically quelled all his problems. Giving him a goodnight kiss, she informed him she'd see him in the morning and entered her room, which, as luck would have it, was on the same floor. This had caused a lot of comments from their friends, especially Damion, when they found it out.
Kathryn's room was cosy and inviting. The walls were a bright yellow, offset by a terracotta carpet and furnishings. Her clothing, make-up, jewellery and so on were kept in a magically expanded walk-in wardrobe, which in many ways doubled as a dressing room. A desk sat in a corner and a large bookcase was filled with books. A shelf above her desk held knick- knacks and a tape-recorder/radio. All Muggle technology had been charmed by Kathryn and Lily to work – both still wanted certain aspects of Muggle life. The Wizarding Wireless was in the living room, but this radio was Muggle. Another shelf held a number of trophies and shields – her awards. On her walls were pictures – some of her friends and families, one a portrait of Mystique, which her father had given her, another a painting of a pair of tigers before a forest fire, a beautiful, but deadly scene. The room was comforting, and she loved it.
She curled into her bed. It was tucked in on corner against the wall. It was a double in size with a large canopy over the top which gave the room an almost old-fashioned feel. Which it was, in effect. Few things pointed to a modern day room.
Taking out a book, the Muggle novel 'To Kill A Mockingbird', she settled down into bed, unaware that the next few days were to bring wonderful things. And terrible, overshadowing things.
(A/N: Lots of description, wasn't it? Oh well, I like describing. And it was just to give the chapter some length before the next few bits. And now, on with it!)
"Many Aurors wear Muggle clothing when going in for a search and spy operation. It is actually more practical than robes, since you are less likely to get clothing caught on anything. On these operations, we use a spell called the Orion Charm to communicate. It lets Aurors outside or at base hear and see what the Auror inside is doing on one of these." Aran, their teacher, pointed to something that looked a lot like a 21st century flat-screen TV. Kathryn grinned. "This is known as a monitor. The spell also allows for communication the other way. We use this," she held up what looked like a Muggle microphone, "to speak to the Auror inside. Only they can hear us. Now, does anyone know anything about the Orion Charm?"
Kathryn held up her hand. She had come across it in what she fondly referred to as 'Wizard James Bond stories'. They starred an Auror named Morgan Faye.
"Yes, Miss – ah – Orenda?" Aran asked.
"Orionus communicatus." Kathryn answered. "It's the incantation. You have to sketch the Ancient Runes for communication and sight with your wand. It has to be the person who is going to be relaying the images to the screen who performs the spell."
"Correct. Very good."
Aran went on to explain more about what she called 'Out of sight, out of mind' operations – basically, they were very similar to James and Kathryn's assignment for their exam, but for the fact that they were not to arrest anyone, or make contact with anyone if at all humanly possible.
When the lesson ended, they gave a grateful sigh. The end of the week. An excruciating and long week. Not that it hadn't been fun and interesting, but the friends were getting just a taste of all they needed to know and do to be a successful Auror. Kathryn, Lily, James and Sirius had been lucky – the long evenings in the Room of Requirement learning their other magic and then bettering their duelling and fighting skills had paid off – they weren't so badly aching as the others.
"What now?" Alice asked as they headed home.
"I vote we go out somewhere for a drink. I can't believe it's only October. We've passed three months out of Hogwarts. It feels like three years." Kathryn groaned, massaging her neck.
"Know anywhere good?" Lily asked.
"There's the Leaky Cauldron. Or we could Apparate to the Three Broomsticks, see Hogsmeade again. Why don't we call the others, see if they want to come out?" Sirius suggested.
"Sure." Kathryn grinned. "How about we go home and change? We'll call the others and then call you, and meet up wherever we decide."
Frank nodded. "Sounds good." He smiled at Alice. "Come on. I think we have to change."
"Ya think?" Alice replied, raising a brow.
They headed off as they came to the street where their house sat.
The Auror Academy was in the suburbs of London, and their homes sat right in between it and the Leaky Cauldron. Since Sirius' house had been bought on the magical market, it was detached and complete with garden, in one of the crescents that was so rarely seen. It had been cheaper than it would have been on the Muggle market. On the other hand, Frank and Alice had a lovely flat that was cheaper than it would have been on the Magical market, and they had easily set up the necessary charms needed to disguise certain magical displays from Muggles. In all, they had done well.
As Sirius unlocked the door and gave the password, Kathryn stared into the street. There was something quiet about it. Too quiet. She shrugged off the feeling and followed her boyfriend in. Lily did so too.
"You not coming, James?" She asked.
"Yeah, I'm just thinking. I'll be in in a minute." James told her, smiling.
Lily nodded and closed the door.
James stared out into the street. "Show yourself." He ordered.
A lone figure stepped into the lamplight. James' eyes hardened.
A woman, a witch, her eyes heavy-lidded, demanding trust, stared at him.
"What do you want?" He demanded. His eyes flicked to a window.
"They can't see us. They just see you sat there, quietly. Don't worry, I'm not planning to kill you. I just thought there was something you should know."
"What?" James asked.
"He's going to crush you and your friends. And he doesn't need to harm you to do it." The woman informed him. "He can kill the one you love most. It will be your fault she dies. It will be because you loved her." She gave a cold laugh and snapped her fingers. A globe appeared. Inside it held Lily, dead, James over her, guilt painted over his face.
"No!" James gasped.
"Yes. You can prevent it, you know." She told him eagerly. "Leave, and he'll have no cause to harm her."
"How can I trust you?"
"You must." She ordered.
There was something about those heavy-lidded eyes that forced James to believe her, though he didn't realise it. It wasn't long before he stumbled inside, thoughts on his mind.
"James? That you?" Sirius called.
"Yeah. I'm going to get changed." James replied, forcing his voice to be normal.
"Okay. Moony and Nimuë are coming. Wormtail isn't in. I'm just about to call Damion and Alura." Sirius explained. "We're going to go to the Three Broomsticks. See if we can't torment Madam Rosmerta."
James laughed and headed to his room.
An hour later, ten friends met up in the Three Broomsticks, Hogsmeade.
"Kat, Lils!" Radella yelled as she saw them, running over and hugging both. "It feels like I haven't seen you in forever!"
Kathryn laughed. "Maybe two weeks?"
Remus grinned. "She's been pining for you."
"Hey, Moony. How's life?" James asked.
"I have a job. Not a very good one, but all the same..." Remus sighed.
"Where? What?" Sirius asked.
"Let's just say tonight's my evening off." Remus explained.
Radella grinned. "Don't worry, love. I'm sure you'll find your dream job soon enough."
"What do you want to do, Moony?" James asked as they sat down.
"Teach. But, you know, my condition..."
"Ah, you'll be fine. I just want to be there when the kids are all calling you 'Professor Lupin'." Kathryn teased.
"Won't be a nickname for you at your most intelligent anymore." Frank grinned.
Remus rolled his eyes.
"Sorry, are we late?" A voice behind them asked.
"'Lura!" Radella yelled. "How are you? I haven't seen you in ages!"
Alura raised a brow as her friend hugged her.
"Don't ask." Lily advised. "I think she had too much sugar before coming out."
"Hey Damion. What's up?" Sirius asked.
"Nothing much. Trying to find a job."
"You got any specialist skills?" Sirius wanted to know.
"Not really. I was hoping to get into the Ministry, but... no one wants me."
"Alura does." Kathryn giggled as her friends sat down.
"You want anything, dears?" A young witch in sparkly heels asked, coming over.
"Ten Butterbeers please, Rosmerta." Sirius grinned.
"Coming up."
The friends caught up with each other, having had very little time recently, what with finding jobs, doing jobs, moving into their own houses and so on. Remus and Radella were sharing a house with a couple of Ravenclaws in Hogsmeade. It was relatively cheap, which they appreciated. Alura and Damion were living in Diagon Alley, where Alura worked and Damion was trying to find work.
They ate a meal and eventually made their way to a new wizarding club in the town, called 'Venus's Power', after the Roman goddess of love and beauty.
They all felt calm and chilled as they entered, even James, who was still shaken from the warning.
"Care to dance?" Sirius asked Kathryn.
"Certainly, my love." She replied, putting on a dreamy voice to emphasise the club's name.
He laughed as they entered the dance floor.
They all danced for a while, or talked, or drank. Lily, hot and wanting a little fresh air, stepped out of the back of the club.
"You must flee." A voice nearby informed her.
"What?"
"You must flee. He shall slay all those you love to get to you. Your parents, your friends, your lover... You must go, Lily. You must flee, now." A woman with heavy-lidded eyes revealed herself. Again, Lily felt she had to trust her. "Don't bring harm to those close to you. Leave, now. Flee at once."
"What do you mean?"
"He shall kill those you love. He shall destroy them to destroy you. Do you want that?"
"No, but..."
"Then flee, child. Flee to save them."
Lily stumbled back into the club, trying to dispel the irksome feeling the warning gave her.
The woman smiled and shed her disguise.
"Flee, Lily. Leave, James. Do what my master orders." Bellatrix Black – soon to be Lestrange – gave a cold, high-pitched laugh.
"I'm tired." Kathryn sighed.
"Yeah, I think we'd better be going." Sirius informed the others.
"Okay. We'll call you soon. Good luck with training." Remus grinned.
"Yeah good luck with your jobs. And job-hunting." Kathryn grinned at him.
They picked up their jackets – a lot of young wizards and witches preferred Muggle clothing – and then Sirius took Kathryn in his arms and they Apparated home.
"Lily and James are still out, aren't they?" Sirius checked.
"Yeah. No idea when they'll be getting back." Kathryn replied. Then she grinned.
"What's that for?" Sirius asked.
"I do believe you're planning something wicked, Mr Black."
"Really?" Sirius asked, raising a brow.
Kathryn came closer. "Yes."
He slipped of her jacket.
Kathryn let it fall to the ground before slipping off his.
They began to kiss, passionately, lovingly, a mixture of so many feelings and emotions it was hard to keep track.
"I thought so." Kathryn murmured.
"What?"
"I do believe you're trying to seduce me, Sirius Calhoun Black."
"Is it working?" He asked, grinning.
"You tell me." Kathryn smirked, and ran up the stairs.
Sirius followed, grabbing her arm and bringing her back to him.
"I love you." He murmured as his breath mingled with hers.
"Good."
"Why?"
"Because I love you too."
Their kisses became more passionate with each passing moment.
But Sirius was still surprised that she followed him as he entered his room.
"Kathryn?" He checked.
"Don't worry, Sirius. I'm a big girl. I know what I'm doing." She replied.
"No, Kathryn, I love you more than anything." He told her. "Than life, than breath, than blood. I will always love you, nothing can change that. Not a curse, anything. You're my soulmate, and..." He flicked a finger behind his back. Something came zooming into his hands. "Please?" He asked, revealing a ring.
"Please what?" Kathryn teased.
"Please, marry me?" Sirius asked.
"Yeah, why not?" Kathryn replied so casually that it surprised a laugh from Sirius.
"You... Never mind." He slipped the ring onto her finger. It matched her ruby locket and drop earrings perfectly.
Kathryn pulled him close. "I love you. Nothing will change that."
As they fell onto the bed, all else was forgotten in their passion, desire and love.
"I can't believe Alura did that!" Lily giggled as she and James returned to the house.
"I can. Damion looked that flustered..." James grinned. Then he frowned. "Why on Earth...?" He stated as he saw the two fallen jackets on the living room floor.
"Aren't they the tidy ones?" Lily wanted to know. "I thought we were the slobs."
James picked up the jackets and hung them in the hall.
"Where are they?"
"Must've gone to bed." Lily explained. "We should be doing that. Going to bed, I mean."
"I didn't think you meant anything else."
The couple returned to their rooms.
But later that night, Lily crept into James' room, surprising him.
"Lily? What are you doing here?" He asked.
"I don't know." She confessed. "There's just something... I'm scared, James. I'm scared."
"C'mere." He ordered.
She approached warily and sat on his bed.
"Lily, you've just got to accept that you're scared of something. Accept it and then try to overpower it. Don't let it take hold of you." James told her. Little did he know, but that exact thing was happening to both. It was taking hold. It was too powerful a fear. And planted within them by evil.
"But I don't know how... I just..." Lily looked down. "I just need to know you're safe."
"I am. See? Look at me. I'm perfectly safe. Well, maybe. I don't know how safe I am with my girlfriend sat on my bed."
She whacked him lightly. "No thank you, Mr Potter. We'll none of that. But..." She looked down. "Just hold me. Please?"
"Of course. If it helps you... Anything." James smiled, hugging her gently and kissing her.
Lily crept under the covers with him, feeling some comfort and safety encircled in his arms.
A/N: Should I leave it there? Maybe... But no. No, I have to make it complete. Besides, this is only the seventh page. Far too short for a chapter! On with it!
"Goodbye, James." Lily whispered.
She pulled out her wand and created a copy of herself, sleeping, using a Replication Charm. She left the room, leaving a note to appear when the charm ceased.
She left another note in the living room for Kathryn and Sirius.
Taking her trunk and shrinking it, she left.
"I'm sorry, guys. But I'm not going to let anything happen to you because of me."
"Farewell, Lily." James murmured.
Carefully he transfigured a bone into a copy of himself to lie beside Lily. He knew it would not last past sunrise, but that was all he needed. He placed a note to appear for Lily in her room.
Taking his belongings and placing them in his trunk and that – shrunk – into his pocket, he walked downstairs.
He placed another note to Sirius and Kathryn in the kitchen.
"I don't want to go. But it's the only way to keep you all safe."
And so Lily Evans and James Potter left their home, separately, to travel to other lands, in each carrying on with their Auror training, leaving as soon as even a chance of being discovered was revealed.
The next morning Kathryn awoke. For a moment she felt puzzled. Where was she? Then her memory kicked in and she looked at the ring of her left hand. She smiled. She was betrothed to the man she loved! She turned round in the bed to look at him. He looked so peaceful when he was asleep. Nothing like normal.
She smiled.
Sirius stirred awake. "What're you smiling about?" He asked sleepily.
"Oh, I'm just betrothed to the man I love most, I've just spent my first night with him, you know, the usual." Kathryn grinned.
"How about some breakfast?" Sirius asked.
"Mmm, but it's so nice here." Kathryn sighed, leaning her head on his bare shoulder.
"C'mon. I'll make pancakes." Sirius grinned.
"Why didn't you say?" Kathryn asked, then blushed. "Umm, you got something I could borrow, clothes-wise?"
Sirius grinned as he got up and put on his dressing gown.
Opening his wardrobe, he pulled out a shirt. "Try that on for size."
Kathryn tugged the over-large blue shirt on, buttoning it up. "Great." She smiled, and got out of bed.
After a few more moments, they headed downstairs, neither wanted to go through the arduous process of getting dressed.
Heading downstairs, they went into the kitchen. It was the one more modern room of the house, but everything was of the old-fashioned view of creation – if you're going to make it, make it last.
As Kathryn sat at the breakfast bar, Sirius began getting out the ingredients to make pancakes.
"D'you think James and Lily are still asleep?" Kathryn wondered.
"Probably. They got back later than we did." Sirius explained. "Thank goodness we don't have to go to the Academy today."
As he said that, Kathryn noticed a white envelope pinned to the notice board.
"Oh God." She murmured as she raced to it, ripping it open.
"What is it?" Sirius asked, worried.
She read the few lines the note contained and staggered. "James. Sirius, James... he's gone."
"WHAT?!" Sirius seized the letter from her.
"He left. But why?" Kathryn wondered. "How would his leaving save us? Unless..."
"Voldemort." They both said in unison.
"But what about...?" Kathryn raced into the living room, almost as though she knew the note was there. "Lily. She's gone. She must have been warned too."
"But... why? How would this aid Voldemort?"
"Because if he keeps them apart for long enough, Harry Potter will not be born."
"You mean...?"
"Yes, Lily is his mother." Kathryn sighed.
"So much for not going into the Academy."
"Oh no, this isn't Academy, this is Auror Headquarters. Come on, we'd best get dressed." Kathryn sighed, then gave a sudden derisive laugh.
"What?"
"We should've known. All our romantic moments are cursed."
"We're looking for Alastor Moody." Sirius informed the man at the desk at the front of Auror Headquarters.
"Why?" The man asked.
"Because Voldemort or one of his minions has just chased our best friends away from us and each other. They've run away. They think they're protecting those they love." Kathryn snapped. "We're also Moody's students. Trainees. Now let us in."
"Fine."
He yelled out, "Moody! Two of your students are here. Say their friends have run away because of Voldemort!"
Moody soon appeared. "Black, Orenda. What's this?"
"Lily Evans and James Potter, Mr Moody. We think Voldemort used someone or something, I don't know a warning, vision, to get them to leave. It's in these notes. They're leaving to protect us from Voldemort. I don't know why they'd believe it!" Kathryn complained. "They know Voldemort's after all of us anyway, just because of who we are."
"Unfortunately, we don't have the resources to go out on a missing persons case." Moody informed them. "But if you come to the Three Broomsticks tonight, I'll see what I can do."
"Thanks." Kathryn sighed, brushing back a loose strand of hair.
Moody caught the hand. "What's this? You didn't propose, did you, Black?"
"Yeah, I did. Typical, isn't it? Should be one of the happiest days of our lives. And it's overshadowed by Voldemort trying to destroy all of us. We'll see you at seven. Best go and inform the others of the disappearance."
"Yes. Yes, bring your friends too. I believe that there were ten of you in Gryffindor and one in Ravenclaw who are very close?"
"Yes, but how did you know that?"
"Dumbledore. Bring your friends and we'll see what we can do."
Later that night, the remains of Enchanted and the Marauders along with Frank, Alice and Damion were inducted into the Order of the Phoenix.
A/N: Ha ha! Am I evil or what? Poor Kat and Sirius! Never mind. And, if you're wondering, because there are four people who weren't in the photo – Kathryn, Radella, Alura, and Damion – that Moody showed Harry, there are changes. Kathryn, for instance, removes herself from the photo. The others will be mentioned later on. Maybe they just missed the photo-shoot!
Okay, to reviewers, all two of you:
Lenorathetrekkie: Yes, we do have prom. Just not so often as you Americans. Ours is to celebrate our leaving compulsory schooling. We only get the one. Weird thing though, our school has the prom before our exams. I would have thought it would be better afterwards, but there you go. Glad you like the awards. I had fun writing those.
Sk8er Witch: Go ahead. I just like the word emblazoned, to be honest! Well, the phoenix has an important purpose in the other story. In this, it's just a representation of fire as Kat's element. And an Auror's holster is sensible, dontcha think? Use it if you want, I don't mind!
The Keymaker: May be a while until you read this, but oh well! Fifteen OWLs. No idea how she did it, except that she took every subject. I don't know how OWLs are actually worked, so I made it up. Normally I go on an OWL for practical and theory (in other fics), which usually equals about seventeen. This is just a bit random. HP Lexicon? People keep mentioning it, and I have no idea how to get to it. The years? Well, they are kind of important. I need the gang to be in a more modern time, mainly for songs and references and stuff. Also, I know this will make Lily and James about twenty-four when they die. I think they ought to be older, plus it does help in my story. Besides wicked grin it's called fanfiction for a reason, right? You're one of my favourite authors, so it means a lot that you're reading my fic! As for Snape... I despise him, and I've no idea how he comes to the side of good. But remember what he did. It comes back to haunt him in Part 2!
Night-Blade: Thanks! You have a palm pilot? Wow! The only chance I get to read fanficiton in school is during ICT. And that's only if she isn't monitoring me. Luckily, I'm a 'conscientious student'. Unluckily, I'm sick and tired of being that. Five years is a long time, and I'm losing steam. At least I've got study leave in a week and a half. And the prom. Don't get into too much trouble! Also, doesn't matter if you got my name wrong. You're not the only one!
Well, that's all four of you (even if the Keymaker has only just reviewed Chapter 8!).
To everyone else, please review. And if anyone has any suggestions, suggest away. I'm currently suffering from writer's block on Chapter 32. And that'll be posted right in the midst of my exams, so I really need help now.
Please review! Cookies and brownies and Dairy Milk (all digital!) to those who do!
Lol, Tanydwr