A/N: Here is another chapter for you. Next chapter will get into more other things with a few groups of characters.

Chapter 18: Dumbledore's Last Words of Unity

Auror Assistance Program: A Success!

It has been a month since the Auror Assistance Program has been put into effect and we at the Daily Prophet must say that the program has become highly effective! Since the ending of the training of certain Auror Assistance groups, we can safely announce that the success rate of their highly confidential missions are at a high ninety seven percent. Many dark wizards and witches who have been collaborating with the Dark Lord have been arrested, interrogated, and taken to Azkaban.

Minister Scrimgeour and Head Auror Pius Thickeness are both proud and happy of how effective their new law has become. They are predicting more successful mission in the coming future as well with the new batch of Aurors that are to be drafted in the coming weeks.

Though, Remember, not every mission was a total success. There is also a three percent failure rate. Luckily, no casualties have yet to be released, though we are saddened to say that there were a handful of witches and wizards who have lost their lives to Death...

Continued on page 6...

Ron folded the newspaper and set it aside. "Well, anyone who has died, they haven't released their names yet," he sighed, thinking about his brother Charlie and his girlfriend Tracey. He was glad to know that they were on the same team, looking after one another.

"You shouldn't worry about Charlie or Tracey," Hermione spoke while holding a cup of coffee. "They're both capable fighters."

"Yeah, but the dark side knows how to overwhelm," Ron responded, looking at his breakfast. For once, He hadn't been able to eat as much as he used to. He was too worried, and he didn't know who he was more worried about. Harry suddenly sat next to Ron with bags under his eyes, looking tired. "Late night again?" He asked Harry.

"Dumbledore showed me more memories of Tom's past," Harry replied, "Not to mention, once again telling me how vital it was to get Slughorn's memory. And I've been so busy trying to make this new Quidditch team work together since one of my finest is gone, and with other things as well. Not to mention It's been difficult lately as I accidentally revealed what I wanted from Slughorn. He got angry and knew I was working with Dumbledore and tries to avoid me. You two know how he instantly leaves right after class." Harry sighed. "I kinda wish Josh was here. You, Josh, and I could ambush him somehow. He seems to like you two as well." He sighed again. "But its hopeless."

"Cheer up, you two," Hermione said, "Ron, it's your birthday and it's a Hogsmeade weekend. Maybe you two could get some distractions out of it. Go to Zonko's and Honeyduke's. Have lunch in the Three Broomsticks. Come on, it'll be fun. We'll invite Neville, Daphne, and Ginny, maybe a few others and have some fun! We could visit Hagrid as well." Hermione noticed a small familiar face passing by. "Shaun!" She called, causing the younger boy to stop and turn to his prefect in curiosity. Hermione reached into her pocket to pull out a piece of parchment. "I have something for you from Josh," she said.

Shaun's eyes lit up as he took the parchment from Hermione. "Thank you!" he said with a smile, turning away and walking over to another seat at the table. Once he was in his seat, Shaun opened the parchment. It was a letter from Josh, telling him all the details what his friend was up to and what he was learning. There was another page attached to it, it was notes. He smiled when he realized it was for his Transfiguration class when he wrote to Josh about how difficult it was to turn a porcupine into a pincushion. The notes were a way for Shaun to easily understand how he was to do this spell. Excited to give it a try, Shaun gathered a few sandwiches in a napkin, hopped up from the table and quickly left the Great Hall not noticing that he dropped the letter from Josh at the entrance.

A pair of shoes stopped at the piece of paper and a hand picked up the paper. The hand belonged to Duane, one of McGlaggen's accomplices. His eyes lit up when he realized what he was reading. His heart beating in excited, Duane clutched the letter and quickly ran all the way up to the seventh floor where the doors of the Room of Requirement appeared. He entered the doors quietly and made his way through this maze of lost junk and random furniture, peaking around the corner to see McGlaggen closing the doors to a large black cabinet.

"McGlaggen!" Duane called, causing Cormac to jump and point his wand at Duane.

"Are you insane!" Cormac growled in annoyance when he saw who called him. "What are you doing here?"

"I found something that you might find interesting," Duane said, walking towards Cormac, and waving the letter. "It's a letter someone dropped, and you won't believe who it's from."

Cormac snatched the letter from Duane. His eyes lit up in excitement. "Oh, this is interesting!" he said. "I'm sure Cyrus would love to know about this."

"But what can he do?" Duane curiously asked. "I don't think it's wise to infiltrate a camp full of Aurors."

"Nor I," Cormac smirked, "However, that mother of his can be very convincing." He scanned over the letter. "I'm sure they can convince this Auror Craven to join their cause."

Daphne suddenly woke up in a sweat. He heart was pounding, her back and forehead were covered in sweat. She was having a nightmare of herself and Josh fighting death eaters, but she had to witness her boyfriend get overwhelmed by spells and curses to where he was killed in a bloodied fashion, and then she was hit with a killing curse. That was her biggest fear, losing Josh. She looked at her watch on the end table, cursing herself for missing breakfast and that she had class in ten minutes. She jumped out of bed and dressed as quickly as possible, leaving the dorms with messy hair, no make-up, bags under her eyes, an uneven tie, and an un-tucked shirt.

She made it to Charms with one minute to spare, huffing and puffing, sitting next to Hermione who's eyes widened in surprise at her look. "Are you okay?" Hermione asked.

"No," Daphne breathed out in a huff. "I barely got any sleep last night, or any night. I've been having trouble sleeping.

"You're worried about Josh, Tracey, and your dad," Hermione stated, "I understand. I'm worried too, about all our friends. I'm probably going to be the next one to go."

"Yes, I'm worried," Daphne said, "But for some reason, I've been having this bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. Something's going to happen, but I don't know what it could be."

"I'm sure it's nothing too serious to worry about," Hermione replied, taking Daphne's hand. "Maybe you're worried about this Apparation test coming up, and don't you have Healing this weekend." Daphne nodded. "Maybe that'll distract you enough until Josh and Tracey get back."

Daphne shrugged but hoped it would help.

At lunch, Daphne across from Pansy and Nott trying to stuff food down her throat when an owl swooped in and dropped a letter on her plate. Daphne smiled when she saw it was from Josh, quickly opening the letter and reading. It told her that Josh was going on a mission that night, that it was a simple mission, and that he would be back at Hogwarts in a week.

And don't worry about me, Daph. You know as good as I do that if anything were to ever go down hill, I'll get out of it with ease. I'll wear your pendant for good luck and I'm sure it'd make you feel a whole lot better if I did.

Truly Yours, Josh.

P.s. I'll be back soon, and we'll spend every minute together. I miss you so much!

Daphne smiled. It did make her feel better that Josh was going to were the pendant that she gave her best charms to. It will protect him if things were to go down hill, though he assured her it was a simple mission and nothing more than that. She couldn't wait for him to get back and was now looking forward to spending every minute with him.

Shaun made his way to the Room of Requirement to work on his magic with the notes Josh had given him. He was surprised to see that there were doors there. He sneakily walked up to the doors and opened them to reveal a girl he recognized from last year during the secret Defense classes. She was flourishing her wand and sending curses at dummies and targets. There were other dummies that were strewn across the floor, half exploded and singed. He entered and hid behind the pillar to watch her curiously. His eyes widened when one of her spells struck a dummy that suddenly caught on fire.

"Can i help you?" Astoria asked, not turning around.

Shaun jumped in fright, surprise she knew he was around. "Er," Shaun stuttered, walking out of his hiding spot. "I was just coming to practice my magic, and well I got curious who was in here."

"Why do you want to practice your magic?" Astoria asked, turning and banishing away a dummy.

"Because I want to be ready when the fight comes to me," Shaun answered, further entering the room. "After all, I am Muggle-born and He-who-must-not-be-named doesn't have any love for my kind."

"Voldemort," Astoria angrily corrected, turning to Shaun.

Shaun gulped. "V-voldemort," he stuttered.

"Don't be afraid of a name," Astoria said, "You said so yourself. You want to be ready. Say his name." Shaun nodded, taking heed of her advice. "Voldemort."

Shaun swallowed, "V-voldemort."

"Voldemort!" Astoria said, her voice a little louder.

"Voldemort," Shaun repeated without the stutter.

"Voldemort!" Astoria yelled.

"Voldemort!" Shaun shouted at the top of his lungs.

Astoria smiled, "That's a start." She turned, jabbing her wand towards a dummy where it suddenly turned into dust.

"What about you?" Shaun asked, looking over some books the room provided. "Are you practicing to be ready too?"

"I am," Astoria answered. "Once the year ends, I'm going to find the woman who stole my mother's life."

Shaun's eyes widened. "Are you sure that's a good idea?" he cautiously asked.

"Of course it is," Astoria snapped. "My mother was taken from me and no one else, not my sister or my dad seem to care to go after the woman who killed her, thinking about things as a whole. Wanting to save and fight for everyone else."

"But that's not a bad thing," Shaun said. "Right?"

Astoria sighed. "No, it's not," she replied, "But still. That bitch needs to die for our pain. And I am going to be the one to do it."

"Who was it?" Shaun curiously asked. "Who was the woman who killed your mum?"

Astoria faced a dummy, glaring at it. She waved her and and jabbed it forward. "Expulso!" She shouted. The blue spell zoomed out of her wand, striking and exploding the dummy into nothingness. "Xerina."

"Get back 'ere you blood traitor!" growled a death eater as he ran down the alley of Knockturn during the day. He was running have a certain blonde haired young man who was leading the few death eaters that was chasing after him.

Draco smirked as he turned into Diagon Alley. He was on an Auror mission with his team, and he chose to be the bait. Why? Mostly to impress a redheaded young woman he met when he started training for this Auror program. He was taken with her the moment he laid eyes on her. He remembered it so clearly. He entered the tent housing for him and the other trainees and she was already there, in a tank top, on the floor, doing push ups. She was full of sweat, her hair in a messy pony tail as she grunted her way to a hundred. Draco had been impressed that he didn't realize how much he was staring until a teammate pointed it out. Her first words to him was he asking him to borrow a towel. Of course, he fumbled with his words and just handed her a towel. But as training went on, Draco and this woman gotten to know more about each other. She had graduated Hogwarts two years prior and was interning in the Ministry in the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes under one of their best Obliviators. Like so many, she too had been drafted to the program. Her name was Sophia Roper and Draco was astounded at how proficient at magic she was.

"He's over there!" Shouted another death eater, who appeared in front of Draco.

Draco stopped in his tracks, looking around for another way to run until he spotted someone on a roof. He smirked and stood right where he was. The death eaters stopped in front and behind him, their wands drawn. The crowd had split and ran into random shops to get away from the death and destruction. "Nowhere to run, Malfoy," growled a death eater.

Draco smirked. "Who said I was running?"

A few of the death eaters shred confused glances until one shouted, "It's an ambush!" he shouted pointing to the roof, but it was too late. Shouts of 'Stupefy!' hailed from above as did red jolts of the spell, striking each of the death eaters, stunning them all unconscious. Draco pocketed his own wand and began to gather all of the wands of the death eaters.

"You make great bait, Malfoy," came the voice Draco loved to hear.

"How many times do I have to tell you, Roper," Draco replied, turning to her. Her Auburn colored hair was in a messy pony tail as usual, a few strands falling over her blue eyes. "Call me, Draco." Sophia smiled as she then began to search the death eaters from any contraband. Draco knelt next to her. "I was wondering," he started. Sophia look up with curious eyes. "After our time in the program, would you like to - "

"Malfoy!" someone shouted. Draco turned around. His leading Auror, Benji, was briskly walking up to him.

"Sir?" Draco said.

"You've been called back to Camp," Benji told him. "Immediately."

"Why? What's going on?" Draco quickly asked.

"Wasn't told," Benji replied, "I was just told for you to get back to camp as soon as possible. Which means now!" Draco nodded, gave a nod towards Sophia, and quickly ran out of Diagon Alley, looking for somewhere he could Apparate.

A few minutes later, Draco was quickly running through the camp, heading to the main tent where missions were given out. He quickly entered the tent where he found a few familiar faces along with the Head Auror. Tracey was sitting in a chair staring off in the distance as Charlie Weasley was leaning against a wooden pole looking sad. Another Auror was sitting in a chair, his clothes torn with a small head wound. Draco knew this man, but he couldn't place him. He turned towards Pius. "Head Auror," he lightly bowed. "What's going on here?"

"Ah, Draco," Pius said, "I am afraid I have some bad news." Draco glanced once more around the room, this time noticing a tear roll down Tracey's face. "It's about your cousin, Joshua Black."

Draco's heart suddenly skipped a beat as his stomach dropped. He was almost afraid to ask. "What about him?" he asked.

"I am afraid to say," Pius stopped, lowering his eyes in sadness, "This is difficult to process, but from the bottom of my heart, I am truly sorry." Draco's heart began to quicken its pace. "Your cousin, your friend, Joshua Black - " He paused once more. " - He has been killed in action."

"What?" Draco breathed out. He looked up at Pius and shook his head. "No, no he's not." Draco nervously laughed. "Josh isn't dead. He can't be."

"He is," the Auror said from where he was sitting. "I saw it."

"Draco, this is Auror Craven," Pius introduced, "He was the leading Auror on a simple mission that turned into a massacre of his whole team."

"I barely escaped," Craven added in. "Black was the last one alive, sacrificing himself to save me. The building we were in, he exploded it, taking some death eater with him. I was able to reach the edge of the wards and apparate back to camp. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be alive."

Draco shook his head. "I don't believe it," he said, shaking. "Where's his body? Has anyone not gone back for it?"

"We have actually sent a team to retrieve the bodies of Craven's team," Pius informed, "However, Auror Black's, as well as Auror Shad's bodies were not found, even in the rubble of the building that had exploded."

"If there's no body, then he can't be dead," Draco said, thinking of any way Josh could have survived.

"His body was most likely vaporized," Pius said, "As I was told, Auror Black was preforming a very powerful spell and whatever it may have been, it could have vaporized his body as well as Auror Shad's."

Draco couldn't stand anymore as his legs gave out. He fell to his knees, ignoring the pain from the ground. The pain in his heart was far more worse. His eyes shifted and his heart pounded. After everything, his cousin was dead. It was heartbreaking, but it didn't make any sense. Josh told him his next mission was just a simple capture mission, nothing more. What really happened?

"I shall let you process this," Pius said, "I will inform your superiors that you will be leaving your duties early to process your grief. Take your time, gather your things, and head home or back to Hogwarts. It is your decision. Auror Craven, if you would come with me." And with that, Pius and Craven left the tent.

Draco fell on his hand, trying his hardest to hold in his tears. "He is not dead!" he said through his teeth, punching the ground. "He can't be," he cried, the tears finally letting out.

Tracey stood up, breathing heavily. She suddenly screamed in anger, turning, knocking everything off the table, and then flipping it over. She whipped out her wand and was about to use it until Charlie grabbed her wrist. "Let go," she threatened, glaring at Charlie through her teary eyes.

Charlie shook his head. "I understand how you feel, Davis," he said, "But now is now the time to use magic while your grieving." Tracey's hardened face suddenly softened as she slid to the floor as well, letting go of her wand that feel to the ground. She buried her face in her hands and began to cry. No matter what she did, one by one, her friends were dying. And if Joshua Black, Heir of Slytherin, the best fighter she ever knew, could die, then any one of them could. Everything she worked for, all that built up of hope. It suddenly didn't matter. It was all lost.

"Honey, where's my wand? I need my wand!" Sirius shouted through the house as he was quickly running around the house, gathering things and packing for his first trip out of the country to persuade any witches or wizards to help their cause.

"Did you check your wrist?!" Sandra shouted back as she waved her wand towards a baby bottle, warming it up. She looked over at Alphie was was on his stomach in a baby pin, wiggling and bouncing his little legs.

"Oh, right!" Sirius shouted back.

"Who's my wittle baby boy," Sandra cooed, leaning over and giving a smiling Alphie a baby bottle. Alphie quickly grabbed the bottle and began drinking.

Sirius walked into the sitting room where his wife and youngest son were. Sandra looked up at Sirius who dropped a suitcase next to a doorway, dressed in a muggle suit, his hair combed back, and his goatee neatly shaved. "Well?" Sirius said, "How do I look?"

"Handsome as always," Sandra replied, standing up and walking over to her husband, giving him a kiss.

"Are you sure, you'll be alright?" Sirius asked. "I don't like you and Alphie being here on your own."

"You know I'm not alone," Sandra replied, "Narcissa will be around and so will Andromeda, Ted, Nyhmphadora. They all be around and will come check on me from time to time. What you're doing is very important Sirius. We need the aid and I know for a fact that you're the one who can convince them."

"What if I can't?"

"You won't if you think like that," Sandra said, rubbing her husbands shoulders. "But I know you can. You're smart and charming. You do have a way with words. You've always had. Even behind that prankster exterior you had back in school."

Sirius smirked and kissed his wife once more. "I love you," he said.

"I love you too," Sandra reciprocated. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. "I wonder who could that be," Sandra wondered, making her way to the front door. She opened it to reveal Tonks. "Tonks?" Sandra gasped, as she noticed Tonks looking so sullen and pale. "Are you alright? Come in, come in!" Sandra led Tonks into the sitting room where Sirius was wagging his fingers in front of Alphie's face. He turned when he noticed Tonks.

"Tonks? Hi," he said.

"Can I get you something?" Sandra offered.

Tonks shook her head. "No, Sandra, I don't want anything," she said. She finally looked up at Sandra and Sirius, her lip quivering. "I have to tell you something." She croaked.

Sirius and Sandra shared a scared and worried glance. "Dora, what is it?" Sandra politely asked.

Tears welled up in Tonks' eyes. "Sirius, Sandra," she croaked. "It's Josh." Sandra gasped, her heart dropped as she suddenly felt it. She covered her mouth and shook her head.

"What about Josh?" Sirius asked, feeling worried, "What about him Tonks? Did something happen to Josh?"

Tonks nodded, suddenly unable to say it. "I'm sorry!" she suddenly sobbed. "I am so sorry!"

"No, no," Sandra shook her head, turning to look at Sirius with tears in her eyes. "Sirius, no," she whined, "Not my boy. Please, not my boy!" Sandra suddenly fell to her knees, Sirius caught her, kneeling next to her. "Not my Josh," she cried. A second later, Alphie too began to cry.

Sirius croaked, felling a large lump in the back of his throat. "What," he struggled to say, looking at his younger cousin. "What happened to my son?" Tonks shook her head, tears flowing from her eyes. By her tears, Sirius knew what she had to say. That his son didn't make it. That his son was killed. He couldn't believe it. He didn't want to believe. His son was a strong wizard, stronger than he was. How could he have died?

Sirius clenched his fists. "No," he said, standing up. "I refuse to believe it! Stay with her, please!" he said to Tonks who nodded. Once Sirius exited the room, he stopped in front of the door. His hands were shaking, he sniffed and wiped his nose. He coughed and reached for the door, but his legs gave out as he fell to his knees. It was sixteen years ago all over again, when he found out James and Lily were gone, but this time, he couldn't move. Not because there was no one to chase after to blame, but because this bond he had with his son seemed so powerful that it brought him to his knees, knowing that it was no more.

Sirius suddenly cried out, "Josh! Not again! Please, Merlin, no! Not again!" He looked up. "Please, not my son!" He cried so hard. He wished so much he was there for his son, wished he could be stronger for his wife, and wished, like he did as always, that his best friend James was still around to comfort him from the pain.

He suddenly felt an arm around him. He opened his eyes to see the familiar brown eyes and scarred face of his other best friend, Lupin. "I'm here," Lupin said, hugging his best friend. "I'm here." Sirius leaned into Lupin, crying his eyes out.

"Tracey? Draco?" Pansy said, standing up from the plump chair as she and Nott walked up to their sullen looking house mates. "I thought you two were going to be gone for another weak or so," Pansy said.

"We were given an early release," Tracey quietly said, fiddling with her fingers. "We've been given some bad news." She looked up and around the common room. "Where's Daphne?"

Nott shrugged. "We haven't seen her," he answered, "Why, what's going on? Draco?"

Draco let his bag fall from his shoulder. "Where's Harry?" he asked, ignoring his friend's question.

"Last I saw, he was in the courtyard, with Weasley, Granger, and Longbottom," Nott answered. "Draco, wait!" He called as Draco had suddenly turned and left the common room. Tracey turned and followed after him. Pansy and Nott shared a worried glance and followed after their friends.

Draco led Tracey to the courtyard in front of the clock tower. Pansy, Nott, and William, who had run into Pansy earlier, had joined them. Draco looked around and found the Golden trio discussing with one another. Longbottom and Ginny Weasley. It was Ginny who noticed the Slytherins and whispered to Harry and the others. Everyone looked up to see them. Ron's eyes lit up when he saw Tracey. He was the first to stand up as the Slytherins stopped in front of the group. Ron stepped towards Tracey and excitedly hugged her.

"You are a sight for sore eyes," he said as he hugged Tracey who hugged him back. Ron noticed something about his girlfriend's hug. She hugged him tightly as if she hadn't seen him in a long while, which was true, but it was more than just longing. It was like she really needed to feel his arms around her, for comfort. Ron looked down at Tracey. "Is everything okay?" he asked. Tracey shook her head into his chest to which everyone noticed.

"You're back early," Hermione noticed as everyone stood to their feet. "Is something wrong?"

"Where's Josh?" Harry asked. "Was he not allowed to come back early?"

"Actually," Draco started, looking up at Harry and Hermione. "There is something we need to tell you." Everyone shared a nervous glance. "It's about Josh."

"Did he get hurt?" Hermione quickly asked.

"How bad is it?" Harry continued.

Draco sadly smiled. His heart panged for them because they too believed, like him, that Josh was incapable of dying. He shook his head. "It far worse," he answered, hearing the girls gasp. "I'm sorry to be the one to tell you," his voice croaked, looking down, unable to look anyone in the eye.

"What is it?" Hermione said softly, hand to her mouth. She suddenly felt her stomach flop. Harry's heart began to beat faster as Ron felt Tracey grab onto his clothes. "Where's Joshua?"

"He's not coming," Draco croaked, his breathing quickening. "Josh isn't coming back."

"What do you mean he's not coming back," Harry demanded, "Is he staying with the Aurors?!"

Draco shook his head. "He's not coming back at all," he said, and then finally looked into his former enemy's eyes. "He's dead."

Hermione instantly dropped to her knees, tears welling in her eyes as she then began to sob. Ron's eyes widened in horror unable to process what he just heard. Neville slumped back into the bench in shock as Ginny covered her mouth and began to silently cry. Pansy grabbed onto William, burying her face into his shoulders as His eyes widened in shock, tears welling in his eyes. He couldn't believe what he heard. Nott stood there frozen, staring into the ground, feeling numb.

It was Harry who was shaking his head. "No," he whispered, "He is not dead," he added louder. "He can't be dead. He's Josh. He survived so much worse. There's no way he could have died."

"How did it happen?" Ron asked.

"He sacrificed himself to save someone else," Tracey answered, tears in her eyes.

Ron numbly nodded. "Sounds like him," he said.

"That is something he would do," William muttered, holding onto Pansy.

"What?" Harry said, suddenly feeling angry. He still shook his head in disbelief. "What are you saying? Why is everyone crying? Why are you acting like he's dead? He's not. Josh can't be gone!" He angrily argued, stepping away and then turning towards the group. "Don't be ridiculous. We know magic, and we know death eaters. Most importantly, we know how to take them down. Josh is one of the best! He's not dead, he had to have escaped!"

"Craven watched a building fall on him," Draco said through his tears. "He was trying to preform a very powerful charm, and it vaporized him in the process as well as making the building fall on him. There was no body to find."

"Because he escaped!" Harry shouted, his face red, though his eyes were glistening. "Why are you all listening to me?!"

"Harry," Hermione whispered, standing up and walking over to him. "Harry."

Harry stepped back, holding up a hand to hold her off. "Don't," he said. "You're telling me after everything we've been through? The troll, the Chamber, Dementors, the tournament, Department of Mysteries, all those battles - " Harry swallowed heavily, feeling a thick lump in his throat. " - After all of that. He dies on a simple Auror mission?" Harry shook his head in disbelief. "No!" he yelled, causing the women to jump. "He is not dead! He's not," he croaked in the end. Harry quickly turned to step away, but his leg gave way and he fell to his knee. Everyone watched as Harry finally gave up with his argument and began to sob, punching into the ground. "He's not," he cried, "He can't be." Hermione quickly ran to his side and put an arm around him.

Harry cried into Hermione's chest, feeling so much heartbreak than ever before. After all the people he loved survived over and over, one of them died. It was his friend, no, more than a friend, his brother.

Tracey pulled herself away from Ron. "Where's Daphne?" she asked, "She needs to know."

"She's at Hogsmeade camp," Hermione answered, "Helping with the refugees."

"I have to go tell her," Tracey sniffed, wiping her eyes.

"I'll go with you," Ron said, taking a hold of Tracey's hand.

"We'll go too," Pansy said, stepping forward. "She's going to need friends to support her when she hears this."

"Thank you," Tracey said, as she gave a nod and then lead Ron, Pansy, William, and Nott away from Neville, Ginny, Hermione, and Harry. Neville went over to help Harry to his feet to take him back to the dorms with Ginny and Hermione following. After everyone left, someone had been hiding in the corridor by the open way behind the group of friends. Shawn was numbly slumped against the wall, his face covered in his tears. He saw Josh's friends hurrying down the castle without Josh and knew he had to come find out what was going on. He wish he hadn't because his only friend of Hogwarts was dead and it broke his heart into a million pieces.

For the whole day, Daphne had a weird feeling in the pit of her stomach. She couldn't quite place it, nor could she get rid of it. Classes didn't help her ignore it, nor didn't eating help either. Luckily, the weekend was comping up with would give Daphne the chance to help Madam Pomfrey, other healers, as well as a few other students who volunteered to help with the refugees from the villages that were now occupied by dark forces. Daphne woke up early the next day, still feeling a bit off, but decided to do her best to ignore it. She dressed in the white uniform Pomfrey had provided to her, left the dorms to group up with the other volunteered students in front of the Hospital Wing.

Daphne stood alone, not wanting to speak at the moment as the others conversed with one another. She tried to think of spells and potions she would need to use for whatever injuries or ailments she was going to face that day. It was her third weekend volunteering and she had definitely learned even more healing charms she had ever known from Madam Pomfrey. A few minutes later, Madam Pomfrey appeared and gathered the students, leading them towards the front doors to where a few carriages were waiting for them. The carriages took them to the camp outside of Hogsmeade. Once they were inside, Madam Pomfrey and the students made their way towards the biggest tent that held all the injured people. The head nurse gave out some assignments and the students dispersed to help the sick and injured.

Throughout the day, Daphne strongly smiled as she checked on her set of patients. She stayed positive and tried to uplift the hopeless of her patients. She administered potions for the sick and salves for burns, or knitted stitches to those wounds that couldn't be sealed by magic. She then came up to a couple of girls. One of about four years of age, laying in bed, while the other sat next to her in a chair, probably nine or ten. The girl in the chair had a broken leg that was healing on its own without magic while the girl in bed had dragon pox that was magically given to her. Daphne already had dragon pox so it was good for her to take care of the girls.

As Daphne got closer, she noticed the older girl was read Tales of the Beedle and the Bard to the four year old who was coughing. "How are we doing today?" Daphne softly asked the twos girls.

"She seems to be doing better," The older girl said, speaking about the younger one. "How much longer does she have with Dragon pox?"

Daphne smiled as she waved her wand over the younger girl who stared wide eyed at Daphne. "It looks like about a day or two," Daphne answered, pulling a potion out of her pocket, sitting up the four year old to help her drink it. "This will help. And I have this," she pulled out a salve and began to dab it on the greenish pox. "This will help with the itching and scarring." She smiled at the younger girl and then turned her attention to the older one. "I see your reading the Tales of Beedle and the Bard to her."

"It comforts her," the older girl said. "It makes fer feel like she's home. Mum read it to her before bed. I guess that falls to me now." She solemnly finished. She looked up at Daphne. "She doesn't understand mum and dad left, but she will when she gets older. But i'm going to keep them alive in here and here." She pointed to her head and her heart. "I have to be brave for her."

"And you are," Daphne said, her heart breaking a little though she was feeling uplifted when the older girl said she had to be brave for her sister. "I see that Gryffindor house will have a new and wonderful student in their future." She smiled.

The older sister shyly smiled. "That's the house mum and dad were in," she revealed. "They saved our lives by going out there to fight off the death eaters." She turned to look at her younger sister. "I'd be proud to be in the same house as them. I will do my best to make them proud and do right by my sister."

Daphne grinned. "You are a going to be an amazing big sister," she replied, and then thought of her younger sister. "You know, i have a younger sister too. She can be hot headed and a pain sometimes but I would do anything for her." She smiled at all the memories she had with her sister even if the latest memories with her weren't so great. Even if they weren't, Daphne would protect and fight for her.

"Is that her?" The older girl said, pointing behind her. "She kind of looks like you."

Daphne turned around and was surprised to see Astoria in the infirmary tent, curiously looking around. Her eyes landed on Daphne who watched as Astoria poked her head out and shouted something. Confused and curious, Daphne stood up and began to make her way towards her sister. She stopped when Tracey entered the tent, Ron, and then Draco, followed by her housemates Pansy and Nott, as well as William. Her heart jumped in excitement as she waited for another familiar face to appear, but there was no one else. Instead she looked at their solemn faces, from Astoria uneasy and uncomfortable expression to Tracey's look. Her stomach instantly dropped. She began to shake in fear as her heart quickened its pace. Just by the look on Tracey's face, Daphne knew something was horribly wrong.

Everyone walked over to Daphne who reached out with a hand, taking a few steps back only to stumble and fall to the ground. Tracey quickly ran to her, grabbing her hand. "Daphne," she mumbled. Daphne refused to look her best friend in the eyes, pulling away from Tracey. "Daphne," Tracey said a little louder, reaching out for Daphne who jerked away. "Josh - " Daphne instantly put her hands to her ears, refusing to hear what her best friend wanted to say.

Astoria knelt next to her sister. "I'm sorry, Daphne." She said as Daphne shook her head, as tears welled in her eyes. "Daphne." Astoria reached up to grab her sisters hands to pull them away from her ears.

"No!" Daphne cried, trying to pull away from her sister, but she suddenly felt too weak. "No."

"I'm sorry, Daphne," Tracey sniffed, reached over to touch Daphne's cheek. "I am so sorry."

Daphne shook her head, her heart violently aching, her whole body trembling. "No," she whined. "No."

"He's gone, Daphne," Tracey voiced, her voice cracking. Daphne began to rock back and forth, shaking her head, as tears began to fall. "Josh is gone."

"No!" Daphne screamed out, doubling over and nearly falling to the floor, but Tracey caught her in her arms. "No, please," she sobbed. "Not my Josh!" Daphne began to sob hysterically, clenching her fists, and shaking uncontrollably. Astoria began to cry, unable to see her sister that way as everyone gathered around Daphne, the girls silently crying and kneeling next to Daphne to comfort her.

Daphne was taken back Hogwarts half an hour later. She never stopped crying nor feeling horribly depressed. Her heart ached so violently for Josh who was now gone from her life. It had all made sense now. All the uneasiness and knots in her stomach she had been feeling of late. Why she felt something was wrong but she didn't think it was about Josh. She thought it was the looming dark forces over the Wizarding world, but it wasn't. It was the loss of her one true love.

Cormac was sitting in the Room of Requirement with many broken objects and furniture around him. The news of Josh's death upset him so much that he lashed out on everything around him. He wanted to be the one to take Josh's life. It was supposed to be him and no one else. He guessed he had to settle for Josh's friends which was the next best thing. Maybe take the life of Josh's true love. Maybe that would make it worth it. Suddenly, there was a whooshing sound. Cormac turned towards the Vanishing Cabinet, walking over and opening the doors. An apple sat at the floor. He grabbed it and turned it around as there was a huge bite mark in it. He smirked to himself. The time was getting close, and soon, an attack on Hogwarts would leave it leaderless once it was over.

Cyrus screamed out in anger, thrusting out his wand and shooting spells around the room, setting things on fire, exploding things, transfiguring them, banishing them, whatever random magic shot out of him towards these random things. His mind was scattered by his fury, he didn't care what spells or curses were spewing out from his wand. His mother stood still as a few other death eaters were hiding behind furniture or trying their best to dodge the spells that was shooting out of Cyrus's wand. A few others were struck and only one was hit with a killing curse.

After a few minutes, Cyrus stopped, breathing heavily, fuming. He turned to Craven whose face had already been bruised and bloodied as if someone had physically beaten him. He was on his knees, shaking. Cyrus knelt in front of the beaten man and tried to look into his eyes. "I told you," Cyrus heatedly whispered, "Black was to be left alive for me!" He finished with a growl. "For me!"

"I had no other choice," Craven struggled to say. "I had to destroy the building. We'd all be dead if I didn't."

Cyrus mockingly laughed. "Oh please!" he hissed. "My cousin isn't that strong!"

"He was breaking the wards!" Craven interrupted. "He seemed pretty strong to me!"

"No one can break my mother's wards!" Cyrus growled back. "No one! Not even the Dark Lord himself." He stood back up and began to pace. "I should be happy that he's dead, but it should have been me to take his life," he hissed. "That's what all this was for?! What am I supposed to do now?"

"You can still kill his friends, my dear," Xerina suggested from the corner. "Maybe capture his little harlot and torture her as well. Kill any and everyone who was close to him. There's still his parents and the blood traitor newborn."

"That's right!" Cyrus said, suddenly feeling excited. "I can still torture him even after death by setting my sets on everyone who has ever been close to Josh. I can do that." He glanced up, and then looked at a nervous looking death eater. "You," he said, causing the death eater to jump. "Send my sister her lunch and tell her what happened to her cousin! Do it now!" He commanded. The Death eater eagerly nodded and left the room.

Rina sat in the chair as usual, watching the rain fall down as she stared out the window. The door opened to which she knew it was already noon. One of her brother's lackey's was coming in to bring her lunch. She heard the metal tray hit the wooden table, but she didn't hear the sound of the door closing. She turned to see the death eater staring at her.

"What are you looking at, dead head?" She asked in annoyance.

The young death eater nervously scratched the back of his neck. "Erm," he stuttered, "I, er, I thought that you should probably know - "

" - Know what?" Rina said, turning back to the window.

"It's about your cousin, Josh."

Rina turned back and sat up straight. "What about him?" She quickly asked, "Did Cyrus capture him?"

The death eater shook his head. "No," he answered, "Cyrus or the men he sent didn't get the chance."

Rina stood out of her chair, her heart began to nervously quicken. "What are you talking about?"

"Well, you see," the death eater began, "Cyrus did send a large squadron of death eaters to capture Josh and kill his teammates, and they were near successful, but - "

" - But what?!" Rina interrupted, as her breathing began to quicken and her stomach flopped.

"Well, one of the Aurors, Craven, that was persuaded to join our cause," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well, he was scared, and he tried to save our people's lives."

"What did he do to Josh?" Rina said through her teeth, taking a step towards the young death eater. "What happened?"

"The building your cousin was in," The death eater said, "Well, he was using this spell that could have brought everyone down, but Craven use a blasting hex and brought the building down on him."

"What?" Rina said, suddenly feel confused. "What did you say?"

"Your cousin was crushed by a whole building," The death eater said, "He's dead."

Rina stood their frozen, suddenly feeling numb. She was just told that her cousin was killed. The cousin who once freed her from her father and showed her the truth about him, gave her a home. Her once chance at getting out of here. She began to feel a rush of emotions, anger, sadness, frustration, anxiety, and dread. She fell to her knees, clenched her fists and screamed. A wave of magic exploded outward from Rina's body, exploding some of the furniture and blowing back the death eater into the stone wall, knocking him unconscious. His wand flying from his wand, clattering on the stone floor. And then, the magic it was gone.

Rina sat their breathing heavily, tears flowing from her eyes. She glanced down, noticing that death eater's wand was inches away from her. She looked up to see the door was still open too. She quickly wiped her eyes, grabbed the wand, and made her way towards the door. She ran into the hall way to see a couple of death eaters running her way, calling after her. Rina pointed the wand at the ceiling. "Reducto!" she screamed. The orange spell struck the ceiling, causing it to crash down and block the death eaters from getting to her. Rina turned and began to run the opposite way, reaching the top of some stairs. She looked down to see a Death Eater walking by who looked up and noticed her.

"Hey!" he shouted and quickly reached for his wand.

Rina was quicker, flicking her wand. "Stupefy!" she cried, stunning the death eater, and then ran down the stairs.

"Get back here!" A death eater yelled.

Rina turned to see a couple of death eaters at the top of the stairs. She pointed her wand at the stairs. "Glisseo!" She incantated, turning the stairs into a slid. The death eaters cried as the slid down and slid into end tables and other furniture. Rina turned and continued to run and look for the front door. She ran through a corridor and could see a foyer. She entered and looked around, finding it empty and she heard the cries from her brother.

"Rina!" She heard him scream throughout the manor. Rina ignored it, running to the front door. "Rina, no!" Rina froze, her hand on the doorknob. She turned to see her brother at banner area above the foyer. "Where are you going to go?" he asked her. "No one is going to take you in, you know that don't you?" Through her teary eyes, she glared at her older brother. "I wouldn't even bother going to the Blacks, they'll be dead soon. Their son didn't last, will you?"

Rina screamed in anger, thrusting out the wand where a purple curse shot out towards Cyrus who ducked out of the way. The wall and floor beneath him exploded as he fell to the ground floor. Rina took the chance to run out the door and looked around surprised to see she was back in Edinburough. Without a look back, she tightened the grip on the wand she secured and ran deeper into the town, running through the streets, pushing past people and ignoring their angry protests. An hour later, she reached the edge of the town and entered the forest surrounding it, running deep into it. Exhaustion caught up to her as she stopped at a tree, sliding to the ground. She hugged her knees and and leaned her head into her arms, crying into them, processing the death of the cousin that once again bought her, her freedom.

A few days have passed. All of the students and professors were summoned into the Great Hall where only seats were line through the place. Everyone filed in as Headmaster Dumbledore was already standing at his podium, waiting for everyone to take a seat. Harry, Hermione, Ron, Tracey, and all of those who knew Josh all sat together, and knew what this was. Daphne didn't appear as she stay inside her dorm, unable to make the appearance. Most people who had been here during the Triwizard Tournament, had a feeling what this was about as well. News of the death of certain students had spread throughout the school as usual.

Once everyone was seated and quiet, Dumbledore stood for a moment, scanning his eyes over all of his students and Professors. "There are students who come and go trough these corridors of our great school," he began. "Students who come in awe through those great oak doors in their first year, and leave in tears in their seventh year, looking back at all of the amazing memories they have made throughout their school years." His eyes scanned over the students. "However, it is heartbreaking to say, that through dark times, there are students who do not make it to their last day of school. "In the far past, it was Myrtle Warren, and recent past, Cedric Diggory, both killed at the hands of Lord Voldemort himself." He paused for a moment. "Last year, it was Blaise Zabini, and this year alone, a handful of students were murdered. In these very dark times, it continues. The Ministry is leading you to believe that this program is one hundred percent effective and perfect. The truth is that it is another failed attempt to keep hope up and keep us from panicking. I have found out that more students have died under this new Ministry program, a Program that has promised to keep its new Aurors alive. A false promise."

Tracey heard someone scoff. She turned around to see that is was McGlaggen who scoffed. He noticed Tracey looking at him and gave her a wink. Tracey grimaced and turned away, remembering when Josh revealed to her that he knew it was McGlaggen who was behind the attacks inside the school.

"One of those students is someone who is prominently know throughout the school. A student who has proudly made a name for himself throughout his years of learning and gaining new experiences." Dumbledore continued. "I am regretfully sad to announce that student is none other than Joshua Black."

Many gasps rang throughout the Hall as Dumbledore waved his wand to conjure a white banner where images of Josh flashed. A few of the students began to silently sob as the watched the memories of Josh. Images of his time at Hogwarts. These were memories provided from his friends and Professors. There were images of Josh entering through the Great Hall, being sorted into Gryffindor, reuniting with Harry at the end of first year, facing bullies with Neville standing behind him, standing up to a basilisk, preforming spells with ease, laughing and smiling with his friends in Hogsmeade, a memory of him and Blaise giving each other a high five, a memory of him hugging Tracey and Daphne, a memory of Josh standing next to the other Triwizard champions, him facing the dragon, the merpeople, and spiders from the maze, memories of him dancing with Hermione, Tracey, Daphne, and Blaise during the Yule Ball, memories of Josh teaching students Defense with Harry, memories of Josh playing Quidditch, memories of the battle at the Ministry, and then some recent memories of Josh taking charge of his birthday incident, more images of Josh preforming wonderful magic and producing a corporeal patronus, a memory with him and Daphne smiling at one another, and finally an image of him standing in his Gryffindor robes, smiling towards everyone, and lastly there was a picture. It was of Josh and his entire friends which consisted mostly of Dumbledore's army.

"Joshua Black was a wondrous boy who has change many lives throughout his years in Hogwarts," Dumbledore spoke, "Even changing paths to those close to him who in turn, changed the paths of many others." His eyes were on a teary eyed Draco who grabbed his chest when he heard these words, unable to stop the tears from coming. Draco was surprised when he left the Hospital wing about how so many Slytherins had decided to follow the same path he had chosen instead of following the path of their parents. It was once he thought he was shunned by his housemates, but that wasn't true anymore. He was a role model to them, especially to the younger students. He had become friends again with Crabbe, Goyle, and Nott. It was refreshing, and thing had become even better than before.

"He has touched all of our hearts - " Tracey heard another scoff and knew it was McGlaggen. " - And impressed all us Professors how gifted he was with his magic. Joshua Black is courageous, daring, intelligent, loyal, and ambitious. Great qualities and the same kind of Qualities one would find in each of the Hogwarts Founders." A lot of students were sniffling and wiping their eyes. "Though Joshua was not the only student who has passed away - " Dumbledore then continued to list four more students and speak about all their accomplishments as well as show many memories from those students. Their friends could be heard sobbing uncontrollably.

And then it was silent. Dumbledore had stopped speaking about the students, his eyes gleaming over his entire student body as they wait for him to continue.

"These are undoubtedly the darkest times of the Wizarding World," The Headmaster spoke. "It is in these times that we all must come together and hold true to what we believe in. That is the unity of goodness. They say if you have one stick, it can easily be broken, but if we have a bundle of sticks, together, the harder it is to break. I see it in all of your eyes, including our teacher's as well as mine, that we are afraid and scared. There is nothing wrong with that because we are only human being. But without fear, there is no courage. I believe every single one of you is capable of being brave and courageous in the face of fear. When ants unite, the can tie down a dragon! In these times we cannot be separated in interest or divided in purpose. We all must stand together until the end. Unity, can be a powerful thing, so powerful which is the light that can illuminate the whole world. For unity to be real, it must stand the severest strain without breaking. It is not impossible. As long as we are together, we may be able to accomplish the things that need to be accomplished. And remember, as long as one man, woman, or even child, stands against them, they will never be able to claim victory!"

Harry suddenly stood to his feet, raising his wand into the air, in honor of Dumbledore's speech, and in honor of those who were fallen. Ron and Hermione were the next ones to stand, follow by Ginny, Neville, Tracey, Draco, William, Pansy, Nott, Shaun, and Astoria as well as many of the members of Dumbledore's Army. The rest of the Gryffindors followed, as well as the Hufflepuffs, and then the Ravenclaws, finally, the rest of the Slytherins all raised their wands into the air in remembrance. The Professors followed and Dumbledore was the last to raise his wand. And out of each of those wands, tiny lights floated outwards and began to soar above them making the Great Hall fill up the day sky with stars.

Daphne looked at he pale face in the mirror of the bathroom. Her eyes were red from crying with deep dark bags under her eyes. She pursed her mouth when Josh's face flashed in her mind, trying to keep herself from crying. Yet, once again, she couldn't hold it in. She let out a sob and slid to the floor, hugging her knees to her chest, continuing to cry once more. Suddenly, there was a beautiful musical not that struck her ears. The sound put warmth in her heart and throughout the rest of her body. She opened her eyes as she suddenly felt like not crying anymore. Instead, Daphne stood up, left the bathroom, and entered her dorm. She gasped in surprise when a familiar majestic bird sat by her bed. It was Josh's Phoenix. It began to beautifully sing towards Daphne who suddenly felt comfort at the sounds of the Phoenix. She walked over to Blaise, raising her hand and caressing the bird.

"I'm sorry," She whispered to the Phoenix. "I miss him too." Blaise nuzzled into Daphne's hand, causing her to give a teary smile. "Okay," she said, "You can stay with me. It only seems right." Blaise sang a few beautiful notes which continued to comfort Daphne who suddenly felt exhausted. She crawled into bed while staring at Blaise, and before she knew it. She was fast asleep.

Meanwhile, Cormac had been casually strolling through the corridors, making his way up the seventh floor, making the doors of the Room of Requirement appear, and walked inside. A blurry figure walked out of an alcove where they suddenly disillusioned their self, revealing Tracey. "What are you up to, McGlaggen."