Thick, dark smoke surrounded Marlene as she rushed through the halls of the burning building. Flames shot up everywhere, trapping her. She was stuck, coughing, beams collapsing around her.

"Help!" she screamed, yet the words came out sounding quiet as a whisper. She clutched at her throat, curling into a ball on the burning floor. All she could see was fire, fire everywhere.

"MARLENE!" someone screamed. She'd closed her eyes; the smoke hurt them too much. "MARLENE, WAKE UP!" She began to scream and when she opened her eyes once more she wasn't in the burning building but instead a bed, five boys' faces peering over her. Marlene jumped up, all of them jolting backwards.

"What happened?" she asked, breathing heavily, gasping for air. It'd felt so real…it'd felt like the end.

"You were screaming," Remus, explained a drawn expression upon his face. "You kept screaming for help." Marlene shook her head, burying her face into her hands.

"I'm so sorry."

"Don't apologize," Sirius told her, "we all know what it feels like."

"No," Marlene said, staring up. "It wasn't like that, it wasn't a nightmare, it…." She stopped herself, knowing it sounded stupid.

"What?" Peter asked anxiously from beside her. Marlene gulped.

"It felt real," she told the group.

"Marlene…" Sirius began in his usual skeptical tone.

"What happened?" Fabian pressed. "In the dream?"

"I was trapped in a burning building," Marlene explained to him, thankful someone was, at least, interested. "There were flames everywhere, the building was collapsing."

"Do you know where you were?" Remus asked uneasily. "Anything familiar?" Marlene shook her head, feeling completely useless.

"No," she said, running her fingers through her sweat soaked hair.

"It was just a dream," Sirius sighed stubbornly, "it doesn't have to mean anything." Marlene hated when he brushed her off like that.

"It felt real," she repeated, her heart still pounding in her ears. Remus smiled at her sympathetically.

"Sirius is right, it was probably just a nightmare." She sat back, trying to calm her breaths. They were right, how could dreams be real? It was just some superstitious crap. It didn't mean it hadn't freaked Marlene out. She sat up, rubbing her hands along her face as the other boys headed back towards their beds, bleary-eyed with sleep. When she looked up the only one left standing was Peter.

"What did you say happened?" he asked, his eyes round with fear.

"A burning building," Marlene replied uneasily. "Why?" Peter stood there for a moment, his mouth gaping open and then he shook his head.

"I just...have this thing about dreams," he told her. "Someone told me once they reflect something you're experiencing in your subconscious."

"Well, I wouldn't mind if my subconscious could just calm the hell down for a little while," Marlene huffed, lying back down as Peter headed for his bed. She doubted she'd be able to get much sleep now, not with the images stuck running in her head.


Emmeline woke up due to a rough shove from Mary.

"For the last time Em, you need to get up," her friend said with a note of irritation. It was the third time she'd tried to wake Emmeline up that morning.

"Fine," she replied grumpily, climbing out from beneath the warm covers and making her way towards the bathroom. She stretched her arms above her head, yawning widely, before she nearly jumped out of her skin, spotting Gideon at the sink brushing his teeth.

"Morning," he mumbled with a mouth full of toothpaste. He had clearly just jumped out of the shower, throwing on a pair of form fitting jeans but no shirt. His built chest was visible, toned and tan. His auburn hair was dripping wet and pushed back. Emmeline tried hard not to let her true feelings show.

"Good morning…" she said quietly, heading for the sink beside him. She pulled her toothbrush from the cup, watching Gideon curiously all the while as she went through the motions.

"It took an hour to finally get you out of bed," Gideon commented with admiration, spitting his toothpaste out. Emmeline nodded. "I think Mary was ready to throw a bowl of water over your head." He sighed, leaning back against the sink, his hands behind him clutching it, his muscles tensed. Emmeline forced her eyes away. Stop being so bloody obvious.

"I should probably get out of your hair soon," he said. "You guys must be getting kind of sick of me after two weeks, Marlene probably wants her bed back." Emmeline spit into the sink, washing out her mouth.

"Not at all," she spoke hurriedly, most likely speaking for herself more than anyone else. She knew that Mary and Alice were growing antsy for Gideon to head back to his own room and Marlene was constantly complaining about the mess in the boy's dormitory. "Everyone likes having you around." Gideon scoffed, raising his eyebrows with amusement.

"Everyone," he asked her, grinning, "or you?" A sly smile tugged at Emmeline's lips.

"Both," she lied, Gideon edging closer towards her.

"You know we've been in the same dorm as each other for two weeks and you haven't made one move on me," he told her. Emmeline's heart was in her throat.

"Did you want me to?" He wasn't staring into her eyes anymore; his gaze had traveled down towards her lips, wet and minty from brushing her teeth.

"What do you think?" Within seconds Emmeline had leapt forward, her lips meeting his heatedly. She curled her fingers around the back of his ears, Gideon clutching her close to him. It felt amazing, better than it had the first time when it'd been so quick, so impulse filled. This felt much more satisfying.

"Emmeline!" Mary's voice cried from beyond the bathroom door. "Have you fallen asleep in there?" Gideon and Emmeline jumped apart as quickly as they'd collided, mischievous grins upon their faces.

"No!" Emmeline replied snappily. "I'll meet you down in the Great Hall!" She heard the door swing shut behind Mary and Emmeline threw herself into Gideon's arms once more, not wanting the kiss to be over quite yet. It was ten minutes later before they finally got out of the bathroom and changed for class.

Gideon put Emmeline in his lap when they came upon the stairs and the second he touched them they transformed into a slide, the pair traveling down in a fit of giggles. Emmeline felt flushed and excited as they moved from the portrait hole hand in hand. They'd been hanging out more often, spending evenings together, doing homework in the library silently next to one another, but this was the first time it'd been clear what they both wanted.

Something between them made sense; it fit. When Emmeline was next to Gideon she felt cared for and admired in all the right ways. It was the longest she'd ever held onto a guy without having to sleep with him and the feeling was euphoric.

"Now your roommates are really going to want me gone," Gideon sighed as they traveled down the stairs towards the Great Hall for breakfast. Emmeline looked up at him and smiled.

"We'll just be extra quiet," she assured him with a wink, Gideon chuckling. Suddenly the pair paused at the top of the landing, staring down at Fabian and Everett who had stopped in the process of walking up towards them. Emmeline looked over - the joy was gone from Gideon's eyes. He tensed up, dropping Emmeline's hand, and then went stomping down the stairs. Emmeline ran to keep up with him.

"Hi, Gid," Fabian said friendly, his brother glaring back at him. Emmeline paused before the group.

"So, what, are you just gallivanting around the castle together now?" Gideon seethed.

"Well, considering the whole school knows about us after that party what's the use anymore?"

"That's just great," Gideon growled. Emmeline could see Everett dying to say something but the look Fabian passed him made him back off.

"What do you want from me, Gideon? You don't want me to be happy, that's for sure." Emmeline bowed her head, wondering if it were possible for her to politely slip away now.

"I just want you to leave me the hell alone," Gideon said harshly, turning for the stairs.

"Good luck with that!" Fabian cried after him furiously. "We're in the same family!" Emmeline paused there for a moment, Gideon stopping at the bottom of the stairs and looking back up for her.

"Are you coming?" he asked, Emmeline nodding in response. She turned towards Fabian and Everett for a moment, smiling.

"Nice to see you, Fabian."

"You too, Em."

"I'm glad to see you happy," she told him, chasing after Gideon who waited at the bottom of the stairs. She came to find his eyes burning with fury, his hands shaking.

"I can't believe him," Gideon nitpicked, "going around the school, parading his relationship." Emmeline's stomach knotted up. She understood Gideon's original reserve, it'd been a shocking discovery, but after two weeks? She was amazed by how biting his behaviour continued to be.

"Gideon," she said, catching the latter's attention. "I really like you." Gideon smiled.

"I like you too Emmeline-"

"I don't want this to stop here because I think we could work really well together but Gideon, I can't be with you if that's how you're going to continue to treat your brother." Gideon's face dropped.

"I-"

"I think you need to sort some stuff out with him," she told him honestly, "before we can start anything here." Emmeline wanted to be sick just saying the words. "I really hope you make the right decision, Gideon," she said finally, turning to take the stairs to the Great Hall alone.


Alice was on her way to the library, a handful of textbooks cradled in her arms when she caught sight of Dorcas Meadowes coming down from Dumbledore's office. Her long black hair was swooped up into a high ponytail and she had on her usual leather jacket.

"Aren't you a little old to be in school?" Alice called out, causing Dorcas to turn around.

"Thought I heard your irritating little footsteps," Dorcas teased her, Alice rolling her eyes.

"My footsteps aren't irritating."

"Your feet are freakishly small."

"Oh, shut up," Alice scoffed, smacking the latter on the shoulder playfully. "What are you doing here?"

"We have an Order meeting tonight. I was just giving Dumbledore the time." Alice nodded, her eyes lighting up with excitement. She couldn't deny the urge she had to tag along. "Don't even think about it," Dorcas warned her, "we got in enough shit because of you lot last time."

"Yeah well, I think Marlene definitely paid the price for that one." Dorcas frowned.

"He did dump her, then?"

"Has he not said anything?" Dorcas shook her head.

"No, he's just been such a pain in the ass recently, Kingsley and I assumed." Alice sighed, the pair beginning a slow journey along the corridor as they chatted.

"I think she really likes him," Alice shared with a heavy heart. "Ever since he ended things she's been so depressed."

"He hasn't been much better. He's been such a dick since she stopped coming round." Alice paused, a light going on in her head.

"What time is your meeting?" she asked excitedly, Dorcas giving her a questionable look.

"I'm not-"

"What if we force them to talk beforehand?" Alice suggested. "We get Marlene down to Hogsmeade, force them to talk, then you can take us back to the castle safely?" Alice knew that when she and Frank had broken up Marlene had often spoken to him or tried to help mend things. After seeing how distraught she'd been at James' birthday, she felt the least she could do was give Marlene the chance to make things right with Henry.

"McGonagall wouldn't like it…" Dorcas worried, her adult responsibilities kicking in.

"We'll sneak out under James's invisibility cloak and then can say you caught us and returned brought us back immediately," Alice insisted.

"You'll probably get detention."

"Fuck it," the witch said shaking her head. "All in the name of love, right?" Dorcas crossed her arms, taking a deep breath as she thought about the whole thing. Alice watched her anxiously, waiting hopefully for the word 'okay' to pop out of her mouth. She couldn't see Marlene with a frown on her face any longer.

"Fine," Dorcas agreed, Alice jumping up with joy. "Meet me at the end of the bridge at six, just after dinner." Alice grinned so wide her cheeks hurt. "Are we telling the two of them what we're arranging?" Dorcas asked.

"No, they'll probably back out if we do." Alice furrowed her brow as she tried to come up with a good excuse Marlene wouldn't immediately catch.

"Tell her I'm sneaking you two out for a girls night," Dorcas offered. "That I'm taking you down to Hogsmeade for a quick Butterbeer to cheer her up. I'll get Kingsley to help me get some alcohol into Henry's system so he's not too grouchy by the time we reach them."

"Yes," Alice nodded enthusiastically, "perfect."

"Okay, I have to get back to the office." Dorcas began walking away, stepping backwards so her eyes remained on Alice. The Gryffindor gave her a thumbs up.

"Six o'clock, Griffith!"

"It's Longbottom now!" Alice replied with a proud smile.


Lily had decided to spend her afternoon in the Prefects' Office working on the week's schedule. She found the process strangely comforting. The routine of it all was relaxing and she liked the quiet of the room when no one else was in it. Everyone seemed cranky that afternoon anyway.

Marlene was off from a bad night's sleep which made her poor conversation, Emmeline and Mary seemed to be butting heads over everything, and the Prewett brothers had been glaring at one another relentlessly for two weeks. Lily couldn't stand the tension anymore. She'd decided instead to spend her lunch hour in peace and quiet, although she was sure James would come looking for her soon enough.

Just like magic someone knocked on the office door, the redhead looking up.

"Yes?" she answered, listening to the slow creak of the door as it was pushed open. It wasn't her messy haired boyfriend who peaked inside but instead Fabian.

"Hi, Lil," he said shyly, giving her a nervous smile. Lily watched him expectantly as he stepped into the room, closing the door behind him.

"Hey, Fabian," she greeted him. Lily realized suddenly that the pair hadn't been alone together since they'd broken up. It caused a funny feeling to erupt in the pit of her stomach. She loved James deeply but sometimes she missed the old days, the fun she and Fabian had shared. She hated that they hadn't remained friends.

"I um…I never really got a chance to speak with you after the party," he explained, Lily shrugging.

"You had more pressing things to worry about." Lily didn't want it to look like the topic bothered her much but truthfully she hadn't been able to get her mind off it since finding out.

"Still, I believe I owe you an explanation as well." Lily nodded, her eyes dropping. "It wasn't fair, the way I let you continue to feel guilty even though my absence had nothing to do with you."

"Did you always know?" Lily asked him, her voice cracking up. Had he ever loved her when they were together?

"Yeah, I guess so. I had crushes on guys but I never really paid attention to it, not until Everett." Lily's stomach dropped.

"What does that mean?" she asked, truly not understanding. None of it made much sense to her. No one really talked about being gay, not in an open way at least. The whole subject was incredibly confusing to her.

"It means that I loved you Lily, that was real. Me loving Everett doesn't take away from that." Tears filled her green eyes.

"How can it not? If while you were with me you really wanted to be with other guys." Fabian shook his head in distress.

"No, that's not it at all. When I was with you wanted to be with you, Lily. Just because I'm attracted to guys doesn't mean I was never attracted to girls. It's not so black and white." It was hard for Lily not to see it that way.

"I just…I don't understand it Fabian, I don't. I feel like everything that happened with us, our whole relationship, wasn't real. I feel like I don't even know you." The words pained Lily to say and the look in Fabian's eyes hurt even more, the she immediately regretted it. Fabian approached her now, taking the seat next to Lily.

"Remember how our favourite Beatle was George?" he reminded her. Lily smiled at the memory.

"Yeah," she nodded.

"Because he seemed the most sincere? And we used to listen to Abbey Road over and over, scratching up my record because we kept moving the needle back when Here Comes the Sun finished." How could Lily forget? Those were some of their best days together. The winter break right after they'd gotten together, they'd spent the whole two weeks in Fabian's bedroom listening to the record over and over again.

"All of those things were real, Lily," Fabian promised her. "You were who I thought of when Something came on, I loved you." Lily sniffled back her tears, giving Fabian a wobbly smile.

"I loved you too," she told him surely. How could she not? Sweet, kind-hearted Fabian. The first guy to sweep her off her feet, the first person she was ever truly vulnerable with. Before she'd figured out what lay between her and James, her feelings toward Fabian had felt all consuming. "It's just a lot to take in."

"It's a change," Fabian nodded with understanding, "I know that. It was a change for me to see you walking around hand in hand with James Potter." Lily had forgotten that her own budding romance hadn't exactly been an easy step for Fabian either. It was easy to forget the hardship your happiness sometimes caused others.

"Are you happy?" Lily asked, swallowing back the lump in her throat. A part of her was afraid to know the answer. Maybe some small jealous part of her wanted Fabian to just be hers forever. That way she didn't have to worry about that small twinge she got when she saw him and Everett together. Fabian nodded without pause.

"I'm so happy, Lily," he told her as though the feelings were so intense he might burst. "When I'm with him I feel good, I feel like there's a point to everything. I can't imagine myself without him." Lily knew what that felt like, it was how she felt every time she was with James. How could she fault Fabian for that? Just because it was a shock didn't mean she couldn't learn to understand and accept it. She'd never had any problem with the idea of same-sex couples, she'd just never found out an ex-boyfriend was gay before. It was a new experience.

"I only ever wanted you to be happy," she told him honestly.

"I am," Fabian assured her. "Lily I…I think I'm falling in love with him." It was hard to hear and yet at the same time how could her heart not soar when she heard that?

"Then I'm right beside you," she promised him, reaching out beside her for Fabian's hand. He took it, his eyes filled with gratitude. "If you're okay with that."

"Being friends?" Fabian exclaimed. "Lily, that's all I was hoping to hear you say." She smiled, pushing away her nerves and reservations. None of it mattered if Fabian was happy and they were friends.

"Then that's where I'll be," she promised, "right by your side, for as long as you need me."


Marlene had been dragged away from her dinner – despite much protest – and forced out into the chilly April evening by Alice, who insisted they meet up with Dorcas. She'd also insisted on Marlene borrowing James' invisibility cloak so they could sneak out beneath it.

"This is not my idea of a fun night," Marlene grumbled the whole way down, forced to squeeze beside Alice uncomfortably.

"Shut up McKinnon," Dorcas told her, "we're doing this for you." Marlene would have much preferred a warm and quiet evening inside but her friends had a different idea.

"I better get some alcohol out of this," she told the two girls as they came upon Hogsmeade, trekking towards the pubs. Marlene waited for them to turn off towards The Three Broomsticks and then The Hog's Head, but when they approached neither she knew exactly what was happening.

"You're taking me to Donovan's," she realized, "aren't you?" Dorcas and Alice shared a nervous glance, confirming Marlene's suspicions. She threw the invisibility cloak off from around the pair, pausing with an incredulous look upon her face.

"No," Marlene said stubbornly.

"Oh come on, Marley," Alice urged her. "We've come all this way."

"Does Henry know?" A second look of apprehension was shared. Marlene shook her head.

"No," she said once more, decidedly.

"Listen," Dorcas spoke sternly. "Fawley is a bloody pain in my ass, and that pain is only amplified when you're not around. I have never seen someone mope around so intensely. He is miserable, Marlene. Yeah, you have a hell of a lot of groveling to do but is it worth it?" Marlene bit at the inside of her mouth, thinking intently. She didn't know. She missed Henry's stability desperately, but that didn't mean she was exactly over Sirius. Was it wrong of her to go back when she still wasn't fully recovered? Yet, what if this was her final chance?

"Okay," Marlene agreed against her better judgment, "I'll do it." Alice did a small happy dance, the three moving up towards Donovan's, which was all lit up on the dark street corner. When they pushed open the doors there were a few of the regulars strewn around, and Henry and Kingsley sat up at the bar. Henry jumped off his stool when he saw Marlene enter, looking from Kingsley to Dorcas disbelievingly.

"Did you set this up?" he asked them. Dorcas shrugged in response.

"What can I say? I'm a sucker for romance."

"Dorcas, you-" Henry began furiously, stopping when he saw Kingsley raising an eyebrow at him.

"Getting a little worked up there are we, Fawley?" he teased his friend, Henry glaring at him.

"I didn't know either," Marlene admitted from the door, "they tricked me into coming down." Henry just stared at her blankly, sighing.

"You two might as well talk now," Kingsley suggested, Dorcas and Alice sitting up at the bar with him, leaving Marlene behind. "Since you're both here."

"I don't have time," Henry said inflexibly, crossing his arms. "We have an Order meeting-"

"Not for another hour, bud," Dorcas assured him, Henry narrowing his eyes on her now too.

"Yeah, well people usually show up early."

"Only the young ones, and I think Kingsley and I can keep them entertained while you two chat." He had no excuses left to make although Marlene could see from the look in his eyes Henry desperately wanted to.

"Fine," he gave in, looking towards the back stairs. "Would you like to come up and talk, Marlene?"

"Well, since you asked so nicely," she muttered, following his lead. They traveled up to his apartment silently, Henry shutting the door roughly behind them. Marlene had never felt so uncomfortable in a space she'd once adored.

"Look, it's fine. I can see you don't want to talk to me-"

"This is just like them," Henry complained, pacing back and forth as he ran his hands through his hair. "To set something like this up."

"Honestly, I'll just wait down in the back for a while and then tell them we smoothed things out. They'll get off our backs." Despite her persistence Henry refused to listen.

"That's why Kingsley insisted on me taking all those shots, he was trying to soften me up." Marlene just watched him now as he paced from one end of the room to the other, hardly remembering she was still there.

"Henry," she finally said loud enough to make him stop and look at her. "Would you like me to leave?" Suddenly his expression softened and he shook his head.

"No," he told her honestly. Marlene's breath quickened. No? That was the last word she'd expected to slip from his mouth.

"Henry, I-" she began to say before he rushed forward, lifting her up from the bed so they could kiss. Marlene didn't resist a bit. She pulled away, her eyes wide with surprise. "I wasn't exactly expecting that," she told him breathlessly.

"I miss you," he confessed, his eyes eating her whole. "When I'm drunk more than ever."

"I don't want you to just say nice things to me because you're drunk," Marlene warned him, shaking her head. "I've already gone through that once, being with someone who only wants me when they can blame their actions on something else. It's not fair." Henry cupped her face in his hands.

"I'm not him," he told her. That was for sure. Henry would never be Sirius.

"I love you," Marlene told him honestly. "That's a lot for me. I want to be good enough for you, I want to be enough Henry, I do." He pressed his lips to hers once more, shutting her up for good. It was only a few seconds before he pressed her back into his mattress, Marlene's legs straddling his hips. He began to unbutton her blouse.

"Henry," she said softly, her face pressed into his neck. "I need you to tell me what this means."

"It means I love you," he promised her. Marlene tugged down her pants, letting Henry undo his zipper, without another word. He pressed into her, their faces inches apart. She looked up at him, her hands holding his face. She felt better than she had in weeks.

"I love you," she panted, feeling her muscles all tensing up they way they always did before she had an orgasm.

"I love you," he replied. That felt right, that felt good. He loved her too. It wasn't one sided. It didn't leave her feeling used. With a small sigh Marlene felt her muscles release, the most serene feelings of all, as Henry cried out, letting her know he'd finished as well. He fell back on the spot of bed beside her with a final kiss, both breathing heavily.

Marlene locked her fingers with his, staring up at the ceiling fan spinning above them.

"I'm all in," she told him, sure of it this time more than ever before. "I want all of you. I want a future. I want to live with you and see and do everything in the world together," Marlene rolled onto her side so she was staring at him now.

"Are you saying that because we just had great sex?" Marlene chuckled, shaking her head.

"No," she said confidently. "I'm saying it because I love you." Henry smirked, reaching his hand over to stroke her hair.

"Yeah?" She watched him eagerly with her big blue eyes.

"Is that what you want?"

"Okay," he agreed casually, "I supposed a future with you could work." Marlene pressed her lips to his once more, a long, sweet kiss ensuing.

"I have to go," Henry said, pulling away hesitantly. "People are going to be showing up."

"I know," and she did. She understood. Marlene sat up, doing up her blouse while Henry fixed his hair. She could hear the sound of voices carrying up the stairs as they made their way back to the bar. Alice was sat between a group of Auror's playing a very heated game of exploding snaps when Marlene entered the room.

"You two finished?" Dorcas asked, her head snapping up. Henry nodded.

"Yeah, you should take these two back." She stood up, dragging Alice along with her despite the Gryffindor's protests.

"I was winning!" she whined, reuniting with a grinning Marlene.

"Yeah, yeah, you'll be bored to death of the game by the time you've spent a month in the department," Dorcas promised her.

"I'll walk them back with you," Kingsley offered. "The meeting doesn't start for another thirty minutes anyway, Dumbledore's running late." Dorcas shrugged agreeably.

"Sounds good to me. You've got to tell me some more about that bird you were going on about last week anyway." Kingsley laughed.

"Rose? Oh boy."

"Hope to see you soon McKinnon," Henry called out to her, Marlene's eyes lingering on him as the other three headed for the door. She wanted to kiss him once more but she decided against it. Their last kiss had been perfect; she didn't want to soil it with another quick one in front of a crowd. She wanted another perfect moment alone with Henry; she wanted a series of perfect moments with him.

"You will," she promised with a wink, rushing after the other three. She hurried out into the street, grabbing on to Alice's hand as Kingsley and Dorcas led the way.

"So?" her friend asked excitedly, "What happened?" Marlene couldn't stop herself from grinning so wide she revealed all her pearly white teeth.

"Do you want the clean version?"

"God, no," Alice scoffed.

"We said I love you and then had the most amazing sex." Alice's eyebrows rose.

"Well, sounds like this little exchange ended pretty good."

"Pretty amazing I'd say," Marlene insisted. There was a sudden whoosh of wind from behind them, everyone pausing in their tracks. Three masked figures in long dark cloaks had apparated in front of Donovan's. Marlene tensed up; this was wrong, this was very wrong.

"Get over here!" Dorcas whispered hurriedly. She and Kingsley shoved Marlene and Alice into the alleyway in front of them before they could be seen. It was a tight space between two buildings, everyone crammed in together.

"Who are they?" Marlene asked fearfully, stuffed between Alice and Kingsley. Dorcas was at the front. She peaked her head around the corner.

"Don't you recognize them?" Alice whispered anxiously. "They're Death Eaters." Marlene's face fell when suddenly there was a loud explosion, Dorcas jumping back into Kingsley.

"What?" he demanded urgently. "What is it?" Her eyes were rounded in shock.

"They set the whole bloody place on fire." Marlene thought she might be sick.

"Fucking hell," Kingsley cursed.

"We have to help them! We have to go back!" Marlene urged the group. No one moved. She couldn't understand it. Why wasn't anyone doing anything? Why weren't they trying to save all their friends stuck behind in the burning building? There was another gust of wind and Dorcas peaked out once more.

"They're gone," she alerted the group. Everyone rushed from between the buildings, Marlene hurrying towards Donovan's as fast as her legs would carry her. Hogsmeade residents were turning on the lights, peeking from their windows to see what was happening.

"HENRY!" Marlene shrieked in horror. The building she'd been in only a second before was swallowed in bright orange flames, shooting smoke up to the sky.

"You can't save him!" Kingsley told her, grabbing onto Marlene so she couldn't rush towards the burning building and kill herself too. "He's gone Marlene, they're all gone." They couldn't be. It made no sense. Henry could not be dead. Not her Henry.