This is the final chapter. I hope you all enjoyed the story, and thank you for taking the time to read it.

We don't have internet on both the computers right now, so I'm having to transcribe this. Whee.

part 4 Kisses ~ Memories

Seventeen Years Later

Poppy Pomfrey's hands trembled as she held the small, pumpkin-printed stationary. Ellie's sweet, six-year-old handwriting was scrawled in giant words across the page.

'Dear ant Kelly. How are you? I am fine.I might be in heavun. If so, Moma and Poppa say Hi. Please be happy. I love you, and will see you soon. Do not hurry. I can wait. Well, bye bye.

I love you. - Ellie

ps. If I am dead you can have my blue loket. You can also have my pictures of Momma and Poppa. I want to keep my pink jumper.

I love you.'

Poppy's face was red and soaked with tears. Just for safety sake she turned the tiny letter over to check the back. Thank God, it was blank save for the small smiley face drawn on the lower right hand corner. She did not think she could have handled any more of Ellie's innocent, sweet, happy, little words. She was heart-broken enough as it was.

She looked over to the bed where the still body of Kelly McAdams lay. Her face was pale, and Poppy had closed her green eyes the moment she had known it was too late. Kelly's lips were quirked in a soft smile, and her light brown hair tumbled around her on the sterile, white sheets.

Poppy shook her head. How many more innocent victims would this war claim? She had seen all of this end sixteen years ago; she had hoped never to see it again.

As a close friend, and a distant relative, Poppy was included in Kelly's will. There were, the will stated, only three things of value in Kelly's posession. The farmhouse had long since been sold, and replaced with a small, dilapidated flat, which would go to her sister in law, if she wanted it. Her personal effects could be kept or sold, she cared not. What money she had was to go to her poorest relative, and anything else could go to anyone, so long as they didn't fight over it. If they did, the objects in question were to be burned immediately, and her lawyer, Mr Flinnwirk had been instructed to stick his tongue out at all involved. (Kelly had always been an interesting soul, and there were somethings death could not change.)

Only three things were there any more specifics about.

Poppy held one of them now.

The other two sat beside her, on a small table. Ellie's little blue locket, made of sparkling plastic, was layed on a cushion, like a prized Asian jewel. Next to it, a little, blue jewelry box sat, like an untouched shrine. And held in Poppy's trembling hands; a letter Ellie had left in that same jewelry box, eighteen years ago.

These things - these three things - these Kelly had considered worthy of attention.

Poppy shook her head. She looked at Kelly, her brows furrowed. "How is it," she asked aloud, "that you, dear, are always so content with whatever comes your way?" She smiled and shook her head. "And why on earth... are you smiling?"

She felt tears sliding down her sadly smiling face, as she drew the white sheets once more over Kelly McAdam's mischieveous face. It was true. Kelly and Ellie had always been content with whatever horrible thing fate had planned. No matter what the powers that be had in store for them, they faced it with a quiet smile, as if they knew something - something about how this story ended. Something the fates had no notion of. So they would smile, quietly, and dance subsurviently through whatever twists and turns fate chose, seemingly unaware of the dark consequences waiting for them.

Poppy set down the letter without a second glance, grabbed a tissue, and sat for a moment, basking in that happy, contented, certainty. God only knew where they were now; but Poppy was sure that they were perfectly happy to be there. And God bless their gentle souls.

********

In the darkness, Kelly heard a voice.

"Stay, or go?"

"Give me a moment."

"You have an eternity to make your decision."

Kelly knew what she would choose. But she wanted a moment to think - to remember. The boy who had stopped the Dark Lord first would stop him this she was certain. Her neighbor would take her animals, and the rest of her things were settled in her will. She wouldn't be around to see the war being won, but she was content to know that the Boy Who Lived, would live on, that good would triumph. All in all, she didn't need to feel bad about abandoning the world. It would be all right.

She smiled, and sighed softly. "All right. I'm ready."

"Well then," said the voice. "Stay, or go."

"Take me to heaven, please. If that can be arranged," she added, quickly. "Hell is a rather distant second, you see."

"You cannot know," the voice said, weary, and impatiently," that those things are what await you. You cannot know."

'Poor thing.' Kelly smiled. 'He may still be rattled from dealing with my little scamp, Ellie.'

"There is nothing that I can know, is there?"

There was a pause then, in a softer tone; "No. No not entirely."

"Well then," said Kelly, gently. "Take me to Ellie, now, please."