Love doesn't make the world go round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile. - Franklin P. Jones

Keira apparated us to the nearest forest; we decided the fastest way was to search all the forests in England for Jayfeather's clan. We arrived in a moonlit clearing and I set Jayfeather on the ground.

'Find anything familiar?' I asked him after he had sniffed around in the underbrush. He solemnly shook his head, so we moved onto the next forest.

We had visited seven different places when Keira started feeling the magical drain. She slumped up against a tree to rest.

'I don't think I can take too much more of this, guys,' she panted. 'It's been,' she checked her watch, 'almost two hours-'

'YES!' Jayfeather exclaimed. He ran down a slope, and we followed him. I ended up coming within three metres of falling into a star-filled lake. 'This is it! We're in Thunderclan territory! Do you see the stars reflected in the water? And across is a twoleg place and pine trees? We're here!' Sure enough, his description matched perfectly. We had finally found his home.

Without waiting for his reply, he raced back into the woods, taking what I assumed to be a familiar trail to a large stone quarry over-run by vegetation. He disappeared into a clump of bracken, leaving Keira and I to wait for his return.

Jayfeather's POV

I was so excited when I found Thunderclan's camp. I couldn't wait to see everyone, so I didn't even think about Lily and Keira when went through the thorn barrier.

The camp was exactly the same as it was when I had left all those moons ago, except for the stench of sickness that hung in the air like a thick fog. The first cat I came across was Brambleclaw. He was keeping watch under the High Ledge and I could tell his eyes were dull and distant from the anxiety rolling off him in waves.

'Jayfeather?' he said in disbelief when I neared him. Unable to control myself, I rushed to him, forgetting he wasn't really my father. 'Jayfeather, you came back.'

'Of course I came back!' I exclaimed. 'I couldn't just leave you all!' My initial goal came back to me. 'Where's Leafpool?' I asked.

'She's in the medicine den,' Brambleclaw explained. 'She cured everyone else but herself.' He barely finished his sentence before I bolted into the medicine den. I found Brightheart and Firestar standing over a very sick and hardly breathing Leafpool.

'Leafpool!' Brightheart and Firestar looked up at my exclamation. Before they could process who I was, I was at my mentor's side. 'Leafpool, what have you gotten yourself into?' I murmured while doing a quick scan of her nearly lifeless body. I confirmed she was alive, but that there was nothing more I could do; I had to get help. 'Get her out of the camp.' I ordered to Firestar. I could feel is eyes on me, but he didn't question me, just called out to Brambleclaw. Brightheart, however, thought I had gone mad.

'Why would you do something mouse-brained like that?' She asked, baffled. 'We can't risk moving her.' She went on and on about how dumb the idea was, but I ignored her and led the way out of the den. By now, the clearing was full of confused cats. When they saw me, there was a great commotion, but yet again, I ignored their questions and moved onward until my path was blocked and I was forced to stop.

'Jayfeather, what are you doing?' Squirrelflight asked me. I hissed in frustration at the waste of time.

'I can't help Leafpool,' I said loudly so everyone could hear, 'so I'm taking her to my friends.'

'Who are your friends?' someone asked.

'My friends are called Lily and Keira. I met them a long way from here in a twoleg place called London. They're twolegs, and they can help.' I realized that wasn't the best way to approach the subject when yowls of disproval arose.

'We can't hand our medicine cat over to a twoleg!' Mousefur spat the word like a curse. 'They're the ones who did this to us in the first place!'

'How do we know we can trust them?' Berrynose asked.

'I trust them,' I insisted. 'They've done so many good things for me; they gave me food, a warm nest, and they cared for me. I've been living with them for many moons now; do I look abused? I wouldn't know, but I don't feel it. I feel loved. Leafpool needs someone who has the technological advancements we don't have, and quickly.' I then realized I sounded like twoleg myself, but I had stunned everyone with my words and used the opportunity to escape the camp with Brambleclaw, Firestar, and a limp Leafpool in tow.

Lily's POV

It seemed like ages before Jayfeather returned. He seemed happy to see his family again, but anxious all the same. I jumped up from my seat among the shrubbery when I spotted him.

'Jayfeather,' I sighed in relief. 'What's going on?' I added when I saw other cats follow him.

'Lily, Leafpool needs help,' Jayfeather replied in a strained voice. A golden cat and dark tabby cat dropped a smaller orange tabby, who I assumed was Leafpool, on the ground. They seemed very surprised when they could understand us. 'This is Firestar and Brambleclaw," he added as an afterthought. Not knowing what to do, I simply nodded. Keira lifted Leafpool into her arms.

'You poor thing,' she murmured. 'We've got to get her back. C'mon Jayfeather.'

'My clan would feel better about this situation if I joined you,' Firestar said, dipping his head.

'Fine,' Keira said, drawing her wand. 'Just hurry,' Jayfeather jumped onto my shoulder, and I opened my arms for Firestar. He seemed to hesitate, but obliged. Holding Leafpool tightly but gingerly, Keira looped her arm though mine and we were apparating home.

~XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

It had started to snow when we appeared in front of my house in Godric's Hollow. Jayfeather and Firestar jumped down onto the front porch as Keira pushed the door open. 'Harry!' she called to my father. There was no answer. Keira cursed loudly. 'They're probably at the Burrow.'

'I'll go get them,' Jayfeather volunteered. 'Just throw the floo powder for me. You two need to help Leafpool.'

'All right,' Keira said, 'but they're gonna freak when they see you, or hear you for that matter.' Keira threw some powder into the fireplace, exclaiming 'The Burrow,' and Jayfeather jumped into the green flames. I laid Leafpool on the soft sitting room carpet and covered her with a blanket. Keira checked her over with her wand.

'Is she going to be alright?' Firestar asked tentatively.

'I think she was poisoned,' Keira concluded. 'The water was probably contaminated. What did she use to cure the others?' Firestar shook his head.

'No one knows,' he sighed. 'Whatever it was, there wasn't enough left for herself.' Just then, Jayfeather hopped out of the fireplace followed closely by Harry and Ginny.

'Alright,' Harry said. 'Where did these talking cats come from, and why are they using the floo network.'

'I told you,' Jayfeather answered, 'I'll explain later. Right now, Leafpool needs help!' Harry eyed the figure on the floor while Keira updated him on her condition.

'She's going to need medical treatment,' my father observed.

'No duh, Sherlock,' Keira muttered. 'I'm not certified to make potions, so you're gonna have to do it.' He nodded and disappeared into the kitchen, Keira right behind him. I sighed and sat next to the three helpless cats. Jayfeather curled up next to Leafpool protectively and stared with unseeing eyes at the wall. I stared at the old wooden clock in the corner; it was half eleven. I wonder what's going on at Hogwarts.

James's POV

The band was great, everyone was laughing and dancing, and Keira looked absolutely beautiful; I was having a lot of fun. However, all the enjoyment of the evening was washed away when Keira and Lily disappeared. I found Scorpius in the entrance hall, staring blankly at the door.

'Where do they think they're going?' I asked him. He shook his head. 'Scorpius, are you okay?'

'He… the cat,' the boy stammered. 'talking…' I wasn't understanding what he was saying, so I led him up the marble staircase.

'Let's go see if Professor McGonagall knows what's going on,' I suggested. Scorpius didn't seem to get over whatever had spooked him when we reached the eagle statue. I hastily said the password and we stepped inside the Head Mistress's office.

'Good evening Mr. Potter and Mr. Malfoy,' McGonagall said when we approached her desk. 'Is there something I can help you with?'

'Yes professor,' I said tentatively. 'Erm, my girl friend and sister have disappeared.' McGonagall didn't look shocked, but raised her eyebrow. 'I think they left on their own. Do you know where they might have gone?' McGonagall shook her head.

'I don't know where they went, but I'm sure it was for a good reason.' I had no idea what that meant. I suppose I'll have to get them back myself, I thought as I dragged Scorpius up to the Gryffindor common room. Grabbing the spare floo powder I kept in my trunk for emergencies such as this, Scorpius and I traveled through the green flames to Godrick's Hollow.

Lily's POV

Mum gently poured the potion down Leafpool's throat and lifted her onto the couch. She was covered in a soft blanket, still guarded by Jayfeather and Firestar.

'Alright, Lily,' Dad said to me. 'Tell us what's going on.' I sighed, not looking forward to the conversation. I only lied to everyone. So, I explained how I found out that Jayfeather could talk to me, the problem with his clan, and how we found his home.

'We had to take Leafpool back with us,' Keira said. 'We couldn't just leave to clan to suffer.'

'I'm sorry I didn't tell you guys,' I apologized quietly. There was a brief moment of tense silence.

'You are your father's daughter,' Mum said finally. 'He always got into trouble like this.' I grinned slightly. My parents started asking questions, as did Firestar, but I wasn't really paying attention. I watched Jayfeather snuggle up to Leafpool's side, and I then knew who Jayfeather's real mother might have been.

'Where am I?' All conversation ended abruptly and all eyes turned to the cat on the couch. Leafpool tried to lift her head, but found that she couldn't

'Leafpool!' Jayfeather exclaimed joyfully. 'You're alive!'

'Jayfeather, you came back?' Leafpool said in a weak yet wondering voice. 'Where are we?'

'Where in a twoleg nest, but my friends live here.' Jayfeather said quickly. 'They're taking good care of you.' Without moving her head, Leafpool surveyed the room.

'Hello, Leafpool,' I said gently. Her eyes widened. 'Don't worry, we're friends.'

'Great Starclan,' she muttered. We all chuckled at this.

'Oh!' Keira said suddenly. 'I almost forgot!' She drew her wand and conjured up a big digital; there was ten seconds to midnight. Everyone but Leafpool and Firestar started counting down.

'Five! Four! Three! Two! One! Happy New Year!' We started screaming like idiots, jumping up and down hugging each other while Firestar and Leafpool stared at us uncomfortably. I might have missed half the ball, but they're reactions made up for it. I fell to the floor laughing uncontrollably.

There was a roar in the fire place as James and Scorpius stepped onto the hearth rug. There was another great commotion for the newcomers. I then made up my mind; I couldn't stop myself. I jumped up from the floor and flung myself at Scorpius, kissing him full on the mouth. It didn't last too long, but it was enough for the room to pause in its celebration.

'Bloody hell, Lily,' James said at last. We all started laughing again, except Dad; he wasn't too happy about me kissing boys already. He'll get over it, I thought with a smug grin.

A/N: There's the moment we've all been waiting for! Sorry it's probably not as romantic as most of you would want, but I'm just working with the major plot here. Next chapter is gonna be the last, so please review!

~Cottonpaw