A/N: All Harry Potterish stuff is JK's

Chapter 5: Friendship

September, 1980

"Hey, mum." The dark haired boy smiled forlornly at woman in a faded nightdress, her white and wispy hair stuck out around her thin face. Her eyes gazed at him blankly; there was no flicker of recognition there.

The boy sat down on the cracked chair next to the bare, metal hospital bed where the woman, evidently his mother, lay. A single tear rolled down his cheek from his eerily familiar eyes.

"It's your fault, you know," he said to Marlene. "It's your fault that parents can't even recognise their own son."

Marlene turned back towards the bed in confusion – she had no idea who these people were. A man rounded the corner. He must have been tall once, now his shoulders hunched horribly. His face was worn and his blue eyes were cloudy.

Suddenly, it jumped out at her, the photo on the night table beside the boy. It is a snapshot from a wedding; the bride is smiling euphorically, her brown hair is cut into a bob with miniscule flowers framing her wide face. The groom has a matching flower in the lapel of his jacket. He has an irrepressible grin on his face.

The picture is a magical one and the confetti strewn by the little people in the crowd behind the pair is fluttering around the newlyweds. One of the people in the crowds is a tall and lithe young woman with a mass of raven curls; her blue eyes are smiling, cat-like and she's wearing a sunhat to protect her pale skin.

It is with a jolt to her heart that Marlene recognises herself. And she realises that she does indeed know these people. Frank and Alice Longbottom reduced to utter wrecks – shadows of their former brilliant, sunny selves. And the accusing teenager before her is their son who has grown up a literal stranger to his parents.

All three of them turn to face her.

"It's all your fault…" They hiss simultaneously.

She wakes up screaming, sweat pouring down her back. Immediately Caradoc is conscious, his arms wrapped around her and comforting her. Her shrieks are soon reduced to whimpers of fear and regret.

"It wasn't your fault, Marls." Caradoc knows the dream as well as she does now, a week later. "It really was the kindest thing to do."

Marley gulped, taking in as much oxygen as possible and tried to stop her body from shaking so violently.

"I know, it was the right decision. But I can't stop thinking about him; poor Neville."

"Marley, he is the son of Frank and Alice Longbottom. That kid is going to be absolutely fine, he's going to be the toughest and the most incredible kid to have ever lived."

She knew that was true. Marlene let herself drift back to sleep, safe in her boyfriend's arms.

Caradoc always woke up early than Marlene; he had his own little routine of making breakfast, paying the owl for the Prophet, then reading the post before taking Marley a cup of coffee in bed. Today his routine was broken.

He was only just starting to butter his toast when the owl tapped against the glass. Caradoc sighed to himself, irritated by the departure from tradition. His petty anger melted away entirely once he had read the tear stained note.

He did not know how to tell Marlene – should he wake her? He slumped on to the sofa and ran a hand through his sleep rumpled hair. How the hell do you tell your girlfriend that her best friend has been murdered?

Caradoc was still sat anxiously on the sofa, clutching the note when Marlene appeared out of the bedroom, blinking sleepily.

"Oi, where was my morning coffee?" She grumbled, heading straight for the kettle. "Caradoc Dearborn, breaking his religious routine – never thought I'd see the day… Caradoc?"

She paused in her muttering when she saw the look on his face. He held the note out wordlessly. He held her as she collapsed against him, her body shutting down.

It was another hour before she could even speak. Her voice cracked after such continuous, wracking sobs.

"But, Dorcas… How can my Dorcas be dead?"

"You know how it is, Marls, anyone of us could die at any point. These are dark times." Caradoc knew she understood that.

She shook her head angrily; her heart felt like it was splintering into tiny pieces with every movement. "But not my best friends, Caradoc. They can't die! They have to stay with me!"

Marlene could speak no more, her words tailing off into keening sobs. Caradoc didn't know what to do, he just held her.

She should buy more black, she decided on the morning of the funeral. She'd probably need it.

It was going to be a small affair; there was not the time for something grander and such a large gathering of Order members would only lead to more confrontation and therefore death. And in any case, Dorcas wouldn't have wanted something so grand.

Hestia had come round to see her on the day they had found out. She told her remaining best friend that he himself had done it – Voldemort. Marlene didn't doubt it. Dorcas was an incredible witch and she had been responsible for the capture of eight of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's most faithful Death Eaters.

The casket was dark wood, plain and unadorned aside from the silver handles. It was lowered into the ground the same way as every other coffin was. They all threw a handful of dirt into the hole in the ground where her corpse would forever remain; the sound it made against the wood echoed in Marley's head. She felt so numb.

The headstone was simple too.

Here lies Dorcas Meadowes, 1958-1980
A beautiful and strong daughter, sister and friend.

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."

Thanks you, Dorcas, for fighting.

Marlene laid a wreath of yellow flowers on the freshly turned earth; her favourite, House colour. Caradoc gripped her hand tightly. Tears were running down his face, hitting the soil, the first tears he had shed for the young woman who had been his friend too.

The couple remained there for a long time after the rest of the party had left. Her parents had not wished to stick around. Their other child, Dorcas's brother, had been killed the year before.

"Know that I'll never stop loving you." He whispered.

"Know that I'll never leave-" Caradoc held a finger to her lips, halting her mid-promise.

He smiled gently. "Don't make promises you can't keep."

"I love you, forever."

A/N: Yay for one review! Thanks so much for that, in return here's the next chapter :)

Only two more left :o Thanks for reading (even more, obviously, for reviewing)!

Elle xx