Chapter 16.

NEWT-level Transfiguration is hard work. Very, very hard work. Students enter the classroom bright-eyed, bushy-tailed and raring to go, and by the time Professor McGonagall's finished with them, they slouch, they mutter, and their hair is - thanks to being run through with fingers in frustration - less than its best. On Tuesdays, thankfully, Transfiguration occurs at the end of the day, so the students can return to their Houses, prostrate themselves on furniture, and groan.

One such Tuesday, early in February, just a few days after Lily Evans' birthday (she very much liked her flowers, by the way), the class has just ended, and students are, sighing, walking out of the room, and Professor McGonagall gestures to Lou.

"Miss Reece, may I have a word?"

Nodding, Lou extracts herself from the rest of the group, and stands in front of her teacher's desk, waiting for the other students to leave. McGonagall offers her a chair, which she takes.

"Miss Reece, it has come to my attention that you have been in correspondence with Healer Fenwick, at St. Mungo's, is that correct?"

"Yes, Professor."

"And you spent some time last Summer in his company as he performed his job?"

"Yes, Professor. You see, I want to be a Healer, and I thought the best thing I could do was get in touch with St. Mungo's. Benjy - that is, Healer Fenwick - used to know my mum, they had some mutual friends at the Ministry, so I contacted him and he said he might be able to get me a place on the Healer Training Programme, if I was promising enough. He hasn't said anything about it yet, though, so I'm probably not -"

McGonagall holds up her hand, and Lou trails off.

"Something you may not know," she says, "is that I am also in regular contact with Benjy Fenwick. He was one of the first students I ever taught, and has since then become a good friend. And this morning I received a letter from him, asking me to let you know that he's very impressed with your attitude and knowledge - not to mention an excellent reference from your Head of House - and as such, not only have you been offered a place on the Training Programme, but Healer Fenwick himself has offered to be your tutor."

Lou is stunned. "Wow," she says.

McGonagall allows a rare smile. "Wow indeed, Miss Reece. This is a great honour, and a fitting testament to your achievements. I will contact Healer Fenwick on your behalf, to let him know that you accept the place, and then he will write to you quite soon. Is that okay?"

Lou blinks, and stands up. "Yes, Professor. And, thanks."

She wanders out of the classroom in a daze. She starts to walk towards Gryffindor Tower, when she hears "Miss Reece! Miss Reece!" coming from behind her. She turns around, and sees Professor Dumbledore walking towards her at great speed.

"Yes, sir?"

"Miss Reece, do you by any chance know where Miss Evans is?"

"I'm pretty sure she's in our Common Room, Professor. Would you like me to get her for you?"

Dumbledore nods. "Please. Tell her I'll be waiting for her -" he casts his gaze around, assessing where he is - "in Professor McGonagall's classroom."

"Okay, Professor." Lou starts to walk away.

"Oh, and Miss Reece?" the Headmaster adds. "I give you permission to run."

Lou obeys, taking off at speed. When she gets back to Gryffindor Tower, she makes a grand entrance, closing the portrait hole behind her with a flourish. She sees Lily and Sirius, in their group's usual position by the fireplace, and walks over to them. "Lily," she says. "Dumbledore wants you, it seemed pretty urgent."

Lily stands up. "Did he say what he wanted?"

"No, just told me to run and get you. He's waiting for you in McGonagall's classroom."

Lily frowns, and runs out of the Common Room. Lou perches on the arm of Sirius' chair, draping her legs over his. He smiles, kisses her softly, and asks, "What did McGonagall want with you, anyway?"

"To deliver some good news. I've got a place on the Healer Training Programme at St. Mungo's!"

Sirius lets out a whoop, kisses her again and declares, "That's brilliant! At least one person I know knows what they're doing with their life when they leave here."

"Hardly," frowns Lou. "I have to find somewhere to live, for a start - I can hardly go back to my dad's house, and -"

"Live with me."

"What?"

"It makes sense. I've got a flat in London, you've got a course in London, I'm lonely by myself, you need somewhere to live. It's perfect."

Lou is uncertain. "Merlin, Sirius, I -"

"- it's okay if you don't want to -"

"- it's not that, it's just a big decision -"

"What's a big decision?" comes the cheerful voice of James, who's crept up behind them. "And where's Lily?"

"She's with Dumbledore," says Lou, carefully avoiding the former question. "Guess what, though? I'm going to be a Healer! I got a place on the course!"

James squeals. "Oh, brilliant. I always knew you would!"

The three of them are dancing around the Common Room, laughing and shrieking, when Lily re-enters the room, ashen-faced.

"Lily? Lils, are you alright?" asks James, concerned.

Lily begins to sway, and Lou runs forward, catching her friend as she falls. "What is it?" she asks.

Lily looks up slowly. "My…my parents. They've had an accident, I have to go home. James, Dumbledore says you can come with me, if you want."

"Of course I do," replies James.

Lou guides Lily to a sofa, sitting her down gently. "Alright, Lily, just sit there, it's okay. I'll go to the dormitory and pack some stuff for you, okay? I'll leave you with Sirius."

Lou and James run off to their respective dormitories, and Sirius sits down next to Lily, awkwardly. He puts his arm around her shoulders, and she leans against him, crying quietly.

A couple of hours later, and Lily and James are gone. Sirius, Lou and their friends are sitting in the Common Room, quiet and shocked.

Lou looks up. "Remus, where's your owl?"

"In the dorm," he replies. "I was going to write to my parents but I haven't got round to it. I'll have to send him to the Owlery next time I'm up there."

"Can I borrow him?"

"Of course."

Lou grabs a piece of parchment, scrawls a note upon it, and runs up to the boys' dormitory to send it. The note reads:

Dear Lily and James,

I know it'll be difficult for you to find an owl where you are, so I'm sending this so you'll be able to get in touch with us if you want to (it's Remus' owl, he doesn't mind).

We're all thinking of you. Let us know if there's anything we can do to help.

Lou

xxx

Then she returns to the Common Room. They all sit around, hardly speaking. It's difficult to know what to say. It's a long time before the owl returns - it's dark, and the Common Room is nearly empty - with a note from James.

Lou,

Thanks for sending the owl, I was worrying about how to get in touch. Things are awful here. There's a car crash and - there's no kind way to say this - Lily's parents died. Obviously she's devastated. Dumbledore's given us permission to spend two weeks here, sorting out the funeral and dealing with her family and everything.

It means I'll miss the next Quidditch match, though. Could you try to sort it out? I know I've been training Anna to be the Captain, but whilst the team's my responsibility, I wouldn't trust anyone other than you in charge of it. It doesn't matter if you lose, just get a team out there and do your best.

Thanks for your support

James

xxx

Whilst the rest of her friends are reading the letter, Lou scribbles a reply.

James,

Merlin, I don't know what to say. That's terrible news.

Don't you dare even think about Quidditch until you get back. I'll handle it.

Look after Lily - and yourself, too.

Lou

xxx

There follows some brief conversation, but very quickly Mary, Remus and Peter are all wandering up to their dormitories, to think about this terrible turn of events alone.

Sirius sits down next to Lou. She doesn't look at him.

"Are you okay?" he whispers.

She nods, wiping angrily at her eyes.

"It's okay to be sad," he says. "You knew them quite well, didn't you?"

"Yes, I knew them. But I can't be sad. This is not my loss to grieve."

"I don't believe that."

She relaxes into him, rests her forehead on his shoulder. "They were great to me."

"I know."

"And obviously the worst thing about them dying is how hard it'll be for Lily, I know that. But partly I'm sad for my sake, too. Does that make me a bad person?"

"Of course not."

They cling to each other.

"The best thing we can do for Lily," says Sirius, "is just be there for her. There's nothing else we can do."

Lou nods, understanding. "I will live with you, by the way."

"What? I thought you needed time to decide?"

Lou shrugs. "I thought I did, too. But if you want me to live with you in your flat, and make you eat semi-sensibly, and nag you about…I don't know, socks…then yes. I say yes."

He kisses her gently on the lips, and they sit together for some time, just holding each other.