I do not own Harry Potter.

Sam

"We are gathered her today to mourn a tragic loss. Kaelin Thomas was loved by many and suffered her fate bravely," Dumbledore's voice rings out through the small cemetery. Located in Godric's Hallow, it is only a short walk from James and Lily's house.

From afar, the small crowd gathered around the gravesite looks like a sad black spot. Kaelin's mother sobs quietly; her shoulders shake while her husband holds her tightly, his face grim. Matt, Kaelin's brother holds the hand of a young girl, Marie Adams. He's trying his best to keep from crying. It must be hard to lose your sister when you're only fourteen. Marie rests her head on his shoulder letting a few tears fall.

Lily holds Harry, only a few days old, and a few stray tears streak her face. Harry, having no idea what was going on or why his mother's crying, observes the scene with innocent curiosity. James watches with black sorrow, having nothing to say.

Peter stands by himself towards the back. He cries no tears, but instead, looks on in anger. I can only assume he is angry at the death of a good friend. Out of all of us, Kaelin was the kindest to him. I feel a prick of anger when I look at him, and it startles me. I don't understand where it comes from, but it feels like there's a memory I cannot retrieve.

I have no tears. I simply stand, leaning into Sirius, using him as a lifeline as I watch my best friend being laid to rest. I never dreamed I'd be at Kaelin's funeral, especially so soon. As an Auror, I always assumed I'd be the first to go, and in recent months, I was sure of it. Sirius keeps his arm wrapped protectively around my waist acting as the only thing that keeps me from bursting into tears.

Remus. His expression is cold and calm, almost scary. It worries me. We chose to keep the details of Kaelin's death to ourselves to spare him the guilt, but I wonder if he knows. He hasn't said a word since he saw her dead body. Not one. He's been like an empty shell just going through the motions of life in a numb like state and not really even caring.

Dumbledore stops talking and nods to me. I untangle myself from Sirius's grasp and step closer to the eight-foot deep hole that now holds my best friend. The rose I hold in my hand falls and slowly drifts down until it comes to rest at the bottom. The tears come unexpectedly choking me, and they fall down my face in rivers.

I turn away and practically run into Sirius almost knocking him off his feet. His arms snake around my body, and he pulls me closer whispering in my ear. I bury my head in his shoulder and succumb to the tears I've held back for so long. I have yet to regain complete strength after my time of torture, and my sobs leave me weak. I find myself clinging to Sirius in an effort to keep myself from passing out. I force myself to breathe slowly knowing if Sirius realizes my dilemma, he'll make me leave. I try to focus on anything but Kaelin.

Harry is becoming tired, and his eyes begin to droop as he falls asleep. His jet-black hair is just as unruly as his father's. Kaelin would have loved to ruffle it, just like she used to do with James. James always hated that, but from his expression now, I guess he misses it now that she's gone.

I find myself smiling as memories of Kaelin fill my mind. The way she fussed over her hair for an hour every morning, how she used to flip out everytime a guy looked at either of us, the time she and Sirius got into a huge fight over me. They didn't speak to each other for weeks after that one. Kaelin had always been the bubbly hyper one of the group, like the girl version of Sirius. I guess that's why she was my best friend. Now she's gone, but her memory will live on forever. I'll make sure of it.

Sirius

I've never liked funeral very much. There's too much back and sadness. I remember how James and used to promise each other we'd play pranks at each other's funerals. I miss back then, when we were all young and carefree. Nothing rips all that away faster then standing at the grave of one of your best friends.

Sam clings to me like her life depends on it. In a way, I guess it does. Her tears soak my shirt, and by the way she's panting, I can tell she's getting weaker. I have half a mind to bring her home, but I know she'll refuse. I'm supporting most of her weight now, but it's no use fighting with her.

Kaelin's death has been hard on us all, but Remus took it the hardest. He knows he killed her; I can tell. In the three days since he saw her, he's stayed locked in his room without a single word. I've thought about telling him the truth, but I can hear him in his room at night—crying. I can't take away his slight hope he holds onto that he didn't kill her.

I miss Kaelin just as much as everyone else. She was one of my best friends, and though we often fought over Sam she was like a sister to me. She was a part of the closest thing I had to family. The Marauders. Not only did we lose a friend, we lost part of our group. The name Marauder will never mean as much; it's no longer who we are without Kaelin.

It really hurts to know she's gone. It's a dull pain that fills my entire body, and I know it must be a thousand times worse for Remus. I know how he feels, but when I lost Sam, I still had the slight hope she was alive. He doesn't even have that. I know the pain will never go away, for any of us, but we won't let her death be in vain. She died to save Sam, my best friend, my fiancée, and the woman I love more than anything else in the world, and her sacrifice means more to me than anything. It gave me a reason to go on living.

One day, Remus will understand. He'll realize this is not his fault. This was Kaelin's choice. She wouldn't want us to mourn her. She'd want us to move on and fight to defeat Voldemort, the real reason for her death. KAelin will never be forgotten by any of us. Though she's no longer with us, her memory will live on forever.

The words engraved into that marble stone with the angel's face read: Though her time was short, her life was worth much more. She shall live in in Heaven where she will watch over those she died to save.

No this is not the end. Far from it actually. I still have big plans for the marauders!