Hello my beautiful readers!

Thank you so much for your ongoing support and love, I was so overwhelmed when I saw the response last chapter got. Seeing you guys so excited made me so excited and I really wanted to post earlier but editing this chapter took forever!

This chapter is dedicated to my loyal reviewers, Madwamoose, Anya, Raven that flies at night, my two guests, Marie0907 and anon. I just wanted to say a massive, gargantuous THANK YOU for 40 reviews! Perhaps we can celebrate chapter ten with 50 reviews ;)

For those of you wondering what Liz's patronus is, you're in for a treat. I found the patronus meanings on a tumblr page (Patronus meanings) so go check it out! Speaking of Tumblr... I created a tumblr page for this fanfics so I can give you guys spoilers and share BTS updates and pictures from parts of the story. If you'd like to check it out, the link is at the bottom of my profile- thechosenbibliophile dot tumblr dot com ; Just delete the spaces :)

This chapter is pretty dark so buckle up, its going to be a bumpy ride! see what I did there? I hope that this chapter was worth waiting for and you all enjoy it. There are a lot of moments that will make your Siribeth/Blackmore hearts soar! Let me know in a review which one you prefer!

"It costs a lot more than your life. To murder innocent people? It costs everything you are." - Peeta Mellark

From a far, she could see flashes of multi-coloured lights, reminding her of the fireworks her father used to light up on New year's eve. Various colours streamed pass her, from a bright blue, to a deadly green. Manical laughter could be heard from one end of Hogsmeade to another, screams of horror and panic echoed down the streets.

Men and women, fell to the ground as curses hit them and she finally understood that Professor Bradley was right all along… this wasn't like in a classroom, there was no teacher holding their hand, there was no one to reprimand them for saying the wrong incantation, or not dodging fast enough. One mistake, even the most miniscule, could kill them.

Blind fear etched itself into the pit of her stomach, as she watched her friends sprint out, their wands in hand and whilst fear, was plastered on their faces, in their eyes gleamed nothing but sheer determination. As she surveyed the mess that was Hogsmeade, she couldn't help the nausea that made its way through her body.

This was their future.

Every single day for the rest of her life could be spent fighting battles that arose from the foolishness of the generations before them. Would she be, just another name in the daily prophet, just another casualty, just another victim.

Her stomach churned at the thought.

Elizabeth was brought out of her musings by a shrill scream at the back of one of the alleyways. For now, she would not think of the dark future ahead of her, but the light in fighting for what she believed in. Elizabeth sprinted down the alley and silently thanked Bradley for making them exercise, three months ago she'd have been lying on the floor panting by now.

She turned only to skid in the snow, Elizabeth pressed her back against the brick wall. She heard a woman sobbing out loud and pleading. Elizabeth looked around the corner to see a pregnant woman curled into a ball, her arms wrapped protectively around her middle.

"Do anything you want to me!" she sobbed, her cheeks red and swollen, "Just don't hurt my baby!"

Elizabeth turned back against the wall, her chest rose rapidly as she heard the man slap her across the face. How could someone degrade someone so badly, How would a man dare to even lay a hand on a woman, whether he knows her or not. This woman was with child, clearly defenceless and stressed. She fingered her wand and let out a determined breath. If she didn't do something, this woman, and her child were going to be murdered. To her, there was no alternate choice.

She stepped out of her hiding spot and levelled her wand at the mans head. The woman ceased sobbing as she saw someone raise a wand to the man. The masked man took a step back in surprise, what caused the woman to cease grovelling at him feet.

"Take one more step and I'll blow your head off your shoulders."

Elizabeth didn't know if she was bluffing or not. In that moment, she was filled with such anger at this mans mistreatment, she was angry at Voldemort, she was angry at his followers. Blind fury had bubbled within her like a cup of champagne.

The man stayed still, it was as if he ceased breathing. Elizabeth took one step closer to the man so that he wand was pressing into his skull. She looked over the mans shoulder at the woman who was slowly gathering her wits.

"GO!" she exclaimed, "Run far away! Take care of yourself and your child!"

The woman stood and slowly waddled over, her protruding belly prominent, tears welled in her eyes as she grabbed the girls cheek.

"I will forever be grateful for what you have done." she whispered, "Thank you."

Elizabeth internally sighed, she would've loved the whole gratitude and hero crap later on when she was in her right mind. But in that moment she had no time to appreciate the woman's thanks.

"I don't make it a habit of saving people, so don't go getting yourself killed, you have a kid to live for."

The woman nodded, her eyes filled with gratitude and unshed tears. She gave her a shaky smile and turned, she waddled as fast as she could out of the alleyway, leaving Elizabeth alone with the older man. Had Elizabeth been in the right state of mind, she would've stunned the man the moment she saw him and tied him up. But she could feel the need for vengeance burning in her chest. She wanted this man to suffer, she wanted him to grovel and beg at her feet as many had done at his own.

She had to have seen it coming, the man sharply turned around and hit the wand out of her hand, causing it to clatter on the floor, two meters away. The man than punched her in the face causing her to fall back onto the icy concreate. A gasp left her as she felt her insides contract at the sudden action. She quickly turned onto her stomach and shuffled along the floor to grab onto her wand. The man was faster and kicked the wand further away causing her to lay flat on her stomach, gasping for air.

"STUPFY!" Lily shrieked as she felt a bead of sweat roll down her cheek, had she known she'd be duelling death eaters she wouldn't have worn so many layers and denim to boot. The black cloaked figure fell to the ground in a heap as her spell hit him in the chest, "BEAT THAT JERK!" she yelled before spinning and cursing a death eater whom was approaching James from behind. She couldn't let that coward get James. It felt like a blow to her chest, she could let James die in that very moment, like she'd wished countless times over the years; but she didn't want him to die. She did not want James Potter to die.

She wasn't going to let him become a martyr, he'd then haunt her from the afterlife and brag about how he was a hero and people looked upto him. In fact it was a much simpler choice to just save him.

She ran towards him as he duelled two death eaters at the same time. She let out a tripping jinx towards one of them causing them to fall on the ground before she stunned him.

"Thanks Lils!" he shouted, his breath short.

Curses flew between them as they duelled the standing death eater, slowly they had caught the attention of other death eaters, two others had joined them and they fought ruthlessly. Multi coloured lights ricocheted off their shields and they jumped and dodged to avoid unknown curses. Adrenaline was pumping through her veins as she fought the darkly clad man.

"AVADA KEDAVRA!" a jet of bright green light flew towards her and she froze, everything froze, her mind, her heart, her body. This was it, it wasn't James that was going to be martyred, it was her. She felt her stomach churn, as her body stilled, this was how she was going to die. She was going to be remembered as someone who died before graduating, she would never have kids, or get married. She would never become a healer, sit her NEWTS, Patrol with Potter, fight Voldemort. She would never get the chance to bid everyone goodbye.

James felt his heart skip a beat as he saw the poison green curse stream towards the woman he loved in slow motion. Nausea churned in his stomach as he saw the regret and fear that flashed over her face. She couldn't die, she had so much to live for. He conjured up a slab of concreate that crumbled under the impact of the curse.

Lily let out a shuddering breath before giving him a heartfelt look, unshed tears welling in her eyes. James clenched his teeth together and turned away from him. A dark wave of fury enveloped him.

Lily Evans was never going to die when he could do something to protect her.

"Diffindo!"

"impendimenta!"

"stupefy! Expelliarmus!"

"CONFRINGO!" Sirius yelled and pointed his wand to the ground, the overpowered spell impacted the ground and blasted it to smithereens. Many people screamed at shock of the floor crumbling beneath them. He ran away from the hit zone towards the pair.

"Remus! Mary! You guys okay?" he yelled over the pandemonium, beads of sweat decorated his forehead and upper lip. Dirt was smudged on his cheeks and his cloak was torn.

"YEAH WE'RE FINE!" A distinctly feminine voice yelled back, "DO YOU SEE LIZ ANYWHERE!"

"NO!" he yelled back, fear welled up within him, his heart sped up. She was missing, presumably alone and defenceless. His eyebrows furrowed together. Where could she possibly be? A shroud of worry enveloped him, what if...what if. Sirius shook his head and took a deep breath. "LISTEN YOU GUYS TAKE CARE AND I'LL GO FIND HER!" he raised his voice over them and begun to speed away.

"SIRIUS!"

"PADFOOT BE CAREFUL!" he heard Remus yell from behind him. He dodged multi-coloured spells that flew from every direction into an alleyway; it was a cobblestone street with snow littering the ground. He increased his speed as he heard a scream and a deep chuckle. He slipped in the snow as he ran into the dark alley, the female was on the rough ground writhing, gut wrenching screams echoed down the alley and her arm red raw as the cobblestone scratched against them. He felt his breath catch as he recognised the curse.

The cruciatus curse.

"Stupefy!" he immediately yelled, hoping that he wasn't too late to save the girls mind and the spell hit the man's back, he couldn't take this anymore, he couldn't watch as some innocent was tortured in front of him. He could help but hope that Elizabeth wasn't in a similar situation as the girl was.

The unknown girl heaved a deep breath and fell to the ground limply; her limbs trembled from the aftereffects of the curse. She forcibly moved her neck and looked up, only for Sirius's eyes to widen. Her blue eyes flickered and a soft smile spread on her lips that were bloody from her biting down.

"Liz!" he gasped and ran forward, she nodded her head and pushed herself up, she stumbled into his embrace, her knees buckling. "You'll be fine, don't worry, you're safe now." He lifted her over his shoulders, she was weightless, like a feather and grabbed her wand that was on the ground.

"I can walk by myself." she weakly protested, Elizabeth coughed and he ran a hand down her back.

"Let me at least get you out of this alley." He replied and felt her nod against his back. He jogged out towards the main street where a sight met his eyes, a sight he knew would never leave him as long as he lived. Mary, Peter, Beverley, Remus, James and Lily were circled. They had death eaters surrounding them, wands out.

His friends could die.

"Liz listen to me, I'm going to put you on the ground, I want you to stay still and play dead." He whispered and placed her on the ground gently. He prayed to whatever gods were up there that she listened, he didn't want to have to watch her whilst trying to save his friends. She immeadiantly got onto her knees, weakly shaking her head. His let out a sigh of frusturation and leant against a wall to ensure his back wasn't exposed.

"No! I'm staying with you!" she panted looking up at him.

"Liz I can't let you do that." She shook her head in defiance, determination covered the weakness that was still residing in her gaze.

"Well I can't exactly let you go out by yourself either."

"Yes, yes you can." He nodded widening his eyes. Elizabeth stood up shakily gripping his elbows to hold herself up.

"Please," she gasped, "I can do this." Her voice had dropped to nothing but a pained whisper, as if the thought of staying behind would physically harm her.

"No! I don't want you to get hurt."

"In case you haven't noticed I already did." She nodded down towards the rest of her body, "They're my friends too, I can't just lie around like a coward whilst the rest of you fight."

"If you die I…" his voice cracked, as the weight of the battle finally succumbed to him.

"I would forgive you." She whispered tears welling up in her blue eyes, "Just let me do this." Sirius looked at her with his eyebrows furrowed and his eyes dark, a fire was burning behind those grey orbs, a fire that no one could possibly burn out for they would get burnt, a look of defeat passed over him for a moment and she knew, she knew that she would get through this.

"If I'm going to die, I want to do it on my own terms." she whispered.

The death eaters circled them, trapping them within the confines of their bodies, their wands were pointed at them and they pointed their own back.

"Who would've thought, we'd get six of you!" a death eater, obviously female cackled, "How disappointed will Dumbledore be when he loses his little lions!"

"How disappointed will your master be when he loses his followers to Azkaban!" James spat glaring at the female death eater with such venom in his eyes.

"Do you really think, are you foolish enough to believe that six little school children will be able to beat us, fully grown, pureblood witches and wizards?" A smooth, drawling voice spoke, strands of blonde hair fell out of his hood immeadiantly confirming their thoughts. It was Malfoy. James internally rolled his eyes, he thought he was done with the ponce years ago.

"Yes actually." James replied defiantly, Lily whom was standing next to him stomped on his foot, something Malfoy noticed,

"How adorable, you're Mudblood bitch is trying to protect you, what are you going to do filth, curse me?" his voice was calculating and cruel, as he spoke words that were so unslytherin you'd think that someone was impersonating Malfoy.

"Yes actually, I think I'll take great pleasure in doing it to."

"You're bluffing."

"You think?" she questioned with a snort and waved her wand slightly, "NOW!" with a yell all six teenagers let their magic flow. Curses were exchanged from person to person, screams and shrieks ripped through the air, it was chaotic, it was dangerous, it was wild.

Not far away from the action, Sirius and Elizabeth jogged stealthily with their wands in hand to a secluded area close to the area where their friends were duelling the death eaters. Elizabeth panted as they Crouched down; they saw Lily jump out of the way of a killing curse. A rage filled Elizabeth, a rage, an ache she had never before felt, She jumped up to run out to the fight when she felt a hand grab her arm and pull her back.

"Stop!" Sirius told her firmly, his eyes glowing "We need to be smart about this."

"How are you meant to be smart about something if you have no smarts to begin with?" she questioned rudely in a scathing voice causing him to flinch,

"Hey! I got 8 OWLS!" He said abruptly after a moment of silence between them. "I want you to try stay by my side okay?" he questioned her whilst looking at her with a no nonsense look. She couldn't help but be so entranced by the look in his eyes that whatever he said passed over her head.

"Huh?"

"just stay close to me," he huffed before standing with his hand in hers. They slowly jogged towards the battle when a blasting curse came flying straight at their hands, having no way to shield themselves they sprung apart, flying apart to each side when two death eaters begun to approach them.

"LIZ RUN! I'LL TAKE THEM ON!" Sirius yelled frantically as one of the death eaters who seemed significantly plumper approached Elizabeth.

"How…gryffindorish." A dignified voice said, there standing perfectly straight. his eyes narrowed as he recognised the stance. He could imagine her lips curled back into a smirk behind the emotionless mask, and a mass of curls hidden in the cloak.

Bellatrix Lestrange.

He didn't even need to see her face to know it was her; it was without a doubt Bella.

"Bella."

"Sirius," he could almost hear the smirk in her voice, "I see your still hanging out with blood traitors and Mudblood filth."

"Why of course I am, anything to disappoint the Ancient and Noble House of Black." he bowed in a mocking way, a smirk playing across his aristocratic features.

For a moment the two cousins stood face to face doing nothing, hatred glowed in their grey eyes, out of nowhere a black curse flew out of Sirius's wand towards Bellatrix, a look of loathing passed over her as she retaliated. Their curses were not colourful, no they were dark, they were blacks, greys, purples, reds, emeralds…

Later on Sirius would look back and cringe at how close he got to using extremely dark magic.

"Tenetur hoc personarum magicae" A gasp escaped her as she recognised the spell, Bellatrix lifted a lilac shield around her. Her face was contorted in anger as she yelled.

"HOW DARE YOU!" she shrieked, "HOW DARE YOU USE THE FAMILY SPELLS AGAINST ME YOU DISGRACEFUL, FILTHY BLOODTRAITOR!" She flung a burgundy jet of light at him, Sirius dodged it easily, almost gracefully.

"CRUCIO!"

"Ooo, playing dirty aren't we my dear cousin?" he laughed, his veins were on fire, a rush he'd never before felt was running through it and it was great. His magic was alight, flowing off him in large waves, the air around him was darkened and breezy. Bellatrix's cloak had fallen back revealing her mass of wild hair. Both his and Bellatrix's raven locks were whipping around them from the magic.

Bellatrix let out a laugh before sending a rush of raw magic at him causing him to fall to the ground.

"I apologise but I must go, we should do this again. Cousin." She spat before disillusioning herself and disappearing. Sirius let out a growl and hit his fist on the hard ground in anger. She always got to him.

Gathering his wits Sirius stood up and looked around, he saw that all those that were fighting around his general area had moved towards the end of Hogsmeade. He raced towards them to see Elizabeth duelling a different death eater than before, this one was rather tall. Out of nowhere the death eater whom Elizabeth was duelling pointed his wand and a red jet of light flew towards Elizabeth, hitting her straight in the chest, Elizabeth fell to the floor writhing as a piercing scream ripped through the air. Elizabeth continued to writhe on the ground as if she was being stabbed with millions and millions on burning knifes, her face was contorted in pain and red from screaming, her voice hoarse. He had begun to run towards her long ago;

Beverley stunned a death eater with a delighted shriek when she saw one of her best friends collapse on the ground screaming and writhing in pain. She had lost count of the amount of times that day she felt a rage within her, a lioness trapped within her ready to pounce, yet she hadn't felt the need to let it out of its cage more than at that moment. Her stomach coiled As she watched Elizabeth screaming on the ground. Her mind worked on autopilot, when it came to protecting those she loved, there were no limits.

"AVADA KEDAVRA!" she screamed pointing her wand at the death eater whom was torturing Elizabeth, the world around them stopped and all turned to look at her as they saw the tell-tale electric green light symbolising death rush at him. The death eater was in so much shock that he didn't get the chance to conjure up a transfigured shield.

It all happened so fast…

Elizabeth looked up and caught Beverley's eye just in time to see her expression as her curse hit the man whom was torturing her. Her eyes widened and her lips parted, as if she wanted to take it all back; She watched her best friends reaction as a man fell to the ground with his life taken, stolen.

Not by Beverley…

But by death.

At that moment Elizabeth wished she could unsee Beverley's face, it was a look she never wanted to see on anyone's face let alone her friends. A broken expression made its way on Beverley's beautiful face, she looked both grief stricken and smug. Her eyes had darkened and her face seemed pale and gaunt, her lips pulled so tight together… Her body slumped from its perfect posture and she collapsed onto her knees on the ground. and she looked defeated, tortured. In moments Beverley seemed to have aged 10 years.

Within seconds her best friends impenetrable mask disintegrated before them, Pain etched itself onto her face and her hazel eyes dulled as she gazed at the man whose life she stole.

One of her best friends killed someone.

She watched as her best friend murdered someone.

She watched her eyes as they became as lifeless as the mans whose life she took.

Her best friend killed someone to save her.

Recovering from shock the death eaters all apparated in a wisp of black smoke and loud, gunshot like cracks. Lily and Mary ran over the Beverley who was sitting on the ground staring at the ground snow on the ground, examining the red blotches of blood stained on it. They ran over and embraced their grief stricken friend who was trembling like a leaf. Elizabeth was still on the ground panting, her throat was closing up and her eyes were welling up with tears. The four boys embraced, as if they would never see one another again.

Elizabeth slowly stood up but before taking a step her knees buckled, she felt a pair of arms catch her and slowly bring her to the ground. She saw a strand of red hair. Lily. Her best friend, she could've lost her best friend, her chest felt heavy and constricted, panic begun to set turned to look at her best friend and their eyes caught one another's. Green met blue and a chocked sob escaped Lily.

"I nearly lost you!" she gripped onto Elizabeth and Elizabeth gripped onto her. Elizabeth could feel her own tears leaking out of her eyes and dripping down her cheeks when an overwhelming cold washed over them.

The lights began to flicker and any puddles on the ground turned to ice. The air around them turned thick and frosty when they saw a mass of black cloaks in the air. In the forefront of her mind Elizabeth could hear her screams from just moments before, being told by others she wasn't good enough, she saw an image of a doll flash before her eyes before she opened her eyes. Blocking out the voices she looked forward to see the mass of black was closer and larger. The closer the mass of black got, the colder it became, the more overwhelming the memories.

Dementors.

She looked up at Lily whom had her eyes shut and her wand in her hand. She was gripping on tightly.

She tried to bring up all her good memories to the forefront of her mind, meeting Lily, making her parents proud, going out with the Marauders and the girls for her 18th, singing on stage with Sirius, her present. She had never properly conjured a patronus. it seemed so much more difficult to conjure in a real life situation than in class.

"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" six patronus's met in the air shielding them from the Dementors, blocking them from getting through, the Dementors ricocheted off the shield.

Before Elizabeth blacked out she caught sight of a stag, a doe, wolf, grim, Black bear and Occamy and move towards the Dementors. Their light emitting onto the darkness of the Dementors. She smiled as her eyes shut even as she attempted to protest. She had an Occamy Patronus. Their bright line shone brightly and a warmth engulfed her as the Dementors fleed.

It was like they were not only protecting them from the Dementors…

But the shielding them from the dangers of their corrupt world.

And then she was engulfed in darkness.

The scent of cleanness wafted through her nose and without opening her eyes Elizabeth realised exactly where she was. Hospital wing. Why on earth was she in the hospital wing. It took a few moments to gather her wits when she remembered.

Oh right…death eaters…Hogsmeade, It was a completely plausible reason to be in the

Opening her eyes Elizabeth winced at the sight of the white ceiling, it was too white, too clean…too unnatural one would say. She opened her mouth to speak but her throat was parched. Her eyes felt heavy and her head was pounding.

"Hey slow down!" a deep voice murmured to her from her side as she begun to sit up, looking at the source of the voice she recognised Sirius, abet barely, he had dark rings underneath his eyes, his skin paler than usual, lips slightly chapped, he had light stubble underneath his jaw, his hair was slightly greasy and tangled. It was a shocking realisation that despite his horrible appearance he was still handsome. She was sure she looked a bloody mess.

"How long was I out?" her voice was throaty, even more evidence pointing to her being knocked out.

"3 days." He replied shortly, his eyes held worry in them. 3 days…what the hell? Seeing her affronted expression he elaborated, "Madam P had you on several potions so you were abit delirious and slipping in and out of consciousness, she had you on something similar to muggle anassestic, I think, for the after affects of cruciatus."

"In and out of consciousness huh? Don't remember a thing?"

"Shame that, some of the things you said were truly humorous." He sniggered.

"Why wouldn't they be, I'm a truly humorous person." She retorted before the grin on her face faded, she started fiddling with a piece of loose thread on her blanket before asking the dreaded question in little more than a whisper. She wanted to forget what happened, she didn't want to ask, but she had to know.

"Did we lose anyone?"

"No students if that's what you're asking, afew casualties here and there but no students."

"That's unrealistic." She replied, gazing up at his exhausted face, his brows were furrowed as he looked across the bed at her.

"They think that the Death eaters were ordered not to kill students and that the whole situation is just to make people scared." She nodded at the logical explanation, before sighing, About to ask the question, Sirius quickly interrupted. "Don't worry, they're all fine."

"That's not all that reassuring." She drawled thinning her lips, Her stomach churned as one specific person stood out. Her haunted face flashed before her eyes, a green light and a scream. "How's Bev?"

"Ahhh… as fine as one can be." He replied looking down and tapping his chin, she raised her eyebrow and he surrendered, with a roll of his eyes. "Alright so she's abit out of it."

"How out of it?" she questioned warily, Sirius sighed and nodded his head towards the bed opposite her, to see that curtains were drawn around it, "She hasn't spoken since then."

Elizabeth nodded before looking across hesitantly, slowly with shaky hands she begun to move the covers away from herself.

"What are you doing!" he questioned in a hushed voice.

"Seeing the state one of my best friends is in!" she replied back in the same tone, But before they could continue their slight bickering Madam Pomphrey came bustling in tutting.

"What on earth are you doing trying to get out of bed and MR Black what are you doing here?" she raised her eyebrows pointedly at Sirius.

"I was waiting for you dear Poppy so I could ravish you on one of these extremely comfortable hospital beds, you must teach me the spell you use." Sirius winked in a charming way, and to Elizabeth's shock a light blush spread across Madam Pomphrey's cheeks. What was the world coming to? Elizabeth furrowed her brow and grimaced at the interaction between the two.

"I'm sure you were Mr Black." She nodded before waving her wand over Elizabeth, with a wrinkled nose, "Mr Black when was the last time you had a shower." Sirius just shrugged whilst watching her wand as if she was about to curse Elizabeth.

"Well you're stinking up my hospital wing, out!" She pointed towards the door and spoke in a no nonsense voice, Elizabeth let out a snort, If sirius smelt bad she couldn't help but wonder how awful she smelt.

"Your hospital wing needs some bloody stinking up." He murmured under his breath causing Madam Pomphrey to look at him pointedly.

"Out!"

"Alright, alright!" Elizabeth shook her head in amusement before falling back on the bed, with Madam Pomphrey hovering over her she didn't know when she'd end up seeing Beverley.

"Everything's changed hasn't it?" Mary asked Remus as they sat in front of the fire in the common room. Remus put his book down and looked at her solemnly before nodding. He moved towards her and looked her in the eye. She had beautiful eyes, he mused. They shone like sapphires and they were always twinkling with mischief.

"Yes everything's changed, but that doesn't mean that everything's changed for the bad. Who knows, some good may come out of this." He shrugged, scruffing his foot against the patterned carpet. She looked him in the eye and grimaced. Her brows furrowed as she shook her head. Damn it he always had an answer for everything! All she wanted was to ask a rhetorical question and he just had to answer it with something sickeningly optimistic.

"You know, as smart as you are Remus, I can't help but doubt you on this one, we're at war, how can things be good?"

"We still have one another, and that is what will keep us strong." A small smile spread across Mary's face, Remus moved his hand to place it between them, and Mary in turn moved her hand to lie on top of his.

Mary would never know, but in that moment Remus wanted nothing more than to lean over and press his lips to hers. He wanted to wrap his arms around her and embrace her. He wanted her to be happy and to be safe.

She felt the butterflies in her stomach take a joyride as their hands interlocked, a giddy feeling arose within her.

Sure it wasn't a kiss, but it was better than anything.

It was 11:30and the halls were deserted except for a few rule breakers here and there. However two people that were wandering around the castle were James Potter and Lily Evans. Head boy and girl. Tonight was there first patrol since that day and things were slightly awkward between them.

"So…" James said trying to break the awkwardness,

"Well this is awkward isn't it?" she let out a soft laugh, causing him to reciprocate

"Yeah, Why?" he bluntly asked causing her to double take.

"Why what?"

"Why is it awkward?"

"I don't know, maybe its because we both shared an experience that we really don't want to talk about?" Lily said with a questioning tone. She looked down and dragged her foot across the concreate floors.

"I guess." James replied, however it was still awkward, after about half an hour they walked in silence before Lily spoke again.

"Its weird you know, It didn't feel real, it just felt like something going on and now…" James understood immeadiantly what she was talking about and nodded,

"It feels scarily real." he finished for her.

"Yes. Knowing that we're leaving soon and this is what we'll be dealing with everyday just… merlin it frightens me." she sighed, and looked into his eyes, "For so long we believed these were just terrorist attacks, but this," she exclaimed, "This is a war and we're in the middle of it!" she cried. James nodded in agreement.

"You'd be stupid if you weren't frightened."

"Then I guess you're not frightened?" Lily breathed a laugh causing him to roll his eyes.

"Har di ha ha." He muttered, "You don't have to stay though, you can take off and go to America or France or... anywhere." he sighed, waving his arms around defeated. "Away from the war, Voldemort, death eaters."

"I've thought about it." She admitted sheepishly, her cheeks tinging red. Oh she had thought of it, she had even packed up at some point, but she just couldn't do it. "But I can't run away like a coward whilst all my friends fight for their lives, I just can't do it, I wouldn't be able to live with myself."

"I understand, that's why I want to be an auror."

"You want to be an auror?" she questioned, a smile gracing her lips, She had always imagined him being a famous Quidditch player. As she watched him walk with his back straight and chest puffed out with pride, she could see a man in their whom would fight the war, whom would survive and be better for it.

"Yeah, I want to do something, help people, fight against Moldyshorts and his death munchers." A snort escaped lily, Only they would be able to mock Voldemort and his sheep in times like these.

"Moldyshorts and his death munchers? Sounds like a band to me."

"Shut it carrot top."

And so they bickered, it wasn't anything different.

That's just what they did.

A jet of green light came flying towards her chest when she woke up, her chest heaving and beads of sweat dripping down her forehead. Her top was uncomfortably tight and she felt too hot, too constricted. Her palms were clammy as she felt sweat on her upper lip.

With a shudder she fell back onto her bed, it wasn't real, it was just a dream.

She found her eyes drifting towards the bed in front of her once again, what must Beverley be going through, what internal trauma must she be feeling? Standing up Elizabeth carefully snuck out of bed towards Beverleys bed before slowly slipping in to find Beverley sitting on the windowsill staring out at the sky, a new moon gracing the sky. The moon cast shadows over her face emphasising her prominent cheekbones, chin and jaw. Beverley gave no indication if she made any noises for she stayed stoically still. Elizabeth would've thought she was dead if not for the raising of her chest.

Elizabeth moved to sit on the spare space infront of Beverley so she could face her. She climbed onto the windowsill and just sat there looking at her friend. She was shocked yet not surprised at the state Beverley was in. Her natural dirty blonde hair was laying limply around her shoulders greasy and unkept, dark circles under her eyes, her cheeks were sunken in, she had lost weight, her skin was pale and oily… However it was her eyes that scared her, it was her eyes that shocked her…her eyes.

Her usually bright hazel eyes had dulled to a plain brown, they looked dead, as if there was no joy in the world, as if she had lost apart of her soul. They were lonesome and old, as if she'd seen unimaginable horrors. The dark, colourless eyes that showed her loss and despair.

Elizabeth let out a shuddering breath as tears sprung to her eyes at the state her friend was in, how can someone feel such despair, such loss. Her best friend had saved her life, at the sacrifice of her own soul.

"I killed someone." Beverley said out loud, her voice lifeless and faraway, as if she was on a different planet far from earth. She sounded as though she hadn't used her voice in several days, which was truthful, these were the first words she'd spoken since that dreaded incantation. Elizabeth nodded slowly and traced circles on her back.

"I took someones life, and I don't care." She murmured before looking up and meeting Elizabeth's eyes, a look of deep sadness passed over her, "Does that make me a bad person?"

"You aren't a bad person." Elizabeth shook her head before placing a hand on Beverley's elbow and shuffling forward. How could she think that? How could she believe herself a bad person when she did such a selfless thing. In her eyes the act could be awful but perhaps the intentions were pure, and that was excusable. "If you didn't care you wouldn't be in this state. You would've walked away pretending it never happened."

Beverley nodded before looking out the window with a glint in her eye that made her seem that she wasn't fully there "I don't even know his name, he could've been a father, a brother, heck he could've been an old friend of mine and I wouldn't know."

"I just shot him down." With those words Beverley's eyes welled up and a choked sob escaped her, She raised her hand to her mouth and cried into it. Elizabeth moved forward and engulfed Beverley in her arms, sobs wracked her body and her breaths were heaving. "I killed someone." She sobbed. "I'm a m-mo-monster!"Tears welled up in Elizabeth's eyes as she heard those words, a declaration of the loss of her friend's innocence.

She felt so at loss, her best friend had given her the greatest gift at the cost of her own innocence. She had taken the life of someone else to save her own. But she would've rather died than see her in such a state. Guilt gnawed at her insides as she held her trembling and sobbing best friend. She knew deep down, her best friend would never be the same, this changed her.

As she thought back on it, what the muggles said were right. One shot, two dead.

For Beverley lost apart of herself that night, a part of her died.

And just like all dead things, she'd never get it back.

OH MY GOD! MY HEART IS BEING SHREDDED TO PIECES I AM SO SORRY!

On a second note this chapter was so exhausting to edit, I ended up adding over 1.5k words onto it because it just seemed so rushed and impersonal! I try so hard to shorten the chapters and they just get longer!

Now I am very glad to say...CHAPTER 10 IS A HAPPY ONE! Not to say theres no angst, but its happy. So to cheer you all up, heres a spoiler!

...couldn't help but think of how good she felt lying on top of him

WOAH WHAT! Don't worry, I don't need to change the story rating, nothing explicit.

Anyway I hope you all enjoyed the chapter, and please leave review, I am anxious yet excited to hear your responses!

Thechosenbibliophile xo