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"A friend is someone who has the same enemies as you."
-Abraham Lincoln

Chapter 40: The Strength of the Youth

"Kyra if you don't get down here now I am going to curse you!" Cora yelled from the base of the steps leading to the girls' dormitory of Gryffindor tower.

It was currently the last morning the seventh year students would spend at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and since Cora had taken Lily's advice and packed the night before, it was only Kyra that was keeping the girls from heading to the feast. Cora did not know why she had suddenly listened to Lily's rant about packing before it was necessary, but knew now that it was much easier than leaving everything to the last minute.

"Shut up Cora," Kyra yelled from up the stairs, "I'll be down soon enough, don't have a hissy fit!"

Cora just shook her head and sat down on the couch next to Lily. The seventh year boys of Gryffindor Tower had already made their way to the feast, they were convinced that the girls would never be ready in time and they were not going to miss their last morning feast at Hogwarts.

"I told you it wouldn't work," Lily said with a hint of laughter in her voice.

Cora laughed along with her, "I should have learned to listen to you a long time ago."

"It would do you some good to realize that because I" Lily said, speaking in a very sarcastic tone, "I am the smartest girl in the world and you should listen and follow anything I say."

Cora, not knowing how to fully respond to her friend's speech, laughed at her and threw the pillow on the couch at her. The two friends laughed at this before they heard heavy footsteps coming down the girls' staircase. Kyra, who seemed to be slightly sweating from moving all of her stuff, came down the stairs and said, "Let's go ladies, I'm not waiting for you anymore."

"Shut up!" Cora and Lily said at the same time as the three girls walked out of the common room and toward the Great Hall for their last feast at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

The girls arrived at the table and joined their fellow Gryffindor seventh years just as the last few people were entering the Great Hall. Lily was not sure if it was simply because she was a seventh year and gazing around the room more than normally since it would be her last time here, but the mood in the hall seemed more somber than it has been in the past few years. Lord Voldemort's attacks were reaching an unprecedented height and the elder students were realizing that they might not know if they would see all of their friends next term. This thought was even more profound amongst the seventh years, who knew they would never come back to this oasis in the battle field. As Lily looked around again, happy faces hid saddened eyes. She even noticed that there was a sense of fear in the eyes of the Professors they would be leaving this year. Perhaps the only one without a sense of worry, excluding the first and second years who most could not fully comprehend the troubles that awaited them once they left the school, was the Headmaster. Albus Dumbledore still had the ever-lurking twinkle in his blue eyes, and before Lily could look away, their gazes met and her perplexed look was met with one of hope and promise.

Dumbledore smiled at Lily and then turned his eyes to the room and rose to say the last end of the year speech the seventh years would ever hear him say.

"Welcome, my students, to another close of the year at Hogwarts. I hope all your studies ended well, and if need be some improvement for next term. But alas, some of you are leaving us for good this year and we are all quite saddened to see you leave these halls. You are leaving this place of learning to go on to do much better things, in a world that needs constant reminders that there is still room to laugh and smile. Hold your heads high and hold fast to your most trusted allies, for friends and family are one of the only lights that are still shinning in these dark times. Yet there is still room to remember, that there is still hope in the future. Just as the prospect of teaching new first years at the start of every term will forever be there, so will be hope, even if it is the last thing left in Pandora's Box."

As Dumbledore sat, his usual speech was not followed by applause, but by silence. Everyone was taking in his words and trying to figure out all of their meanings. While Lily was still lost in thought, she was nudged by Kyra to tell her to start eating. At this she turned and smiled at her friends sitting around her. Dumbledore was right, even if her parents were gone and her sister hated her, she still had all of her friends. Most especially she had James. As unorthodox as it may have been if her parents were still alive, she would be living with him in his house once they left Hogwarts. Although no one else would be living with them, she felt that the other five would be frequent visitors to the household. A smile reached her face from ear to ear as she took a hold of the food in front of her, this was her family now and how lucky she was to have them.

"I was half expecting some crazy contraption to come barreling from the ceiling during Dumbledore's speech! What no end of the year prank this year boys?" Kyra asked, in an extremely taunting tone.

"I see by seventh year you still expect us to be an immature as ever?" Remus asked her back.

"Well maybe you Remus, but certainly not those two over there," she said pointing her fork to James and Sirius.

"Who us?" Sirius cried, "we are very mature for our age I have no idea what you are talking about!"

"Oh ha!" she cried back, "that is a great joke Sirius, I needed a laugh today."

"But seriously guys, no prank today? I'm surprised as well," Cora said.

"No prank," Sirius snapped back, leaving Cora to say nothing else with the group for the rest of the feast. His tone led James to give him a glare which was almost a caution to drop the tick on his shoulder he had about Cora.

"Yes Cora and Kyra no prank this year," James said naturally, "it really sucks that we didn't and we're probably going to regret it someday-"

"More like right now," Sirius grumbled.

"But we didn't, and that is that," James finished, ignoring Sirius.

"I think that is more of the prank," Remus chimed in, "all the staff and professors are waiting around for something to come and they seem afraid to trust anything or anyone in front of them."

At this the Gryffindor seventh years laughed at the cautiousness in everyone's manners from the Slytherins to the Professors, how they would all miss the trouble the four Marauders caused the halls of Hogwarts. The group laughed a while at the many hysterical events that made their studying years at Hogwarts bearable until it was time to leave for the train to go back to reality.

The group was one of the last of those to leave for the trains; for although the prospect of seeing their families once again was extremely important for most of them; they knew that in these hard times the most important people in their lives were their friends. And until they could hold it off no longer, they made their ways to the carriages that would take them to the train. They each took one last look at the school they called home for seven years and wished it silently goodbye; for even though they had the thrill of living out on their own ahead of them, they were still trying to take in every last glimpse of the castle until they could see it no longer.

The train slowly came to its usual halt as it pulled into Kings Crossing. The younger students, who were always the most eager to get off the train to see their families once again, were the first to get their things and wait in line to pass through the portal to the muggle world. The Gryffindor seventh years took their time in getting their things and found themselves near the end of the line once they had reached the outside. Lily and James led the group, followed by Peter, Sirius and Remus, and Cora and Kyra held up the rear. Cora noticed that her friends in front of her were making small conversation as they waited for their turn, but she and Kyra just stared at the train they were leaving for the last time. Although Cora had not looked at Kyra, she could feel her gaze going past her to look at the train, since she was closer to its engine. At one point Cora turned to look at the usually joyful Kyra to find that her eyes were slightly misty. She then smiled at her friend, and Kyra proceeded to laugh.

"I can't believe we are done with school. Where did seven years go?" Kyra asked.

All Cora could do was shake her head and say, "I have no idea."

After that statement they were pushed from the sadness in their minds by the wizard in front of them telling them to go through the portal. However, when Cora went through the portal she landed flat on her face in a place that did not resemble Kings Crossing in the slightest way. Her trolley was missing and Kyra was also missing. Yet before she had time to panic she heard a friendly voice call to her.

"Cora," Remus called to her as he was hunched behind a large boulder near where she stood. "Come over here."

Not really thinking, Cora followed Remus' directions and upon squatting down next to him, she noticed that Sirius was also next to them.

"Are you all right?" Remus asked her.

"Yes I'm fine," she quickly spit out, "But where are we? What is going on? Where is everyone else? I was just going through the portal with Kyra and then all of a sudden I was here by myself. We have to find Kyra, she shouldn't be alone here."

"Kyra didn't come through?" Sirius asked, with a little panic in his voice.

"I'm not sure; the impact knocked me on the ground. All I know is that one minute she was next to me and the next she was gone."

"We have to find her," Sirius said immediately and proceeded to stand up, but was pushed back down by Remus with a strength Cora did not think he ever had. It would seem that Remus had a strength in him that one could never see if they just looked at him. This did not count his inner strength of self worth that he held within his soul, for he had to have great inner strength in order to try and keep sane knowing he became a monster once every month.

"Sirius we have no idea where we are and we also have no idea if she even came through the portal! You are staying here until we find out something."

"If we stay here we'll accomplish nothing! There has got to be students all over this place!"

"Sometimes I don't know how you get by everyday." Remus said shaking his head slightly and raising his voice to his friend a little, "Obviously not everyone was brought here or else we would see students everywhere. There has to be some kind of reason why we were selected to be here."

"But-" Sirius began to say but was interrupted by Cora.

"Stop it boys!" Cora said, raising her voice above a whisper to be heard over the two quarrelers. "Let's just try to find a way out of here."

"Okay fine, which way shall we go?" Sirius asked, and it was at this time that the three students got their first good glimpse of the rocky area they has been transported to.

They ground which they would be forced to walk on was rocky and uneven; it seemed any false step would lead to a painful fall. The element of slipping was given even more fear because of the slow moving river that was a few feet in front of them. The remains of an old building were a bit further then the river and it was at that moment that a mix of mud and dirt could be seen. The clouds above them were floating ominously above them as the sun was almost fully set at this time and the moon was started to show its face. All three graduated students sighed a sigh of relief to see that the full moon would not be for a few more nights, since that would only add to the issues at hand for the three.

"We might as well start moving to the abandoned building over there, this way we can get on some solid ground." Remus explained.

Without really answering him, they slowly made their way to the river that they needed to cross to get to what was left of the building in the distance. They tried to pass much of the way hiding behind large rocks and boulders, for they did not know what kind of creatures or people may be lurking around this area. However, once they were extremely close to the river, it became necessary to step away from the cover and walk into the moonlight. Sirius went first, then Remus followed, but as Cora went to stand up next to the boys she felt someone push her back and she landed on her back on the rocks at her feet. A groan came out of her mouth, but before she could find her bearings once again and ask Remus why he had pushed her to the ground, she heard a male voice coming from near the river.

"Well if it is not Dumbledore's trusty trio, however missing one of course," the man said, "but I am sure we will find him somewhere around here, he can't be that far."

"What do you want Malfoy?" Cora heard Sirius say.

"I always knew you were the runt of the family, serves you right, a pureblood with notable parents going into Gryffindor. That was bad enough, but becoming one of Dumbledore's minions and even applying to become an auror…I'm glad you're parents burned you off the family tree."

"You pale bastard," Sirius yelled, and Cora guessed that he had made some aggression for she then heard the man, she presumed was named Malfoy, explain back.

"I would put your silly wand away boy," he said with a voice that Cora knew he was grinning as he spoke, "you will see that you are clearly outnumbered."

With those words Cora heard multiple steps coming toward her and the boys, but before she could make her move to join her comrades she was forced out of her hiding place by a man and her mouth covered. As she was taken out into the open she saw Remus standing slightly behind Sirius, who was standing extremely close to the man she assumed was Malfoy. Around her were a few men and women, she did not recognize, located around the three of them.

"Cora," Remus cried and tried to move forward, but was stopped by one of the men.

"It seems with this one I have hit a spot with the werewolf," Malfoy said with a smile.

Cora was trying to wriggle out of the grip of the man holding her, but his grip was too strong for her escape. She could feel a wand being pressed against her throat, but before the man holding her could start a curse she felt it fly out of his hand. Because of that quick motion the man was put off guard and Cora was able to escape. Completely forgetting her wand, she turned around and punched the man in the face who was holding her. From the impact he backed up, and while he was away from her, Cora noticed that another seven more people who looked like Hogwarts students came rushing to the trio's aid. Among those students came Lily, James, and Peter from the hiding place close to where Cora was standing.

"Are you all right?" Lily asked Cora, as she ran to her side with her wand drawn.

"I'm fine now, where did you guys come from?"

But before Lily could answer her, she was cut off by a purple curse flying past her face. At that the girls separated from each other and went on to fight with the rest of the men and women that were in Malfoy's clan. Trying to get glances at those people who were fighting with her and her other Gryffindor clan, as she fought with some woman who had jet black hair, cold black eyes, and a crooked nose, she noticed that all were seventh year students from Hogwarts. Although she may have not known them all personally, she still knew their names. There were three students from Ravenclaw; Graham Wallace, Rachel Adams, and Samantha Reeds and two from Hufflepuff; Alex Copperfield and Stewart Finley. Each was extremely bright and the professors each had their eyes to the sky with those five students; they knew they would bring about great changes in the world with their attitude and abilities.

The curses were flying high and far, and even the occasional killing curse was being sent toward the students, most likely because of the frustration that the ex-students were not being subdued so easily. Once Cora had successfully sent her opponent flying across the river into piercing rock on the other side, she joined her nearest comrade; Sirius Black.

Sirius was trying to fend off the man named Malfoy who was so threatening to him before the fighting began. Even though it appeared that Sirius was beginning to lose the battle with the enemy, a smile still was spread across this face that was too sincere to be from a curse. Yet soon their battle moved in such a way that Sirius was pinned against a rock that was impossible for him to climb without putting his back to his opponent. In one sleek moment Sirius slipped under his own feet and landed on the ground, giving Malfoy ample opportunity to catch him off guard. Yet when Cora saw this, right before a curse could come out of his mouth; she tackled Malfoy to the floor. Malfoy, in frustration then raised his wand at her, but he was soon thrown into the lake by an unseen force. This force happened to be Sirius getting to his feet and cursing him to land far away from the two of them.

"You okay?" Sirius asked her, perhaps the first time he was sincerely concerned for Cora's welfare.

"I am, but are you all right?"

"You mean besides the attacks going on everywhere, perfectly fine," he said with a genuine smile.

The two went on to join their comrades, but soon found that the ten students were not the only ones fighting for their side anymore. While Malfoy had been thrown across the stones into the river, aurors had begun to appear. With this, those fighting the students quickly left their fight, for at that point they were greatly outnumbered and only a few injured were left behind; including the woman whom Cora had sent flying across the river who was slowly making her way up from her position on the ground.

Without saying much, the aurors present picked up the two injured enemies the students were fighting and traveled with them through a portkey which they all seemed to have in their coat. The leader of the group, who Cora knew to be a man named Moody, brought the other students who had minor injuries, together around him and one other auror.

"Just hold on tight," Moody said as he held out a large bracelet; and with that Cora felt a tug on the back of her navel and she found herself at platform 9 ¾ once again.

The students stood there for a while, trying to catch their breathe from the fight.

"Before any of you speak," the woman who was transported with them said, "we need to make sure everyone is okay."

"I think he has broken his ankle," Rachel said about the Hufflepuff next to her.

"I'll be fine, just tell us what is going on first," Alex said, trying to make it seem that he could stand on his own.

"Well you all are going to be checked out before you are able to leave this platform, but I guess an explanation is in order," the woman said. "We are not sure why you were all attacked, but it seems that a few death eaters managed to charm the portal so that a few of you were transported to that horrible place. We are not sure why you were specifically chosen, but for some reason you were."

"What about the others, we are missing a few in our group," Sirius explained, obviously still worried about Kyra.

"No I assure you," she continued, "all the other students are accounted for, we made sure to know who and how many were missing before we went into the area; after we found out where you had gone of course. Those death eaters may be cleaver but they sure aren't smart. We were able to just walk through the portal between the platforms getting into the muggle world and walked right into it."

"But you have no idea what we were targeted?" Lily asked, taking James's hand for support as she spoke.

"No idea," she said.

"Now Alice, I am sure you can guess now why they were selected," Moody said, finally opening his mouth since their return.

The woman, named Alice, looked perplexed at him but did not say a word and gave him time to speak.

"Let's see," he continued, "how many of you are planning on taking on auror training?"

At this all the students raised their hands, except Cora who could not really be seen behind the sea of raised hands for she was in the back of the group.

Turning to Alice, Moody spoke again, "That will answer your question."

Feeling a little confused, as Moody walked away while the other students questioned Alice for more details, Cora followed him a little further down the rail station.

"Sir," she quietly said, "Mr. Moody."

"Yes Corinthia," he tuned around and said, with a slight annoyance in his voice.

"You're theory can't be correct, I'm not going to be an auror."

"Oh the youth these days, I have no idea what is going to become of this generation," he said, "you pose just as much of a threat to the Dark Lord as any auror. A complex dueler is not the kind of competition he wants to be standing up to."

With that sentence he walked through the portal, and soon after being checked by Alice for their injuries, they were each sent through the portal again. This time they landed in Kings Crossing, and found both their stuff and a worried Kyra running up to her friends. She had tears in her eyes and was clearly frazzled from the whole situation; the fact that they had dust and scrapes all over them was not helping her calm down in any way.

"What happened? No one would tell us what was going on! Cora, all I knew was that one moment you were next to me and then once I got through the platform only your stuff was there next to me!" Kyra said much too fast for most people to comprehend.

With a large sigh Lily spoke, "it's a long story. All I know is that this is only the beginning of the fight."

"Yeah, and all the pressures we had at school are over with," Graham explained, "We're all friends now, by default in that we are fighting the same enemy."

All the seventh years nodded at his words, and proceeded to slowly get their feet on the ground after the incident and make their way finally toward the exit.

A/N: I know, it has been way too long since my last update and I have no real excuse for the reason why. But I do think the same reason why I have started to write are basically because of all the lovely reviews I keep getting which tell me every time I get a message in my inbox that I need to write more and the fact that I am currently studying abroad in the UK right near where JK Rowling was supposed to have written part of her first book. The atmosphere around here just makes me think of Harry Potter everywhere, so I was driven to write once again. I am hoping to have another chapter up in another week or two. I have a bunch of free time because the only reading I can do is at the library and I can't be in there for too long or I will die by death of books.

Oh, and I'm not very fond of this chapter. It's not really well written and too jumpy I think, but then again fighting is very jumpy. But alas I hope my next chapter will be better, once I get into the swing of writing regularly again something that is not a research paper.

I hope you all enjoy and thank you all for reviewing, if it was not for you I would not be writing this chapter right now!

Please review; it will make me write faster because I will start to realize I can't ignore all the inbox messages in my e-mail!

Thank you all!