The Summer Before

Twelve months before Remus opened a Muggle posted letter in Grimmauld place, a letter was delivered across the ocean to America by one of the Hogwarts’ school owls. A second letter came moments later by a gorgeous white owl. The house they were delivered to looked no different from the others on the well maintained street in a quiet suburb of America. The paint was a pristine white, the shutters the perfect shade of midnight blue, dark enough to be mistaken for black. The walkway leading to the large inviting porch was lined with lilies and tulips in reds, oranges, and whites. The porch itself had hanging pots overflowing with lavender and lilacs. The lawn was perfectly mowed, the house’s exterior perfectly kept. Nothing would make a stranger think that anything tragic had ever or would ever happen at such a lovely home. Unfortunately they would be wrong on both counts.

The owls had dropped their letters into the hand of a small, elderly woman with white streaked light red hair held up in a tight bun. She was seated at the large dining room table all alone when the owls flew in through the open window that she was facing. After receiving the letters, she rewarded each bird with an owl treat before they flew off on their long journey home. She glanced at the handwriting on the outside of the letters then went back to her breakfast.

When she’d finished her breakfast, a house-elf appeared to clean the table and ask if she needed anything further. She shook her head and picked up the letters before starting up the stairs toward the slightly ajar door at the top. Walking into the room, she smiled when she saw that one of the elves had replaced the flowers by the bed with fresh lavender and lilies. The curtains were open and the windows opened to allow the early morning breeze in. The house-elf had also taken the time to change the bed linens on the large four poster bed. She moved to the comfortable chair she’d had moved to the room and had positioned near the head of the bed. Before she opened the letters, she looked at the young woman who lay still as death on that bed. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, she reopened them to see that Larentia still slept. Her granddaughter hadn’t shown any signs of awakening for fourteen years now.

Her eyes were closed as if in sleep, but it was deeper than that, all the Healers agreed on that much. She remained unfazed by the passing years, as though her body, her person remained frozen in time. Her hair was still fiery red and curled down to her lower back. Her face was unmarked by lines or wrinkles that others her age were now showing. Her hands lay clasp on her stomach, and the sapphire and moonstone ring that circled her left ring finger still gleamed as new as the day it was given to her. Monora couldn’t remember how many Healers, Muggle doctors, and others she’d consulted about Tia’s condition. No one felt that there was much hope of her waking from this sleep. No one could even be certain of what had caused it. They couldn’t really pinpoint anything at all. It could have been a potion, a curse, a spell, or even a combination of some sort. The Muggle doctor insisted on intravenous feeding and she’d agreed. Now a few times a day a nurse appeared to check her granddaughter’s condition, change the solution that constantly seemed to be dripping into her, and made sure that Tia was being exercised while in her “coma”.

Monora studied her Tia’s face for a few moments before realizing that she was still holding the two letters in her hand. Sighing, she picked up her reading glasses from the bedside table and opened the letter from Hogwarts first. Her hand was shaking by the time she read through the letter the first time. Finally, her dear friend Albus had found someone to help with Tia’s situation. Her heart beat faster and she felt something that the Healers and others had kept pushing back down, she felt hope. A bright smile broke out on her face as she looked back at Tia lovingly. Soon, she thought, soon my darling girl, you will be awake soon. Setting the letter from Albus on the side table, she refocused on the other letter.

She recognized the handwriting immediately. Remus Lupin, what a nice young man he’s turned into, she thought as she broke the seal and opened the letter. Not at all like that deviant, her thought stopped in its track when she read the first line of the letter. Oh dear Merlin. She closed her eyes to hold the tears that threatened to fall at bay. Taking a moment to gather her emotions, she opened her eyes and started to read.

Grams,

It pains me to write this letter more than you’ll know. Sirius Black is dead. That sentence, regardless of how many times I shall write it, still seems implausible. I suppose it’s because it’s still new, but I feel certain that it shall never feel real. I’m sure you are wondering how this happened, under what circumstances. We were called to the D.O.M. last night, there was a breach and our group was needed. Sirius insisted on accompanying the group when we learned that Harry and a group of his friends were also there. We were engaged in an altercation and in the midst of the fray, Bellatrix, Sirius’ cousin hit him with a spell and he fell back into the veil (given your husband’s former occupation, I feel no need to go into further detail). Harry is fine, well as fine as he can be expected to be. I expect I’m still in shock, but I assure you I’ll be fine. Kiss Tia for me, please.

Sincerely,
Remus

She sat still for a few moments after finishing reading to let this new blow sink in. Sirius Black dead, how could it be possible? How could it be when he was here only a few months earlier? How he’d made a nuisance out of himself convinced all Tia needed was a good kiss from the likes of him. Morona shook her head, certain that this was all a bad dream, but even more certain that this was the first of many letters of ill wind to come. It was almost as though Voldemort had never been defeated. He'd just been postponed until his supporters could bring him back to start again to start the terror anew. She looked down at the still sleeping form of Larentia and knew that she could waste not a moment more in getting her to the help that Albus informed her of. Harry needs her, and by Merlin, Morona was going to be sure that Tia was there for him.