Love Lost, Not Forgotten

December 1978

Remus Lupin and Lily Evans walked down the path to the large mansion like house. Lily had a smile on her face and Remus couldn’t help the chuckle that kept rising up every few minutes. After a moment of comfortable silence Remus had to ask, “What do you think they fought about this time?”

Lily’s head tilted to the left as she looked upwards towards the cloudless sky, “Probably another epic battle on why he doesn’t want her to meet his parents.”

Remus chuckled again and moved past the gates as they opened. Together they walked up the path and up the three stairs to the door. The wolf’s knuckles rapped on the door four times before a woman, who seemed around her forties, answered the door, “Yes how—oh, its you. Grace doesn’t want to see anyone.”

Lily jumped in front of Remus and smiled brightly at the older woman, “Mrs. Trimble, how are you? We just need Gracie for a few moments, wedding details is all.”

Mrs. Trimble had a harder time denying Lily than she did Remus but it was the same line. ‘Grace doesn’t want to see anyone.’

Remus was ready to give up as the door slammed in their faces and started to move down the stairs towards the path out. He stopped when Lily spoke, “Where do you think you’re going?” Remus turned and looked at her, “Home?”

Lily’s green eyes rolled and she jumped down the stairs and grabbed his arm leading him around the house, “There are ways to get in this house and Grace has shown them to me. Its how she gets out to see Sirius during the summer.”

The two walked, or rather Lily dragged Remus, around to the side of the house and pushed him towards the wall. Bending down she found an old brick that seemed just a mite off color, taking out her wand she grinned at Remus, “This is so easy. Alohamora.” The brick moved backwards and an imitation of the muggle entrance to Diagon Alley appeared. It was just large enough for them to crawl through, and small enough that it could still be hidden by the bushes even when it was open, Remus followed after Lily trying to stop her but he knew his efforts were futile. After all, there was a reason James chose her.

They found a spiral staircase that looked unused except for small footprints in the dust that even Remus could recognize as Grace’s tiny feet. They followed them up and were on the third floor in no time. But it was there they encountered their only obstacle. Waiting just outside of Grace’s door was a house elf standing as a sentry. He was dressed as most of the other house elves are, in a pillow case, but he seemed to have found a pair of small trousers to go along with them. Lily walked forward with determination and was halted only when the house elf looked at her.

“Mistress says that no one sees the misses!”

Lily looked at the little creature and sighed, “We’re her friends. It isn’t like we’re going to kidnap her.”

The tiny elf shook its head, his ears flapping against his skull before shrilling out once more, “Mistress says that no one sees the misses!”

Remus looked at Lily and pointed towards the tiny hole they’d crawled through, he wasn’t ready to get caught and be sent to Azkaban just because Sirius had made some horrible mistake. Lily only narrowed her eyes at him before turning back to the elf and crouching down.

“If you don’t move out of my way I will make sure that Miss Grace gives you a pair of her frilly knickers.”

The elf stared at Lily in disbelief at first but slowly he turned his head to the door and looked back at Lily. It was quite obvious the elf knew who she was; this wasn’t the first time Lily had ever been to the Trimble’s home. Quickly the house elf moved away and started to sniffle as if he were going to cry. The redhead took her chance and jumped into the room, Remus following reluctantly, and shut the door behind her.

Inside the room was dark, a few candles lit it but it wasn’t at all sufficient for someone to do something even as menial as read. Remus’ eyes adjusted to the dimly lit room enough to make out the figure on the bed, she was looking right at them but he couldn’t tell if it was Grace are not.

“Wh-wh-who are you?”

Lily was the first to respond, “We’re your friends darling.”

“Who are you?”

Remus found his voice and moved forward, pushing Lily in front of him, “Its us, Remus and Lily. Grace are you alright?”

Lily scoffed, “Of course she isn’t alright look at this place. It looks like some dungeon!” She waved her wand and opened the curtains letting in the winter’s light.

Now that Remus could see he partially wished that he couldn’t. Grace didn’t look much different than she did when they saw her last, a few weeks ago, but her face … she had stains running down her cheeks where he could tell she had been crying. Her hair was a mess as if she hadn’t brushed it in days, and her clothes, well she was still in her pajamas with no dressing gown to speak of.

Lily gasped and moved towards the vanity picking up a brush before rushing to the side of the bed, Grace watched her movements before trying to scuttle out of the other side. Remus moved towards the other side, “Grace its … its alright.”

“Don’t come any closer! How do you know me?”

“We’re your friends, remember?”

“Are you from the hospital?”

“No!”

“Are you here for those … those … crazy people with the sticks?”

Lily and Remus exchanged a look before Lily shook her head, “No, sweetheart. We want to help. We want—“

“Want to take me away and throw me into some hospital! I knew it!”

Remus stepped back as Grace jumped from her bed and tried to run past him. Lily gave him a murderous look before jumping in front of the door, “Remus! Help!”

The wolf looked at the young woman in her night ware and to the redhead that was blocking the door. He was about to say there was nothing he can do when Grace dropped to the floor in tears. Remus saw the look that Lily was giving him and he shrugged unsure of what to do, she pointed to the bed and he got the meaning.

Moving closer he picked up his friend’s girlfriend, exgirlfriend, oh phooey—his friend and made a shushing sound as he moved around to place her back on her bed. He felt her hands push against him as he laid her down and sat back, “I’m not going to do anything Grace. I wouldn’t hurt you like that.”

He looked up as Lily moved to the other side of the bed, brush still in her hand, “Gracie, sit up dear.” Grace looked between them slowly before she actually sat up and turned her back on Lily.

Lily took her time brushing out her hair; Remus took one of Grace’s hands and played with her fingers like Sirius would normally do in the situation. It seemed she remembered that much at least as she began to race him to each finger before thrusting a different one up into the air.

Lily smiled at their play and spoke softly, “Grace, do you know who we are?”

The mass of brown hair shook, “I’m sorry. I took a spill earlier … these people. They say they’re my parents but they won’t let me out of this room. I think they’re keeping me here for something … I think they want my baby.”

A look was shared between the two Gryffindors before Remus spoke, “Yo-you’re pregnant?”

Grace nodded and felt of her belly, “That’s what those … healer people said. They said my baby was fine. You aren’t here for them are you? You aren’t here to take my baby?”

Lily curled her arms around Grace and shook her head, “No … no sweetie, we’re here to make sure nothing happens to you or your baby.”

Grace’s face lit up a bit, “Then you’re friends of Elliot’s. Where is he? He said he would come back …”

Remus frowned, Elliot, he knew that name from somewhere. He was opening his mouth as Lily shook her head again, this time looked directly at him, her voice was calm, however; as she spoke to Grace, “We’re not sure where he is Grace. He told us to come and check on you he was a bit worried when he left. Didn’t even tell us the plan.”

Grace smiled and nodded, “We’re going to get married soon … he says that the baby is his and if it weren’t for these people we would have already been married.”

Remus’ eyes rolled as he looked away, that was a blatant lie.

The memory ended as Remus looked back at Grace and Lily, they were such the opposites then, Grace was smiling happily and rubbing her belly; Lily was clinging to Grace tears forming in her eyes.