The Summer Before

Remus and Harry’s talk lasted well into the early morning hours. Larentia wasn’t a topic that was easy to discuss for him, but he knew that Harry needed to know the circumstances of her sudden disappearance and reappearance. His heart clenched as he went through the events that led up to her suspended state. Harry, for his part held back his questions, realizing how difficult this was for Remus.

“It was the day after we celebrated your first birthday. Tia was practically glowing watching you open your gifts. She’d taken a break from her preparations for a future position as a consulate in the Ministry. We hadn’t seen as much of each other as we had while in school, but we’d always stayed in touch, all of us. Grams had her house elf, Minnie make a miniature cake for you to tear apart and a larger one for all of us. There was such happiness that day. I just wish that we’d all appreciated it more while it was happening, for it was one of the last times that we’d ever have that kind of joy.” Remus’ eyes were stinging, recalling how she’d looked in her pearl gray robes with her bronzed curls piled up on her head. He’d watched her holding Harry, threatening Sirius with a hex if he dared to take Harry near the flying motorbike while she was there. Her eyes had sparkled in the sun and she looked just like her fairy ancestors.

“I didn’t know, none of us did, that her grandmother had summoned her to the le Fae manor for later that evening. I’m sure she knew that we’d protest. While she didn’t appreciate her grandmother’s theories on her upbringing and where her loyalties should lie, it had always upset her that they’d been so distant. We had warned her that there was evidence showing that her grandmother was a supporter of Voldemort, but she said she was still family.” His eyes flashed remembering how stubborn she had been about not being like her grandmother, not letting rumors and loyalties rule her feelings of family. “She left near dusk, saying she had to return to her flat to work on a few things for her morning at the Ministry. Sirius and I both offered to escort her home, but she refused, saying she would be fine and that she didn’t want us to end our evening simply because she had to.”

Remus’ memory took over, remembering how she’d kissed each of her friends' goodbye before hugging and kissing Grams and cuddling Harry. Then she’d Disapperated from their party and that was the last time anyone saw her conscious. His fist tightened involuntarily as he recalled the summons of Dumbledore for Sirius and himself. They were told that the Dark Mark had been witnessed hovering over le Fae Manor and he sent them out before the Aurors were sent.

“We got there as soon as possible. I knew immediately that something was wrong. Tia often said that her grandmother was meticulous about her wards, yet there were none activated when we arrived. Sirius and I entered the front doors with our wands drawn and were shocked to see the amount of controlled havoc awaited us. There were dozens of house elves laying dead in the front rooms. Apparently they’d been summoned and killed quickly.” His eyes closed, as he shuddered, remembering the tiny bodies scattered about like toys tossed aside by a spoiled child. “As we inspected each room, we realized that there was something odd about the murders. Nothing was touched. None of the impressive belongings had been rummaged through, nothing of value removed. We moved to the upstairs, certain that what awaited us there couldn’t have been as disturbing as the scene below. We were wrong, Merlin, we were so wrong.”

He remembered how he’d followed Sirius up the winding staircase. The portraits on the wall seemed in shock, for none spoke, yet all their eyes followed the two men as they made their way upstairs. The first doors held nothing other than immaculate bedrooms and lavatories. At the fifth door, the hair on the back of his neck stood up. He knew, could tell that whatever was behind this door wasn’t going to be easy to see. He had no idea how truly correct he was. Sirius opened the door and what greeted them caused shouts to erupt from both.

She’d been bound to the bottom two posts of a large four poster bed. She hung limp from the cords holding her arms, her hair fallen around her face, hiding her features from them. On the floor before her lay her grandmother, a smirk on her frozen face. Remus knew before checking that Grandmother le Fae was dead. It was obvious she was a victim of the Killing Curse. Sirius had been frozen in shock and made no move toward Tia. Remus forced himself forward, uttering prayers under his breath. He knew it would be a miracle if she were still alive, for Death Eaters weren’t known for leaving witnesses. He gently lifted her chin, pushing back the curls from her face. She wasn’t dead, he knew at once. She wasn’t responsive either.

He told Sirius and the growl that he let out was both of fear and gratitude. Tia was alive, but she would not wake up. They removed the bindings and carefully lowered her to the bed. Unsure of what to try to get her to come to, they agreed that Hogwarts’ hospital wing would be the best bet. There they'd have less of a chance of questions. Remus pressed for Sirius to go first, to prepare Dumbledore of his and Tia’s arrival. After Sirius Apparated, Remus gathered Tia into his arms, and murmuring into her lavender scented hair he promised her that they’d find a way to bring her back.

Looking up at Harry, he realized that his best friend’s son looked shaken. “We didn’t realize that whatever had taken place in that room at her grandmother’s home had pushed her out of the realm of magical and non magical medical skills. Madame Pomfrey tried for hours to discover the curse that could have resulted in “living death”. St. Mungo’s was consulted, and they researched potions, curses, hexes, anything within their knowledge. Grams even called in a Muggle physician. They tried to convince her that Tia’s ‘coma’ was permanent, and other than keeping her comfortable, the only other aid would be feeding her with a tube and hooking up obnoxious machines to monitor her. Grams was afraid that those who’d gone this far to harm Tia would come back to finish their work, so she chose to move her to America. That’s where she’s lain for 16 years, Harry. In a room, in her former childhood home, she was looked over by doctors, mediwitches, and house elves, not to mention Grams. Honestly, I think everyone but Grams gave up hope of Tia regaining consciousness.”

He sighed, looking out the window. Merlin, he really had given up hope. Tia was one of the lost in his memories. He’d kept that last scene of her at Harry’s birthday locked away, certain that it was the last time she’d ever be animated.

Harry broke his reverie. “But, she’s awake now and wants to meet me. Are you sure it’s her?” He sounded unsure, not cynical or jaded, but like a child who didn’t want to get his hopes up for a new toy that he had no chance of getting.

Remus smiled and returned his gaze to Harry. He reached into his robe and pulled out the picture she’d sent him. He silently handed it to Harry. Harry took it and gasped as he realized that it was the same woman from the picture Tia had sent him. She looked unchanged, as though the photo had been taken moments after the one taken when he was a baby. She barely moved, but he could see that her eyes looked different, tired and haunted. She was sitting on a porch, surrounded by lilies and lilacs. Her hair was as long as before, only those icy eyes had changed.

“This is a new picture?” Harry asked, almost sure of the answer. Remus nodded, watching as Harry drunk in the photo almost as he had. “I, I think I should meet her. She says that my parents left things with her for me, and that she would return them even if I didn’t want to meet her, but I think I should.” Harry sounded sure, but pleading as though he wanted Remus to assure him that it was a good idea.

“I think you should,” Remus agreed. “Tia is someone who would not have willingly left your life, Harry. She was forced from it.”

Harry was silent, watching the woman in the photograph as a slight breeze blew her hair and her haunting eyes stared into his.