Dark Shadows

Plot, new characters, new magical terms and abilities etc. are my intellectual property. If you want to borrow then please kindly ask. JK Rowling's characters and Wizarding Universe are all uniquely hers.

Authors Notes: I am doing my own thing and am drawing on my own Nanticoke/Lenni-Lenape Native American heritage for this story for inspirational purposes, but am taking a number of liberties here. Some of the dialogue of the Native Americans in this story comes from famous quotes found through many sites on the web as well as my own recollections from various readings.

Alternate Universe, Fantasy, Drama, Angst. Summary: After the fall of Voldemort many secrets are revealed amidst new beginnings. But nothing is ever as simple as it would seem even for a Native American in the Wizarding World reconnecting with her long-lost father. Harry Potter once again is The Chosen One and there is a lot more to loose. SS-RL-HP-OC

Dark Shadows

by NativeMoon

Chapter 6: Destiny’s Children

Severus was as good as his word. Later that morning he was at June’s quarters at 11:30. He was not surprised to see she had donned one of the traditional costumes of her people.

‘Shall we go?’ he asked.

‘You think this is alright?’

‘So long as you are true to yourself, nothing else matters. Especially to me…’

June nodded uneasily.

They walked along in a comfortable silence. Once on the path to the village he extended his arm and tucked hers in his.

‘Such a gentleman, Professor…’

‘Contrary to popular belief my mother did have the common sense and decency to teach me good manners.’

June was silent. She’d heard so much said about him; and nothing that was ever nice. Never in her life had she ever met anyone who was so universally despised and literally shunned. Severus was not an easy man; that was true. But he deserved much better than the wizarding world allowed him. She stroked his arm gently, so that he would know she never once thought any such thing about him. She needn’t have done it – Severus was well aware the fact that even though he had not always been civilised to her, she had never wavered in her support of him to the others.

He wanted to make things right between them; the activities of the previous night and the early morning was his attempt at doing so.

No doubt they would run into some of their colleagues in Hogsmead. Both of them had to have been missed this morning and the gossip mill was probably on overdrive. She was already aware that she was talked about, and often in not-so-nice terms by many of her colleagues. Perhaps that was the thing was drawing them together. Both were outsiders to many and had to be tolerated since Dumbledore and McGonagall wanted them at the school. But for Severus she felt it was much worse. After all, he had been born into this world and given up every semblance of a personal life to protect it.

The Sachem’s strides unconsciously matched the Potions Master’s. They did make a rather striking couple in an odd sort of way with their contrasting looks. But it was obvious that they were comfortable with each other. Something about her calmed him, and somehow he was able to give her the comfort she needed so far from home and having lost all that she knew. June hadn’t yet explained the circumstances of her people, but he hoped that she would be able to tell him eventually. And more than anything Severus wanted to open up to her; thought the very idea of it terrified him.

After 20 minutes Hogsmead popped up before them in the near distance. It looked pretty with its thatched-roof cottages and brown and white timber buildings.

‘It’s like something out of a fairy tale…’ June said quietly.

Severus didn’t say it – but to him so was she. He simply nodded in agreement.

Another 10 minutes and they entered the village through one of its residential streets. Mortimer Snerd was out tending his garden and looked up just as they entered his road. He recognised the Potions Master, but not the stranger with her. Hell, everyone knew who Severus Snape was by reputation even if they were not cursed to know the man personally. But Snerd knew him somewhat as he ran the Apothecary in town. It was closed on Sundays so that he could enjoy his gardens. Snape was actually one of his best customers, though exceedingly difficult to please because of his outrageously high standards when it came to potions supplies.

Snerd couldn’t believe his eyes. What on earth was that woman wearing? She definitely wasn’t from around here. And what was going on with the Potions Master holding her arm like that? He tried not to stare and remembered that he was supposed to be tending his garden. He went through the motions as he watched them draw nearer.

‘Here goes nothing,’ June muttered under her breath.

‘Good Morning, Sir,’ she said with a polite nod and a gentle smile as they walked past.

‘Morning, young lady. Don’t think I’ve seen you around these parts before?’

The two professors stopped.

‘No, you haven’t’

‘Mortimer Snerd; I run the Apothecary in town…’

‘June Woapanachke – Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor at Hogwarts,’ June replied pleasantly extending her free hand.

‘Ohhhhh???? Ahem, hem; well – erm welcome to Hogsmead Miss,’ Snerd stuttered.

He looked at Professor Snape who had his usual look that could sour milk. It would not pay to be rude to someone who brought him so much business.

‘Morning to you, Professor Snape…’

‘You will get a much better result, Snerd, if you actually put the rake in the soil rather than wave it about in the air,’ Snape sneered.

The Apothecist was still going the motions of gardening rather than actually doing any.

Severus gave June a discreet nudge.

‘Well, we must be on our way Mr. Snerd,’ she said politely

‘Ahh right, right. Well then, I expect I will see you in the shop…look forward to it…’

‘I have what I need, thank you. But should the occasion arise that requires your services, I will certainly consider it. Good day to you.’

Professor Snape couldn’t resist a smirk as he and June set off once more. By the time they reached the end of the road, several of its occupants, Snerd included, were in their fires spreading the word to all their friends.

Business in the town centre was about to pick up for a Sunday.

…xXxXxXx…

Severus opened the door of The Three Broomsticks and ushered June in. He looked around. There weren’t too many tables left.

‘It hasn’t been this busy for years,’ he sniffed. ‘Snerd works fast…’

‘Severus, June; come sit with us!’ Professor McGonagall called out from the middle of the room before June could reply.

The Deputy Headmistress was having lunch with Professors Sprout, Sinistra and Vector, all of whom quite liked their new colleague. There was something calming about her and very familiar whenever they were around her. They were at odds to explain it, but all were very happy to have her company. All of them wanted to get to know her better.

The noise level dropped a bit as Professor Snape escorted June over to the table. They were being watched, and no less than by the one and only Harry Potter from a discreet corner of the large room. The Potions Master hadn’t even noticed him, much to his annoyance.

Even Rosmerta had gone quiet as she watched the two professors make themselves comfortable. It was unnerving – as if everyone expected something to happen. It wasn’t like Snape had never come in before. She picked up two menus from behind the bar and tried to look casual as she strolled over.

‘Afternoon,’ she said crisply.

She couldn’t stand Snape. But that had more to do with all of the ranting that Harry had done about him over the years than anything else. Snape had never actually given her a reason to dislike him other than just being who he was. He had always been reasonable enough when he’d come in on his own.

The hostess launched into a recitation of the day’s Specials.

‘Mmm it all sounds so lovely,’ June said with a smile. ‘I can’t make up my mind…’

‘Might I suggest the lamb steak and colcannon mash,’ said Severus. ‘It’s one of the main meals here – and done quite well…’

‘Oooh yes, quite smashing,’ said Vector as he ordered another platter for himself. ‘Lovely mint sauce…’

‘Ooo that sounds good,’ June sighed.

Severus leaned over and whispered in her ear. She nodded ‘yes’.

‘The young lady and I will each have the lamb steak with colcannon mash, side salad, two bottles of still water, and a basket of hot bread and chicken noodle soup to start,’ Severus said tersely.

Rosmerta had a most peculiar look on her face as she noted the order.

‘Anything else?’ she asked politely.

Severus looked at June, who gave him a look back.

‘It makes more sense to have our meal first and then see how we feel…’ said the Potions Master talking only to her. His voice had a slight inflection at the end, as if he were posing a question.

‘I agree…’ the Sachem said quietly.

Rosmerta and those seated nearest the Hogwarts Professors visibly blanched when he said the words ‘our’ and then ‘we’. And for the stranger to be so agreeable with him…it just defied the imagination. All noted that the young woman didn’t go out of her way to correct the impression that was being given.

Severus Snape, the Greasy Git of Hogwarts, had a girlfriend.

…xXxXxXx…

For someone who usually moaned about being stared at and made a fuss of, Harry wasn’t taking too kindly at being ignored for a change. Especially by Snape. The Potions Master still had not acknowledged his presence, but then neither had anyone else. Harry couldn’t be seen since he was conveniently sitting behind a bunch of tall potted plants.

He pushed his chair back noisily and moved the plants. A few quick strides and he was standing at the bar.

‘Heya Harry! You alright?’ asked Llewellyn.

Though the Man-Who-Lived had booked himself a room at the pub, the bartender hadn’t seen very much of him. He knew that Harry was shagging Rosmerta again and that the relationship was very one-sided. They’d had this unhealthy situation for a few years.

Rosmerta had run off crying this morning after yet another bust-up with Harry. She’d wanted Llewellyn’s honest opinion, and her brother was never one to mince words.

He’d told Rosmerta point-blank the same thing he had more or less told Harry told his face:

‘Don’t get me wrong; he’s not a bad lad. Not at all. But he’s got his issues Ros and you are only going to get hurt all over again. You’re a distraction for him right now – just like before. He comes to your bed and then you end up sleeping alone for the rest of the night. When he wants a quick one, you oblige him. You always give him whatever he wants and then spend all your time crying about it because you get nothing. What does that tell you? Nothing good will ever come this; you can’t make him love you any more than you can solve his problems for him. All this back and forth isn’t good for either of you.’

‘Alright enough. Give me a shot of Firewhiskey…’ Harry ordered.

Llewellyn quirked an eyebrow.

‘Since when are you hitting the hot sauce?’

‘I didn’t ask for commentary. Now – my drink if you don’t mind…’

‘You got it your Lordship…’

Llewellyn put a shot glass down in front of Harry and only put in less a quarter of the amount that it could take.

‘What do you call that?!!’ Harry sniped when he saw how little seemed to have been poured for him.

‘We run a respectable business, Harry. You can’t handle the hard stuff and I won’t have you getting lashed here, and especially not at this hour. You can go to the Hog’s Head for that; they don’t care about their customers…’

Harry downed his shot and coughed as it burned his throat.

‘You just proved my point.’ said the bartender. ‘Butterbeer?’

‘Fine.’

But even with Butterbeer Harry had to be careful. One too many and he’d be no better than if he’d had a couple of tall shots of Firewhiskey.

‘Harry Potter!’ exclaimed Professor McGonagall as she spied him standing at the bar. ‘Come on over and say hello!’

Snape snapped his head at hearing that name.

‘Damn it…damn it to hell!’ he muttered under his breath as he recognised his nemesis.

Fortunately June was the only one who heard it. She leaned over and discreetly placed a hand on his leg.

‘What’s wrong?’ she asked gently.

‘Nothing,’ he said tersely.

‘It doesn’t sound like nothing…’

Severus took a deep breath. He was ready to explode.

‘I just…I just don’t need this…not today…not any day…’ he muttered.

‘Something is obviously wrong – we can talk about later, ok? When it’s just us…’ the Sachem whispered.

Severus reached down discreetly and covered her hand with his. It was so good to finally have this sort of understanding in his life.

The Boy-turned-Man Who Lived couldn’t resist the opportunity presented to him.

As Harry walked over to their table, people offered to buy him drinks or a meal. He was congratulated once again for a job well done in vanquishing the Dark Lord. He was lauded and praised (‘The Saviour of the Wizarding World,’ Artemis Jigger chortled loudly as he pressed a drink onto Harry). He also didn’t hestitate to bask in the attention either. A complete contrast to Avalon and to life at Hogwarts.

He strolled over to their table and stood. Knowing that his presence was a severe irritant to the Potions Master gave him more than a little pleasure especially because of his undiluted hatred of the man. He could tolerate Severus Snape’s presence as much as it took to make him miserable. Snape was the exact opposite. He hated Potter and just wanted him gone from his presence. He had neither the time nor the patience for silly games.

On Avalon Harry had gotten what he thought he always wanted. Complete anonymity. But after a while he tired of it. Something he hadn’t expected. He had never courted the courtesies and attention extended to him before. But even for him change did not come easily, especially since his life was a lot less interesting in the face of such a different way of life.

He was expected to make it completely on his own merits. Whether he succeeded or failed was entirely up to him. No one would do him any favours or give him special attention because of who he was. He also could not rely on other people to get him through the demands of his coursework. There was no Hermione to copy notes or homework from. Even Ron had taken to working on his own for the most part. In many ways they were leading completely different lives though they were in the same programme and shared a flat.

Avalon was completely unlike what he’d come to know. But he hadn’t grown up with it as part of his reality as Ron had. The finer subtleties were lost on him. Avalon was related to the wizarding world but not part of it. It was not a place of witches and wizards. It was something altogether different and quite special. However, there were covenants between it and the wizarding world just as there were between the wizarding world and Muggle governments.

The legendary isle was cut off from the trials and tribulations of Voldemort, his Death Eaters and The Boy Who Lived. Harry Potter was just another student from one of the several magical communities that attended the university. It was a co-operative arrangement and privileges were just that; they were to be earned. The Avalonians were free to send down any student who didn’t toe the mark and adhere to the guidelines of their community. Harry was treading thin ice with his demeanor and neglectfulness with some of his coursework. But no way was he about to admit that to anyone, least of all himself. He was struggling, more so now than at anytime in his life and it wouldn’t take much for everything to fall apart.

Sometimes he wondered if he were going mad.

‘Professors McGonagall, Vector, Sinistra, Sprout; good to see you,’ he said smoothly as he pointedly ignored Snape.

The professors glanced around the table surreptitiously as they said their hellos and nodded. Potter’s rudeness was unbelievable; even Snape at his worst was never that bad. The Potions Master no doubt resented having to observe basic courtesies, but he still observed them.

Everyone had known that once Potter left Hogwarts and the war was finally over, the kid gloves would be off where Snape was concerned. But to act this way and so publicly – it was very bad form indeed. Still, Severus had brought it on himself with the way he treated everyone. Not everyone was prepared to tolerate his unsociability any more than they had to. Trying to strike a balance on either side was easier said than done.

Harry turned his attention to June, who was most definitely not impressed with such impoliteness. She knew exactly what he was doing.

‘I don’t believe we have met…’ he said as he gave her a penetrating look.

‘No, we haven’t.’

‘I’m Harry Potter; and you are?’

‘I am June Woapanachke, Defense Against The Dark Arts Professor at Hogwarts. So - you are the supposed saviour of the wizarding world?’

‘Supposed?’

‘You did not do it all by yourself, Mr. Potter. There are those that you owe more than a bit of thanks to, not least of which is the man sitting next to me.’

Harry blinked and took a step back. Snape was stunned. Any more such talk from June and they would have to scrape him off the floor. He hadn’t spoken a word to her about anything that happened during the last war let alone any part of his life. His colleagues were equally stunned. They had spent so little time with her than none of them had spoken about any of that either.

And they all knew it.

The abilities of the Sachem were coming into play. Potter had set his own trap and was not astute enough to realise it. The professors at least realised what must be happening, no thanks to the Headmaster.

‘Bullshit.’

‘Why is that the truth to you is always bullshit, Mr. Potter?’

‘Who the hell do you think you are, coming in here talking to me like that? What do you know – you don’t know anything!’

‘I know all too well who I am, and sooner or later you will have to face up to your own humanity. A little humility in the process would not go amiss either. You have brought pain and destruction to one too many people. And many sacrificed their lives trying to protect you. I’m not telling you something you don’t already know.’

‘You bitch!’

Harry started to reach across the table. Snape stood up fast, knocking his chair back in the process, and whipped out his wand.

‘You make one more move towards her and I will make you sorry you were ever born,’ he hissed menacingly as he reached between Harry and June.

‘Once a Death Eater, always a Death Eater; isn’t that right Snape!’ Harry roared to the gasps of the pub.

‘And that is precisely what it took to save you Potter! He risked his life for you time and time again to the detriment of his own! How much longer will you persist in this foolishness?!’ McGonagall exclaimed.

It was most unseemly to be having disagreements in public, but it had been a long time coming.

June looked around the pub which was now heaving with customers. Her words were for them as much as Harry. But her priority was The Boy-turned-Man Who Lived.

‘Take a seat, Mr. Potter.’

Severus gave June a look which she returned as she placed a hand on the one of his that was still gripping his wand. Harry looked from one to the other as Vector grabbed a spare chair from another table. The Potions Master took his seat. He was so tense and angry that a muscle pulsated in a cheek. June discreetly stroked his arm under the table and then folded her hands in front of her having pushed her lunch to the side.

‘A very small drink for Mr. Potter please,’ she asked Rosmerta politely.

Harry still stood glaring at the new DADA Professor.

‘Mr. Potter I will not ask you again – please give us the courtesy of taking a seat so that we can have a reasonable discussion.’ June said quietly.

‘Sit down, Potter! NOW!’ McGonagall barked under her breath.

Harry sat down and looked sullenly around the table as Rosmerta handed him another Butterbeer

‘Thank you,’ June said politely. ‘That will be all.’

Rosmerta wasn’t used to being excused in her own pub. Everyone at the table was silent. She took the strong hint and left.

‘It was nothing less than destiny, Mr. Potter. You of all people should understand how destiny works – and how it can be changed by attitudes as much as the choices we make. The prophecy about you changed – because of you, not because of Professor Snape. People died because of you, not because of him. People have lost their lives and their very souls all because of the arrogance of the great Harry Potter who cannot resist playing the hero no matter how much he protests about it,’ June said quietly.

She sat as was the way of a Sachem. The power that emanated from her could not be denied, except by the wizarding world’s most prominent celebrity.

‘I don’t have to listen to this!!!’ Harry snapped.

‘No, you don’t have to listen and you never do. I know more than you want me to know; not my choice I can assure you,’ June said evenly. ‘Once again you are faced with a choice. And once again it is inevitable that given your attitude it will be the wrong one. You owe this man. You needed him more than you will ever understand and you should thank him for all that he’s done for you. The whole of your world owes Severus Snape and more than just a bit of thanks. Only because of the great risk and personal sacrifices he made is your world at peace.

But it is a fragile peace. It is an illusion. All is not right in your world. Not at all. A slight change in the wind will usher in a calamity the likes of which you have never known. The very existence of this world hangs in the balance. If your Avalon falls; then so to will this and all other magical worlds. Such a calamity will upset the natural order of all things magical or no…’

And I put it to you Harry Potter; if you want to play the hero you can start by saving yourself and your friend, you know of whom I speak. But you must bear in mind that you can do no more by yourself than you were able to in your last war. It will always take more than one person to bring about much needed harmony. You don’t have to like Professor Snape – but you can respect him and what he did to keep you alive. What he did for all of your people…’

‘Are you finished??’

June sighed.

‘I suppose I am.’

Harry stood up quickly and turned to leave.

‘Mr. Potter?’

‘What now?’

June got up and walked over to him

‘You know where I am if you need me. Even if it’s just to talk…’

‘Why in blazes would I talk ever to you?’

June smiled.

‘Lapich Knewell, Mr. Potter.’

June went back to their table, put down enough money to cover the cost of their order and a tip, took Severus’ hand and they left the pub. They walked a bit and then he pulled her into a small alleyway where they wouldn’t be seen. He reached out and stroked the tears away that had begun to fall as dogs barked franticly in the distance.

‘That was nothing less than destiny also, correct?’ he said softly as June sniffed.

‘That was just me being me, Sev’rus. I said what needed to be said and I can’t help what I know. It’s about time someone stood up for you. It just so happens I was the one destined to do it, and now.’

‘Merlin’s beard…’ he whispered. ‘No wonder you dreaded Hogsmead…’

‘Its not easy living with what I know. It never has been. Sometimes I wish….’

June’s voice trailed off and she started to walk away. Severus grabbed her by the arm, but gently.

‘Don’t turn away from me, not now. Not after all that! Sometimes you wish what??’

‘Sometimes I just wish I could be anyone and anything other than who and what I am... Things are so complicated…all I wanted was a quiet lunch and to not cause a ruckus…I knew this was going to happen…and there was nothing I could do change it…no matter what this situation had to happen…it would have regardless…’

‘They will just have to get over it. Potter has always been arrogant – he is as arrogant as his father and godfather were. He causes his own problems and it’s someone else that has to put things to rights. He’s been nothing less than a monumental pain since he arrived at the school, he thinks he knows everything and no one can tell him differently!’ Severus said heatedly.

‘He really gets to you…doesn’t he?’ June said softly as she reached up and touched a cheek.

The Potions Master didn’t answer.

They both knew that Severus never made it easy for anyone to be good to him. Even with June he still had his moments. And she knew that when the term was underway, his manner towards his students along with his teaching methods would not change.

‘You have both pushed each other, Sev’rus. The situation between you was never going to be a good one. I think the Headmaster underestimated how deep your wounds are. Then again – when was the last time he actually sat down and heard everything from you? There has never been a time when you truly opened up to anyone…wizards made you what you are. If they blame you, then they must accept blame themselves.’

The Potions Master opened his mouth as if to speak – but nothing came out. Instead he took a deep breath. He’d wanted to comfort June and now she was comforting him. Severus had never heard his situation summed up quite like that. June told him the truth – but offered him understanding and support.

That was something worth considering, he thought.

‘Come. I know someplace else on the far side of town where we can have a good meal and some peace and quiet,’ he said out loud as he took her hand.

They walked for a while in silence. At last they made their way through a small park. There was a small inn at the end of it, their destination.

‘Are you mad at me – for saying that to you?’ June asked, worried.

‘Another time I would have been,’ he said without hesitation. ‘I would have hexed you into oblivion and not even cared.’

‘And why don’t you?’

The Potions Master stopped. He knew what he wanted to say, but was frightened to say it. He was too scared to look at her and admit the truth. So he pulled her close and whispered very softly in her ear.

‘Because the last thing I ever want to do is hurt you, my precious Wolf-Child. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me…’

…xXxXxXx…

The Three Broomsticks was a hive of activity late into the night. After her break Rosmerta was so rushed off her feet she didn’t have time to think about the events of that lunchtime until after they’d locked up for the night. They’d had to chase customers out, the first time that had happened in a long time.

She had made the mistake of spending her break with Harry (at his insistence). All he’d done was moan about Snape, bitch about the Native American and even about McGonagall, the other professors and now Remus Lupin supposedly not supporting him. Even now late in the evening, it was the same old thing. All Rosmerta had wanted was a hot bath and sleep.

‘I’ve had enough, Harry. All you’ve done for the rest of the day is sing the same song over and over. Give it a rest. It sounds like she told you one too many truths and you can’t handle it!’

Harry sat up in bed.

‘What?? Now you too??’

‘Harry – what planet are you on??!! Has it ever occurred to you that maybe, just maybe the Universe is trying to tell you something since the same message keeps coming to you time and time again?!’

Harry shook his head in disbelief and huffed.

‘I’m bloody well not having this…’ he hissed as he jumped up and looked around for his pants.

‘That’s right, run away like you always do! You ran off to South America right after the war, then you came back and didn’t get your way with Dumbledore so you ran off to Africa and whatever happened there made you come back. Then you ran away to Avalon and now you are thinking that maybe, just maybe, the old wizarding world isn’t so bad after all for famous Mr. Potter. You go to Lupin – and it sounds like he tried to knock some sense into you and you weren’t having it. So you run away again and come back here.

And good old Rosmerta – she’s so desperate to have you in any way, shape or form because she thinks that – AHA – he just might wake up and realise we are really good together – good old Rosmerta puts up with all kinds of bullshit from you trying to make you happy!

Well this is it, Harry! I have had enough do you hear??!! ENOUGH!! If you walk out that door – don’t you ever – don’t you plan on coming back through it EVER again!!’

Harry was furious. He ran around like a mad man getting his clothes on. He’d never really bothered to unpack any of his things. Whenever things got too complicated, he wanted an easy out. Rosmerta was just too much of a problem for him to have to deal with. She always had been in his mind.

He didn’t say a word. He put on his jacket, grabbed his backpack and strolled out without even looking back.

‘NO!! WAIT!!’ Rosmerta cried.

Harry blasted the wards securing her door.

Rosmerta reached out to take hold of him and Harry shoved her back, causing her to fall. She hit the floor hard and banged her head.

Harry was filled with horror at what had just happened.

‘I…I’m sorry! I didn’t mean it, Ros! Honestly I didn’t! I just lost my temper – you just keep on at me and you don’t know when to stop!’

Harry went to reach for her and she scurried back across the floor like a cornered mouse.

‘Get away from me! DON’T YOU TOUCH ME! You never mean it! Hermione was right – it’s never anything to do with you is it?! It’s always someone else’s fault – always someone else that has to pick up the pieces…you need to get over yourself and quickly. You can only run from yourself for so long!’

‘SHUT UP!! JUST SHUT UP!! DON’T YOU EVER TALK ABOUT HER!!’ Harry roared as he stood over her. ‘YOU MISERABLE OLD SLAG – YOU DON’T KNOW ANYTHING!’

He looked positively murderous.

Rosmerta looked up at him and wiped away the blood that was running down her face.

‘Just get out,’ she hissed through clenched teeth. ‘Don’t come back. I don’t ever want to see your face in my pub ever again. Your barred. Now get the hell out!!’

Harry turned on his heels and slammed the door hard after him.

Rosmerta burst into tears and lay on the floor. Llewellyn had been so right,

Nothing good would ever come of her liaison with Harry Potter.

…xXxXxXx…

Remus sat in bed with a hot cup of tea and the latest issue of Dark Arts Monthly. It was a load of old tosh – but still interesting to read just the same. And it helped make him tired enough to sleep.

WHOOSH!

Green flames crackled in his fireplace.

He frowned. Who would want to see him at this hour? Letters started forming in the fire.

‘Albus Dumbledore’

‘Accepted!’ he said as he jumped up and put on a bathrobe.

He ran downstairs into his sitting room to find the Headmaster stepping out of his fireplace.

‘Albus? Is something wrong? Has something happened to June?’

‘No – no, my boy. Just needed to have a chat…about Harry.’

Lupin was visibly relieved and let out a sigh.

‘Ahhh, one of those chats…’

It was Dumbledore’s turn to sigh. As he did so, his eye wandered to the mantelpiece and then around the room. Remus had placed pictures of June. June as a baby, a toddler, growing up and as the adult she now was. There were also pictures of her with her parents and of Remus and Jacinda spanning the duration of the relationship while she lived.

They made their way through the house to the conservatory. There were pictures in these rooms also.

The Headmaster peered at his old friend over his glasses.

‘What happened, Remus?’

‘It was time, Albus…’