Summer 1971
Lily remembers the day she received her letter with crystal clarity. The day her life would change to the most drastic degree without her knowledge. The day the dark corridor of her future was suddenly lit with a hundred burning torches, unaware that a door had silently shut behind her, leaving her in isolation.
She had woken up that day like any other, been surprised with an outing with her grandparents and sister, Petunia. The couple had decided to take their granddaughters on a trip to the local pool. The endless animated chatter from the back seat of the car would never cease to fill their hearts with joy. Of course, this would be the last time they hear it. The girls’ giggles would continue even on the car ride home. Both of them still so filled with energy even after a day of endless excitement.
Lily and Petunia ran into the house as soon as the car came to a stop in the driveway, eager to recount their whole day to their parents, Grammy and Papa following close behind.
“Mum! Mum!”
“Dad!”
“Grammy taught us how to dive!”
“And Papa got us ice cream!”
They continued to talk over each other and all their poor parents could do was listen and let the girls wear themselves out which took approximately eight minutes. They did in fact time it.
“Well,” Mum started, “it sounds like you both had lots of fun today.”
“We have some other news for you girls, some very big and exciting news,” Dad said. He and Mum were both grinning ear to ear. Eager to share.
“What is it?” Petunia asked as she and Lily gave their parents twin looks of confusion and curiosity.
Mum and Dad shared a look as if silently arguing over who gets to tell them. They both opened their mouths to speak , but before either of them could get the chance, Papa chimed in from behind the girls, “Lily got invited to a very fancy boarding school, she did.”
“What?!” Lily whipped around to look at her grandfather in disbelief. She doesn’t want to go to a boarding school, she would miss her family too much. Besides, would she even fit in at a posh boarding school? “What school?!”
“Not to worry, love, this is a good thing,” Mum chirped.
Dad held out a letter for Lily to take. “Take a look at it, hun,” he said.
Lily hesitantly took the letter and Petunia peered over her shoulder to read with her as Lily carefully extracted the parchment from its envelope. “Dear Miss Lily Evans,” Petunia read aloud, “We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of…” her voice trailed off in disbelief, almost positive she’d read the letter wrong.
Their parents had to be pulling their legs. It didn’t look like either of their handwriting. Did they get someone else to write the letter? It doesn’t look like Grammy or Papa’s handwriting either. Maybe a neighbor? This can’t be real. It isn’t right.
Lily continued to stare in astonishment, processing what she just read. She is much more trusting of their parents, unlike Petunia. How naive. Lily finished reading for Petunia, an airiness to her voice, almost like wonder, “...Witchcraft and Wizardry?”
Grammy gave Lily a big squeeze from behind. “We’ve got a little witch in the family!”
Excited chatter started to fill the house. Everyone was absolutely thrilled! Lily was so absorbed in it all that she didn’t notice the look on Petunia’s face. Nor did she notice when Petunia snuck off to her room without a word.
James remembers the day he got his letter as if it were yesterday.
He had been flying his broom with his dad around the gardens all day. His father had told him it was time to go back inside around sunset and would not stop to negotiate when James tried to beg and plead for just five more minutes.
James’ protests stopped short the moment he saw the table. There was a whole feast laid out with all of his favorite foods. Seemingly forgetting that he had ever been upset, James eagerly climbed into his chair. “What’s all this for, Mum?” James asked excitedly.
Effie came in from the kitchen beaming. “An owl came with your Hogwarts letter this morning!” she said, “And Enid says Peter got his, too! Thought we could do for a bit of celebr- James Fleamont Potter, you wait until the Pettigrews are here before you so much as think about touching that food, understood?”
“Yes, Mum,” James sulked as he withdrew his hand from the basket of dinner rolls he had been reaching for.
Peter only remembers bits and pieces of the day he received his letter.
It was an ordinary day, nothing special. He woke up late, had breakfast. His sister is visiting home for a few weeks from Uni. The fluffy pancakes she makes with dried strawberry bits in them are his favourite.
He went upstairs to read a book his aunt had given him and saw an owl tapping at his window with a letter in its beak. He opened the window and took the letter, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips upon seeing the Hogwarts seal. He had always known he would get his letter so it wasn’t a surprise, therefore he didn’t see the point in making it a big deal.
He had sat down at his desk and was reading through the packing and supply lists included in the envelope when his mum poked her head in.
“Got your letter, have you?” she questioned. When Peter nodded in response she continued, “Thought so, James got his, too, Effie and Monty have invited us to a little celebratory dinner. She’s made both you boys your favorites.”
Enid left before Peter could respond but that doesn’t matter. He’s looking forward to dinner. Dinner with his best friend and his family is a good way to end a good day.
Sirius remembers the day he got his letter all too well. His memories of that day are bittersweet to say the least. All memories of his brother come with all sorts of mixed feelings.
Sirius had been playing hide and seek with Regulus and was searching the library when Kreacher appeared next to him with that signature house elf pop.
“Master and Mistress wish to see young master Sirius in the drawing room,” Kreacher droned monotonously.
“Can’t it wait? I’m in the middle of something here,” Sirius replied snarkily.
Kreacher narrowed his eyes in annoyance at Sirius, “Mistress says it is urgent.”
“Fine!” Sirius groaned, “Then find Regulus and tell him I’m in the drawing room.” He left the room before Kreacher could reply, marching his way to the drawing room where Walburga was sat in an armchair with a piece of parchment in hand, Orion standing beside her.
Walburga sneered at Sirius when he entered the room. She never could look at him pleasantly, no matter how compliant he was. “Sit,” she ordered sharply, waving her hand absently at the armchair in front of her.
Sirius silently did as he was told. He was too annoyed about his game with Regulus being interrupted to come up with any snarky remarks at the moment.
“We have received your acceptance letter from Hogwarts this morning,” Walburga began, her tone strict as always, “You are to will the hat to sort you into Slytherin with your cousins. You are to become acquainted with the children of influential pureblood families, beneficial acquaintances only, such as the Carrows or the Notts. Above all, you will save face and be the heir we have raised you to be. We have already acquired all of your school supplies. All you have to do is do as we tell you, and remember, ‘Toujours pur.’”
Sirius hated everything about this. He was hoping Hogwarts would be an escape. He knew he would go. He just didn’t think his parents would have any say in what happens when they’re not there. He kept his head down and timidly responded, “Yes, Mother.”
Despite what most might think, he isn’t that defiant on his own. He really just gets that way when putting himself between Regulus and their parents. When he’s alone he tries his best to obey, to not step out of line. He has some semblance of self preservation.
Once his parents stopped talking at him, Sirius was dismissed and left the drawing room only to be practically tackled by Regulus. He looks like he’s on the verge of tears. Clearly he had been eavesdropping. That’s when Sirius realized. By going to Hogwarts he would be leaving Regulus behind. He wouldn’t be able to protect him anymore. He wouldn’t be able to keep Regulus from all the pain Orion and Walburga like to cause.
“I don’t want you to leave,” Regulus whines. Sirius felt his heart ache as Regulus buried his face in Sirius’ shoulder, holding onto him as if he might disappear as soon as Regulus loosens his grip.
Sirius held him tight, rubbing his back in an attempt to soothe his little brother. “I don’t want to leave either. It’ll be okay though. You can write me as much as you want and I’ll answer as quick as possible.”
“Promise?” Regulus sniffled and looked up at his brother with big sad eyes, a hint of hope poking through.
“I promise, Reggie, and I’ll come back for Christmas, I swear it.” Sirius assured him.
Regulus sniffled again and hesitantly asked, “Can I send you my drawings?”
“I would be upset if you didn’t,” Sirius replied without hesitation.
“...Sirius?”
“Yeah?”
“...I love you.”
“Love you too, Reg.”
Remus remembers the day he received his letter because it was the first time he’d heard his parents argue since he was five years old. The first time he’d heard his parents argue since the bite.
He couldn’t quite distinguish everything they were saying. He was in too much pain, probably bleeding out in multiple places, but he could hear the important bits.
“It’s too dangerous, Hope, he’s too dangerous!”
“He’s just a boy, Lyall!”
“A boy that could kill someone!”
“Come off it! That Dumbledore bloke said-”
“I don’t give a bloody fuck what Dumbledore said! I will not be responsible for that boy if he kills a kid!”
“That boy is your son!”
“No, that boy is your son, Hope! My son died when he was five years old!”
Remus didn’t hear anything after that. He woke up again hours later, probably late afternoon, in his own bed, clothed, bandaged, yet still in pain. He laid there for what felt like hours, just to gain the ability to turn his head. He saw his mother at his bedside like she always was after a full moon. She’s normally happy to greet him and dote on him the moment he opens his eyes. Not this day though.
This day she seemed spacey. Like she wasn’t all there. She looked like she’d been crying. That’s odd.
Remus’ voice was hoarse, his throat dry and raw from a night of screaming and howling, “Mam?”
She perked up at the sound of his voice, supposedly snapping out of a trance, “Oh, I’m so sorry, cariad, are you alright? Do you need anything? You sound awful, drink some water.”
Remus didn’t protest when his mother brought a glass of water to his lips, the cool water a relief on his cracked lips.
After she made him drink, his mother started to change his bandages and clean his wounds, she looked to be functioning on autopilot, by now Remus had regained enough of his voice.
“Mam? Are you okay?”
“Don’t you worry about me, lovely, you just focus on getting rest,” she replied calmly.
“I can’t rest if you’re not okay.”
Hope visibly slumped at this and let out a shaky sigh, looking at Remus with a small fond smile. “What did I do to deserve such a sweet boy?” she said. She brushed some hair away from his face to press a kiss to his forehead.
She sat there for a long while, studying his face, playing with his hair. After a few minutes she let out another sigh, this one sounding more defeated than anything, as if mentally debating how to deliver her next words. “Your father…” she trailed off.
She didn’t need to finish. It’s at this moment that Remus realized the argument he heard was not a dream. It was real. His parents had fought. His father had said all those things about him. Remus’ heart sank. Not for himself, but for his mother. He had never seen her cry, but right then she looked like she might.
“He…” she continued, “He left… and I don’t think he’ll come back.”
“Oh…” Remus felt his heart sink further. His poor mother. “I’m sorry, Mam.”
“Oh, no no no, cariad, you don’t need to apologize. This is not your fault. You did nothing wrong.”
Remus opened his mouth to protest but Hope immediately cut him off.
“No, Remus, you stop right there. Yes, your father’s actions hurt, but you’re all I need, cariad. My job is to keep you happy and healthy. If I can do that then I am happy.”
Remus wanted to hug her. If he could move without hindrance then he would have. Hope pressed another kiss to his forehead and smiled at him.
“I have some lighter news for you, darling,” she says to him.
He furrowed his brow at her. How can she feel okay telling him good news after telling him his father left?
“You got a letter this morning,” she started, “You get to go to school.”