Evil Author Day 2025 Suits/Harry Potter Crossover

There was one day a year that Donna always took off.  Every year without fail she stayed in her apartment, mourned an unspeakable loss, and waited for the inevitable call from back home.  This year, however, Harvey needed her in the office.  There wasn’t much she wouldn’t do for Harvey.  She knew there were rumors about their relationship, but they were unfounded.  Harvey was her brother in all the ways that count.  She was still hiding in her grief when they met at the District Attorney’s office.  He’d helped her find her way back into caring about life.  He was also one of the only people in her life who knew what this day meant to her.  He’d promised to try to get her out of the office as soon as he possibly could.  She didn’t doubt he’d try, but if life had taught her anything, it was that nothing ever went to plan.  

She looked at the clock on the corner of her computer screen noting the time.  Normally, the calls didn’t start for another hour or so.  He’d spend the day drinking and reminiscing with his friends before he’d slip away and find a way to call her.  If she didn’t answer the first few attempts, he tried a different method. Today was the 20th anniversary of the worst day of her life.  The only reason she looked halfway presentable was lots of medication and a little magic.  She feared just how it was going to hit him since his coping methods had just gotten worse through the years.  

She was typing away notes from the meeting going on in Harvey’s office when she heard the elevator down the hall chime its arrival.  Nothing out of the ordinary, and a sound she heard hundreds of times a day, but for some reason, this chime felt foreboding.  She glanced up and saw one of her oldest friends being escorted to her desk by Mike.  Her stomach dropped.  While they had stayed in touch, she hadn’t seen the man since she walked out on her old life 19 years ago.  His sudden arrival today of all days did not bode well.  

She disconnected from Harvey’s meeting and sent him an emergency signal that she was leaving.  Standing on unsteady legs she made her way around her desk to wrap her arms around her only remaining friend from her past life.  “Remus,” she murmured.

Remus hugged her tight before kissing her on the temple and whispering “Hello, Lils,” into her ear.  

She almost laughed when she saw the puzzled look on Mike’s face.

“Well, I guess I don’t need to make introductions.  I was coming back from court when I found this gentleman downstairs trying to sign in to see you, Donna.  I figured I’d direct him up,” Mike said leadingly.  He looked like he was waiting for her to explain the relationship.  

She took a step back and wiped her eyes before any tears could fall.  “Mike, I’m leaving for the day.  Tell Harvey I’ll call him later,” she stated before walking back around to lock her computer and grab her purse.  She held out her hand to Remus before smiling and pulling him along, “Come on you, let’s get out of here.”

_______

Voldemort had been given the secret of their location by someone they thought was a friend.  He broke through their wards like they were tissue paper before flinging James into a wall downstairs.  She had begun making her way up to Harry’s room as soon as she felt the wards fall and heard his body slam solidly against the wall.  He didn’t make a sound so she had no clue if he was dead or alive, but she didn’t have time to worry about that.  She had to get to Harry.  

She’d been researching for months while they were in hiding and had found an ancient ritual that she’d been preparing for by drawing runes around his room ready to activate as a last stand.  It would require her life to power, but that was an acceptable loss.  She’d gladly give her life in exchange for her sons.  As she turned into his room she slammed the door, throwing up a ward.  It wouldn't keep out the self-proclaimed Dark Lord for long, but it would give her an extra second or two to complete the last bit she needed to do. 

She began pulling Harry’s crib into the middle of the room so he’d be the focal point of the ritual.  She pulled the blanket from his bed to throw on the floor to cover the circle on the floor as best she could.  The less Voldemort saw the less he could question.  She wouldn’t take chances with this.  With her death, the ritual would activate protecting Harry from any harm from the hand of her killer.  He would never be able to lay a finger on Harry as long as he lived.  She kissed her baby boy one last time before placing him back in his crib.  He looked up at her disoriented from waking.  “Mama?” he held out his hands, asking wordlessly to be lifted.  

“I love you, my sweet boy.  Mummy will always love you,” she whispered while tears were flowing down her face.  Behind her, the door exploded inward and the battle began.  She knew she was no match for the man on her own.  She could try to hold him off until reinforcements came, but she didn’t even know if anyone knew they were under attack.  She hadn’t sent off any warning as her main thought had been to get to her boy.  She shielded Harry as best she could but her main purpose was to make sure his crib did not move from its position nor did any of the runes become too damaged to activate.  

“Step aside you foolish woman!  There’s no need for you to die here tonight.  I only require the death of the boy.  Step aside and you will go free to live as you please,” Voldemort promised.

Lily was shocked, why would he offer that?  “You are out of your mind if you think I’d ever stand aside and let you kill my son. You’ll have to kill me first, you bastard.”

Voldemort tilted his head in thought before ceasing his curses and quickly glancing around the room.  Lily feared he might have noticed the runes carved around the room.  He was known for his knowledge of obscure and ancient magic.  She had to get his attention away from them.  All it would take is destroying one rune and the ritual would fail.  She sent out a severing curse that he quickly blocked to get his attention back on her before goading him into action, “I said, you’ll have to go through me to get him.”

Voldemort just smirked and raised his wand pointing it in her direction again.  As the jet of light came her way she felt nothing but despair when she noticed the color heading her way was red, not the sickly green that promised death.  

______

She woke to a white ceiling above her and the antiseptic smell that permeated even magical hospitals.  She had lived.  “No. No. No. Not me,” she began to wail.  “Harry, where is Harry?!” she screamed out her grief and pain to the room.  Remus rose from his place by her side, holding her tight and trying to calm her.  Healers rushed the room and when calming draughts did nothing to touch her sorrow, she was sedated.

The next time she woke, she was surrounded by her husband, Sirius, and Remus.  They calmly gave her the news that Peter had betrayed them and while Voldemort was dead, so was Harry.  The ritual she’d worked so hard on to give her child a chance to live didn’t matter.  Because Voldemort must have noticed something off and instead of killing her, he stunned her to deal with later.  James was found under the rubble and debris.  He’d walk with a limp the rest of his life, but he would live.  

The papers all proclaimed that the war was over.  Which wasn’t a lie, but it wasn’t the most salient fact to the woman reading it.  No, paramount to anything else, was that Harry was dead.  Harry, her sweet baby, was dead.  While thousands celebrated she mourned a loss she didn’t know she’d ever recover from.  

Her physical injuries were minor and she was released from St. Mungos with a prescription for twice daily calming draughts as needed.  She laughed mirthlessly at that.  As needed.  What a joke.  ‘Sorry, your son’s dead, good lad that boy.  Killed He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named!  What a hero!  Here you go, drink this a few times a day, it’ll make it all better.’  She refused to go anywhere near Godric’s Hollow.  James pushed for them to go to Sirius’s place, but she had no desire to sleep at his bachelor pad.  As they made their way out of St. Mungos they were mobbed by crowds of people shouting their thanks.  As if that was appropriate.  

She refused to stay here.  Where her bone-crushing grief was pushed aside for the joy these people felt.  She grabbed James by the arm before apparating to one of the designated points she knew of in the Muggle world.  She quickly found a hotel and checked in leaving James to let the others know if he wanted to.  She just wanted to lay in bed and grieve her son and the life he should have lived.
______

It didn’t take long for the Death Eater trials to begin. Most got off claiming they were under the Imperius curse.  She wanted to care, she did, but it didn’t matter if they spent their lives in Azkaban or bought their freedom with their gold.  They were alive to do it and damn it, that wasn’t fair.  At Severus’s trial, it came out that he was a double agent working on behalf of Dumbledore.  He had alerted Dumbledore to the danger the Potters faced.  Lily felt a small spark of happiness that her first friend had turned away from her son’s murderer and tried to protect them.  She invited him to meet her for tea in an attempt at normalcy.  She had James and his friends, but that was it.  They were more his friends before they’d ever been hers.  The war had taken hers.  Of James’ friends, she was closest to Remus, but his loyalty would always be more towards James than her.  And that was fine.  Understandable even.  But it did create a loneliness that failed to abate even when surrounded by others. 

Sitting outside the café waiting for Severus was nerve-racking.   She wasn’t sure what she wanted to say or if she wanted to repair the friendship, but she felt he at least deserved a sincere thank you for his attempt to save her son.  A shadow fell over her table and she looked up to see him.  “Hello, Sev.  Please, sit down.  How are you?”

“I am well, thank you.  How are you doing?”  Lily used to be a master at reading Severus but he’d grown and changed so much that it was hard to tell if she was reading him right now.  His words and his demeanor didn’t add up.  She internally shrugged and figured she’d keep an eye out for similar cues.  

She took a sip of her tea before answering, “I’ve been better. Things are hard.  James and I fight more than we talk.  Sirius and Remus are more concerned with helping him forget than they are helping him to heal,” she sighed before continuing.  “I can’t go out in public in the wizarding world because I’m swarmed with people who think it’s somehow acceptable to thank me for my son’s death,” she paused, looking him in the eye. “It’s just a nightmare I can’t wake up from to be completely honest, Sev.”

Severus reached across the table and took hold of her hand.  “I can only offer my sincere condolences, Lily.  I never imagined my actions would cause such misery.”

Again, Lily was confused.  His words sounded sincere, but Severus had long been a master at making the words he said the opposite of how he actually felt.  A life of abuse would do that.  He appeared like he felt more…joyful?  No, that couldn’t be right.  There was guilt, but that made sense.  Anyone would feel guilt for the actions he’d taken in the war.  But the joy?  Did it have a place?  Why was he feeling joyful?  And why did he think his actions mattered so much?  Every Death Eater did despicable things in the course of the war.  He couldn’t be blamed for Harry’s death more so than any other Death Eater, could he?  

“What exactly do you mean by your actions?  Everyone did things they regret.  Some worse than others, but you seem to think yours are the worst imaginable.  Surely Dumbledore didn’t force you to keep your status as a spy by doing unforgivable things?” 

She carefully watched as Sev startled, unsure of what to say next.  She was sure now he was holding something back.  She just had to figure out which thread to pull on to unravel it.

“Didn’t Dumbledore speak to you and your husband?” he equivocated, shrugging as if that settled it.  

She nodded, “Yes, he came to speak to us about the prophecy being fulfilled.”

“Ah. I see.”

“You do?  Because I don’t.  How did you even know there was a prophecy?”

Severus fiddled nervously with his spoon.  It was a habit he’d done since childhood when he was thinking of how to avoid answering a question.  She’d long ago picked up on it.  She reached over and stilled his hand.  “Tell me.  I’d like to repair our friendship, you’re my oldest friend, but we can’t do that if we repair it on half-truths and outright lies,” she looked into his eyes earnestly.  

“I…,” he trailed off and turned his head looking at the passers-by, “I was the one who overheard the prophecy being told.  I heard half of it before being discovered.  This was before I became a spy so I took what I heard and told the Dark Lord.”

Lily gasped.  She was going to be sick.  “ What?! ” she asked brokenly.

“When I heard you had given birth and your son would be targeted I turned to Dumbledore and told him what I’d done.  I became his spy to try to protect you.”

Lily was openly weeping.  She couldn’t help but notice he wasn’t saying he was trying to protect her family–her son, just her.   Like that made up for his actions.

“When Dumbledore didn’t seem to be doing enough to protect you, I went to the Dark Lord to plead for your life.  He promised me that he’d allow you to live since I was the one who let him know there was a danger to him,” he finished almost proudly.

She was going to vomit.  What the actual fuck?  That was why Voldemort hadn’t killed her and instead stunned her.  So she could be some kind of spoils of war for one of his favored Death Eaters.  If Severus hadn’t asked for her to be spared, her son would be alive right now.  And although he didn’t know that fact, he seemed proud of his actions.  Like he had done all he could.  It was repulsive.  “Leave.  You disgust me.  Your half-hearted actions lead directly to my son’s death.  If not for you, he’d be alive right now.  I can’t believe I ever thought you were redeemable.  I never want to see your face again.”

“Lily…” he pleaded as he fell to the ground at her knee.

She jumped up, throwing a few bills on the table, and promised, “If you ever speak to me again, I will kill you and I won’t feel a second of guilt.  There are three men responsible for my son’s death, Voldemort, Peter Pettigrew, and you.  If I had known before your trial what you had done and were responsible for, you would be rotting in a cell for the rest of your miserable life.  Fuck you, Snape.” With that said, she turned and walked away making her way back to the hotel.  

______

As the months passed Lily watched her relationship with James crumble.  By the time their anniversary came around, she knew there was no saving it.  Another casualty of Voldemort’s war.  While Lily sought help from a squib therapist, James was happy to forget himself in the bottom of a bottle of Firewhiskey.  When he wasn’t drunk he was irritable and acted like he was the only one who had lost a child.  Sirius just enabled his bad behavior, proudly going on benders with his best mate.  Remus tried to rein them both in, but there was nothing for it.  

James also was pushing Lily to return to the wizarding world.  They had spent a month in the hotel before Lily found a flat nearby to rent month to month.  James hated it.  Lily couldn’t understand how he was comfortable living in a world where he was thanked for his son’s death when he popped into a store to grab a potion or a new book.  She wanted to move even further away than just on the other side of the Leaky.  She wanted to leave the continent completely.  They celebrated their anniversary by agreeing to divorce.  It was the first civil conversation they had had in over 2 months. 

Divorce in the wizarding world went much smoother than in the muggle world. They got up the next morning and made their way to Gringotts to deal with the dissolution of their marriage contract.  Lily insisted that she wanted nothing more than the vault she came into their marriage with but James got around that by agreeing to her keeping the vault.  She never said he couldn’t place something in it.  He quickly set up a deposit of 50,000 Galleons to be completed at the end of their business.  A few drops of blood to the parchment of their marriage contract and they were divorced.  

_____

They had tried to stay in touch, but by this point, all they had in common was grief.  Lily stayed in the muggle world, completing her GCSEs and A levels through the Muggle Liaison office.  James continued drinking with Sirius and since the divorce, also joined him in sleeping around.  When the first anniversary of Harry’s death loomed there was a public memorial taking place.  Lily felt the bitterness stewing in her belly.  They’d turned her son into some mythical hero.  He was no hero, he was just her boy.  He hated to eat his vegetables, was more likely to be found on Padfoot’s back than in his bouncer, adored bath time and making huge splashes, and stole her heart from the moment he opened his eyes.  In raising him up as the Wizarding World’s hero, they were erasing who he was and replacing him with some bizzaro idea of who they each thought he was.  Lily refused to take part.  James was clearly happy to stand on the stage and accept the thanks and praise.  That’s when she knew it was time.

She returned to Gringotts with her muggle test results and asked them to help her disappear.  She changed her name and had no intention of ever looking back.  There was nothing for her here anymore.  They provided her with updated test results reflecting her new name and a portkey that would take her to another branch of Gringotts in America.  From there, she’d be on her own.  She quickly thanked the dverger for their help before heading back to her flat to pack the few things she’d take with her and give notice to the landlord.  

She had accumulated more than she’d thought in the last year.  She had still refused to return to Godric’s Hollow and while there were things she’d miss, she couldn’t bring herself to ask for them.  She paused from her packing when she heard the knock at the door.  She assumed it was the landlord coming to see what she was leaving behind.  They’d worked out a decent deal where Lily would just sell the furniture to him and he could then rent it furnished on his next go around.  She pulled the door open with a smile only to find she was wrong.  It wasn’t the landlord, but Remus.

“Hey, Lils,” he said with a smile.  She returned the smile and welcomed him in.  

“Figures you’d be the one to catch on.  How’d you know?”

“You’re a runner.  Takes one to know one, they say,” he shrugged and pulled a shrunken bag from his pocket before taking a seat.  With a swish of his wand, the bag returned to its normal size.  “Forgive me if I’m wrong, but I figured you’d like a few things to take with you,” he said, pushing the bag toward her.  

With a furrowed brow she opened the bag to the sight of Harry’s baby blanket.  She pulled it out with teary eyes and pressed it to her nose.  It still smelled like him.  She looked at Remus with the question written all over her face.  

“I went back while you and James were in the hospital last year.  They wouldn’t allow me to stay for long and I wanted to be useful,” he shrugged before continuing. “When my mother passed, my father only allowed me back home one time to gather my belongings.  As I walked out, hanging by the door was an old sweater of hers that she’d worn for years.  He had his back turned so I grabbed it and walked away.  

“While it remains a great comfort to me, the day I noticed it lost the scent of her I mourned all over again.  So, when I picked up a few of Harry’s things, I placed a permanent preservation charm on them.  I don’t want you to ever lose him again.”

Lily broke down and threw herself at the man unable to verbalize her thanks.  This was an unimaginable gift she didn’t even know she needed.  As the sobs began to lessen she sat wrapped in the arms of the only friend she felt she had left.  She told him her plan, as much as she knew of it.  She was kind of flying by the seat of her pants.  They spent the night reminiscing before cuddling up together in bed to sleep.  

The next morning found them saying their goodbyes.  “I know it’s a lot to ask, but please keep in touch somehow, Lily. I won’t speak a word of it to James if that is your wish, but I don’t want to lose your friendship.”

“I’ll write.  I don’t know what to do about the James situation.  I have to wonder how long it will take him to notice I’m gone,” she shrugged, knowing there wasn’t much she could do about that situation as it stood.  “Eventually, I’ll reach out to him as well so you can tell him you know I’m safe if that will help you.  I’d never want to put you in an awkward place with him.”

She looked around the room one last time making sure she had all she needed before hugging Remus tight one more time.  “Thank you, Remus.  For everything.  You’re about all I have left in the world.”

He wrapped her up in his arms tightly and said, “You’ll always have me.  Please, take care of yourself.”

She smiled and promised, waving before grabbing and activating the portkey with a word.  And just like that, Lily Potter vanished into thin air.

_________

She started out at a temp agency working part-time for little pay.  She was thankful for the first time in a long time for James.  Without the deposit he’d made into her account when they divorced, she would really be struggling.  She worked thankless short-term jobs almost around the clock.  She became known as the woman who wouldn’t say no to any assignment as long as it paid.  It’s not like she had anything else going for her to take up her time.  Before long she had dusted off skills she had long forgotten when she entered the Wizarding World.  She became a proficient typist, and her organizational skills would put a professional to shame.  

She’d been with the temp agency for a year and a half when a job came in for the District Attorney’s office.  They needed someone to fill in for the regular secretary while she was out on maternity leave.  The agency quickly placed her in the slot.  She worked through the agency there for 5 months before the secretary called in to give notice she wasn’t coming back.  The DA’s office was thrilled with Donna’s work and offered her the full-time position.  She accepted without a second thought.  One job with much better pay than the three part-time jobs she was working combined?  And benefits?  Sold.  

The only problem was, now she had time on her hands.  She realized she had gotten so busy she hadn’t written to Remus as she had promised.  She quickly found a notebook and a pen before climbing into her favorite chair to compose a letter to her friend.  

Remus,

Hello, old friend.  I’m sorry that it’s been a while.  Life kind of got away with me.  Trying to set up a whole new life is…difficult.  It’s been a little lonely sometimes, but I knew what I was getting into when I left so I’ve accepted that.  But things are finally settling down and on an even keel.  

Some days it's still hard to get out of bed.  But those days are less and less frequent as time passes.  I wish I knew how you were.  I worry about you.  All of you, but you a lot.  You’re the caretaker and sadly, the caretaker gets overlooked and forgotten.

I’ve overlooked and forgotten you.  I’m sorry.

I’m working a pretty solid job these days.  I enjoy it even though it leaves a lot of time on my hands.  I’m not liking that so far.  I’m looking into hobbies or things I can do around my apartment.  Hopefully, by my next letter, I’ll have more to report on that because let me tell you, I’m already going crazy.  

I’m not sure where you’re living, but if you’ve got access to a phone, feel free to call me any time you need.  I’ll include my number at the bottom.

I’ll leave letting James know that I contacted you up to you.  I don’t know if I’m ready to speak to him or if wants to speak to me.  I don’t feel like Lily Evans or Potter or whoever any longer.  Maybe it’s best she just stays a mystery.  

All this to say, I miss you more than you could imagine.  I look forward to hearing from you, by letter or phone, as soon as possible.  

All my love, 

Donna

917-555-6757

She stuck the letter in her purse, she’d have to travel into the magical district this weekend and send it off. There’s no way she could get away with a post owl living in an apartment in the middle of Manhattan.  

_______

She’d been working at the DA’s office full-time for a few months when a new lawyer came in.  His name was Harvey Specter and for the first time since she was a child, she felt an instant kinship with someone.  They bantered and joked around just as much as they worked hard and kicked ass.  They became an unstoppable duo around the office.  

Late one night Harvey followed her home from the bar.  It wasn’t abnormal exactly, but his behavior was a little concerning.  He seemed troubled.  He flopped down in his customary seat on the couch while she made her way to the fridge to get them both a bottle of water. She handed him his bottle and asked, “You gonna tell me what’s on your mind or stew on it a little longer?” 

She expected a smirk and a smart-ass comment, but she got neither.

“My father is wizard-born.”

Donna dropped into the seat behind her.  Ok.  This was not how she saw this conversation going.  She hoped Harvey read the confusion written on her face from the ‘What the hell is this guy talking about’ slant and not the ‘How the hell did he figure out who I am’ slant.   “Huh.  And a wizard-born is?”

“I think they call them squibs where you come from,” he answered.  “Anyway, he’s wizard-born, I’m a no-maj, and my brother went to Ilvermorny.”

“Interesting.  And you’re telling me this why?” 

“Listen, Donna, I like you.  You’re quickly becoming one of my favorite people.  I’m not telling you to hurt you or drag anything up, I just didn’t want it to come out one day in the future that I knew all along and never said anything.  It would seem underhanded and as if I were trying to hold it over you.”  He rubbed his hand across his face before continuing, “To be honest, I didn’t know until I went home last week and saw the newspaper my brother had dragged into breakfast.”

It was nearing the end of October so she didn’t need to guess what was on the paper.  While the Boy Who Died fame hadn’t grown as large here in the States, there were still celebrations in his honor on the 31st.  

“I’m not sure what to say,” she quietly said before taking a drink of her water.

“You don’t have to say anything.  I just wanted you to know that I know and that I’m here for you if you need anything.  Be that now or in the future,” he shrugged.  “I’m not going to bring it up again.  When or if you want to talk about it, the ball is in your court,” he smiled genuinely at her.

She reached over, grabbed his hand, and squeezed it.  “Thanks, Harvey.”

“You’re welcome.  Now, enough of that, stop being a terrible host and bring me my pillow and a blanket for this couch.  I’m too tired and tipsy to even think of moving until tomorrow morning.”

She just laughed as she stood and began to gather the requested items.  She stopped by the bathroom and grabbed a bottle of pain reliever as well.  No doubt he’d want that in the morning too.  “Here you go Mr. Specter,” she said breathily while batting her eyelashes at him and placing the bottle within his sight.  “Will that be all, sir?”

He laughed at her antics before throwing the pillow at her, “Go to bed, Ms. Paulsen.”  His easy way of acknowledging that while he knew who she used to be, he also knew who she was .

She just smiled as she walked down the hall to her bedroom calling out a good night over her shoulder and turning out the lights.

_______

International owl mail worked on a strict schedule.  This had been explained to Donna when she dropped her letter off.  The mail from the east coast would be gathered here in New York.  So if someone in Virginia had a letter to send to Bulgaria, they’d first have to get it to New York, where it would then be sorted into a crate for that region’s mail.  An employee would portkey out with the crate, then return with mail meant for the east coast of America minutes later.  Then it would have to be sorted and distributed out.  

All that to say, she had just missed the portkey for outgoing mail when she sent off her letter to Remus.  Depending on how long it took to sort and send it on the receiving end and adding in how long it’d take him to reply?  She didn’t expect anything instantly, but it had been almost a month.  She hadn’t realized how much she had missed the werewolf.  She had added her phone number hoping he’d use it since he tended to live and work in the muggle world, but so far, nothing.  

It was disheartening and maybe he’d given up on her.  It had been almost 2 years without word from her so while it hurt, she understood.  So she went on with life.  She leaned on Harvey a bit more than she had before.  They never spoke of her beginnings but knowing there was someone who understood why some days were just extremely hard really had helped.  

It was another month before she finally got a reply.  She was sitting at home reading when the telltale sounds of an owl pecking at her window sounded.  She quickly jumped up and let the owl in before relieving it of its burden.  No longer used to using owls for mail she had no treats handy so she shook out some trail mix she’d been snacking on in offer.  The owl glanced over it before hooting in displeasure and taking off back outside the apartment.  She shrugged before opening the letter, settling back in her seat to read it.  

Lily , 

Donna,

I’m so sorry it’s taken me so long to reply.  When your letter arrived I was staying with James and Sirius.  They didn’t recognize the name and threw it on the table ignored.  While I was annoyed I was also quite glad they didn’t just open it up themselves.  They assume you’re someone I’m corresponding with about a book I’d mentioned looking for a few months ago.  I decided to let that ride.  

Unfortunately, that means if I know you like I think I do, you’ve convinced yourself I’m angry at you.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  I won’t say it didn’t hurt that it took you so long to reach out, but I knew you’d need time to get your feet under you.  You wouldn’t reach out unless you were comfortable and confident in your situation.  I’m just sorry it took you so long to feel that way again.  I hate you’ve been alone so long.  Please, don’t wait that long again.  

Maybe you should look into knitting or embroidery?  Having something to do with your hands has always settled you.  As much as you hate flying, you rarely sit still.  

Things here are goodbetter everchanging.  Sometimes, they both act like mature adults and I think we’re getting somewhere.  Then I get notice to pick them up at the DMLE because they were found drunk and naked in the middle of Hogsmeade.  You’re right, being the caretaker is hard but I don’t know what else to do.  Sometimes I tell myself I should just pack up and leave them to fend for themselves but that feels selfish.  They’ve been there for me over half my life at this point.  

I’d like to tell James something because I think it’d calm him down a bit.  Maybe.  I truly don’t know.  But I also fear he’d take off trying to track you down as well.  You don’t need that.  Maybe if he stays sober and out of the holding cells for longer than a month I’ll try.  He’s easier to reason with when he’s not drinking but if he’s with Sirius, he’s going to be drinking.  

I had been working at a bookstore in the muggle world but was recently fired due to having to call out for James and Sirius as well as the moon.  While I could slip away and try to call you from a pay phone, I think our first conversation will be longer than the change I could carry in my pockets.  When I get reestablished somewhere with a dedicated line, I’ll try then.  

If you're comfortable with it, please tell me about your job.  What are you doing?  I imagine you bossing people around and kicking them into shape if they get out of line.  If you aren’t comfortable with details that’s fine.  Tell me about your coworkers.  

I’m so happy you’ve found a little sliver of happiness.  No one else in this world deserves it more.  I look forward to hearing from you again soon.  

Love, 

Remus

Donna smiled and hugged the letter to her chest.  It hurt her to know that James was still hurting so much; that she couldn’t fix him.  She folded the letter back up after reading it again and placed it on her desk.  She had a few days before the outgoing mail portkey.  She sipped her tea and glanced out the window while thinking about the people she’d left behind.  

__________

Following that first reply the mail between the two Gryffindors went back and forth almost constantly.  She told him about her job and Harvey as well as her more annoying coworkers.  She loved the idea of knitting and took off with it.  She sent pictures of her first several failures before she finally got the hang of it and sent off her first full blanket to him.  It wasn’t anything to write home about, misshapen and crooked, but she hoped he’d like it.  He later told her he used it constantly and with pride and would do the same with anything she sent him.  Her skills increased and she eventually sent him a cardigan, along with a picture of her wearing it.  Nothing to give her away in case James or Sirius found it. But just a little something.  

The downside of the increased mail is that James and Sirius did in fact notice more than loose women and firewhiskey one week.  It had been over two years of solid communication between Donna and Remus when Sirius swiped a letter of hers and opened it before giving it to him.  Thankfully, it wasn’t one with anything that’d give her away.  But it did allow them access to her name and owl address.  She shouldn’t have been surprised when an owl from the two came through.

Ms. Paulsen,

We can’t help but notice you’re sending a lot of post to our mate, Remus.  As he never talks about you we are left to wonder just who you are and what your intentions might be towards our friend.  He lights up when your letters come through and we can’t help but notice some letters contain photos, so please don’t try to tell us that it is some innocent communication.  

We look forward to hearing back from you.  

 Two Concerned Friends

Well, shit.

She shouldn’t be surprised.  James and Sirius had always been busybodies.  She folded the letter and tapped it on her chin in thought.  She could just tell them it was her.  It’s not as if any of the letters she and Remus had sent had anything to hide in them.  Nothing that she’d be ashamed of if they were to find them after finding out who she was.  

But…..

She flopped gracelessly onto her couch.  If she was honest with herself, and she strived to be, she really didn’t want to deal with the fallout and drama that would be sure to come.  Plus, Remus would have no warning and that didn’t sit right with her.  

Which only left the question, did she reply to them or just tell Remus to tell them to mind their own business?  The idea of poking them from the safety of another country did spark a little bit of glee in her.  But when those two scented out a mystery, they could be a dog with a bone.  She laughed to herself at the idiom.  Probably for the best for now to just ignore it and let Remus address it.  She wasn’t naïve enough to think she’d always be able to keep who she was from them.  When that day came, if they realized she’d outright lied directly to them there would be more hurt feelings than there already would be.  No need to add to it.  

Decision made, she reached over and grabbed her notebook to write Remus and let him know the boys had dried out enough to ask questions. 

______

The years flew by as they tend to do.  Harvey and Donna’s friendship had gone from tentative to forged steel.  He’d left behind the DA’s office and was currently interviewing for an associate after his promotion to Senior partner at Pearson Hardman