Running to the Edge

When you live through a war there are often moments when you know you are going to die. You look out to the sky and it strikes you that every single person is looking at the same sky. Even after you return to the dust you were created from the sky will always be the same. For the sky wasn’t made for you, just like you weren’t made to die. Yet here you are dying and here the sky is shining just for you. The day you die the sky is green, it’s always green these days. Except it's not you on the floor, it’s not you who is more blood than person. It’s not you that is unrecognizable, instead it’s the kids you once played with. Those days are far gone now, those kids are dead. Looking around at the mangled bodies, Mary realized that she too was dead.

Carrie was hugging her. Her stalker was at the door and her best friend was hugging her. Mary did her best to collect herself. This was it she would get her answers, one way or another. No matter what she wouldn’t allow herself to continue being terrorized. She gently pushed Carrie off of her and made her way to the door. She stood there for a moment trying to even out her breath and opened the door.

He was still there, her stalker. This was the first time she had gotten a proper look at him. It was clear he was about her age, but with a more sickly look going on. He was looking at her with pity. Pity. Why was she being pitied? Did he pity that she was about to die?

“Well, are you going to say something or are you just going to be a creep.” Mary tried her best to sound intimidating, but in truth she was scared. Her only hope was that he was as weak as he appeared.

“Sorry to bother you, but I must speak with you, it is a matter of urgency.” He spoke in a posh accent, one that Mary would have made fun of in school.

“Then speak.” This wasn't her, no Carrie decided to join in the conversation. Mary was glad, she didn’t think she would be able to talk to this creep much longer.

“I really just need to speak with Mary.” for someone who had been stalking her he sure didn't seem to have a problem with summing her.

“Anything you have to say to Mary you can say standing there, Remus can you phone the police.” She hadn’t looked away from him and had slowly pushed Mary behind her.

“I don’t think I can do that sorry Carrie.” what, WHAT? “Reg, what the hell did you do, your suppose to be watching harry.” Remus had the nerve to sound annoyed. He was friends with Mary’s stalker, hell he probably helped, and Carrie had let him into their home.

“We were found.” Were her stalkers being stalked. What the hell was happening.

“Reg was it?” He gave a slight nod. “Okay, say what you need to say, or leave. There is not a chance in hell I’m letting you in here, so speak.” She had finally summoned the courage to speak. He stood there and seemed to be contemplating on what to say to her.

“I do not know quite exactly how to vocalize this; however I feel it best to just say it. “

“Do you always talk like a prick?” Posh people were the worst. Stuck up arseholes the whole lot of them.

“Apologizes, what i’m trying to say is, well, we knew each other in secondary and well I need your help. We need your help.” The last part he said pointing to Remus and himself.

“I think I would remember knowing you the school wasn’t that big.” Obviously he wasn’t that great of a stalker if he didn’t even know that she went to a fairly small school, and had an excellent memory on top of that.

“Well the thing is we did. We were in different houses and I was a year younger so you might not remember me, but you were in the same class as my brother, Sirius. Does the name sound familiar?” Somewhere along the way he started speaking in a softer tone. Did he really think she was dumb enough to fall for this. Obviously she remembered Sirius, how uncreative do you have to be. It is very obvious that they just picked up a yearbook. Did he think she wouldn't remember if her ex-boyfriend had a little brother. She decided to just play it safe. 

“No, now leave.”

“Please Mary. I wouldn’t come to you unless I was desperate, I would have let you live the life you wanted, but we need help.” She had forgotten about Remus until he had spoken up. Something in his tone made her soften.

“Then explain. Please.” She knew she sounded whiney, but nothing was making sense, why weren’t they making sense, please she just wanted everything to make sense.

“I don’t think you want Carrie here for this conversation.” He had said it so softly she had almost not heard him.

“Whatever you tell me you can tell Carrie she's my best friend.” Even if they didn’t tell Carrie, Mary would just inform her later.

“Carrie, what I’m about to tell you could put you in harm's way, It’s up to you, but if you know this information you will no longer be safe.” Dramatic much. Reg was giving Remus a death glare, but Remus was ignoring him, instead focussing on Carrie.

Carrie nodded her head and ushered for Reg to come inside. They sat down on the couch and Mary mentally prepared herself for whatever Remus was about to say.

“No interruptions please.” Remus looked at each of them and they all nodded their heads. “To start, it's important to know that Mary you're, um well you're a witch.” She opened her mouth to protest, but Remus just shot her a look. “I know it’s impossible to believe, but just hear me out. The reason you don’t remember is because there was a war and in 1979 you decided you wanted nothing to do with it anymore and asked a friend, someone you thought was a friend at least, to perform a spell to erase your memories. From then you moved here and started your life. But we need to get your memories back.”

“Do you realize how bollocks that sounds? Like honestly. You’re telling me that I'm a witch and that I don’t remember because of a spell, only an absolute nutter would believe that.” How absolutely barmy do you have to be. Who would believe this shit. A magic school, what is she twelve. Really, did they think they could tell a girl she’s special and she'll what, come with them?

“We can prove it.” Reg stands up and pulls out a stick.

“Really committed to the piece aren’t you?”

“Lumos.” Light illuminates from the stick.

“Cute magic trick, it’s obviously just a torch.”

“Accio cup.” A cup flew behind her and straight to Remus.

Okay, so maybe they weren’t entirely crazy. Could she maybe be a witch? Wouldn’t she at least realize that she could do magic even without her memories. Was she slowly losing her mind. Were her nightmares starting to seep into reality.

“You said there was a war, what did you mean by that?” She always smelled blood, like it stained her very soul.

“It would be best if we talked with everyone.” Remus said.

“Everyone, who’s everyone?” More old friends from school, people she didn’t know?

“We’ll leave tomorrow morning. Carrie it would probably be best if you came along as well.” Mary had a feeling this would be the last night she would be in her home.

There were three people at the house. A man and woman both with platinum blonde hair and blue eyes. They were standing close and the man had a consoling hand on the woman's arm. Next to them stood another man but he had brown hair, and a crazed look in his eye.

Mary and Carrie awkwardly stood side by side as Remus and Reg went up to the group.

“What the hell did you two do, you put us all in danger and to top it all off you specifically went against Mary’s wishes. Aren’t you ashamed of your behavior?” The woman looked at them with pure disgust.

“We had to Pan, we didn’t want to promise, but she is our last hope. Dorcas, Evan, they're all gone.” Reg had a pleading tone in his voice.

“Evan isn’t gone, don’t you dare say that.” Mary took a step back as the crazed man pointed his words at Reg.

“Whatever that is, it isn’t Evan. Ev would hate this, can’t you see. That thing is there is in pain, I would never do-”

“Because James left you Regulus. He left you, because you're a no good piece of shit. Evan, my Evan would want any chance to live, to be with me. So don’t compare us. Don’t make my pain yours. And do not say Evan isn’t here. He’s getting better each day.” Reg softened. Or Regulus. Of course he wouldn’t have a normal ass name.

“It doesn’t matter, the point is she’s here and someone has to help her get her memory back. I was thinking you could Pan?” She seemed to contemplate it for a second before opening the door and ushering them into the house.

Inside the house there was another man. He was sitting in an armchair and looked like he was decaying. His skin was pale and his eyes were empty. Sitting in front of him were two small children. A little boy who was talking animatedly at the man and a little girl who was watching with wide eyes.

The little boy turns to them and his face brightens even more. “Reggie you’re back!” He runs to Regulus’ arms. “I was telling Uncle Ev all about me and Luna's adventure. We saw bugs and sticks and Aunt Panora said it was cool and I laughed but not uncle Barty he said something else and then we came here and then I told Uncle Ev and then you showed up.” The whole time Regulus just smiled at the little boy in his arms and nodded along to what he said.

“What else did you do?” He asked the little boy

“Um I don't know.” The little boy said, tilting his head sideways at Regulus.

“Well it sounds like you had quite the fun day.” He pauses before turning to face Mary and Carrie. “Harry, do you remember the stories we told you about aunt Mary.” Harry nodded his head. “Well she’s come to visit and this is her best friend Miss Carrie.”

Mary stands there as the tiny child judges her. Aunt Mary. This kid knew her as Aunt Mary. She didn’t know how to be an aunt. She didn’t even know this kid. Was he expecting her to act a certain way, was everyone expecting her to act a certain way. She was trying her best to stay calm.

“Hi Aunt Mary,hi Miss Carrie.” He gives them a little wave and smiles. Mary smiles back as she thinks of what to say to the kid.

“Hi Harry, I’m Carrie. It’s nice to meet you.” Carrie has a big grin on her face as she approaches the toddler. “It sounds like you had a pretty fun day. What was your favorite thing you and Luna did?” Carrie was good at making conversation with anyone even small children.

“My favorite thing was when me and Luna ran and then didn’t and Luna is my best friend and we played.” Carrie nodded along like what he was saying was actually cohesive. The little girl, Luna, was looking up at them with big, blue eyes.

“What about you Luna, what was your favorite thing to do today?” Carrie’s voice had softened up a bit when addressing the little girl.

“The run.” Her voice was quiet, but she looked rather happy to be asked a question.

“Alright you two, how about you go and play in your rooms for a bit.” Remus says as the two run out of the room.

“You both can sit down and I'll make a pot of tea.” Pan shows them to the kitchen. “I presume the boys were not very forthcoming with what exactly is going on?” Mary just nods her head. “What do you want to know?”

What did she want to know? She was told she was a witch and that she had someone erase her mind, but who. And why did they just know? She’s lived in New York for three and a half years. Was this everyone?

“I don’t really know what to ask. All they told me was that I was a witch and that my memory was erased.” Pan nods and thinks for a minute.

“Okay, I’ll start with introductions and give you the basics. Anything else you want to know just ask.” Mary nods and waits. “I’m Pandora and this is my husband Xenophillius,” she points to the blond man beside her, “ that is Barty,” She points to the man with the crazed eyes. “Evan is the one in the chair, Harry and Luna are the children, and you already know Regulus and Remus.“

“Hardly. All they did was stalk me.”

“Stalked her. You stalked her.” Pandora is full on glaring at the two.

They both give her sheepish grins. “Sorry Pans.” Regulus says looking at the floor.

“Anyways, we all went to a school called Hogwarts together. You, Remus, and Xenophillius were a year older then the rest of us. Unfortunately there was a war that broke out during our school days. Most of our schoolmates are dead. The war isn’t over, but most of the wizarding population thinks it is. That is why we need your help.”

Most of her schoolmates were dead. Most of her schoolmates were dead. Most of her schoolmates were dead. Oh god. Did she leave, before they all died. Could she have done something to prevent such a tragedy from happening? Did she chicken out, dooming her friends to their fates?

“I have a question.” Carrie speaks up from beside Mary.

“Yes.”

“How did we get here, because they didn’t really explain it and Mary was too out of it to really notice. But we just popped up here and I've really tried to be cool about this, but what even. And where even are we.” She hadn’t even realized, but what Carrie was saying was true. She had been so out of it she hadn’t taken into consideration the fact that they just magically appeared here. Which if they really had magic that would logically make sense.

“You apparated here. Here is out in the countryside in England.”

England, they were in England. What the fuck. How did they go from New York to England in less than five seconds?

“Any other questions?” Pandora looks between the two of them.

“I have a question.” She pauses while Pandora acknowledges her. “I know I don’t have my memory, but I remember having a best friend named Marlene and a boyfriend named Sirius, well ex to the both, they slept together. But I guess I was wondering if they are real and alive.”

“You did have a best friend named Marlene, but her whole family was murdered. You and Sirius did date, but as far as I am aware that lasted only three months and you were thirteen. So I don’t believe the cheating part happened.”

“Is he alive?”

“He’s in prison for life.” She hears a breath being sucked in and looks over to see Remus with an odd expression on his face. Regulus looked like someone had killed his dog. “Enough with all this sad stuff, tomorrow we will start working on getting your memory back, today lets relax and have some tea.”

No matter how much tea she drank, nothing was going to help with the aching in her heart at how everything around her has collapsed.