“So who’s letter was it, Harry? Who was R.A.B?” Luna asked him in the kitchen of Number 12 Grimmauld Place. Ron and Hermione were apparently having a so-called “date night” and Ginny was busy with something or another while Neville had apparently gone for drinks with a certain Hannah Abbott. So he had invited Luna round, just for a drink and to talk about things. For some inexplicable reason, he felt like he could tell her anything. Luna was a good listener, she hung onto his every word, not in a weird, “Oh my god it’s Harry Potter” way but in a way that made him feel lucky to be counted as one her friends.
“He- he was Sirius’ brother. Regulus, he joined up when he was really young like Malfoy.”
“Regulus? Do you mean Uncle Reggie?” Luna stared at him, her eyes wide.
“What?” Harry asked, not sure if he was hearing her right. Because why on earth was Luna calling a teenage boy that had died nearly twenty years ago her uncle?
“Uncle Reggie. He’s my godfather. At least that’s what Mum said he would’ve been.” she said to him as though this was common knowledge.
“Wait Luna, your Mum knew him?”
“Yeah, they were best friends. My mum was in Ravenclaw like me but she said that she never actually spent time there and that in fourth year she moved into his dorm. They even made a spare bed for her. Along with Uncle Evan and Uncle Barty. And then Auntie Cas was there too.”
“Luna slow down. Barty? As in Barty Crouch Jr?” he asked.
“Yeah. Mum never talked about him much.” She bit her lip as she said this and continued. “I saw him in a picture once and asked who it was and she told me. And I know what he did to Neville’s parents was awful, it’s just I never know what to call him.”
Harry’s mind was racing. Not only had Luna’s mum been friends with Regulus Black, but she had been friends with Barty Crouch Jr?
“What was your mum’s name?” He asked.
“Her name was Pandora, she said that her friends called her Pands though.”
“Who were the other people you mentioned? Eddie and …?”
“Uncle Evan and Auntie Cas. Uncle Evan was Evan Rosier and Auntie Cas was Dorcas, Dorcas Meadows.”
“Evan Rosier…” Harry had heard that name before along with Dorcas Meadows, though at separate times. “Luna, wasn’t Evan Rosier a Death Eater and Dorcas Meadows part of the order?” He remembered it now. Mad Eye in the pensive talking to Dumbledore, pointing to his noise as a casualty of the fight. And Dorcas Meadows, so feared that she was killed personally by Voldemort.
“Yes they were. I don’t think Mum ever stopped missing them.” remarked Luna.
“Bu-but Luna, they were death eaters! How could she possibly miss them?”
“She might not have liked who they came to be but she still loved who they once were.” Luna’s words hung in the air, until Harry had an idea.
“Luna, do you want to go to his room? Maybe there’s something there?” He asked her, half hoping that she didn’t. Because it was so much easier to think of Regulus Black as some poor soul that had done wrong but fixed it with his demise. But this Reggie that Luna talked about made him so much more real, so much more alive in his death.
“Oo yes please!” She seemed so excited as they climbed the stairs and entered the room. It was just as dishevelled as the last time they had entered. Empty ink pots scattered among old textbooks and papers. Drawers opened and wardrobe doors ajar.
He looked at the bookshelf. There were books on pureblood lines and dark magic, children's tales, and one book that seemed most out of place. It had a dusty blue binding and was embroidered with flowers. Harry pulled it out and opened the first page. It was caked with dust but a quick flick of his wand rendered it spotless. In the corner was a note.
“To Reg,
Happy 15th Birthday. I love you so much. You're my best friend. I got you this because you’re always complaining about not having anywhere to put your photos. Don’t tell Dorcas, Barty or Evan this but I love you the most. You are the most amazing person I have ever met and I can’t wait for us to grow old together in the same house and have sleepovers every night.
Lots of Love, Pands.”
Harry stared down and reread it again. He saw the flick of Pandora’s e’s, the same exact way Luna did her’s. The care with which she had once written it with. “Luna” he called, “There’s something you need to see.”
Luna walked over to him and saw the note in the corner. She took the book in her hands and read it, “Do you want to look at the photos?” she asked him although she was already turning the page. There was a photograph of a skinny black-haired boy that looked like Sirius and a girl with wild platinum blonde curls hugging. She wore a massive smile, while he gave a half grin. They shifted around in the picture, looking at each other and laughing. The writing on the bottom of the photo read “Reg’s birthday, 1976”. The picture below it was of two boys standing on a table, each holding bottles of drinks that definitely weren’t just butterbeers and shampoo bottles, singing. They were clearly having the time of their lives, the caption read “Evan and Barty’s interpretation of Waterloo/ ABBA.” The next was of all four of them and another girl with dark skin and long hair with hundreds of little plaits. They were all grinning from ear to ear, happy and carefree. The boys on the left were jostling for the prime place in the photo while the girl was looking at them with an expression of utter distaste as she rolled her eyes and smiled. The writing below listed the names of the members in the order that they were placed “Reggie, Pands, Evan, Barty, Dorcas.”
Luna turned the page wordlessly and looked at the next picture. In it, Regulus and Pandora were sitting by the lake as he plaited flowers into her hair while she appeared to be explaining something to him with much gusto. The picture had Dorcas leaning against a tree, smoking a cigarette and reading a book while she gave the middle finger to whoever was taking the picture. The next picture was quite funny. Pandora was actually sitting on the giant squid and petting it as Barty and Evan played with one of its tentacles. Regulus was standing in the shallow end, looking absolutely pissed as he covered his chest with his arms, shivering.The next picture featured Regulus wrapped in a green towel as he shivered and Pandora knelt beside him, whispering into his ear. His eyes looked at the corner of the photograph with utmost contempt. Two pairs of legs later ran in and promptly toppled over a tree stump while Pandora laughed, captioned with only “Reggie hates swimming.” The next photo was of Pandora on Dorcas’ shoulders in the lake as they smiled and laughed.
Harry turned to the next page, which was titled “Valentine’s Day 1976”. Dorcas smiled up at the camera as she turned to kiss a girl with blonde hair that was done in a shaggy style like a rockstar. The note on the picture said “Cas and Marlene.” The next one was of the same two girls kissing as a girl with dark kinky hair jostled her friend, who Harry released was his mother. Lily and the other girl were cheering. Jumping up and down and pointing, though not maliciously as the pair kissed
“That’s my Mum.” he said to Luna, pointing at her. “But I don’t know who that girl or Marlene is.”
“She’s beautiful, they all are.” Luna said, as she looked at them. They all smiled up at them. Blissfully unaware of their fates, forever preserved in a state of eternal happiness and love.
Harry turned the page to see the other photos. The next picture had Evan and Barty kissing. Not a friendly kiss but a romantic one. They were holding on to each other as though they would never let go,while Dorcas threw something at them. “Um, Luna-did you Mum ever say anything about them being together?” he asked uncertainly.
“Well yes. I saw it once in her photos. Evan and Barty were together and so were Dorcas and Marlene. And then she was with someone before Dad but I never knew who. I have some of her old diaries. If you want to see them, we can check it later.”
“That would be nice.” The next photo was of a Slytherin dorm. Two of the beds had been pushed together to make a double bed. It was covered in stray papers and discarded clothes. While the other bed had been made into a bunk bed, it was clear the top bunk belonged to Pandora. There were flowers hanging off the sides and it had been painted with stars. The bottom bunk must of been Regulus’, Harry thought to himself. It was neatly made and there were newspaper clipping on it, mostly about Voldemort. The walls were covered in posters of Regulus, done in a mugshot style. He was so clearly over it, rolling his eyes as the board in his hand read “Regulus Arcturus Black, sentenced for eating Evan’s chocolate.”
“Luna, did you Mum actually move into their dorm?” Harry asked her.
“Oh yes, she said they made a bed for her and at first the teachers tried to get her out because apparently it was inappropriate but they couldn’t so she just stayed.”
They turned to the next page and looked at the next photo. Regulus was sitting on the ground. His eyes had a faraway look and he seemed to be utterly terrified. The caption wasn’t in Pandora’s writing but in a different script. It simply read “Reggie walked in on Evan and Barty having sex.”
“Oh god, that sounds awful, it was bad enough watching Ron and Hermione kiss.” Harry said aloud.
They looked at the next picture. It was of Pandora and a boy walking towards the person behind the camera hand in hand. He had dirty blonde hair and was a bit on the chubby side. It was with a jolt that Harry realised that he recognised him from Snape’s memory. “Luna that-”
“Who, Harry? Do you know who it is?” she asked him eagerly.
“That boy’s Peter Pettigrew.”
“Oh.” Luna’s voice was small, “Mum never said anything about him.”
She looked at the next picture. It was of Peter and Pandora kissing while Regulus was being restrained by both Evan and Barty, though they both looked angry as well. The next one was of Pandora and Peter sitting across a table from Regulus, Evan and Barty as they seemed to be asking him questions. The writing at the bottom read “Peter being interrogated about his true intentions with Pands, 1976” They looked through the rest of the photos together, teenage antics, couples kissing, parties and days out. Out of the last two photos, one was all five of them together. Regulus had lost weight and had dark circles under his eyes. Evan and Barty gripped each other's hands tightly. Dorcas stood slightly to the side, looking at the rest of them with fear, as she put a protective arm around Pandora. The next picture was just of Pandora and Regulus. She looked scared as she embraced Regulus, her eyes drawn to where Harry knew the Dark Mark would be. Regulus looked at her, and Harry noticed there was a single tear rolling down his cheek.
“That’s it.” Luna said, her tone solemn.
“There might be more.” Harry said, he flicked to the first page and cast a spell “Aparecium”.
Writing began to appear, each sentence in a different hand below Pandora’s note.
“Oi Pands. You;’re not supposed to have favourites.” The handwriting was a scratchy scrawl.
“Let it be Barty. She was just saying that because it’s Reg’s birthday. I’m clearly her favourite, back off.”
“Evan, I will not. I hate you.”
"You were literally snogging five minutes ago.” Harry recognised it as Dorcas’ handwriting.
“So?” It was back to Barty’s handwriting. “Anyways Evan I hate you.”
“You're sexy when you're angry.”
“So are you.”
“Can you stop having word sex?” Dorcas asked.
“I can’t stand you two.” It was a new handwriting. It must have been Regulus’, Harry thought. It was neat, like Sirius’.
“HOMOPHOBIA WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.” It was written in capital letters and was clearly the work of either Evan or Barty. The writing ended there though. They stared down at it for five minutes, neither of them saying anything.
“Do you think they're all together now?” Luna asked him. “You know, like they were behind the curtain.”
“Barty’s still alive, Luna. He just got the dementors kiss.” Harry shuddered at the thought, that was a fate worse than death.
“He was nice to me when he was a teacher. He asked about mum once. When I said she had died he looked weird. I brushed it off then. I thought it was just a Blibbering Humdinger. That classroom was horribly infested with them.”
Harry laughed. He wondered if Pandora had been like this? Just like Luna, full of wonder, who believed that anything was possible. “Do you think he still remembers anything?” she asked.
“The Dementors kiss leaves you with the worst memories of your life, played over and over. He might though.”
“Do you think there’s anything in Sirius’ room?” Luna asked him.
“Maybe. I didn’t really look properly, I mean I did look, but not for things like this.” Harry replied. “Let's go.” They walked out the room, photo album in hand and opened the door to Sirius’ old room. It was covered in red and gold, the Gryffindor lion displayed prominently. The pictures of bikini-clad muggle girls were still on the walls, along with the one of the four boys smiling and laughing.
Luna was looking at the other end of the room as Harry looked on the bookshelf. “What about this?” she said, turning round to face him. Piece of parchment in hand. Harry walked over and took it from her. It was a letter, addressed to Sirius.
“Dear Sirius,
I hope your Mum doesn’t read this, I sent it with Marley’s owl. How are you babe? It’s been dead boring at my house, just little siblings and cousins. There’s a boy that keeps trying to chat me up on our estate. Told him that I had a boyfriend and didn’t need him. Anyways, he was proper ugly. Me and Lily are going to meet up at Diagon Alley on the 25th, along with Marlene. Get our school stuff and things. Marls is going to see if Pete, James and Remus can come. I hope you can too, give your mum the slip eh? Actually don’t that would be terrible. You stay there and sit tight and we’ll be together soon. My sister’s got tickets for a gig but won’t tell me who. Anyways I’ll see you soon.
Lots of love, Mary Macdonald.”
Harry stared at the letter, he had heard that name before. The girl who had been cursed by Mulciber. The one who had told his mother that Snape was waiting outside Gryffindor tower. And that Marlene girl, she kept cropping up and he swore she had met an untimely death.
“Do you think she’s still alive?” Luna asked him.
“I dunno, maybe? We could write her a letter.” Harry was filled with wanting to meet this woman. The one who had known his parents and their friends. The one who had once dated Sirius Black when they were at school, and he realised with a jolt of sadness, the only one that had any chance at still being alive.
Luna was one step ahead of him. She had already conjoured a piece of parchment and a quill, along with a pot of ink for him. Harry sat down in the chair and brushed the dust off the desk, “What do I say?” he asked her desperately.
“Just say that you want to meet her. If she was your mum and dad’s friend, I don’t think she would say no.” she said in her usual calm demeanour.
“Yeah, you're right.” He began to write a letter, stating who he was and why he wanted to meet her.
"Dear Ms Macdonald,
I hope this letter finds you well. I believe you knew me and my friend’s parents and their friends and we were wondering if we could meet you to ask you a few questions about them if it's not too much trouble. We can meet whenever you are free. Now Voldemort is dead, it's safe for us to come anywhere.
Thank you very much, Harry Potter"
“Are you done?” Luna asked.
“Yeah I think so.” Harry said as they apparated to the Hogsmeade post office.
****
Harry knocked on the door, the house was on a muggle terrace, in a regular street in suburban London. Luna stood behind him, It was August but he was still cold, he shivered slightly.
“You're nervous aren’t you? About meeting her.” Luna said.
“A bit yeah-” Harry’s sentence was cut off as Mary Macdonald opened the door. She must have been in her late thirties but she was still as beautiful as she was when she was a teenager. Her hair was tied up with a ribbon and she was wearing a long orange floral sundress. Her smile extended across her face as she saw them.
“Oh god, Harry.” She pulled him into a motherly embrace and hugged him tight. “You look just like James.” They broke apart and she studied him. “You’ve got Lils’ eyes though.” She turned to look at Luna. “Pands? No of course you can’t be she would be my age, what's your name love?”
“Luna. Luna Lovegood.” Harry could see the cogs turning in Mary’s head as she opened her mouth.
“Your Luna? Of course you are, I remember her being pregnant. Didn’t know her well though, how is she?” Harry’s face fell, how could she possibly not know? Luna however took it in her stride.
“She died when I was nine. But you knew her?” Luna’s voice was eager and excited.
“Oh love, I'm so sorry to hear that. I knew her, not well but one of my best friends was dating one of her best friends and another dated her himself.” She sighed and looked sad. “Anyways, come in.” She opened the door to reveal a hallway, there were childrens shoes by the door and pictures adorned the walls. “The kids are at my Mum’s.” Harry noticed that the pictures were muggle ones, unmoving. “Sit down sweetheart.” She gestured them into the living room. “Do you want tea or anything?”
“I'm fine.” Harry said.
“What about you?” she asked Luna.
“I’m fine Mrs Macdonald.”
Mary laughed and said “God, you make me feel so old. Could Remus not come?”
Harry’s insides turned cold, how could he explain it to her? “Um Mrs Macdonald…”
“Please don’t call me that. Just call me Aun-” she paused and her eyes had a faraway look. “Call me Mary.”
“Um ok, Mary, Remus is-” How could he possibly say it? “He’s dead.” Harry said as he watched her face go slack. She fell to her knees and screamed, it sent shivers up Harry’s spine, making every hair stand up one end. It spoke of anguish and fear, sadness and sorrow, loss and heartbreak.
“No, no, NO!” She said forcefully as she cried. “He-he can’t. NO.” Harry watched as Luna crouched down beside her and put her arm around her. “Not-no, Remus!” She half screamed his name half sobbed.
“I’m so sorry. We didn’t realise you didn’t know.” Luna said softly.
“You’re lying. Tell me you-you’re lying.” She pleaded looking up at him, “He’s probably just hiding.” She stood up, shaking as she walked, “Remus! Remus you can come out now!” she called. It broke something inside Harry, this woman had lost all of her friends and she wasn’t even forty. She called again, her voice stricken, “Remus! Where are you?”
“Mary please. He-he’s gone. He died fighting.” Harry said and as he spoke his voice wavered.
“I-i. No. He can’t leave me. Please tell me that it’s just some-some sick joke. Please.” Mary’s face was covered in tears. “He wouldn’t-no.”
“I’m so sorry. I didn't realise you knew him well.” Harry said.
She snorted at this and Luna sat with her on the sofa, as she tried to collect herself, she sobbed and hiccuped. Harry didn’t think he would ever see such a pitiful sight again, it was awful watching her, the lone survivor. “He was one of my best friends. Him, Pete, Marley, Lil and then Potter and Black.”
“We wanted to ask you some questions about them, if you felt ready.” he said tentatively.
“What-” she let out another sob. “What do you want to know?” she asked.
“Everything.” Mary looked at him, her eyes blazing, he wondered when was the last time they had seen each other? Had she tried to look for him? It took about five minutes for her to collect herself and then she started to tell him her story.
“Um ok well. I’m one of seven siblings, I'm the second oldest so you know, not that special. I’m muggleborn and the only magic one out of us. I got the letter and they had to come talk to my parents. And then I was off to Hogwarts. I got sorted into Gryffindor. And that’s where I met Lily Evans and Marlene McKinnon.” Harry connected the dots in his head, Marlene Mckinnon, the young woman with short shaggy hair and tattoos, stared up at him from the photograph he had seen years ago, the girl whose whole family had been killed in one go. Mary hiccuped again and then pressed on. “We became best friends and then the year after we became friends with-” she paused as more tears spilled down her cheeks. “With Remus and Pete. Now I’m sure you want to know about Lil, well she was a force of nature, she could’ve done anything, been anything. And Marley, well she was mental but in a good way. She would’ve done anything for us.”
“What was my dad like?” Harry asked.
“Well Potter was a bit of a prick at first, atleast about Lily. But he was lovely really, he would’ve moved the world to make sure anyone was happy. I think he was the human embodiment of the sun. God, him and Sirius were just chaos together.” Tears spilled down her cheeks but she carried on. “And Peter. Petey was sweet, he made cakes for each of our birthdays, every year without fail. He was funny too, we all said he should’ve been a comedian.” Mary sighed “Sirius, was a moody git at times, loved him for it though. When we dated he could be the sweetest.”
“You dated?”
“Well yes. We were 15 I think, but that was before him and Remus of course.”
“Sorry, what?” What did she mean about Sirius and Remus? If it was what she was implying, but no, they couldn’t have been, he would’ve known.
“Oh love, did you not know?” Mary’s voice was soft and gentle as she spoke. “Well Sirius and Remus, they were together since we were 16. God they were so stupid about each other, we even had a bet about who would make the first move.” She smiled as she said this, a lone tear still making its way down her face.
“They were together?” Harry couldn’t think, Remus had a wife though, a child, he couldn’t have been gay.
“Yes, very much so. Did they not tell you?” Mary looked at him curiously.
“No, nothing like that.”
“Well I'll tell you what I know. Sirius and I dated when we were 15, the year after, do you know about the incident with Snape? By god that was awful.” Mary sighed and shook her head, as if trying to get rid of the memory.
“Didn’t Sirius tell Snape about Lupin being a werewolf and nearly killed him?” Harry asked, looking to her for confirmation while Luna stayed silent.
“Lupin? That’s what you call-” Mary stopped herself and closed her eyes, breathing in deeply. In a shaky voice she said “That’s what you called him?”
“Well yes, when he was professor and then it kinda just stuck. I only ever called him Remus a couple times.” Harry replied, confused as to why she asked him this. “What is it?”
“Nothing love. It’s fine, well it destroyed Remus. It was awful, I think it was because Sirius was going to have to go home and well the less said about that the better. Well it happened and they were at war. They wouldn’t speak, I remember asking Pete about and the look he gave me was just-” she stopped as if it was a painful memory. “It was awful. And then that summer Sirius got kicked out and went to your grandparents to live with James. Then Remus and Siruius had a massive argument and then they were sort of together. Well then that year Pete asked out your mum.” Mary said, nodding to Luna.
“What was she like?” she asked eagerly.
“Pands was just right for Pete, they would talk for hours and I think James was almost jealous of her.” she laughed, it was warm and genuine, it made Harry smile just hearing it. “I was too in all fairness.”
“Did-did you fancy Peter?” Harry asked.
“Peter was my best friend.” Mary’s voice was barely above whisper, it was as if this was the first time she was admitting it to herself. “ When Remus was in the hospital and Lily was with Snape and Marlene, James and Sirius were at quidditch, me and him would just spend our time together. He was funny, sweet, we would bake together and gossip. Always had the best weed too. God I loved him, still do.” She looked at Harry as she said this, “And I know what he did. I hated him, I really did. But I miss him more, I miss them all.” She sighed and carried on. “Pands was very sweet, awfully kind too. Probably a bit too much for her own good. Though I don’t think Regulus ever let her out of his sight for more than ten minutes after her and Pete got together.”
Luna didn’t say anything, just nodded and then looked at Harry, staring at him.
“Mary, when did my parents get together? What happened after you left school?” he asked. His mind was racing, how come he had never heard of her before? Where had she been all these years?
“Well Lils and James got together in the summer after sixth year, we all went camping and had a whale of a time. And then they kissed and we all screamed. I think Sirius actually cried. Mind you, he had listened to six years of James pinning so it was fair. They were head boy and head girl, a match made in heaven I suppose. Though Lily had maintained that she despised him for five solid years so it was quite surprising when we found out she fancied him. Not James of course, he asked her out every week.”
“And then what happened?”
“We left school and we all joined the order, it was awful. People dying left right and centre. Then about six months later, Lily and James said they were getting married. We were happy for them of course but mind you were only 18 or 19 so it was a bit of a shock. The wedding was beautiful, I have photos somewhere. And then your grandparents got very sick, James was rushing back and forth from the hospital.”
“My grandparents? What were they called?” Harry asked for Mary was the only one that knew everything, the one who had all the answers.
“They were called Euphemia and Fleamont but everyone called them Effie and Monty. They were truly lovely people, they had your dad later on in life and when they got dragonpox they couldn’t fight it. But not before they were told about you.” Her warm brown eyes pierced into Harry’s soul. “I remember when Lily told us. I thought she was joking, but she wasn’t. I think you came along a little earlier than they had planned but you were there. I think Sirius was more excited than James. And then you were born, it was lovely. I would have done anything for you. All of us would’ve.” Harry hung on to her every word, desperate for her knowledge that in another life he would’ve known already.
“Then when you were about seven months old Marl-Marlene was killed. Her and all her family, all dead. And we couldn’t do anything.” Mary was crying now, her eyes puffy and red but she carried on. “Dorcas went mad, she was so in love with Marlene. She would kill on sight of any death eaters and then she was killed by Voldemort himself. We buried them together.”
“Like my Mum and Dad.”
“Then-then that awful night. I was meant to come round the next day. I-I got the message, that they were dead and so was Pete and that Sirius was the one who had done it!” she bawled, “Me and Remus, we-we had to identify their bodies. And you were gone.” Mary’s tears streamed down her cheeks, her voice shaking with emotion. “I’m sorry. I begged them to let you come to me and Remus, I looked for you Harry.”
Harry’s mind lingered at the thought of another childhood, one where he had been raised by Mary, he was certain she would have loved him like he was one of her own. But then, why not imagine him being raised by his own parents?
“I’m so sorry Harry. I found you and went to Petunia’s about two months after it happened, begged her to let me see you. And you were there, pulling yourself up and waddling. I should have taken you right there and then. But I didn’t and now you're here.” Mary looked at Harry as if she was trying to look for all the versions of him there had been, the little boy who wondered what more he could possibly do to make his family love him. “I love you and don’t think you have to say it back but I do.” Harry didn’t know what to do, he had only met her today but somehow he felt like he had known her forever, it was in the little things that she did. Her soft tone of voice, the way she looked at him, at his eyes, the way she smiled. So he did the only thing he could think of doing and got up and hugged her tight and she hugged him back, fiercely like a lioness protecting her cubs.
And then Harry asked the one question that had been on his mind, “Mary, where have you been all these years. Sirius and Remus never mentioned you, where were you?”
“After the war, I couldn’t handle it. Once I was so close to making myself forget it, forget it all, magic, my friends, Hogwarts, I had the wand at my head and I called Remus and just said that I loved him and that he should always know that. He apparated just as I was going to say the spell. And we cried together. After that I tried to get my life together, couple years later I met my husband and we got married and had our eldest. Then we moved here and had my middle and youngest. I haven’t been to Diagon Alley in years, I work in a muggle office. I live as a muggle, my magic- it’s never been the same ever since I found Marlene.”
“You found her?” Harry asked, he couldn’t bear the thought of being the one to find Ron or Hermione cold dead bodies.
“I found her, her eyes, I’ll never forget it. It was the same with Lily and James, they looked terrified. I wish I could’ve saved them, saved all of them. And then my kids ask me what happened to them, about why I hate Halloween and I can never answer.”
“What’s your children’s names?” Luna asked.
“Well my oldest is Emily Marlene, then my son is Liam Peter James, then my youngest daughter is Amy Lily Dorcas, and I know you’ll be on at me about my son’s name but I thought Peter was dead.”
“That’s beautiful.” Harry said finally as he watched Mary fiddle with the hem of her dress.
“He’s dead isn’t he? Peter?” she asked, looking at him.
“Yes. He died about early April.” Mary just nodded and stared at the floor.
“I think I knew. It was like something inside me had been cut.” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
“You’ll see him again, don’t worry.” Luna said, “They’re all waiting for us.”
“I know love, I know. I just miss them.” They were silent for a bit until she spoke.
“Do you want to see the photos I have?” she asked as she stood up. He nodded and followed her into the dinning room, he noticed one particular picture hanging on the wall, it was of the grounds at Hogwarts but that wasn’t what drew Harry to it. Rather it was the occupants, they were moving and laughing. A younger Mary had her arms around a chubby boy with blonde hair as they made faces at the camera, to their left a boy that looked like Harry had a girl with dark red hair on his shoulders as they smiled and she gazed down disapprovingly at a boy with black hair who was mock crying, being held up by a tall scared boy. There was another girl, with shaggy blonde hair who was smoking a cigarette, smiling wildly.
Mary noticed him looking, “That’s us, me and Pete, then Lily, James, Sirius, Remus and Marls. I have to take it down when we have visitors, international statute of secrecy and all that. The kids know about their aunties and uncles, they’re magic too.”
“How old are they?” he asked.
“Emily is ten, Liam is seven and Amy’s four.”
“So she’ll be off to Hogwarts soon.”
“Mhm.” Mary made a sound that suggested that she would rather her daughter be doing anything else.
“Mary? Do you not want her too?”
“It’s difficult love. That school took everything from me, Dumbledore took everything from me.” she said, her voice steely and strong. “My babies won’t be the ones in the line of fire for his wars.
Harry couldn’t comprehend what he was hearing, why was she blaming Dumbledore for what had happened? “Bu-but Dumbledore did what he had to do, you can’t blame him. He helped me defeat Voldemort. I mean he was dead but he still helped.”
“You-you did it? You risked your life to do something that he should have done, you're a child Harry. We were children, we shouldn’t have been fighting wars for some old man that didn’t care if we lived or died.”
“But he did! He cared about my Mum and Dad, loads. I know he did.”
Mary gave a shrill laugh, “Oh Harry. He didn’t care one bit, he didn’t do anything to try and save us, after the war he didn’t help me or Remus one bit. Just left us to deal with everything ourselves. He didn’t even give Sirius a chance to explain. That’s not love sweetheart. He’s part of the reason all my friends are dead, I’m not going to forgive him. Ever.” she said in a tone that told Harry that this conversation was done.
“What do your kids think about you being magic?” he asked her, not wanting to argue.
“They know that I’m a witch and they know about their own magic but they can’t tell anyone.” Mary sighed and pulled a book out from the bookshelf. She gestured for Harry and Luna to sit down at the dining table with her, opened the book and handed it to them. “That's our story Harry, Lily’s, James’, Sirius’, Remus’, Marlene’s, Peter’s and mine. It’s in that book.” she said, nodding towards. “It’s where nothing bad ever happened. Where we’re ok.”
Harry stared at the page, it was of a group of girls that couldn’t have been older than eleven. A younger Mary stood in the middle, a wide smile across her face as she hugged her friends, her dark hair tied up with a Gryffindor scarf, next to her was a girl who must have been his mother. Lily’s red hair blew in the wind as she laughed while a figure on a broom shot past. On the other side of Mary was a girl with short blonde hair cut in a bob, that must have been Marlene, Harry thought. She smiled broadly out at them, eyes twinkling mischievously.
They turned the pages full of teenage revelry, quidditch matches, stolen kisses, daring glances. Harry eyes settled on a picture of Mary and Peter, they looked to be about sixteen. She was leaning against his legs, both of them smoking a cigarette as he sat on the window seat in Gryffindor tower, laughing. It was as if they’re love for each other spilt out of the page, infecting everything with bittersweet joy. It was like the love Harry felt for Ron and Hermione, for Luna and Neville.
“He really was your best friend wasn’t he?” Luna asked, looking towards Mary.
“He was my soulmate, platonically of course but still. I would’ve done anything for him.” Mary said, her eyes lingering on the photo. “I don’t know why he did what he did. I don’t know why he didn’t think we would help him, why I wouldn’t help him.”
“It wasn’t your fault.” Luna said, placing a hand on Mary’s shoulder. “He was the one who did it.”
“I know love, I just wish I could’ve stopped him. I could’ve saved him, saved Marlene, Dorcas, Lily, James, Sirius, Remus. I could’ve and I didn’t.”
“You can’t save everyone.” Harry said, knowing the reality of this himself. Try as you might, you couldn’t save every single soul.
“But I could’ve tried.” Mary sighed, “But never mind that, we have so much more to talk about sweetheart.” And so they talked for hours, trying to replace the years that they had missed, laughing and crying together.
A few hours later, Harry stood on the doorstep of the house, Mary hugged Luna and him in turn. “You’ll come again won’t you?” she asked.
“Of course. Maybe I can meet your kids.” Harry said.
“That would be amazing love, take care of yourself now, that goes for the both of you. I love you.”
“I love you too.” Harry said and he meant it. She’s incredible, funny, caring and Harry knew exactly why his parents were friends with her all those years ago because it's impossible to not like her.
A single tear rolled down Mary’s face, “We’ll see each other soon, I’ll make sure of it. Make sure you get home safe.”
“We will. Bye!” Luna called as she and Harry apparated away while Mary watched on.
************************************
September 1st, 2051
She can see the various people crowded around her, her husband, children and grandchildren, her great-grandchildren all gathered in her hospital room but she only has eyes for the chubby balding man in the corner of the room. He nods at her and she knows it's time, this is it. She takes one last rattling breath and then her body stills and she steps out of herself. A cry can be heard coming from her daughter as nurses are called for all while the man makes his way over to her.
“I missed you.” is all she says when he reaches her.
“I know. I missed you too.” he replies. “I’m sorry.”
“I know.”
“Are you ready?” he asks, holding out his hand to her. She takes one last look back at her family, her son holding onto one of her hands while her husband takes the other as a nurse says something, her grandchildren looking on, tear streaked faces all round. She’s going to miss them, she really will but she’s ready. She’s been ready for years.
“Yes” she says and takes his hand, her’s wrinkled and his soft. “I’m ready.” There is a bright light at the edge of the room, she can feel herself being pulled towards it, slowly but steadily it gets brighter, more welcoming.
“We’ve been waiting for you for years. All of us.” he says, looking at her sincerely.
“Are they all there?” she asks eagerly.
“All of us.” They’ve reached the light now, it’s so bright and warm. It feels like home, like happiness.
“I love you.” she says, looking back at her family, even though they can’t hear her. The man watches on, his eyes sad, she notices this, her emotions always in tune with his. “I love you too.” she says to him, “I never stopped loving any of you.”
“I love you too.” In time they’ll talk, they’ll laugh and cry, scream, sob and dance. But for now, they’re love for each other is enough.
“Are you ready Mare?” he asks.
“Yeah. Yeah I am.” Mary says, taking Peter’s hand as they step into the light together.