Lessons on Existing Without Your Soul, Chapter 1
DISCLAIMER: No, I do not own any of the characters created by J. K. Rowling, and nor do I claim to. I am merely writing this for my enjoyment and yours, and not for any monetary value.
Day in and day out – all anyone ever did was duel. Leigh was tired, beyond exhaustion, in fact. All she truly wanted was a nice nap, perhaps, or a night without interruptions. She did not have the time to mix up a nice calming draught anymore – she was spending all of her spare time preparing large stocks of Elixir to Induce Euphoria so she could have it whenever she needed it, which was all of the time, mind you.
Every day, there was more news of death, of families being torn apart, of turmoil and defeat. The Order of the Phoenix had not rested in months, though, in all honesty, it felt like decades. The war had changed Leigh. The girl who was once cheerful and friendly was now a dark rain cloud of despair. Her hair, that used to be short and bright blue, was now long, stringy, and jet-black – not unlike Bellatrix Lestrange's disgusting hair. Her skin was once youthful, but now translucent with the slightest tint of yellow in the right light. Her eyes were hardened by the things she had seen – they had once been big, brown, understanding, but were now ice blue and emotionless. She had lost a significant amount of weigh as well. Her cheeks were hollowed out, and her ribs poked through her skin. Once this war was over, however, she would return to her normal state.
Leigh was a Metamorphmagus, which came as a shock furthermore to her Muggle parents. Imagine finding out your daughter was not only a witch, but one who could change her appearance at will as well!
Her parents were far away now, though, and thoughts of them generally brought Leigh to tears. She missed them more than anyone in the entire world. It was for them she fought, hoping that with every Death Eater she destroyed, they would be one step closer to living together again, in a happier and safer world.
For three years now, she had not seen her parents. When she joined the Order at the ripe age of seventeen, she had them move to America, where they had previously lived for eight years as a family. Nowhere in Britain was safe anymore, especially for the parents of a Mudblood, Dumbledore-loving, Auror-Order member. She sent them away for their safety. America was out of bounds – Voldemort would have absolutely no reason to travel that far abroad.
Danger still lurked around every corner for Leigh, though. She always kept her hand on her wand these days, waiting for an attack at every moment.
Leigh was sitting on a tattered couch, reading a book when a bluish-white light filled the room. The form of a Phoenix was before her, and the voice of Albus Dumbledore spoke "The home of James and Lily Potter, Godric's Hollow." As quickly as it had come, it disappeared, the warm feeling vanishing with it.
These summonses were quite common these days. One of the Order would send their Patronus out, stating only a location but never an explanation. All who received the message were to Disapparate to the disclosed location as soon as it was safe for them to do so.
Dumbledore's voice had always been calm and collected, but his voice from the Phoenix sounded hurried and frenzied. Leigh knew, almost instantaneously, that something was wrong. The Potter residence was not a safe house and therefore, the Order had never been summoned there before. The Potters' home was kept a secret; none of the Order, besides Dumbledore, knew the exact location of the house.
Dumbledore had not left an exact address. Was the Fidelius Charm broken? Did that mean – ?
Leigh gathered a traveling cloak and swiftly left her home, stepped out of the protective enchantments and turned on the spot, leaving the Muggle neighborhood behind.
Merely moments later, Leigh was at the entry gates to Lily and James' home, the top of which had been blown apart. Apprehensively, Leigh entered the courtyard, taking notice of the other witches and wizards who were there. Leigh saw Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall, Rubeus Hagrid, and Alastor Moody. Behind her, however, more and more wizards were appearing, including Dedalus Diggle, Remus Lupin, Sturgis Podmore, and Elphias Doge.
Leigh felt the Order was throwing caution to the wind by summoning so many wizards and witches to one place, but soon understood when she saw Minerva and Hagrid crying. It couldn't be – no, not James and Lily.
She rushed to the house, not paying attention to anyone or anything around her. She burst in and ran about the house, calling the names of her two friends. "James? Lily?" There was no response.
Remus rushed into the house after her, calling out her name. The house was not safe and was threatening to collapse at any moment. "Leighton! Leighton we need to get out of the house now!" He shouted.
Leigh was not listening however. She had found James, lying on the floor of the sitting room, as if asleep. She began to cry, sobbing heavily into her hands. "No," She said, in disbelief at what she was seeing. This was a horrible prank – James would wake up at any moment now, laughing and smiling as he always did.
But James did not stir. "Lily?" She yelled. "Lily?"
Leigh ran up the stairs and searched every room before finding the nursery. The room was destroyed completely, the roof gone and debris everywhere. And in the middle of the room was Lily. Lovely Lily. She was not moving. Leigh fell down to her knees and wept for her friend, lying across Lily's cold and lifeless body.
Remus came into the room, panting. "Leighton, we must go –" He started, but at the sight of Lily Potter, he stopped. He fell against the doorframe and began to cry as well. He, too, now understood why the Order was summoned to the Potters' tonight.
However, he ceased crying when he heard a creak from above. "Leighton, the roof is going to fall in!" He ran to her and attempted to lift her from Lily's body. She was light as a feather, yes, but she refused to let go of Lily. "Leighton, please, we have to go." The statement was staggered. Remus was having difficulty masking his utter sadness. He wished he could stay forever by Lily's side, he wished it had been him Voldemort had slaughtered, not Lily.
Another creak from the ceiling sounded. Using a Hover charm, Remus lifted both Leigh and Lily from the floor and floated them down the stairs to safety. He stopped at the sitting room, finally seeing what he failed to miss when he entered the crumbling home.
On the floor was his best friend, James Potter. Even in death, his hair was messy and his glasses askew. Remus gasped and tried to hold back a sob, but failed. He began to cry mirthlessly now, losing all control of himself. The Hovering charm that Remus had cast fell, and Lily and Leigh dropped to the floor silently and gracefully.
Leigh crawled shamelessly to Remus' side and held him close. Together, they sobbed over the loss of the two bravest people they had ever met.