DISLCAIMER: Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling.
A/N: "Dum spiro spero" is Latin for "While I breathe, I hope."
Dir en Grey's 2011 album of the same name is the inspiration for this collection, and each chapter will be an unrelated oneshot inspired by one of the songs.
~ Dum Spiro Spero ~
- Track 1: Kyōkotsu no Nari (The Cry of Lunatic Bone) -
"I'm afraid I have some bad news," Dumbledore said softly.
Lily and James glanced at each other, both wondering not what the bad news was but who it was.
"What happened?" James asked, unable to keep a note of apprehension out of his voice.
"You'll remember we had a full moon a few nights ago..."
Oh no. No, no, no! Not Remus, don't let anything bad have happened to him while he was in werewolf form, don't tell me he's bitten someone, please God no. Somehow James managed to keep this litany of fears from escaping his mouth.
As though he did not notice the couple's distress at his pronouncement, Dumbledore continued, "It seems the Death Eaters thought to flush the two of you out of hiding by sending Fenrir Greyback to, ah... shall we say, visit... your sister."
"Is she... is she..."
In her shock, Lily couldn't quite seem to choke out the rest of the question. However, it wasn't hard to guess what she meant.
"She is alive," Dumbledore answered.
"But," James said, "that means she's a werewolf now?"
"That is precisely what it means."
"What about her husband?" James asked.
"He was not present at the time of the attack. And since being informed of Petunia's condition, he has regrettably chosen to have nothing further to do with her."
Dumbledore might find it regrettable, but James thought his sister-in-law was well rid of the ill-mannered brute. He had never liked Vernon, and even if Petunia wasn't as pretty or kind as her sister, she surely could have found someone better than Vernon Dursley.
"So, he's what? Initiated divorce proceedings?" James inquired - his curiosity getting the better of him, even though he realized that he probably shouldn't be asking such a thing.
"It seems that he has been telling the neighbors that she died in a car crash. He has even gone so far as to arrange for a funeral."
James felt like there was something he was forgetting. But, what could it be?
"What about the baby?" Lily piped up. "They have a son, about Harry's age..."
She looked up at Dumbledore with hope shining in her eyes, but the old wizard shook his head sadly.
"The healers did everything they could, but a child that young has never survived a werewolf's bite."
Lily pressed her face against her husband's shoulder and wept.
James and Dumbledore continued to discuss the situation, but Lily couldn't make sense of what they were saying over the sound of her own sobs.
Petunia had always been jealous, had always wanted to be a part of the magical world somehow... but not this way.
~ end of track 1 ~
A/N: Reviews are always appreciated.