I do apologize for being gone so long, I had the entire summer to finish this but I didn't. Then school started. Yeah. New goal: Update every two weeks. Start flaming me if I take too long.
Also, just saying thank you to all who review, because reviews motivate me!
Chapter 14: Black Affairs
Dear John Miller,
It is with a heavy heart that I report to you this sad news. Your sister Melanie Forest passed away at 5:37 am, August 30th, 1993. Her heart stopped beating due to complications from her previous illness. The body is in the Saint Mungo's Morgue, located two blocks east of the hospital. There will be someone there who will help you plan the deceased's ceremony.
With Many Condolences,
Merrick Allcovitch
Head Healer of Saint Mungo's Hospice
The funeral was small. Some of Janie's friends from school came, the Healers that worked with Melanie paid their respects, Alfred Braxton showed, Remus Lupin sent flowers, and the entire staff of the Blue Cauldron arrived. They made the food for the reception. Rosie wondered why Janie wasn't crying, it seemed everyone else was. Even Alfred Braxton, practically a stranger, shed a tear. It was a sad affair. The ceremony was beautiful. The flowers, sent by work friends and distant relatives, were bright and cheery. Colleen and John smiled through tears and did their best to be gracious and thankful to everyone who came. The cemetery was local, close to the town. It was hauntingly beautiful. Melanie Forest's stone was white limestone that shone brightly against the others that had dulled over time. She was buried next to a dusty grey that had seen better days. The name read Jack Forest, Janie's father.
Janie stared at the headstones with an unreadable expression on her face. Her aunt moved closer to hug her, but Janie shrugged her off.
Remus walked through the familiar halls of Hogwarts for patrol, making as little noise as possible. He looked at the walls with the awe of a first year; he had forgotten how wonderful the school was. He never realized how much he missed Hogwarts until he came back. Remus thought about going to the Marauder's old haunts to see if any new pranksters had come about, but shook the thought away. There was a scuffle in the corridor next to him, and he heard a two slightly familiar voices.
"Forge, come on then!"
"Gred, he doesn't seem that bad. Maybe we could get away…"
"It's already set up, let's leave!"
Remus turned that corner, but no one was there. That might have been the Weasley twins, he thought. How did they know I was coming? Well, they're gone now, better take down whatever they set up.
Remus took down the small prank; it was a dungebomb rigged to Filch's door. Throughout the next day, though, Remus was haunted by how they knew he was coming. He managed to forget about it throughout the rest of the week, but on a Saturday he saw the twins with a giant piece of parchment paper in front of them. "Boys, what do you have there?" he asked. He saw one(George, he thought) muttered something with his wand in his hand. "Need I remind you that magic is not allowed in corridors?"
"No Professor Lupin," started one (Fred, Remus believed).
"We were just-"
"Walking around."
Remus found it strange that they finished each other sentences, but ignored it. His friends had done far stranger things when they were in school.
"Alright then," Remus said, then turned back to walk around.
The next night, Remus was walking the same path as last week (to clear his head) when he heard the voices of the Weasley twins in the same corridor they were the night before. Remus stopped walking when he heard the twins stop talking. He started counting to ten when he heard a box being dragged along the floor. Remus rounded the corner only to find the Weasley twins with, once again, a big blank parchment. This time they were accompanied by wooden crate.
"I would like it to know what is in that crate," Remus said calmly.
"Some of our things," said one.
"Flich has taken them from us. We only-"
"Wanted to get it back."
Remus took the lid of the crate; it was full of Filibuster's Fireworks and other Zonko's products. "I do believe these are banned objects, Filch has every right to confiscate them," he said. "What's is your hand?"
"A spare bit of parchment Fred insists we have 'just in case'," said the one who must be George. Ah, that's the difference between them, Remus thought, George has a slightly deeper voice.
"It's almost curfew, go back to your dormitories," Remus said. "I'll take this –" he nudged the crate-"back to Filch."
Alfred Braxton stared at The Prophet. It's front page was talking about a sighting of Sirius Black, by a Muggle. Braxton sat in Three Broomsticks along with three other customers. The barmaid walked around him, looking over his shoulder.
"Pity they haven't caught him yet, I'd love those Dementors to be gone," she said.
"Aye, it's a nuisance. They don't patrol in the day, do they?" he asked.
"No, from five to five, then they retreat back to the borders of the school. If it was up to me, they wouldn't leave the boundaries at all!"
"Hm," Braxton grunted.
"I don't think Sirius Black would waltz into my bar if he fancied a drink, Dementors or no Dementors, do you? He's smart, smart enough not to come so close to Hogwarts, especially if Dumbledore is there. Hmph! Why if I had my way..."
"The Ministry is trying to keep everyone safe," Braxton muttered, eyes trained on the picture of Black in the paper.
"The Ministry had best stop sticking their nose into other's business," one of the other patrons called.
"There's something I would like our government to do," agreed a woman from a booth.
"Yes..." Braxton threw some coins on the counter. "I best be off. Goodnight, Rosemerta. G'night, night," he said, nodding to the others. He stuck his nose out the door, no Dementors yet. Just to be safe, he cast the Patronus Charm, and a big, shaggy dog pranced around him as he walked the streets to his home.