A/N: Quick update! A little happiness in this one? A little darkness at the beginning though of course.

gpfs17: Thank you so much! I really appreciate any reviews, so if this is the only one you write me, I'm still grateful! I'm so happy you've enjoyed the story, and I grinned like an idiot while reading your review. I know there are a lot of Marauder fics out there, so if you think my portrayals are unique, then I must be doing something right! Thank you again and again. I really hope you continue on with me!

Worthfull1: I was super confused while reading your message before putting together your recent name change haha. But hello! I'm very pleased about Claire and Danny too, and they'll definitely be playing larger roles soon. I strangely seem to be one of the only people who really likes Dumbledore's manipulative side. I have a thing for the charismatic borderline sociopath archetype (probably why I liked Barty's character so much). They're a ton of fun to write, but unfortunately (for me, at least), I won't get to delve into his character much. But I digress. I hope you're doing well IRL too, and thanks so much for writing me reviews for each chapter! I really appreciate it more than I can say.

Eirithdiel: We've come a long way, haven't we? I just finished and DESTROYED my finals and am currently floundering from the anxiety of having nothing to do. Perhaps I'll redirect those energies towards getting caught up in this. I hope finals went well for you too! Rowan will probably be saved soonish, but there will of course be more turmoil in the meantime for all parties, though this chapter is a bit lighter I think. No, Teddy Lupin sadly won't exist in this story, but I agree that Remus would be a doting father who would try to spoil his daughter rotten. Perhaps he'll get a chance to later on? Heh...

missalex3030: Thank you, thank you, thank you! Even if you gave me the same review every time, I'd still love it! I hope all is well on your end too!

Disclaimer: I own none of this!

Source: Rowling, J. K. (2005). Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Scholastic: New York.


June 30, 1974

Dear Remus,

We missed you this afternoon. I certainly did. The outing would have been much more fun if you'd been around. Sirius apparently rowed with his mum again and couldn't come out, so it ended up just being me, James, and Peter. We ran into a couple of Sixth Years and hung out with them for a bit, which made it a bit better, but something about the afternoon was just awkward in general.

I suppose James and I do this regularly, but with Peter there, it was a bit odd, you know? I know you lot are good mates, but I've just never felt right around him. He's just so skittish. It makes me nervous. I mean, we've known each other for four years now. You'd think he'd be able to look me in the eye at this point, but when I try to make conversation, he can hardly get a word out without stuttering. I've been trying really hard to be understanding and patient - I can't blame him for something he can't control - but it really is tiresome. Do I sound like a bad person? I've tried telling James, but you know him - he just tells me I'm being a jerk. And if I bring it up with Sirius, he'll just announce it to everyone and tease Peter for it outright. Honestly, sometimes I wonder why I'm friends with him.

Well, James bought a new set of Quidditch supplies, and Peter got something from the apothecary for his mum I think. I saw this book and thought of you - maybe you'll find it interesting since you've been on that Herbology binge lately. It's called "The Magical and Maniacal Flowers of Southeast Asia." The plants in there are really beautiful and strange - I've never seen anything like them here. There must be something about heat that catalyzes magic. It seems like the plants and animals around the more tropical climates are always more extravagant and grand. Perhaps after we graduate, the political atmosphere in that area will be calm enough for a trip.

Anyway, I hope your mum is feeling better. Try to make it to the next outing, okay?

Love,

Rowan


Chapter 51: The Bursting Seams of Scars

I.

"Rowan, please, I'm begging you."

Peter kneeled next to the limp form of his ward, a tray of food set beside him. On it was an assortment of foods he remembered to be her favorites from their student days – pumpkin juice, French onion soup, strawberry cake… Even he hadn't even food of this quality in many months. Snape had surprisingly fulfilled Peter's desperate request and delivered it from Hogwarts itself – a shot in the dark to make Rowan eat. But even with their tempting aromas, Rowan refused to eat. She didn't even look at him.

It had been three weeks since she'd arrived at Spinner's End, and she'd begun her hunger strike. He could clearly see her cheekbones now, protruding from her face unnaturally. Her eyes were sunken, wrists too thin. He had the feeling that even if she wanted to stand, she couldn't. She had hardly been healthy when they'd brought her here, and the past month had done nothing to improve her condition.

"Rowan, please," he whispered desperately.

"Get away from me," she hissed. Her voice was soft, face turned away, but her words cut into him as sharply as ever.

"Winnie-" he begged, but he was cut off as her arm flung around, swatting him violently away.

"Don't call me that!" she spat. Peter flinched as her hand collided with his shoulder, and his metal hand shot out to grab it. She shouted with surprise and anger at his forwardness and yanked back, but his grip was too strong. Or perhaps she was too weak. Peter could barely hear his own thoughts. He just needed her to eat. He needed to her stop fighting…!

"Don't touch me!" she shrieked. She yanked her arm back as hard as she could, but still, his shoulder barely moved from her pull. Peter barely had to exert any grip on her to keep her arm in place at his chest. He tried to pull her forward, and she flailed hysterically, her voice coming in roars now.

"Rowan, stop it!" he shouted over her. "Rowan, you have to eat!"

She was hysterical now, teeth bared and eyes flaring furiously like a rabid dog.

"Get off of me!" she screamed.

Heat was in Peter's face, in his hands. He realized dumbly that he was now hovering over her frail form, nearly pinning her to the ground. His metal hand was lurching forward and now had both of her wrists in one grip. She shrieked and began kicking at his stomach, but he absorbed it all with a series of grunts. His other hand was reaching for the tray of food, which was now a mess of textures and colors. Her eyes widened.

"No, I don't want it!" she shrieked. But Peter's hand gripped whatever he could grasp, splattering the food around them messily.

"Eat the food, Rowan!" he shouted. Rowan screamed.

His hand collided with her face as she thrashed and tore at him, but despite his strong grip on her, he couldn't get her to hold still long enough to make her eat any of it. He felt her sputter and choke on the bits and pieces that he'd managed to get into her mouth, but she was spitting it out as soon as he was forcing it in.

"Get OFF!" she finally screamed, kicking him hard in the gut. Peter's breath left him as he felt one of his ribs crack, but he used the brief moment of victory in her mind to force his hand through. Her eyes flew open as his hand shoved a particularly large piece of bread into her mouth, fingers and all. She screamed and bit down on his hand painfully - he felt the skin tear - but he'd managed it. He let go of her wrists and grabbed her face immediately to hold her mouth shut, and she thrashed wildly, shrieking against his palm and fingers.

Her breath came hissing and wheezing as she choked and sputtered, but Peter was determined not to let go. Her face reddened as her oxygen was cut off, eyes leaking with pain and fear. He saw droplets of something drip onto her face, and he realized dumbly that they were his own tears.

Finally, her arms stopped struggling against him, and he saw the defeat in her gaze. A shudder ran down his spine - he had never seen such an expression in her face before. But her limbs stopped. Her eyes shut. Her breath steadied. Peter let go and scrambled off of her.

Rowan didn't fight. She simply lay on the floor, the stains from the food now covering her tattered robes and hair. Tears continued to run down her face, but she didn't speak. Peter felt his metal hand tremble, but he held it back. His throat was tight, suddenly dry. His face burned with shame. What had he done?

"Rowan, I…" he whispered.

"Just stop," she interrupted. Her voice was tiny. Did it belong to her? "Please… just stop."

Peter couldn't move. Had he done it? Had he broken her?

"Winnie-"

"Leave me alone," she gasped. She rolled away from him, her frail form trembling. Even if he couldn't see her face, he could feel her tears, her despair. Something within him broke. "Just leave me alone," she sobbed.

There was a lingering heat within Peter's chest, in his fingers, as he looked down at the small woman in front of him. His knees ached vaguely as he knelt above her, his chest rising and falling steadily. His shirt and hands were covered in food, as were her robes now. A wave of disgust hit him suddenly as his eyes trailed over her dirty form. An eerie state of calm washed over him. He stood slowly.

"You need to eat, Rowan," he said softly. She didn't acknowledge his words. His metal hand throbbed. He turned for the door, stepping over the discarded tray.

He paused for a moment at the door. There was an urge at the back of his mind to look back at her, but he gripped the door frame as if to hold his muscles in check. He took a steady breath and then stepped out of the room, closing the door behind him with a soft click before inhaling again. He needed to wash his clothes.


II.

Remus looked up at the clock, minding the young man across from him. He frowned.

"Hmm… it's not like her to be late," he said. Danny Imran shook his head.

"I'm sure Miss Claire's very busy running the apothecary on her own. And with the full moon coming up, she's got a lot on her plate before adding me into the mix," he said. His foot bounced nervously against the floor, but he smiled. Remus smiled back. It seemed the young man was at least excited on top of his anxiety.

"Yes, she's done a remarkable job keeping things running in Rowan's absence," remarked Remus. Danny's eyes crinkled fondly, a soft smile at his lips.

"She's a remarkable woman," he said. Remus nodded in agreement, leaning back in his seat.

Dumbledore had approved Danny's joining the Order the week before, and with the next gathering in a few days, Remus and Claire had volunteered to bring Danny up to speed before introducing himself formally to the entire organization. Remus had a strange feeling that Dumbledore had special things in plan for their newest member.

But the one who entered wasn't Claire, but Will Surrey. He stopped with surprise as he saw Remus at the table.

"Oh, Remus," he said, taken off guard as if interrupted from a deep train of thought. In his hands was a tightly bound piece of parchment. Remus nodded.

"Will, how's it going?" he asked. Will gestured to the missive in his hand.

"Report for Dumbledore from last night's patrol," he said. He then glanced at Remus' companion, eyes narrowing judgingly. "Who's this?" he asked. Danny shifted uncomfortably. Remus felt a pang of annoyance but smiled.

"This is Danny Imran, our newest member," he explained. "I brought him in today to bring him up to speed before the meeting in two days. Claire is supposed to be here too, but- oh, speak of the devil."

Claire had burst into the room in a flurry of panic, panting slightly and face glistening with a light sheen of sweat. She looked around frantically and seemed to sigh with relief as she saw Danny and Remus sitting at the table.

"I'm so sorry I'm late!" she gushed. "I got caught up with a difficult customer who just wouldn't leave, and then there was a Ministry checkpoint set up just outside of the shop, so I had to deal with that and-" Remus smiled graciously.

"It's fine, Claire. You're just on time. We actually just sat down," he said. She smiled tiredly but brightly and shrugged her jacket off with a sluggish yank before looking up to see Will. Remus noted the surprised and embarrassed expression that flickered across her face for a moment before being replaced with a polite smile.

"Oh, hello, Will. I'm sorry, I didn't see you there," she said. "How are you?" Will gave her a sort of awkward nod back.

"Fine, and you?" he responded. His eyes darted over to Danny. "Do you two know each other already?" he asked. Danny's grimace deepened slightly, but Claire smiled warmly at him. Remus didn't miss the brief confused narrowing of Will's eyes.

"Claire is actually the one who recruited him. He's a friend of hers from work," explained Remus vaguely. Will looked between them suspiciously again as Claire blushed slightly. Remus wanted to sigh – she was even worse at lying than Rowan. She hadn't even been the one to tell the lie!

"I'm a werewolf."

Remus turned to see Danny looking up at Will almost defiantly. There was no aggression in his face. He seemed to be daring himself to stand strong. Claire's eyes widened with surprise at his sudden change in demeanor.

"I'm one of Master Rowan and Miss Claire's patients. I found out about Master Rowan's involvement before her disappearance, and I finally worked up the courage to join this past month. Miss Claire and Mr. Lupin have been kind enough to help me adjust to the organization before formally introducing myself to everyone at the next meeting," he said. He shot Remus a small smile, and Remus returned it brightly. Danny was truly a sight to behold. He couldn't wait for Rowan to see – she'd be so proud.

But Will still didn't look convinced. He looked at Danny with that hard blue Surrey stare and then at Claire, who seemed to squirm a bit but held his gaze firmly. Will then looked back at Danny again and then slowly nodded.

"I see," he said. To Remus' surprise, a smile then spread across his face. "It's fantastic to have you on board, Danny. I can't wait to work with you," he said. Danny seemed to release a breath of relief and beamed, and the Auror turned back to Remus.

"Well, I'll see you later then, Remus," he said. He gave a sort of cursory nod to Claire, a strange flicker in his gaze for the slightest moment. Remus hid his frown. What was eating him? Remus was sure he'd noticed a certain coolness in the Auror's disposition towards Claire as of late, but why? He couldn't be sore about her hexing him still, right? No, it'd begun before that. When had it started?

But Will retreated just as quickly as he'd come, and with a few footsteps down the hall and the clicking of the locks, he was gone, leaving Claire, Remus, and Danny alone once more. Remus smiled and turned to the younger members.

"Well, then, shall we?"


III.

Mina shivered.

They were only a few days into October, but there was a distinct chill in the night air. Mina reasoned that they were a bit north, so autumn would be upon the area sooner than in London, but she still wasn't quite ready for summer's withdrawal. The shifting of seasons signified how they had continued to come up short – Rowan still hadn't been found. She pushed the thought away and pulled her robes a little closer around him as she, Sirius, and Remus walked swiftly through the trees.

Something in Mina's gut flitted unpleasantly. It'd been a night like this when the Boneses had died so many years ago. She'd been waiting with Remus, Peter, and Lily out in the dark quiet forest at the safe house when Rowan had burst through the trees, a flurry of shouts and curses following her. The rest had been a blur, a series of green explosions, and then the horrifying crunches of bodies hitting the ground. There had only been one scream, and thank Merlin there had even been that – Rowan had been the only one to survive.

But this forest was quiet. They were safe, hidden in the comfort of darkness. Feet crunching in the quiet forest, Mina saw Remus' eyes focus on something in the distance, though the darkness remained. Setting his eyes upon his unseen target, he picked up the pace. Mina shot him a slight frown but followed.

"Are we almost there?" she asked. Remus nodded.

"Just up ahead," he said quietly.

Within a few seconds, he stopped, pulling out a piece of paper from his pockets. He quickly scribbled a small message onto it before handing it to his two friends, who read it quickly. Mina immediately set it aflame, and Sirius let out a deep breath as his and Mina's eyes finally focused on the cottage – the Lupin household. The children were in there. Carole was in there.

"All right, let's head in," said Remus. The couple nodded and stepped forward with him. He knocked four times in a distinct rhythm, and from inside, the clicking of locks could be heard.


"Remus!"

Remus grunted as a small form hurtled into his stomach. Just as he caught Chaplin, another two pairs of feet could be heard galloping down the hallway.

"Remus!" shouted Sully, his blonde curls bouncing. Remus smiled tiredly as he set Chaplin down and scooped the two little ones into his arms. Sophie let out a delighted squeal as he swept them up. Tiny hands flailing, they both flung their arms around Remus. Remus let out a grunt as they squeezed his neck, earning another bout of giggles.

"Where have you been? It's been ages!" cried Chaplin, bouncing around him excitedly and pulling on Mina's robes. She smiled and wrapped an arm around his shoulders in greeting. Sirius shifted awkwardly as the boy gave him an appraising look.

"Sorry, mate, been busy," said Mina. Chaplin grinned.

"All right, that's enough. Leave them alone," came a voice. Remus looked up as he set the two toddlers down to see the silver-haired, dignified Carole Delacroix smiling from her wheelchair at the entrance, Alfred behind her. Remus smiled as Sully and Sophie pattered over to her side. Mina, too, rushed forward to embrace her.

"Carole, how are you?" she asked, bending down to kiss her on the cheek. Her eyes burned quietly with concern. The older witch smiled and held Mina's hands tightly with affection. Remus realized just close Mina and Rowan's mother had become over the years. Indeed, wouldn't the Auror consider Carole a second mother at this point?

"I'm quite well, thank you," she said. She then smiled warmly at Sirius and Remus. "It's so good to see you two. Come in and have some tea. I have many questions to ask you."


"Archie, what have I said?"

Remus couldn't help but grin as the little toy broom zoomed around the living room. There was a series of cackles from the boy above and the boy below as Archie did one more circle around the adults and then set down on the ground in front of Alfred gracefully. He did nothing to feign guilt as he grinned up at his foster father. He was so lively that Remus nearly overlooked the appendage that was missing at the end of his left arm.

"Did you see how fast I was going?" he asked. Alfred glared.

"Do I need to remind you yet again that this is not our home? You need to respect the fact that Mr. Lupin has allowed us to stay here. You are being extremely disrespectful!" he scolded angrily. At the mentioning of Lyall, Archie's face fell slightly with guilt, eyes flickering over to the older man, who hardly seemed to have noticed the commotion and was speaking pleasantly to Mina and Sirius.

"Sorry, Mr. Lyall," he said. The old wizard smiled.

"It's okay, Archie. I understand it's hard being cooped up in here," he said graciously. The boy nodded eagerly and then looked up to Remus.

"Did you come to tell us it's safe to go home now?" he asked. Remus smiled sadly.

"Sorry, mate, not yet, but it'll be soon. I promise," he said. Archie looked slightly crestfallen, but then Chaplin rushed forward and whispered something to him. They both grinned and then took off running upstairs. Alfred sighed tiredly but then sat down next to Isaac on the couch. Isaac smiled and rubbed his hand quietly but consolingly.

"It's remarkable how well he's adjusted to his handicap," remarked Remus. Carole nodded.

"Yes, he was a little downhearted at first, but it doesn't seem to have affected his flying skills, does it?" she said amusedly. Sirius shook his head, an awed look on his face.

"I nearly missed it. You can't even tell with the way he flies," he said. He then grinned. "He's still trying to play Quidditch when he gets to school, isn't he?"

"He is. It will be the death of me," mourned Alfred melodramatically. Sirius laughed.

"Where is Lettie?" asked Mina curiously. Sully's blonde head bounced as he squirmed happily in her lap. Sophie was staring up at Sirius, who didn't seem to know how to handle her dark-eyed gaze, but held her all the same. Carole, Isaac, Alfred, and Lyall shared a sad look.

"She is still not well," said Isaac. Mina frowned.

"I thought Archie's injuries were the most severe," she said. Carole nodded.

"Yes, but Lettie's had a very hard time adjusting to the… um… physical changes," she said. Mina's frown deepened. "I actually wanted to ask if you would speak to her."

"Physical changes?" echoed Sirius, eyebrows furrowing. He flinched slightly as Sophie's hand came up to smack him lightly on the face.

"The Floo network was disrupted while she was escaping," explained Carole quietly. "Something about the fire and the curse combination erupted violently. Her face and neck were badly burned. She's… It's been hard."

Remus shuddered. She was such a pretty little girl. Everything about her situation reminded him too much of Rowan. The first time he'd seen those screaming burns on the girl's neck and face had been horrifying to say the least. Luckily she'd lost consciousness upon arriving at the Lupin household, but when she'd woken, she'd been inconsolable, a screaming bundle of anger. The right side of her neck and a good portion of her cheek had been marred by bloody red burns that would eventually heal to scars. They'd been fortunate enough to reach Claire in time, who brought every bottle of dittany blends the apothecary had, and she informed them that the scarring on the girl's face wouldn't be as severe as Rowan's, but it still hadn't been easy. Lettie hadn't left his old room since arriving.

Remus looked to Mina, whose hand seemed to be unconsciously rubbing at her thigh. She then seemed to draw herself up and stand, setting Sully down on her seat. Sirius made a move to stand with her, but she put a gentle hand to his shoulder.

"No," she said simply. She then gave him a small twitching smile, and he seemed to relax back down into his seat, though his eyes remained wary. She squeezed his shoulder once more, and without another word, she made her towards the stairs.


"And then Archie "One-Arm" Gowanus throws the Quaffle to his brother Chaplin! What an amazing team this pair makes!"

"Right you are! Chaplin dives past the French defender and then he- oh, no! An underarm pass back to Archie! That defender was surely fooled!"

"And then Archie feints left! Then right! Then, oh, Merlin! Yes, he scores! Another 10 points for England!"

The two boys ran around in circles laughing and flailing their arms before collapsing on the ground in a bout of giggles. Lettie sighed and shot them a silent glare, but neither seemed to notice. She then huffed and rolled over in bed, pulling the covers over her head with her book.

This book had quickly become her favorite since arriving here, but it seemed she couldn't even distract herself with this anymore. Not even the chirping image of the moth orchid could console her these days. Her fingers trailed over the long elegant petals of the flower, which then shook angrily, as if in response. Her lips tightened as she watched the little bird-headed plant jerk and thrash. Her neck tingled, and her hand flew to the burns there.

The bandages remained. Alfred had scolded at her to stop picking at the burns – it would simply exacerbate the scarring – but they itched and stung and burned. And she was already so horrible to look at now – what would it matter if they were a little worse?

Lettie jumped as she heard a knock at the door. She turned hesitantly and poked her head out from beneath the covers in time to see the door creak open. A long leg stepped into the room. Mina Surrey stood in the doorway, her eyes trailing over the pale blue room curiously before setting upon Lettie. Her gaze flickered momentarily to the bandages on her cheek, but she smiled. Lettie's cheeks burned with shame.

Mina then looked down, a small smile twitching at her lips as she saw Archie and Chaplin on the floor.

"Your mum's looking for you," she said to the boys. Archie and Chaplin both nodded and leapt to their feet, and without another word, they went sprinting down the stairs. Mina quietly closed the door behind them and pulled a seat up to Lettie's bedside. The little girl couldn't help but look away. Lettie hadn't seen Mina since the fire, and with her icy blue stare so intent on her face, Lettie could just about feel the burns on her cheek expand.

"Hi, Lettie, how are you?" the Auror asked softly. She gave a gentle smile, though Lettie didn't see it, her eyes downcast. She shrugged weakly.

"I'm fine," she said simply. Something angry flickered in her chest. Mina was the last person she wanted to see. The beautiful woman's presence was like a taunt - she would never look like her when she grew up, no matter how hard she tried.

"You don't look fine," she said. Lettie's eyes squeezed shut. Was she going to mock her too?

"Why won't you come downstairs? Everyone is worried about you."

Lettie frowned deeply. She looked up to see Mina's face level with hers, a look of deep concern in her eyes. Lettie felt her cheeks burn again.

"What?" she asked dumbly. Mina's lips twitched upward slightly.

"Your mum and everyone - they're all worried about you. You're not still so injured that you can't come downstairs, can you?" she asked. That flicker in Lettie's chest relit.

"I'm not… No, I'm not injured," she said bitterly.

"So what's the matter?" urged Mina, a frown forming. Frustration welled up in Lettie's gut. Her fingers gripped the covers in an effort to keep it down.

"Can you really not see?" she bit out. She finally met Mina's gaze, which only seemed to fuel her fire.

What would she know?

Mina Surrey was beautiful and strong. Lettie had known her for as long as she'd known Rowan, and Mina had never appeared to be anything but graceful. Rowan had always seemed invincible, but Mina held an ease in her carriage, a sense of poise to all the things she did. What could this woman know about her pain, her disfigurement? She had probably never known anything but admiring looks and stares. She could never understand what it would be like to receive the pitying or horrified looks of passerby. She would never have to endure whispers or questions. She would-

Lettie's eyes widened with horror.

"Wh-what are you-" she blurted, hands shooting out only to recoil with confusion. Her mouth fell open.

Mina had stood and reached for the buttons of her trousers without pretext. Lettie's panic must be apparent, surely! She made a strange whimpering whine, looking between the woman's hands and her face, but Mina continued to calmly unfasten her trousers, and with a quiet sweep down her legs, she pushed the garment down, revealing her long legs to the light. Lettie's mouth gaped.

Just as one would expect from the beautiful Auror, one of her thighs was shapely and pale – long and muscular and lovely. Her hips swelled gracefully with a curve that Lettie could only hope to develop one day, and the smooth line of her leg followed all the way down, tapering to a delicate ankle.

But the other leg – how could it belong to her? Pink, white, milky and thick – all across her right thigh and up her pelvis were crisscrossed scars, cutting across in screaming lines. They were wide and pearly, with the scar tissue raised and knotted. They cut from one side of her thigh all the way to the other on an axis, 180 degrees. The grotesque nature of her scars only screamed out more in contrast to the smoothness of her other leg. They moaned of pain, of suffering. There was more scar tissue than skin. How had they even managed to save her leg?

"I received these from Death Eaters as well."

Lettie's eyes shot up to Mina's face, which was tight, strained. Lettie's mouth trembled as she realized that it was with painful memories that the woman's brow furrowed.

"There's a terrible curse that cuts into you like a dozen blades, straight to the bone," she continued quietly. "I was ambushed by Death Eaters and came out like this. Even after months of healing and bed rest, they still look like this," she said, gesturing to her leg. Lettie stared openly. "Like yours, these scars will never heal, nor will they improve much. The scar tissue is thick, and I spend several hours a week simply stretching it to make sure that the skin doesn't pull too tight. You were fortunate that Claire made it to you in time. I was not so lucky. The Order didn't find me until the cuts had set."

Lettie couldn't tear her eyes away from the scars on Mina's thigh. She never would have guessed that the composed Auror would bear such terrible injuries. They were far worse than anything Lettie had ever seen or even imagined. Even her own scars would pale in comparison.

"Rowan was burned too."

Lettie looked up with surprise. Burned…?

"Oh!" Her eyes widened. Milky white scar tissue, guarded movements - she remembered. "Rowan's shoulder?" she asked. Mina nodded.

"From the first war - she was also hit with a curse and burned badly. Hers were much worse than yours. Yours will heal much better." Lettie's lips trembled.

She'd seen Rowan's scarred shoulder more times than she could count, but she never knew how Rowan had acquired the scars. She was sure she'd asked once, long ago, but she had probably been brushed off. Why had it never occurred to her to ask again?

"What happened?" she asked. Mna gave a small smile.

"You should ask Rowan when she gets back. I'm sure she can tell it much better than I," said Mina. Lettie nodded thoughtfully. Her stomach clenched with shame again. She hadn't even thought of Rowan over the past few weeks since they'd come here.

"Why hasn't she come to see me?" she asked tinily. Her lips trembled. It'd been so long since she'd seen her foster sister. It grew lonely in the house full of boys, and even if Gillian came and went, she and Carole weren't Rowan. She wanted someone to sit in bed and read with her, to know what it was like to fear the outside. Mina reached forward and gripped her hand comfortingly. Lettie examined the older woman's long fingers. Her hand was so much larger.

"Rowan is… She can't come see you for now, but she wants to more than you know," she said. Lettie's eyes burned momentarily, but she blinked the tears away. She nodded and sniffed.

"Something happened to her, didn't it?" she asked quietly. Mina's hand tightened on hers, and though her expression didn't change, the subtle movement was enough.

"Yes," she breathed. Lettie's lips trembled.

"Is she okay?" she asked. Mina's hand squeezed hers again.

"Yes," she said, more firmly this time. Lettie nodded. She believed her. Mina then reached forward and stroked the girl's hair gently, pushing her long brown tresses from her face. Lettie wanted to cower.

"Don't," she interrupted, shaking her head abruptly. Mina frowned deeply. Lettie bowed her head, shaking her hair over her face again.

"I… I don't want you to see," she admitted shamefully. Mina's hand squeezed again. "They're… I'm... it's so ugly."

Mina's hand stilled for a moment, and Lettie's eyes burned. Her hand then pulled away, as if to punctuate the thrumming shame in her chest. She bowed her head even farther, turning away slightly. For a long moment, all Lettie could hear was the static and shame of her own heart. She just wished Mina would leave.

"Do you think I'm ugly?" Lettie's eyes shot up. Her face burned as she realized her scars were exposed, but the hard look in the Auror's eyes struck away any thought of her face.

"N-no! No, of course not! I-" she blurted.

"Do you think Rowan is ugly?"

"Then why would you think you are ugly?" asked Mina calmly. Lettie's face burned. The scar tissue along her cheek felt heavier as Mina's eyes trailed over her face. The hardened expression had softened, but there was something about the clear blue gaze of the Surrey siblings that made her tremble. Her lips twisted, fingers curling into the covers. She bowed her head again as she felt the tears begin to leak from her eyes again.

Wiping them away quickly, she jolted as she felt a gentle hand push her hair from her face once more. Her shoulders froze, breath stilling, as those long fingers delicately swept her long hair away from her face and over the other shoulder, fully exposing the screaming red and pink scars along her face and neck. The bed then shifted, and Lettie looked up with shock to see the older woman seated behind her, eyes focused on her long tresses, which she was now weaving slowly.

"Anyone with any true substance will not care about your scars, except to help you heal them and admire you for them," she said as she worked into the strands steadily. "Each scar holds a story, and yours is certainly worth telling – you saved your family, Lettie."

Mina's voice was soft but burning. Lettie felt her strong hands work their way down the length of her hair, and she realized dumbly that her own grip on the duvet had loosened. Her eyes began to burn as if in response to the woman's soaring flame. Finally, the plait was finished, and Mina tied it off with her own elastic before reaching a long arm around the girl's tiny shoulders and holding her. Long-fingered and strong, her grip was firm, warm. Lettie could not remember feeling so small in many years.

"A man would show his scars with pride. Why can't you do the same?" asked Mina softly. Lettie was overcome with the warmth around her, wrapped in the Auror's strength. She looked down at Mina's legs, now covered again.

"Do you?" she asked tinily. Mina smiled.

"You bet your pretty head I do," she said. Lettie let out a choking giggle. Mina's smile deepened. "We're both veterans of this war now. Don't be ashamed of those scars. You're a hero, and everyone should know it." Lettie blushed at the grandiose title, but she smiled and nodded.

"I'll try," she whispered. Mina squeezed her again.

"Come downstairs? Everyone is waiting for you," said Mina. Lettie's shoulders stiffened slightly at the thought but willed the tension in her gut to loosen.

"Can I… can I stay up here just a bit longer?" she asked. Mina nodded.

"Do you want me to come back up and get you in a bit?" she asked. Lettie shook her head.

"No, do you… would you stay… with me?" she requested hesitantly. She hazarded a glance up at the the Auror's face to see that Mina was smiling gently down at her. She noted with pleasure that her hair was just a shade lighter than her own.

"Of course," said Mina. She loosened her hold on her and then glanced to the book to Lettie's side. "What were you reading before?" Lettie's smile deepened giddily.

"The Magical and Maniacal Plants of Southeast Asia," she squeaked. Mina grinned.

"You're an even bigger nerd than Rowan," she teased. Lettie laughed. She nearly laughed harder at the strange unfamiliarity of the sensation. But it felt right. She nestled into the crook of Mina's arm once again as the Auror set the book open in her lap, flipping to the chapter about the gargantuan spiders.


"Sirius Black doing the dishes? I thought I'd never live to see the day!"

Sirius looked up from his soapy hands to see the silver-haired matriarch floating towards him in her elegant wheelchair, a small smirk pulling at her lips. He grinned sheepishly.

"Mina's got me whipped," he admitted. Carole laughed softly and looked around at the younger man's handiwork, an approving expression on her face.

"Yes, that girl has quite the commanding air to her, doesn't she?" she said amusedly. "Pity she doesn't get to use it much anymore." Sirius gave a sad sort of smile.

"She uses it enough on me and Remus I think," he replied. Carole's smile faltered a bit.

"How is he?" she asked. Sirius frowned.

"Remus?" he asked. She nodded.

"He comes by often obviously, but he doesn't tell us much - doesn't want us to worry. Poor Lyall is constantly worrying over hiim," she said. Sirius nodded knowingly.

"Sounds like him," he said. He rinsed off a plate and floated it towards an enchanted dishcloth before starting on the next. "He's... he's to be expected, really. I don't reckon he'll be in great shape until we find Winnie." He shot Carole a soft look. "More importantly, how are you? This must be harder on you than anyone else," he said. He could've sworn he saw Carole's shoulders slump for the briefest of moments.

"We're holding up. I can't say it's been easy, but if anyone can find her, I know it's you lot," she said with a small smile. Sirius' chest tightened.

He wanted to believe that. He'd been telling himself that for months now. He'd been repeating it aloud to Remus and Mina, as if saying it could make it more true. But the months continued to trickle by, and they still hadn't located Rowan. Could he truly, honestly say that they would ever-

Swat.

Sirius' jerked forward, shoulders shooting up to his ears with a yelp. He gaped at the older woman, who held her wand in her lap now elegantly with an imperious look on her face.

"Don't you start now!" she scolded. His eyes widened with horror as her lips trembled. "You cannot start doubting yourself now! If you do, I-" She stopped, a hand shooting to her mouth with embarrassment as her voice quivered. Sirius' eyes widened with horror as he saw tears begin to well up in the usually poised woman's eyes. He immediately fell to his knees in front of her, wiping his wet hands on his trousers hastily before taking her delicate hands between his own.

"I'm sorry, Carole. Please don't cry," he said beseechingly. She shook her head and hiccoughed slightly before looking at him with a teary smile. "I'm sorry. You're right. You're right! We're going to find her. Just please..." he trailed. His throat tightened. Behind the heavy lines of Carole's old face were the luminous amber eyes of her daughter. He could see Rowan staring straight back at him through her mother's gaze. He squeezed her hands tightly.

"Bring her home to me," she whispered. Her frail fingers gripped his, and he marveled at how similar they were to Rowan's. A wave of despair hit him again. It was like looking into the frail face of his dear friend, aged and wrinkled ahead of him. "Bring my dear girl home to me. I... I don't know what to do," she choked. A few tears finally fell and she reached up to hastily wipe them away. The familiarity of the gesture pulled at his heart.

"We're going to find her, Carole," he said fervently. "I promise you. We're going to find her." She nodded and wiped at her eyes once more before looking at him with a teary smile. It was remarkable just how much Rowan looked like her mother. Sirius wondered vaguely if Rowan would age the same as well.

"Thank you. I know you will," she said. She then let out a small sigh and seemed to sit up a bit straighter. "I'm sorry, dear. I suppose the stress has gotten to me more than I'd thought. How embarrassing," she said. Sirius grinned. There was the poised woman he'd always known.

"One can hardly blame you," he said. Carole's eyes crinkled a bit fondly.

"I know I've said it before, but it truly is wonderful to have you back. You're beginning to really look like your old self again," she said softly. Sirius gave a sort of sheepish grin.

"I'm not so sure about that, but if you think so, then I must be doing something right," he said bashfully. Carole smiled amusedly.

"Mina is keeping you humble I see," she said. Sirius snorted.

"How could I not be with her around?" he said. She gave a small laugh. It sounded like Rowan's.

"Yes, quite the emasculating one, isn't she?" she remarked. Sirius grinned. His woman was certainly the man-eater. "Will you two continue on as you'd originally planned?" continued Carole.

"As in marry?" asked Sirius. She nodded. He gave a sort of shy smile, a strange warmth spreading across his cheeks, which only served to embarrass him further. Something about Carole made him feel like a young boy again. "Yes, that's the plan, though we at least want to wait until Rowan returns," he said. Carole smiled warmly, though there was a tinge of sadness there.

"Yes, she would never forgive herself if she missed something like that," she said. "What about children?" Sirius' smile faltered. Something squeezed tight in his chest.

"Ah, well..." he started. Carole's smile fell a bit as well at the apprehension in his face. "We're not... erm, entirely sure if she... well, if Mina can have children anymore," he said slowly. The air in his entire body seemed to seep out of him with each word. Carole's face darkened.

"Her injury," she said lowly. Sirius nodded, looking down at his hands, which still held hers. They were a mother's hands.

"The curse hit her around the pelvis, so we're not entirely sure if she'll be able to carry a child," he said quietly. "We've talked it through and have decided that we'll revisit the idea when the time comes, but for now, we're fine with not knowing."He sort of grinned awkwardly. "But I mean, who can say I'd be a suitable dad anyway? I never really got on with my own," he joked. Carole squeezed his hands, though he felt her grip more sharply on his heart.

"I think you will be a wonderful father, Sirius," she said ardently. Sirius' lips tightened, but before he could say anything, the door creaked open. They both looked up to see Mina standing in the doorway with a soft smile. She held the small hand of a pretty little girl, whose eyes couldn't seem to settle on either of them for nerves. Sirius noted that at the end of her long plait was a shiny red ribbon. He almost missed the red scars along her cheek and neck. Looking back up at Mina, he was struck with a deep sense of longing and the agonizing thought that he wanted to give her a child more than anything.

"Lettie," said Carole, releasing Sirius' hands quickly and turning towards the little girl. Lettie seemed to hesitate for a moment, glancing up at Mina and then back to Carole, before rushing forward to embrace her foster mother. Carole pulled the girl into her lap with a strength Sirius hadn't expected and squeezed her tightly. Lettie released a soft squeak before hugging her back. Sirius smiled and then stood to meet Mina as she walked in quietly to join him. She moved to wrap her arm around his waist and was surprised by the force of his embrace as he engulfed her in his arms.

"Sirius!" she half-whispered, but he shook his head against her neck and held her tightly. Her form melded against his effortlessly, but the separation between them still seemed painful. He wanted to know every ounce of her, to feel the cores of their very beings touch. It was painful how insufficient it was, how little he could express how much he loved her. But brilliant girl - she seemed to understand all of this without a word as she wrapped her arms around his waist and held him back.

"I love you," he mouthed against her skin. Her grip on his tightened momentarily before he let her go. As she pulled away - really only inches - he saw the clear blue gaze of her large eyes peering up at him, her lips tight. No longer the girl of his childhood, but the woman he wanted to marry - he wanted to father a child so badly with her he could hardly stand it.

But then she looked away, and he frowned sharply before realizing that she was looking over at Carole and Lettie. They were no longer holding each other, but talking quietly. The little girl still seemed unsure of herself, but a small smile graced her lips as Carole ran her hands over the girl's face, as if trying to confirm her very existence. Sirius imagined that Lettie had wild black hair and wondered how many times Carole had held Rowan as a child just like this. They both looked up at Mina and Sirius, and the little dark-haired girl was gone once more. Carole looked as if she might cry with gratitude.

But the look Lettie and Mina shared punched Sirius in the gut. The girl's eyes were large and deep and gray. The glossy red ribbon in Lettie's hair glistened in the kitchen light. Her tiny hands fiddled with it nervously, but the smile on her lips said that she would treasure it.


IV.

"Do you really think this a wise choice, Dumbledore?"

The Headmaster nodded vaguely to the Potions Master's question, sparking a bit of frustration in the younger wizard. He glared across the desk of whirring objects at the silver-haired elder, who was glancing over a series of severe documents - ones that they obviously shouldn't have. At the top of one of the documents was the black and white photo of a young man, who stared seriously up at that them for a long moment before turning to the side so that the camera faced his profile. He paused there and then turned forward again, blinking steadily.

"Do you really question the boy's loyalties, Severus?" asked Dumbledore mildly, still not looking up. He looked over another document before placing it back down and looking to the next. On it were another series of photos, these much more ghastly than the neutral portrait. Though in gray scale, Severus could see the red splashed of blood across the young man's chest and arms. It was difficult to recognize the subject between photos past the gore.

"It is not his loyalties that I question, but his skills. Do we really know enough about him to say that he can accomplish this in a timely fashion without giving himself away?" he asked lowly. Dumbledore nodded again vaguely.

"I think you are underestimating your colleagues again. He was of high-security clearance at the Ministry, after all. Does that not imply that he has the subtlety to maneuver through a high pressure situation?" he countered. Snape almost rolled his eyes.

"He's hardly the man he was then. Did you not read Lupin's character assessment?" he asked. Dumbledore nodded.

"I read it just as thoroughly as you did, Severus. But again, I think you are underestimating Mr. Imran's abilities. He's certainly changed significantly in just the past couple of months. Do you not think him capable of rising to the occasion?" he asked. Snape sneered openly at this.

"No, I don't," he said plainly. "It would be much simpler if we just sent Lupin back. He at least understands werewolf social politics."

"Yes, but Greyback and his men already know Remus. They would kill him upon sight."

"So we transfigure his face. You are making this much more complicated than it needs to be," Snape countered impatiently.

"That will not change the fact that Remus will want to kill Greyback, and then we will have to find another way around this delicate situation," said Dumbledore. "And he is much too important to our cause. Should Danny fail, his loss would be negligible. Losing Remus would only hurt our cause more."

"I still think this is a waste of our time. If Delacroix is stupid enough to starve herself, then let her die and be done with it," said Snape bitterly. Dumbledore shook his head again.

"You still are not grasping the gravity of her role. Losing her is not the same as letting go a more minor member like Emmeline or even Dedalus. Rowan's loss will only present more problems for the Order, problems that we currently cannot afford. No, if we are to forge forward in this war, we need our members at full morale, and that means finding a way to bring her back without compromising your position on both sides," he explained cleanly.

Snape glowered, a flickering heat in his face. He was growing more and more frustrated with Rowan everyday, and Wormtail's sullen moodiness was making him quickly lose his patience. She was more trouble than she was worth, regardless of what Dumbledore said. He'd always held a certain amount of respect for her as an academic colleague, but even that was dwindling from her recent petulant show of "bravery."

"Yes, she is certainly making our jobs much harder," agreed Dumbledore. Snape glared acidly at the Headmaster for intruding upon his private thoughts again. But Dumbledore simply sighed and placed his folded hands upon the papers before looking up, a thoughtful look on his face. He paused for a moment before beginning again.

"When is the next full moon?" he asked.

"Next Tuesday," replied Snape. Dumbledore nodded.

"Then Danny Imran will be with the Gladaman by next Saturday," he said softly, looking down at the documents on his desk once more. His eyes trailed over the young man's face with a look of pity. "And if we are lucky, he will find his way to Greyback's inner circle by Christmas."