Aimee
Her head was swimming with unsaid thoughts; the actions of the previous night came flooding back to her as she opened her eyes, wincing as she grew accustomed to the light coming through the window.
A timid knock on the door told her almost immediately why she had woken up so suddenly. Struggling to sit up, she opened her mouth, slightly surprised at the dryness.
"Come in." Her voice was thick and scratchy.
Harry opened the door slowly, his raven hair as messy as it had ever been. "Mum?"
"Hi Harry." Lily said, smiling at the sight of her oldest son.
Smiling? How can you be smiling? He's gone.
"Good afternoon, Mum." Harry smiled back – however, it looked forced. "Dad wanted me to make sure you were awake."
"What time is it?" Lily murmured, absentmindedly running her fingers through her hair.
"Almost two." Harry answered. "Dad made sure everyone was quiet so you could get some sleep."
Lily smiled at the sixteen year old. "Thank you, son."
"You're welcome." Harry slipped out without another word, closing the door behind him.
Lily sighed and closed her eyes, willing herself to go back to sleep. She pulled the covers around her body once more, attempting to block out the thoughts of Remus that were swimming through her head.
Don't you dare go back to sleep.
I'm so tired though…
Sleeping more won't help, love.
What else am I supposed to do?
Face the day.
He's gone…
Yes, love. He's gone.
Why?
You thought it was for the best.
It is… but why?
I don't know, love. Why don't you tell me?
Because… the twins… you… the kids… Narcissa, Draco… Micah…
Is that the reason, love?
Yes.
Are you sure?
Yes.
He misses you terribly.
He does?
I've been listening to him for quite a while now.
What's he been saying?
Listen for yourself, love.
I can't.
Why not?
It hurts too much.
You're going to have to face the day sometime, love. Please, get out of bed? For me?
But I'm so tired…
You've been sleeping for a good twelve hours.
Why am I so tired?
You spent an hour crying last night, love.
I did?
Yes, you did.
I'm sorry.
Perfectly understandable.
I love you, Sev.
I know you do, love. I love you too… Now, please? Bed, up? I'll even make you lunch?
I'm not hungry.
If this is how it's going to be from now on, love, I shouldn't have let you do that.
Why did you?
You thought it was for the best and I figured there was no way I was going to stop you.
Does he miss me?
Terribly.
What's he saying?
He's torturing himself… he thinks you hate him.
But I don't!
Tell him, love.
I can't.
Lily, baby… You're killing him.
He's strong, he'll survive.
Physically, perhaps. Mentally, I'm afraid of what's going to happen to him.
I miss him already, Sev.
I know you do, baby.
Why did I do that?
I don't know, love.
Where are you?
The sitting room. Do you want something to eat?
Not right now… I'll be right there.
Not bothering to dress herself properly, Lily tossed the blankets off of her body and grabbed a robe, tightening the belt around her waist. She made her way down the hall and stairs, padding through the house until she reached the sitting room where Severus was lounging, sipping a glass of clear liquid and reading the Daily Prophet.
"Anything interesting?" Lily asked, laying down next to Severus, putting her head in his lap.
"England won the Quidditch match against Ireland." Severus commented, reaching down and smoothing a lock of hair away from Lily's face. "230 to 170."
"Think Harry will play for England?" Lily asked, her eyes focused on a picture of the family in front of her.
"If he wants to." Severus answered, setting his hand on her shoulder. "He certainly has the talent."
"Yes, I suppose he does." Lily said quietly.
Silence passed between the two, each concentrating on their own thoughts. Almost fifteen minutes later, however, the silence was broken when a scream rang throughout the house.
Lily bolted upright, her eyes wide. "Who on Earth…?"
"That was Ethan." Severus answered, standing up immediately. "I'll go see what was going on."
Severus walked briskly through the house in the direction of the scream until he reached the library. The scene in front of him made him stop cold, his body frozen.
Ethan was standing in the middle of the room, his wand drawn. Severus was quick to notice he was nursing a bloody nose, which was flowing freely down his face.
Opposite him was Harry, standing straight and proud. His wand was also drawn, but not pointed at the other boy. He could see Severus; Ethan, however, could not.
Lily showed up behind him less than fifteen seconds later, panting slightly. She too froze at the scene that lay in front of them; Ethan was only 14 and didn't know enough curses to hurt a fly. Harry, however, was sixteen and able to harm the boy if necessary.
"You don't want to do that, Ethan." Harry growled, his eyes still on Severus and Lily standing in the doorway.
"Why not?" Ethan laughed bitterly. "You'll get what you deserve."
"Why exactly do I deserve to be blown to smithereens again?" Harry asked, slightly amused. Severus had now drawn his wand as well, pointing it at Ethan. Lily had hers out and ready, pointing it at Harry, but every few seconds her eyes would dart in the direction of Ethan, who was now fuming.
"Short term memory now, Harry?" Ethan laughed, "Must be all those Potter genes floating through your body."
"Must be." Harry shot back, shaking his head in the direction of his parents.
Ethan laughed once more, "So you do admit it? You're a f-cking faggot."
"Am I?" Harry smirked, "Why exactly is that, brother dearest?"
"Everyone knows your father was a faggot. Look what he did to Mum – you don't deserve my Dad, you never did. I'd be doing them a favor, getting rid of you."
"Do you honestly think," Harry shook his head, "That you, all three years of magical training, can kill me?"
"Are you willing to take the chance?" Ethan's eyes were dancing now.
"Are you willing to risk the consequences?"
"No one will know it was me." Ethan smirked, "So I really don't see any."
"Oh really?" Harry laughed, "Look behind you, idiot."
Ethan dropped his wand and slowly turned around, his face ashen.
"Mum!" he squeaked, "Dad!"
"ETHAN ALEXANDAR SNAPE, put your GOD DAMN WAND DOWN NOW!" Lily yelled, her voice reaching levels even she didn't know she possessed.
Trembling, Ethan set his wand down on the floor in front of him. With a flick of his own wand, Severus was soon holding it.
"What the bloody hell was going on here?" Severus snapped, walking into the room. "Harry, wand."
Harry threw his own wand to his father, trying to hide the smug look on his face.
"He attacked me!" Ethan yelled, pointing to his nose. "He punched me and –"
"Actually," Harry cut in, "He made another snide comment and proceeded to try and punch me. However, I got to him first."
Lily shook his head, "Ethan, why?"
"He – " Ethan was suddenly at a lose for words. Looking down at the floor, he just shook his head.
"He's your brother… You're brothers." Severus sighed, shaking his head, "Why can't you two get along?"
Suddenly, Lily felt a tug at the end of her robe. Looking down, she smiled as Pollux reached up and smiled.
"Hi baby." Lily picked the child up, a fresh wave of guilt and pain washing through her as she looked into the child's eyes. "Where's Cass?"
"Don't know." Pollux grinned, then looked over his mother's shoulder. "Harry!"
The one year old squirmed and was immediately let down. Half walking, half crawling, he made his way over to his oldest brother, who proceeded to pick the child up.
Pollux had always been ahead of Castor – he was the first to walk, to talk, and to learn the names of his brothers and sisters. Castor still only knew his mother, father, Dea, and Harry, and had an incredibly limited vocabulary ("Mama!"). Pollux's eyes were still bright blue, his hair a flaming red, much to Lily's disappointment.
"Castor is with Jubby, ma'am." One of the house elves was directly behind Severus.
"Thank you, Camy." Lily smiled, and then turned back to Ethan. "Do you realize exactly what you could have done?"
"He couldn't have done anything, Mum." Harry said, "Except maybe stun me."
"I wasn't going to, Mum." Ethan squeaked, "I was just –"
"Acting like a total git and pretending to try and kill your brother?" Severus cut in.
"He's not my brother." Ethan glared at Harry, who was still happily playing with Pollux.
"He most certainly is." Lily said sharply, "And I don't ever want to hear those words out of your mouth again, you hear?"
"He's my half-brother, then." Ethan snapped, "The only thing we share is you."
"Ethan!" Severus bellowed, "Stop that, NOW."
"Why?" Ethan asked, his black eyes narrowing. "It's not like I'm lying."
"You're right," said Severus carefully, "You're not. But soon enough, if you don't stop, you'll be lying."
"On the floor, that is." Lily warned. She shot Severus a glance.
"God," Ethan spat, "What's gotten in to you two today? All of the sudden, you're taking the half-blood's side?"
"If he's half-blood, you most certainly are." Lily said, her green eyes flashing.
Lily… Shh. He's your son.
He's certainly not acting like it.
Do you want me to handle it?
No.
If you don't be careful, you're going to hurt him.
I won't.
Lily… you're mad, you're angry, you're hurt, and not just because of Ethan. Let me handle this.
"No!" Lily exclaimed out loud, looking over at Severus. "No."
Ethan shot his parents a startled look, to which Harry just shrugged. Pollux squirmed to be put down, and soon him and Camy were wandering throughout the mansion once more.
"Listen," Harry started, "I really don't care. This isn't the first time this has happened, and it most certainly won't be the last. It's fine, no damage done."
"Harry, you may go." Severus said, nodding towards his son. Harry nodded back, stepping out of the room and heading towards the South Wing. He slipped inside his bedroom quickly, locking the door behind him.
Noting his father still had his wand, he took out a piece of parchment and a quill, sucking on the end of it briefly, thinking of what to write.
D,
Anything strange going on with Remus? Mum's been going out of her mind, and she's only been awake for a half hour. I know she met Remus yesterday – I heard her talk about it to Dad before she left, and I heard her crying when she got back. Do you know the details?
H.
Sighing and letting his owl out of her cage, he tied to note carefully to her leg, setting the owl off.
Laying down in his bed, he closed his eyes and allowed his thoughts to overcome him.
This is going to be one hell of a summer.
He smiled to himself as sleep overcame him, his window open and the soft wind sending warm breezes through his window.
One year left…