The Eighth Year Universe
Love Wins
Between a Mother and a Child
The chapter title is from the song:
Between a Mother and a Child by Chely Wright.
(Daphne's letter is inspired by the same song)
Potter Manor
"Daph, I know you're knee-deep in wedding planning, but we need to talk."
Daphne sighed and looked up, "I'm going cross-eyed trying to work out the head table. So I could do with a break anyway. Is this about Thea?"
"No," Harry said, "I…I wish it was, to be honest."
Lilly snapped her book shut and asked, "It's about the war then. That's the only thing that you would consider as 'worse' than what's going on with Thea."
Neville nodded and took his spot by Harry's side, "We found out the night that Cygnus died, but Harry thought it would be better to keep the news quiet until the funeral was behind us."
Daphne looked at Harry and narrowed her eyes, "What did you find out?"
Harry looked her in the eye and replied, "That not only is your mother alive, but she's working with Lazarus. She seems to be running the magic suppressing camp in Slovakia where they found Natasha."
"Of course she is," Daphne said dryly.
Lilly shook her head in disbelief, "And I thought my mother was bad."
"Your mother is annoying and common. She's not a psychotic bitch," Daphne returned.
"I know you hate her," Harry said carefully, "But she's probably the only person who can give us Lazarus's location, Daphne - "
"No," Daphne said coldly, "Absolutely not. I know where you're going with this, but I'm not reaching out to her, she would not believe me! And I can't believe you have the nerve to ask me to do that, Harry, you know what our last conversation was like!"
Harry sighed, "It was years ago."
"And?" Lilly asked hotly, "You have no right to ask her to do that."
Neville looked at Harry for a moment, "You may not be Head Auror anymore, but you are still putting the cause before your family, Harry."
"Yes, I am!" Harry snapped, "Because this is bigger than your hatred for your mother, Daphne. This is bigger than all of us. I can see what this is spiralling into, even if you three can't!"
Neville crossed his arms over his chest, "I can. It's spiralling into another war."
"One on the scale of the first war with Voldemort," Harry added.
He looked at Daphne, "Our son is getting married, and your father has just died. It's perfectly reasonable to assume you would reach out now. After all, while he was on his deathbed, your father lied to you about your mother's death."
Daphne swallowed, and Lilly stepped forward.
"How would she even do that anyway?" Lilly asked in defence of Daphne, "If this is a magic suppressing camp, then nothing magical gets in there. No Patronuses, no magical creatures, nothing."
"There's a reason that we use owls to take mail into the muggle world," Neville pointed out, "They are just very smart animals; they aren't magical. An owl could carry a letter through the wards without it interfering with the magic suppressant."
"You just need to write a letter," Harry said softly.
Daphne scoffed and looked at him tearfully, "I just need to write a letter to the mother I've loved and hated since I was a kid? To the woman who I thought was the victim, until it turned out that she'd been lying to me for my entire life! To the woman who made me terrified of love, who made me feel like I was an object to men, not a person. But no, I just need to write a letter! Go fuck yourself, Harry!"
Daphne turned on her heel and stormed out of the room.
Neville grimaced and sighed, "That could have gone better."
"Thank you for stating the fucking obvious, Neville," Harry muttered sassily.
Lilly shook her head in disbelief and looked at Harry, "What the hell did you expect? 'You just need to write a letter', I mean, come on!"
With an irritated scoff, she left the room and headed outside after Daphne.
Lilly found Daphne sitting underneath a large elder tree that was virtually the halfway point between Potter Manor and Longbottom House. It was a spot they all liked. They had picnicked there with the kids when they were all little because it was close enough to the lake without being dangerously close. It provided shade in the hot summer months.
She sat down silently and rested her back against the tree, glancing out at the night sky. In the countryside where there was no light pollution from the city, the stars were so clear.
"Do you see that?"
Lilly followed Daphne's line of sight and nodded, "A meteor."
"It's the Perseid's Meteor Shower. It's called that because the meteors radiate from the constellation Perseus," Daphne mused, "It's one of the best to observe because it produces so many meteors. It happens every year, around this time. Did you know that?"
"I didn't," Lilly admitted, "I know stereotypically all us Ravenclaws love Astronomy, but I never really got into it. Not the way you did, anyway."
Daphne didn't say anything. She just watched the meteor and said, "You're supposed to make a wish when you see one."
"Did you?" Lilly asked.
Daphne tore her eyes away from the sky and looked at Lilly, "Yes, I did. I always used to watch the sky with Astoria from that little room in the old bell tower of Greengrass House. I've told you about that, right?"
"You have," Lilly nodded.
Daphne looked back to the sky, "When I was a kid, I always used to make the same wish. It was always 'I wish I could get out of this place'. My house was never a home, not like ours is."
"No, mine wasn't either," Lilly mused.
"I loved my sister. I tolerated my father and my mother…." Daphne shook her head, "She was so absent, it was hard to form an opinion either way. That was how it was for me, growing up. Then everything got turned on its head when the truth came tumbling out, but so many of my issues came from things she or my father did."
"I know," Lilly promised, "And I get it, feeling failed by your mother…having hang-ups because of them. I spent a long time settling for guys who I thought I deserved because that's what my mother had done. It's something that happens to all of us, I think, but….you could make a difference here, Daphne."
Daphne looked over at her, "You're on his side?"
"I think he was being an idiot when he told you just to write a letter," Lilly assured her best friend, "But if you think about what you could change by writing that letter, I think it's worth it. You could change the lives of the Statute Saboteurs, you could free so many more people, you could stop this Lazarus guy from hurting any more kids. And all of that, it would be because you wrote a letter because you reached out. If she doesn't go for it from there, then at least you did all that you could."
"I just don't know how I can get past all of that," Daphne admitted, "It's not just a little bit of history. There's a hell of a lot of history there."
"But she's also your mother," Lilly said softly. "Regardless of anything else, she's the woman who brought you into this world, who cared for you when you were a baby, who nursed you when you were ill."
"Well, she did one of those things," Daphne agreed. She smiled bitterly at Lilly, "House-elves did the other two."
Lilly scoffed.
Daphne looked down and sighed, "But I'll do it."
Lilly's head snapped up, "You will?"
"I will," Daphne promised.
.
Mother,
Dad died last week. We scattered his ashes yesterday from the top of the Surrey Hills. I felt like you ought to know that. He proposed to you on those hills, after all.
On his deathbed, he told me the truth. That he had told you to leave and lied to Astoria and I about you being dead. Astoria doesn't want anything to do with you, and as far as I know, Dad didn't leave anything to you. That's not what this is about. He left everything to Narcissa, apart from the business. He left that to Astoria.
My eldest son, Teddy, is getting married next week and Dad just died, that's the only reason I even thought about writing this letter. Things didn't end well between us. I won't pretend like things are fine.
I know you don't like me. You don't like the things I do, you don't agree with my choices in life, and the saddest part is that I don't really like you either.
You think you know my story, and maybe you did, for a little while. But you don't anymore, you don't know me, you don't know anything about me. Still, we left a lot unsaid when we parted ways, so this is my way of saying it all, the good and the bad.
I know that you never really wanted me, and I'll be honest and say that I think you're selfish. I believe that even more now that I'm a mother myself. When I was just a little girl, you told me that you gave up everything for Astoria and me, all the dreams you had before you were forced to marry Dad. But my children are my dream, and I was never that to you. What you craved was an adventure. What you loved was freedom, never me, and never Astoria.
When I became a mother, I told myself I would never be like you. I wouldn't force my children to agree with everything I said, and Merlin forbid, if Harry and I did split up, I wouldn't tell my children that he was the bad guy. I wouldn't make him pay over and again like you did with Dad. I'm sorry your life let you down, but that isn't my fault, and it isn't Astoria's either.
I know nobody's perfect. I won't write this and pretend that I am because I'm not, and if you read any British newspapers, you will know that. But it's not supposed to be like this between a mother and a child. I suppose I just wonder sometimes if you actually remember that. You treated me like a burden when I was a kid and then like your friend when I was a teenager.
But you're my mother, and I'm your child.
Daphne.
.
Potter Manor
"Fuck."
Thea snorted, and Daphne looked up in alarm, "Harry, language!"
Harry, the king of sass, held up a letter and said in the same tone, "Daphne, fuck!"
Daphne pulled the letter from him, and Thea raised her eyebrows, "Is it from Great Aunt Petunia?"
Harry looked at his youngest daughter and narrowed his eyes, "Did you peer over my shoulder?"
"Nope, but there's only one person who makes you drop the 'F' bomb every time she sends you a letter," Thea said as she took a bite from her apple.
They were sitting around the breakfast table. Thea was the only one of the kids who had actually chosen to rise from her bed before 9am.
Daphne looked up at Harry, "You've been summoned?"
"By the Devil herself," Harry huffed under his breath.
"She only asks you to come to tea once in a blue moon," Daphne pointed out. She handed him the letter back, "You have to go."
"I know," Harry sighed, "I'd be a hypocrite if I didn't after the letter I made you write."
"Yes," Daphne agreed testily, "You would be."
"What letter?" Thea asked nosily.
"That's none of your business," Daphne said tersely.
Thea rolled her eyes, "Am I still on house arrest, or can I go to a Quidditch game?"
"You're on house arrest until Teddy's wedding," Daphne said as she got to her feet and headed for the door, "Don't push your luck!"
Thea made a face and looked at her father, "Can I go with you to Great Aunt Petunia's?"
Harry scoffed, "Is that how desperate you are to get out of the house?"
"Yes!" Thea exclaimed, "And I like Daisy,"
"Yeah," Harry admitted, "I know you do. So long as you don't tell Mum, yes, you can come with me."
Thea brightened up slightly, "Awesome, thanks, Dad!"
"Just back me up if she starts being judgemental, okay?"
"Yep, I will!"
Surrey
Harry was glad that Petunia had moved out of Privet Drive after she and Vernon split up. He would never have been able to brave afternoon tea there, but he could handle it in the cottage that she lived in now.
Still, he always felt nervous when he rapped on the door.
It swung open, and Petunia answered it. She was older; her hair was almost entirely grey now and still in a tight perm. She smiled in that tight way she always had, "Good afternoon, Harry. My, Thea, you've grown."
Thea smiled and nodded, "Yep, kids do that."
Harry bit back a smile and shot Thea an amused look as they followed Petunia into the house.
"Behave."
Thea rolled her eyes but fell silent.
They were led into the lounge, which was already occupied.
"Cho, Dudley," Harry said in mock surprise, "How surprising to see you here!"
Cho smiled slightly, and Dudley grinned and punched Harry in the arm, "Shut up. You know we're always here when Mum summons you."
Harry sat down next to his cousin and muttered, "I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks it's more of a summon than an invitation."
"Hey Daisy," Thea said, waving to the girl who was two years below her at Hogwarts.
Daisy looked just like her mother. Harry had jokingly added the words 'luckily for her' to the end of that sentence, but that wasn't fair. Dudley had really shaped up since he and Harry were kids. He had finished his degree at university while playing on two sports teams. He was in good shape now and, ironically enough, a P.E teacher.
Cho was as pretty as she always had been and totally out of Dudley's league. But then again, Harry was under no illusions that he and Daphne were in the same league.
"Daisy," Petunia said with another of those smiles, "Why don't you show Thea the lovely flowers you planted in the garden the other day?"
Daisy nodded, "Sure, Grandma. Come on, Thea. I made lemonade too."
Thea gave her father a look that Harry knew meant 'good luck', then she disappeared outside with Daisy.
When the children vacated the room, Petunia poured out four cups of tea and sat down in her favourite armchair. Not for the first time, Harry thought that she and Narcissa would make swell friends.
"Dudley tells me that you quit your job."
Dudley made a face, "I didn't tell you that, so much as you wheedled it out of me, Mum."
Harry shook his head, "It's fine, Dudley. It wasn't a secret, Aunt Petunia. I did quit my job."
"In the middle of a war?" Petunia asked tersely, "I see Cho's papers, you know? And I find that highly irresponsible of you!"
Dudley rolled his eyes and gave Cho an exasperated look.
"Yes, so did the rest of the wizarding world," Harry said matter of factly, "Which is why I'm temporarily working as Assistant Head of the DMLE."
Petunia raised an eyebrow, "Hm. Cho told me that you nearly died. Did you not think a letter or even a text message might be appreciated to let me know that you are, in fact, alive?"
"Honestly? No," Harry said sassily, "On account of you not caring that I was alive for 11 years and all."
Petunia gave him a long-suffering look, "You seem fine."
"I am fine," Harry said. He leant back in his chair, "But I get the impression that's not why you asked me here?"
"No," Petunia said evenly, "I want you to be frank with me. This war, these Statute Saboteurs….are they as bad as him?"
Harry thought about that for a moment, then he shook his head, "No, the Statute Saboteurs are not bad people. They are being manipulated by someone else. We are currently trying to find out who he is and where he's operating from. We've got plenty of feelers out, and we're investigating every lead that comes our way."
Petunia sipped her tea and hummed, "I feel it in the air, Harry."
Harry knew exactly what she meant.
"It feels like it did the last time," Petunia finished.
With a nod, Harry said, "I know. But I'm doing everything I can to make sure it doesn't get that bad again."
Dudley patted him on the back, "We know that, bud."
Cho smiled slightly, "If anyone can be trusted to get us through this war, it's you, Harry."
Harry smiled back, but he didn't feel quite as confident in his own abilities as they both did.
"Thanks. I trust I'll see you all at Teddy's wedding?"
"Mum can't make it," Dudley said, "She's got something on. But course we'll be there."
Harry gave Dudley a genuine smile and got to his feet, "I'd better grab Thea and get going. Things are hectic at home, with the wedding and all."
Dudley nodded and accompanied Harry out into the garden. Once they were safely out of earshot, Harry muttered, "Aunt Petunia washing her hair tomorrow, is she?"
Dudley snorted, "She can barely cope with the fact my best mate is gay and that her granddaughter is a witch. You think she can sit through an LGBT wizarding wedding? Fucking hell Harry, she'd explode."
Harry grinned at his cousin, "You know what, I kinda missed you, Big D."
Dudley snorted in amusement, "See you tomorrow and try keeping Mum in the loop more often. She'll summon you less."
Harry chortled and called, "Thea, time to go!"
Then he looked over at Dudley, "Thanks for the heads up."
"Anytime," Dudley returned.
Blacknot Castle
"What the fuck is a pre-wedding meeting?" Rob asked when he stepped into the drawing-room with Jen.
"Stupid," Almina said, giving her Aunt Daphne an exasperated look, "Really stupid."
"Almina," Theo cut in, "You're getting married in two days. If you want things to run smoothly, then a pre-wedding meeting is essential."
"Ugh, Pops!" Almina exclaimed, "You and Aunt Daphne are virtually the same person! Sometimes I can tell that you're related!"
Theo ignored her and clicked his fingers, making a blackboard appear.
"Oh no," Draco muttered, "Who gave Theo a blackboard?"
Hermione looked up and frowned, "Uh, I did. Why? Is that a problem?"
Sadie rolled her eyes, "Yes, it's a problem. You didn't know Theo during the war. When he got a hold of a blackboard, he went into crazy planning mode."
"Like Hermione when you gave her a colour-coded binder," Harry said, shuddering at the thought.
"You would never have passed your O.W.L's without that binder!" Hermione objected.
"Did you seriously colour-code his notes for him?" Lilly snorted, "I thought he was kidding about that."
Hermione rolled her eyes, "I had already done my own notes, and I knew he wouldn't bother, so…yes, I did."
"Hermione Granger, the real reason you always looked tired in class," Draco said with a grin. "Because you stayed up all night colour coding your friends' notes and knitting hats for house-elves."
"Aw Draco," Theo grinned, "You would never have said that so fondly twenty years ago."
Hermione chuckled, and Daphne got to her feet. She clapped her hands and said, "Listen up. We must make sure everything is in order for the wedding. So, let's run over it all again."
Harry threw himself back against the cushions on the sofa, "If we must," he muttered.
Teddy was lying on the floor trying to zone out, and Nick was leaning against the fireplace. He glanced over at Nina and said, "Bet you wish you hadn't laughed when I suggested eloping, huh?"
Nina gave him a long-suffering look in response.
"The wedding is going to take place on the grounds," Daphne continued, "The house-elves are going to set everything up in the morning. We expect the brides to arrive at 2pm, which means that all the guests must be seated for 1.45pm, no later."
Daphne continued to pace as she dictated, "There will be a four course - "
"Three, Mum!" Teddy exclaimed, "We said three, not four!"
Harry snorted in amusement, and Daphne sighed and shook her head, "Fine, there will be a three-course meal after the wedding ceremony. Then there will be a barbeque later in the evening to please someone."
Rob grinned and leaned back in his chair.
"Nina and Almina's very plain, inexpensive dresses - "
"Daphne," Sadie cut in, "Not everyone goes to Paris for a custom made dress, you know?"
"Even Lilly spent more on her dress," Daphne pointed out, "And she's Lilly."
"Oh, thanks, Daph," Lilly snorted, "I love you too."
Daphne shot her an exasperated look, "The dresses are here. The dress robes need to be picked up from Diagon Alley tomorrow."
"Which we'll do," Nick said, motioning between himself and Teddy.
Daphne nodded, "And nobody is going to go to Vegas and nearly miss the wedding, are they?"
Theo rolled his eyes, "Are you ever going to let me live that down?"
"No!" Echoed around the room.
"So everything is in order!" Harry said. He got to his feet and clapped his hands, "The weather's gonna be great. It's going to be a nice day for a white wedding. Everyone is going to get drunk, bar Rob and I who may or may not have an alternative substance - "
"You are not smoking mandrake leaf at our son's wedding!" Jennifer said, stabbing Rob in the ribs.
"What? Why not?"
"Yeah, why not?" Harry agreed.
"Because you're supposed to be role models," Daphne said, eyeing Rob and Harry irritably.
Teddy and Nick snorted, then burst out laughing at that, which made Harry and Rob grin.
Draco and Theo shook their heads and exchanged amused looks.
"We've been Aurors for years and therefore not allowed to engage in such substances, but now I'm not an Auror - "
"No, you're just Assistant Head of the DMLE," Hermione said, quirking up an eyebrow at Harry.
He rolled his eyes, "This is the third year broomstick incident all over again, isn't it?"
"Would you get over that?" Hermione exclaimed in disbelief, "It was like 30 years ago, Harry!"
While they argued, a quieter conversation took place on the other side of the room.
"She didn't say anything about us not smoking mandrake leaf," Theo whispered pointedly.
"No," Sadie said, pointing at them from across the room, "Don't even think about it."
"God, I think I might do a Juliet and kill myself before the wedding," Almina muttered dryly.
Nina bit back a grin at that but stayed quiet. She was timider than Almina in a large group like this one.
Draco got up and said, "Okay, I'm calling this! We all know what's happening, so everyone can just go home and relax until the big day."
Rob was pretty happy to scarper, but the others stayed put after he, Jen and the kids had left.
Draco walked over to Daphne and lowered his voice, "Have you had a reply from your mother?"
Daphne shook her head, "Nothing yet."
With a nod, Draco whispered, "Stop channelling your anxiety into micro-managing the wedding and promise me that you'll just enjoy it?"
"Of course I will," Daphne said smoothly.
"I might even save you a dance, Draco!"
Potter & Weasley Curse Breaking [P&W]
Diagon Alley
"Aren't you on holiday?"
Daphne glanced over at Cheryl and answered. "Technically, yes, but I always submit the monthly figures to the bank on the last Friday of the month. And that's tomorrow and, therefore, my son's wedding, so I'm doing it today."
"At 5pm when everyone's goin home?" Cheryl asked, raising an eyebrow at her boss.
Daphne smirked, "When I can have peace and quiet, yes. See you tomorrow, Cheryl!"
Cheryl laughed and left the office, and Daphne headed upstairs. She put on a light, sat down at her desk and got started with the monthly paperwork. She could trust Cheryl to drop it into the bank first thing tomorrow.
It was closer to six when the door downstairs opened, and Daphne was sure that she had locked it. But then again, it had been a chaotic few weeks, between the funeral and all of the wedding planning.
"We're closed!" She yelled.
The door clicked shut, but then the sound of heels tapping their way up the stairs could be heard. Daphne thought about reaching for her wand, but she knew who it was, and she decided that she didn't need to.
"Daphne."
"Mother."
"You look well."
Daphne looked at her mother when she stepped into the light of the office. This was the first time she had seen her since she ran out of England after getting out of Azkaban 12 years ago. As far as Daphne had been aware, she died five years ago.
But here she was, looking much the same as she always had. Her hair was more grey than blonde, her eyes were a little less calculating than Daphne remembered but still rather cold.
"Hm," Daphne mused, "You look well for a person who has been dead for five years."
Lareina smiled humourlessly, "I find it hard to believe that you cared when you heard of my death. You had not spoken to me in seven years by that point."
"I wasn't sad," Daphne admitted, "But don't paint me to the villain in all of this. I reached out to you when you came out of Azkaban. I offered you a room in my house, but you left for France."
Lareina sighed and sat down opposite Daphne, "Your father told me to leave. He showed me a photo album of our grandchildren. He told me their names and a little about them all. He made me a pot of tea, and he let me cry. That was our farewell, his apology to me, and mine to him."
Daphne hadn't known that.
"He told me that you were a wonderful woman with a loving family," Lareina said quietly, "He told me that Astoria was running the business. He told me about her husband and her son. Then he told me that it would be selfish of me to stay and ruin that for you both."
Daphne swallowed and leant back.
"So I left," Lareina agreed, "Not selfishly because I think it may have been the most selfless thing I have ever had to do. Walking away from the family I had always wanted was many things, but it was not selfish, nor was it easy."
Lareina shook her head, "When you invited me for Christmas, I wanted to come. But I remembered my promise to your father, and I vowed to keep it until the day he died."
"And now here we are," Daphne said with a sigh, "He's dead, and you're here."
"And you don't know if you want me here or not," Lareina said with a nod, "Which I understand. Your letter…I think that was the most honest you have ever been with me, so I felt like I owed this to you, this chance to hear the truth in person."
Daphne looked over at her and saw the pain in her eyes. It was real; she really had felt conflicted about leaving.
"How did you end up in Slovakia?"
Lareina sighed and got to her feet, "So that's what this was about?"
"No," Daphne said. And it was the truth, "Everything I said in that letter was true. But as it turned out, my husband knew you were alive before Dad told us on his deathbed. He knew because he had retrieved Natasha Wolfe from a magic suppressing camp in Slovakia."
Lareina's eyes flashed, "You don't understand what I do there, Daphne. I help people."
"Help?" Daphne scoffed, "Rob and Jen Wolfe thought their daughter was dead for weeks!"
"I didn't know that," Lareina assured her, "When Jelena dropped her off, I assumed she was another of Lazarus's experiments."
"You know Lazarus?" Daphne asked sharply.
"Unfortunately, I do," Lareina said dryly, "I lived in France for a time. But then I found this young girl in the wizarding quarter, her name is Odette. When I looked at her, I saw you as a little girl."
Daphne looked up at her mother.
"She had white-blonde hair, such big blue eyes, and she was terrified," Lareina told her, "I took her in, and after a while, she started to tell me her story. She had been kidnapped, experimented on, then someone had helped her escape. Then his magic had 'gone wrong', and she barely managed to escape when the explosion killed him."
Lareina sighed, "She was six years old. She needed answers, and she deserved more, so I faked my death and left France. I found the abandoned convent in Slovakia, and I put up wards to protect her as her magic grew more and more unstable. Then the Statute Saboteurs started to make the news, and I connected the dots. I found out where Lazarus was operating from, and I helped his daughter break out as many people as possible. The Saboteurs took their friends and went their own way, and I took the stragglers to the convent."
"So you've met Lazarus? You can tell us his real identity?"
Lareina shook her head, "I can't because I don't know it. He wears a strange amulet around his neck; it appears to keep his appearance permanently altered. I can tell because when the amulet moved too much, his image flickered, but it was so fast that I couldn't see what was beneath. Lazarus isn't his real name, and Katrin Luther isn't really his daughter. He just treats her as such because she was the first experiment."
Daphne swallowed and shook her head, "He's a monster."
"Which is why I've been helping his victims," Lareina agreed, "Call it my last shot at redemption if you will. I won't pretend that's not what it is – a chance to do some good in the world for once in my life. I swear, when Jelena dropped Natasha off, I did not know who she was."
"You wouldn't, I suppose," Daphne agreed grudgingly.
Lareina nodded, and the office fell silent for a moment.
"Do you want to strike a deal?" Daphne asked, looking up at her mother.
Lareina eyed her cautiously, "What is the deal?"
"Lead the Aurors to the place Lazarus works out of, and I'll let you back in," Daphne said. She sighed and ran a hand through her hair, "Into my life and my children's."
Lareina let out a sharp breath, "You truly mean that?"
"On my life," Daphne promised, holding out her hand, "I would swear it on an Unbreakable Vow if that was what you needed - Acta non Verba."
Lareina smiled and took her daughter's hand, "Deeds not words," she echoed in English.
"I can't take you to the front door of Lazarus's lair," Lareina admitted. "His wards are extensive and clever, so the location constantly appears to be shifting when in reality, it's set. But I can give you an area in Siberia to work with."
"That's better than what the Aurors have to go on right now," Daphne said simply. "Along with your memories of being in the base, and the people you saw there….it will make all of the difference."
"Then, of course, I'll provide them with whatever they need," Lareina promised.
Daphne nodded and looked at her mother for a long moment.
"If you sit down, I'll make a pot of tea and tell you about the antics of my children," Daphne said, motioning to the chair she had just vacated.
The smile on Lareina's face was genuine then. She nodded and took her seat, "I would like that," she said softly.
Daphne paused in the doorway before turning around and saying.
"I think I would too."
- TBC -
