August 5, 1978

Dear Mom,

Boy, do I have a lot to tell you. A lot has happened since I have graduated from Hogwarts, and honestly all of the changes taking place are a little overwhelming. Death Eater attacks have been much more frequent, and the stress of it has been getting to all of us. But there have been good things that have happened. For instance, Lily and James are engaged (they are getting married at the end of August) and Remus and I, we have also gotten engaged. I'm sorry I haven't told you, sooner but things have been hectic lately.

I remember the day of our engagement, vividly (June 5, 1978) and I hope that you will be able to come to our wedding once we finally decide on a date. If you can't because you feel that it's too dangerous, I will understand and I won't hold it against you. But, I thought that I would just extend the invitation to you because you are my mom, and I do want my family to be there. I know that the last time I wrote to you, I complained about Remus because I didn't think we were ever going to take this next step but we finally did. It seems that I was being a bit too impatient, but considering the circumstances I think my attitude is a little understandable. Being in love…It's scary, Mama.

I can't imagine my life without him, and being in the middle of a wizarding war is nerve-wracking. Whenever he is gone on a mission for Dumbledore, I can't help but become a little frantic because I worry about him. Even before we were engaged, I worried for him so, so much. There isn't anything I can do to stop it, I'm afraid. Aside from telling you about my engagement, I have written to you for another reason.

Althea frowned at the letter and quickly crumbled the paper throwing it into the fireplace. She had so much that she wanted to tell her mom, but she just didn't know quite where to start. She sighed, staring at the crackling flames in the fireplace. It had been about two months since she had gotten engaged to Remus, and that was one of the first things that she wanted to tell her mom. She just didn't know how to mention it. Althea raked a hand through her hair, a frustrated sigh once again escaping her lips.

There was a lot that she didn't know how to tell her mom. But she couldn't seem to put it onto paper. Some of that stemmed from the fact that she didn't want to worry her mom; if she told her mom everything that was truly happening, it would only make her family sick with worry and it might make them want to come back. She couldn't let that happen. She needed to protect them. So, for now, it seemed that silence was her best option. She didn't like it, but she couldn't endanger her family. She refused to. She loved them too much to do that.

Although it was possible that they already knew what was happening. They were in America, but she was sure that they were keeping up-to-date on the events occurring in England. They were probably waiting to head home. She groaned, flopping back onto the couch feeling frustrated and exhausted. She shot off of the couch when she heard a knock on her door. Her heartbeat pounded loudly in her ears, and she clutched her wand tightly in her hand as she tip-toed toward the door.

She had learned very quickly, that one could never be too careful. When she had been with Gideon and Fabian, she thought that she had been safe in Muggle London. She thought that the Death Eaters wouldn't try anything, but oh how wrong she had been. It was from that moment on that she knew that nowhere was safe, except for perhaps that small little island that they had been vacationing on. The only one who knew about it was Dumbledore, and everyone knew that Voldemort wouldn't risk crossing him. Yet.

Althea peered through the peephole, and then smiled throwing the door open as her eyes fell on Lily. She looked around, expecting to see James but when she found no sight of him her brows furrowed in confusion. But, nonetheless she let Lily into her house after having Lily answer a question that only the real her would know the answer to.

"Where's your other half?" Althea questioned, shutting the door and locking it. Practically, she knew it wouldn't do much against magic but it made her feel just the slightest bit more safe.

"Auror training with Sirius," Lily answered with a roll of her eyes sitting on the couch. "What else would he be doing?" She huffed crossing her arms, "Apparently a date is too much to ask for these days."

"That's why you're so cross?" Althea asked incredulously, waving her wand. Tea cups floated from the cabinets, became filled with tea and then landed on the coffee table in front of Lily. "That seems a silly reason to be upset, doesn't it? You know considering the circumstances."

"You'd be upset if Remus wasn't making time for you!" Lily pouted.

"He isn't making time for me, though Lily. I think that's the point," Althea murmured, picking up the cup and taking a sip of the Earl Grey tea. Lily looked to her in confusion and a bittersweet smile made Althea's lips curl. "He doesn't have time for me, because a few days ago Dumbledore sent him somewhere with the Prewetts. Obviously, it bothers me but I know that whatever he is doing is more important. Stopping You-Know-Who is more important than being on a date with me, no matter how much I loathe not seeing Remus as often as I like." She set the cup back on the table. "We're at war, Lily. We all have to make sacrifices, and sacrificing some of the time I spend with my fiancé is one I'm willing to make. The harder we work to stop him, the sooner he will actually be stopped, and then everything will return to normal and I'll be able to spend as much time with Remus as I want to." She sent a pointed look Lily's way, "Apart from the full moon."

"I understand that, I do. But I can't help but feel that, we are all running on limited time," Lily confessed, green eyes watching Althea worriedly. "Pardon my language, but I feel like shit's going to hit the fan soon. I want to spend as much time with James as I can before that."

"Lily, perhaps you're worrying needlessly?" Althea tried. To be quite honest, however, she had the same feeling and concerns that her redheaded friend did. "Or perhaps, you're not. That's not the point. I don't know what I can tell you Lily, to ease your fears because I can tell you without a doubt that I share many of the same concerns. How can I not? Need I remind you, that we are in the midst of a wizarding war."

"And that's the point!" Lily shouted, her cheeks flushing red. "War is filled with uncertainties and there is no guarantee that any of us will make it out alive. If God forbid I am one of the casualties, I want to die not having any regrets." Her eyes sparkled with unshed tears and she wrapped her arms around her middle, as if trying to stop herself from falling apart. "Right now, I'm feeling nothing but regret. It feels like James and I are at a stalemate. It feels like our relationship isn't moving forward."

"What you're saying is, is that you want to marry James," Althea deduced smiling widely when Lily didn't deny it.

It was a little silly, Althea thought, that they were worrying about trivial matters like this when they were in the middle of a war and when their lives were endangered every day. But, at the same time it made all the sense in the world to her. She agreed with Lily, that when she died she didn't want to have any regrets and so that was why she didn't make fun of Lily. Because she felt the same way, and it would be a little hypocritical of her to do so.

"I'm scared," Lily whispered, resting her head on Althea's shoulders.

"It's okay to be scared," Althea assured her. "That's what makes us human."

The two girls fell silent. The silence didn't last for long, because it was just moments later that Lily asked hesitantly, "Do you know when you and Remus are going to get married?"

"I'm partial to a winter wedding, but we haven't discussed it. He's been gone a lot, doing things for Dumbledore so there hasn't really been any time," Althea answered with a shrug. Lily looked at her sympathetically and Althea waved off her concerns. "Remus knows when I would like it. We'll find time to talk about it, Lily, you don't have to worry." She sighed, "Speaking of weddings, I'm assuming you asked because you're already planning yours even though James hasn't proposed yet, correct?"

"You wouldn't be wrong," Lily replied sheepishly. "It's a when not if, situation. That's the way it is for you and Remus."

"Correct," Althea confirmed with a nod. She shifted away from Lily, grabbing her empty cup, "I have never really been that superstitious, but I am leaving everything up to fate now. There's nothing else I can do."

Lily rolled her eyes, "Never thought I'd see the day that Althea Morgan becomes a passive watcher in her own life."

"I'm not."

"You are and you know it. Don't be passive." Lily sighed, "I feel like I shouldn't be having this talk with you, because you should know better Althea. You are, seventeen-years-old for Merlin's sake. You want to get married to Remus, don't you? So, make it happen!"

"Shut up."

"No." Lily smiled deviously, "You're only saying that because you know that I'm right."

Althea nodded taking Lily's words into consideration. Some part of her had to admit that she knew her redheaded friend was right. She was being a little childish and a little meek, something that was out of character for the dark-haired girl. It wasn't like she could help it though. The war was leaving her feel uncertain about everything, even her own survival. She hadn't lied when she said to Lily that she was sharing the same fears. The only difference was, was that Althea wasn't too keen on voicing them.

There was a crack, and the two jumped whirling around but relaxed immediately when they saw that it was only Remus. Two more cracks followed in quick succession as James and Sirius Apparated in, and Althea looked at Lily who made no move to go to James. Her eyes darted toward the dark-haired boy, who looked slightly put-out and upset, obviously confused on why his girlfriend was making no move to embrace him. Shaking their troubles from her head, Althea moved toward Remus coiling her arms around his waist as his curled around her back, holding her close to him.

She inhaled deeply, nuzzling closer to him. The sound of his heartbeat pounded loudly in her ears, and the soothing constant rhythm of it, made her smile and relax. He was here with her, and for now he was safe and that was good enough for her. In the distance, she could hear Sirius making gagging noises and loudly complaining about her and Remus to James, but she paid it little to no attention. Right now, Sirius's antics weren't her focus, Remus was as corny and silly as it may sound. Althea smiled, tipping her head up to look in Remus's warm eyes that were bright with affection as he stared down at her.

"Is everything okay?" she asked, watching him closely.

"Yes," Remus confirmed, pressing his lips briefly to her temple. "Everything went fine, Thea. There were no mishaps, and because everything went according to plan, Dumbledore has given us the next few days off."

A smile appeared on her face, "Really?" He nodded and she hummed, "I'm glad. There are things that we need to talk about."

Remus made a sound of realization, "Wedding talk, right?" Althea nodded and he shook his head a fond look on his face. "I suppose I can make some time to talk about that," he teased, grinning widely when Althea scowled at him.

"Can you two, stop being so disgusting and cute? Thank you," Sirius snapped, popping the bubble that had surrounded them.

"Of course," Remus said formally. "However, you don't live here, Althea does. So I'd say if you don't like it, you can get out."

"Althea! You've been such a bad influence on Remus! He's getting sassy!" Sirius whined.

"Perhaps that is your fault, Sirius and not Althea's."

"It can't be! I'm an angel Remmy!"

"Really, Padfoot?"

"Prongs!"