A/N: Alright, we're getting close to the end, which makes me very sad. I've planned the last few chapters, and it looks like I've only got three more to go (tear slides down face). But I want to ask my fabulous readers something...what do you guys think about the whole "was Voldemort really alone when he attacked the Potters" debate. If you don't know what I'm talking about, some people think that maybe Peter or Snape were there on that infamous Halloween night. Let me know what you think...I may apply it later in the story. Thanks to everyone that reviewed, and who will review. Oh, yeah, and Happy Halloween (or Happy Samhain, what ever you prefer)!

Chapter 35

Loss

October 14, 1981

Remus slowly opened his eyes, pain slowly flooding his body; he hated the full moon. He was lying in his bed, starting at the ceiling, having no idea how he got there. He though back to last night...he hardly remembered a thing. He wasn't surprised – he usually didn't remember much of his transformations unless James, Sirius and Peter were there. Remus had told James he didn't need to come after Harry was born, for he had much more important things to worry about. Sirius still came when he didn't have to work, which hadn't happened in nearly six months, and he could hardly remember the last time he had seen Peter.

It was then that he noticed that Elizabeth was not there. Not that this was surprising – judging by how much light was coming through the window, it was sometime around noon and she would be at work. Gingerly, he sat up at the side of his bed. Damn, his shoulder was killing him. Slowly he stood and partially limped into the bathroom. He turned as he looked into the mirror to better see the numerous bruises and cuts on his back.

After a hot shower, he went back to his bedroom and got dressed. He thought he would read the Daily Prophet and lay on the couch until Elizabeth came home. But as he entered the living room, all thoughts of a lazy day vanished.

Tables were upturned, picture frames lay shattered, and there was even a hole in the wall and a broken window. Remus stared at the wreck of the living room and fell his mouth fell open. How could he have not noticed this when he got home this morning? Before he could think of what had happened, one thought penetrated his numb mind – where was Elizabeth?

000

Remus Apparated into the Ministry and nearly ran to the lift. After what seemed like hours, he finally got to level five. When he reached the Department of International Magical Cooperation, he almost collided with the main secretary's desk.

"Can I help you?" The blonde secretary asked kindly.

Trying not to sound to panicked, Remus asked, "Is Elizabeth Lupin here?"

The secretary looked through a few papers before saying, "No, she's not. Didn't even call in this morning. Would you like to leave a–" but when she looked up, Remus was gone.

000

James tossed his quill on the desk and leaned back in his chair. He had been catching up on his paper work nearly all day and – aside from having a cramp in his right hand – was extremely bored. He look around and was surprised to see Remus practically running towards him.

"What's–"

"Elizabeth's gone,"

"What?!"

Remus filled James in on everything that had happened this morning. James looked thoughtful for a moment before he said, "Follow me." Together, they grabbed Sirius – who was only a few cubicles away – and went to Moody's office. There, Remus retold Sirius and Moody what he had told James.

"Black, send an owl to Dumbledore, let him know what's happened. Meet up at Lupin's." Moody said. Sirius nodded and left the office. "We'll go now and see what's happened. This will need to be kept as quiet as possible for now. Have you told anyone but us?"

"No," Remus replied.

"Good," Moody growled. "Let's head over now."

Once James, Remus, and Moody had arrived at Remus's house, the two Aurors began going through the wreckage, performing various spell that began to give them a vague picture of what happened, while Remus hung in the background nervously. Shortly after they had arrived, Sirius came as well.

After what felt like hours to Remus, they had finished and Moody spoke to him. "It looks like there were three – maybe four – Death Eaters her sometime after midn–" but he stopped mid– sentence when an owl flew through the broken window. Moody took the note, both normal and magical eyes zooming across the parchment.

He gave a deep sigh. "They found her," he said quietly as Remus held his breath. "I'm sorry Remus, but she was already dead."

Remus turned away form them, his eyes welling with tears. James took the letter and read it himself, his face fearful for his friend by the time he finished.

"Moony," he said carefully. "Where did you go last night?"

Remus looked up at him. "S–Somewhere in Scotland."

James nearly sighed in relief. "They found Elizabeth near Bristol."

"Why would it matter where I was last night?"

He hated to be the one to tell Remus – but he had to know. "It was a werewolf attack, Remus." he said quietly.

Remus's face hardened as he stared at the floor, losing himself in his mind.

000

It was fairly late by the time James got home. Lily was waiting up for him and looking very worried. But one look at his face and her worry nearly tripled.

"What happened?" she asked.

"Elizabeth is dead." Lily looked as though she had been slapped. "They kidnaped her last night, somehow took her to a forest outside of Bristol, where she was attacked by a werewolf and – quite literally – ripped apart."

Lily sank onto the couch as her hand flew to her mouth, tears beginning to fall down her face. Suddenly, her head snapped up to look at James fearfully. "Remus isn't a suspect, is he?"

"No – he was in a different part of the country. But to be perfectly honest, the only reason he isn't a suspect is because he came to and Moody first." James heaved a great sigh and sat next to Lily, looking worse for wear. "Is Harry asleep?"

Something of a smile came upon Lily's face. "Yeah, and it's about time too, he only fell asleep half and hour ago."

"I'm going to bed. You coming?"

"Yeah," Lily said sadly.

But before they could even make it to the stairs, they heard a knock on the door. James and Lily tensed. He pulled out his wand and opened the door, but relaxed when he saw it was Moody.

"Come in Mad–Eye," James said ushering him inside. "Did you find out something else about Elizabeth?"

"No, I'm actually here to see Lily." Moody turned towards the redhead. "Your mother's house burned down early this morning – she didn't make it."

Lily's mind went blank over the next few minutes. Somewhere in the haze, she distantly heard Moody and James talk briefly, Moody leaving, and James guiding her back to the living room. When she felt the back of her knees graze against the couch, she sunk down on it, staring blankly ahead.

"Lily?" James said cautiously.

"I need to let my sister know," she said, though, to her, it sounded as though someone else were saying it.

"She already does...Moody says that she's already set the date of the funeral for Tuesday."

Lily stared ahead for a few more seconds before she began to sob uncontrollably on James's chest.

000

The next morning, Lily was able to hold herself together long enough to ask James exact what Moody had said the night before. He said the Muggle police were the first there, so they were able to contact Petunia. Later, the Ministry found traces of magic in the remains of the house, so they suspect it was a caused by Death Eaters. After making the connection that it was Lily's mother who died, Moody did a bit more poking around and found out that Petunia had already made the funeral arrangements.

Lily went to her mother's funeral alone, despite all of James's protests. She was grateful that he wanted to be there to support her, but she felt that it would be better if he stayed with Harry. The funeral home was the same one that Lily's father had been at, so when she stepped into the building, painful memories rushed back.

Trying her best not to draw any attention to herself, Lily quietly approached the closed casket. There was a picture of the Evans family. Lily thought that it was one of the last of all four of them together – she looked to be about sixteen in the portrait. She said a silent prayer as tears fell down her cheeks.

As she turned towards the back of the room, Lily saw her sister. Petunia had not changed much since she had last seen her those few years ago; she was still thin, boney, and had that long, almost horse–like face. But she almost did not recognize the two people with her. Vernon had gained quiet a few extra pounds and his mustache was much bushier. The large woman with them had to be Vernon's sister, Marge, though she was much rounder than Lily remembered as well.

It was then that she noticed Petunia holding a baby boy. This must be Dudley, the nephew she had only seen in pictures that her mother had. He had a patch of dirty blonde hair on his round head, very much the same color of his mother's, and even though Dudley was only a little over a month older than her own son, he was looked heavier.

For one fleeting moment, Lily wanted to approach Petunia and scream about why she hadn't had the decency to tell her that their mother had died. But the feeling past, Petunia looked as miserable as Lily felt and didn't want to add to it. So instead, she made her way to the back of room and sat by herself during the service, though she could have sworn a few of the mourners may have recognized her as the younger Evans daughter.

000

Although it was well past midnight, Albus Dumbledore was waiting for a visitor. Severus had told him that their was a Death Eater meeting tonight and Albus was waiting for information. He heard a soft knock and said, "Enter." Not surprising, it was the young Potions Master who entered.

"Did he choose?" Dumbledore asked solemnly.

"Yes," Snape replied. "He's going after the Potter boy, though he did mention killing Longbottom soon after."

"But he will be attacking Harry first?"

"Yes,"

Dumbledore nodded gravely.

"Is he attacking tonight?"

"No, but he will be soon."

"Thank you, Severus."

Snape nodded briefly and left. Dumbledore ran his long fingers over his face...he had a feeling it would come down to this. Part of him wanted to set out for James and Lily's home this instant, but he held back...he thought they deserved at least one more good night's sleep.