A/N: So here is my next update. It hasn't been betaed so I apologize for any mistakes. I hope everybody likes the interaction between Everleigh and Remus. Please review and let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Everleigh wakes up the next morning in her own bed; sometime during the night Jason must have carried her to her room. Laying in bed she thinks about everything from the previous night. Her birth parents are dead. She never met James and Lily but the thought still makes her incredibly sad. In reality she has never really had any loss or sadness in her life. All of her grandparents are still alive; the family never had any pets so they never had to bury any animal family members. Everleigh doesn't really know how to handle this grief for a family she never knew. How different her life would have been if she had grown up in England, in a wizarding home. She never would have for to Ilvermorny and met Sean and Sarah that's for sure. But she also would have never wondered where she came from or feel as if she had more questions than answers about her life; thigh she can't really complain about how her life has turned out so far.
Everleigh knows she is privileged. She's grown up in a wealthy family and has amazing parents who have given her everything she has ever wanted, while still trying to teach her loyalty, kindness, compassion. She also couldn't ask for better brothers. Both Jason and Lucas would do anything for her. Thinking of her brothers leads Everleigh to think of Harry. What is he like? Where did he grow up? How did she end up with the Garrison's while Harry didn't? For all her Mom and Dad explained last night, a lot was left out.
Deciding it's time to get up, Everleigh dresses in her favorite pair of jeans, her warmest sweater, and the new boots she bought at Harrod's yesterday. She didn't really explain to her brothers why she was so upset last night and hopes they'll want to take a walk with her and explore the town a little bit. Since she can't hide in her room any longer, Everleigh walks downstairs and into the kitchen to see she is the last one up.
"Good morning sweetie," Charlotte greets hesitantly, "I was just about to come up to get you."
"Morning," Everleigh replies shortly, "I was wondering if after breakfast the boys and I could walk around town for a little bit. Do you two want to?" she addresses her brothers.
Lucas replies a little too brightly for the both of them, "Yeah, sounds like fun."
"That's not a problem. Just stay together," Michael responds when he sees his wife is about to protest. He knows Charlotte wants to talk to their daughter some more but thinks it's best if Everleigh has a little more time to process everything. Hopefully talking with her brothers will help to clear her mind some.
Breakfast passes mainly in a slightly awkward silence, everybody lost in their own thoughts, and then the three youngest quickly put on their coats and scarves before racing out of the house. Their grandparents' home is only a few blocks from the Main Street of the town, and the siblings walk in silence before Lucas can't take it anymore.
"So are you going to tell us what last night was all about it are we going to have to start guessing?" Lucas questions his sister.
With a snort, she responds, "Tactful as ever Luke."
"We'll come on. Don't keep us in suspense," Jason goads her.
After a brief moment of hesitation Everleigh sighs, "Fine. Well Mom and Dad informed me that I will be switching schools as well."
"You go to a magic school. Where else could you go?" Lucas interrupts.
"There are other schools for magic you know. Do you really think there is only one for all the witches and wizards all over the world?"
"Okay, yeah. I guess not," he says with a small laugh.
"Anyway, they told me that I would be going to Hogwarts, which is the school here in the U.K. When I asked them how they knew about Hogwarts, they told me they knew a lot more about the magical world than they let on. Apparently when Mom found me, there was a journal from my birth mom as well that talked about everything. Originally Mom and Dad thought Lily was delusional but then I got my letter and they realized everything Lily wrote was true. It's why they so easily accepted that this world is real."
"So you were upset Mom and Dad didn't tell you your birth parents are magical?" Jason questions confusedly. His sister can be dramatic sometimes, what twelve-year old isn't, but that's even a stretch for her being as upset as she was.
"Oh just wait. There is so much more. Apparently around the time I was born Wizarding Britain was in the middle of a war. There was some dark wizard hell bent on causing as much chaos as possible. Mom and Dad said from the books they read he and his followers killed a lot of people. Well this wizard marked the Potter family, my birth family, as his next target. Somehow I escaped but my birth parents, James and Lily, didn't. Neither did my brother."
"Wait! You had a brother?" Lucas asks incredulously.
"Have not had. I have a brother. His name is Harry. This wizard used a curse to kill James and Lily, but when he tried to use the same curse to kill Harry it somehow back fired and killed him instead. Now apparently Harry is super famous for basically destroying a terrorist as a baby."
Both boys are silent for a minute.
"Wow! That's a lot. Where is Harry now?" Jason asks while comfortingly putting an arm around his baby sister.
"Well I assume he's at Hogwarts but I don't know what happened to him after that night. I haven't asked yet," she responds.
The three are silent as they continue walking and they pass by a little café. "Come on. Let's get some hot chocolate," Lucas suggests, "I'm freezing."
Walking up to the counter they order their drinks and find a table to sit at and drink their hot chocolate.
"So, how do you feel about all of this?" Lucas asks,
"Honestly? I don't know. I'm angry they kept all this from me, especially about Harry. But I'm also incredibly sad about James and Lily. At the same time though if they never died, I never would have become a Garrison and I love our family, so then I feel guilty about being happy with another family and not really missing my birth family."
"What about Harry?" Lucas prompts her even further while Jason observed his two younger siblings.
"I don't know. Kind of excited at the idea of having g another brother, but than again I like things how they are. I don't want them to change. He's my family but I don't know him at all. What if he doesn't want anything to do with me? What if he's absolutely awful and I don't want anything to do with him?" Everleigh babbles, starting to work herself up into a frenzy.
Both Lucas and Jason burst out laughing, and after a second Everleigh joins in, the laughter contagious.
"You need to call done. I really don't think that is something you have to worry about Ev," Lucas responds when he calms down enough to speak, "He's your brother. It will be fine. You have almost a year to figure out what you want to say to him. You won't meet him until next school year anyway."
"Luke is right. Plenty of time," Jason agrees.
"Yeah, anyway, enough about my tragic past," Everleigh tries to change the subject, "How are you guys doing? I know you're just as upset about moving."
Jason's fade immediately goes dark, "this isn't fair. They're ruining my chances of playing lacrosse in college. Not to mention..." Jason trails off.
Everleigh and Lucas grin at each other. They both know Jason too well and know he was about to tell them something he didn't want to reveal.
"Not to mention what JJ?" Everleigh tries to get him to continue.
"Nothing. Never mind."
"No, no. This must be good. Come on. What is it?" Lucas joins in.
Hesitating a moment, Jason bursts out, "Not to mention I don't think my girlfriend is going to be too happy that I'm moving to another country!"
"Girlfriend?! You never said anything about a girlfriend before," Everleigh exclaims with a smile, "What's her. Some? What's she like? Can we meet her?"
"When did you start dating someone? And how did I miss this? I'm with you every day!" Lucas adds.
"No. No more information! We just started dating and she doesn't need to be bombarded by you Luke. I love our family but everybody just needs to mind their own business sometimes."
Both sill smiling about their brother's new found love life, and thinking of all the ways they can tease him, Everleigh apologizes, "I'm sorry JJ. I'm sure you two can stay in touch even if you don't keep dating."
"It's okay baby sister. I'll get over it. What about you Luke? Are you going to be okay with the move?" Jason asks.
Lucas takes a moment to really think about it. His first reaction last night was to be upset about such a big change but the more he thinks about it the more excited he is. "Yeah. I was upset last night but I'm only going into eighth grade, and it's not like I'm as into a sport or anything like you. I'll miss my friends but it's bit like we can't write to each other, and I'm sure we'll go back and visit. Maybe we can convince Mom and Dad to still do our annual Hamptons beach trip."
"Maybe. Anyway, we've been going for a few hours now. We should get back to the house before everybody starts to worry," Jason informs them after looking at his watch.
The three of them walk back to the house in a comfortable silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Everleigh is still consumed with thoughts of James, Lily, Harry, and Hogwarts. She doesn't know what she is going to tell Sarah and Sean when she gets back to school. She is going to miss Her two best friends next year and doesn't know what she is going to do without them. Starting at Hogwarts after everybody else in her year has already been there for two years is going to be difficult. She'll have to find a new friend group as well as navigate her relationship with Harry. All of this is too much for a twelve-year old to handle in her opinion
Once they are back at the house, Everleigh decides she should speak with her parents despite still being angry. She needs more information if she is ever going to feel like she is ready for this. Finding her parents in the sitting room she asks if they can all speak privately. Charlotte and Michael agree and follow their daughter upstairs to her room. Everleigh sits on her bed and holds her pillow in her lap, while Charlotte and Michael take two chairs that are sitting in the corner of the small room.
"Is everything okay? Did you have a nice time with your brothers?" Charlotte begins.
"Yeah. I told them everything. I just...I just realized I had more questions," Everleigh answers, "What happened to Harry after that night? Why didn't gig adopt him too?"
"Honestly we didn't know where he was at first. You were the only one that came to our home that night. Once we contacted the police they were able to find Lily's sister Petunia. Harry was with her but she told them she didn't know what happened to her sister or brother-in-las. Since she is your closest living relative the police asked her to take you in as well. They...well get and her husband refused but then also refused to give Harry up. We don't know why, we never spoke with them," Charlotte quietly informs her.
"Well why then did you never tell me about Harry?" the little red head asks.
Michael decides to jump in for his wife, "When we told you that you were adopted you were so young. At the time we thought Lily had been unstable and didn't think you were ready to hear about that. We were worried if we had told you about Harry, you would have also asked about your birth parents. We thought it would be best if we waited until you were older. When your mother and I found out the truth after you got your letter...you were so excited. We didn't want to taint that excitement with the truth of what really happened the night we found you."
Everleigh takes a minute to contemplate this, while she understands why her parents did what they did, she still doesn't like it. She wishes she had known about Harry before and realizes she wants to get to know him. As much as she loves her family and wouldn't replace them for the world, Harry has the same last as she does. They are blood related, which isn't something she has ever had with anybody before. Harry could never replace Jason or Lucas, he could only add to her life, after all nobody can have too much family. "So what do we do from here? Do you even know how to transfer me to another school?" she asks.
With a laugh, Michael responds, "No. Not at all. When you received your letter we were given an address to write to if there is anything we needed from the wizarding world in regards to you. I'll write to Ms. Brown and let her know what we want and see if she can help us."
Everleigh nods in understanding before asking the one big question that has been on her mind since last night, "Can I have Lily's journal? I'd like to read it. Maybe understand her a little bit better."
Michael and Charlotte hesitate before Charlotte nods her head in agreement, "Sure. When we get home I'll find it for you."
With that Charlotte leans down to give her daughter a hug before walking out of the room. Michael lingers for a minute before he addresses Everleigh again, "I am sorry we upset you, but we were only trying to protect you. We love you so much. When you can into our lives you completed our family. Every decision your mother and I have made has been with you and your brothers in mind. I don't know what you want to do about Harry, if you want to try and have a relationship with him or not, but know that if you do he is always welcome in our home. He is your brother which makes him family."
"I know Dad. Thank you. I love you too," Everleigh responds with a small smile.
Michael then leans down and pecks his daughter on the top of her head before following his wife out of the room.
The rest of their vacation is spent celebrating Christmas and New Year, and looking at houses in London for the family to purchase. There are no more emotional outbursts but Jason, Lucas, and Everleigh are definitely more subdued the rest of the trip. Once back in New York, Everleigh only had a day at home before she has to go back to Ilvermorny. At the Floo Station, Everleigh says goodbye to her dad, who is drooling her off since she won't see him again until the move to London.
As usual the floo trip is quick and Everleigh immediately runs to see if Sarah and Sean are back yet. She sees both of them in the common room and practically tackles Sarah with a hug. "I have missed you two! How was your Christmas? I have so much to tell you!" Everleigh babbles on in a single breath.
Both Sarah and Sean start to laugh before Sean interrupts her, "Oh my god...slow down. Christmas was good. We had fun with my family. It snowed so we went sledding almost every day. One day we took a day trip to Vermont to go skiing. Sarah sucks at it."
Scowling Sarah tries to defend herself, "I do not suck at it. I am just...slightly uncoordinated."
Sean snorts at this, "Slightly uncoordinated? You couldn't stay vertical for more than five seconds at a time."
Everleigh laughs at the two of them, "I'm glad you two had fun. England was...informative."
"Ooooh cryptic. What does that mean?" Sarah is curious.
"Well first things first. My family is moving back to England, and my parents are having me transferred to Hogwarts," Everleigh starts.
"WHAT?" Sarah exclaims, interrupting her best friend.
"I know. That was my reaction. Apparently it's not an option to stay here. My parents said they want me in the same continent as them, plus they don't know how difficult it would be to get me to and from Ilvermorny for breaks and everything."
"Well what else happened?" Sean asks. He knows Everleigh too well and knows that switching schools isn't the only thing that happened over break.
Everleigh looks around the common room nervously and bites her lip, "Umm...maybe we should go somewhere else and talk about this?"
"What? It can't be that bad," Sean jokes.
"No, not bad. Just private. Let's go to the lounge on the fourth floor," Everleigh suggests.
The trio leaves their common room and makes their way to the room they found last semester behind a painting of the ocean. As far as they're aware nobody else knows about it, well at least nobody else has been in the room or attempted to get in while they've been in there. After the three second year's have gotten comfortable, Everleigh takes a deep break and prepares to tell her best friends about her birth family.
"So Sean, you remember how last year during the Opening Lunch you asked about my birth parents?"
"Yeah..." Sean responds unsure where she is going with this.
"Well I never did ask about them. It just never seemed that important, but my parents over break finally told me about them," Everleigh starts to inform her two best friends.
"Really? Who are they? Did you get to meet them while you were over there?" Sarah asks excitedly.
"No, I didn't get to meet them. What do you guys know about the Wizarding War that happened like fifteenish years ago?"
"Nothing really," Sarah responds.
"A little but only because I have some family over there on my dad's side. Sexond or third cousins? Something like that. My dad's dad's brother moved to England after he graduated from here," Sean informs them.
"Well short version of this story is my birth parents were James and Lily Potter. I have an older brother Harry who somehow killed this dark wizard after the wizard killed my birth parents. Nobody really knows how he did it but he wound up living with my maternal aunt and her family while I declare the attack and ended up with my parents in London. Now I'll be going to Hogwarts next year with a brother I never knew I had and I doubt he knows who I am," Everleigh rushes to get out before the two can interrupt her.
Both of her friends are speechless. Sarah is the first one to recover, "Wow! Yeah I would say that was an informative vacation, she tries to joke, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah...I guess. I was angry and confused at first but I've had some time to process everything. I'm still upset I have to leave you two. I don't really want to go to Hogwarts but I guess I don't really have a choice. At least I have the rest of this school year with you guys."
Sean pulls Everleigh into a slightly awkward hug and reassures her, "You'll always have us you know. We can write to each other and you have a standing invitation to my house every summer."
Despite the fact she is leaving two of the best friends she has ever had, Everleigh is happy they are being as supportive as possible, not that she expected anything less from her two friends. The three of them are Pukwudgies, the house of the heart, the house that favors healers. Pukwudgies are great for emotional support.
After the first day of term when Everleigh told them about her trip to England, everything went back to normal for the most part, there was still the underlying tension from the knowledge that these were the last few months they had together. While Everleigh knew she could see Sarah and Sean again, after this school year she simply didn't know when she would. With this knowledge the trio made the most of the time they had together.
The last week of school in early June, Everleigh received her Hogwarts letter by owl during breakfast one morning in addition to a letter from the Headmaster informing her that a professor, a Remus Lupin, was willing to meet her and her family at the Leaky Cauldron at the beginning of July to show them where she needed to go for her supplies. He kindly asked her to owl back with an exact dad and the headmaster would pass along the information. He also informs her that since Ilvermorny has a policy that all underage students must leave their wands behind at school for breaks she is to still do the same and her wand will be sent to him. Once she arrived at Hogwarts after the Welcoming Feast she can retrieve her wand from him. She sent back a response immediately saying July 1st would work and that she knew roughly where the Leaky Caukdron was is meeting Professor Lupin wouldn't be a problem.
All too soon the school year was over and Everleigh tearfully said goodbye to Sean with a right hug saying she will write to him and tell him all about Hogwarts once she got settled. Since Sarah and Everleigh always travel back to New York together, the two girls had a little bit more time together. At the Floo Station back in Manhattan, Everleigh and Sarah spent twenty minutes saying good bye before Charlotte informed Everleigh they had to leave. Finally with one last hug Everleigh and Charlotte departed to head home.
The next few weeks flew by while Everleigh packed up the last of her things. Most of her belongings had already been sent to England and she only had a few clothes left that she was taking on the plane. The last Monday in June, Everleigh's grandparents drove Charlotte, Jason, Lucas, and Everleigh to the airport. This flight was similar to the one they had taken left Christmas: Charlotte slept while Jason, Lucas, and Everleigh stayed up talking, laughing, and watching movies.
Once they had landed, Michael was waiting for his family, excited they were finally joining him. It had been almost five months since he had seen his wife and sons and almost six months since he had seen his daughter. Michael knew that the move had not originally been a popular choice for his children but all three seemed to come around to accept the idea. The family of five waited for their bags at baggage claim and then slowly made their way to the car. The ride home was quiet since all three teenagers fell asleep almost as soon as they were in the car.
The new London residents settled into life in England quickly. Charlotte began decorating the day after they arrived, and Lucas, Jason, and Everleigh took to walking around their new neighborhood and getting to know the area.
That Friday was the first of July and Everleigh was scheduled to meet with Professor Lupin at noon. Though they had never gone shopping with Everleigh for her school supplies before, Jason and Lucas were curious. So on Friday, Charlotte, Everleigh, Jason, and Lucas made their way to Charring Cross Road to where Everleigh remembered seeing the sign for the Leaky Cauldron.
Standing outside clearly waiting for someone was a tall sandy-haired man with his back to the family. Assuming this much be Remus Lupin, Everleigh walks up to him to introduce herself. She r aches up to tap his shoulder and says, "Are you Professor Lupin? I'm Everleigh Garrison. Professor Dumbledore said you could show my family and me around."
The man turns around as she is speaking and she sees all the blood drain from his face. When he doesn't respond, she glances at her mom who simply shrugs as she doesn't know what is going on either, "Excuse me sir. Are you okay? You look a little pale," Everleigh asks him.
At this he shakes himself out of his shock at the petite red head and responds, "Yes, yes. I'm fine. So sorry. I am Professor Lupin but you can call me Remus. It's nice to meet you Everleigh. Who is with you?"
"Oh this is my mom Charlotte, and my brothers Lucas and Jason," Everleigh informs Remus pointing to each person in turn.
"Good, good. Well let's get a move on. I'll take you to Gringotts first to enchanted your money and then to get the rest of your books and supplies. I don't know how much Ilvermorny overlaps with Hogwarts in regards to required supplies," he tells the family as he leads them into he Leaky Cauldron and out into the alley to the entrance of Diagon Alley.
"Well I'll need to get new robes obviously and I need to get more positions supplies, I'm pretty much out of everything, but every thing else seems to be the same," Everleigh tells the older man.
The rest of the day passes smoothly, despite the awkward first encounter; thought Everleigh does notice Remus glancing at her throughout the day with a confused look on his face as if trying to put together a puzzle. Jason and Lucas are in awe of the magic, while Charlotte has somewhat gotten used to it. After all of Everleigh's supplies are purchased, Charlotte insists on Remus joining the family for dinner as a thank you for his help. Despite his protests, he is eventually convinced to join them and Michael for dinner.
After they arrive at the restaurant, Michael and Remus are introduced, and the six are seated.
"So Everleigh, tell me a little about yourself. What's Ilvermorny like? I went to Hogwarts and we didn't have much interaction with any of the other magical schools," Remus inquires of the girl.
"Umm...well Ilvermorny is great. I was a Pukwudgie and my two best friends, Sarah and Sean, were in my house too. I absolutely love Defense Against the Dark Arts and Transfigurstjon, but potions is my best subject. Before I transferred my professor was privately tutoring me in addition to my regular class. I made it through both the second and third year curriculum. He was going to start on fourth year potions this year."
"Wow, that's impressive. Defense Against the Dark Arts was my subject, though I don't know who your teacher will be this year," Remus informs her.
"You won't be my professors?" she inquires.
"No. I resigned at the end of the term."
"Oh really? Why?"
The older man looks hesitant to answer for a moment before he replies with a simple, "It was simply time to move on."
Slightly confused but sensing that line of questioning is over she responds with, "Oh, okay."
"Are you looking forward to starting at a new school?" the scarred man asks trying to change the subject.
"Yeah I guess. I miss my friends already but it should be interesting. I was actually born here in England so if we hadn't moved to New York I guess I would have gone to Hogwarts from the beginning. I am nervous though."
"Don't be. Hogwarts is great. You'll love it," he tries to reassure her, "Do you know what house you want to be in?"
With a small smile Everleigh responds, "Thank you, and no I don't. My friend Sean has a third closing I think he said who is a few years older than us, and she's a Gryffindor."
"What's her name? I was a Gryffindor myself when I was in school."
"Katie Bell," the younger girl supplies.
"Oh Katie. She's a good girl. I'm sure if you tell her you know her cousin she would help you get acquainted with the castle. She's in the quidditch team as well."
"That's what Sean said too. I am really nervous though. I..." Everleigh hesistates to tell him this but for some reason she feels as if she can open up to the older man, not necessarily a father figure, but more like an uncle or what she imagined it would feel like to have an uncle as both her parents are only children. "I found out over Christmas that I have a brother who goes to Hogwarts. I was adopted but Harry is my biological brother. I don't even know if he knows I exist. I'm hoping that he and I will have a chance to get to know each other this year though."
Everleigh is staring at the food on her plate so she doesn't notice Remus's eyes widen for a moment before he responds, "Do you mean Harry Potter?"
"Yeah...how did you know?" she asks.
"Not many Harry's at Hogwarts," he responds with a chuckle, "Well I was able to get to know Harry quite well this year. I'm sure he would be love to get to know you. He'll be happy to know he has a sister."
At this comment Everleigh becomes contemplative and is quiet for the rest of the meal while Remus chats with Charlotte and Michael. After dinner Remus asks to speak with Charlotte and Michael privately so the Garrison parents send their children to a bakery down the road to pick up dessert.
"What can we do for you Mr. Lupin?" Michael asks the slightly younger man.
"Remus, please," he asks them to call him, "Everleigh informed me she was adopted and her brother is Harry Potter."
"That's correct," Michael responds slightly confused as to why he is bringing this up.
"I...I knew her parents. Her father James was one of my best friends, he was my brother in everything but blood," Remus informs the couple, "If there is anything she needs, anything at all. Even if it's just to talk about her parents or she wants to know them better, please let her know she can write to me."
Charlotte and Michael look at each other surprised, "Well that is very kind of you Remus. I actually knew Lily quite well myself. We grew up next door to each other," Charlotte tells him.
It's now Remus's turn to be surprised, "You know I had no idea she was even still alive. We couldn't find her in the house and nobody knew what happened to her. A good portion of the house collapsed and it was assumed she was crushed under it," he says choking back tears. He still remembers the devastation he felt all those years ago. James and Lily dead, Everleigh presumed dead, Harry at the Dursley's, and then everything that happened between Sirius and Peter. The last year has brought everything to the surface for him while he taught Harry and tried to protect him from Sirius. Then at the end of the year, Sirius was returned to him, now Everleigh is still alive. Remus almost forgot what it was like to have this hope that just maybe everything will be okay again. "I didn't want to overstep so I didn't tell her that I knew her parents, but please let her know I am here for her if she wants me to be. And know that Harry will be thrilled to have her in his life. He doesn't know he ever had a sister, he's had a hard life. He's already lost so much and his life at the Dursley's hasn't been the greatest. All he really wants is a family. He needs a family. I think knowing that he has a sister will do him some good."
Charlotte gives Remus a hug, to which he stiffens not used to physical affection but quickly relaxes, "Thank you Remus. We will talk to her, and know you are welcome in our home anytime. Lily was my best friend. I have missed her a great deal over the years. I can only imagine it is the same for you."
After Charlotte releases Remus, the two men shake hands and say good night. The Garrison parents head down the street to meet their children while Remus turns in the opposite direction to apparate home.
July 1st, 1994 - Lupin Cottage
"SIRIUS! SIRIUS! ARE YOU STILL HERE?" Remus shouts as he runs through the back door of his cottage and into his kitchen. After spending the entire day with Everleigh, he prayed Sirius hadn't left yet. Remus knew the Ministry was still searching for Sirius so he couldn't stay forever, but he didn't know exactly when he was leaving. Remus needed to tell him his goddaughter is still alive.
"Remus! Where the bloody hell have you been? You said you were only going to be gone a couple of hours?" Sirius angrily asks as he rushes in from the sitting room. Seeing the shocked, slightly crazed look on Remus's fade he is instantly on alert, "Whats wrong? What happened?"
"She...she's alive," Remus says in awe.
"Who's alive?"
"Everleigh," Remus whispers.
Immediately Sirius's face goes dark, "That's not funny. Don't joke about that. I went to Godric's Hollow before I went to Hogwarts. I saw her grave."
"I know. I went to the funerals, but I just spent the day with her and her adoptive family. She's alive Sirius. It's really her. She looks just like Lily, you can't mistake her. Merlin! I thought I was seeing a ghost when she tapped me on the shoulder."
Not daring to believe his little goddaughter is alive just yet, Sirius just has one question, "How?" he whispers.
"I don't know how exactly but it's her. I mean they never did find her body. She was just presumed dead. She knows she's adopted and she told me she found out over Christmas Harry is her brother."
"Why wasn't she at Hogwarts then? She should have just finished her second year," Sirius retorts. He finally has Harry back after twelve years, if Everleigh comes back into his life as well...well he can hardly believe his good fortune.
"She has lived in New York since she was one. She's been at Ilvermorny the last two years but her family moved back to London earlier this year so she's starting at Hogwarts in the fall."
"She's really alive?"
"She's really alive," Remus declares with a smile.
Sirius's face lights up at the prospect of both of his godchildren. He jumps up with a loud WHOOP and launches himself at Remus tackling the old werewolf in a hug at his excitement. "What's she like? Who raised her? How did she end up in New York?" he begins to send rapid fire questions at Remus.
"She's, well honestly she seems a lot like Lily. Her best subject is Potions but Defense and transfiguration are favorites of hers. I would have come after Diagon Alley but they invited me to dinner and I just couldn't pass up a chance to talk to her. See if it really was her. I didn't want to believe it at first. Merlin! She looks just like Lily but with James's eyes. The exact opposite of Harry," Remus says with a laugh, "She's such a happy kid. She didn't stop smiling once, until Harry came up. She's scared to meet him, thinks he won't want anything to do with her."
"That's crazy. I don't think there is anything Harry wants more than a family," Sirius responds.
"That's what I told her. She already has two older brothers. They all seem very close, I'm pretty sure the one, Lucas, and her are the same age, but Jason is a few years older. Her adoptive mother says she knew Lily; her name is Charlotte. Says they grew up next door to each other. I told her parents that I was close with James. I asked them to tell her she can write to me anytime she wants."
"I think I remember Lily mentioning a muffle friend once or twice, never met her myself," Sirius adds and then smiles and chuckles to himself, "I can't believe Everleigh is alive."
The two old friends spend the rest of the night talking about Harry and Everleigh; Sirius asking questions about the little girl, hungry for information in regards to the little red head he thought of as practically his own when she was born, the little girl who anytime she would cry her parents would set her in his arms and she would immediately calm down. The first few months of Everleigh's life, Sirius was completely devoted to her. Harry was his boy, but he shared a special bond with Everleigh that nobody could explain. When he arrived at Godric's Hollow on Halloween in 1981 and couldn't find her, he like everybody else assumed the worst, and it devastated him. Losing James and Lily was painful beyond all believe but they died for what they believed in: to save their family. Everleigh was just an infant. She had no chance to live yet, and he thought that chance had been stolen from her by Peter. To know she was alive, and soon she and Harry would be together again, he couldn't ask for anything more. Soon his family would be back together again. He originally planned to leave the country to avoid the ministry but now he was going to enlist Remus to help clear his name. He made a mistake by going after Peter that night all those years ago but now he was going to do whatever it took to be a free man. And maybe, just maybe, if he was really lucky they could all be a family again.
