AN: You should read Chapter 3: London Calling, of the Sirius Black spin-off, Isle of Corvus.
It goes hand in hand with this chapter.
"Remus, help me get her into the bath, please."
The quill in Remus' hand snapped, and he tipped over his inkpot accidentally. He cursed softly and took in a deep breath to calm himself, and then looked down at the ink sodden letter—he'd have to start over… again. He'd been so on edge lately, but with all things considered, he couldn't help it.
"Is it that time again?" he asked softly, turning to look at his mother with a stoic expression on his pale face.
Adele Lupin nodded.
"H-how is…," Remus started, but stopped himself. His voice cracked. He was doing better today, but there were still those few moments when his emotions would consume him, rendering him speechless and in tears.
His mother sighed, and she pushed off from the doorframe and stepped into Remus' bedroom. Her son was sitting at his desk by the window, his shoulders hunched and various balled up parchments littering the floor around him. He'd been trying to write a letter, but whenever he thought about the unconscious woman next door, he'd crumble.
Standing behind him, Adele placed her hands on her son's shoulders and gave them a tender squeeze.
"She's still the same," she said quietly, placing a kiss on his head. "The wounds on her back are healing painfully slow. The bandages have gotten so heavy with blood that they're beginning to slip off. If we don't figure out the counter-curse or if she doesn't wake up soon, I'm afraid that—"
"Don't," Remus snapped, balling up his hands into tight fists, and closing his eyes, "just don't. Don't even think it. She'll pull through, I can feel it."
"I'm sorry, my love," his mother said quietly, retracting her hands from his shoulders.
Remus nodded, accepting his mother's apology. Slowly he got up from his chair, pushing away from his desk and turning to look down at his mother. What was happening wasn't her fault, and so he gave her a small, apologetic smile, and then walked out of his room with her following behind him.
As he entered the bedroom next door, the smells that assaulted him nearly stopped him in his tracks. The scent of lavender was weak, and the stench of blood and antiseptic was thick. Isabella lay cold and still on the guest bed, looking small and frail. The sight nearly took his breath away, and it made tears sting his eyes. He thought he would get used to it by now, seeing her like that, it had been two days already, but he just couldn't get used to seeing her so broken, so vulnerable, so close to death. It made him feel guilty and angry because he had not been able to protect her, and fear smothered him because she hadn't woken up yet, and he was scared of losing her.
His wolf howled loudly in his mind, urging him to do something to save their mate, but Remus knew not what needed to be done. Isabella had been cursed, and without the counter-curse…
He swallowed down the lump that had formed in his throat.
"I've already taken the bandages off, so now all that's left is to move her into the bathroom," Adele told her son gently, walking over to Isabella's bedside.
Isabella lay on her stomach, naked with the exception of her knickers. Her back was exposed and various deep gashes were scattered all along her back, several inches long, several inches wide… Adele had done the best she could do without any proper training in the medical field, and she'd done well so far, but it wasn't enough. This was not like treating the wounds of her son after a full moon—this was something else, something darker. She had never seen a curse like this, which could turn skin into bleeding ribbons. It scared her.
Remus stood beside his mother, looking down at the torn flesh of his lover's back. He didn't want to touch her, he didn't want to cause her any more pain, but his mother assured him that Isabella wouldn't feel a thing, and so he placed a hand on Isabella's hip, ready to turn her on her side, when a loud whimper startled him, making him draw his hand back.
"She's waking up," said Adele, astonished, a hopeful smile on her lips.
"Are you sure that the sedative isn't just wearing off?"
"No," said Adele with bright eyes, looking up at her son, "that is the sound of a woman regaining her conscious."
"What do we do?" asked Remus, looking down at his mother with wide, concerned eyes.
"We wait," she said softly, placing a hand on Isabella's shoulder.
"I'll go finish that letter."
He had told them a lie, having no idea how much truth his words held: Isabella was safe at Spinner's End, recuperating. She'd been hit with a rogue curse during the riot at the Quidditch World Cup, and Ministry officials had found her body and had taken her to St. Mungo's, and after a thorough examination to make sure she'd be well, she was sent home with him.
The Malfoys had bought it, of course, and when Severus had stressed no visitors, they'd understood. This was a family matter, but Severus had promised them that they'd be the first he'd contact once Isabella was better.
Now if only he could actually find her, but he knew his cousin—Isabella was a smart witch, and if anyone could take a hit and survive, it was she.
Of course, he'd had his reasons for lying, which he'd explained to Talia once they'd arrived home to a house devoid of Isabella. He'd needed to get her out of the Malfoy's house, just in case. It was no secret that her dearest Uncle Lu was a reformed Death Eater, one of Voldemort's ex-followers, and if Lucius had had something to do with the attack…
Tiredly, Severus shook his head. Sophia and Elijah sat across from him in the sitting room, looking pale, tired, and far older then what they really were. Seraphina was due to arrive any minute, her presence having been called upon by Severus. Talia had locked herself in her mother's room and refused to come out, accept food, or eat—she was isolating herself, and not even her grandmother had been able to get through to her.
So that was why Seraphina was needed. If Isabella was not present, then it was always Seraphina…
"What is taking her so long?" asked Elijah with an impatient sigh.
"You know she's not alone on that little isle's of hers anymore," said Severus cryptically.
"Don't remind me," grumbled Elijah. "What was Albus thinking, sending Sirius Black to her to be kept hidden?"
"Give it a rest, Eli," Sophia said with a tired sigh.
Her husband ignored her, continuing with, "It's not proper for—"
"Sera is quiet old enough to make her own decisions," reminded Sophia, "and she's quite happy with the arrangement. You do remember her last letter, don't you? Sirius has been nothing but a gentleman."
Elijah said nothing, knowing that he wouldn't win this battle. Seraphina was like a second daughter to him, and the mere thought of she and Sirius Black all alone on that island of hers… He did not like it, not matter what he'd been told, like how Sirius Black was innocent, and a gentleman.
Five minutes passed before the fireplace came alive with green flames, and out stepped Seraphina in all her glory. She was a tiny little thing, but she made up for it with a very big personality, and an ever bigger, colorful vocabulary.
"I have arrived, people," she announced, grinning, "now where's my little munchkin?"
Severus rolled his eyes. Seraphina was far too cheery for his tastes.
"She's upstairs," he drawled.
"Well, hello to you too, Potions Master," Seraphina said nastily, placing her hands on her hips. "I thought they taught you manners over at that castle you work in?"
"Well you haven't greeted our aunt and uncle, have you?" he hissed back.
"I was just getting there, dearest Sevy," Seraphina glared, and then turned away from him and smiled down at her relatives, saying cheekily, "Hello Aunt Sophie, Uncle Eli."
"Hello darling," Sophia said, rising from her seat to give her niece a kiss on the cheek, Elijah doing the same.
"Let's see if you have any luck with her," said Elijah, looking up at the ceiling to indicate that Talia was upstairs, "she's locked herself in her mother's room."
"Just give me 10 minutes," said Seraphina, before quickly walking out of the sitting room and taking the stairs two steps at a time, stomping extra hard, because she knew Severus did not like that.
Severus sighed, already feeling a headache coming on.
Sophia sighed as she took her seat, looking at her nephew as she said, "That feud between you two is getting ridiculous. How did it start again? You were… fifteen, weren't you?"
"I was sixteen and she set my robes on fire," Severus said through gritted teeth. "… on purpose."
Elijah stifled a laugh, and Sophia nudged him with her elbow to shut him up.
"You seriously can't still be upset about that?" said Elijah with a teasing smile.
"She also mixed hair-removal powder into my shampoo," Severus said dangerously low, "Or how about the time she knocked me out and magicked makeup on my face that would not come off until I said: Seraphina, the great and almighty, is prettier than me, or the time she put toads in my luggage when—"
"Alright, we get the point," said Elijah, putting his hands up to calm his nephew. "But that happened so long ago, surely you two aren't still fighting?"
Severus glared at his uncle, and was about to come back with a biting retort, but in walked Widget from the kitchen, waving a letter in her tiny hands.
"Remus Lupin sends a letter!" the little elf exclaimed, walking over to Severus, "it be addressed to you, my Master."
Severus arched an eyebrow, his anger at his cousin shortly forgotten. He quickly took the letter from his house elf and read it once, twice, and a third time just to make sure that his eyes hadn't deceived him. A sudden tension left his shoulders then, and he sunk back into his armchair with a very tired sigh.
"Severus, my boy, what does Remus say?" asked Sophia, staring at her nephew curiously.
"I know where Isabella is."
Holding on to her aunt's hand, Talia slowly walked down to the sitting room. Seraphina wasn't supposed to be here, she had things to do back at Isle of Corvus, but Talia supposed it was all her fault that her aunt found herself at Spinner's End. She'd heard her uncle talking through the Floo earlier, he'd asked Seraphina to come and try to talk to her—it hadn't worked, at least not entirely. Talia still refused to talk, but she had allowed her aunt into her mother's bedroom, which was saying something. Seraphina had told her simply that all would be better in the end, and then she'd held her and stroked her hair, and said no more. She hadn't lied to her, nor filled her with false hope, and that was all that Talia wanted. Her grandmother and grandfather had tried to comfort her by telling her that Isabella was alright and that she'd soon be home—but they were just lying, Talia knew.
The elder Princes did not know where their daughter was.
Talia did not like being lied too.
In the sitting room, Talia immediately looked down to her shoes, gripping her aunt's hand tightly. Maybe if she wasn't looking at them they wouldn't tell her anything.
Her uncle wasn't there, but he had been moments earlier—she could still smell him in the sitting room, but it was faint. Her grandparents were the only ones that remained.
"Where's the git?" asked Seraphina, looking around for Severus.
"Sera, mind your language," said Sophia sternly, looking at Talia pointedly.
"My mistake," said Seraphina with a roll of the eyes. "But really, where is he?"
"We got a letter a couple of minutes ago, from Remus," said Sophia, and at hearing her father's name, Talia quickly looked up.
"He has Isabella," said Elijah with a sigh. "She apparated to him."
"Hear that?" said Seraphina as she looked down at Talia, "Your mum's with your dad! Isn't that great?"
Talia slightly smiled.
"We'll take over from here, Sera. You best be off now; you're supposed to stay on your island, you know," said Sophia, reaching a hand out for Talia, "c'mon sweetheart, we're going."
"To mum and dad?" asked Talia softly, timidly.
Sophia smiled. "Yes, to your mum and dad."
"You'll send me a letter, will you?" asked Seraphina as she played with her bracelets. "Albus Dumbledore be damned—if you need me I will come, you only need to say when."
"Of course," said Sophia, taking Talia's hand.
"Right, well, I'll go first then, you all take care now, and remember: I want a detailed report on Izzy's condition," said Seraphina as she walked to the fireplace. The tin of Floo power rested on the mantle, and after grabbing a pinch and stepping into place, she was gone in a bright flash of green flames.
"Our turn," said Elijah, grabbing Floo powder from the tin and stepping into the fireplace. He waited until his wife stood beside him, and between them was Talia, and after giving his wife a nod, he dropped the powder, saying clearly, "Monk's Hood Cottage!"
Green flames engulfed them and they were sailing through the air for just a second before touching down on stable ground. Stepping out of the grate, Talia found herself in a small sitting room. It was cozy, with warm colors and hardwood flooring, and smelled of cinnamon. The kitchen was to the right, and the front door was to the left, and across from them was a staircase with a wooden banister.
Talia took in a deep breath, and she immediately detected her father's scent, along with her uncle's, and a faint touch of her mother. She took to sniffing the air to get a feel for where everyone was, and as she did so, a scent from the kitchen made her look to the right. There was someone in the kitchen, someone whose scent she did not know.
"Someone's here," she said softly, looking up at her grandparents worriedly.
"How do you mean?" asked Sophia, looking down at her granddaughter curiously.
"I don't know who it is," she said, sniffing the air once more, "but it… I should know who it is. It smells familiar… kind of like my dad. Honey and chocolates and... sugar."
"That would be me, sweetie," said a kind voice from the kitchen, and out from the archway that served as the kitchen's entrance, stepped an older woman, with light brown hair and bright blue eyes, wearing simple robes. Her hands were wet, and she was drying them on her apron.
She'd been cooking.
"Adele," said Sophia, giving the other woman a smile. It had been so long since she had last seen her—about 16 years, more or less, way back when their children were dating in school.
"Hello Sophia, it's been a while, hasn't it?" said the woman, Adele.
"Yes, it has," agreed Sophia, before walking towards the woman and enveloping her in a hug. "How have you been?"
"To be honest, not good," Adele sighed, "Poor Remus is taking it hard."
"My dad," spoke up Talia, gripping her grandfather's hand tightly. She looked at the woman curiously, asking hesitantly, "You… know my dad?"
Adele smiled and nodded, saying gently, "What kind of mother would I be if I didn't know my own son?"
Talia stood stock still, surprised. This woman was her father's mother…
"Come here, girl," Adele said with a warm smile, "Come give your nana a hug."