Chapter 4
A conversation with the dead.
Ravenna dreamed the night they arrived at the Burrow. It was fitful and interrupted. The dreams themselves felt dark and oppressive and she was afraid.
One particular dream stood out, the one she was having at this precise moment. She was walking slowly through the dark, dank walls of Grimmauld Place, she could hear reached below in the kitchens or "saving" some of his mistress' things. She soon found herself in the tapestry room- the family tree tapestry covering the walls.
She found where her father should have been- now a charred smudge where her grandmother had blasted him off. She touched the frayed and charred threads and sighed, tears rolling down her cheeks. She sat down on the sole seat in the room, a low backed, squishy couch-thing that was probably infested with mites, but at this moment she didn't care.
"Ravenna?" She looked up as she heard her father's voice approaching. She smiled as he stroked her hair the way he had when she had been smaller. She turned her face to see him sat beside her, as clear as the day he had died, his eyes still bright and full of compassion, his hair still long and lightly wavy like her own.
"I don't know what to do, Papa. About Harry." She said sadly, tears filling her eyes.
"I know you will do what is right, Ravenna. He needs you and you have done so much for him that he does not realise, but he will."
"Your father is right, Raven.' Another male voice said and she looked away from her father's face to see James and Lily Potter emerging into the room. Ravenna smiled sadly at him as they came before her, Lily sitting on her other side.
"You have done so much for Harry. You have kept him safe, no matter how much you think otherwise, Ravenna. Thank you for doing that." Lily said, her arms around her goddaughter.
"But he never got to meet you..."
"But he has known us through others, like yourself, even if he doesn't remember. Which I will agree was probably safer for him, considering what Dumbledore was always saying." James explained, pushing his glasses up his nose and flashing her a smile, the exact replica of Harry. She smiled slightly.
"'He will know, when it is time to know.' What do you suggest I do? If this comes to a war, what should I do?" Ravenna asked, as James knelt down and took her hands in his own. Lily continued to hug her and Sirius stroked her hair tenderly.
"You fight alongside him, as you have always done. You tell him, when you feel it is time for him to know, Ravenna. But most of all, you fight because you love him, Charlie Weasley and all the others." James said simply. Lily nodded as did Sirius when she flashed them both looks.
"You're right. You're always right."
"Not always. But sometimes." Sirius smirked.
"Tell him, we love him, Ravenna. Tell him, we fight with him. Tell him we're proud of the man he has become." Lily asked kindly and Ravenna nodded.
"I will."
James and Lily rose and headed for the door arm in arm before they turned back when Ravenna called to them. "I love you."
"And we love you." Lily said before she and James vanished from view. Ravenna let Sirius pull her into his chest and his arms for a hug, just as they had done before he died.
"You'll do what is right Ravenna. I know you will." He kissed her forehead, his facial hair tickling her. She held onto to him tightly.
"I love you."
"I love you too. Tell my grandchildren too. I will protect you Ravenna, do not worry about that."
"'The ones we love never truly leave us' right?" Ravenna said and Sirius smiled.
"Right. Stay safe, my Ravenna, my beautiful and brave daughter." Sirius said one final time before he too was gone.
Ravenna awoke sharply and sat bolt upright. Tears streaming down her face. Charlie stirred beside her.
"Love? You alright?" He asked sleepily wrapping his arm around her waist, his hand brushing her thigh.
"Yes, I've just spoken with my father and Harry's parents."
"A conversation with the dead, huh?" Charlie commented sleepily.
"Yes. I know what to do now to keep Harry safe."
"What's that?"
"Tell him the truth about everything."