From the playlist:

Sorrow- Sleeping at Last

Courage - Villagers

Chapter 35 - Courage, My Boy

April 21st

He didn't like the way the house was covered in flowers.

Euphemia always made sure that Stinchcombe House, the Potters' estate, had plenty of fresh florals, often grown in their own greenhouses on the property. The whole of the estate was grandiose, and stood as a testament to the Potter family's longstanding history and success. Unlike many of their ancient and wealthy wizarding counterparts, you'd never see a house elf on the property. The Potter family never believed in such things, even in days gone by. No; before she fell ill, Euphemia had tended the flowers all by herself. She had a knack for Herbology and loved spending time in the garden.

But the ones in the house now weren't Euphemia's. Others had sent the flowers. They were just reminders that, soon, the groundskeeper would be the only one nurturing the garden.

Remus sat slumped in an armchair downstairs in the parlor next to the great stone hearth, waiting like James asked him to. As he trailed his finger along the upholstery, he tried to take his mind off the flowers and began to lose himself in his thoughts…

He'd be heading to a new pack for the full moon at the end of the month, and to say he wasn't looking forward to it was an understatement.

His last "business trip" had gone okay. He made it back in one piece, so ultimately, it must have been somewhat successful according to Emmeline. However, he didn't feel like he'd accomplished much for the Order. Trying to assimilate into the pack had taken all of his focus and wit, so figuring out how to go about any sort of espionage on top of that seemed near impossible. Maybe Dumbledore had picked the wrong person after all.

And seeing the way other werewolves lived was…humbling. To say the least.

Non-violent had been a sort of loose term, of course. Even if the group wasn't set on infecting innocents to grow their numbers, inter-pack disputes were not uncommon. Rivalries over pecking order had turned bloody more than once. Remus learned very quickly by way of a black eye not to interfere.

And yet, this next trip would be entirely different - not only because he was going to have to forfeit his Wolfsbane, but also because he had never been around other werewolves on the nights of the full moon. He had absolutely no idea how it was going to go, and that uncertainty was frightening.

Did they hunt as a pack?

Did they attack each other?

Did they…mate? He'd heard some really odd legends about the wolves in the Dark Forest at Hogwarts. Emmeline would ring his neck if he came home one day with a litter of wolf pups…he shuddered at the thought.

The fireplace crackled with green flame and Lily stepped out, rescuing him from that mental rabbit hole.

"Hi," he greeted her, standing and nervously rubbing his hands down his trouser legs. He was never very good at these kinds of things.

She trotted into his embrace, teary eyed.

He hugged her back tightly, but the predominant part of her he could feel was her belly. He let out a little chuckle. "The little one's getting big."

"I'm honestly not sure if it's the baby, or me," she grumbled. "These days, I'm always hungry."

"…You erm, hungry now?"

"Not really."

There was plan A, dashed.

"Euphemia mentioned that you should have a look at the furniture in the old playroom and see if you want any of it for the nursery."

"Why would-...No, it doesn't feel right to go rummaging through their things before they're gone…"

"Euphemia said you can have anything you want, she told James."

She tried to lean out of the hug, but he sort of held her there. "…Remus."

"We could take a walk around the grounds. Some fresh air-"

"What do you think you're doing?"

"Or the greenhouses-"

"Has my husband asked you to distract me?"

By the time Remus gave up the ruse and let her go, Lily was already heading for the stairs.

"You really shouldn't see them like this-"

"I haven't seen them for months."

Remus chased after her, but she was quicker on the stairs than he was. "It isn't safe."

"He doesn't need to treat me like I'm so fragile."

"You shouldn't expose yourself in your state."

"They're probably not even contagious anymore."

"But it's not guaranteed-"

She spun around to face him. "Neither you nor James are keeping me out of that room."

He continued after her. "Lily. Lily, I understand you want to-"

Without missing a step, she cast a bubble-head charm on herself and kept trotting up the stairs.

Remus stopped and marveled at her ingenuity, panting. "…Oh you clever, clever girl."

The hallway of the third floor was lined with ornate tapestries chronicling the family's history as well as busts of matriarchs and patriarchs of the past. James had commissioned his parents' sculptures around Christmas before they took a turn for the worst, and now the cleanest, shiniest marble busts sat on pedestals at the end of the first wing of the hallway, in their rightful places among their ancestors.

Hearing them approaching around the corner, James stood from his seat on the floor outside the bedroom. He removed his glasses and wiped his face with his forearm. "You're a bloody pushover, Moony."

"Just have a look at your wife," Remus bade him, still winded.

James fixed his glasses back on his face and ogled at the bubble around her head. "...I've married a proper genius, haven't I?" He cracked a little smile, sniffling.

"I can't believe you were going to try to keep me out of there," Lily scolded him, tempering her voice but looking vexed nonetheless.

"I told you not to come at all."

"Then why did you have Remus stationed downstairs waiting for me?"

"Because I knew you'd show up anyway."

"Then why did you send the Patronus in the first place?"

"Because it wouldn't've been fair to keep you in the dark..."

"James, I have to see them."

"It's not good for you or the baby."

She pointed to her head. "Well now I can say goodbye, and you don't have to worry about us."

Sniffling again, he rested his hand on her bump. "I'm always gonna worry…"

Her eyes softened, and she pulled him against her. "How long do they have?"

"...The healer doesn't think they'll last the day…" James's face crumpled as he clutched her tighter and began to weep into her shoulder.

Lily's tears started up again too. "I'm so sorry, love…"

"I didn't want Dad to see me crying."

She leaned back and swiped the tears from his cheeks. "Does he know there isn't much time left?"

"I think so…" James sort of chuckled. "But the man's on his deathbed, and he's still trying to flirt with Mum…and he's taking the absolute piss out of Sirius."

"You Potter boys…"

"Would you like me to wait outside?" Remus asked, shuffling his feet.

James straightened up to look at him, wiping his face one more time. "No, you belong in there with us. If you can stand it."

He was never very good at these kinds of things, but there was nothing he wouldn't do for James. "I can. If you want me in there, I'm there."

They all looked around at each other.

"Together?" asked Lily.

"Together," said the boys.

James took a deep breath, then opened the door.

The master bedroom was just as gilded and florid as the rest of the house's interior, adorned in deep colored satins and velvets all over. The room might have looked more splendid if more light was streaming in, but the curtains were drawn.

Lily had to suck back her sobs when she saw Fleamont and Euphemia.

They were covered in pockmark scars, and their skin appeared to have a dull, greenish undertone.

But they were laying next to each other, clutching hands.

Remus hoped that Lily couldn't smell through the bubble. The flowers were no use; the whole room smelled of death. He couldn't really describe how the stale, sour stench alluded to the end of life, but it did.

She crept towards Euphemia's side of the bed where Sirius was already seated. Not wanting to get in anybody's way, Remus took a seat next to Peter against the wall.

James approached the healer by the window. "Any updates?"

"...Not much longer now…" he whispered contritely.

Glancing back at his parents, James tried not to cry again.

"Smartypants McGee over here," Sirius sniffled as Lily tousled his hair.

"Lily, dear?" Euphemia rasped.

"I'm here, Mum. I missed you both terribly…"

Euphemia clutched her hand. "This house and everything in it belongs to the child someday. It's in a trust. You tell them," she wheezed.

Euphemia had already told James this several times. "We will, we'll tell them…"

"Is that our Lily?" Fleamont croaked feebly, reaching up.

Lily left Sirius and walked around the bed to him, then crouched down and took his outstretched hand. "Hi, Dad…"

He was looking around like he couldn't really see her. "I told James not to, the pox…"

She lifted his hand up to the bubble encasing her head so he could feel it.

"...You brilliant girl."

"They couldn't keep me away."

"You hear that…Effy? I've still…got it."

"Ladykiller," Sirius quipped, smiling over at him.

"Until the…very end. I hope you're…taking…notes, Sirius."

Lily giggled through her tears.

But Fleamont began to cough; wheezing, hacking coughs that turned the greenish skin of his face purple.

The healer piddled over to check on him, then shot James a distressed look.

Joining Lily at his father's bedside, James held a cup of water to his lips. Once Fleamont had taken a few sips, he leaned back down onto the pillow, heaving.

"Take it easy, Dad. Just rest."

"I'll rest…when…I'm dead."

"Monty."

"Sorry…Effy."

After a moment, Fleamont spoke up again.

"Where are…my sons…?"

James beckoned Sirius over, so Lily took his place next to Euphemia, stroking her forehead.

"We're here, Dad," said James.

"...This family's…legacy…is in your care, now…"

Sirius stared at him, blinking.

"You…bear it…with pride…but…you remember…the blood in your veins…isn't any more remarkable…than…anyone else's…"

Sirius got up from his seat and turned his back, shaking and sniffling.

James took a deep breath, not bothering to hide his tears anymore. "Mum, Dad, listen, I-...I love you both so much, and-...and I feel like there's still so much more I have to learn, I have so many more questions…"

Fleamont muttered something, but James couldn't hear what he'd said. Fleamont grasped at his t-shirt so that his son inclined his ear to his mouth.

"Courage, my boy…"

With that, Fleamont's chest deflated.

"...Dad?"

Sirius spun back around.

"...James…" Lily whimpered.

James looked up at his wife, then down at his mother, who lay still.

She'd gone at the exact same time.

Their hands remained entwined.

James stood and forced himself into Sirius's arms, weeping.

As the healer waved his hand over both Fleamont and Euphemia's eyes, Lily ran into the boys' embrace. Then Peter got up to wrap his arms around them. Then Remus.

The flowers weren't of any consolation.

…

When Remus apparated back home, Emmeline was still at the bookshop. He'd write her a note before he went back to be with James and Sirius, but there was something he had to do first…

He paced to the phone and dialed. It rang a few times.

"Hello?"

"…Hi Mum."

"Remus! Hello darling…" He could hear her smiling.

He grew up with a phone, and now that he'd moved out, Hope made him promise to keep one in the house so he could call. He wrote plenty, but didn't call enough.

"How are you and Dad?" He prayed his crackling voice and tears weren't perceptible on the other end of the line.

"Fine, darling, we're just fine."

"Would you-…would you fetch him for me?"

"Your Dad?

"Yes, please."

"Of course. Just a moment."

There was a bit of muffled chatter in the background, then Lyall's voice came over the receiver.

"Remus?"

"Dad-"

"Everything alright? Are you okay?"

"Yes, yes I'm fine, I just…"

He took a deep breath.

"…I just wanted to call and tell you both how much I love you...and say that I'm very grateful for everything you've done."

There was a silence on the other end of the line. Remus thought he might've heard his mother sniffle.

"...Are you…are you sure you're alright, Remus?" Lyall asked again.

The fact that his words prompted his father to worry made him feel guilty; for scaring them, for not calling enough, for saying 'I love you' so infrequently that it seemed out of the ordinary. "Yes, yes I promise I'm fine. Honest."

"…Well we love you very much, son," Lyall murmured earnestly.

"Visit us soon. You can…you can bring Emmeline, if you'd like…" his mother offered. Then another silence.

He could hear his Dad shaking his head.

"…I'm doing a bit of research for Dumbledore, so…it may be a while." Best not to burden them with the anxiety of having to host; or having to reckon with the fact that he was trying very earnestly to have some semblance of a normal relationship with a girl, despite his father's warnings. "But I'll come as soon as I can."

"...Remus, darling?"

"Yes, Mum?"

"...You be careful."

"...I will. Don't worry."

"I'm always going to worry."

"I know. I'm sorry."