Where Secrets Abound

Lovetta pored over her books. Nowadays, there were several subjects she wished she had paid more attention to at Hogwarts. Still, the best she could do now was study spells and practice. Remus told her she was becoming more reckless, especially in light of the circumstances. Begged her to think of their daughter. She reminded him that one of their best friends was missing, likely dead, two others were in hiding, marked by He Who Must Not Be Named himself, and the final one, suspected of being a traitor, was their Secret Keeper. He couldn't expect her to sit idly by.

Remus was out, on some Order business. He hadn't bothered to specify. Lovetta always missed him when he was gone. It wasn't that she was afraid to be alone, though it did make her uneasy. When Ophelia began to cry from the other room, Lovetta sighed and stood, setting her books aside. It was times like these that she couldn't help but feel hopeless. What kind of world was this for her daughter to grow up in, filled with war and darkness? It seemed like the temperature had dropped ten degrees just from her bitter thoughts.

Wait. No. The temperature really had dropped. Ice was spreading over the windows. These horrible feelings weren't her own.

Dementor.

"Ophelia..." Lovetta breathed. She took off running to the nursery.

When she opened the door, sure enough, that horrible hooded figure hovered over her daughter's crib.

"Hey, you!"

Its head (Did these things technically have heads?) snapped towards the sound the sound of her voice. Instantly, the feelings of dread amplified tenfold. Ophelia cried louder. Lovetta's hand was shaking as she raised her wand. There was a spell... that important spell... but the dementor's power seemed to have drained it from her, along with her happiness.

"Ex- Expecto-"

The dementor hovered closer.

"Expecto patronum!"

A weak sliver of silver shoved at the dark form. It seemed rather unimpressed.

The sound of the front door slamming open drew its attention.

"Lovetta!" It was Remus. He must have figured out that something was wrong.

"Remus, it's in the nursery!" she shouted, trying not to take her attention off of her spell.

But it was no use. The silver shield sputtered out, and the creature turned back to the crib.

"No!"

Lovetta threw herself between the dementor and her daughter.

---

"Lovetta!" Remus shouted, throwing the door to his home open so forcefully that it hit the wall. As soon as he realized a dementor had been set after his family, he Apparated home as fast as he could. He could sense the protective charms had been undone, no easy feat with Lovetta's skill.

"Remus, it's in the nursery!" he heard her cry back.

He ran to the stairs as fast as he could.

"No!"

"Lovetta!" he called desperately.

Remus was stopped cold in the doorway by what he saw.

It's true what they say. A Dementor's kiss is unbearable to watch.

"Expecto patronum!"

The charm that he somehow managed to produce drove the creature away, but it was too late. He had been too late.

---

November 1st, 1981

The Boy Who Lived. It was on every newspaper. Last night, The last two people Remus trusted and loved had died. But not their children. That's right, children. It seemed everyone had forgotten about Harry Potter's twin, Rachel. She had survived too, Dumbledore had told the Order, but there was no mention of her anywhere in the papers. He supposed it would be for the best. Magical folk everywhere would be hounding that poor boy. At least the girl would be spared.

The war was over, but it was too late. Too late to save Lovetta. Too late to save Lily and James. Too late to save Peter. Lyra's body had been found last night as well. It seemed she had died just two nights ago. Lucius Malfoy had been quick to claim he'd been Imperiused. He told everyone how Lyra had died protecting the Potters. She had refused to tell the Dark Lord where she suspected they might hide, or where her husband, the Secret Keeper, might run. Her efforts, however noble, Lucius mourned, were all rendered useless when Sirius Black betrayed her and gave up James and Lily.

Lucius had appeared on Remus' doorstep earlier in the morning with a baby in his arms, unable to hide his disdain.

"Malfoy." Remus didn't buy the Imperius claim.

"Lupin," he said in return. It seemed he was struggling to hide his disdain. "It was Lyra's wish... that you be named godfather to her child."

Now that caught Remus by surprise.

"Her child... Her child survived?"

Lucius nodded. "She begged me to save her."

"And I'm the godfather?"

The other man nodded again. There was a pause, then, he handed the baby over.

"Her name is Elara. Elara Lyra... Black." He spat the last word.

"No," Remus shook his head. "She can't grow up with a traitor's name... Until she's old enough to understand, she'll have my name."

Lucius nearly sneered, but managed to stamp it down.

"If you insist..."

Remus met his eye, not backing down.

"I insist. Good day, Lucius."

With that, the man Disapparated.

Remus looked down at the child in his arms. Elara. Lucius had definitely named her.

"I'm so sorry, my dear..." he murmured. "You're a child of war, you and Ophelia... It isn't fair."

He would protect his children from the world. He would protect them from the truth.

---

        Be sure to keep an eye out for the sequel, Time Will Tell!