— chapter thirty —
GLASS SHARDS

—

IT HAD BEEN three years. Three years since Remelda had gotten with Remus, since she had left the Black family, and three years since she had gotten back in contact with her brother. A lot had changed. No longer was she the ice cold Slytherin who cared for no one but her brother, who was betrothed to Demetri Carrow and the princess of the Black family.

She was Remelda Lupin now. With short hair and a necklace given to her by her cousin Andromeda, this Remelda – the better version, the new one – stood in her kitchen cooking dinner. It was Halloween night and she could hear her daughter, Calypso, giggling in the living room while watching TV. The girl was two and the light of Remelda's life.

Much like Nymphadora when she was younger, Calypso adored television and those silly cartoons. And, like Nadia, was in love with Disney princesses. Her favorite, though, had always been Snow White, unlike her aunt, who always favored Cinderella. Remelda, still, didn't care much for the movies, but was always willing to watch one with Calypso just to see her smile. She had such a bright smile, with a twinkle in her eyes as the freckles adorning her cheeks.

She continued to stir the pasta which was boiling in the pot, humming a song Sirius always played when she came over. Nadia would always roll her eyes and ask why he insisted on listening to it all the time before he would smile so sweetly and she couldn't help but peck him on the cheek. They were so in love. Everything was slow with them, there was no rush, and they still were so happy.

Remelda wanted that.

Her husband came down the stairs, coat in his hand as he attempted to put in her and entered the kitchen. Seeing this, Remelda held a soft smile. "Here, let me help you with that." And she did, placing his coat on him as he returned a smile.

"Thanks," he said, and she looked in his eyes for another moment. He was still so beautiful.

She indulged herself for a moment, letting herself kiss him and he kissed back. It should've been easy, without hesitance, but it was full of that. It was nice, soft, as it always was. It was comfortable and she felt herself fill with happiness at it. And then it was over. Calypso cried from the living room and the two parted and Remelda looked down in shame. She shouldn't have done that.

"I'll go get her," Remelda whispered, "When will you be back?"

"The mission should last just a few days," Remus informed her, "Frank's coming along too." He had to leave for business pertaining to the Order, leaving her with their little girl.

Remelda nodded, "Be safe. I love you."

Remus froze in front of the door, hand on the knob. And, like had been doing for the past couple of months, responded with, "I know." leaving after that.

She felt her heart shatter in her chest. Everything was a mess in her life. It was too rushed and she knew that – she pushed them and it wasn't working out. Her doubts were coming true and she hated that she was right. Remelda wanted him, loved him, but he didn't love her back. Couldn't.

And he had tried. He had lied to himself, to her, and she didn't blame him. But now here they were. They were so broken, it wasn't fair. There were days of silence, exchanging minimal words with each other and others were they fought constantly only to place on a mask and pretend to be a happy couple in front of their friends. It hurt, but Remelda endured it. This was better than any other life she could've had.

Remelda blinked and willed herself not to cry. She had a child to tend to, she couldn't. She went into the living room to see a babbling Calypso and brought the child into her arms.

―

"So, where's Remus?" Sirius asked. He sipped at his tea and looked at his sister.

"On another mission. He'll be gone for a couple of days, but it's alright," Remelda shrugged it off.

He frowned, "He's been going on more of those lately, hasn't he?"

"Has he?" Remelda pretended like she didn't already know that, wasn't already hurting because he was barely home anymore and nothing was alright between them, "I haven't noticed. Been busy with work and Calypso. Makes sense, seeing as he's the only one in the Order without another proper job."

Sirius eyed her carefully for a few moments before changing his expression. He knew when not to press a topic all too much. Sometimes, anyways. "It's Halloween."

"I know, great observation there, Sirius," she teased her brother, hearing the overdramatic sigh that followed.

"It's Halloween night yet we're here having too in her kitchen. Shouldn't we be like, I don't know, trick-or-treating?"

"We could, yes, but I don't really understand the concept," Remelda explained, "Remus was supposed to take Calypso but then, well...things just didn't work out."

Sensing the sadness from the last comment, Sirius placed his hand over hers, "Hey, it's alright. He'll be okay."

She wished that was the reason she was upset. Just a simple concern for safety, but it was more than that. It was because her marriage was failing and she didn't know what to do about it because it was inevitable – she couldn't fight it. This would end up in tragedy like everything else in her life. And then the worry about her child – how was she going to care for Calypso all by herself? No, she couldn't think of that.

Remelda nodded, "I know. I can't help it, though. I don't want anything to happen."

That was partially true. She didn't want anything to happen – to change. If anything, the only change she wanted was to go back to when they were younger. Before everything went downhill and they were happy. Just the two of them, in the summer before her final year. Those two weeks she spent with Remus and Sirius in their new apartment. When he took her sightseeing around London and bought her a nice charm bracelet that she left there and he gave back to her on September first when she was boarding the train for Hogwarts.

Those were the days. When they were happy and nothing could come between them. But then life happened and she couldn't return to those moments and she was left with all these broken pieces.

Sirius smiled, "You know what'll make you happy? Harry. I hear that he's been doing well and absolutely loves the broom Nadia and I got him for Christmas!"

Remelda smirked, "You mean you bought behind her back when she already brought a nice blanket?"

"That's the one!"

"And I don't see how that'll help, we can't go see them. It's dangerous, you know that," he did. The Potters were in hiding; it was for the best.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. But Prongs and I have this like mirror thing that connects with each other and allows us to see the other person. It's amazing. Used it all the time in detention and all that shit," Sirius smiled.

"Shut the fuck up, Sirius! Calypso's just in the other room! She could hear you!" Remelda scolded him.

Sirius rolled his eyes, "You're such a hypocrite, Remelda. And it's fine; she's too interested in Scooby-Doo anyways." He took out a shard of glass from his sock.

"Why do you just carry that around with you?" Remelda questioned, brows furrowing in confusion.

"Um, in case James needs me, duh," Sirius said as if it were obvious. He then held out the glass for the both of them to see, him still smiling. An image appeared, and Remelda expected to find a ceiling or something, just not that. Not the sight they saw.

"James?" Sirius uttered as he saw this. It was the first hallway in the Potter house. And on the floor lied James Potter. Still, cold, unmoving. Not even a twitch. She thought for a moment she was wrong. Maybe he was asleep, but then again, if that were the case, wouldn't they be able to see him breath?

But he wasn't. "Sirius..." Remelda breathed out, "How? What? Is he...is he dead?"

"No..." Sirius croaked out, "He can't be. No one could find them."

"Because you're the Secret Keeper," Remelda muttered, standing up and away from her brother, looking at him threateningly, "You're the only one who knows."

"I didn't do this! You have to believe me!" Sirius was standing now as well.

"But you're the Secret Keeper! It can't be anyone else!" Remelda exclaimed.

"No, I'm not. Peter is. I-I declined. At the last moment, I declined."

"Why? How can I know this is the truth?" Remelda continued to question him.

"Isn't it obvious? Everyone would know I'm their Secret Keeper. But Peter...he's been so far gone from this world, it was safer. At least, I thought it was," Sirius muttered the last part to himself.

"So it's Peter. He – he's the one who caused that? But what was Lily? And Harry? Are they..."

"I'll go check," Sirius grabbed his leather jacket, about out the door when Remelda stopped him.

"I'm coming with you," she decided but Sirius shook his head.

"You have Calypso to think of. You can't leave. I'll go check on the, see if they're alive. And then...and then I'm going after Peter," Sirius growled his name.

"Don't do anything irrational," Remelda said, knowing her brother, "And be safe. Bring Harry and Lily here once you find them. I love you."

Sirius softend for a moment to see the concerned look of his younger sister, "I love you too, Remelda."

And he was out the door. Remelda was left by herself, the broken glass from the mirror on her floor. Nothing had ever been so symbolic of her life before.

hi, i thought this was obvious since this book has been completed for months now, but the character ask is CLOSED. please refrain from commenting under this section because your question will not be answered and frankly it's a little annoying to me.

character ask:

remelda

nadia

nancy

demetri

alfie

sirius

remus

regulus