𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐋 𝐃𝐀𝐌𝐀𝐆𝐄 ¹

00. October 31st 1981

     THE WIND HOWLED IN THE DARK NIGHT as the Wizarding World celebrated the downfall of Lord Voldemort. After years of terror, peace finally seemed to fall over the country. No one seemed to realize whatever destruction it had left.

In Godric's Hollow, two babies had become orphans in mere minutes. One of them — a boy who would soon be known as The Boy Who Lived — was crying in his crib. The other one — a girl who's name many would soon forget — was hidden behind the couch, a blanket draped over her.

A black figure emerged into the house, stepping over the body of James Potter as if it was nothing. He was about to dash up the stairs, looking for the only person he actually cared, when the baby's cries finally reached his ears.

Severus Snape turned his head, trying to locate where it was coming from. He moved into the living room, ignoring James Potter's dead body once more, and eventually found the source of the noise behind the couch under a blanket. It was crying so loud he thought his ears were going to fall off.

With a look of pure disgust, he picked the girl up, holding it an arms length away from him. She had stopped crying the moment she was off the floor and was now looking at him with brilliant hazel eyes. It was a contrast to the short red locks that grew on top of her head.

For a moment, the two of them looked at each other, only the sound of a crying Harry was heard. The girl merely blinked as she observed the dark figure before her. She did not recognize him.

Severus Snape on the other side did recognize her, though she shared nothing but Lily's red hair. She looked a lot like James — much to his dismay.

The baby started crying again and Severus decided on that moment that he would never have children himself.

• ✧ •

DORCAS MEADOWES DID NOT EXPECT to take care of a baby at the mere age of twenty-one.

"Why can't they stay together, Albus?" she asked the headmaster as she held her goddaughter in her arms. "Must you seperate them?"

The headmaster sighed. "There is no other way. Harry must live with his blood relatives and they were not prepared to take two extra babies."

"But they're twins!" Dorcas protested. "They have both lost their parents tonight, surely they won't lose each other, too?"

"It's the only possible option," Albus said, firmly this time. "Can I count on you to raise Harper?"

Dorcas sighed, tears forming in her eyes. She had just lost her best friends. "Of course you can. She's my goddaughter."

"Thank you," Albus said, standing up from his chair. "Now, there's a lot I need to do. Once again, I offer you my condolences."

"Thank you," Dorcas said, dipping her head. She looked down at the baby in her arms and found herself wondering whether she could raise a baby on her own.

Luckily she wouldn't be alone for very much longer.

• ✧ •

REMUS LUPIN BANGED ON HER DOOR exactly five minutes after Dumbledore had left.

"Who is it?" Dorcas asked, her wand raised. There were still Death Eaters out there and one could not be careful enough. Certainly not after what had happened to their friends.

"It's Remus Lupin," a familiar but broken voice said. "I'm a werewolf. You guys call me Moony —"

Dorcas pulled the door open and saw him standing in the rain, his face stained with tears and his eyes red.

"He betrayed them, Dorcas," Remus told her, eyes glassy and his hair wet. "Sirius betrayed them and he killed Peter."

"I know," Dorcas said, crying, too, as she pulled him in for a hug, not caring that his clothes were wet. His shoulders shook as he cried and she didn't try to hide her tears either.

Somewhere behind them, a baby cried and Remus pulled back.

"That's Harper," he said, recognizing the cries. "What is she doing here?"

"Dumbledore dropped her off," Dorcas told him. "He wanted me to look after her."

"But why isn't Harry with her? Where is Harry?" Remus questioned, frowning.

"He's with Lily's sister Petunia," Dorcas sighed. "Apparently they weren't able to take two kids."

"But why can't we take care of him?" Remus demanded. "I mean, you can. I know I won't be enough for them . . . I can barely come around as it is. I don't have the money to raise a kid . . . and then you have the fact that I'm a werewolf. It's too dangerous for me."

"We just have to trust that Dumbledore knows what is best," Dorcas said, pursing her lips. "I will raise Harper." She then tilted her head. "I could use the help . . ."

Remus hesitated. "I don't know, Dorcas, I don't want to hurt her . . ."

"You won't," Dorcas promised him. "I know you have a hard time coming around Remus and honestly, I can really use your company. This place is getting lonely," she added, looking around at her house. Her parents had died in the war and had left it to her. "I'll brew you your monthly Wolfsbane Potion and you can hide in the basement whenever it's a full moon. I'll seal the door myself."

Remus hung his head, exhausted of everything that had happened. "All right," he said softly. "Let's do it."

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August 26th 2021
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