Thicker than Water (Marauders Era)

16 July, 1993 - Escape

The remainder of 1992 passed, thankfully, without much ado. In the early months of 1993, of course, Hogwarts went to hell in ways Lavinia could never have predicted. Indeed, no one could have predicted. Except perhaps Dumbledore, but by the time Lavinia was curious enough to consider asking him if he knew what the hell was happening at the school, he had been ousted as Headmaster and there was talk of the school shutting down. In short: it was chaos. And Lavinia didn't know who to go to or who to ask or even how to ask if Harry was okay. Because Dumbledore was perhaps the only person other than Remus who knew that she had been the boy's godmother and was, therefore, perhaps the only person who might have answered her question. But he was nowhere to be found

So Lavinia stressed and worried her way through that early part of the year until news came that the school was fine. That the culprit had been caught. And that all was once again well at England's oldest and most prestigious school. Lavinia had been more than tempted to demand answers from Dumbledore, but before she'd so much as decide whether or not she really wanted to have that conversation, the old man had sent her a letter and told her that Harry was fine. That the events at Hogwarts were connected to the Dark Lord and that he was doing all he could to keep the boy safe. And to keep him happy.

Lavinia hadn't known what to do other than to trust the old man. She wouldn't normally be inclined to such things, but he had told her that the mother of Harry's friend, some Mrs. Molly Weasley, had agreed to take Harry in over summer holidays when she could and that he was sorry to say that this year would be an exception. It was that honesty, more than anything else, that convinced Lavinia to trust him. That the old man had bothered to tell her in the first place, had bothered to be honest in informing her that this summer Harry would be left to his aunt and uncle... It made her feel somehow better about Dumbledore keeping his promise. Because Lavinia had learned just how valuable honesty was. She'd been lied to one too many times about one too many important things and... and Dumbledore's honesty somehow meant something to her. Especially since she was well aware that it was not a trait the old man was inclined to.

So it was that by the early summer months, Lavinia worries had ebbed and life had gone back to normal. It was a blessed relief after the chaos of the past few years and now, for just a moment, things felt... good. Things felt normal.

Her job was what it had always been and Lavinia loved it as she always had. She had her friends around her and they laughed like normal and celebrated like normal and when Jasmine's 13th birthday came, they held their little family party with a whole lot more fuss than was strictly necessary but exactly as much fuss as one could expect from any party that Miriam was involved in planning. And it had felt... it had felt perfect in a way Lavinia hadn't been able to describe. Because it had been a party for family. And they were her family. Just the way James and Lily and Peter and Sirius had been her family. Just the way Remus had always been her family. And with all of them there on that day, with laughter and games and cake that was served without bothering to cut slices... It had been perfect.

And no, her life wasn't perfect. But it never would be. And it never had to be. That it had perfect moments like that was all she could ever ask for. And it was more than enough.

So though imperfect, life was good again. Life was simple and straightforward and Lavinia liked it that way, with no chaos and no surprises.

Unsurprisingly, perhaps, it didn't last.

Lavinia had just finished a long and rather boring shift at work when she sighed and stretched, popping her back rather satisfyingly as she did so. She'd spent nearly the entire day in the office she still often thought of as Robert's for all that it hadn't technically been his for nearly two years now and it hardly looked the same as it had back then. Lavinia had cleaned up the place considerably so there was now actually space to move in it. All of the books Robert had left she had sorted and filed and the papers had been tucked in the appropriate folders or else discarded. The place was still small and a bit stuffy and not very nice to spend extended periods in, but it was better.