Awe, thanks, Rachel! You're too sweet. I'm glad you've enjoyed them.

And here's the new post!

“Is there a reason why you can’t think about everything inside?” Remus grumbled as he found Emily in their tree in the backyard.

“Fresh air,” she answered with a smile as he climbed the tree and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

“Where’s Draco?”

“Taking a nap… He didn’t get a lot of sleep last night,” she whispered.

“And why is that?” Remus asked as he arched an eyebrow. She slapped his chest with a grin.

“I couldn’t sleep and he insisted on staying awake until I fell asleep,” Emily finally answered.

“And why couldn’t you sleep?” he questioned.

“What is this; twenty questions?” she muttered and he chuckled. “I’m just worried…about Alicia, Harry, Draco, you…”

“Mark me off your list first,” he answered. “Now, why are you worried about Draco?” he started.

Emily arched an eyebrow. “Oh, I don’t know… Maybe because he insists on jumping in front of every bloody curse that comes my way. I would like a little retribution for Dad,” she whispered and she could feel his piercing stare.

“Sirius wouldn’t want you to get revenge,” he said softly.

“No, but I do,” she whispered.

“Emily,” he said reproachfully.

“No! You don’t get it!” she yelled as she jumped off of the branches.

“Yes, I do,” he whispered as he watched her pace back and forth.

“No, you don’t! Nobody does! He didn’t deserve it! He didn’t deserve to die! And we didn’t have enough time together! We never really got to know each other! It isn’t fair!” she yelled.

Remus carefully jumped down from the tree and slowly walked toward her pacing figure. He grabbed her shoulders when she was about to turn again and wrapped his arms around her.

“I know, sweetheart, I know. It isn’t fair on anybody, especially you and Harry. But there isn’t anything we can do that will bring him back. Killing her won’t bring him back,” he whispered into her hair.

“It will make me feel better,” she replied bitterly.

“Will it, though?”

She shrugged her shoulders, contemplating it.

“Fine, be stubborn, shall we continue?” he asked as he led her to the backyard porch swing. “Why are you worried about Harry?”

“Well, that one’s obvious, isn’t it?” she huffed.

He laughed quietly. “I was just making sure you didn’t want to add something more than the fact that Voldemort wants him dead.” Emily smiled slightly and he continued. “Why are you worried about Alicia?”
“Because she just lost half her family, Voldemort wants her for his side, and he’ll kill anyone in his way to get to her!”

“Calm down, Ems,” Remus began.

“I will not calm down!” she screamed as she jumped up and started pacing again.

“Emily, look, we’re doing all that we can to keep everybody safe. We’re going to protect you and Alicia and everybody else!”

“It’s not good enough, Remus! It’s not good enough unless he’s dead!”

“I know, but it’s the best I’ve got for now,” he whispered as he watched her.

“How did it all come to this, Remus?” she whispered as she sank to the ground. “How did we let him come to this?”

“I don’t know,” he replied honestly.

“Right,” she said after the longest time. “Well, I guess I better wake Draco up so we can get ready for Harry’s birthday dinner,” she whispered as she swiftly made her way into the house.


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