Burying the Memories
Theme 2: Avada Kedavra


There was silence in the meeting room. Albus Dumbledore rose, finally, and the standing silence seemed to deepen. Lily had tears in her eyes. Sirius, seated on James’s right, stared at his feet, eyes unfocused.

“It is time we reconcile with facts,” Dumbledore said quietly and, shaken out of thoughts, James looked up, surveying the Headmaster through thin-framed glasses. “Pretwett Jones, while she lived, was an unmatched asset for the Order. In her death, too, she has been the same. By managing to penetrate the death eater stronghold, she provided us –”

The speech – plain and unembellished, but true, sincere and gentle – continued and, in his seat, James felt as if someone was strangling his intestines. The scene of the night before flashed in front of his eyes again – Voldemort’s appearance, Pretwett’s struggle as death eaters surrounded her, the clear Avada Kedavra, the gentle thud as she fell to the floor, motionless.

He looked up, and realized everyone was getting up. Dumbledore had apparently finished his speech, and it was time to move on, burying in their hearts the sweet memories of those they loved, and getting up, once more, to fight for the cause they gave their lives for.