Now & Then

An owl swooped in through an open window and dropped a letter into her hands. It flew off with a ruffle of its feathers. But she knew it at once. It was a Hogwarts owl. But her son's book list had already come. She looked at the front and noticed Albus Dumbledore's loopy handwriting on it. She opened it and read the letter inside.

Dear Lorelei,

I am writing to inform you that I have hired Remus Lupin to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts this year. As you probably have heard from Jonathon, we've been having a string of bad luck with our teachers in that department. I thought you would like to know, seeing as Jonathon is entering his final year.

Seeing as you, Remus, and I are the only ones that know about the "history", I figured I would let you know. I know you and Remus parted ways, and I'm not sure Remus knows that Jonathon is still at Hogwarts, but I hope you will not be uncomfortable with all of this. It might be wise to get in contact with Remus. Seeing as you gave Jonathon his last name, Remus might want to know, so he can be prepared. If not, I shall tell him.

Think on this, Lorelei.

Sincerely,

Albus Dumbledore

Lorelei read and re-read the letter. She couldn't believe it. Just then she heard a whoosh from the fireplace.

"Jon, is that you?" she said, slipping the letter into her robes.

"Yeah, Mum."

Lorelei walked into the living room. Her son was standing there, looking ever so much like his father now. She must have stood there a moment too long, because Jon was looking at her curiously.

"Are you alright, Mum?"

"I got a letter from Dumbledore. We need to have a talk."

Jon looked at her oddly. "I didn't do anything wrong, did I?"

"No, no. Sit," Lorelei said sitting on the couch nearest to her.

Jon sat beside her. "What is it, Mum? What did Dumbledore say?"

"You know what you've seen and what I've told you about your father?"

"Yeah," Jon said looking at her curiously.

"Well, he's teaching at Hogwarts this year."

Silence filled the room for more than a few moments. Lorelei glanced at her son sadly.

"Are you alright?"

Jon looked at her. "Does he know? I mean, he hasn't seen me since I was a baby."

Lorelei shook her head. "Dumbledore thinks I should write to him. To tell him that you're still in school. I just don't know if I can."

She inwardly scowled at the weakness in her voice.

"I think Dumbledore's right, Mum."

Lorelei looked at her son. "I know he is. But what am I supposed to write him after all these years?" she shook her head and smiled again, "So, how are the Weasley's dear?"

"They're fine. Mrs. Weasley says hi. Mr. Weasley was saying something about Harry though. Said he blew up his aunt and ran away from home."

Lorelei tried to look shocked, but the story reminded her of Harry's father, James, and that made her laugh.

"Its not funny, Mum! Harry could have been hurt. Running away while Black is on the loose."

That statement sobered Lorelei. "I was laughing because that kind of thing was something James would have done. As for Black. Don't worry about him love, he'd never harm Harry."

"They say he's after Harry, Mum."

"Don't believe it," Lorelei said forcefully, standing all at once, "I knew Sirius Black. He never did any such thing. He would never have worked for Voldemort, and he would never have killed Lily and James. James was like a brother to him, and we all loved Lily. He would never have put his godson in danger."

"His what, Mum?" Jon said, standing and stopping his mother's pacing.

Lorelei closed her eyes. "His godson, Jon," she said, opening her eyes to gage her son's reaction, "What are you thinking, Jon?"

"Are you lying?"

"No sweetie, I'm not. Sirius was- is, Harry's godfather. I'm Harry's godmother. And Lily and James were your godparents."

"Why him? Why not my dad?" Jon asked, sitting on the couch once more.

Lorelei thought of how to answer her son without destroying the last shard of trust she had left with Remus. For she had never told Jon what his father was. She had never told him that Remus was a werewolf. That Jon had been monitored for a year after his birth to see if lycanthropy could be passed to offspring. No, she had never told him.

"There were circumstances. Such that I'm not allowed to divulge. It's the last bit of trust between me and Remus. Besides, James and Sirius were inseparable."

Jon looked at her curiously, but seemed to accept her answer. "So, why didn't you take Harry in?"

Lorelei's expression saddened. "I wanted to. But it was out of my hands. Dumbledore made the right choice. I still believe he did."

She sighed. "Well, I better go write a letter to Remus. I'll be in my study if you need anything, alright?"

Jon nodded. "You're doing the right thing, Mum."

Lorelei smiled at her only son, before walking from the room. She made it into her study just in time to dissolve into tears. She hated thinking about Lily and James. She hated reliving the fact that they were gone. That they had been murdered. That Sirius had come to her home that night to tell her. Had sobbed to her. She knew then that he hadn't done anything. She listened as he plotted his revenge on Peter, the man he believed was the spy. An old friend of theirs. In the end, Peter had died and Sirius had gone to Azkaban, accused of three murders.

She wiped her tears away, along with memories. She walked over and sat at her desk. Pulling out a piece of parchment and a quill, she thought about what she was going to write to Remus. She decided to be blunt and honest. After all these years, there was no other option.

Dear Remus,

I know its been a long while. Dumbledore wrote me and told me that you'd be teaching at Hogwarts. I'm just writing to let you know that Jonathon is in his last year. He's in Gryffindor, and a Prefect. So, you will indeed be teaching him.

Albus threatened to tell you himself, so I figured I'd beat him to it. I'm sure he'll be upset. Jon knows about you. He knows he has your last name. He vaguely remembers you, but he's seen pictures. He knows who you are, but now what you are. I would never break your trust. He also knows that there was no other option but for us to part ways.

I would never have raised my child to hate anyone. Although, I did just have to defend Sirius to him. You still don't believe that he did all those things, do you? I sincerely hope you don't. And I know that, like myself, it come as no shock that he escaped Azkaban. He was one of the most clever wizards I've ever known.

Anyway, I just thought you should know about Jon. He is your son too.

Forever Yours,

Lore Hayes

She looked down at the letter. Satisfied at what it said, she sealed it in an envelope. She debated at what to write on the front of the envelope. She could leave it blank, but he may not open it. Picking up her quill again, she scrawled a single word across the front of the envelope.

Moony

She smiled to herself, and walked across the room to where her owl was perched.

"Take this to Remus Lupin. Please find him before he gets to Hogwarts," she said handing her letter over to her owl.

The owl took off out the open window. She watched it until it was out of sight. She started to wonder about how Remus had gotten by all these years. The wizarding world was a rough place for a werewolf. Being a Dark Creature, most people wouldn't hire him. She knew that much. 'Maybe that was why he'd finally gone to Dumbledore,' she thought.

To get his second chance. As Severus had done many years ago. Severus Snape. She almost laughed. The one person who hadn't deserved Albus' second chance in her opinion.

She was shook from her thoughts at hearing the door to her study open.

"Mum?"

"Yes, Jon," she said making her way over to him.

"Oliver came over. Do you mind if we play Quidditch out back?"

"No. Go on, have fun."

A smile appeared on Jon's face. "Thanks, Mum. So, did you-"

"Yes, I just sent it off. Don't worry about it. Go have fun."

Jon smiled once more before running off, leaving the door ajar. Lorelei made her way downstairs as well. She sat in the kitchen and lost herself in thoughts of the past. Thoughts of what could have been, if things had been different.