Lily of The Valley

Chapter 2

The Letter

The knock at the door was loud and business-like, and scared the occupant of the house nearly to death.

"Delivery for a Mr. Lupin." a voice said.

Remus was not expecting a delivery. He got up from the table, where he had been sipping tea and reading The Daily Prophet, and went to the door. When he opened it, he found a courier.

"Please sign." the courier said, passing him a clipboard type object and quill.

Remus signed, his face showing his curiosity. Who would send his a letter he had to sign for? The courier thanked him, handed him the envelope, and went to his next delivery. Remus took the letter and walked back over to the table, and sat down. He opened it and was shocked by its contents.

Dear Remus,

If you are reading this letter, then I am dead, and probably James is too. I hope that Harry is alive and safe with Sirius. What I have to say concerns Harry and will come as a shock to you. Remus, I want you to know that James has been a great friend to me. Please brace yourself for this. James married me because I was pregnant and desperate. He was willing to help me and my baby. Yes, my baby, not his. No one knew of the love I shared with another. Even the father didn't know I was expecting. Harry is not James' son, Remus. And he must be told the truth. I cast a Glamourie spell on him when he was born. The spell would cover up the truth until we were ready to tell Harry, or until his 15th birthday. Harry and his father must be told, Remus, and I am asking you, my friend, to tell them. I loved his father as I loved no other. But times were difficult thanks to Voldemort, and circumstances made it impossible for us to be together as a family, as we should have been. Please tell him, Remus, and soon, because on his birthday, the spell will be broken and he will begin to look like a totally different person. This will come as a shock to him. And to his father. Severus Snape. I know I can depend on you Remus.

Your friend,

Lily

Remus dropped the letter. Oh God. Harry. Not James' son. Lily. And Snape. Abruptly, Remus grabbed the letter and left the house. He had to talk to someone about all this.

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Remus arrived at Hogwarts shortly thereafter. He went straight to Professor Albus Dumbledore's office. The headmaster met him with a curious, but welcoming smile.

"Ah, Remus. What can I do for you this evening?"

"Uh.... ummmm........ I, uh, found out some information, and I, uh...."

"Let's sit down and have some tea and talk about it shall we?"

"Um... ok."

After taking Remus up to his office, Dumbledore poured the tea, which he seemed to always have ready and waiting for visitors, and then sat down to talk . "What's on your mind Remus?"

Remus took a deep breath. "Harry." Dumbledore raised an eyebrow. "Has anyone looked in on Harry this summer?" Dumbledore shook his head. "Could you send someone to check on him?"

"What is it Remus? Is Harry in some kind of trouble that I don't know about?"

How am I going to do this? Remus thought to himself. "I'm worried about him. I know about what happened at the tournament. And, well, his so called family isn't very supportive."

"I'll send someone right away then."

"How about Professor Snape?" Why, oh why did I just say that?

This time Dumbledore raised both eyebrows in surprise. It was a well-known fact that Remus Lupin didn't like, nor trust, Severus Snape. "Why, may I ask?"

"Well, um.... he can definitely handle himself and any trouble that there may be." Yeah, that's it. Good reason.

"That does seem quite logical. I'll do that." He waited for more. "What else is on your mind Remus?"

I can't do this.It's just so unbelievable. Remus yawned "Wow, I didn't realize how late it was. Can we talk some more in the morning?"

Again the eyebrows went up in surprise. There was something that was not being said. "Of course Remus. Let's find you a room to stay over in, shall we? And then I'll find Severus and send him on his way to check on young Potter."