The Ice Queen [s.b.]

Whole Letters And Broken People - 53

November 23rd.

Emma/Laura, Sirius, Ginger, James, Remus, Lily, Marlene, Alice, Dorcas, and Peter are all waiting anxiously in Dumbledore's office.

"D'you know why we're in here?" James asks Ginger, who only nods curtly and makes eye contact with Sirius. "I mean, I don't think I did anything that would warrant us all getting in trouble with... Dumbles! I was wondering when you'd show up."

"Mr. Potter," Albus regards him. "You did not do anything wrong this time. Ms. Sullivan? Would you care to explain?"

"Yeah..." Ginger trails off. "Anna's not dead. She's at Ilvermorny."

That's when the yelling starts.

"What?"

"Why'd we have to think she was dead?"

"How long did you know?"

"Is she okay?"

"When's she coming back?"

"Why's Laura here?"

When everything quiets, Laura says, "My real name is Emma. I volunteered to be the person that Anna's impersonating. We lived together for about a day and a half."

"The plan was to wait a week until we told everyone on the list - everyone in the room - so she's off Riddle's radar. She really was poisoned, but she survived. We can write to her so long as we use codenames," Ginger explains.

Lily starts crying again and Alice hugs her. James and Remus's face are mirrors of utter happiness. Dorcas and Marlene hug so passionately, it would've been noticed by them all at any other time.

"But she's okay?" Lily sobs after a moment.

"Yeah, she is. She told me to give this to you. I don't know what it says," Ginger says gingerly, handing her the letter Anna had written in the previous days.

Lily scans it quickly, then, as the whole room holds its breath, leaps forward to encompass Ginger in a hug.

"I'm so sorry," she says quietly enough so that only Ginger can hear. "I've been cruel to you and I'm so sorry."

"You're forgiven." Louder, Ginger asks, "Any questions?"

Marlene points to Sirius, "Why are you being so quiet, Black? Aren't you happy your girlfriend isn't dead?"

The room goes so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Dumbledore peers down at Ginger's guilty face and his eyes widen in realization.

"He's in shock, Marls," Remus says skeptically.

All eyes turn to Ginger.

"He was crying for God's sake! I'm bad when people cry. Plus, I wasn't in a place, like, emotionally, to handle lying!" Ginger breaks, holding her hands up in defense.

Lily starts laughing quietly. "So that's why you were barely upset at all? Just talking about your bloody jacket?"

Sirius nods, "Sorry. I dunno, like, I know we have no idea when we'll be able to see her again, but it just felt so good knowing she was still alive. It was all I cared about. And that she took my bloody jacket that was on loan with her. And she calls me the buffoon!"

"One last thing," Ginger interjects. "You all have mail."

One by one, Ginger hands letters to them all.

Dear Seestern,

Hello. It's me. I'm not really sure what to write here. I've been missing beating you in quidditch loads, though.