Fixing Old Traditions | 𝘚𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘶𝘴 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬

𝑵𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒕𝒚

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summer 1976,
the loss of a brother
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Euphemia and Fleamont Potter were worried about Aimee returning home by herself. She didn't want Sirius to take her home, she needed to clear her head before she returned home to her brothers. However, she found herself on a London Street, far away from the muggle village of Middlesbrough.

While she promised Sirius she would head straight home, there was something that she needed to do first. She stood on the doorstep of number 12 Grimmauld Place, she knocked on the door, taking a deep breath, as the door opened, Kreacher invited her into the house.

She smiled at the house-elf, making her way through the home, she hurried upstairs. Walking along the hallway, as she reached Sirius room, she creaked open the door. The whole room had been trashed, many things broken, she saw the leather jacket she had bought him, she put it on, the smell of his cologne soothed her mind.

She walked to the next room, knocking on the door before opening it. She saw him, his eyes red like he too had been crying for days, she hurried over to embrace the boy she had come to know as her little brother. Both were unable to contain their tears.

"I'm sorry about Charlie," Regulus told her, holding her close to him

"And I'm sorry about Sirius," she told him, kissing his cheek, they had both lost a brother and they both needed each other more than ever now.

"We're going to be okay, you and me," she said, hopeful that they could help each other get through this difficult time in their lives.

"I hope you're right,"

***

She and Regulus had fallen asleep close together, Aimee woke up crying throughout the night, while he believed Sirius was walking to his room, though the footsteps weren't his. She knew that she had to return home at some point.

She made her way through the village, smiling at neighbours walking their dogs, she tried to act as though nothing was wrong. She couldn't exactly tell them that 'my brother was killed during a wizarding war, against the dark lord' they would have thought she was insane.

She slowly made her way towards the house, dreading what Theo would say to her, as she neared the house. Theo ran out of the house, Daniel and Jacob close behind him, they ran faster than she had ever seen them run before, they wrapped their arms around her in a bear hug, she could barely breathe, in their hold.

"I'm so glad you're alright," Jacob said

"We've been everywhere looking for you," Daniel said,

"Where the hell have you been?" Theo said,

"Just out,"

"Out, oh I don't know why we didn't think to check there," Theo said,

"That's enough," Daniel said, "come on, Laura made dinner," he guided her inside.

Aimee hadn't spoken a word since she had been back, she eyed Theo carefully, he was taking the role of the oldest brother too literally. He had been in contact with Fabian and Gideon Prewett about joining the Order of the Phoenix full time, while he was a strong wizard he didn't want his siblings to take part in the Order with him.

That night, Aimee heard someone come to the door, wizards who she assumed were other members of the Order were let inside by Theo. She crept downstairs, listening carefully, to their conversation.

'It's a big decision to make, you'll be fighting in a war,' she heard someone say

'I understand, if I can make the world a little safer for the future of my family I'll do that,'

Aimee couldn't believe her ears, knowing that fight with the Order is why Charlie isn't here, made her blood boil that Theo would even consider joining. She hurried back upstairs, she stopped outside of Daniel's room, she opened the door, he was asleep.

She had always been closer with Daniel, maybe it's because they were close in age. He always had her back, she quietly closed the door, taking a blanket from the end of his bed, she curled up on the floor next to his bed, the shuffling woke him up.

"What are you doing?" he mumbled, she sniffed

"I can't sleep," she said,

"Well you can't sleep on the floor," he shuffled up a bit so she could get in bed with him, he had his back to her.

"Danny,"

"Yeah,"

"I'm scared," she admitted, he held her hand, squeezing it a little.

"I know, we're going to get through this, we're going to win the war, fall in love, have families of our own, be happy," he said, she felt tears forming in her eyes "I promise you that,"

"Do I have to go back Hogwarts?" he turned around to face her,

"Yeah, it's safer at Hogwarts, than it is here,"

"Did you know Theo's joining the Order,"

"Yes, Jacob's told him, not to join," he paused, "you know how Theo is, he going to do what he wants to do,"

"Are you and Jake going to join too?"

"Jake is already thinking about it, but he said, unlike Theo and Charlie, our family comes first,"

"What do you mean?"

"If it was between fighting with the order, or protecting Laura, Ethan, you or me," he paused smiling at her "he'd choose us first,"

"You don't think Theo would choose us,"

"I think he will, just not while he's in this mindset," he smiled at her, "try and get some sleep,"