𝐑𝐄𝐖𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐒-ℍ𝕒𝕣𝕣𝕪 ℙ𝕠𝕥𝕥𝕖𝕣❥

𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐅 𝐁𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐃 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐄

Denial.

Anger.

Bargaining.

Depression.

Acceptance.

They said grief came in five stages, but Emily had only made it to the fourth.

Depression.

The memory of that night in the Ministry of Magic was etched into her mind like an inscription on ancient stone—unyielding, unerasable. No distraction, no whispered reassurance, no forced attempts at normalcy could make it fade, not even for a second. His voice still echoed in her ears. His face was there every time she closed her eyes. His laughter. His warmth. His presence.

And now, he was gone.

It had taken every adult in the room—including Dumbledore and the Minister of Magic—to pry her from the cold stone floor beneath the veil and bring her home. She had fought them, screamed, begged. If she let go, if she left that place, she would be leaving him behind. She would be betraying him.

But the worst part wasn't that he was gone.

The worst part was that she had killed him.

Her father. The man who had loved her unconditionally. The man who had fought for her, who had held her when she cried, who had given her a home in a world that had always felt uncertain. She had taken him away from the love of his life, away from his sons, away from herself.

And she had to live with that.

Summer had passed in a haze. She had barely left her room. Ethan and Eric came in sometimes, sitting with her in silence, but she barely registered their presence. Remus stayed too, watching over her with quiet desperation, but even he couldn't break through the fog in her mind.

He had tried everything. Gentle words. Promises. Even the idea of Harry coming over. But none of it worked. None of it mattered. Because Emily knew the truth—she didn't deserve to be happy.

Remus had one final hope.

If this didn't work, nothing would.

And that hope was currently standing on the doorstep of the Lupin cottage, hood drawn up, bags packed behind her.

Hermione Granger.

Remus opened the door, and without a word, Hermione threw her arms around him, holding him tight. When she stepped inside, she hugged Ethan and Eric too, clutching them for just a moment longer than usual.

"How is she?" Hermione asked, once they were seated in the kitchen, a warm mug placed in front of her.

Ethan exhaled sharply, leaning back in his chair. "Not good."

Hermione glanced at the three of them—none of them looked good either. Their skin was pale, their eyes heavy with exhaustion, their movements slow, as if grief had settled into their very bones.

"She doesn't sleep," Eric added quietly. "Barely eats. She doesn't even talk. Just stares at nothing for hours."

Hermione's fingers curled around the mug. She had never seen them like this before. This wasn't just about Emily—this was a family being held together by a thread.

Ethan rubbed his face and looked at her with something dangerously close to pleading. "Can you go up? Try to talk to her? You're the only one who's ever gotten through to her when she was like this."

Hermione nodded. "Of course."

She made her way upstairs, pausing outside Emily's door, inhaling deeply before slowly pushing it open.

Emily was sitting up in bed, staring at a spot on the wall, her fingers absentmindedly picking at the skin around her nails. She didn't move, didn't react.

"Emily?" Hermione whispered, stepping into her line of sight.

Emily blinked, tilting her head slightly. And then—something shifted.

Her eyes flickered with recognition. Her shoulders relaxed, her breath hitched. A shaky, half-formed smile appeared.

"'Mione?" Emily's voice was small, fragile.

Hermione stepped forward without hesitation, wrapping her arms around Emily's neck and pulling her in tight. "Hi, Em."

Emily didn't let go. She couldn't.

She hadn't realized just how much she needed this. How much she had missed. How much she needed her best friend.

A few hours later, Remus, Eric, and Ethan crept upstairs and carefully pushed Emily's door open.

All three of them exhaled in relief at the sight before them.

Emily was finally asleep, curled up in Hermione's arms. Safe.