Burning Love

•Whomping Willow•

As Christmas approached, a mix of emotions swirled within me. I had settled into my quiet life in the country, but the weight of loss still pressed heavily on my heart. I often thought about Harry—wondering how he was faring, how he was growing up without his parents. This year, I felt a deep urge to reach out, even if it was just a small gesture.

With the holidays in mind, I carefully wrapped a gift—a framed photo of Harry with his parents, smiling and waving as they captured a moment of pure joy. I had taken that photo years ago, and it remained one of my cherished memories, a reminder of the love that once surrounded us.

As I placed the framed picture in a box, I couldn't help but smile at their happiness. It felt bittersweet, knowing Harry would see it without realizing who had captured that moment. I wanted him to feel connected to them, to know he was loved, even from afar.

I added a simple note, signed anonymously: "To Harry, from someone who loves you." It felt right, even if I couldn't reveal myself just yet. I wanted him to have a piece of his past, something tangible to hold.

As I returned home, I found myself reflecting on all the moments we had lost and the ones that still lay ahead. No matter how far apart we were, my connection to Harry remained strong, woven through the memories of his parents and the promise of a future where he could know the truth about his family.

With the holiday spirit surrounding me, I allowed myself to dream. Perhaps one day soon, I would reveal myself to him, to share all the love I had kept hidden for so long. For now, I could only hope that the gift would light up his Christmas, just as his presence lit up the lives of everyone who loved him.

~

The chill of winter clung to the air as Remus and I made our way to the Shrieking Shack. My heart raced, a mix of anticipation and dread swirling within me. I hadn't seen Sirius since our last emotional reunion, and now I was filled with hope that this visit would shed light on the tangled web of truths surrounding Harry and Peter.

As we approached the dilapidated structure, Remus paused, looking at me with a serious expression. "You need to understand, Grace, this is important. Harry has found the Marauder's Map, and we need to make sense of what that means."

I nodded, feeling the weight of the moment. "What do you mean? What did he find?"

Remus led me inside, and as we entered the dimly lit room, there was Sirius, sitting on an old wooden chair, looking both anxious and relieved to see us. His eyes brightened when they met mine, but Remus quickly cut in.

"Harry caught a glimpse of the map," he explained, pulling it from his pocket. "And look—" He opened it, revealing the intricate ink drawings and the moving dots representing people within Hogwarts.

I leaned in closer, my heart racing as Remus pointed to a specific spot. "That's Harry, and this... this is Peter Pettigrew." My breath caught in my throat as I saw the familiar name flickering on the parchment.

Sirius clenched his fists, the frustration evident on his face. "So he's been walking around, thinking he's safe, while Peter has been living a lie right under his nose?"

"Yes," Remus said. "Harry doesn't know the truth about his parents' death, about you. He's convinced that you're still a threat to him, that you didn't finish the job with Voldemort."

I could see the pain etched across Sirius's face as the weight of the situation settled in. "We need to tell him," he said urgently. "He has to know the truth about Peter, about everything. He can't carry this fear alone."

Remus nodded, his expression firm. "But we have to be careful. If Harry thinks he's in danger, he might do something reckless. We need to approach this delicately."