My mother had gone to America to visit relatives there. Her parents had moved there the year before. I missed them a great deal. He was a muggle and they kept me up on muggle music and movies and such. They would take me to the theatre with them to see plays. He, my grandfather was from America. Los Angeles, CA to be exact.
It was mid-August when the trip came up so she arranged for me to stay at James' house until we left for school on September 1. I figure she wasn't ready to be by herself just yet. My father had been killed in May. Her parents had come to stay with her for a few weeks when it happened. Once I was home from school they had returned home themselves.
It had not been an easy summer for either one of us. She had changed. She was no longer this bubbly, energetic woman that lit up whatever room she walked into. I was 13 and lost without my father. My nightmares had returned which meant I got very little sleep.
I was sitting by the pool in the Potter's back yard talking to James and Sirius when Mr. Potter came looking for us. We knew something had to be wrong for Mr. Potter to be home in the middle of the afternoon. He walked over to us and cleared his throat. His eyes were filled with tears and worry. I knew. I don't know how but I knew something was wrong with my mom.
"Guys, I need to talk to Remus," he began.
"Can they stay Mr. Potter?"
"If you want them to."
I nodded and looked at my two best friends. They knew I was going to need them. Too much had already happened.
"Your mom was visiting relatives at their home in California. There was an earthquake, a bad one. They're all gone Remus. Your grandparents, your mom, aunts, uncles and cousins. I am so sorry Remus."
I was completely shell shocked. I was now the only member of my family left. My dad had died in May, his parents when I was 10. I was alone. The tears fell on the cement by my bare feet. Sobs wracked my body and I felt like my entire world was closing in on me. Then suddenly a wave of panic took over. I am now an orphan with absolutely no family.
"What am I going to do, Mr. Potter? What's going to happen to me now? Will the ministry lock me up?"
Mr. Potter knelt in front of me and pulled me into his arms. "No, the ministry is not going to lock you up, Remus. I will not let them."
"But I'm an orphaned werewolf..."
"I know Remus."
The shock of finding myself alone combined with the panic caused by the reality of what could happen next drove all thought of keeping a secret from my mind. The next minute the shock of finding out Mr. Potter knew my secret shut everything else out. I pulled back from him so I could see his face.
"You know I'm a werewolf?"
"Yes. Your dad came to see me last summer."
"And he told you?"
"Yes. He actually told me many things."
"Like what?"
"Some I will tell you now. Some of it, I think needs to wait for a while longer."
"Okay. What can you tell me?"
"After that visit with your dad last summer, Mrs. Potter and I were named as your godparents. It was also arranged that if something should happen to them both you are to live with us. Mrs. Potter and I are now your legal guardians."
I sat there overwhelmed. I turned to look at James. He was stunned as well but as he looked at me he grinned.
"I have a brother?"
