A Howl In The Night ✔ » l.s

30

Harry gaped as he stared at Emily—the woman now had graying hair at the roots, face a lot more wrinkled than he remembered. The woman gasped as recognition flashed over her face, and then the next thing he knew, he was being pulled into a bone-crushing hug.

"Harry! It's been so long!" She said in disbelief, holding him by his shoulders as she examined his equally stunned face, her eyes glossy with unshed tears.

"You know each other?" Perrie chimed in, looking between them curiously.

Emily turned to the girl and said, "This is Harry—the boy I've told you so much about."

Perrie's eyes widened, and Harry felt quite awkward standing there with two women gaping at him. He cleared his throat and turned to Emily, "Well—I, uh, really did come all this way to see you."

Emily smiled warmly at that, ushering them both inside. The place was cozy and for some reason felt quite familiar to Harry. He sat down on the comfortable couch, which instead of a TV was placed right in front of a large window.

"You've grown to be such a beautiful boy," Emily appeared at his side, carrying two mugs of steaming tea.

Harry gladly accepted it, smiling sheepishly at the compliment, "Thank you, Emily. You seem to be quite happy here too."

The woman nodded, waving Perrie over and saying, "This is my daughter, by the way. She knows you through me, I've told her about my years of working at the Winter mansion."

"What a coincidence," Perrie mused, "we literally bumped into each other, I didn't know he was looking for you."

Harry nodded with a smile, "Thank you for bringing me here, still."

Perrie looked satisfied with herself. "You're welcome sweets!"

Emily reached out and took his hand—a gesture he hadn't realized until now he missed so much. The touch of a mother. "What brings you all the way here, darling?"

Harry looked down at his lap, feeling a bit shy. "I, uh, wanted to ask for your help."

"Help for what?" She asked softly.

Reluctantly, he reached into his backpack and pulled out his journal—one he'd been working on for months. He handed it to Emily who curiously flicked through the pages, eyes widening as she understood what Harry was saying.

"You…you made this, Harry?" Emily asked.

Harry nodded. "It's all theoretical and it could all be wrong, but that's why I need your help. You're the greatest healer I know, and I don't think I'd be able to brew it without you."

Emily suddenly brought a hand up to her mouth, eyes watery. Harry gasped silently, looking at Perrie in question, but the girl looked as surprised as he was.

"Is—is everything alright?" Harry asked tentatively.

"You remind me of her." She said, smiling despite her tears, "No—you are just like her."

"Like who?"

"Anne. Your mother."

Harry was speechless for a moment. "Y-you knew her?"

Emily nodded. "I knew her when I worked in the Winter mansion. She was like a sister to me."

Harry frowned. "Why was she at the mansion?"

From what Harry knew, Benedict had found him in a small town and took him in when Harry's mother died and had no one to look after him, just like what happened with Louis and the others. He was more or less a toddler when he was brought to the mansion, so it would've been impossible that Anne had somehow gotten to the mansion to meet Emily before her death.