Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Imagines

25. The Sister's Grief

I am so grateful that elisha_am on Twitter allowed me to use their fanart as inspiration for this fic! Be sure to give them a follow (attached). Thank you for reading, and thank you for getting this book over 12k reads! That's amazing, and thank you so much! Happy reading!

Alternative Title: Pulled From the Flood

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Tina walked into her mother and father's bedroom slowly, trying her hardest to be quiet so that she didn't hurt their ears with any noise. Her footsteps on the carpet were muffled, but she still winced as she heard every step she took, the soft fibers of the floor compressing under her weight. She kneeled down beside the bed, forcing herself not to grimace at the mutilated state that Dragon Pox had put on her mother's once beautiful face. The illness was known for making someone look almost unrecognizable, and her parents were no exception. Oh, how Tina wished they were. "Mama," she whispered, reaching out to brush her mother's hair, turned brittle from lack of care and her failing immune system. Tina's hand bounced back sharply, as if there was a shield blocking her from doing so.

"I had to cast the shield charm, it was the only way to keep you and your sister safe from us," her mother said softly, and as she sneezed sparks flew out of her nose and ricocheted on the obscured shield, causing Tina to back away hastily. She looked at her daughter sadly, tears filling her eyes. "I'm sorry. You and Queenie don't deserve to see us like this."

"I wanna see you like this," Tina said, hands resting on the side of the bed, the closest the shield allowed her to be. "It gives you humanity."

Her mother smiled at her sadly as her dad turned his head with a grown, reaching an outstretched hand toward her. She tenderly placed her hand against it, the tip of her father's fingers stroking the shield. It was the closest he could get to touching her. "You've always been wise beyond your years, my Tina. I wish we could watch you grow into the amazing auror you'll become one day."

Tina shook her head, tears filling her eyes. "You will. Don't give up yet, Pa. I've got you. I've always got you guys."

Her father seemed not to hear her, voice cracking. "Queenie, what a beautiful soul. You take care of her, promise me?" He held out his pinky, and Tina held out hers, nodding. He stifled a sob. "When you miss me, look at our star, Porpentina. I'll always be watching you there."

"Pa, please. Please stay. I can't live without you!"

"We love you, Tina," Her mother said before sparks flew out of her nose again, and she weakened. Her father's face began to turn white as sparks came out of his nose too, igniting a coughing fit. Tina stared in horror.

"I love you forever, my Tina," He said simply, his hand still outstretched across her mother's body.

"I love you too, Ma, Pa," Tina replied, tears streaming down her face.

"Rest, now," Her father said. "We'll be here when you wake."

Their bodies were, but their souls weren't. They'd descended to another realm.

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"Tina, you know you're not supposed to go in Mama and Papa's bedroom!"

It was six months after the death of their parents. The sisters were managing fine, having convinced Mrs. Esposito to allow them to live in the apartment rent-free until Tina graduated from Ilvermorny. That was a year and a half from then, and Tina was counting down the days. She was tired of being the girl everyone pitied. "What does it matter?" Tina asked, frustrated. Her hand was poised above her parent's bedroom door, untouched since their passing. It was hard to pass the door, and the thought of opening it crushed Tina inside, but she was growing out of her clothes and needed something to fit her taller stature.