Flutter • James Potter

1.2

   For the first time in her life, her dreams weren't nightmares. Her dream wasn't abruptly interrupted by someone or something like it always seems to be. The aura in her dream felt warm and full of love, the family was the thing she had hoped for with her own.

   The woman in her dream reminded her of her mother, both had the same piercing green eyes, same freckles spotted across her face. Almost the exact copy of her mother, but with tiny differences like her hair and face was much sharper than her mother's. At least from the one photo, she had of her mother.

Her father had gotten rid of all evidence that involved her mother. Almost like she didn't exist at all. Charlie had explained his reasons and said it was for their safety. He would not appreciate a blood traitor's belongings still present at a death eaters' household.

Talking about her mother with her father was something tougher than James Potter's thick-headed skull. When Amara Winters died during childbirth, Charlie Winters' ticking heart counted down. His only will left to live was, his children, yet even sometimes he wished otherwise.

Eloise understood her father's point of view, as she saw how destructive it was towards Charlie. Seeing her father first-hand break down by himself in their large living room, that seemed to feel emptier even though it was filled with their lively photos reminding them of what they have.

Eloise had lost count of how many times she had to wake Theodore from his slumber to help her carry their father back to his lonely room after he had put himself into a drunken state. Trying to numb the pain that was left after the event.

"It feels like your soul was ripped apart and the other half was taken away from you, it's like you don't exist anymore."

The words echoed through her mind, as Charlie whispered it one night as Eloise tucked him to bed. Eloise remembered looking to his glassy ghosted eyes, finally seeing what he meant.

Finally uncovering the truth of her father's words, seeing that no light had shown through his eyes. Not even when he was looking at her tiredly.

"I loved your mother more than anything, but she's gone. And I am a shit excuse of a father, that can't seem to take care of his children right. For fucks sake, I put you all in danger. I'm sorry my little Love, I'm so sorry."

Eloise watched as her father held her tightly and cried his heart out in her shoulder, sobbing quietly in the silent night. She remembered how she just sat there unmoving, holding onto her father tightly in her arms.

Eloise sat up on her bed, shaking her head wanting to get rid of the image that would haunt her for the rest of her life. Feeling her heartbreak for her father every time she remembered the sound of his cry, and the image of him vulnerable in her arms.

Looking to her left, Junie laid comfortably under her covers. Then looking towards Junie's desk, where an old coffee-colored letter sat untouched on her bed. Curious, Eloise tip-toed towards it trying to remember if an owl had come by and delivered any mail for them.

   Upon reaching the desk and glazing a look over the closed envelope, it was blank. No writing for marking was inked on the parchment.

The last time Eloise had remembered, Junie hated writing letters to her parents. Eloise was the only exception to that because she had been the one to bombard her with over thirty letters one summer vacation after third year.