𝖊𝖕𝖎𝖑𝖔𝖌𝖚𝖊
closure

✦

Leo -

I hope that you're reading this, because I need to speak to you one last time even if it's not an actual conversation. I know you hate me, I don't blame you, but please read this letter.

I never wanted this to happen. Please don't think of me as the girl who became a Death Eater, but instead think of me as your sister who loves you, who did everything for you. I met our father two years ago under the worst type of circumstances. I hope you never meet him.

He told me that if I did everything he said, he wouldn't kill you or anyone in our family. I was so scared so I didn't tell anyone and believe me, it's one of my deepest regrets. I didn't want any of you to die, and even after Aunt Mel's death, I convinced myself that no one else had to die.

So I did everything they told me, and I - well, I did a lot that I'm not proud of. But I did it to keep you safe, because I needed you and our mum to be safe. If it meant saving you, I would do anything, and I did. I don't regret that because it means that you're still alive and I hope it stays that way until you're old.

Grow old, will you? I'm seventeen forever, but you can be seventy, so grow old.

I'm sorry for everything I've done to you, I'm sorry for being cruel to you, I'm sorry for all that I've done. I have so many regrets, but I don't regret giving myself up to save you.

I love you, so much. Forever and forever.

Your sister,
Maia xx

✦

LEO GREENE WAS not an avid fan of coffee. It was bitter, and even if he added gallons of sugar, it still tasted a little off. But, through his time at university, he learned to swallow the warm taste in his mouth because of the energy it provided him.

He looked at the newspaper in front of him, a pang in his heart as it was last year when he saw the date. MAY 2ND, 2000. He flipped the page so he didn't have to see it, remembering the flashes of Teddy in his lap, Calypso's black hair hitting him, allowing Tonks to leave, and the tears he shed at the end of the day.

He closed his eyes for a second, shaking away those memories, because that was not what he wanted to remember. He wanted to forget everything about that day, and instead he wanted to remember before - before the war started, when he was younger and his hair was shaggy, not short, and he didn't know about his birth family. Before 12 Grimmauld Place. He wanted to remember before, and nothing of what happened after.

Those weren't good memories anymore - not that some were to begin with.

Muggle newspapers were similar to the Daily Prophet, which used to be his only source of news. They both detailed scandals, talked about the community, but the people in the community were always different. Leo knew vaguely of prominent people in both the muggle and wizarding world, from the Daily Prophet and school, but now he had dissociated with the wizarding world too much. He was sure they were mostly the same, Harry Potter was still a big deal probably, but his knowledge had decreased as separated himself even more.

He didn't want to be in that world anymore, or know anything about it. Instead, he wanted to immerse himself in the muggle world which he belonged, so he retook his final year then started university. They didn't talk magic at dinner when he ate with Nadia and Sirius, nor did they mention all the seats which were now empty.

His coffee was bitter again as he took another sip, but he downed it, raising an eyebrow at the squeaking chair on the other end of the small table being pulled out then pushed back in as someone sat down. He lowered the newspaper to see, finding not one of his friends, but a face he could never forget.

Thea. His first friend, and his first betrayal. He could never forget her face, or anything about her, though it wasn't without trying. He wanted to forget her so badly, but she never purged from his mind.

"Hi," she started off, looking nervous as he stared at her with impatient eyes. "I know you probably don't want to see me, but I had - I've always wanted to see you one last time."

"I've never had a problem leaving you in the past," he said back coldly, more memories rushing to the surface of his head about the times they slipped out of their houses together at night to hang out, and the coffee shop they used to frequent with Jasper. Poor Jasper, he smirked internally, died two years ago on this day - as he should.

Thea looked dejected for a moment, but she didn't let it deter her. "I know that I hurt you, but I just wanted to explain myself."

"I don't need an explanation."

"You don't need closure?"

He shrugged carelessly. "I moved on from you, and I'm better now. You aren't a lingering pain anymore," she had been - the both had been. Phantom pains littering her body and causing him to yell out, but those had been vacant from his body for years now.

He was fine now.

"Well," Thea looked downcast, "I need closure, because I really never wanted to hurt you, Leo. You were my first friend."

He snorted, unable to stop himself, though he was sure even if he could've, he wouldn't. She didn't deserve his niceties anymore.

"And yet look at where we ended up..."

She looked away, ashamed, and he took another sip of his coffee, allowing the bitterness to overcome him for a moment. "I know what I did was wrong, but I didn't have a choice. My family would've killed me - I was a disgrace who just so happened to be useful to them. The moment I stopped...well..."

"I don't pity you, nor do I forgive you," what a sob story, he had heard it before, the only difference was that he knew Maia before she turned. He remembered her letter, the hesitation before reading it or burning it, before allowing himself to read her final words to him.

He remembered his weary dream of them, of her crying and pleading with him not to hate her, and him being confused before turning against her when he learned why. He remembered little Maia with pig tails who chased him around their grandfather's yard. He knew there was good in her, and he knew that if he was in her spot, he would've done the same thing.

But Thea...? Maybe it was hypocritical of him not to accept her apology when he had forgiven Maia, but Thea made him believe that he was wanted. Worthy of attention and care, worthy of a friend, and then she invited Jasper into his life, who only wanted him dead while pretending to want him.

Maia, at least, protected him. Thea only hurt him.

Their whole friendship was built upon a lie while Maia's had been genuine, and she wanted to protect her family. Thea only did this to protect herself.

"I didn't expect you to," she whispered, but there was still sadness and disappointment that he didn't, "But I am sorry."

He shrugged. "We still did everything we did, apologies can't erase history."

He stood up then, because there was no point in carrying out more of a conversation. He walked away, throwing his empty cup in the trash, leaving the newspaper behind for her. She might need it, he wasn't sure. But he walked away, and he went home to his apartment, and later he would go to dinner with former Order members that were still living, and he would remember the dead.

He would remember and honor them, and he would live a good and long life, because they didn't get to - just as Maia wanted. And there was no trace of bitterness in his soul towards anyone anymore.