Emmeline Vance hadn't left her house in weeks.

How could she? After what had happened, what she'd seen, no one expected anything else.

Emmeline's days were spent curled up in her bed, on the sofa, on the floor, in the shower. Sometimes she would read the paper, but that would just remind her of what was happening in the world outside. Most days, to clear her mind, she would just watch Muggle television. The Muggles didn't know of the war going on around them; the Muggles didn't know that her friends were dying right under their noses.

It was another day where Emmeline was curled up. She was flipping through the channels on the television, looking for anything that would put her thoughts to rest. She settled for some show about a family who lived on a farm. She wouldn't mind living on a farm in the middle of nowhere, she thought, far away from the world.

A knock at the door caused Emmeline to jump. Her whole body became tense. She turned down the volume on her television and slowly picked her wand up from the coffee table. Tentatively, she walked towards the front door. As she looked through the peephole, Emmeline felt her shoulders relax, and she opened the door.

"What are you doing here?" she asked. Dumbledore had already given her his condolences and had told her to take all the time she needed away from Order business.

"I am sorry to intrude, Ms. Vance, but I am afraid that there is something I need to discuss with you, and it cannot be postponed any longer," Dumbledore explained.

As much as Emmeline wanted to be left alone, she knew that Dumbledore wouldn't have come if it wasn't urgent. She stepped back, opening her door more so that her old headmaster could step inside. He did so, and she led him to her sitting room.

"Why don't you sit down, I'll make us some tea," Emmeline said.

Dumbledore sat down in an armchair, and Emmeline headed into the kitchen to turn on the stove. Emmeline's house was relatively small, and there was no wall separating the kitchen and the sitting room. As she waited for the water to boil, she heard Dumbledore begin to laugh. Emmeline's head perked up.

"What is it?" she asked.

Dumbledore's laugh subdued slightly, as he answered, "Oh, nothing much at all. I just never expected you to be a fan of Little House on the Prairie."

"I'm not. I turned it on right before you got here. I just needed something to distract myself."

Once the tea was done, Emmeline walked over to the sitting room, placing a cup into Dumbledore's hands. He thanked her and took a sip. Emmeline sat down on the sofa.

"What was it that you needed to talk to me about?" Emmeline asked. Dumbledore sighed, setting his tea down.

"It's about the Fenwick girl," he began. Emmeline froze.

"What about her?" she questioned, trying her best to act nonchalant. Emmeline had a feeling that she already knew where this conversation was going. She hoped she was wrong.

"As you know, Benjy's only family was his father, but he passed six months ago," Dumbledore said, "and the only family that would talk to Winifred was Caradoc, and, unfortunately, it is unlikely that he is still alive."

Emmeline breathed in, shakily. Dumbledore talked about her friends as if he was reading about strangers in the paper.

"Now, Ms. Vance, I wouldn't have come to you if there were any other options. What I am about to ask of you is a lifelong com—"

"No," Emmeline cut him off. She set her tea down on the table and leaned back on the sofa, crossing her arms, "I can't — I can't do it."

"Ms. Vance, I beg of you to reconsider."

"How can you expect me to raise her?" Emmeline asked, although it was not meant to be a question, "How can you expect me to have her call me her mother? Winifred was my friend. She — she and Benjy deserved to raise her."

"I know," Dumbledore agreed, "I know, and I understand how much of a burden —"

"Do not call her a burden," Emmeline interrupted, again.

"My apologies. Ms. Vance. As I said, you are my last option. Benjy has no other family, and Winifred has no family that is willing to even look at her. You were Benjy's closest friend. You're the girl's godmother. I know you have no desire to be a parent, but that is what this girl needs," Dumbledore explained. Emmeline sighed, leaning forward and covering her face with her hands.

"If you choose not to raise her, I just let you know that I will have to place her in the hands of the Muggle government, where her fate will be out of my hands," he added.

Emmeline sat back up. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath in, and then a deep breath out. Slowly, she stood up, walking behind her sofa. She placed her hands on the back of it, leaning against it. Emmeline looked down, closing her eyes once again.

"It's your fault," she whispered, so quietly she wondered if Dumbledore even heard it, "We shouldn't have been there. Not when it was just the three of us. And — and to send Benjy and Winifred together? Knowing they have a daughter? Knowing what would happen to her if they both died?"

Dumbledore stayed silent. Emmeline could feel a sob forming in her throat.

"Do you even know what actually happened? What they did?" Emmeline asked. Still, Dumbledore remained silent. Emmeline continued, "At first it was just one of them, and then before we knew it we were surrounded. We had surrendered, given them our wands. They took us into the building, and the first thing they did was kill Winifred. Her death was slow, but she somehow had it better off."

Hot tears were practically pouring down Emmeline's face. Despite the embarrassment she felt crying in front of Dumbledore, she continued.

"They laughed at us for crying, taunted us. Then they really started. They made me watch. They made me watch. I've known Benjy for over half my life, and I had to watch as they tore him apart in front of me," Emmeline choked out. She wiped her tears away with the back of her hand.

"And would you like to know what the worst part is? They didn't even ask me for any information until after they were dead. It wasn't premeditated by them. They just took advantage of the opportunity."

She looked up at Dumbledore now. His eyes looked like they might be filled with tears, yet none fell. Emmeline's eyes were filled only with rage.

"You sent us in. Just the three of us. You knew how many people were there, but you sent us in any way, with 1:4 odds. Benjy and Winfred's blood is on your hands, just as much as it is on theirs!"

Emmeline fell to her knees, and she pressed her forehead into the back of her sofa.

"She's an orphan because of you," she cried, unable to hide her sobs anymore, "I'm only 24. I can't — I can't be a mother. I'm too young. I haven't lived enough yet. I won't be a good mother."

Emmeline cried, gripping the back of her sofa. Dumbledore sighed, looking at the woman.

"Their deaths, and how they died, will haunt me for the rest of my life," Dumbledore finally said.

Emmeline shook her head, "No. No, they won't."

"I'm sorry to have bothered you, Ms. Vance. If you need anything from me, anything at all, please don't be afraid to ask," Dumbledore said.

He stood up and began to walk away, until her voice called him back.

"I'll raise her."

Dumbledore's gaze softened as he saw Emmeline's eyes peeking at him from behind the sofa.

"They deserved to raise her. And you don't deserve to be forced to. But that is the way it is. I am sorry for what happened to you, Emmeline. I truly am."

Emmeline squeezed her eyes shut.

"I'll send an owl tomorrow with more information. Have a good day, Ms. Vance."

And with that, Dumbledore left. Emmeline slowly fell from her knees and onto the floor. She could barely hear voices from the prairie drifting from the television. She brought her knees up to her chest and continued to cry.

Emmeline stayed like that for hours. Who knows when she'll be able to curl up on the floor again? After all, she now has a child to raise.