Preparation for the Inevitable

The morning of June 27th began with an uneasy silence. The sky above the Lupin house was covered with gray clouds, as if foretelling an impending storm. Fear hung in the air, penetrating every corner of their expansive estate.

Malcolm Lupin, who had become even stricter and more focused after learning of Voldemort's return, had set a new training schedule for himself and his children. Unlike their previous lessons, each session was now extremely intense, and Malcolm showed no signs of leniency.

William stood at the edge of the forest, where they usually trained, watching his father's every move. The forest, usually quiet and peaceful, now seemed dangerous and ominous. The wind rustled through the trees, whispering its ominous message. Malcolm, dressed in dark clothes, watched every step his son made with a stern gaze.

"Sharpen up!" he barked when William, slightly stumbling, cast a spell. "The Death Eaters won't wait for you to perfect your skills."

Every exercise, every spell, every duel was aimed not only at improving William's magical abilities but also at toughening his spirit. Malcolm believed that only through harsh trials could he prepare his son for the coming threat. His words were harsh, but behind them was love and a desire to protect the family.

When the training session ended, William returned to the house, his face covered in sweat, and his eyes burned with both determination and exhaustion. Ketti, looking at her brother, felt that their normal days were behind them. Now, they lived in anticipation of something terrible, lurking just beyond the horizon.

In the evenings, as the shadows lengthened and darkness enveloped the house, the Lupins gathered for dinner in silence. Malcolm and Charlotte exchanged measured glances, and though they tried to keep their children in the dark, the tension in their eyes could not be hidden.

As the night fell, the fear became even more tangible. The Lupin family's readiness for the upcoming trials was evident in everything they did daily. They understood that the approaching storm was already here, and no training or effort could fully prepare them for what they might face.

Time passed, and the shadows grew longer and darker, a reminder that the coming events would be inevitable and inescapable.

When the evening twilight enveloped the Lupin house, and shadows thickened in every corner, Malcolm and Charlotte decided it was time to discuss an important and troubling matter with their children. Weariness and anxiety were evident in their eyes, but they knew this conversation was necessary.

After dinner, when William and Ketti had washed up and gathered in the living room, Malcolm and Charlotte sat opposite them, their faces taking on a serious expression.

"Listen carefully," Malcolm began, his voice firm and cold. "We need to talk to you about what to do if we're not around."

William and Ketti exchanged worried glances. Charlotte, her eyes filled with sorrow, continued:

"We understand this is hard to hear, but you need to know what to do in case of danger. If something happens to us, you will need to get to the Spider's Hollow in Coquorth."

William, unable to hide his anxiety, asked again:

"Spider's Hollow? That's in Coquorth, with Snape?"

Malcolm nodded.

"Yes, that's right. Snape is your godfather. He'll be able to take care of you and protect you if needed. We've already spoken to him, and he knows about our situation."

Ketti, already in tears, asked with a trembling voice:

"But how will we get to Coquorth? We've never traveled that far by Muggle transport..."

Charlotte handed the children several sheets of paper, on which the routes were detailed and all necessary instructions were listed.

"Here it's written how to get to Coquorth," she said, trying to keep calm. "This list includes routes by trains and buses. You'll have to use Muggle transport, because right now, we can't risk being seen in the magical community."

Malcolm added:

"Before you leave, make sure you have all the necessary documents and money. Snape already knows you'll be coming, and he's waiting for you."

"And what if we can't find transport or something goes wrong?" William asked, trying to suppress his fear.

"Don't panic," Malcolm replied. "If something goes wrong, try to find the nearest Muggle police station. They might be able to help you, even if they don't understand what's happening. The most important thing is to stay together and remain calm."

Charlotte touched Ketti's face, her voice filled with love and worry.

"We love you, and we believe you'll be able to handle it if you have to. This information is important, but we hope you won't need to use it."

William and Ketti nodded, trying to remember all the details they had heard. Although their parents' words were filled with anxiety, they strengthened their resolve to be ready for any surprises.

When the conversation ended, Malcolm and Charlotte struggled to hide their emotions but did everything they could to stay calm. They knew that the readiness and the information they had passed to the children were crucial for their safety in the dark times ahead.

That night, when darkness enveloped the Lupin house, Malcolm and Charlotte sat by the fireplace in the living room, the warm light from the fire reflecting on their faces. The crackling of the firewood was the only sound breaking the oppressive silence. Malcolm shuffled through papers with plans and instructions, trying not to think about how soon they might need them. Charlotte, sitting beside him in an armchair, reached for his hand and spoke quietly.

"Malcolm," her voice was full of exhaustion, "we can't keep living in constant fear. We could try to run, find a new hiding place, hide from Voldemort, but..."

Malcolm sighed, not taking his eyes off the papers.

"We've discussed this many times, Charlotte. Our life now is a never-ending cycle of preparation and fleeing. We've lost too much to keep living this way."

Charlotte pressed her hands to her chest, her eyes shining with sleeplessness and anxiety.

"I'm tired, Malcolm. We've given up our freedom and safety, and every day we fear something will happen. We could try to hide, find a secluded place, escape from everyone, but I don't know if we have the strength for that anymore."

Malcolm finally set the papers aside and turned toward her. His face was weary, but his eyes burned with determination.

"I understand you, Charlotte. We were wrong when we became Death Eaters. I know we should've thought differently back then, but we found the strength to repent and change our path. We're ready to face our fate, whatever it may be. The important thing is that we're together."

Charlotte nodded, her voice softer now, but still filled with resolve.

"Yes, we're together. And we will fight until the end, but not as servants of evil. We will protect our children and give them a chance at life, even if we stay in the shadows ourselves. All we can do is shelter them from the Dark Lord and give them a chance to survive."

Malcolm took her hand in his, squeezing it as a sign of support.

"We'll do everything we can to keep them safe. They will be under Snape's protection as long as we can. We've made our decision, and now all we can do is hope that we can do it right before all of this ends."

Charlotte touched his face, holding back tears.

"I'm ready to face any fate if it means our children will be safe. If we're destined to die, at least we will do it with a clear conscience. The important thing is that we no longer serve evil and are no longer responsible for the horrors we once caused."

They sat in silence, lost in their thoughts, as the fire continued to burn in the fireplace. Their decisions were made, and they knew that all that remained was to hope that their children would be protected while they continued to fight the shadows that once again loomed over their lives.