Family Found
Chapter 1:
Harry stepped excited into the sitting room in the newly renovated Grimmuald Place looking at his adopted sister with trepidation and more than a little bit of excitement .
He starts once he has her complete attention, “Dee, you know how Remus and I have been going thru all the family records?”
She looks at him curiously, “Yes, were you able to find out anything interesting?”
Grinning and bouncing in his seat unable to stay still he answers, “I have to say yes. Yes I did and not just for myself either.”
Smiling at his excitement she demands, “Ok then Harry spill! What did you discover that has you imitating a Mexican jumping bean on a hot tin roof?”
“Well, and I have checked and double checked my facts so they are true, I have found that you and I both do have living family and I don’t mean the Dursley’s either. I have a second cousin living in America. His name is Caleb Potter. You have a second cousin also living in the America, in St. Louis MO. He is a junior high school biology professor. His parents were recently killed in an automobile accident but he has a younger brother. His name is Richard Zeeman. His mother was your grandfather Sabin Hunter’s twin sister. She was born with magic but caught dragon pox before they found the cure and it caused damage to her magic pathways that prevented her from accessing her magic. She left Britain when she was very young. At least that’s what the records show.”
She asks in a disbelieving voice, “I have family?”
Harry pulls her into a hug as he replies, “Yes, you have family. Dumbledore made sure that the squib branch of the family never received the owls sent to them about your father’s death. Remus sent a letter explaining about what the government is trying to pull here now and asking him if he’d be willing to become your mentor/advocate. We are simply waiting on his reply.”
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Richard sits down at his table after a long day at Seckman Junior High School and starts looking through his mail to see what if anything interesting had shown up today. He comes across a letter done in a heavy parchment addressed to him in calligraphy typed writing from London of all places.
Mr. Richard Zeeman
1000 Littlebrook Run
St. Louis, Mo.
I am Remus Lupin I was a close friend of your cousin Ronan Hunter and am honorary godfather to Diana his daughter. It is for his daughter that I am writing you. As I am not sure how much of your family history you know I will explain a bit before I state the current situation.
Your grandmother, Zarah Hunter was the twin of Sabin Hunter and born August 9, 1892 in Swansea, Wales. Zarah due to an illness had some medical problems that caused her to be a bit different from the rest of her family. It was this difference that caused her to distance herself from her parents and leave at a young age.
She married Rafe McCormack when only 17 years of age and had your mother Charlotte when barely 22. Your Grandmother did not keep her distance from all of her family and corresponded regularly with her twin and even spent vacations with his family. Sabin though recognized that times were becoming dangerous for people like your grandmother and advised her to take her family and leave the British Isles; which she did.
Your mother often corresponded with her Great-Uncle Sabin, Uncle Russel and spent time with her cousin Ronan as well until the early 70’s.
This is unfortunately when things become rather convoluted and confused. I’ve recently discovered that a powerful political and educational leader here in our community blocked all correspondence to your family starting in the early 70’s and it only ended when he recently passed away.
This left your mother not knowing when or under what conditions her Uncle Sabin and his son Russel were murdered in 1975 or that her cousin Ronan also suffered a similar fate in 1987. Had your family received such correspondence that the family solicitors tried to send, you would have known that you have a cousin by the name of Diana Hunter whose parents wanted your mother to be her guardian if anything should happen to them.
In our society reaching the age of 17 usually makes you officially an adult; this is what her parents were counting on when they made out their wills.
Unfortunately the government has since changed the age of majority and specifically nullifying the wishes of previously written wills. The Ministry since the war has become very corrupt and is doing everything in its power to minimize the power and resources of anyone that could eventually oppose them. This includes your cousin Diana. The ministry has decreed that any and all must have parental or appointed advisors until the age of majority which they have reset to age 21 for males and 25 for females. This means that if Diana is unable to find an appropriate advisor by the end of her birth month then the Ministry will take control of her inheritance for her. They are corrupt and will squander it leaving her nothing.
This is the reason that I am begging you to meet with your cousin and even if you find yourself unwilling to become her guardian (I know that in the States she would be considered an adult at 18) I beg you to at least consider being her advocate/mentor so that the government does not steal her inheritance.
I can be contacted by telephone at anytime; my number is 021-579-768-7956 (totally false). Thank you for reading this all the way through. I hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely,
Remus John Lupin
Richard thinks about what this Remus Lupin said in his letter and considered the possibilities of what he didn’t say then picked up the phone and dialed.
Authors note:
#1 - not a real phone number. I don't know how European phone number are written but this one is written as a US number that includes a country code, area code and 7 digit phone number.
CHAPTER 1-b
After Remus had heard back from Richard Zeeman and having had a couple conversations with him herself on the phone Diana prepared to travel to the USA to meet him in person.
Harry while watching her pack and repack for the 6th time couldn’t help himself and asks, “So what do you think? Do you think he sounds nice or poncey? Do you really think you are going to need 5 different set of dress robes?”
She stops shrinking things and sits down as she answers, “He seems nice enough on the phone, but I could tell he was holding something back. He doesn’t sound like a prick but then he’s going to be on his best behavior on the phone isn’t he?”
Concerned by her hesitation he asks, “Do you want to go meet him? Would you rather have Remus and me with you? We’ll do it you know. I can just let Caleb know we’ll be a few days later than we planned and we can stay with you.”
“I don’t think he’s some kind of perv. Harry, he just seemed a little stiff and formal on the phone. In person especially since he’s use to dealing with younger people he’ll probably relax. I think the surprise of my existence and need for assistance has him on edge. I know my needing to turn to a stranger even though he is family isn’t a comfortable feeling for me right now either.”
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