Melanie: "Listen, Georgie. I mentioned this seventeen years ago in my office where you were so upset. Georgie, I grew up with only one constant person in my life. Everyone else died, or left, or was already on a darker side. You have no idea how it feels to see all of it, to watch innocent families tortured and killed before your eyes because your guardians are cruel to you. Georgie, they were horrible. At Hogwarts I found hope, and life, and light. I had people who cared whether I lived or died, friends who wouldn't betray me. It was a safe harbor. Still, things happened. Because of him I lived somewhat happier than I would have otherwise. And that's when I knew-I knew I loved him. As you know, it was our seventh year, the first time we had been separated during school. After the battle, I had to take the bodies of my only good relatives back to Andromeda. I couldn't save them...She took me in, and I couldn't give her her daughter back. It was horrible, Georgie. That day I gathered my things and left. For most people, you see, the end of the war was a happy time. Everyone was elated, but I couldn't gather myself to find their happiness. You know about Evan leaving, you were there. He just disappeared. And Georgie, I couldn't handle it. Everything had changed, people had died, and he just...Left. That year was among the worst memories I have. No one understood why I wasn't the same except for maybe George. When I saw him again, that first day, for the first time I felt like everything might turn out. But I couldn't tell him, I had to hide what I felt, because I couldn't lose him again. When you two came together, it reminded me of that year, because he was still the only person I could count on. The thing is, though, that I could see that he cared for you. I could see it in his every movement, the way he was so relaxed around you. And with everything else, I couldn't handle it. Those months alone were the darkest I remember; before, I was unhappy, but I learned to get on; then, everyone was dying and I couldn't find a way out. That was no fault of yours. I loved him and there was nothing that I could do because I couldn't tell him. So I gave in to Gin and to you and tried to make everyone happy with Corbin. And Georgie, I'm sorry. I wasn't strong enough to let it through, so I lied. I loved Corbin as a friend, and possibly more by the time we were finished, but nothing could replace Evan. Every time I was upset, every time something happened, it was his words I longed for, his words that could help me. Unfortunately, he was under the impression that I felt he hated me or something of the sort, but I was broken and alone and no one could change that, as I knew I couldn't marry Corbin. I couldn't do that to him. It was an accident that I came clean, my carelessness of sending a letter rather than files. I couldn't believe his words. You have no idea how happy that made me. Something shifted that day, like the keys to my old keyboard. But after that, Georgie, I was all right. I healed. Scars may stay awake and lively, but emotional wounds revert if everything is fixed. I had my moments of anxiety, yes, but I also had Evan and two beautiful children on my side. They were always there to pull me back into the present, remind me that we were safe and I needn't worry about them. Every once in a while I would panic that I was somehow still a target, and I dare say that I probably was to some, but no one ever came after me again. Evan knew that, as did my kids, so they knew that they would be able to calm me. Every so often Evan would have an episode, and I'd do the same for him. And then I was struck ill. I didn't tell the kids at first, but Kristen - the sweet, funny girl - saw me collapse in the kitchen one day. She was so upset, so angry that I didn't tell her, and I was heartbroken. I promised myself that I wouldn't leave them, just as I would never stop defending Hogwarts, because it was home. I already had a journal of some sorts set aside for her, so as not to leave her in the dark if anything ever happened to me. I was able to complete that. I couldn't have asked for more because I was able to forewarn my kids and prepare them for a life without me, a life with Evan and aunt Christine. But love never dies. I was worried, but I knew that having Isabella and other family there to support them would help. As for me, I knew my time was up. I was happy and healed, and that journal was there for the kids whenever they needed me. They had my love marked with them in every gift, every word ever spoken, in the blood I left them, even though it wouldn't protect them as Lily's did for Harry. I learned form my youth that they needed to know that, so I made sure they did. The one who knows they are loved will always get through it. I had my father. They have theirs. And we'll all be all right. Georgie, you have to know that things happen to people for reasons. My father always told me that they happened to everyone. I would write to him when they hit me or threatened me or tortured others to upset me. He said that people are born into their families for a reason, sometimes to change them. He knew I could change it and I knew he loved me. I was crushed when he died, but I learned so much from him that I never noticed until later. I was able to help Jackson, who I loved dearly, and Nagini. Every bad thing that happened to me gave me Evan, as it did when you date him, gave me wisdom for my own family, with love and preparations, gave me strength to know that we can overcome anything. Don't worry about me. But Georgie, you need to put yourself in that mindset. Don't worry about things you can't change, but about the things that turned out right. You were hurt, but that led you to Corbin and your family.
