Her Last Wishes ((Closed))

[janet]

Janet pulled on her shoes and stood up from her bed. She smoothed out her blue long sleeved shirt. Her jeans were a dark blue with a blooming blue flower placed at the cuff of the right leg. The magic that had been used on it made the flower come alive. It first would grow, then it would bloom, stay wide open for a few seconds, then it would die. It was a great flower. Janet half smiled. She remembered how excited she had been when she first got the pants from Grammy. Grammy had given the pants and flower such attention when she sewed them together and charmed them. Janet wished she had more little things like that from Grammy, but she didn't. It was looking like she would never get that opportunity again, unless Grammy got better and quickly. The thought made Janet sigh. She couldn't believe this was happening to her again. She knew that Grammy wouldn't live forever, but she wanted her to and she secretly thought she always would. It was at times like this she realized death was inevitable.

Janet sighed again as she grabbed her wand and her mid-thigh length black cashmere jacket. She pulled it on and placed her wand in her jacket pocket. In the other she placed a few galleons and sickles. She was going to be meeting Jake for a drink at the Three Broomsticks that day. They were going to talk about Grammy. Mum had sent them some of her last wishes. It was going to be difficult to listen to, but Mum had told her not to open the list without her brother. They would need to listen to it together. Janet pulled out the small green letter her mum had sent to them. She placed it in the pocket with her money and headed out the door. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She would not let herself cry. She would not let her emotions get the best of her. She was an actor. She controlled her own emotions, she didn't let them control her.

Before long Janet was walking down the cobblestone path into Hogsmeade. She had yet to see Jake which meant she would meet him in just half an hour. She didn't know what to do until then. She really didn't feel like doing anything, but she knew she had to take her mind off of the conversation to come. She stepped into a clothing store in Hogsmeade and looked around the store. They had robes of every size and color. She smiled at the lime green one she found. Janet knew better than to wear something of that color ever. She turned from the robe. She felt a bit better at the clothing store. She stayed in there cheering herself up until she had to meet Jake.

Janet left the store and headed across the way to The Three Broomsticks. The streets were picking up with witches and wizards. Lots of Hogwarts students were out and about, eager for another day at Hogsmeade. Janet wished she wasn't there under the circumstances that she was. Reaching the door of the Three Broomsticks she took a deep breath and opened the door. It was already filled with students and a few older witches and wizards. Janet looked around for Jake and spotted him in the back corner. She weaved her way around other students and took a seat across from her brother. The look on his face was foreign to her. She had never seen him look so upset and depressed, not since their grandfather had died two years ago.

Jake handed her a bottle of cold butterbeer. Janet took the drink slowly and sat it down. She didn't feel like drinking anything yet. Not until they had actually discussed what they needed to about Grammy's health. Janet pulled out the green letter and sat it in the middle of the table. "Mum sent this to us. It's Grammy's last wishes. She's really sick right now Jake. Mum doesn't think she'll make it through the week. There's nothing that can be done for her. Dialysis won't even save her now," Janet whispered in a voice hardly audible. She looked up at her brother waiting for some kind of response. Waiting to see if he would even acknowledge her more than he already had.

[Jake Rainyar]

Jake rolled out of bed reluctantly. On any other morning he would be more than eager to jump out of bed and head to Hogsmeade, but today...well today was the sort of day you wished were just a nightmare. He knew it wasn't and he knew time was almost up. Jake stood in his empty dormitory and dressed slowly. His jeans were so dark they were almost black, he wore a black turtleneck sweater, and his shoes were black. He had never worn so much black in his life, except on certain occasions, but he felt like he was in mourning. It was the only way he could actually feel somewhat better. If people saw him dressed this way then they would leave him be. They wouldn't bother him too much. That's what he wanted right now. He didn't want any of his friends to ask him what was wrong or if he was okay. The truth was that he wasn't. He wasn't even close to be all right, but he couldn't bring himself to talk to anyone really. His sister would understand; she was going through the same thing he was.

Jake pulled on his black leather coat and dropped his wand into the inside pocket on the right side. He grabbed his wallet and then headed out the door of his dormitory toward Hogsmeade. He didn't want to think about what Janet had to tell him. More than likely it would be something that would make him cry. He didn't know how Janet was taking the news. She hated emotion more than anything else in the world. She would refuse to cry or do anything of the sort if things were going wrong in her life. She thought of it as a weakness in her character. Jake knew better than that. To show emotion was really a strength. Crying was strength not weakness. He just hoped his little sister wasn't hurting herself over the problems that were being created with their grandmother's ailment.

The air was moist and cold Jake thought as he stepped outside. He could see his breath in the air, but it was refreshing, like all his senses were perked. The slightest temperature change would affect his whole body. Jake walked down the path to Hogsmeade. He took in every sight and sound around him. He wanted nothing more than to remember every aspect of the place he called home for 7 years of his life. This day would change his life forever. This was not only the day he learned around his grandmother's sickness and ultimate death, but it was one of his last days going to Hogsmeade for Hogwart's weekends. Soon he would be out of Hogwarts and out into the real world, where problems were ten times worse.

Jake looked around the streets of Hogsmeade. They were packed with students. He smiled remembering when he was excited to be going to Hogsmeade for a day. He still had 15 minutes before he was meeting Janet, but he had nothing he felt like doing. He turned toward The Three Broomsticks and headed in through the door. He forced a smile at Madam Rosmerta as he ordered two butterbeers and headed for an empty table in the back corner. Sitting down he popped the top on his butterbeer and drank heavily. The cool liquid moved down his throat creating a warmth upon arrival in his stomach. He smiled at the familiar and satisfying taste.

Before long Jake saw Janet and she quickly sat down at the table across from him. Without any acknowledgment he handed her a bottle of butterbeer. She took it, but didn't open it. She pulled out a green letter and Jake knew what it was. It was his grandmother's last wishes. He didn't want to hear them just yet. He had to say something to Janet, but she began to speak. He looked down at his butterbeer. He made no comment about anything and he didn't really acknowledge that Janet was even there. He took a deep breath. "She wanted it this way. It's the reason she didn't go in earlier when she found out. She died two years ago when Gramps died," Jake whispered back to Janet. He took a long pause before continuing. "Will we get to see her again before she dies?" The silence that fell between the two was overwhelming. Neither felt like answering that question.

[janet]

Janet sat listening to Jake in almost surprise. She couldn't believe what he was saying. Grammy wouldn't give up on them! She would be there for them! She wouldn't let herself die...Janet knew that her own thoughts were lies. Jake was right. Grammy died when Gramps died two years ago. They had been soul mates and it had been something so hard to watch when she fell on his body in tears after he passed. Janet could hardly watch it, but she had been numb by emotion by that point in time. She hadn't cried and she never would. She had such tight reins on her emotions that they didn't dare try to do anything without her expressed permission, which would be never. However at this exact moment she wished she could stop her lies and just let herself cry. The thought didn't last too long before Jake finished his thought.

A long silence over took them and Janet bit her bottom lip to keep it from quivering. Not here, Jake. Not now, she thought. She didn't want to show anyone that she was about to cry. However the familiar numbing sensation overtook her and she was soon fine. She looked at Jake with all seriousness. "Mum is trying to get us home in the next few days. They're pretty sure that she won't last the week. Anyway, let's get this over with Jake. Let's just listen to Grammy's last wishes and then get out of here. I don't want to deal with this right now. I have so much other stuff for school I have to worry about. OWL's are coming up and you know how important those are to my future, even if I'm not going to stay in the wizarding world," Janet said as she grabbed the green letter. She knew her words sounded harsh, but she wouldn't let herself be swayed to apologize or cry. Jake would look past her insult, because he knew that she was deeply hurt. Jake wore his heart on his sleeve...he always had, but Janet didn't. She kept her heart in the furthest place from any other person. No one was allowed in and no one was going to get in.

Janet took a deep breath and looked back up at Jake with the green letter in her hand. He nodded and she gulped down the saliva that had accumulated in her mouth. She then began to open the small letter with trembling fingers. Jake saw her and immediately put his hands on hers and they opened it together. Janet was grateful for her brother's sympathy, but she didn't want to look weak in front of him. She knew that he knew though and she didn't resist. Together they opened the letter and soon a soft voice could be heard only for them. They recognized it at once as Grammy's:

Jake, Lizzy,
If you are hearing this then it means that I am either gone or not able to talk anymore. I made this when I was first diagnosed with kidney failure. I chose not to go into dialysis, because it would have prolonged my life, but eventually making me need a kidney transplant. I would have had to ask one of you two for a kidney and I would never want to do that, to take that from either of you. This is my turn to go, babies. I know it seems harsh and I want you to know that I'm not leaving you. I will always be with you in your hearts and memories. Physically I will be no longer. Jake, I want you to know that I am so proud of you. You are following the course of good and you are so determined to fight against evil that it makes me smile. Continue on your path of righteousness and don't forget that your grandfather was also an auror before he lost his leg. Lizzy, you continue on into acting. It means more to you than anything else does, but remember honey, don't let yourself become too reclusive with your own emotions. Let them out honey. Crying isn't the end of the world, it's the beginning. I love you both more than you can imagine. Never forget the importance of family and love. It will help you to continue on in goodness and greatness. Hugs, kisses, and most of all special hugs forever and ever.

The letter slowly began to fold itself back up into a perfect green heart. Janet looked up at her brother. A tear had slid down her cheek, but she had quickly wiped it away. Jake was in tears on the other side of the table. His hands cupped over his face hard to drown out the sounds of his sobs. Janet's emotions hardened. How could this happen? Why was this happening? Why were they the only ones in pain?