Through all of this, Ace had doubt. Until the second letter had arrived, he had thought all of this to be a cruel prank. Even the second letter could have given him doubt. Some sick person willing to cut themselves for a prank. But the aurors had found her. Unless it was a case of mistaken identity, it was her.

Though mistaken identity could have been a possibility. In that case, at least a family would be reunited with a lost loved one. It just wouldn’t be his. But all of the officials seemed so sure. The aurors, the healers, and he couldn’t help but hold onto hope.

He stood stunned as Avril ran to their mother. Their mother. It really was her. And he couldn’t think of what to do besides stand and stare at them like an idiot. It really was her. He’d have to get their siblings out of school, they needed to see her. They needed her. He needed her. "Mother." He breathed.