Updated: June 17th, 2017

Chapter 2: Remus Lupin

The quiet Tonks resident was shattered by the chiming of a doorbell. Moments later, I barreled out of my room to catch the door. I shouted that I would get it and for whoever was now knocking to wait a little longer. At the top of the stairs, I swung my legs over the banister and proceeded to slide all the way down. About halfway, Andi opened the door for our guest.

"No wait," I shouted. "I said I got it!"

My butt hit the end of the stairs and I fell off with a small shout. Above me, Andi was frowning, her arms crossed. The man standing next to her wore an amused expression. Andi sighed exasperatedly, "I'm sorry about her."

The man chuckled, "No need to apologize, Andromeda. It's only natural for a girl her age to have fun."

"Got that right," I agreed with the man, still on my back looking up at them.

"Well," Andi looked at me. "Are you going to get up and greet our guest, or not?"

I flipped over and jumped up, smiling at the man. He was wearing shabby looking robes with patches in some places. He looked ill and exhausted, though young. His hair was a light brown with flecks of grey and he had a thin moustache of the same color. What really intrigued me about the man were the three scars cutting across his face.

"Hi," I greeted warmly. "I'm Cora! Nice to meet you."

The man chuckled again, "It's nice to meet you too, Cora. I'm Remus Lupin."

Remus Lupin rushed to the spot where Bellatrix Lestrange once occupied and then moved to the crying baby. He picked her up and held her close. As soon as her head rested on his shoulder, she was asleep.

I cocked my head to the side, "Cool name!"

"Yes, I quite like it."

"Well, if you two are done, Remus, you said you needed to talk to Ted and I?"

Remus looked at my cousin, "Yes. Is he here now?"

"Ted's still at work. But let's go in the kitchen. You look hungry."

As the adults entered the kitchen I did what anyone in my position would do…I followed. Andi flicked her wand and out from the fridge came a pitcher of water and three glasses from the cupboard. Remus pulled out a chair and sat at the table patiently. While Andi began chopping vegetables, I hopped up on the counter next to her, a parchment in hand.

"Hey, Andi?"

"Hmm," she kept cutting.

"When you're done can you sign this?"

"What is it, dear?"

"It's the permission slip for Hogsmeade."

"Oh, sure. Just set it on the table and I will sign it later," with another flick of her wand a pot of spaghetti sauce started bubbling.

I jumped off the counter and placed the permission slip on the table. Remus looked at it, his eyes glazed over. "I remember my first Hogsmeade trip. Those were good times."

"Really," I asked as I sat down next to him. "What is it like? Fred and George told me it was some dinky town, but others say it's simply beautiful."

"Well those others were right. It is beautiful."

I sighed, "I can't wait to go. Tonks told me that's where my parents met." Remus stiffened visibly. Andi stopped cutting for a second, then began again, exhaling slowly. I frowned. "Did – did you know them?"

Remus looked up at Andi who busied herself, "Yes, I did know your parents."

Andi slammed the knife down. She turned, "Remus!"

"Andromeda, she asked me. I won't deny her answers. Not anymore."

"What do you mean?"

Remus sighed as Andi left the kitchen, "I knew your parents very well, Cora. They were my friends."

"Then you know," I began. "You know what happened to them?"

"Yes. I was the one who found you that night. I know what your father did to those people and I know he's rotting in Azkaban."

"Do you think he's innocent," I asked right away.

Remus looked at me for a long time. His eyes closed and he pinched the bridge of his nose, "You have to understand –"

"I want to know…"

"No," Remus opened his eyes. "I do not believe he is innocent. An innocent man would not – could not…"

My eyes suddenly widened. I knew him. "You're him, aren't you? You're my godfather…"

"You are a clever girl, Cora."

"I just remembered that night. I remember seeing your eyes. They remind me of chocolate."

"That's what your mother thought."

"What was she like?"

And that's how it all went down, folks. Everything I ever wanted to know about my mom and Sirius Black's relationship was told to me by their best friend and my godfather, Remus Lupin. He left nothing out; no stone left unturned. When Ted got home, he was reluctant to even have Remus inside. I asked why so many times, but no one told me. Even though they got along well enough, I was still confused as to how come Ted didn't care for Remus. Ted liked everyone.

After midnight, I showed Remus to the door, stopping to take everything in. We said short goodbyes and he walked down the path to the gates. I called out to him, "Remus, after everything you've just told me, you honestly don't believe that Sirius Black's innocent?"

My godfather turned around, sadness in his tired eyes. If he caught my use of the man's full name, he didn't show it, "I don't know. I want to, but after what he did, it's hard to believe."

I nodded slowly. Then, out of nowhere, I ran up to him and threw my arms around his waist. "Thank you," I whispered.

Remus patted me on the back. When I let go he wished me a good year at Hogwarts and told me to stay out of trouble. He walked further down the path and then disapparated. I waved lamely at the spot where he was once standing. Andi called my name and I slowly made my way back inside the house.