Chapter Three – The reencounter

"But of course we are not going to throw away the Extendable Ears! What makes her think we will?" George thought…

"I hope you have understood me, Boys! I don't want any kind of jokes or "pranky objects" around here ever again! If you think I'll let you keep on with that rubbish, you're seriously mistaken!"

"But mum…"

"Shut up Fred, I don't want to hear anything else! Now go to your room…AND GO WALKING!" She added when the Twins we're getting ready to disapparate.

"Yeah it will be so fast that you won't even know how we reached our room… Georgie..." Fred muttered.

They went up to the staircase, and after making sure their mum couldn't see them, they turned on the spot vanishing into thin air followed by a typical pop.


"I can't believe this happened! She took almost all of them from us!" Complained Fred

"Yeah! Almost…" said George with a naughty smile on his face.

"Thanks God we still have some of them left…"

"…and we have Harry's galleons…"

"…and our brilliant minds!"

They were both laughing as Ronald entered in the room.

"Okay…What did I miss?"

"What do you mean brother?" Asked Fred

"Mother just caught you making plans for your jokes shop and you're laughing like nothing happened!" Ron said

"Well, let's just say that we don't know the word "sadness" little brother…"explained Fred

"It just doesn't fit in our dictionary" completed George

"I said you would be caught!"

"And speaking about dictionaries…"

Hermione had just walked into the room with a quill and a piece of parchment in her hand.

"C'mon Ron, we've got to write that letter to Harry. It must be so bad to be in that house with those people. His uncle and aunt are really rude!" She said.

"Well, with the things that we have been writing to him, I don't believe he's felling any less lonely…" contested Ron.

"Why don't you tell him everything in a letter, I think Dumbledore is exaggerating don't you think? I know You-Know-Who's dangerous but I don't believe he would be bothering with intercepting letters!" suggested Fred.

"After all, you would only be revealing what he already knows: Dumbledore knows he's back and he's gathering allies to fight against him." Completed George.

Ron looked at Hermione hopefully, who was apparently pondering over this, it wasn't a bad idea and, honestly… how bad could it be!? They wouldn't be giving any new information to the Dark Lord…

"NO! Absolutely and Completely NO! What if something happens? It's for Harry's safety! Besides they are already talking about going to get him at Privet Drive. It won't take long until that we have him with us and he'll know why we haven't been sending him proper letters with proper information!"

"Yeah, you're right Hermione!" said a new female voice "Besides, we promised to professor Dumbledore that we wouldn't say anything in our letters that could compromise the Order… And he trusts us to keep that promise." Ginny was standing at the door and she had brought the Daily Prophet with her. "They're talking about Harry again…"she said showing the paper "This is getting out of control, if they don't start believing that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is back, things will get even more complicated."

"Don't worry Ginny, it will be alright, The Order is working on it. They'll stop him!" said George, comforting his sister.
"Yeah, and Harry's safe!" added Fred smiling.

"I wish everyone in this house had your enthusiasm guys, it seems like there's some sort of shadow above us all. And your mother is so worried! Poor Molly, she's really afraid, you know…I admire your mother's strength!"

"We do too Hermione." Said Fred "We love our mother" He smiled at her and Hermione's cheeks turned red as she shyly smiled back at him.

"MUD-BLOODS! MUD-BLOODS AND BLOOD TRAITORS IN MY HOUSE! GET THEM OUT OF HERE! HOW DARE YOU GET IN MY HOUSE!? HOW DARE YOU SET FOOT IN MY FAMILY'S HOUSE!? GO AWAY YOUR FILTY CREACTURES! BORN FROM TRASH!"

"Oh no! Not again!" said The Twins. When Mrs. Black's screams stopped the kids went downstairs to see what happened and the first person they met was their Potions Master, who looked like he had swallowed a lemon.
"Where are we Severus?"

That was when they noticed her, standing right behind Snape was the most beautiful woman George had ever seen: Astonishing long red hairs were tied up in a braid that fell gracefully over her shoulder, right up to her waist. And the eyes…Those green eyes! They were looking at everything and everywhere, trying to find out something that could give her a clue about that house and, perhaps, its owner.

"I've told you before Scarlett, this is the Headquarters of The Order of The Phoenix."

"Yeah...I got that...But who's this house from?"She insisted.

"A member of the order…" Scarlett knew her brother quite well, as she understood he wasn't telling the truth, or, at least, not the whole truth…But she didn't insist anymore, she also knew that, when the moment comes, he would tell her what she wanted to know. And, just in case that moment takes too long for her taste, she would make him spell everything out, whatever he wanted or not…She just had to wait…

"Why didn't he tell her this is Sirius' house?" asked Hermione in a low voice.

"Firstly, because it isn't!" When they turned around Sirius Black was standing behind them, hiding next to the wall so that, if someone looked up, wouldn't see him "It's my parents'. And second, just in case that you don't remember, I'm supposed to be a Voldemort's supporter that indirectly killed Lilly Potter, who, by the way, happened to be her best friend…" Sirius looked older and with a mixture of fear and admiration to the young lady down there.

"She Was Lilian's Best Friend!? Harry would love to meet her!" Loudly said Ginny, way too loudly…

"Yes, I am Lilly's best friend, and I would love to meet Harry too!" Snape whispered something that they couldn't understand. "And you must be the Weasleys." She said gently. "Except you right?" She asked looking at Hermione
"That's Miss Granger, Scarlett." Answered the kids' Potions Master.

Scarlett looked at her brother and then back at the young girl, this time some sort of compassion in her eyes."Oh, I see, so you're Hermione…You don't mind me calling you by your first name do you?"

"No, absolutely not…"The kids came down and stopped in front of the couple, leaving Sirius behind. "And you are…" Asked Ginny.

"Oh, I'm sorry that I didn't introduce myself …My name is Scarlett Duerre Snape, I'm Severus' sister…" The kids got astonished…Scarlett Snape!? Their Potions Master had a sister!?"I wonder why people always react like this…"

"No idea of what you're talking about!" Severus replied leading his way to the kitchen. Scarlett amusedly looked at her brother and then shook hands with each one of the young boys and girls in front of her as they all said their names.

"Ron"

"Hermione"

"Ginny"

"George" said Fred.

"G-George…I'm George Weasley…"stuttered George.

George's friend and siblings looked at him like someone who had seen a dementor laughing. Scarlet was amused, they clearly had made an attempt at a prank that had gone wrong. She had heard about the Weasley Twins' Reputation. They certainly were the new generation of Hogwarts' Marauders.

"Scarlett, would you mind coming here while we wait for Dumbledore, please?" The smile automatically vanished from Scarlett's face.

"Oh yeah, we still have to talk with Dumbledore…Well, see you later then…"

The young woman went into the kitchen and then Sirius Black went downstairs.

"God, I missed that smile."

"Mr. Black…?" said Hermione.

"Yes, Hermione?"

"Why has Harry never heard of her?"

"I don't know, Hermione. I've been blocked from the rest of the world for a while, you see…" He was sad. But not the kind of angry sad, more Peaceful sad, like when you still have hope that whatever makes you feel that way will fade away, eventually. And Sirius' hope was in that kitchen, in that woman. Scarlett Duerre Snape. She was back. He was back too. And they could be together again. Sirius' lips' corners curved up in what you could almost call a smile and then he went to his bedroom.

As he did, the house's front door opened again and Albus Dumbledore entered.

"Good morning children! How are you?"

"Good morning professor, we're fine!" Hermione muttered

"Great! Is Scarlett already here? She's red hair, green eyes…"

"Yes, she's in the kitchen with professor Snape, they are waiting for you." Ginny said quickly

"I'll met them now, then…And could you stay down here, I might need you to go call Sirius, Is that alright with you?"

"Yeah" replied Fred

"…no problem" completed George

The other kids nodded their heads in agreement and the old man went to the kitchen as they sat in the couch, waiting.

"Can you imagine how it must have been?" said Hermione.

"What do you mean?" Ron asked her.

"C'mon little brother…you're not that slow!" Exclaimed George

"Lilly was her best friend…" Hermione said before that they started arguing "…and she was killed by Voldemort. Severus was a Death Eater"

"I see what you mean Hermione" whispered Ginny.

They looked at each other, no more needed to be said.


It didn't took long until that their Headmaster opened the Kitchen's door and called the children.

"Ron, my young boy, could you…"

"No…I'll do it…I'll see him!" Scarlett spoke coming to the door too. "Just tell me where he is…" She looked at the five young people in front of her, waiting for an answer. She had been crying. Her hands were shaking and so was her lower lip. It seemed like she was about to start crying again when one of the Twins spoke.

"I'll show you" The young man she, somehow recognized as George, muttered. "If you don't mind, of course." He added when her eyes caught him.

"Please…" She said with a twisted voice which was caused by the tears she, so hardly, was trying to control.
George nodded "Follow me…"

So she did leaving behind her brother, Severus Snape, with a disapproving look upon her.
George took her upstairs and turned in the first corridor.

"He was one of your best friends, wasn't he?" George asked her

"Hum…Hum" She nodded showing agreement.

"You didn't know he was innocent, did you?"

"No, I didn't"

"Sorry about making so many questions, I didn't mean to upset you…"

"You don't George…you're George right?" She kept looking at him, so he said "Yes"

"I'm just so confused now, you know… I've been away from my friend since You-Know-What happened and trying to convince myself of the truth, or at least what most part of the people thought was the truth… and discovering that Sirius is not a killer…It's really good of course and I feel relieved…Although at the same time is so … I need to talk to him…I need to see him…That's all!"

George nodded understanding.
He guided her trough a weakly illuminated corridor and stop in front of a old wood door.

"It's here…" She muttered, It wasn't a question. "Thank you George" She said passing her hand in his arm, making him blush.

"Y…You're welcome" She weakly smiled at him, opened the door and entered in the room.

She looked around, you couldn't call it a clean and organized room. It had some piece of clothes here and there, and the bed wasn't exactly done. Actually it was like whoever slept in it never bothered untidying it and always slept on the blankets. In the darkest side of the room was a hippogriff and beside him was …

"S-Sirius!" The black haired man stood up and looked at her, he seemed tired but he's still had that typical warm glow she remembered so well, the same that started growing every time he looked at her.

"Scarlet I'm innocent; I would never do anything to harm Lilly, James or Harry! It was Pettigrew! Please you have to believe me…" Sirius quickly said. Scarlett was shaking her head which was taking hope away from Sirius. He was starting to think that she didn't believe him. She closed her eyes and when she opened them again they we're plenty of tears. She ran into Sirius arms, hugged him like she used to do every time that she met him after the holidays.

"Scarly, please don't cry." Sirius begged.

"Oh Sirius, I'm so sorry! I should never have believed that you would, that you could… I'm sorry!''

''Shh, that's ok; the proofs were all against me…It's not your fault…" He held her tight and then guided her to the bed, where she sat down and tried to control breath.

"How are you? What have you been doing all of these years?" Sirius asked

"No, no, no! You first! I want to know what happened, how did you got arrested, how did you escape…Everything, the truth by your own words!"

"I thought Dumbledore had told you the whole truth."

"He and Sev only told me the necessary I want you to tell me the rest…"

"Very well then…When Lilly and James we're hiding from Voldemort they needed a secret-keeper, of course they chose me, but I thought it would be too obvious so, in the last moment, I convinced James to choose Pettigrew."

"Yeah, it would have been a good idea and it could have worked…If you had chosen Remus!

"I didn't trust him back then…You know it…"

"And I didn't like Peter, I warned you and James about him so many times…"

"But we just didn't listen…I know! Could you not make me feel even guiltier, please?"

"I'm sorry Sirius, You're right…Keep going…"

Sirius told her everything, until what happened at Hogwarts, and how he offered that house to Dumbledore to be used as the Order's Headquarters.

"Really? You mean this is your house?"

"Not mine Scarlett, It was my parents'…It's not like home, it's more like a prison…" He said head down.
She took his hand in hers and tried to comfort him.

"I'm sure it's better than Azkaban…With all the Dementors…"

"Scarlett you're hurting me!" Sirius said, that was when Scarlett noticed how hard she was holding his hands and tried to hold them more gently.

"Sorry…I was distracted…I really missed you Sirius! I needed you so much…"She looked deep in his eyes, kissing his cheek and hugging him in the next moment "Thank you for being back!"


A.N.: I am so sorry for taking so long. I've just been so busy with school and theater and I just haven't had time for anything else. I'll be on Hollidays now and I'll update more than once a week, at least during the next two weeks.

Thank you so much for reading, for the reviews, the favorites and the follows :) I'm really happy that you liked the story guys.

Please keep reading and reviewing, whenever you have some critics, whether is good or bad, please say. Any questions about the story, please feel free to ask. This fanfiction is also being posted on my Tumblr ( imaginationlivesnextdoor ), if you want to check it.

Good bye, See you soon :D
3 Cissy V. Black