The days seemed to fly by and I did my best to keep up with everything. I found my grades slipping a bit because I had other things that I considered more important. Remus wasn't exactly happy with me over it but deep down he understood just the same. The first Quidditch match was coming up and I could tell it was taking a toll on Harry. I was fairly certain that the presence of the dementors around the castle was the cause but I didn't want to ask.
As the days went by I watched the skies carefully. So far I had managed to keep my monthly absences from my dorm a secret but it was getting harder because my friends could see how tired I was. Sure enough Hermione finally caught me.
We were at lunch the day after the full moon when she turned to me and asked the question I had been expecting for weeks.
"Celeste, I woke up last night and you weren't in bed, then this morning you missed class and now you look like you can barely stay awake. Is everything ok?"
Harry and Ron both looked to me for the answer and I knew that I would have to give the answer I had rehearsed so many times before now.
"Remus was ill last night and Professor Dumbledore gave me permission to go down and sit with him because I was so worried. He had a rough night and I didn't get much sleep so I was given permission to skip class this morning as well to get a little bit more sleep."
This seemed to satisfy them as all my other answers had but I felt awful nonetheless. I was tired of hiding things from my friends but I was so scared I just couldn't face it. I honestly figured that they would understand if I told them but I couldn't bring myself to say the words.
We headed off to potions and I was dreading the afternoon. I knew that Snape would pounce on my current state and try to make me look like a fool. I was determined to get everything right today so that he wouldn't have ammunition to use. I was so proud of myself when I managed just that. In fact it was probably the best I had done in potions since I started at Hogwarts.
The Quidditch match went horribly. Dementors appeared in the middle of it and Harry fell from a couple hundred feet up. I was glad that Dumbledore had managed to keep his injuries minor but I was still nervous as we sat by his bed waiting for him to wake up. When he did I didn't know how we were going to explain the lost match.
He took the loss better than I had expected but the loss of his broom hit Harry rather hard. I wished there was something I could do but there wasn't which left me feeling rather helpless. The loss of the match and his broom weighed heavily on Harry and it was only made worse by the approaching visit to Hogsmeade.
Harry couldn't attend because his aunt and uncle hadn't signed his form and it made things rather awkward. Little did I know that the much anticipated journey from the castle would be the day my worst nightmares came true.
Ron, Hermione and I bid Harry farewell on the day of the trip. We promised to bring him tons of sweets from Honeydukes but this did little to cheer him. The three of us set off but our excitement was dampened profusely by the absence of our friend. We wandered through the village and in and out of the various shops. We spotted Ron's brother Fred and George in Zonko's and admired the sweets that Honeydukes offered. We were preparing to head back to the castle when Harry made it known that he was there. After much debate we all perked up and ended up in the Three Broomsticks.
We were laughing and chatting away when a group of teachers accompanied by the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, took a seat at the table next to ours. We moved a pot nearby to help hid Harry. We heard his name and everyone fell silent.
"Minister, there's been no sight of him then?"
"None. Its almost as if Sirius Black has disappeared completely. Sightings are continually reported but none of them have resulted in anything."
"Well, if something doesn't happen soon things are going to be miserable for the students. After the incident with the dementors at the school's Quidditch pitch Dumbledore is considering canceling further matches."
The next voice we heard was Professor McGonagall's and it would prove to be the voice of doom. "I truly hope for Potter's sake that it doesn't come to that. It's bad enough for him that this whole thing is happening but to lose that too would be a horrible blow. Though I must admit that he and Celeste Black are doing admirably all in all."
"What do you mean Minerva?" This was from Fudge.
"It's thanks to Sirius Black that the Potters are dead. Those children have the hardest fate to face in all this. Sirius Black is Celeste's father and Harry Potter's godfather."
I heard Ron and Hermione gasp and felt Harry shove away from the table. I grabbed my coat and hurried after him leaving Ron and Hermione to follow. I finally managed to catch up to Harry at the Shrieking Shack where he whipped off the invisibility cloak and glared at me.
"You knew all this?"
"Yes." My voice was barely audible as they stared at me.
"How could you not say anything? You knew he was the reason my parents are dead and you lied!"
He went too far with that and I exploded back with tears streaming down my face. "Do you think I enjoyed it? From that first day on the train I've been terrified you would find out and there was no way I could tell you because I just knew you would hate me.
"My father was convicted without a trial and I don't believe for a minute that he did that to your parents. Your dad was his best mate and there is no way he would have betrayed them like that. For three years I've had to hide who I was because I knew if people found out I would be condemned.
"My father doesn't even know I exist because my mother never told him. She picked my godfather because he was a wizard and one of the few she knew and trusted. I've lived my whole life hiding who I was and if you can't except things as they are then none of you are who I thought you were."
As the last word left my mouth I collapsed to the ground sobbing. My worst nightmare had come true and I was about to lose everything. It turned out to be Harry who finally put his arm around my shoulder to comfort me. I turned into him and continued to cry until there were no more tears left.
After I fell silent it took a moment before I could gather the courage to look him in the eye. When I did I felt a relief so powerful I know there will never be a moment like it again.
"I don't hold it against you Celeste. I don't know whether or not I believe you that he's innocent but you're my friend just the same and I refuse to let it come between us.
"I'm famous because of what Voldemort did to my parents and I envy you the fact that no one knows that you're Black's daughter but I can understand wanting to keep people from knowing so don't worry we've been mates for three years and that's not going to change now."
I hugged him and looked at the others. Ron and Hermione both smiled at me and echoed Harry's words. At least there was one good thing about all this. I no longer had to carry the burden of keeping my heritage a secret from my best mates. The relief that flooded me made everything seem a thousand times better and the future looked a little brighter.
We headed back to school, Ron, Hermione and I by the main road and Harry through the secret passage he had found. When we got back I excused myself and told them I needed to go talk to Remus. They agreed to meet me back in the common room in an hour and I all but ran to the staff quarters.
I was so excited that I practically pounded on Remus' door. When he finally opened it I rushed in and hugged him fiercely. I heard the door shut and felt his arms close around me. It was a relief to know that everything would be okay. My friends had accepted me for who I was and I had Remus to reassure me that I wasn't dreaming. I felt happier than I had since starting at Hogwarts.
After I pulled back from the hug I plopped down into the nearest chair and began talking a mile a minute. I told him about what had happened in the pub and the aftermath at the Shrieking Shack. I told him about how scared and angry I had been and the flood of relief I had felt when Harry hadn't turned me away.
I couldn't help but smile when I said, "The Marauders really are back! My secret came out and they didn't turn me away just like the others didn't turn you away." My face again lit up as I looked at him in wonder. "I have friends Moony, real true friends."
Remus' smile was the best thing about the day. I hadn't seen him look so happy in ages and to know that my triumphs were enough to bring him joy made my day all the better. Of course, being the sensible man that he is he just had to try and burst my bubble with practicality.
"Does this mean you'll be telling them your other secret Celeste?"
"No! Moony, they're great and they've accepted me for who I am but that secret isn't mine to tell. I don't care if I look really tired every month even though I know they wonder about it. I made a promise that I intend to keep so no, I won't be telling them about that."
Remus gave me a sad smile that I knew meant he felt guilty. He had always felt bad that I had had to keep his condition a secret but it didn't bother me at all. He had kept me safe for years and now it was my turn to do the same.
"You know that I would be okay with it if you wanted to tell them. In fact, it would probably be better if you did. No, don't interrupt. You've had a large weight lifted off your shoulders today but you still carry another one with you. Your friends have proven that they care for you no matter what so why not tell them the rest?"
"Because," I got up and went to his side. He looked so tired and it broke my heart. "Like I said before this isn't my secret to tell. I know you just want me to be free of secrets but this one is even more important then Sirius. You're the only father I've ever had and family is the most important thing, which you of all people should know."
He nodded, knowing that he would not win the argument. I sat by his side chatting for a while longer before bidding him farewell to go and meet my friends. Before I left I reminded him that I had not forgotten that the full moon was coming and I would be here before sunset. He sighed and gave me a smile, knowing that arguing would get him nowhere.
I rushed back to the common room and fell into one of the chairs by the fire. I was so happy and my attitude seemed to infect the others as we sat there laughing and talking. After a while Harry showed us how he had gotten to Hogsmeade and I nearly fell out of my chair.
"Brilliant! Oh Harry, where did you get it? I thought it was locked away in Filch's office."
Harry shook his head and leaned in closer. "Fred and George nicked it their first year. They said that it had served them well but it looked like I needed it more so they gave it to me. It's amazing actually, these blokes were really something."
I knew that all we'd seen was the folded parchment but I decided to have a little fun. "Can I see it Harry?" He handed me the map and before he could say anything else I pulled out my wand and tapped it. "I solemnly swear I am up to no good."
The ink slowly appeared and Harry looked at me in shock. I smiled and pointed out the obvious. "It's called the Marauder's Map Harry. Don't you remember me talking about them first year? How Remus said he was glad I didn't have the map because of all the trouble we could cause?"
Harry smiled and I just laughed before tapping it again and murmuring, "Mischief managed."