A/N: WARNING - THIS CHAPTER IS FULL OF EMO. I'm normally not an emo person, but this particular piece was already written out in my head and I had plans to add it to the story long ago.
This chapter has been rewritten and beta read by Ripley! I love that girl to death, she's great! XD
Chapter 9 - The Truth is revealed
Snow had already begun to fall around Thanksgiving, when Avril made her way down to the Great Hall for breakfast that morning. She wanted to sit with her brother long enough to ask him what he wanted for Christmas and see if Remus and Peter wanted anything as well. She had no plans of getting Sirius anything.
"What do you want for Christmas?" Avril asked, squeezing in between her brother and Sirius, giving James a shove of her elbow as she took a piece of toast and smothered it thoroughly. James smiled and looked down the table at Lily who refused to sit with Avril if she was sitting next to that 'Potter boy' as she called him. Avril didn't need to follow his gaze; "I can't get you that for Christmas, I'm not a genie."
James deflated to Remus and Peter's amusement, and Sirius was too busy with a Hufflepuff seventh year to take notice.
The girl giggling as Sirius tickled her sides playfully. "So what do you say?" he asked softly; Avril's ears perking up.
"I don't know Sirius, what if we get caught?" she asked, innocently though she was far from it as Avril had heard.
"No one will find us," he said soothingly, flashing a daring smiling that the girl's always melted for.
Avril couldn't help but roll her eyes and stuff her finger in her mouth and pretend to throw up, wiping her mouth dramatically with the back of her hand as though she had really blown chunks. Remus snorted back a laugh while Peter gave out a shrill giggle and James tried to ignore his sisters' poor acting skills. Sirius' head snapped around, making Avril wonder if he had gotten whiplash in the process when a brown owl with speckled white feathers soared right into the girls back, who immediately let out a howl of fear mixed with pain and she quickly leapt up from the bench making her way back to her friends.
"Ruddy bird!" Sirius growled standing, brushing off the lose feathers that had stuck to the bottom of his robes.
"Hooty!" Avril chided, picking the bird up dusting it off as she took the small roll of parchment addressed to her, the bird taking flight as soon as it was relieved of its delivery.
"Hooty?" Sirius' eyebrow quirked as he straightened himself out catching sight of the letter Avril was reading. The words 'dead' and 'Uncle' flashed into his line of vision first, next was Dumbledore approaching; the headmaster putting a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"I just heard. Miss. Potter I'm so sorry for--" he began, but was quickly cut off.
"No," Avril whispered, turning to look into the headmasters eyes, her own filled with tears that were already cascading down her pale cheeks.
"Avril…," Sirius mumbled having gotten the gist of the letter. Rapidly the girl whirled around, the letter floating to the floor as she was off in a dash. Sirius was on her heels and was having a terrible feeling of what she was about to do.
"Avril wait!Avril!" he yelled.
Trying to keep up with the girl, his feet carried him outside the doors of Hogwarts. Out past the grassy lawn that was kept rather nice and past the tall, black, heavy iron gates that were blasted open by the girl; blue and green sparks flying in every direction. He didn't know if she had used her wand even as he pressed on, fingers tips only a few inches out of the reach of her arm when an awful stitch tore into his side. Ignoring it as best as he could his legs flew over the ground; his robe began to tangle in his legs, and he ripped it from his body tossing it to float into the air behind him as the cold November air broke through the white undershirt he wore under the thin, un-tucked, loosely buttoned, white shirt.
"AVRIL!" he screamed. "WAIT!!"
Farther they went, Sirius trying his best to grip her arm, to stop her before they reached the edge; before she had the chance. Fingers enclosed tightly around her upper arm, but it didn't detour the girls' onward advance, harder she seemed to run, then over the grass to where it met and molded with the gravel road and-- CRACK
They were gone.
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An unfamiliar pull came from the back of his navel, pressing from all sides and lack of breath then just as quickly as it happened it was gone and Sirius found he was able to breathe. He had never Side-Apparated before or by himself; the Apparation lessons having only been announced weren't to take place until after March. It was definitely more than a new feeling; his parents never apparated with him because he was thought to be unworthy, never had experienced it until then; he didn't like it one bit.
Steadying himself he realized Avril was already making her way up a gravel stone walkway, the lose rocks flying in all directions under her speed. The tall black gate was wide open to reveal a house of brick and black shingled roofing. The dark blue door was left to swing on its hinges while it smashed against the wall without a door stopper; nearly slamming back against Sirius as he dashed past a frightened older woman. Running after a glimpse of Avril's long hair swirling around the corner of the stairs, Sirius hit the top to hear an immediate scream and loud sobs issuing from the room at the very end of the long hall.
"Avril," Sirius called, making his way slowly into the room to find her flung over what looked to be a sleeping man. Sirius would have thought otherwise if it had not been for the pale skin and the body's stillness; the lack of reaction to the girls moaning sobs.
"No please," she whimpered hugging the man close who resembled her so well, laugh lines apparent in his skin, his age untellable by simple means just like Dumbledore. "No please get up, please."
Sirius approached her hesitantly not really knowing what to do in a situation like this. "Avril…"
"You're not dead, you're not dead…," the girl sobbed harder shaking the man softly as though rocking him would awaken him from his slumber, her hair cascaded over the mans' face as she buried her own into his neck.
Suddenly Dumbledore's voice carried up the stairs, Sirius not caring to listen to the mumbled conversation carrying on a floor below.
"Wake up!" Avril roared suddenly, her face stained in her tears. "WAKE UP YOU'RE NOT DEAD!" she screamed beginning to pound on his chest; Sirius' hands clamped down around her arms trying to pull her from the bed.
"Avril it's going to be okay!" he cried, struggling to pull the sobbing girl from her Uncle's body.
"He's not…he's not...no…," she sobbed collapsing, taking Sirius down with her. His knees hit the polished wooden floor hard, the boy grimacing as she turned gripping onto the front of his shirt, crying so hard both of their bodies shook. The stitch that had cropped up in his side running after her hit hard as well, the pain throbbing together as it waved through his body.
"It's going to be alright," he tried to say soothingly, his hand running over her hair softly as possible given his pain and the shaking Avril was causing between the two.
"Please…," she begged looking up to him. "Please tell me he's not gone, and tell me that this is all a nightmare."
All the confidence that she once held was gone from her blue eyes. Her fearlessness, courage and sense of adventure that once could be seen in those eyes were gone and Sirius felt his heart being squeezed, like it was about to crack and shatter. Her begging for him to say it was only a dream made the crack in the teens' heart extend and lengthen. Sadness and pain had overwhelmed her, and she was begging for it all to be untrue like anyone would have. She was human like the rest of them.
"I wish I could…," Sirius whispered, the pain his heart felt deepening as her eyes welled with fresh salt water spilling across her already wet face. "I sorry," he whispered truly wishing he could tell her it was all a nightmare that everything was fine; but it wasn't. The only person she thought she had in her life was gone and there was nothing he could do about it.
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Sirius had some how managed to get Avril down the stairs, pulling her into what appeared to be the sitting room of the house and onto a slightly worn, dark brown leather couch. She had stopped crying, but instead sat in a stupor, her eyes dull and features paler then normal as Dumbledore's voice carried past the library walls that were down the hall from the sitting room.
"Why is the body still here?" Dumbledore asked in a hushed tone.
"We were preparing him for the burial. He had wanted a certain suit on and such…," the older woman's voice cracked before she broke out into loud sobs.
"I'm sorry Theo; I understand you were close to him," said Dumbledore softly, touching her shoulder.
"I mean I was just his…cutlery maid but…we…we use to talk…all…all the time!" she sobbed. "He was a great man!" the wails of anguish became more prominent through the door.
"Yes he was. Tully was a good and trusted friend of mine as well," the Headmaster said warmly at the memories, "I understand he left a will that he wanted Avril to read."
"Yes…he...," the older woman known as Theo pointed to the book shelves that were lining the walls. "It's in his favorite book."
Dumbledore stood before one of the many shelves inspecting them. "Oh my, he did have several favorites…," he trailed off. "But I do believe thatQuidditch Lover was his favorite," softly, long, slender fingers pulled at the top of the binding of one book in particular, pulling it from the self.
Hands running over the worn cover gave show that it had been read many times, maybe even to a small child of eight when plagued with nightmares to calm her. The Headmaster sighed as he flipped open the book to see a flattened piece of parchment incased between the pages addressed to none other then himself --- Albus Dumbledore. Reading through the letter, he pulled out a larger piece of folded parchment, realizing what he would have to tell the grief stricken girl.
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"Avril, I'm afraid I need to speak with you for but a moment," Dumbledore said, his presence startling Sirius who hadn't noticed him approach. Avril didn't move to stand; she merely stayed held within Sirius' arms. "Avril," the Headmaster touched her hand softly, getting the girl to look at him in surprise.
"He wants to talk to you," Sirius practically whispered, helping her to her feet.
"Please remain here Mr. Black," Dumbledore said, taking Avril and directing her into the library, closing the door softly.
Sirius sat back down taking in his surroundings. The soft brown leather couch gave signs of wear and use by the houses occupants as his fingers traced the winkles. His grey eyes wandered to the polished wooden coffee table in front of him, rings of previous mugs engrained in its surface and he couldn't help but chuckle thinking it was more then likely Avril's fault for its imperfections. Still; the room was warm and had a cozy feeling to it, a place where laughs were shared, memories made and sadness mutual. Sirius stood upon seeing the moving photo's on the walls; a picture of Avril when she looked to be only eleven waving enthusiastically from in front of a tall glass and silver metal skyscraper, the logo across the building reading 'Salem Witches Institute'. Her eyes were as blue as the day Sirius saw them for the first time when she entered into the Great Hall at Hogwarts back in September. All the confidence, fearlessness and sense of adventure were in them, even at such a young age. The teen suddenly burst into a snort of laughter at a larger photo that hung on the wall of the girl when she was only what looked to be fourteen, her eyes crossed and tongue poked out playfully.
'What a photo to put on the wall,' Sirius thought smiling at it warmly when a voice called to him.
"Oi! What're you lookin' at buddy!" it was Avril's voice coming from one of the portraits, like the many that the Headmaster had in his office and the castle had hanging on its walls.
"Your pictures," Sirius said, seeing the young girl putting her hands on her hips.
"You're awfully good lookin', what are you doin' here?" she stated fearlessly.
Sirius chuckled though his smile quickly dropped into a frown remembering with ease why he was there. "To help you."
"With what?" she demanded, albeit curiously.
Sirius really didn't know the answer to that question, but found the words rolling off his tongue with ease. "The death of your Uncle."
"What?" the portrait whispered, her eyes softening over.
"You found out this morning," Sirius felt awful for having to say it, even though it was merely a magically enhanced portrait of the girl he knew, but the real one was only feet away. He opened his mouth to try and comfort the portrait when a wale of anguish ripped through the entire house, piercing his ears.
"HE'S MY WHAT?!!" Avril's voice screamed, her sobs breaking through the door.
Sirius walked down the hall; stopping at the door, his trainers sliding across the polished wood a tad. A cry of anger ripped through the house just as Sirius fuddled the door open to see the fifteen-year-old girl full of rage, her hand sweeping across a small side table that held picture frames and other small trinkets; flying them into the walls to break upon impact. The very same side table was lifted and tossed in his direction. Sirius barely ducked in time before it smashed against the doorframe on its way out; pieces of wood breaking off.
"NO THIS ISN'T FAIR!!" she roared. "THIS ISN'T RIGHT!!"
Dumbledore stood in silence, his hands clasped together in front of his still form. Sirius only did the one thing that came to mind; he grabbed the girls screaming form, yanking her up off the ground as she struggled and howled out words that were incoherent as she thrashed harder.
Sirius screamed trying his best to get her attention; to calm her. "AVRIL STOP; AVRIL YOU'RE GOING TO DESTROY THE THINGS YOU'VE LEFT TO REMIND YOU OF HIM!"
Avril let out an earsplitting shriek, throwing out cusses that would have put a sailor to shame as her legs kicked at anything that they could reach. One of the bookshelves against the wall rumbled before it crashed to the floor hitting the over stuffed arm chair so hard the chair flew out from under it and right out the window, shattered glass spilling across the carpet like teardrops. Her strength appeared to leave her as she went limp in Sirius' arms crying hysterically, her sobs turning to whimpers of misery. They collapsed to the floor once more like they had upstairs, Sirius huddled over her, the two looking like a shaking mass as he rocked her back and forth.
"It's okay," he hushed. "It's okay."
Snow fell lightly atop the twelve-year-old boy's head as he and his best mate James trudged up the gravel walkway to a house with a dark blue door and heavy lion head knocker.
"So who is this?" Sirius asked shifting the parcels in is arms.
"My uncle's house," James answered softly giving the knocker a quick hit against the door.
"The one your dad doesn't like to talk about?" asked the black haired boy.
"…Yeah," replied James simply.
The door creaked open of its own accord as a voice called for them to enter from somewhere within the house.
"Uncle Tully it's me!" James called out, shaking off the snow at the door mat with a stomp of his feet. Sirius followed suit. "I brought a friend with me if that's okay."
"Of course," the voiced chuckled.
"Why doesn't your dad like to talk about him?" Sirius whispered, brushing the snow from his hair. "Is he all for pure blood or something?"
James gave his head a quick shake. "No. Dad never really said, I guess they just didn't get along as kids."
"Oh," formed at the boys' lips, "well I can understand that mate!" he chuckled referring to his own younger brother.
James smiled softly as he led his friend back into what appeared to be the kitchen. The two passing a beautifully covered Christmas tree that climbed up past the ceiling, brushing against a glass plane sky window. The kitchen was heavy with the smell of baking cookies and the island in the midst of the kitchen covered in bowls of odd colors and vapors.
"Sorry for the mess James," a man replied cheerfully and Sirius could make out the light laugh lines about his mouth as the man was a striking resemblance to his best friend. "I reckon making potions at the same time as making cookies really isn't a good idea."
James laughed as did Sirius who was taking in the look at the place, liking it all the more. The kitchen had such a warm feeling to it besides the obvious; in fact the whole house did. Sirius set down the parcels he carried on the kitchen table when the sudden feeling of warm fur circling about his ankles set him on guard.
"Don't let Othello frighten you, he's a giant softy," the older man replied from behind the thickening veil of vapors.
"Just caught me off guard," Sirius said softly lifting the larger then normal jet-black cat up into his arms.
"And so, who's your friend, James?" asked the man.
"Oh, sorry!" James laughed abruptly. "This is Sirius Black, I met him on the Hogwarts Express my first year!"
The vapors were suddenly waved away with flick of the older mans' wand, whose blue eyes pierced across the kitchen at the young boys figure. A glint of mischief in his eyes before he burst out into warm laughter. "Nice to meet you Sirius."
Sirius smiled warmly. "Nice to meet you too," he said taking a seat at the table as the cat leapt from his arms onto the table.
"Is Lynn around?" James suddenly asked.
"I'm afraid she took off with some mates just a few minutes before you got here," Tully replied. "I suspect she'll be back soon. Said she was going to stop off by this boys' house to wish him happy holidays." There was a slight roll of the older man's eyes in apparent laughter as one eyebrow rose in the process. "Girl's…I'll never understand 'em."
Sirius and James laughed.
It seemed like days had gone by while they sat on the floor of the Library, Avril cradled in his arms while their bodies rocked back and forth when Dumbledore placed his hand on Sirius' shoulder, the younger man looking up into his eyes full of age and wisdom.
"Mr. Black if you could take Avril back to Hogwarts I'd very much appreciate it," Sirius moved to shake his head, but the headmaster stopped him. "Theo; Tully's cutlery maid is going to take you by Side-Apparition to Hogsmeade where you should be able to get back to the school on your own. Professor McGonagall and Madame Pomfrey will be expecting you at the gate."
Nodding his head, he pulled Avril up with him, directing her out the door with Theo on their heels.
"Alright," the older woman said softly. Her fingers clamping down around both the teens' arms, dragging air into his lungs they were flung forward into Hogsmeade, the village whirling into view as they gained their footing, the woman gave a curt bow before disapparating.
Scanning the horizon, the sun was setting as dusk hit, shadowing them in the darkness. Seeing the Three Broomsticks was still open Sirius gave out a heavy sigh as their feet followed up the beaten path and into the familiar establishment that he had been into with many girls and friends alike, but never with Avril until then. Rosmerta looked rather surprised to see two Hogwarts students filing into her pub. The black haired boy familiar for he had often brought a giggling girl into the place, this time it was different, the girl he held looked as pale as death as though she had been on the verge of it herself, her blue eyes down cast and a vacant expression on her face.
"Black, what's this?" Rosmerta asked setting down the glass she had been wiping out, tossing the rag onto the bar top. "Students aren't supposta be out this late!"
"Her Uncle's passed," Sirius said softly, as though if it was said a certain way it would make it less true.
"Oh my; I'm sorry for your loss child," Rosmerta chided herself for being so rude only seconds ago.
"I need something strong," the girl suddenly spoke up; her voice cracked and dry as her hair was pushed out of her face by Sirius' fingers tucking it behind her ear.
"Yes, yes of course you do honey," quickly Rosmerta reappeared with a mug of Firewhisky setting it in front of the grief stricken girl. "That's strong; it won't land you on your arse, but its best to drink it…," the barmaid trailed off watching the girl down the mug in a rather hurried fashion without much response to its fiery kick. It must have burned her throat on the way down because she began to tear up; salt water renewing itself, falling anew.
"I've got…," she breathed. "I thought it was terrible that I have to bury my Uncle…the only person in my life that cared for me but…," Avril's voice broke as she cried softly, Sirius' arm wrapping instinctively around her a bit tighter.
"But now I've got to bury my father instead!" she cried out hurriedly. "He wasn't my uncle at all and the man I thought was my father really is my uncle!"
"What?!" Rosmerta was the first to ask, she had been quicker then Sirius, their faces holding the same expression.
"They…they…they had an affair!" she screamed out in sobs. "My mum and Tully had an affair and I was the mistake!"
"Godric 'Tully' Potter?" Rosmerta asked in disbelief as she refilled the girls Firewhisky, "Charlus Potter's younger brother?"
"Yes!" Avril frowned wiping the tears off her cheeks. "I'm only James' half-sister…," the girl suddenly turned on Sirius grabbing him by his loose Gryffindor stripped tie. "Don't you dare tell him, please? James and I finally have been getting along and…and I don't…don't want him to hate me again!"
"I promise," Sirius said numbly, nodding his head in unison.
"Tully was a good man he was," Rosmerta said suddenly as she watched Avril down another mug of Firewhisky. "He was four years ahead of me in Hogwarts, but he was a wonderful guy then too. Really good on the eyes, great smile…great person in general. A bit like Black here, liked jinxing people for fun in the middle of the hallways. You know blowing their robes over their heads, sending Vicious Skunk Bombs after 'em; things like that."
Rosmerta took out two other thick and heavy looking mugs, slamming them down onto the bar filling them up with Firewhisky. Taking one for herself, she slid the other to Sirius as she filled Avril's back up for the third time.
"To Tully a great man in life and in death!" she announced loudly and held her mug up high, Avril and Sirius following suit as they downed their mugs, it taking Rosmerta and Sirius a few more swigs than Avril to finish them off.
"Thanks Rosmerta," Sirius stood pulling out some galleons to pay her for the drinks.
"On the house- don't even think about it!" she chided, pulling out some brooms from next to the door. "Here take these to get up to the school, it'll be faster. Make sure to hold on to hers now."
Sirius thanked her and led Avril out onto the dirt road. Mounting the brooms they kicked off.
"Sirius...," Avril said tucking her heels into the brooms metal rungs. She looked down at the ground that was several feet below. "Will you go to the funeral with me?"
The boy nodded without much thought and reached long, slender, fingers wrapping them about her broom handle. "Yeah."
Preview of the next Chapter:
"You're a terrible influence." Stan laughed, "Why do we hang out with you?"
"Cuz you wanna be as terribly popular as I am and cling to me for it." Joked Godric, his hands disappearing into his robes. He quickly pulled out his wand and took aim at some unsuspecting girl with long black hair; Stan and Ludovic watched as their friend mumbled something under his breath and with a flick of his wand the end of the girls' robes caught on fire…
A/N: I cried when I first got the idea for this. This was one of the major bases for this story.
Also note:
-I own Godric "Tully" Potter and Theo.
-Tully is not a cannon character, but Charlus Potter is though that may as well not be his name. I was looking at the Potters Family tree and its comparison with the Black tree. (Look it up at Harry Potter Wikipedia)
-James' father never had a younger brother in the real story. This is only for my story.
-I've no clue if Rosmerta was in Hogwarts when James' parents were, but once again it felt right.
-Please keep in mind that Wizards and Witches live longer, though they maybe old their appearance doesn't always give away their age (Example: Dumbledore - 150 when he died)
If you're confused with some other things in the story, it will be explained in later chapters I can say with some confidence.
Review please, reviews make my day!
