The Sighting
Harry managed to get through the rest of the day without worrying too much about the Dementors or Trelawney's class. He'd holed himself up in the library, behind a large stack of books he hoped no one would take notice of. Unfortunately, someone did take notice; Professor Lupin.
"Oh, Harry. I didn't mean to disturb you." Lupin had rounded the stack, carrying several rolls of parchment.
"It's alright, Professor." Harry offered the other seat to Lupin. Remus took the seat and unrolled one of the pieces of parchment.
"I was just coming here to get some work done. I can't seem to concentrate in my office."
"Oh. I was trying to avoid Ron and Hermione. They both think I've gone mental about the Dementors. You'd think I'd be more worried about a mass murderer coming after me."
"I think you have every right to be worried about the Dementors, Harry. They too pose a real threat."
"None of the other Professors seem to think so."
"Well I'm not all the Professors, now am I?"
"No…guess you're not." They fell into silence for a minute or two. Lupin scribbled some things down on the roll of parchment and Harry simply watched his quill dance along the page.
"Professor, can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"Did you know my mother when she was at school?"
"Yes. We were in the same year."
"Did you like her?"
"Lily was a very kind person, a gifted witch but a very kind person. She had a huge heart and was willing to give people who were different a chance."
"Yeah…I think I know what you mean," Harry mumbled.
"Why do you ask?"
"Just wondering. I never got to know her." He glanced around, making sure they were alone.
"Can I tell you something, Professor?"
"Certainly."
"You've got to swear not to tell anyone."
"Alright. I think I can do that, Harry."
"I have a sister." Remus couldn't help but laugh.
"Harry….I don't know where you heard that but—" Lupin began but Harry cut him off.
"It's true. Irlynn, she's my sister. It's really complicated and I don't really understand how but we're twins…sort of. No one knew about her though…not even my Dad."
"You mean…both of your fathers?"
"No…that's the thing. Irlynn and I have different Dads."
"Harry…why are you telling me this?"
"I…I don't know. You saved us from the Dementor. Just…don't tell Professor Snape you know anything."
"What does Professor Snape have to do with anything?"
"He's…Irlynn's Dad." Remus gave Harry a deadpan stare.
"You're joking."
"No, Sir. We found out this summer."
"That would mean…that Lily was unfaithful."
"I just wanted someone else to know the whole story….I felt kind of bad just keeping it to myself."
"Thank you for trusting me, Harry. If you'll excuse me, I need to go take care of a few things." Harry watched the Professor go and let out a sigh. Irlynn was going to kill him. With a slow breath, he stood up and went in search of his sibling. He found her coming up from the kitchens.
"You busy?" Harry called. Irlynn shook her head and the two fell into step with each other.
"I was just in the library. Don't tell Ron and Hermione."
"They've been looking for you all over the castle. They seem worried."
"I'm fine. I just needed some space to think. Anyways I ran into Professor Lupin."
"Oh, how is he? He looks kind of tired today."
"Probably had a rough first day." Harry just nodded in agreement.
"I told him."
'Told him what?"
"About us. About you and Snape."
"Harry! Why did you do that?"
"Who says it's a crime to tell people."
"People hear things…people like Sirius Black," Irlynn hissed at him.
"He's nowhere near Hogwarts. How could he know? And it's not like he knows what you look like."
"The Ministry doesn't know how he escaped from Azkaban. What if he has someone on the outside helping him?"
"You're being stupid. And besides, I already told Lupin not to tell anyone."
"Snape is going to be right pissed with you."
"You won't tell him."
"I guess not…but I don't think Dumbledore would want us to go around blabbing about it to everyone."
"I didn't tell everyone." Harry argued.
They stopped squabbling when Snape appeared seemingly out of nowhere. He fixed them both with a look as he passed by. Harry's gaze fell to the ground and Irlynn shrunk a little.
"He may be your Dad but he scares me."
"Yeah…I have to agree."
"I'd better get going. I promised Luna I'd eat dinner with her."
"Alright. I suppose I should go find Ron and Hermione and let them know I'm ok. That I haven't gone off the deep end and went to share a toilet with Myrtle." Irlynn giggled at his statement but the parted ways. Harry reached the Gryffindor Common Room to find it almost full. He finally spotted Ron and Hermione in a corner by the window.
"Hi." They both looked up, relief on both of their faces.
"Where have you been mate?"
"I was in the library…just needed some space to think. I'm fine I swear."
The trio sat in companionship for a while, just listening to the other conversations going on around them. It was Hermione who first spotted the movement outside. She turned her full attention to the window and tried to peer through the glass into the darkening sky.
"Harry, look." He turned to look at where she was pointing. He could make out a strange form moving in the shadows.
"What is it?"
"I don't know." They waded through the other Gryffindor students in the Common Room and towards the entrance Hall. They saw nothing at first. The Entrance Hall was quiet. The silence was suddenly broken by a scream. The sound came from behind them and they turned to see it had been Filch. Harry and Ron did their best not to laugh at the scraggly haired man. He was holding Mrs. Norris to his chest protectively. Hermione shook her head and pushed past the man, the boys following after her. They had noticed dirty paw prints on the floor. They followed them until they began to change.
"Look at that," Ron murmured. The prints abruptly changed to human footprints.
"That's strange," Harry agreed as they continued to follow the tracks. They led straight to the Defense corridor.
"Professor Lupin," Harry gulped and began to run down the corridor.
"Harry, wait!" Hermione called but it was no use. Harry was already around the corner out of sight.
"Come on," she said to Ron. When they finally caught up with Harry, he had his ear pressed to the door. They could hear voices from within. One they recognized.
"You shouldn't be here."
"I have to find him, Remus."
"I can't help you. I'm sorry. I wish I could but it's useless."
"It's not useless, old friend. He's close I can tell. I just need you to help me find him." Harry backed away from the door a few paces.
"Sirius, you know I would help you if I could." Sirius suddenly sounded panicked.
"I think someone's coming."
"Go. Be quick."
"I'll be in touch." There was the faint sound of a whoosh and a mumbled phrase. They caught the faint flare of green from beneath the doorframe. Footsteps sounded from within the classroom and Hermione had to grab Ron and Harry by the shirttails and drag them out of sight as Lupin opened the door. He stepped out and looked up and down the corridor. Satisfied no one was there; he went back into the classroom and shut the door.
"We've got to find Irlynn." They ran as quickly as they could the Great Hall. Harry strode right up to the Ravenclaw table and grabbed his sister by the arm.
"Harry what are you doing?"
"We have to talk."
"I'm not done eating."
"Trust me, you are." When they reached Ron and Hermione, Irlynn pulled her arm from Harry's grip.
"What's going on?"
"We overheard Lupin talking…Sirius Black was in the castle."
"Who was Lupin talking with?"
"Black."
"What?"
"I know…I'm so sorry."
"Well did he mention us?"
"We didn't hear the whole conversation. But Black is looking for someone and wanted Lupin's help," Hermione explained.
"Yeah and Lupin said that he would help if he could," Ron added.
"I've royally messed this up, haven't I?"
"You didn't know he couldn't be trusted, Harry. The teachers are supposed to be our allies."
"Some ally."
"We need to let Dumbledore know. We have to find him and tell him. Come on. He should be back by now." With that the foursome raced off in the direction of Dumbledore's office. They didn't have to go far. They ran into the Headmaster halfway down the corridor.
"Where are you four going in such a hurry?"
"We were going to find you. Sirius Black was in the castle," Harry said. Dumbledore's normally jovial gaze turned instantly to ice.
"Thank you. I would you all to return to your dormitories immediately."
"Yes, Sir." They walked quickly away from the elderly wizard. Harry and Irlynn took their time reaching a point where they had to split up.
"Be careful."
"You too."