Disclaimer-everything belongs to J.K. Rowling, not me.

Chapter 10 Gifts from the Father

Vesper sat at a secluded table in the library finishing a potions essay that Snape had set them for the holidays. She had been in here all morning after not sleeping a wink last night. After she had finished looking through the photo album, Vesper had tossed and turned all night wondering what her life could have been like if her father had stayed the happy man from the pictures. She could clearly picture her father and herself sitting at a kitchen table pouring over a magazine on motorcycles while her mother, Lorna (AN-pic on profile), hummed quietly while making lunch. Maybe she would have younger brothers and sisters running around and would escape over to the Potter house when things got too hectic. Vesper sighed and set her quill down. These thoughts were getting her nowhere. What was done was done-her father was a dangerous convict and her mother was dead, simple as that. No use crying over spilled pumpkin juice.

No longer in the mindset to write an acceptable potions essay, Vesper packed her things up and left the empty library. She would just run to her dormitory and drop her things off before heading down to lunch. The long walk up to the tower was filled with much more pleasant thoughts. Vesper thought of enchanting the suits of armor to sing crude versions of Christmas songs when anyone walked by. She was sure Fred and George would be impressed.

She gave the password and as soon as the portrait swung open she heard voices in a rather serious discussion.

"-you mustn't do anything stupid."

"Like what?"

"Like going after Black!"

It was Harry, Ron, and Hermione. And by the sound of it, Vesper guessed that they were talking about the conversation they heard yesterday. Vesper didn't really want to be seen by them. She just wasn't sure whether or not she was ready to forgive Harry for the way he treated her. She knew that everything he said had been in anger, but that didn't mean that they hurt any less. So for now she decided to just wait in the shadows and hope they wouldn't notice her.

"Black's not worth dying for, mate," Vesper heard Ron say. There was a pause and then-

"Do you know what I hear every time I get near a dementor?" Harry said softly. "I can hear my mum screaming at Voldemort; begging for him to spare me. It's not something you forget in a hurry. And the thought of someone who was supposed to be her friend sending Voldemort after her-"

"There's nothing you can do, Harry!" said Hermione. "The dementors will catch him and he'll go back to Azkaban where he belongs."

Join the club, Vesper thought sarcastically. My childhood hasn't exactly been 'carefree'. She moved to cross her arms but the slight movement was enough to attract Harry's unwanted attention. Their eyes met and his narrowed in distrust as Ron said, "So you're saying you want to-kill Black or something?"

"Which one?" Venom leaked into Harry's voice. His question finally made Vesper snap.

"Okay, that is IT!" she shouted, throwing her school bag to the ground. Eyes half crazed, Vesper stalked forward to grab him by the scruff of his shirt and forced him against the stone wall. Wand drawn and pointed to his throat she began, "I am sick and tired of your bigheaded attitude! I let you walk all over me yesterday, but now it's my turn. You insulted me, you hit me! But the worst thing you did was judging me without letting me explain! If you had just listened to me for five minutes, you would have learned that, yes, I did know that my father was friends with your parents and, yes, I knew that he was you godfather. But Harry-" Vesper paused, her rage replaced with hesitancy. She released his shirt, lowered her wand, and stepped back allowing him some room. "Harry," she continued, looking down at her shoes, "I swear to you that I never knew what he did to your parents. I didn't tell you about him being your godfather for the same reason no one else told you or me for that matter." She glanced up at him sadly. "I wanted to protect you. But, if I had known about…you know…I would have told you. I could never keep that from you, ever; no matter how much it hurt."

After a few moments Harry said, "I was wrong."

"Yes, you were," said Vesper.

"I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions without hearing what you had to say."

"No, you shouldn't have."

"I was being and idiotic moron."

"An apt description."

"Can you ever forgive me?" Harry asked, sheepish.

"Hmm…I suppose so," said Vesper as she pulled him into a hug. She could never stay mad at him. But as they separated Vesper smacked him on the head. "Just don't do it again," she said with a smirk. "And don't even think about going after Black yourself!" she chided.

"Exactly what I told him," said Hermione proudly.

"Because I'm coming with you."

"No, you are most certainly not!" Hermione scolded. "Both of you are going to do no such thing!"

"Hey, why don't we go and visit Hagrid, we haven't seen him in ages," Ron interjected, thoroughly ending all talk of Black.

The visit with Hagrid hadn't exactly gone as hoped. The four of them had learned about the hearing that Buckbeak was being taken to because of the complaints of one, Lucius Malfoy. They immediately volunteered to look up evidence for Buckbeak's defense. The next several days were spent pouring over volumes of different cases on magical creatures. Before Vesper even knew it, Christmas morning was upon them and Christmas meant-

"Presents!" yelled Vesper.

"Vesper, go back to bed," came Hermione's voice muffled by her pillows. "I'm tired."

"Hermione, are you sure you're okay with your classes? I mean, you can always drop-"

"I'm fine," Hermione replied, sitting up. "Here, let me get your present." She got out of bed and opened her trunk and after some digging, handed Vesper her present. It was a book on Animagi. "I remember you saying you were interested in the subject," explained Hermione.

"Thank you," said Vesper. "I'll take a look at it later this afternoon." They opened the rest of their gifts in silence. Vesper received the usual from Mrs. Weasley-a knitted sweater and a package full of cakes and treats. Remus had given her a fully illustrated book on defensive spells, Harry a very nice quill and ink set, and Ron a large case of Pepper Imps, one of her favorite candies. Vesper had begun to clean up the mess of wrapping paper, when a long, thin, package wrapped in brown paper caught her attention.

"What have you got there?" Hermione asked, looking over Vesper's shoulder.

"Dunno," Vesper shrugged. "But I'm about to find out, aren't I?" She threw the brown paper behind her and lifted off the lid. Sitting there, surrounded by thin tissue paper, was a broomstick with a shiny golden Firebolt logo painted on the handle.

"Merlin's beard," whispered Vesper, in a state of shock.

"Is there a card or anything?"

"Not that I can see."

"I wonder who would buy it for you," Hermione wondered. "Do you think it was R-"

"It wasn't Remus, Hermione," said Vesper. "There's no possible way he could afford it. Besides, he would have left a note or something."

"Well, keep looking," said Hermione. "I'm going to go see if Harry and Ron are up yet."

Vesper nodded and said she would be there in a few minutes. After Hermione left, she continued riffling through the paper to no avail. It wasn't until she turned the box over that Vesper found anything of consequence. On the floor lie a silver locket (AN-link on profile). It was oval in shape with swirling vine-like designs around a diamond shaped gem. Curious as to the contents, Vesper quickly and deftly opened the locket. On one side was a picture of her mother and father looking lovingly at each other. In the other side where a picture should be, a note was wedged into the tiny space. Unfurling it, Vesper read:

To my darling little Star,

Happy Christmas. I am sorry that I'm not there in person to give you this gift. I am sorry that I was never there, or your mother. I truly blame myself for her death and I do not blame you if you believe the same. Please just know that everything I have ever done, was to protect you, your mother, and Harry.

Sincerely

Your loving father

PS-If my assumptions in assuming that you inherited your mother's intelligence are correct (which I believe they are) then you are probably suspicious of the broom and Harry's as well. I can tell you plainly that nothing has been done to them but you would not be your mother's child if you did not check.

Vesper blanched. That was not at all what she was expecting. The letter, short though it may be, clearly emanated honesty and heartfelt emotions. She could tell that the man she called father really believed in what he was saying in this note. With this realization, she wasn't sure what she wanted to feel: hopeful or furious. Hopeful, because if what he said in this letter was true, maybe he wasn't as heartless as everyone believed him to be and maybe there was some goodness in him. Did he even possibly feel remorse towards what he did? But the fury quickly outweighed the hope. Did he think her a fool? That he could win her over with a few emotional words? That she would so easily forget that he still killed over a dozen people in the span of twenty four hours? Vesper had no idea what to make of it; she was so confused!

Deciding to ignore it for now, she donned her dressing gown, grabbed her new Firebolt, slipped the locket into her pocket and made her way over to Harry and Ron's dormitory.

"What's the matter with you?" Ron asked Hermione as Vesper entered the room.

"Well," said Hermione, "isn't it a bit odd? Having two of the best broom being sent anonymously. I mean, one must have been expensive enough, but two? Why would someone send Harry and Vesper such expensive brooms and not even say it was them?"

"Oh stop looking a gift horse in the mouth, Hermione," said Ron, impatiently. "Listen, Harry, can I have a go on it?"

"I don't think anyone should ride on those brooms just yet!" Hermione said sharply.

"And why not?" retorted Ron.

But just then, Crookshanks, whom Vesper hadn't noticed, leapt and grabbed onto the front of Ron's pajamas. A terrified looking Scabbers clambered out of the front pocket of Ron's pajama shirt and attempted to jump off his shoulder. Ron caught him by the tail and tried to kick a hissing Crookshanks. He missed and hit his foot against Harry's trunk spilling its contents everywhere. The whirling sound of a Sneakerscope added to the mayhem as Harry grabbed it and tried to stuff it back into an old pair of socks.

"Come on, Hermione," Vesper said. "Let's get him out of here." She bent down and stretched out her arm for Crookshanks to come to her. As soon as he was close enough, Vesper scooped him into her arms and headed down the staircase. To Hermione she said, "Is it just me, or is it weird that Crookshanks only seems to go after Ron's rat?"

"I've noticed that too," said Hermione slowly. "There are plenty of other mice running around the castle, but why Scabbers?"

"Maybe there's something we aren't seeing," Vesper mused.

The rest of the morning held little Christmas cheer. Ron was still furious with Hermione and vice versa. Harry had brought down his Firebolt to examine it and that just seemed to annoy Hermione further. Eventually Vesper couldn't take the thick tension of the room anymore and left to seek solace in the library.

She worked for several hours until it was nearing lunchtime. Not feeling hungry, Vesper decided to go visit an ailing Remus, who was just days away from transformation.

The walk to his office was uneventful. At the door to his office, Vesper made to raise her hand to knock but it swung open before she had a chance. It was Snape coming out of the room. "Black," he sneered at her. Vesper glared at him but did not dare make a retort.

"Ah, Vesper, do come in," Remus said, as he saw her in the doorway. "I was just about to make some tea."

"Sure," Vesper replied, stepping into the office. "How are you feeling? I know the full moon isn't for a few more days, but-"

"I'm fine," interrupted Remus. "Anxious as always, but otherwise fine." He handed Vesper her cup of tea and she took a sip.

"Harry says that you're going to teach him how to fight dementors."

"Yes," Remus said, "right after the holidays. I believe that I've figured out a way to create a fake dementor. Harry's boggart is a dementor, you see. So all that's left is to find one somewhere around the castle, hopefully soon." He looked at her curiously. "Why do you bring it up?"

"I was wondering if you could teach me as well," said Vesper. Remus opened his mouth to say something but Vesper sufficiently cut him off and added in a hurry, "I mean, I know that the dementors don't affect me as strongly but it's still not the average reaction I'm guessing, and if I knew how to fight them then maybe I could help Harry if something bad happen or if there were multiple ones, or something," she finished lamely.

"Will you let me speak now?" Remus asked with a grin. She nodded. "Now then, I think it is a very good idea for you to learn as well. As long as Harry doesn't mind-"

"He doesn't," she added quickly.

"Then I see no problem."

They finished their tea in comfortable conversation about her studies.

"Thanks for the tea, Moony." Vesper left before he could tell her off.

She caught up with Harry and Ron in the common room. Hermione still wasn't back yet ("Probably wanted to ask McGonagall if she could take anymore classes," said Ron).

"We missed you at lunch," Harry said. "Trelawney made an appearance."

"Was a right laugh," said Ron, a small smile on his face. "Made a big deal about thirteen people dining together, superstitious old bat."

Their laughter was interrupted by the portrait hole opening to reveal a rather flustered Hermione and Professor McGonagall. Even though she was the head of Gryffindor House, Vesper had never actually seen her in the common room before. It was a bit of an unnerving sight.

"Miss Granger has informed me that you, Mr. Potter, and you, Miss Black, have both received broomsticks," McGonagall stated. "Miss Black, would you go fetch yours while I look at Potter's here?"

Vesper nodded her head and rushed to her dormitory to grab the Firebolt. Coming back down the stairs she could hear McGonagall's shrill voice.

"There was no message of any kind? No note or card?"

"No," said Harry.

"And what about you Black?" said McGonagall, directing her attention to Vesper now. She hesitated for no more than a second before replying, "No, Professor. Nothing."

"I see," McGonagall said gravely. "I'm sorry you two, but I'm afraid that I'm going to have to confiscate these."

"What!" Ron and Harry shouted. "Why?"

"To be checked for curses and jinxes," said McGonagall. "Madam Hooch and Professor Flitwick will strip it down-"

"Strip it down?" Ron repeated in horror.

"It won't take more than a few weeks. I will keep you informed, Potter, Black." And she left the room.

The second she was gone, Ron rounded on Hermione.

"What did you go running to McGonagall for?" he shouted. "You just couldn't mind your own business, could you?"

Hermione stood up from the chair she had previously occupied. "I did what I thought was right."

"No you didn't! You just wanted to look good for McGonagall!"

But Hermione had had enough. She turned sharply and ran back up the stairs to the girls' dormitory; the slightest sound of a sob was barely audible.

"Lay off Ron," Vesper said coldly. This was the first time she had spoken since this had begun.

"Vesper, how can you defend her? Your broom, your Firebolt, is being stripped apart because of her!"

"Good!" she shouted. "Saves me the trouble of asking McGonagall myself!"

"Why would you…" Ron trailed off.

She rolled her eyes and started towards the girls' dorms. "Well, obviously the brooms were sent by Sirius Black, now weren't they?"

AN-Yes I know that was an unacceptable amount of time in between updates. Problem was 1) I was gone for a week, 2) I had family visiting for nearly 3 weeks which meant no computer, and 3) writers block. Also I will be gone for 10 days which means no computer, so I will try to handwrite some stuff while I'm gone.

In lighter new there is a **NEW POLL** on my profile on what Vesper's Patronus should be. Go check it out.

Also, any suggestions for Vesper's happiest memory would be greatly appreciated!

Again, 5 reviews before the next update though I don't know when that will be.

Love Lora