"Here's a picture of Sirius and his brother, -"
"Regulus?"
"I keep forgetting how much you know", Lily smiled down at me.
"You know, I kind of look like Sirius, don't you think?", Aaron asked.
"No", I laughed. "Sirius is amazingly good looking and you're -"
"I'm what?"
I couldn't say that he wasn't good looking, but he was definitely no Sirius. But I also couldn't tell him that they both sort of looked alike. They both had the same black hair and the same facial structure. I couldn't say that I was somewhat attracted to Aaron, just because he reminded me of my favorite fictional character.
I keep forgetting! Sirius isn't a fictional character!
"You're just… you"
"Meaning?"
"Anyone with an annoying personality like you can't even be tolerated long enough for someone to realize that you're, in any way, good-looking. If you are"
"So are you saying I am or I'm not?"
Lily saved me by answering. "Well, I think you are, dear"
"Thank you, Lily. That means a lot, but I want Anneliese to answer…"
Damn it. I decided to ignore Aaron, and turned to Lily instead. "Thank you for showing me these pictures, and the original black family tree, but Aaron and I really need to know about your family tree"
"What about it?", Lily asked as she got up to put the pictures back.
"Your family… they had many hand-me downs, right?" I asked.
"Yes, of course… just like any other family"
"Was there a certain cloak in those hand-me downs… one that could hide the wearer better than any disillusionment charm?"
"There may have been…" Lily still had her back to us.
"We need to know who has the invisibility cloak… or who had it last" Aaron said quickly. He seemed angry, for some reason.
Lily turned to look at us. She didn't look scared or angry or upset. Just sort of sad, and a little proud. "I don't know where it is or who has it… my son had it last… he had it in battle. Then he died… they sent me his things, but the cloak wasn't there. When I asked about it, they said they had no idea what I was talking about. They told me that if they saw any hint of it, they would notify me right away. That's when I knew it was gone forever… no one in their right mind would give away something as useful or as treasured as that…"
"Oh, Lily…" I felt so bad. Losing her children and then losing something that important to her family name.
"But why would your children have it? Shouldn't it be the eldest child or the first boy, both of which you're not"
"Both my brothers died when my oldest son was 5, and the others were not yet born… the cloak went to my husband next, but then he died, too. I didn't want the cloak; I had no use for it. So I gave it to my eldest son, and he was the last keeper"
"So it could be anywhere right now?" I asked gently. Lily seemed to be on the verge of tears, but she was holding it in well. She was being brave.
"It could be anywhere…" Lily headed for the door. "I'm going to bed now. I suggest you two do the same"
"Of course" Aaron said.
"Good night" I called, but Lily was already gone.
I sat there for a few minutes, then I looked at Aaron. He seemed lost in thought. "Well, what are we going to do now?" I finally asked.
"I'm not sure…"
"Yeah, me neither"
"No, I'm not sure… if I believe her" Aaron looked up at me.
"What do you mean?"
"I think she's lying"
"But why would she lie?"
"'No one in their right mind would give away something as useful or as treasured as that'…"
"Oh, come on" I snorted and stood up. "I think you've been spending so much time doubting people throughout your life that you've now started doubting the innocent"
"How can we know she's not lying? Just because she's Harry's son, doesn't change who she is to us"
But -"
"She's still just a stranger to us, Ann!"
"What did you call me?" I asked softly.
"I called you… Ann… is there a problem?"
"No one's ever given me a nickname" I answered. I felt a sentimental stab in my heart as I realized that Curry used to have a nickname for me. It seemed so stupid, though. What he called me had no meaning.
"Do you not like nicknames?"
"No, they're okay…"
"Okay then… maybe we should just get some sleep. My brain's fried; that's probably why I'm 'doubting the innocent' now" Aaron threw a pillow at me.
I caught it before it could hit my face. "I guess you're right… and you really are doubting the innocent. I mean, how much do you know about me? I'm practically a stranger, too, but you trust me"
"I never said I did"
"Oh, ha ha. I forgot how funny you are; thanks for reminding me"
I fell asleep instantly, that night. But halfway through, I woke up. I'm not sure what woke my up from slumber, but I knew it wasn't just my imagination. I got up, grabbed my wand (just in case) and went over to Aaron's bedroom. He wasn't in bed.
"Where is he?" I whispered to myself.
"Downstairs" someone whispered back. I jumped five fight into the air, then turned around quickly and thrust my wand out so the light would cover the whole hall.
"Who's there?" I whispered, again.
"Calm your feathers, it's just me, in the painting"I looked up and saw an old man sitting in a wonderfully furnished chair. He had a haughty look upon his face, but a face that looked almost exactly like Sirius'. I'd bet my life that he was a Black.
"Who are you?"
"Orion Black" he spat at me. "No one ever knows my name"
"You're Sirius' father!"
"And everyone seems to know that little brats' name"
"Well, he is famous…"
"Famous? FAMOUS? AND I AM NOT FAMOUS? ME, THE LAST KNOWN REAL MAN OF THE BLACK FAMILY… except, of course, Regulus… but if he was really a man, HE WOULD NOT HAVE GONE AND GOTTEN HIMSELF KILLED! AND THEN THAT DREADFUL SIRIUS BLACK! I WISH HE NEVER HELD OUR NOBLE FAMILY NAME!…"
"Okay, okay, I'm sorry. Next time, I'll acknowledge your fame"
"Thank you, that's all I ask"
Then his head fell forward, and I could hear faint snoring. Could that have really been Orion Black? I had to remember to ask Lily if he had gone crazy before dying…
"Anneliese?"
"Aaron? What are you doing?"
"Me? What are you doing? I just went downstairs for a glass of water and then I heard this shouting… was that you?"
"No, it was that damn Orion Black!"
"I heard that" Orion muttered. Aaron looked at the painting, startled.
"Did he just…"
"Yes yes, now can you go back to sleep! Can't we ever have a normal night…" I walked back to my room, muttering to myself.
I heard Aaron mutter to himself, too, "girls…"
"Tell me about it" came another voice. Probably from a painting…