You guys are amazing! A HUGE thanks to britt1010220 for her review!
Also, apologies to .2020 as for some reason most the name was deleted in my last chapter… A thanks for your reviews as well my dear!
Here's a relatively long chapter for you! Hope you enjoy!
Adalyn clutched her coffee tighter as she walked through the cold ground of Godric's Hollow, slightly cursing the fact that she had chosen to apparate and take the longest path possible to the small graveyard.
No matter how much time had passed, she could not bring herself to apparate to the convenient spot in the north of town and have to face the ruins of the house Lily and James had lived in, nor pass the statue that had been placed in the town square in their honor. Usually when she visited, she didn't mind the walk, but on this cold Halloween morning, the temperature was too low for a stroll in her opinion.
She shivered slightly as she opened the cold metal gate to the graveyard, her feet automatically taking her to the dual headstone where she had laid her brother and best friend to rest nearly 13 years ago.
Adalyn paused in front of the headstone, reading the words etched in the white marble.
The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death
She sighed, setting down her coffee and approaching the headstone, dusting off the fallen leaves and dirt that had clung to the white marble. She ran her fingers over the names etched in the stone, wishing she could give anything to bring these two people back.
Adalyn pulled out her wand, and conjured a wreath, smiling at it as she did. White roses and lilies… what Lily had chosen for her own wedding bouquet. She gently placed the wreath in the center of the headstone and stepped back, picking up her coffee as she stared at the grave.
"I wish you were both here," Adalyn said quietly to her brother and best friend, "I really need you both to tell me what to do."
Adalyn smiled sadly and sat down on the ground cross legged in front of the grave, staring at it as if she were sitting on the couch across from Lily and James as she had so many times in that house just down the street.
"I get to see Remus all the time now," she told them as she took a sip of her coffee, "He's teaching at Hogwarts- a fully bloody professor…" she laughed, "We called that one early on, didn't we James? Even etched Professor into his trunk around 4th year."
Adalyn paused, reflecting on the memory before her smile faltered slightly.
"And Harry, I do get to see Harry all the time now. Though, I'm sure he thinks I'm the worst ruddy Aunt to have ever lived right about now." She paused frowning at the grave, "Why in the hell did you two have the bright idea to have a kid? How in the hell do you expect me to be a fun Aunt and Godmother when I'm not even able to use you two as the mean ones who actually parent, or use your fuck ups with the kid as leverage? Well… I mean... James's fuck ups… lets be real here."
Adalyn laughed to herself, imagining her brother's look of offense and Lily's laughter at her words.
"The poor kid didn't even know I existed until I showed up at that house… Fucking Tunes and Vermin…." Adalyn sighed once more.
"I haven't even told him I'm his godmother.. Nor about Black. I know I shouldn't lie to him, but he's 13 for crying out loud… the poor boy has been through so much, and I'm afraid… afraid if he knew everything, he would run away from me. I just can't… selfishly, I can't let him go. And now, he's mad at me about Hogsmeade…"
Adalyn leaned back on her hands, "How am I supposed to walk the parental line of having the kid like me and keeping them safe at the same time when he literally found out I existed 2 months ago? He's pissed at me (and rightly so) because I told him that even if I signed his Hogsmeade form he wouldn't be permitted to go. The Ministry and Dumbledore had made that clear. The kid even petitioned to McGonagall, though, I'm sure you both know how that went."
"Deep down, I know he understands why we are being protective of him, but Black was seen too close to the grounds for my or the ministry's comfort."
Adalyn paused again, leaning forward and taking another sip of her coffee.
"A muggle saw him only 30 miles away from Hogwarts. He was just sitting in her living room waiting for her to wake up- just casually drinking a cup of tea. I just don't get it. He simply asked her if she knew who he was and took some food and left. But before he did, he left me a message: Tell Potter I'm only after the rat….How in the hell am I supposed to know what that means? He killed Peter! Not to mention he was the one who betrayed you two…."
Adalyn looked up at the sky above her before pulling her knees into her chest, "I told Remus about it. He reckons long-term exposure to the Dementors has rattled his brain and it was some strange form of psychosis… I just wish I could accept that theory."
She swallowed and looked down.
"Why didn't I see it?" she whispered more to herself than Lily and James, "Why didn't I catch that he was the spy? Why didn't I insist that you use Dumbledore as secret keeper? I let you down. I let you both down…. And Harry… oh, Merlin… how I've let Harry down."
Adalyn wiped the tears that were threatening to fall from her eyes.
"I tried to bring Harry with me to see you both, but Dumbledore put his foot down. It's too risky with Black out there targeting Harry. Trying to finish…" she broke off as he voice cracked slightly with pain.
She wiped her eyes once more and stared at the headstone once more.
"I think I'm losing my mind, you guys," she said quietly, "I keep thinking I see Padfoot everywhere. Part of me believes I am seeing him, but the logical part of me doesnt by it. I don't know what's real or not. Remus thinks its lack of sleep and stress from living in Albania for the last decade… but after that sighting so close to Hogwarts? I'm almost certain its him."
She paused again, swallowing her tears as she straightened, "He's close… too close to Harry. I can't run that risk.
"I will catch him soon. I promise you. He won't ever touch Harry and I promise you both I'll make sure he pays for betraying you in the worst way."
Adalyn looked at the grave stone once more before clambering to her feet and whispering "I love you both. More than you know."
And with that, Adalyn turned on her heel and walked out of the small graveyard keeping her eyes on the ground as she wiped her eyes one last time before apparating back to Hogsmeade. What she didnt notice was a large, bear-like shaggy black dog watching her from the shadows.
#&$^ (*( *#()
Remus Lupin quickly walked down the stairs of the castle, trying to quickly make his way to the castle doors. He was going to be late, but he had had to wait for Snape to finish the potion. The full moon was coming sooner than he'd like.
He rounded the corridor and nearly ran into a tall lean figure with curly dark hair.
"Oh, hey Reems," Adalyn said as she smiled at him faintly, "Nice to run into you."
Remus snorted with laughter as he watched her cheeky smile appear.
"You know, there are days that I forget that you and James were related, until you do something like that."
"Corny dad jokes are a Potter speciality," Adalyn grinned at him, the grin not quite reaching her eyes.
"That and puns… Merlin, I don't miss the puns," Remus chuckled, trying to get the smile to reach her eyes, but on a day like today, he knew that would be a rare feat.
"I wasn't a-were you were aiming for punches today, Moons."
Remus rolled his eyes, unable to help the grin, "Cute. Very cute."
Adalyn shrugged, "I thought so. Where are you off to?"
"I was headed to Godric's before the feast," Remus told her, "I wasn't sure if you had gone already or wanted some company."
Adalyn smiled at him sadly "I went early this morning. You were still asleep. I have to be back for the students to return to help with security."
"No worries," Remus told her with a smile as he leaned casually up against the wall, his hands in his pockets, "I know you like to go alone anyways. Dumbledore didn't let you take, Harry I'm assuming?"
"Of course not. That would have at least redeemed me slightly from 'worst Aunt of the year' status," Adalyn said as she ran a worried hand through her hair.
"I think you are already a step above Petunia," Remus smiled knowingly at her, "Plus, I just had tea with him. He's upset, but he's fine overall. He's 13, but he does understand."
"I hope so, Reems," Adalyn said, running a hand through her hair, "There's so much I haven't told that boy…."
Remus furrowed his brow at her, quickly glancing around the corridor, "What have you told him?"
Adalyn looked at him before she glanced over her shoulder, hearing voices coming down the hallway. Quickly, without even thinking, she pulled him into a nearby broom cupboard, casting muffling and sealing spells quickly before she turned back to see her old friend staring at her with a raised eyebrow.
"Not quite what I expected, Adalyn," he joked lightly as Adalyn hit him on the chest in protest.
"Pervert," she muttered as she leaned up against the wall. "I just don't want to be overheard."
"Uh-huh," Remus said with a smirk, "Is that what you tell all the boys?"
"No offense, Reems," Adalyn told him, "You are far too much of a brother to me and I hate to tell you, I am not one of those purebloods who are into the whole incest thing."
"Oh good," Remus told her as he smirked even more, "I feel the same way, just wanted to let you down lightly."
Adalyn laughed loudly, "Oh yeah, like all the other girls at school, while you played your whole martyr act."
Remus shrugged with a slight nod of his head, causing Adalyn to roll her eyes at her oldest friend.
"Anyway," Remus said, coming back to point, "What does Harry know? I know Fudge doesn't want him to know much…"
"Fuck what Fudge wants," Adalyn told him, "I told him a bit, but not nearly all of it."
Remus raised his eyebrows at her, willing her to continue.
"He obviously knows I'm his aunt. He knows you are a friend of mine from school. He knows I was close with Black and obviously James and Lily, and that Black murdered those people in the streets."
"He doesn't know about the engagement? Or the Fidelius charm?"
"No, nor the prophecy," Adalyn answered flatly, "He knows both James and I considered him one of our best friends. I haven't had the nerve to tell him about the engagement, nor that Black and I are his godparents."
"Can I ask you something?" Remus asked her suddenly.
"Of course."
"Why do you never use his first name?" Remus asked, his warm brown eyes searching hers as he did.
A flash of darkness appeared in her eyes, reflected from the little light that was seeping into the broom cupboard.
"He's not the man we knew to be Sirius… the man we called our Padfoot. Sirius is long dead. That's why he's now Black… the name we thought he hated, but was loyal to all along."
Remus just stared at his friend, wondering if he should push his luck and say what had been on his mind lately as he watched his friend.
"Do you actually believe that though?" he asked her quietly, "because I don't think you do."
Adalyn crossed her arms and looked up at him, knowing the man could read her like a book.
"I have to believe it, Reems," Adalyn told him quietly, "It's what all the evidence points to."
"But your heart believes something different?"
"My heart was shattered into a million peices," Adalyn told him quietly, "You know that better than anyone as you were there to help put myself back together. My heart will try to convince my brain it knows better. That's why I follow the evidence."
Remus stared at her, his face expressionless for a moment before he gave her a small smile.
"Spoken like a true wizard cop."
Adalyn grinned and shoved him playfully as she removed the protection spells as she flung open the door to the broom cupboard, only to stop in her tracks immediately. She felt Remus run into her in surprise that she had stopped, but it became clearly evident why.
Right outside the broom cupboard were several seventh years, all whom stopped talking and were staring open-mouthed at the appearance of an Auror and their shabby Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor coming out of a broom cupboard together while most of the students were away in Hogsmeade.
But that wasn't the worst part.
No. Worst of all, Rhys Jones happened to be walking by at the exact moment they had emerged, a shit eating grin spreading wildly over his face as he stopped in his tracks.
"It's a meeting space," Adalyn said quickly to the gaping onlooker, cringing at her horrible lie, as she felt heat rising to her face.
The seventh years all looked at her, amused as some of the girls began to giggle.
"Don't you all have somewhere else to be?" Remus told them in his standard calm, polite tone, "I would hate to take away house points for loitering in corridoors."
The students' smiles faded as they hurriedly walked away, leaving only Jones in the corridor with them, smirking as only he could smirk at them.
"Well, at least there will be some new rumors in time for the Halloween feast," Remus said jokingly as he stepped out of the cupboard, ignoring Jones completely.
"Now my nephew is going to love me even more," Adalyn said as she pinched the bridge of her nose, "When he hears the rumor that his aunt is in a broom cupboard with a professor."
"It could have been worse," Remus said as he began to walk to the doors of the castle, turning so that he was still facing her.
Adalyn stared at him indignantly, wondering what could have been worse.
Remus smirked slightly, his eyes twinkling, "It could have been Snape."
Adalyn laughed out loud as she bid Remus goodbye, walking towards Jones, who was nearly bouncing with excitement.
"About time, Potter," he said, grinning at her, "I wouldn't have put Lupin as your type, but at least you got a little relief in a closet, eh?"
Adalyn shut her eyes, wondering if Jones had even heard a single word of the exchange her and Remus had had outside the broom cupboard.
"Is it even worth me insisting that Remus is like a brother to me, and that we really were just talking and didn't want to be overheard?"
Jones' smile faltered slightly, before it began all over again.
"Geeze Potter," he said as he casually slung an arm over her shoulder as they walked towards the courtyard, "I didn't peg you for the incestual pureblood type."
Adalyn rolled her eyes and groaned.
There was no getting through to him….
"Come on you moron," Adalyn said disdainfully to Jones as she shoved his arm off her shoulder, "Let's get positioned for the students' return."
#&^$#*(&(#* )(
"I'm just saying Potter, if you need someone else other than Lupin to scratch your itch, I'm more than happy to oblige."
"Jones, for the last GODDAMN TIME. I did not sleep with Lupin in a fucking broom closet. Nor have I ever slept with him. We are friends…"
"With benefits, obviously…."
"..."
"What?"
"I hate you."
"Real mature, Potter."
"Says you."
"I'm not the one having teenage flings in the broom cupboard."
"And I'm not the one having flings with literal teenagers."
"The woman I have been seeing…."
"Woman…. What is she? 16 years old?"
"She's of age, Potter, I promise you that."
"You still shouldn't be finding dates at a SCHOOL, Jones!"
"And yet, I'm not the one who is always uptight, am I?"
Adalyn groaned as the bickering back in their office continued even after the Halloween feast. The rest of the day and the feast had remained relatively uneventful. The feast had been delicious as per usual (the house elves had outdone themselves once more), but Adalyn heard the whispers racing down the house tables that Lupin and Potter's Aunt (" the auror") had been caught in a broom cupboard together.
She couldn't even bring herself to face Snape nor Jones during the feast, practically begging Flitwick to change places with her for the night so she could safely be between McGonnogal and Lupin the entire feast.
She had regretted that immediately when even McGonnogal had made subtle mention of the rumor, a small smile playing on her face as she stated that the faculty had always thought they would have been good together until they had started dating other people their last two years.
Worst of all, however, she hadn't been able to catch Harry. He had seemed to be relatively happy and seemed engrossed in conversation with Ron and Hermione throughout the feast. She just hoped he hadn't heard the rumor, or remained angry with her for much longer. She had to catch up with him later.
"Whatever, Jones," Adalyn said as she ran a tired hand over her face, mentally returning to the conversation at hand, "I'm going to bed."
"Tell Lupin I say 'hello' then," Jones said as he smirked, "You are going to his bed, aren't you?"
"Fuck off, Jones," Adalyn said flipping him a finger, which only made him smirk more as he watched her get up and walk over to her bedroom door.
Jones opened his mouth to respond, but before he could there was a pounding on their office door.
Adalyn and Jones frowned at each other, both immediately on edge with the fervency of the pounding.
Adalyn crossed the room quickly, flinging open the door to find a pale and slightly breathless McGonagall at their door.
Adalyn opened her mouth to question her favorite professor, but before she could, McGonnogall spoke.
"Black has been in the castle," she told them quickly, "He attacked the fat lady attempting to get into Gryffindor tower."
Adalyn's blood froze in her veins.
Black had been here…
Under her nose…
In the Castle…
Trying to get to Harry….
On her watch….
"Lock the castle down," Jones said quickly as he jumped up, his voice snapping Adalyn out of her sudden shock and stupor.
"Lock it down, get the students to the Great Hall. Put all security measures in place," Adalyn agreed as she sprinted out of the door towards Gryffindor tower, closely followed by Jones.
Adalyn took two steps at a time as she sprinted up toward her old common room, nearly running into Percy Weasley as he led the Gryffindor students down to the Great Hall.
"Make a hole, please!" Adalyn called as she sprinted past them, ignoring the looks she was receiving as well as the urge to pull her nephew from the group and keep him with her at all times from now on.
He's safe in the great hall with the other students… the security measures we put in place will keep him safe.
She kept sprinting towards the common room, forcing herself to ignore every maternal she had until she rounded the 7th floor corridor, finding Dumbledore, Snape, and Lupin standing out in front of the Fat Lady's portrait.
"Fucking hell," Jones muttered as he took in the shreds of cavas that littered the ground. The Fat Lady's portrait was shredded, as if someone had taken a knife to it in fury.
"Apt description, Mr. Jones," Dumbledore said as he watched them take in the scene, "According to Peeves, she was slashed by Black when she refused him entry."
"Peeves witnessed it?" Adalyn asked.
"He apparently saw her fleeing in terror from her portrait," Dumbledore filled her in, "I have tasked Mr. Filch with finding her. However, we deter further instructions to you two."
"Right," Adalyn said breathlessly as she looked back at the portrait.
They'd have to question Peeves later… that would be a joy…
"We stick to the procedure we put in place," Adalyn told him, "I already told McGonnogall to get all students to the Great Hall and the castle to be closed. We need to do a thorough search."
Adalyn paused looking at the group she had in front of her, "Jones, take Snape and grab Hagrid to do a sweep of outside the castle."
Jones nodded at her. Snape, however, looked displeased.
"Dumbledore, I ask that the rest of the professors be broken up into pairs and the entire castle searched room by room. Lupin and I will take the courtyard and greenhouses. I somehow doubt he remained in the castle, but we ought to be certain."
Adalyn turned to leave, feeling Remus make a move to follow her before Snape interjected.
"Should Potter and Lupin be paired with the… circumstances of the situation, Headmaster?"
"Right now," Adalyn said angrily before the thought of closing her mouth even crossed her mind, "I am not interested in arguing with you, Snape. Right now, the only thing I am interested in is doing my goddamn job and putting Black back in Azkaban where he belongs. If you question that, or have an issue with it, I highly recommend you take it up with my superiors at the ministry. But as of right now, I am Senior Auror and placed in charge of this situation. So, in my professional opinion, I suggest we all move, and stop wasting precious time with stupid arguments."
Adalyn sent Snape a fiery look, feeling her eyes light up with seething hatred before she turned and ran off towards the courtyard, feeling Remus at her heels and eyes following her down the corridor.
*&$#(*) (#_) (#_
Nothing.
Fucking Nothing.
Nothing is all that they found.
Part of Adalyn knew that Black wouldn't have stuck around to be caught after the flight of the fat lady, but another part of her wanted to punch a wall in anger.
They had been searching the castle for hours. She knew that the students were all safe, but part of her still worried for her godson and nephew.
She was about to walk into the Great Hall to check on him and the other professors as Dumbledore stepped out, shutting the door behind him.
"Ah, Ms. Potter," he greeted, smiling at her warmly, "I take it you heard that none of my staff have found hide nor hair of Black in the castle?"
"Yes," Adalyn said with a small tired smile, "No sign of him on the grounds either. But we couldn't have expected him to stick around for long."
"No," Dumbledore said solemnly, his eyes sparkling at her as he looked over his half-moon spectacles at her.
He paused for a moment as he watched her looking at the Great Hall doors longingly.
"Harry is fast asleep. I just saw him myself," Dumbledore told her as he watched her carefully.
Adalyn did not respond, just kept looking at the doors to the Great Hall, lost in her own thoughts.
"You do realize, Adalyn," he said softly, "That Harry is safest here. That is why he is not permitted to leave these walls?"
Adalyn clenched her jaw in response, fear still running rampant through her veins.
"If he was, Headmaster," Adalyn told him as she looked at him firmly, "Black wouldn't have been able to penetrate these walls."
Dumbledore did not react. Instead he just stared at her curiously.
"I suppose you are correct. But where else would be safer?"
Adalyn looked at him, choosing not to respond, her silence answering Dumbledore's question.
"Let Harry sleep, and get some sleep yourself, Adalyn," he told her as he clasped his hands behind his back and began strolling towards the staircase, "We have the ghosts and the rest of the teachers taking watch over the students. Sunrise is in a few hours. Get some rest. You look dead on your feet."
Adalyn sighed, watching Dumbledore give her one last smile and twinkle of his eyes before rounding the corner and disappearing.
She looked at the door once more, desperately wanting to check on Harry, but she knew that Dumbledore was right. She needed to let him sleep. He was okay...and that's what mattered.
Slowly, she made her way back to the office, finding Jones already at the table. His hair was disheveled and he looked as exhausted as she felt, but he found the energy to give her a small smile as she entered the room.
"Hey," he greeted as he set down the quill he was using, "I take it you didn't find anything?"
"No," Adalyn said as she ran a hand through her hair.
Godric she was tired….
"None of the staff found any sign of him other than the portrait."
"Yeah," Jones sighed as he leaned back in his chair, "I mean we figured he wouldn't have stuck around."
"Yeah," Adalyn sighed, "We still need to interview Peeves and the other portraits."
"We do," Jones agreed, "But, I think it can wait until morning."
"It's 5 AM," Adalyn commented, looking down at her watch, "Now is morning, technically."
Jones smiled at her, "Look, we are no use on no sleep. I am almost done with this report. I'll write in your bit and we'll get a few hours kip before we start interviewing the entire castle?"
Adalyn smiled at him softly, silently thanking the Gods for her annoying yet amazing partner.
"Are you telling me to go to bed?" Adalyn asked him.
"Yes," Jones smiled at her, "I'll be another ten minutes at most on this report. It's not worth you making another one." Jones paused and smiled at her sinisterly, "Plus, you need your beauty sleep to impress Lupin."
Adalyn rolled her eyes at him, making him laugh from his seat as she crossed the room towards her bedroom.
"Goodnight Jones," she told him quietly as she passed her desk, turning to look at him, "And thanks."
Jones turned and smiled at her, "What are partners for?"
Adalyn gave him one last smile as she yawned, running a tired hand over her face as she walked into her room, shutting the door behind her. She rubbed her tired eyes as she blindly tossed her coat and wand at the bed, wandering into the small ensuite bathroom and starting the shower.
She pulled off her clothes and stepped under the hot stream of water, hissing slightly as she did.
Why did a hot bath or shower always do wonders for her body?
She nearly moaned in pleasure as she felt the knots in her shoulders and back slightly loosening under the hot stream of water, allowing her mind to think clearly as the tension from the day began to leave her body.
Her mind however, couldn't help but wander to the events of the day.
She had been awake for nearly 24 hours now. In that time, she had been to her brother's grave, accidentally started a rumor about her and her oldest friend, attended a delicious feast, been roasted over said rumor by her favorite professor from school, and then scoured an entire castle for a criminal who happened to be her ex-fiance.
So overall… today had been FUCKING wonderful.
She leaned her head back, letting the hot water pour down over her head and body.
Why today? Why Halloween?
Why had Black picked today of all days to strike? The day of Lily and James' death? If he had been around the castle as such with the sighting a few weeks back, why hadn't he come earlier? Why wait until the Halloween feast? Wouldn't he have known that no students would be in the dorms or common room at that time?
Unless he is out of his mind….
Unless he has no idea what day it is…
It was too much of a coincidence for her to let it go.
The day that Lily and James died? He chose to try to break into Gryffindor tower?
It was also the day the Dark Lord fell…. Was it poetic that today was the day he came to finish off the boy who vanquished him?
Adalyn groaned in frustration with herself as she turned and shut off the shower quickly.
Why was she doing this to herself? Torturing herself with motives?
It's your JOB!
She sighed as she grabbed her towel drying herself and throwing on her pajamas, never more thankful for her carelessness to leave her discarded clothes on the floor of the bathroom in the morning.
It was her job to question the motives of the criminals around her and that ones she sought, but this case… this case was far too personal for her to rely on her typical ways. This man had fooled her for how many years… and she had not seen it… how could she trust her mind when it came to him?
She wrapped her hair in her towel as she made her way back into the room for her wand.
She paused in front of her bed as she saw her coat, but no wand.
She had sworn she had thrown it here…
Hadnt she?
Suddenly, she allowed her senses to take over, sensing that she was not the only person in the room.
Shit…..how could she have been so stupid?
Adalyn slowly turned, seeing the skeletally thin figure of Sirius Black pointing her own wand at her from beside her bathroom door.
She felt her blood run cold as she looked at him, a smile coming over his darkened features, exposing his yellowed teeth.
"Hello, Adalyn," he said his voice horse, as if he hadn't used it in ages.
*Smiles wickedly to self*
Thoughts? Feelings? Comments?
Review? Pretty Please?
