I must have slept for a while, though not as long as I hoped. A couple hours at most, and when I woke, I was still a lion. What had woken me was the movement of Lupin, and when I heard him choking on a sob, I opened my eyes lazily to see him kneeling beside me. "Mia, oh Mia what have I done? Look at you…I've hurt you…Mia I'm so sorry." Purring instantly, the deep, vibrating sound pulled his attention to my face as I pulled myself up in order to rub my head against his, telling him it was fine. Despite my best efforts, Lupin looked completely devastated and sicker than ever. His clothes were ripped in several places and there were heavy shadows under his eyes as I looked at him, tears wallowing down his face as he grimaced. "I'm sorry, this shouldn't have happened. I didn't mean to hurt you, this is all my fault."

"I'm fine, professor. You don't need to worry about me." I said to him as I changed back, yawning with a stretch with a rather catlike attitude. "I was in my animagus form, so no side effects."

"But still…those injuries are severe. You have to be treated…Mia what happened after I transformed? Did I…did I hurt anyone else?"

"No, except Sirius but only a bit. He took you on first then you ran off so I followed. I kept you away from any humans and chased you in here. I don't know what happened to the others but Pettigrew…he escaped. I couldn't stop him, you were running for it and he'd transformed too…it was all rather confusing and happened too fast." My body aching all over from the fighting and the injuries, I tried to hide how much it actually hurt. "We should go back. We're pretty deep in the forest, I don't fancy my chances against something else coming along and trying to eat us." Nodding his head mutely, Lupin started to reach for me in order to help me up, but then he retreated, as if frightened to touch me. "You shouldn't blame yourself, you know."

"Mia, I have no idea how it is you can even stand to be near me right now. You know what I am, I could have killed you. I shouldn't be anywhere near you or anyone else for that matter." Getting myself up, I limped slightly as one of my legs had several severe bites, making it difficult for me to walk as I drew out my wand and started to either numb the pain or seal up some of the scratches after casting a purifying spell, cleaning them of any infections though they would need a good potion to wash them out properly.

"We've already established I'm not the sanest of people, professor. I don't even have a rational fear, remember? Besides, it wasn't really you last night. You don't scare me, so let's stop this nonsense you're spouting off and let's go. I'm starving. If you're not careful, I might even transform back into a lion and just eat you to stop my stomach from growling." I said it lightly, meaning it as a joke and at the very least, Lupin managed a sad smile. He came to my side, asking me what hurt most and insisted on helping me walk.

It was a long way back to the castle, and the alone time turned out to be the perfect moment to start asking Lupin about Sirius. "Your parents met in school. It was a rather whirlwind romance, they didn't stay together long but then you came along and they agreed to stay together for your sake. As difficult as it was at first, they managed. Sirius was completely besotted with you, loved you far more than anything else in the world, you know." He said to me after I'd rattled off my questions and I listened intently, unable to help but smile. "You were his princess, hardly ever put you down. He'd carry you everywhere with him, even when you were sleeping."

"Did they get married? My parents?"

"They planned to, Sirius asked your mother but they continued putting off setting a date. I think they were happy just as they were, and of course it was difficult times back then with Voldemort still at large. We were part of an organisation fighting against him, and Sirius wanted to keep both you and your mother Diana safe. We saw you often, though. James and I, even Peter. Lily loved you dearly, I think she liked the idea of having her own little girl one day because she started with you, dressed you up every Sunday when Sirius brought you for dinner. When Harry was born, she was adamant you would grow up together. You may not remember, but you did meet Harry when he was born."

"I did? What did I do?"

"Scowled at him, mostly." Now Lupin chuckled a little, becoming lost in warm memories which made him look a lot healthier than before as we continued our trek through the forest. "You were only three at the time and wasn't too sure what to do with him. None of us thought anything of it, reasoned you would grow used to him, but then later we found you had climbed into his cot with him and the two of you were asleep together, holding hands. Harry must have started crying and you'd gone to comfort him, I'd expect. Lily took photos, but I'm not sure where they ended up, probably lost with the house…"

That was disappointing, but still. If I was three, then the memories would still be there somewhere. Maybe I could get them back with a Remembering Potion. Either way, I couldn't wait to tell Harry. "I'm not sure if you know this, Mia, but…well, Sirius was made Harry's godfather, you see, and when you were born…he…he asked me to be yours. Lily was your godmother too, she was so happy when he asked her, and I…I was alarmed at first but your father insisted." My eyes widened at him.

"You're my godfather?"

"I know, I'd be shocked too, I understand it's not…"

"Can I call you Uncle Rem?" Cutting across him and stopping in my tracks, Lupin looked at me with a surprise, asking me to repeat as if uncertain that he'd heard me correctly. "Can I call you Uncle Rem? If you're my godfather, I'd like that. Can I? Please? In private of course, I won't call you that in class otherwise I'd get told off. I'm rather glad you told me, I had been worrying about it since I would have been disappointed if it was Pettigrew, but this is great. I knew there was something I liked about you. Maybe it was instinctual. I bet it was."

"You…you're not upset?" I gave him a wry look but smiled all the same, clearly thrilled by the news that I had a godfather.

"Are you kidding me? It's awesome! Fred and George are going to go nuts over this, I have a werewolf for a godfather. I think it's wicked." A soft glint touched Lupin's eyes then as he struggled to answer, so I just smiled at him then moved forwards. Looping my arms around his neck, I hugged him carefully, not wanting to accidentally crush him. He seemed so frail, like nothing more than a word would knock him over, yet when his arms rose to embrace me in return, they were strong and reassuring as I leaned my cheek against his shoulder. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"I couldn't, not without revealing who your real father was and how I was related to him. I saw how distressed you were about Sirius that at the time, I didn't want to add to your already full plate." He told me honestly, the two of us standing together like that for a while before we broke apart and he placed his hands against my face, smoothing back my hair and trying to rub away some dirt as he smiled affectionately to me. "But I always tried to look out for you whenever I could. Your mother wouldn't allow me near you, but I found ways to make sure you were healthy and happy. Dumbledore even wrote upon occasion to tell me of your years in Hogwarts. Your father will be very pleased to learn the kind of things you've gotten up to." Grinning broadly, I chuckled.

"I guess the apple really doesn't fall far from the tree. Is that why I'm your favourite student?"

"Mia, teachers aren't supposed to have favourites."

"They're not supposed to, but they do. Admit it, I'm your favourite by far." I said to him cheerfully as we started to walk again. Lupin neither confirmed nor denied the fact, but by the smile he was trying to hide, I knew it was true. "So what will happen with Sirius now? If we've lost Pettigrew, isn't there another way we can prove his innocence? Can't you vouch for him?" Lupin looked sadder then, telling me that the ministry would hardly take the words of a werewolf seriously, so I cursed under my breath. "Bunch of ignorant pricks. I'll hex the lot of them until they sit down and listen to you." Again, Lupin laughed.

"You really are a great deal like your father." For the first time since I'd learned the truth, I took it as a compliment. All the way back to the castle we talked about my dad and his childhood days at school. The more Lupin talked about him, the more similarities I saw between myself and him. It made me happy and all the more eager to find a way to prove him innocent. I wonder what mum will say? That'll be a very long and awkward family conversation, but I was determined now not to shut Sirius out of my life. He was my father. My real father, and I wanted him to know me.

However, when we got back to the front gates, Dumbledore was standing there waiting, looking grave but relieved. "Thank goodness. I was about to come searching for you myself. Dear me, Miss Black, you had best get yourself up to the hospital wing. Are you alright?" Lupin's face immediately flashed with guilt but I ignored it, insisting that I was.

"Professor, Sirius Black, where is he? And the others? What happened last night? We missed it all, are they…?" Holding up his hand, I stopped when I looked at his serious expression.

"I can assure you that there is no need for alarm, everyone is quite safe, but there is a great deal you should know, Miss Black. I suggest you go to your friends in the hospital wing, allow yourself to be treated, and then they will be able to tell you all. Please, dear. I must insist. There are things I must discuss with Professor Lupin." I didn't like the sound of that, worrying about Lupin immediately but he squeezed my shoulder and whispered for me to go, promising we would talk again soon. Seeing as it was only Dumbledore watching us, I quickly hugged him before then dashing off with a cheeky grin.

"Bye Uncle Rem! Professor." I added, giving a wink to Dumbledore before darting off at a full sprint. Behind me I thought I caught something of a chuckle from Dumbledore, but I was gone before I could be certain. I ran all the way to the hospital wing where I burst inside to see Ron, Harry and Hermione. They were gathered around Ron's bed who had had his leg mended and bandaged, but now they were looking at me.

"Mia!" Hermione and Harry ran to me as I swept inside and Hermione launched herself into my arms to hug me though I grunted as she did so. "Oh my…Mia what happened? You're covered in injuries, was it..?"

"I'm fine." I hushed her quietly, but before I could ask anyone what was going on, Madame Pomfrey came rushing over to me.

"Away! Away you two! I must tend to Miss Black immediately! These wounds, child you are covered in them! You'll have to let me see them all. Hurry now, no time to waste, what on earth were you thinking?!" She was completely beside herself, worrying over the fact that the wounds may have been infected with werewolf venom on the full moon but I assured her I felt fine, just a little tired. She worked on me behind closed curtains, cleaning and bathing and dressing every injury on my body, tittering her tongue all the while but also supplying me with biscuits to snack on. She checked me for hypothermia, infection, concussion, all sorts of things until she proclaimed I would live, but needed to stay under observation for the next few days.

She left in order to give a report to Dumbledore, allowing me to slide out of bed and go to the others. "Right, tell me what happened. Where's Sirius? Is he alright?" For a moment, they all looked at each other until Hermione gently suggested I sit down. I did so, and the tale they spun me was so bizarre and impossible that it just had to be true. My father was alive, and more than that, he'd escaped on Buckbeak, whom Harry and Hermione had rescued after going back in time with the Time Turner Hermione had. They'd also saved everyone at the lake, when the dementors had almost performed The Kiss on Sirius, as Harry had produced a fully formed patronus in the image of a stag to drive them off before Snape found them.

No one believed them when they tried to explain that it was Pettigrew who was responsible for the murders, not Sirius, no one but Dumbledore, who'd given Hermione the tip to go back in time. Once every detail had been shared, they then asked me what happened with Lupin. "Nothing as exciting as all that. We fought, I led him into the forest then we stayed there the whole night until he changed back. We only just returned to the castle when I turned up here." My face drooped with sadness, upset that I'd missed my father. "So he's really gone? He's on the run again?"

"We're sorry, Mia." Harry said quietly. "I wish it could have been different…he asked us to pass on a message though." Hermione nodded her head quickly, managing a smile. "He said you'd see him again soon, and that he loves you even more than he did when you were first born." That cheered me up a bit. Well, it wasn't perfect, but it was better than nothing, and definitely better than losing him to the dementors. "Mia, did you know that Sirius is my…?"

"Godfather, yes I know. Lupin is my godfather, and your mother was my godmother." I told him, making all three of them blink in surprise. "I expect they planned it like that, so that each of them would have been someone else's godparent. We would have grown up together, you and I. We actually met when you were born, Lupin was telling me all about it." And so I spent the next hour telling them all about what I'd learned from Lupin, Harry in particularly completely enraptured and smiling all the while.

Madame Pomfrey tried to make me go to sleep when she got back, but I carried on talking instead, and it was only later that I actually managed to drop off. I slept for the rest of the day and through the night until around midday the next day. It was swelteringly hot, and despite my arguing, Madame Pomfrey insisted on keeping me inside. She allowed me a shower and a change of clothes before she changed my dressings. It seems like I'd had visitors as there were several cards, sweets, chocolates and presents. I noticed Fred and George's right away, as it was a box of fudge flies and a card that told me to stay ill, don't get better and they wouldn't miss me. Arseholes. They loved me really.

Breathing in deeply, I was just about to get up when the door burst open and in came Ron and Hermione, flushed from running through the heat. "Professor Lupin is leaving! He resigned!"

"Yeah, Snape told the Slytherins that he was a werewolf and that he attacked a student last night. You!" Ron added quickly. I was flying past them in the next heartbeat, abandoning the hospital wing even as Madame Pomfrey yelled after me. "He's heading to the gates Mia!" Ron supplied so I bolted for them, leaping down the stairs even without any shoes. Many students gave me queer looks as I ran past them, hair in a tangled mess until finally, I managed to catch Lupin in the courtyard before the gates.

"Wait!" I cried out, making him turn and look at me sharply.

"Mia, you should be resting, what do you think you're doing?"

"You can't leave. Why are you leaving?" I demanded, trembling slightly as students began to gather, including several Slytherins. To my distaste, among that number was Malfoy who was smirking and started to whisper. "You shouldn't be chased out of here just because of one mistake!"

"I resigned, Mia, I cannot stay here considering the circumstances." Quivering from anger and frustration, I bit down on my lip heavily as Lupin glanced around then lowered his voice. "Go back inside and rest. You need to take care of yourself."

"Who's going to take care of you?" I worried, seeing that he was as bedraggled as ever. "You have to come visit. I'm putting my foot down, I don't care what anyone else says. You're not disappearing from my life a second time!" As the gasps and whispers started, I only then realised what my tantrum sounded like. To any outsider, you'd think this was some kind of scandalous relationship. The Slytherins were certainly lapping it up, they looked rather thrilled at the idea. Ignoring them, I flung my arms around Lupin to embrace him, making them whisper all the more frantically but then I spoke loudly, making sure they heard me. "You're my uncle, so you had better remember to write to me at least! If I don't hear from you, I'll…I'll hunt you down and hex you!"

That quickly shut everybody up, staring in surprise as I then slowly let go of Lupin, but not before I kissed his cheek. Since he technically wasn't my teacher anymore, there was nothing anyone could say about it, and besides. He's family. "So…so I'll see you soon, Uncle Rem. Don't forget. Write!" Choking up, Lupin could only nod to me as I finally released him. He put down his bags, took my face in his hands then tilted it forwards, placing a chaste kiss on the crown of my head, gave my shoulder a squeeze then continued on his way as other students started to gather behind me, mostly Gryffindors.

After he'd climbed into the carriage, he looked back to see all of us standing there, so after a moment or two of me struggling not to cry, I lifted my wand into the air and released a single burst of red and gold stars. I had no idea when they appeared, but suddenly Fred and George were beside me, and they did the same. One by one, Gryffindor students released gold and scarlet sparks into the air until they were crackling wildly overhead in a grand farewell to our favourite Defence against the Dark Arts teacher.

When the carriage pulled off, I created a wolf from golden sparkles, sending it after him to run alongside the carriage, like I was going with him all the way to the boundary, where it then disappeared but left Lupin with a broad smile. I sighed heavily, then leaned into Fred as he and George put their arms around me. I could tell they were dying to ask me what was going on, where I had been and how come there were rumours going around that I'd been attacked by Lupin as a werewolf, but I was grateful they didn't. I wasn't feeling up to talking right now.

McGonagall strode out at that point, ordering people to disperse then, upon seeing me standing there, ordered me straight back up to the hospital wing without another word, charging the twins with ensuring I got there. With nothing more to say, I went. Silent and subdued.