Chapter 43

The library was shrouded in blissful silence as students finished essays or revised for their upcoming exams. Hermione wasn't nervous was as nervous as always but thought this year she was on top of things. Glancing up at her table mate through her fringe she admitted to herself that it was nice that Rasalas was with her this time. Usually she was on her own, not wanting to encroach on Ravenclaw territory and Ravenclaws having already set up their own revision groups with no space for her. But this was nice, even if they were sitting in silence and only speaking when they needed a new quill or piece of parchment.

Movement caught him and his attention out of the corner of her eye and looking round she released a silent grown. Something that she had done must have disturbed Rasalas as she looked up at her curiously and so bowing to the inevitable Hermione nodded in the direction of the door. Rasalas looked over and her mind he could see her shoulders rise and fall in a sigh. Turning back to her work she gave a minute shake of her head, obviously the plan was just to continue as normal.

Hermione tried, she really did, but the interloper was dragging all her attention and she wanted to know what he wanted. She had to admit some surprise that Rasalas was managing to ignore what was going on around her, Hermione did not think she she had ever seen her sit this still except for when she was hunting down the snitch. Then again maybe that is what this was, Rasalas was just waiting for a chance to pounce. Hermione, realising that she was not getting anything done, she shook her head and dragged her reference text and notes closer to herself.

A short while later she noticed Rasalas gathering her books together and slipping her notes into her bag. When Hermione looked up Rasalas just shook her head and motioned to her to keep working, no doubt this would have something to do with the torrents of letters she had been receiving over the last month following her memory showing at the Wizengamot. As she watched her friend and shadow slip out of the library, she hoped everything was going to whatever plan there was.

Stalking into the nearest empty classroom Rasalas held the door open for her visitor before shutting it firmly and spelling it to ensure privacy. Turning to face the room her uncle leant against a desk with his arms folded, and equally unimpressed look on his face.

"I don't see why you decided to visit."

"I've been writing almost constant letters, and no reply- "

"I replied!"

"One." Sirius waved it in the air as proof. "One measly letter, that's all I get?"

"I've been busy. I have got to revise for all of my NEWTs, which start next week in case you were wondering. So, are you really surprised? I can't answer everyone, I said what I needed to."

"Really? Padfoot, I was named for your Lions heart, but I am a snake too. Trust me. Yes, that fills me with confidence."

"I wasn't asking for your confidence; I just want you to trust me!" Rasalas was slowly losing her cool facade and Sirius had never had an even temper to begin with.

"You aren't telling us everything!" Sirius frowned, "Who knows what they could have put on the list!" Rasalas took a step towards him.

"That's what trust is, in this situation, trusting that I know what I am doing even if you don't have all the information." Silence fell between the pair as they both recognised that their argument was not going to get them any further as their opponent was being ridiculously stubborn.

"I just ..." Sirius sighed and looked down before gathering himself, he snapped his gaze back to his niece. "I want to protect you, keep you safe and not get you into situations like this."

Looking at him straight on Rasalas gathered her thoughts, how much should she tell him? If anything at all?

"I've never had anyone who felt responsible for me." Rasalas held up a hand to stop the interruption she could see was coming. "You weren't there. After I freed you, you disappeared off to some tropical island, and I understand that you feel it do you feel that you needed it and I do not begrudge you the downtime when I needed you, or anyone, after Cedric's murder you abandoned me. I was a prisoner at the Dursley's as sure as you are one at Grimmauld Place. Hermione and Ron have always been the ones that I talked to and planned with but even that year they abandoned me, I think they have learned and will not do it again but because of this Harry Potter/ not Harry Potter business I can't talk to them too much in school as we shouldn't be such good friends too fast. Said this year I must keep all my plans to myself and I'm not telling anyone. I don't want it to go wrong, but I don't know how to trust people, particularly those who are adults."

Sirius blinked rapidly and took a deep breath letting it out slowly and sinking onto one of the seats behind a desk.

"I don't want to think that you've ever been let down by adults as those you've come into contact with are family and teachers, and neither of these should have ever brushed you off without at least doing some research or listening to you. As to the summer of silence, that should not have happened. If I had known that no one was contacting you I would have done something, I thought Hermione and Ron were writing to you and obviously they thought I was, but Dumbledore collared us without giving away the whole plan, as usual." He scratched his head and sighed again. "We're going to have to agree to disagree this time because although I understand your reasoning I would still like to know and wish you would trust me." Giving a rueful smile he looked up at Rasalas and nodded. "You have my trust, but I hope in future you will be more willing to trust me too."

Rasalas smiled and nodded and Sirius getting up and giving her a quick hug started to make his way to the door. Turning back with his hand on the handle he said, "I didn't miss it, we will be talking about the Harry Potter issues when you come home."

After Sirius had left, closing the door behind him it was Rasalas' turn to sink into a seat. She had not expected to blurt any of that out and was honestly quite surprised that serious had taken it so well.

Merlin, she hoped this would work.

Shuffling papers until Albus had left, the heads of the four houses and some of the other core studies professors remained in their seats after the staff meeting.

"I don't think I need to fill in any silence and ask for useless up states on students we know we're going to do perfectly well. I should just cut to what we all know we are really here about. Harry Potter is abysmal, if he gets any NEWT's at all it will be a miracle and highly likely, but his mother gave him large amounts of assistance. Meanwhile Rasalas Black has given every answer I would have expected from Harry Potter in years past."

"Agreed." Flitwick muttered.

"So, what now?" Sprout asked.

"Is there anything to be done?" Questioned Flitwick, at his colleagues confused looks in his direction he continued once he had his thoughts in order. "If this were OWL year, or directly after, we would be seeing if the results could be transferred and recommended that Potter re-sit his exams. However, in order to be accepted for NEWT's Black had to have had results which must have been sat over the summer break- and we've all seen those impressive scores." A murmur of agreement rose and fell like a small wave. "So, my question stands; can we do anything, is there anything to be done?"

"I recommend," Snape started slowly, "that we give Miss Black the knowledge that we know who she is, and that whatever befell her over the summer - and in previous years- we will not treat her any differently, and that she has our support going forward. Maybe in time she will confide in us what prompted this change." At the unanimous nodding from around the table Mcgonagall stood.

"As we all seem to agree, I will arrange a private meeting and speak to miss black myself. Hopefully, this will ease some tension for her in the run up to her exams rather than add any."