Harry stands up from the table, a look of confusion present on his face, the others around us also having the same look, tied up with one of curiosity. "Sure Ana, what do you wanna talk about?" I give him a look telling him to hold onto that question, and at the same time, Fred grabs my hand that's swinging closest to him, concern in his eyes along with the curiosity.
Smiling softly at him, I ruffle his hair up with my free hand, squeezing his hand back reassuringly with the other, "I'll be right back, and then we'll go on that adventure." Harry comes around the table and stands next to me, standing a few inches taller than me. I let go of Fred and loop my arm through Harry's, making sure we walk the same pace out of the doors, trying to relax him.
"Lead the way, Boy-Who-Lived, what's the way back to the Great Lake? Maybe we can talk there," I nod to him, trying to alleviate his concern.
Besides his occasional glance at me, the rest of our time together until we reach our destination is in a comfortable silence. The sun is bright and shining through the clouds as I sit down comfortably, stretching my legs out. Looking up, I see Harry awkwardly shuffling around, causing me to smile, "Just sit down, Har'bear, I'm not gonna bite. And this conversation is better done sitting than standing anyway."
He blushes and glares at me, just the tiniest bit, at the introduction of a nickname for him. He flops down on the ground next to me, scooting around as he tries to find a comfortable spot. I chuckle under my breath and wait for him to get settled, "So, I'm sure you have a lot of questions and you're probably confused about why I asked you out here, but I think it might be best if I started this off with a few questions." A determined look grows in his emerald eyes, as if he'd beat the world in order to get some answers.
Sighing a little bit, I start us off, "How much do you know about what happened when your parents died?" He looks at me confused and a little incredulous, as if everyone should know. I shake my head at him, cutting him off before he could even get started, "It's not as easy as you think Harry. Did anyone explain the name 'Sirius Black' to you?" Harry looks increasingly confused and angry, but I know that neither one is directed at me.
"Look, I know that my parents died protecting me from Voldemort, and then I got stuck with my aunt and uncle because I didn't have anyone else, what more could there possibly be? There wasn't somebody who could take me in, was there? How do you know this, anyway?" And with those few sentences, my heart breaks a little, because I can hear the ache in his voice, the crave for something more, something better.
I tie my hair up and roll my shoulders back, Hecate sliding down my body and slithering over to Harry, sensing the tense conversation that has just begun. I hear her hissing comforting words at him, and that all would be explained soon.
"Your parents did die on Halloween, all those years ago, but it's not as simple as you think," I sigh deeply. "Your parents had gone into hiding, under a charm called the Fidelius. It's complicated and long, but the bare bones of it is that in order to hide under the charm, you need a Secret Keeper. This person knows your location and is the only person who could tell someone where you are."
I can slowly see the lines being connected in his eyes, "So you need someone you absolutely trust, with your every being. James Potter, your dad, had three friends. Best friends. Their names are: Remus Lupin, our Defense Against the Dark Arts professor this year; Sirius Black, supposed mass murderer and guilty of murdering your parents; and last, and certainly least, Peter Pettigrew, a supposed dead man."
Harry starts shouting the moment I let him get a word in, "What is all this supposed?! Black murdered my parents and I'm just now hearing about it! Professor Lupin could've taken me in all those years ago, I didn't have to live with my aunt and uncle all this time!" Angry tears fall out of his eyes, but before they can slide off his face, Hecate slithers up his arm and licks them, hissing softly to him. Rubbing his back, hoping to provide comfort, "I know Harry, I know this is a lot to take in, but I wanted to tell you before you heard it from someone else. There's a lot you don't know, there's a lot I don't know, but I want to tell you so that you understand better."
Once more, I sigh, my shoulders tense, "I'm sure you've forgotten, but Ron did mention the connection between my name and Sirius Black. And that's because Sirius Black is my father – and he's also you're godfather." I look at him softly, seeing betrayal in his eyes, but further back, a sense of want. "That makes us god-siblings Harry, and I'm so sorry it's taken me this long to get here. But I'm here now."
A/N: Hi folx! Long time no see! Hopefully y'all didn't miss me too much. Life has been pretty hectic and I started school about a month ago. I don't know how often I'll get to update, but something is better than nothing, right?
signed,
oterol