Chapter 5
Later I heard Harry tell his friends that the Dementors had been given permission to use the kiss on Black if they found him.
I asked Ginny what that meant.
"The Dementor Kiss? Well, it's a fate worse than death. They suck your soul out. Your body keeps living, but you, the person you were is gone forever."
I shuddered. Did I really want my father to get this? No way. It was then I began to feel like I wanted him to escape.
Things were quiet for a while. Gryffindor won the Quiddich cup. We had a party to top that off.
Finals came and went. For defense against the dark arts we had to battle a boggart.
When I went into that trunk I don't know what I expected. But a clown wasn't it. Yep, the boggart turned into a clown. Funny, I have always been scared of clowns. They are just evil. (a/n. if you are a clown don't read that part. I don't like clowns either. I had a traumatic childhood experience. *brakes down sobbing.)
Term was almost over.
The day after our final exam at breakfast, Snape told everyone Professor Lupin was a werewolf.
I couldn't believe it. My favorite professor was a monster?
I went to go see him. Jamie and Remy came with me.
His door was open, but I knocked softly. He whirled around and smiled when he saw us.
"Cassi, boys come in." I entered and noticed most of his things were gone.
"Are you going somewhere Professor?"
He sighed." I am retiring."
"Why?" I couldn't believe it.
"You heard Professor Snape this morning. I am a werewolf."
"He was telling the truth?"
"Sadly, yes." I thought for a minute.
"You're still my favorite professor."
He smiled. "Thank you, Cassi. That means a lot to me."
He turned back to his trunk, then spun around.
"Kids, there is something I need to tell you. Something that can't wait." He pulled me into his chair. He looked out into the hall then shut the door.
I waited. He paused and then paced the room.
"I'm sure you've heard by now that Sirius Black was caught again last night."
"He was?" Oh God, please let him be safe. Don't let him be taken from me again. I pleaded silently. "What happened?" Please don't let my father be a mindless nobody.
"He escaped." I breathed an obvious sigh of relief. He gave me a thoughtful look. Jamie and Remy exchanged glances.
"You don't want them to capture him?"
"I don't know. I don't think anyone deserves that fate."
He nodded, thinking. " Good, because no one does."
"Except maybe Voldemort."
"Maybe." He sat on his desk "Cassi, do you know who your father is?"
"Yes, Professor. He is Sirius Black."
"Yes, how did you know?"
" My aunt Addi told me." A far away look appeared in his eyes.
"Addi, that wouldn't be Adhara Black would it?"
"Yes, did you know her too?"
"A little." He smiled a small smile.
"Anyway, kids. There is so much to tell you. I don't have enough time. But the most important thing is your father, Cassi, is innocent." That word, that little word, made me gasp for breath. My father was innocent? Then why was he in prison? Why couldn't he tell me himself?
"Innocent?" Jamie and Remy shouted in unison. Professor Lupin smiled at them.
"Like I said, there is too much to tell you now. Just believe me. And there is something else you should know. If a man ever comes up to you and says his name is either Peter Pettigrew or Wormtail run away as fast as possible."
"why?"
"Because he is the one who committed the crimes Sirius was accused of.."
"So he's the one."
"Who Betrayed Lily and James and killed all those muggles."
" But why? Why didn't he says something?"
"Well, unfortunately all the evidence was against him. He had nothing to prove he was innocent. " Professor Lupin was quiet. Before he could stop it a tear crept down his cheek. He quickly wiped it away and continued talking.
"I told you, it's a long story, longer than I have time to tell you."
He shooed us to the door.
"Professor Lupin?"
"Yes?"
"Will we ever see you again?" Remy asked. He gave him a long look. He smiled and put his hands on my shoulder.
"Of course, you will. I'm thinking about making a stop at your mother's place anyway. I promised him I'd tell her."
"When can I see him? Please I want to so much."
"I have a feeling you may see him sooner than you think."
"Really?" Before he could do anything I hugged him, the boys too. He looked a little confused but not mad.
"have a great summer Cassi. But do me a favor."
"Sure."
"Say hi to your aunt for me."
"Why?" I smiled slyly.
"No reason." He turned back to his desk. "Now go on."
I turned to leave.
One hour later I watched as he climbed into a coach and rove away. I waved, but I knew he didn't see me.
The next week we went home. Mum and Aunt Addi were waiting to pick us up at Shannon Airport.
"Cassi, how are you?" She gave me a big hug.
"Mum, I have so much I need to tell you."
"Oh and Aunt Addi, Professor Lupin says hi." Her jaw dropped,
" Remus? Remus Lupin? How do you know Remus? Did you see him? Where?" I just smiled and got into the car.
"Remus?" Remy asked.
"Yes, he was your namesake." Mum said. We laughed.
Later that night, I couldn't put it off any more. I went into her room. She was in bed reading a paper for work.
"Mum?"
"Cassi you're supposed to be in bed."
"I couldn't sleep."
"Well come here." She moved over and I crawled in beside her. The door creaked. We looked up and Remy and Jamie soon joined us.
"Mum, we need to talk to you about something."
"Of course baby."
"Mum, you have to promise not to get mad."
"I promise." She took off her reading glasses and slowly nodded.
"We know who our father is." Her face showed no reaction.
"He escaped last summer." Jamie said
"Escaped?"
"From Azkaban." She didn't say anything.
"There's more. Mum, Professor Lupin saw him, talked with him. He's innocent."
She only stared at me. The she shook her head.
"I wish, I really wish he was Cassi."
"No, Mum, He is. Look." I pulled the locket out of my shirt.
She held it gingerly. She opened it and smiled longingly.
"That was on the day you were born. Your da was so happy. He wouldn't give you to anyone else. Not even me. He couldn't stop smiling. He loved you so much." She touched his face. He stuck his tongue out at her. She giggled.
" He sent it to me. On Christmas."
"And he sent us this manuscript with all these jokes on it." Remy said.
"He's innocent, mum." Jamie said.
"I really wish he was innocent. kids."
"Professor Lupin said we might see him sooner than you think." Mum just shook her head again. She closed the locket and I lay down next to her. Jamie and Remy curled up at the bottom of the bed. She turned off the light but none of us slept.