After It All…
Hey, I just reread the first chapter of A.I.A and realized how much it sucked! Ugh! I guess I really have improved on my writing! Until earlier today I thought that I hadn't improved at all! Well back to the story, here you go. Please note this is the last chapter to this story. Please read the A/N at the end of this story and review.
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Shaina grabbed her sister's shoulder and pulled her away shutting the door before Colleen could look inside. "First let me talk to you. Please." Colleen looked into her little sisters pleading eyes.
"Alright." She said a hint of nervousness in them.
Shaina led her into the siting room where Matthias and Stuart sat. The looked up a little surprised to see Colleen. They looked to Shaina quizzically.
"We need to tell her the truth."
Matthias' eyes bugged out at that statement. "Are you kidding? She won't believe you!"
"You believed it."
"But I had talked to him! I met him!"
"She has too, don't you remember?"
Colleen was confused. She had realized they were talking about Black and had gotten stiff, afraid. Are these people and Shaina death eaters? She thought as Shaina motioned for her to sit down in one of the chairs.
"First off, Colleen, Sirius Black is innocent." Colleen stared at her.
"Did Black tell you that? He's lying." Colleen spat out.
"No, Colleen, believe me, he is innocent. I cant explain now just please believe me. Then I will tell you the story."
Colleen shook her head. "Maybe if you explain…"
Shaina sighed "Fine, Just please, consider all of this…"
Shaina began at what really happened the night of the Potters' death. Colleen stared in disbelief as Shaina continued to tell about how Sirius escaped Azkaban… Snuffles… Black… Black… Snuffles? Shaina kept going into when Stuart and Matthias got him. She told with help from Matthias and Stuart. Matthias explained how he realized Sirius was innocent… about how Sirius, in dog form, was writing answers to his questions that led him to believe his innocence. When Shaina finished the story Colleen had a few questions. She was pretty convinced that Sirius was in fact innocent but she needed to know some details.
"Where was Sirius going? When he left you, two…" She said glancing at Matthias and Stuart. The two men glanced at each other.
"We don't know yet… he hasn't spoken…"
"Wait a minute… he's here? I knew it…" Colleen began to get up but Shaina grabbed her arm.
"Do you believe me?"
Colleen didn't know what to say. She had herself convinced he was innocent but she needed to know more… to hear from Sirius himself.
"I think… I think I do… I want to hear from Black himself…"
Shaina let go of her after pondering this for a moment.
"Very well." She said as she led Colleen back to the room Sirius stayed in. She opened the door. She was surprised to find Remus in there. "Oh hello Remus. I didn't know you came in."
Remus looked startled to see Colleen in there. He remembered Colleen. Head girl during his 2nd year.
"What's she doing here?" Remus was startled. Sirius was still staring at the wall, but he had a look of freight etched into his face.
"Its ok. She knows. I had to tell her, she nearly walked in here earlier so I had to tell her."
Sirius seemed to calm down at that. But he still stared straight at the wall. Remus released his breath and turned to Shaina; almost forgetting Colleen was there.
"He hasn't spoken since I got here, did he talk to you?"
"No,"
They continued talking, but Colleen paid no attention. She looked him over. His jet-black hair hung past his elbows and was tangled and knotted. His gaunt face was dark looking as he stared at the wall. Suddenly she had an idea. She turned to Shaina.
"Do you have any floo powder here? I have an idea…" she said. Shaina nodded but seemed to hesitate before leading her into the office, where she reached into a vase pulling out some floo powder.
"What's your idea?"
"Lynnea." Shaina seemed to understand and smiled
"Good idea." Colleen smiled and took the floo powder. In seconds she was back at her house.
-
**Lynnea's POV**
Mommy came through the fireplace using floo powder. She was looking quite nervous but smiled.
"Come on Hun, I want to tell you something."
"What is it mommy?" I said
"Sirius Black. I want to tell you about him." I got scared. I never liked the looks of him. He reminded me of a vampire.
"W-why?"
"Just listen to me…" My mommy told me about him. About how he was framed… and that he…Sirius Black was Snuffles. I was shocked but then I smiled. I liked Snuffles. So I like Sirius Black.
"Now, we're having a bit of a problem…" Mommy said then.
"What is it?"
"He won't talk. He is just staring at the wall. Not doing anything. I think you might help."
I nodded. "Ok mommy, Ill come" I was scared, but I knew that Snuffles… or Sirius would not harm me.
She took me through the fireplace with floo powder and we were in an office. Auntie Shaina was there. She smiled at me. I smiled back and walked out the door towards the bedroom. I felt very nervous but when I saw him I immediately felt so bad for him.
His hair was filthy and was all tangled. His face was really icky looking and tight over his bones. I wondered how much he has eaten lately. When he looked towards me I saw the dark look in his eyes. I remembered seeing that in Snuffles' eyes. I knew then that it truly was snuffles.
"Hello." I said gently. I still felt nervous.
When he spoke his voice was hoarse and scary but I could tell he was nice. I remembered how Snuffles had been when I first got him… quiet… afraid… now it was like starting over… just with Sirius not snuffles.
"Hello…" He said as he looked back to the wall.
"Thank you." I said quickly. He looked at me, confused at first. Remus was standing in the corner of the room, quite confused. He hadn't known that Sirius had been living as Snuffles at my house. Auntie Shaina led him out of the room to explain.
I looked back at Sirius. I watched his confused look grow neutral, then suddenly he smiled. His face seemed to light up at that. Then he spoke; a good-natured tone, but still the hoarseness spoiled it slightly
"It seems I have a weak spot for children…" I looked at my mommy who smiled lightly, but still nervously. She glanced at the clock. I looked at it too. It was past bedtime.
Mommy looked down at me and pointed to the clock. I looked up to her with pleading eyes.
"But mommy… I want to talk to Sirius," I said with a lisp in the S's in Sirius.
Sirius, who seemed to have caught on that Mommy wanted me to go to bed, sighed then spoke his voice filled with a lightness that hadn't been there earlier. I really had helped him. By just showing up.
"Lynn, Go to bed." He said. I looked at him and bit my lip then walked into the room with my mom. My mom reached up to get the floo powder. I had to do it. I ran into the bedroom again and gave Sirius the biggest hug I could.
"Really, really, thank you." Then I ran out. I was very young. But I remember that day clearly now though it has been about 6 years.
I went home that night. I missed my pet dog, Snuffles but decided being friends with a convicted murderer was cool enough! But then I couldn't show my friends. But I didn't care. I fell asleep smiling.
~*~
That night when I turned around from grabbing the floo powder to see Lynnea hugging Sirius, I knew I had to get her a pet. Yes laugh all you want at how stupid that sounded, but I am going to get her a dog… a black dog… a large black dog… … maybe I'll just stick with goldfish…
~*~
I took Remus into the room next door. He was very confused. The first thing he asked was
"Who was that little girl?"
"My niece, Lynnea. Sirius had lived as her pet for the few months before he went to the Bracer's hut."
Remus was still confused but he shook his head and shrugged it off.
I walked back into the room just as Lynnea had walked out. Sirius was smiling. His old smile. Though it's missing the old "I-didn't-do-it" guiltiness to it… Remus nearly read her mind and chuckled lightly.
Sirius looked up at them, Remus' chuckle catching his attention.
"I hate kids. They always make me feel like mush." Suddenly, as if on cue, Lynnea ran in and hugged him.
She said something, but Shaina could only make out the Thank you part of it. She knew it couldn't have been much more than that. Then as Shaina watched Lynnea let go and ran back out. Sirius looked confused then he looked to Shaina and Remus again. His change of mood had startled Shaina earlier but now she didn't mind it.
"See?" Sirius said. Remus smiled and walked over to him. They began talking. Sirius acted like Sirius. The old Sirius was back… Just he was a little more grown up…
~*~
Well, It has been 6 years. The three years after that were very hectic, trying to keep Sirius hidden. Then something great happened, while something horrible almost happened. Sirius got caught I was crying, my mom was crying, but Auntie Shaina was worse than any of us. The dementer had come in and was going to give him the kiss when someone ran in and yelled out Expecto Patronum! A big silver Lynx had appeared and made the dementer go away. Sirius stared at the man and the Minister got real mad but then he held up a paper.
-
"He's innocent!" he yelled out. Sirius' eyes grew wide as he stared hopefully at the man.
The minister stepped up, even more outraged. "What are you talking about?!"
"Here's a note… to you minister… from Remus Lupin! They have Peter Pettigrew! The whole story is explained inside! Pettigrew is the guilty one here!"
The minister snatched the letter and read, his eyes getting wider with every word.
In minutes while the minister read, They heard a noise as someone cam through the fireplace. It was Remus, who was dragging a skinny small man behind him.
"Good you got the letter…" He looked to make sure Sirius was ok then looked back to the minister.
"Here is the one that you want." Remus said as he held Pettigrew in front of him. Remus had his wand held to him so he wouldn't pull anything.
The minister nodded. "Indeed. Well done Lupin." The minister turned to Sirius with a deep look of shame on his face.
"Mr. Black, I am sorry for everything you have been through, you are innocent and never had a true trial… you are free, the newspapers will be notified today to make sure everyone knows the truth." Sirius didn't smile like most thought he would. He glared darkly at the minister.
"Promise me something," He started his voice firm.
"That you will never ever convict anyone without solid evidence and a trial…"
The minister nodded, clearly sorry for the trouble Sirius had been through.
The guard in the corner stepped up and untied Sirius' arms and legs. He sat up and Shaina ran over and hugged him, still crying. He hesitated before returning the hug and watched everyone past Shaina's shoulder.
-
Well, Sirius and Shaina did get married, so now Sirius is my uncle! I really liked that part. He's doing better than he had ever… the dark look is almost completely gone. Auntie Shaina is determined to make it go away. It annoys Sirius that she fusses over him like that. He told me that it's because she's a sissy girl, but he would never say that to her face. Remus said that if Sirius ever did Shaina would be sure to whack him very hard. I'm trying to convince Remus to help me trick Sirius into saying it while she's in earshot! Oh, and I have a cousin too! How could I forget that? He is 2 years old now; his name is Rigel… pretty weird huh? It's the name of a star. Shaina thought of that one. Sirius thought it was ridiculous but then Shaina pointed out his name was a star and he shut up. Remus and me laughed about that one for a looong while. Remus has a girlfriend now too. Her name is Capella… yet another star… how amusing… Well, that's the whole story. Many lives have been saved during the past six years. Many friends have been made and many tears have been shed, but in the end everything turned out alright.
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Hey all! How'd ya like it? I thought the ending was sweet, but please note, I'm considering making more adventurous stories leading on from this one… please tell me if you think it's a good idea. J I love you all!
DAPANDAZZ