Note: None of these are my original characters except for Crescent and the
deceased Moira. All others are the work of J.K. Rowling. This does not
follow the traditional Harry Potter storyline the way it was written by
J.K. Rowling. Enjoy! Eventual slash between Remus and Sirius! Takes place
Present Day/ Prisoner of Azkaban. ' '- words in her diary.
For the Love of a Child, Part 1
Wands and Wizards
A.J. Matthews
Crescent reread her first diary entry. She had received the diary as a present from her Uncle Remus, who hadn't been able to come to her birthday party. She knew, of course, that he was not truly sick. He was a werewolf, and last week there had been a full moon. At least she was finally getting to go home.
'My name is Crescent Lupin-Black. I am the only child of my deceased mother, Moira Greene, and Sirius Black, a prisoner in Azkaban.
I live in a house with Uncle Remus, who took me in when my mother died at my birth. He was bitten by a werewolf, so he changes into a werewolf every full moon. During that week, I stay at another home. He's kind and caring and wonderful! I love him as much as I would love a father.
I am very short for my age- eleven. Uncle Remus says it's because my mother was short as well. I have pale skin and dark hair. I think I look more like my father than my mother- I have her height, but his looks. The only difference is that I have dark green eyes. My father's eyes were dark and my mother's were green.
According to what Uncle Remus told me, my mother would have loved me very much. I've seen pictures of her- she was very beautiful. I'm not sure about my father, though. He looked nice enough in the photos Uncle Remus had, but I've seen a recent one, and he looked rather scary. Everyone says he betrayed and murdered his best friends: James and Lily Potter, as well as Peter Pettigrew and thirteen Muggles.
I don't quite know what to believe. The man Uncle Remus described to me doesn't seem like he could have done such a thing. A practical joker, yes, but not a murderer. Whether he's guilty or not, I have to live with his actions. For I am his daughter, and I love him anyway. In spite of what others tell me.
I know Uncle Remus loved my father as well; I heard it from the last wizarding family I stayed with. They were together until my father was thrown in prison. That doesn't bother me so much. I just wish I knew the truth.'
The car stopped and interrupted Crescent's thinking.
"We're here," the driver of the taxi said. He got out, and opened the door for the little girl.
"Thank you, sir," Crescent said, as she climbed out of the taxi. The driver gathered her bags for her, as she began the walk to the shabby-looking house.
The door opened, and Remus Lupin stepped outside.
"Crescent!" he cried happily.
"Uncle Remus!" Crescent ran into his arms, laughing merrily. "I missed you so much."
Remus held the child close. "I missed you as well, Crescent. How was your party? Did you enjoy your presents?"
She smiled up at him. "It was great! I loved the diary!"
Remus reached into his pocket and handed a letter to her. It had Hogwarts' seal on it.
Crescent opened the letter carefully and read it. "I got in!" she cried. "I'm starting at Hogwarts this year!"
Remus beamed at her paternally. "Guess what, Crescent. I will be the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher this term, so I will be there with you for your first year."
Crescent smiled, relieved. "I'm glad. It will be good to have a friendly face beside me."
"It arrived a bit late: we'll have to go to Diagon Alley tomorrow to get your supplies," Remus said. "The term starts in less than two weeks."
She nodded and then looked worried. "How will we afford my supplies?" she asked.
"It will take care of itself, Crescent. Your mother left her money to you, all that she had left." Remus smiled at his 'daughter' gently.
Crescent nodded and hugged him again. "I was afraid I wouldn't get in," she whispered.
"I never doubted it for a moment, child." Remus ruffled her black hair and looked up as the driver of the taxi approached with Crescent's bags.
The young girl thanked him and took a couple of her bags from him. She carried it into the house and to her room. She returned for the others and carried them inside as well.
Lupin gave the taxi driver the Muggle money he'd changed some of his Sickles for. The driver bowed, got into his car, and drove away.
It was rather late, so both Remus and Crescent went to bed, after a drink of hot chocolate.
Early the next morning, they used Floo Powder to travel to Diagon Alley.
The first place they went was Gringotts. Crescent looked at the goblins curiously.
"We need to make a withdrawal from Crescent Lupin's vault," Remus said.
"Crescent Lupin?" The goblin shuffled through the pile of papers. "You mean Crescent Lupin-Black's vault?"
"Yes," Remus said patiently. "I have the key."
The goblin stared at the tiny girl who stood next to him. So Sirius Black's daughter was starting at Hogwarts this year, he mused.
Remus cleared his throat as the goblin continued to stare at Crescent, who was used to this kind of behavior. She looked back calmly.
"Sorry, sir," the goblin muttered. He gestured to another goblin, who came over. He told the second goblin to take the two to Vault 615.
"But that belongs to-" the goblin said.
"Do it."
The goblin reluctantly took them to the vault.
After they left Gringotts, they went to Ollivanders. A bell rang as Remus and Crescent entered the shop.
Mr. Ollivander came out from the back of the shop and stared down at Crescent, who gazed up at him.
"I knew it was only a matter of time before I saw you. You must be the daughter of Sirius Black and Moira Greene. You look so much like your father," he said in a strange voice.
"I know," Crescent said quietly. "My name is Crescent."
"Good to use you again, Mr. Lupin," Mr. Ollivander said, taking his eyes off Crescent and focusing on Remus.
"Likewise." Remus placed his hands on Crescent's shoulders. "She needs a wand," he said.
"On to business." Mr. Ollivander started taking a few boxes off the shelves. "Which is your wand arm?"
Crescent held out her left hand, which Mr. Ollivander measured. "A bit small, hmm. I dare say you'll grow some more." He took a wand out of a box and handed it to her.
"Try this- willow and dragon heartstring, seven and a half inches." Nothing happened.
"How about oak and phoenix feather, ten inches, swishy." Nothing happened again.
"Let's see. How about rowan and unicorn hair, eight inches. Nice and flexible."
Sparks shot from the wand as Crescent waved it about.
"Good." Mr. Ollivander put the other wands back in their boxes. "A tad curious, though."
"What is?" Crescent asked.
"Your father's wand was made of rowan; your mother's had unicorn hair," Mr. Ollivander said.
"Oh." Crescent blinked.
Remus paid the seven Galleons for the wand, and led Crescent out. She seemed unusually quiet as they visited the other shops, getting her robes, books, basic potion supplies, cauldron, and scales.
"Are you all right, Crescent?" Remus asked her gently, as they sat down on a bench to rest.
"I guess, Uncle Remus. Sometimes I wish I'd known my mother, that's all," she said. "Everyone seems to remember her but me."
Remus sat her supplies down and embraced her tightly. "She wanted to be with you, Crescent."
Crescent smiled at him. "Thanks, Uncle Remus."
"Want to go home now?" he asked.
She nodded and stood up. Crescent and Remus each picked up her school supplies again. As they started walking, Crescent accidentally ran into Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic.
"I'm so sorry, sir," she said earnestly, as she looked up.
"Mr. Fudge," Remus said cordially. "What bring you out here?"
Mr. Fudge was staring at the child. He kneeled down and looked in her dark green eyes.
"So like his," he murmured. The child looked just like her father, except for her height. She was much smaller than he'd expected. He stood and looked at Remus. "Business for the Ministry. Might I have a word with you, Professor Lupin?" he asked, nudging him away from Crescent and towards the inn.
"I suppose. Crescent, sit down and stay here, ok?" Remus looked at her and back at Mr. Fudge.
"Yes, Uncle Remus." Crescent sat down and waited.
Remus and Cornelius Fudge walked into the inn.
Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger were walking through Diagon Alley, when Hermione spotted a tiny girl sitting on a bench by herself.
"Hey, look," she said. Harry and Ron turned to look. "Think she's lost?"
The girl sat there alone, looking around for someone.
Draco Malfoy was in Diagon Alley as well, with his father.
"Hey, dad," he said. "Who's that kid?" He pointed at Crescent.
Lucius Malfoy narrowed his eyes at the girl. "It can't be," he whispered.
"Dad?" Draco asked.
"We shall find out, Draco." Lucius marched over to the child, Draco following closely behind.
"Oh no," Ron groaned. "There's Malfoy."
"They're heading right for that poor girl," Hermione said.
"Come on," Harry said. He pushed his glasses up on his nose and walked over to the little girl.
"What is your name, child?" Lucius demanded.
"What is yours?" Crescent asked quietly. "It's impolite to ask someone's name before you introduce yourself."
Lucius glared at the impudent child. Draco's eyes had bulged.
"Who are you," he snapped.
"Is there a problem here, Lucius?" Remus's quiet voice asked.
Lucius froze and looked at him. Cornelius Fudge stood directly behind Remus.
Crescent stood and walked over to her uncle, carrying her supplies. "No, Uncle Remus. He just forgot to introduce himself," she said. "Can we go home now?"
Ron, Hermione, and Harry stopped walking as they watched Lucius shake his head and walk away with Draco.
"I wonder what that was all about," Harry said. "And I thought things were exciting enough, with Sirius Black escaping out of Azkaban." He spoke in a low voice, so no one heard him besides Ron and Hermione.
Hermione nodded. "Draco's always up to something, though."
"Ron! Harry! Hermione!" Mr. Weasely called. They ran over to him. Harry looked back at the departing girl.
"Mr. Weasely, do you know who that girl is?" Hermione asked. She gestured towards Mr. Fudge, Remus, and Crescent.
Mr. Weasely looked at the girl. He knew who she was. Compassion filled his eyes, before he shook his head slowly. "No. Why?"
"Lucius Malfoy and his son were trying to get her name, but then that other person stopped them," Ron explained.
Mr. Weasely frowned a little, and then smiled at the three of them. "It's time to go inside. Molly's worried."
They nodded and followed him.
Remus and Cornelius said their farewells, and Floo Powder was used to transport Remus and Crescent home.
"What's wrong, Uncle Remus?" Crescent looked at him. She'd sensed that he was upset. She had already placed her school supplies in her room, and they were sitting at the dinner table together. He'd picked at his food the entire meal, while she'd eaten heartily.
"Crescent, I don't know how to tell you this." Remus looked at the child, who meant so much to him. "Your father has escaped from Azkaban."
She turned pale. "How?"
Remus shook his head. "I don't know, neither does the Ministry of Magic."
Crescent didn't know what to think. "Will he come after me?" she whispered.
"I won't let him hurt you, Crescent." Remus took the child in his arms.
He managed to calm her fears, at least for a while.
After Crescent was asleep that night, Remus sat down in his chair in front of the fireplace.
You've escaped, Sirius, he thought to himself. And according to the Minister of Magic, you are trying to kill Harry. What will you say to me, he wondered. Do you still love me as you once did? I love you as I always have, in spite of everything. And what of Crescent?
To be continued
For the Love of a Child, Part 1
Wands and Wizards
A.J. Matthews
Crescent reread her first diary entry. She had received the diary as a present from her Uncle Remus, who hadn't been able to come to her birthday party. She knew, of course, that he was not truly sick. He was a werewolf, and last week there had been a full moon. At least she was finally getting to go home.
'My name is Crescent Lupin-Black. I am the only child of my deceased mother, Moira Greene, and Sirius Black, a prisoner in Azkaban.
I live in a house with Uncle Remus, who took me in when my mother died at my birth. He was bitten by a werewolf, so he changes into a werewolf every full moon. During that week, I stay at another home. He's kind and caring and wonderful! I love him as much as I would love a father.
I am very short for my age- eleven. Uncle Remus says it's because my mother was short as well. I have pale skin and dark hair. I think I look more like my father than my mother- I have her height, but his looks. The only difference is that I have dark green eyes. My father's eyes were dark and my mother's were green.
According to what Uncle Remus told me, my mother would have loved me very much. I've seen pictures of her- she was very beautiful. I'm not sure about my father, though. He looked nice enough in the photos Uncle Remus had, but I've seen a recent one, and he looked rather scary. Everyone says he betrayed and murdered his best friends: James and Lily Potter, as well as Peter Pettigrew and thirteen Muggles.
I don't quite know what to believe. The man Uncle Remus described to me doesn't seem like he could have done such a thing. A practical joker, yes, but not a murderer. Whether he's guilty or not, I have to live with his actions. For I am his daughter, and I love him anyway. In spite of what others tell me.
I know Uncle Remus loved my father as well; I heard it from the last wizarding family I stayed with. They were together until my father was thrown in prison. That doesn't bother me so much. I just wish I knew the truth.'
The car stopped and interrupted Crescent's thinking.
"We're here," the driver of the taxi said. He got out, and opened the door for the little girl.
"Thank you, sir," Crescent said, as she climbed out of the taxi. The driver gathered her bags for her, as she began the walk to the shabby-looking house.
The door opened, and Remus Lupin stepped outside.
"Crescent!" he cried happily.
"Uncle Remus!" Crescent ran into his arms, laughing merrily. "I missed you so much."
Remus held the child close. "I missed you as well, Crescent. How was your party? Did you enjoy your presents?"
She smiled up at him. "It was great! I loved the diary!"
Remus reached into his pocket and handed a letter to her. It had Hogwarts' seal on it.
Crescent opened the letter carefully and read it. "I got in!" she cried. "I'm starting at Hogwarts this year!"
Remus beamed at her paternally. "Guess what, Crescent. I will be the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher this term, so I will be there with you for your first year."
Crescent smiled, relieved. "I'm glad. It will be good to have a friendly face beside me."
"It arrived a bit late: we'll have to go to Diagon Alley tomorrow to get your supplies," Remus said. "The term starts in less than two weeks."
She nodded and then looked worried. "How will we afford my supplies?" she asked.
"It will take care of itself, Crescent. Your mother left her money to you, all that she had left." Remus smiled at his 'daughter' gently.
Crescent nodded and hugged him again. "I was afraid I wouldn't get in," she whispered.
"I never doubted it for a moment, child." Remus ruffled her black hair and looked up as the driver of the taxi approached with Crescent's bags.
The young girl thanked him and took a couple of her bags from him. She carried it into the house and to her room. She returned for the others and carried them inside as well.
Lupin gave the taxi driver the Muggle money he'd changed some of his Sickles for. The driver bowed, got into his car, and drove away.
It was rather late, so both Remus and Crescent went to bed, after a drink of hot chocolate.
Early the next morning, they used Floo Powder to travel to Diagon Alley.
The first place they went was Gringotts. Crescent looked at the goblins curiously.
"We need to make a withdrawal from Crescent Lupin's vault," Remus said.
"Crescent Lupin?" The goblin shuffled through the pile of papers. "You mean Crescent Lupin-Black's vault?"
"Yes," Remus said patiently. "I have the key."
The goblin stared at the tiny girl who stood next to him. So Sirius Black's daughter was starting at Hogwarts this year, he mused.
Remus cleared his throat as the goblin continued to stare at Crescent, who was used to this kind of behavior. She looked back calmly.
"Sorry, sir," the goblin muttered. He gestured to another goblin, who came over. He told the second goblin to take the two to Vault 615.
"But that belongs to-" the goblin said.
"Do it."
The goblin reluctantly took them to the vault.
After they left Gringotts, they went to Ollivanders. A bell rang as Remus and Crescent entered the shop.
Mr. Ollivander came out from the back of the shop and stared down at Crescent, who gazed up at him.
"I knew it was only a matter of time before I saw you. You must be the daughter of Sirius Black and Moira Greene. You look so much like your father," he said in a strange voice.
"I know," Crescent said quietly. "My name is Crescent."
"Good to use you again, Mr. Lupin," Mr. Ollivander said, taking his eyes off Crescent and focusing on Remus.
"Likewise." Remus placed his hands on Crescent's shoulders. "She needs a wand," he said.
"On to business." Mr. Ollivander started taking a few boxes off the shelves. "Which is your wand arm?"
Crescent held out her left hand, which Mr. Ollivander measured. "A bit small, hmm. I dare say you'll grow some more." He took a wand out of a box and handed it to her.
"Try this- willow and dragon heartstring, seven and a half inches." Nothing happened.
"How about oak and phoenix feather, ten inches, swishy." Nothing happened again.
"Let's see. How about rowan and unicorn hair, eight inches. Nice and flexible."
Sparks shot from the wand as Crescent waved it about.
"Good." Mr. Ollivander put the other wands back in their boxes. "A tad curious, though."
"What is?" Crescent asked.
"Your father's wand was made of rowan; your mother's had unicorn hair," Mr. Ollivander said.
"Oh." Crescent blinked.
Remus paid the seven Galleons for the wand, and led Crescent out. She seemed unusually quiet as they visited the other shops, getting her robes, books, basic potion supplies, cauldron, and scales.
"Are you all right, Crescent?" Remus asked her gently, as they sat down on a bench to rest.
"I guess, Uncle Remus. Sometimes I wish I'd known my mother, that's all," she said. "Everyone seems to remember her but me."
Remus sat her supplies down and embraced her tightly. "She wanted to be with you, Crescent."
Crescent smiled at him. "Thanks, Uncle Remus."
"Want to go home now?" he asked.
She nodded and stood up. Crescent and Remus each picked up her school supplies again. As they started walking, Crescent accidentally ran into Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic.
"I'm so sorry, sir," she said earnestly, as she looked up.
"Mr. Fudge," Remus said cordially. "What bring you out here?"
Mr. Fudge was staring at the child. He kneeled down and looked in her dark green eyes.
"So like his," he murmured. The child looked just like her father, except for her height. She was much smaller than he'd expected. He stood and looked at Remus. "Business for the Ministry. Might I have a word with you, Professor Lupin?" he asked, nudging him away from Crescent and towards the inn.
"I suppose. Crescent, sit down and stay here, ok?" Remus looked at her and back at Mr. Fudge.
"Yes, Uncle Remus." Crescent sat down and waited.
Remus and Cornelius Fudge walked into the inn.
Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger were walking through Diagon Alley, when Hermione spotted a tiny girl sitting on a bench by herself.
"Hey, look," she said. Harry and Ron turned to look. "Think she's lost?"
The girl sat there alone, looking around for someone.
Draco Malfoy was in Diagon Alley as well, with his father.
"Hey, dad," he said. "Who's that kid?" He pointed at Crescent.
Lucius Malfoy narrowed his eyes at the girl. "It can't be," he whispered.
"Dad?" Draco asked.
"We shall find out, Draco." Lucius marched over to the child, Draco following closely behind.
"Oh no," Ron groaned. "There's Malfoy."
"They're heading right for that poor girl," Hermione said.
"Come on," Harry said. He pushed his glasses up on his nose and walked over to the little girl.
"What is your name, child?" Lucius demanded.
"What is yours?" Crescent asked quietly. "It's impolite to ask someone's name before you introduce yourself."
Lucius glared at the impudent child. Draco's eyes had bulged.
"Who are you," he snapped.
"Is there a problem here, Lucius?" Remus's quiet voice asked.
Lucius froze and looked at him. Cornelius Fudge stood directly behind Remus.
Crescent stood and walked over to her uncle, carrying her supplies. "No, Uncle Remus. He just forgot to introduce himself," she said. "Can we go home now?"
Ron, Hermione, and Harry stopped walking as they watched Lucius shake his head and walk away with Draco.
"I wonder what that was all about," Harry said. "And I thought things were exciting enough, with Sirius Black escaping out of Azkaban." He spoke in a low voice, so no one heard him besides Ron and Hermione.
Hermione nodded. "Draco's always up to something, though."
"Ron! Harry! Hermione!" Mr. Weasely called. They ran over to him. Harry looked back at the departing girl.
"Mr. Weasely, do you know who that girl is?" Hermione asked. She gestured towards Mr. Fudge, Remus, and Crescent.
Mr. Weasely looked at the girl. He knew who she was. Compassion filled his eyes, before he shook his head slowly. "No. Why?"
"Lucius Malfoy and his son were trying to get her name, but then that other person stopped them," Ron explained.
Mr. Weasely frowned a little, and then smiled at the three of them. "It's time to go inside. Molly's worried."
They nodded and followed him.
Remus and Cornelius said their farewells, and Floo Powder was used to transport Remus and Crescent home.
"What's wrong, Uncle Remus?" Crescent looked at him. She'd sensed that he was upset. She had already placed her school supplies in her room, and they were sitting at the dinner table together. He'd picked at his food the entire meal, while she'd eaten heartily.
"Crescent, I don't know how to tell you this." Remus looked at the child, who meant so much to him. "Your father has escaped from Azkaban."
She turned pale. "How?"
Remus shook his head. "I don't know, neither does the Ministry of Magic."
Crescent didn't know what to think. "Will he come after me?" she whispered.
"I won't let him hurt you, Crescent." Remus took the child in his arms.
He managed to calm her fears, at least for a while.
After Crescent was asleep that night, Remus sat down in his chair in front of the fireplace.
You've escaped, Sirius, he thought to himself. And according to the Minister of Magic, you are trying to kill Harry. What will you say to me, he wondered. Do you still love me as you once did? I love you as I always have, in spite of everything. And what of Crescent?
To be continued