Chapter 6

"Professor McGonagall," Rebecca said smiling grimly. "You haven't changed a bit," she thought but wisely did not voice her thoughts.

Minerva gasped; there was something familiar in that voice. She recognised it and yet. something had changed about it. She couldn't quite place the change, but it was there.

"Miss Carus," she said without turning around, "How do you do?"

Rebecca noted the coldness in Professor McGonagall's voice, but it didn't bother her. Everyone probably thought, as had Dumbledore and Ernie Prang, that she had gone over to the Dark Side. She found that she didn't care what they thought. They would find out soon enough.

"I am very well, thank you Professor. I would like to speak with the Headmaster, if that is at all possible."

"Certainly, I am sure he will want to welcome you." She smiled nastily. "This way if you please."

Rebecca followed her. It was odd, but - although she had been out of school for around eighteen years - Professor McGonagall could still make her feel like she was twelve years old.

They reached the stone gargoyle, which Rebecca recognised as the one that hid the entrance to the Headmaster's office.

"If you would wait here please. I will tell the Headmaster you are here."

Rebecca nodded and smiled politely as Professor McGonagall said "Fizzing Whizzbee" to the Gargoyle, which opened and allowed her in.

Rebecca waited for a very short time. Moments later the gargoyle opened again reveal Professor McGonagall once more.

"I'm afraid he is not here right now. He had an urgent owl from the Ministry and had to dash off. He should not be long, perhaps you would like to wait in his office?"

"Of course." Rebecca followed the teacher inside, up the familiar stairs and into the same office she had left all those years before.

"I'm afraid I shall be unable to wait with you. I must speak to the house elves, they are preparing for the Start of Term Feast tomorrow and we have had a bit of a problem with the mince pies. If you will excuse me?"

"Indeed," Rebecca said, smiling at the obvious excuse to be away, "Do not let me keep you."

"Please, make yourself comfortable."

Rebecca put all her heavy bags on the floor - she had left her trunk with Filch - and looked around the circular room. Apart from the addition of some new curiosities, it was pretty much the same as she remembered it.

"Hello Fawkes," she said, approaching the phoenix's perch. "At least someone here is pleased to see me," she added as the bird closed his eyes and rubbed his head against her hand, releasing a long, soft note, comforting note from his open beak.

Rebecca left the side of the phoenix and sat on an over-stuffed armchair at the wall, the bird followed her and took up a perch on her knee. She thought it odd that she got on so much better with animals than people.

She was not left with her thoughts long. The door to the side of her opened to allow Albus Dumbledore to enter.

"Go Fawkes," she whispered. The phoenix looked at her then returned to his perch, enabling her to rise to greet Dumbledore.

"Rebecca," he sighed, "Thank you for coming so quickly."

Rebecca said nothing; she simply nodded.

"How are you?"

"Please, Dumbledore, can we dispense with the small talk, and get to the reason I am here."

Dumbledore looked slightly hurt at these words. Normally this would worry Rebecca, but she remembered how he had hurt her once, and could not feel sympathy for him.

"Your letter, I didn't understand quite what you."

"You were right, Rebecca, Sirius is innocent." Rebecca listened attentively as Dumbledore explained everything that had happened since Sirius had escaped. How he had broken into Hogwarts as an Animagus, how Pettigrew had hidden as a pet rat, how Pettigrew had been the traitor, how he had escaped, how Sirius had been captured and escaped again, how Harry had become a Hogwarts Champion in the Triwizard Tournament, how Sirius had come back to Britain to help, how Voldemort had come been reborn and Harry had beaten him.

"Is Harry alright now?"

"He is fine, living with his aunt and uncle, he is coming back to Hogwarts tomorrow."

"He didn't get my letter did he?"

Dumbledore shook his head. "I am so terribly sorry, Rebecca, I thought it was best for him not to know."

"No. Don't apologise, you were just doing what you thought was right."

Dumbledore looked gratified at her dismissal of his behaviour to her.

"I have not brought you here simply to apologise for mistrusting you. There is someone here who would like to see you. I think you know who."

Rebecca took a deep breath and nodded. She couldn't speak and she couldn't understand why her heart was racing.

"May I fetch him?" She nodded once more and Dumbledore left swiftly.

She paced the floor nervously twisting a strand of hair. She felt like a child and was suddenly very conscious of her appearance.

She swallowed deeply and took a deep breath. She didn't understand why she was getting so wound up over this. Yes she did. It was Sirius. It was always Sirius. She had loved him more than anything, more than life. He was everything to her. All these years she had been without him, she had felt an emptiness and an unspeakable sadness. Knowing what he was enduring and not being able to be with him. She would have gladly gone to Azkaban with him, for the simple reason that they would be together. That was all that mattered to her. That they were together. Together, she could endure anything.

Rebecca spun round as she heard the door open behind her. Her eyes frantically searched the doorway for Sirius, but saw only Dumbledore. He smiled at her disappointed look and stepped to one side to reveal the one she sought. His eyes found hers immediately and all they could do was look at each other.

"I'll leave you two alone." Neither of them had even noticed that Dumbledore was still in the room.

Rebecca's heart was no longer pounding. She couldn't feel anything - all nervousness and teenage anxiety were washed away when she looked at him. All she could feel was pure and unadulterated happiness. A strange warmth seeped into her limbs, she hadn't realised that she was cold, but she had been for fifteen years. She did not want to break this spell, but she had to speak.

"Sirius," her voice was choked with emotion. "You look like shit."

He laughed hoarsely. "Thanks," he said, "You look... amazing."

Rebecca chuckled gently. "What, couldn't think of an insult?"

All he could do was look at her. Rebecca smiled slowly and walked towards him. He gulped deeply causing her to laugh quietly. Once she got near him she slowed and reached out a hand to touch his face. It was barely a glance of her fingertips against his jaw, but it sent involuntary tremors through his body. "Rebecca, don't..." She put a finger to his lips and whispered softly, "Shh, don't talk." She kissed him very gently and he shuddered. "I've missed you," she said softly. "I've missed you so much." Sirius moaned and claimed her lips in a passionate kiss. "I love you," he murmured. "I love you." Tears of salty water flowed down her cheeks. "I love you too."

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Disclaimer: All belongs to J.K. Rowling