A/N: Hello and thanks for reading, well, opening my new fic. 'The Secrets of Slytherin' follows on from my previous fics ('Dangerous Memories' and 'A New Beginning'), but if you haven't read them don't worry I am about to explain all! (if you have read them I apologise for all the explanation, feel free to skip to the main story)
This fic is set in the fifth year, but is totally separate from JK's OOTP, and picks up on Christmas Eve (where 'A New Beginning left' off) Remus has been appointed the position of Dumbledore's aide to help sort out the Headmaster's affairs whilst he is busy with the Order of The Phoenix. Sirius was freed, thanks to Dumbledore, and is returning to Hogwarts to take up the DADA job, starting in the New Year. At the beginning of the school year, Sirius set out to find the sister he lost due to his imprisonment. He found the girl, Ebony, but her adoptive father would not allow her to have contact with her brother. In the last chapter of 'ANB', Sirius learned that Ebony's guardian has died and therefore decides to bring her to Hogwarts (something Harry is unaware of)
Well, if that wasn't too much to take in, I think I can let you get on with reading 'The Secrets of Slytherin', I'll fill in any blanks along the way, but if there's anything you don't understand just ask. (By the way, I haven't included the 'Dangerous Memories' plot in that synopsis, but if you like Remus fics you should read it!)
Introduction
The pale, watery sun rose steadily above Hogwarts, beginning another cold, dreary winter's day. Harry watched the scene from the window of his dormitory. He did not care that the thick, black clouds that hung in the air promised him a day of rain and snowfall. He already knew that today would be the best day of the year, no matter how determined Mother Nature was to spoil it. Sirius would be coming back today, that was all that mattered.
He pulled a small slip of parchment from under the pile of school-books that cluttered his bedside table and re-read it for the thousandth time.
Dear Harry,
Things have not gone to plan with Ebony. I plan to travel north in a few hours so I should be at Hogwarts in time for supper. Let Remus know I'm coming.
-Sirius.
Sirius had not returned to Hogwarts that day, Harry never knew why, but Remus promised that he would definitely arrive at the castle today, in time for Christmas.
Sirius's untidy scrawl was now etched upon Harry's memory as he had read that letter so often, and each time it never failed to make him smile. He knew that it was wrong to feel the way he did, and the happiness he felt was always followed by an enormous sense of guilt. He knew that Sirius must be hurting, but that would surely fade. His godfather had lost his sister before, he could do it again. Sirius had a duty to Harry, to James and Lily.
'I don't have my parents'' Harry thought bitterly 'she does.'
As soon as the ugly thought took form in Harry's head a dull ache exploded within his skull.
'You're jealous'
A scathing, hideous voice accused him, but Harry did not need to look around to find the source of the sound. He knew that it came from his mind, from the small part of his soul that had not yet been tainted by the years of torture, pain and loss that had been inflicted upon him.
'I'm jealous.' Harry was forced to silently agree. 'But so what?'
Didn't he have the right to be jealous?
Wasn't it perfectly natural that he should be angry?
After all, Sirius was his godfather, his only parent, why should he have to share?
Most people have real parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters. Most people have many relatives, why should he have to go without? Why should he allow Sirius to be taken away?
Sighing, Harry pulled on his robes and sat on the edge of his bed, hoping Ron would wake up soon. There was no point in getting angry, like Sirius had said; things had not gone to plan with Ebony, she was no longer an issue.
Already Harry's perfect day had been blackened, as he scolded himself for his selfishness and felt disgusted by his own thoughts. Sirius had never wished him any harm; he had no right to feel this way. Yet Harry knew that his resentment towards Ebony, the girl he had never met, was very real and if that made him selfish, jealous and weak, then that was a cross that he'd have to bear.