Chapter 6: What?
A very annoyed Severus Snape and a very lively Remus Lupin stalked the halls of the building the magic had been detected. They had method. One that hadn't worked yet, but it would. They had gone through three floors of the block of flats now, and they had just trudged up the stairs of the next.
Knock knock.
A disgruntled old man answered the door. "What?" he said gruffly.
"Good evening Sir," Remus said politely, "I was hoping you would be able to answer me something."
"What?"
"Have you seen a small boy and a man living in these flats?" he asked.
"No." he said and slammed the door. Barely phased, Remus shrugged and dragged Snape to the next door.
"Your turn." He said happily. They were close. He could feel it.
"Shut up." Snape sneered and rapped on the door. A man appeared, a short balding man with a dirty brown t-shirt and blue jeans that burst at the zip.
He grunted. Snape sneered, "Have you seen a man and a small boy round here recently?"
"Aye," he said, "Small laddy in t'flat 'posite."
"Thank you so much," Snape drawled sarcastically, and the door was shut. Snape strode across the hall and knocked at the door.
~*~
"Dave?" Kayla called, "Do you and Harry want to stay for lunch?"
"Cheers Kayla, that'd be good, I don't think we have any food anyway." Sirius joked.
Kayla's clear uncut laugh ran through the living room and Sirius grinned. He turned his attention to the child he was holding. So like Snape. She was a Snape. She was a witch. Lee wasn't. Or he probably wasn't. He could be a Muggleborn, but it wasn't very likely. He wondered how she would deal with it. It was a big thing. She'd probably find out that Snape was a greasy git that taught Potions at a magic school as well. Hell, she might find out who they really were, in the end. She was very likely to be told about the 'Great Harry Potter' by her daughter when she went to Hogwarts. If Harry went that was.
His musings were brought to a halt by a knock at the door. He sighed and called out, "Want me to get that?"
"Thanks Dave," she called back, and Sirius hoisted the baby into his arms and walked over to the door. He opened the door and nearly dropped the baby in shock.
"Evening," Snape said, "I'd like to ask you a few questions."
"Er..." Sirius stuttered, "What?" They didn't recognise him? Wait he had a Glamoire on they wouldn't would they? Thank hell for magic!
"You wouldn't happen to have seen a small boy and a man around here would you?" Remus asked. Something was wrong. He could smell fear ... something else ... something not normal ... he'd smelt it before ... not for many years ... a dog... this was Sirius.
"Er- no. Sorry." Sirius said, and he switched the baby from arm to arm, "If that's all?"
"No." Remus said, gritting his teeth, "You have some explaining to do Black. Where is Harry?"
"Black?" Sirius said feigning confusion, "Sorry mate don't know anyone by that name. My name's Dave Redbridge."
"Where is Harry?" Remus said again, louder, and his hand clutching his wand in his pocket.
"Harry? What Harry are you talking about?" Sirius said.
"Stop fucking with us Black, we know it's you. Let us in. Give us the boy, or we'll kill you." Snape snapped. This was definitely Black. He was as irritating as hell.
"Look mate, you need to piss off. We ent who you think we are." Sirius said nervously, and he edged away, clutching Stacie.
The door to the kitchen creaked open and Kayla walked over, "What's wrong ... Sev ..."
Snape paled even more. "Fuck." He whispered.
"What the hell is going on?" Remus demanded, "Sirius you take those sodding charms off now or I'll do it myself."
Sirius couldn't get out of it. He couldn't do it. He was going to be caught. Unless- could he convince them he was innocent? Snape was probably as paranoid as usual, he'd have Veritaserum with him.
"Look," Sirius said, "You better come in."
Remus and Snape walked in, and Remus paled when he saw Harry sitting on the settee, happy and content. He rushed over and swept him into a hug.
Startled, Harry took a second to compose his thoughts, "Moony..."
"How did you?"
"I 'member." Harry said seriously, "Do ya still fink Padfoot killed those people?"
"What?" shrieked Kayla, "What's going on? You people barge into my flat, start accusing people of things. Who the hell are you? What the hell are you? And you," she said addressing Snape, "I'm gonna kill you alone. When they go. We need to talk. Who are you, you talk of charms and things, Sev is here and knows of it and Dave didn't kill anyone!!"
"Sssh," Sirius said, "Sit down, and I'll explain."
Kayla sat stiffly on the couch and pulled Lee onto her knee. Snape leant against the wall, his wand out. Remus sat on the floor and hugged Harry again. Sirius took a deep breath and walked over to Snape.
"You, you git this is your daughter. You hurt her again (meaning Kayla), and I'll have a reason to be in Azkaban." Sirius said and he handed the child to Snape. He ignored the fact he held her like a football and was about to pass out, and he took out his wand.
"Kayla, I'm sorry, I've lied to you. My name is Sirius Black. I don't look like this," he took the Glamoires off and Sirius appeared in the place of Dave, "I'm a wizard. Harry is a wizard. Snape is a wizard. Remus is a wizard. Stacie is a witch."
"What?" she whispered.
"I didn't kill anyone." Sirius whispered, "I wasn't the Secret Keeper. It was Peter. I asked him to switch at the last minute because noone would suspect him. He sold them to Voldemort. I went after him. He began to yell incriminating things at me, then he blew up the street. He transformed and cut off his finger. He ran to the sewers, and is out there somewhere."
"I don't believe you." Remus said.
"Why?" Sirius begged, "There is no evidence. I never had a trial. I never even got to protest before I was thrown in Azkaban."
"They wouldn't throw an innocent man in Azkaban." Remus said uncertainly, not quite believing it.
"They did." Sirius said quietly and a tear fell down his cheek.
"But ..."
"I know." Sirius said wearily, "You want proof? I know he's a paranoid bastard, he has Veritaserum on him." Sirius said and he pointed at Snape, who had settled his daughter by now, and was looking on in confusion.
"He's right, I have the potion" Snape said, "Could someone take..."
"Her name is Stacie." Sirius said stoutly, but he took the child and handed her to her tearful mother. Snape produced a small vial of colourless, odourless liquid and handed it to Sirius. He said nothing and he poured three drops into the lid of the container. He downed them and he sat clumsily on a chair.
"What did you do to him?" Kayla asked fearfully.
"Truth potion," Remus said quietly, "He'll be OK."
"What is your name?"
"Sirius Orion Black."
"Were you the Potter's Secret Keeper?"
"No."
"Who was?"
"Peter Pettigrew."
"Did you kill 13 Muggles - "
"Muggles?" Kayla asked.
"Non magic folk." Remus said informatively, "You get Muggleborns, Halfbloods and Purebloods. Severus is a Pureblood. All high and mighty. So is Sirius actually. Harry and Stacie are Halfbloods. Harry's mother was a Muggleborn."
"Finished Lupin?" Snape drawled.
"Shut up and finish questioning him." Remus snapped.
"Did you kill the Muggles and that twit Pettigrew?"
"No. Peter did. After he cast the curse he chopped off his finger and transformed into a rat. He got away."
"Are you guilty of anything you were imprisoned for?" Snape asked, rubbing his temples.
"No. But I am an Animagus."
"Really?" Snape asked, "How did you escape Azkaban?"
"I transformed into my Animagus form and left. I went to Surrey and found Harry. He was being abused, I got him away. Then I came here. I lied."
"Lupin anything I missed?" Snape asked.
"No," Remus said thoughtfully, "But wait. How have you got a child?"
"We dated. We slept together. He left. She was born. He comes back. Simple huh?" Kayla said dangerously, "You got me pregnant and left, you just never came back. Where in hell did you go?"
"I...." For once Snape had no biting comeback. Instead he got a slap.
"OK," Remus said, "You two need to talk. Without us here. We need to go and tell Dumbledore."
"You're right." Snape said, and he rubbed his cheek, "Take Black and Harry, and I'll stay here. You will get a trial now Black. We know the truth." Snape said as he saw Sirius begin to get nervous.
Sirius calmed, "Thank you. Harry come here."
"Sirius?" Harry said timidly and he climbed off Remus, "Are you OK?"
"I'm great Harry. I really am. We're going to Hogwarts Harry. We can get a proper house, you can go to school." Sirius said excitedly.
Remus stood up and nodded. Wordlessly the three left, Harry hand in hand with Sirius, Remus leading the two, leaving Snape, Kayla, Lee and Stacie to battle it out.
TBC ...
Cheers to anyone who reviewed I got LOADS!! Thank you and please review again!!
A very annoyed Severus Snape and a very lively Remus Lupin stalked the halls of the building the magic had been detected. They had method. One that hadn't worked yet, but it would. They had gone through three floors of the block of flats now, and they had just trudged up the stairs of the next.
Knock knock.
A disgruntled old man answered the door. "What?" he said gruffly.
"Good evening Sir," Remus said politely, "I was hoping you would be able to answer me something."
"What?"
"Have you seen a small boy and a man living in these flats?" he asked.
"No." he said and slammed the door. Barely phased, Remus shrugged and dragged Snape to the next door.
"Your turn." He said happily. They were close. He could feel it.
"Shut up." Snape sneered and rapped on the door. A man appeared, a short balding man with a dirty brown t-shirt and blue jeans that burst at the zip.
He grunted. Snape sneered, "Have you seen a man and a small boy round here recently?"
"Aye," he said, "Small laddy in t'flat 'posite."
"Thank you so much," Snape drawled sarcastically, and the door was shut. Snape strode across the hall and knocked at the door.
~*~
"Dave?" Kayla called, "Do you and Harry want to stay for lunch?"
"Cheers Kayla, that'd be good, I don't think we have any food anyway." Sirius joked.
Kayla's clear uncut laugh ran through the living room and Sirius grinned. He turned his attention to the child he was holding. So like Snape. She was a Snape. She was a witch. Lee wasn't. Or he probably wasn't. He could be a Muggleborn, but it wasn't very likely. He wondered how she would deal with it. It was a big thing. She'd probably find out that Snape was a greasy git that taught Potions at a magic school as well. Hell, she might find out who they really were, in the end. She was very likely to be told about the 'Great Harry Potter' by her daughter when she went to Hogwarts. If Harry went that was.
His musings were brought to a halt by a knock at the door. He sighed and called out, "Want me to get that?"
"Thanks Dave," she called back, and Sirius hoisted the baby into his arms and walked over to the door. He opened the door and nearly dropped the baby in shock.
"Evening," Snape said, "I'd like to ask you a few questions."
"Er..." Sirius stuttered, "What?" They didn't recognise him? Wait he had a Glamoire on they wouldn't would they? Thank hell for magic!
"You wouldn't happen to have seen a small boy and a man around here would you?" Remus asked. Something was wrong. He could smell fear ... something else ... something not normal ... he'd smelt it before ... not for many years ... a dog... this was Sirius.
"Er- no. Sorry." Sirius said, and he switched the baby from arm to arm, "If that's all?"
"No." Remus said, gritting his teeth, "You have some explaining to do Black. Where is Harry?"
"Black?" Sirius said feigning confusion, "Sorry mate don't know anyone by that name. My name's Dave Redbridge."
"Where is Harry?" Remus said again, louder, and his hand clutching his wand in his pocket.
"Harry? What Harry are you talking about?" Sirius said.
"Stop fucking with us Black, we know it's you. Let us in. Give us the boy, or we'll kill you." Snape snapped. This was definitely Black. He was as irritating as hell.
"Look mate, you need to piss off. We ent who you think we are." Sirius said nervously, and he edged away, clutching Stacie.
The door to the kitchen creaked open and Kayla walked over, "What's wrong ... Sev ..."
Snape paled even more. "Fuck." He whispered.
"What the hell is going on?" Remus demanded, "Sirius you take those sodding charms off now or I'll do it myself."
Sirius couldn't get out of it. He couldn't do it. He was going to be caught. Unless- could he convince them he was innocent? Snape was probably as paranoid as usual, he'd have Veritaserum with him.
"Look," Sirius said, "You better come in."
Remus and Snape walked in, and Remus paled when he saw Harry sitting on the settee, happy and content. He rushed over and swept him into a hug.
Startled, Harry took a second to compose his thoughts, "Moony..."
"How did you?"
"I 'member." Harry said seriously, "Do ya still fink Padfoot killed those people?"
"What?" shrieked Kayla, "What's going on? You people barge into my flat, start accusing people of things. Who the hell are you? What the hell are you? And you," she said addressing Snape, "I'm gonna kill you alone. When they go. We need to talk. Who are you, you talk of charms and things, Sev is here and knows of it and Dave didn't kill anyone!!"
"Sssh," Sirius said, "Sit down, and I'll explain."
Kayla sat stiffly on the couch and pulled Lee onto her knee. Snape leant against the wall, his wand out. Remus sat on the floor and hugged Harry again. Sirius took a deep breath and walked over to Snape.
"You, you git this is your daughter. You hurt her again (meaning Kayla), and I'll have a reason to be in Azkaban." Sirius said and he handed the child to Snape. He ignored the fact he held her like a football and was about to pass out, and he took out his wand.
"Kayla, I'm sorry, I've lied to you. My name is Sirius Black. I don't look like this," he took the Glamoires off and Sirius appeared in the place of Dave, "I'm a wizard. Harry is a wizard. Snape is a wizard. Remus is a wizard. Stacie is a witch."
"What?" she whispered.
"I didn't kill anyone." Sirius whispered, "I wasn't the Secret Keeper. It was Peter. I asked him to switch at the last minute because noone would suspect him. He sold them to Voldemort. I went after him. He began to yell incriminating things at me, then he blew up the street. He transformed and cut off his finger. He ran to the sewers, and is out there somewhere."
"I don't believe you." Remus said.
"Why?" Sirius begged, "There is no evidence. I never had a trial. I never even got to protest before I was thrown in Azkaban."
"They wouldn't throw an innocent man in Azkaban." Remus said uncertainly, not quite believing it.
"They did." Sirius said quietly and a tear fell down his cheek.
"But ..."
"I know." Sirius said wearily, "You want proof? I know he's a paranoid bastard, he has Veritaserum on him." Sirius said and he pointed at Snape, who had settled his daughter by now, and was looking on in confusion.
"He's right, I have the potion" Snape said, "Could someone take..."
"Her name is Stacie." Sirius said stoutly, but he took the child and handed her to her tearful mother. Snape produced a small vial of colourless, odourless liquid and handed it to Sirius. He said nothing and he poured three drops into the lid of the container. He downed them and he sat clumsily on a chair.
"What did you do to him?" Kayla asked fearfully.
"Truth potion," Remus said quietly, "He'll be OK."
"What is your name?"
"Sirius Orion Black."
"Were you the Potter's Secret Keeper?"
"No."
"Who was?"
"Peter Pettigrew."
"Did you kill 13 Muggles - "
"Muggles?" Kayla asked.
"Non magic folk." Remus said informatively, "You get Muggleborns, Halfbloods and Purebloods. Severus is a Pureblood. All high and mighty. So is Sirius actually. Harry and Stacie are Halfbloods. Harry's mother was a Muggleborn."
"Finished Lupin?" Snape drawled.
"Shut up and finish questioning him." Remus snapped.
"Did you kill the Muggles and that twit Pettigrew?"
"No. Peter did. After he cast the curse he chopped off his finger and transformed into a rat. He got away."
"Are you guilty of anything you were imprisoned for?" Snape asked, rubbing his temples.
"No. But I am an Animagus."
"Really?" Snape asked, "How did you escape Azkaban?"
"I transformed into my Animagus form and left. I went to Surrey and found Harry. He was being abused, I got him away. Then I came here. I lied."
"Lupin anything I missed?" Snape asked.
"No," Remus said thoughtfully, "But wait. How have you got a child?"
"We dated. We slept together. He left. She was born. He comes back. Simple huh?" Kayla said dangerously, "You got me pregnant and left, you just never came back. Where in hell did you go?"
"I...." For once Snape had no biting comeback. Instead he got a slap.
"OK," Remus said, "You two need to talk. Without us here. We need to go and tell Dumbledore."
"You're right." Snape said, and he rubbed his cheek, "Take Black and Harry, and I'll stay here. You will get a trial now Black. We know the truth." Snape said as he saw Sirius begin to get nervous.
Sirius calmed, "Thank you. Harry come here."
"Sirius?" Harry said timidly and he climbed off Remus, "Are you OK?"
"I'm great Harry. I really am. We're going to Hogwarts Harry. We can get a proper house, you can go to school." Sirius said excitedly.
Remus stood up and nodded. Wordlessly the three left, Harry hand in hand with Sirius, Remus leading the two, leaving Snape, Kayla, Lee and Stacie to battle it out.
TBC ...
Cheers to anyone who reviewed I got LOADS!! Thank you and please review again!!