A tall girl with long black hair pushed her trolley through platform 9 and 3/4. An older woman with flamingo pink hair was right behind along with a middle-aged woman. The raven hair girl gazed at the Hogwarts train and frowned.
"Don't worry about those people, Sylvia. You'll do great. You have a sharp mind and will pass all of your O.W.L.'s I know it. Otherwise, why are you in Ravenclaw?" The pink hair woman told the younger girl, she knew exactly what was bothering Sylvia at that moment.
"I'm not worried about that Tonks, I mean won't Sirius Black come after Harry Potter?" Sylvia asked the two women.
"Sylvia, don't worry about Sirius. He might have been in Azkaban but he doesn't have it in him to go after Harry."
"Are you sure Aunt Andromeda?" Sylvia asked the other woman.
"Positive." Tonks replied for her mother and gave her a smile.
"Go on, you'll be late for the train." Andromeda gave Sylvia a hug then Tonks gave her a hug. Sylvia waved good-bye as she boarded the train.
"If Sirius goes after her, he'll have me to deal with." Tonks told her mom.
"Don't talk like that. Sirius won't harm his own blood. If he goes after her, it would be to see her. Possibly seeing his child grown will set him good." Andromeda and Tonks left the platform. Sylvia walked down the compartments, opening each until she found the Weasley twins with Lee Jordan.
"Mind if I sit with you?" She asked them. George was the first to respond.
"Yes, of course!" He exclaimed, pushing Fred forward, clearing a spot for her.
"Thanks." She giggled and took the seat.
"How was your summer?" Lee asked.
"Well, I went to Spain and spent time with some distant relatives of my Aunt Andromeda." She ran a hand through her sleek black hair.
"Fascinating." George said which caused Sylvia to grin.
"You know Maeve McGonagall is coming back this term. She did this accelerated program in America and she's going to take her N.E.W.T.'s, youngest witch to have graduated from Hogwarts." Fred told them.
"Wow, I'm surprised she isn't in Ravenclaw with brains like that. Andromeda considered sending me there do to my...erm...close relatives but in the end, Hogwarts seemed the best choice." She looked around the compartment uncomfortably. "Dumbledore also did a lot of persuading. Afterall, Hogwarts is a pretty safe school."
"Yeah, with Sirius Black escaped and all." Fred agreed. George gave him a sharp look and Sylvia's eyes fell.
"Where is that trolly, I'm nearly starving!" Lee exclaimed trying to lighten the compartment's heavy silence.
"I wonder why we are stopped." George looked out the window. The compartment door slid open and a black, hooded figure appeared suddenly. They all gasped and shivered. After a few moments, the thing passed.
"What was that?" Fred asked, the door opened.
"Oh no! Not again!" Sylvia cried. Luckily, Malfoy stumbled in, shivering and yelling in panic. George rolled his eyes.
"Leave Malfoy!" Malfoy regained his composure and muttered a snide comment before returning to his own compartment.
"Wonder if Ginny and Ron are ok." Fred said standing up.
"Let's go." George stood up. "See you around Sylvia." He cheeks turned the same his color as his hair. He left with Fred leaving Sylvia and Lee alone.
"Is George always like that?" She asked Lee.
"No, just he's fancied you since last year. I thought he was over it." Lee and Sylvia both chuckled but it faded into silence.
"That thing was horrible!" She had a worried expression in her face.
"What Malfoy or the dementor?" He asked with a grin.
"Dementor, I've heard of them but not seen one before." She sighed. "Azkaban must be a truly awful place if you have those lurking about."
"Is everyone ok?" A hoarse voice asked once he slid open the door.
"We're fine, a bit startled." Lee replied not recognizing the man.
"Good." He nodded to the both of them before sliding the door shut. Sylvia's eyes lingered on the door for a moment.
"I wonder who that was." Lee thought aloud.
"He looked a bit shabby, I think he's ill." Sylvia said recalling his wary eyes.
"Must be those dementors." Lee opened a bag of candies. "Want a chocolate frog?"
"No thank you." She bit her lip.
They arrived to the castle, most of the kids chattered wildly but stopped when Sylvia walked by. They whispered silently saying things along the lines of
'That is the daughter of Sirius, escapee from Azkaban, wizzard at large' or 'must not talk to her or she might kill us like her dad did to all those people.' She raised her chin higher and made longer strides causing her black hair to swish behind her. Fred found her and waved her over to them. She smiled thankfully and joined the boys. They talked amongst themselves as they entered the Great Hall. Sylvia took a seat at the Ravenclaw table next to Roger Davies. Most Ravenclaws hesitated to talk to her but realized that she was still their friend and would never harm them. They hushed and Dumbledore gave a few announcements. Once he said that the man on the train was the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Sylvia gasped.
"How can he teach it when he looks like he's about to snuff?" She asked Roger while they both clapped. Roger shrugged. "I hope he doesn't die in a lesson."
"He won't, he must be better than Lockheart." Roger loudly said.
"But he's not as handsome as Lockheart." Cho commented, leaning across the table.
"Looks aren't everything, he's probably a better person than Lockheart which makes him more handsome." Sylvia flicked her hair over her shoulder which caught the attention of most boys around her including a certain Professor Lupin.
The terrible thing about being beautiful and Sirius's daughter is that boys are frightened to date you. if you should happen to break her heart, you were sure that her dad would break your neck now that he was out of Azkaban. She was lucky before, she dated most of the handsome boys, Roger Davies, Cedric Diggory, Oliver Wood, all treating her like a prize, a Quidditch trophy. She ended up breaking it off once she realized that it was a status to date her. She now couldn't even get a boy to flirt with her, fear tugged at all their hearts. But it did not stop them from pining over her. The fact that they did bothered her more. The lustful looks from the boys hurt as much as the venomous look from their girlfriends or other girls jealous of her looks. Thankfully, George got over most of his crush that he didn't nearly blush as much and sat with her in all the classes they shared. Fred scowled and sat with Lee throwing dangerous looks at his twin. They waited for Professor Lupin to arrive.
"Hello, hello!" He burst in and placed a suitcase on his desk. "Sorry I'm late. Well, fifth year! How far you have all come! We'll be preparing for your O.W.L.'s later on this year. You're pretty far behind with that Lockheart fellow teaching you last year, not nearly as far as I hoped but we can certainly catch up." His eyes looked over his class, they lingered on Geogre and Sylvia and continued on. "Let's see, we'll start off with a brief look at trolls and giants." He began a lecture pausing every so often to allow the class to catch up with the writing. He frowned once he noticed Sylvia not writing a thing down. "That concludes this lesson. Miss Black, may I have a word with you?" George gathered his things and gave her a hopeful look before leaving with Lee and Fred.
"Yes, Professor?" She asked while running a hand through her hair.
"I see you wrote nothing down while I lectured-"
"Is just that I-"
"-I know that you are very intelligent-"
"-can't concentrate-"
"-and you are bright like your father-"
"You knew my father?" She had a confused expression on her face.
"Knew, I thought I did. We went to school together, with James and Lily-"
"Harry's parents." She looked away angrily. "I never knew Sirius but I hate him. Can you hate someone you don't know?"
"I guess so. You do have the right to hate him." Lupin coughed softly. "You look so much like him, even your manner is like him."
"That's what Andromeda feared while I grew up." She bit her lip. "She kept telling me that I was looking more and more like him. She pitied me for that, she knew that it was hard for me...Are we done?"
"Yes, just try and pay more attention. It's hard enough with all the boys not paying attention."
"What do you mean?" She asked innocently.
"I think they are all a bit...taken with you." He said with a grin. She rolled her eyes and gathered her things with a blush. "Bye Professor Lupin." She said with her hand on the doorknob.
"Bye Sylvia." He said as she closed the door.
She thought about what Lupin said all through Charms. Was she just like her father? Is she weak like him? Will she become evil like him? She shook off the thoughts and found the resolution that she could never be weak or evil. She hardly listened to the lecture on the charm they were supposed to be working on and she missed the homework assigned at the end of class. She gathered her things and went straight to Fred.
"Oh, hello." He greeted, he sounded a bit cold to her.
"Did you get the homework in Charms?" She asked quietly. Fred cocked an eyebrow.
"Your pretty hair blocking your hear?" He asked angrily.
"If you don't want to tell me, then don't!" She stormed off only to run into Lee.
"What's wrong?" He asked as she stopped fuming for a moment.
"Fred, did you catch the Charms assignment?"
"There was none, just practice the-"
"Hello." Someone interrupted. It was Maeve McGonagall. "Lee, Fred is looking for you." She told Lee. Sylvia frowned at the girl. She had a cheery face framed with long, curly brown hair. She was roughly the height of Sylvia and had bright blue eyes that twinkled kindly. Sylvia knew her well when she dated Oliver Wood, Maeve was his bestfriend. When Maeve went to America, that was all Oliver talked about. She hated it so much she broke up with him, now when ever someone mention Maeve, Sylvia scowled and became cross.
"Hello Sylvia." Maeve grinned pleasantly.
"Maeve, how was America?" She asked trying to be civil, she didn't think of this girl as an enemy. She never really like Oliver that much to begin with, his obsession with Quidditch made him unbearable. She did like him apart from that but there was nothing else besides Quidditch to him. Sylvia liked Quidditch but only watching it.
"Lovely, Massachuesetts has a lovely charm to it in the fall." She replied.
"Sounds great." Sylvia faked a smile and ran a hand through her hair. She noticed a boy behind Maeve gasp at the sight of Sylvia. He hurried off with a blush.
"I'll see you around." Maeve waved cheerily and left. Sylvia sighed and headed to the Ravenclaw tower. She walked down corridors, her head held high and looking rather arrogant. She was watching the boys with a grin, Professor Lupin was right, they were all taken with her. They looked guilty after they would smile at her. She stopped and caught sight of a thin boy with glasses. It was Harry Potter, the son of the parents her father betrayed. She wanted to apologize, give him soothing words, or a hug even but realized she never spoke to him before. He was with a boy with flaming red hair, George and Fred's younger brother. She grimaced as she thought about Fred. She decided to leave Harry be for now, she wanted to forget about her father right now. She began walking and walked right into a taller man.
"Watch where you are going, Black." A hateful voice snapped at her.
"Sorry." She apologized to Professor Snape.
"Save your apologies, your essay was horrible. I see you inherited your father's sense of laziness." Snape glared at her. Her eyebrows netted and her lips became a thin line.
"I spent so many hours writing that, Roger Davies said I could publish it, it was so good!"
"Hours? I hardly think minutes, it was a pile of rubbish." Snape's eyes dared her to pursue the subject. Sylvia bit her tongue, she knew that Snape could give her detention whenever he felt like it. She decided not to give him the satisfaction of punishing her.
"Thank you for your opinion Professor Snape, I will see you in Potions." She said coldly and forcefully before she stalked off angrily. Once she reached the tower, she threw herself on one of the purple couches and nursed her bad mood by talking to Cho Chang.
"I hate Snape!"
"I think that feeling is mirrored. Your essay was brilliant. You're the sharpest Ravenclaw ever! Don't let Snape get the best of you." Cho told her.
"Thanks Cho. I just want to disappear you know. It's tough being the only child of a murderer, I hardly have any friends."
"But you do have a huge fan club. All the boys I know are absolutely crazy about you!" Cho exclaimed.
"Professor Lupin told me that." Sylvia smiled and blushed.
"Really?" Cho asked noticing Sylvia's pink cheeks.
"Yes, then Fred snapped at me."
"Fred Weasley?"
"Yes."
"He has been a terrible mood lately. I think it's the fact that you and George are rather close now."
"George and I?" Cho nodded.
"Everyone noticed it, two fellows asked me the other day if you two were...involved."
"Hardly. He's the only person who will sit next to me. I'm sure Roger Davies would if I asked him and probably Lee too."
"Well, are you going down to dinner?" Cho asked looking at the clock.
"No, I'm not hungry. I think I'll linger."
"Right then, see you later." Cho left. Sylvia moved around the couch restlessly. She wanted to leave badly but with the dementors gaurding every doorway, it was near impossible. She got up and instead of going to the Great Hall, she walked on the Quidditch field. She found a nice grassy spot and threw herself down. The feeling of the cool breeze lifted some of her anger at the world. She watched the sky change colors and fade into stars. She wanted to stay there and watch the stars. She loved Astronomy and spent some of her lonely nights watching the night sky.
"I think you're supposed to be in bed now." A hoarse voice said about two feet away. Sylvia sat up and looked at the constellation Orion.
"I don't care really." She sighed. "Are you going to give me detention for being out of bed past hours?"
"No." She heard him sit next to him. "You shouldn't be here, with Sirius loose and all."
"I don't care. He can come for me for all I care. If he kills me, so what?" Sylvia asked.
"I don't think he'll kill you. He used to hold you all the time. Loved throwing you in the air. James and Lily saw how he was with you so when they had Harry it was only natural that Sirius would be his godfather."
"He was..." Sylvia didn't finish what she started but allowed Lupin to continue.
"He never was happier, holding you. He loved you dearly that's why he sent you to Andromeda when he was taken away."
"Do you know who my mother is?" She asked in a shaky voice.
"No, you were sent to Sirius, he never told anyone who your mother was. Not even James knew. Lily loved feeding you and playing with you. You were a beautiful baby but that visit was my last." Lupin's voice grew distant. He was startled to hear her sniffle. He looked over and saw that she was hiding her face but clearly was crying. "I know it's been hard but you-"
"How can you know? How can you even understand what I feel?!" She jumped to her feet. "You never had to grow up an outcast. I have hardly any friends only boys that are infatuated with me or girls that I know hate my guts! Adults hate me too, I have no one, not even a father!" She wiped the last of her tears and ran off. Lupin sighed and left also, he stopped when he heard a dog or wolf howl in the woods. He shrugged it off and continued to the castle.
Sylvia ran quickly through the castle and once she reached her dormitory, she threw herself on the bed and cried into her hands. One girl woke up.
"Who's that?" She asked in a sleepy voice.
"No one! Go back to sleep!" Sylvia cried throwing off her shoes. Sirius loved her dearly, it made her sick to her stomach. He loved her yet he ruined her life. When she woke up, she was still sick with anger and decided not to go to Hogsmeade and lingered in the castle. She spotted Harry but could not speak to him. She found her spot on the Quidditch field and read a book while eating candy corn. It was getting about time for the Halloween so Sylvia decided to go back to the Great Hall and join in part of the festivites. She ate some food quietly, stealing glances at Professor Lupin who seemed tired. She siged and headed back to the Ravenclaw tower, when she walked down the corridor a hand firmly grasped her shoulder. She turned and saw Professor Lupin, he released her shoulder.
"Are you still upset with me?" He asked reminding her of her outburst last night.
"I..." She trailed off.
"I do know what it's like to be an outcast. Don't think that you are alone because you are not. You have me, even though being an adult might not help much, I assure you you can come to me with any problem." He gave her a reassuring smile. She frowned slightly but her mouth turned into a sad smile.
"Thank you, Professor Lupin." He leaned in.
"Please, while we're not in class you can call me Remus. Professor is a nasty title, I feel old and crotchety." He grinned. Sylvia smiled back.
"Good night then, Remus." Sylvia turned her head quickly to hide her blush.
"Good night Sylvia." He yelled behind her. He watched her retreating figure, her black hair floated back and forth across her back. He felt a pang in his chest and went back to the Great Hall.
Sylvia was still blushing once she entered the Ravenclaw tower. Had Professor Lupin really ask her to call him Remus or was she dreaming.
"Remus." She repeated with an airy smile and pink blush spreading to her cheeks. She stayed in the common room, cheerfully greeting everyone that came in. This took many people by surprise, they noted her bad mood earlier and avoided her war path. In the sudden change of mood, they figured she must be sick or...
"In love!" Cho exclaimed to the girls in her dormitory. "I recognize that type of sigh and yearning look anywhere. She's bonkers for someone."
"Sylvia, in love? Don't make me laugh. She's the last person to fall in love. She once dumped Oliver because he couldn't kiss properly. She's got a cold heart!"
"No, she's just upset of course. It must be Fred Weasley, she had a row with him yesterday, they must have made up and now she's crazy about him. I knew a simple fight couldn't affect her that much." Cho and her friend, Marietta giggled at the thought of Sylvia and Fred together. They stopped when the door opened and Padma told them that they had to go to the Great Hall immediately.
They entered the Great Hall looking thoroughly confused. Sylvia found Fred and George.
"Hello Fred." She greeted the boy who frowned slightly at her.
"Hello Sylvia." After that, their anger at each other lifted and they were at peace for now. George explained what happened after they climbed into the sleeping bags, Fred interrupted once which a few Ravenclaw girls giggled at. Soon the hall filled with rumors about the break-in by Sirius Black and Sylvia's new love
interest, Fred Weasley.
Sylvia arrived later than normal to her Defense Against the Dark Arts class, George was already sitting with another Ravenclaw so she took a seat next to Fred which caused a riot of giggles from all the girls. Sylvia brushed it off and realized she forgot her quill.
"Fred, can I borrow a quill?" She whispered very close to his ear.
"Uh...erm...forgot yours?" He whispered back close to her face.
"Yes."
"Would you two stop your little romance back there?" A harsh voice asked them. Both Fred and Sylvia looked up at Snape with large eyes.
"Yes." They both replied causing another fit of giggles from all the girls in their class. Fred handed Sylvia a quill and didn't speak to her again. He felt awkward around her, why did she pick him to sit next to? He didn't like what he heard about her feelings for him. Sylvia was oblivious to the rumor that everyone knew by now. She did notice that everyone was kinder to her and the boys of the school her a little hurt when she walked by.
"I wonder if I turn my hair red..." She heard one boy say to another. She shrugged. A finger tapped her shoulder and she turned around. It was Maeve and she looked even more cheery than ever but Sylvia could not see how that was possible.
"I heard about..." Maeve leaned in with a grin, "your feelings for Fred and decided that if you want help you know to get him to date you, I'd be more welcome to."
"Feelings? Fred? Date?" Sylvia looked at her like she was mad.
"Yes, everyone's been talking about that."
"I have no feelings for Fred!" Sylvia nearly yelled at Maeve. Maeve looked at her with a very confused look on her face.
"So it's not true. Oh, well, good bye." Maeve seemed a little upset. Sylvia sighed and decided to go to the library and bury herself in a book. Maeve walked back to the Gryffndor tower with a slow walk, her face troubled which was hardly like her. She was upset to find out news that Sylvia had no interest in Fred. She nearly squealed when she heard the news in the first place. The truth was that she had grown more than friendly feelings for her best friend Oliver. He was still hung up on Sylvia, she was the first girl to ever dump him and he grew obsessed with her. He hardly stopped talking about her now and this made Maeve jealous. With Sylvia having feelings for Fred, Oliver was brooding a lot more but it left him free for Maeve to start a relationship with him. Now she knew the truth she figured it was only a matter of time before Oliver would try to steal the affection of the girl. She couldn't understand why he liked her so much in the first place so she had him explain it to her. The thing most boys liked about her is the fact that she was the unattainable, she was a precious gem that no one is allowed to have. Not only that but when you got to know her besides being the elusive beauty, her personality shined like her black hair. Maeve felt an angry surge of envy and decided to let it be and read a book in her bed with her curtains drawn.
The news of the rumor upset Sylvia, she went to the Ravenclaw tower and found Cho grinning at her.
"How are you and Fred doing?" She asked with a giggle following it. Sylvia frowned.
"Horrible. I heard that there is the rumor that I fancy him but it's far from true." Sylvia explained to Cho. Cho's smile faded.
"Oh, I thought that..." She trailed off.
"What?"
"I saw you on Halloween...you looked like you were in love...I thought it was Fred." Sylvia's hand shook with anger.
"You spread it?"
"No, I only told my friend Marietta, she must have told other people." Cho looked apologetic. Sylvia's anger faded slightly and she rushed to her dormitory. She hardly said anything to anyone the next few days. Hufflepuff vs. Gryffndor quidditch match was coming soon. Sylvia sought Oliver out and wished him luck. In his amazement, he asked her to a date. She remembered his love of quidditch and grinned.
"If you win the Quidditch cup, then of course." She left him with a kiss on his right cheek. He rubbed the spot where she kissed him and found more determination to win the cup.
Maeve could hardly see with all the rain. It had been a long time since she watch a quidditch match, she hardly went to them in America because the school in Salem was all-girl and the quidditch horrible so she avoided watching the embarassing games. She watched with a smile as Oliver took the field. After a few minutes of play, Maeve watched something horrible in the sky. About a hudred dementors took the field and Harry Potter fell from the sky. Maeve gasped and then let out a cry.
Sylvia bit her lip as she looked at the people. She spotted Maeve.
"Have you seen Wood?" She asked Maeve hastily.
"In the shower, I just spoke to him. He's upset, you shouldn't bother him." Maeve shot her a dangerous look, uncharacteristic of her.
"I won't bother him, really." Sylvia took off to the shower. Oliver stood in one of the stalls, sputtering out the water that hit his face.
"Hello Oliver." She said, Oliver adjusted the faucet and turned began lathering his body with a bar of soap.
"What do you want?" He asked angrily.
"Just saying I'm sorry." Her voice echoed in the empty locker room.
"What for?"
"You losing, that's all. You can still win the cup." She said taking a seat.
"So I can date you, right?" She rolled her eyes.
"That was stupid of me, if you want to date me, it's ok. I'll accept." She ran her hand through her hair that reflected the bright lights.
"No, I'm going to win then we'll date, I don't break promises." He told her looking in her eyes.
"Oh." She still sounded dissappointed but smiled. She hardly noticed the water was now off.
"Uh, Sylvia?" He asked her.
"What?"
"Can you leave, I need to change." Oliver grinned.
"Oh right." She blushed and left the room.
Sylvia was in an unusually good mood throughout the winter. She went to Hogsmeade and bought Tonks and Andromeda wonderful cook books and candy. She went home for the holidays, Tonks and Andromeda greeted her on the platform.
"Merry Christmas!" Tonks greeted her cousin with a hug, her hair was a long silver-white.
"Merry Christmas!" Sylvia hugged back. After they broke the hug, Andromeda gave her a tight hug and a kiss on the cheek.
"How are you?" She asked Sylvia.
"Fine, a bit peckish." Sylvia replied with a grin.
"What, no horror stories about Hogwarts boys?" Tonks asked Sylvia.
"Been a good year." Sylvia flased Tonks a broad smile. Tonks sighed.
"And here I was looking forward to it for a change." She shook her head in dissappointment.
"Are you going to stay all holiday?" Sylvia asked Tonks.
"No, but I'll be there for Christmas." Tonks replied.
"Oh."
"Hurry now, you two!" Andromeda yelled next to a parked car. Sylvia sat in the back seat of their muggle car. Their drive was quick, they made it to the house which was decorate lavishly with holiday cheer. Sylvia tightened her scarf and headed into the house. Ted Tonks greeted the women that came through the door. Sylvia smiled as he gave her a hug.
"Uncle Teddy!" She exclaimed as he whirled her around his arms. He set her down.
"Boy, you've gotten lighter, are they feeding you right?" He asked looking her over.
"I'm sure she's spending to much time creating mischief than worrying about eating." Tonks said with a chuckle.
"Tonks, you know I would never create mischief." Sylvia grinned.
"Well, have some Christmas cookies I baked earlier." Andromeda picked up a plate and offered it to Sylvia. Andromeda's Christmas cookies are famous for their vibrant colors. She used to bewitch the reindeer to fly and the Santas to say 'Ho Ho Ho!' every half an hour. Her favorite were the decorated trees, thier lights sparkled and once you bit into them, the lights would pop delightfully in your mouth. Sylvia picked up one and bit into it.
"Eggnog Nymphadora?" Andromeda offered Tonks. Tonks scowled.
"Mother! Please just call me Tonks!"
"I named you Nymphadora for a reason!"
"And that was?"
"After you great grandmother of course." Sylvia and Ted talked while Tonks and Andromeda argued for the umpteenth time about her name.
"I'm glad you're here." Ted smiled, he always treated Sylvia like his own daughter, how could he not? She was left in their care when she was three, he practically raised her. He remembered the day clearly, her hair was wild and her eyes flashed gloriously, he fell instantly in love with her. Tonks took some time to warm up to her but once she did, they were inseparable. Ted recalled many days that they would build a fort that had a sign that said:
"No boys allowed...except Dad"
They would eat cookies and drink milk while giggling. Tonks would read a fairy tale and then they would act it out in their fort. Tonks would change her hair to be long and blond so she could be Rapunzel and Sylvia would be the valiant knight and the witch at the same time. Then Sylvia would be Snow White and Tonks would play the witch and their dolls would be the dwarves.
"Aunt Andromeda?" Sylvia asked interrupting the argument.
"Yes?"
"I need to talk to you."
"About?"
"Sirius Black." The room fell silent, the clock even stopped playing "Silent Night."
"What do you want to know?"
"Who is my mother?" Sylvia watched as Andromeda and Ted exchanged looks.
"I don't know. All I know is Sirius is your father, I'm afraid only he knows and your mother knows." Andromeda answered.
"How can you not know? I was just dumped on your doorstep? Didn't you want to know?!" Sylvia's voice was strained.
"We never asked questions. We just loved you." Ted answered this time.
"Sorry." Sylvia nodded then drank some eggnog and dropped the subject for the rest of the break.
The next term started and Sylvia was sad to leave her family. She found an empty compartment and sat on one side, pulling out her newest book that Tonks gave her: "What You Don't Know That Lurks In You Toilet!" by Papa Squat Nessthyme.
"Interesting book?" She looked up and saw George and Fred. Fred made no eye contact.
"Yes, did you know there is a breed of gnome that live in your toilet seat?" She asked.
"Sounds disturbing." George looked at his twin but Fred said nothing. George took a seat across from Sylvia.
"Had a good holiday?" He asked.
"Yes, and you two?"
"Great." George replied but Fred said nothing. Sylvia scoffed.
"Oh Fred, I never had a crush on you! That was a silly rumor that spread." Fred shifted in his seat then exhaled loudly.
"Thank God!" He breathed. "Are you saying I am repulsive?" Sylvia giggled.
"Yes, and all that look like you."
"Hey!" George yelled and Sylvia giggled some more.
"I see that you all are having a good time." Lee said from the door.
"Hello Lee!" Sylvia exclaimed.
"Hello Sylvia." Lee took a seat beside Sylvia.
"Did you know that there is a breed of gnome that live in your toilet seat?" She asked Lee.
"No, but that's good to know." Lee grinned. "Might come in handy to do your dirty work." The pun was so terrible the whole compartment filled with laughter.
The spirit of the school was a little bit lighter, Sylvia spent more time outdoors than inside. She loved snow so she built millions of snowman and bewitched them so they would wave of grin at people. On her third one of that day, Wood threw a snowball at her.
"Ugh!" She wiped off the snow from the side of her face while Oliver laughed loudly. "You are going to regret that!" She picked up some snow and began patting it into a ball. As she threw the snowball, Oliver skillfully threw one at her but missed and Sylvia's snowball hit him right on the chest before exploding over his clothes. They had short snowball fight, Sylvia spent most of the time running and dodging Oliver's attacks. Once they called truce, they sprawled out on the snow in exhaustion.
"I haven't had so much fun in a long time." She admitted to him.
"Why did you break up with me to begin with?" He asked her.
"Maeve. You spent more time talking about her than paying attention to me." She answered honestly. "And when you didn't talk about her you talked about Quidditch. I was sick of it." She sat up then he sat up and turned torward her.
"I guess you're right. I always thought it was because-"
"You were a horrible kisser?" She finished. She sighed. "Yet another rumor created by some bored people."
"So am I?"
"You could use some improvement." She smiled. "Think of it as Quidditch, practice makes perfect." For some strange reason her face moved in closer to his.
"So you'll help me...erm...practice?" He asked, moving toward her.
"Sure. What are friends for?" His hand reached out and rested on her neck, he pulled her into a kiss. Sylvia smiled in the kiss and after a few moments pulled back.
"You've gotten better Wood."
"Thank you." He rubbed his arm while standing. He offered a hand to her to help her up. She took his hand and looked up.
"It's snowing!" She exclaimed as white powder fell on them.
"You're right!" He opened his hand and caught a snowflake that melted in his palm. They smiled and walked back to the castle. Once the were inside, Sylvia felt her body warm up instantly. The blood rushed to her cold cheeks and she figured they were either red or deep pink. She looked over to Oliver and her smile faded at his horrified expression. She peered beyond him and saw the back of Maeve's head.
"Maeve! Maeve!" Oliver ran after her.
"Oliver!" Sylvia called after her.
"Boy troubles?" A hoarse voice asked her.
"Apparently." Sylvia replied turning to face Professor Lupin. He had a sad look upon his face but tried masking it with a half smile though you could still see the pain in his eyes.
"We were talking about her N.E.W.T.'s coming up when she saw you two kissing." Lupin pointed to the window near them. "Didn't take it too well." Sylvia scowled.
"It's always getting messed up. Finally when I think Oliver is over Quidditch and Maeve, things are messed up. I've had enough of him!" Sylvia huffed angrily. Lupin laughed at her anger.
"I remember those days." He grinned at her but it faded at the sight of her grave face. "What's wrong?" She reached in her shirt and pulled out a locket.
"This." She took it off her neck. "You were Sirius's friend once." She handed it to him. "I've had this since I can remember. I think she might be my mom. I never showed Andromeda or Tonks. I was afraid they might take it away." Lupin gave it a long look. "Can you find out who she is, please?" Sylvia asked earnestly.
"If it means that much to you." Lupin agreed, he was startled when Sylvia threw her arms around his neck and squeezed him tightly.
"Thanks!" Lupin breathed in her hair and exhaled deeply as she let him go. "Bye!" She ran off and yet again, Lupin watched her leave, his heart pounded loudly in his chest.
"This is not good Remus." He said aloud.
"Love is always good." A portrait of a woman said.
"Not this kind. It'll be the end of me." He told the portrait before heading off to his office.
Sylvia was upset that Ravenclaw lost to Slytherin but decided that she won't date Oliver even if he did win the cup, he still clearly had something to work out between Maeve and him. She approached him and he sadly agreed that it was best not to start a relationship on such terms. They shook hands and Sylvia felt glad that it was over between them, for good. But Maeve was still sore about it and didn't hide the glares when they passed in the corridors. Sylvia sought her out and approached calmly.
"Listen Maeve." Maeve's eyes narrowed on Sylvia's face.
"What?" She snapped angrily.
"I'm came to tell you that Oliver and I aren't together."
"And?"
"And, I thought that would be enough what else do you-"
"Sylvia and Maeve you need to come with me." Professor McGonagall said to the girls. They looked at each other and followed her. She led them to her empty classroom.
"What's going on-" Maeve was cut off by Professor McGonagall.
"This." She held up Sylvia's locket.
"That's mine." Sylvia said.
"Yes, you can have it back." Professor McGonagall handed it to her.
"But Professor Lupin was going to find out who she is for me."
"I know who she is." Maeve was looking at the locket. "She's Pallas McGonagall. Why would you have a locket of her?"
"Because she is the daughter of her." Professor McGonagall replied.
"How do you know?" Sylvia asked disbelieving.
"My brother fell in love with a siren. It was foolish but he left everything for her and died. They had one child, a daughter they named Pallas and she was raised by my sister Athena. When she was barely out of Hogwarts she met a man and they had a set of twins. Their relationship was over before it started. She knew she couldn't raise twins on her own so she kept the one that looked most like her and sent the other to live with her father. Unfortunately, that man was sent to Azkaban so she was raised by-"
"His cousin." Sylvia interrupted.
"Yes."
"So does this mean I'm part siren?" Sylvia asked.
"Yes and no. Pallas had the powers of a siren because she was the only daughter of her mother, she passed on her powers to one twin. She thought that the one that most resemble her must have the powers-"
"Are you saying we're twins?" Maeve interrupted her this time.
"Yes. When Professor Lupin showed me your locket, Sylvia, I knew that you were her twin, not identical, you look too much like your father and Maeve like her mother." Professor McGonagall finished and left silence so they can gather their thoughts.
"Who's the siren?" Sylvia asked.
"Isn't it obvious, boys can hardly keep their eyes off you." Maeve answered bitterly.
"True, but Sirius had that effect on girls while he went here. Caused much trouble."
"It has to be me. I tried out for the choir but was turned down before my audition." Sylvia recalled her first year here.
"Well, at least you know now." Professor McGonagall spoke now. "I'll give you two a moment." She left them alone. Maeve sighed.
"So I'm the daughter of a convict."
"Only for a few minutes, I've been his daughter all my life." Sylvia's fingers clenched the locket tightly.
"I'm sorry, that came out wrong." Maeve frowned and took her hand. "At least now we have each other. We're sisters now, that's important."
"I guess." Sylvia bit her bottom lip and sighed. "So, what are you doing this summer?"
"Nothing yet."
"Would you like to stay with me?" Maeve's face broke out into that familiar cheer.
"Love to." Sylvia nodded and smiled back.
Sylvia heard that Sirius escaped from the hands of the Ministy at Hogwarts. She also heard that Professor Lupin resigned. She immediately went to found out if the rubbish was true. She opened his office and he was just starting on packing.
"So it's true." She frowned and shut the door. He looked like he survived a terrible fight.
"Yes, it is." He had a sad smile and blinked at her a few times.
"Professor McGonagall told me about my mom." Sylvia had tears in her eyes and that made her even more upset. She never liked to cry in front of people, she hated the sympathetic looks and comforting rubs. If anything, she waited until she was alone but Lupin made it different.
"I never met Pallas before, Sirius mentioned her once." Lupin paused. "I need to pack." He began putting things in a chest.
"I'll help." She picked up some papers and placed them in his briefcase. She stared at a paper that she wrote a long time ago, she flipped through them and saw that it was a stack of all her papers she ever wrote in his class. "Keeping this for a reason?" She asked showing him her papers.
"Oh, I meant to give those back." He avoided her eye.
"They look like they've been read over plenty times." She noticed coffee stains and creases. "Did you show it to other teachers?"
"Uh no." She turned around and set them on his desk.
"Does this mean..." She didn't finished, she felt the breath on her neck to understand why he kept them.
"I understand if you don't-" She turned so sharply that their noses were touching.
"Professor Lupin...Remus..." She closed her eyes and placed a soft kiss on his lips. Lupin, in shock, pulled back quickly. He saw tears fill in her eyes and frowned.
"I can't let this happen Sylvia. You won't understand now but you will in a few years." He lifted up his briefcase and placed some papers in it.
"I'm part siren." She said but he carried on placing more papers in it, throwing a few in the waste basket. "Do you understand what that means?" He said nothing but put away his set of quills. She grabbed his quills to get his attention.
"What does it mean?" Lupin asked sounding cross.
"I'm going to die if you leave me." Lupin stared in her eyes then exhaled deeply.
"Sylvia, I'm not your true love. You'll find him soon and you're not going to die."
"You really mean that?"
"Yes."
"I hope you at least come to the funeral!" With that Sylvia stormed out of his room.
"Sylvia! Sylvia!" He yelled after her but she slammed the door shut. He pulled out the Marauder's Map and watched her walk to the Ravenclaw Tower but stopped and it looked like she was talking to Harry Potter at that moment.
Sylvia felt tears fall down her face and she hated it. She hated Lupin for causing her heart to break, it felt like everything in her chest just crumpled.
"Sylvia Black?" Someone asked her. She looked to see Harry Potter with his ruffled hair.
"Yes?" She asked wiping away the rest of her tears.
"I just wanted to tell you that your dad is innocent."
"What?"
"I know it sounds strange but I found out that your dad did not murder Peter Pettigrew and all those people. He was framed, he also did not betray my parents." Harry said softly so no one overheard him.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Then I believe you." She closed her eyes and smiled. "Oh, I've got to write to him. I'll be at Tonks for a bit but he can write me there." She looked down at Harry and scratched the back of her head. "I tried to tell you all year that I was sorry for what my dad did but I never got the courage to approach you. It's kind of a hard thing to come up to someone and tell them."
"It's ok, I'm glad I have my godfather back."
"Me too." She gave him a cheerful smile. "Maybe we'll see each other around."
"Yeah, that would be fun." He smiled back and she nodded.
"Bye Harry, have a great summer."
"You two, is Professor Lupin in his office?"
"What makes you think I was there?" Her voice grew cold.
"You came from that direction, I just need to say good-bye to him."
"Oh, yes, he's in his office." She waved to him and left. As she packed she kept stopping, throwing down whatever was in her hand and let out an angry tear. Why should she cry over someone who couldn't love her? Why can't she get over it? She's broken many hearts before and had hers broken too but why did this one hurt more than anything she ever felt? Why was he so special? She finished packing her trunk and decided to find Maeve. She did after running into some friends.
"Hey Maeve, want to ride together?" She asked her twin sister.
"Sure." Maeve gave a cheerful smile to her but Sylvia could not return one. They stood around and talked a bit. The warm summer breezes soothed Sylvia slightly but they could not warm her up. They found a compartment and sat across from each other.
"I found him." Sylvia told Maeve softly.
"Really?" Maeve smiled with excitement. "So who is it?" Sylvia shook her head and looked out the window. Maeve's smile faded as she watched her sister's eyes. They brimmed with tears and Sylvia would angrily blink so they could fall down her cheeks. "Oh." Maeve moved to the spot behind her. She wrapped an arm around the girl. "It'll be alright." Maeve moved her so that Sylvia could cry on her shoulder.
"No, it won't." Sylvia sobbed softly into her hands. Once they reached the station, Ted and Andromeda were waiting for Sylvia. She hugged them both and stepped aside.
"Aunt Andromeda, Uncle Ted, I would like to introduce Maeve McGonagall, my twin sister." She pointed to Maeve who grinned at them.
"My word! Twins! Never in my life have I heard of this!" Andromeda exclaimed giving Maeve a warm hug.
"Pleased to meet you!" Ted chuckled and gave Maeve a hug.
"Thank you." Maeve smiled. She cast a worried glance at Sylvia then smiled at her relatives.
"Well, let's be off. I think Tonks is getting tickets to some Quidditch World Cup from her work. It would be nice to see it." Andromeda told the girls. They looked at each other and grinned.
"I guess it would." Sylvia added.
"Nice indeed." Maeve said.
"Quidditch? Isn't that the game played on brooms? What are the rules again?" Ted asked the witches.
Lady, when you're with me I'm smiling
Give me all your love
Your hands build me up when I'm sinking
Touch me and my troubles all fade
Lady, from the moment I saw you
Standing all alone
You gave all the love that I needed
So shy, like a child who has grown
A/N: I changed this chapter a little by adding the lyrics. All these lyrics belong to Styx and I do not own them, I'm just borrowing a few lines for my story so don't sue me! Anyway, I hope you guys are enjoying this, remember to Review to help me know what you think. Thanks!