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Remus stood there, unable to say a word.
Hermione, who had followed him in, stared at the woman and asked, "Who are you?"
The woman smiled at Hermione. "I'm an old friend. Would it be all right if I came in? It looks like it might rain."
Remus was still unable to speak, so he just nodded.
She walked in, hanging her cloak on the hook behind the door, and then she walked over to Remus and hugged him. "It's good to see you, Moony," she said, while looking over his shoulder at Hermione. "Moony is that her?" she asked quietly.
He, once again, just nodded.
She walked over to Hermione. "Who are you?" asked Hermione, this time a little more forcefully.
"My name is Ara Black, and I am your Aunt," said the woman carefully.
"What?" said Hermione disbelievingly, looking at Remus.
He once again nodded, still in a state of shock.
"You were Padfoot's sister? I wasn't aware that he had one,"probed Hermione.
"Not many people know about me," said Ara. "I disappeared a week after he was put in jail."
"He was innocent," insisted Hermione, feeling the need to defend her biological father.
"I know, Hermione. I always believed he was innocent."
This was the wrong thing to say, for the usually calm Hermione disappeared for a moment and she finally snapped. "IF YOU KNEW HE WAS INNOCENT, THEN WHERE THE BLOODY HELL HAVE YOU BEEN? WHY DID YOU NOT TRY TO GET HIM OUT? AND HOW DID YOU KNOW I WAS HIS DAUGHTER!"
Ara seemed to be thinking, but she was only trying to control her own temper. "You've been in the newspaper," she said calmly. "It said that you were Sirius Black's long lost daughter. If I would have known earlier, I would have come."
"I don't care if you would of come to me. I had a very nice, loving family," Hermione said coldly.
"I know. I didn't mean it like that," replied Ara.
They both took deep breaths, trying to calm themselves down.
"So, where have you been?" said Hermione.
"Well," said Ara, "when Sirius was taken away, I did fight for him. I was up at the Ministry every day, fighting tooth and nail for his freedom... or even a trial. I knew Sirius, and I knew he'd die before he'd turn his back on Lily and James. It was on my sixth day of protesting when Cornelius Fudge told me that if I did not leave, they would give him the Dementors' kiss. He told me that everything would be fine if I disappeared, and never came to the Ministry again. That Sirius would be safe... well, at least safe from the Kiss."
"But where have you been?" said Hermione, still trying to remain calm. Here was this woman that she had never even met before claiming to be her aunt. Hermione was just tired of it. Too many things where happening too fast.
Her parents had died, she had just found out that she had a little brother and a mother who could be alive, a father who was dead, and her best friend who was, subsequently, her cousin, missing in action and possibly dead and now there was a random woman saying she was her aunt.
"The Black family," continued Ara, "had a trait that was passed down for some time to different woman in the family. That trait is being a Metamophagus."
Hermione was speechless.
"I can change shape, size, hair color, eye color...it makes it easy for me to blend in. No one knew this about me except one." She looked over to Remus. "I was able to disguise myself as an old lady. I bought a house and pretended to be a Squib. Only one person knew my true identity."
"Who?" asked Hermione.
"Albus Dumbledore. He was the one to set up the house for me on Privet Drive, so that I could keep an eye on Harry."
"Arabella Fig," said Remus, speaking for the first time since Ara had arrived. "You where disguise as Arabella Fig. You could not drive the Dementors away that day because you were never able to conjure a Patronus. So that's why you said you were a Squib, so you could at least admit you knew about magic; to save Harry!"
"Yes. I wish now that I told Harry who I was long ago, maybe this all could have been stopped," said Ara.
Hermione found herself getting angry again. "Oh, yes, if only you told Harry who you were. Then, maybe his uncle would not have beat the bloody shit out of him; maybe he would not be missing.!"
"Hermione!" snapped Remus.
"NO!" screamed Hermione. "No. She comes back out of nowhere and just expects me to be happy about it! Did Sirius even know? Did he know that his sister was still alive?"
"No, Hermione, Sirius did not know I was alive. I was too scared to tell him. I was afraid he would disapprove of me. I was afraid he would have thought that I betrayed him. Believe me, I regret every second of it. I've missed my brother every day," said Ara.
Hermione just stared at her for what seemed like eternity to Remus. Though, in reality, it was only a few seconds.
Hermione turned to Remus. "I need to get back to the Weasleys. I want to help Mrs. Weasley put Chris down to bed."
She turned and, without saying good-bye to Remus, floo-ed back to the Weasleys.
>>>>>>>>>
"Forgive her," said Remus. "She's been though a lot lately."
"No, Remus, she's right. I am horrible. I thought if I came back, maybe I could help somehow... I lost Sirius, James, and Lily. I lost you, Remus. And, for all I know, I may have lost Harry as well. I just..."
He took her hand, silencing her. He led her into his living room and sat with her on the couch.
Hours passed with them just sitting there, holding hands before Remus finally spoke up. "You have been missing for, what, almost sixteen years now? My heart has ached for you every single day, Ara."
"Remus," she began.
" No, listen! I've always missed you and I thought that if I ever saw you again I could handle being . . . able to see you again. I thought I would be able to move on, but I can't...I never could. I know you and I may be very different, but I have loved you every single day since the moment I met you and..."
But, before he could continue, she pulled him in and pressed her lips onto his.
Several seconds later, she pulled away. "I love you too, Remus. I have made so many mistakes..."
"Shhh," he said pressing his finger against her lips. "I don't care. Everything has been so screwed up. Even if you're only in my arms tonight, I know I'd die happy. I lost everything, Ara. Now Harry is gone, and I want him back. But, for now, let's just stay like this. All right? Just for tonight! We can worry about Hermione and Harry and everything else tomorrow."
He then proceeded to snog Ara, his lost love, senselessly.
>>>>>
Remus' nose twitched. He smiled, opened his eyes, and yawned. He saw that Ara was already up. Always the early riser, he thought. So unlike Sirius. A welcoming smell of bacon and eggs drifted in to the room. He removed himself from the couch and walked to the kitchen doorway where he rested his elbow and watched Ara; his Ara, humming some song he had never heard, while she scrambled the eggs.
"You still remember..." he started to say.
Startled, she turned around and waved the spatula at him. She smiled. He walked around and put his arms around her waist. He kissed her ear. "I am so glad you are back," he whispered.
"Me too Remus," she replied.
"Promise not to leave again?" he asked, dreading the answer.
"I promise to never make any more mistakes. I've lost just as much as you
have, Moony. I might have even lost my niece. It's all my fault. If I'd watched him better..."
"Hush," Remus soothed. "What's done is done. Dumbledore is pretty sure that Death Eaters didn't take him. He'll be back."
"But Remus, his bloody uncle!" she tried again.
"He will get what he deserves. That thing called a family will pay for what they did to my best friend's son," he snarled angrily.
She looked at him. "Remus, do you think Hermione will ever forgive me? I really want to get to know my brothers' daughter, and I heard that Zizi might still be alive. And now that I have a nephew, I want to get to know him,"continued Ara.
"She is as stubborn as her father, I'll give her that, but she has never been able to stay mad for too long. Just give her time."
"Why can't this ever end?" asked Ara, leaning on him.
"I don't know Ara, I truly don't know. You'd better move those eggs before they burn," he said with an amused smile as she pulled the pan quickly off the stove, cursing aloud.
It had all ready been five months since Harry had been away from his world; the best five months of his life.
He woke up daily at seven in the morning to go running. After that, he would train to close off his mind with Ona. Then, with her husband, Hayden, he would practice defensive and offensive magic with and without a wand (which Hedwig had found and given back to him).
After he had finished with his lessons, he was able to go in to the local town and explore.
He also would do magical research on all different kinds of things with the Elven King Tristian, followed by hand to hand combat with the prince.
Even with all this work, Harry was happy.
Although, if you looked in to his eyes, you could see that they were still a dull green. Almost hunter green, some would say. For he still carried the mental and physical scars that his uncle had bestowed upon him.
No matter what magic Harry tried to use, he could not get rid of the scars. There was no explanation to it. So he quickly taught himself concealing charms and never left his room without them, mainly because they at least hid the scars from other people's view.
On most days, Harry was able to push the thoughts of Sirius and Cedric out of his mind. But, on other days, the thoughts would haunt him to no end. Harry's life was still nowhere near easy.
He lived with the elves who he loved dearly, but missed his friends more with each passing day. He was always wondering if he was missed, or if they were grateful that he was gone. He wondered about Remus, and if Remus blamed him for getting Sirius killed.
These were his thoughts as he rolled away from a spell being directed at him from Hayden.
"Harry," said Hayden. " I think that will be all for today. We will continue tomorrow."
Harry nodded and headed up to his room in the castle. Later, he would wash and change and join the Queen for a round of chess.
Hermione sat on her bed in the room she shared with Ginny, who was sitting across from her.
"I mean, the nerve of the woman," ranted Hermione. "Showing up out of the blue and thinking everything could just be fine. My parents are dead! or, at least probably dead, my best friend is missing! and she just thinks she can just show up."
This is how Hermione had been talking for the entire day since she returned from Remus. Ginny just sat there and listened, but she was tired of it. She was tired of Hermione ranting and raving. The smartest witch in school and she could just not figure it out.
"Hermione," said Ginny calmly (well, as calmly as this red head could). "She had her reasons; you heard them, you told me. You need to stop and see what is right under your nose. She is all you have right now and you are all she has. Hermione, think about it will you?" Ginny finished, leaving the room and a stunned Hermione to think over what she had just said.
"Ron are you sure you don't mind coming with me?"
"Not at all, Hermione. I'm here for you, remember that. Do you want me to floo over first?" asked Ron.
"No I'll go. Just be behind me," replied Hermione.
"Always," said Ron as they prepared to floo over to Remus's, hoping that Ara would still be there.
What Ginny had said to Hermione had really cleared Hermione's mind up. So, there she was, holding on to her little brother Chris; flooing to Remus', hoping that she had not messed up her chance with her newfound aunt.
"Moony's place," Hermione's voice rang out soon followed by Ron's.
They arrived to a sight that probably scared baby Chris to death. There, on the couch in front of the fire, was Remus Lupin and Ara Black snogging.
"Yuck.!" Ron squirmed, making a face like he was going to puke. The adults quickly broke the kiss. For several minutes there was an awkward silence (except for Chris who was playing with a loose piece of Hermione's hair.)
"Well," said Remus nervously. "Ron, why don't you and I give these girls some privacy? I am assuming that's what you're here for. Right, Hermione?"
Hermione nodded as Ron took Chris from her hands. He whispered to her: "It will be alright."
He left the room with Remus. Both men had semi-worried smiles painted on their faces. They were very familiar with the tempers of these women.
"Well," both women said at the same time, causing them both to break into fits of giggles.
"I'm sorry," said Hermione, becoming serious once more. "I was out of line the other day. Do you think we can we start anew?"
"You were not out of line, Hermione," was Ara's response. "You had every right and I would even understand if you never wanted to talk to me again. But I am glad you are speaking to me. So yes, let's start anew."She offered her hand. "I am your Aunt Ara. Nice to meet you."
Hermione smiled and shook her hand. "I'm Hermione," she said, playing along.
"Nice to meet you, too." With that, Ara hugged Hermione. They both knew that they were going to need to work hard for this relationship to work, but both were prepared to, for they each were going to need each other . . . even though, at the time, neither Ara or Hermione knew it.
"Ara," said Hermione, breaking the hug. "Do you think you could take me to the library in Diagon Alley? I need to do some research."
"Sure," said Ara. "May I ask for what?"
"Just some schoolwork," Hermione said, with a satisfied smirk. Ara nodded, though she knew Hermione was lying. She had seen this smirk many times when she was younger. It was the same smirk her older brother Sirius would wear when he was up to something. Personally, Ara could not wait to see what her niece was up to. She was not only the smartest witch in Hogwarts, but also a Black. Whatever it was, she was sure it would be something fantastic.
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