Summary: I suppose this is AU. I don't know I'm guessing. Well, okay, I'm sure it's an AU. This is my first fic so please no flames as I believe you call them. Anyway on to the whole point of the summary: remember when Mad eye showed Harry the picture of the Order and told him about each of the members and how they died? Well, Harry discovers that there is one person Moody neglected to identify. Takes place during winter break of Harry's sixth year during a gathering of the Order of the Phoenix at the Black's house. Yeah, Sirius died, but I'm resurrecting him because he's just too awesome to die and Gary Oldman rocks my socks.
A/n: as I said this is my first story so I apologize before hand if it sucks moose piss (if that's possible).
Disclaimer: don't own harry potter, the characters or anything else. Well, I do own one OC, but that is all.
Chapter one: "pictures on the wall."
Harry roamed the halls of the "Noble House of Black" bored out of his mind. Mrs. Weasley had not allowed any of the children to go outside all winter break claiming it was too cold. Indeed it was. The ground was covered in a thick layer of snow and ice and yet the clouds above produced more and more snowflakes.
Harry turned a corner and found a surprisingly pleasing looking room. Harry entered staring up at the high ceiling and the chandelier hanging gracefully down above his head like an elegant glass spider. Harry gazed around the rest of the room. Bookshelves and photographs lined the dark green colored walls. Three large windows allowed light to pour in onto the floor where an enormous Oriental rug lay.
Harry began scanning the pictures in hopes of finding ones of his parents. He was successful in finding five. Two of them dancing together and kissing. Another two of them laughing with a few other members of the Order. And then there was the picture Harry had already seen. It was the one of all the members laughing and rising their glasses unaware of their horrible fate. Harry was transfixed on his parents' image until his eyes fell on someone he had not noticed before. Someone Moody had not mentioned. Harry squinted to get a clearer focus of the mysterious figure. She seemed about his parents' age only maybe a year or two younger. Judging by the gray tints in the black and white photo Harry guessed her pixie cut hair was a shade of brown. Harry wondered why he had never noticed her before since she was standing in between Sirius Black and Remus Lupin.
"I see you've found the other study." Came a familiar voice from behind Harry.
Harry wheeled around swiftly to see Mad eye Moody standing in the doorway his magic eye whizzing to and fro. Harry gulped feeling as though he might be in trouble for wandering around alone.
" Yes, sir." He choked.
" And I see your looking at the picture of the Order again as well?" asked Moody making his way to where harry stood.
Harry nodded and turned back to the picture still staring at the young woman as Moody stood next to him.
"Who is that?" asked Harry pointing to the girl next to Sirius and Lupin, " I don't think you mentioned her last time."
Moody gazed at the photograph intently his index finger and thumb to his chin, " I'm not surprised." He replied finally after studying the girl with the shy smile and twinkling eyes.
Harry glanced over at Mad eye in confusion.
" It's a sad story," sighed Moody lifting the picture off the wall with one hand, " I think we're all trying to forget it really."
Harry wondered how this girl's story could have been any worse than the others.
Moody sat down on the red velvet couch in the middle of the room the picture still in his hands. Harry took a seat next to him and gazed down at the picture the glass reflecting the flames in the fireplace.
" Artemis Hecate," began Mad eye, "Muggle born, which was a big deal when your parents were growing up. She might as well of been a leper in those days, but your father, James, and his fellow trouble makers took her in as their friend despite the fact she was also a Slytherin," Mad eye paused for a moment and went on, "one of the best aurors we had and only a year younger than your parents she was."
Harry heard footsteps in the hallway outside the door. He and Mad eye both looked up to see Lupin standing in the doorway staring at them and the photograph in Moody hands.
"Hello, Remus," Greeted Mad eye, " Harry and I were looking at some old photographs."
" that is a rather old one isn't it?" said Lupin changing his gaze to Moody.
"indeed it is." Agreed Moody.
There was silence between them and only the crackling of the fireplace was heard. Lupin placed his hands in his pockets and breathing in a sigh left the two to reminisce.
Mad eye looked back to Harry after Lupin's footsteps had faded down the hallway, "I believe it's about time for dinner, lad." Mad eye placed the picture back on the wall and then he and Harry made their journey down stairs.
The bustle of the kitchen was a nice relief from the emptiness of the up stairs. Mrs. Weasley was busy stirring the soup in a large cauldron. Ron and Bill were setting the table in the dinning room. Hermione was occupied discussing something with Lupin and Mr. Weasley. Ginny and Tonks were trying to open a wine bottle. Fred and George were obviously up to no good. Even Mundungus Fletcher was helping to prepare dinner in some way. It seemed that everyone was doing something except for Sirius who was leaning against a wall in the dinning room with Ron and Bill. Harry approached him and Sirius smiled happily to see his godson.
"how are things?" asked Sirius still smiling. His name had been cleared and ever since then he seemed to be a state of joy and rapture. It seemed as though nothing could bring him down.
"Fine." Replied Harry staring down at the floor. Artemis Hecate was still on his mind. Mad eye had not finished his story and Harry wanted to know why the story was one of such woe and sadness.
"what's on your mind, Harry?" asked Sirius.
Harry looked up at his godfather and asked timidly, " What happened to Artemis Hecate?"
Sirius jumped and turned to Harry his jaw dropped and his eyes nearly popping out of his skull. There was a crush of silver and glass as Bill dropped a hand full of forks and knives. He too stared at Harry in bewilderment. Ron, however, didn't even flinch. He merely went on with what he had been doing oblivious to the name.
" No, actually, never heard of her in my life." Sirius recovered quickly.
" Mad eye Moody told me you knew her. You were friends with her even though she was a Slytherin." Said Harry.
Sirius looked to Bill and then back to Harry, " Come here." Sirius motioned for harry to follow him into the front room to be out of ear shot from Ron and anyone else in the kitchen.
The room was almost completely dark except for a few candles and the starry night sky coming in through the windows.
" What else do you already know?" asked Sirius checking to make sure no one had followed them in.
"She was muggle born and an auror for the ministry." Answered Harry.
Sirius Sat down in a nearby chair and put his hand under his chin as though pondering.
"She was a nice girl, she really was. Quiet, good-natured, shy, but interesting to talk to," Sirius stopped and with some effort began to talk again, " she was the only person that believed me. the only one that was convinced I was innocent. She would visit me every chance she got. Told me she'd find a way to prove my innocence and clear my name. She did try, bless her heart. Nearly lost her job. Nearly lost everything because of me."
Harry looked over at his godfather ready to ask his next question but was interrupted by the door swinging open.
"Dinner's ready!" called Mrs. Weasley cheerfully with her ladle in hand.
Harry and Sirius entered the dinning room for dinner. Harry sat down next to Ron and Ginny. Sirius sat down next to Lupin and Mr. Weasley.
"What was that all about?" asked Ron filling up a bowl with stew.
" Nothing." Said Harry staring into a glass of water.
" Nothing? Bill nearly had a heart attack when you mentioned that Hecate person and Sirius had to pull you out of the room!"
" Don't worrying about it, Ron." Assured Harry.
" Whenever someone says not to worry about something it's usually a big deal." Chimed in Hermione.
"I don't think I should be talking about it now," whispered Harry, " I'll fill you in later tonight."
"and me too, right?" asked Ginny.
" Your too young!" said Ron
Ginny looked over at Harry for support.
"He's right you know." Answered Harry.
Ginny slumped in her seat and crossed her arms.
After dinner Harry, Ron, and Hermione made their way up stairs and into Harry and Ron's bedroom. They waited until Ginny was fast asleep and then Harry told them everything he had found out about Artemis Hecate.
" And she was friends with your dad?" asked Hermione.
"Both my parents and the marauders." Corrected Harry.
" Well, what happened to her?" asked Ron.
"That's what I've been trying to figure out." Said Harry.
"Well, you could ask Tonks or even Hagrid! I'm sure they know!" suggested Ron.
"Or Professor Lupin since he did go to school with her." Added Hermione knowingly.
"Yeah, him too." Muttered Ron scratching his head.
"Did you ask Sirius?" asked Hermione.
" He wouldn't tell me what happened to her." Replied Harry.
"Do you think they were-?" began Hermione.
Harry cut her off, " Maybe."