Disclaimer: See Chapter One.
Updated Friday 27th May 2005
Chapter Eighty One: Familial Relations
"I meant it, you know." Sirius said softly as he cornered Estella out of the blue in the Astronomy Tower several days later.
"Meant what?" Estella replied distractedly as she fiddled with the telescope in front of her, uncomfortable in her future-father's presence.
"That day after Transfiguration." Sirius continued, standing so close behind her now that she could feel his breath on the back of her neck, causing the little hairs there to stand on end. "I know you know what I am talking about."
"You have amazing recall for someone who can't even remember what homework Professor Stollard set three hours ago." Estella retorted, lowering her head to look through the eye piece of the telescope – anything to get her mind away from the awkward position she was in.
"Ah well you know…" Sirius drawled, moving to lean against the windowsill next to her so he could look at her face. "A guy like me tends to remember when a member of the opposite sex shows no interest in fawning over him."
"You are so full of yourself." Estella scoffed, avoiding his gaze as she noted some of her observations on the star chart she had sprawled out in front of her. "What are you doing here?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Sirius said gently, "I wanted to make sure we were square about what happened with the Hippogriff."
"Fine, as I've repeatedly told you, Sirius, we're square, alright? Leave me alone so I can do my homework!" Estella cried, her voice cracking in frustration as she tore herself away from Sirius.
"I can't do that." Sirius whispered softly, but firmly.
"Sirius, what on earth are you up to?" Estella spun around to face the marauding teen warily.
"It's such a travesty that a girl your lineage isn't in the air." Sirius said wistfully, before looking at her intently. "I want to make things up to you."
"What?" Estella snapped, reeling at his prior comment.
"I want to see you flying on a broomstick." Sirius said firmly. "I saw how much you enjoyed flying on that Hippogriff."
"Sirius, I was terrified I was going to fall." Estella clarified.
"Only because I had said what I said!" Sirius protested. "You've flown a Hippogriff before though, haven't you?"
"What makes you think that?" Estella asked shakily, not willing to deny it.
"If you were so afraid of falling off a Hippogriff you would never have volunteered." Sirius stated matter-of-factly.
"Oh you just think you have me all figured out, don't you Sirius!" Estella drawled, returning her attentions to her star chart. "Fine, I won't deny it. I have flown a Hippogriff before that lesson."
"I knew it!" Sirius crowed triumphantly. "So tell me, and don't lie, or I'll know… did you enjoy it?"
"Yes." Estella said timidly. "How could I not?"
"Then that's settled then." Sirius said conspiringly. "I'm going to help you overcome your vertigo."
"I'm not getting on a broom, Sirius." Estella said warningly.
"We'll see." Sirius said, before leaving.
Some twenty years later, the lone man shivered from his place in the darkened Astronomy Tower. He had just come from sneaking in a visit to his Godson and was about to leave the school when he'd felt the indescribable pull to the deserted tower. Overcome by the nature of the memories that flooded through his veins, Sirius leant against the wall and slid into heap on the floor; his body wracking with sobs.
"Sirius?" A worried voice whispered into the thin ain of the room. Moments later a cloak was removed to reveal a mop of scruffy black hair and concerned emerald eyes peering at him from behind wire-rimmed glasses. "You forgot your cloak, so I followed you up here… what's wrong?"
Sirius unburied his head from his hands and looked at his godson hopelessly. "I miss her, Harry."
Harry lowered himself to sit next to his Godfather, and spread out the Marauder's Map on his raised knees so as to forewarn them of any unwanted company. "She'll be back, Sirius. I know she will." Harry said determinedly. Harry had, of course, been told about the true nature of Estella's disappearance. He, along with Dumbledore and of course those present that fateful day, were the only ones aware of Estella's sojourn to the past. Having never lost anyone – anyone he could readily remember – the reluctant boy-who-lived did not know how to act around his despondent fugitive guardian; nor could he be wholly certain that Estella would come back. That was a question not even Dumbledore had been able to answer.
"I'm sorry Harry." Sirius said, wiping his nose on his sleeve in a valiant attempt to compose himself. "You shouldn't have to see this."
"That's alright." Harry said aloofly, leaning in a bit closer to his Godfather, both for warmth and comfort. Part of him was slightly jealous that fate had bestowed upon Estella the unique opportunity to travel back through time and see her dead mother – and his dead parents. Whilst Estella had many people pining and yearning for her return in this, her rightful time, Harry doubted there would be as much fanfare if he were to have been the one who disappeared.
As though he had read the boy's mind, Sirius broke the silence. "Estella got to know your parents, Harry." Sirius mused quietly, his mind far away in a forgotten memory. "As much as I want my daughter back, Harry, I want to spare her the heartache that she will come home to."
There was a pregnant pause.
"It would be… intense." Harry struggled to elaborate, though he was no longer as envious of Estella's position as he once was.
"She used to play a game with Lily and Selina, where they would sit and try and predict what each other's future children would be like – they liked to make a mockery of the Divination Professor. I guess from that she indirectly told them all about the young man you have become, you know." Sirius continued, with a slight smile on his face. "They may not have acknowledged Estella's authority on the matter, but your parents got a glimpse of you."
The pair sat in a comfortable silence as a unfamiliar warmth welled in Harry's stomach. Even though he may never have known his parents himself, they, on some level, got to know him.
"That must have been really frustrating for her. Knowing that she had the knowledge to change the future but was powerless to do anything about it." Harry said, his head hanging heavily on his neck.
Sirius' face hardened. "There was a way." He said in low tones, his voice cracking. "I don't think she was planning on coming back."
"Youngest seeker in a century!" James exclaimed in awe for the millionth time that week as they played the little 'divining' game Aries had devised to try and predict what their future children would be like. "Do you hear that, Paddy? Aries' reckons my future son will be a Quidditch champion!"
"That's all we need." Selina added, rolling her eyes. "Another generation of Potters strutting around the school acting like they own the place. Heaven's Aries, you have one hell of an imagination! Where on earth do you get this stuff?"
"I don't strut!" James exclaimed defensively. "And nor will my son!"
"Great, so another Quidditch obsessed jock that chases girls around the school on his broom…" Lily drawled, looking at Sirius pointedly.
"HEY!" Sirius spluttered, offended. "There's nothing wrong with that! How else was I supposed to meet the love of my life?"
Selina blushed and groaned. "I don't know, but whatever you did, you appear to have befuddled my mind." She said, her lips curling into a trademark Snape smirk. "Sometimes I don't know what I am thinking!"
At that, Sirius leaned close and whispered in Selina's ear, causing her blush to darken even more. Uncomfortable at the horrible imagery the sight of her parents flirting stirred in her mind, Estella forced herself to concentrate on the hopeful faces of the future Mr and Mrs Potter – a point of fact that neither party were yet aware of since they still regarded each other as the acquaintances of mutual friends; with Lily turning down her nose at James' self-involved attempts to get her attention.
"Alright, alright, it's my turn!" Lily squealed excitedly, drawing Sirius and Selina's attentions away from each other. "Let me see… Selina and I will invariably be pregnant around the same time." She started, her young adolescent mind brewing romantic notions of happily ever afters and domestic bliss. "We'll be married to sensible, mature, hard working, honourable men."
"Guess that rules out anyone in this room, sorry Sirius." Selina sniggered, both girls giggling at the indignant looks the boys were giving them.
"Lily, you'll have a boy, and I'll have a girl." Selina continued. "That way our children will have a brother or sister figure without us having to give birth more than once."
"Quite right." Lily nodded her head in agreement. "And you had better make me Godmother."
"Done." Selina nodded, giggling at the absurdity of the game.
Almost unnoticeable in the corner of their little circle, Peter's mind was struggling to piece together an illusive puzzle. The wistful look on the new girl's face as the girls played the game of her invention aroused his suspicions; but it was something he couldn't quite put his finger on. It would be another 19 years before the pieces would finally come together for him.
Severus Snape was on a mission. He was going to kill Sirius Black.
"You fool! You arrogant, boastful, cocky son of a whore!" Severus spat as he rounded on the bane of his ire in the hallway of the man's home and hideaway, which had been linked to the school by special Portkey in case of emergency.
"Well hello, Sev." Sirius drawled, barely keeping his temper in check. "Nice to see you, too."
"I never gave you much store for brains, Black, but you've really outdone yourself now."
"Severus, as much as I would like to continue this nostalgic little tete et tete, I have more pressing issues to deal with today." Sirius said with false sincerity as he pulled himself clear of his brother-in-law's grasp. "What in Merlin's name am I supposed to have done to vex you now?"
"Pettigrew!" Severus spat, his dark mark eliciting a phantom burn in reproach. "You just had to indulge Estella her hypothetical musings about the future in front of that traitorous piece of entrails. Now Malfoy knows!"
Panic overwhelming his features, Sirius Black cursed.
End Chapter: Familial Relations