Chapter 5.1
The Forever Box

"But what is a forever box?"

Angel followed Ginny across the threshold into the common room. The room was empty and the fire in the grate had burned out so that only a few glowing embers remained. The sconces along the walls gave off a faint light, leaving the room in virtual twilight. Angel walked quickly and sat in 'his' chair, Ginny settling herself next to him on the arm, the large box in her lap.

"It's a kind of memory holder. No, it's not like a pensieve."
" But memories are held in this box; memories of a Hogwart's girl. These are things she has owned, secrets that she kept, things that were dear to her. Possibly a pressed flower from a dance or a valentine from a beau."

"The box was magically sealed and hidden. There was a kind of excitement, putting your memories into a box that will be one day later opened by another. As they could not easily hide the box in the girl's dorm or the Gryffindor common other hiding places were found."

Wanting to see the box better, but not wanting to wake anyone or make others aware of their presence, Ginny lit the candle on the end table. The gold fabric covering the box shimmered in the candlelight and shadows were cast across Angels' robe and face as Ginny untied the ribbon. With one final tug, the ribbon separated and the material fell away, revealing a mahogany box with a Gryffindor Crest carving. Ginny slid her fingers under the lid and opened it.

Inside were two smaller rectangular boxes with initials carved into the top; One box had the initials CB and the other LE. Removing these boxes, she noticed a piece of parchment, the parchment sealed in red wax.

Ginny picked up the parchment and handed it to Angel. She moved closer to him, sitting in his lap with her head on his shoulder. She could read silently as he read aloud.

Angel smiled, put his arm around her and then broke the seal and unfolded the parchment.

"These are the cherished possessions of Lily Evans and Cassiopeia Briarford, friends forever."

Ginny gasped and looked over at Angel, who stared blankly at the parchment. But inside his heart was racing. His mother's foreverbox. His mother's thoughts, her memories, her secrets……….

Angel knew next to nothing about his mother, about her childhood, about her family or about his. She never discussed these things and whenever Angel asked she quickly changed the subject. He knew he had grandparents in Australia, but he had never seen them. He also suspected that he should have some relations in the British wizarding community. He had never met them either. He had grown up knowing only his mother and sister. He knew nothing about his family.

"Angel," said Ginny quietly. She smiled and looked into his eyes as if to say, "It is alright." Gently laying the box in his hands, she ran her fingers along his, snuggling in closer. Angel began to open the lid but stopped. Ginny put her hand on his and whispered, "Let's see what it is, OK?" And they opened the box together.

Ginny began removing items one by one, as the box was full.

She pulled out
- what looked like love letters tied together with a ribbon,
- a book of poetry with dried rose petals pressed in the leaves
- a world cup program

Next, she found several photos and began removing them from the box, one by one, while Angel looked on.

The first photo was of Cassie and Gordon at the word cup, similar to the one that Cassie displayed on the desk in her bedroom.

The second picture was of James. He was wearing his red Gryffindor quidditch robes and ruffling his hair. Ginny turned the picture over to read "James Potter, too bad Lily got him."

The third picture showed Lupin sitting beside the lake, shoes and socks off, feet in the water. He was smiling and waving. The back of the picture said, "Remus Lupin, my first crush."

Next came a picture of Peter, sitting beneath a tree, smiling and waving, then blowing huge bubblegum bubbles. The inscription read, "Peter Pettigrew, a really sweet guy."

Again putting her hand into the box, she pulled out a picture of Sirius. He was sitting on his motorbike. He smiled and winked as to say "come on aboard. Let's ride." Turning the photo over Ginny read, "Sirius Black. My sweet impetuous best guy friend."

The final picture was of Lily and Cassie, arm in arm, giggling.

Angel knew his mum went to Hogwarts, but had never thought about her friends there. She was friends with Harry's mum and dad, and with Sirius Black. And with Angel's favorite teacher ever, Professor Lupin.

Once more, Ginny reached into the box and took out the last item. It was a piece of parchment rolled up in a smaller note. She unrolled the parchment and read the note:

"This scroll contains the most wonderful secret that I have. Only a few people know it; even those to whom it is important. I have promised not to tell anyone else. However, I did not promise not to put it in this box. I never knew about my family, but now I do. Written upon this scroll is my family tree."

"Angel, I will unroll the parchment unless you don't want me to. Do you want me to?" Angel shook his head.

The first thing they saw as she slowly opened the parchment was Angel's mother's name. It was at the bottom; a line going up from her to a woman name Rose Clearwater. So his grandmother's name was Rose. There was no line from Rose to her parents. However, paired with Rose was …….Angel's jaw dropped and Ginny tightened her hand so that she accidentally crumpled the paper a bit.

Paired with Rose was Sirius' father.

Ginny put her arms around Angel and hugged him as tightly as she could. She could feel his confusion and shock, but when she looked into his grey eyes, she saw anger. "Angel, " she said softly as she kissed him. She laid her head on his chest. Angel put his arms around her. They sat in this silent embrace, Angel stroking Ginny's hair, a kind of contented comfort.

After a while Ginny broke the silence, "I can't believe it. You're a Black and you're Sirius' nephew." She couldn't believe that, with all the similarities, she hadn't worked out something like this before. But she had thought it was a coincidence that Sirius reminded her a bit of Angel.

"No Ginny, I am Sirius' half nephew, if that. I am not really a Black." But then something hit him, 'The Blacks wouldn't want anyone to know about this. Mr. Black having a child outside his marriage. No wonder my mum never told me about her family. She doesn't want anyone to know."

"I think you're wrong Angel. Well, you are wrong about not belonging to the family, but I think you're also wrong about your granparents."

"Angel, I think we should go to Dumbledore. If he doesn't know anything, he can send for your mother so that she can explain further. What do you say?

Angel?"