Awakening
Chapter Nine: What Child is This?
By Star*dust
A/N: Well, here's the part that's the hardest for me and the best for you. The summary. Let's see what happened last chapter... I always know the end but I can never remembering all the other little things...
Actually, last chapter can be summarized pretty easily since there weren't very many little things. Just a lot of explaining the main things. OK, so Kirsten is Sirius's daughter and he was pretty pissed off about not knowing for so many years. Then, Sirius decides they need to tell Dumbledore. Angie disagrees and they argue about it very loudly. Meanwhile Kirsten and Ron are out discovering strange rooms decorated for Gryffindor. And Kirsten's necklace has acquired another letter...strange? Then, Kirsten and Ron are about to explain all this to Dumbledore when suddenly Angie and Sirius burst in arguing. Of course, Sirius unknowingly spills the beans about Kirsten fatherhood and there they all are in the middle of this dramatic climax.
So, have fun with this chapter. It's...well...interesting.
* * *
A murmur of far away voices brought Kirsten back into consciousness. She groaned and sat up feeling a pounding headache. She opened her eyes to see Ron's anxious face.
"Kirsten! Kirsten, are you alright?" he demanded.
"Huh?" she asked, confused. "I'm fine, I just had this really strange dream that Sirius Black, like the convict, and my mom were fighting because I was his daughter. And I...hey, where are we?"
Ron held out a hand and raised her to her feet. After a moment she placed herself in Dumbledore's office. Turning she saw two people seated behind her. One was her mother. The other was Sirius Black. Dumbledore was leaning against a book case across from them. Her mother looked terrified.
"It...It was a dream, right?" she whispered, unable to comprehend anything else. Ron squeezed her hand. No one answered her question. "Right?" she demanded again, more urgently.
"Kirsten...I think we need to talk," Angie said quietly, forcing her eyes to meet her daughter's shocked stare.
"This is a nightmare," Kirsten muttered. "This is NOT happening to me. This is...Mom, he's a murderer! Headmaster, you have to do something! Arrest him, contact the cops, do something!"
"Man, I get that a lot," Sirius said thoughtfully. "Is it the messy hair?"
"Shut UP, Sirius! Can't you take ANYTHING seriously?" Angie shouted at the messy-haired convict in question.
"Of course. I take everything very...SERIOUS-ly."
"That joke is so old," she muttered. Ron laughed. Dumbledore did not appear to be amused.
"What is going on?" Kirsten demanded again.
"Miss Star," Dumbledore began when he realized no one else was going to take the initiative and face the terrifying teenager. "Have you ever been told the full story of Sirius's crimes?"
"Um...he killed, like, a dozen people," she replied, eyeing him warily. It seemed that in her panic she was slipping back into the worst of American slang. "Duh."
"He also betrayed Harry's parents to their deaths and murdered the innocent Muggles in an effort to silence one of his best friends-which he apparently did, since they only found his finger," Dumbledore continued in a conversational voice. Sirius snorted loudly.
"Now Dumbledore, I'm supposed to be a positive role model here," he said. Angie slapped him.
"Thank you," Dumbledore said, nodding to Angie. Ron stifled a laugh. Kirsten watched the whole scene in horror.
"You're nuts...you're all completely crazy..." she muttered.
"Now, Miss Star, I'm not finished," Dumbledore said, sounding like a sullen child. "The friend he...er...killed was named Peter Pettigrew, and he shouted Sirius's guilt just before the street blew apart."
"Okay, I got that, but how in the HELL does that constitute keeping him from the electric chair?" she shouted.
"Electric chair?" Ron echoed, sounding confused. Kirsten waved him away.
"Because Sirius is not guilty," Dumbledore replied simply. Kirsten stared at him for a few moments.
"WHAT?!"
"Look...Peter Pettigrew, the one he supposedly killed, was the actual murderer. He betrayed Harry's parents, and Sirius, who was very close with the Potters-the best man at their wedding-checked up on them and found the house in ruins and no one alive but Harry, Sirius's godson. Sirius wanted to take Harry, which was technically his right according to James and Lily's will, but I had sent Hagrid to fetch him. So Sirius went to search for the traitor. When he cornered Pettigrew, Pettigrew started yelling that Sirius was guilty to save himself, and then he-that is, Pettigrew-was the one to blow the street apart and kill the Muggles. He cut off a finger and disappeared into the sewers."
"The sewers," she echoed. "Like a rat or something."
"Precisely!" Dumbledore beamed. "I always knew you were an exceptionally bright pupil."
"WHAT?!" she said again. "I meant it as...I don't know...a metaphor or simile or whatever you would call it."
"But it's the literal truth," Dumbledore replied. "Pettigrew was an unregistered animagus, his shape being a rat." There was silence for a few moments before Kirsten burst into laughter.
"That is too great, Professor," she muttered. "I could almost believe you because it's just that crazy. But seriously, that is just too...too opportune to be real." At that moment, Sirius transfigured into a dog with a pop, and Kirsten yelped in shock.
"James Potter, Peter Pettigrew, and Sirius Black ILLEGALLY became animagi," Dumbledore explained, glaring at Sirius.
"Hey, I served my time," he replied, throwing his hands up as he returned to his human form. "James is dead and Peter is a Death Eater. What do you want from me?"
"Remus was always the only one with any sense," Angie replied, rolling her eyes.
"Yes, Angela, we all know your feelings concerning Saint Remus," Sirius snapped.
"What the hell is your problem with Remus?" she demanded.
"Professor Lupin knows Black?!" Kirsten cried in dismay. "I thought he was a good guy!"
"He is a good guy!" Angie cried. Sirius snorted.
"Yes, don't you know it?"
"Honestly, you two, can you behave like adults for FIVE minutes?" Ron asked, rolling his eyes. They stopped glaring at each other and looked at the floor, their cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Dumbledore smiled at him.
"Thank you, Head Boy," he said. "Kirsten...what I'm trying to tell you is the truth. Sirius is innocent. He was wrongly accused. You know that he was sent to prison without trial, do you not?"
"No. That's what's wrong with the British legal system. In America-"
"Kirsten, you're British, remember?" Ron interrupted. She rolled her eyes.
"Not by choice," she muttered.
"Miss Star, this is really becoming very old. Do you accept his innocence or must we continue on this tiring avenue?"
"I just...I need to think about it," she replied. "I mean, from what you've said, its Harry you need to talk to,"
"Harry knows," Ron replied, rolling his eyes. "Harry and Hermione helped Sirius escape back in third year. I would have helped but Sirius here BROKE MY LEG!" Ron glared.
"You did what?" Angie asked.
"Good God, Ron, are you EVER going to let that go? Pettigrew was your pet for Merlin's sake!"
"WHAT?!" Angie and Kirsten cried, staring at Ron.
"Hey, it's not like I ever knew Scabbers was anything but a stupid sleeping rat," Ron argued in his defense.
"That's all Pettigrew ever was," Sirius muttered darkly.
"Okay, so...Harry, Hermione, Ron, Dumbledore, Mom," Kirsten cast a dark look in her mother's direction, "Lupin...who else knows?"
"All the Weasleys," Dumbledore replied. "Professor Snape, Professor McGonagall, Hermione's mother...and various others with whom you are not acquainted."
"Like who?" Angie demanded, rounding on Sirius.
"Various others with whom you are not acquainted," Sirius replied with a smirk.
"You should not be keeping secrets, Sirius," she snapped.
"Oh please, Angela. You're the one who failed to mention my seventeen year old daughter sometime in the last seventeen years."
"Which brings us to this interesting development," Dumbledore said, and Angie cringed. "What is this about Miss Star's origins being...not as we had thought?" They all looked at Angie, who had the trapped, frantic look of a small animal cornered by a pack of wolves.
"I do NOT want to tell this story," she said firmly.
"Fine, I'll tell it," Sirius replied, and launched in before Angie could stop him. "Dumbledore, do you remember that one year graduation party where James and Lily tied at Quidditch? Well, that's the same one where they had the fight about having kids and James-"
"We do not need to go back THAT far, Sirius!" Angie yelled, her face deeply flushed.
"Well YOU didn't want to tell it," he replied sullenly.
"Fine, fine, I'll tell it," she snapped. "Um...okay, so I got pregnant. I think I can say without fear of contradiction that the details are NONE of your business."
"Amen," Ron muttered, making a face. Sirius grinned at him and winked.
"So...I mean, I wasn't..." she cast a wary look at her daughter. "I wasn't entirely certain of...of..."
"The father," Dumbledore muttered. Angie nodded, staring at the floor. She could feel Kirsten's shocked eyes following her every move.
"And she preaches to me about going on a date or two and having fun," she hissed at Ron. Ron shrugged.
"It happens," he replied.
"Anyway," she continued. "I figured out pretty soon that it had to be Sirius...I mean, honestly, Dumbledore, you're supposed to be the omniscient one. Just look at her." Dumbledore-along with everyone except Angie-stared at Kirsten, who was trying not to squirm. Dumbledore's gaze shifted to Sirius, then back to Kirsten, then back to Sirius again.
"Sirius," he muttered, sounding very old, "We're a couple of fools,"
"You're telling me," Sirius replied.
"What?" Kirsten demanded, nearly crying.
"I don't get it either," Ron said, trying to reassure her.
"Kirsten," Angie addressed her daughter for the first time, "What color are my eyes? And Josh's?"
"Blue," she replied. "I'm not totally stupid, Mom."
"And your eyes..." she continued.
"Er...very light hazel," Kirsten said faintly realizing just exactly what her mother was getting at.
"No they're not," Ron interrupted. "They're brown...really dark brown like...like...whoa, I get it! They look like Sirius's eyes! Minus the creepy haunted look," he added as an afterthought.
"Oh Ron, allow me to stare you down with my haunted eyes," Sirius said, glaring at Ron, who shook his head.
"No way, man, you win. You are the staring master," he said, as if this were a compliment of some kind. "And you can get the wild, crazy glint," Ron continued enthusiastically. Sirius sighed.
"Okay, this is just getting ridiculous," Angie cried. "Are we done here YET?" She was longing for a cigarette or twelve and a full bottle of something intoxicating.
"I don't know," Dumbledore replied, looking at Kirsten pointedly.
"I...I really need to think," she managed to spit out. Ron nodded sympathetically.
"I think we're going to go, Headmaster," he said. Kirsten nodded.
"You can't tell anyone, Miss Star," Dumbledore warned her. She nodded blankly. "About any of this," she nodded again. Angie let out a breath of relief.
"Goodbye," Kirsten said. She and Ron turned to leave. Ron smiled at Sirius. Kirsten did not look at her mother or...her father.
* * *
A profound silence ensued after the children had taken their leave. Angie felt a rush of emotion and tears coming on as she put a hand over her mouth. Silently, tears began to leak from her eyes.
Cautiously, Sirius placed a hand on Angie's shoulder. She jerked away and screamed at him. "That was cruel, making me tell that story," She cried. Sirius lifted his eyes skyward for a moment.
"Angela, the truth needed to come out," He said. She gave him a tearful look. Dumbledore sighed heavily and set his glasses on the desk in front of him.
"Angela," Dumbledore said softly, realizing he was treading on thin ice, "Why is that you did not tell Kirsten who her real father was until now?"
"I didn't even know until a few days ago," Sirius replied as Dumbledore replaced his glasses. "And I might never have known if I hadn't accidentally discovered it written in her diary,"
"For Christ's sake, Sirius, stop it!" Angie cried.
"What? Stop telling Dumbledore what a horrible person you are?"
"Sirius," Dumbledore whispered warningly. "Why did you pretend that Kirsten was Mr. Thompson's daughter, Angela?" Dumbledore prompted.
"Originally, I thought she was...and then...after I realized..." She broke down again and Sirius took over.
"She assumed I would desert her...or something worse."
"And you blame her for this assumption?" Dumbledore asked in a bland tone that was not accusatory or sarcastic. Sirius shrugged.
"I wasn't perfect, but I don't think that gives her any kind of right to do what she did," Sirius stated reasonably.
"Allow me to state what I know so that the two of you might correct me if I'm a little confused," Dumbledore said slowly. "One year after your graduation from Hogwarts Kirsten was conceived... weren't you dating Mr. Thompson at the time?" Dumbledore interrupted himself.
Sirius nodded emphatically, responding for Angie. Dumbledore raised his eyebrows and continued. "So, you told Mr. Thompson that it was his child... You and Sirius drifted apart for a while. On Halloween, the very night James and Lily were murdered, the two of you showed up and were married. From here, Sirius was arrested. That was the last time you saw Sirius until recently. You attempted to end your life...and ended up here for a while. Then, you went to the United States with Josh and were married to him after you tried to kill yourself once more," At this point Sirius raised his eyebrows and looked at Angie who avoided his eyes.
"You were divorced...eight years later? Something like that; and this year you returned here to Hogwarts. You were reunited with Sierra, and Mr. Lupin, whom you have been casually dating for some time now." Angie's eyes flickered to Sirius for a moment.
"On Halloween," Dumbledore paused, rather dramatically. "You had a confrontation with Sirius. Recently, he discovered an old diary which stated that Miss Star was really the daughter of Sirius. It seems as if it was his idea to explain all this to me. Now, is there anything I have left out?"
"That pretty much completes the tale of 'Angela Star is a horrible person'." Angie agreed, staring at the floor. Sirius reached to her with a comforting hand but she didn't respond. "Don't get me wrong, I had reasons for doing what I did. If Josh was the father, my economic and emotional situation was probably much better off than with Sirius. But, as Sirius pointed out, those reasons are those of a selfish bitch. And I'm frequently reminded that smoking is an unhealthy habit and I'm a drunk. And one more thing that was left out, I'm a horrible mother for not explaining everything to my daughter, who hates me." At the conclusion, Angie burst into uncontrollable and hysterical sobs.
* * *
Comforting words and soft phrases echoed in Ron's mind, each more ridiculous than the next. He yearned to break the awkward silence between him and Kirsten, but at that moment it seemed about as daunting as a Potion's exam. Her eyes were slightly out of focus, and she was walking around in an almost dizzy way. Several times he had to take her hand to keep her from making a wrong turn.
It wasn't really a very long walk between Dumbledore's office and the Gryffindor common room, but it was one of the longest in Ron's memory. Honestly though, how does one comfort one's girlfriend when she just found out a man she had previously believed to be a murderer was not only innocent, but her father?
Just thinking about it was making his head hurt.
"Password?" the Fat Lady asked, and Ron had never been happier to see her. He could have kissed her...except that she was a portrait and all.
"Sethos," Ron replied. The portrait opened and they entered as silently as ever.
The common room was deserted. It was, after all, Saturday afternoon. The sun was shining and the snow had just fallen, so many of the students were outside flinging snow balls at one another. The more studious-Hermione and Harry included-were studying in the Library.
They sat on the couch, and the silence was more pronounced than ever. Ron still didn't know what to say, but he had to try.
"Kirsten..." There, her name was a good start, wasn't it? "Kirsten, I know this is hard for you, but Sirius is really a good guy and-"
"No Ron, you do NOT know this is hard for me, and how can you even sit there and tell me Sirius is a good guy?" Her voice was soft, calm, and cold. Ron resisted the urge to flinch.
"Really, Kirst, it's...I mean, it's not like you even liked Josh anyway-"
"That's not the POINT, Ron!" She shouted, and Ron resisted breathing a sigh of relief. Somehow, she seemed less frightening like this. More human, he supposed.
"Well, think about it! You've never liked him and now you don't even have to pretend because he's not even your real dad!"
"You don't get it, do you?" she demanded hotly. "Ron my entire life has been a LIE! I've always thought...and now...I just can't..." she wasn't stuttering, really. Just grasping at loose ends, as if she had so many thoughts she couldn't organize them enough to make a coherent sentence. "It's just not fair!" she finally proclaimed.
"Life's not fair," Ron replied reasonably. She let out a growl of frustration.
"I just had a life shattering experience and all you can do is sit here and tell me life's not fair!" she screamed, and he could see the tears beginning to well in her eyes. He realized with alarm-and a bit belatedly-that he was going about this in the wrong fashion. He was about to respond when someone else did it for him.
"What's wrong, Kirsten?" the familiar voice asked. "What life shattering experience?"
Ron and Kirsten both jumped and turned, as if they had been caught snogging. Harry and Hermione were looking at them curiously. It was Hermione who had asked the question, and her eyes widened with alarm as she saw Kirsten hastily brush away tears.
"It's nothing," she replied, her voice slightly unsteady as her eyes flickered to Ron's. "I just...I think I need to lie down," she said, flying to her dorm. Ron winced as he heard the door slam. He had to stop himself from wincing again as he turned to face his two best friends.
"What's up with her?" Harry demanded, his eyes slightly narrowed.
"Er...nothing," Ron replied, trying to be casual, his voice almost cracking with the effort. "Nothing, she's just worried about her mum...and her dog died...and she's feeling ill...and she's worried about the Charms quiz...and she's feeling kind of homesick for America...and she's on her period...and she doesn't like the new shoes she bought...and...er..." Ron was babbling incoherently, and they knew he was lying, but he couldn't stop himself. He couldn't think of anything plausible, so he figured a list of little reasons...
"Sure Ron, whatever you say," Hermione replied, rolling her eyes. "If it's that much of a secret, why don't you just say you can't tell us?"
"I can't tell you," Ron replied, beaming, as if that had been what he was saying all along. Hermione sighed, and Harry looked merely confused.
* * *
"Dearest Apollo,
I haven't heard from you in a (relatively) long time. I hope everything is wonderful with you.
Just to let you know so you don't have to worry about it all through this letter; I'm perfectly fine, nothing strange is going on (well, except for Ron and Kirsten...they've been acting even more strange than usual.) I just wanted to say hello and see what's new with you.
Now that we've established that; the real reason I'm writing this letter. Have you talked to my mother lately? It's not like her to not come and see me in over a week. I don't know what could keep her so occupied. I thought you might have talked to her recently and could give me some insight.
Well, anyway, what are we going to do about Christmas this year? We've all got to get together and have a gift exchange. Everyone is staying here for our last Christmas together so you can work out a place for us to all meet.
Speaking of Christmas, I'm headed off to Hogsmeade this weekend to finish up my Christmas shopping. I heard there was a sale on little black dresses...
Totally Yours,
Hermione
Harry had approached Hermione in hopes of consulting her about his History of Magic homework when curiosity got the better of him. He had time to see her closing and signature before she placed the letter into an envelope and addressed it to "Apollo".
He backed away and hurried up to his dormitory. Upstairs, he paced and racked his brain.
Harry couldn't understand what annoyed him so much about Hermione's correspondence with someone he didn't know. A man that he did not know.
They'd been writing each other letters for quite some time now and they seemed to be somewhat attached to each other. Addressing their letters to "Dearest" and talking about little black dresses.
That annoyed Harry too. Since when did Hermione go around wearing little black dresses? And why is that Ron knew all about this guy and Hermione's dress and he didn't? What if this Apollo was one of Kirsten's friends?
That thought stopped Harry in his tracks. His face visibly changed color at the thought. He shook himself and continued on his pace.
It wasn't that he disapproved of Kirsten. She wasn't all bad; she definitely wasn't bad to look at. Once you got to know her, her personality was enjoyable too. But she was influencing and changing people all around him.
Kirsten and Ron were always together now and he felt the bond that he, Hermione and Ron had was weakening. Of course, it was part of growing up. But things were different with Kirsten there; they couldn't openly discuss certain things anymore.
He was definitely happy to see that Hermione had finally learned to appreciate herself. The change in her confidence level was astonishing. He always knew Hermione was an extraordinarily beautiful girl but now it shown from her like a torch.
Eventually Harry realized the futility of pacing around. It would never accomplish anything. So, he did the only thing he could think of doing. He got out parchment, quill, and ink and wrote a letter to Sirius.
It was an awkward letter to write. Harry felt stupid saying most of the things he did. He wrote and wrote and wrote until the letter started to resemble more of a short story than a mere correspondence. But the more he wrote the more came.
Harry wrote about how he felt everyone was changing. How he didn't feel ready to graduate and go out into the world. How he couldn't decide what career he wanted to pursue. He wrote about his insane and irrational jealously of Hermione's new pen pal. All his frustrations and worries came pouring forth.
When he finally stopped and sat back Harry felt immensely relieved and somehow comforted. As he sent Hedwig out with the letter-to her annoyance, (the weather was rather inclement and the letter was rather large and long)-Harry felt good about knowing that his godfather was going to read it all. It was good to know he had told someone about everything.
* * *
Well, life goes on, as Hogwarts inhabitants learned. And Ron learned that even if Kirsten's mother was going through a period of emotional break-down she still piled on the homework before the Christmas holidays. Of course, his homework had become much easier now that he was dating Kirsten, but he still had to be careful not to put something down that they hadn't yet studied in class.
The drama was high all around them, as if every one else had some life changing experience like Kirsten did. Ron had tried to console her and talk to her about what had happened but the truth was, they were both much more comfortable not discussing it. Ron hadn't a clue what to say. Kirsten tried to explain to him.
Suddenly, her entire life was different. She'd have memories and they'd be clouded and they would seem wrong because they included Josh. How could she have called him a father for so many years? Sure, she didn't like Josh, and he was a horrible parent, but he was still her FATHER...or had been...except that he never was...
She growled in frustration. It was all so confusing. Why couldn't her life just be normal?
She should go down to breakfast, she knew. But at the moment the thought of bacon and toast made her more nauseous than anything. Therefore, it was Ron who received the letter addressed in familiar, sloppy handwriting he was used to seeing on letters written to Hermione. It now read "Ron and Kirsten".
His eyes bulged and he stuffed the letter in his pocket before Harry or Hermione could notice anything out of the ordinary. Luckily Hermione was reading her Transfiguration book-some things never change, he thought to himself with a shake of his head-and Harry was muttering over a well-worn book of Quidditch plays. After carefully making sure his friends were busy Ron opened the letter...muttering a distracting charm, just in case.
"Ron and Kirsten,
I know what happened Saturday is shocking, and I'm sure you, Kirsten, have a lot of questions. Please don't go to your mother. She's not in a fit state to explain. She's having a very difficult time right now.
I, however, am ready to answer any question I can. Hermione has informed me of the upcoming Hogsmeade weekend. I'll be in the Shrieking Shack. Take the secret passage-Ron, you know the one I'm talking about. The one where I broke your leg, as I recall."
Here Ron squinted. There were a few words crossed out at the beginning of the next paragraph. He could make out "please" and "we" but not much else. Sighing, he continued to read what was written.
"I'm really looking forward to seeing you both, especially Kirsten (no offense Ron). I'll see you on Saturday.
Sincerely,
Apollo"
Well, Ron thought to himself, that certainly opened a list of interesting possibilities...
~*~
Sirius was in an awful state of mind that Saturday. He seemed to be that way often of late... He was cold and tired, but his mind was wired. He felt like running around the shack several hundred times because his thoughts were racing through his mind at a confusing speed.
There were so many things to think about. A whole new chapter of his life to worry about. He felt as if he'd started in on the next chapter without finishing the last one. There were so many things he needed to be doing, so much work he needed to finish for the Alliance but how could he ignore the latest news?
His confusing and rather pointless thought process was interrupted abruptly by two apparitions. Swearing at the young couple Sirius attempted not to stare at his daughter, while she was doing her best not to look him in the eye.
"Might you give me some warning instead of giving me a new wrinkle every time you burst in unannounced?" He asked Ron, a slight edge to his voice. Ron shrugged apologetically.
Sirius sighed heavily and resumed his idle pacing, for lack of anything better to do. "Pile some broken pieces of furniture together if you care to sit," Sirius said, waving his arm rather dramatically. "I don't think I can deal with sitting at the moment..."
Ron glanced at Kirsten who gave a slight shake of her head, agreeing with her father. Sirius stopped pacing and grinned. His abrupt change of mood rather shocked Kirsten...but Ron returned the warming smile.
"It's rather chilly in here," Kirsten said quietly glancing around as if looking for a fire.
Sirius snorted. "My dear, it's not necessary to understate for my benefit. It's positively freezing in here, I'm afraid I've forgotten to pay the gas bill." Kirsten gave a weak smile at his attempt at humor. "However, you're the one with a wand, if you'd like a little warmth; feel free to makes a fire."
Kirsten glanced uncomfortably at Ron, almost as if she was rather afraid of damaging anything of Sirius's...as if this were his house or something. "In here, there's a fireplace in this room," Ron said, pointing toward the next room.
"Is there really?" Sirius asked, following the children into the next room. "Well, what do you know? I guess I forgot about that...I never really paid much attention... However, I'd be much obliged if you refrained from using the chimney. Smoke coming from an abandoned old house is perhaps not the best way to go about hiding oneself."
"Didn't think of that," Ron admitted. "Where's Hermione with her fire in a jar when you need her?"
"Did I hear my name?" None other than Hermione Granger asked, appearing in the doorway, followed by Harry Potter. Sirius swore again, as was his habit when the occasion warranted it.
Hermione's face, which was smiling from recognition of Ron's voice, fell as her eyes came to rest on Kirsten. Harry had stopped dead too. Pausing only long enough to form conclusions, Hermione's eyes snapped to Ron and her voice quickly followed with the snapping action.
"What is Kirsten doing here, Ron? I thought we agreed that it wasn't necessary to disclose certain information to her?"
"Down, girl," Ron said, trying to shake off her piercing glare. Hermione would have continued but Sirius intervened.
"Kirsten is here at my invitation," Sirius said, looking Hermione straight in the eye. She returned his gaze with a slight questioning raise of her eyebrows. When Sirius didn't break his gaze Hermione turned and gave a sidelong glance at Harry who looked just as confused as she felt.
"Forgive me for being blunt," Harry said, "But...why?"
Sirius wore a crooked half-smile as he glanced at Kirsten before taking a breath to reply. Kirsten, however, cut him off. "I'm not brain dead, you know. I have noticed a few things..."
Hermione looked skeptical but Sirius and Ron understood why Kirsten had said what she did. She wasn't any more ready to explain that Sirius's was her paternal father than Sirius was. Shaking his head and still wearing that odd half-smile, Sirius spoke again. "You're just like your mother."
"What does Professor Star have to do with anything?" Hermione said sharply. Ron nearly burst out laughing but was just barely able to contain himself.
"Professor Star was a...good friend of mine," Sirius explained, carefully, making it even more difficult for Ron to control himself. "I knew Kirsten when she was a baby."
If Hermione hadn't been trying so hard to understand what exactly what was going on she would have noticed Ron struggling not to show his amusement and she would have found the gaze that Sirius turned upon Kirsten just then, very interesting indeed.
"So, she's become one of us now," Ron said, trying to break tension. Harry still had his arms crossed very tightly across his chest and Hermione was desperately trying not to pierce Kirsten with a glare.
"You're not the least bit frightened to be in a room with an escaped convict?" Hermione pressed.
"But he's innocent..." Kirsten said, trying to smile at Hermione's stony face.
"Right," Hermione said rather shortly, as if she didn't believe her.
Fearing that Hermione and Harry would go on with a full interrogation Sirius felt it wise to stop them before they got carried away. "I believe I can judge who is trustworthy," Sirius said, softly.
"You're the one who trusted Pettigrew...to the demise of my parents," Harry said suddenly. Sirius gave him a Look. "I didn't mean it..." Harry mumbled almost immediately and looked at the floor.
"Well," Sirius said briskly, "I'm sure you all have plenty of Christmas shopping to do, so why waste your time hanging out with an old man?"
They all agreed with nods and smiles. It was as if a director had suddenly called a scene change. They were all smiles and polite as they took their leave. Sirius quickly took Kirsten by the shoulders and asked her the question that had been nagging at him.
"How is your mother? Dumbledore has banned me from the castle for... a while, at least, and I haven't been able to make contact with her."
"It's hard to tell...she tries to hide things from me..."
"Kirsten?" Ron called from just inside the entrance to the secret passageway. She glanced up at Sirius and then hastily took her leave.
"Sorry, I dropped my hat," She called just before she disappeared out of sight.
* * *
"Nicolette LeMur!" Sirius called, making lots of noise entering her apartment in Paris.
"Sirius Black!" She exclaimed, eyes sparkling as she emerged from an inner room. "It's been so long darling! Ah! Sierra, bienvenue! The Weasley's are in here and Arnold Peasegood. We decided we might want the Obliviator for this venture. Just in case," They all laughed a little as they entered.
Once they were all seated they got down to business. The Alliance would be very busy in the near future. They set to business discussing the trappings of Bill's brilliant plan.
"William," Nicolette said seriously. "You're in charge of most of this so assign your assignments now. You're going to need several people who have specific tasks. And, knowing you, the Weasleys will take care of the dirty work, I'm sure." Bill nodded.
"So," He turned to Sierra who looked like the most likely candidate for one of his jobs. "Tell me, my dear, how good are you at making potions? You think you can handle a few things?"
"I'm not too bad with a cauldron," Sierra replied evenly, almost challengingly.
"Good," Bill breathed. "Very good. Next thing we need to talk about. We're going to need some cash...on hand." Sirius coughed but didn't speak yet. "We're not talking about serious money, but a good chunk of change."
"I can supply you financially," Sirius said quietly. They all turned to stare at him. "I can talk to Griphook..."
"Stop right there!" Bill said waving his hand. "It's too risky. You may have money but we would take a considerable risk moving YOUR money around. I don't want to have to deal with Gringotts. I was a curse breaker there and certain of the goblins don't trust me very much anymore..."
"I'll handle it," Sierra said.
"Sierra, I can't ask you to do that," Sirius cut in.
"No big deal, you can just pay be back when you get off," Sierra said.
"You sound so optimistic. Seen any rats lately?" Sirius asked sarcastically.
"I'm serious. I have plenty of money lying around. You know that," She protested. Sirius shrugged. "Good, that's settled."
"Oh, the women with the money," Bill said provocatively to Sierra. "I think this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship." Sierra laughed.
"I have dueling club only two nights a week and the rest of the time I have only a few things I'm responsible for. If I talk to Dumbledore I'm sure we can get together during the week and get to work. This is going to take quite some time in the planning stages."
"Brilliant!" Bill declared. "I'll owl Mum and Dad and tell them I'm coming home for a long holiday. We can meet at the house then. Mum and Dad know you from the ministry so we'll be fine."
"Good," Sierra agreed.
"I love this. A huge part of my life and I don't have to do anything. Everything's being taken care for me." Sirius grinned.
"And the pay off is going to be better than you ever imagined," Bill said, still just a little egotistical about his wonderful idea.
~*~
Sirius lingered after the others had left. "I've got your Christmas present," He told Nikki. "I'm not sure when I'll be around next so you can go ahead and open it now."
With a coy little smile she took the package and unwrapped it. Taking the contents out she shrieked with joy. "A broom! Sirius you got me a broom!" She jumped into his arms and gave him a big smack on the cheek.
"When can you give me a lesson? I WANT TO FLY!" She cried jumping around the room like a little kid. Sirius was rolling with laughter.
"When I weather gets a little nicer I'll give you a lesson," He said.
"I can't wait! Thank you so much!" She beamed.
"I thought you'd like it. Now, I have a favor to ask of you. I have a rather large and important purchase that I want to make. I want you to take me to Gringotts, in dog form, and ask for Griphook. We're going to make a transaction and buy a Christmas present for someone but I need you to do it."
"No problem, sounds like a challenge, I'm all for it!"
"OK, your role. You're going as a lawyer for my father's estate. That's just a cover in case some other goblin gets suspicious. I'll get you important looking papers and such. Once we get there Griphook won't care, but just in case. We'll go tomorrow."
"OK, done!" Nikki agreed still beaming over her broom.
* * *
It was Christmas Eve and there was a cheery fire crackling in the grate. The only light came from the fire and the little lighted Christmas tree Angie had set up. Sirius and Angie sat next to each other on the couch facing the fire.
Angie sighed loudly. Sirius grinned and put his arm around her, giving her shoulder a little squeeze. "This is the first Christmas Eve I've spent with...anybody for seventeen years. That's a long time."
"I'm sorry," Angie said softly. Sirius shrugged.
"It doesn't really matter anymore... Angela, will you sing something for me?"
"Sing?" Angie asked, pulling back in order to look into his face.
"Yeah, sing. You used to use your voice all the time," Sirius explained.
"I don't know... I haven't sung for...years..." Angie said, unsure of herself.
"I know, you told me. But, that's a shame. It's a waste. You need to sing something. Please?" Sirius asked playfully causing Angie to laugh.
"What if I've forgotten how?" Sirius laughed and pulled her closer.
"Don't be ridiculous."
"Why don't you sing? You used to use your voice all the time too," Angie pointed out.
"It's not the same thing. I'm all right with music to cover it up, but your voice is on pitch and clear, and you have tone...and all that stuff." Angie sighed again and rested her head on his shoulder. They sat for a time in silence, and just as Sirius was about to press her further she started to sing, very softly, but clearly.
"What child is this, who, laid to rest, on Mary's lap is sleeping? Whom angels greet with anthems sweet While shepherds watch are keeping?
"This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing; Haste, haste to bring Him laud, the Babe, the Son of Mary!
"Why lies He in such mean estate Where ox and ass are feeding? Good Christian, fear; for sinners here The silent Word is pleading.
"This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing; Haste, haste to bring Him laud, the Babe, the Son of Mary!
"So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh; Come, one and all, to own Him. The King of kings salvation brings; Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
"This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing; Haste, haste to bring Him laud, the Babe, the Son of Mary!" By the time she finished tears were falling silently from her eyes.
There was a profound silence where the fire seemed to be the only sound in the world. After a few minutes Angie pulled away from Sirius and wiped her eyes. "It's been many years since..." She began, but stopped talking because there really was no need.
Sirius laughed softly to himself. "You know, I think the only reason the Marauder's kept getting gigs was because occasionally you'd come and sing with us. I mean, James was all right...but you... you made the songs. We'd have never made it without you." Angie laughed too.
"Those were fun times too," Angie agreed. "Happy Christmas, Sirius."
"Happy Christmas, Angela," He replied, and then leaned over and gave her an affectionate kiss.
* * *
"Kirsten! Hermione! HAPPY CHRISTMAS!" Ron shouted right into Hermione's ear Christmas morning.
"Bah humbug!" Hermione declared sitting up and rubbing her eyes. Harry was literally dragging Kirsten out of bed by her arms.
"Come on. Ron made me get up, the two of you have to get up also," Harry said.
"Just a minute," Kirsten mumbled, stumbling over to the dresser and the mirror. She was hurriedly throwing some make-up on. Ron rolled his eyes.
"You can do that later. Come on!"
"Wait! Just let me put on some mascara!"
~*~
A merry fire blazed in the grate and the four friends gathered round it. They were all reading letters they'd received from home or...one person or another. Kirsten had received a rather sentimental, though short, letter from her father inviting her up to Angie's room before the others came.
She handed the letter to Ron who read it and then promptly threw it in the fire. Harry and Hermione would have ignored it except that Kirsten stood to leave. "I...I have to go do something really quick," She said, when the inquiring eyes fell on her.
"Yeah," Ron agreed as she hastily scrambled out the portrait hole. "She's just going to get some breakfast. Go to the owlrey. Get a book from the library. See if she can find her lost Charms textbook. You know, a few things... She'll be back soon." Ron didn't understand why he kept babbling. All he kept thinking was stop! But he just kept going.
Hermione and Harry looked very skeptical. "Uh-huh," Hermione said, with raised eyebrows.
"Why don't you just say 'Guys it's personal, I can't tell you'?" Harry asked.
"Guys its personal, I can't tell you," Ron said, looking extremely pleased with himself.
"In the spirit of Christmas I suppose we'll have to let that one go..." Hermione conceded.
* * *
Sirius couldn't remember the last time he'd felt so happy. It had to have been before he was arrested and went to jail because even when he escaped and saw Harry he felt a lot of rising anger and not happiness. But today was Christmas, "the most wonderful time of the year". And, not only that, but he was in a warm place, he'd eaten recently, and he was in wonderful company.
A Christmas fever had hit him. He was excited about presents and excited about Christmas dinner. He felt as if he was kid, waking up at four in the morning at the Potter's.
"Morning love, how did you sleep?" Sirius asked, casually, as he made some coffee. Angie started to answer and then stopped and smiled.
"You know, I slept really well." Sirius looked up at her and returned her warm smile. The sincerity in her voice was almost shocking. She had not had a good sleep for what seemed like years.
"We're meeting at Sierra's at... one o'clock today? Me, you, Remus, Sierra, Hermione, and Harry? We'll leave at dark then," Sirius said, pretty much talking to himself.
"Leave? Where?" Angie questioned, not able to follow his train of thought. Sirius didn't answer; he looked at her, his eyes dancing and grinned.
"If you don't mind, I wrote this letter to Kirsten..." Sirius continued, ignoring her questions. "I was thinking we could have a little Christmas of our own...as a...family," Sirius said, only slightly nervous.
"Oh...yes, that would be...yes," Angie agreed; she was somewhat nervous as well. How long had Sirius and Kirsten known about each other? Nine days... a little more? Angie bit her lip. This was going to be trying to her emotions...she could tell.
~*~
Kirsten felt as if she were gliding on air as she made her up to her mother's room. It was difficult to pinpoint her feelings, seeing as thousands of thoughts were whisking in and out of her head, thus keeping her thoroughly distracted.
Before she realized it, she was standing outside the doorway, breathing rather more often than necessary. Her heart was pounding in anticipation. She was going to spend Christmas with her real father...
For some reason, her knocking on the door felt extremely dramatic. She was excited and frightened and really had NO idea what to expect.
Sirius had leapt to his feet at the first sound of the knock but quickly decided that Angie had better answer the door. Angie did so, beheld her daughter trembling just outside.
Sirius and Angie sounded of chorus of "Happy Christmas!" They beamed all around.
"Merry Christmas!" Kirsten declared, in a heavy American accent, just to be blatantly obstinate. Angie rolled her eyes.
"Oh, this is cute," Kirsten commented, hey eyes falling on the heavily tinseled little Christmas tree by the window. Angie shrugged and sat down on the arm of the sofa.
Angie's tenseness radiated from her. Sirius placed a comforting hand over hers and gave it a little squeeze. All in all, it would have made a pretty domestic scene to the casual observer.
"Kirsten," Angie said, "Your Christmas present from me won't be arriving until tomorrow, OK?"
"Arriving?" Kirsten said excitedly taking a seat in a chair opposite her mother. When it became evident that Angie would make no more allusions to Christmas presents Kirsten changed the subject. "Well, Merry Christmas then," She said, handing her mother a prettily wrapped gift.
She had not gotten anything for Sirius. What exactly was she supposed to get for a man she met less than two weeks ago?
While mother and daughter exchanged thanks, Sirius had gotten up and now presented his gifts. "For my girls," He said with a grin; handing them each a rose. To Angie he gave a box of nice little chocolates. To Kirsten; he handed her a smaller box.
"Where did you get this?" Angie demanded.
"Oh Angela, you're very welcome. Happy Christmas to you too!" Sirius replied sarcastically.
"Oh yes, yes, very thoughtful," She said hastily waving her hand. "But, I'm serious, where did you get this?" Sirius simply shrugged.
"Don't worry about it," He told her. A sharp intake of breath indicated Kirsten had opened the box.
"I tried to get the cut that matches your necklace," Sirius explained.
Kirsten jumped to her feet and rushed to the mirror. Angie could barely believe her eyes as she watched Kirsten put on a dazzling pair of diamond earrings. Angie turned her open-mouth shock to a very smug looking Sirius. Kirsten turned around absolutely glowing.
"Thank you so much!" She gushed.
"Kirsten? Why don't you go get Ron, Harry, and Hermione up here so we can have our own little Christmas celebration?" Angie suggested.
"OK! Be right back!" She said, gathering up her rose and scurrying out.
"You got her diamond earrings?" Angie demanded the moment the door had closed. Sirius grinned and shrugged. "She is seventeen years old, you realize?"
"Just making up for lost Christmases." Angie gave him a Look. "What? Do you want diamonds too?"
"Where did you get those earrings?" She pressed; Sirius just laughed.
"I'm a fugitive, not a criminal. I didn't obtain them illegally, if that's what's bothering you."
"Still, she's seventeen. I can't believe you got her diamond earrings for Christmas." She turned her back and walked toward the window to watch the snow softly fall.
* * *
Sirius leaned back and looked up the dark façade of a brick house on the outskirts of the residential neighborhood of Hogsmeade. Angie stood shivering next to him with her eyes closed.
Sirius carefully fitted the key into the door and slowly swung the door open. He took hold of both her hands. "Step up," He instructed leading her through the door. He quickly shut it and then led her down the hall.
Angie heard the clicking of her heels on the hard floor and wondered where in the heck they were. "Can I open my eyes yet," She asked with a little yet.
"Just a minute more," Sirius said. He led her out into the center of a room and then left her in the middle.
"Where did you go?" She asked.
"Ready? OK, open your eyes," He said just as he switched on the lights. Angie found herself standing in a rather large living room with cathedral ceilings. "I know there's nothing here yet, but... Do you like it?"
"Do I like it? What? The house?" Angie asked, a little confused starting to walk around in circles trying to take in the room. "I guess..."
"Come have a look upstairs," Sirius said, grabbing her hand. He led her down the hall scarcely pausing to look at the rooms. "Here's the master bedroom," He said leading her to the door frame.
She looked into the dark room; then turned to him. Sirius moved his eyes skyward to the mistletoe. Angie laughed. "Do you remember the time at Hogwarts you caught me under the mistletoe."
"Of course," Sirius said laughing. "I was rather immature, wasn't I?"
"You can say that again. You nearly knocked me over with your over enthusiastic dramatics! Of course, James was rolling with laughter,"
"Who wouldn't be? The scandalized look on your face was priceless. Anyway..." Sirius leaned over to give Angie a kiss, but stopped abruptly.
"What?" she demanded.
"When did you get to my eye level?" he demanded. "Have you been taking a potion to make you taller or something.
"No..." she replied, looking at him curiously. "Why does it matter?"
"It's just weird!" he insisted. "I've always had to bend down to kiss you and now you're right there!"
"Well that's ridiculous, I'm not any taller."
"Then how do you explain it?" he asked. She smirked.
"As Kirsten would say, 'the boots of doom'."
"Boots of doom...?" Sirius repeated in confusion.
"My leather boots," she replied, lifting her robes to her knees to show the tall black boots in question. Sirius looked down and laughed.
"Some things never change," he sighed, "I guess I'll just have to kiss you with your boots on, won't I?"
"I suppose so, seeing as we're under the mistletoe," she said seriously. He gave her a half-smile and pulled her in for the kiss.
"That's better," Angie said with a smile. She looked up and frowned. "What's this?" she asked, reaching up for the glint of gold on the mistletoe. She pulled down a... house key?
"Happy Christmas," Sirius said softly.
"Pardon me," Angie exclaimed, looking from the key to Sirius.
"Granted," Sirius replied with a grin.
"I...I don't understand," Angie stuttered.
"It's your Christmas gift," Sirius replied.
"This key? What does it open?"
"The front door, of course."
"The front door? Of this house? You're crazy!"
"This is true... Don't you like the house?" Sirius asked.
"It's not about the house!" Angie cried. "How can I accept this? You cannot just GIVE me a house."
"But I am," Sirius argued.
"No! How can you just give me a house? How do you just GET a house?"
"I wanted to get you something you needed. And, you needed a place to live. Happy Christmas," Sirius said with a shrug.
"No, you don't understand," Angie said, starting to get a little angry. Who did he think he was? She didn't need an escaped convict buying her HOUSES! "I am not going to accept a HOUSE as a Christmas gift. A Christmas gift is a box of chocolates...a rose... a bloody fruitcake! A HOUSE is not a Christmas gift!"
"Maybe it's not a conventional Christmas gift but it's what I'm giving you. It's something you need. How can you say you're not going to take this house?" Sirius expostulated. Angie eyes searched his face for some kind of clue to make him understand. Or to make herself understand. You can't just buy a person a HOUSE for Christmas.
"I don't want your damn house! Just because I don't have all the money in the world right now doesn't mean you go out and buy me a whole house!" Angie cried, throwing the key at him and storming down the hallway.
"Angie! I didn't intend to offend. I knew you needed a place to live so I got one for you. Are you just going to walk out?"
"I can't believe this! I CANNOT believe YOU!" She continued ranting all the way down the stairs.
"Angela, where are you going?" Sirius asked as she neared the door.
"Back to Sierra's!" She cried and then stormed out the door.
* * *
The day after Christmas Ron and Kirsten were creating a little Christmas spirit in the common room when Angie showed up. "Mom," Kirsten said through gritted teeth as Ron sprang away from her.
"We have to go meet your Christmas present, come on, and get your cloak," Angie instructed.
"Right now?" Kirsten asked.
"Yeah, RIGHT now."
They stood shivering a bit on the platform, waiting. The train pulled in and the doors opened. And off stepped Kerri Evangelista, the Italian beauty. They saw each other at the same time.
"KERRI!" Kirsten exploded!
"KIRSTEN!" Kerri shrieked back.
"OH MY GOD!" They chorused as they embraced, giving each other a quick kiss on both cheeks.
"Merry Christmas, darling," Kerri said, stepping back to have a good look at Kirsten.
"Merry Christmas!" Kirsten replied with a grin.
"Oh Angela, how wonderful to see you," Kerri's mother drawled, barely placing her arms around Angie's shoulders. "You're looking...well..." She said, straining very hard.
"You look flawless as always Marina," Angie replied, trying to return her fake smile.
"Oh, it's nothing."
"That's a wonderful brooch," Angie said, eyeing the stunning piece of jewelry.
"Oh, you think so?" Marina asked. "Joshua gave it to me Christmas Eve. We were to his house for a party. You missed a simply divine celebration."
"Oh," Angie replied, suddenly not interested. She didn't want to hear about her ex-husbands wonderful riches and how successful he was.
"Well listen darling, I've got to get back on the train. I'm sure Kerri and Matthew will be no trouble at all-"
"Matthew?" Angie interrupted.
"Oh, I was sure I told you. Kerri's boyfriend came along on the trip. We'll be back the morning of New Year's Eve, all right? Hey, you should meet us in London tomorrow; we could do some catching up? What do you say?"
"Oh, that's all right. I'll be awfully busy and I probably shouldn't leave the children..." Marina laughed.
"Whatever suits you. My love, darling. You look dazzling as always Kirsten. Good-bye!"
"Good-bye Mrs. Evangelista!" Kirsten called as she got back on the train. From inside, her husband waved as the train pulled away.
"Hey Matt, it's good to see you," Kirsten said, flashing a smile. "How long have you and Kerri been going together?"
"What was it...August?" Matt asked looking at Kerri.
"God, has it been that long?" Kerri asked with a laugh.
"August...I left in August..." Kirsten said softly. Matt had always been wild about Kirsten. Funny that she should feel a pang of jealously now. She'd never liked him that much; and now she had Ron. But still...
"Welcome to Scotland, kids!" Angie said in her best British accent.
"Merry Christmas, Ms. Star," Kerri said smiling. "It's so good to see you again."
"You too, my dear," Angie replied, feeling very old.
"Mother, this is Matt, he went to school with us back in the States," Kirsten explained.
"Nice to meet you Matt. I didn't know you were coming so we'll have to talk to the headmaster first thing when we get back to make arrangements for you. I'm sure it will be no trouble. This way..." Angie started to say, leading them off to the path to Hogwarts, but Kerri had her own plans.
"Taxi!" She called to the nearest carriage driver. "This will take us to the school, won't it?"
"Oh...um, of course," Angie replied, biting her lip. She didn't have much extra money to be spending on carriages but the thought of prissy Marina gossiping to her husband about how dreadful she looked angered her.
Matt loaded their things into the back and Angie paid the driver. "Well Kerri, I know you've been to Europe before but has Matt?" Angie asked, making pleasant conversation. "I hope you're enjoying it. Have you just been in London?" Matt nodded.
"We've met loads of wonderful people too! Mr. Thompson's Christmas party was simply divine!" Kerri bubbled in fair imitation of her mother. "Don't you just die for that picture window, Kirsten?"
"Um...I haven't been to Dad's house..." She mumbled.
"Oh, really? Well...you know, he's busy," Kerri said hastily and continued to chat the rest of the ride.
* * *
Kirsten, Kerri, and Matt all arrived in the common room...laughing. "What in the-?" Hermione began, looking up from the Care of Magical Creatures notes she'd been studying.
"Listen, Kirsten," Kerri said seriously, grabbing Kirsten's arm and pulling her to the nearest sofa. "You HAVE to introduce me to Harry Potter."
"Well, of course," Kirsten replied with a laugh. "And, you have to meet my boyfriend." Kerri raised her meticulously plucked eyebrow.
"Harry...isn't your boyfriend?"
"I was sure it was all over the papers...in fact, I know I read an article in Teen Witch about our break-up," Kirsten said.
"Well...yeah, but I didn't, like, believe it," Kerri stuttered.
"Well, believe it," Kirsten said, leaning back against the couch. "Harry and I work so much better as friends."
"Kirsten...are you hearing yourself?" Kerri practically shrieked. Kirsten just smiled at her friend.
"Look, Harry is a really nice guy, but he's not all he's cracked up to be. Now, my boyfriend, Ron-"
"YOU DUMPED HARRY FOR HIS BEST FRIEND!?" Kerri shouted.
"Uh...well...yeah," Kirsten said, trying to calm Kerri down.
"Well...whatever, I'm going after him then," Kerri said, crossing her legs and also sitting back.
"Uh..." Kirsten said, glancing at Matt, Kerri's quote/unquote "boyfriend". "Well, I don't really know if he's interested in getting involved in a relationship right now..." Kerri shot Kirsten a look but bounced back to her normal self almost immediately.
"Oh my God! Guess, who I met at your Dad's Christmas Eve party? He is SO hot! We have to go see him. He goes here," Kerri explained, all very quickly. Kirsten frowned.
"Who?"
"Draco Malfoy!" Kerri practically screamed. Kirsten grinned; she knew full well that Draco Malfoy was head over heels in love, much to Ron's annoyance. Still, she felt a little sympathy for Matt, who was looking anywhere but at Kerri...at the moment.
"Oh...well, Draco is.. Draco's..."
"Dead sexy!" Kerri proclaimed. Kirsten rolled her eyes.
"Hey Kirsten!" Ginny Weasley said strolling up, her red hair bouncing. "Ron was looking for you earlier."
"Oh, I'll go get him in a minute," Kirsten told her.
"Kirsten?" Kerri said in an annoyed voice. "Hello! Right here! Like I was saying. If Harry's out I'm so going to ask Draco Malfoy on a date." If Kirsten had been drinking something she would have sprayed it halfway to France. Ginny coughed, very LOUDLY. Kirsten turned to her to explain but Kerri interrupted again. "Kirsten, what is your problem? Her robes are two years old. And, she's not even wearing eye shadow."
"This happens to be one of my friends, Kerri," Kirsten said quietly.
"So, what? Could you please focus on the important thing right now? Draco."
"Excuse me? Hi," Ginny said, tapping Kerri on the shoulder. "I'm Ginny Weasley-"
"I don't care WHO you are," Kerri interrupted.
"I'm Draco Malfoy's girlfriend!" Ginny shouted, her face crimson with anger. Kerri just looked at her with open-mouth horror.
"Well, it'll never last," She said dismissively, waving her hand.
"We've been dating for almost two years," Ginny snapped and stomped off. Kerri rolled her eyes.
"What would anyone see in her?"
"Um, Kerri? Are you planning on being this judgmental to all of my friends?" Kirsten asked.
"Well, somebody's got to tell them what's wrong with them."
"Right," Kirsten said, angrily looking away.
"Come on, I want to meet Harry Potter!" Kerri demanded.
"OK, fine! Let's go find Harry. Just promise me you won't act like a crazy fan when you meet him."
"Like, of course not."
* * *
By the next morning Kirsten was going crazy, and so were all of Gryffindor tower residents. Ron was being a real prince though. He was constantly insulted by Kerri but he stuck with Kirsten, probably just to make Kerri mad. But Kirsten appreciated it, nonetheless.
Ron graciously offered to lead them on a tour of the castle and the grounds. So, the four of them set off.
~*~
"Afternoon Angela," Sirius said, strolling into her room that day.
"What are you doing here, Sirius?" Angie demanded. She hadn't seen or heard from him since Christmas.
"I thought I'd drop by," Sirius said casually. He removed his cloak and laid it over the back of the couch. Then, he took a seat and very carefully placed the key to the house on the table.
"No, Sirius," She said firmly.
"Angie-"
"For Christ's sake! I'm tired of arguing about it Sirius!"
"So, just take it! I don't understand why you won't. You know you need it. I'm not trying to offend you!"
"Stop this!" Angie cried. "What makes you think I'm going to accept a god damn house? I don't want your money and I don't want your house."
"This is not just for you, you know. This is for you and Kirsten. I'm just trying to take care of my family."
"YOUR FAMILY! You didn't even know you had a family until two weeks ago! You don't need to take care of us! We've always got along fine without you! What makes you think you can just come in here and give us all this stuff? You think we're going to just take you back?
"And what's with the diamonds, Sirius? Where the hell do you come off buying Kirsten diamond earrings? She's never going to think of you as her father! GET OVER IT! You missed it!"
Sirius just looked at her in open-mouth shock for quite a long time. She returned his gaze, breathing quickly. "Whatever..." he mumbled softly and got up to use the bathroom.
As soon as he closed the door she began pacing very quickly and biting her lip to avoid the tears that were threatening to burst forth. She grabbed a glass and started pouring.
She tossed the first one back and then poured a second. She was just lifting it to her mouth when her heart literally froze. The worst possible sound found its way to her ears...
* * *
Chapter Nine: What Child is This?
By Star*dust
A/N: Well, here's the part that's the hardest for me and the best for you. The summary. Let's see what happened last chapter... I always know the end but I can never remembering all the other little things...
Actually, last chapter can be summarized pretty easily since there weren't very many little things. Just a lot of explaining the main things. OK, so Kirsten is Sirius's daughter and he was pretty pissed off about not knowing for so many years. Then, Sirius decides they need to tell Dumbledore. Angie disagrees and they argue about it very loudly. Meanwhile Kirsten and Ron are out discovering strange rooms decorated for Gryffindor. And Kirsten's necklace has acquired another letter...strange? Then, Kirsten and Ron are about to explain all this to Dumbledore when suddenly Angie and Sirius burst in arguing. Of course, Sirius unknowingly spills the beans about Kirsten fatherhood and there they all are in the middle of this dramatic climax.
So, have fun with this chapter. It's...well...interesting.
* * *
A murmur of far away voices brought Kirsten back into consciousness. She groaned and sat up feeling a pounding headache. She opened her eyes to see Ron's anxious face.
"Kirsten! Kirsten, are you alright?" he demanded.
"Huh?" she asked, confused. "I'm fine, I just had this really strange dream that Sirius Black, like the convict, and my mom were fighting because I was his daughter. And I...hey, where are we?"
Ron held out a hand and raised her to her feet. After a moment she placed herself in Dumbledore's office. Turning she saw two people seated behind her. One was her mother. The other was Sirius Black. Dumbledore was leaning against a book case across from them. Her mother looked terrified.
"It...It was a dream, right?" she whispered, unable to comprehend anything else. Ron squeezed her hand. No one answered her question. "Right?" she demanded again, more urgently.
"Kirsten...I think we need to talk," Angie said quietly, forcing her eyes to meet her daughter's shocked stare.
"This is a nightmare," Kirsten muttered. "This is NOT happening to me. This is...Mom, he's a murderer! Headmaster, you have to do something! Arrest him, contact the cops, do something!"
"Man, I get that a lot," Sirius said thoughtfully. "Is it the messy hair?"
"Shut UP, Sirius! Can't you take ANYTHING seriously?" Angie shouted at the messy-haired convict in question.
"Of course. I take everything very...SERIOUS-ly."
"That joke is so old," she muttered. Ron laughed. Dumbledore did not appear to be amused.
"What is going on?" Kirsten demanded again.
"Miss Star," Dumbledore began when he realized no one else was going to take the initiative and face the terrifying teenager. "Have you ever been told the full story of Sirius's crimes?"
"Um...he killed, like, a dozen people," she replied, eyeing him warily. It seemed that in her panic she was slipping back into the worst of American slang. "Duh."
"He also betrayed Harry's parents to their deaths and murdered the innocent Muggles in an effort to silence one of his best friends-which he apparently did, since they only found his finger," Dumbledore continued in a conversational voice. Sirius snorted loudly.
"Now Dumbledore, I'm supposed to be a positive role model here," he said. Angie slapped him.
"Thank you," Dumbledore said, nodding to Angie. Ron stifled a laugh. Kirsten watched the whole scene in horror.
"You're nuts...you're all completely crazy..." she muttered.
"Now, Miss Star, I'm not finished," Dumbledore said, sounding like a sullen child. "The friend he...er...killed was named Peter Pettigrew, and he shouted Sirius's guilt just before the street blew apart."
"Okay, I got that, but how in the HELL does that constitute keeping him from the electric chair?" she shouted.
"Electric chair?" Ron echoed, sounding confused. Kirsten waved him away.
"Because Sirius is not guilty," Dumbledore replied simply. Kirsten stared at him for a few moments.
"WHAT?!"
"Look...Peter Pettigrew, the one he supposedly killed, was the actual murderer. He betrayed Harry's parents, and Sirius, who was very close with the Potters-the best man at their wedding-checked up on them and found the house in ruins and no one alive but Harry, Sirius's godson. Sirius wanted to take Harry, which was technically his right according to James and Lily's will, but I had sent Hagrid to fetch him. So Sirius went to search for the traitor. When he cornered Pettigrew, Pettigrew started yelling that Sirius was guilty to save himself, and then he-that is, Pettigrew-was the one to blow the street apart and kill the Muggles. He cut off a finger and disappeared into the sewers."
"The sewers," she echoed. "Like a rat or something."
"Precisely!" Dumbledore beamed. "I always knew you were an exceptionally bright pupil."
"WHAT?!" she said again. "I meant it as...I don't know...a metaphor or simile or whatever you would call it."
"But it's the literal truth," Dumbledore replied. "Pettigrew was an unregistered animagus, his shape being a rat." There was silence for a few moments before Kirsten burst into laughter.
"That is too great, Professor," she muttered. "I could almost believe you because it's just that crazy. But seriously, that is just too...too opportune to be real." At that moment, Sirius transfigured into a dog with a pop, and Kirsten yelped in shock.
"James Potter, Peter Pettigrew, and Sirius Black ILLEGALLY became animagi," Dumbledore explained, glaring at Sirius.
"Hey, I served my time," he replied, throwing his hands up as he returned to his human form. "James is dead and Peter is a Death Eater. What do you want from me?"
"Remus was always the only one with any sense," Angie replied, rolling her eyes.
"Yes, Angela, we all know your feelings concerning Saint Remus," Sirius snapped.
"What the hell is your problem with Remus?" she demanded.
"Professor Lupin knows Black?!" Kirsten cried in dismay. "I thought he was a good guy!"
"He is a good guy!" Angie cried. Sirius snorted.
"Yes, don't you know it?"
"Honestly, you two, can you behave like adults for FIVE minutes?" Ron asked, rolling his eyes. They stopped glaring at each other and looked at the floor, their cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Dumbledore smiled at him.
"Thank you, Head Boy," he said. "Kirsten...what I'm trying to tell you is the truth. Sirius is innocent. He was wrongly accused. You know that he was sent to prison without trial, do you not?"
"No. That's what's wrong with the British legal system. In America-"
"Kirsten, you're British, remember?" Ron interrupted. She rolled her eyes.
"Not by choice," she muttered.
"Miss Star, this is really becoming very old. Do you accept his innocence or must we continue on this tiring avenue?"
"I just...I need to think about it," she replied. "I mean, from what you've said, its Harry you need to talk to,"
"Harry knows," Ron replied, rolling his eyes. "Harry and Hermione helped Sirius escape back in third year. I would have helped but Sirius here BROKE MY LEG!" Ron glared.
"You did what?" Angie asked.
"Good God, Ron, are you EVER going to let that go? Pettigrew was your pet for Merlin's sake!"
"WHAT?!" Angie and Kirsten cried, staring at Ron.
"Hey, it's not like I ever knew Scabbers was anything but a stupid sleeping rat," Ron argued in his defense.
"That's all Pettigrew ever was," Sirius muttered darkly.
"Okay, so...Harry, Hermione, Ron, Dumbledore, Mom," Kirsten cast a dark look in her mother's direction, "Lupin...who else knows?"
"All the Weasleys," Dumbledore replied. "Professor Snape, Professor McGonagall, Hermione's mother...and various others with whom you are not acquainted."
"Like who?" Angie demanded, rounding on Sirius.
"Various others with whom you are not acquainted," Sirius replied with a smirk.
"You should not be keeping secrets, Sirius," she snapped.
"Oh please, Angela. You're the one who failed to mention my seventeen year old daughter sometime in the last seventeen years."
"Which brings us to this interesting development," Dumbledore said, and Angie cringed. "What is this about Miss Star's origins being...not as we had thought?" They all looked at Angie, who had the trapped, frantic look of a small animal cornered by a pack of wolves.
"I do NOT want to tell this story," she said firmly.
"Fine, I'll tell it," Sirius replied, and launched in before Angie could stop him. "Dumbledore, do you remember that one year graduation party where James and Lily tied at Quidditch? Well, that's the same one where they had the fight about having kids and James-"
"We do not need to go back THAT far, Sirius!" Angie yelled, her face deeply flushed.
"Well YOU didn't want to tell it," he replied sullenly.
"Fine, fine, I'll tell it," she snapped. "Um...okay, so I got pregnant. I think I can say without fear of contradiction that the details are NONE of your business."
"Amen," Ron muttered, making a face. Sirius grinned at him and winked.
"So...I mean, I wasn't..." she cast a wary look at her daughter. "I wasn't entirely certain of...of..."
"The father," Dumbledore muttered. Angie nodded, staring at the floor. She could feel Kirsten's shocked eyes following her every move.
"And she preaches to me about going on a date or two and having fun," she hissed at Ron. Ron shrugged.
"It happens," he replied.
"Anyway," she continued. "I figured out pretty soon that it had to be Sirius...I mean, honestly, Dumbledore, you're supposed to be the omniscient one. Just look at her." Dumbledore-along with everyone except Angie-stared at Kirsten, who was trying not to squirm. Dumbledore's gaze shifted to Sirius, then back to Kirsten, then back to Sirius again.
"Sirius," he muttered, sounding very old, "We're a couple of fools,"
"You're telling me," Sirius replied.
"What?" Kirsten demanded, nearly crying.
"I don't get it either," Ron said, trying to reassure her.
"Kirsten," Angie addressed her daughter for the first time, "What color are my eyes? And Josh's?"
"Blue," she replied. "I'm not totally stupid, Mom."
"And your eyes..." she continued.
"Er...very light hazel," Kirsten said faintly realizing just exactly what her mother was getting at.
"No they're not," Ron interrupted. "They're brown...really dark brown like...like...whoa, I get it! They look like Sirius's eyes! Minus the creepy haunted look," he added as an afterthought.
"Oh Ron, allow me to stare you down with my haunted eyes," Sirius said, glaring at Ron, who shook his head.
"No way, man, you win. You are the staring master," he said, as if this were a compliment of some kind. "And you can get the wild, crazy glint," Ron continued enthusiastically. Sirius sighed.
"Okay, this is just getting ridiculous," Angie cried. "Are we done here YET?" She was longing for a cigarette or twelve and a full bottle of something intoxicating.
"I don't know," Dumbledore replied, looking at Kirsten pointedly.
"I...I really need to think," she managed to spit out. Ron nodded sympathetically.
"I think we're going to go, Headmaster," he said. Kirsten nodded.
"You can't tell anyone, Miss Star," Dumbledore warned her. She nodded blankly. "About any of this," she nodded again. Angie let out a breath of relief.
"Goodbye," Kirsten said. She and Ron turned to leave. Ron smiled at Sirius. Kirsten did not look at her mother or...her father.
* * *
A profound silence ensued after the children had taken their leave. Angie felt a rush of emotion and tears coming on as she put a hand over her mouth. Silently, tears began to leak from her eyes.
Cautiously, Sirius placed a hand on Angie's shoulder. She jerked away and screamed at him. "That was cruel, making me tell that story," She cried. Sirius lifted his eyes skyward for a moment.
"Angela, the truth needed to come out," He said. She gave him a tearful look. Dumbledore sighed heavily and set his glasses on the desk in front of him.
"Angela," Dumbledore said softly, realizing he was treading on thin ice, "Why is that you did not tell Kirsten who her real father was until now?"
"I didn't even know until a few days ago," Sirius replied as Dumbledore replaced his glasses. "And I might never have known if I hadn't accidentally discovered it written in her diary,"
"For Christ's sake, Sirius, stop it!" Angie cried.
"What? Stop telling Dumbledore what a horrible person you are?"
"Sirius," Dumbledore whispered warningly. "Why did you pretend that Kirsten was Mr. Thompson's daughter, Angela?" Dumbledore prompted.
"Originally, I thought she was...and then...after I realized..." She broke down again and Sirius took over.
"She assumed I would desert her...or something worse."
"And you blame her for this assumption?" Dumbledore asked in a bland tone that was not accusatory or sarcastic. Sirius shrugged.
"I wasn't perfect, but I don't think that gives her any kind of right to do what she did," Sirius stated reasonably.
"Allow me to state what I know so that the two of you might correct me if I'm a little confused," Dumbledore said slowly. "One year after your graduation from Hogwarts Kirsten was conceived... weren't you dating Mr. Thompson at the time?" Dumbledore interrupted himself.
Sirius nodded emphatically, responding for Angie. Dumbledore raised his eyebrows and continued. "So, you told Mr. Thompson that it was his child... You and Sirius drifted apart for a while. On Halloween, the very night James and Lily were murdered, the two of you showed up and were married. From here, Sirius was arrested. That was the last time you saw Sirius until recently. You attempted to end your life...and ended up here for a while. Then, you went to the United States with Josh and were married to him after you tried to kill yourself once more," At this point Sirius raised his eyebrows and looked at Angie who avoided his eyes.
"You were divorced...eight years later? Something like that; and this year you returned here to Hogwarts. You were reunited with Sierra, and Mr. Lupin, whom you have been casually dating for some time now." Angie's eyes flickered to Sirius for a moment.
"On Halloween," Dumbledore paused, rather dramatically. "You had a confrontation with Sirius. Recently, he discovered an old diary which stated that Miss Star was really the daughter of Sirius. It seems as if it was his idea to explain all this to me. Now, is there anything I have left out?"
"That pretty much completes the tale of 'Angela Star is a horrible person'." Angie agreed, staring at the floor. Sirius reached to her with a comforting hand but she didn't respond. "Don't get me wrong, I had reasons for doing what I did. If Josh was the father, my economic and emotional situation was probably much better off than with Sirius. But, as Sirius pointed out, those reasons are those of a selfish bitch. And I'm frequently reminded that smoking is an unhealthy habit and I'm a drunk. And one more thing that was left out, I'm a horrible mother for not explaining everything to my daughter, who hates me." At the conclusion, Angie burst into uncontrollable and hysterical sobs.
* * *
Comforting words and soft phrases echoed in Ron's mind, each more ridiculous than the next. He yearned to break the awkward silence between him and Kirsten, but at that moment it seemed about as daunting as a Potion's exam. Her eyes were slightly out of focus, and she was walking around in an almost dizzy way. Several times he had to take her hand to keep her from making a wrong turn.
It wasn't really a very long walk between Dumbledore's office and the Gryffindor common room, but it was one of the longest in Ron's memory. Honestly though, how does one comfort one's girlfriend when she just found out a man she had previously believed to be a murderer was not only innocent, but her father?
Just thinking about it was making his head hurt.
"Password?" the Fat Lady asked, and Ron had never been happier to see her. He could have kissed her...except that she was a portrait and all.
"Sethos," Ron replied. The portrait opened and they entered as silently as ever.
The common room was deserted. It was, after all, Saturday afternoon. The sun was shining and the snow had just fallen, so many of the students were outside flinging snow balls at one another. The more studious-Hermione and Harry included-were studying in the Library.
They sat on the couch, and the silence was more pronounced than ever. Ron still didn't know what to say, but he had to try.
"Kirsten..." There, her name was a good start, wasn't it? "Kirsten, I know this is hard for you, but Sirius is really a good guy and-"
"No Ron, you do NOT know this is hard for me, and how can you even sit there and tell me Sirius is a good guy?" Her voice was soft, calm, and cold. Ron resisted the urge to flinch.
"Really, Kirst, it's...I mean, it's not like you even liked Josh anyway-"
"That's not the POINT, Ron!" She shouted, and Ron resisted breathing a sigh of relief. Somehow, she seemed less frightening like this. More human, he supposed.
"Well, think about it! You've never liked him and now you don't even have to pretend because he's not even your real dad!"
"You don't get it, do you?" she demanded hotly. "Ron my entire life has been a LIE! I've always thought...and now...I just can't..." she wasn't stuttering, really. Just grasping at loose ends, as if she had so many thoughts she couldn't organize them enough to make a coherent sentence. "It's just not fair!" she finally proclaimed.
"Life's not fair," Ron replied reasonably. She let out a growl of frustration.
"I just had a life shattering experience and all you can do is sit here and tell me life's not fair!" she screamed, and he could see the tears beginning to well in her eyes. He realized with alarm-and a bit belatedly-that he was going about this in the wrong fashion. He was about to respond when someone else did it for him.
"What's wrong, Kirsten?" the familiar voice asked. "What life shattering experience?"
Ron and Kirsten both jumped and turned, as if they had been caught snogging. Harry and Hermione were looking at them curiously. It was Hermione who had asked the question, and her eyes widened with alarm as she saw Kirsten hastily brush away tears.
"It's nothing," she replied, her voice slightly unsteady as her eyes flickered to Ron's. "I just...I think I need to lie down," she said, flying to her dorm. Ron winced as he heard the door slam. He had to stop himself from wincing again as he turned to face his two best friends.
"What's up with her?" Harry demanded, his eyes slightly narrowed.
"Er...nothing," Ron replied, trying to be casual, his voice almost cracking with the effort. "Nothing, she's just worried about her mum...and her dog died...and she's feeling ill...and she's worried about the Charms quiz...and she's feeling kind of homesick for America...and she's on her period...and she doesn't like the new shoes she bought...and...er..." Ron was babbling incoherently, and they knew he was lying, but he couldn't stop himself. He couldn't think of anything plausible, so he figured a list of little reasons...
"Sure Ron, whatever you say," Hermione replied, rolling her eyes. "If it's that much of a secret, why don't you just say you can't tell us?"
"I can't tell you," Ron replied, beaming, as if that had been what he was saying all along. Hermione sighed, and Harry looked merely confused.
* * *
"Dearest Apollo,
I haven't heard from you in a (relatively) long time. I hope everything is wonderful with you.
Just to let you know so you don't have to worry about it all through this letter; I'm perfectly fine, nothing strange is going on (well, except for Ron and Kirsten...they've been acting even more strange than usual.) I just wanted to say hello and see what's new with you.
Now that we've established that; the real reason I'm writing this letter. Have you talked to my mother lately? It's not like her to not come and see me in over a week. I don't know what could keep her so occupied. I thought you might have talked to her recently and could give me some insight.
Well, anyway, what are we going to do about Christmas this year? We've all got to get together and have a gift exchange. Everyone is staying here for our last Christmas together so you can work out a place for us to all meet.
Speaking of Christmas, I'm headed off to Hogsmeade this weekend to finish up my Christmas shopping. I heard there was a sale on little black dresses...
Totally Yours,
Hermione
Harry had approached Hermione in hopes of consulting her about his History of Magic homework when curiosity got the better of him. He had time to see her closing and signature before she placed the letter into an envelope and addressed it to "Apollo".
He backed away and hurried up to his dormitory. Upstairs, he paced and racked his brain.
Harry couldn't understand what annoyed him so much about Hermione's correspondence with someone he didn't know. A man that he did not know.
They'd been writing each other letters for quite some time now and they seemed to be somewhat attached to each other. Addressing their letters to "Dearest" and talking about little black dresses.
That annoyed Harry too. Since when did Hermione go around wearing little black dresses? And why is that Ron knew all about this guy and Hermione's dress and he didn't? What if this Apollo was one of Kirsten's friends?
That thought stopped Harry in his tracks. His face visibly changed color at the thought. He shook himself and continued on his pace.
It wasn't that he disapproved of Kirsten. She wasn't all bad; she definitely wasn't bad to look at. Once you got to know her, her personality was enjoyable too. But she was influencing and changing people all around him.
Kirsten and Ron were always together now and he felt the bond that he, Hermione and Ron had was weakening. Of course, it was part of growing up. But things were different with Kirsten there; they couldn't openly discuss certain things anymore.
He was definitely happy to see that Hermione had finally learned to appreciate herself. The change in her confidence level was astonishing. He always knew Hermione was an extraordinarily beautiful girl but now it shown from her like a torch.
Eventually Harry realized the futility of pacing around. It would never accomplish anything. So, he did the only thing he could think of doing. He got out parchment, quill, and ink and wrote a letter to Sirius.
It was an awkward letter to write. Harry felt stupid saying most of the things he did. He wrote and wrote and wrote until the letter started to resemble more of a short story than a mere correspondence. But the more he wrote the more came.
Harry wrote about how he felt everyone was changing. How he didn't feel ready to graduate and go out into the world. How he couldn't decide what career he wanted to pursue. He wrote about his insane and irrational jealously of Hermione's new pen pal. All his frustrations and worries came pouring forth.
When he finally stopped and sat back Harry felt immensely relieved and somehow comforted. As he sent Hedwig out with the letter-to her annoyance, (the weather was rather inclement and the letter was rather large and long)-Harry felt good about knowing that his godfather was going to read it all. It was good to know he had told someone about everything.
* * *
Well, life goes on, as Hogwarts inhabitants learned. And Ron learned that even if Kirsten's mother was going through a period of emotional break-down she still piled on the homework before the Christmas holidays. Of course, his homework had become much easier now that he was dating Kirsten, but he still had to be careful not to put something down that they hadn't yet studied in class.
The drama was high all around them, as if every one else had some life changing experience like Kirsten did. Ron had tried to console her and talk to her about what had happened but the truth was, they were both much more comfortable not discussing it. Ron hadn't a clue what to say. Kirsten tried to explain to him.
Suddenly, her entire life was different. She'd have memories and they'd be clouded and they would seem wrong because they included Josh. How could she have called him a father for so many years? Sure, she didn't like Josh, and he was a horrible parent, but he was still her FATHER...or had been...except that he never was...
She growled in frustration. It was all so confusing. Why couldn't her life just be normal?
She should go down to breakfast, she knew. But at the moment the thought of bacon and toast made her more nauseous than anything. Therefore, it was Ron who received the letter addressed in familiar, sloppy handwriting he was used to seeing on letters written to Hermione. It now read "Ron and Kirsten".
His eyes bulged and he stuffed the letter in his pocket before Harry or Hermione could notice anything out of the ordinary. Luckily Hermione was reading her Transfiguration book-some things never change, he thought to himself with a shake of his head-and Harry was muttering over a well-worn book of Quidditch plays. After carefully making sure his friends were busy Ron opened the letter...muttering a distracting charm, just in case.
"Ron and Kirsten,
I know what happened Saturday is shocking, and I'm sure you, Kirsten, have a lot of questions. Please don't go to your mother. She's not in a fit state to explain. She's having a very difficult time right now.
I, however, am ready to answer any question I can. Hermione has informed me of the upcoming Hogsmeade weekend. I'll be in the Shrieking Shack. Take the secret passage-Ron, you know the one I'm talking about. The one where I broke your leg, as I recall."
Here Ron squinted. There were a few words crossed out at the beginning of the next paragraph. He could make out "please" and "we" but not much else. Sighing, he continued to read what was written.
"I'm really looking forward to seeing you both, especially Kirsten (no offense Ron). I'll see you on Saturday.
Sincerely,
Apollo"
Well, Ron thought to himself, that certainly opened a list of interesting possibilities...
~*~
Sirius was in an awful state of mind that Saturday. He seemed to be that way often of late... He was cold and tired, but his mind was wired. He felt like running around the shack several hundred times because his thoughts were racing through his mind at a confusing speed.
There were so many things to think about. A whole new chapter of his life to worry about. He felt as if he'd started in on the next chapter without finishing the last one. There were so many things he needed to be doing, so much work he needed to finish for the Alliance but how could he ignore the latest news?
His confusing and rather pointless thought process was interrupted abruptly by two apparitions. Swearing at the young couple Sirius attempted not to stare at his daughter, while she was doing her best not to look him in the eye.
"Might you give me some warning instead of giving me a new wrinkle every time you burst in unannounced?" He asked Ron, a slight edge to his voice. Ron shrugged apologetically.
Sirius sighed heavily and resumed his idle pacing, for lack of anything better to do. "Pile some broken pieces of furniture together if you care to sit," Sirius said, waving his arm rather dramatically. "I don't think I can deal with sitting at the moment..."
Ron glanced at Kirsten who gave a slight shake of her head, agreeing with her father. Sirius stopped pacing and grinned. His abrupt change of mood rather shocked Kirsten...but Ron returned the warming smile.
"It's rather chilly in here," Kirsten said quietly glancing around as if looking for a fire.
Sirius snorted. "My dear, it's not necessary to understate for my benefit. It's positively freezing in here, I'm afraid I've forgotten to pay the gas bill." Kirsten gave a weak smile at his attempt at humor. "However, you're the one with a wand, if you'd like a little warmth; feel free to makes a fire."
Kirsten glanced uncomfortably at Ron, almost as if she was rather afraid of damaging anything of Sirius's...as if this were his house or something. "In here, there's a fireplace in this room," Ron said, pointing toward the next room.
"Is there really?" Sirius asked, following the children into the next room. "Well, what do you know? I guess I forgot about that...I never really paid much attention... However, I'd be much obliged if you refrained from using the chimney. Smoke coming from an abandoned old house is perhaps not the best way to go about hiding oneself."
"Didn't think of that," Ron admitted. "Where's Hermione with her fire in a jar when you need her?"
"Did I hear my name?" None other than Hermione Granger asked, appearing in the doorway, followed by Harry Potter. Sirius swore again, as was his habit when the occasion warranted it.
Hermione's face, which was smiling from recognition of Ron's voice, fell as her eyes came to rest on Kirsten. Harry had stopped dead too. Pausing only long enough to form conclusions, Hermione's eyes snapped to Ron and her voice quickly followed with the snapping action.
"What is Kirsten doing here, Ron? I thought we agreed that it wasn't necessary to disclose certain information to her?"
"Down, girl," Ron said, trying to shake off her piercing glare. Hermione would have continued but Sirius intervened.
"Kirsten is here at my invitation," Sirius said, looking Hermione straight in the eye. She returned his gaze with a slight questioning raise of her eyebrows. When Sirius didn't break his gaze Hermione turned and gave a sidelong glance at Harry who looked just as confused as she felt.
"Forgive me for being blunt," Harry said, "But...why?"
Sirius wore a crooked half-smile as he glanced at Kirsten before taking a breath to reply. Kirsten, however, cut him off. "I'm not brain dead, you know. I have noticed a few things..."
Hermione looked skeptical but Sirius and Ron understood why Kirsten had said what she did. She wasn't any more ready to explain that Sirius's was her paternal father than Sirius was. Shaking his head and still wearing that odd half-smile, Sirius spoke again. "You're just like your mother."
"What does Professor Star have to do with anything?" Hermione said sharply. Ron nearly burst out laughing but was just barely able to contain himself.
"Professor Star was a...good friend of mine," Sirius explained, carefully, making it even more difficult for Ron to control himself. "I knew Kirsten when she was a baby."
If Hermione hadn't been trying so hard to understand what exactly what was going on she would have noticed Ron struggling not to show his amusement and she would have found the gaze that Sirius turned upon Kirsten just then, very interesting indeed.
"So, she's become one of us now," Ron said, trying to break tension. Harry still had his arms crossed very tightly across his chest and Hermione was desperately trying not to pierce Kirsten with a glare.
"You're not the least bit frightened to be in a room with an escaped convict?" Hermione pressed.
"But he's innocent..." Kirsten said, trying to smile at Hermione's stony face.
"Right," Hermione said rather shortly, as if she didn't believe her.
Fearing that Hermione and Harry would go on with a full interrogation Sirius felt it wise to stop them before they got carried away. "I believe I can judge who is trustworthy," Sirius said, softly.
"You're the one who trusted Pettigrew...to the demise of my parents," Harry said suddenly. Sirius gave him a Look. "I didn't mean it..." Harry mumbled almost immediately and looked at the floor.
"Well," Sirius said briskly, "I'm sure you all have plenty of Christmas shopping to do, so why waste your time hanging out with an old man?"
They all agreed with nods and smiles. It was as if a director had suddenly called a scene change. They were all smiles and polite as they took their leave. Sirius quickly took Kirsten by the shoulders and asked her the question that had been nagging at him.
"How is your mother? Dumbledore has banned me from the castle for... a while, at least, and I haven't been able to make contact with her."
"It's hard to tell...she tries to hide things from me..."
"Kirsten?" Ron called from just inside the entrance to the secret passageway. She glanced up at Sirius and then hastily took her leave.
"Sorry, I dropped my hat," She called just before she disappeared out of sight.
* * *
"Nicolette LeMur!" Sirius called, making lots of noise entering her apartment in Paris.
"Sirius Black!" She exclaimed, eyes sparkling as she emerged from an inner room. "It's been so long darling! Ah! Sierra, bienvenue! The Weasley's are in here and Arnold Peasegood. We decided we might want the Obliviator for this venture. Just in case," They all laughed a little as they entered.
Once they were all seated they got down to business. The Alliance would be very busy in the near future. They set to business discussing the trappings of Bill's brilliant plan.
"William," Nicolette said seriously. "You're in charge of most of this so assign your assignments now. You're going to need several people who have specific tasks. And, knowing you, the Weasleys will take care of the dirty work, I'm sure." Bill nodded.
"So," He turned to Sierra who looked like the most likely candidate for one of his jobs. "Tell me, my dear, how good are you at making potions? You think you can handle a few things?"
"I'm not too bad with a cauldron," Sierra replied evenly, almost challengingly.
"Good," Bill breathed. "Very good. Next thing we need to talk about. We're going to need some cash...on hand." Sirius coughed but didn't speak yet. "We're not talking about serious money, but a good chunk of change."
"I can supply you financially," Sirius said quietly. They all turned to stare at him. "I can talk to Griphook..."
"Stop right there!" Bill said waving his hand. "It's too risky. You may have money but we would take a considerable risk moving YOUR money around. I don't want to have to deal with Gringotts. I was a curse breaker there and certain of the goblins don't trust me very much anymore..."
"I'll handle it," Sierra said.
"Sierra, I can't ask you to do that," Sirius cut in.
"No big deal, you can just pay be back when you get off," Sierra said.
"You sound so optimistic. Seen any rats lately?" Sirius asked sarcastically.
"I'm serious. I have plenty of money lying around. You know that," She protested. Sirius shrugged. "Good, that's settled."
"Oh, the women with the money," Bill said provocatively to Sierra. "I think this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship." Sierra laughed.
"I have dueling club only two nights a week and the rest of the time I have only a few things I'm responsible for. If I talk to Dumbledore I'm sure we can get together during the week and get to work. This is going to take quite some time in the planning stages."
"Brilliant!" Bill declared. "I'll owl Mum and Dad and tell them I'm coming home for a long holiday. We can meet at the house then. Mum and Dad know you from the ministry so we'll be fine."
"Good," Sierra agreed.
"I love this. A huge part of my life and I don't have to do anything. Everything's being taken care for me." Sirius grinned.
"And the pay off is going to be better than you ever imagined," Bill said, still just a little egotistical about his wonderful idea.
~*~
Sirius lingered after the others had left. "I've got your Christmas present," He told Nikki. "I'm not sure when I'll be around next so you can go ahead and open it now."
With a coy little smile she took the package and unwrapped it. Taking the contents out she shrieked with joy. "A broom! Sirius you got me a broom!" She jumped into his arms and gave him a big smack on the cheek.
"When can you give me a lesson? I WANT TO FLY!" She cried jumping around the room like a little kid. Sirius was rolling with laughter.
"When I weather gets a little nicer I'll give you a lesson," He said.
"I can't wait! Thank you so much!" She beamed.
"I thought you'd like it. Now, I have a favor to ask of you. I have a rather large and important purchase that I want to make. I want you to take me to Gringotts, in dog form, and ask for Griphook. We're going to make a transaction and buy a Christmas present for someone but I need you to do it."
"No problem, sounds like a challenge, I'm all for it!"
"OK, your role. You're going as a lawyer for my father's estate. That's just a cover in case some other goblin gets suspicious. I'll get you important looking papers and such. Once we get there Griphook won't care, but just in case. We'll go tomorrow."
"OK, done!" Nikki agreed still beaming over her broom.
* * *
It was Christmas Eve and there was a cheery fire crackling in the grate. The only light came from the fire and the little lighted Christmas tree Angie had set up. Sirius and Angie sat next to each other on the couch facing the fire.
Angie sighed loudly. Sirius grinned and put his arm around her, giving her shoulder a little squeeze. "This is the first Christmas Eve I've spent with...anybody for seventeen years. That's a long time."
"I'm sorry," Angie said softly. Sirius shrugged.
"It doesn't really matter anymore... Angela, will you sing something for me?"
"Sing?" Angie asked, pulling back in order to look into his face.
"Yeah, sing. You used to use your voice all the time," Sirius explained.
"I don't know... I haven't sung for...years..." Angie said, unsure of herself.
"I know, you told me. But, that's a shame. It's a waste. You need to sing something. Please?" Sirius asked playfully causing Angie to laugh.
"What if I've forgotten how?" Sirius laughed and pulled her closer.
"Don't be ridiculous."
"Why don't you sing? You used to use your voice all the time too," Angie pointed out.
"It's not the same thing. I'm all right with music to cover it up, but your voice is on pitch and clear, and you have tone...and all that stuff." Angie sighed again and rested her head on his shoulder. They sat for a time in silence, and just as Sirius was about to press her further she started to sing, very softly, but clearly.
"What child is this, who, laid to rest, on Mary's lap is sleeping? Whom angels greet with anthems sweet While shepherds watch are keeping?
"This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing; Haste, haste to bring Him laud, the Babe, the Son of Mary!
"Why lies He in such mean estate Where ox and ass are feeding? Good Christian, fear; for sinners here The silent Word is pleading.
"This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing; Haste, haste to bring Him laud, the Babe, the Son of Mary!
"So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh; Come, one and all, to own Him. The King of kings salvation brings; Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
"This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing; Haste, haste to bring Him laud, the Babe, the Son of Mary!" By the time she finished tears were falling silently from her eyes.
There was a profound silence where the fire seemed to be the only sound in the world. After a few minutes Angie pulled away from Sirius and wiped her eyes. "It's been many years since..." She began, but stopped talking because there really was no need.
Sirius laughed softly to himself. "You know, I think the only reason the Marauder's kept getting gigs was because occasionally you'd come and sing with us. I mean, James was all right...but you... you made the songs. We'd have never made it without you." Angie laughed too.
"Those were fun times too," Angie agreed. "Happy Christmas, Sirius."
"Happy Christmas, Angela," He replied, and then leaned over and gave her an affectionate kiss.
* * *
"Kirsten! Hermione! HAPPY CHRISTMAS!" Ron shouted right into Hermione's ear Christmas morning.
"Bah humbug!" Hermione declared sitting up and rubbing her eyes. Harry was literally dragging Kirsten out of bed by her arms.
"Come on. Ron made me get up, the two of you have to get up also," Harry said.
"Just a minute," Kirsten mumbled, stumbling over to the dresser and the mirror. She was hurriedly throwing some make-up on. Ron rolled his eyes.
"You can do that later. Come on!"
"Wait! Just let me put on some mascara!"
~*~
A merry fire blazed in the grate and the four friends gathered round it. They were all reading letters they'd received from home or...one person or another. Kirsten had received a rather sentimental, though short, letter from her father inviting her up to Angie's room before the others came.
She handed the letter to Ron who read it and then promptly threw it in the fire. Harry and Hermione would have ignored it except that Kirsten stood to leave. "I...I have to go do something really quick," She said, when the inquiring eyes fell on her.
"Yeah," Ron agreed as she hastily scrambled out the portrait hole. "She's just going to get some breakfast. Go to the owlrey. Get a book from the library. See if she can find her lost Charms textbook. You know, a few things... She'll be back soon." Ron didn't understand why he kept babbling. All he kept thinking was stop! But he just kept going.
Hermione and Harry looked very skeptical. "Uh-huh," Hermione said, with raised eyebrows.
"Why don't you just say 'Guys it's personal, I can't tell you'?" Harry asked.
"Guys its personal, I can't tell you," Ron said, looking extremely pleased with himself.
"In the spirit of Christmas I suppose we'll have to let that one go..." Hermione conceded.
* * *
Sirius couldn't remember the last time he'd felt so happy. It had to have been before he was arrested and went to jail because even when he escaped and saw Harry he felt a lot of rising anger and not happiness. But today was Christmas, "the most wonderful time of the year". And, not only that, but he was in a warm place, he'd eaten recently, and he was in wonderful company.
A Christmas fever had hit him. He was excited about presents and excited about Christmas dinner. He felt as if he was kid, waking up at four in the morning at the Potter's.
"Morning love, how did you sleep?" Sirius asked, casually, as he made some coffee. Angie started to answer and then stopped and smiled.
"You know, I slept really well." Sirius looked up at her and returned her warm smile. The sincerity in her voice was almost shocking. She had not had a good sleep for what seemed like years.
"We're meeting at Sierra's at... one o'clock today? Me, you, Remus, Sierra, Hermione, and Harry? We'll leave at dark then," Sirius said, pretty much talking to himself.
"Leave? Where?" Angie questioned, not able to follow his train of thought. Sirius didn't answer; he looked at her, his eyes dancing and grinned.
"If you don't mind, I wrote this letter to Kirsten..." Sirius continued, ignoring her questions. "I was thinking we could have a little Christmas of our own...as a...family," Sirius said, only slightly nervous.
"Oh...yes, that would be...yes," Angie agreed; she was somewhat nervous as well. How long had Sirius and Kirsten known about each other? Nine days... a little more? Angie bit her lip. This was going to be trying to her emotions...she could tell.
~*~
Kirsten felt as if she were gliding on air as she made her up to her mother's room. It was difficult to pinpoint her feelings, seeing as thousands of thoughts were whisking in and out of her head, thus keeping her thoroughly distracted.
Before she realized it, she was standing outside the doorway, breathing rather more often than necessary. Her heart was pounding in anticipation. She was going to spend Christmas with her real father...
For some reason, her knocking on the door felt extremely dramatic. She was excited and frightened and really had NO idea what to expect.
Sirius had leapt to his feet at the first sound of the knock but quickly decided that Angie had better answer the door. Angie did so, beheld her daughter trembling just outside.
Sirius and Angie sounded of chorus of "Happy Christmas!" They beamed all around.
"Merry Christmas!" Kirsten declared, in a heavy American accent, just to be blatantly obstinate. Angie rolled her eyes.
"Oh, this is cute," Kirsten commented, hey eyes falling on the heavily tinseled little Christmas tree by the window. Angie shrugged and sat down on the arm of the sofa.
Angie's tenseness radiated from her. Sirius placed a comforting hand over hers and gave it a little squeeze. All in all, it would have made a pretty domestic scene to the casual observer.
"Kirsten," Angie said, "Your Christmas present from me won't be arriving until tomorrow, OK?"
"Arriving?" Kirsten said excitedly taking a seat in a chair opposite her mother. When it became evident that Angie would make no more allusions to Christmas presents Kirsten changed the subject. "Well, Merry Christmas then," She said, handing her mother a prettily wrapped gift.
She had not gotten anything for Sirius. What exactly was she supposed to get for a man she met less than two weeks ago?
While mother and daughter exchanged thanks, Sirius had gotten up and now presented his gifts. "For my girls," He said with a grin; handing them each a rose. To Angie he gave a box of nice little chocolates. To Kirsten; he handed her a smaller box.
"Where did you get this?" Angie demanded.
"Oh Angela, you're very welcome. Happy Christmas to you too!" Sirius replied sarcastically.
"Oh yes, yes, very thoughtful," She said hastily waving her hand. "But, I'm serious, where did you get this?" Sirius simply shrugged.
"Don't worry about it," He told her. A sharp intake of breath indicated Kirsten had opened the box.
"I tried to get the cut that matches your necklace," Sirius explained.
Kirsten jumped to her feet and rushed to the mirror. Angie could barely believe her eyes as she watched Kirsten put on a dazzling pair of diamond earrings. Angie turned her open-mouth shock to a very smug looking Sirius. Kirsten turned around absolutely glowing.
"Thank you so much!" She gushed.
"Kirsten? Why don't you go get Ron, Harry, and Hermione up here so we can have our own little Christmas celebration?" Angie suggested.
"OK! Be right back!" She said, gathering up her rose and scurrying out.
"You got her diamond earrings?" Angie demanded the moment the door had closed. Sirius grinned and shrugged. "She is seventeen years old, you realize?"
"Just making up for lost Christmases." Angie gave him a Look. "What? Do you want diamonds too?"
"Where did you get those earrings?" She pressed; Sirius just laughed.
"I'm a fugitive, not a criminal. I didn't obtain them illegally, if that's what's bothering you."
"Still, she's seventeen. I can't believe you got her diamond earrings for Christmas." She turned her back and walked toward the window to watch the snow softly fall.
* * *
Sirius leaned back and looked up the dark façade of a brick house on the outskirts of the residential neighborhood of Hogsmeade. Angie stood shivering next to him with her eyes closed.
Sirius carefully fitted the key into the door and slowly swung the door open. He took hold of both her hands. "Step up," He instructed leading her through the door. He quickly shut it and then led her down the hall.
Angie heard the clicking of her heels on the hard floor and wondered where in the heck they were. "Can I open my eyes yet," She asked with a little yet.
"Just a minute more," Sirius said. He led her out into the center of a room and then left her in the middle.
"Where did you go?" She asked.
"Ready? OK, open your eyes," He said just as he switched on the lights. Angie found herself standing in a rather large living room with cathedral ceilings. "I know there's nothing here yet, but... Do you like it?"
"Do I like it? What? The house?" Angie asked, a little confused starting to walk around in circles trying to take in the room. "I guess..."
"Come have a look upstairs," Sirius said, grabbing her hand. He led her down the hall scarcely pausing to look at the rooms. "Here's the master bedroom," He said leading her to the door frame.
She looked into the dark room; then turned to him. Sirius moved his eyes skyward to the mistletoe. Angie laughed. "Do you remember the time at Hogwarts you caught me under the mistletoe."
"Of course," Sirius said laughing. "I was rather immature, wasn't I?"
"You can say that again. You nearly knocked me over with your over enthusiastic dramatics! Of course, James was rolling with laughter,"
"Who wouldn't be? The scandalized look on your face was priceless. Anyway..." Sirius leaned over to give Angie a kiss, but stopped abruptly.
"What?" she demanded.
"When did you get to my eye level?" he demanded. "Have you been taking a potion to make you taller or something.
"No..." she replied, looking at him curiously. "Why does it matter?"
"It's just weird!" he insisted. "I've always had to bend down to kiss you and now you're right there!"
"Well that's ridiculous, I'm not any taller."
"Then how do you explain it?" he asked. She smirked.
"As Kirsten would say, 'the boots of doom'."
"Boots of doom...?" Sirius repeated in confusion.
"My leather boots," she replied, lifting her robes to her knees to show the tall black boots in question. Sirius looked down and laughed.
"Some things never change," he sighed, "I guess I'll just have to kiss you with your boots on, won't I?"
"I suppose so, seeing as we're under the mistletoe," she said seriously. He gave her a half-smile and pulled her in for the kiss.
"That's better," Angie said with a smile. She looked up and frowned. "What's this?" she asked, reaching up for the glint of gold on the mistletoe. She pulled down a... house key?
"Happy Christmas," Sirius said softly.
"Pardon me," Angie exclaimed, looking from the key to Sirius.
"Granted," Sirius replied with a grin.
"I...I don't understand," Angie stuttered.
"It's your Christmas gift," Sirius replied.
"This key? What does it open?"
"The front door, of course."
"The front door? Of this house? You're crazy!"
"This is true... Don't you like the house?" Sirius asked.
"It's not about the house!" Angie cried. "How can I accept this? You cannot just GIVE me a house."
"But I am," Sirius argued.
"No! How can you just give me a house? How do you just GET a house?"
"I wanted to get you something you needed. And, you needed a place to live. Happy Christmas," Sirius said with a shrug.
"No, you don't understand," Angie said, starting to get a little angry. Who did he think he was? She didn't need an escaped convict buying her HOUSES! "I am not going to accept a HOUSE as a Christmas gift. A Christmas gift is a box of chocolates...a rose... a bloody fruitcake! A HOUSE is not a Christmas gift!"
"Maybe it's not a conventional Christmas gift but it's what I'm giving you. It's something you need. How can you say you're not going to take this house?" Sirius expostulated. Angie eyes searched his face for some kind of clue to make him understand. Or to make herself understand. You can't just buy a person a HOUSE for Christmas.
"I don't want your damn house! Just because I don't have all the money in the world right now doesn't mean you go out and buy me a whole house!" Angie cried, throwing the key at him and storming down the hallway.
"Angie! I didn't intend to offend. I knew you needed a place to live so I got one for you. Are you just going to walk out?"
"I can't believe this! I CANNOT believe YOU!" She continued ranting all the way down the stairs.
"Angela, where are you going?" Sirius asked as she neared the door.
"Back to Sierra's!" She cried and then stormed out the door.
* * *
The day after Christmas Ron and Kirsten were creating a little Christmas spirit in the common room when Angie showed up. "Mom," Kirsten said through gritted teeth as Ron sprang away from her.
"We have to go meet your Christmas present, come on, and get your cloak," Angie instructed.
"Right now?" Kirsten asked.
"Yeah, RIGHT now."
They stood shivering a bit on the platform, waiting. The train pulled in and the doors opened. And off stepped Kerri Evangelista, the Italian beauty. They saw each other at the same time.
"KERRI!" Kirsten exploded!
"KIRSTEN!" Kerri shrieked back.
"OH MY GOD!" They chorused as they embraced, giving each other a quick kiss on both cheeks.
"Merry Christmas, darling," Kerri said, stepping back to have a good look at Kirsten.
"Merry Christmas!" Kirsten replied with a grin.
"Oh Angela, how wonderful to see you," Kerri's mother drawled, barely placing her arms around Angie's shoulders. "You're looking...well..." She said, straining very hard.
"You look flawless as always Marina," Angie replied, trying to return her fake smile.
"Oh, it's nothing."
"That's a wonderful brooch," Angie said, eyeing the stunning piece of jewelry.
"Oh, you think so?" Marina asked. "Joshua gave it to me Christmas Eve. We were to his house for a party. You missed a simply divine celebration."
"Oh," Angie replied, suddenly not interested. She didn't want to hear about her ex-husbands wonderful riches and how successful he was.
"Well listen darling, I've got to get back on the train. I'm sure Kerri and Matthew will be no trouble at all-"
"Matthew?" Angie interrupted.
"Oh, I was sure I told you. Kerri's boyfriend came along on the trip. We'll be back the morning of New Year's Eve, all right? Hey, you should meet us in London tomorrow; we could do some catching up? What do you say?"
"Oh, that's all right. I'll be awfully busy and I probably shouldn't leave the children..." Marina laughed.
"Whatever suits you. My love, darling. You look dazzling as always Kirsten. Good-bye!"
"Good-bye Mrs. Evangelista!" Kirsten called as she got back on the train. From inside, her husband waved as the train pulled away.
"Hey Matt, it's good to see you," Kirsten said, flashing a smile. "How long have you and Kerri been going together?"
"What was it...August?" Matt asked looking at Kerri.
"God, has it been that long?" Kerri asked with a laugh.
"August...I left in August..." Kirsten said softly. Matt had always been wild about Kirsten. Funny that she should feel a pang of jealously now. She'd never liked him that much; and now she had Ron. But still...
"Welcome to Scotland, kids!" Angie said in her best British accent.
"Merry Christmas, Ms. Star," Kerri said smiling. "It's so good to see you again."
"You too, my dear," Angie replied, feeling very old.
"Mother, this is Matt, he went to school with us back in the States," Kirsten explained.
"Nice to meet you Matt. I didn't know you were coming so we'll have to talk to the headmaster first thing when we get back to make arrangements for you. I'm sure it will be no trouble. This way..." Angie started to say, leading them off to the path to Hogwarts, but Kerri had her own plans.
"Taxi!" She called to the nearest carriage driver. "This will take us to the school, won't it?"
"Oh...um, of course," Angie replied, biting her lip. She didn't have much extra money to be spending on carriages but the thought of prissy Marina gossiping to her husband about how dreadful she looked angered her.
Matt loaded their things into the back and Angie paid the driver. "Well Kerri, I know you've been to Europe before but has Matt?" Angie asked, making pleasant conversation. "I hope you're enjoying it. Have you just been in London?" Matt nodded.
"We've met loads of wonderful people too! Mr. Thompson's Christmas party was simply divine!" Kerri bubbled in fair imitation of her mother. "Don't you just die for that picture window, Kirsten?"
"Um...I haven't been to Dad's house..." She mumbled.
"Oh, really? Well...you know, he's busy," Kerri said hastily and continued to chat the rest of the ride.
* * *
Kirsten, Kerri, and Matt all arrived in the common room...laughing. "What in the-?" Hermione began, looking up from the Care of Magical Creatures notes she'd been studying.
"Listen, Kirsten," Kerri said seriously, grabbing Kirsten's arm and pulling her to the nearest sofa. "You HAVE to introduce me to Harry Potter."
"Well, of course," Kirsten replied with a laugh. "And, you have to meet my boyfriend." Kerri raised her meticulously plucked eyebrow.
"Harry...isn't your boyfriend?"
"I was sure it was all over the papers...in fact, I know I read an article in Teen Witch about our break-up," Kirsten said.
"Well...yeah, but I didn't, like, believe it," Kerri stuttered.
"Well, believe it," Kirsten said, leaning back against the couch. "Harry and I work so much better as friends."
"Kirsten...are you hearing yourself?" Kerri practically shrieked. Kirsten just smiled at her friend.
"Look, Harry is a really nice guy, but he's not all he's cracked up to be. Now, my boyfriend, Ron-"
"YOU DUMPED HARRY FOR HIS BEST FRIEND!?" Kerri shouted.
"Uh...well...yeah," Kirsten said, trying to calm Kerri down.
"Well...whatever, I'm going after him then," Kerri said, crossing her legs and also sitting back.
"Uh..." Kirsten said, glancing at Matt, Kerri's quote/unquote "boyfriend". "Well, I don't really know if he's interested in getting involved in a relationship right now..." Kerri shot Kirsten a look but bounced back to her normal self almost immediately.
"Oh my God! Guess, who I met at your Dad's Christmas Eve party? He is SO hot! We have to go see him. He goes here," Kerri explained, all very quickly. Kirsten frowned.
"Who?"
"Draco Malfoy!" Kerri practically screamed. Kirsten grinned; she knew full well that Draco Malfoy was head over heels in love, much to Ron's annoyance. Still, she felt a little sympathy for Matt, who was looking anywhere but at Kerri...at the moment.
"Oh...well, Draco is.. Draco's..."
"Dead sexy!" Kerri proclaimed. Kirsten rolled her eyes.
"Hey Kirsten!" Ginny Weasley said strolling up, her red hair bouncing. "Ron was looking for you earlier."
"Oh, I'll go get him in a minute," Kirsten told her.
"Kirsten?" Kerri said in an annoyed voice. "Hello! Right here! Like I was saying. If Harry's out I'm so going to ask Draco Malfoy on a date." If Kirsten had been drinking something she would have sprayed it halfway to France. Ginny coughed, very LOUDLY. Kirsten turned to her to explain but Kerri interrupted again. "Kirsten, what is your problem? Her robes are two years old. And, she's not even wearing eye shadow."
"This happens to be one of my friends, Kerri," Kirsten said quietly.
"So, what? Could you please focus on the important thing right now? Draco."
"Excuse me? Hi," Ginny said, tapping Kerri on the shoulder. "I'm Ginny Weasley-"
"I don't care WHO you are," Kerri interrupted.
"I'm Draco Malfoy's girlfriend!" Ginny shouted, her face crimson with anger. Kerri just looked at her with open-mouth horror.
"Well, it'll never last," She said dismissively, waving her hand.
"We've been dating for almost two years," Ginny snapped and stomped off. Kerri rolled her eyes.
"What would anyone see in her?"
"Um, Kerri? Are you planning on being this judgmental to all of my friends?" Kirsten asked.
"Well, somebody's got to tell them what's wrong with them."
"Right," Kirsten said, angrily looking away.
"Come on, I want to meet Harry Potter!" Kerri demanded.
"OK, fine! Let's go find Harry. Just promise me you won't act like a crazy fan when you meet him."
"Like, of course not."
* * *
By the next morning Kirsten was going crazy, and so were all of Gryffindor tower residents. Ron was being a real prince though. He was constantly insulted by Kerri but he stuck with Kirsten, probably just to make Kerri mad. But Kirsten appreciated it, nonetheless.
Ron graciously offered to lead them on a tour of the castle and the grounds. So, the four of them set off.
~*~
"Afternoon Angela," Sirius said, strolling into her room that day.
"What are you doing here, Sirius?" Angie demanded. She hadn't seen or heard from him since Christmas.
"I thought I'd drop by," Sirius said casually. He removed his cloak and laid it over the back of the couch. Then, he took a seat and very carefully placed the key to the house on the table.
"No, Sirius," She said firmly.
"Angie-"
"For Christ's sake! I'm tired of arguing about it Sirius!"
"So, just take it! I don't understand why you won't. You know you need it. I'm not trying to offend you!"
"Stop this!" Angie cried. "What makes you think I'm going to accept a god damn house? I don't want your money and I don't want your house."
"This is not just for you, you know. This is for you and Kirsten. I'm just trying to take care of my family."
"YOUR FAMILY! You didn't even know you had a family until two weeks ago! You don't need to take care of us! We've always got along fine without you! What makes you think you can just come in here and give us all this stuff? You think we're going to just take you back?
"And what's with the diamonds, Sirius? Where the hell do you come off buying Kirsten diamond earrings? She's never going to think of you as her father! GET OVER IT! You missed it!"
Sirius just looked at her in open-mouth shock for quite a long time. She returned his gaze, breathing quickly. "Whatever..." he mumbled softly and got up to use the bathroom.
As soon as he closed the door she began pacing very quickly and biting her lip to avoid the tears that were threatening to burst forth. She grabbed a glass and started pouring.
She tossed the first one back and then poured a second. She was just lifting it to her mouth when her heart literally froze. The worst possible sound found its way to her ears...
* * *