In the northern tower of the castle a man worked diligently taking care of piles of papers that needed to be handled. The King trusted him with their lives and let him take care of it while he focused on different tasks.
Joao stood to stretch his bones and went to stand by the window; outside the forest gleamed in shades of green and orange, the light that filtered through the leaves made the vision almost ethereal, only interrupted by a sudden swing of wings coming from above.
A large gray owl went to stand on his windowsill, Joao took the letter from it and move aside to let him pass.
"Dear Joao
Life at Hogwarts is as calm as can be. I've made friends with Harry already, he's such a nice boy, he and his two friends are always willing to show me around making my work here a lot easier.
There was an incident with an Hippogriff that would most likely be reported to the ministry (He almost attacked one of the students but I stopped it) and I'll be attending the audience in its defense if the occasion occurs.
Aside from that everything is alright, I don't sense any threat that should concern us.
Tell the King I'll keep on with the plan as we agreed but I'm not entitled to follow any of the ministry's protocols, for I only follow the ways of his noble blood, so he can rest assure I'll inform them if anything occurs.
HRH
Urania Rivadeneira Cortez "
Joao used his wand to create fire from the tip and burned the letter slowly in front of an offended looking owl.
He put out the fire and searched in the ashes with the tip of his wand. A small piece of parchment appeared.
"I have a strong feeling Dumbledore hides something as we suspected."
Joao then burned the parchment and threw the ashes trough the window.
The day of the Hogsmeade trip the halls were full of students planning their day out. All but Urania who was casually sitting by the lake staring at the giant squid.
Ron and Hermione smiled kindly at her, their bond becoming stronger after buckbeack's incident.
"It's so beautiful... It can't be put to words.." she looked at the two then "Where's Harry?" Both pouted and she felt sadness taking over their auras.
"He's not allowed to come, his tutors didn't sign the permit."
She sent a relaxing wave of her own towards them. "I guess I'll bring him a big chocolate then..."
They went along towards the gates to meet other students.
Hogsmeade was a small town that seemed cut out from the miniature villages the muggles built to pray and celebrate Christmas. Little buildings here and there and a main Street full of shops.
"I need something warm to drink as soon as possible, I'm not used to this weather." Urania was wearing a thick green robe long gloves that reached to her elbows, her regular knee length boots and a giant scarf wrapped around her mouth.
To much of the girls dismay, Ron was eager to see what Honeydukes have to offer.
"It's like nothing you've ever seen before..." He kept saying while taking long steps towards the sweet store, inside it was full of the youngest students devouring free samples and counting sickles. Urania just picked two chocolate frogs not being a fan of sweets herself, and a big chocolate bar for Harry.
Hermione and Ron were thrilled to see so many different types of candies in one place, the colorful ambiance embraced them warmly and even Urania agreed to try some of the samples.
"I'm done here..." Urania said after a while "I'm going to check outside, I'll meet you at the pub, butter beer's on me" with a huge grin she reached for the door. Hogsmeade wasn't as big as she would've liked but it had its charm.
Hiking and exploring were her passions so she snuck out of Hogsmeade tempted by the snowy winds that roared through the mountains like a song calling her name.
She went to the outskirts evading the few students that ventured outside the shops to take a look at the shrieking shack. The road changed soon to slippery stones covered in snow and big rocks that demanded to be climbed. She extended hands and feet in the most awkward positions to get her up and reach for a small glare at the top where she could take a look at the whole town, the wind burned her cheeks but the sight was worth the climbing.
She sat with her back to a tree and started eating the first chocolate frog when she felt a familiar presence. She sniffed the air and look for the known fragrance. "What in Merlin's name are you doing here crookshanks... You really are... A craz..." What she saw next froze her, inside of a small cavern lied a dog that reek of death, shaggy long hair covered its sleeping form.
As reckless as Urania always was she took a step closer to the cave, the animal was bigger than a regular dog, almost as big as a wolf and it's aura differed from the cat's as it went deeper as it reached its body, it was almost human. She checked it twice and recognize it then, but this couldn't be the same man... Or could be?
Crookshanks waited evaluating her actions, Urania took a step back and reached for her wand. The cat stood between the dog and her defiantly baring his fangs and hissing.
"Huh? Is this who I think it is, you demon cat?" The cat made a frown-like expression and meowed softly.
"What do you mean he's harmless?" Crookshanks bite her ankle in frustration. "Ouch... Alright, let me take a look at his aura then."
She took one step closer and then two more "it's alright crooks I just want to check his signs." She left her wand and raised her hands in the air so the cat could see them. His aura was the same as the man in the paper, it was clearly exhausted but also deeply terrified. "Dementors have taken its toll on him..." She sat inside the cavern and crookshanks went to her lap purring in delight.
The dog was a mess, not only physical but spiritual. "Sir... Are you alright?" She reprimanded herself internally, are you alright? This man could kill her on the spot and she was worried about his well-being, a facepalm wasn't enough. But why was the cat so adamant to protect him.
He raised his face and stumbled back almost scared, well that much for a criminal, she thought. His aura still not showing any sign of hostility, it rather looked panicked.
"You're starving... You're feeding on lizards and frogs." He looked intrigued for a moment and then his aura flared full of rage "You set me a tramp cat! Is she an auror?!" The dog barked.
She had to send two waves of her energy to calm him, it flew easily through his aura. "Shh... I'm not an auror and if anyone has to accuse this cat is me... Does your owner know any of this?" Crookshanks meowed softly. " So you've been trying to feed this man with scabbers huh?" He looked amused at her conversation with the cat who was now just glaring back and forth.
"You can communicate with us..." she smiled proudly. "Let's just say animals are my specialty." To anyone passing by she looked like a crazy girl who just gave up civilized life to live in the wild.
Sirius eyes beamed with a new light, this girl in front of him just smiled at him and was considering to listen. He looked at her robes and the crest on her chest, she clearly didn't belong here, he felt the need to ask her multiple questions but his situation demanded more attention.
"You know that rat... Look... You're the only... Human I've been able to speak to in a very long time..." His aura flared again this time with despair and sadness, she wanted to hug him but refrained not forgetting he was facing charges for mass murder.
"I'm not armed... They took my wand, I won't hurt you" he kept on babbling " I've been accused of something terrible I haven't done... And the real murder is the rat" she blinked a few times, the man was mad, Azkaban had roasted his little brain. How could she think it was safe to talk to this man, of course she didn't sense anything dangerous, most of crazy people mean no harm and are rather charismatic.
"If you think you can kill Harry by using that absurd history product of your delusions you're more than wrong, I don't give a damn if I have to bite you to pieces... You won't reach Harry." His eyes gleamed and she sensed something similar to hope and happiness but very frail. "Harry has made good friends it seems." He let out a relieved breath and a tear ran down his deep and bony cheek.
She gasped clutching her chest too tired to keep reading him. Reading auras was already hard without the sudden change in emotions, she felt drained and dizzy. "You mean no harm to him... Then why are you really here?"
The dog sat and looked at her intently "to kill a rat" he almost cried.
She grabbed her bag not taking her eyes from the dog in front of her. " I brought a chicken sandwich with me... You could use some food right now."
He sniffed the sandwich she threw at him warily. "Ugh... I would never poison anyone you mutt! Eat it before I regret it." The dog let out a bark that sounded almost like a human laugh.
There she was, feeding a criminal, a man who was accused of manslaughter and not only that but to have betrayed his best friend. She felt nauseous but she needed to understand why such a thing could happen. "I lost my faith in humanity long ago, I know people can be deceiving and friends kill too... But…" she pointed a finger towards him. " I read your aura through the news... You don't have the nerve to kill anyone, did you kill those muggles yes or no?"
The mouth of the dog seemed to move at its own accord "No, I didn't." Even the dog looked surprised by the straight forward answer.
"Did you betray the Potters yes or no?"
"No, I didn't." She smiled in relief and took another sandwich for him.
"What did you put on that sandwich?" She grinned showing him a bottle that said veritas serum "I happen to be friends with the potion master so I snuck in his office and took a bottle." She watched him devour the rest of the bread and she moved to build a small fire to heat the snow.
"Don't! Dementors could come if they see the smoke." She shushed him while she poured the water on a small container and put out the fire. "Done... Now you have clean water to drink."
Sirius blinked incredulously at her, she looked like an angel holding the water with perfect manicured hands and bright smile. "I have about 8 minutes to go back, please tell me your story...I already heard the official version of it, you betrayed the potters and killed a friend along with twelve muggles… I want the truth now"
He began telling her how much he loved the Potters and the bond they shared at school; how all suspicions of a spy among them started and how the Potters refused to believe there was one to begin with, how he felt when Wormtail sold them. "I felt my heart disintegrate in pieces… an emptiness I'd never felt before." Then he move on to his days on Azkaban and how cruel a dementor nature is. "We saw one in the train, it attacked Harry…" The dog closed his eyes tightly. "It's the most undesirable encounter one can experience… they take away any will to live."
She listened all time trying not to interrupt and by the end of it she was in tears, red spots in her face wherever she had dry the tears too roughly. "I thought the glints of aura I got from it were just my imagination..." She took a handkerchief to clean her face. "Or that something was wrong with me... He IS a man." Sirius nodded with red eyes and lost expression. "Harry is in great danger..." He shook his head violently. "He's too coward to act on his own, he's probably waiting for his master to return, that little roach."
Her heart went to Harry, living his life isolated with hateful relatives, while his godfather spent his years in prison. She couldn't help but compare her luck next to Harry's and wonder what would've been if she had been thrown away to be adopted by merciless people.
She went through her pockets and emptied them in front of him. "It's not much left... Two chocolate frogs and a biscuit, that big bar is for Harry who couldn't come because of his awful uncle, don't eat it all at once." His aura flared this time in a shy purpleish color.
" You have a very lovely aura..." She went closer to stand in front of him. "I'm sorry that this happened to you..." The dog rushed to her side and nuzzled her arm. "It's not your fault." She shushed him hugging him by the neck. "Let me..." And she cried some more. "I know it's not my fault, it just tears me apart not being able to fight injustices." She caressed him behind the ears and Sirius melted in her embrace, it had been ages since he was held by the gentle arms of a girl, she smelled of coconut and chamomile and something else he couldn't place.
" I trusted you, now it's time you trust me." He took a step back and she had to send another calm wave to him. "I have to seal your aura... This is very dangerous so please don't move." She placed her forehead on his and he trembled. "This way, dementors won't be able to track you even in your human form, it's a charm." He relaxed a bit and she took his head in her hands to keep it in place. He felt a pinch in the core of his chest an almost painful punch in the back like something was trying to erupt from both sides. He fell at her feet, gasping for air and she stumbled while reaching for a wall in the cave for support.
The pain subsided slowly and she was able to stand, this time when she turned around she saw a tall man standing in front of her.
The man was a living corpse, bony hands reached for his own face and he let out a laugh, black curtains of ragged hair covering his features. Sirius touched his chest looking for a wound.
"Good... I don't know how you're feeling, it means it worked!" She flashed a smile his way while her breathing stabilized
"I don't feel any different... Are you alright?" He went to help her but she stopped him moving further away. "It's fine, I just need a second." He knitted his eyebrows looking intently at the girl, she looked like she just ran a marathon.
"Please don't try anything stupid, this doesn't make you invisible" She stood. "I promise I help... Prove your innocence, but you have to be patient"
His eyes were watering again "I've been thirteen years patient" she took in his features once more, his gentle eyebrows and strong jaw, his hauntingly gray eyes and crooked smile, there was no doubt that he used to be a handsome man not so long ago, she blushed but quickly hid her face with her hood " The cat will know where to find me..." she made her way back to the base of the mountain with empty pockets and heavy heart.
"Miss Rivadeneira you look like you just came out of the forest... What happened to you?" It looked like McGonagall had grown a few more lines around her eyes.
"I got lost while chasing a lizard Professor, back in my country we do that for fun and I just felt the rush you know...?" The old woman pursed her lips clearly not buying the story. "Whatever you say... It's time we head back to the castle."
It wasn't hard to spot Hermione and Ron using her aura reading abilities but she was drained so her last resort was the boy's flaming red hair. It wasn't easy to spot with the other Weasleys around but she managed.
Her heart beat faster and when they reached the castle she was ready to throw up.
Hermione stayed with her while Ron ran to find Harry
"Are you alright? Did you eat something bad?" Hermione helped her pull her hair back while she emptied her stomach on a bin. "I just need some rest..."
"What happened to you?" Lupin sat quietly on a chair beside her bed.
"I can't tell you yet." He rolled his eyes.
"You can't have secrets from me or from Dumbledore... Don't make us use veritas serum on you" she remained calmed looking straight ahead.
"Then you're not the ones to trust." She was feeling her energy coming back again and tried looking for his aura, it was erratic.
"Professor Lupin what was your relationship with Sirius Black?"
He looked at the containers next to her table all filled with medicinal potions. "I believe you have to drink this one now." He avoided her gaze and kept looking through the small jars.
She chuckled at his attempt. "I'm very persistent and you know it, I won't rest until you tell me why your aura draws such strange swirls whenever one mentions Sirius Black name" she draw a perfect oval around his face. " There it is again!"
He sighed and she smiled victoriously. "We were friends during our Hogwarts years, same house and all..." She sat straightening her back elegantly. "Go on please..."
"I can't believe I'm doing this." He talked about their first years, how his friends discovered he was a werewolf and how they all became animagus to help him.
"It sounds like you were the best gang to hang around with." She offered him a chocolate frog and he gladly took it.
"We were... Until we found out who was the spy, He sold James and killed poor Peter when he confronted him."
She grabbed his hand to squeeze it reassuringly. "I'm sorry..."
He smiled, eyes closed going back to the exact moment when Sirius was caught. "He was mental, aurors cornered him in the middle of the street yelling incoherent things... And laughing..."
He pinched the bridge of his nose and made a grimace. "Imagine you discovered your best friend killed the other and sold another to a dark wizard... Of course my aura reacts at the name, there's nothing I want more than to send him back to Azkaban." At this point she had a lump on her throat, there in the castle the real culprit was roaming freely while these two men were suffering deeply.
"You mentioned he yelled incoherent things... What kind of things?"
He cleared his throat getting caught by the emotion. "He said that it was Peter who did it... How cynical! After he blowed him up! They only found a miserable finger..." He stood and began pacing back and forth in front of her bed.
"And now you think he's after Harry to finish what he started thirteen years ago." She nodded. "If we only take these facts in account it makes sense..."
He went to sit again. "What do you mean these facts? These are the only facts"
She placed her chin on her palm looking casually uninterested. "I don't know I just think it's kinda stupid to accuse someone you just killed... Who would've believed that? for a man who faked an entire friendship that's just plain stupid."
Remus blinked disbelievingly at her. "I can't rationalize his actions because he is mental."
"I don't know, I've never met him but I checked his aura on that picture from the prophet, and believe me I've checked thousands of killers..." She bit her lower lip pondering her next words. "He was clean." His aura flared again this time erupting in small mountains of light like tiny volcanoes.
"You need to rest..." He ate the chocolate frog with shaking hands. "Just protect Harry… that's all we ask and be safe, we can't afford anything happening to you." He stood and made his way to the door but froze when he reached the doorknob, he looked over his shoulder to found her eyes nailed to his form, he shook his head.