The three children Jamie had followed onto the Platform where everything had begun were seated at the Gryffindor table. Jamie introduced herself to them and got their names in return.
The black-haired boy was Harry, the ginger boy was Ron, and the girl with the bushy hair was Hermione.
They ask her why she hadn't come to Hogwarts at eleven, and Jamie says that she doesn't quite know, that it probably has to do with how she'd run away from her orphanage when she was seven. Harry's brows furrow.
"Why were you in an orphanage?"
"Why do you think, Harry?" sighs Jamie. "Because I'm an orphan. I think. I know my mother died, I'm sure of it, but I'm less sure of my father's death. It's more like he vanished."
"Do you know their names?" Ron asks gently. Jamie can tell he's a kind, sweet boy, the caring one out of the trio.
"No. I only ever knew them as Papa and Mama," shrugs Jamie. "I just know I have my father's hair and eyes." She touches her long black hair and watches as the three thirteen-year-olds gaze at her grey eyes.
As the Feast draws to an end, the tall woman that stood behind the Sorting Hat briskly walks up to Jamie, accompanied by a tall, honey-haired man with many scars littering his face and hands.
"Miss... Smith, this is Professor Lupin. I am Professor McGonagall. We have come to realize that you are absolutely unprepared to start your fourth year at Hogwarts."
"With that in mind, Professor McGonagall would like me to tutor you as much as I can so that you catch up with the others in your year. I will also accompany you to Diagon Alley for some last-minute school supplies shopping tomorrow afternoon," says Professor Lupin with a gentle smile. Somehow, Jamie trusts these people, Lupin most than any.
"That would be wonderful, Professor," says Jamie politely. Professor Lupin nods, his eyes going soft around the edges.
The next day, Jamie waits for Professor Lupin in the middle of the courtyard. It's an unevenly paved courtyard, with a tree that Jamie doesn't recognize growing in the center. The large wooden doors part and Professor Lupin comes out.
"Jamie, follow me," he says brightly. "We have many things to purchase today."
Jamie skips along Lupin, who grins at her as she jumps up and down.
"I know that Smith isn't your real name," he says, as he stops abruptly. "And I'm pretty sure that you know it too."
Jamie skids to a stop, eyeing Lupin carefully. His eyebrows are raised, but he's not... angry?
"It's not," says Jamie slowly. "But my actual last name means nothing to me."
"It means something to me," says Lupin quietly, stooping low to face Jamie. "So I'd appreciate it greatly if you could tell me your name."
"...Black. My name is Jamie Black."
Jamie takes a step back when Lupin thumps a knee to the ground, a lone tear sliding down his long, thin nose. "Professor, are you alright?"
"No, Jamie," he answers. "I'm better than alright. You have no idea, have you?" he says, standing up, setting a large, gentle, calloused hand on her shoulder. "I'll explain all once we're in Diagon Alley. Take my hand."
He extends the hand that was just on Jamie's shoulder, and the latter takes it incredulously. And then, Jamie is sucked into a void, pulled by her navel, and suddenly, they're not in Hogwarts anymore, they're in a long, narrow street lined with shops as far as the eye can see. Lupin steadies himself, and Jamie represses a burp.
"We must go to Gringotts," says Lupin. "Now that I know for sure who you are, Jamie, I can get you nothing but the best."
"You said you'd tell me when we got here, Professor. I want to know who I am, and how you know it."
Jamie plants her feet firmly on the ground and stares Lupin down, who grins.
"Very well. I suppose you are right. Let us go somewhere less loud."
He takes her to a place called Florean Fortescue Ice Cream Parlour, where the duo sits down and order ice cream.
"Do me a favor, Jamie," says Lupin. "Don't tell Minerva that I got you ice cream." He winks at her, and Jamie snickers.
"I promise I won't, Professor." She falls silent, and Lupin straightens his back.
"Your last name, Black, is the name of a famous Wizarding family. But, until now, I thought it had nearly died out. There were two brothers, you see." Lupin takes a deep breath. "Their names were Regulus Arcturus, who has passed away years ago, and his elder brother, Sirius Orion."
"Are they related to me?"
"Oh, yes, Jamie. Sirius Orion Black is your father."
"My... father?"
Lupin swallows, his hands shaking. "Your father is- was my best friend. He, James Potter, and Peter Pettigrew were the closest thing I had to brothers. But... Sirius betrayed us for the benefit of a dark wizard, whose name should not be said in public, but as I do not care about saying his name, I will say it nonetheless: Voldemort. Sirius betrayed James and his wife, Lily, which resulted in them being killed. You may have met their son, Harry."
"Harry is..."
"Your... second cousin once removed, I believe." Lupin wrings his hands. "Sirius killed Peter and was sent to Azkaban - the wizarding prison. Marlene - your mother - was killed by Voldemort's followers a year prior. Your parents had made me godfather, and I went to your house when your father was convicted, but Muggle social workers had already taken you to an orphanage. I searched for you, Jamie, I swear I did, but I figured it would be better for you to stay there, where you were bound to have a roof over your head and three meals a day."