Finding Answers

Chapter Six – Discover

Disclaimer: I do not own this franchise that is Harry Potter.

A week went by, and things started to go back to normal for the Order. Voldemort had stopped his attacks again, and eventually, the Weasleys returned to the Burrow in time for the Easter holidays (though all of their children at Hogwarts had decided to stay at the castle). Remus and Sirius were left alone for the first time since the weeks leading up to Christmas. There were still several members who dropped in after their shifts in the Department of Mysteries, so the two Marauders weren't completely left to their own devices. However, two weeks after the random attacks stopped, Dumbledore asked Remus to take a mission that put him underground in the werewolf packs, leaving Sirius alone longer than he wanted to be in his childhood nightmare of a home.

Ignoring Alastor Moody's protests of leaving the house, Sirius still returned to the school, trying to catch some glimpse of the girl he thought was his daughter. The first week Remus had left for his mission, Sirius spent most of the day as Padfoot, laying underneath the bushes in the park directly across from the doors. He would wander the streets of Muggle London during times he had figured classes were in session, but made sure he was nearby when school was out for the afternoon. However, there was no sign of the girl.

As he slipped back into his prison cell (as he started to refer Grimmauld as) on the fourth week of Remus's mission, he was greeted by Tonks, who had just tripped over the umbrella stand for the third time that week.

"You must get your clumsiness from your father," Sirius said with a grin. "I never knew Aunt Andromeda to be so clumsy."

"Mum is the definition of grace and elegance, just like those royal muggles Dad watches on the telly," Tonks replied. "And speaking of muggles," she gave him a mock-stern look. "I'm supposed to give you a lecture on following Dumbledore's orders and all that rubbish."

Sirius couldn't help but laugh as they made their way to the kitchen in the basement. "You, lecture me, the older, brilliant cousin? Ha!" he flopped into his normal chair and kicked his feet up onto the table. "And why isn't Mad-Eye here to give this lecture personally?" he asked.

"Pulled away by Ministry business. You know how Fudge wasn't too happy with Harry's article in the Quibbler?" Sirius couldn't help but grin as he nodded. "It's caused a big number in the Wizarding World to start doubting what the Ministry has been telling them. Fudge ordered Umbridge to create a new decree at Hogwarts that anybody found with a copy will be expelled, and if a Ministry employee is found they can be suspended." Tonks shook her head. "It's madness."

"It's just like the first war," Sirius said. "There was the denial, the panicked decisions regarding any kind of propaganda, whether it was pro or anti-Voldemort. And when he made his presence known," he swallowed and closed his eyes for a moment. "I shudder to think how rough it's going to get this time."

Tonks sat across from Sirius. "Does it get easier?" she asked quietly. "Over time, the grieving?"

Sirius shook his head. "There are good days and bad days. Being here in this place...it just brings back memories I wish I could forget."

"Have you had any luck? Finding Cassie."

Sirius sighed. "I thought I had a lead, but I'm starting to think it's hopeless."

Tonks gave him a sympathetic look. "I know you have Kingsley and Remus helping you, but I'll help any way that I can," she said with a smile.

Sirius smiled back at his younger cousin, suddenly reminded of his Aunt Andromeda. "Thanks, Tonks," he said. "I'll remember that."

Tonks stood up and lightly pushed his feet off the table in a joking manner. "Nobody wants your feet where we eat," she scolded lightly. "If only Molly Weasley could see you."

Sirius could always leave it to his younger cousin to lighten the mood, he thought as she headed upstairs to one of the spare bedrooms to nap before her shift later. And while he was grateful for the light conversation, he also could use the advice of his best friend. He tried to think of what Remus would say about giving up on the school and starting a new search, and decided to give it one more day.

After that, he had no idea what to do next.

A couple of days later, Sirius found himself underneath the large bush by the school entrance again. Remus had returned late the night before and the two Marauders discussed small details about his time underground with the werewolves before Remus passed out for the night. It was an overcast day, which made roaming about the streets as Padfoot somewhat comfortable. Sometimes Sirius wished he transformed into an animal with less fur but then mentally scolded himself. He would probably be locked in a cell in Azkaban if it weren't for the bear-like dog he had mastered all those years before, and Remus would have torn through majority of Hogsmeade in their school days.

Classes had been in session for a couple of hours and Sirius was starting to drift off into a nap. The animagus wondered if he should search for another school before they were let out citywide when a glimpse of a conversation brought his attention back.

"This is the second time this week! I can't keep missing work to have teacher conferences!"

"It was accidental, Mum. Besides, the git deserved it."

"You cannot hex people just because you think somebody is a git!"

"He was being a bully! I wasn't going to let him talk about somebody the way he was!"

"You're over the age 11, and not yet 17! The Ministry does not care if it was accidental, the Trace is still there! We're supposed to be keeping a low profile. I don't know how many times I must stress this!"

Sirius knew that tone and voice anywhere. He felt his heartbeat speed up as he crawled slightly to peek toward the voices.

The same girl that he had seen days earlier was standing, her arms crossed over her chest and looking to her mother. The older woman's hair was dark brown, and her bright blue eyes were a dead giveaway for Sirius. He knew that face anywhere, even after 15 years of no contact.

It had to be Cassie. There was no other explanation for the conversation and for the way the woman looked. He inched closer to the two women, staying underneath the bush.

"I don't see why we have to keep a bloody low profile," the girl grumbled.

"Robyn Black, language!"

"So much for that low profile, Mum."

That was confirmation for Sirius. His mind was everywhere. He had to admire his daughter's snark, but at the same time he wanted to scold her for the way she was speaking to her mother. He wanted to reveal himself to the two, but he wasn't sure how Cassie would react.

While his mind was racing with things he should do, the two had started to walk away from the school. Sirius debated on following them to see where they would go, but finally stayed put for a few moments before moving from his hiding spot. When he looked down the sidewalk that Cassie and Robyn had started down, the two had already disappeared from view.

Rain started to hit the ground with a soft splatter, and by the time Sirius numbly reached Grimmauld Place, the sky had opened up into a downpour. He shut the door, flicked his wand at the screeching portrait of his mother, cast a quick drying charm on himself, and made his way down to the kitchen.

Remus was awake and nursing a cup of tea and was about to greet Sirius until he saw the paleness of his best friends face. "What happened?" he asked, standing up.

"I found them," Sirius breathed out. He felt himself shaking, allowing his mind to feel the emotions he had been holding back as Padfoot. "Cassie. Robyn. I found them, Moony. I found them."

It's all he could say as he collapsed into a chair, a huge grin on his face as he tried to control himself. "I was just about to give up, maybe find a new school to search, because that's what Cassie would do, you know? Transfer schools every few months just to throw a trail off. And then, they were there, and it seemed like Cassie was having to pick up Robyn for hexing a bully. Remus, you should have seen them. Robyn has grown up so much, and Cassie –" he let out a huge breath. "They're alive."

Remus had moved behind the chair he'd been occupying, his hands gripping the top of the chair so tight his knuckles were turning white. "Did you say anything? Did they see you?" he asked quickly. "What happened?"

Sirius suddenly felt ashamed. "Nothing," he said.

"Nothing?!" Remus shouted. "Sirius –"

"I panicked!" Sirius jumped up to his feet again. "You don't understand!"

"What's there to understand?! You finally find the ones you have been searching years for, and you freeze up when you have a chance to make things a little better?"

"It's been 15 bloody years, Remus! What if she's changed her mind, and believed what the Ministry said about me?! What if my own daughter thinks I betrayed my best friends, and killed another along with 12 muggles? What if -" Sirius's mouth suddenly felt dry at his next thought. "What if she's found somebody else who can give her a better life than I ever did, or ever imagined of giving her?"

There was silence in the kitchen between the two as Sirius sank back into his chair, hand in his face. On one hand, Remus was right. He could have very well missed his opportunity of making their family whole again. But Sirius's fears and insecurities about everything were winning the battle in his mind and his heart.

Suddenly, there was a sharp thwap to his head, and Sirius yelped in surprise as Remus smacked him. "Bloody hell, Moony!" he exclaimed, "Now what?!"

"Nothing," Remus said. "I'm just preparing you for when Cassie finally does see you again, because you can bloody well expect her to do the same, if not worse." He shook his head. "Have you finally gone mad? Do you really think Cassie would raise your daughter to believe that rubbish? Or think she changed her mind about you after all this time? That doesn't sound like the woman I grew up with, or the woman you married, for that matter."

Sirius remained silent and crossed his arms as Remus passed by him. The werewolf placed a hand on his shoulder, saying, "Next time, try to be more of a Gryffindor, Padfoot," he said gently. "Remember, the Sorting Hat put you there for a reason."

Remus lifted his hand and left the kitchen, leaving Sirius to think about more than he wanted to.

Dumbledore called for an Order meeting that evening, and Sirius knew it would be too intense if he tried to sneak out again that evening. Still in the kitchen from his and Remus's conversation just hours before, he found himself seated between his best friend and Tonks as the remainder of their small forces filed into the room. Dumbledore was the last to enter the room, and all attention focused on what their leader was saying. Dumbledore wanted Remus to give a report of his findings underground with the werewolves.

"It seems as though Voldemort is starting to recruit, which we knew from Hagrid's trips to visit the giants. He has also joined forces with Fenrir Greyback, which seems to be the leader of most of the werewolves in the area..."

Sirius found his thoughts drifting, already having heard everything when Remus returned. He scanned the room, taking in those who were present and stared at a new face at the table. It had been years since he had seen her, but her features had remained the same, and since Sirius was sitting next to Remus, earned a glare from across the table.

Rosalina Evermore, Cassie and Liz's Slytherin best friend.

Sirius wasn't the only person who had noticed her. Snape was also sneaking glances her, but she kept her focus on Remus as he spoke. Years after they had finished school, Sirius still couldn't understand how somebody could have been friends with Cassie and Liz and had feelings for such a greasy git.

"...it seems that for the time being, Greyback is just rallying forces for Voldemort among those who have already been turned, but would start creating newborns when the time came."

Dumbledore nodded. "Thank you for that, Remus. Can I assume you would be willing to go on a long-term mission should Voldemort finally make his presence public?"

"I –" Remus and Sirius exchanged a look. Sirius knew that Remus was on the fence (not wanting to leave Sirius alone for long periods of time and to keep up with the search for Cassie), but Sirius gave a small shrug. Remus looked back at Dumbledore and replied, "Yes, sir. I'd be willing."

Dumbledore gave a curt nod and looked around the table. Seeing Rose, he gave a smile. "Forgive me for not giving introductions first, but I would like to welcome back one of our long-term members from the First War against Voldemort. I daresay some of you may remember Miss Evermore?" Sirius and Remus looked at each other again and then glanced in Snape's direction, who was looking more uncomfortable by the second. "She runs the Apothecary shop in Diagon Alley, and has agreed to keep an eye on things from there."

There was a small murmur as those around Rose greeted her, and Dumbledore moved onto other topics. Ten minutes later, the meeting dispersed, and many left the table, some returning to work or home, the few professors involved in the Order going back to Hogwarts before Umbridge discovered so many were gone. Rose had stood up, as had Remus. The two had (for the most part) gotten along. Sirius just nodded at her as she approached the two Marauders.

"It's good to see you again, Rose," Remus greeted. "How have you been?"

"I've been okay," she replied as they shook hands. "You-Know-Who being back has brought up a lot of memories, but I'm managing. How are you? And you, Sirius?" She asked the latter rather forcefully, but not wanting to seem rude. The two former Gryffindors had noticed that Snape was lingering by the door, talking to Kingsley.

Sirius shrugged while Remus replied. "We actually have something we want to talk to you about," he said. "Sirius saw Cassie today."

"What? How? I thought he was supposed to be in hiding?" Rose looked at Sirius incredulously.

"He's been searching London as Padfoot," Remus answered before Sirius could, who had jumped to his feet and had been ready to angrily reply. "He found Robyn at a muggle secondary school, and Cassie today."

"Does she know? Has anybody made contact with her?" Rose was looking between the two with a hopeful expression. Sirius was suddenly reminded that while he had lost his wife and daughter, as well as three friends that fateful Halloween, that Rose had lost her remaining friend when he had told Cassie to take their daughter into hiding. While he had Remus when he escaped Azkaban and told his side of the story, Rose had lost both of her friends in a matter of a few years out of Hogwarts.

Finally, Sirius spoke up. "I'm going to try. Tomorrow."

Rose nodded, and took in a deep breath. "I'm sure you two will be happy to have them back," she replied.

"And you," Remus added. "I'm sure Cassie has missed you as much as you have missed her."

Rose gave a faint smile. "I miss them both. Everyday," she said softly. "It just isn't the same without them."

"Actually, there's something else," Sirius said. "Maybe."

"Sirius, we don't know for sure," Remus answered, giving his best friend a warning look. Sirius knew that Remus was still doubting the information that Dumbledore had told him about Liz.

"What's going on?" Rose was looking between the two of them with an apprehensive look.

"It's Liz," Remus said. "She may be alive, too."

Sirius figured the news would be too much for the former Slytherin as she sat faintly into a chair. She had a look of disbelief on her face and she was trying not keep calm, but tears were already welling up in her eyes. Sirius didn't know quite what to do or say; he'd never been one to handle weepiness well (unless it was Cassie, and it was rare that she was the weeping type). He glanced over by the door, where Snape and Kingsley were still in deep conversation.

"How?" Rose finally asked. "I mean, I thought – they said – how is this possible?"

Remus launched into the attacks that had happened over the past few weeks, how he thought it had been Liz until he had gotten close enough to figure out it was a plot to tear down the Order's strength and Remus's vulnerability. He also explained his attacking Snape when it dawned on him that the Death Eater had been the one to report her disappearance and supposed death, which caused Rose to scowl in the man's direction.

"Dumbledore thinks she may have had her memory wiped and forced to live as a muggle," Remus finished. "He and Kingsley have been looking through muggle records in hopes of finding something."

"So we could have them both back?"

Remus nodded. "It's possible."

Rose scoffed softly. "It only took 15 bloody years."

Sirius couldn't help but smile at the snark. It was times like that he was reminded why she and Cassie had been friends. "You'll be coming to meetings regularly, right?" he asked. Rose nodded. "We'll keep you updated, and if anything happens in the next few days, we'll send an owl."

"Thank you," Rose said with a nod. She took in another deep breath to gain some composure. "I suppose I should go. It's nice to see things are looking up."

They said their goodbyes, and Rose left. Moments later, Snape followed, only after glaring in the Marauder's direction. Kingsley said his own goodbyes and the two were left alone once again, and the only thing that could be heard was the crackling of the fire.

"Do you think we can get things back to normal, Sirius?" Remus asked after a long time as they both stared into the fireplace.

"As normal as we can get," Sirius replied softly. "But even that would be better than what we have now."

Remus nodded and the two continued to watch the fire, lost in their own thoughts.

Sirius left for the school early the next morning. Tranforming into Padfoot, he made his way down the familiar path to the school. He had vaguely remembered Cassie saying something about a conference with Robyn's teacher, yet he wasn't sure if muggle schools held those during the morning or the afternoon. When he had gotten trouble at Hogwarts, McGonagall just sent a letter to his parents immediately after it happened (not that they had cared).

School must have just been going into session, because there were a few stragglers rushing into the building. Sirius resumed his position underneath his regular bush by the doors, waiting for somebody to either arrive late or leave.

Yet nobody did. Not until around lunch time.

A few teachers (he assumed they were teachers by the way they complained about select students and their attitudes toward school) exited, presumably to have a quick lunch before their next class. As the thought of food and how he should have ate before he left swirled around in Sirius's mind, the sound of heels clicking on the concrete brought his attention back to the present. He lifted his head slightly, and if he had been in his human form, would have probably let out a cry at the sight of Cassie once more.

She was dressed in muggle business attire; a grey pencil skirt, white blouse, and matching grey heels. He hair, which had always been free flowing at Hogwarts and even while she worked at the , was in a tight bun that would have given McGonagall's some serious competition. Sirius would have gladly continued to stare at her if he was human, and he snapped out of it. As she started up the steps to the school, he made himself known with a loud bark as he crawled underneath the bush.

She whipped around quickly, and Sirius could see her gripping at something in the large bag that was over her shoulder, and he would bet everything in his Gringotts account that it was her wand. She stared at the dog for a moment, and Sirius lay down as though he was showing he wasn't dangerous and whined. What he would give to speak to her as a human. He mentally cursed himself for not having some bloody parchment on his to let her know that it was him.

He barked again and inched closer to her, peering up at her with his large eyes. She looked at the dog for a moment, before her features soften and she looked at him with a look full of wonder.

"Padfoot?" she finally said.

Sirius lept up and barked, tail wagging as though he was shouting, "Yes!" over and over. He heard her breath hitch slightly and for a moment he was afraid that she was going to run into the school and disappear like Robyn had the day he had seen her. But she didn't. Instead, she walked back down the stairs, and knelt next to him, raising a shaky hand to him. Immediately, he brushed his head against her palm and whined again, trying to put some kind of feeling out as Padfoot.

Cassie let out a shaky breath and wiped away the tears that had been welling up. "I'll find you in the park in one hour, alright?" she whispered. "Robyn will be with me."

Sirius barked to let her know he understood, and Cassie straightened up, fixing her skirt and wiping her eyes one more time before finally entering the school. Sirius took off toward the park across from the building, and knowing if he were out in the open for too long, he would more than likely be forced to lead a dog catcher on an unfortunate chase again, so settled for another set of bushes near the entrance. He kept reminding himself to keep calm, and wished that he had a way of getting the news out to Remus. But for the time being he gave himself a mentally pep talk on staying calm.

The last thing he needed to do was scare Cassie and Robyn off again.

Not even an hour later, Cassie and Robyn entered the park. Robyn looked a bit relieved, actually, to be leaving school early. Thanks to his hearing as Padfoot, he could hear their conversation before they reached him.

"Mum, are you sure you're okay?" Robyn was saying. "I mean, you looked like something was wrong when you walked into that meeting. Did something happen at work?"

"I'll explain in a second, Robyn, just, hold on." They came around the bend in the path, and Sirius rooted himself from underneath the bush. Robyn stopped at the sight of him, and Cassie stopped halfway between the two of them.

"Mum? Is...is that –?"

"Yes," Cassie replied, looking back at Sirius. "I think it is."

Sirius barked again and nudged Cassie's arm before running ahead of them, trying to get her to follow him. Cassie seemed to have understood as she started to walk again with Robyn, who still was looking at the large, black dog in shock.

"I think I know where he's leading us. Oh Merlin," Cassie swore under her breath. "Why did I never think to search there?"

"Mum? What are you talking about?"

"Your mother is a fool, Robyn." Sirius looked back at her and growled softly to show he didn't think so. Another ten minutes of walking and they reached Grimmauld Place. As the old building started appear, Sirius realized they couldn't see it. Having no way to tell them to wait, all he could do was bark before disappearing behind the wards. As he did, he heard Robyn react.

"Where did he go? I thought you couldn't apparate in animagus form!"

"You can't. It must be protected by a Fidelus."

Sirius didn't stay to hear the rest of the conversation. He quickly transformed back into human and slid into the house, immediately silencing the portrait of his mother. He was lucky that at the same time, Tonks was coming down the hallway.

"Sirius, what -"

"Tonks, I need your help!" Sirius rushed forward, quickly conjuring a piece of parchment and a quill. Writing down the message of the secret keeper, he thrust it into her hands. "I found them. Just please...get them past the enchantments. I can't, not in my animagus form. If you bring them past the border, then they'll have the secret too."

Tonks looked at her cousin with wide eyes, but nodded and rushed out the door. Sirius peered from the window, watching as the young Auror crossed the road to Cassie and Robyn. He watched as the two of them talked, and looking toward the house, followed Tonks across the threshold of the enchantments. He started to hold his breath as they came closer.

Finally, the door opened, and Tonks led them inside.

I AM SO SORRY THIS CHAPTER IS SO LATE. I started a full time job in April, and since then I have been running on empty. I finally got a free weekend, and I wanted to update this as soon as possible. I'm not sure when the next update will happen, but I hope it is soon. Until then, leave me a review here or you can find me on tumblr under the same name!

Cassie and Robyn have been found! HOORAY! Things are looking up for our Marauders!