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"So is it true Harry."
"Is what true?"
"Are you really going out with Brooklyn Stronghold?"
Harry smiled at his reflection, it had been a good month and people were only now just starting to realise something was going on between the two them. They were only seen together just before dinner in the library, they never held hands or kissed in public and Saturdays Harry was either with the Quidditch team or with his friends and Brooklyn spent her Saturdays in the library with Cassie and their new found friends Padma Patil and her best friend Constance. After the long kiss in the library that sealed their budding relationship they had only engaged in a few more kisses; one in particular that happened to be outside the Ravenclaw common Room sparking the rumours that were now flying around the castle.
"Why?"
"Because," Dean started, they were getting ready for breakfast and classes, they had a good 2 weeks until Christmas break and the teachers had already begun piling on the homework more and more. "Because if you are, then your selfish keeping something like that too yourself."
"How is that selfish?" Harry wondered.
"Because Brooklyn Stronghold is not for keeps." Dean clarified "Her relationships never last more than 3 weeks."
"Well Dean sorry to burst your bubble but I am going out with Brooklyn and its been four weeks and a day now if you'll excuse me."
Harry picked up his book bag and left the boys dormitory stomping loudly down the stairs startling Ginny, she was quickly stuffing her homework from the night before into her bag.
"You OK there Harry?" She wondered.
"I'm fine."
"Oh OK," She stood straight swinging her bag over her shoulder "Are you umm coming to breakfast?"
"Err yea lets go." Harry led her out the commom room walking very close beside her.
"So are they true?" Taking a deep breath Ginny sighed and asked Harry the question that had been itching to get out. Harry's overwhelming scent of soap washed over her filling all her senses.
"What."
"You and Stronghold."
"You mean me and Brooklyn." She nodded "Yea." He saw her face fall from the corner of his eyes and frowned "Why what's wrong with Brooklyn?"
"Err nothing I just..." She shrugged slowly "Never pictured you with someone like Brooklyn that's all."
"Well she's really great to be honest." He cocked his head, a dazed smile gracing his lips "Plus she has killer legs!"
"So its the legs." She stated almost glum "You fancy her legs."
"No," He shook his head his messy hair falling into his eyes, Ginny fought the sigh that threatened to slip past her lips. "But they help...alot." He continued.
"Oh."
"I like a lot of things about her to be honest and I don't know but I feel like...she belongs to me." Her eyes widened "No not like that." He said hastily, raising a hand to run through his hair but caught himself and lowered his hand "I just feel like she's mine."
"But your never together."
"We don't have to be together to be together." He looked at her as they neared the great hall "Do you get that." she nodded "We can just be, or if we are together we act just like you and me we can just talk or read."
"I get it." She nodded "I'm happy for you if that counts."
"As one of my good friends it does thanks Gin." Harry lifted a arm around her shoulder and they entered the hall. Silence fell upon the hall instantly everybody was watching Harry and Ginny make their way to the Gryffindor table.
"Hey look Brooklyn."
Turning around Brooklyn watched Harry walk towards the Gryffindor table, his arm was comfortably hanging around her shoulder and she had a happy smile on her face, she shrugged turning back around.
"Brooklyn." Padma hissed. "You need to get that red headed wench away from your boyfriend!"
"I don't need to do anything." Brooklyn stated strongly
"She's all over your boyfriend!" She insisted "Just look at her I've never liked her."
"That's because you have issues." Brooklyn stated clearly as she pushed her empty plate aside wiped her hands then reached for her goblet of orange juice "Padma you certainly care more about this relationship than I do."
"You mean you don't care that your gorgeous sex-god like boyfriend is over there with what people are calling the Gryffindor Goddess." Padma gaped.
"Nope." There was a fluttering of wings above signalling the morning mail "Oh look mails here."
Parcels, letters and newspapers began dropping into people's hands or food bringing the noise level up a few notches, Brooklyn who rarely got mail apart from the odd letter at the beginning of the year from her aunt apologising about not being able to escort her to the platform was surprised when a grey long eared owl landed perfectly on her shoulder dropping the letter from its beak into her hands.
"Huh" she turned the letter over seeing her name scribbled neatly on front in strange yet elegant handwriting "I don't know who your from but there are not many long eared Owls in Britian, so I'm guessing you flew a long way. You can rest in the owlery if you want."
The owl hooted, nipped her finger then took flight out the window. Brooklyn watched it disappear with the other owls then turned her attention to her letter ripping it open.
Ms Stronghold
The headmaster has requested a meeting with you this morning in his office. You have been excused from classes all day and your professors have been instructed to hand your homework to your classmates.
After breakfast please make your way to the headmasters office where I will be waiting.
Professor Mcgonagall.
Folding the letter Brooklyn looked towards the head table, most of the teachers were present except Dumbledore, McGonagall happened to be looking at her gave a stiff nod and turned back to Professor Flitwick..
"Who's the letter from?" Cassie asked
"My aunt just wondering how I'm doing and stuff." Brooklyn stuffed it into the side pocket of her black canvas bag seated beside her. "No biggie."
"Anyway moving on from that." Padma leaned over the table closer to Brooklyn "You need to stake your claim on him look at him all over her."
"He's not all over her Padma." Cassie sighed irritated. The conversation was getting just a tad bit boring now. "There eating breakfast like friends do since there friends."
"Oh come on that's crap." She spat. Her brows furrowed in disgust. "Everyone knows of her feelings for him even he does."
"Yes and yet he's snogging our girl here's face off." Brooklyn smiled at Cassie's words. "See look at that grin how could he resist her good looks."
"Shut up Cassie and Padma I get your concerned but Harry is his own person I don't need to be around him 24/7."
"Whatever you just wait until he starts breaking your library dates to be with his friends" Padma bit into her buttered english muffin angrily. "Look at you, red and gold ribbons laced through your braids. What does he have on that represents you and your house?"
Self conscious Brooklyn reached up fingering her French braid, feeling the silkiness of the ribbons braided into her hair.
"Padma stop it!" Cassie demanded, anger flaring up in her soft brown eyes. "Your going to turn Brooklyn into a jealous overbearing girlfriend just stop it." the bell chimed "Come on lets go to lessons."
"Err." Brooklyn stood also picking up her bag "I umm need to see Professor Dumbledore I'll see you in class. Have fun."
With a flash of her smile Brooklyn disappeared in the crowd of students rushing out of the hall so they were not late for their lessons.
Approaching the stone gargoyle that hid the entrance to the headmasters office, Brooklyn saw McGonagall waiting, her foot tapping gave the impression that she was in a hurry.
"Err Professor." She hitched her bag higher on her shoulder "Hi."
"Ms Stronghold." Her lips twitched, giving an indication that she was smiling "The headmaster is awaiting your arrival."
McGonagall turned to the stone gargoyle who sighed irritably.
"Password?"
"Rhubarb and custard." The stone gargoyle jumped aside showing a spiral staircase. "Ms Stronghold..."
With a swift smile Brooklyn stepped onto the staircase gripping the staircase just as it began to swirl slowly leading the way to the office.
Entering Dumbledore's office Brooklyn noticed professor Dumbledore standing by the window gazing out, she cleared her throat uncomfortably.
"Umm Professor." She stated hesitantly.
"Ah Brooklyn," He turned smiling at her "Have a seat we will begin soon."
"Umm OK."
Brooklyn dropped into one of the 3 seats in front of his desk and slipped off her bag dropping it onto the floor by her feet.
"Would you care for a lemon drop?" He held up the silver dish towards her.
"No thank you sir."
"Very well." he popped one into his mouth then moved to sit in his high backed seat behind his desk. "How are your studies going?"
"Very good sir. Preparation for the N.E.W.T's are well under way."
"Ah yes I remember studying for mine." He sent her a amused smile "Nasty things aren't they."
"Extremely I mean I know Ravenclaws are meant to be the smart house but nobody knows the pressure we're under to keep up the façade." Brooklyn complained rubbing her forehead. "The amount of headaches I've had since we started."
He smiled "Understandable." The door knocked "Ah we're about to begin." He stood up moving to the closed door "Please Ms Stronghold do not be alarmed you are perfectly safe in here."
"Err OK."
Brooklyn dug her nails into the cushioned arms of the chair nervous for some reason, Professor Dumbledore exchanged words with whoever was at the door for a minute. Leaning her head back slightly Brooklyn watched as Professor Dumbledore stepped back and Harry entered followed by a big black dog with shaggy fur.
"Brooklyn!!" Harry gasped.
"Hi Harry," She smiled, Professor Dumbledore shut the door and returned to his seat staring at both Brooklyn and Harry with a smile "Professor if you don't mind me asking what's going on?"
"Harry take a seat." Albus instructed.
"Err." He glanced from Dumbledore to Brooklyn then to the dog before finally looking back at Albus, "OK."
He sat in the seat beside Brooklyn, his hand immediately seeking and settling into her familiar warm grasp. The dog Harry entered with nudged Harry's knee with his head whining.
"Snuffles it does you no good in this form you are safe here. Please change back."
With curious eyes Brooklyn watched as the dog slowly began to transform into a tall good looking man, carelessly handsome man with shoulder length black shaggy hair that fell into gorgeous grey eyes. The man had on a simple black shirt the top two buttons open revealing a scatter of chest hair, the cuffs were rolled up to his elbows and dark blue jeans resting on simple black boots. The man was Sirius Black and he was staring at Brooklyn with a desperate hunger on his face.
Brooklyn made a move to jump out the chair but Harry reacted quickly moving out of his chair to hold her down.
"Don't Brooklyn," He whispered "He won't hurt you I promise."
"He's Sirius Black," She whispered back furious "A wanted felon."
"I know." Harry whispered.
"He murdered so many innocent muggles." She stated.
"No he didn't."
"What and let me go now Harry." Brooke ordered.
"You wont scream will you?" He looked at her unsure, his fingers twitching on her wrists.
"I didn't scream before don't be stupid just let me go."
He removed his hands slowly, once he was sure she wouldn't jump up and run out screaming he returned to his seat looking at his Godfather.
"Brooklyn." Albus started "I'm sure this is a shock."
She looked at him with a simple raised eyebrow as if to say 'No shit'. Both he and Sirius chuckled understanding her look.
"Sirius there is a reason I invited you all here today, you three are all connected."
"How?"
"Sirius," Albus looked at the handsome man to continue "If you would please."
"OK." Sirius looked down at his perfectly polished boots, sighing before continuing. "When I was at Hogwarts I met this girl, she was the most beautiful girl I had ever seen; her hair was golden but she called it strawberry blonde, her eyes were icy blue and she had a body. I never liked her at first sure she was beautiful but the funny thing was that she never acknowledged it."
Harry glanced at Brooklyn thinking she does the exact same thing; refusing to acknowledge her beauty when she was clearly stunning.
"Anyway she became friends with this red headed know-it-all Lily Evans," Harry snapped his gaze to Sirius surprised, but he continued to stare at his boots twirling the silver ring on his finger. "They both annoyed me greatly passing judgement on me and my friends because we spent our free time pranking no good Slytherins and pulling girls into the broom closets. During our third year my best friend James Potter suddenly decided to develop a obsession with Lily so along with pranking and Quidditch we took up stalking Evans and Stronghold." Brooklyn rose her eyebrow in surprise "That was the girl's name Stronghold she was famous in her own way her grandfather William Maverick was the current Italian Minister of magic seeing as her family were half Italians. Anyway while stalking Evans and Stronghold I don't know I guess I began to look forward to my hours spent underneath the invisibility cloak that belonged to James watching Stronghold. Watching her learning her habits what made her laugh and what pissed her off, I guess you could say I developed my own obsession with her. My obsession quickly developed into something else I found that I couldn't eat I couldn't sleep and trying to pull girls into the broom closet became a chore my every thoughts became consumed with Stronghold I began taking up my own form of stalking I hid in corners walked behind her underneath James invisibility cloak and sat one seat behind her in classes, I loved watching her walk in her school skirt her legs were perfectly tanned and flawless not a scar, scrape or graze they were perfect. Our fifth year I guess she noticed me hanging around alot and confronted me on more than one occasion demanding that I leave her alone but I couldn't she was my air I needed to see her, smell her and touch her. I looked forward to her soft flowery scent every day every time she walked past me I waited for 3 exact seconds before breathing knowing her scent would be at its strongest then. Finally it happened she got a boyfriend Michael Diggory smarmy bastard I hated him and his idiotic hufflepuff brother Amos both pissed me off equally flaunting because they felt they could. Michael knew I was in-love with Stronghold and took too showing her off kissing her whenever I was around touching her just because I was in seeing distance I finally lost it during our Quidditch match I took my club and just whacked him the bludger was nowhere near but I had to beat him he had my girl the one I loved the woman I wanted to have my children. Least to say he ended up in the hospital wing, Gryffindor won and I ended up with a months worth of detention putting me in the league of the boy with most detentions anyway Stronghold was furious. I was leaving my second detention with Minnie and she stormed up to me screaming and yelling calling me evil saying I was just like my family and deserved to be locked away for the stunt I pulled she just went on saying I need to stay away from her and Lily and Michael or she would get her grandfather to use his influence on the British minister of magic to have my evil family shipped to the desert."
Sirius paused glancing up at Albus, he nodded for him to continue but it hurt to talk, dragging up old memories; memories he had long buried and his throat burned from talking so much. A glass of water appeared on the desk by him and he snatched it up gulping it down sighing a thanks to the aged professor.
"Please Sirius continue"
"Oh yea she was screaming thinking she was getting through to me and I admit she was not much gets through to me apart from my best friends but she got through and as that thought ran through my head I just grabbed her and kissed her. I kissed her with everything I had knowing she would kiss me back and she did, those 3 minutes were glorious my head felt light, my heart was beating wildly in my chest and my stomach was tight with nervousness. I mean here I was kissing the girl of my dreams for the first time the girl who haunted my dreams, I was happy but I had to breathe so I stepped away watching her hoping for something a sign a hint, something to show that she felt what was exchanged between us but it never came she turned and ran she ran as fast as her legs would carry her. Needless to say I was heartbroken my best mate Prongs-I mean James told me to get in her face demand she break up with her boyfriend but he was never reliable when it came to getting the girl. So I went to Remus Lupin our other friend he told me I had to be understanding of her feelings she had a boyfriend and I just laid one on her and told me to give her space. So I did I never went near her I never spoke to her unless I had too this happened all through our fifth year and all through our sixth year. Stronghold had broken up with Diggory by then and was seen sulking in the library I wanted to talk to her but I kept my distance I got back into pranking I got back into Quidditch and I got back into girls. I was the old Sirius Black again and James couldn't have been more happier but I was miserable the girls I was pulling into broom cupboards weren't the ones I wanted but nobody could see that not even my good mates. Then our seventh year happened James finally got Evans to go out with him and that meant Stronghold hanging out with us during our Hogsmead trips and during those times I guess we began to talk; talk about things that we knew we could never tell anybody else I wanted to ask her out but Remus advised me against it so I left it but I guess she" Harry stared at his Godfather bewildered. "Wasn't happy she wanted to know why I'd been avoiding her her. I wasn't avoiding her I was giving her space like all girls wanted but she didn't; she broke up with Diggory for me but I never took the hint until then. It was our last match before Christmas when everything began piling up in me my feelings for Stronghold, my feelings of running away from my family, my brother becoming a death eater and James playing kissy faces with Lily. I dropped my bat and flew into the stands halting the game I sat there on my broom and I told her, I poured out everything I felt for her right in front of the whole school I should have been embarrassed but I wasn't because she smiled and pulled me from my broom kissing me. That kiss right there in front of the whole school sealed our future I could see it and I loved it I wanted that future and by Merlin's good name I was going to get it and I did. We married a year after graduating followed by our friends James and Lily 6 months later life was sweet. Then 2 years into our relationship she announced she was having my baby, Lily was a month ahead in her pregnancy life was great we had my inheritance to live off as did she but she chose to work so she did until her 7th month she began relaxing and then Lily had Harry then exactly one month after Harry was born..." He trailed off looking up at Brooklyn their grey eyes meeting "Amelia Emmaline Stronghold Black had my daughter who I named Brooke-Lynne Lillian Black but I guess you know her as Brooklyn Lillian Stronghold. I'm your father Brooke"
AND THERE YOU GO. HE FINALLY TOLD HER AND YES I KNOW A CLIFFY BUT SO WHAT DEAL WITH IT. ITS HOW THE STORY WAS WRITTEN.
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