A/N: The "K" key on my laptop is sticking, and so there may be a few words missing their "k". I tried to catch them all, but if you see a word that doesn't make sense, try adding a "k".

Previously:

I looked around the map until I saw them. My body completely froze while my heart started beating out of my chest. There in a room on the fifth floor were Nicole Pattinson, Samantha Lautner, Harley Timberlake, and Isabella Black. Sirius' daughter.

Chapter Thirteen:

Harry POV:

I stared at her dot on the map for several seconds. Isabella Black. This is the second time I've opened this map to see someone I believed to be dead. Sirius thinks his daughter was murdered. She wasn't. She's waiting for me in the fifth floor prefect's bathroom.

My mind drifts back to the conversation I had with Sirius last year before the full moon destroyed all of our hopes for the future.

Sirius and I are standing a few feet away from the others, staring up at the castle. He began to speak. "I remember the first time I laid eyes on this castle. I was blown away by it. Your father, Remus and I had such fun during our years here. Everything seems to have gone completely sideways since then. My sweet little princess, my Isabella, was murdered by Death Eaters. She was my whole world, Harry. My baby, so innocent. She loved you so very much, you know. She used to completely dote on you. You were her first friend, the only friend she ever had." Tears were streaming down his cheeks as he remembered his little girl. "We knew Voldemort was after you. Without Isabella, I had no reason to be cautious with my own life. I tried to bring the danger on myself, Harry, to keep you and your parents safe. I tried so hard."

"I know you did, Sirius. It wasn't your fault. You had no reason to think you couldn't trust your friend."

He smiled weakly in response. "You were the only thing that got me through my years in Azkaban, Harry. I had no hope, no happiness. Only the knowledge that you were out there and always in danger because of Peter. The knowledge wasn't happy, so the Dementors couldn't suck it from me. It kept me sane. When I saw the picture of Peter in the paper, I knew you were in imminent danger. The Weasley boy would bring Peter back to Hogwarts where you would be unprotected from the unknown threat. I would have died to protect you from him, Harry, just as I would have died for you and your family all those years ago."

My heart filled with emotion as I listened to him speak, and my hatred for Pettigrew increased by the second. "I don't want you do to die, Sirius."

He grinned down at me. "I don't plan on throwing myself to the Dementors, Harry, but I will protect you with my life if need be. I'm not sure if you're aware, but your parents made me your godfather."

"Yes, I found out earlier this year."

"Well, I understand if you'd rather not, but if you'd like to you, you know…"

"What? Come and live with you?" I asked, astonished. I could be freed from the Dursleys?

"Well, I understand if you'd rather stay with your Aunt and Uncle – "

I cut him off there, "No! I'd love to come and live with you!"

His response was cut off by Hermione's cry, "Harry!" I turned to see her pointing to the full moon in horror…Oh no…

The memory faded away and I was left thinking about Bella. Does she know who she is? If so, does she think her father is guilty?

She has been fiercely loyal to me since the day we met at the World Cup. She could have left, but she stayed to look for me. Then there was the way she defended me in the Great Hall. The way she spoke so passionately about the night my parents were killed…almost like it was just as painful for her as it was for me. If she knew who she was, it would be. Her godparents were murdered. Her only friend orphaned. Her father arrested. Whether she thought him innocent or guilty, that would have been very difficult for her.

I need to see Dumbledore. He would know how to approach this. But first I needed to meet "The Scheming Skirts"…I internally smirked. Just like her father…in the prefect bathroom to see what they need to tell me.

I hesitantly opened the door to the bathroom. This was going to be very difficult. I couldn't look her in the eye. She has Sirius' eyes. How could I be so blind?

I awkwardly made my way to the bathtub where the four girls were waiting. I sunk into the warm water, still trying to avoid looking at Bella. Bella Black. Oh bloody hell.

"Everything okay, Harry?" she asked, concern evident in her sweet voice.

I looked over to her nervously. Her eyes. It was like looking into a less haunted version of Sirius' eyes. They were so very similar. "Er, yeah. Of course. What did you want to show me?" Brilliant, Harry. Way to play it cool.

She narrowed her eyes at me before turning her head toward Harley indicating that she should explain my presence in the bath tub with four beautiful girls.

Harley seemed to notice something was off. She nervously glanced at Bella before turning her attention toward me. I've got to hold myself together here. "Harry, you know how I said I might have an idea about the egg?" At my affirmative nod, she continued. "Well, when you said the egg emitted a high pitched screech I thought it might be Mermish." At my confused expression she elaborated. "It's the language of merpeople, Harry. Mermaids. Their voices can only be understood under water. Above the water humans only hear a high pitched screech."

I nodded my understanding and Nicole pointed her wand at me. My face was suddenly covered with a bubble. "You can now breathe under water, Harry."

I simply nodded an acknowledgement and sunk below the surface. The others joined me and Harley opened the egg. I listened to the poem and then brought myself back out of the water. Nicole cancelled the charm and they all stared at me.

"Well?" Nicole is getting annoyed with me. I can tell. I just don't know how to act right now. I need to get out of this room.

I decided make sure they knew I understood the task and then bolt. "Yeah, so they'll hide something in the…Black Lake, probably." Saying 'Black Lake' was difficult and made my voice shake a bit. All I could think was Bella Black. Bella Black. Bella Black. "We'll have an hour to find it or it will be lost at the bottom of the lake forever."

"What the hell is wrong with you, Harry?" Yep, Nicole is officially annoyed with me. "You completely skipped over the fact that you're going to have to hold your breath under water. For an hour. We can't cast the bubblehead for you in the competition, Harry. This is serious." Oh Merlin, she said Sirius. Sirius Black's daughter is alive. She's sitting across from me in a bath tub.

Nicole snapped her fingers in front of my face. "Harry, we're trying to discuss something important with you. What's wrong? You look like you've seen a gho – " She glanced at Bella with wide eyes. " – a ghost." The last word was barely a whisper. All emotion suddenly left their faces and they all stared impassively back at me. They are so much better at this than me.

Oh Merlin! No, I need to talk to Dumbledore. I don't know how she'll react to the truth about Sirius. I need his advice. I need him to help me. I laughed weakly. "Of course I've seen a ghost, Nicole. There's plenty around the castle. I'm surprised Moaning Myrtle hasn't interrupted us in here, yet." I tugged on my hair and tried to divert the attention from the elephant in the room. "My mind is just a bit preoccupied, is all. You're going to be mad when I tell you. Look, it's about a girl. There's this girl I like and I've been thinking of asking her to the Hogsmeade weekend. I know I should be focused on the next task, but I'm just really nervous about asking her." I really hope they buy that load of rubbish.

They all eyed me skeptically before Sammie spoke, "It's alright, Harry. You deserve a break after facing that dragon. You ask that girl out, and if she turns you down it's her loss. Let Hermione know what the task entails. I'm sure she'll want to start researching."

I felt relief course through me. They are letting me leave. "You've got it."

I ran to the changing rooms and quickly changed back into my clothes before grabbing my bag and running to the Headmaster's office. "Sherbet Lemon…Pepper Imps…Blood Pops." At the last guess the gargoyles stepped aside to allow me entrance. I climbed the stairs and banged on the Headmaster's door.

"Enter." I hastily walked through the doors to see Dumbledore alone in his office sitting behind the desk. "Harry, to what do I owe this visit?"

"Sir, it's Sirius' daughter, Isabella. She's not dead. She's in this castle."

He eyed me for a moment before speaking. "Bella Swan?"

I could feel my eyebrows shoot up to my hairline. "You knew, sir?"

"No. When I met her the first time the thought crossed my mind. She looks like a Black. She has Sirius' eyes. Her name is Isabella, for pity's sake. But Isabella Black is dead. How could this American girl be her? I let the thought go until she arrived in my office after verbally scolding the entire school. Her reactions reminded me so much of a young Sirius. She was so strong in her defense of you. She wouldn't even apologize. 'I'm not sorry, Professor,' she said. Sirius would have said the same thing. Again, I let the thought leave my mind easily. Isabella Black is dead. Why is it you're so sure she's alive, Harry?"

I didn't even hesitate. This went beyond the secrecy of the map. Sirius needs to know his daughter is alive. "The same way I knew Peter Pettigrew was alive." I pulled out the parchment and laid it on the desk. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."

The map appeared and Dumbledore gasped. I glanced up at him with a grin. "It was created by the Marauders, sir." Dumbledore chuckled at that. "Of course it was, Harry. They were quite brilliant young men."

I located the girls in their rooms. I looked to Dumbledore and pointed to the dot that read Isabella Black.

Dumbledore's eyes lit up with happiness and a tear fell down his cheek. He looked back up to me with unadulterated happiness radiating from him. "Harry, you have no idea what this will do for Sirius."

"I think I do, sir. Can you contact him? I want to tell him straight away."

"I don't want Sirius to see her before we've had a chance to explain things unless we can be absolutely sure she'll have a positive reaction. It would kill him if she reacted poorly."

He seemed to be deep in thought for a few minutes before his face lit up. "Harry, you don't happen to have any of Bella's notes on the tasks or anything, do you?"

I pulled the note she wrote me out of my pocket and handed it to him. "Er…no. The only note I have from her is this."

He pulled a letter from his desk and laid my note next the letter. The handwriting is the same. Bella wrote a letter to…Professor Lupin? My eyes quickly scanned the letter. She had written to Remus after Sirius was found in the Gryffindor Tower. She sent him the picture of Peter from the Daily Prophet. She knows Sirius is innocent! Dumbledore was smiling brightly when he walked over to Fawkes and whispered something to him. Moments later the bird disappeared in a flash of fire.

Dumbledore then bent into the fireplace with some floo powder. I couldn't make out what he was saying. Dumbledore ended the call and stepped away from the fireplace. Moments later Professor Lupin emerged. "Harry!" He gave me a quick hug. "Albus, what's so urgent?"

Dumbledore excitedly handed Professor Lupin my note and his letter. Dumbledore looked like a little kid in a candy store. He was practically giddy. I've never seen him this way before.

Lupin's face lit up in realization. "You know who sent me the letter?" At Dumbledore's nod, he continued. "Who?"

Dumbledore looked to me allowing me to do the honors. I led Professor Lupin to the map and pointed. "Her."

Lupin's face betrayed his shock. "How can it be?"

Professor Dumbledore answered. "We don't know, Remus. Everyone believed her to be dead. Even the Death Eaters. They've admitted it under Veritaserum. They said they found her blood in the room they were keeping her in and her body burned to ash. Unless Bella remembers, I don't think we'll ever know for sure."

"It doesn't matter right now. She's alive!" Lupin started laughing exuberantly. I've never seen him so happy before. "Sirius, we must find him. He must know his daughter is alive. And she believes in his innocence!"

The pair of them were now bouncing on their heels like couple of giddy school girls. I can't really talk. I'm just as excited. "I've already sent Fawkes for him." Dumbledore informed merrily.

This was proven in the next moment when Sirius and Fawkes materialized in yet another flash of fire. Sirius took a moment to get his bearings, frantically looking around for any signs of danger. When he saw there was none he turned to me with a huge grin. "Hello Harry, what is going on? And Mooney? What are you both doing here? Why did you bring me here, Albus?"

I looked to Lupin. "You tell him, Professor."

Lupin smiled brightly at me and walked over to Sirius clutching the two notes written by Sirius' daughter. "Padfoot, old friend. Do you remember the letter I received informing me that Peter was alive?"

"Of course, Mooney. How could I forget? I actually got one, too." He pulled a small piece of parchment from his breast pocket. It read:

I know you're innocent. I believe in you. Always.

Remus beamed and handed him my note aksing me to come to the prefect's bathroom in my swim trunks. "It's the same handwriting," Sirius noted.

Remus nodded his head furiously and Sirius grinned. "Well, who is it?" Remus took my approach and led Sirius toward Dumbledore's desk where the map was still laid out. He stopped Sirius just shy of the desk and turned him so that he was standing directly in front of him. "Sirius. This is going to be a huge shock for you. I need you to brace yourself, and remember that she believes in you. Always." Lupin quoted Bella's note.

Sirius nodded his head, eying Remus curiously, and followed him to the map. Lupin found the girls still in their room and pointed to the dot labeled Isabella Black. "She is the person who sent my letter and your note."

Sirius gasped sharply and dropped to his knees, bringing the map with him. He stared at her name for an undeterminable amount of time. Tears were streaming down his cheeks unabashedly. He finally brought his watery gaze up to Remus. "Mooney!" He croaked. "My baby. She's alive. My little princess is in this castle."

Remus' grin split his face in two. "She is." He agreed.

Sirius continued. "She knows I'm innocent. She believes in me. Always. She said so."

Remus' smile inexplicably grew even wider. "She did."

Sirius turned his eyes to Dumbledore. "Bring her here. Please."

Dumbledore was also smiling widely as he responded. "Of course. Missy."

A small house elf appeared instantaneously. "Yes Master Dumbledore, sir."

"Please ask Bella Swan to meet me in my office immediately. Inform her that I enjoy Blood Pops."

"Yes sirs, Master Dumbledore."

Remus helped Sirius to his feet. There was a look of wonder on Sirius' face that I never thought I'd have the chance to see. His face had become so haunted from the time he spent in Azkaban. The knowledge that his daughter lives has helped to erase much of that pain.

Sirius looked to me while we waited, "The Swan girl is my Isabella? The girl who helped you with the first task and screamed at the entire Great Hall in your defense? That's my baby girl?" He was grinning goofily as I nodded.

"She's her father's daughter, all right. You should have seen her in here when I was trying to scold her. I told her that her behavior was unacceptable. She refused to apologize and told me that she thought the fact that I allowed the bullying to go on in my school was unacceptable. She showed no signs of being intimidated by the wizard who brought down Grindelwald. She was right, of course. I should have tried harder to put a stop to it. I'm sorry for that, Harry."

I was afraid Sirius' grin was going to crack his face in two as Dumbledore spoke of the way his daughter stood up to one of the most powerful wizards in the world in defense of his godson. "It's fine, Professor."

I few moments later we heard steps outside the door followed by a loud knock. "Enter," said Dumbledore.

We all held our breath as the door opened to reveal the source of the elation that was practically vibrating throughout the office. At the sight of his daughter, all evidence of last thirteen years of pain and heartache were wiped from Sirius' face; he stood there a new man.

I quickly looked back to Bella as she surveyed the room. Her eyes first landed on me, where they narrowed. Yes, I know I was acting strange in the bathroom. I was freaked out. You can't blame me.

They moved to Remus and lit up in recognition. Many undecipherable emotions passed through her eyes before they moved on and landed on a beaming Sirius Black. Her eyes widened and she let out a surprised gasp, covering her mouth with her hand. After a few seconds she lowered her hand and whispered, "Daddy?"

Sirius was practically glowing with happiness at the question and nodded his head affirmatively. "Yes, baby girl."

She crossed the room in seconds and launched herself into his open arms. They held each other tightly while having a whispered conversation.

Dumbledore led me and a beaming Remus to the sitting room of his personal quarters so the reunited father and daughter could have a private moment.

Bella POV

The girls made our way back to our rooms in silence. We were all lost in thought trying to decipher Harry's strange behavior. Did he figure out that I am Isabella Black? He said he was nervous about asking a girl out, but he was clearly lying. The boy is, without a doubt, the worst liar I've ever come across. How could he have figured it out, though? I can't think of a single thing that I've done to give myself away.

Sandy wasn't in the common room when we arrived back to our suite, so we all sunk down in front of the fire. Nicole, never one to beat around the bush, stated all our fears. "So, Harry knows you're Sirius' daughter. Did you see his face when I made the enormous blunder of looking to you when I said the word 'ghost'? I could practically see his mind begging us not to talk about it. Then he came up with that obvious lie about asking a girl out. He's seriously the worst liar I've ever seen. Anyway, he obviously wants nothing to do with you now. He couldn't even look you in the eye, and he practically sprinted out of the bathroom."

I put my head in my hands, miserable. "I know."

Sammie continued on with my worst fears. "What if he won't accept our help, now? He needs us in this tournament, Bella."

Harley, ever the optimist. "Maybe he doesn't really know the truth. Maybe it's something stupid. You know, like he had a sex dream about you, or something. Now he feels awkward looking at you because he molested you in his sleep."

I looked up at her in horror and chucked a pillow at her face. "Ugh, Harley! Gross!"

My three best friends broke down into giggles and we had an oh-so-cliché pillow fight. We weren't in lingerie, though. Just regular pajamas. Do girls really hang out with each other in lingerie? I hope I never get invited to a party like that. But I digress.

After calming ourselves down, Sammie tried to lead us into a conversation that would address her concerns of Harry denying our attempts to help him. "How can we convince him we just want to help him? That we're truly on his side?"

I sighed audibly. "We need to convince him that my dad is innocent. We have more copies of the article with Peter's picture in it, and Harry must have seen Peter in his rat form multiple times since he shares a dorm with Ron. We brought my pensieve, so I can pull some of my memories of Peter as Wormtail. He'll be able to see that it's the same rat. Hopefully we can sway him. If not, I'll try to convince him that regardless of what happened in the past, he's my god brother. I love him, and I only want to protect him."

Nicole obviously didn't have very much faith in my plan. "I don't know, Bella. I'm just thinking that if I were in his shoes, and even Albus Dumbledore believed that Sirius Black was my parents' secret keeper…It would probably take seeing Peter with my own two eyes to believe that Sirius was innocent. His life was destroyed, Bella. He's told us what life is like at his Aunt and Uncle's. The boy lived in a cupboard for 11 years, for Merlin's sake!" She started grumbling. "I'd really like to teach those bastards a lesson. How could they treat a child that way?"

I looked at her sadly. Harry has had a very difficult life, and he will blame it all on my dad. She's right. I have to try, though. "It's the only thing I can do, Nic. If he asks me to stay away from him, we'll just have to help him vicariously through Hermione. She will be able to look at the situation logically enough to see that we just want to help him, and she can pass on our advice disguised as her own."

My friends nodded, sadly. The three of them had grown so fond of Harry, seeing him just as much of a little brother as I do.

We were lost in our own thoughts when we heard an apparition pop. "Miss Swan, Master Dumbledore wishes to see Miss in his office immediately. He also says to tell Miss that he enjoys Blood Pops." With another crack the elf was gone.

The four of us tensed, wide eyed. "Harry's gone to Dumbledore." I whispered.

Sammie looked at me worried. "What do you think he'll do?"

Nicole, ever the pessimist. "Do you think he'll try to use you to lure out Sirius? I don't care if he is the most powerful wizard in the world. We won't let him endanger you or Sirius, Bella. We're going with you."

Sammie and Harley nodded in agreement. "No. Let me try and reason with him, first. I don't want to get you guys involved if I can help it, we don't know if he'll alert the ministry. I need to protect all my family, not just Sirius. If things get out of hand I'll send Sandy a Patronus. She can help me."

Nicole was not impressed. "Bullshit, Bella. I get that you want to protect us, but you're our sister. Family sticks together." Sammie and Harley nodded again.

I smiled at them with watery eyes. "Alright, you can come with me, but I want you to let me speak to him first. If I haven't left his office after ten minutes, feel free to come to my rescue."

"Deal," they said in unison.

We made our way down to the office and I gave the gargoyles the password. "Blood Pops."

I made my way up the steps and knocked on the door confidently. I would be strong. I would not be used. "Enter," came Dumbledore's voice.

I walked into the room and my eyes immediately landed on Harry. I narrowed my eyes at him. Traitor.

I then moved them on to…Remy? I suppose they called him when they found out my identity. He was smiling at me with undisguised joy. I was unsure how I felt about him. I was happy, sad, grateful and resentful all at the same time. Happy because he's my Uncle Remy, and I love him. Both sad and resentful because he believed the lies about my father. Grateful that he helped Sirius after receiving my letter.

I'll have to get back to him later. I let my eyes drift to the next person in the room. I let out a sharp gasp and brought my hand to my mouth. I could feel the moisture filling up my eyes. Can it really be him? "Daddy?"

His face lit up in the most brilliant smile I've ever seen. "Yes, baby girl."

I wasted no time sprinting across the room to him, and he opened his arms to catch me as I launched myself at him. I hugged him to me fiercely, hardly believing this could be real. Tears were streaming down my face, and I could feel that Daddy was crying, too.

"Daddy, Daddy, I've missed you so much. Every day. Every day I've missed you. I love you so so much."

He was hugging me back just as tightly, almost as if he was afraid I'd disappear if he loosened his grip. "Oh, sweet girl. I've missed you too. You have no idea. Every moment of every day. The day I thought…Oh, Merlin." His voice cracked and he held me even tighter. I was struggling to breathe, but I didn't care. "It's like there has been a hole in my chest ever since that day. So you see, I was always with you. You've had my heart with you this whole time, my little princess. My sweet baby girl. I love you so much. More than anything in this world. With everything inside of me."

We were both crying uncontrollable tears of joy. "I wanted to help you, Daddy. So much. I didn't know what to do. It killed me to know that you were in that horrible place. I wanted to tell you that I was alive, but I…I was afraid that it would make it worse for you, with those horrible creatures waiting to suck the happiness out of you. I decided that when I graduated from Salem I was going to find him. I was going to get that rat bastard and bring him to the Ministry and prove you were innocent. My friends and I have all the tracking spells just about figured out."

He pulled back from me a bit so he could look into my face. "No, Isabella. That is too dangerous. You have no idea who you might run into in your search for him. You must not go after him." His voice was quite stern as he cradled my face in his hands, wiping the tears from my cheeks with his thumbs.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Well I wasn't going to leave you in that horrible place to rot for the rest of your life, Daddy."

He smiled and chuckled before kissing my forehead and bringing me into his embrace once more. I laid my head on his shoulder and enjoyed the first hug I'd had from my father since I was four years old.

He was holding my head to his shoulder stroking my hair comfortingly. "Isabella, as you can see, I am no longer rotting in that horrible place." I smiled at that. "I just got you back and I will not have you risking your life over Peter. Oh, for Merlin's sake! You're in the bloody Triwizard Tournament! That competition is dangerous, Isabella! You could be hurt!"

I chuckled at his realization. "Pshh…that competition is child's play. I'm more concerned about Harry."

"It is not child's play!" He argued. "You need to take it – " He was cut off by the door to the office banging open.

My dad looked to the open door in alarm. I turned my head quickly to see Nicole, Sammie and Harley staring at us with their mouths open in shock.

"Sirius!" They all chorused happily.

They ran over to us and formed a group hug around us. To say my father was taken aback would be an understatement. He was looking at them in complete bewilderment. When they pulled away Nicole was the first to speak. "Daddy-B! I'm your number one fan! Please, tell me how you did it? How did you get past all those Dementors without aid or a wand?"

She was looking up at him in awe and he seemed to preen a bit under her obvious admiration. "Padfoot," was all he said.

"Awesome!" was her response. "Hey Bells, it's good to know we'll be able to bust out of prison if we're ever tossed in, yeah?"

My father looked to me in question. My girls and I stood in a semi circle around him and simultaneously changed into our animal forms. He barked out a laugh and we changed back. I could see the pride in his eyes when he looked down at me. "I'm very impressed with you ladies, and happy to see that you're following in the Marauder's footsteps."

"You were our inspiration." Harley informed.

That seemed to choke him up a bit so I diverted his attention to introductions. "Dad, these are my best friends. We are known in our school as "The Scheming Skirts." His face broke into a grin at that. "This is Nicole, Sammie and Harley. They are practically my sisters."

"It's very nice to meet you three. Harry has told me about you all. He says you've helped him immeasurably in the Tournament."

They were grinning at him toothily when a door behind the Headmaster's desk opened to reveal Professor Dumbledore, Remy and Harry.

I ran over to Remy and gave him a big hug. "Uncle Remy!"

When I pulled back he was smiling beatifically. He cupped my face in his hand. "Isabella. I'm so happy that you're alive."

"Me too." I agreed with a grin, and he laughed.

I looked over to Harry and he was smiling sheepishly at me. "I would be so mad at you right now if you hadn't brought my father back to me."

He laughed. "I'm sorry. I was freaking out. I didn't know how you'd react to the news. I knew Sirius was innocent, but I wasn't sure if you did. If you believed the lies about him, I didn't think you'd take the news too well."

I smiled back at him. "I felt the same exact way, but about you. I wanted to tell you that you were my god brother, but I didn't want to distract your focus from the Tournament or have you refuse my help. We were worried that was exactly what was going to happen after you behaved so strangely earlier. How did you figure it out, anyway?"

He led me over to Dumbledore's desk where a piece of parchment was laid out. It was a map with hundreds of moving dots all over. He pointed to Dumbledore's office where I saw a dot that said Isabella Black. "Wicked. Where did you get this?"

He smiled brightly at me. "It's the Marauder's Map. It was created by our dads, Professor Lupin and…well, and Pettigrew." He spat out the name. I feel the same way, my friend.

"Oh for Merlin's sake, Harry. How many times do I have to ask you to call me Remus. You can even call me Remy, like Isabella."

"Sorry, Profe – Er…Remus. Old habits, and all."

Everyone laughed and then Dumbledore cleared his throat, garnering everyone's attention. "Miss Black," his eyes were twinkling like mad, "Now that we have had a chance to become reacquainted, perhaps you can help us figure what happened all those years ago."

I nodded and took a seat next to my dad. "Do you know who took you from the Lestrange's and faked your death?"

I cleared my throat before beginning what was probably going to be lengthy conversation. "Yes, sir. It was my Uncle Regulus."

Everyone but my Skirts gasped in surprise, and Sirius spoke. "What? Reg rescued you?"

I nodded my head and pulled the money pouch from under my cloak. I stuck my hand in while thinking that I needed Regulus' letter. It materialized in my hand and I pulled it out, handing it to my dad. "He left this with the caretaker of my orphanage to be given to me the week after my 11th birthday."

He began reading the letter aloud, and I knew it would be hard for him. His emotions were clearly displayed as he made his way through the letter. Anger, sadness and gratitude seemed to be the dominant emotions. When he finished he folded the letter back up and placed it in my hand. His voice was thick with emotion as he spoke. "Wow. Reggie saved you. I…I don't know what to say. He rescued my daughter from a terrible fate and made sure that you were taken care of financially when you grew up. I wish I could have thanked him." Dad's eyes looked like they were a million miles away.

Dumbledore was looking on calculatingly. "I wonder what his plan was to bring Voldemort down."

I shrugged noncommittally. I have no idea what Regulus was up to.

"Hmm…I guess that's a question for another day. Never mind that, now. Tell me, Isabella, how did you know that Sirius was innocent?"

I felt my temper grow at the question. It always bothers me that anyone could believe that he was guilty. My response was filled with sarcasm and blatant disdain. "Oh, I don't know, maybe because I've met him, Professor." I turned to Remy. "How could you believe it of him, Remy. It makes me so angry at you sometimes. Uncle Jamie would never have believed it if he was in your shoes."

Remy looked down guiltily. "I'm sorry, Bella. I've been asking myself the same question since I received your letter. You are absolutely right. Sirius would never have reacted that way to your supposed death. He never would have betrayed James. Ever. I'm sorry, Sirius."

Dad smiled sadly at his friend. "You've already apologized, Mooney, and I was never upset with you." Dad then turned to address me. "Sweetheart, please don't be mad at Remus. Back then, we thought there was someone in our confidence that was betraying us to Voldemort. Peter was…well, Peter. Just a lump of a boy. We never thought it would be him, ever. We didn't tell Remus that there was a change in secret keeper. We didn't tell anyone. He had absolutely no reason to think I was innocent."

I turned my head away and crossed my arms stubbornly. "Yes there was. He was supposed to know you. He was supposed to be your friend."

Dumbledore laughed at my response and winked at my dad. "I told you she was her father's daughter."

"So was Peter, princess. Please, don't be like this. Put yourself in his shoes. Think of all he had lost. He lost you, James, Lily and Peter. Harry was orphaned, and he was not in a position to care for him. All the evidence pointed toward his best friend, Bella. It was not an easy time for him. Please, Remus is my best friend, and he loves you."

"Merlin, Dad, when did you get so good at laying on the guilt?" I smiled sheepishly at him and walked over to Remy with my eyes on the floor. "I'm sorry, Remy. I just hated that he had no one on his side. He's right, though. I have no reason to be angry with you."

He placed his finger under my chin and lifted my face so he could see my eyes. He was smiling warmly. "It's okay, Bella. You're both right, in different ways. I had just had the people I loved most in the world ripped from my arms, and I wasn't in a good place. However, I do know your father, and if I'd taken the time to really think about it, I would have seen that he couldn't have done it. The problem is that it was too painful to think about. I did everything in my power not to think about it at all."

I nodded my head in understanding and he pulled me in for a hug. "I'm just so glad we got you back, sweet girl." I smiled up at him and then returned to the couch next to my dad.

"I actually have a bit of a confession. I vacillated on whether I believed you were innocent for a few days. I didn't really have any solid memories of you because of the charm Regulus used. After I read the letter I flooed to wizard New York and bought a book on the war. It took me a few days to read it all, but in the end it talked about my death, which was very strange to read about, and your supposed treachery. That night I had a dream. We were at Harry's first birthday. The adults were talking about hiding and I thought they were going to play hide-and-go-seek. Peter seemed so nervous about hiding, so I said I'd be on his team. I found us the perfect spot inside a hollowed out tree, but he couldn't fit. I started leading him away to find somewhere else but he grinned and changed into Wormtail. The memory faded to the day you went after him. I don't know where I got the memory, but I saw you storming down the street and confronting Peter. He said Voldemort made him tell and you went to attack. He already had his wand drawn and he cast the curse that killed all those people and cut off his own finger. He disappeared as Wormtail and you ended up at the wand tip of a dozen aurors. When I woke up I knew unwaveringly that you were innocent."

Sirius looked stunned. "I had that same dream. I remember waking up feeling so empty. It was like I had seen your memory. Seen the world through your sweet innocent eyes. Then the scene faded away and the new one formed. That one was my memory."

Dumbledore looked positively enthralled and was eying me keenly. "Miss Black. You are a powerful witch indeed. You went to bed that night wishing you could believe that Sirius was innocent, didn't you?"

I looked at him, bemused. "Yes, sir. I didn't want to believe that my father was capable of something so horrific. I didn't have memories of my dad, but I knew that I loved him. I could always feel my love for him; no memory charm would be able to block the feeling."

Dumbledore smiled warmly at my vehemence. "I believe that your mind reached out to Sirius' that night. That you wanted him to provide you proof, so he subconsciously uncovered one of the memories where you saw Peter change, and then provided you with the actual events of the night he was arrested. This is truly magnificent!"

I looked to my dad, and found him smiling at me with so much love it brought tears to my eyes. I hugged him tightly. I knew this night was coming to an end, and I didn't want to let him go.

As if reading my mind Dumbledore looked to the clock in the corner of the room. "Oh my, it's past two in the morning. I think it's time for everyone to be getting to sleep."

I held on to my father and croaked, "I want to go with you."

He had tears falling down his cheeks as he responded, "No, princess. You need to stay in the school where it's safe. Finish up your education."

"I wouldn't have to compete in the Tournament if I came with you."

He chuckled at that. "Sneaky girl. As much as I wish you weren't competing in that dangerous tournament, I cannot risk you getting caught with me."

"I have an idea." Thank you, Dumbledore. "Sirius, you are the owner Grimmauld Place. Why don't you allow me to place a Fidelius over the house? I will be your secret keeper. I can open up the floo in the girls' guest suite and that way Bella and Harry can come visit you."

I started excitedly bouncing in my seat. "I love you, Professor! I'm sorry if I was ever rude to you!" He chuckled and I looked over to see Dad's reaction. He was smiling happily.

I gave him a big hug and whispered in his ear. "You can floo into Hogwarts and we'll go running in the forest. You can't stay cooped up in that house all the time."

Remus snorted. Ah, I forgot. Werewolf hearing. "You're so like your father. I think we should officially be afraid." Sirius was grinning mischievously at me.

We approached the fireplace where Dumbledore and my dad were going to floo to Grimmauld Place. I gave my dad a big hug. "I love you, Daddy."

"I love you too, pumpkin."

A/N:

Big thanks to my reviewers:

Light1172, haileydelacour101, Sweetie7Smiled, bloody alanna, Sheridan Malfoy Potter, vivx-chan, Termia, BloodyBleedingRose, car89, Dead 2 Da Unknown, and symmasters.

I was so excited that I got 11 reviews on the last chapter! Thanks guys!

So they were reunited, and it feels so gooood! I had a little bit of trouble with this chapter. It's such a big moment; I wanted to do it justice. I hope you guys like it. I decided to have a bit of fun with Harry, Remus and Dumbledore. Dumbledore always seems so serious in the books, but I thought he'd be a bit giddy that Bella is alive. He is going to be able to bring back the child of a man who has suffered so much for so many years. Anyway, it may be OOC, but I don't care. It's how I wanted him to react. :)

Please review! You guys have no idea how happy it makes me when I see a review alert. I become giddy like Dumbledore!