I sat down in the lawn chair and closed my eyes. It was June, 1993 and the Daily Phrophet had just shown up. I didn't need to read it I already knew what was on the front cover.
flashback
I was cooking breakfest when there was a loud bang from outside. I sighed, most people knew that they couldn't apparate anywhere near Potter house unless I give them permission but some did not. I snapped my fingers as I walked to the front door then there was a loud crack then a loud knock on the door. I opened the door to find the Minister Cornelius Fudge and five Aurors.
"May I help you?" I asked
"Good morning , may we come in?" Fudge asked
"Of course Minister." I said moving out of the door way. "Would any of you like something to drink or eat?"
"No, we're on duty." one of the Aurors said
"Oh ok then, what, if I may ask, are you doing here?" I asked as I heard Harry, Johnny and Remus walk out of the dinning room.
"There was a break out at Azkaban." Fudge answered nodding toward Remus.
I held my breath. I knew who had broken out before any one said the name.
"Sirius Black was the escapee." one of the aurors I reconized as Kingsley Shacklebelt said
"Who's Sirius Black?" Harry asked walking toward us.
"Nobody, boys go upstairs." Remus ordered
"But dad." Johnny started
"Now John." Remus said
The boys huffed then stalked off toward the stairs. I waited for them to be at the top of the stairs before asking "What does Black escaping from prison have to do with us?"
"Perhaps we should sit down." Fudge suggested waving his hand at one of the dinning room tables.
"No, just say what you have to say." I said crossing my arms across my chest.
"It has come to my attention that you once dated Black." Fudge said as the Aurors looked around.
"Yes I did, that was a very long time ago. What does that have to do with this?" I asked
"We would like permission to look around the house for evidence that Black has been here." Fudge said looking slightly guilty.
"And if we didn't give you permission?" Remus asked looking at the minister
"Well, we hope you will but if you don't you could be arrested." an auror said
"Could be which means we mostly won't." Remus said "So I believe you can show your way out. Have a nice day gentlemen."
"Remus, please. Gentlemen go ahead and have a look around. But please try not to make too much of a mess." I said leaning against the marble counter.
"Thank you ." the aurors walked in different directions. Fudge sat down in one of the chairs
" have you had any contact with Sirius Black since he's been inprisoned?" Fudge asked staring at the werewolf who was standing in the corner.
"No. Why would I talk to the man who almost took everything good in my life away from me?" Remus asked then he walked out the back door to the back yard. I watched him leave then turned back to Cornelius.
"And you ? Have you had any contact with Black?"
"When Harry was five, so I don't know seven years ago, I went to see Black in prison. That was the last time I had contact with him. And if you find him can you do me a favor?" I asked
"What favor?" Fudge asked
"When you see Black, curse his traitoring ass." I said as the aurors walked back in.
"Nothing sir." Kingsley said
Fudge stood up nodded his head in farewell then him and the aurors left. I finished breakfest called the boys down and yelled outside that the people from the Ministry were gone then I walked up the stairs to check the damage the Aurors had done. I walked into the room at the end of the hall. The room that nobody was ever allowed to go in. The room that once belonged to Sirius Orion Black when he lived here with James, me and our parents. All the things that had been hungup, on the shelves, in the dresser, or in the black trunk at the end of the bed were all over the floor. Somethings were ripped and in pieces. The walls were white they use to be covered in pictures of motorcycles and muggle super modles. But now the pictures and posters and Gryffindor banners were on the floor along with all the other things.
My heart ached at the mess that had been created. I loved Sirius, I always have and always would no matter what Black did. After all how do you love someone that use to be the only reason you got up in the morning? I took another look around the room then turned and walked out shutting the door tightly behind me.
end of flashback
I looked up when I heard someone sigh beside me. Remus was standing there looking down at the picture on the cover. "Remus, do you think maybe Sirius was cursed, like the imperio curse was placed on him?"
"No, I believe Black knew what he was doing and that he did so on his own free will." Remus said sitting down "Where are the boys?"
"The Weasleys." I said lost in thought. "Where do you think Black is heading?"
"Probably to find Harry, finish the job." Remus said
"Remus, you really believe Sirius was Secret Keeper?" I asked staring at him.
"Grace, he was Secret Keeper. James told me, you should let the belief that Black is innocent go. He's not, he gave up Lily and James and killed Peter." Remus said
"Sirius Black's the one who gave my parents to Voldemort?" came Harry's voice from the backdoor of the house.
"Harry." I said standing up and turning to face him.
"Did he? Did Sirius Black give my parents to Voldemort?" Harry asked his green eyes growing dark.
"Yes." Remus said honestly
"Remus!" I said looking at the werewolf then I turned back to my 13 year old nephew. "Harry, yes Sirius did give your parents to Voldemort. And yes he has broken out of Azkaban. but the Sirius Black that Remus and I once knew was nothing like the one who went to prison. Understand?"
"I'm not five Aunt Grace. " then Harry hurried into the house.
"Remus." I said turning toward him. "How could you be so..so blunt with him?"
"He deserves to know the name of the man who's to blame for him not being able to be raised by his parents." then Remus walked into the house.
"So that doesn't matter Remus." I said following close behind him. "He's only a child, he's only just become a teenager. He needs time to adjust with things. Telling him straight out that Sirius is to blame is going to be very hard on him."
"He can handle it." Remus said pouring a cop of tea for himself.
"He's going to go looking for Sirius!" I said "James wouldn't want this!"
"James would want justice for Lily." Remus said
"How would you know what James wants? You're just his werewolf friend! I'm his sister, I grew up with him!" I said looking Remus right in the eye.
"I may just be a half-breed, but as I recall I was the one there the last two years of Lily and James's life where you were not." then Remus sat his cup down and left.
"Wasn't my fault. I didn't ask to be sent to Tennesse." I muttered as I sat down. "Oh Padfoot, look at what you've caused. I wish I was eighteen again. When we were still together. I wish I could see you again. i wish I could hold you and tell you just how much I loved you. How much I still love you."
"Maybe you can." came a hoarse voice from the pantry door behind me. I turned and if it wasn't for a dirty hand covering my mouth I would've screamed.