Footnotes

Epilogue 16 years later

Cleaning out Grimmuald Place was a huge task. Even though Harry had inherited it, there was a lot of my father's stuff I wanted to go through and see if there was anything worth keeping. My 'dad' Remus Lupin had most of my baby things including pictures and toys. But he talked about things that my father had that I wish I had. While clearing out the attic my husband Fred Weasley found an old journal that belonged to Sirius. Curious Fred, Harry and I read it. By the time we got to the last entry we were all unsure of what to say.

"Go on Kat, read the last entry,"

Entry #26: December 24th, Christmas Eve

It's been too long to even count the years that I gave a thought about this silly little journal. But it's something other than Remus to bounce ideas off of. They don't have paper in Azkaban, and it doesn't talk back to you. Today is Christmas Eve and like usual I've been sulking. My life had still been rock bottom. Emma has been dead for over ten years and I was still on the Ministry's most wanted list. To top it off my daughter Kat is mad at me and I have no idea who my son is.

I watched as the party went on and as my nephew, Harry, wrestled with his own thoughts. Kat was continuously shooting me worried glances. After a bit Kat walked over to Harry and whispered something in his ear. They talked for a bit looking about at everyone in Grimmuald Place as the Christmas party wore on. Besides Remus, Molly, Arthur, Fred, Albus and Mad Eye, nobody knew that those two were cousins, and everyone of those people was under an oath not to tell. Everyone else just knew Kat as Fred's fiancé.

"Sirius, is everything alright? You don't look so good," Kat asked pushing a plate of Molly's delish food into my lap, disturbing my thoughts. I hadn't even noticed the two had stopped talking. Ron, who I was always fond of but found he didn't catch onto things fast enough gave us funny looks as I continued to talk to my daughter.

"Seriously, I am worried about you. You've been strange for the past few days. And don't give me any of that Azkaban poppy cock. We both bloody know that isn't what has been bothering you," Kat said pushing a fork into my hand and urging me to eat. Suddenly I was aware Harry had also joined us and that the two were talking again. I was lost in thought about Emma, and Draco… how I missed them both.

"What would James say if he saw you like this?"

"What would James say Sirius? I think we both know the answer to that and that he would be clearly unhappy with how you've been acting. He'd do everything possible to try and make you feel better," Remus said joining my daughter and nephew. He spoke with Harry briefly and then Harry left and Remus rested his hand on my shoulder. Internally I sighed. I should have known these two would gang up on me. From day one Kat and Remus were the dynamic duo. I saw nothing had really changed since then. That at least gave me some relief.

"What about mum? What would she say if she saw you like this huh?" Kat said reading my mind. My sigh became vocal this time as I realized for the seventh time that night how much I missed my wife. Kat already looked too much like her to begin with…

"Please dad, tell me what's wrong," Kat asked kneeling next to me. She never called me dad; ever.

"Alright…follow me to the kitchen, I don't want to be over heard and cause more worry," I said taking my plate to the kitchen with the two behind me. When we got there Kat used a simple eves dropping spell so that anyone standing nearby couldn't hear us. Remus got us tea and made a cup for Kat just the way she liked it. Another reminder of Emma: Earl Grey with two sugars and milk. I cleared my throat as Kat took her first sip.

"What do you know about your baby brother?" I asked her.

"That he exists?" Kat paused. "Why?"

"I know that you don't really talk to a lot of the younger students besides Harry and his friends, but you do know a few of the fifth year's right?" I asked as she candidly stirred her tea.

"Mostly Gryffindors, the ones on the Quidditch team, yeah I guess. Where is this going?" Kat asked staring me down over her steaming cup. She was doing that thing Emma always did where by staring me down she felt like she could read my mind. Remus was still, his tea getting cold. I hadn't touched mine either.

"Do you know Draco Malfoy?" Kat scoffed. I was feeling that I wasn't going to like this answer.

"Yeah, slimy little git that one," She paused catching on quickly. "Don't tell me that he's my brother…?" I nodded.

"Oh Merlin, you have to be kidding me! This is a sick joke, Dad, please tell me Sirius is joking," She begged turning to Remus. Remus didn't say anything. By her answer my fear had become confirmed.

"No I am not joking, and from what Harry has told me he is not a very good person."

"He's just like his d….Lucius…he's just like Lucius Malfoy, need I tell you more?" Kat's tone was cold and harsh. Why was it that Lucius had to keep coming back to make my life miserable? That asshat just couldn't leave me alone.

"Now you know what has me so troubled. I've been haunted by the decision I made to give you both up. I knew at least one of you would be better off. One out of two isn't so bad I guess. It only kills me that my son thinks that the biggest toad in the Wizarding world is his real father. And there is nothing I can do about it," I sighed finally drinking some of my black tea. Kat's tea was already gone and she was staring me down again.

"You've got to tell him of course!" She urged getting up and standing next to me. "Wait, are you sure he's yours? He does look an awful lot like a Malfoy…"

"That's because he has your grandfather's blonde hair. You may look exactly like your mother but if you saw David Potter next to Draco you would know that he was part of the family. The similarities are uncanny," I said meekly. We spilt ways and I went to hide in my room. I wanted to write to Draco but I wasn't sure how to go about sending it to him and if I wanted to do that at all. Now that I look back I wish that I had done something more.

The last line was scribbled quickly, almost as though it was an afterthought. Of course I knew about Draco, and so did Harry but neither of us did anything about it after Sirius died. I sighed and Fred rested a hand on my shoulder as I looked to me cousin.

"What do we do now?" I asked him. He shrugged. We could tell Draco, but none of us really knew how to get a hold of him or what to say. I felt it was kind of my duty to tell him, as a favor to Sirius at least. But what was I gonna say? We finished up at the house and Fred and I went back to our humble little house where my friend Hermione was watching our son Noah. Fred took him for a bath and after I said goodbye to Hermione I sat down at my kitchen table and began to write a letter.

Dear Draco,

I don't exactly know how to start this letter, but here it goes. As I am sure you might have figured out by now, Lucius Malfoy is not your real father. Nor is your mother really Narissa. My name is Katarina Black Weasley and I am your older sister. Our parents were Emma Black and Sirius Black. Unfortunately, both of our parents have passed on, but as your only other living relative I felt it important to tell you this and to tell you that we were split up for a reason and that reason was not that our parents didn't love us. We were split up because our father felt it would be better for us in his state of depression and then he was placed in Azkaban for a crime he didn't commit. His death was sad and I do miss him, but all he wanted was for you to know the truth. If you would like to contact me please feel free. I am always willing to talk about anything you'd like.

Kat Weasley.

With a sigh I folded up the parchment and then gave it to our family owl and sent it off.

"So it begins…."