REVISED 6/27/2013.

Kirsten really didn't really expect Professor Lupin to walk into the Great Hall, the morning students returned to resume classes the next day, and take a seat next to her on the long Gryffindor table. She saw the few returning students in the Great Hall throw odd looks at the two seated.

Lupin joining her at the table was odd, but she her mind was already occupied.

Her emotions have been a whirlwind since the start of winter break and, ever since she received that ring, the hold on her emotions have been even worse. She seemed to live in her thoughts more than reality since her birthday. She contemplated why her dad would send her his wedding ring.

According to the media, he was a raving lunatic who murdered over a dozen people.

According to the Ministry, he was after both her and Harry.

Of course, she had her doubts that the man was actually after her.

And with him sending that ring to her...proved it in a sort of way.

Then there was Harry and the Firebolt.

Hermione explained to her that Harry received it on Christmas with no note.

Very much like how she received the ring.

"Kirsten?"

The man's questioning voice brought her back to reality. Her eyes met his and a small grin was on her lips.

"Yes?" she asked. She didn't miss the concerned look on his face.

"Would you like to join me in my office after breakfast?"

The third year witch was beyond confused as she glanced at the watch on her wrist and at the thick book in her arms.

Remus Lupin had just given her book about Muggle fairy tales.

She couldn't shake the odd glint in his eyes.

He told her it was a birthday gift.

He knew when her birthday was.

Maybe he was much closer to her mother than she thought.

THWACK!

She swore loudly as she fell to the floor and looked up to see a grey wall before her.

"I cannot believe I ran into a wall."

"Neither can I," a voice said from behind her. She knew who the voice belonged to immediately and smiled slightly as she turned her head. A hand was held before her and she accepted it, coming face to face with the owner.

She saw the tall Hufflepuff's smiling face and punched him lightly on the shoulder before pulling him into a hug.

"How was your Christmas break?" he asked, resting his chin on top of her head.

"Eventful," she told him. She felt the warmth pull away from her and her eyes were met with a raised eyebrow.

"Kirsten..."

She gave the older boy an exasperated look. "Oh come off it. I'm fine. Besides how was your holiday?"

"It was good. My grandmother was a little more interested in the letters I was sending out though," he said. And if Kirsten didn't know any better she would say the sixteen year old's face was turning red.

"Oh?" she asked curious.

"Yes, but that's beside the point," he said hurriedly, brushing off the subject. His eyes then swept over her face and he frowned. "You don't look well..."

"I –" Kirsten broke away from his gaze and glanced up and down the corridor before grabbing a hold of his arm and leading him into an empty class room. She closed the door behind them. The look on Cedric's face confusion and curiosity.

"There's something you should know."

She paused before she took a seat on top one of the many desks that littered the room. He opened his mouth but Kirsten interrupted him.

"Sirius Black is my father."

Silence.

The last thing she expected him to do was laugh.

Her eyes narrowed as she looked at him. She was being serious here for once in her life and he started laughing?

"I'm not kidding around, Cedric," she told him sternly. His dark grey eyes were practically smiling at her as he stopped laughing, a grin on his face.

"I don't doubt it. I - believe me when I say I'm shocked, Kirsten. It's just...well," he said, looking her up and down, "now that I think about it, you look a lot like him."

"What?"

"Your facial structure looks like his and your eyes... I'm guessing you got your skin tone from your mother," he said, referring to her brown skin. "But you look like him in a way – "

Her jaw dropped in shock.

"Don't get me wrong," he said quickly. "Your beautiful, it's just that since he is your father – wow, I can't believe you haven't figured this out sooner. His picture is all over the Daily Prophet."

"Exactly. Have you seen him? The man looks like dreadful."

Kirsten grinned to herself as she walked in the fresh air of the Hogwarts grounds. She had just explained to Cedric, who swore that he wouldn't tell another soul, what transpired in Hogsmeade and about the Marauder's Map.

The look in the Hufflepuff's eye gave confirmed that she could trust him. After all he did start laughing after she blatantly told him who her father was. And for that she was truly thankful to have him as a friend.

Her legs carried her across the shore as she looked over the horizon. The lake was beautiful and she wished she could dive into the water there and then. Be able to swim or let her body float atop. She had half a mind to do so, but thought against it. Even though the cold temperature didn't affect her, oddly enough, she didn't want to take any chances. It was the dead of winter after all.

A sigh escaped her lips.

Something brushed against her leg and her eyes darted to the ground to find Hermione's ginger cat.

"What are you doing out here, Crookshanks?" she asked, frowning at the feline. Yellow eyes looked up at her before the cat started nudging her leg in the direction of Hagrid's hut. She stumbled in the sandy shore, startled by the cat's force. Looking down at the cat, Kirsten gazed at him curiously before looking in the direction Crookshanks apparently wanted her to get to.

She stood rooted to the spot as she saw a familiar four legged canine next to Hagrid's home before skulking into the Forbidden Forest. The furry feline sprang from behind her and sprinted into the forest. Unconsciously, her legs began to move in that direction and it wasn't long before she found herself in the forest not far from the outskirts. She turned around to see that she could somewhat make out Hagrid's hut from where she stood. The trees blocking most of it.

It was quiet where she stood with the occasionally odd noise that filled the air. Until her ears picked up footsteps crunching fallen leaves.

Whirling around, Kirsten came face to face with the most wanted man in Britain. He looked just as bad as he did the night he saved her. But there was something different about him. Her grey eyes met his and she saw something flash in his eyes while he surveyed her.

"I — I can't believe you're alive. They never told me that they finally found you — I thought at least they would tell me —"

"Nobody knew I was alive until I ran away from the orphanage," she interrupted him softly. The man's light grey eyes widened at the fact and opened his mouth, but she beat him to it. "I was missing according to Fudge. The bastard didn't even have the decency to tell me who my father was..."

"I'm sorry, Kirsten," the man said before her.

Did he just apologize to her?

Her mind was a jumbled mess. She was surprised herself with how calm she was around him at the moment. She had a feeling that not everything was what it seemed and that proved to be right so far. He was standing before her and not doing a thing that would threaten her.

She had so many questions for him.

"Are you after Harry?"

Sirius' eyes widened at her question before they narrowed considerably. A grim expression crossed his features.

"He's not who I'm after," he said darkly.

"Then wh —"

SNAP.

The sound was a good distance away but that didn't keep Kirsten from turning around. The footsteps got louder and louder and in seconds Kirsten was face to face with a crossbow.

"Kia? What're yeh doin' out here?"

Kirsten frowned as she turned back around to find Sirius gone. She needed to find a viable excuse and thanked God that Hermione's cat was still standing beside her. Bending over she picked up Crookshanks and held him in her arms. "Crookshanks ran in here."

The large man's black eyes looked down at her before grinning.

"I know yer not 'fraid of the forest but its dangerous in here," he told her, leading her to the outskirts. "C'mon, I walk yeh to the entrance."

As the two reached the castle, Kirsten couldn't help but look back at the forest behind her.

Then who was he after?