Author note: Hello dear readers! I hope that your week has gone well and that you will enjoy your weekend to come! I have been working on this all week and I really do like how this chapter turned out. I hope you enjoy!
Chapter III
Dancing puppies and growling pigs
"Hello Harry,"
Turning sharply, Harry felt his line of balance shift and although he almost tumbled over he was able to straighten himself. Unused to his current – body – he felt his cheeks warm up yet still looked up to find two elderly people standing a bit away from him. Both were smiling, each different in their own way.
The man was tall, with broad shoulders and a warm smile. His eyes were a honey colour that seems to glow gold while a closely shaven beard adorned his face. At his side was a petite woman with long silver hair and soft brown eyes. She was smiling warmly at him. He didn't recognise either of these people, although – the man was held a sharp familiarity.
"Hello Harry, I'm Euphemia, you're grandmother and this is your grandfather Fleamont." The woman greeted earning a wide eye look of shock from Harry. "Considering how many grandparents you have I guess I should specify, where your Potter Grandparents."
"It's nice to meet you both," Harry greeted rather surprised, he knew he would be meeting relatives but this – this was unlike the Dursley's.
"So, polite," Euphemia gushed before choosing to bustle over and engulf him into a hug. "You're always so polite and yet with the upbringing, you had one would expect you to be anything but."
"Thanks?" "Oh don't worry dear, nothing to worry about actually at your age, James was a rather impolite young boy unless he needed his charm." She laughed making Harry chuckle softly.
"I see some of your father in you," Fleamont finally spoke causing his granddaughter to look at him with wide eyes. "Oh yes, I knew your father, your birth father. Both your fathers were very close, roommates at school they were. You have his family's cheekbones but you also have his hair, not the colour mind you but that natural wave that always seemed to be present."
"I've been told that my – father – is somebody people think has done something terribly wrong but they don't believe that."
"Your father was betrayed, betrayed in the worst ways but I cannot say any more. All I can say is that your father could not be prouder when he learned that your mother was pregnant with you. When you were taken – he tried to move the sun and the moon to find you." Fleamont remarked before taking a deep breath. "He loved you dearly,"
"Loved?"
"Your father is in a very dangerous place now dear, but he would never intentionally harm you. He will need you aid darling, aid only you could provide him with." Euphemia murmured before giving her a tight hug. "We've said too much already, but our time is limited and we must leave you now. Yet do not fret, as we will always watch over you just like your parents."
"Don't allow your first judgement cloud your current judgement, Harry, see people for who they are inside, not who they are outside," Fleamont remarked smoothly before extending his hand to shake. "It was wonderful to meet you Harry and know that your father was right, you do make the Potter family proud, just try not to fight another basilisk."
The last part made Harry laugh, the sound loud and clear which made both his grandparents smile.
"Allow your curiosity to grow yet know when to keep it in check dear that is the key."
"I'll do my best," he agreed, earning proud smiles that had his heart growing warmer.
As both figures vanished Harry took a deep breath before letting it out shakily. Already he had met more family than he had ever met before and he was about to meet even more.
"This is – so much to take in," he mumbled while looking down yet looking down only serve to remind him of the changes in his own body.
"You have a tough time their kid," came a male voice causing him to look up.
Whom he saw had him very curious. He was young, perhaps around eighteen or nineteen. He had dark hair that went to his shoulders in light waves, much like her own, he had an unmistakable aristocrat appearance to him especially with his height and the way he was dressed in black dress pants, a grey dress shirt and a set of rather rich looking outer robes.
"Most of your life you've been a boy – or at least thought you were a boy now you're just finding out you're a girl in the middle of puberty." He remarked amusement clear in his voice. "You're father would – well he would have laughed if you weren't his daughter and probably will once it becomes amusing to you all."
"You know my – father – personally?" He asked curiously earning a boyish grin in return.
"Knew him, he was my brother," the boy declared before his expression fell and he looked away. "We – didn't always get along,"
"Oh?" Harry asked curious about
"Your father did not get along with most of his family, he considered himself the white sheep of the family, sorted into Gryffindor while the rest of the house was sorted in Slytherin, oh sorry I meant to introduce myself, I am Regulus." The man finally greeted making Harry grin. "You also have your father's grin,"
"I do?"
"Yep, he was very mischievous, great at getting into trouble but also great at getting out of it," Regulus told before letting a chuckle leave his lips.
"So, why were you both so - well why didn't you both get along?" Téa asked, much more curious than he wanted to admit.
"I supported our families views - at least a large number of their views - and he didn't. He supported opposite views, more aligned with the Potters and Dumbledore then with - well the family. You see I will not lie to you Harry, our family, your father's family was a dark family. A good portion of it believed that The Dark Lord was right in his ways and I.. I was no different."
Here Harry tensed and his eyes narrowed. Distrust began to form until he saw the look in his - uncle's - eyes. The deep regret and sadness.
"I joined the Dark Lords side and I learned that Sirius was truly the only same one in the family, at least semi-sane. The Dark Lord was not - he was a monster." Regulus grunted, before shaking his head. "He tortured his followers, he didn't care about them, he didn't care if you were pureblood, half-blood or muggle-born and really I have never believed that there was a difference."
"Pressure," she whispered causing him to look up. "You were under a lot of pressure by your family. With your brother being so different and not following in their ways you felt the pressure to do that instead."
"I guess - yes that does sound right, I just didn't want to disappoint and in the end, I did disappoint somebody, I disappointed myself," Regulus admitted before running a hand through his hair. "I tried fighting against him that is how I died."
That admission had Harry smiling which caused the man to stare at her in an odd way.
"Why are you smiling?" He asked curiously.
"Don't get me wrong, I am not happy you - you died but the fact that you tried to fight against him shows that you are a good person inside. You simply made wrong choices. Those choice are made by all of us be it with good intentions or not." he remarked earning a soft smile for his words of wisdom.
"You sure you only twelve?" He asked making his niece grin.
"Turning thirteen but I have had a lot of life experiences." He remarked making him chuckle although a little sadder than normal.
"What you have been through - it's not right," he remarked making Harry look away, a frown marring his features. "Nobody has the right to do what they did to you. You should have been raised by a loving family, your loving family but instead they did that to you. Well, good riddance I say, they are the type of people that give muggles a bad name in our world."
"Is - is what I went through rare in the magical world?" He asked, a little hesitant to do so.
"You mean abuse," Regulus growled, yet swiftly noticed the wince from his niece. "You were abused kiddo, no matter what you say it will not change the fact. They refused you food, they denied you medical attention, they beat you, they tried to kill you."
"I know," Harry whispered, bowing his head as tears built in his eyes again.
"But to answer you question yes it is rare in the magical world," he sighed knowing that the young preteen would take some time to accept what he and what others would say about the subject. "Magical families love their children, seeing them as the ones to continue to family especially pure-blooded families as children are rare with exception of a few families."
...
"How the hell did the Potters will get sealed!" Amelia Bones shouted out in anger, eyes blazing as she glared at the two Aurors in the room.
"We are not positive ma'am -" Kingsley began yet his boss gave him no room to continue.
"Wills are important, how could one get sealed, it's not even possible - shouldn't be possible to have one sealed!" She ranted, passing the length of the small hospital room. "Do you know who had it sealed?"
"Yes ma'am, the chief Warlock was able to seal it, ma'am," Kingsley answered knowing it was best to just answer his boss when she got in this sort of mood. Thankfully that didn't happen all that often.
"Meaning Dumbledore, for some unknown reason, chose to seal the Potters will breaking the law by doing so. Well, get that will unsealed Kingsley, it could hold vital information pertaining this case." Amelia ordered and even though she had passed on the reigns of the investigation to the man before her, neither he nor Tonks wished to get on her bad side.
"Of course ma'am, I have already received confirmation that my urgent meeting with the Ministry was agreed upon. Soon the will should be unsealed and we can proceed with announcing the will reading. Sadly we will not know the contents of it until then but the Goblins have assured me that they are willing to do it as quickly as possible and already have invites ready to be sent off." Kingsley revealed earning nods from the Head of the DMLE. "Normally - their child - would be present but considering the circumstances, an exception will be made to allow her to sigh for it at a later date, once she awakens."
"Good, good, thank you for informing me about this Kingsley. How is the investigation with the muggle side going?" Amelia asked, finally somewhat calmed by the way her Aurors were handling things.
"Going remarkably well ma'am, plenty of evidence was found in the Dursley's care but we've been asked to help with interviews," Kingsley explained, looking relieved.
"Officer Holmes wishes to get character witness' for the court and so we are interviewing surrounding people, and school teachers, not to mention work mates for the husband. Plenty of them have already been set up." Tonks continued catching Amelia's curiosity.
"Who will you be speaking with?" She asked.
"I will be going with Officer Dawly, she's heading to St. Grogory's Primary School. We will be speaking with the Headmistress there, as well as past teachers that taught Harry Potter. That begins today to be exact, in about an hour's time."
"Good, I would like to know what her schooling was like for myself but it wouldn't do for me to be involved in the investigation anymore then I have been," Amelia remarked, rather saddened by the fact that she wouldn't really get to meet her daughter's primary school teachers.
She knew so little about her daughter, only what had been printed in the Daily Prophet and even then it was questionable at best. Susan barely knew the girl - or boy - as she always seemed surrounded by her two best friends, Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley if she remembered correctly.
"I have a meeting with Vernon Dursley's boss and coworkers, I will be accompanying Officer Holmes," Kingsley added before looking at the time. "I am meant to meet with him in ten minutes time ma'am."
"Right, you shouldn't be late for those meetings, thank you for the information both of you and - continue as you are, you are doing very well." Amelia complimented earning nods from both Aurors before they left the room leaving her alone.
Drawing a deep breath, she turned back to the bed. It had been two days since the young, soon to be thirteen-year-old had arrived at the Hospital and in that time so many things had been discovered. She had yet to inform Susan of the matter, yet everything was being kept very secretive especially with the information Amelia had received the day before.
Walking over to the bed, she grabbed an article that had been placed on the side table. Looking at it made her heart break all over again yet her resolve only deepened as she looked at the child in the hospital bed.
Most of the front page was taken up by one large picture of a man dressed in grey stripped robes that - at one point - were white and black. The robes were torn and large on the figure who appeared gaunt. HIs hair was short, going to just above his shoulders in messy waves while a beard covered his lower face.
Escape from Azkaban!
by
Evuarbus Lima
This morning, in an announcement by Minister Cornelius Fudge that has rocked our world we have learned that a prisoner of Azkaban has escaped. Prisoner number KY396 was a high-level security prisoner who was placed in Azkaban twelve years ago. That's right ladies and gentlemen, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named right-hand man, Sirius Black has escaped Azkaban.
Shutting her eyes, Amelia looked away from the prophet. Sirius was out and about. Why she wasn't certain but it was quite possible the man was after Harry Potter.
How he had escaped Azkaban, she didn't know. Azkaban was a fortress on an island in the middle of the North Sea. It had served as a magical prison since 1718. The entire thing was infested with Dementors, foul creatures that suck the happiness of the victims and cause great suffering to those near them.
It was a horrible place, because of the guards. All who entered the prison were affected on some level, some more than others but the prisoners were the ones affected the most. Eventually, prisoners went insane and slowly died.
How Black had kept enough sanity to escape was beyond her knowledge. How he had avoided the dementors even more so. Still, they could not be sure he had even survived past that as the anti-apparition wards surrounded the island for at least ten miles meaning the man would have had to swim.
Slowly opening her eyes, she looked at the young girl on the bed. She looked better then she had days before but the rather high temperature of her body had some doctors a bit confused. It didn't look like it was rising or falling, as though it was her natural body temperature yet according to some doctors, it was very odd as humans had a lower body temperature.
Other changes had also been noticed upon the girl's figure, some rather curious to be certain. To begin the girls lovely auburn hair had been as normal as Amelia yet now it had changed. Shockingly growing at a fast rate until it arrived past her shoulders in thick waves yet as it grew it also melted from auburn to a soft blonde at the tips.
Then, came the markings. Chalisse had noticed them during her last visit and physical of the child. They were thin gold rune like scriptures that were around each wrist, ankle, and on her palms. The runes were not known to any of them, and not in any runic book Chalisse had ever seen. It was concerning to see all of these changes happening to the young twelve-year-old and they weren't sure what was causing it as Chalisse had yet to receive permission to perform the complete magical scan she wanted or needed to do.
Running a finger over the girl's narrow wrist she looked at the runes before drawing a sigh and shaking her head.
The moment Sirius Black noticed that Kinsley was alive he would go after her, most likely to try and get her to join his side or if he learned that she had been Harry Potter he might even want to kill her for destroying his master.
Burying her face in her hands, Amelia tried to hold back her emotions yet tears soon fell. How could she have not noticed? How had she not noticed when Sirius' views had changed? Or had he ever been on their side, had it all just been a lie to get on their side from the start? Why had he done it, what had he gained from doing everything he had done?
"Oh Sirius, how could you do this to us," she murmured tiredly.
...
Considering summer holidays had begun quite a time ago, a meeting with the Headmistress of St. Grogory Primary School and its teachers had been simple to organise. Many were attempting to complete various items at the school before heading off for their own holidays.
As Tonks stepped into the school, she felt a sense of familiarity. As a child, her mother and father had sent her to muggle primary school before Hogwarts. It was the one time in her life that she was forced to show her true appearance or at least something that was close to it.
Since that time, she had never once allowed anybody to force her to look like anything she did not want to look like. Just then, an elder woman appeared catching their attention.
"Officer Dawly, Officer Tonks I presume," the woman greeted.
"Yes, you must be the Headmistress of this school," Officer Dawly greeted, earning a nod from the woman.
"I understand the matter that you wish to speak with myself and other members of staff concerns one of our old students, Harry Potter. Please, I have gathered the teachers in my office." The woman remarked before motioning them to follow her. "I only was Headmistress of St. Grogory's Primary School during the last year of Harry's tenure here but during that time I realised many different things. Things I should have perhaps acted on yet sadly realised it all too late."
"You spoke with him personally?" Tonks questioned curiously.
"Oh yes, many times. Harry was a curious child, and quiet. He could often be found with a book when he had the chance which always concerned me as his grades never reflected the smart boy I saw." She remarked, before sending a look to Tonks. "You do not recognise me do you, Officer Tonks," She remarked causing the young auror to frown.
"Sorry no, should I?" Tonks asked curiously.
"I was once your English Teacher at St. Annabelle's Primary School. Of course, back then I was younger and had blonde hair, not this silver grey hair I have now." The woman remarked causing Tonk's eyes to widen.
"Miss Eva!" She exclaimed, shocked to find her once favourite teacher leading her towards her office.
"Indeed, of course, the last time I saw you dear you had brown hair not that pink hair you have now." The woman laughed, "I also never pictured you becoming an officer. Your mother never seemed like the type of woman to allow that to happen."
"She protested tooth and nail but in the end, I got what I wanted and she saw that I wanted this more than anything. I'm shocked you recognised me thought," Tonks remarked earning a soft smile from the woman.
"You have changed greatly Miss Tonks but your eyes still have that glint I will always recognise." The Headmistress chuckled before opening a set of double doors and allowing them entrance.
The moment they did, both Officer Dawly and Tonks noticed the gathered teachers.
"Everyone I would like you to meet Officer Dawly and Officer Tonks," The Headmistress introduced before motioning for the two to take seats in the offered chairs.
"We are here to speak about Harry Potter and his relatives. Specifically how his relatives seemed to act around him." Dawly remarked earning curious looks from the teachers.
"I don't understand why you would need to know such things." The only male teacher in the room remarked.
"Because, a few days ago, Vernon Dursley shot his nephew in an attempt to kill him. He was arrested for attempted murder, and additional charges of child abuse were placed upon him." Tonks remarked causing many to gasp in horror.
"Who - who did he try to kill?" One female teacher asked, her grip tightening on the box she held on her lap.
"He tried to kill his nephew, Harry Potter," Dawly answered causing many of the staff to gasp in shock.
"Good lord, how - how can we help?"
"We would like to ask you all some questions if that was possible. We need to know how Vernon Dursley and Petunia Dursley acted around their nephew and their son. Both boys were treated so differently it was frightening." Dawly answered earning nods of agreement at her statement.
"Well, I taught Harry during his second year here." One teacher spoke up.
She was pretty and young with red hair tied back in a French twist, light makeup covering her features and wearing a blue pencil skirt and a white frilled blouse.
"I'm Elizabeth Chance," she continued as Tonks took out a pad of paper and a pen. "Harry was a quiet child; he often stayed away from others and never spoke up. He didn't have friends; I suspect his cousin had an influence in that considering how Dudley acted towards him."
"It's why they were never put in the same classroom," Another teacher remarked. "Their first year here we had them in the same classroom and it was absolutely horrible."
"Why was that?" Tonks asked curiously.
"The Headmaster at the time was close friends with Vernon Dursley," Another teacher remarked causing the current Headmistress to frown. "He believed what the man said about Harry being a horrible, deranged, and attention seeking child while his own son was a perfect angel that could do no wrong."
"We soon noticed that it was actually the other way around. Harry tried to stay out of the way, always quiet never doing anything bad. He was exceptionally neat and loved to read while his cousin was a menace on two feet. If he didn't get what he wanted he would pitch a fit."
"This behaviour never changed?" Tonks asked.
"Sadly Dudley only grew to be an even bigger bully no matter what we tried to do. It didn't help that the Headmaster stopped all our attempts at helping Harry and some teachers were - sitting with the Headmaster on the matter."
Shaking her head at that, Tonks let a sigh leave her lips. To think somebody would do that to a child under their care. The man had almost completely sabotaged the boy's school life.
"Harry was sweet," came a soft voice that had both officers looking up to gaze at one of the teachers. "He was my student his last year here and I tried to make it the best he could have. I kept him during recess, he didn't mind considering it stopped Dudley from chasing him."
"I always wondered why you kept him during recess.'" Somebody whispered earning a warm smile.
"He was far too thin, I always brought extra food with me from home to give to him, considering he didn't have a proper lunch most days and the rest of the days it was stolen by Dudley at lunch. He loved to read, I allowed him to do that and sometimes he would take a nap, he looked exhausted during those days as though he hadn't slept well the night before. Here, I brought these from my classroom. Perhaps, perhaps you could give them to him," she offered while digging into her bag and pulling out a folder.
Rising to her feet, Tonks gratefully accepted it and settled down.
"In there are some pictures he drew or painted in art class, some old assignments and such. I usually give the folder to the parents when the children leave the school for the next but I didn't think it was a good idea to give that to Petunia Dursley."
"How did Petunia Dursley act around her nephew?" Dawly asked causing the woman to scowl.
"The woman acted as though he was a pest to her. She often ignored him in favour of her own son, never had a kind word to say to or about him."
So the conversation continued, teachers giving their own testimonies on aspects concerning the Dursley's treatment of Harry, about the boys time at school. Tonks even gained some of the most outlandish stories of teacher's wigs turning blue and the boy being found on the school roof. Clearly, Harry Potter had had some rather impressive accidental magic while he was young.
Yet as the duo were escorted out of the school, Tonks now held a full file filled with items for her boss and a huge report that did not paint the Dursley's in a favourable light, so in her mind, she had gotten just what she had wanted to get. Now she hoped Kinsley's meeting with the Minister and Vernon's work had gone as well as her own.
...
"Minister," Kingsley greeted as he was escorted into Cornelius Fudge's office.
"Ah Auror Shacklebolt, I was informed that you wished to have an urgent meeting. So what can I aid you with?" The man asked curiously, he knew the case the man was working.
He had been forced to take a secrecy oath considering whom it pertained and what it could mean for their world. His office and himself had also been searched for listening charms, spells and other items only to find a variety of unwanted spells in his office yet that was another matter and they were investigating it just as they were investigating the Sirius Black break out and this specific case.
"Well you see sir, something has come up in the case," Kingsley began; his voice just as calm as always yet a tone of displeasure could also be heard. "To continue with our investigation we must read the Potters will, yet when we made a request with Gringotts, we were informed that the Last Will and Testament of James and Lily Potter was sealed before it could be read."
"What!" bellowed the Minister of Magic, "How could a will be sealed, it is against the law! Every single person has the right to have a will and for it to be followed as best as could be!"
"Exactly sir, but you see the will was officially sealed concerning safety measures. We would need your signature to have it unsealed." Kingsley explained while placing a document upon the man's desk.
"Do you know who sealed the will?" Cornelius questioned while picking up the document and reading it.
"We do sir, the Chief Warlock at the time, Albus Dumbledore," Kingsley answered earning a tired sigh from the man.
"His name is coming to light in this case far too much for my liking,"
...
It was late that night that Amelia arrived at Abbott Manor. With Kingsley watching over her daughter she felt safe enough to do the trip, especially as she needed to see Susan and explain to her what was happening and what would be happening.
Arriving at the front door it was swiftly opened by a house elf that welcomed with a bow before leading her to the study where her old friend was waiting with tea already set out.
Antoinette Abbott was a lovely woman with long blonde hair that was always curled at the end. She was always dressed impeccably, either in robes or skirts and blouses. The only time Amelia had ever seen in her pants was when she rode her horses.
"Amelia, how are you?" Antoinette asked while rising to her feet, a smile on her face that had Amelia smiling back.
"I have been better but I have also been worse. How is Susan doing?" She asked while hugging her friend.
"She's well, worried about you but hiding it well. She and Hannah rod today they seemed to have fun. Now, tell me, Amelia, is there anything you can say about the case you are working on. Rumours are going about that it's a very sensitive case." Antoinette remarked causing Amelia to sigh.
She should have known, news of a sensitive case would have leaked a little just as it did with any investigation.
"And should you be worrying more about this case rather than "his."
"Sirius Black is a separate case Antoinette and for nor I will stay away from it. Most know of our past relationship, and this case - no matter what others might thing - is far more important than that man." Amelia declared anger lacing her voice before she realised just who she was talking to and allowed herself to relax. "I apologise, Antoinette, it's simple that the case I am on now involves a child."
"Oh dear, what happened Amelia, it must be bad if you have been so involved," Antoinette whispered a horrified look on her face.
"The child - was found living with a muggle family. they - they shot the child Antoinette, attempting to kill the child simply because of their fear and hatred of magic. They abused the child; they abused a little defenceless human being that was under their own care." Amelia sighed before burying her face in her hands. "They hurt that little girl, they hurt my little girl."
The admission had Antoinette gasping, her hands covering her mouth as her eyes widen in shock. Realising what she had just revealed, Amelia knew she couldn't hide it from her friend. She knew Antoinette would speak not a word of the situation to anybody until told t
"Amelia -"
"Kinsley was found," she whispered feeling a weight lifting from her shoulders.
"Oh Amelia," Antoinette whispered sadly.
"She was made to look like a boy after she was taken from me. She was adopted and then she found herself in the care of her relatives. They abused her Antoinette, they feared magic and hated it so much that they beat, starved, and tried to kill my daughter." Amelia continued, knowing she needed to speak to someone about the situation. "She's in the hospital, the only reason we knew about it was because of a magical explosion sounding the warnings at the Ministry bringing us to the location. I have had to hand the case to Kingsley because of who she is."
"Oh Amelia I am so sorry, is - is there anything I could do?" Antoinette asked worried for her longest standing friend.
"I came to speak with Susan about it all. She needs to know what happened, the events that will surround Kinsley and everything. Both girls will need to know but for now, I can speak with Susan." Amelia admitted earning a nod from Antoinette.
"You can use this room, Amelia, I will fetch Susan for you, for now, drink some tea it will help you," Antoinette assured her before rising and placing a delicate hand upon her friend's shoulder forcing her to look up. "Although I wish the situation to be different I am relieved that you have found her at last Amelia. It is - a remarkable event to have happened. If you are in any need of my aid I will always give it, you will have a hard time with this one. She will not trust easily and may take time to adjust to a loving family that you will provide. You must be patient with her. I am certain that she will open her heart to you in time."
With that Antoinette left to gather Susan who was in Hannah's room. This left Amelia to ponder the words spoken by her friend and what she was to tell her niece.
"Aunty?" Came the soft voice that had her look up to find Susan standing in the doorway of the room a worried look on her face. "Why are you here so late, is the case going badly?"
"Oh no, no it's going as well as can be expected. Please come here and shut the door I have things that I need to tell you about." Amelia revealed earning a nod from the young preteen before she did as she was told.
Once the young Hufflepuff was seated, Amelia took her time to look at her niece. She was a beautiful girl, the picture of her own mother with the only thing she held from her father his auburn hair of the Bones Family.
"Is this about Sirius Black?" Susan asked nervously causing Amelia to sigh.
"In a sense yes but not the way you might think. What I'm about to tell you, Susan, you must not tell anyone else, no one must know for now as it is most important." Amelia ordered knowing that nobody would be able to gain access to her nieces mind considering the heir ring she held upon her finger.
"Okay aunty, I won't." the teen whispered somehow realising that whatever was about to be told her to was going to change her life.
"First you remember how I told you a bit about the war before you began at Hogwarts?" Amelia asked hoping her niece remembered those lessons; the nod of acknowledgement had her smile growing a bit before she continued. "You remember how I told you about the kidnapped children, the ones that were never found?"
"Did - did you find one of them?" Susan asked a hopeful tone in her voice that had Amelia's heart growing.
"Yes we did, she is the child of the abuse case I'm afraid to say. You see Susan, we were called to a muggle area a few days ago and when we arrived we found this little twelve-year-old girl being taken from the house on a muggle hospital cart. She was injured very badly. Once she was sufficiently healed, a healer performed a few light scans to deduce certain aspects."
"You found out that she was one of the missing children, how?" Susan asked curiously.
"Her magical signature, as you know everybody has a different magical signature. Normally that magical signature is documented the moment the first act of accidental magic happens or when the baby is born." Amelia explained knowing it would be important to understand that. "The Healer did a comparison of magical signatures, they found a match."
"That's good, right? I mean you can finally bring one of those families back together," Susan whispered hopefully.
"Yes but it comes with great sadness. You see Susan; those who kidnapped her changed her so that she couldn't be found easily. They made her look like a boy," This made Susan's eyes grow wide. "We don't know what caused the strong charms and glamour's to fail but they have. This made it so that her true appearance returned."
"Aunty - do I know her? I mean did I know her when she was a him?" Susan asked causing Amelia to smile sadly.
"Yes, she attended Hogwarts although I'm not sure how well you know her. You see Susan, her name - well the one she has been going by till now was Harry Potter," Amelia finally revealed causing her niece to gasp in shock, her hands flying to cover her mouth still that would not be the last of the shocks. "We don't know much about what happened but - we're doing everything to look for answers. She's going to need help Susan, help to get used to everything and used to having a family that cares and loves her."
"Harry - he was always nice to me," Susan whispered her eyes filling with tears. "Who - who is her family?"
"Well Susan, you see, there is something that I never told you about. Something I've not spoken off for a very long time. You see Susan; I was once in a relationship with a man I deeply loved and who I - thought - loved me, that man was Sirius Black." The pain was clear in her voice and Amelia hated it.
It had been ages ago, yet her heart had never truly healed; not when there had been so much heartbreak that had surrounded those events.
"What, but he was a Death Eater Aunty!" Susan exclaimed, confused, her aunt had always played by the law, had always done what was right.
"I didn't know that at the time, he - we all thought he was on our side," Amelia whispered softly, before bringing her niece to her in a warm hug. "Sometimes people aren't who we think they are Susan; they betray us in the worst ways possible."
"Oh Aunty, I'm so sorry," Susan whispered, her arms wrapping around her aunt's waist to return the hug still she was curious to know why her aunt was telling her this. "But why are you telling me this now?"
"You see Susan, our relationship had last a quite a few years, we were engaged to marry and then one day I learned that I was to have a child. Your father was thrilled you know to learn that you wouldn't grow up a single child and to have a niece or nephew." Amelia answered softly before her eyes shut and she rested her cheek on her nieces head. "That never happened, not long after she was born, my daughter was kidnapped. She was one of those children and I never saw her again until - until now."
Gasping in shock, Susan looked up as best she could at her aunt, surprise and amazing filling them. She had a cousin! Yet her excitement swiftly left her as she realising just what her aunt was telling her. Her cousin was Harry Potter, who had been abused, and who had thought - still thought - that he was a boy. Her cousin knew practically nothing about her except for that she had thought him the Slytherin heir last year.