Chapter 22

Grace's POV

First day of classes and I really wasn't excited. I should have been, and most of my classmates were, but really, I just wanted to go back to sleep. I hadn't felt right since arriving at school. Hopefully, it was just a cold.

'Grace, are you okay?' Kaitlyn came up behind me, her knapsack over her shoulder and more books in her arms.

'Yeah, just a cold. I'll be fine. So,' I pulled out my timetable and skimmed over the schedule for today. 'We have Potions, Herbology, Charms and Defence. Gosh, we have to start with Snape? Could this be any worse?'

When would I learn to keep my mouth shut?

Kaitlyn and I headed down the corridors to the dungeon. I was pleasantly surprised to find that we still remembered our way through the castle, and we only got turned around once.

I knew from the moment we walked up the Potion's classroom that someone wasn't quite right. It was quiet, except for the Slytherins, who were whispering amongst themselves.

'Have you heard from Daddy yet?' Graham Pritchard, a Slytherin, called as I stepped into the Potion's classroom.

I stopped suddenly and Kaitlyn nearly ran into me. 'What did you say?' I asked softly, biting on my lip. Did he ask what I thought he did?

'Grace, go sit down,' Kaitlyn said from behind me, her voice exasperated. 'It's just the Slytherins.'

'The dementors haven't caught him yet, have they? Bet the family just loves you. With your muggle Mum and all.'

I was frozen. They didn't know. How could they know? 'Grace?' Kaitlyn was behind me, trying to push me into the classroom. 'Grace, what's wrong?'

'Does Harry know your Daddy's the one that tried to kill him?'

The Slytherins were ganging up on me, and I still had no idea how they knew. I hadn't even told Kaitlyn, and she was my best friend. Mum and Lupin said I shouldn't tell anyone, so I hadn't. So how did the Slytherins know when no one else… Snape. Snape found out, and then told his house. Well damn. Who else could have done it?

Kaitlyn took my arm and practically dragged me to a seat where Tommy was already waiting for us. I sat down, and pulled out my Potions text and a notebook, and tried to ignore the taunts of the Slytherins. Kaitlyn was giving me a look, and Tommy was just confused.

'Silence,' Snape said with a bored voice as he entered the classroom.

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath and forced myself to calm down. There was nothing I could do but sit here and take it. Snape would take the side of his students, he always did.

Thankfully, Snape kept the class quiet and kept his jabs toward meat a minimum. I tried to keep my head down and do my work, but it was almost impossible. My potion,even though I followed the directions, turned into a lumpy, grey mess.'Ms Thomas, are you able to read?' Snape asked from behind me.

I bit my lip, 'yes, sir.' I couldn't even look at him.

'Then why did you go on to step twelve when you hadn't finished step eleven? The solution must simmer for five minutes before adding the beetles.' He waved his wand and my potion disappeared from my cauldron. 'No marks for today.'

Slowly, I gathered up my things and sat back down at the table. The rest of the class finished, bottled their potions and left them on Snape's desk. I waited until Kaitlyn was finished before standing up and heading out the door. 'Grace, what was that all about?'

The Slytherins were still taunting me, trying to get a rise out of me. It took everything I had not to turn around and start throwing what few curses I knew.

'I…' I glanced behind us, trying to ignore the taunts. It was impossible. 'Can I tell you at lunch? We have Herbology next and I don't want to be late.'

Kaitlyn raised an eyebrow, but nodded. 'Let's go. We have about ten minutes until class starts and need to get to the greenhouses.'

The rest of the morning passed quickly, but the rumours had spread. Now all of Hogwarts knew who my father was. This year was going to be unbearable.

I managed to sneak away from Kaitlyn and headed to the Great Hall alone. I wanted to talk to someone, but at the same time, I didn't. Kaitlyn was going to be angry that I kept this from her and I really didn't have anyone else I could talk to. I needed more friends.

Sitting at the table, I kept my head down and quickly began to eat my lunch. 'Are you going to tell me about Potions this morning or not?' Kaitlyn slid onto the bench next to me, dropping her rucksack behind her. 'They were talking about Black, weren't they? But he's not your father.'

'Yes he is,' I whispered, feeling my eyes fill with tears. 'Mum told me right after school finished. No one knows… at least, no one was supposed to know.'

'Professor Snape knows. Why didn't you tell me?' She sounded hurt and I sniffled, wiping away a stray tear that had slid down my cheek.

'Mum told me not to.' It was the truth, but not for the reasons I'm sure Kaitlyn was thinking. I couldn't even tell Kaitlyn that I met him, that I kinda liked him. I couldn't tell her anything. 'I'm sorry, Kait. I really am.'

She frowned and played with the Sheppard's pie on her plate. 'So Professor Snape told the Slytherins, who then told everyone else.'

'Yeah,' I took a bite and a sip of water. 'I don't want to go to the rest of the classes today.'

'Well, the upside is that we don't have any more classes with the Slytherins today. Just Charms is just us and Defence is with the Hufflepuffs. 'You shouldn't have to deal with anything else until dinner.' She turned toward me and gave me a quick hug. 'Finish up and we'll head to Charms early.'

Despite the tears sliding down my cheeks, I smiled. Kaitlyn wasn't going to abandon me. I still had my best friend.

A shadow appeared in front of us and I looked up, surprised to find Harry Potter standing on the other side of the table. 'Grace, do you have a minute?'

'Sure. Kait, I'll be right back.' I wiped my mouth with a napkin and my eyes with my fingers before standing up and following Harry out of the Great Hall.

'And I thought Snape had it out for me,' Harry said when we had reached an abandoned stairwell.

'So, you've heard too, huh?'

'Yeah, but I already knew,' he said softly. 'You haven't heard from him, have you?'

Sitting on the bottom step, I rested my elbows on my knees. 'Not since June. Mum had him over with Professor Lupin. I actually got to meet him,' I said with a small smile.

'What I don't get iswhy he didn't tell everyone at the end of the term?'

I shrugged, 'maybe he figured that telling about Lupin was enough for the moment.'

'You know Snape when to school with them. Sirius played a prank and Snape almost got hurt. They couldn't stand each other. Still can't, actually.'

'I didn't know that. I don't actually know much about him. Mum really won't answer many of my questions and I haven't really talked to him much either. I wonder if Professor Lupin would answer a few if I wrote to him.'

Now it was Harry's turn to shrug. 'He might. Wouldn't hurt to try. I'll let you know if I hear anything.'

Harry left me in the stairwell, probably returning to his large group of friends. I wanted to be Harry's friend. I wanted to be in that group.

Over the summer, I actually thought that since we were connected now, we might actually be friends. Maybe I was just crazy.

Three days later, the rumours were still in full force, but I found I was able to ignore them more. We didn't have any classes with the Slytherins that day, so it was easier. The Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs really had better things to do than pick on me, and the Gryffindors wouldn't dare harass one of their own.

I picked at my eggs and toast, waiting for the time when I could head to class. Today was Transfiguration and, Defence. According to Harry, it was a pretty exciting class. Moody had really been there, really fought the Death Eaters.

'Mail's here,' Sam, a fellow second year called and I looked up to see a few owls come in and drop letters to students. Seeing as how I rarely received mail, I didn't bother to look up.

I did need to write Mum soon, and maybe Professor Lupin. I wish I knew where I could write Sirius. It might be good to try to write him. 'You almost ready?' Kaitlyn asked, gathering up her books and stuffing them back into her bag.

'Yeah, let me just finish this.' I picked up my last piece of bacon and took a sip of juice. 'Okay. I'm ready.'

Together we headed out of the Hall and down the corridors to Professor McGonagall's classroom. 'Hey, Grace,' Harry's voice called down the corridor and I stopped, waiting for him to catch up. He glanced at Kaitlyn before handing me a folded piece of parchment. 'This came in my letter last night. It's from… yeah. Here.' He handed me the paper before turning and heading back to the Great Hall.

'Is that from,' Kaitlyn dropped her voice, 'Black?'

I frowned at the scribbles on the piece of parchment. 'I think so. I'll read it after class. We best get going before we're late.'

Transfiguration passed fairly quickly and I realised I actually remembered quite a bit from first year. When we finished, I left Kaitlyn to ask McGonagall a question and I headed back to the Dormitory. The parchment was stuffed into my pocket, but I didn't take it out until I was safely on my bed with the curtains pulled.

Grace-

As I told Harry, I'm flying north immediately. If you need anything, anything at all, let me know. Things are about to get dangerous and I want you all safe.

Sending my best to your Mum.

~Sirius

I read the letter again, and again, taking in his letters. The way he wrote my name. The way he wrote his name. This was my dad.

All those years I wanted to know. All those questions I wanted answered. I had the chance now. I could actually get to know my dad, sort of.

AN: Well, what'd ya think? I'm on the fence, but there it is! Thanks to LadyStrider17 and RedStalkingDeath for reviewing the previous chapter!