Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

A string of Visitors

When I regained consciousness two identical faces were looming over my own. Their eyes were glistening in a mixture of fear and exasperation that promised retribution. Oh, Merlin. Can I go back to sleep?

"You little idiot," said Fred.

"We made you that hat to keep you safe," said George.

"You weren't supposed-"

"to share it with someone else!" My brothers scolded me.

I blinked up at them with heavy feeling eyes. They were…mad. As apparent by their creased foreheads, and lack of mischief in their eyes. But why were they mad? Did I forget to help test one of their products again? And what is this about a hat? When no obvious answer popped out at me, I settled for asking, "Did Mum already make breakfast?"

Fred and George exchanged a look, so it probably wasn't the right thing to say. "Holls", George drawled slowly. "Where do you think you are right now?"

I frowned up at them. That's a weird question. Where else would we be if not at the Burrow? "In your and Fred's room" I answered.

Someone snorted. And it wasn't Fred or George. I turned my head on the pillow to look past Fred. Laying in the bed next to mine, was Pucey. He was lying on his side, facing me and my brothers. What was he doing here? "Wake up in your brothers' room often, do you?" Pucey asked. His voice sounded rougher than usual. As if his throat was raw. We were doing… something last night, but what?

As thoughts continued to tumble around in my head like socks in a dryer, I responded with "Haven't you learned yet, Pucey? We're codependent". My throat felt scratchy, and I wished for some water. But it would have to wait. I look back up at Fred and George who were still staring at me. As if Adrian had never spoken. "We're not at home". I self-corrected. Fred and George nodded. "We're at school". I spoke slowly, and my brothers nodded again. "And Mum isn't here".

"No, Mum's here," Fred said.

That had me frowning. Mum at school? Did we finally manage to get expelled? I thought we had at least another four years before Fred and George left their academic pursuits behind. And Mum didn't come to school then. Of course, there wasn't time for her to come to school. "Why?" I asked.

Fred snorted and looked away from me as if in pain. George shifted until he was pressing a warm hand against my cheek, directing my eyes to focus on him. His palm felt warm, and I found myself leaning into it. "You are really out of it". He told me. Out of it? I guess. Honesty, it just feels like I had a little too much to drink the night before. Which I know is not the case. In my life as Holly, I have sadly not had a single drop of booze.

With a deep breath, Fred looked back at me as George withdrew his hand. My face felt cold as soon as he pulled away. "Jolly Holly, you had a fit in the forbidden forest. Of course, they told our parents". And then it started coming back to me. The ill-fated detention. Splitting up from my brothers. Harry asking if Adrian and I were dating. And then there was the dead unicorn and you-know-who. I had given Adrian my hat to keep you-know-who out of his mind. And now it looked like I was in the hospital wing…. Bullocks.

Something in my eyes must have reflected my understanding because Fred and George breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed their posture. And here I had always thought that I was the low-maintenance triplet. "Dad's here too," George added.

"And so are Adrian Black's parents," Fred said, jabbing a thumb in Pucey's direction.

"Don't call me that," Pucey said in the background, but he sounded resigned.

"We don't know if everyone's parents were informed" George continued. "But I think Harry's Godfather is here as well".

At the mention of Sirius Black, I found myself automatically turning my head in Pucey's direction. He was still pale, and his eyes had widened at the mention of his brother from a past life. That was another thing that had happened in the forest. You-know-who had called Adrian, Regulus. He called him Regulus Black in front of Harry. I wonder if Harry has pieced everything together yet. If he hasn't, I am sure Hermione will be able to help him once he tells her and Ron everything that happened. If he hasn't already. Either way, I think Adrian's life is about to get more complicated. Giving Pucey time to sort out his thoughts, I look back at my brothers. "What time is it?" I asked. Trying to decipher how much time had passed since we were in the forest. "How did we make it back to the castle?"

My brothers exchanged another look. Unknowingly building anticipation. "Well," George started. "It's a little after 3:00 in the morning".

"We got here at about 2:00," Fred said. "Hagrid saw the red sparks and took off running in your direction. Told us to get Neville and Hermione out of the forest and wait by his hut."

"Lee and Ron were already waiting when we made it out. So, we knew it had to be you and Harry".

"Malfoy made it out next with Hagrid's dog".

"The little git left you three there. He said that a vampire was eating a unicorn". Though, the pointed look Fred gave me told me he knew exactly what Malfoy had seen.

"It was probably a half-hour before Hagrid came out of the forest with you lot".

"He was carrying you," George said, nodding at me. "You weren't moving, and when you were close enough to make out the blood under your nose, we worked out what must have happened". Right, when I gave Adrian my hat, I had, metaphorically speaking, taken you-know-who's chew toy away from him. My mind was probably broken into out of retaliation. I shivered and buried deeper in the clean starch sheets that are used in the hospital wing. Now that I was thinking about it, I was feeling phantom pains in my abdomen. I'm Holly, I thought; feeling the urge to remind myself of that fact. Holly is alive. I am Holly, and Jessie is dead.

"And this one was draped over the back of a Centaur", Fred said, gesturing to the Slytherin in the bed behind him. I was pleased to hear some of his usual mirth back in his voice. "Harry was sitting behind him trying his best to keep Pucey from falling off!"

I look away from my brothers to stare at Pucey. Some color had returned to his cheeks. Probably at the mention of the centaur. But he ignored Fred to continue with the story. "I maintained consciousness a little longer than you did". Adrian said. The fact that he had my hat remains unmentioned. "Potter didn't run as you told him to. Instead, once you collapsed, he jumped between us and that… that thing". Adrian shook his head as if he couldn't get the image out of his head. "As if there was actually anything he could do". Adrian locked eyes with me. "We got lucky. I'm not sure how or why, but a Centaur charged in and forced that thing away from us". Whenever Adrian said 'that thing', his voice paused before he put great emphasis on the word. You-know-who had called him out by his past life's name. Called him a traitor. Adrian must have pieced together who that was in the forest. Or at least think it was one of you-know-who's followers. I wondered why he was holding his tongue. I would have to probe this further. But not now. My head felt too heavy to do much of anything right now. "I passed out soon after" Adrian concluded. So, if I wanted to learn what happened next, I would have to talk to Harry.

Nodding sluggishly at Adrian, I turn back to my fellow triplets. "So, where are Mum and Dad?" Because last time I had a seizure, I woke up to Mum hovering over me. I would have thought she would have done so again.

Adrian answered before either of my brothers could. "They're with my parents, arguing with the headmaster", Pucey supplied before Fred and George explained further.

"Mum was livid," Fred said.

"It was strange to see her so angry when it wasn't directed at us", George added.

"She and Dad came here first to make sure you were still breathing and all of us were alright".

"Mum made them wake up Percy and bring him down here so he could watch Ron, Hermione, Harry, Neville, and Ginny". George looked at Fred with a grim expression. We all knew what it meant when Mum sent us from a room or passed the younger Weasleys off to the older ones. She was planning on saying things that she didn't want us to hear.

"Ginny must be thrilled" I commented. Ginny had spent all last summer complaining about how unfair it was that she didn't get to go to Hogwarts. That was an easier thing to focus on than what Mum could possibly be saying to Dumbledore and probably Hagrid and our head of houses.

Fred and George snorted without any humor. "She was asleep when we saw her," Fred said. "Dad was carrying her".

"Passed her off to Percy, still asleep too. We think he took her and the first-years to the common room. Lee was helping him. Mum said we could stay here with you. She didn't want you to wake up alone". George finished. I hummed at them and closed my eyes. Things were probably out of our hands at this point. We'd have to wait for Adrian and me to get out of the hospital wing before we could regroup. At the moment, all I wanted to think about was Percy's expression when he was woken in the middle of the night and got saddled with four traumatized first-years and our baby sister with only Lee Jordan to help.

It definitely was a sight to see. The double doors of the hospital wing slammed open; the sound bouncing off the stone walls. The sound caused Fred and George to flinch. While Adrian and I struggled into an upright position. Charging into the room was Mum and Mrs. Pucey. They were in the lead with their husbands following in their wake. Mum was wearing her night robe, probably fastened over her nightgown. She had on one of her knitted caps on top of her head with her graying red hair shooting out in all angles. Her eyes were wide with a fierce glint gleaming in her pupils. Instinctively, the look had me hunching my shoulders. Mum's crazy eyes were the only thing she had in common with Adrian's mum. While Mum had clearly come to Hogwarts straight from bed, Mistress Pucey had changed into daytime clothes. She was wearing a long gray dress with a green velvet cloak clasped around her shoulders. Her ebony hair was pinned up on top of her head. Her appearance made me wonder if she had gone to bed at all last night.

"Holly!" Mum exclaimed when she saw that I was awake. I blinked once, and Mum was suddenly at my side. Forcing Fred to move away in the process. He walked to the other side of the bed to join George. Mum pulled me into her embrace before I could get a word in. Her hold is warm and familiar, and I appreciate it. But then, I got an idea.

I waited for Mum to finish hugging me. When she let me go far enough so she could rest her palm on my cheek, I knew what I wanted to say. During all of Mum's fussing, Dad had made his way over. Like Mum, he was dressed in his nightclothes and bathrobe. He stood on the other side of my hospital bed behind Fred and George; an arm over each of their shoulders. "Umm…" I said slowly. Trying to sound dazed. "Who are you?" I felt Mum tense as soon as the words left my mouth. "Where am I? And who's Holly?" Mum's face paled considerably as her eyes scanned my face. Probably searching for some sign of head injury. Inwardly, I was laughing. When she realized this was a joke, Mum would kill me. When she couldn't see anything telling on my face, Mum shot a panicked look at Dad.

"Arthur," she said, stressed.

Still, with his arms around my fellow triplets, Dad leaned closer. "Holly Girl", he said; using my childhood nickname to direct my attention to him. Fred and George had their lips pressed together in a thin line and they were refusing to look at me. Of course, they knew this was a ruse. As troublemaking triplets, we had a pact to not spoil each other's fun whenever possible. They were trying their hardest not to laugh and give me away. "Can you tell me who I am?" Dad's voice was soft and gentle. Like the time I was five and he was trying to coax me into eating stewed spinach.

"Holly?" I repeated as if the syllables were foreign to my tongue. "My name is Jessie". Mum's hold on me tightened, and Dad seemed to blanch. While Fred and George were turning red in the face; they were restraining themselves so hard. At a snail's pace, I looked around the room. "Where am I?"

"Fascinating" Dad said, despite the fear laced in his tone. "You said Jessie was the name of her past life as a muggle?" Dad asked Mum, who nodded her answer.

"What do we do?" Mum asked.

But Dad had something else on his mind. "Holly", he said to draw my attention back. "um... Jessie. Can you tell me how washing machines work?"

"Arthur!" Mum scolded.

I blinked a couple of times as I tried to come up with a response. But with one look at my brothers, and I just couldn't. They looked like they were choking on laughter. I started to laugh, myself. "I just can't". I began to say. "I can't respond to that". My break in character gave Fred and George all the permission they needed. Leaning into Dad they let everything out. Laughter drew the attention of the Puceys and everyone else who had entered the room behind our parents. I looked back at Mum. "Hi Mum", I said in my normal voice.

It only took Mum a split second to catch on. When she did, she gave me her best stern look; however, the relief in her eyes was the most apparent. "Holly Agatha Weasley! Are you trying to send me to an early grave!" With a humph, Mum pulled me back in for another hug. If this one was a little rougher than the last, I didn't comment.

"It is good to see that the children are well". Dumbledore broke in after our reunions with our parents stretched on for a bit longer. He was not the only member of the Hogwarts staff in the room. Standing behind his left and right shoulders were McGonagall and Snape. Made sense. A Gryffindor and a Slytherin had collapsed during detention. Our head-of-houses should be available to communicate with our parents. But it made me wonder where Hagrid was. He was the adult supervising the detention. You'd think he'd be here to deal with the fallout.

However, when Dumbledore spoke, it was like opening the floodgates. Mum turned to face the man, without letting go of my shoulders. "They shouldn't have been in that position in the first place!" The tone Mum was using with Dumbledore had me taken back. Both Mum and Dad were Dumbledore supporters. They agreed with his politics and trusted his judgment. But perhaps Mum had been pushed too far this time.

Mr. Pucey seemed to agree with Mum. Standing over his wife and child like a protective shadow, he glared at Dumbledore. The age lines on his face serve as harsh contours. "Four times!" Mr. Pucey held up four fingers. "Four times this school year students have had seizures from legilimency attacks. To make matters worse, it's the same two students who were attacked previously!"

"We were promised", Mrs. Pucey started to say. Her voice was calmer than her husband's, but it possessed a sharper quality to it. "That our son would be safe from such attacks within Hogwarts after he first collapsed".

Dumbledore nodded sagely, like a customer service Rep just trying to keep his head from being chopped off. "As per your request, we did remove Adrian from his defense class. During that block, he has been working with Professor Snape in his lab". Dumbledore said with a nod in the potions master's direction. Well, that explained why I hadn't seen Adrian in Quirrell's class since the first time Adrian had a fit. "But unfortunately, we had no way of knowing that the children would be exposed to danger during their detention".

"You sent them into the forbidden forest!" Mum broke in as if she couldn't believe her ears. With a huff, Mum turned away from Dumbledore and started to pull the blankets tighter around me, smoothing out the creases with her hands.

Dad coughed awkwardly, before saying in a composed voice. "It doesn't sound good, Professor Dumbledore. Punishing them for breaking curfew by sending them to forbidden places, also after curfew. What lesson would they learn from that? Especially when they were injured". Dad said his piece; managing to take Mum's side and stay non-confrontational. This is the same tactic he used to break up most of our childhood fights.

"I agree with Mr. Weasley". Mr. Pucey said, with a deep nod. He looked like he had more to say. But Dumbledore held up his hands.

"Please", he started. "I have heard all of your concerns in my office when we decided it would be in the best interest of your children for them to not hear our conversation. I regret that we were not able to spare them from this trauma-"

"Trauma," Mrs. Pucey spat. And she was right. Trauma wasn't exactly a strong enough word for having your mind violated and being forced to relive your death.

Dumbledore continued as if Mrs. Pucey hadn't interrupted. "But we had no way of knowing they would be attacked. All we can do now is investigate how we can prevent this from happening in the future". Dumbledore spoke with absolute resolution. With Snape and McGonagall standing sentient behind him, it made a very convincing image. But not convincing enough.

Mr. Pucey scoffed. "Adrian will not be staying". His voice was unwavering.

"Father", Adrian piped up, looking ready to disagree. However, he's silenced when his mum rested a hand on his shoulder.

"Our son", His mum said, her words were directed at the headmaster even though she was staring at Adrian. "Will not attend Hogwarts until whoever is behind these attacks is apprehended". Mrs. Pucey's tone was the same one Mum uses when she wants us to know that arguing with her would be futile. But with the stubborn look on Adrian's face, his mum expressed her opinion further. "They don't even know who's behind it yet".

A moment passed where everyone in the room studied the Puceys. Adrian was busy staring at his hands as he opened and closed them. His face was uneasy as his parents focused only on him. It was like witnessing an internal battle. "I know who's responsible". Adrian muttered.

Dumbledore stepped closer to our hospital beds; at the same time, Mr. Pucey prompted. "What was that, son?"

Adrian breathed deeply as if searching for resolve. The next time he spoke, his voice was filled with self-assurance. "I know who attacked us". My mum gasped. And Dad hugged Fred and George closer to him.

"Who?" Dumbledore asked.

"I figured it out in the woods". Adrian continued. "I don't know how it's possible. It shouldn't be possible, but". Adrian paused and looked up from his hands to make eye contact with his mum. "It was you-know-who. He's not dead. Somehow, he's not dead".

I could feel myself freezing as all the adults twittered about what Adrian had said. Even Snape was visibly reacting. Of course, Adrian would realize who the hooded figure was. You-know-who had called him Regulus Black, and a traitor. I had been more concerned about Harry connecting the dots about Adrian's identity. But now, Adrian was about to reveal information I was planning to keep under wraps. Though I suppose, it was better he was revealing it than myself. At least his knowledge actually came from this world.

The looks on Mr. and Mrs. Puceys' faces were grim. It reminded me that they knew who Adrian was in his past life. "That is all the more reason for you to return home with us". Mrs. Pucey said, her voice taking on a softer edge as she talked with her son.

Mr. Pucey, on the other hand, took the revelation Adrian had given and ran with it. "See here Dumbledore, our boy has given you a name. All the facts we discussed in your office, point towards your defense against the dark arts teacher. So, what are you going to do about it?" Mr. Pucey spoke with the force of a prosecuting lawyer.

It was frustrating for him and all watching when Dumbledore stated very calmly, "we are looking into it". Mr. Pucey turned away in a huff. I looked over at Fred and George, trying to see if they felt as put out as I did. Their scrunched noses and downcasted eyes made me feel like we were on the same page. I believe in Dumbledore, but he had been 'looking into it' since I had the first fit back at the start of the school year. Mum and Dad weren't looking terribly pleased either. The only ones who seemed okay with Dumbledore's 'looking into it' were Snape and McGonagall. Dumbledore did not seem to register everyone's disappointment. His focus was solely on Adrian at this point. "How were you able to figure out who your attacker was? Why do you think it is you-know-who?"

Adrian refused to look at the headmaster. He kept his eyes focused on his mother, who had never once looked away from him since he had shared what he knew. "He said things", Adrian spoke slowly. "Things that no one else but You-know-who would say". Adrian sounded haunted, like each word that his mouth spoke was one more letter being written on his death warrant. I wanted him to stop. I wished he could stop.

"How do you know?" Dumbledore asked again, his gentle tone never changing.

"Private", Adrian muttered, still refusing to make eye contact with the headmaster.

His mum jumped in after his one-word utterance. "This is related to Adrian's past life. You know the laws, Professor Dumbledore. Adrian has no obligation to share any information past his current birth, and it is illegal to hold him responsible for the actions of a past life".

At that moment, everything turned on its head and things got crazy. Well…crazier. Thundering footsteps drew everyone's attention to the Hospital wing doors. Even Dumbledore turned around at the unexpected approach. For the second time that early morning, the doors were flung open with a resounding bang. In their wake stood a stormy-eyed Sirius Black. He looked healthier than the last time I saw him. He no longer had bags under his eyes, and his hair looked trimmed. Even though it didn't look like it had been combed. But Sirius probably got pulled out of bed like the rest of our parents. So that was understandable. There was more color in his face, and it looked like he had shaved recently. He still was a bit thin though. Sirius' eyes flashed around the room, looking at everyone in turn before they landed on Adrian half tucked behind his mother. "You!" Sirius roared, pointing a long finger at the third-year Slytherin. "You- you barmy, manky git!"

At the string of insults directed at his son, Mr. Pucey took an aggressive step forward but did not leave the perimeter of Adrian's bed. "Now see here!" He roared in a volume matching Sirius''.

It didn't stop Sirius, however. Sirius didn't even slow down. "Only you could come back from the dead! You slimy maggot!" Any color Adrian had gained after the attack in the forbidden forest vanished in the face of Sirius' verbal abuse.

"That is enough!" Mr. Pucey shouted. But it had no effect.

Sirius took a step closer to the Puceys, but McGonagall stepped in his way. "Black, what are you going on about?" She asked.

But Sirius acted like he didn't notice his old head of house. "And what are you doing now? Sniffing around my Godson!" Sirius' words sunk in fast. Harry must have told him about what you-know-who had said in the forest. When I woke up in the hospital wing, Fred and George had said that Harry's Godfather was here too. Sirius must have gone to Harry while our parents had come to see us. I looked over at Pucey, he had the hospital blanket on his bed clenched in his fists. Poor Adrian. He didn't want this. "You couldn't let me have one good thing in my life! Instead, you rise from the dead go after the last family member I have!" That comment stung. I am not even a participant in this exchange and I still flinched. "Harry even said your dating Ron's older sister!" That comment had Mum and Dad looking at me, searching. I quickly shook my head. Yup, not dating yet, promise. "What? Thought if you got snuggly with the family that proved my innocence you can go after my Godson! Regulus Black, answer me!"

At the reveal, McGonagall gasped and Dumbledore seemed to be having an epiphany. However, it gave Adrian the words he needed to fight back. "Bloody Arsehole. Regulus is dead. I died alone and in pain. And the next thing I knew, I am Adrian Pucey. Regulus didn't give a rat's arse about Potter. And neither do I" At that moment, a pajama-clad Harry scurried into the hospital room. His glasses were slightly askew and he was panting as if he had run all the way here from the Gryffindor common room. He probably had left the same time Sirius had, but couldn't keep up with the man's fervent gait.

"Potter," Snape said with a sneer, no doubt getting ready to reprimand the first-year. But Harry pays him no mind. He skirts around Snape and heads straight for his Godfather.

"Sirius" Harry tries to break in. He's ignored.

"Holly and I have been friends since our first-year" Adrian continued. He didn't even seem to notice that he had used my first name in front of everyone present. It was like he forgot anyone else was in the room other than himself and Sirius. "How the bloody hell was I supposed to know that her younger brother would befriend your Godson. I didn't even know you had a Godson! Not everything is about you, Siri!"

"Don't call me that!" Sirius' voice raised about ten octaves. At this rate, we'd wake the rest of the castle. "You don't get to call me that, Reggie!" Sirius' comment was spiteful, but they were starting to sound less like brawlers and more like arguing brothers. Like Charlie and Percy when they used to have rows about shared chores.

"Why not?" Adrian retorted; a little bit misty-eyed. "I'm the one- Regulus was the one who gave you that nickname in the first place!"

"Because a death eater doesn't get to act all familiar with me. Not after everything you've done!"

"My son is not a death eater!" Mrs. Pucey broke in. But the focus remained on Sirius and Adrian.

"What have I done?" Adrian demanded to know, talking over his mum. "What bloody choice did I- did Regulus have? The first time you went to Hogwarts, you came back different. I was stuck, alone with Mother and Father a whole year. For a full year, the only person who talked to me was Kreacher. Why would Mother and Father waste time and attention on the spare, right? And when you did come home you ignored me. You locked yourself up in your room and pretended that I didn't exist. And then I foolishly thought things would be better when I went to Hogwarts. But you only cared about your friends, and I was sorted into Slytherin. So, you shut me out even more. You refused to even look at me when we passed in the halls!" It was starting to feel like we were intruding on a private moment.

"It's what you get for being a slimy snake!" Sirius replied.

"Sirius!" Harry tried to break in.

"Not now Harry", Sirius said to his Godson.

"There is nothing wrong with being in Slytherin!" Adrian yelled at the same time that Sirius had spoken.

"Yes, there is! Slytherins grow up to be death eaters. You included!" Sirius jabbed his finger in Adrian's direction.

Adrian threw his hands up in the air. "What did you expect? I didn't- Regulus didn't want to take the mark. But you were gone and Mother and Father only paid attention to me after they disowned you! I'd done anything to keep them proud after being cast aside my whole life. I gave up everything I wanted to live up to their expectations!"

Sirius was starting to turn red. "I didn't leave you! Don't you remember? I found you in Diagon Alley after I graduated. I begged you to not be stupid. But you didn't listen! You told me to sod off!"

"That doesn't count!" Adrian responded without pause. "I needed- Regulus needed you when you were children. He needed you when you were both at school. That day at Diagon Alley was too late!" But then something interesting happened. Adrian took a deep breath, and he held steady eye contact with his brother from a past life. "I regretted that". Adrian spoke so mumbled that it was hard to hear. "I thought about how things might have been different if I had accepted your help as I died". What Adrian said seemed to be the magic words and Sirius started to calm down as well. He lowered the hand he had been using to point angrily at Adrian and rested both of his hands on Harry's shoulders. The boy had been listening to all of this but had kept his eyes on his Godfather the whole time. Meanwhile, everyone else in the room was just spectators at this point. "I regretted taking the mark too; the minute after it appeared on my skin. I was told that they were just trying to preserve our way of life. That they were the front-line fighters of a higher purpose. A new order that would put the interests of magical ancestry ahead of others. But they killed whoever stood in their path without a second thought. And you-know-who didn't care about anything he preached. Not about our customs or our traditions. He was just using us. When I realized that, I tried to… fix the things that I had done. And I died trying. Regulus died trying". No one dared to say anything. Not even Dumbledore, as we waited for Adrian to bring his story full-circle. Though, I wasn't sure if I was relieved or disappointed when he didn't bring up Horcruxes. "But then I got a second chance. I was reborn as Adrian to two parents who care about more things than just the family name. And in this life, I don't have siblings so I don't have to risk disappointing them. In this life, I haven't made any big mistakes and I am not planning to. I am going to live the life I wanted before my time as Regulus got derailed". Then Adrian steeled himself. "Siri, I'm happy you're not rotting in Azkaban. And I have no intention of messing with Potter. But if you can't accept that I'm Adrian Pucey; a different person, then I want nothing to do with you".

A heavy silence covered the room as Sirius Black and Adrian Pucey stared each other down. It took one brave Gryffindor first-year to break the silence. "Sirius," Harry said, voice pleading. Finally, Sirius looked at his Godson. "Please, he… Pucey, he tried to help me. He pulled me away from that… thing in the forest. He told me and Holly to run before he collapsed". Harry looked over in the direction of us Weasleys and his eyes found mine. "And Holly likes him". I coughed awkwardly. It felt weird being called out by an eleven-year-old. "And she told me… told Ron and me that we should judge people as individuals, not as a group". Harry remembered that? I'm touched. "So, maybe you can give him a chance?" Harry asked, turning back to his Godfather. "I don't think he's that bad".

The focus in the room shifted to Sirius. We all watched and waited. It was less than a minute, but it felt longer as Sirius stared into Harry's eyes. What was he seeing? Or was he working through everything Adrian said in his mind? Like a petulant child, Sirius looked up at Adrian. "I was a rubbish big brother", he gruffly admitted. That was all the acceptance Adrian was going to get. But judging by the smile that was trying to form on Adrian's face, that was all he needed.

It was a nice moment; two brothers making amends across lives and all odds. It was like a strange mixture of a Hallmark movie and a fairytale. "As touching as this was", drawled Snape in a tone that suggested more disgust than being emotionally moved. "Perhaps we can return to the matter at hand involving Mr. Pucey's belief that it was the dark lord who attacked him, and how it relates to our defense against the dark arts professor". And the nice moment was gone.