Okay wow...there's alot going on in this chapter but that's how it was supposed to go since ya know...it's the missing pieces. Not all the missing pieces mind you, but we're about halfway through with the Missing Pieces saga.

Remus Lupin has finally made his entrance...wolfstar is going to be soooo slow-burn it's gonna be practically nonexistent :)))

July 6th, 1991

Sirius Black Declared Innocent! Amelia Bones to Open Investigation Against Dumbledore

Rita Skeeter

Between a surprise investigation announcement, an adoption announcement and a very harrowing detail of the night James and Lily Potter were murdered, yesterday's trial was perhaps the most shocking event I've ever had the pleasure of attending. As you all know, Sirius Black (officially Lord Black-Potter) has officially been declared innocent of all charges. Yesterday, Sirius Black stood trial for the first time in nearly a decade. After questioning via the use of veritaserum, it was revealed that Peter Pettigrew was indeed the Potter's secret keeper. Lord Black-Potter went on to detail the night of October 31st, 1981, in harrowing detail. (You can find the court transcripts at Administrative Court)

It was revealed that Pettigrew, after accusing Lord Black-Potter of betraying the Potters, proceeded to use an overpowered Bombarda Maxima to blow up two street blocks, killing 13 muggles, cut off his own finger, and escaped through the sewers as a rat, having become one during his time at Hogwarts with Sirius and James to help their who suffered from Lycanthropy. One has to wonder how a Bombarda Maxima was able to take out two street blocks, and regrettably, the knowledge has been categorized as a "Need to Know Event" by Amelia Bones of the DMLE.

Throughout the trial, Lord Black Potter revealed a number of startling details, including his clandestine blood adoption by Fleamont and Euphemia Potter, which made him James Potter's blood brother. This adoption came after he was disowned by his family at the age of sixteen. After that, the adoption was sealed at the Department of Family Services and Records until Fleamont, James, or Sirius decided to unseal it. While it made Sirius an official Potter, it also made him Harry Potter's uncle, doubling his right to claim guardianship as his Godfather and closest living relative while simultaneously making Sirius Lord of House Black and Lord apparent of House Potter.

After the trial, Sirius declared his intention to claim guardianship of his godson and nephew but was met with opposition by Chief Warlock, Albus Dumbledore, who believes Harry Potter is happy and healthy living with his muggle aunt. Lord Black-Potter, on the other hand, refuted Dumbledore's claims, revealing that Harry's aunt had tried to have his mother Lily exorcised by priests. Yes, you read that correctly: Harry's aunt attempted to have her sister exorcised by clerics. This truth shook the whole Wizengamot, reminding us why the Statue of Secrecy was established in the first place.

Furthermore, it appears from Lord Black-Potter's comments that Dumbledore was aware that leaving Mr. Potter with his aunt—who had targeted the boy even before he was born—could lead to abuse and neglect. As difficult as it is to believe, I must state that this very well may be the case. Amelia Bones then charged Dumbledore with tampering with evidence resulting in the unlawful imprisonment of a member of an Ancient and Noble House, the unlawful concealing of a will belonging to a Noble House, one charge of kidnapping a child of a Noble House, and one charge of child abuse.

I questioned in my last article why the Potter's will was concealed and it seems we will have our answers very soon. Only time will tell what the investigation will yield but I ask you this, how many more children has Albus Dumbledore placed at risk?

As the mail was delivered and the article devoured, the people of Wizarding Britain had a wide range of emotions and opinions concerning what the trial revealed. For the most part, too many were in shock including one Remus Lupin who was sitting in his home, staring at an unopened bottle of vodka, and trying not to let the thoughts consume his night. He knew it did not do him any good to dwell on these thoughts, but for once, Remus was ready to give up the fight. He heard of the trial while he ventured out for groceries and the shock at the fact that Sirius was innocent was too much for him to bear. For ten long years, he believed that Sirius betrayed them all and that he led James, Lily, and Peter to their deaths.

Knowing that he spent nearly ten years cursing the only man he ever loved tore something deep within his core. The memories of love and longing, the found family they both formed with each other…the stolen kisses in dark corridors, the nights they spent holding each other sometimes for warmth, sometimes for comfort, sometimes simply because they could. Memories of full moon nights they spent as Moony and Padfoot played over and over in his mind and his dreams; wolf and dog together, different but so similar to each other. Sirius was more than a friend and it hurt to think, it hurt to remember.

'No, stop it.' Shaking himself from that line of thoughts, Remus grabbed the bottle of unopened vodka, popped the cap, and poured some into his tea.

'Sirius was never going to forgive him for believing the lies…for abandoning him when he needed him most.' He thought. He went ahead and poured a little more.

However, no matter how much Remus told himself that statement, Sirius held too much of Remus, and Remus held too much of Sirius. He felt his heart break even further and was surprised that there was more of it to break, he was sure that there was nothing left in his chest.

"Oh just!" He yelled into the empty room. "Bugger it all to hell." Disregarding his tea, he grabbed the vodka bottle and tipped it back. He welcomed the fire; he welcomed the opportunity to forget his memories for the night. He did not think about how he'd been "forgetting" memories for the past 10 years. No, he did not think about that. A Hogwarts owl flew into his window with a letter in his claws just as he was about to tip his head back a second time. Depositing the letter on his lap, the owl took a sniff, shook its head, and flew back out the window. Soon after the owl left, another letter appeared on his table. Sighing, he opened the letter from Dumbledore first and was more than surprised at the content.

A job as a Hogwarts professor, full access to the wolfsbane potion, and use of the shrieking shack for his transformations. Dumbledore Remus thought had finally lost the rest of his mind. Placing the letter down, he picked up the one on his table. He couldn't bear the thought of working full-time where his... condition wouldn't be a constant source of concern for his employers. He didn't stop to think that the second letter would be worse.

Dear Moony

I hope I can still call you that, I know it's been a while since we've seen each other. I hope you've seen the paper so you know why I'm writing. I wish I knew what to say to you but I don't. I wish I could say I wasn't resentful but I can't. I wish I could say I forgive you but I don't. At least not yet. I do think that we need to meet up and talk but I need to see a mind healer before I do. I just can't go on knowing that you're out there by yourself, it just isn't right. It wasn't supposed to be like this.

Anyway, I plan on taking custody of Harry as soon as I can, hopefully before he goes to Hogwarts. I want you to be there when I take him back to Potter Manor. He deserves more people in his life and so do you.

I'll write you when I get out of treatment.

Sirius

July 10th, 1991

Ever since Dudley's birthday, Harry has noticed Ms. Figg paying closer attention to him. She offered to watch Harry more often, which left his family more time to go out and do the things they wanted to do without having to worry about bringing Harry along. He even began to have more fun while he was there. Even though it was okay before, now she would allow him to go with her to the park or she would take him to the library. Harry had never been in the library before, and it was so cool. There were so many books, that it was hard to choose. Sometimes, she entertains him with stories of her cats. For an adult, Ms. Figg had a wild imagination, and Harry was sure she made it up just to entertain him—or maybe herself; he wasn't completely sure. He wasn't sure what happened, but he had wondered what made Ms. Figg change so drastically, he couldn't find it in him to care very much; he was just thankful his days weren't so horrible anymore.

He still had piles of chores to do, with his aunt going to extreme lengths to find the smallest things or the most ridiculous spaces for Harry to clean. The day after Dudley's birthday, she made him clean all the floorboards with a toothbrush; the next day, he had to clean to the top of the cabinets; and the day after that, he had to scrub the wall of her closet because she happened to see a spider's nest. Things got worse once his aunt noticed he wasn't completely bored and miserable with Ms. Figg, but she never gave up the chance to get Harry out of the house. Harry still wasn't sure if he should be grateful or hurt that his aunt hated being in his presence that much.

Even though he had to admit, it was better than her watching him all the time. The only downside was that he didn't have much time to spend with the snake anymore. Sometimes the snake would come with him to Mrs. Figg's house, which she didn't seem to have a problem with, but most of the time, the snake opted to stay in the garden and sunbathe.

"My birthday is coming up," Harry said. It was after he met with the snake. Normally, Harry would be learning more about Parseltongue or snake behavior but right now they were simply lounging and talking after another round of lessons. He was over at Mrs. Figg's house again, and she allowed him to go outside in her backyard. It was nice to just be outside without worrying about nosy neighbors or his family. He was dreading his birthday this year, especially since his aunt didn't seem to be over her breakdown. She was getting worse and worse the closer it got to his birthday, and it made Harry nervous. The smallest thing seemed to tip her over the edge as he remembered her breakdown yesterday.

*FLASHBACK* July 9th, 1991

It was two weeks after Dudley's birthday, and Harry was in the middle of cooking breakfast. He could just make out the TV over the sound of sizzling bacon and his aunt and uncle's quiet chatter, and his cousin Dudley was at the table playing with his Game Boy, the beeps of the game blending in with the other sounds of the morning. If it were any other family, it would have been relaxing; if it were his aunt cooking and Harry was able to sit and read or play like any other kid, he wouldn't have minded being with his family. It was a truly domestic scene for everyone else in the household except for Harry.

"Breaking News: previously convicted murderer Sirius Black was released this morning after new evidence was presented. According to investigators, Sirius was framed by a family friend after stumbling upon the bodies of Jacob and Crina Clay on October 31, 1981. Black has been in a maximum-security prison serv- "

"Turn it off, Vernon," Harry heard his aunt say softly, her voice tinged with fear. Harry continued with his cooking; the bacon was almost done.

"I want to finish hearing the news,"

"I said turn it OFF!"

"My dear," Uncle Vernon started.

Suddenly, the room went quiet as the TV was shut off. Harry didn't want to speak, and the house had never been this quiet before. Looking over, Harry spotted his normally loud cousin, who was just as speechless—a silence that did not fit. So, Harry did not want to speak, but breakfast was done, and he needed to tell his aunt and uncle.

"Aunt Petunia, breakfast is done," Harry said, his voice small but loud enough to carry. A small squeak came from the living room, followed by the quick steps of his aunt until she stood in the kitchen. Her face took on a deathly pale, shallow color, the blush on her cheek looking unnatural on her face. His aunt took one look at him and then grabbed his ear and started to haul him towards his cupboard.

"I didn't do anything!" he yelled. Harry knew there was no use in arguing, but he hadn't done anything; he was barely given the chance as it was.

"No matter, get in there and stay there for the rest of the day. I don't want to hear a single peep out of you." With that, the door banged shut, and Harry heard the lock being turned. For the rest of the day, the house was silent, and any noise was quickly shut off, put down, or told to hush by his aunt. There was no talking, no radio, no playing, and no Game Boy. just the sound of breathing and, oddly enough, the occasional sniffle.

*END FLASHBACK*

Harry shuddered as he remembered the look on his aunt's face. He was lucky that she sent him straight to Mrs. Figg today. He wondered if she'd go back to avoiding him again as he desperately wished she would.

Harry was broken out of his train of thought as the snake slithered down his arm. "What is a birthday?" it asked.

"It's the day humans are born, so we celebrate it every year," Harry answered. He shouldn't be surprised the snake didn't know what it was; he didn't think any animal knew what it was.

"Why celebrate a thing like that?"

Harry shrugged and said, "I don't know. People just do."

"Humans are weird," the snake declared, and Harry didn't see the point in disagreeing with him.

July 31st, 1991

Harry didn't bother staying up until 12 to wish himself a happy birthday as he normally did. He just wasn't in the mood. His wish about his aunt avoiding him didn't come true; instead, it got worse. Harry had no chores, he didn't cook, clean, or weed anything. He was forced to stay in his cupboard all day, every day. He was allowed bathroom breaks, and his aunt would toss him his food before locking him back in. It was as if a switch had been flipped, and his aunt wanted absolutely nothing to do with him. Instead of staying in her room, she'd take his uncle and cousin and leave for hours at a time. If Harry believed he was lonely before, it was nothing compared to how he felt now that he couldn't see or talk to the snake or Mrs. Figg anymore.

He heard Mrs. Figg come to the door to check in on him, and his aunt gave the excuse that he was sick, or he was grounded, or something else that kept her away from him. Harry lay in his cot, staring up at the cupboard ceiling, rememorizing the stains and spots of mold growing there, tracing the shapes, spotting any new differences. It was all he did lately.

The door to the cupboard opened suddenly, causing Harry to jump in surprise. Aunt Petunia stared at him for a moment before giving him a self-satisfied smirk. "It's your birthday today, isn't it, boy?" She asked with a sneer.

"Yes, Aunt Petunia," Harry answered.

"I thought so. A normal day it is then, but I think this calls for a celebration, don't you?" She asked, and Harry was confused. He knew it wasn't for him, but he didn't ask what she meant by that.

"Thank you for watching Harry again, Ms. Figg."

It was Harry's birthday, and instead of spending it all day in his cupboard as he thought he would have, his aunt brought him over to Ms. Figg's house. She said it was his birthday present, and it was the first birthday present Harry didn't mind. It was much better than old socks and broken toys—much better. He didn't want to seem too excited, but he was. In his shock and haste to get dressed, he nearly forgot to put on his socks.

"Of course, dear, it's not every day a young man turns 11." Ms. Figg smiled down at Harry over her shoulder, where he was standing behind her. It was the first place he moved once inside her house, and it's where he's been ever since. Turning back around, she spoke again,

"Although," Ms. Figg trailed off, as she tilted her head slightly to the left. "It is quite odd, he didn't want to spend the day with his family."

At her words, Harry's eyes widened; no one ever wondered why Harry was at Ms. Figg's house when his family left without him. Even though Harry couldn't see her face, he could hear the sarcasm and anger laced in her words. Peeking around her body, Harry could see his aunt turn a particular shade of red; it blended in nicely with her blush, he thought. She made a sight worthy of a million pictures, and it was hard to stifle a laugh. That particular face was typically reserved for Harry when they were alone, so seeing it directed against someone else was the best present he could ask for. Despite his joy, Harry couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt for Ms. Figg; he couldn't imagine his aunt letting her babysit him after this.

"Yes, well," his aunt started before clearing her throat, "Harry has always been a bit of an odd child," she said defensively. This time, Petunia did not bother to hide her disdain for him in her voice, and Harry knew that if he looked toward her, that expression would now be directed back at him.

"Well," Petunia smiled at their silence, "I must be off. My duddikins wants to see a movie, and then we are going out for a family dinner." With that, smiles and all, Aunt Petunia left Ms. Figg's house.

Since she left, neither Harry nor Ms. Figg said a word. Distantly, they listened to the Dursleys' car until it disappeared. Only then did Ms. Figg turn around, a frown on her face.

"What an unpleasant woman your aunt is."

Harry was surprised yet again; no one ever mentioned their dislike for his aunt around him. Maybe they were trying to be polite; after all, no one wanted to upset an orphan, he guessed. Then again, Harry spent more time with Ms. Figg, so maybe their time together was helping change her perception of his aunt, so he smiled up at Ms. Figg and said, "That's completely normal for her," before turning around to sit on the sofa.

Chuckling lowly, Ms. Figg shook her head before clearing her throat. She still wasn't sure if she should be the one to inform him, but she couldn't trust anyone else, let alone Dumbledore. No, knowing that man, he'd probably send Hagrid instead of a professor, and who knows what mess they would put in his mind? She could tell she was worrying Harry; her hands were fidgeting with her dress, and his eyes darted over to her from time to time, completely distracted from the TV.

"Harry, I have something I must speak to you about, and it's important, so you listen to me very carefully." Sitting down beside him, she grabbed his hands and asked the one thing he never thought would come out of her mouth.

"Tell me, did your aunt ever tell you about Hogwarts?"

Harry tilted his head in confusion. What is Hogwarts, he thought?

"No," he answered cautiously. "What is Hogwarts?"

Sighing, Mrs. Figg took a seat next to him. "Hogwarts is a school for magical children. Once a magical child turns 11, they receive a letter in the mail informing them of their acceptance. Did you not get one?"

Harry POV

I was shocked at what Mrs. Figg said. A school for magical children? There were more children like me, and I could meet them? An entire school and my aunt knew?

"I-I" I stumbled over my words; I didn't know what to say or what to think. I took a deep breath and swallowed around the lump forming in my throat. "My aunt has been keeping me in my room the entire time. She let me out after the mail came today, so I don't know if I got a letter."

Mrs. Figg shook her head in disappointment and frustration. "I knew your aunt was mean and bitter, but she should know better than to keep this from you."

"How does my aunt know?"

Mrs. Figg gave a small, gentle smile, but I could see it was sad. Why would she be sad? I frowned in confusion, and she cleared her throat quickly at my look. "Your parents went to the same school when they were your age."

To say I was shocked was…okay. I knew I was magic; the snake said so, and I had to have gotten it from my parents. The snake said that too, but I didn't know my parents went to school for it, and I was supposed to go there too.

"Can I still go if I don't get my letter?" I asked. I didn't think my aunt was going to let me see it or even tell me about it, and I really wanted to go.

"Of course, you can. We'll get your letter from your aunt when she returns home," Mrs. Figg reached out and ruffled my hair gently. "Don't you worry about a thing."

"Can you tell me about Hogwarts?" I asked eagerly.

Mrs. Figg's face turned sad for a moment before she shook her head. "I'm a squib, so I wasn't allowed to attend."

"What's a squib?"

Her face scrunched up in a grimace. "It's someone born into a magical family, but they don't have enough magic to wield a wand. Squibs have enough magic to see the magical world and interact with it but not enough to be considered a witch or a wizard."

"Like my aunt?" This time, Mrs. Figg's face turned into a look of utter disgust, and I couldn't help but giggle at it.

"Dear no. Your aunt has absolutely no magic in her body at all. She and your mother come from a nonmagical family, but your mother was blessed with magic while your aunt was not," she explained, and it made sense. The snake said the same thing, sort of.

"I can, however, tell you a bit about what happened to your parents if you wish."

I shrugged a bit. I already knew about the car accident and how it gave me my scar. "No, thank you," I said. "My aunt told me all about the car crash."

"Car crash?! CAR CRASH!?" I jumped in surprise when Mrs. Figg yelled. I'd never heard her raise her voice before let alone yell. It scared me half to death, I didn't even know she could get her voice that loud.

"Your parents didn't die in a car crash, Harry." She said. She took a deep breath and looked at me strangely. She reached out and took my hands in her own, squeezing tightly as she spoke.

"They were murdered."

Murdered? My parents were murdered!? I sat there for a minute thinking back on all the times my aunt got angry whenever someone asked about how my mum died and now it makes more sense, but still…why wouldn't she tell me? Why would she keep that a secret? It didn't make any sense.

"My aunt never told me…why wouldn't she tell me?" I questioned, my voice on the verge of tears. I could feel them behind my eyes, so I squeezed them shut, hoping it would stop them from coming out.

"Oh, sweetie," I vaguely heard Mrs. Figg whisper before I was wrapped up in a tight hug. My body tensed for a second before I slowly relaxed in her hold. Her hands came up to tangle themselves in my hair as she vainly tried to smooth it down. I inhaled her scent; funny enough, she smelt of apples, lavender, and grass rather than cats. It was nice and calming. I took another deep breath, relaxing further in her grasp. It felt nice to be hugged like this.

"Your parent's murder was quite possibly the worst thing that has ever happened. I do not like your aunt, but I suppose that knowledge was too much to deal with, even for her. It still doesn't make it right though. You had every right to know," she said, and she was right. I had every right to know what happened to my parents—they were my parents.

"Why were they killed?"

Silence reigned for a moment as I felt Mrs. Figg tense against me. "You- your parents were hiding from a man who wanted to kill you. I wish I knew why he wanted to kill you, Harry, and I'm sorry I don't know, but I know they died protecting you." Mrs. Figg pulled me away from her, looking me straight in my eyes, and I saw her unshed tears.

"Your parents loved you, Harry. In the attack, the man gave you that scar." She pointed her head towards my forehead, and I reached up to feel the scar. Everything about it suddenly changed, and I wanted nothing more than to have to go away. I wished all the creams my aunt bought had worked, even a little bit.

"How did I survive?" This time, Mrs. Figg smiled, and it was still sad, but it had a hint of respect.

"Your mother died protecting you. She stood in front of your crib and took a spell meant for you. In doing so, she gave her life for yours and activated ancient magic. It killed both her and the man trying to kill you."

I couldn't help it; I started to cry, and Mrs. Figg quickly wrapped me back up in her arms. Learning my parents died protecting me wasn't something I wanted to hear, but knowing they loved me enough to die for me was something I needed. All my life, I've been living with people who were nothing but mean and hateful. My aunt never cared for me, and my uncle and cousin hardly acknowledged my existence. To know I was loved so much before was everything I needed. For the first time in my life, I was properly able to mourn my parents and the life full of love I was denied.

After I stopped crying, Mrs. Figg suggested we bake some cookies to get our minds off of everything. We talked until it was well into the afternoon, and in that time, I learned much from Ms. Figg. Learning I was left on my aunt's doorstep in the middle of the night with only a blanket and a letter until my aunt woke up the next morning was by far the worst thing. Knowing that the leader of the resistance against Voldemort, who also happened to be the Headmaster of Hogwarts, didn't even wake up my aunt to explain made me angry. However, the most surprising thing, and the one thing I knew I could never forgive Dumbledore for was the fact that I was never supposed to be placed with my aunt and uncle. My parents had left a will saying I should never be left with my aunt, and not for the first time, I wondered about my mom and aunt's relationship. I finally understood why my aunt disliked me so much, but even if you're told to take care of a baby on a whim, the treatment I received was still wrong. Just because I understood didn't mean I had to agree.

"Do you know why mom and aunt didn't get along?" I asked. If I had a sibling, no matter how much we fought, I don't think I could ever dislike them to the point where I'd stop talking to them completely. I sighed as she shook her head no. I guess that's another thing I won't be learning anytime soon.

"Your mother did not like talking about her sister. It always made her so sad, even more so once she found out she was pregnant with you. No one but your father and her closest friends knew why their relationship was so fractured."

My eyes widened at her words,

"So, my aunt had never even met me until Dumbledore left me on her doorstep?" To say I was shocked would have been an understatement. I can only imagine what my aunt's thoughts must have been when she read the letter Dumbledore left with me, learning that her sister had died and that she now had to care for a nephew she had never known existed. More things about my aunt began to make sense, but I still could not say her treatment of me was justified.

"To be fair, there was a war going on and as I said, your parents had gone into hiding. It would make sense that your aunt never met you but I also suspect that even if she had, her feelings wouldn't have changed."

Suddenly there was a knock at the door, and Ms. Figg rushed to welcome whoever it was. I turned my attention back to the tea Ms. Figg had made, waiting for whoever it was to leave, but was surprised when I looked up once the door had shut and saw two men standing in the doorway. The men merely stared at me, one with his gaze unmoving even as Ms. Figg directed them inside, and the other with a look of surprise before it settled on a sneer that would make even my aunt squirm.

"Harry, dear, I'd like to introduce you to Sirius Black and Professor Snape." Ms. Figg said as she pointed each of them out to me. I had a feeling I was in for more surprises, and by the looks of both of the men in front of me, I wasn't sure if I was going to like it.

END POV

Today was full of surprises Harry thought as he looked between the two men. The differences between the two were like night and day. Professor Snape was a stranger to him, but Sirius Black was a name Harry recognized but for the moment, he couldn't remember where he heard it. The man on the left stood out the most despite looking tired and ragged as if he spent all his time being homeless. He was dressed in nice clothing, nicer than anything Harry had ever seen and it made him a bit self-conscious at his own state of dress. Looking at his face, it was easy to see that the man was very handsome but it was hidden by the shadows on his face. The man had a sharp jawline, long hair tied in a low ponytail that laid over his shoulder, and high cheekbones. It was easy to see what he could look like, it was there but his face was closer to a skeleton than a human being right now, and the bags under his eyes were so dark that they looked like he was wearing makeup. However it wasn't his face or clothing that made him stand out, it was the tinge of golden-yellow in his eyes that caught Harry's attention. For one, Harry had never met anyone with golden eyes before, and secondly, the dark circles under his eyes and the sickly look he had only made them stand out more.

Looking at the other man, all there was to see was black and that was because the man was dressed entirely in black, and despite the tense atmosphere, Harry couldn't help but be fascinated by the number of buttons he wore. The man's hair was shorter, but it was really shiny like he hadn't washed his hair in a few days. The other man also had a bit of a chubby face, a less defined jawline, and a rather large, pointed, and crooked nose on his face. When compared to the other man, again, Harry couldn't help but think of night and day, handsome and…less than handsome. However, the biggest difference wasn't the clothing or their appearance, it was the expressions they wore. While the ragged man looked close to tears, Harry could tell the other man didn't like him, if his expression of anger was anything to go by. It reminded Harry of the expression his aunt had when she looked at him but he had a feeling, that this man's dislike and his aunt's dislike were two very different things. Harry now knew that his aunt disliked him for various reasons but this man didn't know Harry and he decided that was worse.

'Maybe there are worse adults than my aunt,' Harry wondered and that… was a terrifying thought.

"Who are they? Harry asked, turning his attention back to Ms. Figg.

"I—" The ragged man started to speak before bursting into tears, and that frightened everyone. Ms. Figg jumped back, and the other man gave such a hateful glance that it surprised him more than the sobbing man ever could. Harry narrowed his eyes at the other man as he wondered what was wrong with that man; apparently, it wasn't just Harry he disliked.

"Um..." Harry said uncomfortably. He didn't know if he should comfort the crying man or not. Before he could come to a decision, however, the crying man began to speak.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't expecting to cry but it's been too long since I've seen you Harry. My name is Sirius Black, and I'm your godfather." He said. Harry froze where he stood as he took in the man's words. Godfather? Harry knew what a godfather was, he'd heard Uncle Vernon talking about Dudley's godfather but Harry never knew he had one.

"I didn't know you existed. Why haven't you come to see me if you're my godfather?" Harry frowned at the man.

Sirius shook his head before answering, "I was just released from prison a few weeks ago. I've been there since you were one, but thanks to a few friends and Ms. Figg," the man motioned to her.

"I was released after I received a trial," he said.

"Ms. Figg told the head of our criminal department that I was imprisoned without a trial, which is highly illegal, by the way, would not recommend it." Harry looked toward Ms. Figg who simply smiled and gestured with her hands to Sirius. Turning his attention back to Sirius, he listened as the man continued to explain, "When they gave me a trial, it was proven that I was innocent and framed for a crime I didn't commit. It took a while, but they finally released me and gave me reparation for the time I was there."

Even though Harry could tell he was telling the truth and Ms. Figg confirmed it, it sounded too good to be true. Looking at him, Harry suddenly remembered where he'd heard the name Sirius and looked at him in shock. It was what made Aunt Petunia panic and basically ground the entire household into silence for the entire day.

"I remember hearing when you were released," Harry said quietly "It was on the morning news, and it freaked my aunt out really bad."

At that, the man gave a loud barking laugh; it was not a sound Harry was used to. Aunt Petunia's laugh was typically quiet and stifled, while Uncle Vernon's laugh was oppressive and Dudley's was loud and obnoxious but Sirius's laugh was loud but hearty and despite his ragged appearance, his laugh fit perfectly. It made him look ten years younger.

"Yeah, your aunt has always been a bit paranoid," Sirius said with a smile that Harry couldn't help but return. It was odd Harry thought, but he felt as if he knew this man even though he knew this was the first time they'd met since he was a baby.

"How do you know my aunt?"

Smiling still, Sirius came to sit next to Harry which prompted Ms. Figg to sit on the other side of him on the sofa. They all waited for Professor Snape to sit as well but the man just stood there with that sneer on his face. Ms. Figg looked toward him for a moment before asking, "Aren't you going to sit down as well Severus?"

"I'd rather stand thank you." He replied. His voice was short and clipped but had a deep rumble to it. It would have been nice if he wasn't so rude.

"Anyway," Sirius said taking the attention off of Professor Snape. "I met your aunt when she got married to that whale of a husband. Your mom invited your father and me to be a sort of buffer between the two of them. Didn't help all that much and the night ended in an argument. You're mom got horribly pissed when we came home, it was one of the only times I ever saw her do that."

Harry sat there and listened to him with all his attention, soaking up his words and memorizing them the same way he did his own eyes. Finally, there was someone who knew his parents, who could tell him about them and Harry wanted to know more. He wanted to know everything there was to know.

"What about my dad?" Even though Harry had limited knowledge about his mom which he loved, he also knew close to nothing about his dad. His aunt and uncle refused to speak of the man unless it was them insulting him in some way. At the sad look at crossed Sirius's face, Harry was about to apologize but as soon as it was there, it was gone in the next second as if it were never there in the first place.

"Your dad was just as upset if not more. He was big on family you see," Sirius said with a small smile that didn't quite reach and Harry couldn't help but question if Sirius and his dad weren't that close. "He was an only child so it was always just him and his parents until we met on the way to Hogwarts." This time the smile on his face grew wider and a spark appeared in his dull eyes. "After that, your father and I became inseparable…he was my brother in all but blood," Sirius finished with a whisper.

Suddenly there was a snort from the other side of the room which caused the three on the couch to look up toward the door. They were met with the sight of Professor Snape standing rigidly by the door, his hands balled into fists but his face was turned away from them so they couldn't see the expression on his face. If he was anything like before, he had some horrible look on his face for sure. Harry looked at Ms. Figg but she only shook her head sadly and when Harry looked at Sirius, he was staring at Professor Snape with annoyance. "Snape, don't," Sirius said, his voice hardened and it struck me how different he sounded.

"Of course, not Black, let us get back to telling the boy how wonderful his father was hmm?" Snape remarked as he turned to glare at Sirius and Harry couldn't help but frown. He spoke with the same air of hatred as Uncle Vernon did and Harry knew if he got started, his rant would probably rival his uncle. Just as he was getting to know more, Harry wasn't particularly interested in hearing anything bad. Not when he had to spend his entire life hearing his uncle badmouth his dad.

"Um," Harry spoke up hoping to change the subject and get rid of the tension. "The news said you were framed for murder. Who were the people that were killed?" he asked.

Suddenly the room got quiet and his godfather tensed up, Professor Snape if possible glared even harder at Sirius before turning back around, his arms crossed against his chest while Ms. Figg began fiddling with her dress again. Looking around Harry waited for someone to speak up and for a moment he didn't know if anyone was going to answer his question. With the silence, part of him wondered if the answer was even worth it.

Clearing his throat, Sirius gathered Harry's hands in his. His hands were warm and bony, not the comfortable bony that Ms. Figg had but the skeletal bony that matched the rest of his body. Harry could feel years of scars that were littered across his skin underneath his tattoos. They were so different from Harry's own, small and calloused, or Dudley's soft and beefy ones. Noticing he'd had zoned out, Sirius gently squeezed my hands and Harry looked up at him where grey eyes met mine.

"The news said their names were Jacob and Crina, but that isn't true," Sirius replied. Looking back at Ms. Figg, she nodded her head and looked at Harry with such sad eyes that it made his heart rate pick up.

"Those names were given to hide the real identities of the couple killed," she answered.

"So who were they?"

"Their real names were James and Lily. They were your parents."

Don't worry, I'm not going to make Albus the ultimate evil. I was tempted...believe me I was tempted but I don't want to stray away from how I've already written out his character.