Atria prided herself on how prompt she was, but here she was darting through the corridors late to her first defence against the dark arts class.
As she walked past the staff room, she heard the familiar voice, "Miss Black." She stopped and walked back to the staff room doorway, and Snape had made his way out of his chair, his newspaper folded in his hand, "Wondering around the castle when you should be in class, my you do have some nerve."
"Professor I was just on my way to class, I woke up rather late this morning."
His general look of disgust changed and a devious smile took its place on his face, "Do you know what I was just reading Miss Black?" He asked lifting the newspaper in one hand.
She saw her father on the front page and immediately knew where this was going but she would play along, "No, I do not, professor."
"I was just reading about your father actually," he lifted the paper and flipped to the page he had been reading, looking at it with false curiosity,"did you know that the force of the curse he used to kill those 12 muggles as well as Peter Pettigrew left a crater-sized hole, you could see the pipping that was under the pavement."
Glaring up at the tall dark-haired man, her jaw clenched, "I did not know that professor, How very intriguing."
He looked down at her, enjoying pressing her buttons, "Yes it is." It was like he was goading her so she would snap at him, "Well, you should read it then. I half expected that you already would have," he said as he held the paper out for her to accept, "I thought every little girl looked up to their father."
As he had spoken, she felt her hand tighten around her wand, she was going to do it, she was going to hex a professor. Thankfully before she could reveal her wand they were disturbed.
"Atria," Professor Lupin called as he and the class had just turned the corner, walking down the hall.
Before Atria could reply with a polite hello, Snape had beat her to it.
"Lupin," Severus spat out the name with such detest it left Atria wondering what this man could have done to annoy professor Snape so much. He must tell her his secret.
Snape looked between the too with a sneer, before he continued, "I have just caught Miss Black attempting to skip your class Lupin, but then again knowing miss Black I can not say I am at all surprised." That was it. She turned back to look at Snape, "I was not skipping-"
"No need to worry Severus, the class is just up the hall so there is no chance of escape, I was just taking the class there now, Come along Atria."
Sharing one last glare with professor Snape, the class walked past the staff room and into a hallway.
"I wasn't skipping class sir," she whispered to Professor Lupin as they began to walk away.
"I didn't think so, from what I saw I think professor Snape might not really like you," He gave her a playful smirk.
"No, he really doesn't."
As Professor Lupin moved to walk ahead of the class, she didn't apprehend it at the time but she had ended up walking right next to Harry. Just her luck.
The two noticed each other and for a moment there was a bit of awkwardness before Atria decided to speak.
"Harry, I would like to apologies for the way I spoke to you the other day, you didn't deserve it, you were merely showing concern" it came out as one rushed sentence making him smile at her anxiousness."It's okay, I think you should probably just be a bit more cautious," he cautiously said hoping she wouldn't take any offence.
"Your right, I should be more careful my father is a dangerous man but to be fair I doubt he is going to be anywhere near here."
He looked at her, shocked. She was agreeing with him? This was his chance."Atria there's something I really need to talk to you about."
Knowing where he was going with this, she grew annoyed."And what's that Potter?"
Upset that she had gone back to using his surname he still continued "about what happened last year, with the dia-" He stopped as she held up her hand signalling for him to pause "Before you ask that question I have to remind you once again, that it's none of your business so why don't you stay pout of it. Anyway, I only apologized so I could ask you if there was any news on buck beak."
Harry looked at her a moment deciding whether or not to respond to her for she had refused to answer him, "No, not yet." She noticed how his gaze moved to glare at Draco who was having his arm tended to by Pansy Parkinson.
As they all entered into the old classroom nothing but a wardrobe stood in the middle of the room. BANG, the whole class jumped back and looked at the wardrobe. Had that thing just moved?
Well as it turned out boggarts would be the first challenge they would mount this year. While all the other students whispered with excitement, Atria could not be more afraid. She felt the blood rush from her face as her ears grew hot. Without hesitation she went to the back of the line joining Draco, she silently prayed that it would never get to her turn.
"Are you okay?" Draco asked her, observing her nervous form.
Her breath was short and heavy as her anxiety made her heart beating faster "Yeah, fine," she answered sounding winded.
Making sure nobody saw, he reached with his good hand and seized one of her shaking ones. Pulling it close to his side. He felt it tremble as he whispered for no one but her to hear, "It can't hurt you," before he reiterated "your father can't hurt you."
She levelled her eyes. He knew, he knew that was not who was going to walk out of that closet, but ignorance is bliss and no matter how much she wished it was her father who walked out, in the back of their heads, both of them new who would.
The lesson took off on a funny first note as Neville's boggart turned out to be Snape. He walked out of the closet, and Neville said the magic word.
"Ridiculous" he waved his wand and Snape's black robes transformed into Neville's grandmother's clothes.
When Harry's turn followed and the whole class watched as the Dementor poured out of the wardrobe. The class became noticeably cooler, even Atria was afraid. Lupin all of a sudden jumped in front of Harry and the boggart's form once again shifted, turning into a full moon, why was professor Lupin afraid of the moon.
"Ridiculous," He said in a booming and authoritative voice. The orb all of a sudden spun into a ballon before shooting back into the closet.
After that, he dismissed the class. Her payers had been answered.
"Atria would you like to stay behind for a moment," Professor Lupin asked as the class walked out.
She walked up to her professor who was struggling to contain a smile "what can I help you with sir," he was still looking at her with a knowing smile before he continued.
"Are you alright?"
"yes I'm fine sir what would give you the notion that I was anything else."
"Well I looked over and saw you at the back of the class and it looked as if you were about to faint," he said solemnly. She didn't have a reply for him so she stayed silent and stared at her shoes as to not meet is eyes.
Taking notice of her discomfort he continued sympathetically "Would you like to tell me what about this task frightens you?"
She looked up at him a little bit shocked by his forwardness "I'm not afraid sir."
"Really I am having a hard time believing that."
"Well, I'm not in Gryffindor for a reason, sir."
"You don't need to be a Gryffindor to have courage."
"It's a complicated matter," she said stiffly, clutching her hands behind her back.
He paused for a moment and observed her before he suggested "how about when you've finished your classes for the day, you come to my office and we will chat more about it," he said as he headed out of the classroom.
"Is that necessary, professor? It is also a rather private matter," she asked as she walked beside him, trying to keep up with his fast pace.
He slowed down noticing she was having trouble keeping up, "well to pass this assessment you have to perform the spell in front of the class or at least a teacher."
Her stare turned to one of contemplation, "Really? I'm not sure if I'll be able to do that."
"Well I would hate to have to fail you, so how about we try, and figure out something so that doesn't happen?" he dipped his chin down at her, waiting for her reply.
She gave a stiff nod " I'll come after charms class this afternoon." She didn't look pleased, but she accepted her fate.
"Good, I'll see you then" and with a sharp turn of his heels, he walked back to his office. Why did he look so pleased with himself?
She likes this professor, there was something about him that she couldn't put her finger on. She had this little voice in the back of her head telling her she could trust him. She didn't trust anyone, but she trusted her gut and right now it was telling her to trust him but there was still the small uneasy feeling settling in the pit of her stomach which told her not too.
As charms class came to an end, Atria gathered her things and left quickly hoping no one would spot her sneaking off, sadly she had no such luck.
"Where are you going?" Draco called from behind her, she hadn't got a chance to talk to Draco lately, he had was always being followed by Pansy, as he was now. It was quite pathetic how she followed him around like a lost puppy.
She turned to look at him as he approached her "no were," was her curt reply.
"Well then why don't you come to the library with us," he gestured to his little group of followers Crabbe and Goyle included. Yeah, the library with tweedle dum and dee, like hell.
"I thought when I said no where, you would understand what I meant. I meant I wanted to be alone," the words had come out cold and irritated. She couldn't help but get a little upset with him, he had been ignorant to everything going on around him since term started. She turned away from his shocked face, but she couldn't help herself and before she knew it, she had turned back to look at him one last time "and Draco take that ridiculous sling off, we both know you don't need it." She then continued on her way but not long after she felt a hand grab her upper arm and drag her to the side of the corridor.
"Have you seen the scar that monster left on me?" Draco demanded. He lifted the arm in the sling ever so slightly trying to make her look at his battle wound.
She shook her head at him, "It was a flesh wound no harm done, it might leave a little scar but that's the worst of it. It may make you popular with your little friends but to the rest of us, you just look pathetic."
He looked angry his face going a little red, "you didn't even come to see me in the hospital wing so how would you know what happened and then I also see you chatting with Potter as you stroll to class?" Atria looked at her cousin and could tell he was upset, but right now she didn't feel any pity, "You're being ridiculous, you're causing more trouble than you know and now it's affecting other people." She new reasoning with Draco could be hard but sometimes she achieved her end goal.
He looked down at her, his eyes growing small, "You mean that dull half breed."
That is when she had had enough. She turned and was on her way before she could even think to lift her hand to slap him. Sometimes it was better not to react.
She walked into the defence against the dark arts classroom towards the stairs that led to Professor Lupins office. She reached for the door before giving it a light knock.
"Come in," she heard his voice from the other side of the door.
She walked in and gave a small nod, "Professor."
"Atria," he rose from behind his desk and gestured to the seat in front of him for her to sit down.
He offered her some tea and the two made small talk for a bit before they finished their drinks. They then began to discuss the matter for which they were here.
"So" he leaned back in his chair and stared at her as in deep thought, "why don't you want to face the boggart."
Aria crossed her legs as she stated candidly "I just don't think I'm overly comfortable with sharing my greatest fear, I don't understand how it is of such great importance for me to degrade myself like that in front of the whole class, "She sat back an arrogant aristocratic look of pride on her face before she continued. "I just think somethings, like that, should remain private."
"So, embarrassment?" He said to put it plainly.
"No, It's not embarrassment," While her anxiety had shaken at the thought of standing in front of the whole class as they watched her take on her worst nightmare, that was not the reason.
Sensing her weariness, he tried again, "Atria I understand your cautiousness around this task. Facing any fear can be a hard undertaking and facing your worst fear can be even harder."
'Talk to him' said the small voice in the back of her head which she had stopped listening to some while ago. Why should she trust this man she doesn't even know him. She felt herself edging closer towards the idea but the pessimist inside her became the voice of reason. He wouldn't want to know, he probably just thinks it some irrational childhood fear that he can help her move on from but it was a whole lot bigger than that.
She shook her head, lowering her eyes. She had just met this man why should she trust him. Even if she did, he would let her down as others had before, he would prove unreliable. As long as she kept to herself, she would feel no disappointment because no one would get the chance. "This is ridiculous I don't have to explain my reasons to you."
"In some situations, it may be best too. Sometimes you have to place your trust in those you least suspect because the ones you least suspect are the ones who may understand you the most," He rebuffed.
Atria was looking at him like he had just spoken in another language, this man whom she had just met was unknowingly asking him to divulge her darkest secret and not only that but to trust him with it. That was not going to happen, "So I should trust you," she said dismissively.
It had stung a bit when she said those words. Every fibre of his being was screaming at him to tell her the truth or just to tell her anything. But he settled with a composed reply, "I think you might be surprised at how much I understand if you allow me to." She shook her head in false humour looking away from him.
Watching her carefully as she fiddled with her hands in her lap. Being able to sympathize with the secretive child, he persisted, "It's okay to trust people, there is no fault in being trustful."
Looking back at him her attitude just plain dismissive, her response was firm, "There is a difference between being trustful and being a trusting fool." Dear God, she sounded like her grandmother.
A silence fell on the pair, and she was calm with the thought that maybe he was relenting.
She heard him take a deep breath, and she looked up at him to see him entranced by the pattern on his teacup. "It's okay," Remus said not looking at her before he concluded, "to be afraid."
Atria's face contorted with confusion, "I didn't say I was afraid."
"You didn't have to it's obvious," Remus replied frankly. Atria just huffed a continued to look at her hands.
He laced his fingers together and placed them on his desk, leaning forward and looking at her earnestly, "If your fear is truly that great then maybe taking on the boggart is the best course of action, have you thought of that."
"I was taught to think before I act and right now I don't think that is the best course of action."
"Thinking does not overcome fear, action does," was his quick reply.
"Well, drastic actions usually have consequences," she quipped back.
Remus was quickly growing frustrated. He understood he had no place interfering, but watching her in the classroom he had seen a look of true and uncontrollable fear. He knows what real fear looks like as he has seen it many times before but never on a face so young as Atria's. He had almost run to her wanting to take her quivering form in his arms and make sure she was alright. He had to find a way to get through to her, to get her to talk to him. He found himself quickly running out of patience, wanting to just grab her and give her a good shake, ordering her to tell him what was wrong but he knew that definitely would not work.
"Atria," He said his voice stern and commanding, "we can go back and forth like this for as long as you like but at the end of the day, it is about what you want to do. If you truly are too uncomfortable to participate then, I will let you go and this discussion is over." He was silently begging for her not leave, begging for her to confide in him.
Looking at Professor Lupin, she spotted something odd, In his eyes, a pleading look behind the stern exterior. 'Tell him,' said the small voice again, 'tell him something, anything'. Sitting back in her chair, she raised her eyes to lock with his before breathing out, It sounded like surrender. She looked up, as if looking to God for answers. After a moment of deep contemplation, she spoke, "I just don't necessarily want them to know what I'm most afraid of, I don't even want to know."
Hiding his joy that she had decided to speak up, Remus masked it well with a straight face, preparing himself for whatever may happen next. "Why don't you explain to me what you are afraid will happen?"
He watched her for a moment. She looked like she was thinking about what she wanted to say next as if she herself didn't even understand why she was afraid. She let out a hopeless sigh, "I don't know how."
"Take your time," he said smiling encouragingly at her, folding his hands in front of him.
A few moments later she began, "I have a fear, one I know should be what I am most afraid of, but it's not," she paused a moment before continuing.
"And I have another fear, one that truly terrifies me," She looked down and with a deep breath continued, "and I don't want to face it. I can't." It looked like it had physically hurt her to say those words her voice cracking a little as fear crept in, but she quickly gathered herself, "But knowing what I know, the first one. It should still trump the second."
"What's the first fear?"
She sat back and thought to herself for a moment, could she trust him, something about him made her feel quite comfortable telling him this and so she did. "My father. I'm not afraid of him."
He looked at her, his face contorting with confusion, "Why does that worry you so much?"
"I just don't know what I believe when it comes to my father, I know what I think but sometimes things get all muddled up and even then I can't be sure. So as soon as I saw that boggart I knew it would decide for me and I just don't think I'm ready to know."
Understanding what she was saying but still unsure of the bigger picture he asked, "What confuses you about your father so much? Whether or not he was innocent?"
"No I know he's guilty it's more..." she looked off then, thinking of what to say next.
"The only story I was ever told was that my father is a murderer," She took a breath and continued forward, she couldn't stop now she had started, she needed to give a full explanation, she looked back up at him trying to look somewhat confident in what she was saying."I hear all these things, and for some reason, I have never been able to shake this feeling, that he isn't the way they say he is. I have this picture in my mind of a man far different from the one I see in the papers. I don't know if they are some faded memory or my mind trying so hard to believe that maybe everyone is wrong, even if it is just about one thing," She paused looking back into her lap and thought about her next sentence before she spoke it, "Even if it was just that he loved me."
Remus sat and surveyed the young girl who sat across from him. His own memory was coming to life as he watched Atria. She looked so much like her mother when she had come to Remus and begged for answers, but this time he would give them. He breathed in and knew now what he had to do, "He did love you Atria" This made the small girl's eyes snap up towards him. Her eyes widened as she looked at him with bewilderment, he stood up and walked to his bookshelf, pulling out what looked to be an album. He opened it flicking through a few pages before pulling out a crumpled photo. He walked back over to her and shifted his chair to sit next to her, showing her the photo.
The photo showed a little girl sitting at the table as her maybe mother stood trying to feed her. As the picture moved she saw the women laughing as the child grabbed at the spoon and attempted to direct it into her mouth. It was then she noticed that sitting at the same table was her father, The little girl had hold of his hand trying to balance herself as she leaned towards the women.
"Who is this?" she pointed to the child her finger slightly shaking.
He looked at her for a moment before answering, "It's you."
Atria's breath stopped and for a single moment, she forgot how to breathe.
"And that's your mother," he said pointing to the lady in the photo.
Atria had never seen a photo of her mother before, Her aunt told her they had all been destroyed in the attack that killed her mother. And her father looked the way she had always thought he had, Not like the mad man in the wanted posters but like the man she pictured in the back of her head. Her eyes began to water. Her mother was happy, her mother was beautiful and her father had such love and adoration in his eyes as he looked at her younger self. She knew now that she would get answers. Remus watched as for the first time since he had met her, a genuine smile grew on her face.
His expression turned into a grim one, "I almost threw this photo away after he was sent to Azkaban," he admitted before he paused, "But you and your mother looked so lovely in it, I couldn't bring myself to part with it."
"I don't understand how di.." she stumbled on her words, "How did you know them?"
"I went to school with them," He answered. "Your father was one of my closest friends" He took a breath, as he to stared at the photo, "I have never felt as betrayed as I did that night."
"You mean the night he led you know who to the Potters and killed Thirteen people," The venom in her voice clear but she continued to look at the photograph in front of her. Atria looked back up at Remus, she could see the emotion swimming in his own eyes as he continued, "I thought it had broken him when he lost you. He went mad after the death of your mother and then you went missing."
Atria went stiff.
Remus' breath stopped and he remembered, this is where things got foggy, she couldn't possibly remember for she had been too young and the only people who could probably tell him were Sirius or Malfoy and neither of them seemed likely. Remus breathed in before he looked over to her, "How much do you know about how you came to be in the care of the Malfoy's,"
"Nothing," she said gazing back to the photo of her family, "What was my mother like?" She asked, her eyes watching the beautiful lady in the photo.
He leaned back reminiscing before he replied "Very headstrong, Beautiful, fiery temper. She also had a problem with authority. She didn't like being told what to do."Atria smiled at that, "I recognized you the first moment I saw you on the train."
Watching him, she saw his gaze filled with astonishment, "You look so much like your parents."
"I've mostly been told I look like my father."
He shook his head slowly looking down "No," He sighed looking at her, "I can see Marlene." Not allowing himself to stay in that thought to long he stood up then taking the album back to the shelf, all but the photo Atria still held in her hand. He turned and looked back down at her, "Do you want to try it now?"
"The boggart?" she asked, unsure of what he was talking about.
"Yes, before it gets too late, we don't want you to miss out on dinner."
She stood from her seat, wondering if he would agree to her next request," Do you think that's something I could try by myself, professor?"
His face shifted with disapproval "I don't think I can-" This time she cut him off. "When I am more certain of the outcome, I will perform the spell in front of you." She could see he was still uncertain, so she decided she needed to make a drastic move. "Please," She begged, she never begged but she couldn't let him see. She had shown some weakness to him tonight but only a fraction and while he had on some level proved himself she did not trust him. Not yet. She hoped her voice had sounded pleading enough, making sure to make her voice quiver ever so slightly. Seeing his resolve thinning, she knew she had succeeded.
Pausing to look at the vulnerable girl he remembered something she had said earlier, "Well you never told me what the other fear was, the one that you think scares you the most."
She didn't give him an answer. She simply gave him another incentive, "You can stand on the other side of the door. If things don't sound like they are going alright you can come in," It wasn't at all a bad idea.
He knew he could not deny her and if she knew what was coming out of the wardrobe but still wanted to face it he trusted her to know if she was ready. "If that is what you want to do then that is what we will do, come on," he agreed. The pair of them then began to make their way to the boggart in the wardrobe.
She stood now in front of the rattling wardrobe, Professor Lupin had told her the spell for opening it. Moving in front of it, she raised her wand shooting a red spark at the handle making it turn.
As the door slowly opened, she wanted to back out. This was a bad idea. She should have never come here. Fear clouded her as she thought she didn't want to know anymore, she didn't care but it was too late. She knew it was too late as he walked out of the cupboard.
Lucius Malfoy now stood before her, Long blonde hair, black suit, cane in hand. With an evil glint in his eyes, a malevolent grin grew on his face as he took a small step forward. Atria quickly pulled out her wand and pointed it at his chest.
"Ridiculo-" before the word had even fully left her lips he had grasped the head of his snake cane and pulled out his wand, casting a silent Expelliarmus. The spell hit her in her shoulder causing her wand to fly from her hands as well as her to topple over. He looked down at her as she laid on her back. She scrambled to lean on her elbows but before she could try to stand she heard him begin to say the word.
"Cruci-"
He flew back before he could finish, the boggart was sucked into the wardrobe and the door slammed shut behind it. She simply stared looking at the door her chest rising and falling at a rapid rate.
—-
He tried to stay out of it. He did but when he heard what sounded like something hitting the floor he ran to the door, swinging it open quickly. His eyes almost popped out of his head at the sight before him. Atria sat, leant up on her elbows on the floor, Lucius Malfoy towering over her and that was the least of it. When he heard the man begin to utter the curse, he quickly cast a Stupefy that sent him flying back into the wardrobe and with another flick of his wand he locked the door.
He walked from the doorway, charging towards her to make sure she was alright. He quickly knelt down next her, his hands going to help her rise. He did not miss the flinch as one of his hands made contact with her forearm. Maybe physical contact was not what she needed right now. He pulled his hands away leaving them to hover around her.
"Atria?" Her eyes finally darted towards him before going back to the space her uncle had once stood.
"Hey," he said trying to get her attention back."He's gone," he said. His eyes running along his from to see if any damage had been done before he got into the room. She looked at him again her breathing ragged, her body quivering. Her sights finally locked on him, "You came in," she sounded devested.
His worried face turned to one of anguish, "And you're lucky I did what that man was about to do to you..." he stopped himself, he was going to give her good dressing down but decided against it as she looked shaken enough, "Are you okay?".
"Yeah fine," she breathed. She wasn't fine, she had never been more afraid in her life. She could have fought back but when she heard him start to utter that hideous word her body had frozen and prepared itself for what was to come. And now as she sat her mind continued to go back to the events of the last summer, the memories so vivid it was like it had just happened. But now her mind returned to her, as did her body. The familiar aches and pain she could no longer feel and she realized she was safe and unharmed.
She quickly composed herself out as she sat up and crossed her legs. She breathed in a few deep breaths watching him move out of the corner of her eye. To her surprise he didn't stand up, he instead sat down next to her as he had done when he first met her and a comfortable silence fell in the room. She could see their reflection in the mirrored door from the place on the floor Her face was flushed and from the few metres away she swore she could see the pulse point on her neck moving up and down the heavy beating of her heart.
"That was your uncle," Remus spoke up nodding his head towards the wardrobe. Confused she turned from the mirror to look at him.
"How do you know wh-,"
"I've met him on several occasions," he cut her off. He had a habit of doing that.
She looked down at her shaking hands breathing in and out to calm herself. She knew what question he was going to ask. She would not be able to give him an answer, and that would only raise more suspicion. She needed to put an end to his suspicious road of thought.
"It's just an irrational fear professor. I don't know how it stuck itself in my mind but it has. It is not real. It doesn't have to be real for it to step out of the wardrobe," It was a nice lie, she hoped he wouldn't ask more questions but he did.
Analyzing what she had just said, he looked at her trying to catch any signs that she was lying but he found none but he still wanted reassurance, he needed it, "So nothing like that has ever happened?"
"No, of course, not," she lied and she knew it showed her words came out like air as if it hurt her to physically say them, for her mind had fled back for a fleeting moment and her uncle's malevolent face flashed through her mind's eye. Her fear returned.
Remus, spotting her mask of confidence slip, knew she was keeping something from him. His worry grew as any false hopes that she had been telling the truth faded "Atria if it has you must tell me."
'He suspects,' She screamed at herself in her head. She needed to kill this baby in its crib. He could not interfere. It would help nothing and only cause unneeded strife but her usual facade was not falling into place as easily as it once did. Her emotions had caved in too far, and she no longer could stop it. "and I just did, it hasn't."
"Can you promise me that?" He demanded.
She huffed but he continued,"You said before that this was the fear that terrified you," he stopped before continuing, "If you needed help, you know there a people who can help you, Dumble-"
"I don't need anyone to help me," It wasn't a shout but it had come out loud and aggressive. She bowed her head, breathing in deeply before looking to her side, he didn't look at all surprised by the small outburst, "I'm sorry I didn't mean to yell at you," she genuinely apologised.
He held his hand up, "No. It's fine I was prying," He would let this go for now but not forever. Silence once again fell on the pair it continued and Atria found she had become unusually calm.
"So that wasn't your father," She heard him say. Returning her gaze to him Remus he had begun to stand up, so she followed suit.
"No, it was not." she was disappointed but not for the reason she thought previously. A part of her had wanted to see him even if he was filled with hate and malice she wanted to see her father. Not a photo or poster, a man.
"Does that mean anything for you?" his hands went to his pockets, his head tilting to the side in thought.
She shrugged her shoulders and said honestly, "I don't know yet, Just maybe that I need to know more."
When they reached his office, she gathered her things, exhausted and ready for bed. He led her towards the door and as he opened it, he looked at her again, "I will give you whatever answers you want when you're ready." She stepped out of his office but turned to ask him one more question.
"Professor, may I-" It was like he knew she would ask for it before she did. He held his hand out the photo of her mother in it. She took it slowly from his hands slipping it from his grasp as looked at it once again.
"Goodnight Professor," she said looking back up at him, the photo held tightly in her hand.
"Goodnight Atria and don't worry, professor Snape will not hear of this."
"Thank you, Professor." she gave him one last small smile before she was on her way.
As she left his office, Lupin sat down at his desk.
Lucius Malfoy couldn't possibly torture a child, not a girl who was the same age as his son. Could he? He wanted to believe Atria to when she said it never happened, but she looked so small and afraid he couldn't bring himself to believe her fear wasn't somehow justified. He knew of Harry's own home life and knew there was nothing he could change about it. The Dursley's provided an irreplaceable form of protection, but Atria he could help. He was her godfather for christ sakes, no matter what his circumstances he would help her whether she wanted him to or not. He made a decision. One that he felt had been a long time coming. It was time to talk to Dumbledore.
Atria laid in bed there was no way she was going to sleep tonight. Her thoughts were running wild, So many answers but still many more questions. She looked at the photo again. She couldn't stop, Her parents had entranced her. She would learn everything she could, for her mother who until this day had been a faceless figure in her life but not anymore. The women in this photo did not look weak as her uncle had told her, she looked so filled with spirit and character. If he had lied about that what else had he lied about, It was only a matter of time before everything unfolded. She put the photo under her pillow and closed her eyes thinking back on the evening she had just had, finally, she would know, she would know everything.
As she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep, she did not notice the beady black eyes and worm-like tail peeking out from her side desk