Halloween morning was the day that they could all go to Hogsmeade. Edmund was sitting with Harry at breakfast. The two looked depressed, for different reasons. Harry was saddened by the fact that he couldn't go to Hogsmeade and Edmund's mind was still heavy with the thought of his father roaming around.

Hermione and Ron were acting sympathetic with Harry and Edmund. "At least we're in this together." Harry said, "Why are we in this together?"

Edmund looked up from his plate, "Uncle Remus wouldn't want to risk it." He just said quietly, "With Sirius Black walking around." He gave some passing Hufflepuff's a smile and waved as they headed out to the village filled with wizards.

After breakfast the two were just roaming the hallways and Edmund hugged his robe closer to him. "Edmund, Harry?" They had passed Edmund's uncle's office. "What are you two doing?" It had less accusation in his tone rather than Filch's tone. Edmund figured that the man wasn't over Harry being the main suspect to his cat's petrification. "Where are Ron and Hermione?"

"Hogsmeade." Edmund answered and pursed his lips. He was really looking forward to visiting the wizarding village again. As if seeing it on his face, his Uncle Remus invited him into his classroom.

"I've just taken delivery of a grindylow for our next lesson." His uncle hummed and Edmund made himself comfortable in the Professor's office. He walked around and tapped the kettle with his wand, cooking the water instantly making steam come from out of the pot. "I've ordered your favourite brand of tea, Edmund."

"Thank you." Edmund smiled as he poured in the tea. He hummed a tune under his breath as Harry and his uncle talked about the grindylows. It was a tune that he just couldn't place but always stuck around in his head.

"Such a lovely song, that is." Lupin said as he looked over at Edmund. "Puppy love. Lily and James played it for their wedding night. I gather that you've watched that memory?"

"My parents?" Harry asked quietly as he looked over at Edmund with a slightly betrayed look in his eyes. Edmund looked back at the ground and pulled his necklace up. "What memory, Edmund?"

"Can I show it to him, uncle?" Edmund asked. His uncle nodded and Edmund whispered out the projection spell. The three of them watched, one with nostalgia and the younger two of them watched with wonder. Edmund will never get over to seeing memories of the past, it all felt unreal to see them all sitting in a classroom, in the present time.

It was a room filled with streamers from the roof down to the floor and with lights focused on one woman holding up a glass of water, her big stomach showing why she couldn't drink at such an occasion. 'A toast, to my brother who married my best friend. May I never hear him whine about setting Lily up with him. And may I never hear her asking me to set her up with him!' A ripple of laughter spread through the crowd and Edmund watched his mother's glowing face with one of sorrow. 'May our secrets stay secrets but may our loved ones always know the depth of our love for them.' Edmund's mother's eyes casted down to look at the best man who was out of the frame. 'My dear twin and dear best friend, may your love win the war.' The focus was put back on the couple where she had stood next to. Right after her speech, the newlyweds were pulled onto the dance floor and started dancing to the song that Edmund was humming, it felt bittersweet to have it stuck in his head now.

The memory ended and Edmund took a tissue from the box and handed it over to Harry. Edmund no longer teared up to the memories of his mother or aunt and uncle, he had grown immune to the overwhelming feeling of emotions each time it would happen, every year without a single failure.

"Why do you have that, Edmund?" Harry asked quietly, "Since when did you even have that? Who was that just now?"

Edmund just looked at the ground, not wanting to answer the questions that were asked. If it was, it would be telling Harry of his family, of how his mother couldn't take care of him and how he had to live with that stupid family from his mother's side. He could lie but that was unlike him, Edmund doesn't want to bury himself deeper in the lies. "That is Amanda Potter." The gentle voice of his uncle said. "Your father's twin sister."

"I thought that she was estranged?" Harry asked, taking his eyes off of Edmund.

"The opposite, actually." Lupin hummed and handed over a picture that was set up on his desk, it was clear that the picture was taken when they were young. They lacked the distinctive grey hairs of the stress and a few wrinkles of growing older. It was a copy of one of the many pictures that was hung up in their house, above the fireplace. There were four boys and one girl, all donned in the Gryffindor uniform.

"That's Sirius Black." Harry pointed out as he pointed at the man, he gave Edmund a confused look as he switched to look between the two. It looked like he was going to say something, but quickly decided against it. "He's after me, isn't he?" Harry asked.

Edmund would have choked on his tea if he was drinking it. He shared a look with his uncle who just stayed quiet. "We already showed you the video, I believe that it is time." Edmund just clenched his jaw when Harry looked over at him again, he could already hear the stream of questions that was going on inside of Harry's head. "Amanda Potter is Edmund's mother." Lupin revealed.

Edmund looked up at his uncle in surprise, his eyes wide as his heart pounded in his ears. He looked over at Harry as if he was a deer caught in headlights. "Uncle, I thought tha-"

"The truth will come out sooner or later," said Remus. "I'm sorry that I had you keep it a secret from Harry but under these circumstances he must know."

"You're my cousin?" Harry asked slowly. Edmund swallowed the lump in his throat and nodded, avoiding eye contact at all costs. He didn't know how to feel, he had thought about it before, how the burden would be lifted off of his shoulders and how he'd be free to call Harry his cousin. Instead the guilt sunk deeper into his gut and all he could do was look at his freshly polished shoes. "You had to keep it a secret?"

"It was for both of your own protection, Harry." His Uncle answered for Edmund. "Your parents were married in secret, and so were his parents-"

"Sirius Black is my father." Edmund blurted out, if one secret was exposed why not expose the rest. "I took Uncle Remus' name because it was safer. The name Black is the name of a serial killer. And I couldn't be a Potter because only a few knew that I was born and that mom had a kid-" He rambled but was cut short by the Professor of whom the office belonged to.

"Edmund, breathe." His uncle said and Edmund took in a heavy breath as he glanced over at a stunned Harry. Edmund could feel the burden lift slightly off of his shoulder but the guilt just made him sick to his stomach.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Harry asked.

"I wasn't allowed." Edmund murmured as he looked over at his Uncle.

"Your father is Sirius Black, the serial killer who is after me?" Harry questioned, slowly.

"He's innocent on all charges, falsely accused." Edmund said and pursed his lips. "He didn't even have a trial, sentenced to life for thirteen murders he didn't commit, giving away aunt and uncle's location, which he didn't, why would he be a secret-keeper with that great risk to his own family? For service to Lord Voldemort, whom he literally fought against." Edmund rambled. "Why would he commit murders, give away family's location and defect to Voldemort when he had a family at home to take care of?" Edmund was just spiralling into his own head now. "He had everything to lose and he did lose it."

Lupin looked over at Edmund with concern before looking at Harry. "You can't tell anyone of this." The Professor made clear, "Edmund-"

"Edmund?" Harry repeated, the two Lupin's could hear the anger in his voice. "What about me? I just found out that I have a dead aunt! I just found out that I could have lived with you two instead of the Dursley's!" The chair scraped the floor as Harry abruptly stood up in his anger. "Why is your father after me when he is my uncle!"

"Harry-" Edmund tried to reach out but his hand was slapped away by his cousin. The Hufflepuff boy quickly retracted his hand and looked at Harry, everything in his body was going off with an alarm just screaming for him to reach out again and finally be a family.

"No Edmund!" Harry said as his chest heaved. "I'll keep your stupid secret!" He shouted angrily, "I thought that I didn't have any family left besides the Dursley's and then you just befriended me since we started Hogwarts? And I bet you have known since before that even." Harry let out a shaky breath and just turned around. The Gryffindor ran out of the office and into the corridor.

Edmund couldn't bear the silence as his uncle and him watched the open door beat against the doorframe. "I should have told him from the start." Edmund said under his breath, and repeated it once again, louder and clearer. "I should have told him from the start." His heart ached as he longed to finally be cousins.

"Edmund, it wouldn't have changed anything."

"Yes it would have." Edmund said as he looked at his uncle, "He wouldn't be mad at me right now, he wouldn't have run from father when he saw him at the playground or wherever he was. He would have lived with us-"

"No he wouldn't have." His uncle Remus said. "Like Dumbledore said, there is some ancient magic involved in the protection of Harry that only could have come from his mother's side of the family." The grandfather clock in his office rang and his uncle looked over. "You have to make your way to Dumbledore's office. Make sure to tell him what occurred here."

Edmund stood up, his tea had cooled to room temperature and was abandoned on the desk, besides Harry's teacup. "Of course." Edmund said shortly and nodded at his uncle who just looked back at him with a pleading apologetic look in his eyes. "I'll see you at the feast."

The trek towards Dumbledore's office was a haze. Edmund was sure that he had passed a few ghosts who had stopped to say 'Good midday' to him but Edmund had just walked past them, so lost in his own thoughts. He barely could hear himself whisper out 'Toujours pur.' The gargoyle's statue moved and Edmund walked up the steps.

"Professor Dumbledore!" Edmund called out. "I'm here."

"Ah yes, join me here, would you?" The Professor called back out to him from his main office. Everytime Edmund walks into his office there is something new that Dumbledore had planted. He suspects that it is a trick to see how observant he is and if he'd ask about it.

Without a single fail he passes the test. "Professor." Edmund said as he sat in the seat, another teacup was placed in front of him by the means of Dumbledore's magic. "I've told Harry the truth."

"Is that so?" Dumbledore hummed. "And about your father? What was his reaction?" He had taken on a curious tone, but by the glint in his eyes Edmund knew that he already had five different assumptions in his head.

"He was angry when uncle asked him to keep it a secret. He was angry that I didn't tell him that I was family, since I am the only one left besides the Dursleys." The shame that fell over him didn't disappear.

"So he doesn't know." Dumbledore hummed as he stroked his beard. It was all a typical thing just like Edmund had read in some of his books. "Does he know that Harry is Sirius' godson?"

Edmund's breath hitched, "I wanted to tell him but he had already run out of the door." He admitted with shame. "Professor, I don't know what to do."

The man kept silent for a minute and Edmund felt nervous. "Sometimes, the things that are put in motion have to happen." Dumbledore said softly, and Edmund knew it was from his past. "It is a river and all the choices and words just flow."

"Let it flow." Edmund nodded and leant back into his chair. They talked some more until it was time for the Halloween feast to start. He just hoped that it wouldn't get interrupted by a troll or a petrified victim. He has had quite enough of the series of unfortunate events. The two walked down to the Great Hall and entered.

Because of the headmaster's early attendance he has to be as well. The room smelled like pumpkins and Edmund just felt the comfort of autumn fall over him like a thick blanket. He had missed the season where he could bundle up in a sweater. He sat by the Hufflepuff table and was quickly joined by Cedric and the rest of the Hufflepuff Quidditch team. He shared a smile with them and they talked a bunch more before the feast was finally commencing.

With their stomachs filled the Hufflepuff students had set out to go back to their common room. Every single one of them were in groups, talking with their friends and just enjoying one another's company. It was a cold walk towards the basement and Edmund revelled in the cold.

The moment the entrance was opened to the Common Room students streamed inside of the cosy room. The younger ones immediately headed towards bed while the older ones had decided to stay up a bit later. Soon their peace was disturbed as the Head of Hufflepuff walked in with a look of protectiveness on her face. "Students, please gather yourselves in the Common Room, wake up those who are in bed and get them here. We are to gather in the Great Hall. We shall move over to the Great Hall as one." She said kindly and the prefects along with some other students, including Edmund, stood up and walked over into their dorm rooms.

With co-operation and confusion, the Hufflepuff house was in the Great Hall. Murmuring to themselves and questioning what was going on, and as to why they had to get up and go to the Great Hall when the feast was served and the announcements were made. "The teachers and I need to conduct a thorough search of the castle," Professor Dumbledore announced and Edmund looked up at his mentor in surprise, a frown on his face that just told everyone of his confusion. "I'm afraid that, for your own safety, you will have to spend the night here. I need our prefects to stand guard by the entrances to the hall and I will be leaving the Head Boy and Girl in charge." The bearded-man glanced over at Edmund's direction. "Word will be sent by one of the ghosts."

With a wave of the wand they were left in the Great Hall, tired and puzzled by whatever had happened, but quickly everything was cleared up as soon as the door closed after Dumbledore. The energy in the room became electrified and Gryffindor started telling every student of what had happened and what they had heard or seen.

Out of the corner of his eyes he saw Harry, Hermione and Ron move to a corner. Harry wasn't even looking at him, most likely seething over the truth that was revealed. Ron was still miffed with Edmund over the Lavender spectacle, Edmund knew that Ron could hold grudges for a long time. Finally Hermione, she was the only one who actually spoke to Edmund after the feast. She gave him a bag filled with sweats that she had gotten from Hogsmeade.

The three of them were whispering to one another and it was making Edmund nervous, what could they know that Edmund doesn't know of, when will they tell him of what they know. Edmund had too many questions on his mind that he jumped when he felt a hand drop onto his shoulder. "Ed?"

"Blimey, Cedric. You scared me."

"Are you alright?" He asked, worried about Edmund's demeanour. The prefect badge was proudly showcased on his chest.

Edmund faltered a bit and he gave Cedric a small smile, trying to make the worried prefect less worried about him. "Just a lot on his mind, Ced. Don't you worry, I'll be fine after today."

"Is today an important day for you?" Cedric asked and Edmund gave him a small nod. The murder of his aunt Lily and uncle James, the destruction of their family, the day his father was framed and arrested. The day that his father was taken away and turned estranged in his life.

"Yeah." Edmund breathed out softly, his chest heaving with every breath he took. "It is."

—

"I know that you are awake, nephew." A voice said softly and Edmund opened his eyes to look at the person who stood in front of his sleeping bag. "Let's go to my chambers, unless you would like to stay asleep here." Remus Lupin said to him.

Edmund gave him a small nod and slithered out of the sleeping bags they had received from Professor Dumbledore. They entered the dimly lit corridor and the two were quickly joined by another professor. "Are we picking favourites now, Remus?" The monotone voice of his uncle Severus came.

"You would have sent a ghost to get him to your office if you knew that he was awake, Severus." Uncle Moony huffed out a breath. Edmund just quietly walked between the werewolf and the potions master.

"Don't forget to drink your potion." Severus said to him, sounding annoyed. The ticked-off eyes looked over at Edmund and it softened up. "Sleep well, Theseus." The man said before disappearing around a corner as the two abided Severus their good night wishes as well. One more sarcastic than the other.

"Your father isn't an aggressive person." His uncle said quietly. Edmund just sighed out and looked at the ground rather than him, he knew that his grey eyes were those of his father's. The man mentions it every time he takes in the sight of Edmund after they were separated from one another for quite some time.

"Why slash the painting then?" He asked quietly and walked into his uncle's chambers. "You wouldn't know for sure, Uncle Remus." His voice was getting softer each time. "Neither of us has seen him since he was arrested. Neither of us had spoken to him since then and who knows what prison can do to a person."

"Right so." His uncle breathed out and hung up his robe. "I hope you're fine with your sleeping place." The man waved his wand and the couch transformed into a bed. "I know how tiring Halloween can be for you." It came out quiet but Edmund heard it regardless.

Ever since he started thinking deeply about all the things that had happened around him, Edmund had been losing sleep and having nightmares. The thought of Tom Riddle's interest in him had disturbed him greatly, the dreams of pale hands reaching out for him and the green light shooting out whenever he turned down every offer that could have been made.

It was damning how many nights of sleep he had lost ever since he had let his mind go unrestricted. At one point it had been so bad that a memory of his mother had haunted his mind for a few days. He had yearned to have her back and next to him, whispering comforting words.

The whispers didn't disappear in the corridors, in the classrooms nor did it disappear in the Common Rooms. Everywhere Edmund went were whispers about Sirius Black, the famous serial killer and escapee from Azkaban that roamed the grounds around the school, waiting and lurking.

Classes continued and it was the time of month for his uncle Moony. His other uncle took over the class and continued to touch the subject on Grindylows, the water demons that Edmund had seen in the office of his uncle before he had told Harry the truth.

Only Hermione talked to him and ate with his group whenever Lavender sat with Ron and Harry. Susan told Edmund that it was because Hermione had missed talking to him, while Padma told him it was because Lavender doesn't like Hermione and because Hermione doesn't like Lavender.

Edmund had to give Padma correct. Hermione was only sitting with them because Lavender was sitting on her spot. For days, Edmund had been rather quiet around his friends, sending Harry pleading looks everytime the boy's eyes glanced over him. But Harry didn't avail. It killed him to not have a cousin who is so close but yet so far out of his grasp.

The crowd wasn't happy with the weather but neither were the Quidditch players. Especially team Hufflepuff, having to be called in so abruptly to play against Gryffindor. Edmund was suited up with his new gloves and glasses. While he enjoyed the rain, he never enjoyed playing in the rain as it was just distracting at how careful he has to be.

A distant rumble of thunder sounded when they walked onto the field. Edmund glanced over at the Gryffindor Quidditch team to see the three chasers giggle at one another, sneaking looks towards him. Edmund raised an eyebrow when he could hear them say his and Cedric's name, they even mentioned the flying badgers.

It looked like Oliver Wood, Gryffindor captain, was raining down a lecture onto his team. Their names got louder and louder. It was clear that they were considered a threat and Edmund huffed out a breath when he saw a smug glint in Cedric's eyes. "Don't huff at me like that, Ed." Cedric said, "We're a risk to them now, that would show them for underestimating you and I for years."

Edmund pursed his lips and nodded, "You're right." He said quietly. "It was time that the rest of their team realised it as well." He hummed and squinted as he looked out in front of him. He could barely see a thing, the rain fell down and it was as dark as it could be outside. His hearing would be impaired by the sound of rain and howling winds.

They were fast on their brooms, but no-one could have seen Edmund coming through the thick rain that fell on them all. The speed of his new broom had a big advantage in the weather and Edmund was making use of it. His hands were starting to shake and Edmund took in a breath. He was very thankful that his friends knew of his love for Quidditch and kept giving him equipment he could use in any type of weather.

Edmund touched the muddy ground after a whistle and looked over at their Seeker. "Wood called for a time-out." Cedric informed his team. "We're looking good but we're still under the threat of Harry catching the snitch." He looked over at the Hufflepuff chasers. "Get us out of that danger-zone." He ordered.

Edmund nodded curtly and tightened his grip on his broom. His eyes glanced over to the Gryffindor team but it lingered as he saw his favourite Ravenclaw skip away happily, Wood looked like he fell in love and Harry looked anew with determination. Edmund turned and looked at Cedric who was clenching his jaw.

Cedric turned to look at him and nodded, "You can do this, Edmund." He said to him, "You're the one they barely see in this weather, with the speed of your new broom we can do this." They turned to Lila, the chaser who was being put in the spotlight. The girl had seen it too and just nodded at the two of them.

"We need our first win." She said and that was enough for Edmund to forget about the cold and continue to play as if it was summer.

They had gotten back up on their broom and were chasing after the quaffle. The Gryffindor team had it in their possession and Edmund couldn't ignore the glint of gold each time he looked to the right of him. Thunder clapped and lightning brightened up the dark sky, the look on everyone's face was one of knowing that they had to finish up their game soon.

Edmund let out a breath as he turned towards the stand, in the middle of turning when he jumped because of the flash of lightning. A huge shaggy black dog stood between the empty rows of seats up in the tribune. "What?" Edmund whispered under his breath but was quickly snapped out of it when his name was called out.

His hands stretched up and caught the familiar material of the leather quaffle and he threw it into one of the rings. When Harry's name was rung out Edmund turned to look, both Cedric and Harry were inching closer to the Snitch.

"Harry!" Edmund called out and shot down after them, the cold had followed into their bones as it became chilling. Hundreds of cloaks were levitating underneath them, waiting for Harry to fall.

Harry turned limp and slumped from his broom and twisted off of his broom, slowly and agonisingly. Before he reached the ground, Edmund threw himself off of his broom and grabbed a hold of Harry. The voices in his head were getting louder and louder. The distorted voice of his mother made him choke out a sob.

The cloaks bowed down towards the two of them and Edmund's vision turned as black as their hidden faces. Maybe then would be the moment he would learn the face of a Dementor.

—

His throat was sore and his nose was running. Those were the first few things that Edmund could feel. The tapping of rain against a window was what he could hear and the soft blanket of the Hospital Wing is what he could feel. "Blimey Edmund." A voice said. "Did you have to scare us like that?"

Edmund let out a breath and gave Cedric a close-lipped smile. "You like a good scare, Ced." His voice was hoarse as he croaked out the words. Edmund turned to look at the other voices in the room and he could see the Red uniform hide underneath a layer of brown mud. "Is Harry-"

"Harry is fine." Cedric said softly and sat down by the single chair beside his bed. "You should be glad with those new protective gear you've gotten." Relief was the most present emotion in the captain's voice. "If you hadn't had it on, your wrist might have been broken, said Madam Pomfrey."

"Oh." Edmund hummed and looked back over at the bed surrounded by people. The curly-haired Ravenclaw stood there as well, next to Ron. The door flew open and there walked in a very disorganised and pale-looking Remus Lupin.

"My boy." His uncle breathed out and Edmund's heart ached. Two frail hands were grabbing either side of his face as the man put his forehead against Edmund's. "You scared me."

"I'm sorry uncle, I won't-" Edmund said but was quickly interrupted.

Remus gave him a stern look, "It was not your fault, a professor informed me of what had happened. Never before had the student body seen Headmaster Dumbledore get that angry." Cedric nodded, supporting the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher's statement. "You foolish boy."