Chapter 2

I do not own any of J.K Rowling's characters.

A few weeks after Remus had started, I entered the staff room and looked around at the old, mismatched chairs thinking that I finally had the room to myself before I saw Severus sitting in a low armchair, reading the newspaper, his eyes snapping up and looking directly at me as I entered.

Severus was an old friend of mine but lately, he had been a bit cold and standoffish, I just assumed it was because he was going through one of his "moods".

"Hello, Severus," I said politely.

"Meghana" he replied, folding the newspaper in half and dropping it down onto a table in front of his chair.

"I was just reading about Black. They say he's been sighted not too far from here" His eyes were glittering and there was a nasty sneer playing around his mouth.

My heart began to thump hard in my chest as I swallowed and looked straight into his dark eyes.

"Is that so?" I said in a low voice trying to not sound interested in any way.

"Yes," Severus continued "I wonder what or whom he could be around this area for."

"What exactly are you implying, Severus?" I asked coolly.

Severus raised his eyebrows "Why, nothing at all, merely making conversation" he said his sneer becoming more prominent.

I glared at him and opened my mouth to retort when Remus Lupin's voice came from outside the door "Inside, please," and a second later I turned around to see him opening the door and standing back to let his class file in.

Remus entered the room and looked from Severus to me, a faint frown appearing between his eyebrows.

As he made to close the door behind him, Severus said, "Leave it open, Lupin. I'd rather not witness this." He got to his feet and strode past the class, his black robes billowing behind him. At the doorway, he turned on his heel and said, "Possibly no one's warned you, Lupin, but this class contains Neville Longbottom. I would advise you not to entrust him with anything difficult. Not unless Miss Granger is hissing instructions in his ear."

Neville went scarlet and I saw Harry glare at Severus while Remus raised his eyebrows.

"I was hoping that Neville would assist me with the first stage of the operation," he said, "and I am sure he will perform it admirably."

Neville's face went, if possible, even redder and Severus' lip curled, but he left, shutting the door with a snap.

I met Remus' gaze, he hadn't changed a bit. Always so kind and compassionate - the complete opposite of Sirius. I sighed and rolled my eyes and without saying a word I grabbed the door handle and also left the staff room.

I couldn't get the image of Severus' sneering face as he spoke about Sirius out of my head.

What was Severus trying to achieve by talking about him to me? I thought angrily. Was he just trying to get a rise out of me or did he actually think Sirius was looking for me?

Sirius Black was all I could think of lately, every memory, every dream... I shook my head to try and get these thoughts out of my head. He is a murderer, he is the reason James and Lily are dead I reminded myself although, who was I trying to kid? I knew deep down that I could never convince myself that this was true. I could never quite really believe that Sirius had joined Voldemort.

Maybe it was because Sirius was constantly on my mind that I was surprised that Halloween had come around so quickly. The school had gathered for the Halloween feast, and I was chatting pleasantly with Remus as we ate dinner. After the feast was over and many of the students had started to make their way to bed, a young Gryffindor student came running up to the staff table looking extremely pale and panting slightly.

"Professor Dumbledore, sir, you have to come quick, It's the Fat Lady - she's gone!" he gasped.

Dumbledore jumped up out of his seat and followed the student immediately without question.

I exchanged a puzzled glance with Remus before we too, jumped up and followed Dumbledore with Minerva and Severus following close behind. Once we reached Dumbledore outside the Gryffindor Common Room, I instantly noticed over the top of the crowd that The Fat Lady had vanished from her portrait and that the empty canvas had been slashed. Strips of it littered the floor and great chunks of it had been torn away completely. What the hell had happened to her?

"We need to find her," I heard Dumbledore say. "Professor McGonagall, please go to Mr Filch at once and tell him to search every painting in the castle for the Fat Lady."

"You'll be lucky!" came a voice from above me and I looked up to see Peeves the poltergeist, bobbing over the crowd looking delighted.

"What do you mean, Peeves?" said Dumbledore calmly, and Peeves's grin faded a little.

"Ashamed, Your Headship, sir. Doesn't want to be seen. She's a horrible mess. Saw her running through a landscape on the fourth floor, sir, dodging between the trees. Crying something dreadful," he said happily. "Poor thing," he added, unconvincingly.

"Did she say who did it?" said Dumbledore quietly.

"Oh, yes, Professorhead," said Peeves. "He got very angry when she wouldn't let him in, you see." Peeves flipped over and grinned at Dumbledore from between his own legs. "Nasty temper he's got, that Sirius Black"

My stomach dropped at the sound of his name. He had done this? He had been in the castle?

Dumbledore asked all staff to search the castle after he had brought all the students to the Great Hall to sleep. My mind was reeling with theories, each as impossible as the next. I had tried to talk with Remus before he went to search the 7th floor but he had quickly brushed me off, which made me suspicious.

As I walked slowly along a corridor on the 4th floor I spotted Remus just ahead of me.

"Remus!" I called and he turned around, his face falling as I quickly caught up with him.

"Meg- I really don't think right now it is a good time-" he said quietly but I quickly pushed him into an empty classroom "-and If it's Sirius you want to talk about again, I will not hear it," he said in a low voice frowning slightly.

"Why?" I said and then hurriedly shook my head and asked "How did he get in?"

"I don't know," Remus said simply.

It was my turn to frown now. "You were one of his best friends."

Remus peered at me for a beat and then a sad smile crept onto his face. "Meg, you know as well as I do that you knew him better than any of us."

And before I could reply he stepped around me and walked out leaving me standing alone in the classroom.

I thought I knew him, but my entire perception of him had changed the night he betrayed Lily and James.

Sirius Black was not found in the castle and although security had been consolidated, life went back to normal. A couple of weeks after this I was sitting in my office marking essays before going down to dinner when a loud knock made me jump.

Sighing, I called irritably "Yes?" and went back to marking.

The next thing I knew, a photo of Lily and James' wedding was staring at me. I had not seen this photo before, James was waving up at me, beaming with Lily hanging off his arm, her face full of happiness. Sirius was standing next to them, his face exactly how I remembered it, so handsome and full of laughter. Standing next to him, gripping his hand and looking up at him as though she could never be convinced to let him go, was me.

I blinked hard, forcing the tears to retreat as I looked up and came face to face with Harry, who did not look happy at all. He was breathing heavily, his hands clenched into fists and his face flushed.

"You knew him," he said slowly.

"Harry-" I began not really sure of where I was going to go with this.

"Did you know he was going to betray my parents?" Harry said. His voice shook as though he was trying really hard to remain calm "Or were you in on it too?"

I sat up, shocked that he would even suggest that. Lily was like a sister to me, she was one of the people I loved the most. "Your Mum was my best friend," I said sharply

"Just like Sirius Black was?" Harry said harshly. "I heard Professor McGonagall and the Minister talking. They said he is the reason my parents are dead and yet there you are holding his hand!"

"Harry, none of us knew what Sirius was going to do. I know what that photo must look like but … it was taken more than twelve years ago." I said gently, refusing to look at it again.

Harry's face softened slightly and he sighed.

"Do you know what I hear when the Dementors come close to me, Professor?" Harry said, finally lowering his voice "I hear my Mum pleading with Voldemort. I hear him killing her."

I felt sick. I could feel a lump in her throat as I thought about Lily.

"And it's because of Sirius Black that I hear that!" He said his voice rising again.

"Harry, I don't know what to say." I said, eventually shaking my head slightly "I can't imagine what that's like."

Harry looked at me for a beat looking as though he was thinking hard. "I heard them say my parents made him my Godfather."

I swallowed as I looked at Harry, his face full of anger. He looked as though he was daring me to lie to him. I nodded, biting my lower lip.

There was a long pause as I watched Harry's face grow dark and he mumbled "I want to kill him."

"Harry, please don't be ridiculous -." I said softly. He looked mutinous but I continued before he could retort. "I'm sorry you found out like you did but - you can't go out seeking revenge on a man like Black."

"Everybody keeps telling me that. Doesn't anybody understand?" Harry said furiously "Wouldn't you want revenge?"

I understood completely how he was feeling, but instead of agreeing with him, I gave him a stern look and said seriously "Promise me, Harry."

Harry promised and he said goodnight before he left. I looked down and picked up the photo Harry had left. Although I had never seen the photo, I remembered the moment it was taken. I remembered how happy we all were and longed for this life again as I impatiently brushed away a tear that had escaped my eye.